The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1886-11-27 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDEROUS GANG.  Late on Saturday night a desperate attempt was made to murder Police-constable Hillman, of the Warwickshire County Constabulary. In consequence of repeated outrages in the vicinity of the road leading from Coventry to Kenilworth, extraordinary methods have been adopted by the police with the object of detecting the desperadoes who are making themselves the terror of the neighbourhood, and it was actually while one of these special attempts at capture was being made that the outrage on the officer was committed. Hillman was detailed for special duty on a road which shoots off from the main highway from Coventry to Kenilwortb, and runs in front of Stivichall Hall and on to Baginton Hall, the seat of the late W. Bromley-Davenport, M.P., and Stoneleigh bbey, the Warwickshire residence of Lord Leigh, Lord-Lieutenant of the county. Just before ten o'clock the officer saw what he believed to be the light of another constable's bull's-eye, but on going towards the light he found that it was carried by two men who were walking in the direction of Stoneleigh. Following them for about a quarter of a mile he saw them turn into a field leading back to Coventry, and this induced him to try to ascertain their business. He climbed over a gate and took a short cut across the grass, but the men still kept in advance, and, after walking nearly to the end of the field, they turned off the footpath and waited for the officer under a clump of trees near Stivichall Churchyard gate. Hillman went up to them, and while they were conversing he was suddenly attacked by one of the men, who stabbed him with some sharp instrument between the eyes. Closing with his assailant Hillman attempted to disarm him, reciving a number of cuts about the hands in the struggle. They fell to the ground together. The man who was looking on shouted " Let him have it," and immediately there was a report of firearms. At the sane moment Hillman felt himself struck on the back. He believed he was shot, and blew his whisle for assistance, but the men snatched his whistle from him, and the struggle was continued. Receiving stab after stab, Hillman fought on for life, until the blood from his forehead blinded him, and his exhaustive being increased by a blow on the head from the second man, he was obliged to relinquish his bold, and the attackers ran off in the direction of the Kenilworth-road. Mr. John Rollick, a farmer, living a short distance away, heard the report of firearms and the sound of the policeman's whistle, and he hastened into the field, but before he reached the wounded officer his assailants were out of sight in the darkness. Another constable came up, and Hillman was assisted to the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, where his injuries were attended to. He had received five or six stabs on the right arm, a stab between the eyes, another in his back, and numerous cuts on the hands; there was a large contusion on the back of his head; and a hole in his cloak and greatcoat showed where a bullet had passed harmlessly over his left shoulder. None of his injuries are likely to prove serious. As soon as possible after the affair the city police were communicated with, and all the roads into the city were watched, but without iesult ; and early on Sunday morning Deputy-Chief-Constable Moth, of the county, and Detective-Inspector Golby, of the city, went and inseecle2d the scene of the struggle. The indications of the aesperate fight were very apparent. The grass was trampled down in all directions, and here and there were patches of blood. Close by lay a dark lantern and the sheath of a dagger and both the men in their flight left their hats behind. The matter is all the more serious in the light of what has transpired within a comparatively recent peried. A few months ago a constable was found murdered al Fenny Compton, and his murderers have not yet been discovered, although large rewards have been offered. Shortly afterwards an armed attack was made on Lord Leigh's carriage, within a hundred yards of the locale of the attempt of Saturday night, and the perpetrators of that outrage are still at large. , Subsequently a carrier between Coventry and War- 1 wick was smiled in a similar manner, .and last week a shot was fired at a milkseller as he was driving home. No arrests have been made with respect to any of the cases, and the repeated outrages are creating a profound sensation throughout the district.