The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-04 00:00:00

ROBBERY FROM THE EARL OF STASI.
FORD BY HIS VALET.

At the Police Court, on Thursday, before Mr.
B. Littlnwood, James Cowper, late valet in the
employ of the Lad of BtainfiLvi and Warring.
ton, was brought up on a charge of stealing a
quantity of articles, to wit, 15 white shirts, live
coloured dilto, 43 white and coloured collars, 18
pairs of stockings, two pairs of silk stockings,
three silk ties, four white ties, two white waist.
coats, two hair brushes, two boxes' one razor
strop, some books, and various other articles,
the property of his master.
Mr. Perry appeared for the prosecution; and
the prisoner was undefended. _ _

'lliefirst witness called was John Lawson, but-
fr t
ler to the Earl of Stamford, who stated that the
prisoner entered his lordship's service as valet
in July, 1871, and left on the 18th November
last. Shortly after he left some ,stockings were
missing, and, suspicion falling upon the prisoner
witness, in company with Police-sergeant Bald-
win, proceeded to the prisoner's lodgings in
Shepherd•street, Mayfair, Loudon, on MondaS
last. They there found several shirts (produced)
all uf which he recognised, and several bundles
of old linen. On the following day (Tuesdaa),
he went with Sergeant Baldwin to Taymouth
Castle, the seat of the Earl of Breadalbaue, and
there saw the prisoner, who was dressing in his
room. When the warrant was read over to him,
prisoner said "1 have taken some things which
ought not to have done; and I am very sorry."
When asked how he came to take all those
things he said Mrs. Seabrooke had told him he
might take many of them, for they would be
nothing but lumber in the way of another man.
He produced seine stockings which he said Mrs.
Seabrooke had given to bun. He opened 1301130
drawers and produced some shirts, collars, and
ties, all of whioll were now produced. Ile also
produced a razor strop and some varnish.
liing (Magistr..tes' Clerk) here remarked
that he supposed they might take it generally
that all the things now produced were either
found at the prisoner's lodgings, or at Taymouth
Castle?
Witness, Yes.

S‘ itness (resuming) : Having looked at the
name of Lard Stamford written on the books,
pie., he could swear they were the property of the
Earl. A pincushion in particular he could iden-
tify. A sail pLial sis found by Sergeant
BaLtu in, and upeu seeing it witness said" Hallo,
you've gut some of his lordship's tooth elixir ?"
Prisoner said, " Yes." Prisoner said he had
taken them because he regarded them as his per.
guisites ; but he was very sorry now for having
taken them, and asked witness to plead for hint.
Oa the way home prisoner again asked witness
to do all he could to get him out of this trouble
and said, "1 have done wrong; 1 admit it.
In answer to Mr. King, prisoner declined to
put any questions to this witness, and admitted
that his statement was substantially correct.
Mary Seabrooke, housekeeper at Enville
who was the next witness, said she had never
given any of the things produced to the priso-
ner. On one occasion she gave him 2 coloured
shirts. They were stained. They were not am-
ongst the articles now produced. She knew that
all the things pteduced were Lord Stamford's
nroperty. She had looked through them that
morning.

Sergennt Baldwin proved that he searched the
prisoner's lodgings in London, on a warrant, in
company with Mr. Lawson, on Monday last,
where they found some of the things produced;
and on the next day he accompanied the witness
Lawson to Taymouth Castle. Ile there read the
warrant over to pi isoner, who said he was very
sorry, but Mrs. S,abrooke gave them to him.
Prisoner opened his portmanteau, and witness
searched it. All the things were found either in
the prisoner's room at Taymouth Castle, or at
his lodgings in London. On the way home he
heard prisoner ask Mr. Lawson to du all he could
to get his lordship to forgive him.
Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the
Stlflord Adjourned Sessions.