The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1887-04-30 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE BOW SHOOTING CASE.  , SOME STRANGE DISOLOSIIRE,S  At the Thames Police-court on Saturday, Henry Walker, 40, a clerk, of 17, Albert Dwellings, Old Ford-road, Bow, was charged with having attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself with a revolver. it may be recollected, as having been reported at the time, that a married woman, named Alice Mechaux, who had formed a connection with the defendant, was a short time ago arrested on a charge of having attempted to 'murder Walker. When Walker was seen bleeding from a wound in the ear, Alice Mechaux was in the room with him, having nothing on but her chemise, and in answer to a question he said, "She did it." On arrival at the London Hospital, Walker said he had shot himself, and the woman also denied having committed the act. Mr. Lushington accordingly discharged the woman. Mrs. Ellen Bryant, of 4 and 5, Albert Dwellings, deposed that on March 24, about a quarter to two p.m., she was passing the prisoner's door when she heard a noise as though Borne persons were quarrelling. Just afterwards she heard Walker call out, "For God's sake open the door. My sister has shot me." In answer to a question, he said she had thrown his key into the yard. She there found it with some female clothing. Witness took the things upstairs, and went into the room with the police. Mrs. Mechaux called out, "Mrs. Bryant, bring me my clothes." Witness asked her what was the matter, and she said, "He has done it himself." That was in the prisoner's hearing. She heard Walker say, "I will forgive her." When she first went into the room Walker said, "My sister has shot me. I threw the clothing out of the window to prevent her making her escape." The Prisoner: I admit the attempt. The witness, continuing, said when she saw the prisoner at the hospital the next day, he asked her where his sister was. She told him that she was remanded, when he said, "I wish to release her. I have done it myself." When witness asked why he raised an alarm, he said it was his sister. Constable A. Wilson, 17 K R., said that at about two o'clock on the day in question, he, in company with another officer, went to Walker's room, and found him bleeding from the right ear. In answer to witness, he said the woman in the next room had done it. On going into the room where the female was, he found the revolver. Witness conveyed Walker to the station, and then to the hespital. When there he said, "I must have been stupid to have used such a small revolver as this, I ought to have had a larger one." Walker said he had thrown the clothes out of the window to detain the female. Walker was dazed at the time. Sergt. Haylett, 3 K, said that on the afternoon of the day in question he was in charge of the Bow Station, when Walker and the woman Mechaux was brought to the station. He was suffering from a wound in the ear, and said he had no charge against the woman. The latter said she knew nothing of the occurrence. On being asked again if he had any charge, he said "No." When he was about to go to the hospital he said, "Good bye, Alice, in case I don't see you again." She asked him why he did it, when he made no reply. Witness extracted three small pin-fire bullets from the revolver and two empty cases, one of which had been recently discharged. Alice Mechaux, of 37, West Ham-lane, Stratford, said that on the day in question she went to the defendant about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and remained with him until about two o'clock. When she got there they had some high words, and he told her she had driven him mad. He also said she had deceived him for many years, and the best thing to do would be to put an end to everything. He took the revolver from between some newspapers, and went into the other room. She then heard two reports, and the accused shouted out from the window that witness had done it. He shouted out, "My sister has shot me." He then put the revolver on the mantelpiece in the room where witness was, saying, " make you remember it for the rest of your life." He was then bleeding from the ear, and she did not think he knew what he was doing. Walker threw her clothes out of the window, saying that was to prevent her escape. They were then taken to the station, where he said, I will forgive you " (meaning for deceiving him). Witness was subsequently charged with the attempted murder, and brought to that court, where, after being remanded, she WRS discharged. Walker had only found out she was married a few days. Dr. Percy S. Webster, house surgeon at the London Hospital, said that he examined Walker on his admission on the day in question. He was then bleeding from the ear. Witness examined the wound, which he took to be one caused by a bullet, which had gone into the ear to a depth of about two inches. There was also some blood in the mouth, but be was not able to open it wide enough for 'witness to see anything. Two days later witness found a sore at the back of the mouth, which might have been caused by a bullet, and which the accused said was the case. Witness was unable to extract the bullet, owing to its depth, and it was still there. When witness first saw him he asked how he did it, when he said, "I am confused. Please don't ask me any questions." The same evening he said he had shot himself in the mouth and in the ear. He repeated that he had done it himself. Mr. Edward Charles Kilbey, solicitor, of College-hill, Cannon-street, said that he had known the prisoner for 19 years. He was a very quiet and sensitive man. About two months ago witness received a letter from him, in which he said he had been in great trouble, and it was not worth while continuing his existence. When witness saw him in the hospital he asked him to come to the court and explain that he did it himself. Witness saw the prisoner just before the occurrence, and he said he was half mad when he wrote the letter, and asked witness to burn it, which he did. The prisoner, having been cautioned in the usual manner, said, "I am extremely sorry to have given all this trouble. I admit the attemp`. I cannot excuse it, but I apologise to your Worship as representing the law. In extenuation, I can only say I was very much worried by loss of employment and private trouble." Mr. Lushington then committed the accused for trial, and refused bail.