The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-27 00:00:00

A BURGLAR SHOT.

A somewhat serious affair occurred on Thursday
morning, at an early hour, at Church-road, Edgbaston,
near Southfield, the residence of Mr. Rice Harris. At
a short distance from the house, and in a meadow,
stands a cottage, which for several years had been occu-
pied by Mr. Harris's gardener. On Wednesday, how-
ever, he left the premises, and on the same day John
Bevan, coachman to Mr. Harris, moved into the house.
In consequence of there being but little furniture in the
cottage, Bevan, who was its sole occupant, slept on the
ground floor, retiring to rest at an early hour, and fas-
tening the doors and windows in the usual manner.
About two o'clock in the morning he was awakened by
a crash, as if of glass, and then the sound of a footstep
in the chamber above. Bevan got out of bed, and with-
out waiting to dress, seized a double-barreled carbine,
which was generally kept loaded, and crept up stair's.
There was quite sufficient light to enable him to distin-
guish objects, and he • saw a man approaching from
the window into the room. Bevan raised his gun,
and asked him what he wanted there. The fellow
made no reply, but approached towards him, when
Bevan levelled his piece (which was loaded with shot)
at the man's legs, and fired. He received the charge
in his legs, and did not attempt to offer any re-
sistance, but, reaching the window, he leaped out
head first, hurting himself slightly as he fell, the window
being upwards of ten feet high. Bevan followed, and
then found that there were two concerned in the attempt
on the house. The wounded man and his companion
might both have escaped, had not Bevan discharged the
other barrel of the gun at the fellow who had received
the cdntents of the first, which brought him to a stand
on the lawn, immediately in front of the family residence
and about three or four hundred yards from the cottage.
The other man did not attempt to assist his less fortu-
nate accomplice, but ran off as fast as he possibly could,
and escaped in the darkness. Meanwhile the report of
the fire-arms had alarmed some of the domestics in the
house, who aroused Mr. Harris. That gentleman im-
mediately hurried to the spot from whence the sound of
voices proceeded? and there found Bevan, almost un-
dressed, standing over the burglar, and threatening to
shoot him if he attempted to escape. The police, who
heard the firing, came up almost simultaneously ; and
while some of the constables went off in pursuit of the man
who had escaped, others conveyed the one they captured
in a handcart to the Queen's Hospital. He was unable to
walk, and bled rather profusely ; being perfectly sen-
sible, and exempt from pain, so far as to be able to talk
freely enough. For example, Bevan remarked, "If I
had'ntpeppered
you, you would have done for
r
would'ntp you ?" " No," coolly replied the man, "
would'nt have killed you ;" and then he begged them
earnestly to let him go, promising that they would never
catch him in this part of the country again. On being
admitted to the hospital he said his name was George
Crisp, and stated that he was a "navvy," residing in
Sheepcote-stieet, near to the glass works of Messrs.
Harris. He also gave: up the name of his accomplice,
likewise a " navvy/ who is known, but is still at large,
although the police are on his track, and will no doubt
speedily secure his arrest. On examination by Mr.
Yates, the house surgeon, it was found that Crisp was
rather more seriously injured than was at first suspected.
The shot severely wounded his left ankle, posterior
parts, and right thigh. A considerable portion haslbeen
extracted, but a great deal yet remains imbedded in the
flesh.--Birmingham Journal.

PREPARATIONS FOR COMPANY.--A hostess who wishes
that her friends should enjoy their dinner, and that she
also should enjoy it with them, must see that all is ready
and at hand before her guests arrive. If her servants
are well trained, and accustomed to do things regularly
when there is no company, there will be little difficulty
when there is; and if there is that pleasant understand-
ing between the head and the hands of the household
which should always exist, any casual mistake will easily
he rectified ; an accident itself will occasion more fin
than fuss ; and although no host and hostess should feel
as unconcerned or indifferent at their own table as else-
Viieire, the duty of seeing that nobody wants anything
(liar tbe manifestly a pleasant one, whilst the simple cor-
courlitY winch
delights in good appetites and cheerful
but
onenoasttices and the domestic order which is evidently,
go
farenttoatiously, the presiding genius of the family,
who would enhance the flavour of the simplest fare.
hot, well-cook prefer one or two plain popular dishes,
ances, to a numb
ed, and served with their proper appear-
to the condition eof
so called made dishes, unsuitable
tasting strongly oOff
iabe
oucrooanksa sorrow with which they
Home Truth:. of those who offer them,
were connected and se
rved up, but of very little else.—