The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-07-17 00:00:00

LONDON POLICE REPORT.

HATTON GARDEN.
PLATE IioaBEHIEs.--Tuesday John Goldsmith, a middle-
aged man, was brought to this office before Mr. Laing, in the
custody of Inspector Oakley, and Passey, 101), E
charged by Ellis, Esq., 'lll.ll. for Coventry, with having
stolen a silver spoon ; and also on suspicion of being concerned
in stealing jewellery to the amoont of upwards of illooo.
Mr. Ellis attended with a friend and several of his house-
hold, and on the prisoner being placed at the bar,
Mr, Laing ordered that the witnesseo on both sides should
withdraw whilst he went through the examination.
It appears that about four years ago, whilst the family of Mr.
Ellis were at dinner, the jewellery was stolen under the most
mysterious circumstances, and, although every inquiry was
made into the matter, no tidings whatever could be traced of
the thief or property, and fourteen servants were discharged
the house. Since that period the affair has remained a pro-
found mystery, and all notion of ever recovering any part of
the property was entirely abandoned. The prisoner, who was
in the habit of visiting the servants, called at the house on
yesterday fortnight to see the butler and housekeeper, who were
still retained in the service, and was there whilst the servants
were at dinner in the housekeeper's room, where a certain
.por-
tion of the plate was allowed to be used, and after he had quitted
the place one of the silver table spouus was missed, but no sus-
picion fell upon him. Ott Wednesday last, however, he called
at the shop of Mr. Keyzer, silversmith, of Tottenham-court-
road, and offered three silver tablespoons (one bearing the crest
of Mr. Ellis) and a silver dessert spoon for sale, the whole of
them being. broken and the edges of part of theta being burnt
so as to give them the appearance of old plate. Mr. Keyzer
agreed with him for price, and, after apologising, requested teat
he would give him his name and address. The prisoner said
'his name was John Smith, and that he,resided in Grove-street,
Camden-town, and referred him to a Mr. Collard, grocer, of
Camden-town, to prove that he resided there. Mr: Keyzer told
him that he would make the proper inquiries, and if he would
call again on the following day he would eitheryay him for the
plate or restore it if he found all right. Mr. Keyzer instantly
proceeded to Mr. Collard, and on his arrival he found the pri-
soner there with Mrs. Collard, who slid that she knew the pri-
soner and his wife, who did reside in Grove.street, but they had
quitted that neighbourhood. Information was immediately given
to Passes', who made further inquiries, anti ascertained that the
prisoner lived at 47, Chester-street, Kennington-lane, and that
during the last tour years he had been in the frequent habit of
visiting Mr. Ellis's house to see one of the servants, and on
ascertaining that the spoon bore Mr. Ellis's crest (a hand and
serpent) he instantly proceeded to that gentleman's house, when
he identified the spoon, and discovered that on the very day
that it was used by the lady's maid in the kousekeeper's room
the prisoner had paid a visit there. On the Friday after he
offered the property for sale he called on Mr. Keyzer, to be paid
or have the property returned, when Mr. Keyzer t4drd him he
was not satisfied, and that he would not return the property un-
less
he consented to go with him and Passey to the station-
house, which he agreed to do, and there he said he had pur-
chased the plate produced, about two years ago, in its present
state, at Machin and Debenham's auction-rooms, in King-street,
Covent-garden, and he denied any knowledge of Mr. Ellis. He
was liberated, but the property was detained by Passes, who
having received information as to the jewel robbery on Sunday
last he proceeded to 47, Chester-street, Kennington, in com-
pany of Inspector Oakley, where they discovered the prisoner
to he living with his wife and child. .Passey inquired after the
prisoner, who was denied, and stated not to be at home; but he
felt satisfied that he was, and gave a signal for Inspector Oak-
ley to enter, on doing which- they found the prisoner in an
apartment up stairs, and informed him that they had called re-
lative to the silver plate which he offered for sale at Mr. Key-
zer's. The prisoner assured them that he had purchased it at
Machin and Debenham's. They then told hint it was no good
to say anything more upon the subject, they had ascertained
that the spoon belonged to Mr. Ellis, and he was their prisoner,
and they took him to the station-house. On searching the house
they found a quantity of jewellery, consisting of gold brooches,
a silver shell brooch, comelier). gold chain, coral earrings,
silver buckles, tortoiseshell, pebbles, and mother-o'-pearl orna-
ments, ear-drops, a large chased ring, a ring of peculiar con-
struction, set with blue stones, a silver box, with pearl top and
a looking-glass inside on the cover, containing some ancient
Greek and French coins; the gold top of a scent bottle, a pep-
per castor, with a long silver top; a silver fruit knife, with a
lion on the blade; a valuable silver watch, made by .Barthard,
of Paris, with F. IL inside the case; a metal watch, and other
articles, which the offieers took possession of. One of the
tablespoons and the dessert, spoon which the prisoner offered
for sale bore the crest of a pheon (Irish plate.) Mr. Keyzer
stated that the spoons bad evidently been broken very recently,
which he could tell from
.part of the edges; the ends of some of
the pieces had been put into the fire to give it the appearance
of having been broken for some time.
James Colburn, butler to Mr. Ellis, stated that he knew the
prisoner. He was introduced to the ti,use by a person named
Deakin, who lived with Mr. Ellis formerly as butler. The
plate was under his care, and six table spoons (including the
one now produced) were used in the housekeeper's room, and
the prisoner on
.yesterday fortnight called at the house, when
the spoon was missing.
Mrs. Colburn, housekeeper to Mr. Ellis, anti wife to the last
witness, stated that the prisoner called to see her on Monday
wrie. t6c svgeris were toed, and the one now pro-
duced, which was offered by the prisoner for sale, formed part
of the service.

Mr. Laing asked the prisoner what he had to say to the
charge?

He replied that he purchased the spoons two years ago at
Machin and Debenham's sale rooms.

Mr. Laing asked how he became acquainted with the house-
keeper ?
Prisoner.—l wag introduced by Mr. Deakin, the former but-
ler. His wife had been out to China as lady's maid to Mrs.
Mellish, in whose service Deakin was a butler. He had some-
time ago kept a public-house at Wapping, which he sold.
Mr. Laing.—Were you at Mr. Ellis's on Monday week?
Prisoner.-1 was, your worship.
Mr. Laing.—At what time?
Prisoner.--At dinner time,one o'clock,when the servants dined..
Colhurn said that the spoon was not missod for three days
after it was stolen. It was frequently the case that spoons were
missing, and not found for several days after a party:
Mr. Laing asked the prisoner where he first met with Deakin ?
Prisoner.--At a public-house in the neighbourhood of Cam-
den-town.

Mr. Laing.—You must give a more satisfactory account of
this property.
Prisoner.—l can only say that I bought it at Machin and
Debenhain's. _ _

Mr Laing.—Then I shall remand you, and I shall require
you to produce somebody from there'to prove so.
Prisoner.—l don't know how lamto do so.
Mr. Laing said that he could if it was the fact, which was not
consistent with truth.

Mr. Ellis did not recognise any of the jewellery, which still
remains in the possession of the officers, who are making the
most active inquiries, to trace, if possible, other robberies.
Mr. Laing then remanded the prisoner, and ordered that no
person should be allowed to communicate with him during the
interim; and subsequently the court was cleared, and he con •
sulted privately with Mr. Ellis and his friends, when they
quitted the office.