REVOLVER PRACTICE IN COURT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1543, 27 April 1887, Page 3

REVOLVER PRACTICE IN COURT

TherJ waa, says an exohange, ao im promptu duel m an American County Court recently. B A . lVUller, proprietor of an hotel bnrned at Pocahontaa two mouths ago, was on trial for incendiarism. When the hotel waa burned two brothers named Baber lost thoir liv«,a, John L Baber, a brother of the vlctibiß, believing Miller had oaused the fire to get the insurance, engaged deteotlvea to make enquiries, and the trial was the remit One of the witnesses againßt Miller was an Insurance agent named Baldwin. Colonel May, counsel for -tha defence, questioned the sincerity of this witness, who thereupon " ripped out a revolver, opening fire upon May," who was painfully wounded m the leg. Baldwin fired five times. Every shot took efieot, but "only one Btrnok the man aimed at, the othero being distributed among the spectator^ " A clergyman received a ecilp wound, mi man waa th t in the month, one received a flesh wound m the arm, and another » slight wound m the head. Cblonel May returned Baldwin*) fi r e, firing twioe without effect. At the first th )t the apec'aturs m Court rushed pell-mell for the door, and the room wan speedily emptied.