Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1862-01-24 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

BRITISH MUSEUM.  At the Bow-street Police Court, London, yesterday se'unight, Robert Ready, jun., son of Mr Robt. Ready, a copyist at the British Museum, was brought up before Mr Hall, in custody of Sergeant Scott of the A division, charged with having in his possession a loaded pistol with intent to murder his father, or do him some grievous bodily harm. After a short conversation in court with Mr Hall and Mr Ready, senior, who had at first declined to give his son into custody, resolved to come forward and give his evidence. Mr Ready de. posed: I sin a copyist at the Museum, and the father of the defendant, who is employed there under me. I was there this afternoon, and had occasion to request him not to take copies of any thing under my care, I having reason to believe that some coins and cameos, the property of the Museum, were about his person. I taxed him with having them, and I was about searching his person, when he took out of his pocket this pistol (producing a single-barrelled pocket pistol). I seized it with my hands, and we struggled for the possession of it for at least 20 minutes. I was nearly overpowered, when the witnesses now present came to my assistance. I have heard of a threat lised against me by the prisoner, and from that and what has occurred, I apprehend that I go in danger of my life, or, at least, that he will do me some bodily harm unless he is restrained by the law.—Mr Edward Gerrard deposed: I am also employed in the Bitish Museum, in a room next to Mr Ready. Hearing a loud noise in Mr Ready's room, I went there, and found him struggling with the prisoner. On my asking what was the matter, the prosecutor said his son had attempted to shoot him. I then assisted Mr Ready, who succeeded in taking the pistol produced from the prisoner. I handed it to Mr Tilley. I asked the prisoner what his motive was for such disgraceful conduct. In reply, he said he had carried the pistol about with him for weeks, intending to shoot his father. I saw the pistol unloaded, and the bullet, wadding, and powder taken from it.—Mr Edw. Fred. Tilley : I am also employed at the British Museum. I received the pistol from the last witness. It was loaded. I extracted from it the bullet, wadding, and powder produced. Mr Tilley further stated that a bullet similar to that found in the pistol, and also 20 percussion caps, were found upon the prisoner —The prisoner: I have nothing to say to do me any good.—Mr Hall said he had a d,fficulty in finding words to express his feelings with regard to this painful case. He must express his strong approval of the conduct of Mr Ready. That gentleman ought not to be at all ashamed of of sorry for his conduct in this case, in which he had performed a distressing but inevitable duty. He (Mr Hall) fully believed that, terrible as it might appear, the prisoner had really conceived the determination of taking his father's life; and it %viol necessary to place him under such control as would effectually restrain him from committing so horrible a crime. The prisoner must find two sureties of £5O each, and enter into his own recognisance of £B9, to keep the peace for six months.—The prisoner, who in the early part of the examination maintained an air of indifference, seemed much affected towards its close. Bail not being fortiicomiug, he was removed in the prison van.