THREATENING TO MURDER MR. GLADSTONE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2754, 20 July 1885, Page 3

THREATENING TO MURDER MR. GLADSTONE.

A miserable-looking lad, named Alfred Terry, ages 17, was charged at the Central Criminal. Court, London, with sending a letter to the Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, demanding money with menaces. Mr Poland and Mr Montagu Williams prosecuted. Although the prisoner was charged with a very serious offence, the facts appeared to be of a rather ludicrous Character. The prisoner appeared to have been for a considerable time m the habit of writing to Mr Gladstone demauding money, and threatening to kill him if he did not send him some. He was cautioned by Inspector Shaw on several occasions, and prisoner promised not to repeat the annoyance. He did not, however, keep his promise, but on the 10th of April he wrote the letter in question, in which he threatened to morder him and to blow up the Tower if he did not send him £2OO. Inspector Shaw went again to him, and the prisoner at once told him that he had written the letter, and he thought Mr Gladstone would send him some money, with which he wanted to buy a box of herrings. The jury found the prisoner guilty. The prisoner was sentenced to twelve. months' hard labour, the learned judge at the same time informing him that he was liable to be sent to penal servitude for ten years.