During the last autumn and winter the counties of Lancaster, Chester, and Salop have been infested by a gang of highwaymen, generally five in number, whose conduct towards the persons of those who were so unfortunate as to fall in their way has been characterised by excessive brutality. In some of the cases the parties plundered have been so dreadfully beaten that their lives have been for some time in a state of imminent danger, and others have been seriously injured.

The suddenness and violence with which their attacks have been made, have, in most cases, placed it quite out of the power of the sufferers to give any minute description of the persons of their assailants. This week, however, by the prudence of Mr Fisher, pawn-broker, Deansgate, a capture has been made of five men, who, there is little doubt, will turn out to be the perpetrators of these nefarious transactions.

About eight o’clock in the evening of the 19th instant, Mr Atherton, cabinet maker, of Oldham Road, was on the road near Disley, in a gig, accompanied by his son, when suddenly five men rushed out of the hedge, and one of them having cut the traces, the others set upon Mr Atherton and his son, and beat them in a most brutal manner with bludgeons.

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Mr Atherton had not the power of making the slightest resistance, the assault having been made so suddenly that, provided he had had any weapon, he could not have used it with effect. The ruffians rifled Mr Atherton’s pockets of £3, a silver watch, and a silver snuff-box, they also took from him a bundle, containing a shirt, a pair of stockings, and some other articles.

On the evening of Wednesday week, about seven o’clock, Mr Woodward, malt mill maker, Shrewsbury, accompanied by his nephew named Urwick, were returning in a gig from Wrexham fair, when, in the vicinity of Petton, on the road between Shrewsbury and Ellesmere, five men leaped from the hedge side – some of them seized the reins, whilst the remainder attacked the travellers with bludgeons, and having inflicted dreadful wounds on their heads, brought them to the ground. Mr. Woodward was struck senseless, and was plundered in that state of nearly £50 in money, a silver watch, maker’s name “Win. Plain, London, 1866,” his handkerchief, and all the contents of his pockets. Mr Urwick retained sufficient sensibility to observe one of the ruffians place his knee on his breast, and opened a large clasp knife, cut through his braces and his dress and rifle his pockets.

The next moment the knife would have in his throat, but for the providential sound of a horse’s feet (Mr. Griffiths of Chester-street, in Shrewsbury,) which induced the wretches to fly off, leaving the wounded men helpless in their blood.

They were soon discovered, and every assistance rendered; and we rejoice to say, they appear in way to overcome their injuries. In a field a few yards distant from the place where the robbery was committed the villains appeared to have halted to divide the plunder, for there the ribbon of Mr Woodward’s watch, his gloves, and some papers from his pocket, were found lying.—One of the men had a white jacket; the others dark coloured clothes, a large patch appearing upon the coat of one of them.

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