The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-10-28 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT AT WHOLESALE MURDER.  On Monday a wholesale attempt at murder, unequalled in character and magnitude since the days of Rush, was investigated by the Tavistock magistrates. The prisoner, John Medland, was charged with firing at no less than four peraiina, and with attempting to commit suicide by cutting his own throat. The prisoner hail formerly iissisted on the farm lif Mr. Illatchford, Moortown, and was spending the day there on Tueailay. In the evening, while Miss Elizabeth Itlatchfhrd, an extremely good looking young woman, was blowing up the fire in the kitchen, the prisoner stepped up behind her and shot her with a six-barrelled revolver. Mrs. Blatchford, hearing the report, rushed in and found the prisoner standing near her daughter, who had fallen to the floor, nresenting a pistol chow to her ear. She cried out, "You villain, what are you about ?"and prisoner replied, " I'll have pm, too," and presenting the pistol at her firisl. At that moment, however, Selina, another daughter, who had heard the first report, came In and clamped her arms round Medlanil, thereby, causing the ball to pass close by her mother's face. Medland managed to get his hand partially freed, and fired sgain iiver his shoulder at Selina, lint missed her,. The latter then rushed out cif the kitchen with her mother. Another sister, Jane, however, hurried if, Mill raised Elizabeth, who lay bleeding on the ground. They both tried to escape, but fell when near the doer, and Meilland fired off a fourth barrel at them. They got up aml hurried into an adjiiining field, where thew *listen! and mother were detaining their father lest he too might be shot at. Left alone in the kitchen Modland took up a butcher's knife and cut his throat, dividing the small arteries and the windpipe in two places. Ile then rushed out, but was soon seized by Mr. Illatchfi nil and his son, who 'hound lip his throat, but he tore open the bandages, which were, however, again secured. At the hearing before the magistrates a most painful scene took place. The prisoner declared that Elizabeth Blatchford loved him, and that he should have lwen happy but 1. in the pride of her family. The young lady gave her evidence with great reluctance, and when, at its close, she wattled out of court, the prisoner piteously and frantically begged that she might remain no that he could see her, if lint for a few minuted. The surgeon, Mr. Northey. deposed to the fact that Mies Elizabeth Matadi ird hail been shot on the loft side of her head by a conical loullet. Three if the bullets had been found, but the fourth watt noosing, and be was not certain that it WWB not still lodged in her head. There was also a hole thrieigh her dress, awl a severe contusion upon her side, 011,11:410111,11, he believed, by another bullet. Prisoner, after being cautioned, s'aid that he loved his " (tear Elizabeth," that she and he was watched, and finding that she cried about it he could bear it 110 longer. Eour shots were fired, liesau, I, but twii Were intended for her, rtiol the remaining two for lotiowlf. lie wished that Elizabeth was ,lead, for thell.he Xllollld (lie lis.ppy. I Fawner was. committed for trial at the Exeter Assizes.