The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-23 00:00:00

SINGULAR APPREHENSION OF A

GANG OF SUSPECTED BURGLARS.

During the last six weeks -the family and domestics of
Henry Alwin Soames, Esq., a gentleman residing in Van-
burgh Fields, next Maimeshill, Greenwich-park, have been
subject to strange underground noises and smoke proceeding
from the same direction. These have generally occurred at
night. The servants, when in the passages leading to the
kitchen and cellars, considered that they heard persons talk-
ing and knocking with some heavy instrument near the cellar
situated under the parlour, which faces the lawn in the rear
of the mansion. On Sunday last the family and servants
were all absent, except the cook, and she became very seri-
ously alarmed at the strange noises. She therefore deter-
mined on securing every door on the premises, and on her
master's return borne told him that she must leave her
situation if left alone again—she felt convinced that the
house was haunted. About four o'clock on Tuesday after-
noon Mr. Soames, being satisfied that some person or persons
were at work underground, went into Greenwich-park and
met police-constable Patmore, 132 It, to whom he related
the circumstances, and also that smoke frequently found its
way into the lower part of the house, where there was mai-
their chimney nor fireplace. The officer accompanied Mr.
Soames to the house, a large, old-fashioned family mansion,
overlooking from the back front the Thames and a very
steep and rugged hanging wood.
The police-constable, attended by the gardener, coach-
man, Sc., went on to the paddock or lawn, and at the bottom
of which, 140 yards from the house, in the hanging wood,
drew his attention to an opening of brickwork into a sub-
terraneous passage, leading to the centre of the mansion.
A spaniel dog belonging to Mr. Soames being on the spot,
the constable requested that he might be induced to search
the cavern (as they called it) in search of rats, &c. The
dog went freely in, and immediately afterwards a voice was
heard at the far end calling upon the dog to quit the place.
The dog returned, followed at a distance by a man, who,
on seeing several persons at the entrance, retreated back to
his hiding place, refusing to surrender himself. A bundle
of straw was then brought from the stable, put into the
mouth of the tunnel, and set fire to. This not having the
desired effect, pickaxes and spades were procured, and two
large openings made through the lawn to the brickwork
sufficient to admit a stout man. More straw was then set
fire to, and dropped into the openings made. This had the
desired effect, when three blackguard fellows presented
themselves, nearly suffocated, and implored to be released
from their perilous situation. They were taken into custody,
after which Sergeant Smith, 27, and police-constable, Pat -
more, 132 R, accompanied by
,Mr. Soames's servants, lan-
thorns in hand, proceeded to explore the retreat.
They entered the passage in the hanging wood, on their
hands and knees, and on proceeding something more than
100 feet they discovered an open space, the bottom of which
was boarded, and a quantity of bricks piled up and covered
with boards, for seats or tables, and on one side another
quantity of bricks formed into a fireplace, and which had
been used for that purpose. On removing the boards from
the bottom of this cell, an immense quantity of feathers
were discovered about a foot and a half deep, plucked from
all sorts of game and poultry, amongst which they found a
cash-box and other small boxes, which had been broken open
and their contents removed. Many appeared to be jewel and
trinket-boxes and cases, several pocket handkerthiefs, sundry
rags, Sc., and a letter from a gentleman at Portlarliciroeeni!
nephew, Master E. Newman, of the Upper §
wich Hospital. They proceeded from • this piraicchohotto,h2:rbootiugthwa
passage in which they coald stand nearly_ wall,up
from which
yards, when they were stopped by b
about 50 bricks appeared to.
havaeappbeeaernedrectoentbley rloeomszeadn,
and upon touching one,
opening was made into thwehiccellai Of the house. But for
this timely discovery,
lit is apparent that a robbery of the
promises would shorty have been effected. Neither Mr.
Soames or any of his family had any knowledge of this
passage, having only recently removed to the
robutseerfromranoons
his late residence on Shooter's HilL It is sup-
posed to have existed for cent-axles -
Oa Wednesday the prisoners, described in the police-sheet
as Henry Colegate, alit* Collet, of Ratcliffe-street, Green-
wich, sailor ; George Phillips, of 22, Queen-street, Green-
wich, no occupation ; and John Jones, of Sleughtees-rents,
East Greenwich, sailor, were charged before Mr. Traill at
the Greenwich Police-court, with being found secreted in a
cave kn the enclosed ground of H. A. Soames, Maize-
hill, hill, Greenwich, for the purpose of committing ; also
with breaking part of the cell in the station-house.
Police-sergeant Smith, 27 R, and police-constable Pat-
more, 132 R, deposed to apprehending the prisoners, under
the circumstances above detailed, and that they had found
the model of a ship and several other articles, on further
searching the cave. The model of the ship Smith thought
belonged to a gentleman named Gladstone, residing near
Blackheath. The police-sergeant prayed a remand tor fur-
ther inquiries.
Mr. Traill said be would remand them for a week or longer.
Remanded accordingly.