Attack on Arthur Shaen Bingham (1881)

The Irish Times, Thursday 06 October 1881, p. 5.

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IN MAYO

(From our Correspondent.)
Belmullet, Wednesday.

A most daring attempt was made on Monday evening to assassinate a landlord named Arthur Shaen Bingham, of Doolough Lodge, Erris. He had been during the day in the town of Belmullet marketing, and, returning home in the dusk of the evening in his trap, he was fired at from the roadside, the bullet passing through the arm of a young girl who was sitting behind him. At the time of the occurrence he was driving through Glencastle, midway between Belmullet and Doolough. He is noted for driving at a very rapid pace, and this was the only portion of the road where the sudden steepness of the way renders it necessary to drive slowly, there being also an unhedged stream across the road. From behind a hillock at this place the would-be assassin fired. The report was followed by a scream of agony from the girl, and Mr Bingham catching sight of the person who fired the shot jumped down and pursued him into the fields. After a short pursuit he actually laid his hand upon the man and dragged from his head a cloak with which he was disguised. The man, however, got clear off, but his pursuer retained the cloak The would-be assassin also wore other female attire, and has his face blackened so that Mr Bingham could form no idea as to his identity. When he returned to the trap he found the wounded girl almost unconscious from pain and loss of blood, while Mrs Bingham, who was also on the trap, was scarcely capable from fear to hold the reins. When the shot was fired Mr and Mrs Bingham occupied the front seat of the Croydon, while the girl sat with her back towards them, scarcely twelve inches separating the three persons.

Mr Bingham immediately drove to Belmullet, informed the police and procured medical aid for the girl whose wound was pronounced not dangerous, the bullet having passed through the fleshy pat of the arm below the elbow. Mr Bingham carried no firearms, although he has been threatened on several occasions. He holds a small property.