The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1844.

ROBBERY AT BUCKINGHAM

PALACE BY THE SERVANTS.

Ellen Lindsay; a housemaid employed in Buckingham Pa-
lace, and Elizabeth Lindsay, a linen woman, her sister, were
brought before Mr. Hall, at Bow-street, charged withlteal-
ing. a quantity of blankets, counterpanes, linen, and-other
articles of a similar description, valued at about-40L, the pro-
perty of her Majesty; and James Lindsay, their brother, a
surgeon, residing at 25, Upper Eaton-street, Pimlico, was
charged with receiving the same, knowing them to have been
stolen.

Mr. Charles Brimfield, of 25, Upper Eaton-street, being
sworn, said, the male prisoner has lodged in my house since
the month of December last, occupying two rooms on the
second-floor, which consist of a sitting and a bed-room. He
had two sisters employed in Buckingham Palace, who on
several occasions visited him. They usually, as far as I can
recollect, came to the house separately, and I was given to
understand that one was a housemaid and the other was em-
ployed as a linen woman. During the last two months I ob-
served they came about four times a week until the last few
days. They were generally admitted by members of my
family, and within the last two months I have seen in
his bed-room large quantities of property, such as that pro-
duced, and same of the counterpanes were laid in a chest
of drawers, which, until the visits of the females became
so frequent, I did not see in the drawers, but from time to
time they appeared to increase in bulk, one of the articles
being perfectly new, and marked "V. H., 1840," which I
saw in the room on Monday last, and which was brought
to my house in a van on the 7th inst., empty and
lined with white pasteboard paper. The other box produced
was also in the same room, and was_ brought to the house
about a month previously. The blankets appeared to be of
a peculiar kind, and bound with silk feretting, similar to that
produced. There were also some muslin window curtains,
having a large flower worked upon them, which were tied
up in the room, and a blue China plate, such as the one pro-
duced, having" Buckingham Palace" on the back, but which
I did not at first observe. About two months back a pillow
was brought in a band-box, which was taken in by my wife;
it appeared to be a down one, and was delivered as coming
from Miss Lindsay. The females usually came to the house
separately, and the prisoner Ellen used to remain a conside-
rable time, locked up with the male prisoner in the bedroom.
On Tuesday I recollect the two boxes, with two smaller ones,
were removed in a cart, under the superintendence of the male
prisoner, who delivered them to the carter, about half-past
two o'clock. On passing by the prisoner, he appeared agi-
tated, and said, " We are removing these things out of your
way." I happened to follow the boxes, and the two smaller
ones wore dropped at 17, Lower Eaton-street, while the
larger ones were left at No. 9, Belgrave-street, South, the
prisoner all the time following the cart. A few days pre-
vious, the whole of the articles were taken out of the drawers
and placed in the boxes ; and about four days before that
time, the male prisoner and one of the females were locked
up in the bedroom for a considerable time, busily engaged, as
if packing up some articles; ietnd itiy belief is that it was not
wearing apparel. The prisoner kept my lodgings up to the
time he was apprehended ; and his sister used to visit him'
within the last two months,-about half-past nine o'clock in
the evening. I accompanied the officer, on Wednesday last,
to the house in Belgrave-street, and identified the boxes
produced. I now identify the counterpane, blankets, the
linen not made up, napkins and other articles, as the same
which were at my house, and in the possession of the male
prisoner.
Other evidence having bean adduced,
Inspector Steed said ho recollected going to the house of
Mr. Brimfield on the 11th instant, and on entering the bed-
room on the second floor with him, he pointedout the various
articles similar to those produced. There were also several
pices of linen not made up, and he saw the boxes, together
with the pillow, which was covered with brown holland. In
the front room there were several pieces of blanketing
wrapped up, and there was also a blue plate with the words
" Buckingham Palace" on the back. On Wednesday, the
15th, he followed the prisoner Ellen to Mr. Brimfield's, bout
six o'clock in the evening, with a small parcel. He knew
Elizabeth was in the habit of employing Harding's van to
convey linen to and from the palace. The females reside in
the palace, and on executing the search in Belgrave-street
South, to where the boxes were carried, he saw Captain
M'Mahon, the occupier, to whom he told his business, and
he instantly pointed out the two boxes, which witness teok
away in the presence of Mr. Saunders. They were corded
and locked, and having opened them, they were found to con-
tain the articles spoken to by the last witnesses. There were
among them a blanket of a very
and a crown, together with a duster, marked " V. R.," with a
fine texture, with " W. H."
crown above, and 1839 marked in blue ink, which was picked
out. He then conveyed away the boxes and committed them
to the care of Mr. Saunders, to be deposited in the Lord Cham-
berlain's office. Witness then went to No. 25, Upper Eaton-
street, where he apprehended the male prisoner, and having told
him his business, he cautioned him as he was about to make
some observation, and he said he would communicate with his
sisters upon the subject. He then said the boxes contained some
of the Queen's property, and having informed him that one
article bore the initials of her Majesty, he said he had nothing
to do with it more than having charge of it for his sister,
whose perquisite it was. He also pointed out the plate, but
the prisoner made no reply. In the bedroom he saw the
drawers full of wearing apparel, which, on a former occasion,
were fall of the articles produced. As they were leaving the
sitting-room, before proceeding to the station-house, witness
held the plate in his hand, and the prisoner said it was a
trumpery article; can't you hide it? The boxes were then
sealed up at the Lord Chamberlain's office; and veaterday
having apprehended the females, Elizabeth said, " What shall
I do ? cau you give me any advice?" but witness declined,
saying she would have justice shown to her.
Mr. Saunders said when the boxes were taken an inventory
was taken of their contents, and then sealed up. The females
were employed in the royal service for fourteen or fifteen
years. He believed all the articles belonged to the palace,
and, being for the most part quite new, worth about 401. •
The male prisoner said he always considered the articles
brought to him belonged to his sisters, as they had told him,
and he only took charge of them, without ever examining
what they consisted of.
The prisoner Elizabeth said she considered the linen her
own, as her mother, who was dead about fourteen years, had
left it to her sister, who deposited it with her when she was
living at St. James's Palace, and she occasionally used it for
the household when pressed for such an article ; but as to the
four common blankets, they were given to her by the late
Sir Thomas Nash, as being condemned in his late Majesty's
reign.
The prisoners were then remanded, and in a short time
were removed in the van to Tothill-fields Prison.