The Sun. — 1867-07-17 (London, England)

CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Pigott.) James Scott was charged with the wilful murder of John Pryse. Mr. Adams and Mr. Bristowe were counsel for the prosecution ; Mr. Fitzjames Stephens and Mr. Buszard defended the prisoner. The deceased was the manager and traveller of the firm of Pryse and Redman, gunmakers, of Birmingham, of which firm Mr. Charles Pryse, brother of the deceased, was the senior partner. The prisoner was clerk and cashier of the same firm, and was partially under the superintendence of the deceased. For some time Mr. John Pryse had complained to the firm of the conduct of the prisoner in neglecting his work. These complaints seem to have very much irritated the prisoner, who frequently remarked, with some bitterness, that Mr. John Pryse was ways watching hi• At lengt it was discovered byte deceased that the prisoner had embezzled some money of the firm, and on the afternoon of the Gth of last April ho was sent for byiMessra. Pryse and Redman, and spoken to on the subject. Ile admitted that his accounts were wrong and begged forgivenness. Mr. Redman told him to leave the room and prepare his accounts, after which the firm would know how to act. The prisoner paused for a short time as if considering, and then went into the warehouse of the establishment. 'When there he asked one of the clerks if there were any revolvers on stock, and being shown some he selected one with seven chambers, loaded it with great care, and took it away, saying that he would try it in the yard. lie then went with it in his hand to Mr. John Pryse's room. What passed there is not known ; but immediately afterwards a shot was heard, and the prisoner was seen leaving that room with the pistol in his hand pointed at Mr. John Pryse, who was following him. The prisoner retreated into his own room, and two more shots were heard. Alarmed at the shots, Mr Charles Pryse and Mr. Redman ran to the prisoner's room, and there saw a violent struggle taking place between the prisoner and the deceased. The prisoner had hold of Mr. John Pryse's shoulder with one band, and with the other was pointing the pistol at his body, while Mr. Pryse was endeavouring with both bands to put the pistol aside. Mr. Charles Pryse and Mr. Redman then attempted to wrest the pistol from the prisoner, which they succeeded in doing after a long struggle, during which Mr. Charles Pryse was shot through the hand. The prisoner seeming still bent upon mischief, Mr. Charles Pryse knocked him down by hitting him on the head with the pistol, and be was then secured. At the same time Mr. John Pryse fell down, and died almost immediately, and on examination it was found that he bad received two wounds from pistol shots, one in the body, and the other in the region of the heart. For the defence the absence of adequate motive was strongly commented on, and it wa that the pistol was fired that the evidence showed in bot blood, and without that off during a struggle, deliberation and ntention hich are necessary to constitute the. crime of muwrder. Witnesses were called who spoke to the excellent character of the prisoner for quietness and peaceableness. The jury found the prisoner guilty of murder. his Lordship then yo it is my painful duty to pass sentence upon you. You have caused the death by your act of a man who was only doing his duty. You took his life and sent him in a moment to his account. You thereby committed a dreadful sin against your neighbour and God. I exhort you to endeavour to understand the enormity of your sin. Turn your attention, during the few days you have to live, to make your peace with God. Now that I have told you the miserable condition in which you stand, it is my duty to pass on you the sentence which the law pronounces. His lordship then pronounced on the prisoner the sentence of death.