A private soldier belonging to the detachment of the 77th
Regiment quartered in Stonchouse Barracks, deliberately fired at a Sergeant of the same corps, last week, with intent to murder him. The man had been for repeated misconduct ordered knapsack-drill. On Wednesday morning, he came off the Dock- yard-guard ; and soon after his arrival at the barracks, he asked the Sergeant "if he was to attend the drill that afternoon?" The Sergeant answered, "Yes, by order of the Captain :" on which the private said, "Very well ;" and on the Sergeant's quitting, he took his firelock and levelled it at him from the window of the room : pro- videntially, the Sergeant suddenly moved aside, and thus escaped the ball.
On Thursday morning, a middle-aged person, respectably attired, was discovered lying in a ditch by the road-side, in the parish of Islip, quite dead. The body exhibited no marks of violence. He was an utter stranger, and nothing was found on his person which afforded time least clue to his identity.—Northampton Mercury.
About twelve o'clock on Sunday, a person called at the cottage of a labourer in the parish of Margaretting, and requested the favour of pen and ink : whilst the cottager was gone to procure them, he asked his niece to allow him to light his pipe, and immediately going to the fire, he placed the muzzle of a pistol to his left side, lighted a piece of paper, and applying it to the touch-hole, it went off, and he fell lifeless on the floor. The instrument with which he destroyed himself proved to be the barrel of an old pistol, without either stock or lock. Messrs. But- ler, of Ingatestone who examined the body, found that the ball had
penetrated just below the heart, and had passed entirely. through the body. The deceased bore the appearance of a respectable mechanic, and seemed about twenty-five years of age.—Essex Herald.
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