Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1864-05-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER NEAR DONCASTER.-011 Saturday last, at the West-Riding Police-court, held at Doncaster. before Mr Williain Walker (chairman), Sir Isaac Morley, and Captain Egremont, William NVingfield, wheelwright and joiner. was placed at the dock charged with attempting to murder his housekeeper, Mary Birkenshaw, on Friday night last at Brodsworth, a village about six miles from Doncaster. The prisoner is a man respectably connected, and for a number of years has carried on the business of wheel-wright and joiner. At present it is not known what led to the 'disagreement with his housekeeper, but a quarrel arose, which resulted in her leaving his house, and she prorieeded to her father's, only a short distance. The prisoner followed her, armed with a double-barelled pistol, which he deliberately fired at her, but the woman seeing her danger, fortunately struck his arm upwards, and it is supposed the hall missed her, although this at present cannot be accurately ascertained. The prisoner attempted to discharge the other barrel, hut it missed fire. He then savagely attacked her with a poker and heat her dreadfully on the head The screams of the poor woman brought a man named Wilson. a neighbour, to the house, and he courageously assisted the housekeeper, and prevented Wingfield from discharging the piNtol at her again. Wingfield then pointed the pistol at Wilson, but it happily missed fire. He followed his housekeeper into the hou-e and there again attacked her with the poker, but Wilson held him and prevented him from doing further mischief. Other assistance arriving the prisoner was given into custody. The poor woman was found to be dreadfully bruised upon the head by the blows from the poker, and on Saturday was in a very critical state. Mr Superintendent Astwood having called Wilson to give evidence to justify a remand, asked for the prisoner to be remanded, which the magistrates agreed to as the poor woman could not attend. Mr Woodhead applied for bail, at the request of the prisoner's friends, but the Bench refused it, No motive is assigned for the shocking outrage,  Daring the past week 25 wrecks have been reported, making a total for the present year of 702.  It is stated that 6,400 copies of Victor Hugo's edition of Shakspere were sold in two days iu Paris.  The protracted strike at the Seghill near Newcastle, has at last terminated, up‘m terms which are considered satisfactory alike to the masters and the men. Concessions on both sides hav, . been made, and it is now hoped that wok will go on harmoniously.  Charles Elson, the pedestrian, who a few days ago walked 360 miles in 72 hours, on the north road from Malton, has matched himself to run ten men a mile each, and perform the ten miles himself within an hour. The race is a subject of speculation among the sporting people of Mahon.  Tlie emigration continues from Liverpool with unabated vigour, supplied principally from Ireland, and principally directed to the United States Out of 21241 persona who left the Mersey last month, a little over twenty thousand went to America, whilst nearly 1,100 went to Australia. About 11,000 of those who went to America were from Ireland, and the majority who emigrated to Canada and Australia were front the same country. A cargo of Mormons were among the number, and it is a singular fact that not a native of Ireland was among them. litimotAtED SALE OP TIIE "GREAT EASTERN" To THE FItRSCH.—We are informed that the steamer Great Eastern has been sold to the French for a sum approaching a quarter of a million sterling. This, however, will not interfere with her present engagements, which include the submersion of the Atlantic cable. The Great Eastern was purchased at Liverpool at auction about three months ago for a sum of £25 000, but, as the mortgage debentures had been previously bought up, the total c tst was probably 4:70,000 or