The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-20 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

NEW COVET.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Kerr.)
Joke Constant Wellies, 34, clerk, and Charles Bliss, 32,
agent, were indicted for 'Mahn 6,000 yards of plush, value
the property of Jules Gillett, the master of
Wank&
Mr. Sleigh and Mr. But prosecuted, and Mr. Giffard end
Mr. G. H. Lewis defended. Mr. Metcalfe appeared to watch
the me upon th e part of a person named Hart, who bad
b
the property alleged to have been stolen. pecime has lasted two entire days, and the fade, which
have upon more occasion, than one been recently very fully
given, were these. The prosecutor and the preemies were
Frenchmea, and Weiner was confidential and managing
clerk to the prosecutor, who is a plash merchant in
Paris, having he London house of business at No. 8,
Upper Stamford-street. Woillas entered his service about
ten months ago, and with his wife and family lived upon
the promisee, having the entire care of the stock. On the
16th of Apnl the prosecutor was called to Paris upon the
death of one of his family, and he then left the pri-
soner Woillea and, the dock on the premixes.
On the 20th of April he received • telegraphic
message for him to return to London, informing him of the
robbery ; but badness prevented him from coming back
before the 22nd of May, and he then found out what had
taken place in his absence. All his stock was gone, and it
appeared that shortly after he bad quitted for Paris the
prisoner Wodlez told the prosecutor's partner, Davis,
that he had obtained a customer fur the stock,
and that prosecutor had written to him (Weiner) to go to
Paris. On the night of the 24th of April, the prisoner
Bliss dap in Upper Stamford-street, upon the sofa, in the
apartments of Woilier, and upon the next morning, about
10 ook, a
cart with the name of Haut, Bury-street, St.
Mary-axe, came,and Mr. Hart with it. Mr. Hart looked at
the stock in about • quarter of an hour, and it was then
pat into the cart and taken away. Bliss was present at the
removal, and also Wallin, after which he and his wife end
children left, end did not return. Oa the next day a
letter came from the prosecutor to Woilles, and the
wenhaving some suspicions, got it translated for
, and then communicated with Mr. Sidney, of
Finsbaryequare, Mr. Gillett's solicitor, and he then com-
municated with the prosecutor, and when he came he went
and saw his property at the warehouse of Solomon Abra-
ham Hart, Bury-east, Si. Mary-axe. An action for trover
was then commenced against Hart, which came on for trial
on the 9th of July, xt Guildhall, before the Lord Chief
Justice, in the Court of Common Pleas, and the trial lasted
two days. From some information which the prosecutor
received the prisoner Bliss was taken into custody, and
was brought up before the magistrate on the day the
action commenced, and prosecutor not being there,
he wee dismissed. Blies was examined as a witness for
Hark and he swore that he believed that Woillea was
Mr. Gillett, and as such he had introduced him
to Hart, the defence set up to the action being
that the defendant Hart had advanced • sum of 1,200!.,
Minus WI. the commission and entered, to Weiner on the
geode, thinking that Waller was Mr. Gillett. The pri-
soner Bliss, in his crossozamination at that trial, gave a
very mmatiefactory account of himself, he having, it ap-
pend, a nominal place of baldness in the City, and that he
hem Weiner by the name of Jules the Zouave for about
two years before this transaction. The jury upon trial
found for the defendant, at the same time adding that he
ought for the future to be more wet in his
dealings At that time Weiner had not, as far as the
prosecutor knew, been apprehended, but subsequently it
appeared that whilst the action was being tried Wane;
who bad been traced from Hamburg to Moscow in a most
clever manner by Sergeant William Palmer, was on that day
Illaptured at the latter place by that officer with between
1001. and 7001. on him, 3J21. of which wee in sore.
reigns in • bag, and in a box was found some letters from
Bliss to him, which clearly showed that Blies had been fully
aware that Wellies and he had arranged the robbery be-
tween them. Bliss bad ;banged the cheque got from Hart
into noes, and then at the Bank into gold and smaller
notes. He had also got a pumped in his own same, and
when Waller was taken at Moscow, he was travelling
with a passport in the name of Rochet, which
passport it appeared belonged to • gentleman of that
' name in whose house the prisoner Bliss had lodged. When
he returned to this country he wrote to prosecutor • full
admission of his guilt, begging for mercy, and stating that
the prisoner Bliss, to whom he had given part of the money,
had advised him to do it. BIM; was then again taken into
custody, and both prisoners sent for trial.
A mass of oorrespondesee between the prisoners was in-
terpreted by M. Albert, whom the court complimented for
hi ability and correctness. It fully established the con-
nexion between the wheaten.
Mr. Gilled, spa the part of Bliss, armed moot ably
that no positive proof had-been given that alley had not
authority from the prosecutor to sell goods generally, sad if
not, Rim might bays thought that he had.
Mr. F. H. Levi, who had been instructed for the mi.
loner Woillsa, was about to address the court when Wanks
bogged to In hosed himself, as he thought Mr. Lewis was
advancing the cause of Hart.
Mr. Lewis endeavoured to convince him that he was in
error, as also did the court, but the prisoner begging that be
might be beard himself, the court asionted, and be read •
statement of the whole transaction, showing that Bliss had
urged him to do it.
The l'ommissioner having in a moat clear and impartial
manner summed up the case, especially directing the fury
to diamies all consideration of the civil action, and be guided
solely by the evidence in this case.
The jury, after a brief retirement, foiled both the pri-
soners Guilty,
The prisoner Wellies then pleaded guilty to another in-
dictment against him alone for embezzling the sum of
2024 175., the amount of two cheques belonging to the
prosecutor, which he had stolen and got sashed. This
money he Sid he put in the bag found by the constable and
had not touched.

/IL;.filieigisappliad for that sum to be at once given up to
Mons. Gillett.
Mr. Had said bis counsel Mr. Metcalfe ought to have
been present, and it was hard upon him that he was not,
but be thought that as Use neeney was in the beg with the
othergobl, rt oaf ht not to he given up, or at Wag only •
pert, in proportion to the whole anment.
Mr. Sleigh said there was nes any reseal for Mr. Hart to
complain of Mr. Meted* as he had arranged with him
that with fogad to the plush a writ of restitution
should he applied for, sad that it should not be put in form
Instil next medon, to allow Mr. Hut to Ale any affidavits
he might think fit up= trittdreion of hie claim to it upon
Mr. undertaking to produoe it in court.
The OemmiNdoner asked . if be agreed to do so.
Mr. Hart hesitated, and refused to give a direct answer.
The Ommoismioner--Do yea or do you not,

Mr. Hint said he would rat unclerake to do so.
The Commieloner—Than I order the writ to issue now,
and the rods ti:gbeiven up, and allow the 2021.
Mr. Gillett to recommend Wellies to mercy, as
be felt certain he been &sant into it. He bad been •
captain in the &naves, and seven times wounded.
The Commissioner sentenced both prisoners to two years'
impristutuent sod bard labour.
The jury said that they thought the very meritorious con.
duct of Sergeant Palmer ought not to pass unrewarded.
The Commissioner said it should not be lost sight of ; but
the oonviction being only for larceny, be had. no power to
make any award.
This ended the business, and the next session is Monday,
September 17.