The Press.
London, England, 1856-12-13 00:00:00

elution nteltigente.

GREENWICH.—A crowded meeting of electors took
place in the public Lecture-hall on Monday evening,
for the purpose of adopting measures to secure the
return of a Liberal member of Parliament and a
supporter of the ballot, in the room of Mr. P. Rolt.
Mr. R. A. Bristowe occupied the chair. Mr. Alder-
man Wire moved a resolution pledging the meeting
to use their utmost endeavours to secure the return
of a thorough-going supporter of the ballot. Mr. G.
Bennett seconded the resolution, which was ultimately
carried.
CARDIFF.—CoIoneI J. F. D. C. Stuart has issued
an address to the electors, soliciting their support in
the event of the retirement of Mr. Coffin. He pro-
mises to support all " well-matured measures calcu-
lated to provide for an enlarged system of education
for the children of our poorer brethren ; the exten-
sion of the elective franchise in full proportion to the
increased numbers and the enlightened progress of
our fellow-countrymen ; the relief of those who con-
scientiously object to the burden of Church rates ;
and the reform of our civil, military, and naval
administrations, with a view to the full development
of educational tests and personal qualifications in the
several services of the State. On the question of
foreign policy Colonel Stuart observes

As I believe that no Minister of the Crown has more
ably vindicated the honour and power of England than has
Lord Palmerston, I am prepared to give a hearty support
to his foreign policy, calculated, as it is, to insure the pro-
gress of free trade principles in our intercourse with other
nations.

SOUTHAMPTON.— There are now f ,ur Liberal can-
didates in the field, viz., Mr. R. Andrews (Mayor of
Southampton), Mr. Weguelin (Governor of the
Bank of England), Mr. Carden, and Mr. T. R. Beste.
The latter candidate has issued his address, wherein
he announces that should the Liberal electors wish
to go to the poll for the sake of principle, he will be
with them. The liberation of all rcligi .ns from
State control is the only principle he thinks worth
contending for. Ile cares not to stand on any other.
Sir Edward Butler is the only candidate in the Con-
servative interest.

cialu anb

TilE GOLD ROBBERY.

THE further examination, on Wednesday, of the
prisoners Pierce and Agar received fresh interest
from the surrender of Tester, the clerk. The court
was crowded, and several aldermen and gentlemen
1304 seats op the benohes around the Lord Mayor.

1185

As soon as the prisoners were placed at the bar,
Mr. BODKIN rose and said :
May I ask if Mr. Buchanan is here!
Mr. BUCHANAN : ;
Mr. Bonkts : You have given the prosecutors notice of
the intention of Tester to be present?
Mr. BuctiAsst; : I appear as solicitor for William Tester,
a person supposed to be connected with this robbery. He
is in the immediate vicinity of this court, and, as it may be
desirable that he should be here to be dealt with as a wit-
ness or in some other way, as the prosecutors may think
fit, upon their pledging their word that he shall not be mo•
lested on his way to the court I will send for him.
Mr. Bonsts : What do you mean by his " not being
molested?" He will be taken into custody and brought to
the bar.

Mr. BUCHANAN : He can be here in five minutes. I
expect that faith will be observed. and that he will not be
pounced upon by an officer in the street, but that he may
come and surrender. If it is desired I will send for him
immediately.
Mr. BODKIN : Tryon please, Mr. Buchanan.
Mr. Buchanan then sent a messenger for Tester,
and, after a lapse of neatly ten minutes, the latter
made his appearance in court.

Mr. BUCHANAN: Mr. Tester is here.
Mr BODKIN : Then he must be taken into custody, and
put by the side of the other prisoners.

Tester, who is a tall, gentleman-like man, with
bushy whiskers and moustache, and in fashionable
at'ire, vas then placed in the dock by the side of the
other prisoners. He looked exceedingly pale.
Mr. BODKIN then proceeded to recapitulate that
part of the evidence which immediately affected
Tester, in connection with some of the notes for
which a portion of the bullion had been exchanged.
The banking clerks of Messrs. Roberts and the
Bank of England were then examined, to prove the
exchange of the following bank notes for gold, &T.
On the 28th of May, 1855, at the Bank of England,
600 sovereigns were exchanged for six !001 notes
numbered 45,420 to 45,425 inclusive. They were
exchanged in the name of " Edgington, Duke-
street." 45,422 was brought into the Bank on
the 10th of September, 1555, in exchange for ten
10/. notes, in the name of "Tester." These notes were
numbered 21,558 to 21,567, and dated the sth of
June, 1555. Numbers 45,421, 45,423, and 45,424, with
the name on the face of each, " J. Burgess, 84.56,"
were brought in on the 9th of January, 1856, through
Messrs. Roberts, the bankers, as part of a total of
7,6191. 15s. sd. On the 19th of February last twenty
Bank of England notes were paid in by Messrs. Currie,
namely, two for 1001. each, numbered 39,538 and
42,255, dated the 9th of August, 1855 ; five of 501.,
numbered 19,324, 21,858, 26,249, 26,711, dated the
Bth of November, 1855 ; two for 201., numbered
73,624, 73,625, dated 7th of August, 1855 ; and one
for 101., numbered 21,558, and dated the sth of June,
1855. They were paid in a total of 7401., with the
name of Stearn on all.

Mr. W. White, a clerk to Messrs. Robarts and
Curtis, bankers, of Lombard street, deposed that on
the Bth of January last lie received a parcel of notes
from Messrs. Hutchinson, stockbrokers:—

The total paid in on that occasion was 6454, and wax
composed of three 1001.. four 501., one 20/., eight 101., and
nine 51. notes. The 1001. note numbered 45,421 was the
first note of that amount. and the 64:51. was paid into the
Bank of England on the following day.

Messrs. Hutchinson deposed that the cash-book
showed an entry on the Bth of January of 6451. re-
ceived, consisting of four 501. notes—namely, 2001. ;
also, 4051. and 401. :
The 4051. consisted of Bank of England notes, from
Mr. Lee, on account of Burgess. The 6401 was paid into
our bankers the same 'day as part of a larger sum. The
other portion consisted of cheques and dividend warrants.
The total amount of notes paid in was 6451.

Mr. C. Cousins, clerk to Messrs. Hutchinson, ac-
counted for the money :

On the 4th of January last we bought, for a person
named Richard Lee, a .510/. Turkish Six per Cent. bond,
for 4071. 10s., for the 16th of January account. On the
Bth of the same month he paid us 4051. in notes and
21. 3s. 9d. in money. Mr. Lee wns known to us. Tho
notes were paid to our bankers—Messrs. Robarts and Co.
—on the Bth of January, in a total of 7,6191. 15s. M. On
the Bth of February we cold the bond, at a profit of 4641.
7s. 6d., which we pail by a cheque on :Messrs. Robarts.
The cheque was given to Mr. Lee.

Mr. Ellis, clerk to Messrs. Robarts, stated that this
cheque was received and paid on the 13th of Feb.,
in two notes for 100/. each, numbered 42,235 and
39.538, dt.ted Ath of Angust, 1855; five notes for
501. each, numbered 26,761, 19,324, 28,489, 21,858,
and 26,249, dated Bth of November, 1855; nee 51.
note, numbered 71,929, dated the 11th of January,
1856 ; and 91. 7s. 6d. iu cash.
Mr. Richard Lee identified the prisoners. He bad
been employed by Burgess in the early part of the
year to effect a purchase in Turkish bonds. He paid
down 4071. 10s., of which 405/. were in notes,

sideration of the 5001. bond, and he received
money from Mrs. Burgess, at Burges2's house,

New er6c:4.

Mr. Smith, es-shier to Messrs. Reid, the
proved the payment by Mr, Stearn, on the

;, in eon-
eived the
louse, in
brewers,
D 19th el

1186

February last, of 500/. in two 1001. notes, numbered
39,538 and 42,225, live 501., numbered 19,324, 21,858,
26,249, 26,711, 28,489, two 201., numbered '73,624,
73,625, and one 101. note, numbered 21,558, paid
to the credit of the house at Messrs. Currie's on the
same day.
Another witness, Raffan, a fruiterer, swore to
changing—" about twelve months ago "—a 1001.
note, numbered 45,425, for the prisoner Pierce. He
changed some other notes for gold to the amount
of itoo/.

The convict Agar was then brought into court.
Mr: Goodman. the chief clerk, read over the whole
of the prisoner's evidence. Agar paid the greatest
attention to ever• word that was uttered, and made
same corrections, which showed the accuracy of his
recollection.

Mr. BODKIN (to Agar) : You have spoken of a person
named Tester. Is that the man (pointing to Tester)?
Witness : Yes ; on the left hand side of Burgess. At the
time of the robbery he was clerk in one of the offices.
have seen a strap very much like this (referring to a strap
handed to him by Mr. Bodkin). It was attached to a
small black bag. I can't remember what became of it.
think it was left in my tool box. The shot and part of
the tools were carried in the black bag. When I was
taken into custody I left the bag at Stanbury-place. 1
could not say rightly whether the strap was left at
Shepherd's•bush or in my trunk at Pierce's. I find at
some part of the strap it appears to have been pressed by
a weight.
. . _

Cross-examined 'oy Mr. BUCHANAN : There was a time
when we four had a division of the money. I cannot tix
the date, neither to a day nor a week. I should say that
probably it might be two months from the time of the rob-
bery. When I first knew Tester he was clerk at the
ticket office at Canterbury. That is where I first saw
him. I had no conversation with him at tha; time. He
was pointed out to me as a ticket-collector. I first became
acquainted with him between three and four yeas ago. I
went by the name of Adams. Tester knew I went by the
name of Archer at Folkestone, and also by the name he
gave me there himself. I forget what that name was, but
1 adopted it. I have only gone by the names I have stated.
Tester has known me by my right name—not always; but
he did previously to the robbery. I can't say how long
before the robbery, but I know he did know my name was
Agar. He heard me called Agar, as he heard me called by
other names.

Several witnesses were then examined to prove
the identity of Agar and Pivrce in relation to their
visit to Folkestone. Mrs. Hooker, of 27, Victoria -
terrace, Folkestone, upon being brought into court
when Agar was purposely mixed with the crowd,
picked him out without hesitation as the friend of
Pierce. with whom she was well acquainted, and
the man who lodged at her house with Pierce in
May, 1854

They were not much in doors, but used to go out walk•
ing down l)over•street in the direction of the pier. During
the time Agar came in day after day and said, " Mrs.
Hooker, no letter for me?" and I said." No, sir." I
caused inquiry to be made. I thought there was a mis-
take, as a person of the same name had lived next door and
had gone over to No. 4. In consequence of that Agar
went to No. 4, and he returned bringing a letter with
him. He told me he did not like to have his letters
opeced—that it was very unpleasant. The letter had been
opened.

Mr. Chapman, the export agent to the South-
Eastern Company at Folkestone, corroborated Agar's
evidence so far as related to his second visit to
Folkestone in Oct., '54, and the arrival for him of a
parcel in the bullion-safe.
Mr. Steer, the superintendent of the Folkestone
police, ilentiied Agar and Pierce as the two
persons who were constantly on Folkestone pier in
May, '54 :

Something was said to me about them by Jones, the
guard of the South• Eastern Railway, in consequence of
which I noticed them more than ordinary people, and ob-
served that they were very attentive to the boats, and ap•
peered to watch the harbour•house very closely. I never
saw them together but twice. I saw them frequently upon
the pier, but not in company with each other. I
noticed they saw me, and on several occasions I observed
that they walked away in a different direction. I noticed
Agar afterwards alone, about a week or ten days after I lost
sight of Pierce.

Later in the year, about October or November, he
saw Agar again ; he made an entry of his re-appear-
ance in the "Occurrence-book," and set a detective
to watch him. Once he himself saw Agar, Burgess,
and a tall gentleman, together in the town.
Sharman, formerly a booking clerk at Folkestone,
swore to having seen Agar and Tester together at,
Folkestone in October or November, '54. Tester was
perfectly well known to him. This witness first
said :

When I have seen Agar there be has been in company
with another, who is Tester, the prisoner at the bar. Tester
at that time was known to me perfectly well.
In answer to further questions, he replied :
I saw Agar and him together at the Pavilion Hotel. It
was only once. I never saw them together but on that
occasion.
He continued :

I soke to Tester. I don't now recollect what I said
It wasp some commonplace observation. lie answered in

THE PRESS.

the same way. Agar said nothing to me. They were
talking together. I did not join in that conversation.
They went to the Pavilion ; I walked with them. There
were four of UP. The other was a friend of mine named
Urimstead. We had some sherry and biscuits, after which
all four came out together, and they went into a eigar•shop ;
I myself remained outside. They brought out the cigars
and smoked them .

~,
'."ti