The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1890-11-15 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

EXTRA.ORDINARY ATTEMPT TO MURDER. An extraordinary affair happened at Oxford on Thursday night. Shortly after 5 o'clock a lady called at the residence of the Master of University College, Dr. Frank Bright, and asked to see some one who was stopping in the house. She was informed that the person inquired after could not see her, and she then inquired for Miss Bright, with the same result. The Master of University, hearing the disturbance, came into the hall and had a, conversation with the lady. She afterwards left, but returned in a short time, and Dr. Bright, with a view of pacifying her, came into the hall to have further conversation with her. She then drew a revolver and !shot him in the groin, and escaped. The revolver was picked up in the gateway of University Hall, vihich faces the High-street in the opposite direction to the station, and is also only a short distance from the Master's house. The boy who noticed it did not at first attach any importance to the discovery, but with a view of seeing whether it was loaded discharged it at the wall several times. It is described as a small sixchambered revolver, and contained some cartridges when it was picked up. On Friday afternoon, on account of information received, a lady named Miss Kate Riordan was arrested at her residence, Sydney-street, Fulhamroad, London, on the charge of attempting to assassinate Dr. Bright, the Master of University College, Oxford, by shooting him with a revolver on Thursday evening. She was temporarily removed to Chelsea Police-station, and thence conveyed to Oxford. On Saturday she appeared at the Borough Police-court, before the Mayor, to answer the charge. The prisoner wore a grey dress, dark hat with violet flowers, and a fur boa. In reply to the charge she said, "I am perfectly innocent of anything of the kind." William Tomlin, porter at University College, said about 10 minutes to 5 on Thursday a person whom he took to be the prisoner came to his lodge and asked for Mr. Haines's rooms. He took her up to the rooms, and on coming back Mr. Haines came up. Witness told him of having just shewn the lady up to his rooms. Mr. Haines said he did not wish to see her, and desired that she should leave the College. Witness said he would go up and tell her, and Mr. Haines went round the quadrangle to some of the rooms. On going up, witness told the lady it was not convenient for her to see Mr. Barnes, and that she must leave the room. Sh• said she would stay there all night, if necessary, but she would see 'him. Witnese finally said that if she did not go down he would call a policeman, and have her turned out. He then made up his mind that he would put her out himself, and went up to her, touched her arm, and told her she must leave. She put her hand in the basket, took something up, and said, "Don't touch me." She spoke about Dr. Bright's giving his daughter in marriage to Mr. Haines. and used vulgar expressions. Upon that she left the room and went downstairs to the lodge. In a few minutes, however, she came in again, and very nearly got into the room again; he told her she must leave the College, and she again left. Afterwards witness heard of the shoot .ing. Mr Haines, the junior Dean, having given evidence, and positively identified the prisoner, she was remanded; but subsequently the University authorities preferred a claim that the case should be heard by the Vice-Chancellor, and it was directed that she should be brought before that Court.