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

NISI PRIIIS COURT.  Pierre Adolphus Augustine Selire 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 the prisoner was endeavouring to take the key from the Outside of the door she thought he meant to lock the door and take liberties with her, and became alarmed and madethere her escape and went home. The prisoner came also, and in the evening they all went, as had been her mother sleepin,, ranged, to the prisoner's lodgings, the girl and next day they weTntheoount before arranged, .af sofa-bed a wltlkin andtl r ept na rrinoeudr. . in Thetlie evening to tea. their being out without tsorr seemed. rather annoyed at um, but nothing particular passed. While tea was Mrs. Hillyer to fetch himiaireparing the prisoner asked Wag absent he said, " pi,,nmar w ill of beer, and while siT She said she should not go out jioaut tnaikg.het ; a I walk 9(i ' " Wont you ?" She replied, " No." He then , am not ashamed to look at you ;"to which she re lied, "Nor ani I ashamed to look at you." He then said, " One for you and one for me—one in each hand." He then raised his hand, in which was a pistol, and levelled it straight at her head, and fired. Ile was at this time .The ball of the • about 6 feet from pistol passed just over her head and lodged in the shutter behind her. The girl, dreadfully alarmed, ran out of the room, screaming, and just as she went out she heard another then made his The prisoner escape, pistol discharged. or four days after, when and was not seen again.till three