The Sun.
London, England, 1830-03-27 00:00:00

DONCASTER

YORK ASSIZES, THURSDAY, MARCH 25.

Thomas Jenkins and Isaiah Smart were placed at the
bar, charged with stealing from the New Betting Rooms,
in Doncaster, bank notes and sovereigns to the amount of
upwards of 1,7001.
John Goodred, lives at No. 222, Piccadilly. Is a
wine merchant, and at Doncaster races lie and Charles
Bluck rented the betting-room there. There are three '
rooms on tins ground-floor. The betting-room will WA
about a thousand persons. There is a recess in the room
which is used as a bar. A small partition, four feet high,
parts the bar and the room. The chest which contained
the money was beneath the counter in the bar. On Thurs-
day the 17th Sept. the cup was run for. The chest was
in its usual place on that day. Witness went to the
races a little before two, having seen the notes safe at
one. He locked the door and tried it before he went to
the course.—There were about 1,800/. in the chest,
which consisted of notes and gold, but there was no note
above 100/. There were about 1,400/. in notes, about
1,000/. of them being of the Bank of England. The
loose notes were principally of the York and Doncaster
banks. There were 350/. in soya. and half-sovs. When
he went to the races, lie left the room in charge of a
boy, named Watson, who has been in his service three
years. Witness returned from the race ground about
half-past four, along with Smart and a young man named
Sandford. The boy Watson was standing in the front of
the house, when witness returned, and he instantly went
to the chest to see if the money was safe. It was all gone
except a bag of silver, value 73/., and a small roll of 50
half-sovereigns, which had been rolled up edgeways.
They were found by witness's son beneath some parchment.
On discovering that the money was gone, witness was in a
great state of confusion, and, he believed, he charged Wat-
son. The chest was locked when he returned from the
course. Smart, Bluck, Sandford, who is his clerk, and
others came in. Between two and three o'clock in the
morning be sent for a watchman named Seaton, to whom
he gave Jenkins in charge. He was in the small room,
between the betting-room and the staircase, and appeared
to be half drunk. He was searched, and 18 sovereigns,
two half toys., same silver, and a gold watch, were found
upon him. He came down as a friend of Smart's to assist
in the bar. No salary had been fixed, nor had he
received any. He had been waiter to Smart, before
Smart recommended me to employ him at Doncaster.
When Jenkins was in custody lie was asked to con-
fess. Witness begged of him to consider what a
great family be had; and begged of him to say what
had become of the money, and where Madden was to
be found. He distinctly said, that if Maddon could be
overtaken, the money would be found on him. Tymins
wes present at the time-2001. were immediately offered
for the apprehension of Maddon ; part of the money in
the box was witness's own property ; upwards of 300/
were his own, unconnected with the partnership concern ;
Jenkins's lodgings were searched before he was taken into
custody, and some luggage packed up in his rooms ; Smart
and his son lodged in the same house ; no money teas found
in Jenkins's box. About one o'clock in the morning, after
the company had left the room, witness proposed that he,
Bluck, and Smart should be searched. Mr. Smart was
quite willing, and on him was found the sum of 401. in
local notes ; the next morning another search took place
at Smart's lodging, when he produced 90/. in Bank of
Hngland notes, and said his son had 2001. in sovereigns.
He called his son up, and asked him what money be had
of his father's. He replied 200 sovereigns, which he pro-
duced in a silk bag. Witness asked him where he had got
them ? He said he brought them from London, and
that his mother gave them him. Smart exclaimed,
" Oh, me ! William, you did not—l gave you them
at Birmingham." " Oh, dear, aye," replied the
son, " you did—l recollect now." Smart's boxes
were then searched ; but nothing found except what
belonged to them. In Jenkins's box some letters were
found directed to Maddon. Smart was much confused,
lifted up his hands, and said, "Good God ! this will ac-
count for the robbery—this must have been the man—l
had no idea any one was sleeping with Jenkins. I would
give 5001. to have him transported." Jenkins came to
Doncaster on the Tuesday before the races, and on the
Thursday or Friday after his arrival, Smart applied to
witness to permit Jenkins to sleep alone, as he was ill,
and it would be unpleasant for any one to sleep with him.
Witness dined at the rooms every day during the races.—
On the day before the robbery, Smart asked witness if be
was going to the races ; be replied no, as he only intended
to walk round the houses. Smart said he had sent a
brace of birds to my lodgings to be dressed, as he was de-
termined I should have a comfortable dinner, as I had had
so much fatigue during the week. Witness was surprised,
and said he would not go. Smart said he bad better go,
and lie down afterwards. Witness, however, would not
go. On that day there was more money in the box than
there was on the Thursday.
Cross-examined by Mr. STARKIE—Is arsine-merchant,
tavern-keeper, and has a betting-room at Newmarket.
No. 222 is a 'I avern and is called the Saloon Tavern.
There are two billiard tables, and it is nothing more than
an ordinary tavern. On my oath ,its is not a common
gambling-house, &c. Sze. The ordinary purpose of per-
sons going to that house is not gambling. The house is
kept open sometimes early and sometimes late. Usually
shut by one. The door is always closed by that time, And
no kind of play is permitted except billiards; neither
hazard, dice, cards, E. 0., or rouge et noir. We as well
as other men resort to the house ; generally immediately
after the theatres are over. The company stop all hours in
the night. Witnesss was clerk to a working-jeweller.
Never hawked jewellery. Had a box with patterns, and
took orders. Had occasionally sold goods out of the box.
He remained four years in that situation, and was not dis-
missed because lie could not account for the money. He
learnt the trade of a working jeweller, and set up in busi-
ness for himself, at No. 40, Castle-street, Holborn, where
he had a shop ; was afterwards in the service of the Old-
fields, but did not clean the boots and shoes. He lived
with Frederick Oldfield, who kept a subscription gambling
house in St. James's. Mrs. Wilde ie sometimes called
" Mother H." Has not seen her • since Smart was
apprehended. She is an eighth proprietor of the rooms.
Mr. Smart was not an eighth proprietor—he was put in
as her representative. He should not tell from what the
profits of the room arose. Each player received a ball
from the proprietor of the room, but no more. Never saw
a fate ball. Does not know what " Scratches" nor
" Despatches" are. Supposes they mean false dice.
Never knew a fate-ball used. There is a cross on one
part of the ball.