Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1889-02-09 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

FATAL SHOOTING CASE AT CHARING CROSS.  A charwoman named Mary Ann Connorton, 50 years of age, was shot a few minutes before eight o'clock on the night of the Ist inst., near Charing. cross, under circumstances which the authorities seem to believe leave doubt as to whether the occurrence, which resulted in her death three hours later, was wilful or accidental. The deceased, who resided with her husband at 27, Little Earl-street, Seem Dials, was employed as a charwoman at the Constitutional Club, and at the close of her day's work, she left the club by the back door in Northum. berlandatreet. She there met a female friend, with whom she conversed for a few minutes, and then started to go home. She was within twenty yards of the Strand when a young man, who was standing under the light of a gas-lamp, either fired a revolver or allowed it to go off accidentally, the bullet striking Mrs. Connorton, Constables 149 E and 132 E, who were on duty, hearing the report, rushed to the spot, and were met by the , young man, who voluntarily told them that he had! shot a woman. Ile was at once arrested, and the revolver taken from him. The accused offered no resistance, and asked the constables to be cautious with , the weapons, as it was loaded in five chambers. A crowd rapidly gathered, and great excitement prevailed as the prisoner was taken to Bow-street. Mean' while Mrs. Connorton had been lifted into a hansom cab and was taken to Charing-cross Hospital. The house.surgeon, Mr. F. X. Da Costa, attended to her, and as her condition was evidently critical Mr. Bloxham, chief surgeon of the hospital, was sent for. An examination showed that the bullet had entered the woman's back, and had almost paned through her body, injuring the kidneys in its course. Ultimately the bullet was extracted, but shortly after eleven o'clock the woman died from hemorrhage. The man arrested states that his name is Henry Edward Halliday, that he is 25 years of age, and gave an address at Reading. On the way to the station he declared that the occurrence was a pure accident, as he was regulating the lever of the weapon when it exploded. The revolver was found to be as be stated—loaded in five chambers—the sixth having been recently discharged. On the intimation of Mrs. Connorton's death being received at Bow-street, Halliday was formally charged with the murder. He made no remark beyond asking whether the woman was really dead. He states that he is a seafaring man, having been in the navy, and his appearance bears out the statement. The prisoner was respectably dressed, but no money Wall found upon him, and he explains that he has been living in lodging-houses since discharged at Southampton a few weeks ago, and that he had spent his "last coppers" the previous afternoon. So far as can be ascertained the accused and the deceased woman were strangers to each other, but one of the servants at the Constitutional Club declares that he saw the former, or a man resembling him, loafing outside the club during the greater part of the day. Mrs. Connorton is described as a hard-working woman, who had for years supported a large family.  VIRTUE and talents, though allowed their due consideration, yet are not enough to procure a man a welcome wherever he comes. Nobody contents himself lelth rough diamlnds, or wears them no. When polished and set, then they give a lustre. EVERY one who thinks at all knows that all first impressions need to be submitted to many tests before they can be wholly trusted. Had we not learned this, we should still be as infants reaching for the moon. The impressions we first receive from the men and women around us afford but a small fraction of the knowledge necessary to form even an approximate estimate of their characters. Indeed, they often come from our own mood at the time the impression is made, and a more extended acquaintance may sweep them away entirely. However strong they may be, the plainest reason demands our waiting for more light and knowledge before forming any conclusion or pronouncing any criticism. Haulms : Pretty ahort, sir P" Customer: "Well, yes, I3am. Just put it down on the elate, will you? Iduch'bbliged to you for speaking of it."  .1_