ATTEMPT TO MURDER A LIVERPOOL MERCHANT.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 249, 19 May 1868, Page 3

ATTEMPT TO MURDER A LIVERPOOL MERCHANT.

(From the Daily

One of the most extraordinary and daring attempts at murder and robbery that have ever come under the cognisance of the police of Liverpool (and such offences are by no means rare in that town) was committed one morning lately. About half-past eleven o'clock Mr Adolphe Kusel, a wine merchant, who has an office in Tower Buildings, Water street, was alone there, his clerks happening to be all out on business at the time, when two persons entered. One of them appeared to be a woman, and the other, seemingly a middle-aged man, had a large beard and moustache. The latter, holding in his hand an advertisement cut from a newspaper, made an inquiry of Mr Kusel concerning some wines he had on sale, saying he wished to sample them. Mr Kusel was going into the outer office to show the wines, when his interrogator jumped upon his. back, and began beating him in a furious manner upon the head with a life preserver or loaded cane. The other person then joined his companion in the attack upon the hapless merchant, and the latter was felled to the ground, the two beating him savagely. His cries of" Murder" were heard by Mr Hopps, a merchant who occupies adjoining rooms, and he and his clerks rushed to the assistance of Mr Kusel. They found, however, that the door of his office was locked, the ruffians having turned the key when they entered. The door was forced open with an adze, and they found Mr Kusel upon the floor, covered with blood and most seriously injured. Near him were standing his assailants, who treated the matter in a very cool off-handed manner. They were of course detained and the police sent for. Mr Kusel was taken to the nearest hospital} where it was found that he was fearfully cut about the head and face, his right arm broken and that he had received other severe injuries. On the prisoners being examined, the supposed . female turned out to be a young fellow named John Wilson, a clerk in the establishment of Mr Wood, confectioner. Bold street, who had obtained leave of absence for an hour or two, and borrowed his " get up " from a girl of his acquaintance. The man with the moustache and beard (which were false) was David Harris, a clerk in the office of Mr R. S. Williams, attorney, Moorfields. They are beardless boys, neither of them seeming more than eighteen or nineteen years of age. Mr Kusel was known to keep large sums of money in the safe in hiß office, and the object of the young miscreants in attacking him no doubt was, if not to murder him, to maim him to such an extent that he would be unable to prevent them robbing the place. It is expected that there must have been some collusion between the would-be thieves and some one on the premises, as the young men had obtained a key of the office door, and it is singular that they should have made their appearance when the whole of the clerks were absent.