The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-30 00:00:00

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nn+ -

GRATIS.

DARING BURGLAR,/ at YARDLEY.
(From the Birmingham Advertiser.)
A burglary was committed early on Saturday morning last,
at the house of Mr. W. Y. Madeley, tanner, Yardley. Mr.
Madeley's house stands alone, fronted by a flower garden,
which comes up to a lane that leads from Hall Green Chapel
to Yardley Church ; the back of the house is skirted by a
meadow. The nearest residence is situated about 100 yards
distance, and is occupied by Mr. Homer, Mrs. Madeley's
father, and at nearly the same distance are the houses, each of
which stands alone, of Mr. Badham, Mr. Mansfield, and Mr.
Palmer.

On Friday night the inmates of the house consisted of Mr.
Madeley,.Mrs. Madeley, Wm. Madeley ,a nephew, aged about
nine years, and the servant girl. The family retired to rest
about ten o'clock. We must here state, that over a side door
at the end of the house a verandah was erected, on to the top
of which-egress could be made from the bedroom of Mr. and
Mrs. Madeley, the window of which opens in the centre, and
is what is termed a French window. About half-past one Mr.
Madeley was awoke by the rattling of the window, and on
looking towards it he saw a shadow on the white win-
dow curtains or blind; and, for a moment, being scarcely
awake, he fancied it was the girl cleaning the window.
On getting out of bed, and drawing the curtain aside, he saw
two men (two others stood concealed), the verandah being
wider than the window ; and upon the instant a violent at-
tack was made upon the glass and frame with some heavy
instruments. Mr. Madeley ran to a chest of drawers, in
which was his sword, a formidable one, but as quick as light-
ning one of the villains forced his way through the broken
framework, upon which Mr. Madeley turned upon him, and
struck him three or four times, and whilst struggling with
him, two or three blows were aimed at his (Mr. Madeley's)
head from without, by one of the party, with a life-preserver ;
Mr. Madeley parried these blows, but was at length struck
with some sharp instrument, which inflicted a severe wound,
and had the effect of felling him to the floor in a state of
insensibility. Mr. Madeley also received another blow on
the forehead. On recovering from the stunning effect of
the blows, which be soon did, Mr. Madeley saw four men
in the room, each of whom produced his own light in an in-
stant, and the room appeared as light as day. Amidst the
confusion, Mr. Madeley had run from the room to that o
the servant, which was at the front of the house. One
of the men, who was *invariably called captain by the
others, then said, " Mr. Mayberry, we don't wish to hurt you
in any way, if you'll only be quiet. All we want is your
money; we're starving for bread." They all wore black
masks, made of glazed calico, which covered their hair and
faces, leaving nothing visible but their eyes. Mr. Madeley
was then ordered into the bed, and his keys demanded, which,
finding resistance utterly useless, he produced. They then
took. from the chest of drawers-a, brown silk purse contain-
ing in gold 131. 10s. and some silver, which the captain im-
mediately divided amongst them ; and having done so in a
very cool manner, he suddenly turned to them and exclaimed,
"D-- your leave the room, and keep the' women
quiet!" Two of them then left the room.
When Mrs. Madeley ran to the servant's room, she threw
up the sash, and, with the girl, began to call loudly for as-
sistance, and instantly a large stone, at least half a pound
weight, was thrown with great violence into the room by a
man in the garden, who was distinctly seen on the grass-
plat. Several stones were subsequently thrown. The two
men were now trying to gain admittance, but Mrs. M. and
the girl, though dreadfully frightened, held the handle so
firmly that the miscreant had to use a crowbar, and the door
soon gave way ; some lighted paper was pushed through the
door to intimidate the females, and at one time part of Mrs.
Madeley's night-dress was on fire. Having gained admit-
tance, the ruffians then ordered them to get into bed, telling
them to be quiet, and no harm should come to them.
In the meantime the captain and the other men had
emptied several of the drawers, and had found another purse,
but not being satisfied, he said—" Mr. Mayberry, you have
more money than this." Mr. M. assured him he had not.
" We are informed," continued the captain, "that you are in
the habit of receiving large sums of money, and you must
give it up." Mr. M. again assured him that it was every
farthing he had got, but he said Mrs. M. might have a little.
The captain sent the man to Mrs. M., who, in her fright,
scarcely knowing what she said, denied having any, and the
villain, on his return, flourished a large heavy instrument,
known to the police as the " Northern star," over his head
as he lay on the bed, exclaiming with a horrible imprecation
"If you don't give it up, I'll be the death of you." Mr.
Madeley said, if they would suffer him to go to his wife, she
would give him the keys, as no doubt she was much fright-
ened, and he again assured them he had no more. Mr.
M.'s gold watch, worth 25/., they had previously taken
froni the bed's head, one of equal value, belonging to Mrs.
M., fortunately escaped their rapacity. Mr. M. was suffered
to go with the man, and Mrs. M. gave him the keys, and
they returned to the captain, who said, "Now, Mr. May-
berry, you'll open the drawers quicker than I can," at the
same time observing that it would be a pity to injure such
a piece of furniture, alluding to a beautiful wardrobe, from
a drawer of which they took two purses of Mrs. M.'s,
containing 2/. or 31. in gold and silver ; a sum of money
they also took from Mrs. M.'s pocket, making in all about
301., and from the jewellerv-boxes a gold neck-chain, which
on being pulled out one of the rascals caught hold of it, ob-
serving " this will do for me ;" amongst the articles taken
were a coral-necklace, a cornelian ditto, a miniature likeness,
set in a frame of massive gold, of a great uncle of Mrs. M.'s,
and several rings, amongst which was an old-fashioned one.
On looking them over, the captain said, " Mr. Mayberry,
this appears to be an old family ring, I'll give it you again,"
and he presented it with much politeness.
Twice in the course of the time of their stay, which was
from twenty minutes to half an hour, had the captain, at Mr.
M.'s request, supplied him with water from the table, with
considerable easiness of manner. From the plate-basket,
which was in Mr. M.'s room, they took a silver cup, gravy
and table spoons, and they had also forced . a drawer in ano-
ther bed-room, - but towards the last they appeared to be
hurried and alarmed, and left several places unexamined.
On quitting Mr. Madeley, the captain shook him by the
hand and bade him good merning ; and, on a signal given,
the others came, and they left the house the same way they
entered it. Mr. M., immediately on their departure, has-
tened to his wife, who had suffered dreadfully from terror
throughout the-fearfal scene. He there saw the men hurry
down the garden walk, and on gaining the road they all
set off in the direction of the canal as hard as they could
scamper. Two or three of the masks were found on the
canal bank the next morning.
The poor little boy, who was in the servant's bed, was
terribly frightened, and said to them with much childish
simplicity, "You won't kill us, will you?" Upon which
one of them said, taking him by the hand, "No, we won't
hurt you, if you'll be quiet ?" On parting with the females,
the ceremony of shaking hands was there also observed; and
one ruffian said, "We shall come and see you again." But,
judging from Mr. Madeley's preparations, their reception,
should they carry their threat out, will be rather of a warmer
nature than their last. Previously to leaving Mrs. M., a
promise was extorted from her, that no alarm should be given
under half an hour, a promise that Mr. Madeley, although
much hurt, reluctantly observed. It was found that a small
ladder, taken from a cottage a little way off, belonging to a
person named Jones, had been the means by which they had
climbed the verandah, giving the idea that some one who
knew the neighbourhood was implicated in the deed—a deed
so daringly planned, and so successfully accomplished, as to
throw the neighbourhood for miles round into a state of the
utmost alarm. Most sincerely do we hope the perpetrators
will be speedily brought to justice.

JERSEY POTATOES.—A vessel from Jersey, named
the Lord Nelson, arrived in the river on Wednesday, with
a cargo consisting entirely of potatoes, the produce of that
island, amounting to seventy tons of that very serviceable
and esteemed article of food. Their supply from any quar-
ter to a great extent assumes a degree of importance at the
present time, when so much fear is expressed of the failure
of the British and also of several of the continental crops of
the article, which would not otherwise be the case. With
respect to this subject, we may mention that it is asserted
that the crop of potatoes in the sister country is remark-
ably fine this year, which, if it prove to be the case, is an
important consideration, although, as this vegetable is a
staple article of food there, particularly with the poorer
classes of the population, who notoriously comprise a large
majority of the whole, it is a matter of doubt whether
they can conveniently spare any considerable portion of
. them for the use- of the inhabitants of this portion of the
United Kingdom.
HIGHWAY RATES.—Since the toll was taken off
the Marsh-gate in Lambeth, and the Surrey Theatre gate,
the repairs of the roads have fallen on the parish. The
highway rates have been It creased to an enormous extent,
and the poorer inhabitants, who keep neither horses or car-
riages, complain bitterly of the obligation they are under to
pay for roads for the benefit of the rich. When petitions
were presented to take off these tolls, it was well known that
the result would be injurious to the class of persons who now
complain, and who had nothing to do with petitioning.
DESCENT or THE BALLOON—On Tuesday night,
the Coronation balloon, with Mr. H. Green and .his com-
panion, after leaving Crernorne-gardens, proceeded in a
south-westerly direction, crossing Putney-bridge and Bushy
Park. After passing over Long Ditton, Mr. 11. Green took
measures for his descent; and, about a quarter past nine
o'clock, made a safe landing in a pea-field, about forty acres
in extent, belonging to Mr. Castledine, of Clay-gate. He
was there nearly two hours without receiving any assistance,
'though hee xhibited several strong lights.
e understand that a company is in formation
for the refining of sugar in this port, and that the necessary
steps have been taken for registering Advertiser.
CAUTION TO CLERICAL SPECULATORS.—AS not a
few names of clergymen appear as directors in the lists of
railway companies, it may not be unimportant to inform them
that such a position incurs great risk and responsibility. By
Ist and 2d Vic., c. 106, sec. 29, " No spiritual person holding
any cathedral preferment, benefice, curacy, or lectureship,
shall engage in trade, or buy and sell again for profit." A
clergyman illegally trading may be suspended for the first
and second offence, and deprived for the third. But no con-
tracts shall be deemed void by reason only of the saute hav-
ing been entered into by a "spiritual person,"
in -Banker's
g. Magazine. trading or deal-
TIIK WIGAN ELECTION.—Mr. Thicknesse has ac-
cepted the invitation to stand as the Liberal candidate for
this borough, caused by the death of the late P. x' to
Esq. As far as the canvassing can be deemed any criterion of
ee
triet oet
one
tvbeesrrtiyntghr eetatoseobilearstrnootbe
he doubt;
nor Mr. Thicknesse hasuwinieitrtrlinii
family in that borough. The
goawutfet;
fied, but that it willbebelefta
btuhtetheeleSetpieoankewri'snwtariktewpilllabeee
two or three days afterwards.—Leeds Mercury.
kno well-
known nafinuyenner
;tahonfsOt hc
teo ei na.)dr
issued on the 7
day of election is not yet fixed,
we regret- to learn that Mr. Eaton, M.P., is
seriously indisposed at his seat in Cambridgeshire, and fears
are entertained if he can recover from his severe attack of
illness.

CONVICTS.—On Friday a coroner's
inquest was beldbefore C. J. Carttar, Esq., and a highly respectable
jury, assembled at the Salutation, facing her Majesty's Royal Ar-
senal, Woolwich, to inquire into the death of Joseph Smith, a con_
vict, aged 63, convicted at York assizes on the 29th September,
1844, of cutting and wounding, with intent, &C., and sentenced to
fifteen years' transportation. Mr. Hendry, assessor of income-tax,
and a parochial constable, offered himself as a juryman, but was
refused. He then requested to know whether convicts did not
die in the parish of Plumstead, and not at Woolwich !—if so, he
had - a right to have the summoning of the jury. The worthy
coroner said this was not a fit time to settle that point ; it should
be suggested after the inquest had been terminated. Mr. Hendry
bowed assent, and the inquest proceeded, and the jury adjourned
down to the Royal Arsenal to view the body, when Surgeon Blyth
deposed that deceased was a convict, and received as such into her
Majesty's Royal Arsenal on the 15th of August last ; lie was thus
in a bad state of health. A few days ago the cancer broke out and
became very bad; this, with his advanced age, gradually got worse,
till deceased died on the 9.2 d, on board the Justicia hospital ship.
Every comfort was administered to restore his health, but to no
purpose, as the decay of nature had too far advanced. The unfor-
tunate convicts are remarkably healthy at the present time. The
jury returned a verdict of--!' Died from natural Ca!LICS.".