The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1840-03-13 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MOST DARING AND DETERMINED ATTEMPT AT BURGLARY.—On Monday morning last, between the hours of two and three o'clock, the family of Mr. Robert Wilson, tailor, of Bretherton, were thrown into a state of great alarm, in consequence of hearing various noises about the Louse. They of course immediately got up, when, to their consternation, they saw three or four men attempting to break open the front door of the house, which, fortunately, was well secured with two iron bolts and a lock. Robert Wilson, who is an elderly man, immediately went down stairs, and going to the door, enquired " Who are you," " What do you want," to which the men outside made no reply, but renewed their exertions to effect an entrance with redoubled force. Old Robert, hoping to intimidate the invaders, loudly cried out for a pistol, holding the door with his feet, and supporting himself, by leaning with all his might, against the jamb, or wooden spar, opposite to the door. The villains, however, succeeded in breaking the lock ; and the upper staple of one of the bolts was likewise broken to pieces. The lower bolt, which remained fast, was also at one time partially drawn, but after a bold and fearless attempt, Robert contrived to replace it again in the staple. The house is detached, and the inmates shouted for the assistance of their neighbours, crying out " Thieves," " Murder," but unfortunately their cries of distress proved ineffectual, and the ruffians threatened them with savage oaths what they would do, as soon as they got into the house. They then threw a quantity of stones and brickbats at them through the room window, and broke several squares of glass. The door being ahnost prized open, one of the fellows, as he was in the act of thrusting his arm between the jamb and the door, received a tremendous blow with the poker, which old Robert had in his hand to defend himself, in case they succeeded in forcing it open. While some of the inmates were calling out for help, and others quaking for fear, expecting, no doubt, immediate destruction, Mrs. Smith, with great presence of mind, lighted a number of candles, and placed them in all the windows of the house, in order, if possible, to frighten them away. This circumstance, together with the shrieks of the rest of the inmates, had the desired effect; and the ruffians having made several desperate attempts, for the space of two hours, to realize the object of their wishes, at length became alarmed, and decamped, leaving behind them several weapons of destruction, including a coulter, a four-grained fork, and a hay-spade. These instruments they took from a neighbouring farm, and they have since been claimed by the right owner. The coulter and the spade are also considerably bent, in consequence of having been used as levers against the post and the door. No tidings of the scoundrels have yet transpired ; but it is to be hoped that some clue to their apprehension will speedily be obtained. It is gratifying to state, that their expectations were signally frustrated : but had the door beenn i made of any other wood thon oak, all probability, have been very serious to Mr. Wilson and his family. The inmates in the house were, considering theeeircumstances, exceedingly stout-hearted the consequence would, flnotberetverm):aseii called , although both of mind and body, on the part of oldk n that, _ ,ithespoehimself on conducted intoinom ae,tiaogd; faanrdadcoahnicsedprianisyeearsbe this most trying and perilous occasion, with surprising fortitude.--Preelon chronicle.