The Sun. — 1828-08-07 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OP BURGLARY.  Joseph Bullen, aged 32, and Osborne Bush, aged 19, were indicted for having broken and entered the dwelling-house of Robert Thain, at the parish of Metfield, in this county, on the Bth day of May last, and stolen therein divers articles of wearing apparel, six silver spoons, and other articles, the property of the said Robert Thain. Robert Thain examined.----I am 83 ; I recollect the Sth of May, when I had some money which I had taken for some sheep; it was in a box, which was kept in a chest at the foot of the bed. I went to rest about eight o'clock; about a quarter after twelve I was awoke by two men coming into the room. There was a light in the room. One of the men took the candle into his hand, and went to the foot of the bed; I gave a great alarm. One of them then ,mme to the foot of the bed, and said, " you, lie down and hold your tongue ;" and immediately gave me a blow on the head, and I bled very much. I don't know what I was struck with. One then said to the other, " Open the chest." My eye-sight is very deficient, and I cannot distinguish the prisoners. Was present when the prisoners were before the Magistrate, and when I heard Bush's voice, I said " That is like the man's voice that was at my house."  Robert Saxby.—l know Bullen; " he live at the end of me, and I next to him." Our rooms are divided by a thin light partition. On the Bth of May, Bush was at Bullen's house about eight o'clock. I went to bed at nine. I heard Thain call out Murder !" in the night. I put my head out of the window, and called " Joe .(to Buller') very loud ever. so many times. I knocked many times on the partition between me and Bullen. It was about half-past twelve. No one answered. I went to master Thain's, and as I was going out of my own house, I heard some one come up Joe Bullen's stairs. I met Thain coming down his own stairs. He head was cut open, and he was nearly drowned with blood.  Valentine Camp—l work for Thain. I was alarmed between twelve and one o'clock on' the Bth of may, by old Thain calling " Murder." Next day morning I went and traced the footsteps' of two men at the end of the house, and over Thain's hedge, for 100 yards. When I eaine back, I found a bit fan axe in the rick-yard. The axe was produced, and identified as the one in Thain's house on the night in question : and the constable proved, that when he found it in the prosecutor's rick-yard, it was covered with blood. The prosecutor's shirt was likewise produced, and was litterally bathed in blood, justifying' the remark of Robert Saxby, that "old Thain was drowned in blood." The exhibition produced a thrill of horror through the whole Court. The axe was of the most murderous description, being of the kind called a " battle-axe."  George Burley, a natural son of the prisoner Bullen, a lad of 13, examined—l have a brother, named James, with whom -I sleep. I don't know any thing about Mr,Thain's.  James Burley, another natural son of the prisoner, aged 10—" If I take a false oath, I shall go to the devil,--I know that. I know Master Thin. I went to his house one night between ten and eleven, with my father (Bullen) and Bush. My father put me in the window, and I opened the door. They broke the glass and put their arms in and opened the window. Bullen and Bush told me to go home, and they went up Master Thain's stairs. Cross-examined--I know a person named Baidrey. ble said, " if I did not say my father put rile into the window, I should be hanged !" When I first told t his story, I Was living with Sparks, the constable,  and they took me to the fair and gave me takes " If I kept to the story, I ,ugmoiuvysernadtehamegreaaisnnasiodtu,thliomlff sahnodßuel apples, eg.ea tmm Re-examined—Next and edfa.....thNseareidxo,tfr.;n"orning I did not say nothing, he'd give me some half-pcnce." (The prisoner Bullen maintained the utmost inbdyiffebriesntcl,e.o dsuonrist,igutbhieletetbstoimboigne)n. the younger boy made a strong impression in his favour on the audience.] The Jury, after some consideration, found both, the prisoners Guilty. Judgment of death was recorded. 1