The Express. — 1853-10-01 (London, England)

HOW HIGHWAY ROBBERY IS DEALT WITH IN BERKSHIRE. ___.•_ At the Town-hall, Maidenhead, on Thursday, a charge of highway robbery was brought by Mr. P. Hughes, of Clewer, against six Irishmen, lately employed as bricklayers' labourers in the neighbourhood. The prisoners had been drinking at a small public-house by the side of the road leading from Windsor to Maidenhead, known by the sign u " Surly•hall," and immortslised in the annals of Eton College as the spot selected, from time immemorial, for the al fresco banquet of the collegians on the 4th of June and Election Saturday, when the annual regattas take place. At Surly-hall the Irishmen were so troublesome that the landlord was compelled to turn them out of the house. They then proceeded in the direction of Maidenhead, and the first person they met was Richard Cutler, the gardener of Mr. Henry Ravin, of Bullock's-Intel, a mansion situate near Surly-ball. Cutler deposed that two of them sprang from a hedge and felled him to the ground with their sticks. Crying out " Murder," he contrived to get up and run away from his assailants, but encountered their companion. just as be was about to enter the gate of " the Willows," the residence of Mr. Pollock, the son of the Chief Baron. Escaping their blows, he Anibal refuge under the friendly roof of " the Willows," and one of the servants was immediately despatched to Suely-hall for assistance, with orders to pursue and apprehend the ruffians. In the meantime the Irishmen kept on the road still further towards Maidenhead, and met Mr. Hughes 'bent a quarter of a mile beyond Bullock's-hatch. They knocked Lim down and brutally ill-used him. It so happened that Mr. Hughes had only the small sum of nioepenee in his pocket, end he offered it to them, telling them to take all he had. They took the money, and still continued to beat their victim until satisfied with their unmanly sport, and then left him on the road. Scrambling up as well as be could, he proceeded towards his home, and soon met Mr. Henry Derail', jun., who had been attending divine service at Windier, and was returning to the Hatch on horseback. Mr. Darla, juo., turned his horse's head towards the public-holm for assistance, but before be arrived at Surly ball he met Mr. Pollock's gardener, the landlord, and another man named Marriott in hot pursuit of the offenders. They soon overtook one of the fellows, and took him into canted y. Mr. Dahill, ion., then rode on to Water Oakley farm, and passed the other Irishmen between Surly-hall and that point on the read to Maidenhead. In the meantime the alarm having been given at the Hatch, Mr. Darvill, sun , accompanied by the gardener and Marriott, armed themselves with sticks, and went after the Irishmen. On coming up to them they called upon them to surrender, and they at first consented, bat when Mr. Darvill and his party went near to take them one of the Irishmen drew a knife, and with dreadful imprecations threatened to disembowel the first man who laid hands upon him. Mr. Dern!' then went to Water Oakley, secured the assistance of his tame, Mr. Lovegrove, and proceeded on horseback after the prisoners. Mr. Harrill and Mr. Lovegrove had armed themselves with guns, lied when they overtook the prisoners—which they did near Maidenhead—their capture was easily effected. In defence of the prisoners, it was urged by their employer that the men had mistaken Mr. Hughes and Cutler for the persons they had been quarrelIMg with at Surly-hall, and that they had no felonious intention. The bench, after much consideration, took the • lenient view of the case, and con:lined four of the prisoners of assaults, sentencing them to short terms of imprisonment in Reading Oaol. Two of the prisoners were die' charged, Mr. Hughes not being able to identify them. The affair has created considerable sensation in the neighbourhood.