While in Ireland I bought an old Dublin newspaper
This snippet below is taken from
"The Warder" February 7 1863, printed in Dublin
"Gallant Conduct of a servant girl"
"At the Liverpool County magistrates court, the other day, a man named John
REGAN was charged with having entered the house of Mrs POWELL Eton Cottage
Knotty Ash near Liverpool and attempted to steal a quantity of jewellery, &
c, valued at £10.
On the 30th of November last, the prisoner called at Mrs
POWELL's about five o'clock in the evening, and asked to see one of the
members of the family.
The servant girl told him that it was not a proper time to call, and that he
must come again in the morning. The prisoner then said "I suppose they are
out?" and went away.
Shortly after this however the girl heard a noise in Mrs POWELL's bedroom,
and she went quietly upstairs with a life-preserver, and peeped into the room.
The prisoner was placing plate in a bonnet box, and she asked him what
business he had there, whereupon he knocked her down and endeavored to escape
with the property through one of the windows. The girl however, nothing
daunted, got up and seized the prisoner, but was compelled to let go her hold.
She then ran down stairs and opened the front door, when she saw the prisoner
getting over a wall in the garden and again siezed him. Finding that his
position was an awkward one, the prisoner dropped his plunder, and effected
his escape.
He was shortly apprehended, however, and it was ascertained that he an
entrance had been gained to the house by forcing one of the window latches.
The prisoner was committed for trial