The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-03 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

Abraham Marks was placed at tho bar, on remand,
charged with being concerned in an extensive robbery o f
silk of the value of £BOO.

The prosecutor, Liefmann Schaal), said he arrived in
this country a short time ago, and went to live at 37,
Alfred-place, a house in the occupation of the uncle ofAle
prisoner. Whilst there he received a quantity of silk, and
shortly after it had been deposited in the house a great
quantity of it was stolen. The prisoner slept in the back
parlour.
In cross-examination by Mr. Straight, who appeared for
the prisoner, the prosecutor said he had no occupation in
London. He formerly carried on business at Arnheim,
in Holland, in woollen goods. He also dealt in silk to a
great extent. He left Arnheim about five weeks ago, be-
cause his business did not get on regularly ; he was a
bankrupt, and came over hero until his affairs wore arranged,
and then he intended to go back. He did not bring a large
quantity of goods with him, but he had sent some over, but
not a short time before his bankruptcy. The silks stolen
came from Holland, and were sent over by Meyer, whose
goods they were. He is a cabinetmaker, and lives in
Arnheim, but the last time he had seen him was in the
vicinity of the court.

Mr. Lewis, who appeared for tho prosecution, said he
should like to know the exact course that was to be taken
by the defence.

Mr. Straight said it was exceedingly difficult at that
moment to say tho exact courso, but as matters at present
stood ho should endeavour to show that the silks had never
been stolen, but had been disposed of by the witness, who
was a defaulting bankrupt.
Mr. Vaughan said tho learned counsel was quite entitled
to put any question which would tend to show that the
prisoner had not stolen tho silk.

Mr. Straight wished to show that it was witness who
was dealing fraudulently with tho silk. '
Mr. Vaughan—According to tho depositions the silk be-
longs to Meyer, who ought to be called for the prosecu-
tion.

Cross-examination continued—He could not state exactly
the value of the goods he had in the house, but he believed
they were worth about £1,400 or £1,600. He did not
know they were worth £2,500. He had been advised to
offer the prisoner £lOO if he told him where the goods
were. He had not actually done so, but he had been ad-
vised to do sa. He was in bed until half-past 10 on the
morning following the robbery, but he did not hear any
one move during the night. The goods were placed at
the lower part of the house, but he slept upstairs. He was
in great terror at the discovery of the robbery. He ob-
served that a table-cloth in the prisoner's room had been
removed and could not be found.

Charles Cole, an errand-boy, employed at 37, Alfred-
place, said he thought he told the prisoner that the silk
was in the box marked No. 1. The prisoner made the in-
quiry before the box was opened. Mr. Ferguson opened
the box, the prisoner being present. Some of the silk was
taken out, but he could not say whether it was put back.
It was about 12 o'clock at noon when the box was opened.
Rosa Cohen said she was a servant residing at Mr.
Marks, and was so on the night of the robbery. On that
day she fastened up the door. She placed a string in such
a manner on the door that no person could force it open
without breaking the string. Before she went to bed she
asked the prisoner to call her at five o'clock the next morn-
ing, and he said it was time enough for any servant to get
up at seven o'clock. She saw all the silk safe before she
went to bed. She had the conversation with the prisoner
about half-past ten in the evening. The prosecutor had
gone to bed. She heard the prisoner come up to call Mr.
Marks at six o'clock, and say thieves had been in the
house, and had taken the silks and the table cover away.
Cross-examined—Mr. Marks locked the front door, but
she knew that before she went to bed all the doors were
secure, and all the inmates had retired to rest.

By Mr. Vaughan—The prisoner went to his bed about
half-past4ten. It was in the back parlour. She sow the
cloth on the table after the prisoner's bed was made up on
the sofa. Two men were at work painting the house out-
side, but none within. Only one person came to open the
box. All the persons who lodged in the house on the
night of the robbery still remain there; none have left.
Police Constable 86 E, said on the morning of the 26th
of Sept. he was on duty near Mr. Mark's house. He wen t
up to the street door and found it open. He rang the bell;
when the prisoner came to the door in his shirt. He (wit-
ness) then went into his room, and, on looking at his
trousers, said he had lost throe sovereigns. Downstairs he
found a screwdriver and a pair of pincers.
By Mr. Vaughan—Prisoner said ho could not account
for the door being open. Ho (prisoner) also made the re-
mark that the tablecloth had been taken away. Mr. Marks,
the prisoner, and he (witness) went downstairs to see whe-
ther the silk was safe, when it was discovered that a largo
quantity of silk had been stolen. Ho noticed that the area
door was wide open, and examined the place minutely and
could not find marks of violence on any part of the pre-
mimes. There were no marks on the wall of the back
yard. •
Robert Carter, 117 E, said that last Wednesday morning
about 11 o'clock the prisoner was given into his custody
by the first witness. Ho told him he was charged with
stealing a quantity, of silk from the kitchen over which he
(prisoner) slept. The prisoner said some one had stolen
three sovereigns from his pocket and a table cloth from the
room in which•he slept while he •was in bed. Ho denied
all knowledge of the silk. On the way to the station-house
he said "recollect one thing, it was brought from Holland
on the cross ; I might as well have it on the cross as them."
He then said his poor old mother, if she knew he was
locked up, would break lief heart.

Mr. Lewis said that was as far as he could carry the