In the Bail Court, on Monday, Sir John Peniston Milbanke,
was ad- mitted to bail, himself in 1,00W. and four sureties of 250/. each, to ap- pear and take his trial on a charge of" stabbing with intent to kill" a Mr. Pocock, in a ball-room at Salisbury. The parties had a squabble respecting the choice of a dance ; and Sir John cut Mr. Pocock in the neck with a sharp instrument, whilst conversing with hint. Mr. Pocock very reluctantly appeared against Sir John; and his account of the affair, given to the Magistrates at Salisbury, is almost unintelligible, He said they had as altercation, after which he walked away- " Sir John afterwards came up to ldm; witness did not know what time hail interposed between the conversation just related and this occurrence; it might be an hour, or half an hour, or a quarter of an hour. At this juncture be felt a blow, lint did not see who dealt it ; it took street iu the neck and came from 114; left side. Several persons were sitting in front of him at floe time ; but his head being turned the other way, he could not see from whence the blow pro- cteded. Could not say what he did at the moment ; but it did not occur to him that he had been struck with any sharp instrument. On finding that he was wounded, be believed he said, 1 am stabbed.' He then went to the fire- place and seized the poke(; he did so with the intention of striking Sir John; lint it was taken from him. IIc acted under the impression that it was Sir John who had inflicted the wound; that impression was general, arising from the circumstances altogether ; he could inn distinctly account for it. Sir John was standing mai. hint Lefore he was struck ; he could not say where Sir Joint WO8 afterwards; thought lie was on his left hand, in front. Saw something in Sir John's band ; could not tell what it was, nor should he know it again it' he sine it ; it seemed to him an instrument with a blade to it. Could not say what took place idler he was struck, lie then left the room. Was in such a state at the time that he would not undertake to speck with certainty as to any
lung that occurred alter he was struck. Ile walked into the street, with the intention of going to Mr. Mackay, the surgeon ; but that gentleman was sent for. Returned into the room beline he went into the street, and saw Sir John. Did not know whether he went to Sir John or Sir John came to him. Did not know whether he said, Sir John, you have stabbed me,' or Sir John, do on know von have stabbed me?' He spoke in that way because lie thought Sir John did not know it. Sir John said, ' You hail better go and get it dressed, and we will settle about it to-morrow. Witness then
left Sir John, and went to a mom set apart for his use as a dressing-roora, where witness had his wound dressed. Ile afterwards met Sir JOIM in a room within the bar of the Rose and Crown. Sir John took him by the hand and said, 'It was quite an accident; 1 am very sorry for it ; 1 did not intend to hurt you.'" Sir John Milbanke is nearly related to Lord Melbourne ; and suc- ceeded to the estate of Sir Ralph Noel, Lady Byron's father.
Previous page
