The Press.
London, England, 1856-11-22 00:00:00

ply anti Volta.

LORD ERNEST VANE TE3IPEST AGAIN !—The fol-
lowing proceedings took place on 'l.lnrsday in the
Court of Queen's Bench :

THE QUEEN V. LORD ERNEST VANE TEMPEST-
CRIMINAL INFORMATION.

Sir F. THESiGEIt applied for a criminal information
against Lord Ernest Vane Tempest, for an outrage and
assault committed upon Mr. Ames, with the view of pro.
yoking him to a breach of the peace. Mr. Ames was a
cornet in the 4th Light Dragoons. Lord Ernest Vane
Tempest was a cornet in the same regiment until the lith
of October last, but circumstances occurred between him
and Mr. Ames which led ultimately to the former leaving
the regiment. The affidavit stated nothing more than that
since that period Mr. Ames had hat! no communication at
all with Lord Ernest Vane Tempest, and had said nothing
and done nothing which could provoke him. On the 31st
of October Mr. Ames was standing, in the evening, in one
of the streets of Brighton, near Dorset-gardens, talking to
a female, when Lord Ernest Vane Tempest came up and
spat in his face, and called him a blackguard and a
coward. Mr. Ames said he did not like to create a dis
turbance in the street, and told Lord Ernest Vane
Tempest that he would hear of this again. As a matter
of course, the occurrence became known to the regiment.
The adjutant wrote to Mr. Ames to know what notice he
meant to take of it ; and he told him that he had placed
the affair in the hands of his solicitor, under whose advice
the present application was made.

Lard CA3II:IS-17.1.1. : Take a rule to show cause.

Rule nisi.

THE GREAT GOLD ROBBERY OF '55.
THE examination of the prisoners connected with
the above robbery was resumed on Monday before
the Lord Mayor. The convict Agar continued his
evidence. Having at the previous examination
detailed the history of the origin and execution of
this notable robbery, he now proceeded to state what
was done with the gold as soon as they had safely
got it in their possession. The gold coin—about 5001.
or 6001. worth—was soon disposed of for notes at
different money-changers in St. Mary Axe and the
Haymarket, the gold was melted into bars of a
hundred ounces each and partially disposed of by
sale, through the instrumentality of "a barrister"
and a gold and pigeon fancier named Saward, of
whom the police are just now actively in search.
Agar described the process of melting down the
gold into bars in the most business-like manner :
The next morning, as the robbery took place the night
before, we sold the cuin, and then proceeded to Pierce's
house. He hired the horse and cart, and we took the gold
from his house to my house at Shepherd's•bush. We both
went in the cart. Fanny Kay ( the female who lived with
witness as his wife) and my servant girl were there when
we arrived, and Pierce and I took the gold into the front
parlour, and placed it behind the door. I afterwards placed
it in my trunk in my bedroom. Pierce helped me in with
it. That gold was afterwards melted. None of it had
been sold before it was melted. I think not.

Mr LEwis : Had any of the bar gold been sold ?—Yes ;
a hundred ounces of the bar gold was sold before any had
been melted. This was about three or four weeks after
the gold was taken to Shepherd's•bush.
Mr. BODKIN: Ttli us how you got this hundred ounces
off the bar.

Witness : We took the bar into the washhouse and cut
it off with a chisel and a heavy hammer. We took it off a
long bar of Australian gold. It took us about fifteen
minutes to cut it off: the gold was very tough and very
hard. The hammer I had at the time was too light, and
Pierce boaght a heavier one at a tool-maker's of the name
of Buck, in Tottenhatn-court•ro,ad. Fanny Kay was in the
house at the time the hundred ounces were cut from the
bar. The windows were whitened, so that nobody could
see what we were doing in the washhouse. Fanny Kay
knocked at the door several times for a saucepan and other
things, which we handed out to her ; but we did not let her
in. and she did not know what we were doing. Pierce
sold the hundred ounces at 31. per ounce, and brought
back the 3001., and I took possession of it. The remainder
of the gold was then melted by Pierce and myself. We
first of all out the gold into small pieces. We then took
the stove out of the grate in the back room on the first
floor, and built a furnace. I told Pierce I should want
some firebricks, as a strong heat would be required in the
process of melting, and he purchased four fire•bncks and
brought them to my house in a large canvas bag in a cart.
(Mr. Bodkin here showed the witness three fire-bricks.)
The brick shown me is one of those which we used in the
fuinaoe. That (pointing to the side of the brick) was the
side of the brick next the fire.

Mr. BonziN : There are some particles of gold adhering
to this stone.—l identify the brick by a hole which I cut
in it to make a draught.
Mr. Booms : Tell me whether you see some particles of
gold sticking to it now.
Mr. Lewis : Those particles are beneath his notice.
(I,anghter. )
Mr. BODKIN : But they are not beneath ours. ( Laughter.)
Witness : I can see several pieces of gold sticking to
the side o the brick.
Mr. L o : Now, have you seen these stones, or either
of them. f om the time they were used until I showed you
them din moment?

SATURDAY,

Witness: Never; I left them at Cambridge•villa,
in the garden. We used charcoal and coke for the
melting, and we procured it at a place in St. John•street,
IVilderness•row. We melted the gold in five or six cruci-
bles, which Pierce and I bought in St. Joan•square, Clerk-
enwell. We were engaged three or four days in the melt-
ing. Fanny Kay was in the house on some occasions while
this operation was going on, but on one occasion I sent her
away to see her child. Pierce used to come in the morning
and go away in the evening. We never admitted Fanny
Kay into the room where we were melting. The action of
the furnace created a very great heat. Fanny Kay made
the remark that the place was very hot, and that we ap-
peared to be in a great perspiration, and she wanted t)
know what we were doing. The bricks got so hot on one
occasion that we were afraid the house would catch fire,
and we were obliged to extinguish it, in order that the
bricks might get cool. Eventually we succeeded it, melt-
ing the whole of the gold. During the process, however,
an accident occurred to one of the crucibles. In lifting it
out of the fire, the bit of which the tongs had hold broke
off, and the crucible fell, part of the liquid gold falling into
a tub of water, and part running over the fluor, which it
burnt. We melted the gold into bars, weighrng about a
hundred ounces esch. The bars were then placed in my
trunk in the bedroom, where they remained for some little
time. We then removed them to Pierce's house, in Crown-
terrace, Hampstead•road. They were taken in a cart which
Pierce hired, and which he afterwards took home.

After this, about 2,500/. worth of the gold was ex-
changed for notes, and the money divided (SOO/. each)
between the four confederates, Pierce, Agar, Bur-
gess, and Tester—Burgess getting an extra hundred
for a bonus on his proving so trustworthy a guard.
About 7,0001. worth of gold now remained on hand.
Pierce held it. In about a week, Agar was arrested
and convicted of forgery. When taken he left Fanny
Kay and his child to Pietce's care, with a large sum
of money in the funds for their benefit. Pierce con-
trived to get hold of this money, turned Fanny Kay
and her child adrift, and suffered for this piece of
grasping double villany. Fanny Kay, penniless and
starving, informed. Agar, on learning how Pierce
had behaved, confessed, and hence the story in 1856
of the great gold robbery of 1855.
Among the many curious points of rogue life
elicited in this inquiry, is one showing the large sums
of money these fellows at times possess. In reply to
Mr. Bodkin as to what arrangements he made on
his arrest for the care of his child, Agar re-
plied :
The day I was arrested Pierce walked with me from
Stanley.place down to Shepherd's•bush. I then got the
child's perambulator and clothing, and gave them to Pierce.
I then proceeded by omnibus to keep an appointment I
had at the house of a man named Humpbre)s, but 1 was
arrested on my road upon suspicion of the charge of which
I have been convicted. After my arrest, the money I had
in the bank was sold out, and Mr. Wontuer received it.
Mr. GOODMAN ( chief clerk) : How do you know that ?
Three thousand pound. which I had in the Bank of England
was brought to me when I was at Newgate.
Mr. BODKIN : You had That sum in the Bank ?—Yes ; it
was brought to me in Newgate. I gate it to Mr. Wontuer,
who kept it for some little while. He then asked me what
he was to do with it, and I told him that 1 wished it to be
turned over.

Mr. BODKIN : Did you ever see Pierce upon that sub-
ject ?—No; I never saw him after I was arrested. The
money was given to him with the understanding that he
was to reinvest it for my child, which he has never done.
The money was to be disposed of for the benefit of my
child and Fanny Kay. 2,5001. was the amount that was
given back to Pierce, as Mr. Wontner informed me. I
never saw Pierce after my arrest till I saw him at the bar
of this court. I received some letters from him, the last
two of which I gave to Mr. Rees. He wrote to me when
I was at'Peutonville, and sent me two books and the por-
trait of my child when I was at Portland.
Mr. WONTNER : Before we leave this part of the evi-
dence I wish to be qaite correct. Yon spoke of 3,0001.;
that was the amount of the stock ?—Yes ; the amount of
the stock was 3,0001., and the amount given to Pierce was
2,5001.

Mr. BODKIN : There is no doubt that Mr. Wontner be-
haved properly upon that occasion, as he has done on all
other occasions, as far as my knowledge extends. (To the
witness.) The stock produced 2,500/. you Ray ?—More
than that. I have stated that 2,5001. was to be invested
for the benefit of the child and mother. and the difference
between that and what the stock realised was to go towards
the expense of defending me at my trial. I expected
Pierce to come to me, but he never came. He got the
whole of my money in notes, and 2001. in gold, as well as
the remaining bars which had not. been disposed of when I
was arrested.

In his examination by Mr. Lewis, Agar's replies are
sometimes characteristic and peculiar. It is amusing
and not uninstructive to observe how he repels the
charge of crimes which he declares he has never
committed :

Mr. LEWIS : You have admitted yourself to be con-
victed of forgery, to be a thief, to have forged false keys,
and to be a conspirator. Tell me when you first com-
menced any of those employments.—t am not a forger.
I never was a forger.

Mr. Lewis : When did you first commence uttering
forged instruments ?—1 never uttered any forged instru-
ments. I was convicted of forgery, but it was through a
mistake on the part of the man who swore falsely. I
never uttered a forged instrument in my life.
Mr. LEWIS : Within ten or a dozen years ( I do not want
to be nearer than that) how many times have you received
the proceeds of forgery ?—Probably four or five.

4

NOVEMBER 22, 1856.

Mr. awls: Were they large amounts that you received
as the result of the forgeries?—No ; small amounts.
Mr. LEWIS : Do you know a man of the name of Nash
that was transported?—Yes.
Mr. Lewis : Did you and he have anything to do with
forged cheques?—That has nothing to do with the case.
I have acknowledged my character. I have told you that
I have been connected with several forgeries, but I do not
think this person named Nash has anything to do with the
case. _ _ .

Agar was certainly intended by nature for a com-
mercial life. Among other little bits of family busi-
ness was occasionally some bill discounting :
Mr. LEWIS: How long have you been acquainted with
Mr. Saward ?—Siz years.
Mr. LEWIS : Have you had with him many money trans-
actions?-1 hare had money transactions with him. They
were bill transactions. I have discounted bills for him for
parties to whom he introduced me.
Mr. LEWIS: Were the bills so discounted fraudulently
obtained?—No; they have been tradesmen's bills.

Mr. I.Ewis : Were these tradesmen's bills taken in
respect of goods that had been stolen ?—No.
Mr. LEvns : During the last ten years how have you
been living?—l decline answering the question.
Fanny Kay was next examined, and corroborated
the main points of Agar's evidence connected with the
melting down of the gold, so far as she could judge
from the nature of Pierca and Agar's occupations
during the time they were at Shepherd's-bush.

At the conclusion of her examination the court
adjourned, and the prisoners were again remanded
for a week.

THE detective officer charged with the apprehension
of James Saward, the " barrister" spoken of by Agar,
at the Mansion-house on Monday last, as the person
through whom he had disposed of about 600 ounces
of gold, a portion of the proceeds of the robbery, at
31.25. ad. an ounce, has not yet succeeded in etfeet-
ing his capture, nor, although he is said to have been
previously pretty well known to the police (out not
criminally), does there appear to be at the present
moment any clue as to his whereabouts. Saward
was termed a barrister" by Agar, but there is no
such name among the barristers in the " Law List."
Tester, the fourth person imp'icated in the robbery, is
at present in Switzerland or Italy, employed upon a
railway, having obtained an appointment before
quitting England. As there is no treaty of extradi-
tion existing between the Government of this country
and that of Switzerland, some difficulty may arise in
the way or his capture.

A LAMENTABLE CASE of the starvation to death
of a poor woman, and the narrow escape of her four
young children from the same fate, occurred last
week in Widmer place, Crawford-street, Marylebone.
The poor woman, Elizabeth Mann, had discharged
herself from the workhouse in September las., and,
upon failing to obtain work, appears to have had an
invincible objection to return to this rather no-
torious workhouse of Marylebone. The poor creature
had pawned everything, even to her clothes, to feed
her children, and for the last fortnight they had all
five literally been slowly dying from starvation. On
Thursday week they were accidentally discovered, and
though every effort was made to save the mother's
life, she died in a few hours. In addition to her
pitiable state, she was suffering, according to medical
evidence, from extensive disease of the brain. At
the inquest on Monday, a lodger in the same house,
Mrs. Mary Spillman, deposed that she had no
knowledge of any one being upstairs until between
four and five o'clock on Thursday afternoon, when
she saw a little boy perfectly naked picking ap
bread crumbs in the back yard and eating them :

Her husband was at tea, and she toll him, and called the
child in, and on seeing some bread on her table the poor
little fellow craved for a bit, and her husband gave him
some. They elicited that he had a mother and sisters up-
stairs, and she went up with him to the tirst floor back, on
opening the door of which a dreadful scene presented itself.
The deceased women and three girls were all lying hud-
dled together in a corner of the room in a state of perfect
nakedness. She tried to rouse the woman, but she appeared
quite insensible. The eldest girl was doubled up, with
her head leaning on her feet, and the children appeared
very bad. She told her husband, who went for Mr. Collet,
the poor inspector, who came with blankets and clothes
from rds own house, and Mr. Tubbs, the relieving officer,
and Mr. Elkins, the district surgeon, came, and the family
were removed to the workhouse.

One of the younger children was then examined--
Susan, ten years of age, a pretty and intelligent little
girl, who, in answer to the court, said :

Her mother did not get tipsy. She had complained of
pains in her head a long while. Herself ana her sisters
and little brother hal cried to her mother for bread. but
her mother had not spoken a word for a fortnight before
they were iound. When foucd by the lady on Thursday,
they had not had any food since the Monday before. Her
eldest sister got that. Her mother would not go to the
workhouse, because she said she had no clothes.

Mr. Tubbs, the relieving officer, said she discharged
herself and children on the 11th September last, in
defiance of the earnest advice to the contrary of Mr.
Potter and other guardians, and nothing whatever
had been beard of them till last Thursday.
The Coroner thought it was useless to protract
this painful inquiry after the medical evidence, unless