The Sun. — 1861-04-19 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY BURGLARY.  A burglary of an extraordinary character was committed at Sheffield early yesterday morning by James Jowett, a pen and pocket blade grinder, aged 18 years, who was captured on the premises and taken before the magistrates the same day the burglary was committed at the house of Mr. James Torr, manufacturer, Radford-street. Mr. Torr being on a journey, the only persons who slept in the house on Wednesday night were Mrs. Torr, five  young children, and-an apprentice named Albert Wilson, who was known and, to some extent, associated with the prisoner for two or three years. Mrs. Torr retired about 11 o'clock, the other members of the family having gone to bed at an earlier  hour. She fastened the doors and window shutters;  merely, however, putting a latch over the sneck o the kitchen door, because it opens into an enclosed yard, the large doors of which were securely fastened. She was kept awake by her baby, and had a light burning until about two o'clock yesterday morning. Shortly after she blew out the light she heard a loud whistle in the street. She got up and went to the window, but could see no one. She returned to bed, and had net been there many minutes before she saw on the wall the flickering of a candle, which was evidently just outside the chamber door. She instantly rang the bed-room bell, and called out for the apprentice, who slept in the attic. Directly afterwards the bed -room door, which was closed but not fastened, was pushed open, and a man, whose face was concealed, with a black cloth mask, entered the room, carrying a lighted candle in one hand and a large knife in the other, with apparently a carving blade. The intruder leaped upon the bed, held her down with one hand, and, brandishing the knife over her with the other, demanded to know where her money was. She replied, " I have none," and continued to scream out. He put his thumb upon her throat, and, holding very tight, threatened to murder her if she continued to make a noise. Her little son, who was in bed with her, cried out; " Don't murder mother," and the burglar replied, "I will, and you, too, if you don't hold your noise." He then held the knife over the child, on which Mrs. Torr again called to the apprentice, " Albert, Albert !" as did also the little boy. Prisoner said, " I'll Albert you," and was approaching her again, when one of the children, who slept in another room, entered the bedroom where the burglar was , crying out, "Don't murder mother." The fellow jumped off the bed and ran towards the child, who escaped downstairs. Mrs. Torr then rushed to the bedroom window and gave an alarm. At this time the apprentice was on the attic landing, but dared not descend, because the burglar stood below brandishing his knife. Fortunately other assistance was at hand. Police-constable John I.eaper, on passing the house shortly after two o'clock, was attracted by the noise of a scuffle, and listening heard a woman exclaim, " Don't kill my children ;" a man reply, " Give me some money, then, and let me go ;" and a child cry out, " Don't murder [mother." The constable endeavoured to get into the premises, but found the yard doors and gates fastened. While he was trying to force them, the burglar who had taken alarm on _Airs. Torr calling out of the window, opened them from within, in order to escape. Immediately he opened the gates he was seized by the constable, who, seeing a large knife in his hand, was about to strike him down, when the man called out, "Don't hit me, and I'll give you the knife." He then quietly surrendered. When asked what he was doing, prisoner replied, "I wanted their money, and should not have hurt them if they had given it to me. If her hand is cut she has done it herself. I had nothing to eat, what could Ido ?" The prisoner had left his mask in the house, and had on a pair of cloth slippers. He was immediately afterwards recognised as the young man Jowett by Mrs. Torr, as also by the apprentice, who exclaimed, " Thee a companion of mine; thou deserves transport, ing." It appeared that the prisoner had visited the apprentice At his workphop during the day and been