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The West Somerset Free Press, Williton, Minehead, and Watchet Journal Saturday 03 Dec 1892
Page 8 Column 2
MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON A WATCHET MAN.
NARROW ESCAPE OF CAPT. CHARLES VICKERY.
A daring attempt to take the life of Capt. Chas. VICKERY, master of the three-mast schooner, “Doctor,” was made by a man named Frederick ALLEN (who was engaged as cook on board the same vessel) on Sunday evening last. Captain VICKERY is well known and much respected in shipping circles at Watchet, and the outrage has, as might be expected, provoked wide-spread indignation. Fortunately, however, the culprit was frustrated in his intentions, and, with the exception of a wound above the left eye, the captain escaped practically unhurt. After having been detained in London on Monday to give evidence at the police-court, Capt. VICKERY arrived at Watchet on Tuesday evening, a number of friends awaiting his arrival at the railway-station. During the evening he was waited upon by our representative, and in response to various enquiries kindly supplied the following particulars. The vessel at the time of the occurrence was lying in the East India Docks, London, and on the Friday morning previous Capt. VICKERY was transacting some business in his cabin, ALLEN being also present. He (ALLEN), having made some enquiries regarding the supply of coal, the captain unlocked the door of his state-room, which was connected with the cabin, and told him to take out a quantity of small coal which was lying within. A cash-bag was also kept in this room, and it contained at the time in question the sum of £70. While ALLEN was thus engaged, the captain was called on deck, where he remained for about five minutes, and he subsequently returned below. In the meantime, ALLEN had finished his work, and the captain re-locked the door. Shortly afterwards, he counted the money, in the presence of the mate, J. WILKINS, to whom to at once remarked that somebody had taken a portion of it, as the bag contained only £68, while a short time previous he had counted £70. He also remarked that this was not the first time he had missed money, and he then sent for ALLEN, whom he charged with the theft. The accused at first denied that he had taken the money, but afterwards practically admitted his guilt by offering to pay the £2 rather than be sent to prison. Nothing further transpired in the matter until Sunday evening, when the whole of the crew, with the exception of the captain and cook, were gone ashore. The captain, at the time, was sitting quietly in his cabin, engaged in reading his Bible, when, without the slightest warning, ALLEN opened the cabin door and, uttering not a work, presented a revolver at the skipper. The latter immediately rushed at him, and the two closed, but as they did so ALLEN fired, and the bullet, after striking the captain above the left eye, entered the wainscoting of the cabin. After a severe struggle, the captain obtained possession of the revolver, and with a well-directed blow from the butt end felled ALLEN to the floor. He then hurried on deck, and called “Police.” In response, a dock policeman came on board, and proceeded to arrest ALLEN. On entering the cabin, they found him endeavouring to burst open the captain's locker, for the purpose of securing a revolver which was inside, but he was not successful. On being taken on deck, ALLEN was questioned by the policeman as to what he had been doing, and he replied that he had been having a little shooting. He also remarked that if he had been able to procure the captain's revolver he would have followed him on deck and finished him, further saying that if they had been at sea he would have given him worse, and adding that he would “do” for the captain on a future occasion. ALLEN was then taken away in custody. On being examined at the police-station, a box of cartridges and a large knife were found on him, the revolver with which he attempted to commit the murder being also loaded in five chambers. The prisoner has been engaged in his last situation for about three months, having joined the ship at Swansea in August last, and during that period he has never given any special trouble. He is about eighteen years of age. The captain himself is inclined to think that the outrage was attempted more for the sake of the money than for any other reason. In addition to the bullet mark on the forehead above – mentioned the captain also received a severe bite on the little finger of the right hand during the struggle. At the Thames Police-court, on Monday, ALLEN was committed for trial.