The Potteries Examiner : — 1880-01-10 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.  A shocking occurrence resulting fatally for one person, took place at Croydon on Saturday morning. After shooting at one person against whom he entertained some grudge, and threatening to shoot a young lady, named Wren. of whom he had become enamoured, a mart named Laurence Bovill shot himself. Barill and a partner named Burgon entered into partnership, and carried on business at Sydenham Road, Croydon. Boy-ill being addicted to drink, the partners did not get on well tegether, and Bovill left the business, which was then continued by Burgon. While living in the house, Bovill had become attached to Mrs. Burgon's cousin, a lady named Annie Wren, who, however, declined his attentions. After leaving the business Bovill disappeared from the spot, and was not seen again until last Saturday night, when he was seen fighting with a man outside the White Home public-house. On Sunday morning Bergen arose at 5.15, and went downstairs to the cowshed and unlocked the door, and his wife having called attention to the early hour, left the cowshed open, and retired to bed again for an hour. At a quarterwt six he went down again, and on arriving at the door met his.partner Bovill. Immediately upon presenting himself Bovill pointed a revolver at him and discharged it. The bullet missed its mark. Bergen ran away, Ala Bevill followed him, pistol in hand. They ran out into the Selhurst Road, but the pursued estaiied. Meanwhile, the young lady, Annie Wren, went into Mrs. Burgon's bedroom, and was engaged in dressing herself, when she heard someone veining rapidly upstairs. They called out "Who is that I" but no answer was returned. Miss Wren rushed to the door and fastened it; but the man, who profed to be Bovill, forced it open, and, pistol in hand, ran M. Seizing Miss Wren by the arm, he pointed the pistol at her head, saying, "I have told you several times I would do this; now I will do it." Re was implored not to kill her, and the appeal seemed to weigh with him for a time, for his hand faltered and he lowered the weapon. lie raised it again, however, Saving, "I will do it." The girl made another apjosl to him, and he then released his hold of her, and opening his mouth, placed the revolver inside and dunharged it, dying almost instantaneously. On the person of the deceased man was found • scrap of paper, on which was written the following, presumably referring to Burgon : "This is all through being too good to him. I took him home with me and treated him like a brother, and he sounded on me like a dog on a rat, and when I showed him every —." Here the document breaks off. Four chambers of the revolver had been discharged, and the other two remained loaded. About fourteen cartridges were found on the man.  The bnrclue Gh.onduo, which arrived at Baltimore on Maturing from Aberdeen, had on board five of the passengers and six of the crew of the &nixie. They were found in an open boat about two hundred and fifty miles from the Azores, and had suffered terrible hardships. At Catti, near Freiburg, Switzerland a tradesman named Wicky hss just died, at the age of ninety, leaving 168 demendants--vis., Bixteen children, ninety-four grandchildren, and fifty-eight greatgrandchildren. The Right Hon. J. G. Hubbard, M.P. has remitted 50 per cat. of the rents of big tenants 011 big Addington estate, Huelm The death is announced of Mr Henry Hancock, F.R.C.S.. in bin eixty-aightb year. Mr. liancock was admitted a member of the Royal College of Burgeon in 1834, and a honorary fellow- in 180. In 1863 he wte eleetol a member Of the Council of the Coll"ge ; in 1865 he was unanimously elected the " Anis and Gale" Professor of HUM= anatomy and Surgeovs n 1%70 he was elected a member of the Court ,1 Examiners, and In 1872 President of the College. The following year he was appointed Hunterian orator. Mr. Hancock, who was a member of several harried societies, was the author of awe some standard work,.