The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-08 00:00:00

The Great Jewel Robbery in the City.

MANSION-HOUSE.
The following appeared in our late Edition of yesterday
evening :
The prisoners David Roberts, Henry Geoffrey, Thomas
Casley, Thomas Brewerton, James Hurley, William Brown,
alias Scotty, Martha Geoffrey, Anne Casley, Louisa
Brewerton, and Ellen Hurley, who are under remand for
barglariously breaking and entering the premises of Mr.
Walker, watchmaker and jeweller, Cornhill, and stealing
therefrom property to the amount of £6,000, were again
placed at the bar before the Lord Mayor.
Mr. Lewis, jun., appeared for the prosecution.
There was also a second charge against the prisoners
for being concerned in a burglary, at the house of Mr.
Johnson, a jeweller, in Threadneedle-street.
A gentleman, an attorney, who said his name was Webb,
said he attended that day to inform his lordship that his
premises in the Euston-road were broken open last Christ-
mas, and property to the amount of £20,000 taken away in
an iron safe, weighing 7001 b. or 8001 b. The safe was after-
wards found in Kennington-fields, the inconvertible
property was found safe, but that which could be negotiated
had been stolen. He had fortunately recovered the safe,
but his loss by the robbery had been over £l,OOO.
Sergeant Moss said—l am a detective in the City police.
I have been engaged since January last, in company with
Inspectors Potterand Brennan, to discover the perpetrators
of the robbery. On the afternoon of the 24th of February
I went to the house of Brewerton, No. 142, Whitechapel-
road.

One of the prisoners (Brewerton) asked that the wit-
nesses might be ordered out of court, and the Lord Mayor
directed them to leave the court.
Witness continued—lnspector Brennan and Ranger
went through the tea shop adjoining 142, to the rear
of the house. Inspector Potter and myself went into
the house by the front door. We found the Geoffreys and
the Brewertons. I told them I should apprehend them for
being concerned in a great robbery at Cot nhill. I seized
Brewerton, and Potter took Geoffrey. They commenced
struggling and exclaimed " Who are you ?" I then saw the
woman Brewerton run upstairs. I heard a great noise
overhead. By this time I had overpowered Brewerton,
and having given him in charge to another constable I
went upstairs, and found Mrs. Brewerton holding one of
the constables by the whiskers. I released Mr. Potter, and
then he searched the female and found a number of gold
chains in her pocket. They were in five parcels. I pro-
duce them. Parcel No. 1 contains three brooch chains, two
seals, and one key ; No. 2 contains seven alberts, two
guard chains, three brooch chains, and one necklet ; No.
3 contains eleven guard chains, eight alberts, one guard, ono
piece of chain ; No. 4 seven alberts, one guard ; No. 5 six
alberts, seven do. in separate paper, four do., two guards, one
piece of chain, and some broken gold. I also took some
money and bank-notes, and money from her pocket, and a
gold swivel chain, a braquet chain, and four jump rings. I
heard a noise down stairs, and I there found Brewerton
again struggling, evidently for the purpose of creating
confusion for the women to get rid of the property. I
handcuffed him, and afterwards they were all taken to the
police-station. Ranger was left in charge of the house. I
then went with Potter and Brennan to No. 13, Ely-terrace,
Bow-road, the residence of Casley and Geoffrey. Inspector
Potter knocked at the door, and Mrs. Casley opened the
window and looked out. She said what do you want—who
are you? Potter told her they were police officers, and told
her to open the door. We waited for a few moments and then
entered. We went upstairs, where I saw Mrs. Casley and
the male prisoner, Casley pssed from the back-room to the
front. We told them they were charged with others for
breaking and entering the premises of Mr. Walker, Corn-
hill, and stealing a quantity of jewellery. Inspector
Brannan took charge of the two prisoners, and I and Potter
went into the room I had seen Casley leave. I there found
a large box, which I found to contain a large quantity of
watches. I corded it up and the police took charge of it.
Superintendent Durkin, I believe, had charge of it. On
searching the kitchen I found a bunch of skeleton keys, a
jemmy, and a piece of steel.
Mr. Lewis—l shall prove that this jemmy corresponds
with the marks on the iron safe of Mr. Walker.
Witness continued—l found a life-preserver on a bed in
the back room. We also found some shawls and black
silk, which has been identified. I also found in the box a
large number of gold guard Albert chains. All the chains
I have been speaking of are gold. I also found some gold
coins and money. I also found one £5O-note, £196 10s. in
gold in a purse, one £5-note, £l9 in gold, a gold chain, tw•
ring; a keeper, and a box ring. A deposit note and other
things were found, but I can't say where. There were 52
gold and one silver watches in the box. I have forwarded
a list of the numbers of the watches to Mr. Walker, and he
has identified them.
The Lord Mayor—The whole of the fifty-two ?
Witness—Yes, my lord.
Examination continued—l rode in the cab to the station
with Casley. He said, " You've nearly all Walker's pro-
perty in the box. Don't hurt my wife. I should plead
guilty myself to Walker's. My wife knows nothing about
it." He also said, " What robberies are you going to buff
to me ? Mind, I was not in the shawl robbery, or John-
son's. I was not in London at the time of either. of them."
He said, " The two centre-bits you will find at Ned's
(Brewerton) are the things that we used at Walker's and
Johnson's." He said, " The gold charms found at my
house are from Johnson's. If lam asked to account for
them, I shall say I found them on Geoffrey's stairs."
The Lord Mayor asked if any of the prisoners had any
questions to put to the witness.
In answer to the prisoner Casley, Moss said—l was in
the cab with Sergeant Potter when you were taken to the
station. He must have heard what took place in it. I have
made no inquiry relative to the shawls. I have heard no-
body but yourself say you were in Birmingham at the time
of Johnson's robbery. I charged you at Bow-street with
being concerned with others in breaking into and entering
Mr. Walker's. The charge of robbery at Mr. Johnson's
has not been. dropped against you.
Scotty—You don't know the man, my lord. You don't
know of what he'd be guilty.
Casley—They say anything. A thousand pounds is
nothing to you, my lord, but it will put the witness into a
good shop. (Laughter.)
The Lord Mayor—lt appears that the business has pu
two of your friends into good shops. (Laughter.)
Casley—l have no objection to this witness's evidence,
It is all true except that which is perfectly false. (Laugh.
ter,

Sergeant Moss—The prisoner Cagey is called Counsellor
Kelley, and practices at a judge and jury society. I can
tell you some more of the conversation I had with your
father if you wish it.
Casley—Well, no, you needn't do that—you have said
quite enough.
Inspector Brennan said—l was with Inspector Potter
when the house of Brewerton was entered. I took Mrs.
Geoffrey in custody. The prisoners were taken to Leman-
street station. Casley said, " I'm right for Walker's job, but
not for any other." I saw Brewerton in Leman-street
Police Station. He said, " Whatever you find on my wife
I gave her; she's innocent, and knows nothing about it."
After the first remand, Brewerton called me to the police
cell. He said, "If you will give my old woman £lO, you
may keep £4O. I'll say nothing about it. I won't, so help
me God." I have compared the marks of the jemmy, and
I find it corresponds with the marks on Mr. Walker's safe.
In answer to the prisoner Casley, Inspector Brennan
said—You told me you had some ' twirls." Perhaps I
had better explain what they are.
Casley—l'll save you the trouble. They are skeleton
keys. (Laughter.)
Inspector Brennan—l did not take anything off my
person. _

Casley—What, nothing?
Brennan—Well, some money.
Casley—lsn't money •a thing. (Laughter.) If I under-
stand the evidence, it appears that nothing has been iden-
tified as far as I am concerned with respect to either Wal-
ker's or Johnson's robbery?
Brennan—l believe not.

Casley—l shall be able, my lord, to prove a complete
alibi as far as Johnson's and Walker's robbery is concerned.
I may as well say that the whole of Inspector Brennan's
evidence has been the perfect truth.
Joseph George Hicks said—l am an engraver, and live
in Northampton-square. The prisoner Roberts called upon
me about three weeks ago. I have known him as a gentle-
man for the whole of that time. He brought me a plate of
a watch ; it was quite plain. I could not see whether it
had been previously engraved. He told me to put the name
of Hilton, Wilmington-square upon it. I took the plate
after I had engraved it to a house in Wilderness-row. I
left it for him there. I have heard Roberts called "the
quaker." I never called him so.
The Lord Mayor—Have you ever done any work of the
same description for him before ?
Witness—No, never.
Mr. Walker, jun.—l have examined the watches and
chains found by the police. I identify them as the property
of my father. Many of them bear our private mark. I
should think the value of the property I have seen about
£1,250. It formed a portion of the property stolen.
Mr. Lewis said that was the length he proposed to go to-
day with respect to Mr. Walker's robbery. He had now to
ask that the greater portion of the valuable property iden-
tified as Mr. Walker's might be given up to him.
The Lord Mayor said he did not think it advisable to
make any order in the matter.
suMchr.a Llaer
property remaining in the hands
of
tWoaflk is greatly inconvenienced by
er
wi
the police.
sge a—mMo ur
The Lord Mayor—You will want a remandand by that time I will tell you what I
canindtohe caintshe
0,
matter.
Mr. Lewis—Very well, my lord. I shall now proceed
with the charge of Johnson's robbery.risoners do you ex-
cept in the case you are now The Lord Mayer—Which of
about to
thep
go into.
Mr. Lewis—Roberts and the B rowe rtons.
e the
until this day week.
dock. Walker's cfse is remanded
Roberts and Brewerton having left the
The Lord Mayor—Then let those persons leave
The prisoners
court,
Inspector Brennan of the F Division said—On the 24th
of York-place,
January I went toConstable-alley, Hoxton,
and found the prisoner Brown, alias Scotty, and appre-
hended him on the charge of burglary for which he now
stands committed • On searching his trowsers' pocket I
found two signet rings ; on the shelf I found a gold watch
and chain with key attached. The two rings and Watch-
key have been identified by Mr. Johnson. On the 26th I
went to Chandler's shop, No. 23, Golden-lane, kept by a
man named Coombs, and received from him the leather
bac, now produced. In it I found a gold watch, some shirt
studs, sleeve links, locket, a pair of ear-rings, &c., all of
which have been identified by Mr. Johnson as "his pro-
p3rty. I afterwards went to the Pitt's Head,
St. Luke's, and received from Old-street,
a person named Farmer a
savings', bank book, made out to Mr. Thomas Price, and
found therein an entry of £62 2s. 6d., and
.£3B in gold. I
afterwards apprehended Hurley and two of the other pri-