The Sun. — 1848-10-24 (London, England)

THE BURGLARY AT STOKE.  On Friday Henry Marshall, Thomas Earl, Thomas Walter, Thomas Anderson, Spencer Bowen, and William Pope, the river pilots belonging to Gravesend, were brought before the Rev. G. Davies and a full bench of magistrates, at the County-office, Rochester, for final examination, under a charge of burglary, at the cottage of William Eastman, at Stoke, early on the morning of Wednesday, the 11th instant, where, it will be remembered, they were beaten off by the courageous conduct of Mrs. Eastman, who, with her (laughter, a young girl, were the only inmates in the house at the time. Mr. Prall, solicitor at Rochester, attended to watch the case for Walter; and Mr. Bowditch, of Gravesend, on behalf of the remaining five; the seventh offender, the ringleader, who was wounded with an iron bar by Eastman's wife, being still at large. He had, however, it appeared, been traced with his boat down to Hole Haven, some distance below Gravesend, on the Essex shore, and being known to the officer, is not likely to remain much longer at liberty. In addition to the evidence already adduced, implicating the accused, several other witnesses were examined, whose testimony went still further to connect the prisoners with the offence with which they stand charged. Mr. William Palmer, landlord of the Ship publichouse at Stoke, stated that he was called up at about a quarter to two o'clock on Wednesday morning, and on going to his lodge, in which was a quantity of hay and straw, he found a party of watermen, together with several of the villagers, smoking and regaling themselves, having lighted candles with them, and thus jeopardising his property. Having ejected the intruders, he returned to his house, and as he was securing the fastenings, he heard a cry of " Murder" proceeding from Eastman's cottage, accompanied by smashing of glass, and it was in that direction the watermen went on quitting the lodge. James Usher, an agricultural labourer, in company with the prisoners on the previous evening, having been apprised of the burglary, procured assistance, and went in pursuit of the parties, and by the light of the moon could distinguish that they were making towards Yantlett Creek. Witness, with his companions, by crossing the fields, managed to reach the creek before them, and gave information to the preventive men on board the watch vessel, who, however, said they could not apprehend the prisoners, unless for smuggling or murder. On the arrival of the prisoners at the creek, one of them appeared much hurt, and stood with his head resting on a rail, his companions saying he was the one who had done the mischief. Some of them then went on board the e arch vessel, and afterwards took to their boats, three in number, and went away, and were apprehended at Gravesend on the following Saturday. The examination of the witnesses having been completed, the magistrates committed the prisoners on the charge of burglary. The prisoners were then liberated on bail, themselves each in a bond of 1001., and two sureties of 50/. each, to appear at the next assizes, the sureties being readily found amongst pilots and watermen of Gravesend, by whom the court was crowded, .the investigation having excited no ordinary degree of interest.