Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1882-01-28 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING CASE.  A night or two ago the police were called to a man who had been found lying on the pavement in St. Jamesstreet, Westminster, London, who had evidently been shot or had shot himself with a revolver, which was discovered near him. He was immediately removed to the Charing-cross Hospital, where he was seen by Mr. Bloxham, the surgeon. Examination showed that he had received a dangerous wound, the bullet having entered the body under the nipple of the right Ineast. It has been found impossible to extract it, or ascertain for certain how far or in what direction it may have penetrated. It was thought possible that the lungs may have escaped fatal injury, but there was a considerable loss of blood, and the man's condition was highly critical. In reply to questions, the patient stated that his name was G eorge Sampson,and thathe was aprivate in the lot Battalion of the Duke of Connaught's Regiment, and he averred that he had been shot by some one, but how and by whom and under what eirmimstances he did not—it may be could not—explain. It was thought to be partial corroboration of his statement that the ball had pierced all his clothing, so that the weapon had not been placed under the outer garment, and there was further the inherent improbability of a man attempting suicide in a public thoroughfare. There was, however, a similar unlikelihood of anyone attempting a murder in a large open, well-lighted Westend-street ; but at the time of the occurrence a considerable amount of fog prevailed. The tragedy seems to have been witnessed only by ahoy, who declares that he saw the man himself point the pistol to his breast and draw the trigger. The revolver has been discovered to bear the name of an officer of the 32nd Foot. How it came there is at present, like the other circumstances of the affair, a mystery.  BARKER'S MARINE SAFETY SlGNAL—Captain William B. Barker'h safety marine signal, which is an ingenious invention intended to secure vessels under sail or steam from coming into collision in fogs, has been favourably reported upon by the officers of the Board of Trade, and there is reason to believe that it will be adopted by the Admiralty. The apparatus is so skilfully arranged that it is well adapted for remedying the defects in the existing international system of signals. In order to prevent collisions it is of the utmost importance that the sound-signals should make known the course of vessels, and this is the want which Capt. Barker's apparatus is meant to supply. All signals beginning with a long sound show the course to be eastward; those commencing with a short sound show the course to be westward. Signals ending with a short sound show the course to be northward, and those ending with a long sound show the course to be southward. The importance of these distinctions of sound will readily be recognised when it is considered how easily a steamer may run down a sailing vessel in a fog if the signals of the latter only make known her whereabouts without indicating her course. It is understood that the American Government would readily adopt this useful invention if England would Oct the example.