The Sun. — 1853-02-07 (London, England)

BURGLAR KILLED NEAR BRIGHTON.  For some time past considerable apprehension has been created among the inhabitants of detached houses in the neighbourhood of Shoreham by a series of daring burglaries which have been perpetrated almost weekly for some time past. About a fortnight ago the house of Mr. Bridger, a gentleman residing near Shoreham, was entered by burglars during the night, and a quantity of eatables and a pair of gaiters were stolen. Three or four times within the last two months the house of the Rev. Mr. Wheeler has also been entered, and edibles and wearing apparel have been stolen upon each occasion • among other things a neckerchief belonging to that gentleman's butler Yesterday morning, between two and three o'clock, the house of Mr. Bridger was again entered. Three servants were at the time sitting up, well armed—a precaution which has been taken nightly, ever since the first robbery was committed, a fortnight since—and a noise being heard to proceed from the pantry or milkhouse at the rear of the premises, the servants proceeded to the spot. They there found that the door had been locked by one of the other servants, and the key taken away, and they were unable to enter the room ; ' but there were two window-holes in the top of the door, one of the panes of which had been removed for purposes of ventilation, and the servants were thus enabled to see what was going on inside. They saw a man in the room in the act of taking something from a cupboard, and they immediately called upon him surrender, telling him that if he did not do so they would fire. Receiving no answer, one of the servants fired, but without effect. He was again told that unless he surrendered he would be fired upon. He replied in a tone of derision, " Oh !" and immediately made for the window by which he had gained admittance to the room, and was making his way out, when he was fired upon a second time by two of the party. An alarm was then given in the house, and the thief, who had effected his escape through the window, was found lying on the ground, about six yards rom the window, dead, the shot having taken effect a little above the hip on the right side. Dr. Carter, of Shoreham, was speedily upon the spot, and he gave it as his opinion that the man might have lived ten minutes after he had received the shot, and that he had then died from internal hemorrhage. The Steyning constable, Mr. Poiney, having arrived, dispatched at once a message to Mr. Chase, chief officer of the Brighton police, who upon examining the premises, found that the thief had attempted an entrance at the same spot at which the house was entered a fortnight since, but, iron bars having been placed there, a second place was tried with like effect, and the entrance was at last effected through the window of the milk-house or pantry. It is supposed the man had the assistance of confederates in getting from the window. On examining the body he proved to be a fine, wellbuilt young man, about 25 years of age, and had in his pocket a huge life-preserver. On his feet were the gaiters stolen a fortnight ago, and round his neck the neckerchief of Mr. Wheeler's servant. The inquest has been held on the body, and a verdict of justifiable homicide returned.