The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-04-12 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

CITY SHOOTING CASE. TWELVE YEARS' PENAL SERVITUDE.  At the Central Criminal Court, on Friday, before Mr. Justice Kennedy, Charles Ernest Lindus, 44, of no occupation, residing at Southininster, Essex, was Indicted for shooting at his wife, Eliza, and George Saunders Jacobs, solicitor, with an intent to murder them, at Church-court, Old Jewry, in January last. The accused, who seemed very depressed, was allowed to be seated.—Mr. Keeley, in opening the case, said that the prisoner was the husband of the lady at jwhom he discharged a revolver,and to whom he was married in 1881. She had had during time of marriage several children. For a time the parties appeared to have got on very well, but the accused gave way at times to habits of intemperance, with the result that differences arose, which resulted in police-court proceedings, and two applications were made for divorce. The second person who was wounded by the prisoner was Mr. George Saunders Jacobs, solicitor' who was the legal adviser of the parties at this period, and whose services had been engaged to draw up a deed of separation.—Mr. G. S. Jacobs, solicitor, said that he acted as the legal adviser of Mrs. Lindus in the matter of her dispute with her husband. An interview was arranged for December 12th last with the prisoner, but the appointment was put off by the prisoner. He saw him subsequently, however, when he said that he would not do anything in the matter of the settlement unless his wife was present. On January 10th,the date of the appointment, the prisoner called, and came into his (witness's) room, with his wife. The prisoner turned and locked the door. Then he muttered something, as though about to give his wife a lecture. The woman screamed. IS itness jumped up, and the prisoner at the same time fired a revolver at him, the bullet striking him in the right breast. He saw the prisoner tire almost simultaneously at his wife's back. He picked up a book to protect himself, and leaned over and broke a glass panel. The prisoner was about to take second aim at him, when his brother Albert buret into the room, and seized the prisoner by the collar. The witness thought that he was dying and left the room. He was taken to the hospital, where he remained five weeks. The bullet had not been extracted. Further evidence having been heard, the defence offered was insanity, but the jury convicted the prisoner. On Saturday the prisoner was again placed in the dock in respect of the second indictment, which, however. Mr. Begley intimated that he intended to remain on the files of the court.—Mr. Justice Kennedy, addressing the prisoner, who said that he had nothing to say in mitigation, said Charles Earnest Lindus, you were found, after a very careful trial by jury, guilty of a most serious crime. Had the act of which you have been found guilty been carried out according to the intent which the jury found, your life would have been forfeited. It is a merciful thing in this case that the intent failed In its purpose. Looking at the finding of the jury It appears to me a case of the most aggravated kind —an attempt, in fact, to slay your own wife, deliberately purposed and carried out under circumstances shewing forethought and premeditation. I must treat this as a very serious matter, and the sentence of the Court is that you be sent to penal servitude for 12 years.—Prisoner was then removed.