The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-13 00:00:00

THE GREAT GOLD ROBBERY.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT--(THIS DAY).
OLD COURT.
_ _

(Before Mr. Baron Martin and Mr. Justice Willes.)
The prisoners, Pierce, Burgess, and Tester were this
morning placed at the bar charged with the gold bullion
robbery on the South-Eastern Railway in May, 1855.
There was very little excitement or interest evinced in
the proceedings on the part of the public. The various
indictments charging the prisoners with the robbery
were read over to them by Mr. Straight, clerk of ar-
raigns, to each of which the prisoners severally pleaded
not guilty.
Mr. Sergeant Shee, Mr. Bodkin, and Mr. Monk were
counsel for the prosecution ; Mr. Sergeant Parry and
Mr. Ribton defended Pierce ; Mr. Sergeant Ballantine
and Mr. Sleigh defended Tester ; and Mr. Giffard, Mr.
Poland, and Mr. H. F. Lewis defended Burgess.
Mr. Sergeant Shee, in stating the case to the jury,
said that it was scarcely possible to believe that
they had not learnt through the usual channels of public
information the general history of the gold robbery
committed on the South-Eastern Railway, and he cau-
tioned them not to attend to any information they might
have so gained, but to confine their attention to the
statement he should be able to prove by the evidences of
the various witnesses he should call before them. The
prisoners were indicted for having committed this rob-
bery on the night of the 15th May, 1855, when a large
amount of gold was entrusted to the company by
persons of the name of Able, Spielman, and Bult,
and the learned Sergeant then laid the circumstances of
the robbery before the jury. The case rested principally
on the evidence of Agaria convict, but it would be their
duty to require that his evidence should be corroborated.
The evidence of Agar he should corroborate by most
respectable witnesses—indeed so much so that their
evidence alone would present the strongest case of
circumstantial evidence he bad ever known, that the
robbery was committed by the knowledge and conniv-
ance of the prisoners in the train of which Burgess was
the guard. The learned counsel said that Agar's indcce-
ment to give the information he had, with reference to
this robbery, arose from a breach of trust and faith
on the part of Pierce towards Fanny Kay and
his child relative to property be had placed
in his hands for their benefit and support. It was
lamentable to find so much industry, dexterity, perse-
verance, and knowledge displayed on the part of the
prisoners, and had it not been met in the same manner
by the prosecution the perpetrators of this robbery
would never have been detected.
The learned Sergeant then called
Edward Agar, who entered the witness box in custody.
He said—l am a convict, under sentence of transportation
for life for uttering a forged banker's cheque. lam one
of the persons by whom the robbery of gold was effected.
I know the prisoners at the bar. I have known Pierce
more than five years. He was not in the company's
employ when I first knew him. I have known
Burgess and Tester about three or four years; They
were both in the company's employ. I first had a
conversation with Pierce about four years since in re-
ference to this robbery. It was after my return from
America. He was a clerk at a betting-office in King-
street, Covent-garden. I met him accidentally. I had had
a conversation with Pierce before going to America to
commit the robbery, but I declined then, not thinking it
practicable. Pierce asked me when I met him if I had
thought any more of the robbery. I said it was impos-
sible to be done unless the keys could he got. He said
he thought he could get them if I would undertake it,
I had several meetings after with Pierce on the subject
of the robbery. Pierce said he thought he could get
the keys if I had no objection to complete the rubbery.
Tester and Burgess's names were mentioned, and Pierce
said he would endeavour to get the keys of Tester to get
impressions of them. I asked him how many were to
be connected with the robbery, and he said four—Tester,
Burgess, himself, and-myself. I had not seen Tester at
this time. I had a conversation with the whole of the
prisoners about 12 months before the robbery. On one
occasion I went to Margate, where Tester was station-
master, to see him. Ha wished to see me because he
could show me the cash-box if that was of any service.
I took tea with him, and he showed me the chest and
key for t tk:ng the cash up and down the line, and asked
me if I thought it would be of any tis-3 to me. I said no,
He said it was a pity Pierce had not mentioned it to
him before, as he could then have given me the impres-
sion of the bullion keys. The witness then detailed his
movements shortly after this, and the opinion he
gave to Pierce how the thing could be done,
and said it was at my suggestion that Pierce and I went
to Folkestone, and took lodgings to watch the arrival
and departure of the trains. I went then by the name
of Adams. In consequence of the particular attention
of the police to our movements Pierce left, and I re-
mained a few days longer. Our object in going to Folke-
stone was to see the bullion chest opened, and where the
keys were kept there. When I came up to London I
saw Pierce and Burgess. Pierce then resided in Wal-
nut-tree-walk, Lattibeth. It was arranged afterwards
by Pierce that I should go to Folkestone, and Tester
would introduce me there to a person named Sharman,
a clerk in the company's employ, who would show me the
keys. I went down, and Teeter was to meet me there as
though by accident. This was about 8 or 9 months before
the robbery. I stopped at the Pavilion Hotel at
Folkestone. I saw P:erce and Tester at the up-station
on a Sunday, and we walked together down to the
harbour-station arm-in-arm. Tester then introduced me
to Sherman as his friend ; it was then proposed that we
should go to the Pavilt n Hotel, where we had some
sherry and biscuits, during which time Tester and Shar-
man spoke of how business was progressing with the
company, and how much bullion passed over the line.
I and Tester dined together that day, and he asked rue
my opinion of the rubbery, and I said that I thought I
should be able to do it, now that I bad had an introduc-
tion to Sharman. Tester left for London ; I remained
and walked about with Sharman, but he was
a sedate young man, and I could not get any-
thing from him. I afterwards returned to
London, and communicated to Pierce and Burgess that
I could do nothing with Sharman, and suggested the
matter should rest for a time. About this time I was
informed by Pierce that be had received a letter from
Tester that one of the keys of the bullion chest was lost,
and that the chest would have to be sent to Messrs.
Chubbs' to be repaired. It was proposed that Tester
should be supplied with wax to take the impression of
the keys when the bullion chest came up, but I objected,
saying that I must take the impression myself. By
appointment 1 met Tester after at the Arcade, near
the station at London-bridge, who informed me
that he had not got the key. We met several
times without success. Not liking to stand
so long in the arcade we appointed to meet at a beer-
shop at the corner of Tooley-street, kept by a person
named Wallace. I met Pierce and Tester there, when
Tester produced the keys. I said I must go into another
room and take the impression. Tester hesitated to part
with them, and asked me if I.could not do it there. I
said no. I rang the bell, and was shown to a bed-room
under the excuse of washing my hands, and there I took
'
an impression of one of the keys • after that I returned
the key to Tester. I knew the train Burgess worked.
We were in the habit of meeting Burgess at Stearne'.4
pnblichouse, which the railway officials frequented. I
there informed him how the matter was progressing.
I was first taken to the house by Pierce. It.
was then arranged that I should go to Folke-
stone so as to be able to get an impression of the •
keys kept there. I went to the Pavilion Hotel, and
Pierce forwarded to me there a box containing 200 or
300 sovereigns, which I had advanced for that purpose.
I received a letter by pose from Pierce, informing me.
that he had forwarded the box to me. It was insured in
• the usual manner and addressed to me in the name of
Archer, to the care of Chapman or Ledger, at theoffice.
I called and inquired for the box cnce before it arrived.
It arrived on a Sunday, whilst I was at the higher
station awaiting the arrival of the train. I saw the
?hest arrive and I followed it to the lower station where
It vas opened by Cbaprean with one key. There
were two locks on the safe. I noticed that he took the
key from a cupboard on the left hand side at the back of
the office. He took out the box I expected and gave it
to me, and he also gave me a feral to sign acknowledging
its receipt. I told him I could not write, as I had injured
my finger, and at my request he filled it up, and I signed
it in the name of E. f',,. Archer. The form produced is the
one Iso signed. I took the box to the Pavilion Hotel,
where I opened it and took out the sovereigns. I returned
to London and had an interview with Pierce arid Bur-
gess, and told them where the key was kept. It was then
arranged that I and Pierce should go to Dover, and
walk across the cliffs to Folkestone. About a
week after that we went down by a train that
had arrived there at mid-day. We stopped at a
commercial house, called the Rose, opposite the church
at Dover. In the latter part of the day we walked to
Folkestone, over the cliffs. We arrived there before the
arrival of the Boulogne boat. We walked on to the
harbour station. I saw the boat arrive, and how the
station-master managed with the passengers and luggage.
We saw Chapman and Ledger leave the office. Pierce
then went to the• office, whilst I remained at the door.