Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

19 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

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Family Notices

North versus South' .

----.---.---. I Cap in Hand…

A PLUCKY WELSH LAD.

BEACONSFIELWS FLOWER.

SIR DAVID EVANS.

LIVERPOOL RECORDER.

FREEDOM OF CARDIFF.

KILLED WHILST PLAYING.

ENGLISH MUSICIANS.

Murray Makes a Silly Bet .

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

Murray Makes a Silly Bet FIRES AT HIS HEAD FOR A WAGER OF DRINKS. He Wounds Himself with the Little Pistol and will be a Lucky Man if he Lives. One of the most remarkable cases of fool. hardinèss that ever came to light was revealed; in the Jefferson (America) Court the other day. It tended to prove the exstence of the gambling instinct in a marked form in tk<- average human being and illustrated in a curioi-i,, way the force of resistance of riit human skull. The self-intended victim of this suicidal illustra-tion was Thomas Murray, a machinist in the Manhattan Iron Works. Murray did not work one day and spent most of the morning in a, saloon. Ho had had several bumpers of mixed ale and was in a. rather quarrelsome mood when Joseph Mul- vaney, a gasfitter employed in the neiglibour-: c hood, came in. Several other friends, among them Michael Horan and Thomas Hennessey,, came in later. Each of the new men took a good, full glass of whisky. Mulvaney playfully produced a small revolver which carried a, 22-calibre bullet, and a discussion, arose as to the harm that. might or might not. be done with such a cartridge. Murray insisted that it would not kill a man, while Mulvaney held that it would kill at a hundred yards. "Nonsense." said Murray. "I'll bet I can hold that pistol within fifteen inches of my head and fire and it will not kill me." The customers in the saloon jeered at him. The men were all pretty well intoxicated by this time, and the bartender, Michael Kearns, signified his willingness to hold the stakes if a bet was made. Murray still maintained that the little 22-calibre pistol was harmless, and then Mulvaney, the owner of the pistol, bet him drinks for the crowd as a sort of a dare that one bullet would kill him. "Rats," said Murray, as he staggered up to the bar and grabbed the pistol. 111 show you if you dare me." We do dare you," yelled the crowd, in a. joking way. never thinking that he would fire the weapon at himself. The next instant a pstol-shot rang out. Murray had placed the weapon close to his left temple and fired. Everyone was dumbfounded. They all rushed towards him, and while the blood trickled from the bullet wound Murray laughed in derision at them. "See." said he, "the little gun ain't worth a It wouldn't kill a spider." His companions were amazed, and before they could, interfere he shifted the pistol to the right hand and, placing the muzzle to his temple, he fired again and another bullet entered his head. Still he laughed, and, althou-h his face was besmeared with blood, he staggered up to the bar and demanded his drink. The men all made a hasty exit, fearing tc. be arretted, and Murray put the pistol in his pocket a.nd went out. When he reached the street some one advised him to go at oner to the nearest police station. He took this advice and a few minutes later staggered into the station. Walking up to the desk he laid the revolver down before the sergeant.ar.td said lie had shot himself. The sergeant called a policeman and directed him to make a charge of drunk and disorderly" against the mail,, which was done. The two bullets were ex-, traded at the hospital. Thev had been fleeted by contact- with the skull and were, found buried in the scalp, but fearfully flat, tened. Murray recovered sufficiently to be taken tu court, where he was subsequently^ arraigned hefore- Justice Hogan. The police- man told the story as far as he knew it, and then the justice heard the foregoing tale re-s hearsed by the prisoner. "It was a foolishi proceeding," said Murray, "but I was full and under those circumstances I refused to be stumped' and I did it. There's no one to blame but myself, and I'm dead lucky to, have escaped so easily." The justice looked at the man, whose headfi was swathed in bandages, through which the' blood had soaked, and said: Young man,. I am going to hold you until your father can be brought here, and through him I may be able to discover whether or not you are able to care for yourself. Any man who will de- liberately place his life in the balance for a drink is unable to look out for his own interests." The father called later and secured his relaese.

A DOUBLE CRIME.

ARDLAMONT CASE. !

SWANSEA HOSPITAL.

BUTE DOCKS BILL.

CONSERVATISM AT CARDIFF.