The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-22 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

MANSION-HOUSE
Two very well dressed men, who described themselves as
"Jolts Weston, ol 32, Weymouth-street, New Beat-mad,
=maker ; and Wiliam Harper, 3, Wed-place,
a-road, Saathwark, cigar maker," were charged with
being in the Bank et Zeeland, the Utioe Bank of Load=
and the London and Westminster Beak, Lothbury, far an
unlawful purpose • also with having stolen a bag of gold
from the Unity Blink, in Cannon-street, and • 1001. Bank of
England note front Maws. Meaterman's, in Nicholas-Lase.
Mr. Bus, from the office of Mr. Mullena,the solicitor to
the Bankers' Amodelks, &Randal= behalf of the prose-
cution.
The prisoners are both Americans, and it is believed that ,
'they are part of a gang of Yankee swell mobemen who
have favoured this country with • visit upon the 00CINiell
of the Exhibition. It will be sees from the evidence that
the attention of the prime= has been directed to the
" higher branches" of their profession, namely, beak rub-
beriest and that they were provided with all the necessary
materials to satisfy inquiries and to avoid suspicion.
The prisoner Harper, at the commencement of the pro-
seedless, =dims= the Lord Mayor, and with a strong
weal twang mid he should like to have the inquiry post-
poned till he could get legal assistance.
The Lord Mayor, who had made himself acquainted with
the nature of the case, said that It would be necessary
there should be an adjournment for the purposes of justice,
and he only proposed on the present occasion to tate suffi-
cient evidence to justify him in remanding than, and they
would thus have ample opportunity of providing professional
andstanoe.
- -

Michael Hayden was then sworn. —He said—l am one el
the detective officer" of the City of London, and on Tuesday
afternoon about half-past 3 o'clock I was on duty in Hines's-
street, and I saw the prisoner Harper go into the Union
Bank of London. The other prisoner followed Intn, and I
watched their proceedings. In about three or four minutes
they both came out and went straight to the London
Joint-Stock Bank, where they also stopped a few minutes.
A gentleman came out who had • bill-case in his hand, and
Weston followed him across the street to the corner of
Lothbury, when he was joined by the other prisoner, and
they then both went into the London and Westminster
Beak. I continued to watch them, end after they had been
in the bank two or three minutes they came out together.
At this time each of the prisoners had a book or porte-
mum& in his hand, as though they had gone into the
bank upon business. The prisoner' then walked
together along Bartholomew-lane, and stopped at the
rotunda entr•noe of the Bank of England, and conversed
for a short time, and they then both went into the Bank.
I went in after them, and met them coming out. I stopped
them, and, addressing Weston, said that I was • police
offkei, and I must take the liberty of asking what his busi-
ness was in the Bank of England. He replied that he had
woe to the Bank to get change for four N. Bank of England
notes, and he pulled four notes of that denomination out of
hie pocket and showed them to me. I then asked the other
Harper, what business he had in the Bank of
Citrl, and he said he had emu° with his friend to show
him the way, as he was an American and • stranger in
London. Upon this I asked the prisoners what business
they had in the London and Westminster Bask, end they
said they thought it was the Bank of England. I then
said that I bad seen them go into the Union Bank and
the London Joint Stock Bank, and asked whet they went to
thaw banks for, and they said that they were under the
impression that they were the Bank of England. After
the prisoners had made these statements I told them that
the account they gave of themselves was not satisfactory,
and I should feel it my ditty to take them into custody, and
charge them with having gone into the banks I had men-
tioned with the intention of committing • felony.
The Lord Mayor—Did either of the prisoners make any
reply when you said this
Heydon—They did not, my lord. I told them that I
should also charge them on suspicion of having stolen a
1001. note from Mears. Mastermen's bank, about a week
ago, end to this, also, they made no reply. I then, with the
assistance of Sergeant Green, one of the City police, took
the prisoners into custody and conveyed them to Bow-lane
police station, where both the charges I have mentioned
were entered and read over to them, and they gave no
sower. A third charge, upon which 1 expect to have fur-
ther evidence on a future day, was also read to them, and
they were both silent. I searched the prisoner Weston and
found In his possession four Id. Beak of England notes,
three 11. note of the Bank of Scotland, and two 1/. notes of
the Bank of Ireland, and N. He. 61d. in money. I also
found upon him a gold watch and chain, a gold
ring, and other articles of jewellery. The prisoners gaye
addresses which I found to be correct, and froin the in-
quiries I have made I have reason to believe that they
have only recently arrived in this country from America.
The officer added that he bad no doubt that if the prisoners
were remanded he should be able on a future day to pro.
duce evidence in support of all the charges he had made
spinet them.
I The Lord Mayor, addressing the prisoners, said he pro.
posed upon the evidence at present before him to remand
them to • future day, and be inquired whether they had
anything urge why Bile course should not be taken.
to
prisoners, who did not attempt to give any explana-
tion, and who merely said they wished for an adjournment
in order that they might obtain professional assistance, new
sooordiegl remanded.
A pursey containing money, which had been found in an
omnibus, was jesterday transmitted to the Lord Mayor,
with a request by the finder that the amount contained in
it should be placed in the poor-box, if no owner came for-
ward to make out a good claim to it.
CLEF EN WELL.
John Reid, alias TAe Promo, dal The Long Captain, a
man with • profusion of red beard, whisker', and mous-
tsehs, and Entry alias The Lieutenant, the
himself and the latter