The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-12-02 00:00:00

THE WHOLESALE ROBBERY OF CANVASS
AT BRIDPORT.

(PROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)

On Saturday Job Crabb was brought before the
Mayor (B. P. Gundry), J. Barnicott, and F. Good,
Edam., at the Townhall, charged with receiving
twine and canvass, the property of Messrs. J.
P. Stephens and Co., knowing the same to have
been stolen—Mr. Loggia conducted the case on
behalf of the prosecution, and Mr. Manley defended
the prisoner. The hall was crowded to excess through-
out the day, and the interest excited was immense,
as in this case Whetham was the principal witness,
having come forward as Queen's evidence against the
prisoner. The case occupied nearly seven hours in
its hearing.—Mr. Loggin opened the case by entail-
ing the system in which the robberies had been
carried on, the substance of which, however, will be
found in Whetham's evidence, and then called Mr.
litaao Stephens, brother of the prosecutor, residing
at Bristol, who said that he was one of the proprie•
tors of the firm of Meagre. Stephens and Co.. canvass
manufacturers, carrying on business et Bridport.
He then proceeded to detail the various losses sus-
tained by the firm since the Ist of July, 1860, to the
Ist July, 1861, which amounted to 240 pieces of
canvass; between the 10th of July,lB6l to the end of
August, 160 pieces. The market value of each piece
of canvass would be from 60s. to 60s. Whetham had
been foreman for about ten years in the firm's
employ, and his duties were to put out yarn for the
use of the weavers, and then to receive it back again
in the shape of CallvllllB from them.
Mr. Walter Stephens deposed that he was in the
employ of the Messrs. Stephens, and was a son of
Mr. Walter Stephens, He then corroborated the
last witness's evidence as to the amount of canvass
stolen,in consequenoe of which suspicion was aroused
that it must be taken away during breakfast
and dinner hours. On the 16th of September he
concealed himself in the counting house of the ware-
house, between the hours of one and two o'clock in
' the afternoon. Soon after be heard footsteps outside
the warehouse, and he heard Whetham unlock the
I door of the warehouse and enter, followed by wine-

one else. He could not see Whetbam, but he heard
his voice, and knew his footsteps well. Whetham
walked about two or three times between the
CIUIVOISS room and the front door of the warehouse,
but after this he went into the twine room, and
when he returned he appeared to walk as if he was
, carrying a load. All this occurred in about two
minutes, and he did not know who the other man
was. They then went out through the front door of
the warehouse ; thereiwae no wagon waiting outside.
Witness had taken stock about a fortnight before
that day, and on the 20th he found that six pieces
of NUMMI were missing. The pieces ,were not dis-
posed of in the ordinary course of trade.
James 'Whethaen, late foreman in Messrs Stephens's
warehouse, said he had been in that situation for
11 years. He had the principal charge of the can-
vass in the warehowee, and he had been in the habit,
of late years, of stealing it from the warehouse. He
had stolen canvass for live years past, and generally
took it between one and two o'clock. He took the
canvass to the prisoner's stable in the Globe pas-
sage, and sold it to him. Crabb also fetched some •
from the warehouse in his wagon, but he had not
done so within the last 12 months. No one but
himself and his masters had a key for the ware-
house, and he only had it at meal times, and gave it
up at night. When Crabb came with his wagon he
had to csrry yarn from the warebonse to Beaminster
to get it wove. The canvass was put into his
• wagon with the other goods. The wagon had no
business there for the past 12 months, se d the
reason as because no yarn was now sent t Bea-
minster. The wagon used to come betwoes on e and
two, and if the reasoner had come at any •,ther time
witness could not have taken the canvass, so well
Mt. Stephens did not know when the wage s& awns,
as he bad the sole control of the yard. He gen e.
rally put about eight pieces in the wagon at a tisue•
(A voice "That bought the gold rug.")
The Bench said if any interruption again occurred
the court would be cleared.

Cross-examination continued: When the wagon'
was not there he carried it himself to the stable, and
sometimes he sent it. When he sent it he get the
canvass from the warehouse himself, but he did not.
go with the person he sent, but went soon after to.
the stable. Crabb was aware that the canvass was
stolen, and he paid him (witness) for it Crabb.
had sent him money from Beaminster by his little•
boy, who brought it to the warehouse, but when he
paid him it was in the stable. He paid him 10s.
and 11. s. a pieee, but once or twice he had given him
15s. apiece. The lowest amount he had ever paid
him was Bs. a piece. Mr. Stevens sold the canvass
for about 50s. or Ms. a piece. He thought Cribb
was aware of the value of the canvass, as he had
been in the flax trade. Crabb generally paid at the
time the canvass was delivered to him. The key of
the stable was in Crabb's possession, and no one
could enter but himself. Ee had also • loft over it.
He had seen Crabb put canvass in the loft. Crabb
first offered to buy the canvass, and witness took
two pieces on the 16th of September. from the ware-
house, about a quarter or twen4 minutes pest one.
He went to the warehouse by himself, and the
other man came in just after, ami helped to take
away the canvass, which was t.tken to Crabb's
stable, and he went about a quarter to two,
and found Crabb there, who paid him 255. for
the two pieces. He said he should not take it
away at that time, but should put it in his loft.
Witness went into the Globe and had a glass of ale,
but whilst there Crabb beckoned him out, and
said "that it was a bad job, as the parlor had
searched his wagon, and that they had i'onntl •
parcel missing from Mrs. Stepbens's warebotoe, sod
he would not begrudge £lOO if he could get the
it away from the stable; and asked if he
(witness) could get it away and shove it in the
privy. Witness said it was a bad job, and they
both should be caught. Mil happened just after
the prisoner had paid him, and he then left..
In the afternoon he went to the stable loft, but.
could not open it. He went again between 7 and
8, and burst open the door between this loft sad
Crabb's, mid took out the canvass that he had sold
that day, and threw it into the privy in the Globe
passage. The next day between 12 and Ihe sew
the prisoner at the Globe, and told him what he
had done, when he said he was very glad and grate-
ful for what he had done in saving his reputation.
The prisoner suggested that they should get lime
and vitriol to destroy the canvass. He saw the pri-
soner a day or two after bring some lime, when he
told witness that he had some vitriol which he had
bought in the town. He believed that Crabb sent
the greater part of the canvass to London, and lately
he had sent it by way of Crewkerne, and had done
so for the last 18 months. He beard the prisoner
mention the name of Mr. Porall as one of the
parties to whom he sent canvass. Before he sent it
by way of Crewkeme he used to wind it by the
Brid port railway, but he said he thought the parties
there had suspicion of the goods.
Robert Russell, landlord of the Globe bus,depoeed
that the prisoner was in the custom of potting up
at his house. He remembered when the poheeenme
to Ibis house about two months ago, and asked if
there was a parcel for the prisoner, and !oohed
into his loft.

Paul Trenchard, a carrier for Mr. G. Slade„'
Crewkerne, deposed that he had received goodin
from the prisoner at different times, which appeared',
to be trusses of canvass weighing from one to
two cwt. each. On one occasion he received • tniss;
of canvass in the street at Beamiwiter, but he gene-
rally took the parcels from the prisoner's house.
The parcels were directed to London, and he took
them to the South Western Railway Statism at
Crewkerne.

George Slade said he managed the bagmen for
his father, who was a carrier from Beaminster Itt
Crewkerne. He had conveyed goods for the prkonew
from Beaminster to Crewkerne, and from thenoe to,
London by rail. He then gave entries from his
ledgers of the parcels sent to London by the prisotuar,
of various weights, and consigned to London houses
from May 4th, 1861, to April 19th, 1862, at sixteen.
different times, and weighing altogether 46i owls.
The prisoner paid for all the week' except the
last.

Thomas Lennon said he managed the business for-
Mr. Foxell, fish salesman, BMMgsgate. He had
known the prisoner by name from hiasending orders
for fish for twelve years, and he had known him
personally for ten years. He sent up one truss of
canvass about four years ago on sale. It was pent.
to Mr. Fossil's premises, and received by him. He
could not remember how much it fetched, as he
kept no account of the transactions, but
he thought it was about tenpence a yard.
He had received canvass from the prisoner-
many times, as he had been in the habit or
getting orders for canvass, which orders he sent to
Crabb, who sent the canvass to the parties wham,
names he furnished. The parties who received the
canvass paid him the money, and his transmitted it.
to thelprisoner, lees his oommission of five per oent.-
He generally sold the canvass for about tenpenoe a
yard. He might have sold about thirty pieces in a
year, but some years he sold more than others; but
during the latter part of 1861 and the beginning of
1862 he sold mere canvass than in any other year.
Superintendent McHale produced xune letters
which he had received from John Bayard, a London
detective officer, on the 18th ult., and two other
documents, a letter and receipt, from Thomas
Lennon, on the 27th ult. in London. Re also pro-
duced two samples of canvass and a sheet of brown
paper, the covering of a parcel, which he likewise
received on the 27th from Thomas Lennon, which
was directed in the prisoner's handwriting.
Cross-examination of Thomas Lennon continued:
—Some of the persons to whom he had sold canvass
were William Baker, Bermondsey; William Ben-
jamin, Billingsgate; John Brookson, Love-lane,
Rartcheap ; Mr. Smith, Kingston; Mr. Reed and
Mr. Gifford, Mark-lane, the latter of whom had a
larger quantity than any of the others. He wrote
to Crabb for samples about a fortnight before he re-
ceived the canvass now produced.
William Benjamin Fisher, a fish dealer, carrying
on business at Billingsgate, said he had bought ma-
ven of the last witness at various times.
John Bayard, a detective officer of the City of
London, proved receiving the letters produced by
Mr. Lennon. and handing them over to Soperin.
tendent MoHalL

--------
John Webber, station master at the Bridporlt
Railway, Bridport, proved forwarding canvass at
various times to London, which the prisoner had seat
to the station,

P.S. Lavender proved finding the canvass pro-
duced on the 22nd of November in the closet at the
Globe Inn, and the canvass appeared as if it hail
been burnt with something.
Mr. Alfred Stephens, a eon of the principal of
the firm, stated that • portion of the canvass pro-
duced was made at the manufactory of Messrs.
Stephens, but he ooald not identify all. Mr.
Walter Stephens gave similar testimony.
James Wbetham re-examined : The two
samples produced, marked "P' "L," was made by
tbe prosecutors, and was hand•loona made, but he
could not say as to the other samples.
This closed the case on behalf of the prosecution,
and Mr. Loggin said he thought he had made a suffi-
cient case for the Bench to commit Crabb for trial at
I the Sessions.— Mr. Manley, in defence, said he
thought be had best discharged his duty to his client
by not cross-examining the witnesses. He also 111)-
plied for bail in the event of the prisoner being com-
mitted, and if the Bench would not consent to that
course, to commit for trial to the Assizes, and not to
the Sessions. To both these courses, however, Mr.
Loggia objected, and the Bench, after some con-
sultation, committed the prisoner for trial at the
ensuing Sessions, refusing to accept bail.
Mr. Loggin then said he would not go into the
charge of larceny against the prisoner Whetham
now, as his solicitor, Mr. Watts, could not attend,
and asked for an adjournment of the case until
Monday, which was granted.

Tire CONVICT GANDNIII. —The sentence of death
passed upon the chimney-sweep, Samuel Gardner,
for the murder of his wife, has been commuted to
that of transportation for life.

Printed Rad published for the Proprietor, by CHARLES
WHITBREAD MILLARD, of Prinse's-street, Dorchester,
Printer, at the OfNs of TAr Denier County larva,
Cherie-omb, D•rviteeter, Tuesday, D.O.rabwr 2,