The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-25 00:00:00

CLERKEA II'EL L.

DESPERATE RESISTANCE TO THE POLICE. If 21IiQnl
Burke, a stout Irish labourer, was charged with having been
concerned with others in a most desperate outrage and attack
upon the police-officers of the N division. Daniel Yard,
another athletic Irish labourer, was also charged with obstruct-
ing the officers in the execution of the:r duty.
It may be recollected that en Monday, the 7th of April last, a
dreadful riot took place in the Chalk-road, Islington, where a
man named John Wallen, a coalhcaver, was nearly murdered by
some Irish labourers. On the interference of the police they
were attacked in a desperate manner by the party, and
Staker, t 6.2 N, was barbarously treated, and for a con-
siderable time he was in the hospital in a dangerous state.
Several of the rioters were apprehended at the time, and
being subsequently tried, were convicted and sentenced to
various terms of imprisonment. The prisoner, who was one
of the most active of the gang, escaped, but a re.
ward was granted for his apprehension. He eluded the vigilance
of the officers until Wednesday night last, when information
was received that he was concealed in a house in George-
court, Islington. Stoker, in whose possession the warrant was
placed for execution, made arrangements with other officers to
accompany him fur that purpose ; and on Wednesday evening,
between nine and ten o'clock, Stoker, Sergeant Brennan,
Walker, Pearce, Collard, and Martin, repaired to the house in
George-court to make a capture of the prisoner. On their
arrival they found the house barricaded, the doors and windows
being fastened. '1 he prisoner Burke, on being informed of the
appearance of the police, looked out of the window flourishing a
poker, and swore he would have the life of the first man who
dared attempt to apprehend him, exclaiming, " My name is
Burke." The officers procured a ladder for the purpose of en-
tering at the first-floor window, and at a given signal the officers
burst open the street-door, and rushed up stairs. Sergeant
Brennan went up the ladder to get in at the window, which he
had no sooner lifted up than a quantity of scalding water was
thrown into his face by Burke's wife, by which his sight was
so much affected that he has been ever since in great pain,
and under medical treatment. The prisoner Burke fought at
the officers with a poker and a pair of tongs, in a desperate
manner, the former of which he broke. Stoker was forced to
strike him on the head with his truncheon before the tongs
could be taken from him. Whilst engaged in the affray, the
prisoner 'Ward called out to Burke to "give it to the police,"
and he did as much as possible to obstruct the officers in the
execution of their duty. The violence of Burke was so exces-
sive that it was found necessary to handcuff him, and although
there were so many officers, they had considerable difficulty in
taking, him to the station-house. On their way thither, a
great mob who had assembled, followed, hooted, and pelted the
officers. Burke's head was dreadfully cut from blows, and the
back part was covered with adhesive plaister. His shirt was
besmeared with blood.

Mr. BuoucnroN said that the case was one of such atrocity
that he could not decide upon it summarily. He felt bound to
send it before a jury, and it would eventually be committed for
trial. He would accept responsible bail for both prisoners' ap:
pearance on Tueslay next.