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 het.  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 he 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 be was ende.avnnr;nEs +0 Fur chase the bullets for the pistol. The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty on the first count of the indictment, with a very strong recommendation to mercy on account of the great provocation he had received.  His Lordship said he 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 jibbcr. I had last night be,tn. drinking a little, and the horse would not go, and put a little gravel or dust in its mouth to make it better tempered. There is nobody kinder to hol uses than myself, but I certainly did lose my ten per and beat it, but lam sorry I did so. I have t ried to work it in a cab, but it's no use.  Mr. Knox—l certainly do not pretend to mt Ed) experience of horses, but I never beard of the pr;Lctice 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 " corers." Mr. Knox—The prisoner has been guilty of abominable cruelty. I never heard a much worse case, and I shall not give the prisoner the option of paying a tine, but shall commit him for a mouth with hard labour.  The prisoner seemed rather surprised at the decision.