"PERCEVAL MURDER." Times, 25th May, 1812."A Dumfries paper states that on the night of Sunday, the 10thinstant, _twenty-four hours before the fatal deed was perpetrated_, areport was brought to Bude Kirk, two miles from Annan, that _Mr.Perceval was shot on his way to the House of Commons, at the door orin the lobby of that House_. This the whole inhabitants of thevillage are ready to attest, as the report quickly spread and becamethe topic of conversation. A clergyman investigated the rumour, withthe view of tracing it to its source, but without success."The Times of 2nd June says, "Report without foundation".Perth Courier, 28th May, quoting from the Dumfries and GallowayCourier, repeats above almost verbatim. " . . . The clergyman towhom we have alluded, and who allows me to make use of his name, isMr. Yorstoun, minister of Hoddam. This gentleman went to the spot andcarefully investigated the rumour, but has not hitherto beensuccessful, although he has obtained the most satisfactory proof ofits having existed at the time we have mentioned. We forbear to makeany comments on this wonderful circumstance, but should anythingfurther transpire that may tend to throw light upon it, we shall notfail to give the public earliest information."The Dumfries and Galloway Courier I cannot find! It is not in theBritish Museum.
