The Sun. — 1842-10-14 (London, England)

BURGLARY, ROBBERY, AND ATTEMPTED MURDER. (From the Worcester Chronicle) _  It is our painful duty to record the particulars of a daring burglary and robbery, accompanied with brutal violence, perpetrated in this county yesterday se'nnight, which, but for the merciful interposition of Providence, might have been equally dreadful in its results with the atrocious murder near Derby, as one of the aged sufferers was so dreadfully beaten about the head and face, that his neighbours could scarcely recognise his features, when they discovered him next morning, blindfolded, and with his hands tied behind him.  The scene of this atrocious' outrage is in the parish Shelsley, about a quarter of a mile from Stanford, and the sufferers are two aged men, named Wm. and Benjamin Butler, who had the reputation of being well off, though their habits were miserly and penurious in the extreme. Their residence was formerly a mill, but it has long since ceased to be used as such, and has been roughly fitted up to serve as a dwelling for them. It is situated in a most lanigy .spot, at a considerable distance from any lather house, on the banks of the Teme. ThQ path to the house is nearly hidden by trees, and the building generally presents the appearance of being Uninhabited. This is the third time the house has been robbed, but the   ruffians never carried thPir violence to such a pitch as they did on the present occasion. It seems to have been known in the neighbourhood that William Butler (who is the monied brother), had been receiving his rents, and in the middle of the night of Tuesday last, the brothers were alarmed at hearing some one breaking into the house. In a short time three villains made their appearance, but the affrighted inmates fancied they heard a fourth outside. Tl.e ruffians (who were armed with heavy bludgeons, one or more pistols, and a razor), first seized Benjamin Butler, blindfolded.him, tied his hands and feet, and beat him about the head in a most brutal manner. They next laid hold of William, and after ill-using him, demanded his money, using the most dreadful threats if he did not forthwith give it to them. Finding that he showed some hesitation to comply with their demands, one or more of the ruffians returned to the other brother, and, holding a razor to his throat, swore they would murder him unless he told them where the money was kept. Terrified at their violence, poor Benjamin shrieked out, " Give 'em , the money, William, to save our lives. Thus adjured, 'William took them into a sort of barn, and showed them where the money was hidden, and in a few seconds the burglars' possessed themielves of 601. They afterwards took a quantity of cloth and several other articles, and finally quitted the house. Owing to the brutal violence to which he had been subjected, Benjamin Butler fell into a state of insensibility, and 'William was too frightened either to go to his assistance or to stir out of the house until day-break, when be went and alarmed his nearest neighbours, -who speedily came and discovered Benjamin in the Condition which we have described. They conld not find him for Some time, which led to the suspicion that he had been liilled outright. Notwithstanding the brutal treatment he has received he is likely to do well. Information of the outrage was speedily conveyed to the county police, and a man named Thomas Hadda was speedily apprehended, and placed in the custody of Superintendent Taylor, of the Great Witley division. On being confronted with Benjamin Butler, he at once identified him as one of *e, men who broke into the house on the night in quertiotti,i' He consequently unflerwent a brief examination, after which he was remanded till 'Wednesday. We 4kope to f reort in our next the apprehension of the other vit. ains, having reason to know that active officers are on he "liall 76-r04.61:-001'6'.9ftlierri.- ' TO iiieiltiOn the. naifia"or tlielitSpdcfed'Parriistatiigeni' iiiigiledefdaV. the ends of justice. We believe that both the brothers are above seventy years of age, and as it was known that they resided entirely by themselves (not having any female even in the house to 'attend. to their domestic arrangements), it is presumed they were deemed safe parties to attack. The elder brother, William, kept a school in Friar-street, Worcester, some twenty years ago, and still possesses some property in that locality.