Daring Attempt to murder and rob.
--Three gentlemen of honor--that is Yankee paroled prisoners — who gave their names as Henry Jones, James Hays, and Charles A. Gunn, were arrested by the watchmen last Tuesday night, and brought before the Mayor yesterday, on charge of violently assaulting and shooting at Hugh Regan, with the intention of murdering and robbing him.The circumstances connected with this affair are these:--Jones, who seems to have been the mere cat's-paw of Gunn, a notorious ruffian and shoulder hitter, informed Regan that he knew a Yankee deserter who had a quantity of Federal "greenbacks," which he wished to dispose of, and made an arrangement with Regan to meet the "Yank," on Saturday last, at a place named on Cary street. Regan prepared himself with $11,000 in Confederate notes, and appeared at the place designated. Jones was also present, but excused the absence of the owner of the greenbacks, and appointed Monday at 9 o'clock, at R. H. Allen's house, for the consummation of the trade. Jones's man was again absent, and that afternoon was fixed upon for a meeting, but something was wrong, and Tuesday evening after sundown at Allen's house, on the south side of the dock, was agreed upon.
About the time designated Regan and Richard went to and, ing themselves for a short time, were joined by Jones, Allen soon after approaching and taking a sent with them. After conversing a few moments Jones left the house, but returning to the door very soon, called Regan and told him all was ready. Regan and Steel went to the door, whereupon Jones told Steel to remain there a short time; that the party with the "greenbacks" was waiting near the stable, some hundred yards off, and that the trade could be consummated in a very short time. Suspecting nothing wrong, Steel rejoined Allen near the and those two resumed their conversation.
Regan, accompanied by Jones, started in the direction of the stable, and seeing a man standing there (who was proved to be Hays) was told by Jones that was the man with the money. When the party reached the stable, however, Hays remarked that the man they wished to see had gone off to get his supper, and Hays started in pursuit of him, but returned without finding him. --Jones then said he would go, and on his return said the man was then in the stable. --With this Hays opened the door and walked in, and Regan started to follow, but had only made a step or two, when Jones, who was behind him, levelled his pistol at Regan's head and fired, the bell grazing his left whisker and the powder burning his cheek.--Quick as thought Regan turned upon the assassin, and grasping his pistol firmly in his left hand held to it, Jones firing another barrel whilst Regan held to it. Whilst the two were in the scuffle over the pistol Jones said to Regan, "God d — n you, I'll kill you," and put his hand in his pocket as if in search of his knife. Regan replied, "D — n you, if you wanted my money why didn't you say so, and I would have given it to you rather than to have been murdered," at the same time putting his right hand behind him self to draw it forth. Jones then said, "Give it to me." Instead of getting his money, however, Regan drew his own pistol from his belt and presented it to the head of Jones, remarking, "I have got you," snapped it in his face, at the same time holding on to the assassin's pistol. Jones finding that the scales were turned, let go of his own pistol and ran away, Regan firing at him as he retreated, but without striking him.
Seeing that Jones and one of his accomplices had run down the dock, Regan returned to Allen's door, called out Steel, and, without saying a word to Allen, went to the station-house and there reported what had occurred. Very soon after this the watchmen arrested Jones at Allen's boarding-house, on Cary street. They then went to Allen's him nothing,) got him to aid them in the discovery of the other parties.
Allen remembered that on going home that evening he saw Hays standing near his window, Jones then being in the house with Regan and Steel. He also heard from another person that Gunn had threatened to kill Jones if he did not do the job that night. He therefore traced up both parties and turned them over to the police.
The Mayor, after hearing the witnesses, remanded the three prisoners for examination before the Hustings Court on charge of attempting to murder and rob Hugh Regan, and sent them to prison for safekeeping.
