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

rabirb /fZitiott

SUN OFBICE, Seven o'Clock.

NAVAL APPOINTMENTS.—;This Day.

The following appointments were made at the Ad
rairalty this afternoon :

Commander—T. N. T. Sanlez to be Inspecting Corn
mender of the Coast Guard.
Lieutenant Wm. T. Stanbridge to be agent in charge
co° mails for service in the contract steam-vessels.

Pierce went in, took the key from the cupboard, and
brought it to me. I took the impression, gave the key
back to him, and he replaced it in the cupboard. The
door of the office was unlocked. I don't know if the
cupboard wee locked, but I imagine not. We then re
turned to Dover and had tea at the Rose. and after that
we returned to London. I then saw Burgess, and in
formed him I had taken an impression of the key ; 1_1E)
-aid it was a good job, and that he would do all in Lie
power to assist us in the robbery. I met Burgess
several times at the Marquis of Granby, at New-cross.
I had some blank keys made,and I filed them and finished
them to the impression. I commenced filing them at
Pierce's residence, at Walnut-tree-walk. Fanny Kay
had lived with me as my wife, and she and her child
were living at Ffarleyford-road. I had had a difference
with her about the time, and we were living apart. We
inade it up then, and I took a house, Cambridge-villa,
Shepherd's-bush, where we lived together again. I there
finished the keys. Pierce then left Walnut-tree.wallr,
and took a house in Crown-terrace, Hampstea:l-road. It
was arranged that after I had finished the keys I should go
down by the train and try them in the bullion chest.
I went down several times with Burgess when he had
the chest, and tried the keys before they would fit. I
watched an opportunity of getting into Burgess's van
before the starting of the train. I tried them five or six
times before they would fit. Burgess was present on
the van, and saw me try them, and saw me open the
chest with them. I never went down with any other
person in the van but Burgess. The keys being found
to fit, I learnt from Burgess and Tester that when the
tidal train went down early in the morning the bullion
was to be sent down by the mail train. It was the mail
train that was robbed. It was arranged that I
should provide lead about two hundredweight,
which we calculated 12,0001. of gold would weigh, and
which we thought would be as much as we could carry.
Pierce and I procured shot, which we placed in bags
and conveyed to Cambridge-villas. The shot waa then
placed in 81b and 4lb check bags. Fanny Kay, my
child, and a servant named Painter were at home when
this was done. I dont think Fanny Kay knew what
we were doing. We had more shot than we required,
and we threw the excess away in the streets and fields
of the neighbourhood. The small bags of shot were put
into four courier bags we had made at a shop at the corner
of Queen-street, Drury-lane. The courier bags were
made to order and to a particular size. The strength of
baga was tested at Cambridge-villa. They were made of
drab leather. Some of the stitches gave way, and I
repaired them. The shot in the coarser bags was
removed in a carpet bag with a cart and horse to
Pierce's house, Crown-terrace, Hampstead-road. I had
a black leather bag made for Tester, who consented to
go to Reigate and take part of the gold and bring it up
to London, so as to relieve us of their weight. Alt the
bags were taken to Pierce's house. Everything being in
readiness for the robbery, arrangements were made
when Burgess got on the mail train that I and
Pierce, LBurgess, and Teeter should meet at London
Bridge. I and Pierce were to go in a cab with the
courier and carpet-hag to St. Thomas-street. We hired
a cab from the stand and walked to it a short distance
from Pierce's house. Pierce had a black wig and
whiskers on. He wore a cloak arid carried two courier
bags underneath and a carpet-bag in his hand. I bad
on a cloak, and had the other two courier-bags on and
carried a carpet-bag. We drove to St. Thomas•street.
I took off my courier-bags and cloak and left them with
Pierce, whilst I walked to the 'etation and met Tester,
who told me there was no gold going down that night.
This was repeated, I think, five or six times before
the robbery was committed. On some occasions Tester
came to the cab and had a conversation with Pierce
respecting the robbery. On one occasion Pierce car-
ried a carpet-bag on his shoulder and left it with me
at a coffee - shop near the Eagle, College-street,
whilst he went home and dreseed himself up. On the
night of the robbery Pierce and I were at a public•house
near the turnpike-gate, Camden-town, where we took a
cab, with our bags, to St. Thomas-street. I got out then
ant went to the station as usual. Burgess came out
of the station, and wiped his face. That was the signal
agreed on when the bullion was going down. He
went to his house. I went back to Pierce in the cab,
and we directed the cabman to drive us to the Dover
railway office. I had previou4y seen Tester on the in-
cline, near the station, who said in a hurried manner
"All right." I went to the station and procured two
first-class tickets. We kept our courier bags
on, but gave the carpet baga to a porter.
I gave Pierce a ticket, and he got into a
first-class carriage. I walked up and down, and saw
the carpet-bag given to Burgess, who placed it in the
vau. The small black leather bag was in the carpet-
bag. I walked up and down the platform till the train
started, when I watched an opportunity and jumped
into Burgess's van. I crouched down in a corner,
and Burgess threw his apron over me. II was in
the guard's porticn of the van till the train started,
when I got up and saw there were two iron sates
in the van. As soon as the train started I went into
the baggage department, opened the iron safe, and took
out one cf the wooden bores (the box produced is the
one); it was fastened with nails through the lid by bands
and was sealed. I had a pair of pinchers to raise the
iron 'end box-wood wedges with which to force open the
the lid. I took out of that box, I think, 4 bars of gold;
one of them I placed in Tester's bag and gave it to
Burgess ; the others were taken out and placed in the
carpet bag, and I put snot into the box. Burgess
placed the hag for Tester in the guard's compartment.
The train by this time bad arrived at Reigate. I gave the
bag to Burgess, and I heard Tester say, " Where is it,"
and I saw no more of it till the next morning. I
did not see Tester —I only heard his voice. When the
train started again Burgess joined me, and I opened
another box in the same safe, containing American gold
coins. I don't know the amount. I put them into my
bag and substituted shot for them. I fastened down
both boxes (the one with American coins with screws)
aid sealed them again with some seals and a wax taper
I had purchased for the purpose. I then locked the one
chest and opened the other chest, and also one of the
boxes, which I found to contain small bars of gold. I
took out as many bars of gold as I thought I had shot
to make up the weight, and then fastened up the box
again. The safes were taken out at Folkestone, and
we went on to Dover. I and Pierce took the courier bags
and carpet hags, and we went to the Dover Castle. It
was about 11 o'clock, We went into the coffee-room, I
placed the carpet hags under the window, and ordered
supper. During the absence of the waiter we took off
the courier bags. The waiter asked if we wanted beds,
and we replied no, that we had driven in, and were going
up by the 2 o'clock train. I left Piero° at the hotel,
whilst I went to the pier, and threw tLe mallet, chistf,
&c., with which I opened the boxes, into the sea.
When I came back we paid the bill and sent the waiter
for some brandy in a soda water bottle, in order that
we might replace our courier bags. We then left, and
went to the station. At e station the porter
asked to take the carpet-bags. I refused, but he per-
sisted and almost forced them out of my hands. The
porter then asked us if we had our tickets. We replied,
"Yes,Ostend tickets." The porter asked us to show them
and he said "There's been no baggage through the Cus-
tom.; to-day." I replied "No; we came yesterday," at the
same time putting some silver in his hand. lie then
left and we went into a first-class carriage. Burgess was
guard of the train. Few passengers came up by the
train. Pierce and I were alone in a first-class carriage.
On the way up we opened the large carpet-bags which
were "dummies," threw out the bay, and at 'me of the
stations Pierce got out and placed the carpet-bags behind
the door of the waiting-room. The gold was then in
the small carpet and courier bags. On our arrival at
the London-bridge station we walked to the cab-stand,
and desired the cabman to drive us to the Great
Western Railway. Before getting there, we said we
had made a mistake, and ordered him to drive us to the
Euston-square station. When we got out there we
discharged the cab, and Pierce got another, and we
drove to the neighbourhood of Crown-terrace. We
there discharged the cab, and took the bags to Pierce's
house. From thence we went to London-bridge in a •
cab, with theAtnerican gold coins. The cab was then dis-
charged, and I met Tester with the box of gold, as had been The Gazette contains a notice that the Speaker will issue
previously arranged. Tester gave me the box of gold, his warrant at the end of 14 days for the election of a
and I believed he went to his office. I and Pierce then member of Parliament for the borough of Salford, in the
took a cab and drove to the neighbourhood of the East room of the late Joseph Brotherton, Esq.
India House. Pierce got out, taking with him part of WHITEHALL, JAN, 12.
the American coin', and sold them at a shop at tee era, The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev, Rode-
ner of St. Mary Axe. I remained in the cab. On rick Nicolson to the church and parish of Applecross, in
Pierce's return, he told me he had to wait whilst the the Presbytery of Lochcarron, and county of [toss, vacant
the transrtation of the Re
money-changer sent to the bank for gold. He obtained thereof, to the parish of Barvasv. John Reid, late minister
.
upwards of 2001. for the coins. We then drove to an-
other money-changers in the Haymarket, and Pierce BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, JAN. 9.
sold the remainder of the American gold coins for 2001., The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy
which was paid by cheque on the Union Bank. Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through
The the ue was then taken to the bank and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a de-
q spatch fer ajest's Ministe at Lsb, enclos
cashed. We then returned to Pierce's house. Pierce had copy of a Promort her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon; enclosing
cashed. We then returned to Pierce's house. Pierce had copy of a Portugaese Royal Decree,r openingon the porting of
the proceeds of the American coins. At that time I was Mossamedes, in the province of Angola, to foreign corn-
not in want of money, but Pierce was ; he had to coerce.
pledge his things for support. Pierce afterwards hired BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, JAN, 13.'
a horse and cart, and we drove with the box of gold to The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy
Cambridge-villas, where I then resided. Fanny Kay Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through
was at home when we arrived there. The bags were the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a de-
first put into the parlour, and afterwards in my trunk, spatch from her Majesty's Consul at Lisbon, transmit-
in my bed • room. Pierce took the horse and bug copy of a Portuguese Royal Decree, equalising the
cart back from whence he had borrowed it, duty to ha paid upon the importation into Portugal of
and I saw no more of him on that day, foreign oils, to that established in the Municipal Customs'
I saw him in a day or two after at my house, when we Tariff, viz. : 680 rein per nibs. weight.
cut a 100 oz. of gold off one of the bare, and sold it at BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, JAN. 13.
31. per ounce. I had the proceeds. It was then ar- The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of
Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received,
ranged that we should melt the gold, and we accord-
Tough the Secretary of State fur Foreign Affairs, a copy
Chiana
the Kin
ingly took out the stove in my first floor back room, and
despatcht from her Majesty's Plenipotentiary in
procured some fire-bricks fur that purpose. The fire_ of
a copy of a proclamation issued by
brick produced is one of them, and on it small particles
Siam, permitting the exportation of rice from
of gold are to be now seen. The gold, when melts d, kis donations.
BOARD OP TRADE, WHITEHALL, JAN., 1857.
was poured into an "irgot " (100 oz, bars) that had
been procured for the purpose by myself and Pierce. The Right Hon.
On one occasion, when taking one of the crucibles out Council for Trade an: karnd:;toifo ,tshhe a
vCeo mr
eme
ei ti reed otfh
ouch
of the fire I met with an accident and broke it, and the the Secretary of State fo
sampler of ovreeirlig'onet.sApffraoidrusCtsa ofcaSpiyamaf. • a
gold was scattered about ors the floor, which was despatch from her Majestre
China, forwarding 's Superintendent of Trade in
burnt ; Fanny Kay on one occasion complained
Corps Royal Marines—First Lieutenant Henry Brad-
of the heat, and asked what we were about. I replied
"leather apron making," meaning "mind your ownADMIRALTY, JAN. 10.
ley Roberts to be First Lieutenant and Quartermaster,
business." The courier bags were destroyed. It took
four days to melt the gold. Pierce remained with me
during that time. 2000 oz, of the gold was sold by COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS-LIEUTENANT.
Seward, alias the barrister. When first I knew him Le- vice Mawbey, promoted.
Brecknock Royal Rifle Regiment of Militia-LAlfred
Gully Foy,
kept chambers at No. 4, Inner-co:inn, Tembple. Ihad George Drake Pocock, Gent. to ,be Lieutenant.
seen him at Westminster Hall p arrister. I Ist Somerset Regiment of' Militia—Henry
Gent., to be Assistant Surgeon, vice Colston, appointed to
when he sold
met him at a beer house near Ball's-pond, a
the gold for me. I sold him a second lot of
per
ex. 500 ow, fur Ist Regiment of Royal Cheshire Militia—Assistant Sur-
which2
he
eawpaaridd crehtterg3eld. o6rt6d. per ounceecpoamidtnims,eioine cgtelleaoesneEda. Thomas Brittain to be Surgeon, vice Basconae, do-
lor his trouble, I can't say which. About this tim`e I
had another quarrel with Fanny Kay, and I left She p NOTICE OF INTENDED DISTRIBUTION OF
herd's-bush and took lodgings at Kilburn in' NAVAL PRIZE MONEY.
the name of Adams. The gold had previously Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy,
been removed from my house to Pierce's. Admiralty, Somerset-house, Jan. le,
Pierce about this time removed from Crown. Notice is hereby given to the officers, seamen, and ma-
row to Kilburn Villa, and I afterwards went . with lines, and to all persons interested therein, that the distri-
TA0.,r51855,
bution of proceeds arising from the Greek brigantine
him to live, and was living there when I was appore; •
ha.erettahjeesPt a.oiasta Driit
Lender]. I lived in Pieree's house about a week. Zllarissys, captured May 22, 1355, the Greek vessels
one occasion Burgess and Tester met me and Pierce by
at Pierce's house at Kilburn. It was stated what gold 2J tli Jan., in the Pirpi BgPreaaranicawht i4ollf theD captureda; ae rot ema eat ofd talile,

had been soid. Burgess received 7001., and I, Pierce,
and Tester had 6001. each. The money was received
in gold, and afterwards changed by Pierce for notes;
my share of the money was in my truck when I was
apprehended. The remainder of the unsold gold had
been buried in a hole he dug under the front steps of
the house. At the time of the robbery I had seven
1001. Spanish Bonds purchased of Mr. Young, stock-
broker, a considerable time before the robbery. I sold
five of them on the night of the division of the spoil,
at 431. each, to Tester, who paid me out
of the notes he had received as his share. On the
morning of my arrest I saw Pierce, and made an ap-
pointment with him to go with me that day to Shep-
herd's-bush to fetch the child's clothing, &c. After that
I left to meet a man named Humphreys in Holborn, but
I was arrested on my way. I saw Pierce atter my arrest.
I had 3,0001. invested, which was sold out and handed
to Pierce to invest for the benefit of Fanny Kay and my
child.

Cross-examined by Sergeant Parry—l am 41 years of
age. I was once in the employ of Mr. Davis, linen-
draper, Chiswell-street, for four years. That is 14 years
ago. It may be 20 years, but I won't speak positively.
No robbery took place there that I know of. I have not
been in employment since. I have got my living since
by speculation in the United States of America.
Mr. Parry—What, in railway carriages ?
Witness—No; by buying and selling things. I first
went to America between three and five years after I
left Mr. Davis. I decline answering bow I lived dur-
ing that time. I was not engaged in forging then, nor
never have been. I did not know Saward then. I
decline answering how I gained my living at the time
referred to.
Mr. Baron Martin—l don't see how it can hurt you.
Unless you have done something that renders you liable
to be hanged you can't be worse off than you now are.
(Laughter.)
Witness still declined answering the question, or if he
had done anything that would render him liable to be
hanged. I did not rob, or utter forged documents in
America. I don't know that Saward is in custody.
Saward's flash name was "Barrister Saward." (Laugh.
ter.) I have discounted bills for him. I never
had any transactions in cheques with him.
I am innocent of the charge I was convicted on.
I am not a perfectly honest person, fur I have
received the proceeds of forgery. I never forged
or uttered a forged document. The stock I was pos-
sessed of was purchased before the robbery. Your client
had my share of that robbery. I was convicted of ut-
tering a forged cheque for 7001., and was caught running
away with a bag of 700 farthings in my possession. I
can work at almost anything—at making jewellery.
Mr. Parry—And bars of gold ?
Witness—Yes, sir ; there's proof of that. (Laughter.)
I don't know if Pierce was a betting man.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—l have
no particular motive for declining to say bow I got
my living after I left Mr. Davis ; I am not afraid of the
consequences.
Mr. Ballantine—l apprehend, then, my 'lord, he is
bound to answer the question?
Mr. Baron Martin—Not, if it will render him liable
to prosecution.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine'(to witness) —And is that the
reason why you refuse to answer the question ?
Witness—No. I was first introduced to Pierce by
two thieves, and he at once opened the business to me.
I took tea with Tester at his lodgings, at Margate. It
was served by an elderly female. The division of the
money took place about two months after the robbery.
Tester asked me the best way to invest his money. I
said I have some Spanish bonds that are paying 7 per
cent., that I gave 47i for them, and would sell them for
481., and he purchased five of them.
By Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—You were convicted for
uttering a forced cheque ?
Witness—Yes. Anti you defended me.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—Yes. And you were con-
victed on the evidence of an accomplice ?
Witness—Yes. Every word he said was untrue, and
it was also untrue what Mr. Mullins, the solicitor to the
prosecution, stated on the trial, that I was outside the
bank, waiting, when the cheque was presented. I was
at Shepherd's bush at the time. When I was asked by
any one on the line, or at any hotel, I represented my-
self as a commercial traveller. Tester knew that I was a
thief. I tried to get the keys at Folkestone without the
knowledge of any of the company's servants. I became
familiar with Sharman so as to get the keys when his
back was tumed. I did not attempt to corrupt him.
Mr. Sergeant Bailantine—Did Tester try to corrupt
your innocence ?

Witness—Oh dear, no. (Laughter.)
Cross-examined by Mr. Poland--I have gone by the
names of Adams, Archer, Agar `(my right name), and
Roberts. I answered to any name the prisoners choose
to give me. I first made a communication to Mr. Rees,
at Portland. I did not then tell him Burgess had
nothing to do with the robbery. I have never said that
Burgess had nothing to do with it. These were not the
first false keys I ever made. I made some for Pierce to
commit a robbery at the South-Eastern station. I may
have made others. I may have received the proceeds of
three or four forgeries. The money I had in the bank
was not part of the forgeries, but the proceeds of hard
work and speculation in America. I have never passed
off forged notes either in this country or America.
Re-examined by Mr. Bodkin.—My reason for not axis-
werinc, Mr. Parry was, that he seemed to wish to force it
out ()fine. When I left Mr. Davis's employ I had 50/.
I had saved, and with that, and by pledging my clothes,
and assisting my cousin, a boot closer, I supported my-
self till I went to America.
Mr. Baron Martin—There could have been no objet
tion, then, to your answering the question just now ?
Witness—l should nut if Mr. Parry had not tried to
force it out of me.

By Mr. Bodkin—One of the witnesses in the case i❑
wLich I was convicted was called Humphreys, who used
to live with Ewily Cunpbell, with whom I was living at
the time in Stanley-place. When I was apprehended I
was on my way to Humphrey's house, near Bedford-
row, to receive 2501. I had lent him. When near there
the man Smith, who gave evidence against me, saw rue,
and said, I have been looking for you, and that Bill,
meaning Humphreys, Irld sent him to me to say
I was not to go to his house, for there was a
screw luose, and as we walked along he said
Humphreys bad sent 2001. to me, at the same time pul-
ling out a bag and gave is to me. When he gave me
the bag I asked who the men were that were following
us, and at his advice I ran off and he joined in the pur-
suit with the officers.

lay Mr. Baron Martin—About three years after I left
Davis's I commenced a career of crime. From that
time to the time of my conviction I was engaged in
crime.

By Mr. Sergeant Parry—l never boasted to my fel-
low prisoners at Portland that I effected this robbery
alone, and went after it to Boulogne. I never said any•
thing about it until I mentioned it to Mr. Rees. I had
beard at that time that Pierce had given up the child
to its mother, and that Far.ny Bay was in a state of
destitution—that he refused to give the child a change
of d ress.

Evidence was then given to prove the packing of the
gold and its delivery to the South Eastern Railway
Company for transmission to the Continent. From
May till December, 1855, the Company resisted the
claims of Mr. Abell for the value of his gold, asserting it
must have been lost between Folkestone and Boulogne.
Several witnesses from France stated . that it was ap-
parent to the officials of the Custom [louse at Boulogne
that one of the boxes had been meddled with prior
to its rrrival there. After hearing evidence tracing the
arrival of the boxes at Paris, the weighing of them,
showing a deficiency of 401 be., and their being opened
and found to contain a large quantity of shot in small
bags,

The Court adjourned 'at 6 o'clock until to-morrow.

LONDON GAZETTE—(This Evening.)