The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-16 00:00:00

The Late Robberies in the City.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting of the inhabitants
of the ward of Cheap was held at the Guildhall
Coffee-house, to consider police matters. Mr.
Alderman Allen occupied the chair.

The CaAmmANhaving briefly opened the proceed-
ings by reading the requisition,
Mr. J. BENNET'. said he was not satisfied with the
efficiency of the City police, and some time ago he
ventured, to question the infallibility of the City
Police Commissioner. Under a police force properly
organised and rightly officered and manned the
string of burglaries which had happened ought
not to have occurred. Ile contended that the mise-
rable salaries paid to the police leftthe City without
its protectors, as the men could get better salaries in
the large firms and at the railway stations. When
anything was wrong they went to the police com-
mittee, and they said that their functions were those
of finance. They then went to the higher branch of
the corporation, viz., the Court of Aldermen, and no
doubt there our aldermen were preparedto say what
they could do, and how they could meet the ques-
tion by fair discussion and inquiry. Their magis-
trates assumed to themselves the direction of the
police.
Mr. GIBBONS said the magistrates did not assume
that position. They were acting under an act of
Parliament.

Mr. BENNETr said he was not satisfied with the
conduct of the aldermen with regard to the conduct
of the police. He took up the question not only for
"their sakes-but for the public good. Some time back
they stood up for theindependence of the City police,
but if anything wrong took place in the performance
of their duty, it was right of the inhabitants to make
their complaints. He trusted that such a memorial
would be presented to the Court of Common Coun-
cil as wouldprevent the recurrence of these robberies
in future. He moved the following resolution :
" That, considering the vast amount of valuable

property accumulated throughout the City, it is the
duty of the police authoritidto afford every possible
protection for its security against thieves, and this
meeting is opinion that such object will not be at-
tained without the aid of a higher class of men, for
whose retention in the force a more adequate remu-
neration must be provided, and by an increase in
the number of constables."
Mr. BARNES seconded the motion.
Mr. GIBBONS, as a member of the Police Com-
mittee, defended the constitution of the police, and
said that what was required more than the increase
in the number', of men, was better pay and accom-
modation. The alderman reminded the meeting
that Sir R. Mayne stated before the committee
of the Houses of Parliament that the duties of
the police were to take care of the outside of the
house, and that they did not appertain to the
taking care of jewellers' stocks inside the house ;
that, so long as the streets were properly patrolled,
that was sufficient for the policeman.
Mr. STEWART defended the Commissioner of Police,
Col. Fraser, against the attacks which had been
made upon him, and contended that he had done
more for the interests of the City in the manage-
ment of the police than the late Mr. Daniel Whittle
Harvey. He drew a comparison between the lan-
guage of Mr. Bennett two years ago, when he was
a member of the Police Committee, and that uttered
recently. He concluded by moving the following
amendment :—" That the investigation into all the
circumstances attending the late robbery on the
premises of Mr. Walker, of Corrthill, having been
undertaken by the General Purposes Committee of
the Court of Aldermen, and by the Police Commit-
tee of the Court of Common Council, it is at pre-
sent inexpedient that this ward meeting should ex-
press any opinion thereon."
Mr. BAINES spoke in favour of Mr. Bennett's

motion.
After some further discussion Mr. Bennett with-
drew his resolution, and the motion of Mr. Stewart
was put as a substantive motion and agreed to.
A vote of thanks to the worthy alderman in the
chair closed the proceedings.

The Great Burglary and Robbery of Watches
arid Jewellery in the City.

A respectable-looking, elderly man, who gave the
name of David Roberts, and described himself as a
weaver, residing at 45, West-street, Devonshire-
street, Mile-end, was yesterday placed at the bar of
the Mansion-house, in custody of Detective Ser-
geant Theodore H. Foulger, before the Lord Mayor,
charged with feloniously entering the premises of
Mr. John Walker, of 68, Cornhill, between the night
of Saturday, the 4th, and the morning of the 6th
inst., and stealing therefrom a large quantity of
watches and jewellery, value about £6,000.
Mr. Lewis, jun., appeared to prosecute.
It having become known that some one was in
custody upon the charge, the court was crowded,
and the case created a great deal of interest.
Mr. Lewis, in opening the case, said he appeared
on behalf of Mr. Walker, of Cornhill, watchmaker
and jeweller, to prosecute the prisoner for having,
been concerned in a very ingenious burglary. Be-
tween the night of Saturday, the 4th, and Monday,
the 6th inst., the premises of Mr. Walker, situate at
68, Cotnhill, was entered into, and property, con-
victing of watches and jewellery, stolen therefrom,
to the value of about £6,000. The premises of Mr.
Walker, on the Saturday afternoon in question,
were left in charge of Mr. Walker, jun., and the
shopman, whose name was Smith. About half-past
five o'clock, Mr. Walker, jun., left the shop for the
purpose of proceeding to Mr. Walker's other pre-
mises near Regent-street, to see them safely locked.
His brother generally had the charge of these pre-
mises, but on that occasion he had gone out of
town. Mr. Walker, jun., left the premises in Corn-
hill in charge of Mr. Smith, the foreman, who locked
up the premises, and left them, as he supposed, per-
fectly secure. Before doing so, he put the whole of
the stock in the iron safe. When the shutters were
up there were holes in them, and mirrors were placed
so that by looking theough the holes the police or the
VASPTSt by could seethe iron safe and the water closet,
the door of which was left open, so as to expose the
interior to view, that being the only place on Mr.
Walker's premises where anyone could conceal them-

selves. On Monday morning, nothing having trans.
pired to attract attention, the foreman proceeded to
the shop as usual, and upon opening the back shop
the first thing that attracted his attention was a hole
in the flooring. He then looked to the iron safe and
as he did so it opened to his touch, and when he
looked in, to his surprise he found the whole of the
Property he had placed in it on the Saturday night
previous had been removed. He (Mr. Lewis) said
e need hardly observe that a burglary committed
under such circumstances had given rise to great
excitement. Of course the inquiry was one of ex-
treme moment, as it was extremely hard that when
Persons left their property, believing it to be per-
fectlysafe, on going to their business as usual they
should find the whole of it removed without having
attracted the attention of those who had to guard
eircumatal7,_tirse
the street,
who passed the premises. The
Mr.to
to wakese:taJiof course, given great uneasiness
place 'without the that such a thing should have taken
property
very noses ;and
that policevras having the slightest trace of
he feitas it were, stolen under their
that it could not have been
committed but by some
burglars. Little was very expert and experienced
be-
forehislordship, to judge
fromnown uf
tthhee
iadne vc
he
c ewwa so
u
adduce, whether or not he had
this very extensive robbery. Abeen large concerned in
been offered for the apprehension ofthereward had
con-
cerned, and a very clear description had been given
parties
of the property lost, which had been ad
the public. Mr. Walker had determined, advertised
itseci to
the cost might be, if it were within humana'tsekv'
to bring the perpetrators to justice, despite the
ex-
pense. Nothing, however, was heard which would
the
give the slightest clue until previousday (Tues•
day), when Sergeant Foulger, who had been engaged
in the matter, and who had shown a great deal of
tact and experience, followed the prisoner into a
watchmaker's shop in Wilderness-row, Goswell-
street, and saw on the counter the movement of a
watch. Ile asked the prisoner where he got it from,
and the prisoner attempted to go away, but Foulger
caught hold of him and again asked him where he
got it from. He said he picked it up in the street.
Foulger said that would not do for him, and the