Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1880-11-27 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

DESPERATE AFFRAY WITH  BD BGLARES.  PLOT TO CARRY OPP A BAR.  At the Leicester County Police Court on Saturday three desperate-looking fellows were charged—William Kelly and Thomas Damson, alias Walter Mitchell, with feloniously breaking and entering the cashoffice of Messrs Benton awl Woodiwiss, railway •contractors, at New Humbesstone, and Jesse Clark with aiding and abetting at the same time.—Police-constable Bloomfield said be and Police constable Prew were secreted near the office in question, and just before midnight a °art came irom the direction of Leices:er, on the Uppinghitm-road .There were four men in it, one driving. Three men got out, listened a minute, and the horse and cart went further up the road. Immediately them was a breaking of ghtss, and he saw a light in the countinghouse. Be crept on his hands and knees just under the window, and saw the two prisoners Kelly and Damson moving about with a dark lantern, breaking open drawers, and thoroughly ransacking the office. He heard one say to the other, " Bill, have you found the sugar?' (Kelly and Damson at this burst into loud laughter, and were reproved by the bench for their conduct.)— Damson (to the bench) "He is giving tie evidence in such a strange manner that it touches my nerves, and I cannot help laughing.' •-• Witness, continui ug,said he heard the prisoner Clark, who was on the watch, call out, and immediately something was thrown at his head, but he stooped, and it missed Lim. Ile drew his staff and dealt his assailant a heavy blow on the head, and he ran off, leaving his hat on the ground. Kelly was nearly out of the office window, but witness ran hard at Lim, and threw him back into the office on the floor. Kelly then seized a long heavy poker and aimed a blow at him, but he evaded it by pulling down the window sash. There were windows on both sides of the building, and they had the utmost difficulty in keeping both the pro sowers in until assistance arrived. The prisoners pelted them with heavy stones, ink bottles, and anything they could find, and threatened to murder the officers. After a sharp struggle two sergeants came to their assistance, and the prisoners surrendered. After the struggle was over and both handcuffed Damson said, " Shake hands, sergeant; God bless you, if we are burglars we are not murderers." On tue office flour were found the following tools, all quite new :—A. stockjland boring bits, two saws, a strong chisel, a lighter chisel, a screw-driver, and a dark lantern. In reply to the charge, Damson made the followiug extraordinary statement: —lt was at the rostigation of a man named Charles Oxeuham, a publican at Keyham, whom I saw in the oaauge office to-day, that we went there. Ile provided us with a Ursa and cm% to convey the safe away. I, Kelly, Oxenhain, and Clark (who did not know what we were to do) came to Leicester in the morning with a brown horse. Oxenham said, We had better change toe horse, as it has been seen come into Leicester to-day with us. What about Jesse (meaning Clark' ?" I said, "Let him know nothing; I don't want all the plums picked out of the pudding, as there are enough in it now. There are you and I and Tim (Kelly), and if we get a 'quid' it will be only 6s 8d a piece." (Laughter.) Oxen. ham then said, "You are right, my boy; don't get boozed, and leek to business. This is Friday night, and I suggest there is £l,OOO in the safe, and that will be a good pull for us. The safe only weighs about 4 cwt., and we could easily get it in the cart." He then said, " You could lift your share, couldn't you ?" and I said," Yes, a ton of it if it was gold." (Langbter.) Be said, "Go, and do your best." Oxenham drove us there with a white horse to do the job; he paid half the cost of the tools we bought, and I don't see why he should not have a bit of justice and oakum picking as well as we. Clark, who gave himself up to the police on the previous night, said he was watching, but did not know what they were to do. All the prisoners wore committed for trial at the assizes.  As a safe, permanent and warranted cure for Pimples, Scrofula, Sum, Bad Legs, Skin and Blood Diseases, and Sores of all kinds, we can with confidence recommend