Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1869-05-21 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

KOSS.  At about half-osat eleven o'clock on Friday night last, a murderous attack MAR made on a commercial traveller, named Henry Rotprt Wilkins' of Birminizhem. in one of the public streets of Ross, and an attempt made to rob him. It appears hat tbe gentleman, who was in drink, was roamitig Aboot the streets, and cold not find his hotel. Near the market-place he met with a lad mimed George Inman, a member of the rifle corps band, who w is going home, with his side drum on his shoulder, from the Royal Oak Inn, where the band met for .practice. He told . .  Inman il:tat he had lost his hotel ; he did not know the name, but remembered that a lamp burnt over the door. The lad mentioned the names of several hotels, and Mr Wilkens said it was the King's Head, and asked Inman to take him to it. He did so, and when they got near the house Inman observed two men, Charles Symonds and Thomas Pember, Mr Wilkins +inked Ininsn what be would tate to drink. Upon this Ch.trles Symonds came no and said to Mr Wilkins, "What will you take 1" Mr Wilkins, who it will be remembered was druuk, foolishly replied, "What have you got r Symonds. without more to do, knocked him down. He then flew at Inman and knocked him down also. Inman wss much frightened, and, fearing that lie ehould get his drum broken in the scuffle, Rot up and made the best of his way home and went to he As he went he heard heavy blow., and looking back he saw Symonds bad still got Mr Wilkins down and wan beating him. After Inman left Symonds continued heating and kicking him for some time. He called out for the police three times, and Syronndn and Feather then ran away. When he got. up he found be wAs bleeding very profusely. While he was down he distiuctly felt Symond's hand in the right hand pzket, of his trouser., in which be had a four-penov-pieee and twopeece halfpenny in copperA, which money was gone. Symonds did not find his purse, containing between £lO and CU, which was in tin breast pocket. Mr Wilkins has heen confined to his bed ever since from the effects of tbe blows and kicks, and is quite blind. On Saturdey the prisoners were brou.ait up before Captain Power. The prosecutor was too ill to attend, consequently the deposition was taken at the King's head Hoiel, the maeisteite and tbe piisoners being present. Inman gave the facts above stale I. and Dr. Thomas Jones gave evidence as to the state of prosecutor's scars and contusions. After a patient investigation his worship committed Symonds to take his trial at the next Herefordshiie Assizes, and dischnrged Pemher. Mr Hebb, solicitor. of Bias, attended to wa ch the care for Symonds, but no efence was made. such an outrage has never been committed in lio.s before, and much sympathy is felt for Mr Wilkins. —lVesters Mail.  The number of wrecks reported during the past week is 40. making for the present year 1,0:i5.  There is a probability of a marriage between Prince Ernest, eldest son of the ex-King of Hanover, end the Princess Thyra, third daughter of the King of Denmark. The prince is in his 24th year, and the princess in her 16th.  The Poplar Board of Guardians have discovered that many of the poor of the district are in the habit of pledging their relief tickets at "leaving shops" to obtain loans of small sums. on which they are charged interest to a ruinous rate. The keeper of one of these shops is to be prosecuted.  Two steamers, the Marquess of Abercorn end the Lord Gough, came into collision on Tuesday morning last off the Irish Coast, near Belfast. The former was run down and foundered. Fortunately the passengers and crew were rescued by the Lord Gough, but 200 head of cattle that were on board the vessel were lost with her.