The Sun. — 1835-10-13 (London, England)

MAR YLEB ONE.  DETERMINED A;;;;;;;;iliJiinEa.—Last night John Wales, a middle-aged man, of athletic frame, having the appearance of a bargeman, was placed at the bar before Mr. Rawlinson, charged with the followinc, diabolical attempt to murder Mr. Thomas Hughes, chief clerk to Messrs. Robins, Mills, and Co., wharfingers, of No. 5 Wharf, Paddington. Prosecutor having been sworn, stated that the prisoner was formerly in the employ of the above firm as Captain to one_of their boats, but about three weeks ago was discharged in conseqnence of drunkenness and neglect of duty. He had frequently seen him since about the wharfs, but had not spoken to him. That morning, about ten o'clock, he was in a stable in the adjoining wharf, belonging to Messrs. Thomas and Frederick Meredith, with whom he was con versing, when the prisoner made his appearance at the door, and, addressing witness, accused him of doing him (the prisoner) an injury by procuring his discharge from his situa-1 tion. He only smiled at this accusation, telling him that if any injury was done he had done it through his own negligence ; when the pripner, without saying anything more, drew his right hand from under his jacket pocket, where it had hitherto been concealed, and, presenting a pistol firmly grasped in it, at witness's head, drew the trigger, when fortunately it missed fire, and only flashed in the pan, he at the same time exclaiming, " I'll be d—d if I. don't shoot you," and was about to put some more powder in the pan, when Mr. Thomas Meredith rushed forward and wrested the deadly weapon from his grasp, and, assisted by his brother and witness, who had partly recovered from the surprise and shock his feelings had sustained, held him secure till a policeman came up, who took him into custody. The prisoner did not appear sober, and the inspector at the station-house thought him so drunk that he proposed to lock him up till the evening sitting. Mr. Thomas Meredith, who resides at No. 108, Edgeware-road, corroborated the prosecutor's statement, and added that be was- so astounded at first sight of the pistol, that be could not move. • On the prisoner pulling the trigger, however, and, wresting the weapon from his grasp, exclaimed, " You assassin, deliver up the pistol ; you've done enough to be hung by attempting to shoot an innocent man," to which the prisoner coolly replied, " I was born to be hung, and I don't care if I'm hung for this." Witness did not consider him drunk, as he acted throughout with the greatest deliberation, and took a steady aim at the prosecutor. Police constable T 9 deposed that on taking the prisoner to the station-house he said, " By God, I meant to shoot him. I bought the pistol on purpose." Witness did not think he was drunk, but he appeared in a very excited state. He bad since found that the pistol was loaded with powder and a quantity of small shot. (The pistol was here produced, and was about the size of a common duelling pistol.) Witness also found some powder and shot in his pockets. There being no further evidence, Mr. ltAvviatisoN asked the prisoner, who lolled carelessly in the dock, if he wished to say anything, advising him to consider the situation in which he stood, as the case affected his life. • Prisoner—l did it because I, suspected that he was the cause of my being discharged from my employers, and I knew that my family would, in consequence be brought to poverty. He was then fully committed to Newgate for trial.