The Sun. — 1864-07-01 (London, England)

THE WOMEN'S DIIEL.—Some additional facts in connexion with this case, some of the extraordinary features of which were reported in The Sun a day or two ago, have transpired since the committal of the prisoner for trial to Lincoln assizes. The attempt by the prisoner (Martha Howell, it will be recollected, was most determined, and her intended victim had an exceedingly narrow escape. The priBoner, in company with bliss Johnson and four otheryoung ladies, was quietly returning home to Springthorpe, after visiting Gainsborough. It was a quiet, lovely evening, and the party had arrived at a lonely part of the road, near Somerby-wood, when the prisoner, without any quarrel, or the slightest intimation of her purpose, threatened to shoot Miss Johnson, and at once fired deliberately at her face. The muzzle of the pistol was so close to Miss Johnson that her forehead was scorched, and the only circumstance which, humanly speaking, thwarted the prisoner's diabolical purpose was the heavy charge of the pistol. This caused the weapon when fired to be deflected upwards, and the contents, in c ,nsequence, went harmlessly over head. The recoil of the pistol, however, caused the upper part of the cock to strike the prisoner's hand with considerable violence, inflicting on her a severe flesh wound. This created a diversion in her victim's favour, and, in all probability, enabled her, by escaping, to avoid a second sho t,forthe prisoner pursued her with the pistol in one hand and the other hand in her pocket, apparently with the intention of reloading the pistol, as a supply of balls, shots, powder, and caps were afterwards found in her pockets. Miss Johnson, however, safely escaped to the nearest farmhouse, and the prisoner, finding her designs bafflad, went on to Springthorpe. Miss Johnson had been in the habit of teaching music to the prisoner's pupils, but some lime ago a quarrel took place between her and the prisoner. She continued, however, her professional visits, and on several occasions remained at the prisoner's all night. When staying there the prisoner several times threatened in the pointing middle of the night to shoot her, at the same time poi a pistol at her, and on one of these occasions Miss Johnson saw that the pistol was loaded with ball. Since the prisoner's nn committal the police have discovered that the pistol with which the deed was attempted to be committed was purchased about a fortnight previously. The prisoner has voluntarily informed the police how she loaded it. put in two thimblefuls of powder, t henSshome efirsshtOts,haendSayats:he top a ball or bullet. On her way to Lincoln Castle, there to await her trial, she drew the attention of the policeman who had charge of her to the spot where executions take place at that city, and said, "I should have been to have hung there it only I had accomplished She even went further, and said if she were at liberty and had the chance she would still carry out her intension. A. book which belonged to the prisoner has been found containing the draught of a will dated the my proudp purpose." ose.,p very day of the attempted murder, and a statement of accounts, all posted up to that day. She repeatedly informed night ht" in licethat she had gone to Gainborough on the question with the full determination either of in.. ducing Miss Johnson to let bygones be bygones and visit her on the same terms as formerly, or of shoo ing her and then herself. Prisoner has baen National schoolmistress at nine years. She is a married woman, but has been livirg apart from her husband for many years. There can be no doubt about her having the full possession of her faculties. Sprinagbtolauotrp4es years about ofage, In the evidence before the magistrates mention was made of a quarrel which took place between Miss Johnpuriasrorneeirlaaasbnoou t been made clear, but, from the t eighteen months ago. The ofceeanuseehd h tthies q statements, it sterns to have had something to a 1 of her pupils had left her school dPoris°n with et hto go to another one that had been establishedin the village. These pupils Miss Johnson went to teach, and discontinued 'rse own school. se her visits to the prisoner. At this the prisoner was very much annoyed, and she has been brooding over the matter ever since—so much so that for weeks together, as she told the police, she had no sleep. She therefore resolved to end it one way or the other. Prisoner does not seem to feel the position in which she is placed the least.