The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-02-10 00:00:00

SINGULAR SCHEME.

(PROM TIM MANCHISTIR GUARDIAN.)

Early on Sunday morning last, the family of John Mar-
shall, Esq. at the Polygon, Ardwick, was alarmed by the
report of a pistol ; and, on going down stairs, they found
at the outside of the door, the footman, who stated that be
had been alarmed by bearing some persons about the
door of the outbuilding in which he slept, and an attempt
to force the door ; that he got up, put on part of his
clothes, and proceeded towards the house to alarm the
family, armed with a bar of iron. On his way thither, 11.1
beard a signal given by a man from the opposite side of
the yard, and saw another man run into the garden. A
third man rushed out from the steps to the back-door,
where be had been contealed by a porch, fired a pistol at
the footman, and ran away ; a fourth man was also stand-
ing on the steps, and be ton fired'a pistol, which, the font-
man said, wounded him slightly on the arm, bat he rushee'
on the man, struck him on the face or the neck, asilL
knocked the pistol out of his hands; however be succeeded
in making his escape. When Mr. Marshall, juo. got
down stairs, be found that a bole had been cut on the
back door, apparently with an intention of taking out a
pannel, and it seemed as if an attempt had been made to
force the lock, by means of a crow bar. On the door,
mad on the ground near it, a quantity of blood was
•, k • and a bug* karte pistol, with -eowsereiesegvelarl
• ad-, which' appeared to have been ma as slugs
ere found in the yard. In the garden, footsteps were
*wed, as if persons had gained admittance, and escaped
by, getting over the wall ; and a rope, which seemed to
hire been intended to be used fur that purpose, was found
near the door. Of course, no doubt wus frit by the
family of Mr. Marshall that an attempt had been made,
by a desperate gang of robbers, to break into the house,
sod great credit was given to the footman for hit coo- ,
rageous and resolute conduct. In the morning, Mr. La-
vender went to the place, with a view to assist in the de-
tection of the supposed ffenders ; but, on ex twining the
bremises, and particularly on observing the marks of
lood on the door, he began to soaped the truth of the
footman's story, and on looking at the wound on the arm
of the latter, he found that it was a mere graze, the skin
having been scarcely raised ; and yet it appeared from his
clothes as if it had bled very copiously. Seseral other
trivial circumstances contributed to increase Mr. Laren-

ler's doubts, and he communicated his suspicions to Mr.
Marshall, jun. That gentleman, however, bad so high
an opinion of the footman, that he could not then be in-
duced to suspect him; bur, after some cousideration, he
began to think it possible that the man knew more of the
miller than he wished to explain. In the meantime.
hand-bills Pere issued, offering a reward for the discovery
of the persons who had attempted to break into the house;
and, as Mr. Lavender had observed that the pistol found
appeared to have been recently in the bands of a gun-
smith, it was reynesteol that the parties who had sold such
a weapon would apply at the police office, by which means
it was discovered that the pistol had been purchaqtd:at the
shop of Mr. Styen, in hanging Ditch, on the preceding
Saturday; and the description given by Mos. Styes
of the per,on of the lulu who bought it left no
doubt on the mind of Mr. Lavender that his suspicions
were well founded. Op Wrilues4lay, therefore, it sval ar-
ranged that Mrs. Styen should take a pair of pistols to
Mr. Atarshall'o. !loose, as if for his inspection, and that
the footuo in should open the door tkr her; which was
done and as soon as she saw him, sloe *new him to be diit
Man %ho had purchased tfiel pistol on. Saturday. About
er made lits appearance, and
the same time Mr. havend
thefgotuianwas!tiiariedssvith hivinist th4whole

I)snlir,.iadTrerraster former story; but, after being
closely pressed, and confronted with Mrs. Styan, he ad-
mitted that the whole was a fabrication, and that lie bad
tired the pistol and cut the panel of the door himself, and
rubbed his arm with a piece of iron, to. wake it look as if
ititad been grazed by a ball. He had obtained the blood
by making his own nose bleed, and bad splashed it on the
door and the ground, to finical: arenas if it bad fallen
from a wounded man. In short, lie disclosed the whole
contrivaince from first to Isst ; and when asked wbet
could be his motive for such couduct, he said he found his
wages insufficient to maintain his wife and family, and
therefore did what he had done io the hope that Mr. Mar-
shall would reward him fur his display of courage. it
was thought necessary to examine the plate and other
property intrusted to his care; but every thing was found
perfectly correct, and no suspicion is entertained that be
has been at all dishonest. In&ed, his previous conduct
had been such, as to give Mr. Marshall (in whose service
he had been fur several years) a very high opinion of his
integrity and fidelity ; and he had received from that gentle-
wan several merits of kindness. Cif course be was imme-
diately discharged.

DRILIDFUL TUUNDER-STaRy.-00 the 29th December
last, during a thunder-storm, about half-past twelve, p.m..
the signal-house, on Holyhead mountain was struck by
the electric fleid, which, after stripping the abutters, aid
displacing a large bow-window, entered the bed-room of
the signal-man, who was asleep with la o of his children,
one of whom, and the father, were scorched, the latter from
the middle of the thigh in a spiral form up to his neck,
burning several holes in his flannel waistcoat, which, with
the shock, rendered him some time senseless. On entering
the place, it was found that the bed-posts were all broken,
the curtain-rods incited, the pillow of the bed ripped up its,
all directions, the clock-case and the hell shivered to atoms,
the wainscot and the dresser behind it cat to pieces, the
front door forced some yards out, a largo shelf above the
kitchen fire-place forced through the frpnt window, and
three of the beams that supported the „cloth-roof broke,
forcing all the others out of their sockets. The electric
fluid then tore a hole through a twenty itch stout wag,
iiinfl made its way into another bed-room, ushers it slOered'
to pieces all the furniture, iron-pots, earthenware, &ALI
also the wainscoting of the bed-rooise'where the ler-
i sront-maid and twoothers of the children lay, but fortunately
did them no material injury. The destructive fluid thee
forced its way through another 20-inch stone wall into the
store-room, %%here it wrenched from the wall a large cup-
board, shivering to pieces its front, shelves, and all tlhe
paint-pots, glass, Esc. that it contained; then through the.
feondation of the building, and, dislodging large stones, it.
-furrowed the pavement in a sig-sag form, and passing'
through a potatoe-elamp twenty yards off, it completed
its work of destruction. It is singular that the only article.
untouched was a chest containing some dozen cartridges
;ferder, used for tire signal guns, which, had they ex-
i ed, would have destroyed the whole family, and blown
path building. A brass pan was also blown from a shelf,
anakovered, bottom upwards, a turf fire that. was blazing
on the hearth stone, which prevented that destructive ele-
dent from doing further mischief. The servant, after re-
ooverieg from her fright, 'called to her master, but not hav-
ing any reply. she scrambled over the weeeky pile, and
succeeded in taking him out clad in the bed-clothes, and
placed him under a hedge some yards from the place, and
then she carried, two of the children and led the other
two, all with namely my -
of the mountain, full half a,
that could there be ringleted
-4 sr here the 4,---- -
-•s, bet If,
-.. but

rAN

THIEVES SHOT.
.....0w00..-

?
LlntoM THE lIRISToL MERCUAT.I
(Prole a Correspondent.)—At Upper Banton on Monday
morning last, about four o'clock, a great noise was heard
Jay a servant man, named John Scully, in the employ of
Mr. Pocket ; the noise proceeded from the dogs belonging
lho the house barking, and from the bells aqiiched to the
Sheep in a field opposite. Scully proceeded to inspect the
!grounds, armed with a gun, loaded-with small shot ; and
lifter proceeding about fifty yards down the garden, lie
kooked across a narrow lane—found that some person of
persona were hunting the sheep; and suspected, from the
eireumetance of their being no passage or foot-way
through the field, that an attempt was making to steal
some of them. [Numerous depredations had been of late
committed in the neighbourhood, and Mr. Crink, the pro-
'elm.; bad requested, as be lived himself at same distance,
Ist John Scully would keep a good look out in guarding
his flock, and that he should be rewarded for his trouble.]
'Wee Scully had waited in the garden from live to tee
Obetee, he saw some men, making their way over the
es to a wall, about four feet in height, which is situate
lient six feet across the lane; the dog which was with
sully tben barked furiously, and some stones were thrown
a$ hint by the thieves, one of them was heard to say, " some
person most be with that dog." On which Scully cried
sit • " Stop thief" several times, when one of
the thieves said, " There is a man--shoot the
casual--Tom, d-- you, why don't you fire!"
y (it being star-light) could see that they had some-
. ppueiw it to be a sheep, he fired his gun at
the tots of one of them, who was then standing upon the
wall, at the distance of about twelve yards from him ; the
contents of the gun passing the first man struck a second,
%Oldie name is said to be Maggs, in the breast, which
canted Lis death. A few minutes afterwards, two men
%yardmen running violently through the turnpike near the
Three Black Birds public-house, supposed to be those who
bad escaped. Upon the deceased was found a crow-bar, 1
with a crooked top and bottom. and three stolen fowls,
which were proved to be the property of a person named
Bradey, living next door to the Lebec public house; he had
alsolit his pockets matches, flints, and other implements
for ighattle_r. Thomas Ebcott, who lives near the spot, had
hielfewis.stolen very early the same morning, which are
aappOsed to be in the p ion of the men who ran away
when the deceased was shot.—John Scully surrendered
himself immediately after the act, and the more respect-
ablmbhabitants of the place anticipated a verdict of ac- 1
quitteß by the Coroner's Jury; but, on the following day,'
a eetdict of" Manslaughter" was found. Scully bears an
eteilltiont character, both for honesty and sobriety. It
appears that be did not fire with the intent to kill, but to
'wooed the legs of one of the It 1 vet. Ilis unfortunate
conditiOn has induced several respectable individuals to in-
Writ themselves in his favour. One gentleman has of-
t fend ball to the amount of five hundred pounds, which,
howtver, could not be accepted, it being a Coroner's com-
mittal. The same philanthropic individual has ordered
nineriltillings per week to be paid Scully during his,impri-
sOnlYstit.

ANO,HER Tully SHOT.—On Snnday morning, the 25th
ult. Aquantity of leather was found in Barrow Wood,
which tag supposed to have been stolen ; and in cense-
crew. two or three men were, on the follewini night,
stationeid near the spot, for the 'purpose of watching the
Net"' in case they should return to carry off their
hooky. They did return abbot 2 o'clock on 'Monday morn-
having taken 'the leather, they were einveying
en the met' on duty called to them to surrender.
ediately 4opped the leather, and ran away; and
Eh ight, a gun was discharged at them, the contents
4f wounded one of the thieves in the shoulder.

taken into cast°,

'rites Taunton

ir QuUT qtr Autz Mass.—Friday, William Joyner
Ellis♦ Fag. bold an 'lnquest at the Black Boy public-
house, Deedbass-Dowo, on the body of the above-named
feinala4 aged 22, who was found downed io a pond, in
()Tsai Field, behind Montague-parade, on Wednesday
morning. The body was discovered by some plasterers,
who wore at work in the neighbourhood ; and it was first
conveyed to the Bell, Hillgrove street, out-parish of St.
Paul, .bat was was afterwards removed to the Black Boy,
Parish of Westbury-upon-Frye), the pond where the body
was found being to the latter parish. It appeared, frow
the evidence before the Coroner, that the girl had lived in
the family of a lady, who now resides in Southwell-street,
f•rr a period of thirteen years. to the course of the last
two years, abe bad taken to drinking; and lately i► was dis-
covered she had been in the habit of contracting debts with
shotikeepees.-althoogh site had received money from her
mistress to pay for the articles purchased. A bill for se-
veral pounds had been presented; aid on finding that her
mistress was about to investigate this case, the girl, under
the dread of immediate detection, left the house about four
o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, saying that she would go
and take a 'boa to be repaired: but did not return, and no-
thing was beard of her until the following morning, when
she was found in the pond, as already stated. A report
that the unfortunate girl was pregnant, was satisfactorily
coot/acted oa the tannest. Verdict—" Drowned her-
self, being se the time in a state of Mental Derangement."
—(l6id.)

LENT ASSIZES.—MIDLAND CIRCUIT.
Before Chikluatice Baron Gillman and Mr. Baron HULLOCK
-....l9,6nualtrtomsuirte.--Saturday, Feb. 20, at Northampton.
Rolci,loornwitas.—Faday, Marc's 5, at Oakham.
Ltsilcotaimtlas.—gaturday, March 0, at Lincoln.
('ir oX LlNCOLN.—flame day. at City of ditto.
Nomrtsisiitammitat.—Friday. March, 12, at Nottinghami)
raultir Tom, ' NOTTINOHAII.—Same day, at City of ditto.
Masts as.—Wednesday, March 17, at Derby.
Ls ae.—Monday, enday, March 22, Castle of Leicester.
-moos-13assa day, at Borough of ditto.
Cm or 04)florraY.—Saturday, March 29, Cityof Coventry.
W4awicitlintas.—Same day, et Warwick.

VACCINATION.—It appears from the Reports of the
National Vaccine Board to the Right Honourable Robert
Peel. that the application for lymph have been more then
usually numerous—a proof that the confidence of tbe world
in vatlcitia,ion is increasing, particularly under the benevo-
lencei of Pailismetit, in providing an establishment where
the "hitter is along. to be procured. Since the last report,
lymph has been dispatched to the East and West ladies,
to Ceylou, 'thug-Cape. of Hood Hope, the Island of Maud-
ties, to the (lialtinf Africa, to New &kith Wales, to France
and Itaig, kc. ihe report then stated, that it has been
.distrilanteclibi tills kingdom with great success. " For
-the small-palatial' prevailed as an epidemic with more than
'-ordinary malignity Is various parts of this Island lately,
committed. great ravages in those districts where it
found victims unprotected against it by a previous process.
0.111. ativettngeislitit viii.oinatton in places subjected to those
severe visitations haw, been confessedly decisive and re-
markible, times who bad used this resource being observ-
ed to remain generally ;Wind in the midst of dapeer
and if. there were any wham; Abe contaKion. was Able- to
,ly universally, to Ibsen
which is pot attended
vaccinated from 1818 to
-oept tin' Capital) is
• vaccinators fur the
- moot) . persons
of Foe

carried, two of the children and lea the moat ---
with sc„ody tiny clothing,, to a hoes. at the foot infect, these wars remprked. ahnostly uPirersally,
the disease in that mitigated form which is pot a
loonfain, tuff halt *mile off, where every-assistance
ild there be niadered misfiles& Onclborehing Ow with danger." , Tim total number vaccinated from
iert the poor man was deposited. b. "ITO lonad still ithl2 to thir United. Kingdom (except tin, tap
~ bat by proper treatment, he is pawl, a fair wsi .421•1111,_•210,,.....tib. total by .160 stationary vicc„„ins,,„„twl
ery, but it ialenred that his legiatt arbickb.eretoioce \API" El./1114145.111ii In WM then wore zumuu
reek, will never ripaese Isp pa4twasl.perhelionleacZOlAALLaylon. . AIN in- the' Presidency
eary Chronicle.) 3; i: 3 IL:. 7 , ' 111. ' 0003078 in that of Bobibsy •
. . . •
.•••.. - .
, . 104 • -••
• •
4k „ ' ' . • .• •
- . - - •;,' • • .•
. . .
. . .
• 5 . , •
,
. .. .. .. • ....
•
A ... .
. ....• - -o
.* ~.y.
-PP ••• : ....-
_ , ~•