Glasgow Courier. — 1855-10-23 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MURDEROUS ASSAULT.  An assault of an unusually desperate and murderous character was committed on Thwsday at Upper Sheriff Street, Dublin, near the Canal Bridge, at the range of cottages occupied chiefly as workshops by John Wilson, millwright. It appears that Wilson was supposed to be about to go to Liverpool, and had displayed a large sum of money in a boastful manner to certaio persons to whom he was indebted. Finding some difficulty in gettingAe_ crees executed against him, Mr. Peter Owens, Upper Sheriff Street, assisted by John Wafer, went, at a little after 7 o'clock on Friday morning, to seek paymett from Wilson of a sum of money for whiph he held .a decree. As the house wan completely shut up, they had to effect an entrance from the yard by a back window. On getting into the house they ascended by a ladder through it trap-door, and were met by Wilson above, who seized Wafer by the throat, but he succeeded in extricating himself, and he and Mr. Owens assured Wilson that they did not intend any violence. But it appearn he and li.a tyn .r, son, a lad of about 14 years of age, attacked both men desperately with a hatchet and adze, the son restoring the hatchet to the father on several occasions when he was disarmed, as Mr. Owens and Wafer acted chiefly the defensive, The result was that Wafer, who calved 1 cuts, was pressed backwards -efend,n; himself,against a window overlooking 91.. yard, and fell window succeededi its rec9iv in n l es a o:Pien:o Wound,r the e from a height of some 14 feet to the greueU. When fallin through thehow e ,eg the hatchet or adze, cutting through his hips to ti bie wall at the rear, his way being everywhere marked with his blood. When Mr. Owens was nearly murdered, he ne. ne, was put out at the front door, and with difficulty reached his own house, which was adjoining. As he was believed to be in a dying state, the Rev. Mr. Halligan was immediately in attendance, as was Dr. Murray, Forthstrand. The wounds—five of which were inflicted by the hatchet on the head—were of the most dangerous charauter, one cutting through a principal artery. Mr. Owens is married, and has ayoung family. Wafer is also married; but, though seriously injured, no fears are at present entertained for his life. A large crowd had, at an early hour, assembled round the premises, and a sergeant of the metropolitan police and three constables remained on guard. The crowd increased during tho day, and, as evening approached, fears were expressed that Wilson would escape if not arrested before dark. He came several times to one of Cite windows in the. rear, and coolly held up the hatchet to the police and the crowd, intimating what they had to expect should they attempt an entrance. We have heard that he also displayed pistols. From this time stones were now and then flung at the windows, and numerous panes of glass were broken, the police ineffectually endeavouring to prevent it. Ate few rninntes after five o'clock a party of police, under Acting-Inspector Ranson, asiisted by Mr. Inspector M‘Kay, arrayed with a warrant Icons Dr. Kelly for Wilson's arrest. At this time there were hundreds ok persona about the house, and Wilson haring refused aSmittance to the police, Sergeant Kane, of the Saekville Place Station, and some of his men, with a beam of timber—used as a battering ram—burst open one of the outer doom, which WAS strongly barricaded. At this moment the excitement was intense, as no one expected that Wilson'scaptore would be effected without loss of life, but on Sergeant Katie's entrance he surrendered without resistance, and, with his son, was conducted in a covered car to Sackville Place Station, amid the groans and execrations of a large and excited crowd. Wilson is a Scotchman, and recently sent, we have heard, his wife and one of his sons to Liverpool, intending to follow them on the first opportunity. The knowledge of this fact, it would appear, was the immediate cause of the proceeding that Las resulted so unfortunately.