Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1863-05-13 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.  On Wednesday evening one of the most appalling and desperate attempts at murder and suicide which have .been perpetrated in Nottingham for many years past was committed in Narrow-marsh (a low part of the town). A man named John Wheeldon, a sawyer, purchased two small pistols on Monday, at the shop of Mr. Woodhouse, pawnbroker, Clumber-street. About five o'clock on Wednesday evening Wheeldon was in Narrow-marsh, and seeing his wife passing, called her. She went to him and accompanied him into the house of a man named Mitchell, where their child was. A conversation took place, characterized by bitterness on both sides, and at its close the woman heard the click of a pistol trigger. She rushed towards her husband to wrest the pistol from his hand or throw up his arm, but before she reached him he tired, and the bullet took effect between the eyes, entering the head. There ;were three men present, but they either had not presence of mind, or Wheeldon was too quick for them, and had discharged : the pistol before they could prevent him. The woman I fell speechless, but soon arose and staggered into the street, where, after having walked a few paces, she would have fallen had not a butcher named Catch caught her in his arms. Wheeldon followed his wife into the street, and walked along until he came opposite to the Wheatsheaf beer-house, in which he lodged. Here he took another pistol out of his pocket, and poiuting at his right ear, fired. The ball took effect, and he fell on the footway. A cab was sent for, and Sergeant Hopkinson, with four constables, came up. The woman was placed in the cab, with a constable in charge, and conveyed to the General Hospital. The bullets in both eases remained in. The man sustained a fractured jaw-bone. At about nine o'clock he became speechless, at.d deaf in one ear; it is sunosed that the bullet must have injured the base of the brain. The Woman was bleeding profusely and in her ease it is supposed that the bullet must luftm taken a downward !direction and lodged in the neck, The statement made by the unfortunate womantafter she was removed to the hospital was to tee following effect: —" John Wheeldon is my husband. We have been living apat t about a fortnight, when he sold my home up. Between 4 and 5 this (Wednesday) afternoon I was going down Narrow Marsh alone, when I heard my htisband call me and say • Come here.' I turned round and went with him into Mitchell's home in Narrow-marsh. My husband followed into Mitehell's:house Mr. Mitchell and two men were there. My husband said to me God help you, you look a poor creature.' I said 'Yes and you don't look much better. You're paying 2s. a week for your board now, and when you was with .me you were not contented.' He said, 'I don't feel contented now. Do you want any money 2' I said, • No; you may take it. to the Scotch woman that fetched the warrant tor me.' Ile said, The warrant will do you no harm now. I'll pay any money for you.' He told me to kiss my child, which was then in the room. I kissed my child, lie said, ! Will you take the child?' I said, No, I can't ; I can't maintain it. You've taken the bread out of my mouth, or I could have done it; but if the Lord spares me I will get a living now.' He said, Yes, soy wench, you would.' He said, Have one glass with me, and the;; I'll leave you.' I said. 'No never while I live. You have scandalized me to the utmost, and I can think of you no more. I will take a little house, and try to manage the best way I can.' Ile said, You know I wont let you live in that way.' I said ' I will get a protection paper.' I then heard him draw a trigger. Mitchell looked round, and I said, 'Oh! he's got a pistol.' I ran towards my husband, who shot me on the face. I fell on the floor, and tried to speak, but could not. I then got up, and ran into the street. I was shortly afterwards taken to the hospital." The man's case is hopeless; the woman also lies in a most dangerous state.