The Sun. — 1833-11-12 (London, England)

ROBBER SHOT..-VERDICT OF THE JURY.-On Wednesday an inquest was taken by Mr. Shebbeare, at Nutley, near Basingstoke, on the body of Thomas Gilbert, who was shot the night before by Mr. William Henry Blatch, under the following circumstances: —The deceased some years since lived with Mr. Blatch as an indoor servant, but was discharged in consequence of having stolen some trinkets belonging to Mrs. Blatch and a friend of herbs; be has since been leading a dissolute life, connected with thieves of the worst description, having been twice or more imprisoned for robbery, and once for housebreakiag. He has lately been living at his parish (Abbots Ann) near Appleshaw. Mr. Blatch has been in the habit of attending Appleshaw fair for years past, and remaining there three or four days, and on the 4th inst. had been to the fair, but, contrary to his usual custom, returned home at night, and was just getting into bed, a little before eleven, when the female servant, (a sister of the deceased, who has lived in their service for many years being of an excellent character,) who was also getting into bed, hearing a noice twice at the back of the house, went to her master's room, telling him she thought some one was trying to into the house. Mr. Blatch took his gun, which he always kept loaded, and went down stairs, where, after searching a room adjoining a pantry in which the china and other things were kept, be went to the pantry, which bad been locked on the passage side, and turning the key, prepared to enter, and on pushing back the door found some obstruction behind. He immediately stepped forward, and on tinning round the door discovered a man with a brown cap drawn over his eyes standing behind. He immediately called out, " hallo !" and not receiving any answer, fired, and the man fell, crying out repeatedly " hallo !" as if calling to some one outside. The candle which Mr. Blatch carried having gone out, he immediately returned to his own room, not knowing but there might be accomplices at hand, there being no other man its the house, and after fastening the door, rang an alarm bell, crying fire (for the house was filled with smoke, which was afterwards found to proceed from the clothes of the deceased, which the wadding of the gun had set on fire). Unfortunately, an hour elapsed before any of the neighbours came to the house, during which time Mr. Blatch, his wife, and children, were in great alarm and suspense. As soon as some of the neighbours arrived, Mr. Blatch went with them to the pantry, where the deceased was lying, and on turning him round discovered it was his former servant, and the brother of the female who had given the alarm! He immediately spoke to him and asked if he bad any accomplices, which, as far as he could judge, the deceased denied, but spoke so little, and under such extreme pain, that he was scarcely intelligible. Mr. B. immediately sent for a surgeon, but before he could arrive the man died. On examination, it was found the charge had entered just under the right arm, passing to the lungs; and, from the situation of the wound, it appeared as though the deceased had raised his right arrneither to strike at Mr. B. or for some other purpose, but which Mr. B. did not recollect his doing. The deceased had taken off his shoes and placed them on a bench under the window where he had effected his entrance by forcing up the casement, and breaking through the lattice within it. —Verdict, Justifiable Homicide. The wouldprobability remain is,n that theth the eigh deceased,bourd of A thinkingneighbourhood tphpaie wfo t. Blatch a few days, entered the premises with an intention of robbery, under the impression that there were only females in the house..—Berhshire Chronicle.