The Sun. — 1853-03-21 (London, England)

NISI PRIUS COURT.  Pierre Adolphus Augustine Sebire was indicted for having feloniously discharged a loaded pistol at Emma Hillyer, at Plymouth, on the 12th of December last, With intent to kill and murder her. There were other counts in the indictment varying the charge. Mr. H. T. Cole was counsel for the prosecution ; Mr. Cox defended the prisoner. This was a very extraordinary case. It appeared that the prisoner, who was a fine, sailor-looking young man, was a native of Jersey, the owner of several vessels trading from Jersey to Plymouth, one of which he commanded himself, called the Medora. In November last he happened to be at Plymouth with his vessel, and became acquainted with Mrs. Hillyer, the mother of the girl he was charged with attempting to murder. Hearing that she had a pretty daughter living with her uncle and aunt at Devonport, he asked the mother to introduce him to her, and accordingly on the 24th of November he went to Devonport with the mother, and called at the uncle's, and they took the girl out for a walk. She is a very pretty interesting girl of between 17 and 18, and she gave her evidence with great propriety. During the walk the prisoner appeared to be much pleased With her, and before she returned home asked her if she should like him for a husband. She said she thought she should. He then said he would marry her on the following Tuesday, and gave her his gold watch and chain, saying it should be a pledge for the performance of his promise, and that if he did not marry her it was to be forfeited. On the Monday he made an excuse for not marrying her the next day, saying he could not complete some business which he had. All went on harmoniously till the 11th of December, when the prisoner called on the mother of the girl and said he would be married on the next Sunday; that he had taken lodgings for them, and bought the ring, and wished the girl to go out with him and get the licence. The mother assented, and they went out together. While out he made an excuse to go into an ironmonger's shop for some article, leaving the girl -outside, but it afterwards appeared that he there bought a brace of pistols for 31., and gunpowder, caps, and balls. He then took the girl to see the lodgings. She sat down on a sofa, but perceiving that ps was endeavouring to take the key from the out of the door she thought he meant to lock the door Vtake liberties with her, and became alarmed and de her escape and went home. The prisoner came a there also, and in the evening they all went, as had been before arranged, to the prisoner's lodgings, her mother sleeping on a sofa-bed inthe parlour. r.The next day they weintheout for a walk, and returned in the ai ng beingo tea. aa. out withoutlpri Boner seemed rather annoyed at theirpassed.eve While tea was pahriemp.a, ribnugt thneothpirnigsonpearrtaiesuklaedr Mrs. Hillyer to fetch him gepiezutiltlofihbo:uterir,taeand while she was absent he said, ~ Emma, night ke e a; hew dasl said d? 1 ' She said she should not : "Wont you ?" She replied, "No?, am not ashamed to look at you ;" to which Jliesare replied, ~ Nor am I ashamed to look at you.,, lie thenpsaid "One for you and one for me—one in each hand." . 'p' asHsede, then raised his hand, in which was a pistol, and levelled it straight at her head, andT fired. He Ilnie was at this time aesnoQathpeer, about 6 feet from her. h the room, her. The girl, dreadfully alarmed, thh hrooln, just over her head and lioadgmeeddi,n rtahne shnnuhttetenrpf te pistol discharged.then The prisoner f out meadeearhdis screaming, and just as she went and was not seen again till three er our days after,When,  he was apprehended, at which time he had two loaded pistols in his pocket.  Mr. Cox addressed the jury for the prisoner, contending that he was in such a state of mind at the time he did the act that he was hardly responsible for his actions, and therefore could not be said to entertain the dreadful intention of murdering the poor girl to whom it appeared he lo'red so deeply.  Mr. Justice Erie having summed up, The jury found the prisoner guilty of shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He was then sentenced to 15 years' transportation.