The Sun. — 1867-10-31 (London, England)

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER..  James Green was indicted with intending to kill and murder his wife, by discharging a loaded pistol at her.  It will be recollected that the prisoner was an engineer's labourer, and resided in the neighbourhood of Bermondsey. He had become jealous of his wife, and having quarrelled with her he left his home and purchased a small pocket pistol, and afterwards some gunpowder. After buying the latter he asked the shopkeeper whether he could supply him with some slugs wherewith to load the weapon. He could not procure them, and he afterwards purchased some No. 4 shot. On meeting his wife, from whom ho had been separated, in the street some time after, he was observed to follow her, to level the pistol at her, and afterwards pull the trigger, but the weapon did not explode. On being taken into custody he made certain observations, regretting the misfiring of the pistol, and at the same time he expressed a wish that he had used a knife instead of firearms, and then he could have settled with his wife. On the charge being drawn from the pistol a small piece of paper was discovered underneath the nipple, which of course would prevent the pistol going off, but the learned judge put it to the jury that if the prisoner pulled the trigger with intent, &c., then he was as guilty as if he had actually fired the pistol, It was discovered during the trial that the piece of paper found underneath the nipple corresponded with that used in place of wadding, and the prisoner's counsel raised a strong point in his speech for the defence, to the effect that the prisoner, it was clear, when he loaded the pistol, never intended it to go off ; but the observation was met by one from the learned judge, who, in alluding to the circumstance in his suming up, remarked that, if it was to be believed that the prisoner did not intend to injure his wife, but only to frighten her, it seemed most remarkable that he should have been very anxious to purchase slugs to place in the pistol. It was urged that in consequence of the misconduct of his wife the prisoner's mind might have become unhinged, but then his lordship said, it must be clearly shown that at the time the prisoner loaded the pistol he was in such a state of mind as to be incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. But it would also have to be considered that about that time the prisoner was seemingly collected enough when he was endeavouring to purchase the bullet• for the pistol. The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty on the first count of the indictmont, with a vory strong recommendation to ruoroy on account of the great provocation he had received.  His Lordship said ho would take care that the recommendation of the jury should be forwarded to the proper quarter, but he could not of course say what the result would be. He had but one duty to perform, and, as the jury had found the prisoner guilty, the sentence of the Court was that the prisoner be kept in penal servitude for twenty years.  days, and he is a jibber. I had last night Yieen drinking a little, and the horse would not go,:And I put a little gravel or dust in its mouth to ma ke it better tempered. There is nobody kinder to 'horses than myself, but I certainly did lose my ',temper and beat it, but lam sorry I did so. Y him tried to work it in a cab, but it's no use. Mr. Knox—l certainly do not pretend'. to much experience of horses, but 1 never heard of the practice of putting dirt into their mouths to make them go. Young—l have never heard of its being: done but only by cruel persons and horse, " Mr. Knox—The prisoner has been guilty of abominable cruelty. I never heard a mrch worse case, and I shall not give the prisoner the optio-a of paying a fine, bat shall commit him for month with hard labour.  The prisoner seemed rather surptis ad at the decision. •  THIRD EffiTION.  SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocK.