The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-26 00:00:00

BURGLARY AiVD AI'TEMPI .ED MURDER.

The Maidstone Journal has the following account of the
burglary and attempted murder at Linton Park :—" Early
on Tuesday morning the watchman employed at Linton
Park, on going his rounds, discovered a light in owed the
lower passages of the mansion, and on going to the other
side of house found one of the winskws on the ground
floor open. He at once entered, and encountered two
men either with masks on or their faces blackened. A
struggle took place which awakened the household, con-
sisting mostly of maid-servants and the housekeeper. The
latter with great presence of mind immediately rang the
bell connected with her bedroom ; and that hanging
immediately over where the scuffle was going on, at once
gave an alarm. The burglars seem to have been well
armed for a close encounter ; the watchman had only an
ordinary walking-stick, but he did not succumb to the
fearful odds against him until he was sadly injured on the
head, and a pistol shot fired at him ; fortunately, however,
the shot did not take effect. After disabling the watch
man the thieves ran along a passage leading to the outer
door, but that being fast they turned into another passage,
and up a flight of stairs, at the top of Which is the house-
keeper's bedroom. This being fast, they prowled along
another passage, and entered a room where two maid-ser-
vants slept, locking the door behind them, and threatening
the terrified yourig women with instant death if they
made any alarm ; the thieves, however, quickly made to
the window, which they at once opened, and jumped out
into the kitchen yard below, a depth of fourteen feet,
and at once made their escape. Being disturbed in their
operations they had not been able to secure any booty,
but several rooms appear to have been entered, and
the manner in which the fellows got into the house,
their desperate struggle with the watchman, and

their final daring leap from an upstair window upon
a stone pavement below, she; that they are no novices
in their calling.. The attempt at murder also by
firing the pistol proves they came prepared to commit
any crime that was needful in the accomplishment of
their purpose. The affair took place betweeh three and
four o'clock, or very shortly after the fillt-named hour.
The wounded man had strength to crayil along twards
the housekeeper's and maid-servants' bedioams, and the
large dinner-bell of the mansion having been rung by the
housekeeper and maids, alarmed the villagers, and
assistance arrived. Lord and Lady Holmesdale and
the bulk of the household (as is known) being in London,
there was only one of the stablemen at home, and
he quickly carried the news to Maidstone, informing
the Kent County Constabulary, and, what was equally
important, summoning Dr. Joy to the assistance
of the wounded man. Mr. Superintendent Ovenden was
quickly on the spot, and directed his men and others to
scour the neighbourhood, he himself gaining what informa-
tion he could froili those present. Dr. Joy also dressed
the injured man's wounds, which were several severe ones
on various parts of the head, and we are sorry to hear the
poor sufferer is still in considerable danger. Lord Holmes-
dale, who was in London, lost no time in visiting Linton
during the day, and gave directions that everything that
could be of service to alleviate the sufferings of the injured
man was to be done, and Dr. Joy, at his lordship's request,
has attended him daily. A painter, of Boughton, was
taken before Mr. Charles Whitehead, at the magistrates'
clerk's office, charged with the offence, and remanded till
Saturday.