Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1883-12-22 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

POLICE PRECAUTIONS AT HAWARDEN. EXTRAORDINARY RUMOURS.  The Press Association's Chester correspondent telegraphs :—" A contingent of the Flintshire constabulary arrived on Monday night at Ilawarden from Queensferry Railway Station in evident haste. Inspector Applin, from Rhyl, who was the first to arrive with two constables, upon reaching the station immediately hurried into the stable-yard of an adjoining hotel, securing a horse and conveyance, and going immediately to Bawarden Castle, a mile and a half distant. By the next train there arrived at Queensferry half-a-dozen more constables, all of whom left in the same hurried manner. The men professed to have no knowledge whatever of the purpose for which they had been summoned from their beats. The telegraph had, however, where necessary, been brought into requisition, the men being I instructed to repair with the least possible I delay to Hawardon Castle. By the 9.30 train Mr Peter Brown, Chief-Constable of the county, arrived and drove up to the castle. There he found himself in command of a dozen fine tellows, all armed with sixshooter revolvers besides their staves.. Detective Wither, from &Miami Yard, who resides in the village even in the absence of the Premier, held a conference with the Chief Constable of Flintshire, and the men were disposed about the castle, and alorg the various avenues from Rawarden village. During the .night a careful watch was maintained by the patrols. Painful rumours were meantime current in Ilawarden to the effect that the Premier's life had been threatened, that Invincibles were coming down from London to murder him, and that he had been removed secretly to a place of greater safety. ProbaMlitv was lent to these alarms by the fact that Mr Oladetone had been seen to leave the castle in a conveyance at dusk, shortly after the arrival of Inspector Applin. The otffcer immediately left one of his men at the castle, and took the other with him in a conveyance for the protection of Mr Gladstone. The Premier did not return to tha castle for the night. It appears that be left on a visit to Mr John Bankes at Boughton Northop, about three miles from Hewerden, and equidistant from liolywell. Whether Mr Gladstone originally intended to stay the night with Mr Bankes, or whether he was advised; in view of the alarming reports received about him by the police, not to return, is not known ; out it is a fact that the Premier slept at Boughton, within three miles of his own residence. The anxiety which had been occasioned in the village was dispelled on Tucbday, when Mr Gladstone drove through in an open conveyance shortly after noon, followed by Inspector Applin and a constable in another conveyance. The right hon. gentleman drove direct to the Castle, which was then completely guarded on every side. Detective Wither parades the streets, and keeps observation on all strangers. There seems no doubt that alarming information has reached the Scotland Yard authorities respecting a contemplated attack by some miscreants upon the life of the Premier. The Press Association's correspondent was authoritatively informed that the hurried gathering of the police was due to a most peremptory and alarming telegram intimating that a band of InvinciblEs had arrived from New York, sworn either to rescue O'Donnell or be revenged for his death, and that it was feared they would strike at the Premier."  At Flawarden Castle on Wednesday the alarm caused by the sudden arthal of so large a police force for the protection of the Premier had somewhat subsided among the inhabitants, I though it is stated that the authorities were in possession of some startling information having reference to a contemplated attack on, the Premier. So complete is the cordcn of police drawn around his residence that it is impossible for anyone to approach the castle from either side without detection. No less than five men and e.serjeant are posted immediately round the Cast!e, while others are disposed along the various avenues leading up to it. Mr Gladstone himself does not entertain the slightest fear, and goes in and out as before. His body guard, however, are more apprehensive, and have received the most peremptory instructions not to lose sight of him for a moment. On Wednesday morning, for instance, when the right hon. gentleman left the Castle to attend the early morning service at the parish church, he was both immediately preceded and followed by police. On Wednesday several distinguished guests arrived at Hawarden Castle, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs Childers, the Home Secretary, and Lord Richard Grosvenor.