The Sun. — 1848-03-28 (London, England)

BURGLARY AND ATTEMPTED MURDER. OF A POLICEMAN.—A burglary, attended with unparalleled cruelty to one of the City police constables, was perpe trated by a gang of notorious characters yesterday (Sunday) morning. It appears that shortly after three o'clock the constable on duty in Petticoat-lane, in passing the premises of Mr. Joseph, a general and marina storedealer, discovered a number of sheathing nails lying on the cellar flap. This excited his suspicions, and having aroused the inmates, it was ascertained that the premises had been burglariously entered and a considerable quantity of copp,2r nails taken away. Information of that fact was instantly communicated to the several police stations, and from questions put to the officers on the beats surrounding the lane, it was clearly ascertained that none of the property had been carried past them, consequently it was imagined that it was concealed in the neighbourhood, and that when the night men went•off duty at six o'clock in the morning an attempt would be made to remove it. To prevent the same, some of the reserve police was sent out in private clothes to watch. Amongst the number was a constable of the name of Pearson, and whilst ho was walking along the lane, four or five fellows pouaced upon him and cried out, " here is one of the b— dogs that is looking after us, let us settle him." They had barely uttered the words, when they all pitched into him, first throwing him upon the ground, then kicking and jumping upon him, evidently trying all they could to deprive the poor fellow of life. To such an extent did they carry out their brutality, that they nearly kicked out his eyes. In jumping on him they broke one of his legs. Having as they thought killed the constable, they made off, and up to nine o'clock last night had not been heard of. The constable when found by one of his comrades, who had left him only for a few minutes, was in a dreadful state of suffering. Medical aid was immediately procured, and the unfortunate fellow remains is a very precarious condition. One of the fellows is well known to the City and Metropolitan police, and a full description of the party, with his name and height, has been sent to every station-house in London, so that in all probability the villain will be speedily brought to justice. From certain information received by Mr. D. W. Harvey, the chief commissioner, it was expected that some of the gang would make an attack upon the police in Petticoat-lane during the night; a number of men from each of the City divisions was therefore ordered to meet there at twelve o'clock last night (Sunday), to protect the constables on duty. Principal contents of the Observer, of Sunday, March 26 :—Thirteen folio columns of first•rate and latest political news from France, Austria, Prussia, Italy, and all parts of the continent—Saturday's Election Committees, a folio column—Upwards of a column of Saturday Maryl-bono Vestry Meeting—About 100 useful Advertisements—Two columns of latest Irish news—Upwards of a column of births, marriages, and deaths, and sixteen columns of latest miscellaneous intelligence. Price of the Übscre'r, 6d.—Monday's edition, at four, Monday afternoons.