The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-08-20 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

CROWN COURT.—WEDNESDAY. THE WARRINGTON BURGLARS. William Parkinson, 31, William Barber, 28, Thomas Goodier, 48, Samuel Pinnington, 31, and Henry Ellis, 25, were placed at the bar to be tried for various burglaries, an alleged attempt at murder, &c.. committed in March last, in various parts of this county. They were first indicted for having, on the 26th of March last, feloniously entered the house of Thomas Shaw, at Poulton-with-Fearnhead, with intent to steal his goods, and then and there assaulted and wounded Hannah Barton, with intent to minder her, and further with having stolen £36 in gold, a silver table spoon, a silver watch, and other goods, the property of the said Rhomas Shaw. William Woollasten was originally committed for this offence, but the grand jury ignored the bill. Mr. WILKINS laid before the jury a very perspicuous narrative of the case as he expected to prove it before the jury. Part of the testimony, he observed, would be that of an approver. Hannah Barton, Mr. Shaw's housekeeper, was first called. She was still weak and ill, and the trial was taken thus early in consequence of the surgeon having certified that it would be dangerous to detain her in Liverpool. She stated, that on the night of Friday, the 26th of March last, she was in the service of Mr. Shaw. On that night she went to bed at nine o'clock. About one o'clock on Saturday morning she was disturbed by the house dog barking furiously, and by the scuffling of heavy feet about the door. The door was forced open with a great crash, and the report of a gun or pistol was heard. She started out of bed, opened the window, and immediately heard the report of another pistol or gun, and received a wound in her forehead. (A deep indention, the effect of this wound was visible in the very centre of the witness's forehead over her nose.) Three stones were thrown at her, one of which struck her. She went down stairs, and saw four men in the room where her master and the man slept. She went to the back kitchen window, and endeavoured to break it, but was unable. She went into the workshop, broke the window and got through. She was immediately seized by the prisoner Ellis, who came from the back of the into he kitchen. One of these men had a. house. She saw two meu come out of the parlour where her pistol in his hand. The dog made furious deli' h lantern master andwss , a "monstrations of an intention to attack them, and one of the men said " D—n him, knock his brains out." She asked him to let her go to her master, but he presented his pistol at her face, and said if she stirred he would give her that. He had a black mask on. They went away after a time, and locked the door aft.g. er them, taking away the key, which was missing next morning. (a key was here produced, and the witness identified it as the key of Mr. Shaw's door.) She found the side of a lantern in the kitchen next morning. Thomas Shaw stated, that on the 26th March last be and his family went to bed at nine o'clock. Witness went on to say, that after he had been asleep some time, he was aroused by hearing the dog bark, and presently the front door was thrust in with a great crash, and four men entered his room, two of whom had crow-bars and two pistols and lamps. They had black masks on. As they entered they made a great noise, exclaiming, " Oh, you b—g—s, your money—your? money. We'll have your money, or we'll take your life. The least of the men struck his man, and then they all seized him (the man), and threw him on the bed, and covered hug with the bolster, exclaiming, " your money—your gold.. He released his head, and called to him (witness) to give his money. He took his purse from his pocket, and it was instantly snatched from his hand, the person who did it threat