The Sun. — 1846-11-23 (London, England)

MURDEROUS OUTRAGE AND  ATTEMPTED ROBBERY. PRESTON, WEDNESDAY.—Last night, one of the most daring outrages which ever occurred in this neighbourhood took place at Broughton, about three miles from this town, at the residence of W. Miller, Esq., surveyor and land steward. Mr. Miller's house is at some distance from any other residence. About six o'clock in the evening, Mr. Miller and his daughter being in the house, and no other person there but a female servant, a smart knock was given at the front door, on which Mr. Miller observed, "It is some gentleman from Preston who wishes to see me on business." The door was opened by Miss Miller, when six men, armed with pistols, made a rushinto the house, two of them subsequently retreating back, and remaining in front of the house. Miss Miller, terrified by the villians, cried out, "Thieves, thieves !" making at the same time a rush towards the lawn in front of the house, when one of the men outside shouted out, "Grab her." At the same moment a pistol was fired at her, which was immediately followed by the firing of another. Miss Miller then ran to the house of a neighbour screaming out "Murder." In the meantime the villains bad gained full access to the house, and one of them, presenting a pistol at Mr. Miller, said, "We want your money." Mr. Miller told them he had none; upon which the men said, " We knwo you have." Mr. Miller again denied having any, and called to the servant, whom the robbers had forced into an adjoining room, to ring the bell: The bell alluded to is an alarm bell, situated at the top of the house, foln which there is a communication with the room into which, fortunately, the robbers had forced the attendant. At her master's call, the servant commenced ringing;the bell, on which the men looked at one another in amazement, and then ran away. In less than ten minutes from the alarm bell having been rung, a number of neighbours arrived. From the cool determination evint el by the whole gang, there can be lit• tle doubt that the lives of the whole family would have been sacrificed,had it not been for the escape of Mi▪ ss Miller and the ringing of the alarm bell. Mr. Miller's presence of mind, too, during the attack, was wonderful, especially considering that he is 75 years of age. On Miss Miller returning home, with a neighbouring farmer, she was much exhausted, and it was discovered that her life had been in the most imminent peril, the contents of one of the pistols having grazed the front part of her head, to the extent of about three inches. She bled considerably, but, we are glad to say, is in no danger. The lady's alarm may be imagined, when it is stated that on arriving at the house of the farmer alluded to above, she struck and broke a window in her excitement, the arm passing quite through the framework. It is said that Mr. Miller had, a few days previously, been receiving certain rents, and the presumption is that the delinquents were aware of that fact. We regret to say that they have not, up to the present time, been apprehended; but suspicion rests upon some characters in the neighbourhood, whom the police are on the look out for.  It is understood that the Bishopric of Sodor and Man has been offered to the Master of Christ's College, who, however, has declined accepting it.—Cambridge Chronicle.