The Sun. — 1861-12-26 (London, England)

NIGHT ROBBER.  At Elysee, in the Island of Jersey, the residence of Colonel de Visme, on Sunday morning, occurred an encounter with a robber such as it is not often our lot to chronicle. John Kennedy, gardener to Colonel de Visme, is the adventurous nero of the story. About three o'clock in the morning of Sunday, Kennedy rose from his bed, for the purpose of procuring a draught of water. Having duly refreshed himself at the pump, Kennedy thought he perceived a man lurking about the large doors of the farmyard. He accordingly returned quietly to his room, made some necessary additions to his toilet, and taking a gun—which he believed to be loaded—sallied out in order to verify or dispel the suspicions which he entertained. On reaching the yard, he soon found that his apprehensions were well founded. A man was stealthily decamping with a large bag, which afterwards proved to contain a quantity of poultry, pillaged from the roost. A challenge to stop for the purpose of being overhauled was little heeded, except that it had the effect of making the fellow run the faster. Foiled in the exercise of his " right of search," and seeing the contraband and the intruder disappearing together, Kennedy resorted to his weapon but found it was without a charge. He accordingly pursued his flying enemy, and, havirg overtaken him, the booty was dropped, for the more important essential of defence ; and then commenced a struggle which, considering its duration and the weapons employed, might have easily resulted in the death of one of the combatants. Kennedy was armed with the gun which he still carried ; while his antagonist, a more powerful man than himself, carried a heavy crow-bar, which he appeared fully disposed to use without scruple. Without heeding the fellow's threats, Kennedy effectually parried with the gun a blow aimed at his head; but the force of the crow-bar broke the gun in two, and left our friend to defend himself with the pieces. Nothing daunted, he dealt his antagonist a heavy blow with the butt end of the weapon. The fellow was floored by the blow; but, recovering his legs rushed. at Kennedy and attempted to close with him. Kennedy, however, again floored the fellow ; and, taking advantage of the superiority of his position, belaboured him with the broken ends of the gun until he roared for mercy. Releasing him at length on the assurance that he would quietly accompany him to the house, Kennedy permitted him to rise. But the intruder was no sooner on his legs than he made another rush at his assailant, though with no batter success than before, and in the course of a few minutes he again found himself on the ground. Seizing a piece of the broken gun, he struck at Kennedy as well as he was able ; but tho latter maintained his advantage, and managing to get hold of the crowbar, threatened to take his life with it if he did not cease his resistance. In this way Kennedy held his man for the space of three-quarters of an hour, during which he frequently called for assistance. At length, failing to obtain any aid, he was compelled by the exhaustion of the struggle to relax his hold ; .and the fellow, gladly availing himself of the opportunity, took himself off, pleased to get away without broken bones, and leaving the plunder behind him. Exhausted, if not personally injured, Kennedy got back to the house, and aroused the inmates to narrate an adventure which, though it had prevented a robbery, had promised well nigh to result in a murder. The police have been fully informed of the facts, and are actively engaged in tracking out the predatory ruffian.