The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-02-23 00:00:00

COMMITTAL OF A TRADESMAN FOR
RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY.

Robert Lens, shoemaker, formerly residing in Church.
lane, Illandford, was on Monday last brought up on
remand, before the Meyer ant F. l'. .1 dins, H.q., at
the Town-hall, charged with unlawfully receiving
several pairs of women's boota, the property of Miss
Elise Hyrby, of Salisbury-street, Blandford. The articles
in question were a portion of property stolen from
procecutrix's drip on the night of 18th Novemb.r last,
when the priceless were burilariouely entered. The
hearing of the ease excited eeusitersble interest.
Elise Kyrby deposed: I sin • bookseller and stationer,
residing in Salisbury-street, Blandford. I also deal io
re.dy-made boots and shoes. On the 18th November
Last, before I retired to rest, I saw that all was isle in
my shop. The doors were looked. Between twelve and
one o'clock I heard • noise, and on going down stairs
the next morning I found the shop in great eonfusion,
and on examining named 12 pain of book, • quantity
of paper, eneelopes and other article., to the value of
about £7 or 1.1. Four pairs of Cashmere boots, n.iw
produced, I identify as my property. I know them by
the mirk/ and figure.. I wrote the figures on them
myself. A figure "4" on one of the book is not my
writing, it was there when 1 purchased them, but the
muks "3*. 64." and "So. 6.1." is in my handwriting.
On two ',sirs of the boots the figures appear tube partly
erased. This has been done nisi.* the boots were stolen
from my shop. The erasure is not no tromplete but that
I can distinguish my writing. A pair of kid boots
produced I believe to be mine; they correspond with •
pair I have in my shop. I purehesed both pairs from a
traveller from Exeter. I never sold the prisoner any
boot.; nor did I sell those produced to any ocher person.
The boots were all in my shop the day previous to the
robbery. I put them in • box under the counter. The
night previous ts the robbery I served in the shop
myself.l
James Payne deposed: I am clerk to Messrs. Johns
and Trail!, solicitors, tilandford. On the 20th November
last, about 10 a.m., I saw Edward Warren in front of
Messrs. Johns and Trellis offices. He was walking
backwards and for•ards in front of Mr. Pond's house,
and looked towards the Close and Selisbury-street. I
hod reasons for suspecting him. After walking about
tws or three times he hurried down Church-lane and
entered the prisoner's house. Ho did not at ,p to knock
at the door but walked in at once. Ile Gunn out again
almost directly., and came up the lane towards Salisbury.
street. Very alertly alter he came back again with a
bag at his back wish something in it. He went down
Church-lane and into the prooner's house again. He
came out again within • minute or two without the
bag. About five minutes inner I now the prisoner
(Byers) come out of his house with a bag very much like
the one carried in by Warren. He went in the direction
of the Close, and I saw no more of him.
Tllolellll Enlist-1 Martin, said: I 11,11 an inkeeper and
reside at Bournemouth. I remember the prisoner
calling upon me on • Saturday. I believe it was the
21st November last. He called between twelve and
ono o'clock. Ile brought a brown-coloured bag into
icy house. He hal • giros of beer, and se I told him
my stable was full he went away. About four o'clock
lie mme again, and brought the bag in, leaving his horse
outside. The bag appeared to have been emptied of
part of its contents. He asked me how I was off for
notepaper? I told him I had plenty and did not want
any. I also said I coold get five pores for • shilling,
and it would last me six months. He than said he
could let me have double as much as that for the money
and give me • packet of envelopes into the bargain. He
threw • packet on the table. I told him they were
too thin, and no use to me. He then said "I must have
a deal with you," and produced a pair of lady's boots.
I did not purchase them. He asked me ss. for them.
He then 'Aid be was hound to sell them as they were
a job lot, and I could have them at my own price. He
pushed them over the counter towards me ; bat I
refused to have them. He suggested I abould buy them
to rattle. I told him I had not time for that. (A
small quantity of envelopes which were found on Mr.
Atkineon'a lawn the day after the robbery, were here
produced by P.C. Seaviour, which the witness Martin
said wore the Name as offered by the prisoner, and
and which Miss Kerby identified as similar to those
she had lost.)
Joseph Hallam deposed : I am an innkeeper and re-ide
at Bournemouth. r remember the prisoner oallteg
upon me on either Friday or Saturday on or about the
214 November. He came in and offered me some
lady's boote He showed me seven or eight pairs. I
bought one pair of him. I gave him either 3s. 61. or
! 3s. 91. for them. I believed the boots produced by
P.C. Moore marked "s'. 6.1." were the ones I
purchased. I did not notice the mark till! bat per
-
chased them. I gave them up to P.C. James Moore
the 19th January. Prisoner sail be bought the boots
at a sale. I bought the boots for my wife, but she did
Dot wear them.
Eliza Blanehard deposed: I am the wife of George
Blanchard. lie is • brickl.yer and resides at Bourne-
mouth. I remember the prisoner calling at my borne
on • Saturday, sometime before Christmas. He brought
some boots in with him, and asked me if I would buy
them. He took away one psi, and left eight pairs with
me to lee if I could sell them. I ehowed them to my
neighbours, but they were too small for them. I kept
the boots till the Friday following when the prisoner
celled regain, and he then gave me • pair, and told me
to give the others to a carrier to take to the ehriet-
church station. I gave up the pair of boots, whirs!) the
prisoner gave me, to P.C. Moore about a month ago.
P.C. James Moore deposed : I am one of the borough
police of Blandford Forum. 00 the 30th November
last I celled upon the prisoner at his residence in
Bleadford, and in reply to questions which I put to
him he said he had not bought any boots. I had
rumens for suspecting he had. On the 12th January
last I went to Bournemouth, and celled upon Eliza
Blanchard, and received a pair of boots marked "Is. 61."
from her. She stated that the prisoner had given them
to her. I also went to Mr. Ballem's at Bournemouth,
and received • pair of boots marked "Is. 61." from him.
He said he bought them of the prisoner, and gave him
either 3s, 6d. or Is. 9.1. for them. I produce the bosts.
I sent isstruotions to various poliee-statione, and one to
Newport, Isle of Wight. I received • telegraphic
message on Monday last to the effect that the prisoner
was apprehended there. I went there on Tuesday, 9th
February, and the Superintendent of Police handed over
the prisoner to my custody, with three pawn tickets,
one of which I pro.ure. I *barged the prisoner with
the offence; be did not make any remarks. I asked
him in the presence of the Superintendent if the pawn
tickets belonged to biol. He said they did. I than
brought the rricener to Blandford. The pawnbroker's
ticket produced, which the prisoner owned belonged to
him, shows that four pairs of hints bad been pledged to
Mr. Samuel, at Brighton, for 10s. They were pledged
in the prisoner's nsme. On Friday, 12th February,
I went to Brighton, and redeemed the boots. Three
pairs of them the prosecute-ix identified as her property,
and also the two pairs found at Bournemouth.
This was the whole of the evidence for the
prcescution.
In erase-examination, the whams Martin positively
swore that the prisoner did offer him paper and envelopes
for .ale, but this Byers as positively denied.
The evidence having been reed over, and the prisoner
asked if be bad anything to say, he replied "that he
hail nothing tool at all." He was then fully committed
for trial at the Assizes.