The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-03-23 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DARING BURGLARY AT STAIRFOOT TOLL-GATE HOUSE. —On Monday morning, about half-past two o'clock, a daring and diabolical burglary was committed at the Toll-gate House, situate at Stairfoot, near Barnsley, occupied by two industrious old people of the name of Oldroyd. It appears, from what we can gather, that at the hour above stated, some one came up to the bar, and called out " Gate." Oldroyd, hearing footsteps about the door at the time the call was made, supposed it to be only a hoax to get him out of bed ; however, in a short tiine another person came trotting up on horseback, and called out, lustily, " Gate : look sharp, I'm going to fetch the doctor to Mr. Micklethwaite, who will be dead before I can get him there if you don't look sharp." Oldroyd, on hearing this, and knowing Mr. Micklethwaite (who lived in a village a short distance off), opened the door immediately, but scarcely had he put his foot on the threshold, when he was struck on the head with a bludgeon, from which he fell senseless upon the ground. After this they pulled his night-cap over his eyes, to prevent his seeing them. During this murderous attack four other men had rushed into the house, and made their way up the stairs to the old woman, who was in bed, and heaped the bed-clothes upon her and almost suffocated her, saying at the same time, if she made a noise they would, murder hr. Whilst two of the villains were doing this, the others were searching for money, which they succeeded in finding to the amount of from three to four pounds, with which they decamped, going in the direction of Ardsley. The horse on which the villain was mounted was light grey. During the same morning, one of the labouring men in the employ of Mr. Harrison, farmer, of Grainge, getting up to go and look at a cow which was ill, on crossing the straw yard, saw four men running from the outbuildings. Had they not been detected at the time they were, Mr. Harrison would have been minus one of his valuable horses, as the thieves had bridled him, and got him out of the stable ready for walking off.  The Farmers' Insurance Institution. Security to the assured being a matter of vital importance, it will be satisfactory to our readers to learn that the names of 1,323 Shareholders of this Institution have been enrolled, pursuant to the provisions of the Act of Parliament by which the company is empowered, and which list of names can be referred to at any time. Amongst them will. be,found some of the largest landowners, and, most distinguished farmers, in the kingdom. It is stated that the Marquis of Hertford is a heavy loser by the stoppage of the United States' bank. It is said that, fearful of a war between England and France, the noble marquis sold out from the English funds not less than £500,000, and transferred it. for better security to the United States' bank ; and has become minus to this large amount. A scientific gently:llan has lately patented a candle, which presents the apparent anamoly of being made without a wick. A wick is, however, supplied, being fixed to a rod, which is moved up and down, and through the centre of the composition, by the aid of a common spring lamp. Several lectures have been delivered at the Polytechnic Institution, upon the advantages, as a means of combustion, which this discovery embraces. It is termed the Soho lamp, and is now exhibiting on the east side of the square of that name. The light it affords is of great power and volume.—Dublin Statesman.