The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-06 00:00:00

THE•i, SUN,

ATTEMPT TO MURDER A POLICE.

CONSTABLE.

Shortly before twelve o'clock on Saturday night great
excitement was caused amongst the inhabitants of Lam.
both-walk, in consequence of the following desperate
attempt being made by a party of Irii-hmen to murder a
police offieor of the Lor Lambeth division. It will be
remembered that several months back a policeman
named Chaplin was murdered by a number of men in
the same spot as the present unfortunate occurrence
took place, and ever since, owing to the bitter feeling
evinced by some of the parties towards the police, the
constables have invariably gone on duty in couples, so as
to protect each other when patrolling that particular
district.

Oa Saturday night, at the above-named hour, a
female was violently assaulted by one of the men, and
having given an alarm, police constable Si L ran to the
spot, when be was in the act of taking into custody the
woman's asiailanr, but before he could do so a cry of
" Down with the police" was raised, and some eight or
ten fellows immediately made a terrible onslaught upon
the officer. Not content with brutally beating and
kicking him, they actuslly threw him down on the
ground, and whilst some held him on the earth, the
others jumped upon him, causing three of his ribs to
snap asunder and otherwise seriously injuring him in-
ternally.
Police-constable 178, of the same division, on hearing
the noise, went to the assistance of his comrade, when
the mob attempted to serve him in a similar manner.
The ef&er, however, had the presence "of mind to draw
his truncheon, which he was forced to strike indiscrimi-
nately over thd heads of the crowd ; but in spite of
which they continued to strugggte with the police, and
e
eventually the two truncheons were broken overn the
heads of the mob. When the pieces werefound
y
were covered with blood, and hair was adhering
them.
but
Two of the fellows were fortunately
er apprehended,isto d t
however, no
the others effected their escape.
todyhey
could hardly have escaped be, as
wounded dur-
ing the conflict which happened.
doubt but they will all be takinegn
seriously Ti
ahto e
ti

EXTRAORDINARY CAPTURE OF TWO

I'HIEVES.

aames Lennox, alias Percival, and George Mills, two
notorious sieves, belonging to the London swell mob,
and formerly connected with Hackett, the expert thief,
who is now undergoing a long term of imprisonment in
the United States, were brought before James Deane,
E q, at the Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells, on Saturday,
for final examination, charged with stealing a gold
watch and appendages, worth 501., the property of Mrs.
Maria Hollingsworth.
It appeared from the evidence which was taken at
some length, that the prosecutrix lodged at Mount
Ephraim Cottage, Tunbridge Wells, and on the morning
of the 231 ult., she quitted the house for the purpose of
taking a walk, leaving her watch on the table in the
front sitting-room. She returned home a little after
one o'clock, and missed it immediately. She then went
and informed the superintendent of her loss. Mr. Mor-
ton, the head of the police, returned to the house with
her, and feeling satisfied that the robbery was committed
by L ,ndon thieves, he procured the assistance of one of
his officers, and proceeded in a vehicle down the London-
road, When he arrived at Crowhurst, 23 miles from
Tunbridge Wells, he perceived Lennox standing in
front of a public-house, and, knowing him to be a Lon-
don thief, he followed him into the house, and ascer-
tained that both'prisoners had just arrived from Tun-
bridge Wells, with an extraordinary swift horse and
chaise. He took the prisoner Lennox into custody,
and Mills was apprehended in the stable by the consta-
ble who accompanied him, He (Mr. Morton) searched
the prisoners end their chaise, after which he went into
the stabl-, where the horse was standing, and in a few
minutes the watch and appendages were discovered.
Other corroborative testimony having been given, the
mag,isisce committed them to Maidstone Gaol for trial.