The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-23 00:00:00

THE CAPTURE OF A GANG OF
BURGLARS.

Francis O'Keefe, George Murray, and George Hay-
wood were further charged on Tuesday at the Bow-
street Police-court with being concerned in various
burglaries and stealing a quantity of property,
and George Chard, a jeweller, was charged
with receiving property well knowing it to have been
stolen, Mr. Sims prosecuted on behalf of the Trea-
sury; Mr. Doveton Smyth defended Chard.
Mr. William Henry Large, of Fern Leait, Belville-
road, Wandsworth-common, riding master at the
Crystal Palace, deposed that on the 23rd March last
a burglary was effected at his house by means of
forcing open his front door with an instrument.
About £5O worth of property was stolen, including
some forks and spoons, a pair of opera glasses, and a
gold watch and chain. These articles, produced by
Inspector Langrish, had since been identified by wit-
ness as his property.
Mrs. Mesham, of Guildford Lodge, Balham, de-
posed that on the Bth June last she left her bedroom
about half-past five in the afternoon for about ten
minutes, and upon returning she found that the
window had been thrown open and her jewel-case,
containing jewels to the value of between £4OO and
£5OO, had been stolen. The jewel-case was found
about half an hour afterwards in the next house,
which at that time was unoccupied. A balcony led
from this house to that occupied by the witness, and
the thieves ha a evidently obtained access to her room
by means of the balcony. Amongst other property
she lost a diamond ring, a gold and amethyst brooch,
and a watch. Witness identified a diamond ring,
produced by Inspector Langrish, by means of a flaw,
and was able to recognise it, as she had found the
stone herself at the Cape, and had it set at a jeweller's
in Natal.

Mrs. Martine, of 2, Old Compton-street, Soho,
deposed that on the 4th of August last she found that
entry had been effected to her premises by means of
a window that had been left unfastened, and a clock
and other articles were stolen. Witness identified a
clock produced by means of a number on it.
Mrs. Pinkhurst, of 32, Keppell-street, Russell-
square, identified a tablecloth (produced) as having
been stolen from her dining-room on the 24th July.
Property to the extent of £5O was stolen. There
were no indications of a forcible entry.
Mrs. Hutchinson, of No. 15, Burton-crescent
identified a gold locket and chain as being a portion of
the property stolen from her house on the 15th of
July, and an assistant in the employ of Mr. James
Smith, of 23, Tottenham-court-road, proved that this
particular locket had been pledged there on the 16th
of July, but he was unable to identify either of the
prisoners as having pledged the property.
Detective-sergeant Scandrell, of the E Division,
deposed that about three weeks prior to the arrest of
Haywood and Keefe he had kept observation on their
movements. He had seen them frequently together,
When Haywood was taken into custody a number of
keys were found in a cupboard in the room fie
occupied, and witness had since ascertained that one
of these keys would open the door of Mrs. Hutchin-
son's house. When Chard was arrested witness went
with other officers to that prisoner's house, and
upon making an examination of the premises it
was discovered that a large cupboard in the
room he occupied had been nailed up• and
papered over, thus giving it the appearance of a wall.
The cupboard was forced open alai was found to
contain a large amount of property, consisting of
plate. including the forks and spoons identified by the
witness Large.
Detective-sergeant Cox, of the S Division, deposed
to the fact of having kept observations on the pri-
mers Murray and Haywood, and when they were
arrested some pawntickets and the tablecloth identi-
fied by Mrs. Pinkhurst, were found in Haywood's
room.

Detective-sergeant Reader deposed to finding at
Chard's house the opera glasses identifiecik by Mr.
Large as having been stolen under circumstances
detailed in that witness's evidence, also the clock
identified by Mrs. Martino; and that identified by
Mr. Steele on the last occasion as having been stolen
from 17, Great Poulteney-street on the 4th August
last. _ .

Inspector Langrisii, chief of the Detective Depart-
ment, Bow-street, deposed that when he arrested
Chard he found three keys in that prisoner's posses-
sion. One of the keys fitted the lock of a case placed
in a room occupied by Chard, which contained the
jewellery and clocks now in possession of the police.
A portion of this property had been identified by tb
above witnesses.
The prisoners were committed for trial.