Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-11-03 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

OUTRAGE ON A CLERGYMAN.  Cochois, a young architect, was arraigned on Thursjay, before the Assize Court of the Somme at Amiens, on the charge of an attempt to murder an English clergyman, the Rev. G. F. Whidborne, on the Northern Railway in June last. The presiding judge, in accordance with French procedure, began by exposing the career of the accused up to the present time in minute detail. Cochois had, it appeared, fought several duels, undergone imprisonment for a jewel robbery, entered into an extensive building contract, now remaining unsatisfied, and borrowed cash in all directions. The accused promptly replied to the president's queries, and acknowledged that he had lived by theft in order to meet his bills and support his wife and child. Cochois was accustomed to travel on the Northern Railway first class by the express almost nightly for the sake of stealing the passengers' luggage, valises, and purses when the passengers proceeded to the buffet. On the morning of the attempted murder he arrived at Boulogne by the mail from Amiens. When the train was about to go back Mr. Whidborne asked whether any one would proceed by it to Paris, and the two travel ed together. They at first slept. Before reaching Abbeville, Cochois offered a draught to the clergyman from his flask, which was declined. Mr. Whidborne then again fell asleep, turning his back to Cochois. Five miles from Amiens he suddenly awoke, feeling three thrusts from some sharp instrument, He instantly rose, receiving a fourth as he did so. Being a powerful man, he grappled with his antagonist, and a fearful struggle ensued. The clergyman wrested a formidable carpenter's chisel from Cochois'a grasp, whereupon the assassin preduced a seven-chambered revolver, but was unable to fire, his wrist being tightly held. The two men dragged each other from corner to corner of the compartment. Finding that he was baffled, Cochois opened the door' doubtless in order to cast Mr. Whidborne on to the railroad track. But the intended victim made good his escape by the footboard, and was eventually hauled into a compartment by a brother of Lord Leigh and another gentleman. An alarm was given and the train brought to a standstill. The guard found Cochois besmeared with blood standing on the footboard. He declared himself the victim of an outrage. The brakesman thereupon travelled in the same carriage. C ,chois suddenly escaped. In spite of the high speed he jumped out on the line. The train was again stopped. Cochois ran for about 200 paces and stopped a night watchman, recoui.ting the stony of a pretended eutiage upon himself. He then proceeded to a hut on the line. The brakeeman came in search of him sled found the prisoner, who thereupon fired into his own right ear. The train again started for Amiens. b4.blailet, Commisstry of Special Police, having been communicated with, shortly arrived, and assumed the custody of Cochois, who was searched and four purses; were found on him. At the trial there were only seen witnesses examined, but they gave conclusive evidence. The Advocate-Genera4 in a spirited speech, taking one hour in delivery, dwelt upon the increase of railway outrages and demanded a verdict without mercy. Maitre Dubois, for the defence, in an able reply, denounced the idea of premeditation, and dwelt en the forgiving bearing of 3lr. Whidborne, pointing to this example of clemency as one woethy of his sacred calling. Cochois, who had been composed during the ptoceedings, was much moved by his counsel's address. The trial, which lad lasted five bowel, the court being densely crowded, ended in a verdict of guilty. A. sentence of transeortation for life was pa,,sed, the plea of extenuating circumstances being adni:tted.  - The Sanitary Board ‘-;1 A'.,•xan Iris will not icivc the (piarantine from p--r..)us v.. 11 ) come fr:nn ladm. Th.: English delegate has pi wrestel again't this deci,:on. A humourous publication of the last century contains the following :—A certain shoemaker of Canterbury by his extravagancy had wasted his whole stock: his creeitors came so fast on him, he was to pack up and march off. Travelling to near Rochester, by the side of a wood, man's house, and hard by a Pe-- of upon his approach, cried out to which he angrily it known he was no obe the  vexed, - of