The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-19 00:00:00

A TERRIBLE STRUUGLE.

The printer and publisher of the Fif eshire Jesruel,
• conservative paper established at Cupar, was apprehended
in London on Saturday last on • charge of forged. On
Sunday night he was handed over to Mr. Bell, chief coo.
stable of the county of Fife, who had coin up to town use
escort. They took their departure for the north by the ex-
press leaving King's-cross at 9.15 that night. They rode
first.clua. The compartment hail no other occupants, and
care was taken to have both doors locked. The prisoner
was further secured by handcuffs. On the journey he
chatted familiarly with Mr. Bell, and when at York was
provided with refreshment. Between York and Darlington
by some means he contrived to free himself of the iron
cuff, the remaining cuff being left on the wrist of the chief
constable, and manifested a wildness of manner which some-
what alarmed his guardian. Without any further warn-
ing, he threw himself backwards out of the window, but
was baulked in his attempt to commit suicide by his com-
panion, who had to stretch himself, to the imminent peril
of his own life, a considerable way out of the window in
order to get held of his collar, and so recover him. The
maniac was desperate, and a fearful struggle ensued, which
lasted, Mr. Bell states, for • whole belt-hour. The would-
be suicide almost piteously begged Mr. Bell to let go his
hold, and Mr. Bell, with • view rather to save him from
inevitable death than to retain the custody of his ',Hefter,
as desperately gripped him by the throat. Mr. Bell was
unable to drag him in, owing to the position in which the
wilful fellow hung out of the window, his legs from the knee
Joint only being within the carriage. Mr. Bell was overcome
at last by exhaustion, and the maniac made our more despe-
rate effort and broke away from hid captor.tunibling headlong
by the side of the train. The engine whistle hod just then been
sounded, before drawing up at Darlington, and in a few
seconds more the train stopped at the station. The side
of the carriage was besmeared with blood, indicative of the
fearful nature of the struggle, and some of the passengers.
most of whom at that hour of the night (the train is due
at Darlington at 3.53) would be drowsy, thought they
hail heard a strange noise. The express suffered • deten-
tion of half an hour or more while a pilot engine was
despatched up the line in search, it was supposed, of the
maws mangled remains, but in the thick darkness that
prevailed no trace whatever could be found. On Monday
afternoon, however, a farmer in attendance at the Haling-
tou market reported to the police that lie hail met on the
mid between Appleton Wiske and &neaten, lead-
ing to the Cleveland moors, a man without •
I hat, respectably dressed, and greatly disfigured with cuts
and bruises about the face. It is supposed that his head
had come in contact with the footboard of the carriage.
Chief-constable Bell and Superiutendeot Robson, of the
Darlington police, immediately set Mt in pursuit, and
traced their game as far as Osmotherley, which is on the
very edge of the moors. They wore only two hours behind
him. He had slept an hour at a roadside cottage, and
washed himself. The kind housewife lied likewise pro-
vided him with a covering for his heed. As he bee no
money whatever upon him, it is thought he cannot long
remain undiscovered. His forgery transactions were per-
petrated on one of the banking houses iu Omar, and are
said to amount to between 3,00 W. to 4,0001. He ab-
scowled from Cupar in the latter part of January last,
and when apprehended was hying in lodanms in the
Brompton•rusid.