The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-01-31 00:00:00

b.,

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER

ROBBERY AND ATTEMPTED MURDER
BY A PAWNBROKER'S ASSISTANT.

On Monday, Robert Leech, 18, a pawnbroker's
assistant, was brought up, on remand, at the Worship-
street Police-court, London, charged with having
su,len a sum of 135., the money of his employer, Mr.
landau Perry, pawnbroker, of Lea-bridge-corner;
and further with having feloniously shot at Police-
constable 100 N, with intent to murder, &c. Mr.
Attenborough appeared for the prosecution; the
prisoner aas undefended. The deposition made by
Mr. Perry last week was read to him, and he was
further cross-examined by Mr. Attenborough. With
reference to the facts of the robbery the prosecutor
said the prisoner's duty was, when pledges were re-
deemed, to place the pawnticket given up with the
duplicate kept, in a particular place, and the money
paid into the till. The 13s. stolen was money paid on
two pawnings. The prisoner, when ha confessed
to having stolen the 135., was asked what he had
done with the tickets, and said that he had thrown
them on the fire, but that was untrue, as the
tickets were subsequently found in a closet. The
prosecutor added that the books showed a number
of similar rcbberies, the total amount being about 50.
Prisoner had proceeded very artfully in the matter,
making false entries in the books to money advanced
on pledges. On the charge of shooting, the prosecutor
said that both himself and the constable had their
backs turned when the first shot was fired, and when
he faced round he saw that the prisoner had the re-
volver pointed at the constable; but the bullet seemed
to have passed close to witness's head. The shot had
entered the wall in a line with the constable's head.
The second shot fired by the prisoner, just as witness
rushed at him, was fired point blank; but, fortunately,
at that moment one of the shop assistants, named Re-
velley, who had run forward on the first shot, struck
up the prisoner's arm. The prisoner was secured, and
further assistance sent for. It was then that he pro-
duced a second revolver from the breast-pocket of his
coat, saying, "Here is another for you, old man. The
first revolver was five-chambered, the second six. Both
were fully loaded, but two chambers of the first were dis-
charged. Theprisoner had been in his (prosecutor's) ser-
vice since April last, and witness had a good character
with him. The taking of stock had shown that there
was a deficit of £5O Bs. 2d. In answer to Mr.
Hannay, the prosecutor said that there were other
assistants in the shop. The prisoner cross-examined
the prosecutor with considerable ease and indifference
as to whether the revolver was pointed at the con-
stable for the first shot, or as to whether the prisoner
had not had time to shift his position before the
prosecutor could have turned round. The prosecutor
adhered to his first evidence, and said he thought the
prisoner could not have turned. In further answer
to the magistrate, the prpsecutor said the room was
not a small one, nor very large. The bullet of the
first shot struck the wall in a slanting direction seven
feet up, and then rebounded to the other side of the
room. Police-eonstable Nelson,loo N, deposed to being
called to the shop of - Mr. Perry, and to finding the
prisons./ seated in the room behind the shop, as
stated. The constable corroborated the evidence of
the prosecutor as to the prisoner's confession that he
had taken the money, and then as to the shooting, as
to which the officer added nothing new. Evidence
was also given by an Inspector of the N division as to
the size of the room, the bullet marks, &c., and he
produced the revolvers and a small pouch containing
cartridges to fit the pistols, about 100, which were,
found in the prisoner's box. The depositions being
completed, the prisoner, who treated the.matter with
much sang .froid, was committed for trial at the
Central Criminal Court.