The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-11-27 00:00:00

THE EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY AT
WALSALL

--
A boy named Simpson, who was captured with another
youth, named Samuel Thompson the latter having imme-
diately afterwards escaped), at Birkenhead, on Friday night,
was brought up at the Guildhall at WahalLon Monday, charged
in conjunction with Thompson, with stealing from the office
of Messrs Belgium, Lewis, and Lewis, of Walsall, on the
15th October last, a bank draft for £670, bank notes to the
value of Lin, and £135 m gold. Ihe circumstances attending
the robbery are of a most extraordinary nature, and have
been productive of much excitement and Interest la the
town.
Mr. Dale (fromthe office of the prosecutore) Raid that
Thompson Wan a clerk in their employ. On Saturday
week he waft absent from Inuiness ; and on inquiries
being made it wits found that he hail gone away, and
could not be traced. It was noon afterwards discovered
that Thompton and the prisoner were in London; and
the latter's father proceeded thither, and ascertained
that both had taken their passage for Australia.
S. on afterwards the prisoner and Ills compaction
went to the shipbroker's office, and learning that
Mr. Simpson had been inquiring after them they de-
caunp-d, and, it would he found, at onceproceeded to the
neighbourhood of Liverpool. On Friday night they
were arrested at Birkenhead by the police. On being
brought upon the landing stage the prisoner put his
hand into his pocket, and, taking out a pocket-book,
threw it into the river, lin afterwards admitted that
this book contained a considerable sum in gold and
notes. He also attempted to throw into the river a
letter which he had addressed to his father in Weisel
He xdmitted that on the day of the robbery Thompson
left the offices under pretence of going to serve a writ,
and about eleven or twelve o'clock ran to Simp-
son's house, and told Simpson that he had Bettered
a large stun of money, and would see him later
in the day. About two o'clock Thompson did ste
Simpson, and they agreed that the money should be
buried until they could make their arrangements to
leave the country. The notes and gold were buried
together, and, the boys not being able to get away so
soon, were du; up again, and examined, when it was
found that the notes were being soiled with the damp.
Arc trdingly the gold only was re4tored to the earth,
where it remained until the boys had completed their
arrangements, when they took possession of it again,
and then went away. In a book in a coat or
cape of Thompson's, recured after his arrest,
wan found a detailed account of all the notes
' and gold stolen from Messrs. Duignan and Lewis ;
and in the account, opposite the entry of a £2O note
and a 1:.5, was written in each instance H. B. and
Co. The name of the firm from which the prisoners
engaged their passage was Houlder Brothers and Co. ;
and before the capture of the boys it was ascertained that
On the 23rd October they gent the firm two notes, corre-
sponding with those She entries relating to which were
marked as he had stated. A very exact debtor and
creditor account had been kept in the book.
Mr. George Bytheway, cashier to Messrs. Duignan
and Lewis, deposed to having placed the stolen
money in his drawer on tile morning of the rob-
bery, shortly belt tre ten o'clock. lie missed it about
an hour afterwards. He had intended to take
the mousy to the bank, but finding it was too early
placed it in the drawer, which he locked. Thompam
was employed in the office in which he left the cash.
Thomas Wherst, a constable, in the employ of
the Birkenhead Pier Commissioners, said that he, in
company with Inspector Devonport, arrested the
two lads on Birkenhead Pier, on Friday night.
Simpson took a packet out of his pocket, and threw
it far.into the river. Witness said, "You are a silly
young man to do that ;" and Simpson replied that
he was sorry he had done so on the imptilse of the
moment, and admitted that the packet contained a
large sum of money in notes and gold. When they
left the pier to go to the station witness had charge of
Simp,on, and Inspector Devonport of Thompson.
Witness heard Devonport shout, anti saw that hie
Twist tiler had escaped, leaving his cape in the inspector's
handl. Thompson has since been rtcaptured.
On this evidence the prisoner, who had no q aeastious
to ask, was remanded for aweek.
The aultitined it a copy of a letter tahen from Situp-
son's haunts at the time of his capture. The advertiw-
ructit at the cut-et had been cut from The flatly Tele.
graph, and pasted upon the paper upon which the letter
was written :
Friday, 1869 —Walsall.—T. W. S.—Tom, dear boy, for
our sake and your own, writs, or return at once. I had
gone back home."
"My dear Papa—l saw your advertisement is She Deid,
Telegraph, and send this letter in answer to it. We are all
safe and quite well. I hope you are all well. Don't let
Cater get hold of this, as he may try and trace tin by
It. If you get our lu -Rose you will mind a box in
the square basket. There are aome letters In it. Give
then. to Pries. She will know what to do with them.
No one is to read them. They have nothing to do with
this. Don't you try to trace us by letter as we shall be gone,
and shall take particular care so that we cannot be
traced. I have sent it through Aunt Betty, no that the
envelope may not fait into the hands of Duignan's folks.
Sam sends his love to his mamma and sister', and says he
is quite wall, and they are not to put themselves about.
Ton are not to let Cater know any more than you pos-
sibly can. It is a good job you made thatruistake in London.
Keep Farlie safe. We shall write again soon. We have
seen to.day'a Post ;it has given us ama or two Don't put
yourself to any more expense, as it will be no good. All will
come right in time. Give my inns to mamma. Prise. Ac.—l
remain your affectionate am, T. W. SisirSoN."