The Sun. — 1845-07-25 (London, England)

CLERKEA II'EL L.  DESPERATE RESISTANCE TO THE POLICE. If 21IiQnl Burke, a stout Irish labourer, was charged with having been concerned with others in a most desperate outrage and attack upon the police-officers of the N division. Daniel Yard, another athletic Irish labourer, was also charged with obstructing the officers in the execution of the:r duty. It may be recollected that en Monday, the 7th of April last, a dreadful riot took place in the Chalk-road, Islington, where a man named John Wallen, a coalhcaver, was nearly murdered by some Irish labourers. On the interference of the police they were attacked in a desperate manner by the party, and Staker, t 6.2 N, was barbarously treated, and for a considerable time he was in the hospital in a dangerous state. Several of the rioters were apprehended at the time, and being subsequently tried, were convicted and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. The prisoner, who was one of the most active of the gang, escaped, but a re. ward was granted for his apprehension. He eluded the vigilance of the officers until Wednesday night last, when information was received that he was concealed in a house in Georgecourt, Islington. Stoker, in whose possession the warrant was placed for execution, made arrangements with other officers to accompany him fur that purpose ; and on Wednesday evening, between nine and ten o'clock, Stoker, Sergeant Brennan, Walker, Pearce, Collard, and Martin, repaired to the house in George-court to make a capture of the prisoner. On their arrival they found the house barricaded, the doors and windows being fastened. '1 he prisoner Burke, on being informed of the appearance of the police, looked out of the window flourishing a poker, and swore he would have the life of the first man who dared attempt to apprehend him, exclaiming, " My name is Burke." The officers procured a ladder for the purpose of entering at the first-floor window, and at a given signal the officers burst open the street-door, and rushed up stairs. Sergeant Brennan went up the ladder to get in at the window, which he had no sooner lifted up than a quantity of scalding water was thrown into his face by Burke's wife, by which his sight was so much affected that he has been ever since in great pain, and under medical treatment. The prisoner Burke fought at the officers with a poker and a pair of tongs, in a desperate manner, the former of which he broke. Stoker was forced to strike him on the head with his truncheon before the tongs could be taken from him. Whilst engaged in the affray, the prisoner 'Ward called out to Burke to "give it to the police," and he did as much as possible to obstruct the officers in the execution of their duty. The violence of Burke was so excessive that it was found necessary to handcuff him, and although there were so many officers, they had considerable difficulty in taking, him to the station-house. On their way thither, a great mob who had assembled, followed, hooted, and pelted the officers. Burke's head was dreadfully cut from blows, and the back part was covered with adhesive plaister. His shirt was besmeared with blood.  Mr. BuoucnroN said that the case was one of such atrocity that he could not decide upon it summarily. He felt bound to send it before a jury, and it would eventually be committed for trial. He would accept responsible bail for both prisoners' ap: pearance on Tueslay next.