The Sun. — 1864-07-01 (London, England)

THE WOMEN'S DUEL.—Some additional facts in connexion with this caee, some of the extraordinary features of which were reported in The Sun a day or two ago, have transpired since the committal of the prisoner for trial to Lincoln it ssizes. The attempt by theprisonsr (Martha unwell, it will De recollected, was most determined, and her intended victim had an exceedingly narrow escape. The pri•  soner, in company with Miss Johnson and four otheryouog ladies, was quietly returning home to Springthorpe, after visiting Gainsborough, It was a quiet, I,vely evening, and the party had arrived at a lonely part of the road, near Somerby-wood, when the prisoner, without any quarrel, or the slightest intimation of her purr ose, threatened to shoot Miss Johnson, and at once fired deliberately at her face. The muzzle of the pistol was so close to Miss Johnson that her forehead was scorched, and the only circumstance which, humanly speaking, thwarted the prisoner's diabolical purpose was the heavy charge of the pistol. This caused the weapon when fired to be deflected upwards, and the contents, in c. nscquence, went harmlessly over head. The: recoil of the pistol, however, caused the upper part of the cock to strike the prisoner's hand wish con siderable violence, inflicting on her a severe flesh wound. This created a diversion in her victim's favour, and, in all probability, enabled her, by escaping, to avoid a second shot, for the prisoner Fursued her with the pistol in one hand and the other hand in her pocket, apparently with the intention of reloading the pistol, as a supply of balls, shots, powder, and caps were afterwards found in her pockets. Miss Johnson, however, safely escaped to the nearest farmhouse, and the prisoner, finding her designs baffiA, went on to Springthorpe. Miss Johnson had been in the habit o of a t h music to the prisoner's pupils, but some iuse g ciug quarrel took place between her and the pi i'ago  sonar. She continued, however, her ptofessional visits, and on several occasions remained at the prisoner's all night. When staying there the prisoner eevetal times threatened in the middle of the night to shoot her, at the same time pointing a pistol at her, and on one of these occasions Miss Johnson saw that the pistol was loaded with ball. Since the prisoner's committal the police have discovered that the pistol with which the deed was attempted to be committed wa. purchased about a fortnight previously. Thy prisoner has voluntarily informed the police how she loaded it. She first, she says, put in two thimblefuls of powder, then some shot, and at !he top a ball or bullet. On her way to Lincoln Castle, teem to await her trial, she drew the at tension of the policeman who had charge of her to the spot where executions take place at that city, and said, " I should havo been proud to have hung there it only I had accomplished my purpose." She even went further, and said it she were at liberty and had the chance she would still carry out her intention. A. book which belonged to the prisoner has been found containing the draught of a will dated the very day of the attempted murder, and a statement of accounts, all posted up to that day. She repeatedly informed the police that she had gone to Gainborough on the night in question with the inn determination either of inducing Mias Johnson to let bygones bo bygones and visit her on the same terms as formerly, or of shoo big her and then herself. prisoner has b.ivn National schoolmistress at Springthorpe bbout nine years. She is a married woman, about 45 years of age, but has been livirg apart from her husband for many years. There can be no doubt about her having the full possession of her faculties. In the evidence before the magistrates mention was made of a quarrel which took place between Miss Johnson and the prisoner about eighteen months ago. The cause of this quarrel has not been made clear, but, from the prisonet's own statements, it seems to have had something to do with the school. Several of her pupils had left her school to go to another one that had been established in the village. These pupils Miss Johnson went to teach, and discontinued her visits to the prisoner. At this the prisoner was very much annoyed, and she has been brooding over the matter ever since—so much so that for weeks together, as she told the police, she had no sleep. She therefore resolved to end it one way or the other. Prisoner does not seem to feel the position in which she is placed the least.