The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-08-28 00:00:00

WAS IT A LOAN?

At the Greenwich Police-court, on Monday, William Ball
a brought up 1,, custody of Langley, a detectiv,sergeant
of police, charged with being concerned with another man,
totii, custody, is stealing French notes to the value of 350
Mows, belonging to Aifr d Hollander, who described himself
Ini the energy-sheet as u D actor of Philosophy. Mr Put,
solicitor, appeared Mr the prisoner, aud the court VMS
CrOsVdtd with the him ids rat the accused.
The prosecutor, who is about thirty ,years of age, on
being sworn, said, through an interpreter, he was a
native if Berlin, and had only been in England s fort-
night, having for two yearn previously been engaged as
a teacher in Paris. On Thursday, the 19th inst., he
was in Greenwich-Park, walking away from the Obse-
rvatory, when he met another man, who com-
noenced talking about the beauty of the park
and asked him to take a trip with him by steamer
to Bias kwall. He said he had a had foot aid
that he should ride home to London by train,
when the man said he would show him the way to the
railway station. As they went along the man asked
trim to go into a cooffee-house. They entered a garden
and sat down, and after a few minutes the prisoner
came and requeated to be allowed to join their com-
pany. The prisoner then sat down and tat them that
lie was a lawyer, and had inherited a good deal of money
from an uncle. He said he had come from the
Isle of Wight and was a stranger in London. Be the
will of his uncle he was compelled to distribute
among the poor, not alone in England, bust likewise
on the Continent, and he requested the prose-
cutor to name institutions in Germany timing which he
could distribute part of the money. The prosecutor
said the hest thing to do would be to, apply to the Ger-
man Consul in Looodon. The prisoner then requested
to, do so through hini, and molted him to go with him to
the Alexandra Hotel, where he said he was staying.
They then went towards the railway stat io on,
and when close to it, and after wane protest, they
entersd the Portland lioteL When there, the prisoner
said re had a habit of testing who were his friends,
and he requested the prosecutor and tire at her in in to
give him a sum of money, for the purpose of seeing
if they had confidence in him. He then requested the
other man to, give him a sum of money, and the man
handed Lim a pocket-hook, which contained money,
awl the prisoner having received it, re pested the
prosecut ,r to walk outside with liim. He aid 00, am%
told him he thought the other man would be fright-
ened at his leaving. He saki it was only a joke, that he
did cot require the money, and at ouce handed the man
his pocket-book. On handing the pocket-Nook hack,
the prisoner asked him if he was too prowl to accept a
slim of money to buy a ring as a kind of remembrance,
and requested him to have his name engroived on the
ring. The other man accepted the money (a 1:1() note),
and asked the prosecutor if he would share the money
with him. die declined to have any iof it, and
, the prisoner then asked him if be would show
the same confidence in him as the other man had
f done. The prosecutor told him he took Min
to, be a roan of honour, who weal not detain lois
money, and he took out of his pocket.boo.k four Frenelt
notes (three of 100 f, and one of 501.) and handed them
to him. The prisoner then requested him to wait a
few minute., mod he would soon return. He and do,
other man then went outside, and lie waited two or
three minutes, but saw neither of them afterwards
until the prisoner WM taken into custody.
In crosto-examination by Mr. Pork, the prosecutor
said in handing the prisoner the French notes he
might have said he would lend him his money.
Serjeaut Langley sail the prosecutor gave informa-
tion of the robbery at &aloud yard, and witness was
instructed to trace the men. On Saturday the prose-
cutor accompanied his.. to a public-house in the
Waterlooroad, and picked the prisoner nut from 20
other men as being the tnan who took his money. The
prisoner, when charged, said he was not the man, and
never before saw the prosecutor.
George Hassell, waiter at the Portland Hotel,
Greenwich, identified the prisone Tlika one if the two
men who accompanied the prosecutor to the hotel on
the clay in toestion.
Mr. Pook contended that the money had been given
as a loan, and that the prisoner was not criminally re-
sponsible.
The magistrate remanded the prisoner, and refueled
an application to admit him to bail.