The Sun. — 1870-01-07 (London, England)

THAMES.  EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE AND ROBBERY.—win. George Morris, aged 19 years, and Henry Pickford, 20, were brought up on remand and for final examination before Mr. Lushington, charged with assaulting Jane Jones, an aged woman, and robbing her of two pictures on the 21st of December last. The prosecutrix is an inmate of the Alms-house, No. 3, Maritime-cottages, Devons-road, Bromley, and the prisoners are carpenters, and sons of respectable tradesmen in the vicinity. Both had been employed effecting some repairs in the old woman's cottage, and had behaved well while there. At half-past one o'clock on the 21st of December both prisoners rushed into the cottage. Pickford was disguised, and wore a large moustache, whiskers and black beard over his face. She put her arms out and said what do you want. Pickford presented a pistol close to her face, and said, If you scream I'll shoot you. She did scream, however, and made great resistance. Pickford ordered Moris to take down the pictures from the wall, and on Morris declaring his difficulty in doing so, Richford said pull them down. Morris took down two pictures while the struggle was going on between Mrs. Jones and Richford. The old woman bit Richford's finger, she knocked off a percussion-cap from the pistol, and discovered it was not loaded. Richford then put his arm round her neck, and used her very roughly. She said the pistol is not loaded, got away from him, and rushed into a small garden behind the house. Her screams and cries of murder brought several persons to her assistance. The prisoners ran out of the house, and the gate of the Tower Hamlets Cemetery being open at the time both attempted to conceal themselves there. They were closely pursued, and Richford threw away his mask and his pistol, which were recovered by one of the grave-diggers and delivered to the police. Richford was secured at once. Morris made his escape. He was closely looked after by Furze, a detective constable of the K division, and when taken into custody said, " 1 know what it is all for. This comes of my keeping Richford's company." Mrs. Jones swore positively to Morris as being one of the men who entered her cottage. A man saw them together in the Burdett-road, five minutes' walk from the cottage on the morning of the outrage, -and three men employed in the cemetery swore to the best of their belief Morris entered the cemetery with Pickford. Inspector Kerressey said the witness had been intimidated, and that Pickford was paying his addresses to the sister of Morris. He produced the false moustache and beard and pistol used by Pickford. Two percussion caps were found by Mrs. Jones on the floor of the room where the outrage and robbery took place. Detective Furze produced a flask of gunpowder, some percussion caps, and a bullet mould found in the apartment occupied by Pickford at 4, Burdettroad.  Mr. Downing, a solicitor, set up an alibi for Morris, and called his father and four other witnesses, who swore the primer was at work in Spitalflelds the whole of the day of the 21st of December.  Mr. Lushington committed the prisoners for trial.  Within the last few days large supplies of the ponderous 12• inch armour plates for the Glatton, 2, turret ship, have arrived at Chatham Dockyard from Messrs. Camillell and Co., of Sheffield, who have conttacted to supply them.