The Sun. — 1847-04-03 (London, England)

IMVRISONMENT EXTRAORDINARY. Joseph Hayes, a man about 40 years of age, was on Monday placed at the bar of the Manchester Borough Court, on a rather singular charge. Mrs. Callender, whose husband keeps a small shop in Broughton-street, Red-bank, was sitting by the fire, about half-past ten on Saturday night week, when she heard in the house a strange noise, by which she was alarmed, and, her husband being out, she went to a neighbour, and implored him to go in with her, as there was something making a noise so unearthly that it curdled the blood in her veins. The stout•hearted neighbour went with tho trembling woman, and, having procured a candle, he examined the place, but nothing could ho see, either natural or supernatural, to account for the terror of Mrs. Callender. The mysterious sounds, however, continued ; but whence they came no one could say, and the search continued, without effect, until the clock struck the midnight hour. Still the voice was heard complaining of pain ; and its moaning and groaning were audible when Mr. and Mrs. Callender retired to rest. On the following morning they were surprised to hear a continuous repetition of the same noise, and, on listening attentively, they could distinguish the words " Murder," " Oh, dear," and others, indicative of suffering ; but still they were at a loss to tell from what quarter the voice emanated. At last, a rigid search of the premises was made, and, after some time, the leg of a man was seen in the flue bf the kitchen chimney. The owner of the dangling leg was subjected to an examination as to his identity, the period of his imprisonment, and other circumstances, before any attempt was made to liberate him. He replied that his name was Joseph Hayes, and that he had been in the flue since Saturday night. The assistant, who knew Joseph, then attempted to set him free from his extraordinary prison ; but so firmly was his body wedged in the higher part of the flue, at which point there was an angle, that their labour was in vain. Mr. Callender then called in a bricksetter, who set to work to pull down part of the chimney, and when he had nearly pulled the whole to pieces, the soot-begrimed Joseph was extricated. lie was so much exhattated with his long imprisonment, the want of fresh air, and his vain struggles to ascend or descend the chimney, that h.: could not stand, and he had only strength to ask for a drink of water. This was given to him. The police were called in, and having got a pair of slings, they carried him to the infirmary, where he remained for eight days, or until his appearance before the magistrates yesterday.—Mr. Callender said that the prisoner was a wheeler in the mark,t, and had been occasionally employed by him. He had never heard any good of the man, and had no doubt that his intention was to rob the house.  The Magistrate having told the prisoner that he had had a very narrow escape of his life, asked him what he had to say. His reply was that it was no use saying anything, as it was sure to be put down as false. The fact was, however, that he was on the housetop after some pigeons, and, a brick having given way, down he went, and shouted out ten thousand murders. Mr. Maude sent him to gaol for two months.—lllan chester Express.