Lancaster Standard and County Advertiser. — 1902-12-05 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

GARSTANO.  PRISON ER AGAIN REWORD TAR M AG ISTRATES.  FURTHER EVIDENCE.  At Gerstein-1r yesterday morning, before J. Allen Parkinson. G. Singleton, and R. Winder, Esqrs., Edward liirkhalh, Bilsoorrow. was brought up on remard charged with feloniously, wilfully, and malii-iously attempting to kill, and secondly with unlawfully, maliciously, and feloniously shooting, with intent to do grievous bodily harm to William Dixon, cabdriver, ,n the employ of Messrs. Harding and Co., and living at 73, North-road, Preston. The case had aroused great interest in the district, and the court was crowded. Mr. G. Ambler prosecuted. and Mr. A. Elackhuret defended.  The evidence given at the first hearing on Honda) was read over. John Iticoardeon, a farm labourer in prisoner's employ, waa railed for the proserution. He said he was in the house on Saturday night when the scuffle took place between Kirkham and Dixon. After Dixon had left the house prisoner, who was bleeding front the mouth, eame into the kitchen, nut subsequently went out by the bark door, taking the gun tprodnced) with him. A few minutes afterwards witnr, heard two reports. Prisoner then came in. and deposited the gun in a corner near the door. Dr. CoMeson said that on Sunday morning he examined Dixon and found a small wound on the right side of his neck about the sine ot a millet seed, covered by a blood clot.—ln reply to Mr. filackburst. witness said he did not anticipate any danger. P.C. Hughes demerit:led his visit to the house at 3-15 iin Sunday morning, in company with Sergeint Fretwell.—Sergt Fretwell summrted. P.C. Waring said he was on duty in Fulwood on Saturday night, when Dixon pulled up and told him of the incident. and showed him the wounds on his neck. Witness then telephoned to the police at Bowgreave, and next morning, he saw the hansom and found six small holes on the right hack panel, each containing a pellet, one hole on the driver's side, and three on the back lif the lamp on the right side of the vehicle.  Mr. Blackhurst. addressing the Bench, mot the question for the inagistrates to decide WRB W bother prisoner feloniously and with forethought intended to kill this man. It WAR %Audited by Dixon that when he got on his hansom ho. could see prisoner, who fired at a  distance of la yards. If hirkhaiii had int ruled to kill him he ventured to think that at that short range he could have blown Dixon's brains out. The prosecutor- had not alleged that prisoner even pointed the gun at loin. and Mated that when he heard the report of a gun he turned his horse round kind a minute elapsed before the second barrel was diecharged. and that time he was galloping away. If Kirkham had intended to murder him he did not think that Dixon would have been allowed to hirti round. There was, he aubmitted, no evidence if intent, and if the Bench took that view it was in their power to reduce the charge to one of unlawful wounding. Prisoner was then charged, and on both eounta replied. "I am not guilty; I have no witnesees to call at present." The Chairman (Mr. .1. Allen Parkinson), addresaing prisoner, said "It is my painful duty to inform you that there is no other course open to the Bench, but to commit you to take your trial at the next Lancaster Assizes." Application tor bail was refused.