The Sun. — 1862-02-19 (London, England)

THE GRECIAN THEATRE.—THE EXCISE AUTHORITIES DEFEATED.—Mr. Benjamin Oliver Conquest, the proprietor of the Grecian Theatre, City-road, appeared yesterday at Bow-street, to answer a SUM 410 MS charging him with selling spirits in the theatre without a licence, but it was contended on the part of the Crown that the licence did not extend to the theatre, as that was a distinct trade or business from that of a publican. The Magistrate WM of a contrary opinion, and dismissed the swum,  .w~  ATTEMPTED MUItD_ER BY A DISAPs POINTED LOVER,  -~- At the Special Petty Sessions, held at Guildford yesterday morning, Alfred Edward Stevens, a young man aged about eighteen, the son of a tradesmar. at Chobham, was charged with shooting Eliza Dewberry, with intent to murder her. The circumstances of the case are of an extraordinary character, and great excitement prevails in the neighbourhood where the crime was committed. The following is the substance of the evidence adduced yesterday, when Mr. Humphreys, jun., of Newgate-street, instructed by the authorities at Scotland•yard, through the instrumentality of Sir Denis Le Merchant, Bart., whose mansion is et Chobham place, conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was undefended. The girl, Erin Dewberry, who is 22 years of age, was living last December in the service of Mr. Lake, of Chobhanh and the prisoner wished to keep company with her, but his overtures were rejected. This disappointment seems to have worked upon the young man's mind so much that he is supposed to have made two attempts to take Eliza Dewberry's life. One evening, about a week before Christmas, when Mr. and Mrs. Lake were sitting in their drawing-room, the girl had occasion to pass between the lamp and the window, and, almost immediately afterwards a gun was fired through the window, and a bullet, which passed within four inches of Mr. Lake's head, broke the lamp and the looking-glass, and rebounded without injuring any one. The authorities at Scotland-yard were communicated with by Sir Denle Le Merchant, and Detective Whicher went down to Chobham to make inquiries, and had an inter' view with Stevens, who was suspected at that time, but nothing resulted from these proceedings, fa' though a reward of £5O was offered by Mr, Lake, for the discovery of the offender. At the end ca, January Eliza Dewberry left her situation and went to reside with her parents at Sutton, near Guildford, where, on the 13th inst., the offence with which the prisoner stands charged was col; mitted. On the 9th of this month Stevens called at Dewberry's cottage and asked to see the Oh but the mother, knowing her daughter's wisheei said she was from home. About half-past seven o'clock on Thursday night Mrs. Dewberry and her daughter were sitting in the kitchen, which faces the high road, when they heard the report of fire' arms, and two pallets passed immediately over theit, heads and struck the opposite wall. The escape ?' both women is most remarkable, for they were sit" ting in a line, and the daughter, who was between the candle and window, within five feet of the latter, was in the act of stooping the moment the gun was fired, The shadow of the daughter would fall upon the blind, and the cottage is low built, so that 5 gun might easily be fired from the garden into the kitchen. Several persons saw the prisoner walking in the direction of Sutton, between 6 and 7on Thursday night, and returning towards Chobhao! between 8 and 9. Nearly all of them noticed that he carried something under his coat, and one woman swore positively that he had a gun. A girl named Emma Fricker was walking past Dewberry's house at the hour in question, and saw prisoner standing before it. When he noticed her he walked awoll but before she had gone many yards she heard e gun fired, and, turning round, saw some one runnlog away in the direction of Chobham. This witnee' saw no other person in the neighbourhood of DOW' berry's cottage that evening. The young man Woe arrested next morning at his father's house, whet° the police found a gun which bore marks of having been recently discharged. The prisoner, who merely said he was innocent of the charge, was committed to take his trial at the next Surrey Assizes.