Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1901-03-15 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

ROW LAYOOCK FOUND THE BURGLAR. KNOCKED DOWN SENSELESS.  George Hartley Lnycock, draper. 49, Burnley-road, Brierfield, stated that he reinembered the evening of the -4th inst. He went to bed about half-past ten, and fastened all the doors and windows. About 3-30 in the morning, he awoke. He generally did awake at this time. At 4-0 o'clock he heard a noise like the breaking of glass. He had not the least idea where the noise came from, but he got up and ran through the bedrooms. Then he dressed and went and lighted the gas in the sitting room. Ho then not iced that a saucer had tumbled from the window, and he thouglit that would be what had disturbed him. The saucer had been on the kitchen window bottom. It wits not broken. The blind was down, and he caught hold of the corner and lifted it up. On going to look in the scullery. when he got to the door he was struck down by something. He was unconscious, but soon came round again, and rushed into the scullery and found a man trying to open the bark door. The man struck at him with his list about four times .and they struggled together for sonic time. The prisoner lifted his right arm, and wanted to know if I would let him go. Be saw the man had a jemmy in his hand, and this caused him to run away through the shop, where he opened the door, and called for a policeman, and one happened to be near at hand. Witness was in his stocking feet. On going back they found that the man had gone through the scullery window. It was a hard instrument that the man had in his hand when lie struck him on the head and knocked him down. It caused a bad wound, and it bled profusely—his face and clothing were eovered with blood. The policeman fetched a. doctor, who had nttended him up to Tuesday this week. • He liras not obliged to stay in bed for the wound, but Is. was badly shaken. It was a long straight cut on the left temple, about fl inches long and a little over inch deep. He did not miss any property. It would be about three minutes from the time he heard the noise to the time he went. downstairs. He recolpised the man as the one that was in the house, and with whom he had the struggle. He was quite sure about this, as the gas was lighted, and there was quite sufficient light to identify the man. _  117 the Prisoner : You came downstairs and opened the •eullery door ?—Yes.—Didn't you make a blow at me p—No, you .truck VW. down.  Prisoner hero made sorne comments about witne:s being -a flaming liar," and mid if a man hit,, me I will retaliate. I will let no insn'tdand before me. You bit me three or four times before I bit yon.- - .  Prisoner, to witness: Didn't you hit me first ?—No, Prisoner: You hit me several times. and con shouted to your wife you were killed. It a COW iMb you were not.. The Miutistrates' Clerk read the charges, namely, burglariously entering oomph inant preini,es with intent to commit a felonr, and with wilfully assaulting the complainant by t rik hg him on the head with nn iron jemmy, hut he nimbi n °reply. . .  William Whittaker, ehmukt, 3ti,lneroa4. Brierfield, recognised a -ilk hanilkerehief, pair of opera glarai, in en.e, cigar can iiignet ring, and two shilling,: in money ar ha property. There witr, one hillingworth of eopper in dm eai,h till and one worth in a little box the  desk. He went to bed at half-past eleven; and the following morning he came downstairs at 8-0 o'clock. He found the key missing out of the back door, and the window latch had also been broken. He got through the window, and found the key in the backyard. The desk in the shop had been forced open. The prisoner was committed to take his trial at the Manchester Assizes on all the charges. He was escorted into the cell by four police officers. During the hearing of the ease he was photographed in court, and Mr Ed. Parker, chief detective inspector, of Birkenhead, and a lady interested in the Birkenhead murder case, also attended to try and recognise the prisoner as the culprit in that case.