Northern Times. — 1860-01-12 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

NORTH JOHN-STREET.  EXTRAORDINARY CAREER & CAPTURE OF TWO HORSE-STEALERS.  A most extraordinary career of crime has recently been terminated in South Staffordshire by the capture of two men, named respectively John Personage (24) and Francis Ward (20), both butchers, of West Bromwich. During the past month these two men have centred their efforts in and near West Bromwich, and their daring robberies have reminded the inhabitants of the days of Irish Freney and Turpin, and other Tyburn heroes. On the night of the 4th of December last, a dog-cart was stolen from the premises of Mr. Abraham Horton, an extensive butcher, at West Bromwich, and the same night the shop of Mr. Morgan, saddler, of the same place, was entered, and a great quantity of bridles, whips, hits, horse-cloths, brushes, &c., of considerable value, were stolen therefrom. Before finishing the evening's game, a valuable mare belonging to Mr. W. Harwood, farmer, of West Bromwich, was stolen, and a carriage horse, valued at £4O, was also stolen from the stable of Joseph 'Whitehouse, Esq., of Hill Top House, near West Bromwich. The premises of Mr. Thomas Summerfield were entered the same night, and a good horse. set of gig harness, and riding saddle, stolen. With all this spoil the thieves got clear away, and (as since ascertained) took their way through Wolverhampton, Penkridge; Stafford, and Eccleshall, to Nantwich, and from thence to Birkenhead. Whilst there, Mr. W. H. Simpkins, of the Birkenhead Arms, purchased the carriage horse stolen from Mr. Whitehouse, the gig, and all the other harness, brushes, cloths, &c., stolen from the various places as above, for the sum of £l3 ; and another mare that they had with them was sold to Mr. Thomas Fearnyough, of the Tranmere Hotel, at Birkenhead, for £6. The thieves appear to have squandered the money thus received, and on the night of Wednesday, the 21st ult., they again commenced their depredations in their old district, at West Bromwich and the neighbourhood. On the above night, a valuable grey mare was stolen from the stables of Mr. Dunmack, horse dealer, of West Bromwich. This animal was offered for sale as near as Wolverhampton, and was eventually sold by the two thieves to Mr. Charles Beech; of Bloxidge, for £6. This money, it appears, lasted them until the. next Tuesday, the 27th of December. Oa the Monday night, or early on Tuesday morning, they made a descent on Pelsall, a farming and mining place, about three miles from -Walsall. They there visited the premises of Messrs. J. and W. Cresswell, large butchers and provision dealers. Having obtained an entrance at the back, they prepared to take their horses and a dog cart, but they were foiled in their attempt by two large folding doors being safely secured, which they had anticipated finding open. They, however, took with them a saddle and bridle. Their next attempt on the same night was at the stables of Boaz Bloomer, Esq., ironmaster, of Pelsall. They took from here a fine grey carriage horse, valued at between £3O and £4O, and about a bushel of corn. On the same night, they stole from Mr. John Snapes, farmer, of Relsoll, a cream-coloured cart mare, worth about */30, and with these made themselves scarce. Rewards, amthnting to upwards of £5O, were offered, and instructions and informations were given to Mr. Inspector Price, of the Rushall division of the Staffordshire police. He started in pursuit, with a horse and trap, accompanied by police-constable Kent. After visiting several towns in Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire, the indefatigable officer was informed that two men had gone through Albrighton on the Tuesday morning, with two horses, and that they answered the description of the two thieves. He lost no time, but at once proceeded to track them from place to place, and on the Friday following their last robbery, he ran them to earth, through Warrington, at Liverpool, having had five changes of horses on the way. The two men were at the time of their capture riding two of the stolen horses in the London-road, Prescott-street. They were so completely taken by surprise that they made no attempt whatever at resistance. They were `brought back to Pelsall, and on Saturday last were taken before Charles Foster, Esq., M.P., and other magistrates, and were fully committed to take their trial at the next Staffordshire sessions, upon eight different charges. A day or two after their capture, the younger prisoner Ward attempted,to commit suicide by hanging, and was very nearly successful. Whilst his accomplice in crime was sleeping, the prisoner tied a noose in his neckcloth, and tied it to the window bars of his cell; his struggles awoke Parsonage, and he called for help. Some constables arrived, and he was cut down, Just in time to save his life. Indeed, so effectually had he attempted to carry out his purpose, that it was thought he was quite dead; but after remedies had been applied he. recaTeyhe thentjrw officergoannam::ns e were. Exh, a sactrnoenzearyi,ne remained to on Staffordthe pri cgs prisoner's eel rjo c. l IoS.