The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-25 00:00:00

The Extensive Burglaries in Cuminll' and

the Strand,

BOW-STREET POLICE-COURT-THIS DAY.

Since the time of Muller's trial there has not been such
an extraordinary scene at Bow-street as to-day. In con-
sequence of the notification in the morning papers of the
capture of six persons alleged to have been concerned in
the late burglaries on Cornhill, and their being confined in
the Bow-street Police-station, a vast number of people
crowded all the avenues leading to this court, and were
almost too numerous to be kept back by the most strenu-
ous exertions of the police. The interior of the court was
also, as far as the limited space would admit, very much
crowded. The Duke of Roxburghe, Mr. Russell, M.P.,
and Sir R. Mayne occupied seats on the bench, the pre-
siding magistrate being Mr. Flowers. The prisoners,
in the custody of Superintendent Durkin, were placed
in the dock at about 20 minutes to 12. The prisoners, as has
been already stated, were six in number—three men and
three women. On being brought before the magistrate
they presented a very wretched appearance, the men wear-
ing a very care-worn and dejected look, and the women
seeming to feel acutely the unfortunate position they were
in. They behaved, however, in a calm and collected man-
ner, although the woman Martha Jeffrey once or twice ex-
hibited considerable emotion. The whole of the prisoners
were very shabby in their personal appearance, and looked
exceedingly dirty and emaciated.

Their names were Wm. Henry Jeffrey, 23 ; Thos. Case-
ling, 23 ; Thomas Brewton, 27 ; Ann Caseley, 26 ; Martha
Jeffrey, 28 ; and Louisa Brewton, 26.
Mr. George Lewis, jun., of the firm of Lewis and Lewis,
Ely-place, prosecuted for Mr. Walker; Mr. Abrams pro-
secuted for Mr. Abrahams, of the Strand.
Mr. Superintendent Durkin said he had, at the request
of the prisoners, sent for Mr. Thomas Beard, the well-
known solicitor, to attend.

Mr. Abrams said that he appeared on behalf of Mr.
Abraham; of 434, Strand, to prosecute the prisoners for
the robbery committed on his premises some time since ;
but as the prisoners had only been taken into custody the
previous evening,

Mr. Lewis applied that the case might be remitted to the
city, where the robbery was committed.
The Magistrate decided to go on with the case, and Mr.
Lewis then proceeded to call the following evidence :
John Walker—l live at 68, Cornhill, and 48, Princes-
street, Leicester-square, with my father. On the 14th of
February I left my father's premises in the custody of Mr.
Smith. It was his duty to shut up the premises. I left at
five o'clock in the day. On the Monday I went to the pre-
mises at nine o'clock, and found them in the possession of
the police. I found that we had been robbed of about
£6,000. There were between 400 and 500 watches gone.
I have seen the property in the possession of the police
this morning.

By Mr. Birnaby—There were also chains stolen.
By Mr. Lewis—l identify the watches as the, property of
my father, and the chains also. The watches and jewellery
formed part of the stock, which were safe on the Saturday.
I have not looked through the property in the hands of
the police, but I should think it was about £1,300 worth.
By Mr. Burnaby—l think they must have got in the
room of Sir Charles Crossley's office, which is just above
our shop. They made a hole in the floor, and by means of
a rope and others effected an entrance into our office.
Mr. Kemp, the barrister, then entered the court, and said
h e appeared for the prisoners.
John Ambrose Potter—l went to 142, Whitechapel-road,
and told the prisoners they must consider themselves in
custody for jewellery robberies in the City and also
in the Strand ; at the same time taking Jeffreys by
the collar, Sergeant Moss taking Brewton also. A
struggle took place between Sergeant Moss and his pri-
soner. At that time I soy something pass from Jeffreys
to the woman Brewton. On seeing this I immediately
gave Jeffreys to the sergeant outside. The women im-
mediately ran upstairs. I followed them. Before I could
reach the top of the stairs I heard the door of a room lock.
I said " Let me in at once, or I shall break the door open."
The door not being opened, I forced it immediately.
As I entered the room I saw the woman Brewton shove
something into her pocket, and I directly seized her by the
hand, she caught hold of me by the whiskers.
The prisoner Brewton loudly exclaimed against the
statement of the witness, and said he could not patiently
listen to it.

Examination continued—The woman said, " I have no-
thing about me." I secured her by holding her arms
and, with the assistance of Sergeant Moss, I took from her
pocket a paper packet. I took 22 gold chains from her
altogether. I still held her tight, and then took another
parcel, which contained about 50 gold chains, all of which
have been identified by Mr. Walker. I heard a great
scuffling and left the woman in charge of an officer, and I
went down and found Brewton struggling with the
-policeman. We took them to the station, all the
four I have mentioned. After I lodged them at the station
I went back to the room and made a further search, and found
articles of value. I took three gold rings from her fingers,
and a pair of gold earrings from her ears. I afterwards
went with Brennan and Moss to 13, Ely-terrace, Bow-road,
and then upon knocking at the door the woman Caseloy
put her head out of the first floor window and asked what
I wanted. I said, " Open the door," and she said, " Who
are you ?" I told her we were police officers, and she must
open the door immediately. As I was going upstairs I
saw the woman going up in front of me, and I ran up and
there saw a man where I had first seen the female at the
window. She went out of the house and Mr. Brennan
came in, and I got further assistance and went into the
room the woman left. She said they were occupied by
Billy Burnett. In that we found a box locked, which Moss
broke open, and found 52 gold watches, and on the bed was
a life preserver, a false moustache, a great quantity of other
property, shawls, and things got from other burglaries.
Cross-examined by Mr. Kemp—l went to 142, Black-
friars-road. I found Jeffrey there. I have watched that
house. Jeffrey and his wife do not live there. It is a three-
storied house, but only partly furnished. On Jeffrey I
found about a thousand pound's worth of jewellery. The
furniture was all new, and had been lately purchased by
the prisoners. I mean since the robbery I saw the furni-
ture taken in there. The watches found have been identi-
fied by Mr. Walker.

By Mr. Lewis—ln going down to the station Moss and
Casely were with me in the cab, and the prisoner said,
"What robbery are you going to "buff to me." (Immense
laughter.)

Mr. Kemp—What is "buffed" ?
Mr. Lewis—A colour you are not acquainted with ap-
parently.
Witness—l said that ho would know all about it down
at the station. He said« You know I have nothing to do
with the shawl robbery. I can prove that I was at Liver-
pool, and as to Johnson's, I was doing time then. I'll tell
you all about Johnson's
watch robbery, I am right for that,
if ybu'll square it for me. I'll tell you all about it." I told
him I would make him no promise whatever in reference
to the matter. Then he said—" Is it true that Hurley,
who is remanded from the Court, has told you all about
it ?" I said, "No. I have heard he has said something,
but what it is I don't know." He said " Billy is one, Vel-
vet is the other," and another man he mentioned. In search-
ing I found £240 in gold, and two bank receipts for £250
and £220 in the London and Westminster Bank.
Mr. Lewis said that ho had to urge upon the magistrate
that the case should be remitted to the Mansion-house,
the district court where the offence was committed. He
merely applied as a technical point, for he felt sure that
every one would admire the energy and activity of the
metropolitan police in the matter ; and he was desirous of
saying, on behalf of Mr. Walker, that he had great admire,:
tion for the tact, judgment, and skill that all the officers
had shown. Still there was at present a person under re-
mand at the Mansion-house, and it would be much more
convenient if the six prisoners were sent there.
Mr. Flowers, the presiding magistrate, pointed out that
the property had been found in the metropolitan police
district, and therefore clearly he had full jurisdiction. At
all events he should remand the prisoners till Tuesday.
Mr. Lewis said in that case he should remove them by
habeas corpus.

Mr. Flowers thought that course open to the learned
gentleman, but did not think he would take much by his
motion. (Laughter.)
Mr. Kemp said he had to make an application as to the
wives of the prisoners. One of them was in a very deli-
cate state of health.

Mr. Flowers could not consent to let either of the pri-
soners go. It might yet appear that they had been doing
some act irrespective of their husbands' control, and at all
events he should not discharge either of them till Tuesday.
They would be remanded till then, and than further re-
mandedt sucecteeudiny
ageTaseuesodaf
sy o , so as to give time to
the
authorities till
much importance and
magnitude. (Addressing Mr. Abrams, the worthy magis-
trate said) you do not propose, as I understand it, to offer
any evidence to-day as to the Strand robbery.
the
o get
Mr. Abrams—No, Sir, I think not on this occasion ; but
I may say that I am quite prepared to do so if you think it
necessary.
Mr. Flowers—No, not now ; but you see if I had any
evidence before me as to that case, then even Mr. Lewis
would not dispute my jurisdiction.
Mr. Lewis most respectfully put it that it would be so"
much more convenient for all parties, witnesses and others,
to have the case heard at the Mansion-house. The wit-
nesses lived in that neighbourhood, and really a great
convenience would be done if the magistrate acceded to the
request.
Mr. Flowers must have some far more cogent reason than
convenience when he was asked to go beyond what he
feared were the limits of his duty.
Mr. Lewis said he would not further press the point.
The prisoners were then remanded, and in the course of
the afternoon taken to the House of Detention in cabs.

It is understood that some more of the gang will very
shortly be in custody; and well merited praise is due to the
exertions of Inspector Potter of the E division, Inspector
Brennan of the F division, Sergeant Moss of the City de-
tective force, and though last, by no means least, to Gaynor,
199 G division, who, we believe, got the information which
led to the successful capture.

The court, as we have already stated, was densely
crowded, and several persons beyond those we have re-
ferred to occupied seats on the bench. Inspector William-