The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-24 00:00:00

THE BURGLARY AT STOKE.

On Friday Henry Marshall, Thomas Earl, Thomas
Walter, Thomas Anderson, Spencer Bowen, and
William Pope, the river pilots belonging to Graves-
end, were brought before the Rev. G. Davies and a
full bench of magistrates, at the County-office, Ro-
chester, for final examination, under a charge of bur-
glary, at the cottage of William Eastman, at Stoke,
early on the morning of Wednesday, the 11th instant,
where, it will be remembered, they were beaten off
by the courageous conduct of Mrs. Eastman, who,
with her (laughter, a young girl, were the only in-
mates in the house at the time. Mr. Prall, solicitor
at Rochester, attended to watch the case for Walter;
and Mr. Bowditch, of Gravesend, on behalf of the
remaining five; the seventh offender, the ringleader,
who was wounded with an iron bar by Eastman's
wife, being still at large. He had, however, it ap-
peared, been traced with his boat down to Hole
Haven, some distance below Gravesend, on the Essex
shore, and being known to the officer, is not likely
to remain much longer at liberty. In addition to the
evidence already adduced, implicating the accused,
several other witnesses were examined, whose testi-
mony went still further to connect the prisoners with
the offence with which they stand charged.
Mr. William Palmer, landlord of the Ship public-
house at Stoke, stated that he was called up at about a
quarter to two o'clock on Wednesday morning, and
on going to his lodge, in which was a quantity of hay
and straw, he found a party of watermen, together
with several of the villagers, smoking and regaling
themselves, having lighted candles with them, and
thus jeopardising his property. Having ejected the
intruders, he returned to his house, and as he was
securing the fastenings, he heard a cry of " Murder"
proceeding from Eastman's cottage, accompanied by
smashing of glass, and it was in that direction the
watermen went on quitting the lodge. James Usher,
an agricultural labourer, in company with the pri-
soners on the previous evening, having been apprised
of the burglary, procured assistance, and went
in pursuit of the parties, and by the light of the
moon could distinguish that they were making
towards Yantlett Creek. Witness, with his compa-
nions, by crossing the fields, managed to reach the
creek before them, and gave information to the pre-
ventive men on board the watch vessel, who, however,
said they could not apprehend the prisoners, unless
for smuggling or murder. On the arrival of the pri-
soners at the creek, one of them appeared much hurt,
and stood with his head resting on a rail, his com-
panions saying he was the one who had done the
mischief. Some of them then went on board the
e arch vessel, and afterwards took to their boats, three
in number, and went away, and were apprehended at
Gravesend on the following Saturday. The exami-
nation of the witnesses having been completed, the
magistrates committed the prisoners on the charge of
burglary. The prisoners were then liberated on bail,
themselves each in a bond of 1001., and two sureties
of 50/. each, to appear at the next assizes, the sureties
being readily found amongst pilots and watermen of
Gravesend, by whom the court was crowded, .the
investigation having excited no ordinary degree of
interest.