The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-13 00:00:00

EXTE-WSIVE ROBBERY.

In the course of this week a very extensive system
of plunder, which has been carried on for five or six
months, was cleverly detected.
About three or four weeks ago some circumstances
occurred which led iko the suspicion that Messrs. T.
R. and F. Andrews, drapers, of Wolverhampton,
were being robbed to a vast amount, and that the re-
ceiver was connected with the Birmingham police
force. The information was in the first instrince
communicated to Superintendent Stevens, who im-
mediately devised means by which the guilty par-
ties would be detected. He opened up a communi-
cation with Messrs. Andrews, who bad not the
slightest idea, their stock being very extensive, that
property to a considerable amount had been abstracted
from their premises. From what was stated to
them, however, suspicion was excited towards one of
their assistants, named William Neale, and two of
the Birmingham detectives were sent to Wolver-
hampton, to exercise a strict surveillance over his
movements. From what they observed, there could
be no doubt of the fact that Neale was the thief, and
equally little hesitation could be felt in coming to the
conclusion that a policemen in the Birmingham force,
named Richard Mills, residing in Camden-street,
was the receiver. He also was closely watched ; and,
it was found that packages of goods were regularly
sent off by Neale, by rail and omnibus, at least once
a week, and sometimes oftener, and as regularly re-
ceived by Mills. At length it was resolved, if possi-
ble, to bring the charge home to the parties. For
this purpose some portions of the stock of Messrs..
Andrews, by direction of Mr. Stephens, went
marked, on Monday last, and they were
shortly afterwards missed. Neale was observed to
send a package off by rail, and immediately
the fact was communicated to Mr. Stephens,,
On Tuesday afternoon that gentleman, accom-
panied by Inspector Glossop, proceeded to the Sand
Pits station, where Mills was on duty, at the time
when it was expected the package would arrive..
Mills there received the parcel, signed the delivery,
book, stating that it was all right; when Mr. Ste
phens immediately showed himself, and took Mills
into custody on a charge of receiving property know-
ing it to be stolen. The fellow was thunder-struck,
and admitted that he had received great quantities of
property from Neale, although he declared that he
did not know that it was improperly obtained.
While this transaction was taking place, Mr.
Glossop hurried off to Mills's house, and was about
to institute a search, when he observed the postman
enter the door. He handed two letters to Mrs.
Mills, which were instantly snatched from her hand
by Mr. Glossop. It was exceedingly fortunate that
he did so, inasmuch as the letters were ultimately-
found to be of the greatest importance in the case.
They were from Neale, and one of them contained
the key of the box in which the goods were packed.
The other contained directions as to the prices at
which the property was to be disposed of; but espe-
cially urged upon Mills the necessity of taking the pri-
vate mark off the goods, so as to destroy their identity,
and to get rid of any he had in band as speedily as
possible, as he had a suspicion that the Birmingham
police were watching him.
This was a principal link in the evidence against
them; but stronger proofs of guilt were afterwards
found. In Mills's house was a room, fitted up as a.
sort of warehouse, and there every article of an ex-
tensive drapery stock was discovered. Costly silks,
satins, velvets, prints, calicoes, stockings, gloves, rich
laces, purses, neck ties, silk pocket handkerchiefs, and
meny other articles of drapery, to the amount of be-
tween 501. and 601., were systematically arranged.
Information of what had occurred was sent to Colonel
iiogg, the superintendent of the Wolverhampton
police, and to Mr. Andrews, both of whom hastened
to Birmingham, and found that the greater portion of
the property discovered could be identified.
Mills was consequently conveyed to Wolverhamp-
ton, and at the same time Neale was apprehended,
ss hen he at once acknowledged that he did send the
goods to Mills. It was under these circumstances
that they were brought before the Wolverhampton
magistrates on Wednesday and remanded.
Since that period further inquiry has shown that
the system of plunder alluded to has been carried on
for about six months, and to an extent that was
scarcely imagined at first. It hrs been ascertained
that no fever than 14 bulky packages had been re-
ceived by Mills during the last two months. A book
in account with the Birmingham Savings Bank, in
Neale's name, was found in Mills's house, showing a
deposit to the amount of 301., and on Neale himself
memoranda of deposits made in the Birmingham Bank
to the extent of 701. Further inquiry also revealed
the fact that Mrs. Mills had disposed of drapery goods
in the neighbourhood of her residence of the value of
nearly 601, and that a young girl, named Jane Lewis
Colesby, in the employment of a button manufacturer,
and who resided with Mills, was instrumental in
finding purchasers for articles to a similar amount.
Goods of the value of 1801. have thus been accounted
for. The list of persons to whom the girl sold arti-
cles contains the names of no fewer than 122 indivi-
duals. Tn consequence of these discoveries, both Mrs.
Mills and the girl were apprehended as accessories.
It appears that the intimacy between Mills and
Neale arose from the circumstance that both were na-
tives of the same village, situated in the southern divi-
sion of this county. Neale was generally regarded
with confidence, and Mills, who has been in the Bir-
mingham police for the last seven or eight years, was
looked upon as a quiet, steady officer, and seemingly
incapable of being involved in so serious a transac-
tion. The mode in which they did business apparently
was this :—Neale generally came to Birmingham
on Sunday, and then received the proceeds of what
sales had taken place during the week, Mills doubt-
less obtaining a very handsome per centage by way
of commission. This is an epitome of the case, so far
as at present ascertained. Yesterday (Friday) the
whole of the prisoners were taken before Mr. Leigh,
the stipendiary magistrate, when so much of the case
was stated as would justify a second remand, which
was granted till next Friday.—Birmingham Journal.