The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1878-12-21 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SON CHARGED WITH SHOOTING AT  HIS MOTHER. COMMITTAL OF THE ACCUSED.  There was considerable excitement in Dudley on Saturday night on its being rumoured that another attempted murder had taken place. Upon inquiry it was ascertained that a miner named Frederick Moore (22), of 10 Lawley Street Dock, had been arrested on the charge of being armed with a loaded pistol and threatening to shoot his mother and other persons It is stated that prisoner went, home, and expressed his intention of removing a bed to a house at which his paramour resided. Mrs. More refused permission, and he then used violent and threatening language. He said, too, it she did not allow him to take the bed away he should burn it. In her presence he then loaded a pistol, and before going upstairs repeated his determination as to the bed. His mother continued to offer resistance, and he pointed the pistol at her, but she could not say whether the cap snapped. At the police station afterwards, however, it was found th a the cap had exploded, and that the pistol contained a full charge of powder and two stone marbles. Upon his going upstairs Mrs. More shouted for help, and a man named 13enbow and his son came in. Moore threat,ned to shoot them, and upon other persons arriving and a crowd gathering outside he set fire to the bed, and made his escape. He was punned by a mob, and was seen to throw away the pistol by Thomas Harper. He was overtaken upon reaching Upper High Street, and M. William Marston gave information toPolice-constable Harvey, who at once took the prisoner into custody. Upon being searched at the station a large quantity of blasting powder and several caps and stone marbles were found upon him. On Monday, at Dudley Police Court, before Messrs. Aston. Cochrane, James Fisher, and Houghton, Frederick Moore (22), collier, 10, Law 1:y Street, New Dock, was charged with "being armed with a loaded pistol, and threatening to shoot his mother, Hannah Moore." -tAie erlovater was charged with presenting a loaded pistol at his mother on Saturday night. The pistol was examined at the police station. It was found to contain a fall charge of powder and two stone marbles. The prisoner had a bag of similar powder upon him, several marbles, and an iron ramrod. The pistol was capped, and the hammer had fallen on.the cap, but fortunately no explosion followed. Hannah Moore said she was the mother of the prisoner, who had been living with her since Christmas. He came home sober on Saturday night, and there was a quarrel about a bed which he wished to take away. It was her bed and she refused to part with it. They struggled for the bed, and the prisoner raised a poker to her, and threatened to knock her brains out. He left the house shortly afterwards, and upon his return brought a pistol out of the cupboard. He loaded it with powder out of a jug, with two marbles out of the kitchen, and with some bits of paper. He then put a cap on the pistol, and sz id he would shoot the first - man who came in and touched the bed. Turning to his mother, prisoner pointed the pistol full at her, anl said, "I will blow your -- brains out." Shortly afterwards she saw smoke in the bed room, and found that he had set the bed on fire. She cried 'Murder !" and the neighbours came in. Her son then threw the bed, on fire as it was, down stairs. The bed was removed, and then prisoner said he would find out who had it and kill them. He ran out of the house, followed by a crowd. Cross-ext‘minecl : Did not hear the cap snap. The bed was hers, and she would not let her son have it. William Benbow, •a nailer, gave corroborative evidence, and said prisoner pointed the pistol at him and threatened to shoot him. Benjamin Binnell said he saw the prisoner in the street with the pistol, and followed him to take it from him. Prisoner threatened him. but witness hold him until Police-constable Harvey came up. Prisoner admitted to him that he had some rough powder on him. Thomas Harper said he saw the prisoner throw away the pistol. Witness gave the weapon to Chief Superintendent Burton, who came up. Prisoner was then formally charged, but he said he wished to say nothing. lie was then committed to the Sessions.