A MAN SHOT BY A CLERGYMAN, AND FEARFUL RESULT.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 565, 13 September 1851, Page 3

A MAN SHOT BY A CLERGYMAN, AND FEARFUL RESULT.

We (Carlisle Journal) have this week to record one of the most lamentable occuirences that has ever fallen within the sphere of our duties ia {Ins neighbourhood. The scene of this shocking catastrophe is Wultoa, a village about three miles north of Branipton, tbo victim one of the most respectable and respected yeomen of the district, and the unfoitunate causo ot the death the Clergyman of the parish. The deceased was Mr. William Armstrong, of Sorbie Trees, in Bewcnstle, a large fanner and considerable landowner, about thirty-eight years of age, married, and having two childien. lie was a man highly respected in his neighbourhood. On Wednesday he vibited Brampton on business It was maiket day, and he had drunk somewhat fieely, and when he left Brampton about eight o'clock in the evening, waa apparently the worse of liquor. At Walton, a little beyond the parish church, the road diverges in three different directions — leading on the right to the parsonage- house, occupied by the Rev. Joseph Smith, the incumbent, and his family. It was now about half-post eleven o'clock, and a fine moonlight night. From the maiu road to a gate leading to the shrubbery at the entrance of the Paisonage grounds is a distance of eighty -six yards, and from this gate to the front door of the Parsonage is foity-five yards. Mr. Smith had not gone to bed, but all the rest of the family had retiied. About half-past eleven o'clock he heard a knocking at the study window : tins was soon after lepcatei). Mr. Smith aimed himself with a sixbairelled revolving pistol, and proceeded to the fiont door, making a great noise in opening it, stepped outside, fired the pistol three or four times and then went back into the house, closing the door after him. Nothing moie was seen nov he,\rd till about seven o'clock in the morning, when the body of Mr Annstromg was discovered just inside the gate, quite dead. Shoitly aftei wards, Mr. Armstrong's pony was found at Walton Rigg, about a mile horn Walton, ou iU w ay home. An inquest was held on the body on Thui«day, when roost of tho above '-.lots having been proved in evidence, the Rev. Joseph Smith \vn= sworn. lie said that the knocking above spoken of pH him into a state of great agitation — his nerves beng we.ik at all lim 3. Ue saw the bar of the v, union was not fastened, and felt afimcl that the window might be duven m. In tho spirit of self (iffeiice ho went foiward to put <l)o bar dowu, making a great UJise, in tli? hope of inumjdauno any

Tallies who might beout'ido, thmkinq it mif lit be some vagrants, sucli as sailors, who had often spolcu to linn thiough the zinc blind of tin 1 window, m the vr&y of dictation. He then unlocked a drawer in which be kept n revolving pistol, took out the pistol, find taking afctnall lantern went fbiward to the front dooi. — "Agitated and devoid of all self-possession or judgment" (we now quote the witness's own words) — " 1 went forward alone as,! was, drew a bolt loudly of the front doqr, shot ba6*k the lock loudly, drew back a 'sliding 1 guard chain and opened the door. I may mention this 'fe .1 pi oaf of how utterly void I was of belf-possession prudence, as I thub exposed the house and myse^feby thus opening the door, J was speechless, and could^ot say anyj&mg. From the noise 1 h<uTniade at the^invlow ana door the person had withdrawn fronx'the vicinity of the window. My sight is so defective that I often bid ' good day' to a stranger, thinking it to be a parishioner." At this time the moon was in the south, casting a dark shadow on the north-west angle. These ciicumatances, with the shade of the shrubbery and the glare of the lantern, combined (as we understood the reverend gentleman to have saidj to prevent his seeing any one. " 1 at once discharged the pistol two or three hm<>3 without aiming fit any object — more in the hope of alarming than anything else. I am not accustomed to fiie-aims, and always had a dislike to fishing and shooting. The reason I provided myself with this (the pistol) was the painful anxiety of mind occasioned by the Frimley Murder, and other cases of that kind which have been reported, and not being possessed with bodily strength, and being in the house with females and children — the house being accessible on all aides without passing tbiough the village, I felt it my duty to have some fiie-arms to use in case of danger. I hred recklessly out at the door, and then went in nnd shut the door loudly. There were only tbree or four bairels loadod. After remaining in the house a short time I recovered consciousness so as to see the rash exposure I had made of myself nnd of my family, and also of j wounding any person out of doors. It was at tins mo- j ruont it struck me I should go out again, at all hazards, to see if there was any one there, or any 'trace oi@fimys one having sustained any 1 held the lantern in ray hand, and looked all round to see if I could see j anyone having sustained any injury, but saw nothing." As may readily be imagined, there was very great ' excitement amongst the inhabitants of the village and ; neighbourhood, and wherever the fatal occurreuce became known the strongest feelings weie excited. I It was the general belief that Mr. Armstiong had called at the parsonage to see one of the servants, with whom he was acquainted. The evidence which was adduced at the adjourned inquest on Tuesday threw no additional light on the melancholy event. But added another sad result. The evidence being concluded and the Coroner having addressed the jury they retired, and after an hour's absence returned and said, — " We find Mr. Smith Guilty of Manslaughter." The Coroner said he had a great deal to prepare befoio he could conclude the proceedings, therefore he suggested the adjournment of the Court to Thursday morning at ten o'clock, when he would read over the depositions and take the recognizances. Uhe jury were then bound over in their own recojjnuances of £10 each to prosecute the inquiry until it was finally completed. At this moment the Rev. Mr. Benson, the vicar of Brampton, entered the room in great haste, and evidently in r state of painful excitement, and exclaimed, " He's quite gone 1 ? quite gone \ The poor man (alluding to Mr. Smith) he is quite gone out of his mind." This caused great sensation and sympathy among those who remained, and a deep and soirowful expression overspread the countenances of all on hearing the painful intimation. It appeared that Mr. Smith had been told the result of the inquiry, which so overwhelmed him that he cried and sobbed like a child, subsequently sinking into a state of imbecility of mind, in which sad condition he still remained some hours after when we withdrew from the painful scene of this remarkable and awful visitation. The magistrates in attendance, with some of Mr. Smith's fiiends and his professional adviser, went up to the unfortunate gentleman's residence, but they found that, owing to his dreadful state of mind, it was impossible to take the usual steps consequent upon such a veidict of the coroner's jury. 3Mr. Smith continued in such an excited and deranged state of mind, that the magistrates (who had waited nearly the whole day for the purpose) were obliged to leave without having the question of bail settled, either as to the sureties or as to lh« amount, Dr. Giaham having certified that the reverend gentleman waa m such a state oi mind that it would be most dangerous to communicate anything to him of an exciting nature. An application is to be made to a judge to admit Mr. Smith to bail without his having to uppear before the magistrates, and the coroner has drawn out a certificate ! of the deranged state of Mr. Smith's mind in order that this step may be taken. J