The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-22 00:00:00

ASSIZE rNr.E.tmomcE.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT. ---WARWICK, DEC. 21.
(Before Mr. Baron Channel].)
ALLEGED ROBBERY OF GOVARNMENT STORES.
Thomas Williams, gunmaker, was indicted on
two counts, first, for having at Birmingham, on
25th Sept., 1857, knowingly sold and delivered to
Charles Clarke, certain stores of war and ordnance,
the property of her Majesty, the stores being new
or not more than one-third worn ; secondly, for
having on 12th Oct. feloniously and fraudulently
caused divers persons unknown to obliterate certain
marks, denoting the property of her Majesty, in
certain ordnance stores, for the purpose of conceal-
ing her Majesty's property therein.
Mr. Sergeant Hayes, Mr. Bodkin, Q. C. (specially
retained), and Mr. Bittleiton were counsel for the
prosecution ; Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Elers for the
defence.

Mr. Sergeant Hayes having opened the case for
the prosecution, the following evidence was called :
Charles Clarke, examined by Mr. Bodkin, Q.C.
—I live at Stepney, and am a gunmaker. In the
first or second week in August last I went to Bir-
mingham. I know a gentleman named Goodman,
the chairman of the small arms department. I put
myself in communication with his partner, Mr.
Cooper. I saw Williams at the King's Arms, Wit-
tall-street. He called me from a room on the 9th
or 10th August, and desired to speak to me. I had
known him before, when he was at work at a glove
manufactory. I knew be was at work at the Tower
at Birmingham. When I went out of the room he
asked me if was a buyer of rifles. I said it depended
on what they were. He said he knew a person who
bad some to dispose of, the same pattern as the Go-
vernment Minie rifles, and very good guns. I ar-
ranged to see a sample the following day. That
appointment was not kept, but the dayafter I went
to his residence. He showed me a sample gun. It was
in what is technically called "A screwed together
state ;" that is, all the parts of the gun are put toge-
ther provisionally ready for finishing. That is the
state in which the guns are issued by the contractor
for finishing. On the barrel of the gun I saw there
was a bright place apparently where a mark bad
been taken out. Part of the Government marks
were in the barrel. In places where I looked for the
Government mark I found traces of marks having
bean recently effaced. He mentioned 235. each as
the price. It was worth 555. in the state I saw it. `I
told him I would be happy to purchase one case of
guns, and wished them to be sent as soon as possi-
ble. I requested that the proof mark might be left
in, as without it it would be difficult to have them
proved. I then saw Mr. Cooper, in the absence of
Mr. Goodman, and communicated what was goiug
on. 1 then left for Landon. I received the letter
produced on the 23d Sept. (The handwriting of the
prisoner was here proved by a witness named Eve-
rard. The letter was to the effect that the guns were
ready.) Upon the receipt of that letter I went to Bir-
mingham, and saw Williams. He took me into:a
side room and showed me 20 guns in a case. I exa-
mined the top row, and found them same as sample.
I left that room for the front room, and wrote my
address on a card, which was affixed to the case. 1
afterwards wrote to him to say I would take the
other portion of the gnus, pressing him to get their
done as early as possible. I received a letter in an-
swer. (This letter said the prisoner would accom-
modate Mr. Clarke with the remaining guns, and,
as he wished there out of the way as quick as pos-
sible requested the latter to go on Friday.) I welt
on iriday. He told me that 17 were ready, mid
that some person having been round taking stack,
he could not supply the others he had intended
We went to his house, and he showed me 17 in
rough stock state and three screwed together.
The marks had been erased. The Government
proof mark, which is different from proof
marks on other guns, was erased. I did not jelly
him but gave him 31., and paid him the rest on
Monday, at the rate of 13s. each for 17 guns, and
235. each for three. He objected to be paid in
notes. The guns were conveyed the same as the
others. All of them had ramrods and b tyonets.
After I got to London 1 wrote again for the other
guns, which he had promised I should have. I re-
ceived two letters in reply. I afterwards saw him,
and he told me the clerk had taken stock iu the
place where he had the guns from, and they would
not let him have any more. He told me he could
let me have some locks and other materials. I
knew from my own knowledge that the guns were
Government stores. I told him I believed he was
being watched. He said it was a mere fancy of
mine. I communicated with Mr. Cooper, and for-
warded to him the letters.
Cross-examined—I carry on ray business at my
house, Stepney. Ido not carry on business now at
Upper Berhers-street. I left it some time since:
I have only five or six men employed, at a tempo-
rary place lent me by the London Armoury
Coin-
pany. I had carried on bnaineas at 'Upper Bern era-
street. I had no communication with Mr. Goodman
before I came to Birmingham. I went there
to engage men for the London Armoury Company,
and with no other object. I engaged some work-
men. I knew many of the men in the prilo'ie-
house. I had never bought military guns at Bir-
mingham except of Messrs. Cooper and Goodman,
military contractors. I might have had a game of
ale before Williams spoke to me. It is possible I
may have mentioned to people in the public-house
that I wanted guns. Williams called ins out of the
public-home before any conversation took place be-
tween us. I was acting under instructions. I
drank with him. I told him on several occasions he
was watched. Though I was acting under instruc-
tions, I felt I was only giving him a fair chance of
escape by warning him. Pressed she prisoner to
deliver the guns under the instructions I received
as a detective. The money I paid him I received
from Messrs. Goodman and Cooper. I have not
been paid a farthing myself, nor do I expect to be,
for what I did. I certainly do not like the job. I
have been to a person named Jones for the purpose
of buying waste materials, but not for my own pur-
poses. Never bought but one barrel in Birmingham
in my life from men in the prisoner's position. I
was in constant communication with two detectives
from London while I was at Birmingham. Have
bought many " wasters" from gunmakers, but
none from men. I do not know that thousands of
wasters are sold by men. Thera are ne wasters
amongst those I purchased from the prisoner.
None of them ha l condemnel marks. I have sold
many guns with the double R ( he mark of rejec-
tion by the Government) on them. Ido not geue-
rally take the double R off, became it cannot gent,.
rally be done without taking the pr. of mark off
also, and that involves the necessity of proving
again. There were deuble R's upon other parts of
the gun as well as on the proof mask, but I have
generally taken that out before selling such guns.
Wasters
wish the double R upon them cell as well
as guns from a private manufactory. The double
" 1-(3 placed on the proof mark and where the gun
is defective. The latter is generally taken out and
the former left. Wasters have all the Government
marks upon them as well as the mark of condem-
nation.
By a Juryman—The Government marks were
erased on the sample gun, and the condemned mark
might also have been erased.
Thomas Toone, the carter who conveyed the goods
to the canal, was next called to prove that fact.
Charles Blanford, a tailor, examined by Serjsant
Hayes, said he was engaged by detectives to watch
Brueton's house on the evening of Oct. 9, and saw
Williams go in and afterwards come out with a bun-
dle of guns. Had seen him the previous night go
from his own borne to Bath-street with a wheel-
barrow, which contained a case.
Cross-examined—I hare been employed on and
off for the detective force since 1842. I have been
engaged in this job for five or six weeks.
By Mr. Bodkin—l acted under Mr. Smith's in-
structions, and took my measures accordingly.
(Laughter.)
John Peacock, clerk to the Bridgewater trustees,
proved receiving the case, which was sent to Mr.
Goodman's.
A man named Davis proved that he took the two
cases from the office of the Bridgewater trustees to
Mr. Goodman's.
Adam Bruce, Wm. Mattison, and Wm. Taylor
also gave evidence to prove that the cases delivered
at Mr. Goodman's, and produced, were the same as
received at the cane!.
Wm. Smith, a sergeant in the London detective
force, produced the cases and guns.
Mr. Goodman examined by Mr. Bodkist—l am
flbairtnan of the Birmingham small arms trade. In
Sept. and Oct. I was in communication with Mr.
Clarke, who sent me the letters. The guns were
sent to my place by my orders.
By Mr. O'Brien—The first interview I had with
Clarke was about the end of Sept.
Re-examined—l had been absent about a week.
When I returned, Mr. Cooper, my partner, made
a report to me.
Mr. Gee. Vincent, examined by Sergeant Hayes
—I ani head viewer at the Tower in Birmingham.
I have examined the guns produced. The twenty
screwed together guns were government stores.
They are net was era, either the whole or part.
There is a government proof work partly erased. I
believe the barrels have never been wasters, because
there is no appearance of a condemned mark having
been placed on them. I find no trace of ar. jetted
mark en any port on of the guns. There are marks
of goveen merit viewers not erased on two of the guns.
There aro pl Ices on others where the viewers' marks
have been erased. The government proof mark re-
maina upon nearly the whole of the guns. The guns
produced are original gturs--n -t made up by a bar-
rel of or.e and a stook. another. I never knew
of an entire gun waste.
Cross-examined by Mr. O'Brien--The govern-