The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 30, 1851.

EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY AT THE
LONDON AND VIRtIMINSTER BANK.

One of the most extraordinary bank robberies
which has atoned in the metropolis fur some years pest
took place on Saturday lut, at the West-End brush of the
Loudon and Westminster Bank, in St. James's-square.
Happily the vigilanee of the polies has in this inseams*
effected the double object of the apprehension of the thieves
end the recovery of the property stolen—the rascals being
takes with the cash-box in their possession, within 200
yards of the scene of the robbery.
About six weeks ago Inspector Lund and Sergeant
Whither, colleen of the detective police force, while
walking amuse Trafalgar-square, observed a man

named John Tyler, whom they knee to be a re-
turned convict, loitering in the vicinity of one of the
fountains. They watched his movements, and presently
traced him auto the mall of St. James's-park. where on
arriving near the " milk stands" he was joined by an old
man named William Cauty, on whose movements the police
have had an anxious eye for some years past. Canty and
Tyler left the park together closely observed by the officers,
and after taking a long round they were seen to enter the
Loudon and Westminster Branch Bank, in St. James's-
square. Canty entered first, and remained in the Bank
about ten minutes, when he came oat and signalled his
companion to enter. It was remarked that Tyler had a
great coat upon his arm at the time, and the movements of
the two men, combined with their kiwi= characters, in-
duced the officers to watch them very narrowly. They left
the beak together ia about a quarter of an hour after they
bad entered, and no ground of suspicion that a robbery
had been committed having arisen, Inspector Lund contented
himself with "marking them down." From this day until
Saturday last the movements of the two men have been
kept under a close surveillance. They have generally met
daily and frequently at the same spot—the milk-stand, in
St. James's-park. From this place they were repeatedly
watched to the London and Westminster' Bank, and Mr.
Commissioner Mayne having been made acquainted with
the circumstances he advised that the parties at the beak'
should be pat upon their guard. Mr. Inspector Ladd
accordingly waited upon Mr. Oliver Vile, the manager et
the west-end branch, and acquainted him with all the facts
which had come to his knowledge. Mr. Vile was naturally
much alarmed, and having informed Mr. Lund that on
some occasions the bank cash-box contained property to the
amount of 100,0001., and that it was open to the reach of
any person in the bank when his back was turned, an
arrangement was made to place the monies of the bank in I
security, and to allow the cash-box, with certain marked
notes and papers, to occupy its usual position in the mans-
ger's counting house. Oa Saturday week Cauty and Tyler
were tracked to the bank, which they both entered to
as it is believed with the intention of securing the
cask-box. The entry of a sergeant of police in uniform at
the same moment, to obtain change for a cheque, seems to
have thwarted the thieves on this occasion, and they again
left the bank without effecting their object. On Saturday
last Lund and Whicher again tracked Canty to the Mall
in St. James's-park. lie arrived at the old spot about a
quarter to 3 o'clock, and before the hour had chimed Tyler
jabbed him. The officers were compelled to keep at a great
dielemee in order to avoid exciting observation, but having
madmel their game well they again watched them into the
Lenin and Westminster Bank. By the kindness of the
lad et Dartmouth the officers were permitted to take up
their station in the hall of his mansion, which, as is well
known, commands the entrance to the bank. Cauty and
Tyler left the park by the Duke of York's Steps, and after
drinking together at a public-house in Pall-mall, Canty pro-
ceeded to the bank, which he entered alone, leaving Tyler
outside. It was remarked that Tyler, instead of having a coat
upon his arm as usual, was on Saturday provided with a
black beg. After Canty had been in the bank a few mi-
nutes, be came out, and raising his hat twice as a signal,
his companion entered- In about three minutes, both the
thieves were observed to leave the bank together, the beg
which Tyler carried evidently containing some heavy sub-
stance. Inspector Lund and Sergeant Whicher allowed
the two men to proceed as far as the end of Charles-street,'
where it enters the Haymarket. On arriving at this point,'
they were both pounced upon sod secured. In reply to
Mr. Lund's inquiry, Tyler admitted he had a box in lab
bag, but he declined to describe its contents; and when
brought together, both prisoners strenuously denied any
knowledge of each other. The parties were first conveyed
to Scotland-yard, and subsequently to the King-street sta-
tion, where they were formally charged with the robbery.