ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE MR G. P. SMITH, M.L.A., AND DEATH OF HIS DEFENDER.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2204, 31 May 1870, Page 2

ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE MR G. P. SMITH, M.L.A., AND DEATH OF HIS DEFENDER.

(From the Argus of the 1 9th Inst.) The topic of the last few days been an attempt made to shoot Mr G. P. Smith, M.L. A., in the public street—unsuccessful so far as Mr Smith himself was concerned, but unhappily fatal to a man who bravely stepped forward to save the assailed from the assailant. On Tuesday afternoon, shortly after four o’clock, Mr Smith was mYictoriastreet. near the head of Spring street, on his way from the Supremo Court, where he had been professionally engaged during the day, to the Legislative Assembly, when Mr Gerald Henry Supple stepped up to him, arid as soon as he had made sure that the man before him was Mr Smith, presented a revolver at his head and fired. The first shot missed. Mr Smith fled, and Mr Supple pursued, the latter firing again twice, his third shot taking effect on Mr Smith’s left arm. Then Mr Smith caught sight of Mr John Esseneu Walshe, who, on being appealed to for protection, interposed, and knocked Mr Supple , down ; but during a struggle on the ground the latter fired, and wounded Mr Walshe in the abdomeu. He was immediately disarmed, and taken into custody shortly afterward?. Mr Smith’s wound appeared comparatively light, though the ball had lodged in his arm. Some apprehensions were at first entertained respecting him, but the ball was safely got out on the evening of the same day, and Mr Smith was out again on Thursday. With Mr Walshe, however, the cass was painfully different, He died on the afternoon of the second day, at 3 o’clock, m the Hospital, The ball had entered just below the navel, passed through a small portion of the cavity of the stomach, and wounded one of the intestines. The cause of the calamitous affair is a gentleman who, for many years past, has been a writer for the Melbourne newspaper press ; at the time of this tragic event, and for some time previously, a contributor to the columns of The Argus and The Australasian, but not upon political topics. He was a contributor to the Age in 1863, at the time Mr G. P. Smith edited that newspaper. He is a barrister by profession, but practised little. Mr Smith and he, who held opposite views on Irish politics, if that ha<l aught to do with it, had not spoken for ’ seven years. ‘lt seems' to he generally believed" that Mr Supple was quite insane when he fired the shots. It is said, however, on the other hand, that Mr Supple was a man of very strong feelings, and one who, when irritated on any subject, would work himself up into a perfect frenzy of anger against those persons to whom he might bear any animosity. He once—about nine years ago—threatened to shoot a gentleman at whose hands he fancied he had sustained some slight or wrong, and it is said that when in the watchhouse he mentioned, the names of several geiffleUiSU wd.B Vvliom he was acquaints as ueing persona on whom he had intended to wreak his vengeance. People who had been intimately acquainted with him noticed that for a couple of mouths past his maimer had been strange and eccentric. He has made no disguise of his wish to shoot Mr Smith, but has stated that the shooting of Mr Walshe was an accident. Mr G. P. Smith, it may be necessary to mention, was Attornep-General in the former administration of Mr M‘Culloch. Mr Walshe was a publican, keeping the Star of the East Hotel, in Spring street, about 200 yards from where the affray occurred. He originally came from Sligo, Ireland, and was for two years in the Dublin police. He arrived here about 16 years ago, and joined the police force as a trooper. He subsequently became a member of the detective force, in which he continued till four or five years ago. He then went to Queensland, and remained there until IS months or two years ago, when he opened two hotels at different times, both in Colfingwood—one in Derby street and the other in Rokeby street. He afterwards took the hotel above named. He has left a wife and six children. The sympathy which is usiversally felt for the family of the unfortunate hut brave man is rapidly assuming a practical character. Another portion of our columns to-day bears witness to the efforts which have been made to ra'se subscriptions for them. The Government have announced that Parliament will be asked to vote a sum of money for the widow and children of the deceased,

An inquest; hpen commenced, but adjourned until next week,