On Saturday night last, or rather on Sunday morning, it being half-past twelve o’clock, a deed of darkness occurred which certainly arose out of that deep and villainous conspiracy which has stamped Manchester with infamy, and degraded the once high national character of Englishmen.
Edward Meagher, trumpeter in the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry, who lives in Deansgate, corner of Queen Street, has, ever since the memorable Massacre of Peterloo, been so intoxicated with the praises bestowed on his murderous valour, that if he ever possessed the feelings of a man they have been totally destroyed.
He has frequently exhibited pistols in public, and boasted of his determination to have more blood, though the wretch might have been satisfied with the profusion which he shed at St. Peter’s.
Our readers need not be informed that in a place like Manchester, where the working classes have to transact their weekly business on Saturday night, many quiet and well-disposed persons are necessarily traversing the streets at a late hour.
Of this Meagher availed himself, and fired from his own windows three distinct shots upon the unoffending passengers; two of these took sad effect, shooting one man through the leg; they were immediately conveyed to the Infirmary, where they yet remain.
It is said that he then began to demolish his own windows, in order to induce the belief that his house had been attacked by stones from without, and thus vindicate his villainous conduct!
On Monday, Meagher was brought up for examination before the Magistrates, Mr Wright and the Rev. W. Ethelstone.
After hearing part of the evidence he was remanded until Saturday.
Catalogue reference: HO 42/196.
