The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-21 00:00:00

THE BANK PAPER ROBBERY.

MANSION HOUSE—YEs fERDAY.

The following appeared in a portion of our impression of
yesterday evening :
This day, George Boucher, Robert Cummings, William
Burnett, Robert Brewer, James Griffith; and Henry Wil-
liams were again placed at the bar before Alderman Cubitt,
charged with being concerned in the late extensive robbery
of bank note paper from the mills of Messrs. Portal, at
Laverstoke, Hampshire.

Mr. Freshfield, the solicitor to the Bank of England,
appeared for the prosecution, Buncher being defended by
Mr. Pater, and Brewer by Mr. Lewis.

The first witness called was Mrs. Ellen Burnett, who
said-1 have been residing with the prisoner Burnett for
some time as his wife. My name is Ellen Mills. I decline
to state where I at present reside.
Mr, Lewis objected to the woman giving her evidence if
she persisted in refusing her address.
The Lord Mayor said she had better answer the ques-
tion.

Witness replied—Very well, my lord. lam at present
staying at 16, Bridgewater-square, Barbican. I was ap-
prehended with Burnett on the 28th of October last. I have
known him 10 years. I have been convicted with him for
receiving stolen goods. 'We were both sentenced to four
years' penal servitude. We came out of prison on the same
day, the 23d of February, 1861. I went to live with him
again, and we lived together till he was apprehended. We
first went to reside at Whitchurch, in Hampshire, on 26th
of February, 1861. We lived at Mr. Brown's beer-shop.
We lived there six months. I first became acquainted
with Henry Brown in March, 1861. I have a sister resid-
ing at Whitchurch. Her name is Collis. She lives at the
Three Horseshoes at Whitchurch. It was there 1 first
saw Brown. After our first meeting we saw each other
very frequently. Burnett told mo to ask Brown whether
he could get some paper from the mills.

Mr. Lewis objected to the further examination of the
witness, as she had been dismissed from her position at the
bar because she was supposed to be under Burnett's influ-
ence, as she was looked upon in the first instance as the
prisoner's wife.
The Lord Mayor thought the examination ought to go on.
Witness proceeded—ln consequence of my request Brown
brought mo a small quantity of banknote paper. I saw it was
" plain" paper, by that I mean there were no marks upon it,
Mr. Lewis—When did you look at the paper ?
Witness—The next day.
Mr. Lewis—l contend that the identity of that paper has
been destroyed, as it might have been changed in the
interval.

The Lord Mayor thought the evidence ought to go on.
Witness---I gave the paper in the first instance to Bur-
nett, and I saw it again the following morning. Burnett
did not say anything to me about it at the time. After we
got the paper Burnett and I went to London. We stayed
at 7, Melton-crescent, Euston-square. We lived there
eight or nine days. Burnett used to go out alone after we
got there. He did so the day after we arrived. He did not
tell me what he went for. He had money in his possession
when he came back. After we left Melton-crescent we re-
turned to Whitchurch, and put up at the Plough. I went
frequently t. the Three Horse-shoes, where I met Henry
Brown. While I was there Burnett and Brown often met
and conversed together, but I don't know what passed be-
tween them. Shortly after our return to Whitchurch
Burnetttold me he had received something from Brown. He
said he had brought him some paper, from which I under-
stood it was Bank-note paper. After that Brown went with
Burnett and myself to London, where we went to a
public-house in Drury-lane, kept by Mr. Lees. He
did not go out till the day after our arrival,
when we went to a public-house at the corner of Chandos-
street. When we went out Burnett took the bank-note
paper with him. On our return home Burnett gave Brown
two sovereigns. We remained in London on that occasion
two nights and one day, and then returned to Whitchurch.
On our return Burnett and Brown were frequently to-
gether. On several occasions Burnett told me he had re-
ceived bank paper from Brown. Burnett did not tell me
where Brown got the paper from, but 1 heard Brown
tell Burnett that he had been caught taking the paper.
I did not hear Brown say who it was that caught him. I
heard frequent conversations between Burnett and Brown
about the paper. Brown asked Burnett who he was giving
the paper to, whether it was to Fred. Lancaster, because
Mr. Brewer wished to know if it was so. Burnett told him

it was not. After the conversation Brown brought more
paper, which Burnett put with the rest in our clothes box.
I recollect the day of the fire in Tooley-street. Burnett and
I came to London on that day, whence we went to Strat-
ford, and stopped at Burnett's brothers, the Railway Hotel.
While we were there Brown came, and I then obtained
lodgings for ourselves and him. We stopped at Stamford
six weeks, during which time Burnett went to London. I
did not go with him. I know he took some of the Bank
paper with him. Ile had money when he returned. I
don't know whether he hal any when he went
away. On leaving Stamfoid we returned to Whit-

church. Brown did not go with us. Brown stayed
in London because he said he was going to his sister's.
I knevi from Burnett that Brown afterwards returned to
Whitchurch. I saw him on the day he came down. . I
our
lodgings, just after Christmas, 1861, Brown came to ur
lodgings, which was then in Long's-court, Leioester-
square. He came about seven o'clock in the evening.
Burnett was not at home. In consequence of what Brown
told me I went to the Victoria Theatre, where I saw
Burnett, I told him Henry Brown wanted to see him, as he
had brought some more paper. We then returned home,
when I saw Brown give Burnett the paper, and they exa-
mined it together. Brown stayed that night with us, the
paper being put with the other in the clothes-box. Bur-
nett went out the next day with the paper that Brown
brought. On his returning ho gave Brown some money,
but I don't know how much. Brown stayed with us a day
and two nights, when he left, telling me he was going to
Portsmouth. About a fortnight after this Burnett left
London, telling me he was going to Portsea to see Henry
Brown. On his return he told me he had seen Brown, and
in a short time after that I went with Burnett to Portsea
in the month of March. We went to a brewery where
Brown was working. We saw him working there, as also
Lie lav~L~:a 01.4/.U,), IAIBCLUCL LUiiL WSJ ua
James's house. Burnett and I returned to London the
same evening. I think Burnett went once again to Port-
sea. The next time I saw Brown was shortly after Easter,
when he came to our lodgings in Thomas .street, Lambeth.
I did not hear what he came up for, but he stayed with
us two or three times after that. We next removed t 9
Angel-place, Blackfriars-road, and shortly after this Brown
went down into the country. On his return to London he
brought some more bank paper. I saw him give it to Bur-
nett. Burnett and Brown both went out together the
night Brown came, They went out the next morning,
when they returned with a joint of meat and
some money. I went once with Burnett and
Brown to 'Westminster. Burnett left us, but I
did not see where he went. I and Brawn waited at a
public-house near Tothill-street. We then went to King-
, street, Soho, and waited again, while Burnett went some-
where, and afterwards went to a butcher's shop in Tothill•
strut. Mr. and Mrs. Buncher were there. Burnett and
Buncher talked together, but I did not know what passed.
I don't know whether he brought the paper back he took
with hint, but I never saw it afterwards, Burnett on one
bank
paper sent me to Buncher's and gave me some I
paper to take there. I gave it to the person whom
un-
derstood was Mrs. Buncher. She gave me money
deyeint know
what She left the room before she gave it me.
what the amount was. It was in gold.
came in. On several occasions after thaAßteur that Buncher I
was directedrnett has sent
rue to Buncher's I took bank paper, which
to leave there. Sometimes I saw Buncher, but Mrs.
Buncher always gave me the money. Buncher gave me a
joint of meat. I recollect the publication of the reward.
country. Burnett told
Before that Brown went into the
he came back he
me he was going to Laverstoke.
Burnett and
Sunday.
told Burnett he had to go again on
only absent three or
Brown was together. Brown was
week.
Brown took a
four days, but Burnett stayed a
Burnett returned to London
1
black bag with him. When
rsation together .when
Brown and he had
a rafterwards in that room
they went up stairs,
anß
own had brought. I don't
I saw the bank paper which
Brows
after this I was sent to
know what became of all of it,more paper to Buncher's after
Buncher's. I know I took
• at Angel-place, Wm: Aubery
this. While we were living
end
of June or beginning of
came to visit us in the latter
July. evening.
Aubery and his wife
took tea with us,
It was on a Sunday
all went for a walk totowardsßattersea-park.
and then we e
next day Aubery came again. I did
not hear what he Burnett told me he had given
otf the paper to give to a person named Robert
Aubery some
who was going to Birmingham, and that he
Cummings, w him money for his expenses, recollect
lied with I
had supplied
a letter coming for Burnett. It was directed to " Mr.
Johnson." had given Burnett told me he •
ven that name to
Cummings' After he had read the letter, he said Cum-
wings wanted some money, but he should not send any.
The next day Burnett went to Birmingham alone, and re-
turned the following Saturday. lie said he
and Cummings
had had words, and that Cummings had tried to choke him.
About a fortnight after this a person calling himself Cum -
wings
came to our place. That is the man at the bar.
He asked for a person named Johnson, and I told him he
had left. Burnett was then up stairs in bed. I afterwards
saw Cummings in Orchard-street, Westminster. He ac-
costed me and asked me if I had seen " Johnson." I sail
No." After this Burnett and I went to different places ;
ultimately to-Whitchurch.Recollect the reward. Sawßrown
and Burnett reading the paper. In October of the present
year, some days before I was apprehended, Burnett told
me to go to Buncher's house to ask him to lend him some
money. I saw Mrs. Buncher. She told me to call next
day. I recollect the evening before I was apprehended on
the 27th, Burnett went out and afterwards sent me a note
telling me he should not be at home all night, as he was
going to Birmingham.
By Mr. Pater—lt was after the 24th or 25th of October
that I went to Buncher's. On every occasion that I went
I had my dealings with Mrs. Buncher, but Buncher used
to come into the room. I never received anything from
him but the joints of meat. I was convicted with Barnett
in 1857 in the Central Criminal Court. James Sankey, a