The Weekly Gazette for Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Cleveland District. — 1880-11-13 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE WODLD-BE MURDERER.  Between three and four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon the towns of Stockton and South Stockton were thrown into an intense state of excitement by a rumour that a terrible tragedy had been committed at Messrs Appleton's flour mills, which stand on the banks of the river close by Stockton Bridge. It was at first said that Mr B. H. Appleton had been shot dead in his office. The rumour spread in every direction with incredible rapidity, and lost nothing of its tragic character as it passed from month to mouth. An immense crowd soon collected in the vicinity of the entrance to the mill, anxiously attempting to glean such scraps of information as they could, and the wildest atones were set in circulation from the vague conjectures that were hazarded by some of the more imaginative persons in the gene-al throng. The actual facts, however, are that about half-past three o'clock in the afternoon a workman named John Thurlow, ' who was formerly employed at the mill, called at the offices under the pretence of asking Mr Appleton to give him a character. Mr Appleton, on hearing the man's request, at once said be should be pleased to give him a character, and forthwith proceeded to write it out. Meanwhile Thurlow aeemed to be perfectly quiet ; but when Mr Appleton folded up the character and handed it to him the man drew a seven-chambered revolver and made a most determined attempt to murder Mr Appleton. Thurlow fired four sheds; two of them entered Mr Appleton's neck at the side; another struck him in the side, and a third hit him upon the chest, but did not penetrate the body. The fourth shot fortunately missed its mark. Another barrel of the weapon was loaded; but before the would-be assassin could take aim a fifth time at his helpless victim he was seized, and the revolver wrenched from him. No time was lost in summoning medical aid from all quarters. Dr. Farquharson, Dr. Hind, and Dr. Pearson were upon the scene of the sad occurrence before very many minutes had elapsed. Dr. Farquharson shortly afterwards proceeded to Preston Hall to communicate the painful tidings to Mrs Appleton, who at once returned with him. On making an examination of Mr Appleton the doctors found that the revolver had been discharged at a distance of only a foot or two from the unfortunate gentleman. The bullets had pierced to an exceptional depth, while the singed marks, showing the effect of runpowder, were clearly distinguishable upon the clothing. A variety of strange and highly improbable reasons are afloat as to the motives which prompted the perpetration of such a cold - blooded deed. It seems, however, to be most likely that when Thurlow was discharged from the mill a few months ago for incapability he felt that he had some cause to feel aggrieved because his services were dispensed with, and that he has since allowed bis feelings to over step the limits of discretion and to lead him to seek resentment in the shocking manner which it is now our very paint a! duty to earonicle. Within a few minutes after the attempted murder the police were upon the I scene and apprehended Thurlow on a charge of wilfully and maliciously attempting to kill Mr Appleton. Anxious enquiries were made at the mill after the sad affair, among the callers being Mr W. Whitwell, Mr C. A. Head, Mr Thos. Wrightson, and a number of the principal gentlemen of Stockton and South Stockton.