The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1891-02-05 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

MAGIC AITAIR AT SHEFFIELD.  A young man named William Mal, a warehouseman, was remanded at Sheffield, on Monday, on the harge of having attempted to murder a young woman named Isabella Edge, assistant mistress at a Board school, by shooting her. On Sunday night she had been to chapel in company with a friend named Martha Harrison. When leaving the chap d they were accosted by Hall, who bade them "Good evening," and expressed a desire to speak to the young lady. Ile aceoropaded them some distance up Attercliff Road, when Miss Harrison left them, end understood they were going for a stroll. This was not the case,however. Miss Edge resented Hall's attention, and refused to accompany him further. A little before ten o'clock Hall and Miss Edge were seen talking together at the bottom of the passage leading to the rear of the girl's house by a sister of the latter, who was returning from a walk. A few minutes elapsed. The sister had entered the house, and was expecting Isabella in every moment. Soon her attention was attracted by the reports of three shots fired in quick succession. The sister, frightened at the noise and apprehensive of someevil to Miss Edge, rushed to the end of the passage. There she found her sister in a " dazed " condition, Hall having gone away; at any rate he was nowhere to be seen. The girl was conveyed to her own house, and it was seen that she had been shot. The most serious wound was caused by one of the bullets penetrating the left temple and pursuing its course through the face to the bottom of the right eye. Hall gave himself up to the police about half an hour afterwards. On Monday Miss Edge appeared to be sinking, and her depositions were taken. She said: "I am an assistant mistress at Daniell Board Infants' School. lam twenty years old next Jitue. I have known prisoner by sight about twelve months, and to speak to about six.months. I went to service at Zion Chapel on Sunday night, and stayed to sacrament. Prisoner was at the first part of the service. I walked with my sister to Chapel Street. We spoke to prisoner. He was behind us as we went on. I walked away after leaving my sister. Prisoner accompanied me. We walked up to Darnall. We got to our door, which was fastened, and we walked back to the aqueduct. We walked back again here. Martha Harrison came up while we stood at the passage end, and we all three came into the house together. Prisoner remained about three minutes, and it was then about ten o'clock. I went to the door with him, and I told him that I did not wish to keep company with him, and I had written a letter to that effect last Monday. I had sent him that letter on Monday morning. I have sent him two or three. He said : " I am thinking about what you have told ma," and I said "I mean it." He looked at me, but he never looked cross, and he made no threat of any kind. He was just as usual. Ido not remember shaking hands. I lifted my hand up, and I don't remember any more. I was going to say "Good night," and I felt something on my face. I thought be had struck me in a joke. I heard a shot and I ran, and he followed me to the top of the passage and shot again, and I think a third time. I got in the house, and sat in a chair. I was bleeding dreadfully. My face poured down with blood. How he could stand and see it I don't know. Ido not think I lost consciousness. My shoulder is wounded and the middle finger of my left hand, as well as my eye and face."