The Express.
London, England, 1850-11-08 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE POST OFFICE ROBBERIES AT
LEEDS.

Yesterday afternoon, a 'OEMs man named John
Warren, the eon of a stuff weaver, at Lead', was brought
before the mayor and P. Cerbutt, Beq., on • charge of having
purloined from the Leeds Post-Wee letters osataining ISM
of mousy to a very micas smut. Os Meaday mains
last, Mr. John Miasma, mendsant, of Bradford, remitted •
bill of excises, to Mews. Holt, wooleteplers, Leeds (the
bill being drawn ea Megan. loose Lloyd, and Co.), for
7441. The letter eontainfug this bill did not reach is desti-
nation, and idormation wee sansequeatly given to the heads
of polies at Lewis, sad yesterday morning the prisoner
was captured at his father's house, and ea his person
wen toad Bank of linglaad notes and gold of the
galas of ar•ffrelr- ern 74d& 4t% th• Wm* of his
apprehension Ina prisoner wee la the elowpowy of
a young woman named Haanah Leonard, who states that
she comes from Hull, and was about to be married to the
prisoner during the present week. In the course of the in.
qutry sterday, it transpired that the prisoner had paid for
goods to beds other monies than that which he seems to
have riceived in exchange for the purloined bill, and it is
therefore inferred that he his been guilty of purloining
several other money letters by similar means. nue was
evidence adduced of his having bees seen about the post-
odice.and having called Mere several times for letters be-
longing to different mercantile firms in Leeds, and it is
stispec:ed that be ban got powession of their enclosures by
opening them. After the following witnesses had been
examined, the magistrates adjourned the farther hearing
until Monday next.
Mr. John Atkinson, of Bradford, said he had transeeted
hastiness with Mann. Holt, of Leeds, woelstaplerr, and in
their amount there was a balance due from him to them.
Oa the 4th inst. he wrote a letter from Bradford, and enoloaed
• toll of exchange, drawn by the Bradford Banking Com-
pany on Jones Loyd, and Co.,Loadon, for 7441. 165., pay-
able on demand to Thomas Holmes, from whom he had
received it, and he had endorsed that bill. Toe letter was
taken the same evening to the post.office by a hay in his
service, named Squire Mitchell, at Bradford, in order that
it might be forwarded in die course to Leeds. Next morn-
ing (Tuesday, Nov. 6), in compliance with what he (Mr.
Atkinson) had said in the letter, he sent over to Leeds
Thomas Tidevell to pay Misers. Holt the balance, and he
did nuns him spin until Wednesday. He than learnt that
the bill which had been remitted to Mesas. Holt had not been
received by them. lle ( Mr. Atkinson) then went to Bradford
put office, learnt that the bill had been presented /or pay-
ment at the same Bradford Banking Company, and there
paid to a stranger. He then came to Leads and saw Messrs.
Holt, and there they made various other it:quirk% and the
result was that they put themselves in communication with
Mr. Bead, the chief constable of Leeds..

Mr. Tlioe. Halt, woolstapier,of Leech, said he was in part-
nership with his brother, miming on business under the
there of Holt, Brothers. He knew prisoner, John
Warren, who was in their employ as errand boy
for two yens, but he left them four years ago, and
bad tot been In their service since. The firm had done
business with Mr. Atkinson, of Bradford, and on the 4th
November he learnt that a bill for 7441. 16e. had
been remitted from Mr. Atkinson, but which had not been
received In Leeds. He immediately went to the poet-offios
and instituted inquiet', and also pat himself in communi-
sation wi,h the polies. Oa the 7th instant they also received
a letter, of which the following is a copy :
" Harrogate, Nov. 6, 1850.
" Herewith you will receive a cheque for 4001, and a
note for 601, from your father, which please to acknowledge.
" From your alli.ctionate father,
" Mr. W. Holt, Leeds. " Tito'. Soar."". . . _

This note was not in the han4wri'ing of Mr. Holt. mar.,
who is at Harrogate, and witness supposed that the origiusl
letter had been destroyed, having bean intercepted either by
the prisoner, or some other parties. Witness Laid he had
latterly seen the prisoner hanging about the post.oftie•
almost daily.
Joseph Craft, cashier of the Bradford Banking Com-
pany, said the prisoner called at the bank on Tues-
day, and got chug* for the bill alluded to and received
7441. in Bank of England notes. The prisoner said his
name was Wm. Holt, and he torpid the endorsement of
Mews. Holt, Brothers, and took away the money.
Mr. Wm. Palmer Ord, cashier at the Leeds branch of
the Bank of England, said that on Tuesday last. the 6th
inst., the prisoner John Warren came to the bank by him-
self, and produced one or two bank notes, the amounts of
which be did not remember. He asked to have them
changed, but as they were of the London and Manchester
B'nk'a issue he was told they amid not be changed at the
Leeds branch. The prisoner then produced a Leeds Bank
of Eefriend note for 1001., dated the 18th of July, 1849, and
wished to have it cashed. Witness agreed to give him oath
for this, and desired him to put his name at the back of the
note, and he then wrote upon it the name of Henry Watson
Brock ; and, in answer to a question as to his address, be
esidr Alfred-place." Witness then gave him in change 20
51. Bank of Eagland notes. The prisoner took up the notes,
crumpled them together, and was going away without
counting them.
John George Hartley, John Prentice, and other clerks
connected with the Leeds poet-office, gave evidence, showing
that the prisoner had been seen about the poscofithe, and
that he had come for letters for one or two firms in the
town, always bringing the number of the boxes belonging to
the respective firma All them firms were is the habit of
sending workmen for their letters, they supposed the pri-
soner to be duly
_authorised.
Mr. Read, chief constable, and Mr. Granghu, inspector
of polite, produced the money hi had found on the pri.
sonar, and stated that in the house they found a quantity of
bacon, hams' wine, ale, and other articles, all of which 'had
been purchased by the prisoner on the day before. They
also produced three watches, and one found on his person,
with a gold chain, was identified by Mr. Parker' of the
Temperance Hotel, Wood-street, as having boon stolen out
of his bod•rooss.

.. —.—
Mr. Dawkins, bacon factor, proved having sold the bacon
alluded to to the primmer, who paid ler it in a bank pest
bill for 181. [This back post bill, it is 'opposed, will lead to
the detection of some other robbery.]
After the examination of osantsl other witnesses, It was
determined to adjoins the farther hearing till Monday next.