Stone-throwing extraordinary.
On Wednesday and Thursday evenings the inhabitants of Bedford-street suffered considerable loss and annoyance through the breakage of their windows by some, at present undiscovered miscreants. The plan of these diabolical operations seems to be to get access to the rear of the houses through the field adjoining, to the Anderton Wharf, and such missiles as large pieces of coal and stones are thrown through the back windows. The mischief has commenced each evening about five o’clock, and continued at intervals until two or three o’clock on the following morning.
On Thursday evening a large stone was thrown at the back window of Mr Dale’s beerhouse, striking Mrs Dale, who happened to be in the yard, a heavy blow on the head. A greenhouse, belonging to Mr Oliver, has been seriously damaged. Although the neighbours have formed a “vigilance committee” and have received the assistance of the police, who have scoured the neighbourhood while the throwing has been going on, their efforts to discover the delinquents prove unavailing.
Yesterday evening the throwing was renewed, and was sustained for some time, although members of the borough force were in the neighbourhood.
Staffordshire Sentinel, 8th October 1870.
The mysterious stone-throwing.
We last week referred to some mysterious stone-throwing practices indulged in, to the damage of householders in Bedford-row. Three of the houses have continued to be the objects aimed at by the perpetrators of the mischief, who up to the present time have escaped detection.
On Monday two large pieces of stone were thrown down the chimneys of houses in the occupation of Mr Turner and Mr Howell in a manner which could lead to no other conclusion than that the persons concerned in the affair had reached the roof, but all efforts to discover them were unavailing.
A slight cessation of the nuisance was observable on Wednesday, but on Thursday the stone-throwing was renewed. It has become necessary at several of the houses to board up the back windows, as large stones have been thrown through there while the occupants have been sitting at their meals. The stones all come from one direction, and strong suspicion attaches to some persons.
Staffordshire Sentinel, 15th October 1870.