The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-25 00:00:00

NORFOLK

BURGLARIES CONCOCTED DT POLICEMEN.—The
Bury Post of yesterday says :—" An extraordinary excite-
ment exists in Swatinarn and neighbourhood, in consequence
of its Lavine been dhcovired that a burglary committed on
the premise,. of Mr. Thomas Spanton, of the Friars Thorns
Farm, on the night of the 24th ult., was concocted by the
rural police under the management of Superintendent Peg-
lar, of the Castleacre district, Mr. Inspector John Law, and
Privates Smith and Haykte Several small robberies bad
been committed on the property of Mr. Spanton, of which
he informed Peglar. Three lade, reamed John Orton, John
Eaves, and John Thacker, all of Swaffnans, were strongly sus-
pected, but thecfficers were not able to trace the robberies to I
them, and the plan was laid to entrap them in another odence.
Law has a relation named Cullom, who goes about to fairs
with a rifle and target to shoot for nuts, and who was em-
ployed to scrape an acquaiatance with the boys and get them
to commit another rubbery, in the extol which they might be
apprehended. For three weeks previously be had frequently
been observed in their company at the Horse and Groom,
the resort of such characters, at Swad ham. As soon as the
affair became rife, Peglar informed Mr. Spantun that he had
received private information that his house was to be broken
open on the night of the 24th of April, without telling him all
the particulars; but he told him thus far, that he wished to be
irwide the house himself, to have two men in front and one
at the back outside for the purpose of capturing the thieves;
and he particularly requested that Mr. Spanton should men•
tion to no one, either before or after the robbery, his private
information. On the night named the parties went sail robbed
the house, with Cullum, of a quantity of wine, plate, and
other articles. 1 hey were allowed to proceed some way
after they bad done so towards the town, when sitting down
to take some of the wine they had stolen they were stir
primed by the officers jumping over the hedge to take them
into custody. Cullum got away, as it had been arranged he
should, but not till he had fired his rifle at Law's hat, which
was, it is thought, thrown down for the purpose. Thacker
also got away, if he were there, which is somewhat uncer-
tain. The officers brought Orton and Eaves before the
magistrates, and charged them with the burglary, Inspector
Law stating that he believed the other party was Thacker,
who shot at him (Law), exhibiting his hat as corro-
boration of his evidence. This evidently had had a
ball pawed through it, but so near the rim, that
had it been on the witness's head at the time it was
evident the ball must have passed through his head also.
The lads declaring that thy had been incited to this robbery
by Cullum led to a suspicion of the means which had been
adopted to get the rue up. The magistrates remanded the
prisoners and in the meantime the officers advertised the
burglary in the London Police Gaulle. Cullum, however,
was ordered to be apprehended, but l'eglar reported that he
could not find him, when the warrant was given to Mr.
Johnson, keeper of the Bridewell, to execute. He SOOn
brought him up, when Liw swore positively that Cullum
was not the man who fired at him, but Haylett, in his severe
crow-examination, confessed that he was. Cullum denied it,
es he did all knowledge of the transaction ; but the 'ecru
war out, and Cullum afterwards confessed, when in prison,
the whole of the affair as ab A! stated. It appears further
that Mr. Spanton denied Peglar's being in the house, as the
latter hail requested him to do, but Peglar afterwards con-
fessed that he was there. The magistrates ultimately com-
mitted all the prisoners for trial, and suspended the police-
men, recommer,:ing them to send in their reeignationa,which
we believe has been dune. Such, however, was the feeling
amongst the public at Swaffham, that effirics of P,glar and
his men were paraded about the town, and on one occasion
there could not hare been less than 2,000 persons present,
with torches, drums, &c. two successive nights they
made large bonfires, which led the magistrate.' to put a stop
to that and another attempt art the sort. Similar demonstra-
tions also took place at Cluitleacre."

Ci ccE,TEitsnt RE.

CIRENCESTER ELECTlON.—Yesterday thin election
terminated in the return of Mr. MuDings, the conservative.
This result appeared certain from the commencement of the
poll, when he took the load, and continued to keep it
throughout the day. By 12 o'clock the contest was at an
end. Until the present occasion Cirencester had not had a
contest fur upwards of thirty years. Mr. Ponsunhy's friends
speak of his return as safe ,n a Mures occasion. There are 465
voters on the register at present. At 4 o'clock Mr. lievir,
the returning otfici r, declared the state of the poll, and the
election of Mr. Mulling.. The poll was stated to be—Mul-
Logs, 262 I'onsonby, 130. Majority, 132.