The Denton, Haughton, & District Weekly News. — 1874-02-20 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH BURGLARS.  Tr'As already baldly stated, a burglarious attempt upon the premises of Jerimiali; Stannard, miller, Na.yland, Suffolk, was made on Sunday morning,and:was accompanied by a murderous attack upon the owner of the property, his two sons, and his foreman. It appears that the mill was closed soon after eleven o'clock on Saturday evening, and that the nightman left about one o'clock. The counting house is situated on the opposite side to the mill, and adjoins the cottage occupied by the foreman, Mr. Geo. Crosby. About two o'clock in the morning Mrs. Crosley awoke her hu -band in consequence of hearing some rumbling noises in the office, which is situated immediately under their bedroom. Mr. Crosby believed at first that the sound proceeded from the mills, but upon going to the window he found it was otherwise. He at once came to the conolusion that burglars were at work below, and he quickly dressed and aroused his master and'ions. The party approached the office, two by the front and two by Pie back, and on forcing back the zinc shutters a light Was seen near the iron safe. Mr. Stannard struck the shutteis, to frighten the burglars, and,the light was put out, but shortly reproduced. The office door, which had been forced to gain admittance, was then opened; and-the men inside twice discharged their revolvers. Mr. Stannard. who was also armed with a pistol, twice fired into the doorway, his weapon being loaded with small shot. This must have greatly surprised the burglar, fer they ;ushecl, pa.st the 1?-9sieuers and made way for the garden.. Darka it was" the Stannards could only see two men, but there are several indications which seem to show that there were three;or four of them. one man knocked down 'Mr Stannard, and then stood at bay against the north wall; a second got into the 'garden, and then came into contract with Mr. Crosley, who threw his man. A general scrimmage ensued, during' whioli Messre. Edward and Henry Stannard use4.l,pretty fi•ealy the cudgels with which they Were armed. The burgfars fired so;eti _..• • • , past Mr. Stannard's ear. One burglar was secured, and his legs and hands were corded to make sure he did not escape. Another man escaped by the wall, and marks of blood showed that-he was wounded. dome. neighbours who were arouse 1, speak to seeing two men escape. The burglars left behind one of the most complete sets of housebreaking instruments ever seen. Ilkley were scattered in pieces all over the garden and flitounting house. There were also two six-barrelled ,lolvers (with all the shots but one discharged), a of list slippers, a pair of golo-hes, and two handtlihiefs, which had apparently been tied round a pair fiii)ots. They also left behind a nearly new hat, a felt hat, and a cloth wideawake. The ,burglas hadiapparently got to the office by sealing the gaMen ; the then forced the office door by means of a 'jemmy, the marks of which were very plain. Having effected `ail; in trance into the office they set to work boring a 1011 in the iron door leading to the safe. In this they eceled, and by lifting the spring they got open the Zeal. There are marks on the iron safe, ehowing,that they had coinmeneed operations upon thisiallen; they were disturbed. The prisoner, who was taken to the police station at Boxford, gate the name of Wm. Berry and said he had no place of residence. The only remark he made was when entering the cells, "This is bad, but worse remains behind." He was on Tuesday taken before a magistrate slid remanded till Thursday.