X Transcripts from "The Macclesfield Courier &Herald"Saturday April 29th 1882(page 5, column 4)"Attempt to Murder the Chief ConstableConsiderable excitement was caused in the town onThursday morning by a desperate attempt being madeon the life of the respected Chief Constable forthe borough, Mr Sheasby, by a man who, it appears,has for some time been subject to delusions.Luckily the attempt was unsuccessful, though MrSheasby's escape from a violent death was mostprovidential.About half-past nine on Thursday morning, MrSheasby left his house 123 Great King Street, tocome to the Police-office; he had not got manyyards from his own door when a man named JosephPotts, whom he knew to be a half-dementedindividual, approached him in an apparentlyfriendly manner, bidding him "good morning" andentering into conversation. He asked whether his'Uncle Nicol' had left him any money. Mr Sheasby,knowing that Potts was labouring under ahallucination with respect to the late Mr Nicol,landlord of the White Hart, Roe-street, paidlittle heed to the question, but prisoner walkeddown the street with him some distance andcontinued his conversation. Mr Sheasby, thinkingto get rid of him without any demonstration,replied that he knew nothing of his affairs, andsaid that if he had any well-founded expectationthe best thing he could do was consult asolicitor. Potts said he really expected somemoney from 'his Uncle Nicol' and he thought he, asChief Constable, was the most likely to know allabout it. Mr Sheasby returned a good naturedreply, and thought the matter ended, and thatPotts was about to leave, when Potts, who waswalking on Mr Sheasby's right, darted his armround in front of him and stabbed him on theleft-side of the neck with a sharp knife such asis used by shoemakers. The whole thing was sosudden and startling that the Chief Constablecould hardly realise for the moment that themaniac had a knife until he had dealt him two orthree blows about the neck, after which he hit hima violent blow with the haft of the knife on theleft shoulder, which seemed to paralyse it. MrSheasby carried a light bamboo cane, which,however, instead of using on the ruffian he threwdown in attempting to take him into custody. Afierce scuffle ensued, and Mr Sheasby, guardinghimself as best he could from being further cutwith the knife, held Potts, who was apparently madwith excitement, by the right arm. He managed,however, to seize Mr Sheasby's neck, his whiskersand coat being saturated. Potts succeeded ingetting away, but notwithstanding his seriouswounds, Mr Sheasby ran after him down GreatKing-street, and along Pinfold-street andPierce-street; he showed that he had been stabbed,and called on passers by to stop the man, Potts,who went yelling along the streets with the openknife in his hand. The greatest alarm wasoccasioned, several persons having to run hastilyout of the madman's way, fearing he was about toattack them. Luckily he had not gone far when hewas tripped up by Mr Alfred Reed, butcher,Chestergate, and given into custody. Mr Sheasbywent into the Red Lion Inn (Mrs Cartwrights) wherehe was attended by sympathetic friends; and in avery few minutes Mr Hughes and Mr Bradley,surgeons, were in attendance. He was afterwardsconveyed home in a cab, where his wounds weredressed. At first it was thought that the woundsinflicted, from the position occupied, close tothe jugular vein, were of a dangerous character,but on closer examination it was happily foundthat the knife had escaped the vital part, therewere no serious results to fear.It appears that only a few minutes before theoccurrences, Mr Benjamin Oldham, brewer, who livesat 106 Great King-street, on coming out of hishouse, was rudely accosted by Potts, who appearedin a very excited state, so much so that MrOldham, declining his invitation to "come here"became alarmed and took refuse in his cousins'house (the Misses Oldhams) on the opposite side ofthe street. Scarcely had he got inside when heheard the noise in the street caused by Mr Sheasbyin pursuit of Potts, after the assault had beencommitted. Mr Oldham went to the place where thestruggle had took place, and picked up MrSheasby's cane and cap, as well as that of Potts,which is described as an 'asylum cap'. Potts hadbeen seen loitering about the neighbourhood forseveral days past, and only on Saturday last a mananswering his description called at Mr Sheasby'shouse and enquired of the servant whether hermaster was at home, so that it is evident he hadcontemplated the attack for some days previously;indeed on the way to the lock-ups, he made nosecret of what he had done, seemed proud of hisachievement and said that if had been able to pawnhis shirt and raise money for a revolver, he wouldhave shot him. It seems incredulous that such adangerous person should have been allowed atlarge. In April last year, he was beforemagistrates charged with breaking windows at theWhite Hart public house, and threatening thelandlord, the late Mr Nicol. He claimed Mr Nicolas a 'long-lost brother' returned from Australia.Mr Nicol complained that it was unfair that theauthorities should allow a man who was clearly madto be at large, adding that he had been an inmateof Parkside and Chester asylums, and more recentlythe workhouse, from which latter institution hecame direct to commit his depredation at the WhiteHart. Mr Wright, who was on the Bench on thefirst occasion Potts was brought up, said if Pottswas a lunatic, he should not be at large, and wasremanded till Wednesday so that he might beexamined by Mr Bland, the police surgeon. On theWednesday, the Chief Constable stated that MrBland had seen him twice, but did not feeljustified in certifying Potts was insane, thoughhe was subject to delusions, and the then Mayor(Alderman Pownall) remarked he knew sufficient ofthe defendant to know he was not dangerous. Itwas in vain that Mr Nicol urged he was a dangerouslunatic. The Mayor fined him 5s and 5s 6d costs,or 14 days imprisonment, remarking he would notoffend again. Mr Nicol however, evidently knewbetter for he observed that "he was sure to comeagain". Potts, unable to pay the fine, went toprison for 14 days and has not since then til nowcome before the notice of the public. Those whoknew the lat Mr Nicol most intimately state thathe frequently asserted that Potts was a dangerouslunatic and was certain to do some one seriousharm, and the occasions of Thursday morning onlyproves how true was his predictions.Prisoner, who gave his name as Joseph Potts, andis described as a shoemaker residing inStanley-street, was brought before Magistratesyesterday (Friday). Mr Bullock, upon theMagistrates taking their seats on the Bench, saideveryone present would no doubt be glad to hearthat Mr Sheasby was much better, and with a littlequiet and care nothing serious would ensue, andthat he would recover. He was pleased to be ableto communicate this news. The announcement wasreceived with approbation by a crowded Court.The Town Clerk appeared to prosecute Potts, whopresents all the appearances of a lunatic; thecharges that he "did cut and wound one WilliamSheasby, with a certain instrument called ashoemaker's knife, with intent to do him grievousbodily harm". The Town Clerk said he was not surewhether the charge might not hereafter assume agraver charge than had just been read over. Hethought he would only be discharging his duty byat once expressing the universal regret that isfelt at the unfortunate attack upon so deservedlyrespected an officer as the Chief Constable. Theonly thing that could tend to alleviate the mindof the Chief Constable was that it was the blow ofa man whom all could only look upon as demented,and that it was not the malevolent act of anyonepointed against himself. Mr Barclay then appliedfor an adjournment for a week to enable theprosecution to mature their case, adding that hewas pleased to hear from the Bench the ChiefConstable was progressing towards recovery, andhoping that that might continue, and that MrSheasby would be able to appear next week.Prisoner was then remanded til Friday next.We are glad to state that upon enquiry, justbefore going to press, Mr Sheasby was found to beprogressing favourably."(No follow-up story found in hasty review of thefollowing week, but will look more thoroughly onvisit to Collindale. EAA 23/10/08)Saturday July 29th 1882(Page 3, column 1)(Case no 9)"Attempt to murder the Chief Constable ofMacclesfieldJoseph Potts (44) shoemaker of Macclesfield, wasindicted for feloniously wounding William Sheasby,Chief Constable of Macclesfield, with a knife,with intent to murder him on 27th April last.Mr Burke Wood (instructed by the Town Clerk ofMacclesfield) prosecuted, and the prisoner wasundefended.Mr Wood, in stating the case for the prosecution,said Mr Sheasby left his house about half pastnine in the morning to go to the police office.Prisoner was observed to be standing by somerailings opposite Mr Sheasby's house. Mr Sheasbycame out of the house and prisoner walked up tohim and asked him if he had heard whether his(prisoner's) uncle had left him any money or not,and Mr Sheasby said he really did not knowanything about the affair. He advised prisoner tosee a lawyer. Upon this prisoner seized MrSheasby by the collar and struck him a blow on theface with a shoemaker's knife. The knifepenetrated his cheek. The next blow caught MrSheasby on the shoulder. This was struck with thehandle of the knife. The next blow struck him inhis right side. Mr Sheasby then got hold of theprisoner and tried to ward off the blows. Theprisoner broke away and ran down the street, beingpursued by Mr Sheasby, who repeatedly called "Stophim; he has stabbed me." Prisoner was seenrunning down the street with the knife in hishand, and was tripped up by a butcher named Rees,and ultimately conveyed to the police station. MrSheasby went to the nearest inn, where he was seenby a doctor, who said the wounds were of a veryserious nature.Mr Sheasby, the prosecutor, stated that onThursday morning, the 27th April, he left hishouse about half past nine. When he got outsidethe house he saw the prisoner standing a shortdistance away. When he came by the side ofprisoner, he said "Do you know whether my unclehas left me any money?" and witness said "No I donot". Prisoner again said "Because I wasexpecting some, and I have heard nothing aboutit." He told prisoner he knew nothing about it,and he had better see a lawyer. Prisoner thenvery suddenly jumped up to him and struck him onthe left cheek with a shoemaker's knife. Hestaggered a little, and prisoner again struck himon the shoulder with the handle of the knife, andagain in the neck with the blade. He got hold ofthe prisoner, but he got away. Prisoner wascaptured by some people in the street.Samuel Norton, a weaver, of Macclesfield, said hesaw the prisoner go to Mr Sheasby and walk withhim about 10 or 12 yards. Prisoner began to talkvery loud, but he could not hear what was said.He saw prisoner spring up to Mr Sheasby and strikehim with a knife, which was in his right hand. MrSheasby got hold of prisoner, but in the scuffleprisoner got away.John Norton, another young man, deposed thatwhilst he was going for a walk on the morningnamed, he heard someone calling "Stop him". Hewent in the direction of the sounds, and saw MrSheasby and prisoner together. The prisoner, whohad a shoemaker's knife in his hand, was runningup the street. He tried to stop him, but he said"If you do I'll run this into you". He sawprisoner tripped. Prisoner said he did not caremuch about what he had done. He (the prisoner)would much rather have "swung" for him. He askedprisoner why he had done it, and he said he hadsome money of his, and would not return it.Prisoner said he would have bought a revolver ifhe could have obtained money.John Swain, a constable, stated that the prisonersaid when at the Police-station that he hoped MrSheasby was dead, as he would not mind swingingfor him. Prisoner also said that Mr Sheasby haddone him a lot of harm, and had caused him to beimprisoned. "If he had had a revolver, he wouldhave shot the b____ dead as a door nail."Mr John Brierly Hughes, surgeon, of Macclesfield,said he was called in on the 27th April to MrSheasby, whom he found suffering from threewounds. The most dangerous one was just at theangle of the jaw under the ear. If that would hadbeen a little deeper it would have caused death.The wound could have been caused by the knifeproduced.Detective-sergeant Smallwood said he conveyedprisoner to Chester Castle. On the way prisonersaid he intended to murder Sheasby, but it was amiss.Mr Hughes was recalled, and stated that prisonerhad been in an asylum.Dr McEwen, the prison surgeon, said he hadfrequently examined the prisoner and that he wasnot of unsound mind, though he had been in anasylum in 1875.Prisoner, in reply to the charge, said "He did notgive me a satisfactory answer. I suppose I musthave done something. If they swear that I havedone so, it must be so. If have attempted to doMr Sheasby a serious injury I suppose it must beso. They did not see me do it. There was nobodypresent."The jury, after a few minutes' deliberation,returned a verdict of "guilty".His Lordship, addressing the prisoner, said hemight be thankful that he did not succeed in theattempt; if he had he would have had to pay thepenalty with his life. He had not doubt theprisoner knew perfectly well what he was doing.He would pass the highest sentence next to death,and that was prisoner be sent to penal servitudefor the remainder of his life.Note: Cheshire Summer AssizesCommission opened by Baron Huddlestone, arrivedfrom Mold.Accompanied by High Sheriff (Mr Egerton Leigh),Acting Under Sheriff (Mr J Tatlock), and the HighSheriff Chaplain.Mr Justice Manisty presiding, the Grandy Jury wassworn in:* The Hon Wilbraham Egerton MP, Rostherne Hall* Mr Dennis Bradwell, High Daisy Bank, Congleton* Mr Richard Marcus Brooke, Norton Priory* Mr Christopher Bushell, Hinderton* Mr Samuel Beckett Chadwick, Crofton Lodge* Mr George Bakewell Dewhurst, Oughtington Park* Mr George Dixon, Astle Hall, Chelford* Lieut. Colonel Algernon Robert Ganett, RawtonHall* Mr Wm James Haiter, Mobberley Hall* Mr William Henry Houldsworth, Norbury Booths,Nutsford* Mr Robert Howard, Broughton Hall, Malpas* Mr William Laird, Birkenhead* Mr William Moseley Mellor, Lingdale* Mr Edward Howard Moss, Dukinfield Lodge* Mr Richard Oliver Orton, Bank House* Mr Thomas Hugh Sandford, The Whitegate* Mr James Swetenham, Moston Hall* Mr James Tomkinson, Willington Hall* Mr James Jonas Wilkinson, Brookfield* Mr James Wood, Arden