The Press.
London, England, 1856-11-15 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

1090

greatest good fortune he was caught by the
shackles, and by some• means, which will ever re-
main a mystery even to himself, he succeeded in
extricating himself from his perilous position and
gaining a safe foothold. The shock lie had received
was so great that he was relieved from duty at the
first opportunity.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR JOHN BAKINGTON. BART.,
M.P., accompanied by his son, will arrive in Man-
chester on Monday next, and during his stay will be
the guest of James Watts, Esq., the mayor, at
Cheadle. On Monday the mayor will give a banquet,
and on Tuesday Alderman Nicholls will entertain Sir
Jahn and a select party of friends to dinner at
Eaglet'-house, Ardwick. In the evening the right
hon. baronet will deliver an address to the members
of the Manchester Athenaeum, "On National
Education."
A FATAL EXPLOSION OF A NAPHTHA-LAMP is re-
ported in an Edinburgh paper. Mr. Cranston
Waddell, while conversing with his sister in the sit•
tng room on Wednesday week, noticed that the
supply of naphtha in the lamp wasalmost exhausted.
Mr. Waddell, at once, according to his wont, but
directly contrary to printed instructions, proceeded
while the lamp was burning to fill the receiver with
naphtha. In a moment a terrific explosion took
place. The bottle containing the naphtha, the
lamp—everything around wag dashed t) pieces.
The windows were demolished, the door of the
sitting-room blown into the passage, and Mr.
Waddell and his sister covered with the blazing
naphtha. Mr. Waild€ll lingered in intense agony
till Friday morning, when death terminated his
sufferings. His sister, up to the last accounts, lay in
a most precarious state.

misapprehending his instructions took the parcel he
received from the bank to the Great Northern Rail-
way, and tile officials of the company have taken pos-
session of it, and notice has been given at the bank
to withhold his balance until further inquiry. As
soon as the discovery of the frauds was made, direc-
tions•were given to the police to take possession of
Redpath's house in Chester place. This was done,
and almost simultaneously Inspector Williams
arrested Mr. Charles James Cumming Kent, a young
man, aged 25,wh0 was a clerk in the register•ofce,
over which Mr. Redpath presided. Mr. Kent, who is
supposed to have been the dupe of Redpath, was
arrested at his residence in Castle-terrace, Hamp•
stead•road, and he immediately afterwards underwent
a private examination at Clerkenwell Police Court.
He was remanded till Tuesday next, and is now in
the custody of the governor of the House of De-
tention.

The efforts of the police were now directed to
secure Mr. Redpath. Every exertion was made, and
at last, in the course of yesterday morning, he was
hunted down and caught at the house of a friend in
Ulster-place, Regent's-park. It appears that after
leaving the office of the Great Northern Railway, on
Tuesday, he proceeded direct to his house in Chester-
terrace, Regent's•park, where he made anxious in-
quiries in reference to the parcels, for which
he sent a ticket porter to the Union Bank in
Argyle.p.ac?, under the circumstances detailed
aboNe. Alter expressing much surprise and indigna-
tion that the porter had not arrived, he left home,
and proceeded by the South-Eastern Railway to
Paris, whence he sent telegraphic messages to his
friends in London. These messages were intercepted
by the police, but too much reliance was not placed
upon them, inasmuch as they thought that they might
be a ruse to throw the officers off their guard. Mr.
Thomas Williams, an officer connected with the Great
Northern Railway,to whom the warrant granted by the
magistrate was intrusted, proceeded to Paris, where
he hoped to effect a capture. Meanwhile, Mr. Richard
Williams, an inspector connected with the Great
Northern Railway, by means of remarkable vigilance
and astuteness, obtained a clue to the prisoner, who
by this time had returned to London. He traced Red-
path from place to place, and yesterday morning sue •
ceeded in capturing him at No. 4, Ulster•place. Mr.
Redpath gave himself up easily, said he was sorry
for what had occurred, and conducted himself with
perfect calmness and composure. It appears pro-
bable that Redpath heard of Mr. Williams's arrival
in Paris, as he lett without his luggage.
At one o'clock in the afternoon the prisoner Red-
path was placed at the bar of Clerkenwell Police-
court before Mr. Tyrrwhitt.
Mr. Humphreys, on the part of the prosecution,
briefly stated the nature of the charge and the
evidence given on the examination of the clerk, Kent,
who is charged with being implicated with Redpath
in the extensive frauds and forgeries. Tho prisoner
Kent stands remanded until Tuesday next, and on
the present occasion he (lid not propose to go into
the whole of the case against the prisoner, but offer
sufficient evidence to justify his asking for a
remand.

Several witnesses were then examined for that
purpose.
Mr. Williams, an officer of the Great Northern
Railway, detailed the circumstance of the capture of
the prisoner :
He accompanied Mr. Mowatt this morning to 4, Ulster-
place. ltegent's•park, where he found Mr. Redpath in the
front room. He told Mr. Redpath that he held a warrant
against him, and that it was his duty to take him into
custody upon a charge of forgery and fraud. That was
after the prisoner had seen Mr Mowatt. Witness then
took Redpath away in custody. In the course of their
journey to the Clerkenwell Police•court in a cab, prisouer
said to witness, whom he had known before as an officer of
the company—" I am very sorry," then there was a pause,
and afterwards he said, " they have my place in Chester-
terrace, and if they sell it well it will fetch 30,01)01."
Witness said, " T hope they will." He requested that Mr.
Wontner, the solicitor, should be sent for, and witness pro-
mired that he should have every facility. Prisoner again
said, " I am very sorry for it ; it is all my own fault I am
here."

Mr. Humphreys, upon the evidence, asked for a
remand.
After some conversation,
Mr. Wnntner said that, as Mr. Redpath's legal
adviser, he had no objection to a remand. Mr. Red.
path was very anxious that the charges should be
fully investigated.

The prihnnerWas then remanded till Friday next.

TILE GREAT GOLD ROBBERY OF '55.

Tiii: two railway guards, Pierce and Burgess,
arrested last week on suspicion of being concerned
in the great robbery of 15,0001. of gold, while in
transita from Loudon to Folkestone, in May, 1855,
were on Thursday examined before the Lord Mayor
at the Mansion-house.

Mr. Bodkin, who conducted the prosecution, gave
a brief explanation of the manner by which the

SATURDAY,

robbery was traced to the prisoners. In the robbery
four persons were concerned, Pierce, Burgess, a
check clerk named Tester, not yet in custody, and a
convict, Agar. The robbery was effected in May,
1855. In October, '55, Agar was convicted of
forgery. Upon his arrest, he intrusted his woman
and child to the care of Pierce. Pierce soon after turned
them both adrift without a penny, although he held in
trust some 7,0001. of Agar's, and the woman, in revenge,
told the railway authorities what she knew of the rob-
bery. The proofs she possessed were slight, but yet
sufficient to give a clue to the police. Agar's atiection
for his child, aroused by this gross bleach of trust,
appears to have induced hint to turn Queen's
evidence. On Thursday he was brought up from
Portland prison, and gave a lengthened detail of the
manner in which this great robbery was effected,
which, as a specimen of foresight and ingenuity,
stands almost unrivalled in this age, so remarkable
for fraud.

Agar opened his story by stating his acquaintance
with Pierce and Burgess ; it had existed for sume five
or six years. He was in the habit of frequently
visiting the United States ; he does not tell us for
what purpose, but " he travelled backwards and for-
wards several times." He then describes with
charming simplicity how the notion of the gold
robbery originated, and was finally arranged:—
The last time I went to America I spoke to P;erce
about a robbery on the South• Eastern railway, and when 1-
returned I met Pierce in London, by accident, somewhere
at the West end, and spoke to him, which led to my seeing
him several times. He afterwards asked me if I had
thought anything more about the robbery. 1 told him I
declined having anything more to do with it. He said he
thought he could manage to get an impression of the
keys if I would undertake to do it—the keys of the iron
safe. I said, "Well, it would be a matter of consideration
as to who was to be concerned in it, and how many." He
told me it was to be divided into four if I would undertake
it. I said "Yes, I would have no objection," and an
arrangement was made to meet a party to get an impres-
sion of the keys, Pierce saying he knew the man.

This being settled, Pierce and Agar go down to
Folkestone for a fortnight or three weeks, in order
to acquaint themselves fully with the details of the
gold-train's arrival, to get a sight of the bullion
chest as it was carried from the train to the boat, to
observe how and when it was opened before passing
the Custom-house, and above all to discover where
the keys were kept. The time passed pleasantly
at Folkestone ; they lived in private apartments, and
played billiards of an evening. The policeman at
the station at length noticed them, and Pierce imme-
diately returned to town. Agar remained for another
week, got an introduction to the railway officials
who kept the keys of the bullion chest, and of an
evening drank or played at billiards with them, but
after a week failing to obtain any information from
them he returned to town in despair of getting an
impression of the keys just then. At that moment,
however, something " turned up" which revived his
hopes. One of the keys was lost, a fresh key had to
be made, the safe was sent up, and the person in
whose charge the key would be left when the safe
was repaired was the clerk Tester. Pierce knew
Tester, and an appointment. was made at a beershop
at the corner of Tooley.street:—
Tester brought one or two keys—l forget which. They
were new keys. I took three of tour impressions in wax
of one key. I went upstairs to a bedroom to wash my
hands, to do it there. The chambermaid showed me up.
I took the impression, and returned the keys back to
Tester. I gave the chambermaid sixpence, or something
of that sort.

An impression having been obtained of one key, the
question was to get the impression of the other kept
in Chapman's drawer at Folkestone. It was arranged
that Agar should go down, that Pierce should send
him some money which would come in the bullion
safe, and that while Chapman was busy examining
the papers Agar should endeavour to get an im-
pression of the key. This plan, however, did not
succeed. Afar went down and stopped at the
Pt.vilion as Mr. Archer. A day or two afterwards a
letter of advice and the money arrived
I saw the train arrive at the upper station. I saw the
iron safe. I then came to the lower station and saw Chap-
man and showed him the letter. I saw the iron sate
opened by him with a key from the cupboard in his own
office. The box was in the safe. He told me to fill up
a form of receipt. I said I had a bad finger and he must
excuse me, and I must get him to do it for me, and I
signed it in the name of Archer. There was about 2001.
in gold in the box, and there were some papers to fill it
up. It was my money in the box which I hail given to
Pierce before I left London. I don't recollect where I got
the gold from. I believe it was at the Bank. I had not then
any account at any private bankers.

As this attempt failed, Agar returned to town, and
after a week or two he and Pierce arranged another
trial. This time they were more successful:—
It was proposed that Pierce and I should go to Dover,
and get over to Folkestone from I ; and as we noticed
that the clerks generally left the office when the boat
arrived, I was to watch the opoortunity, and go in and
obtain the key from the cupboard in Chapman's office. It

~.011 5 .4 ga.F.•,.., 1/1
-
The windows were demolished, the door of the Argyll-p. ac?, under the circumstances detailed
robbery originated, and
sitting-room blown into the passage, and Mr. above. Atter expressing much surprise and indigna-
The lust time I went
Waddell and his sister covered with the blazing Lion that the porter had not arrived, he left home, about a robbery on the Soi
naphtha. Mr. Waddell lingered in intense agony and proceeded by the South-Eastern Railway to
returned I met Pierce in I
till Friday morning, when death terminated his Paris, whence he sent telegraphic messages to his at the West-end, and spoke
sufferings. His sister, up to the last accounts, lay in friends in London. These messages were intercepted him several times. He
a most precarious state.
Yak( aith Volitt.
THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY FRAUDS.
ANOTHER case cf commercial morality (?) has
been disclosed this week. A Mr. Leopold Redpath, by the police, but too much reliance was not placed thought anything more at
upon them, inasmuch as they thought that they might declined having anything
be a ruse to throw the officers off their guard. Mr.
Thomas Williams, an officer connected with the Great.
Northern Railway,to whom the warrant granted, by the
magistrate was intrusted, proceeded to Paris, where
he hoped to effect a capture. Meanwhile, Mr. Richard
Williams, an inspector connected with the Great
Northern Railway, by means of remarkable vigilance
living at 27, Chester-terrace, Regent's-park, a gentle- and astuteness, obtained a clue to the prisoner, who
man of reputed unblemished honour, a largo sub.
criber to public charities, a governor of Christ's Hos.
pital and St. Anne's Society, and a man blessed with by this time had returned to London. He traced Red
path from place to place, and yesterday morning suc-.
ceeded in capturing him at No. 4, Ulster-place. Mr.
Redpath gave himself up easily, said he was sorry
so disinterested and generous a disposition that he for what had occurred, and conducted himself with
undertook the management of the transfer stock P
and the registrarship of the share department . ro-
erfect calmness and composure. It appears p
babe that Redpath heard of Mr. Williams's arrival thoughti he could manag
keys I I would undertake
safe. I said, "Well, it wo
as to who was to be comet
told me it was to be divide
it. I said " Yes, I wont
arrangement was made to
sion of the keys, Pierce sa,
This being settled, Pi
Folkestone for a fortni
to acquaint themselves
gold-train's arrival, to
chest as it was carried f
observe how and when
the Custom-house, and
the keys were kept.
in Paris, as he left without his luggage. at Folkestone ; they 'iv(
of the Great Northern Railway, solely from a At one o'clock in the afternoon the prisoner Red- played billiards of an
love of employment, and a wish to render him- path was placed at the bar of Clerkenwoll Police- ile station at length no
self useful to the company at the small cost of court before Mr. Tyrrwhitt. diately returned to town
2001. a year, has been arrested on the charge of Mr. Humphreys, on the part of the prosecution, week, got an introduc
' committing enormous frauds on the Great Northern briefly stated the nature of the charge and the who kept the keys of th
. Railway Company. Mr. Redpath had held his evidence given on the examination of the clerk, Kent, evening drank or played
7' office for some years. The directors of the corn- who is charged with being implicated with Redpath after a week failing to i
pany, two or three weeks since, established a in the extensive frauds and forgeries. 'l'ho prisoner them he returned to t
' distinct department for the purpose of securing a Kent stands remanded until Tuesday next, and on impression of the keys
• strict investigation of the accounts. The ofEcials o! the present occasion lie (lid not propose to go into however, something " t
' this new depait -tient met on Monday last, and on the whole of the case against the prisoner, but offer hopes. One of the key:
Tuesday morning they re-assembled for the purpose sufficient evidence to justify his asking for a be made, the safe was
of entering upon their duties. Soon after they met remand.
whose charge the key
Mr. Redpath entered their room, and said to the Several witnesses were then examined for that
. , was repaired was the
chief clerk, " What are you going to do ?" The purpose.
Tester, and an appoints
chief clerk replied, "To go through all the accounts Mr. Williams, an officer of the Great Northern at the corner of Tooley.
from the commencement of the company." Mr. Railway, detailed the circumstance of the capture of
Redpath replied, "That is a perfectly useless pm- the prisoner :
Tester brought one or ti
were new keys. I took tl
ceeding. You will find all the accounts right in the He accompanied Mr. Mowatt this morning to 4, Ulster- of one key. I went upsta
gross, and it is of no use entering into details." The place. Regent's-park, where he found Mr. Redpath in the hands, to do it there. Thi
chief clerk said, "We are bound to go into the whole front room. He told Mr. Redpath that he held a warrant I took the impression, at
of the accounts, as the directors have given us ex. against him, and that it was his duty to take him into Tester. I gave the chaml,
custody upon a charge of forgery and fraud. That was of that sort.
plicit directions to do so, and we wish to begin with
the numerical register." Mr. Redpath took up one after the prisoner had seen Mr Mowatt. Witness then An impression having bi
took Redpath
_awal3cr in custody. In the course of. their
of the books and then threw it down again, saying,question was to get the :
journey to. the CI enwell Police court in a cab, prisoner
"Well if that is your intention, I will have nothing to in Chapman's drawer at
said to witness, whom he had known before as an officer of
do with it." He then said to one of the officers, " I the company—" lam very sorry," then there was a pause, that Agar should go do
am going'out for a few minutes." He went, and and afterwards he said, " they have my place in Chester. him some money which
never returned. The inspection of the accounts at terrace, and if they sell it well it will fetch 30,0110/." safe, and that while CI
once proceeded, and it was soon found that trauds to Witness said, " T hope they will." He requested that Mr. the papers Agar shou
the amount of 150,0001. had been perpetrated on the Weidner, the solicitor, should be sent for, and witness pro- pression of the key. T
company by Mr. Redpath. As principal registrar of inked that he should have every facility. Prisoner again succeed. Afar went
stock, Mr. Redpath had, of course, the entire control said, "I am very sorry for it; it is all my own fault lam Pavilion as Mr. Archer.
"
of that department of the company's business. When here. letter of advice and the
... . he had to issue a 1001. stock, it appears that he Mr. Humphreys, upon the evidence, asked for a I saw the train arrive at
aided a "0 "to the amount, thus making it 1,0001. remand. iron safe. I then came to
on the company by books. This operation was not After some conversation, man and showed him th
confined to 1001., but extended to stock of 2001., Mr. Wontner said that, as Mr. Redpath's legal opened by him with a key
3001., and 5001., so that out of every 1001. stock trans- adviser, he had no objection to a remand. Mr. Red- office. The box was in t
path was very anxious that the charges should be a form of receipt. I said
ferred he gained 0001. The directors appear not to
•fully investigated. excuse me, and I must gi
• have made any examination into the accounts, pro-
li signed it in the name of
bably because they never had any suspicion of their The prisoner was then remanded till Friday next. in gold in the box, and th
• officer, and it has been to them a mystery for some up. It was my money it
• . years past that they were called upon to pay dividends THE GREAT GOLD ROBBERY OF '55. Pierce before I left Londo
upon 15,0001. or 20,000/. more than according to their .1. . . two railway guards, Pierce and Burgess, the gold from. I believe it
audited accounts they were liable for. T tit; his mystery any account at any private
is now explained. Mr. Redpath, disinterested soul, arrested last week on suspicion of being concerned As this attempt failed,
pockeii tg this 20.000 a year. Previous to leav- in the great robbery of 15,0001. of gold, while in after a week or two he
ing the office, Mr. Redpath sent one of the transita from London to Folkestone, in May, 1855, trial. This time they w
ticket porters, belonging to the railway, to the Union we re on Thursday examined before the Lord Mayor Bank, in Argyll-place,for the title deeds of his house It was proposed that Pi
in Chester-place, and for other securities which were at the Mansion-house. and get over to Folkestone
lodged there in his name, directing him to meet him Mr. Bodkin, who conducted the prosecution, gave that the clerks generally
I arrived, I was to watch I
with the documents at Chester-place. The porter a brief explanation of the scanner by which the obtain the key from the et