The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-08 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

PLATE ROBBERY AT THE ATHENEUM CLUB.—Joseph
Cocking, an elderly man, was placed at the bar, charged
with stealing a quantity of silver plate, the property of the
trustees of the Atheneum Club.

Mr. Bennett said he was biltler at the Athenaeum Club.
There were two under butlers, the prisoner being one of
them. He left on the 17th of January. Previous to his
leaving he had been informed that there was to be an
examination of the old and unused plate in his care. He
went away the next morning without notice. On going
to the drawer in which the plate was kept, he (witness)
found a letter in which the prisoner said he had been in-
duced to pawn some of the plate through trouble at home.
The property had all been recovered, it having been
pledged with pawnbrokers in the neighbourhood of the
prisoner's residence.

William Joseph Caseley, assistant to Daniel Brown,
pawnbroker, Cranburn-street, identified the spoons and
ladles as property pledged at his master's shop by the pri-
soner. He obtained £3 10s. on them. He pledged them
on the 9th of February.

Mr. James Aldhous, of 67, Berwick-street, Soho, pawn-
broker, produced four silver table spoons and other articles,
pledged at his shop .on the 25th of April. The sum of
£3 was advanced on them. He recognised two other dup-
licates relating to plate issued from his shop. Ono was for
a silver cup, September, 1863, for £2, and the other four
gravy spoons for £5, in 1864. He could not identify the
prisoner. The property was pledged by a person giving
the name of John Cox.

Charles,Halford, assistant to Mr. Stephens, Brewer-
street, Golden-square, pawnbroker, produced two silver
punch-ladles, pledge at his master's shop for 125., and 12
silver wine labels for 15s. in the latter end of last year. The
name of the party pledging was given as John Cox. He
could not identify the prisoner as that person.

William Harrison, assistant to Mr. Fleming, pawnbroker,
Brewer-street, Golden-square, produced 8. silver wine-
labels, pledged at his employer's shop on the 10th of
August, 1864.

Mr. Bennett was recalled, and identified the articles pro-
duced as the property of the trustees of the Athenaeum
Club—viz., Earl Stanhope, Sir R. Murchison, Lord Over-
stone, Sir C. Eastlake, and General Sabine.
Charles Bulcher, 197 C, said about one o'clock this
morning ho went to 16, Broad-street, Golden-square, and
saw the prisoner. He asked if his name was Cocking, and
he said it was. He told him he belonged to the police and
that he should take him into custody for stealing a quantity
of plate from the Athenaeum Club. He said he was not
the person, but that it was his brother, and that he was up
stairs. Witness went up stairs to the second floor and there
he saw the prisoner's wife. He told him he was the man
that was at the club and that he should take him into
custody. Prisoner said it was a bad job, and that when
he took the articles he thought he should be able to re-
place them. He also said he was in hopes, as it was se
long ago, that the matter was blown ever. He then took
him to the police--station.

Mr. Flowers—You did not
_see the prisoner's brother
when you went upstairs?

Witness—No, your worship.

On being asked what he had to say in answer to the

charge,

The prisoner said he had been induced to pledge the pro-
perty through distress and trouble.
Mr. Flowers said it ought to be stated at the time the
prisoner was tried that the property was old silver articles
out of use, as that might give a colour to the prisoner's as-
sertion about being able to replace the property.
He was then fully committed tor trial.