The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-10 00:00:00

'his Day. CENTRAL C

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THE GREAT BANK PAPER ROBBERY. -THE SENTENCES.
On his lordship taking his seat this morning,
Robert Cummings, who was acquitted last night of the
indictment on which he was charged, was again placed in
the dock. _

Mr.- Giffard drew his lordship's attention to the case of
" The Queen v. Stubbs," in support of the objection he had
raised last night against the discharge of the prisoner.
Mr, Justice Blackburn said he was well acquainted with
the case, but the decision that had been given by the Court
of Criminal Appeal confirmed him in his view of the case,
and therefore ho directed the prisoner's acquitthl. He
should like to know whether it was intended to proceed
with any of the other indictments against Cummings.
Sir F. Kelly said he would not detain the jury any fur-
ther. He had since last night spoken to the gentlemen who
had instructed him, and, after great consideration, although
it had been thought possible that, during a fresh investiga-

lion, some circumstances might transpire tending to crimi-
nate the defendant, yet, after the decision of his lordship
respecting the confirmation of the evidence as against
Cummings, and as there had already been a delay in the
trial, he should therefore not ask for any further postpone•
meat.

Mr. Justice Black',urn thought this determination quite
right, and as no evidence was to be offered on the other in-
dictments against the prisoner, he would be acquitted.
The jury were then sworn.
The Clerk of the Arraigns then informed the jury that
there were nine indictments against the prisoner for felony,
and it was their duty to see whether he was guilty or not.
The learned Judge told them no further evidence would
be offered, upon which _ _

The jury immediately returned a verdict of not guilty.
A smile of satisfaction passed over Cummings' counte-
nance, but his lordship gave directions that he should not
be discharged until he had passed sentence on the other
prisoners.

George Buncher, William Burnett, James Griffiths (the
prix ter), and Henry Williams (engraver) were then placed
in the dock for sentence.

Hi,4 Lordship, in addressing Griffiths, told him he had
pleaded guilty to the i dictments against him, and during
the trial it appeared that he for years had been engaged in
forging Bank of England notes. It was an offence of the
most serious nature, and but a few years ago it was an
offence for which his life would have been forfeited. Had
tl.e ingenuity which he undoubtedly pozsessed been directed
to an honest course, there could be no doubt but that it
would have produced him much more than he had ever
received by di,honesty, because detection sooner or later
was sure to overtake those who engaged in it; His
offence was further aggravated, because he must have
been well aware that he was assisting in a most important
and material manner those who had stolen the genuine
paper. The consequences of any number of forged notes
getting into circulation was impossible to foresee, because
numbers of innocent persons might become in
volved, and unfortunately some might suffer for
an offence which they had not committed. He felt it
his duty to pass upon him the most severe punishment the
law allowed, namely, that of penal servitude for his natural
life.

The prisoner then retired, and Robert Buncher stood
forward.

His Lordship told him that his offence was only a shade
different from that of Griffiths, as he had acted as the
monied agent in theendeavour to put an immense quantity
of forged Bank notes into circulation. He had consider-
able doubt whether he ought not to pass upon him the
maximum sentence allowed by law ; but feeling his offence
was a shade, and but ashade, different fromthat of Griffith,,
he should sentence him to be kept in penal servitude for
twenty-five years.
Burnett was the next sentenced.

His Lordship told him that he had on his own confession
admitted his guilt of a serious crime. His offence was a bad
one, but still there was even a shade of difference between
him and the other two persons who had just received their
sentence. He had been. previously convicted, and when he
brought the paper to London he must have known that he
was in p' ssssion of that which he knew to have been
stolen. The sentence of the Court was that he be kept in
penal servitude for twenty years.
Williams, the engraver, was the last to receive his
sentence.

His Lordship told him that he also had pleaded guilty to a
very serious offence, viz., that of preparing and engraving
a plate to rel resent portions of a Bank of England note for
the prisoner Griffiths. The favourable character he had re-
ceived yesterday would be taken into consideration, yet the
offence t 3 which he had pleaded guilty rendered him liable
to penal servitude for 14 years. He could not have bad any
doubt but that he was working for a person whose object
was to commit forgery, and it was a lamentable thing that,
being in possession of such ingenuity as he had been shown
to possess, he should have tune,' it to a bad purpose. The
learned judge then sentenced the prisoner to four years'
penal servitude.

Cummins was then placed forward, when his Lord-
shic told him that he had been acquitted solely because he
thought it a proper rule in our laws that no person should
be convicted on the testimony of an accomplice without it
was clearly corroborated by other testimony. He wished
to warn him, and through him, others, that invariably
where any number of persons conspired to commit a great
crime, as soon as a reward was offered there was sure
to be a rush of treachery as to who should be
first to denounce his confederates, and therefore
escape from detection and punishment was impossible. He
trusted that he would abstain from a further pursuit of
crime, because in the event of his ever being placed in that
dock again the present state of things would be recollected,
and a most severe punishrm nt would be inflicted. His
lordship directed Cummings to be discharged.
Brewer was liberated from custody last night.