The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-09 00:00:00

THE SUi, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1865.

tax ; while the rest of the deficiency might be made
up by greater economy in the public expenditure.
(Cheers.) He lived in a county which included the
large arsenal of Portsmouth, and he saw a good deal
of what was going on in the so-called fortifications
for the defence of the coentry. God forbid that he
should advocate leaving the country in an unde-
fended state, but he thought they were spending
money to an unnecessarydegree. (Hear.) Hethought
that in the building of these costly iron ships they
were making experiments for the benefit of other na-
tions, and which those nations would make for them-
selves if we did not set an example. We went on
building against France, but it was probable if we
ceased building, France would do the same. A
Federal commissioner, sent to report upon the capa-
city of the iron-shipbuilding yards of this coun-
try showed that the private yards could, without
pressure, turn out 500,000 tons of shipping in the
year. With such resources at our command—with
the Government yards at their back—if a war
should take place, we should very soon be in a state
to follow the best models which other nations had
exploited for us, and in a short time create an effi-
cient navy, without locking up so much public mo-
ney as we were doing at present. The present Sec-
retary of the Admiralty before he came into office
stated in the House of Commons that a very large
sum of money could be saved in the navy. He be-
lieved the nohle lord said £5,000,000 wasto be saved
in the construction of the navy alone. That was
exactly the sum that was wanted to repeal the malt
tax. (Cheers.) So, when the Chancellor of the
Exchequer wanted to know where the money was
to come from, they must refer him to the noble lord
the Secretary for the Admiralty. (Cheers and
laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the first resolution,
which was carried unanimously and with loud
cheers.)
Mr. OSBORNE, of Tamworth, now moved the
second resolution, which was to the following effect:

" That, strongly holding these views, this. meeting is de-
termined to persevere, by every available means, in de-
manding the repeal of this obnoxious tax, and agrees to
the following petit on to Parliament (to be signed by the
chairman on behalf of the meeting and recommends it for
adoption throughout the country."

The petition, which was circulated amongst the
assembly in print, was taken as read. The speaker
then showed how every one in this country had had
the benefit of free trade except the agriculturist—
how oppressively the malt tax operated on that
class—and how its repeal would not only benefit
them, but equally benefit every other class in the
community.
Mr. WOOD, of Dorsetshire, seconded the motion.
Colonel NORTH, M.P., supported the motion, re-
plying to the taunt of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer that agitation was first required in this matter
before the tax would be repealed. The farmers as a
body were a quiet, orderly, loyal set of gentlemen,
not much given to agitation ; but the Chancellor of
the Exchequer would find, after this, that he would
not have a complaint of that kind to make.
Mr. P. BENTINCK, M.P., expressed concurrence
in the determination to divest the question of a party
feeling. The rights of the rural population, who were
not fairly represented in the House of Commons,
had too long been sacrificed to party considerations.
Mr. CORBETT, M.P., impressed on the meeting
the necessity of obtaining the assistance of the town
population in carrying this question. When they
became convinced that they would obtain cheap
beer, they would readily support the proposition.
He was sure there was no real difference of opinion
on the subject between the manufacturing and agri-
cultural populations. _ _

Mr. FIELDING called attention to the fallacies put
forward by Mr. M. Gibson in the House of Com-
mons last session, and repeated at a recent meeting
at Ashton, where he stated that the percentage of
taxation upon beer was only 12} per cent., while
that upon tea, wine, and other articles was very con-
siderably higher.
The CHAIRMAN, in putting the resolution, which
was carried, announced that the last speaker had
subscribed £lOO to promote the success of the
meeting.

Mr. STORER, of Nottingbamshire, then moved the
following resolution :
" That this meeting gladly recognises and approves of
the. establishment of the Cential Anti-Malt Tax Associa-
tion in London as the medium of communication with Par-
liament, and the central authority for organising the vari-
ous anti-malt tax associations, and hereby appoints a com-
mittee of gentlemen to be the council of the association,
with power to add to their number."
He alluded tO several fallacious statements made in
the Times, and said that if this had been a question
affecting the duty on manufactures that journal
would have done its utmost to procure its remission.
He contended that the farmers were the greatest
sufferers by this tax, and that it fostered the mono-
poly of brewers and maltsters. He had no doubt the
increased consumption of beer would make up for the
revenue sacrificed, and that even if the duty was
totally abolished, the increased consumption of other
excisable articles would more than compensate the
revenue.

Mr. J. B. BRANDRAM, of Thornton-hall, Hert-
ford, seconded the motion.
A Gentleman here endeavoured to address the
meeting, but the Chairman explained that, in con-
sequence of the shortness of time which was allowed
them, it was absolutely necessary that a selection
should have been made of the speakers.
A scene of some confusion took place, in which
another gentleman, who said he had for many years
farmed thousands of acres, claimed to speak, but the
meeting would hear neither of them.
The resolution was supported by Mr. SURTEES
and Mr. KEELEY, of Yorkshire, and, after some fur-
ther interruptions, declared to be carried.

A vote of thanks to the chairman having been
carried,

The CHAIRMAN, in returning 'thanks, said he
should be sorry to leave uncorrected an error
into which a gentleman had falling in insinuating
that he (the chairman) objected to the remission
of the paper duty and the duties on tea and
wine. He was glad of such remissions, but
what he insisted on, and would continue to insist
on, was equality of justice in the remission of taxa-
tion ; and he contended that, in the remissions of
taxation already made, the heaviest and most unjust
burden of all, the malt tax, was altogether omitted.
(Cheers.) It had been suggested that they should
not altogether rely upon the support of their urban
friends. On the contrary, he suggested that they
should put themselves in communication with every
town in England, and by means of lectures, &c., to
make it known that one effect of the repeal of the
malt tax would be to furnish them with good cheap
beer instead of a bad, dear, and unwholesome com-
pound. It was in the name of the great labouring
class and of the people at large that he called on
them to support the movement now making to abolish
this most odious and unjust import. (Cheers.)
The meeting then separated.

STRANDING OF A LARGE AMERICAN SHIP.—
BLACKPOOL, LANCASHIRE, Tuesday Night.--Early
this morning (writes the Rev. R. R. Redman) a vessel was
observed from this place on the Salthouse Sandbank, with
signals of distress flying. The lifeboat stationed here, be-
longing to the National Lifeboat Institution, was soon
launched, and proceeded to the assistance of the stranded
ship. On arriving alongside, the crew refused to leave the
vessel, as it was thought that she had received no serious
damage. The lifeboat took off the mate and landed him at
Lytham, in order that he might telegram to Liverpool
for a steam-tug. Should the steamer arrive in time, and
the wind keep as low as at present, the vessel may be got
off should it be found that she has suffered no great
damage, but if the wind rises the probability is that she
will become a total wreck. She proved to be the barque
Lexington, bound from Nassau to Liverpool with a cargo
of cotton. Fortunately there is not so heavy a sea rolling
tiffs morning as there was during the night. A strong
gale from the west blew until break of day. Observing
thlneetsitiugntiaelns
aolfeediwsternetssetuhteteLtyittheaaem ifeiletaebnoettet oeff
tthhee
vNeaseteiol
l.na

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The Great Robbery in Cornhill.

The daring burglary on the premises of Mr.
Walker, the jeweller, continues to excite intense in-
terest in the city, and has produced a strong feeling
of apprehension among merchants, bankers, and
tradesmen for the safety of movable property of enor-
mous value which they are accustomed, and, in-
deed, obliged to leave behind them at night to the
guardianship of the police, and in some instances to
that of private watchmen. In Cornhill, in parti-
cular, where most of the leading gold and silver
smiths carrying on their business, and in Lombard-
street, where the iron safe of a bullion dealer was
ransacked under similar circumstances only a few
months ago, the event has given rise to great dis-
satisfaction, . and the negligence of the police is
strongly censured. To-day, at 12 o'clock, a meet-
ing of the inhabitants of the ward of Cornhill was
held in pursuance of a requisition signed by 30
of the principal firms in that part of the city and
presented to Mr. Alderman Carter, the chief autho-
rity 'in the ward. The requisitionists refer to the
various robberies of late in the city, and state they
deem it desirable that the inhabitants should meet
" to take into consideration the insecure state of the
property of the bankers, merchants, and shop-
keepers, and what measures should be taken in
consequence ; at the same time to inquire generally
into the working of the City Police, and as ,to their
efficiency for the protection of the vast amount of
property necessarily intrusted to their care. Mr.
Alderman Carter, sharing in the common feeling of
insecurity, as a leading citizen of the ward, at once
convened the meeting on the receipt of the requisi-
tion, and it was held accordingly. He tried, in-
deed, to gain a hearing on the matter at the meet-
ing of his brethren at the Court of Aldermen on
Tuesday, but in vain. Most people would probably
have thought, with him, that a meeting of the ma-
gistrates of the City of London furnished a legiti-
mate occasion for his calling attention, as one of
themselves, to a matter which was engrossing the
attention of the citizens at large, and upon which
he might be presumed to have a peculiar right to
speak as the Alderman of the populous and
wealthy district in which the robbery had occurred.
It is understood that he had meant to call their at-
tention to the apparent negligence on the part of the
police which those repeated and daring robberies in-
dicated, and to the consequent feelings of insecu-
rity ; but he was stopped by an artifice to which some
of the older members of the Court of Aldermen re-
sort when they wish to shirk an unwelcome subject,
or to deal with it free from the safeguard of public
supervision. First of all, at the very mention of the
matter, Mr. Alderman Finnis, a leading member, if
not the chairman, of the Police Committee, moved
that strangers withdraw, upon which the• court was
cleared of the people present, including, of course,
the representatives of the press ; and that done, on
the motion of Mr. Alderman Copeland, the Court
was counted out, although they had with the same
number of members been discussing for some time
before the stale question of brokers' rents. Yester-
day one of the firm of Messrs. A. B. Savory and
Sons, the silversmiths, of Cornhill, attended at the
justice room of the Mansion-house, before Alder-
man Sir R. Carden, who was sitting for the Lord
Mayor, and offered to contribute £5O towards a second
sum of £l,OOO, in addition to the £l,OOO already
offered for the apprehension and conviction of the
thieves and the recovery of the stolen property, trust-
ing that other firms would join in the subscription.
He was accompanied by Mr. Walker, who stated
that he had been 40 years in business in London,
the last nine of them in the City, and that all his
arrangements for the safety of his property, especi-
ally that of having no one on the premises at night,
had been made on the express advice of an inspector
of city police.
For years no event of the kind has occasioned
more excitement. Throughout yesterday, as on Mon-
day and Tuesday, a crowd of people assembled in
Cornhill, near the scene of the robbery, and many
of the principal inhabitants called on Mr. Walker to
express their sympathy and to see for themselves the
way in which it had been effected. Like many of
the places of business in the City, that of Mr.
Walker, with the whole of the offices above, under the
same roof, was left entirely unoccupied at night. At
the top of the house, several storeys from the ground,
is the workshop of a photographer, which is enclosed
from the rest of the premises by a door on his own
landing. The floor below that is let out as offices,
and the floor below that again, which is the first
floor, is in the occupation of Sir C. Crosley. The
whole of the upper part of the house is accessible in
day time by and open door and a flight of stairs
leading from a passage running from Cornhill to a
paved yard called Sun-court, at the back of Mr.
Walker's premises. The ground floor is divided into
two shops, one of which is occupied by Mr. Walker,
and the other by Messrs. Mitchell and Harris,tailors,
each of which has an entrance from Cornhill, and
that of Mr. Walker a side entrance from the passage
gscrosi in t
nthe
the and
shutters,n shop, ,
ihnp
through,which
Corn-
hill,leading into Sun-court. The whole of the basement
between the two shops is used as a cutting-room by
the firm of tailors, and access to it is had by stairs
from their shop above. Mr. Walker's part of the
building is divided into a fn
communicate by a very narrow passage, and both of
which is lighted by gas during the whole night and
on Sundays.there are
irlnon grtwoaptinlae
which a passing policeman, or any other person, can
at any hour of the night command a full view of the
whole of the interior of the front shop, and the
greater part of the back one if the door between the
two be left open. From Sun-court, again, at the
rear, a view is had of the interior of the back shop by
a similar arrangement in the window, but with this
addition, that a policeman or any other person look-
ing through one of the two apertures there can see
reflected in a mirror nearly the whole front of an
iron safe, which is erected in a party wall in a corner
of the back room. The view, it is true, is somewhat
obstructed by a partition, partly of wood and partly
glazed, enclosing a workman's bench placed against
the window ; but practically a policeman with a
strong light inside the shop could see the safe re-
flected in the mirror. The officer on the floor im-
mediately below the photographer's workshop has two
doors communicating with the landing on the stairs,
and it was the custom of the occupants of that
office on leaving for the day to lock one door in the
inside, and then to lock the other on the outside, and
to place the key on the bracket of a gas-meter on
the landing of the stairs. From morning till night
the stairs leading to the whole of the house above the
shop was open to anyone having business there, and
fliafgtehrt
from4o' theclock lin photthoegrdaapyhees apesrshoonp descending the
key of the offices of the floor below on mightthe see
br thackeet
of the gas meter. The offices of Sir C. Crosley, on
the first floor, were locked in the same manner, ex-
cept that the key was taken away at night. All the
'occupants of the upper part of the house are accus-
tomed to leave for the day some hours before Mr.
Walker and his servants, and it is the practice of
Mr. Walker before locking up his shop for the night
to send a boy upstairs to see that everyone there has
left the premises. No one answering, he assumes
they have all gone, and Mr. Walker locks the side-
door leading to the court on the inside, and then
leaves with his servants by the front door in Corn-
hill. It is now beyond all doubt that Mr. Walker,
however unknowingly, or the person who was the
last to leave his shop, locked the thieves in his pre-
mises on Saturday night. They were then probably
secreted in the offices immediately below the photo-
grapher's shop, the proof of which is that a candle-
stick which had been taken from those offices was
found after the robbery in the floor below in the oc-
cupation of Sir C. Crosley. Being thus masters of
the position,
they appear first to have entered the
office of Sir C. Crosley—probably by picking the
lock—and then to have picked the lock of his iron
safe—for there were no marks of violence on it—
from which they took a small sum of money,
though all that was there. The thieves then, in
the most Workmanlike manner, cut a hole in his
floor, by which they descended into the tailor's shop
below, into which no one could see from the out-
side, as in the case of Mr. Walker's shop, which
adjoins it. They must then have tried to cut through
a partition dividing the tailors' shop from Mr.
Walker's back shop, but, encountering an iron lining
to have desisted and gone down to the basement

or cutting-room, in the ceiling of which and the floor
over it they cut a hole and so entered the back shop,
containing the iron safe, and immediately above.
The partition enelosing the workmen's bench, round
the window of the back room, is partly of wood,
about breast high from the floor ; and the hole in
the floor was cut immediately behind the partition,
so that the thieves entering the back shop by that
way could conceal themselves behind the woodwork
without being seen through the aperture in the win-
dow, and afterwards operate on the iron safe at in-
tervals as opportunities presented themselves. How
that could have been done with so much effect, and
without being seen by the different policemen on
duty on that particular beat between the Saturday
evening and Monday morning, and each of whom is
presumed to go his round once every 11 minutes, is
for them to explain. A very strong opinion pre-
vails on the subject in the city. Once in possession
of the whole contents of the safe the thieves must
have returned by the way they came to Sir Charles
Crossley's office, using for the purpose a rope-ladder,
which they eventually left behind them, with a
gimlet, a finely tempered steel wedge, used in prising
open the safe, and a most formidable life-preserver.
They must then have made their exit by the side
door, taking off first a lock on the inside for that
purpose, and then closing the door behind them on
a latch. They key of the offices on the second floor,
which is left on the gas-meter on the landing, was
found on Monday morning in the lock, and on the
inside of the door, the door itself standing open,
showing that the thieves must have secreted them-
selves on the premises before they had been closed
for the night.
In the meantime, Col. Fraser, the City Commis-
sioner of Police has instituted a rigid inquiry into
the whole of the attendant circumstances. He denies
that there has been any change of the old constables
in that part of the city, such as has been imputed
*to him, except, perhaps, the incidental one of a
man leaving the force and another being appointed
in his stead. For some time past repeated com-
plaints have been made to his predecessor and him-
self by the constables on that particular beat of
negligence on the part of Mr. Walker, or his ser-
vants, in the insecure manner in which their pre-
mises were left at nights. Eight of those complaints
have been made in writing to the chief office between
July, 1858, and January, 1864. The constables on
duty at nights have repeatedly had to use a pair of
handcuffs in the place of a padlock which had been
left off the shutters at nights ; once they had to enter
an open window in the course of the night, and
search the place for thieves, no one being resident
in the house. These complaints, made in writing at
the time, and now produced, are somewhat remark-
able. In July, 1856, Police-constable Bull reported
that he had "at 9 15 in the evening found the pad-
lock unfastened on the shop shutters of Mr. Walker,
jeweller, in Cornhill ; no one residing on the pre-
mises, they were left in charge of the night constable
at 10 p.m." In February, 1859, the same officer
reported that " at 7 30 p.m. he found the shutters
open, and a window insecure on the first floor at
the rear of the premises of Mr. Walker ; no one
residing in the house, Sergeant Wreford secured it
by nailing the shutters, and informing the night
constable at 10 p.m." On the 21st of October, 1859,
Police-constable Stobart reported that " at 10 p.m.
he found unfastened the office window in Sun-court
belonging to Mr. Walker, and no person residing
there, the house was left in the care of the night
constable when he came on duty until 6 a.m." On
the 21st of August, 1861, Police-constable Grace
reported that " at 10 p.m. he found a padlock un-
fastened on the shop shutters of Mr. Walker ; that
Sergeant Carter secured them with a pair of hand-
' cuffs and left the padlock at the station, because
nobody resided in the house." On the 3d of
December, 1861, Police-constable Whale reported
that "at 8 15 he found the padlock left off the
shutter-bar of the shop of Mr. Walker, where it
was usually put as an additional security ; and no
person residing on the premises, the bar was
secured by a pair of handcuffs, and the key left
at the station all night." On the 11th of March,
1862, Police-constable Botting reported that " at
10 15 p.m. he found the staircase window in Sun-
court open at the rear of the house occupied by Mr.
Walker. No person residing there, Sergeant West-
wood and Police-constable Adams examined the pre-
mises found all apparently correct. The night con-
stable remained watching the premises until relieved,
by the day constable at 6 a.m., who remained until
the arrival of the foreman at 8 30 a.m., who found
all correct." On the 10th of January, 1863, Police-
constable Hallett reported that at 10 p.m. he found
the side door leading into Mr. Walker's premises
from Sun-court and to all the offices above open ;
no person residing there, a constable was left in
charge during the whole night." On the 21st of
January, 1864, Police-constable Bethel reported that
" at 7 50 p.m. he found unfastened the padlock on
the shutters of the shop of Mr. Walker, and no per-
son residing on the premises, a pair of handcuffs was
placed on the shutters, and the padlock taken to the
station."

Up to last evening none of the thieves had been
apprehended.

The Saffron-hill Murder,

.41.-

APPREHENSION OF GREGORIO, AND HIS
STATEMENT.

Last night, between the hours of seven and eight o'clock,
the man GregoriO, who it is alleged committed the murder
of Michael Harrington, in Saffron-hill, on the night of the
26th December, was brought to the King's-cross police-
station by Mr. Negretti, of the firm of /siegretti and Zambra,
of Hatton-garden, and was charged, on his own confession,
with having committed the murder.
The following particulars were gathered from Mr.
Negretti himself. Ho stated that a number of Italian
gentlemen having taken great interest in the case, and feel-
ing that the man now under sentence of death was not the
man who actually committed the murder, were determined
to bring the offender to justice. In consequence of what
Mr. Negretti heard he yesterday proceeded to Edgbaston-
street, Birmingham, and in a carpenter's shop found the
man Gregorio at work. He asked him if he was aware that
his cousin, Serafini Polioni, was to be hung for the mur-
der of Michael Harrington, in Saffron-hill. Gregorio said,
"You don't mean that ? " On which he (Mr. Negretti) said
he did, and that it was true, and that there was no prospect
of his being saved, and then askod him if he knew any-
thing at all about it, or had anything to do with it. Gregorio
said that his cousin had nothing to do with it, and added,
" All that took place was in the bagatelle-room, and nothing
at all outside. When I was in the house my head was much
knocked about. Serafini was not in there. I did not see
him." Mr. Negretti then said to him, " What made you
stab these people ?" He replied, "He was in the bagatelle-
room and was beaten about the head and body with sticks
and pokers, and had I not had the knife I should not have
come out of the house alive." He then added, " Can I save
him ?" (meaning his cousin). Mr. Negretti said, " Yes, if
you give yourself up." Gregorio said, taking his coat and
hat, " Come along with me ; " and on coming down the
stairs of the workshop he said, " My cousin shall not suffer
for me." On arriving in town Gregerio asked Mr. Negretti
if he would be kind enough to go to Newgate and tell his
cousin that he (Gregorio) had come to town for the purpose
of giving himself up and saving him. Gregorio several
times on the journey shed tears and said he would save
his cousin.

Arrived at the police station, Mr. Superintendent Gernon
of the G division was at once in attendance, and then Mr.
Negretti stated that the man Gregorio had come to give
himself up for the murder on Saffron-hill. As Gregorio can
neither read nor write, and speaks but little English, and
that imperfectly, Mr. Gernon thought it best that an inde-
pendent interpreter should be sent for ; and one having
been procured, Gregorio was told that he might state what
he pleased, but that he had better be careful.what he did
say, as it would be written down and might be used against
him. Gregorio said he was aware of what had been said to
him, and then made the following statement :
" My name is Mogni Gregorio. I have just come from
Birmingham. I used to live at 73, St. John-street, Clerk-
enwell. Soon after this affair I went away from there.
After that I stayed here a day or so, and then went away.
I stayed at No. 1, Francis-court, Berkeley-street, Clerken-
well. I stayed there two nights. After that I went to the
other side of the water. I stopped there till the following
Saturday—three days and a half. I left then, and went
from there to Birmingham. I went by railway from
cross, in the morning, between one and two o'clock. I was
there five or six weeks, and have just arrived from Birming-
ham. I have come here to hear what they have got to say.
I have come to consign myself (give myself up). I under-
stand that my cousin is going to be executed for stabbing
people in Saffron-hill at the Anchor public-house. I used
a knife myself in self-defence. It was done somewhere
about five or six o'clock on the day after Christmas-day. I
was there, and used a knife in self-defence, because there
was a lot of people there with clubs and pokers. That is
all I have got to say." (This he repeated two or three
times.) " I have heard that my cousin is going to be exe-
cuted, and that is why I came here."
Mr. Superintendent Gernon here informed Mr. Negretti

that the statement of Gregorio did not appear to be an ac-
tual confession of the murder, and therefore he could not
have him detained on the charge of murder; but he should
have him detained as an aider and abettor in the charge
that had been preferred against Polioni.
The charge having been read over to Gregorio, he made
no remark, and was locked up.