The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-27 00:00:00

A MURDEROUS GANG.

Late on Saturday night a desperate attempt was
made to murder Police-constable Hillman, of the
Warwickshire County Constabulary. In consequence
of repeated outrages in the vicinity of the road lead-
ing from Coventry to Kenilworth, extraordinary
methods have been adopted by the police with the
object of detecting the desperadoes who are making
themselves the terror of the neighbourhood, and it was
actually while one of these special attempts at cap-
ture was being made that the outrage on the officer
was committed. Hillman was detailed for special
duty on a road which shoots off from the main high-
way from Coventry to Kenilwortb, and runs in front
of Stivichall Hall and on to Baginton Hall, the seat
of the late W. Bromley-Davenport, M.P., and Stone-
leigh bbey, the Warwickshire residence of Lord
Leigh, Lord-Lieutenant of the county. Just before ten
o'clock the officer saw what he believed to be the light
of another constable's bull's-eye, but on going towards
the light he found that it was carried by two men
who were walking in the direction of Stoneleigh. Fol-
lowing them for about a quarter of a mile he saw
them turn into a field leading back to Coventry,
and this induced him to try to ascertain their business.
He climbed over a gate and took a short cut across
the grass, but the men still kept in advance, and, after
walking nearly to the end of the field, they turned off
the footpath and waited for the officer under a clump
of trees near Stivichall Churchyard gate. Hillman
went up to them, and while they were conversing he
was suddenly attacked by one of the men, who stabbed
him with some sharp instrument between the eyes.
Closing with his assailant Hillman attempted to disarm
him, reciving a number of cuts about the hands in the
struggle. They fell to the ground together. The
man who was looking on shouted " Let him have
it," and immediately there was a report of firearms.
At the sane moment Hillman felt himself struck on
the back. He believed he was shot, and blew his
whisle for assistance, but the men snatched his whistle
from him, and the struggle was continued. Receiving
stab after stab, Hillman fought on for life, until the
blood from his forehead blinded him, and his exhaus-
tive being increased by a blow on the head from the
second man, he was obliged to relinquish his bold, and
the attackers ran off in the direction of the Kenil-
worth-road. Mr. John Rollick, a farmer, living a short
distance away, heard the report of firearms and the
sound of the policeman's whistle, and he hastened into
the field, but before he reached the wounded officer his
assailants were out of sight in the darkness. Another
constable came up, and Hillman was assisted to the
Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, where his in-
juries were attended to. He had received five or six
stabs on the right arm, a stab between the eyes,
another in his back, and numerous cuts on the hands;
there was a large contusion on the back of his head;
and a hole in his cloak and greatcoat showed where a
bullet had passed harmlessly over his left shoulder.
None of his injuries are likely to prove serious. As
soon as possible after the affair the city police were
communicated with, and all the roads into the city
were watched, but without iesult ; and early on
Sunday morning Deputy-Chief-Constable Moth, of
the county, and Detective-Inspector Golby, of the
city, went and inseecle2d the scene of the struggle.
The indications of the aesperate fight were very appa-
rent. The grass was trampled down in all directions,
and here and there were patches of blood. Close
by lay a dark lantern and the sheath of a dagger
and both the men in their flight left their hats be-
hind. The matter is all the more serious in the light
of what has transpired within a comparatively recent
peried. A few months ago a constable was found
murdered al Fenny Compton, and his murderers have
not yet been discovered, although large rewards have
been offered. Shortly afterwards an armed attack
was made on Lord Leigh's carriage, within a hundred
yards of the locale of the attempt of Saturday night,
and the perpetrators of that outrage are still at large. ,
Subsequently a carrier between Coventry and War- 1
wick was smiled in a similar manner, .and last week
a shot was fired at a milkseller as he was driving
home. No arrests have been made with respect to
any of the cases, and the repeated outrages are creat-
ing a profound sensation throughout the district.