Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1882-08-05 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

TIIE ATTEMPT TO MURDER A LEEDS DRAPER. At the Leeds Assizes on Saturday, before Mr Juetioe Cane, Lawrence Crossley (18), draper's assistant, was indicted on a charge of feloniously shooting George Black, with intent to kill him, at Leeds, on the sth of May last. Mr Barker was counsel for the prosecution, and Mr Lockwood defended. The prisoner was an apprentice to Mr Black, draper, Upperhead-rew, Leeds, having been apprenticed to him by indenture, dated May 4th, 1831, for three years. He had remained in the employment of Mr Black until she 2nd of May in the present year, when for some reason or other Mr Black discharged him from hfs service. On the same day that the prisoner was discharged he went to the shop and asked Mr Black for his indenture. Mr Black rep led that he would send the indenture to his father. Later in the day the prisoner went to the shop and demanded the indenture. Mr Black then offered to give up the document ot condition that the prisoner signed some receipt on the baek. The prisoner refused to do thie, and he went away. On the sth of May the prisoner again went to Mr Black's shop, about half-past ten o'clock in the morning. It was Mr Black's habit at that time of day to be in his office, on the first floor of the premises, and this was reached by passing through the shop. The prisoner walked through the shop, and went upstairs until he bad a full view of the office; but seeing that Mr Black was not there, he at once turned round, and went down stairs into the shop. He then etood at the top of some steps leading into the cellar and back yar. 1. Mr Black was at the time entering the chop .from these steps, and the prisoner, meeting him full in the face, pulled out a revolver and shot him in the chest, without saying a word. Mr Black, staggering from the effect of the shot, rushed past the prisoner, who again fired at him, the bullet striking the shoulder blade and paseing into the chest. Mr Black ran across the stieet to a chemist's shop, ind was afterwards taken to the Infirmary, where his injuries were attended to by Mr Atkinson, one of the consulting surgeons. He was for some time in great danger, but he bad sufficiently recovered to be able to come into 'Court, although he is not yet out of danger. The prisoner, immediately after Mr Black had gone out of the shop, put the weapon to his own forehead, and shot himself. He fell backwards, and in his turn he was taken to the Infirmary.—The jury found the prisoner guilty. Sentence was deferred till Monday, when he was sentenced to twenty year.e' penal servitude.  Coarmiss7ii—o-ifTirTart Csaaisas.—A conference of London and provincial letter carriers was held in London on Saturday to take into consideration the new scheme of payment and regulations. Resolutions expressing dissatisfaction were unanisiaously adopted. An extraordinary scene was witnessed on Sunday evening at All Saints' Church, East Clevedon. A man named Llewellyn llartree was doing public penance for the seduction of a servant girl, who now awaits her trial for manslaughter. 'I he church was I crowded.  _