The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-06 00:00:00

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The Garotters at Sheffield..

•-
After a protracted delay, the Sheffield police have suc-
ceeded in taking into custody two of the men who committed
the atrocious outrage upon Mr. Burnby, coal agent to Earl
Fitzwilliam, named Dennis Carr and Henry Smith. They
were brought before the Sheffield magistrates on Saturday,
charged with the crime. Carr was apprehended in Birming-
ham. Another of the ruffians, named Edward Hall, ab-
sconded soon after the robbery, and escaped out of the hands
1 of half-a-dozen police officers in Birmingham, leaving be-
hind him ample proof to convict him of several serious
crimes. The evidence against Carr and Smith was gone into
-at some length. Mr. Burnby, who is still very ill, said—
" On Friday, Dec. 23, I was returning home between 6 and
7 o'clock in the evening. When within a couple of hun-
dred yards of my own house, I was seized by the throat
from behind, and swung round by the man who had hold
of me. One of the other men struck me a blow over the
left side of the head. I observed a third man, and he
appeared to be keeping watch about two or three yards
from the persons who were striking me. The man then
struck me over the chest and ribs, and I held up my hand
to protect my heart, as the blows were so severe. I
received a very severe blow over my hand, and it fell•
It appeared to be with some instrument. One of my eyes
was filled with blood. The man who was pressing my
throat said to the one who was striking me, `Hit him
lower,' and he did so, and hit me below the ribs, on the left
side. I then became insensible ; but when I came to my
senses I was laid on the causeway or footpath. I felt in my
pocket to see if my purse was there, but it was gone. It
contained £2 or £3 in silver. A silver lever hunting watch
which I had in my fob, and which was fastened by a leather
guard, was also gone. Part of the guard was left round
my neck. A gold pin which I had in my cravat, and in
which was set a large amethyst, was also gone. I heard some
one coming before I was attacked, and I moved on to the
kerbstone to let them pass. The silver hunting watch case,
silver dial, and plate now produced I can identify as portions
of the watch stolen from me. I had the watch for upwards
of 20 years, and I have no doubt as to the parts produced
belonging to it. I was taken home by three or four gentle-
men who heard me groaning on the ground. There was a
new building close by, and some one was working on it. I
was attended by Mr. Skinner for about a fortnight or
three weeks. I was a week in bed. I suffered much pain
about the throat and body. When I swallow anything
now my throat hurts me, and I have a pain in my left side
near the heart. I cannot articulate plainly yet." Mr.
Skinner, surgeon, said Mr. Burnby was as nearly murdered
as it was possible for him to be and yet live. The injury
to the heart, produced by the violent blow, was very seri-
ous. The most important witness in the case was a
working watchmaker named Martin Cooper, to whom Hall
and Carr offered the stolen property. He said—" A very
short time after the robbery, on the same night, the pri-
.soner Carr and Edward Hall came into my house. Hall
produced a silver lever hunting watch and a gold pin, with
an amethyst stone. The stone was a large one, as if it was
intended for a brooch. Hall asked me what I thought
about the watch. I looked at it, and asked him what he
wanted for it. He said, ' Would 30s. be too much ?" and
I said ' No' Carr laid the pin down on the board. While
I was engaged in examining the watch Carr said to me,
'By Christ, be careful, for there's 20 years and a good
flogging for it.' Hall asked me what I could do with the
pin, and I said I could do nothing with it, and he told me
to break it up. Hall asked me to take the name out of the
watch while he stayed, and I did so. I took both the num-
ber and name out. It was a name of some one in Lincoln,
and I think the number was 298. The name was either
Wilson or Williams, lam not sure which. The place was
Lincoln. (Mr. Burnby.—The name was Richard Wilson,
Lincoln.) I broke the pin up, except the stone. I did
not then pay the 305., and they went away, leaving
the watch and pin with me. On the next night
(Christmas Eve), Hall, Carr, Smith, and Skinner came
to my house several times from between 6 and 7 o'clock
and 11, Carr and Hall came together ; then Smith came by
himself, and so did Skinner. They wore altogether at my
house about 11 o'clock. At that time Hall asked me for the
money for the watch and pin. I had some money in my
hand, and he said, ' Can you pay me for that watch and
pin ?' I had been out previously to get some money, and
when I went out I think Smith was not there. He was in ,
when I came back. I paid Hall the 30s. in the presence of
Carr and Skinner." The witness went on to say that he
gave the watch back to the men, and it was afterwards re-
stored to him from a garden in the Abbeydale-road, outside
of the town. He informed the police, and they took the
steps which led to the apprehension of the prisoners. The
case was adjourned until Thursday for corroborative evi-
dence.

The Debate on Langiewicz in the Austrian

Reiclisrath

The petition of Langiewicz was brought before the I
Ireichsrath by the oommittee on the 23d January.
The committee strongly urged the liberation of the late
Dictator of Poland. The Ministerof Police, Baron Mecsery,
disputed the right of the Swiss Government to require the
extradition of Langiewicz. Very extraordinary conse-
quences would follow the recognition of such a right. Any
Government, by simply naturalising an individual, might
influence his relations towards the Government on whose
territory he resides, although such Government may have
claims upon him. The point was, that Switzerland should
take upon herself the duties which Austria has to fulfil re-
garding Langiewicz; and Switzerland had not accepted
this obligation. He declared, in conclusion, that it was the
ardent wish of the Government to liberate Langiewicz as
soon as possible from the measures taken against him, and
that the Government hoped it would soon be in a condition
to do so; but it reserved to itself the liberty of determin-
ing the suitability of the time for so doing.
Dr. Muhlfeld thought the Swiss Government had a per-
fect right to make the demand in question. There was
nothing in the Austrian law against Langiewicz being made
a Swiss citizen, even though he may never have been in
Switzerland. This was not disputed by the Minister of
Police, and he (the speaker) was thereby strengthened in
his conviction that the conduct of the Government in this
matter had been mainly influenced by consideration for a
certain Power. If the case had been that of a naturalised
Englishman, he was sure the Government would never
have so treated a demand from Great Britain for the extra-
dition of its subject. The case of Langiewicz was that of
all the Poles confined in Austria. The insurrection,
which had been the cause of their confinement, had
ceased; their confinement should therefore also cease;
it being, moreover, contrary to the Austrian law. If
any of them had committed any offence against Austria,
they should be tried and punished, but it was contrary
to law to keep them in confinement without trial. This
arbitrary and exceptional measure affected the laws for the
protection of personal liberty and the feeling of right among
the citizens of the monarchy. He moved therefore, " That
the petition be referred to the Government, which is
strongly urged to liberate M. Langiewicz, and put a stop
to the confinement of the other Poles."
The Minister of Police said that the Government had
already determined to carry out the objects of the above
motion, and that steps were being taken with that view.
At present the only questicfn was the provision of funds to
enable the Poles to leave the country.
Dr. Muhlfleld withdrew his motion after this statement.
Dr. Bechbauer said that Langiewicz was imprisoned like
a common felon. No one was permitted acess VI him, and
the door of his cell was guarded by two gaolers. Even
in the time of Metternich, persons who were confined in
the country for political reasons were not kept in prison.
Why had Langiewicz not be tried ? It was evident that
he had been confined without trial because he was guiltless
of any offence punishable by the Austrian law. - In Austria,
political offences are only penal when committed on Aus-
trian territory or directed against. Austria. The only Power
which could demand his extradition by treaty was Prussia;
but Prussia can no longer do so, for he is now a Swiss sub-
ject. Prussia had allowed this, and freed him from his
duties as a Prussian subject. Prussia had done this under
Bismark--that same Prussia which had been condemned
for its convention with Russia, at a time when Austria had
joined in supporting the five points. Austria would now
be condemned by all Europe if she persisted in detaining
Langiewicz, and thereby continuing a course of action
which is only possible in a State under the government of
the police. •
The Minister of Police denied that the conduct of that
Government had been influenced by
with another Power. It was simply the result of a
y
imposed by the law of nations.
he petition com-
Dr. van der Strass, the reporter of t
any special agreeinduetn
mittee, said the committee attached no imp
question of Langiewicz's nationality.
be liberated, for
Prussian or a Swiss subject, be tooughwtidch
are binding in
his detention is opposed to the laws cebetobethae
to
as the causes which pro-
Austria, and particularly
personal freedom, more espec
infringement' of the
theyla had ceased.
for ItVhile:rttphraeortection of
duced the temporary t.
ally
ethat Petitio of M.
The motion of the committee
nded," was then carried by a large
be urgently reconune
forwardedmto the Ministry, and his libera-
tionLangiewicz be
majority.
The Diritto announces that a shop for the sale of
horse flesh at half the price of beef has recently
been opened in Turin. The Diritto does not pronounce for
or against this dainty; but draws attention to an observa-
tion it has heard many people make :—A young and
healthy horse in good condition if sold dead at the price of
beef would not realise as much as if sold living. The sus-
picion arises therefore that it is only the flesh of old and
lean horses which is offered to the public at such a cheap
rate. Some information on this point would, the Diritto
thiuks be desirable.