The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-19 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINART BURGLARY.

A burglary of an extraordinary character was
committed at Sheffield early yesterday morning by
James Jowett, a pen and pocket blade grinder,
aged 18 years, who was captured on the premises
and taken before the magistrates the same day the
burglary was committed at the house of Mr. James
Torr, manufacturer, Radford-street. Mr. Torr being
on a journey, the only persons who slept in the
house on Wednesday night were Mrs. Torr, five
young children, and an apprentice named Albert
Wilson, who was known and, to some extent, asso-
ciated with the prisoner for two or three years.
Mrs. Torr retired about 11 o'clock, the other mem-
bers of the family having gone to bed at an earlier
hour. She fastened the doors and window shutters,
merely, however, putting a latch over the sneck of
the kitchen door, because it opens into an enclosed
yard, the large doors of which were securely
fastened. She was kept awake by her baby, and
had a light burning until about two o'clock yester-
day morning. Shortly after she blew out the light
she heard a loud whistle in the street. She got up
and went to the window, but could see no one. She
returned to bed, and had net been there many
minutes before she saw on the wall the flickering of
a candle, which was evidently just outside the
chamber door. She instantly rang the bed-room
bell, and called out for the apprentice, who slept in
the attic. Directly afterwards the bed•room door,
which was closed but not fastened, was pushed open,
and a man, whose face was concealed, witha black
cloth mask, entered the room, carrying a lighted
candle in one hand and a arge knife in the
other, with apparently a carving blade. The
intruder leaped upon the bed, held her down
with one hand, and, brandishing the knife over ker
wan the other, demanded to know where her money
was. She replied, "I have none," and continued
to scream out. He put his thumb upon her throat,
and, holding very tight, threatened to murder her
if she continued to make a noise. Her little son,
who was in bed with her, cried out; "Don't murder
mother," and the burglar replied, " I will, and you,
too, if you don't hold your noise." He then held
the knife over the child, on which Mrs. Torr again
called to the apprentice, " Albert, Albert !" as did
also the little boy. Prisoner said, "I'll Albert
you'," and was approaching her again, when one of
the children, who slept in another room, entered
the bedroom where the burglar was , cryi6g out,
"Don't murder mother." The fellow jumped off
the bed and ran towards the child, who escaped
downstairs. Mrs. Torr then rushed to the bedroom
window and gave an alarm. At this time the ap-
prentice was on the attic landing, but dared not de-
scend, because the burglar stood below brandishing
his knife. Fortunately other assistance was at
hand. Police-constable John Leaper, on passing
the house shortly after two o'clock, was attracted
by the noise of a scuffle, and listening heard a
woman exclaim, " Don't kill my children ;" a man
reply, " Give me some money, then, and let me go ;"
and a child cry out, " Don't murder [mother."
The constable endeavoured to get into the premises,
but found the yard doors and gates fastened.
While he was trying to force them, the burglar who
had taken alarm on Mrs. Torr calling out of the
window, opened them from within, in orc;er to
escape. Immediately he opened the gates he
was seized by the constable, who, seeing a large
knife in his hand, was about to strike him down,
when the man called out, "Don't hit me, and I'll
give you the knife." He then quietly surrendered.
When asked what he was doing, prisoner replied,
" I wanted their money, and should not have hurt
them if they had given it to me. If her hand is
cut she has done it herself. I had nothing to eat,
what could I do ?" The prisoner had left his mask
in the house, and had on a pair of cloth slippers.
He was immediately afterwards recognised as the
Young man Jowett by Mrs. Torr, as also by
the apprentice, who exclaimed, " Thee a com-
panion of mine ; thou deserves transport-
ing." It appeared that the prisoner had visited the
1 apprentice at his workshop during the day and bon

ordered away by Airs. Torr. He had, no doubt,
secreted himself in one of the workshops (where
his boots were found) before the premises were
closed, and had thus had easy access to the house
1-through the kitchen door. The whistling outside
leads to the supposition that he had accomplices.
Mrs. Torr bad received a considerable remittance
from her husband on Tuesday, but had paid it into
the bank on Wednesday. She cut one of her hands
rather severely with clasping the knife to prevent
injury to her throat when struggling with the
prisoner. The prisoner said nothing in defence,
and was committed to take his trial at the next
assizes at York.