The Sun. — 1842-05-12 (London, England)

SHOOTING WITH INTENT TO MURDER.—Robert Wilson, aged 24, a sailor, was indicted for feloniously shooting at Patrick Cavannah with a pistol, with intent to murder him. Mr. C. PHILLIPS defended the prisoner. Elizabeth Kelly deposed that she lived as servant with Mrs. Wilson, the mother of the prisoner, who resided at Eltham, in Kent. Mrs. Wilson was married to Mr. Cavanah, the prosecutor, but she went by the name of Wilson. The prisoner had some words with Mr. Cavannah. On the Ist of April, the prisoner came to the door about ten o'clock at night. Mr. Cavanah went to the door, and the prisoner asked him to let him in. The prosecutor said he should not come in. The prisoner then went away, and returned in about five minutes, when he threw some stones at the door. He again asked to be let in, and the prosecutor fetched a poker. The prosecutor said, " You shall not come in to-night. Robert ; you may burst the door open." Immediately after this, witness heard the report of a pistol, and on proceeding to the door, she observed her master's cheek bleeding. He was stooping at the time, and his head was near to the keyhole of the door. Cross•examined—lt was immediately on hearing her master say, " You may burst open the door," that she heard the report of a pistol. The prisoner could not see the prosecutor at the time. Mr. Bosset, a surgeon, of Woolwich, stated that he was called in to attend the prosecutor on the night in question. He extracted a pistol ball from his cheek. The ball had passed along the cheek, and caused a wound of about an inch and a half in length. Cross-examined.--The prosecutor was drunk at the time, but he was in some degree sobered by the accident. Thomas Clarke deposed to his having sold the prisoner a pair of pistols on the night in question. William Henley stated that he was in a public-house with the prisoner on the night in q testion, at about a quarter to ten o'clock. The prisoner was drunk at the time. He had two pistols with him, and he said he was going to shoot sparrows. He said that there was a man at home who had taken possession of his (prisoner's) house while he was in Syria, and he said he would have his revenge, and blow his brains out. He then left the room, but returned in about. a quarter of an hour. He wanted the publican to go home with him, but he refused. He then asked witness, and he consented. He went with him to the door, and there he left hint. Police officer R 57 stated, that he took the prisoner into custody. He found two pistols upon him. They were unloaded. The prisoner said, " I have done it, but it would not have happened, only I was drunk." Witness saw the door of Mrs. Wilson's house. There was a hole in it about four feet from the ground. Mr. C. Phieeres addressed the Jury for the prisoner, and The LEARNED JUDGE summed up the evidence, and said, the question the Jury had to consider was, as to the intent of the prisoner, viz., whether he intended to hurt the prosecutor. The Jury, after a short consultation, found the prisoner Not Guilty. Thomas Grew, aged 17, clerk, was indicted for stealing three post letters, containing one chain, one pin, one seal, and two pencil cases, the property of the Postmaster-General. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and he was sentenced to fiiteen years transportation.