The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-11-09 00:00:00

ynE TA"ri4l,Vl‘\l

itoBEERY Or THE LEEDS MAIL.

After a diligent investigation, it is supposed the
property in the•letters contained in the different bags
stolen, amounts to about 16,0001. not any of which
has yet been discovered or come in.
The robbery, it has been ascertained, was com-
mitted between Burton and lUghham Ferrer,. The
guard had rode from Kettering to Burton with the
coachman, there being no outside passenger. At
Burton the guard purchased a pair of ducks, and put
them into the locker whic.. contains the bags, when
he was positive all the bags were safe. They proceed-
ed on to Hiham Ferrets, to which place the guard
continued riding with the coachman, he there had oc-
casion to open the locker again, when he discovered
that all the bags had been taken out, but by what
means could not be discovered, as no violence ap-
peared to have been used either to the lock or the
spring. Great alarm was spread in consequence ; the
guard took the precaution to send a man express
back to Kettering, to give notice of the robbery,
and he proceeded on with the coach towards Lou-
don. On his arrival at the Post-Office, in Lombard-
street, and giving information of what had happened,
a general meeting of the principals of that Office was
called to consult what was-to be done. In the coarse
11 of the morning an investigation took place at Mr.
Parkin's house, in Great Ormond-street, the Salici-
tor to the Post Office, where the guard was strictly
investigated, when he swore that he locked the locker
at Burton, and that he saw no person or persons on
the road the four miles between Burton and Bighorn
Ferrets. The guard, in consequence of disobeying
a positive order against riding with the coachman has
been dismissed. After the investigation at Mr. Par-
kin's !louse, he was sent of to accompany Lavender,
the Bow-street Officer, into the country, in pursuit
of the robbers. At the same time the Deputy In-
spector of Mails set off express to the different towns
and parts from where the bags belonged, to have bills
printed, and to give other notices to prevent the Ot•
tulation of the notes that had been stolen, &c.
The coachman who drives the mail from Ketterint
to Bedford, was sent for to London, and he under-
went a strict investigation. He stated to Mr. Parkin
and others belonging to the Post-office, that he had
no care of the letter bags, and did not hold himself
responsible for any thing that might happen to them,
that being 14-holly the business of the guard, ner did
he interfere With the guard, if he chose to ride with
him on the hex, as he did it at his own risk. lie
confirmed what the guard had stated of locking up
the bags at Burton. There being no circumstances to
implicate him he was not detained.
Lavender, the Bow-street officer, after taking the
guard some distance into the country with him, find-
ing that if he was in the least implicated in the trans-
action, he would undo all that he was doing, or hie
person being so well known all the way on the road
as the guard of the mail, it would spread far and
wide who he was, and thereby prevent him from
making any private enquiries, or gaining any secret
information, he therefore seut the guard back to
London.

Lavender continued riding day and night in his
pursuits, he found the statements of the guard and
coachman to be correct as to no person being on the
road between Berton and Iligham Fervors. lie thee
proceeded on the cross roads, where he heard of a
man of the name of Kendall, who is a farmer of
tolls, who rented the gate at Bythorn Bar, on the
road leading from Huntingdon to Kettering. He
knowing a suspicious character of the name of Ken.
dell, who was a short time since convicted of utter-
ing conterfeit money, anti who he had frequently
seen in the company of thieves, if it was the same
man he had no doubt but that he had either been con.
eerned in robbing the mail, or knew those that had
done it---he, accordingly, made enquiries respecting
him, and found that he resided at Wellingborough,
he proceeded there, and happened to meet him in
the street there—having previously known him be-
fore, entered into conversation with him upon in-
different subjects, and at length respecting the rob-
bery of the mail, and told him frankly he suspected
he knew something of the business. Kendall de-
nied it, hut on the officer questioning as to where
he was at the time of the rubbery, he acknowledged
he was not at home. Lavender's suspicions
were such as induced him to take Kendall into
custody, and he afterwards proceeded to search his
premises, which he found large enough to have
contained the mail coach and horses—nothing was
found there relative to the mail robbery. Having lodg-
ed Kendall in prison, the officer proceeded iu his en-
quiries for evidence during several days, when he
procured such information as induced him to take
Kendall's sister into custody, she having kept By-
thorn Bar gate during her brother's absence on the
evening and at the time the mail was robbed. La.
vender having proctited a long chain of circumstan-
tial evidence, examinations of his prisoners took
place at Wellingborough last Wednesday and Thurs-
day, before Lord Compton, Mr. Dickins, and Mr.
Hudson, Magistrates for the County of Northampton ;
Mr. Parkin, Solicitor to the Post Office, and Mr.
Ascar, Superintendent of the Mails, when we under.
stand the following particulars were proved as appli-
cable to the Prisoners. On the evening the mail was
robbed, Kendall left Bythorn Bar in a cart, in com-
pany with another man. They stopped at a public-
house near Thrapston, drank ale and smoked—it was
then about five o'clock. They were then about seven
miles on a cross road off the spot of road where the
mail is supposed to have been robbed. They left the,
loblic-house soon after five o'clock. As they passed
along the road, a man in a field, who they did not
see, overheard them arraogiug who was to pay toll at
a turnpike-bate through which they were to pass—
they agreed that the ether man was to pay the toll,
as Kendall was known by the gatekeeper ; and to
avoid his being seen he got out of the cart, and walk-
ed across some fields, and no doubt got into the cart
again. The mail is supposed to have been robbed
while ascending a hill, at about a quarter before
seven o'clock. The hill is only about three miles and
a half off the residence of Kendall. He returned
home at half-past seven. lavender had searched
Bythorn Bar-gate-house, belonging to Kendall, bot
nothing relative to the mail robbery was found.
• Kendall denied all knowledge of the person who
rode with him in the cart, but stated that he merely
took him up on the read to give him- a ride.
.1141

said he was at home before seven o'clock on the
evening of the robbery, but it was proved that he
was not home till half-past. ii could not account
satisfactorily what business he was out upon in the
cart.

The circumstances against the sister of Kendall
are, that she sent for a post-chaise in a clandestine
manner, to a bye place, and went in it in company
with the Man who had been in compativ with leer
brothtr in the cart, and proceeded by cross roads to
Huntingdon. At this time it is suspected the valu-
able contents of the mail were conveyed away, but
all trace of the stranger ceases at Huntingdon.
lei addition to the above a variety of other circum-
stantial evidence was produced.
Kendall was fully committed for trial, as a prin•
cipal in committing the robbery,.and his sister was
fully committed as an accessary after the fact.
On Friday Lavender conveyed them to Northamp-
ton, and lodged them in the prison there) to take
their trials at the ensuing assizes..

TO THE INDEPENDENT ELixrory 6is
THE BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.

s. GENVII,PIem,—A due regard to p 'bile opinion, to.
gettler with It eonseintemess of innocence and inte.
grity, are powerful incitements enough to animate the
must hereide spirit to rebut malice, and refute misree
presentation. It would indicate an indifference to
the sentiments entertained of me by the Public in
general, and by the Independent Electoes. of the 80,
rough of .Seuthwark .in particular, unbecoming any
mm, at any time, and especially unbecoming me at
the present time, after the so recent testimony of
your favour towards my Brother, as unexpected as
unpresumed upon and unsought for by bite, were
'to remain silent upon the venemous aspersions of
your lately returned, I cannot add worthy Represene
Wive' Mr. Henry Thornton.
f Gentlemen, although I should be little disposed to
.
notice any attack from Mr. Henry Thornton indivie
dually, however unmannerly and offensive, yet I
should think . myself wanting in that love for
the general liberty, in that desire to promote the pub,
lk good (which he who lives without leads a life very
little differing from that of his cattle), did I not ex-
pose the gross misrepresentation in which Mr. [leery
, Thornton has indulged, of those public principles I
have uniformly maintained, and U;5011 the success of
which, In my apprehension, depend the freedom and
happiness of my Countrymen.
Gentlemen, the zeal and spirit you manifested in
their support, during the late Election for South,
wark, seems to have excited a morbid sensibility,
; and overflowing spleen, in the bosom of Mr. Henry
Thornton; which, as he dares not spit it out upon
you, he has exhausted upon me. It is a common
observation, that anger as often makes a man ridl,
culous Its odious: You, Gentlemen, *ho know hove
hr my brother was from the presumption of think•
ing himself entitled to your support, from the atnhi.
tion to seek it, or even from wishes to ebtaiti it,
cannot but have smiled at Mr. Henry Thornton's
self-conceited absurd exultation, and imaginary
triumph over him. In his address to you. Ge:ele-
men, in the Morning Chronicle, October the 6th,
he sacs, "The victory obtained over my comp ,itori
Mr. Burdett, sufficiently evinces the preference giren
by the great body of the Electors of the 80, otigh of
Southwark, to those rational views both of Economy
and Reform which I have professed."--eln the first
place I beg leave to observe, my Brother was no
competitor ; in the secohd, that if any Victory was
obtained, it was obtained over you ; in the third, that
if it he true, as charged upon him by one of his Cone
stiteents, in a Letter to the Public,that Mr. H. Th-
ton canvassed with a

corrupt font's of Go'
support, no great ma
no great room for
tfenry Thornton, tri
titor.

I I

I .
i

I.
•
4

if

z

•t

Kines- stitoents, in a Letter to the Public,that Mr. H. Thorn. . .
ble to ton canvassed with a Tex-gatherer at his elbow; if the
corrupt means of Government were employed in hill rt,,
:mila. support, no great mane! would have been wrought, ~ f's •
• tto great room for exultation afforded, had Mei
r with Henry Thornton, triumphed oter a real compet 1:
, t
t
re his
g. - Bdt 'tis tint id.
ite.— - '' ti;
'Twas but a bolt at nothinz, shot at nothing,
(port- Which the brain makes of fumes.i' {, s
ng to Supposiog, however, Mr. Henry Thornton had, • tiv
9 and under such circumstances, " with such appliances
t with and means to boot," overcome a real competitor. 4 *:
.. .
Ile re' even then, out of decency at least, if not out of it
l‘la.
modesty. he ought to have been content with solid . ',i.:'.•
urges
'padding, without looking after empty praise. .•
Gentlemen, Mr. Henry, Thornton's language is no I 9
duof" less incomprehensible than his boasted triumph. He i ~
Hind says, " The Victory obtained over his Competitor, li;
Mr. Burdett,•evinces the preference given by you to i;.;
N
r Ilia his rational views, &c. &c. &c. &c. &c." One na- , ,
. .
Fox rurally asks, preference over whoa—the fumes of , •• •
(19• his imaginary triumph really seem to hate confused
airing his brain, . .
perhaps upon souse future occasion they i
Ports-
may bedispelled by the Independent Electors of the
Borough of Southwark. Mr. Henry Thornton talks II ' '
acket, of " the rational views of Economy and Refornt
(Mot- which he has professeT° Who professes any other? I . ii
he Ist —Can any thing be more rational than the English I
Constitution ?—and who wants any thing store?— .
sloop Mr. henry Thornton may slily insinuate, but he i
'
. will not dare to assert, that I do. I would fain ask t i •
1,-branigd this alt-sullicient Gentleman, what reason, what ins
terest,l
vith a
what motive, he can assign for my being less
. ' I
rational, or less cot rect, in my views and objects . • i
,
than himself? We may indeed, and probably do :
mber) diff ter widely in our estimation of what is, or is not • , ,
rational. Mr. Henry Thornton, or his brother, is, • 1
lifl am rightly informed, a Bank Director. Ile mat'
tYheel l think it rational Mat the country should he inundated 7
t•
tau of i by paper money, coined at the w ill of the Minister, a i.(•
r, free I substitute for theancient coin of the land ;he may thank
to
at Lon-ethx e
I it rational that a Company of Hankers should pocket , f
annuallyimmense gains by paying no interest on their ;1 ' ?
• own issues, and charging it on those of The public ;
form-
be may think it rational to have the corrupt will of a
'lance,' jas—stO Of Koyottghmonjati, grinding the faces of the
sptaiu poor, * substitute for the paternal aff•ction of a • ..
went- r .i. ,
benevolent King; hemay think it rational that Col.
1 It II; !',
. lectors of Taxes should also be a Collector of Votes;
f the ihe may think it rational that corrupt ministerial
been i power should force into the House of Commons it! i 1
I°°l* tools sod instruments (which he may call "an info. k
sion of monarchical or aristocratical principle"—See 1
E Ht- I Times, October 28) as substitutes for the Represen- ;• d
!Inlet, I.tatives of the People ! Mr. Henry Thcrtitett also ll'
'r au- , discourses largely about our'" mixed and balanced .
Constitution." I suppose he means as composed of 1
Kin, Lords, and Commons ; but of this I am by
'ti.►kanti sib means sure, as he tells us "of an Aristocracy of . •
. prith
ceas 1 wealth, and an Aristocracy of talents," &c. &c.— I .'
Os. per: (he might as well have said an Aristocracy of folly,
Oats and
grain, 1 then we might have guessed to what Aristocracy .
' he naturally belonvd): with a deal of skimble, •
1 ._ .., ; '‘p
105 Ito i Owdfnuie stye, perfectly unintelligible to a plain um.
tog ,
105°s ; derstandiug, whether Mr. Henry Thornton ranks t
Ft 58 ! himself in the Aristocracy of talents, ar the Aristos . , .
Oa 00' cracy of wealth, or any other Aristocracy he may ,'' . •
50 55 _, . 1
4,.. 6o avant abet:, I !:sow not: but as I tun swat:quaint. 1; ,
51 58 led with any of these Aristocracies, I hope I shall • .1, 1
I°s 1 1194 not- offeed him by considering him with myse:f, one 111
aso 2.2 ,
i ,x,e! of what he terms the larger orders of the People.—
• If Mr. , Iltwry . Thornton,,does,
by- " our mixed and
I
ai an • nos.notton,, however, man ou ^
10
... Government of King, *Lords, and Commons, I beg . .
14.750
9740 of him to eizoo,ider how this balance is observed, if .
,
164 i the Kist;a,ti Lords, by 'force, faaud, or corrop.
ISO Lion, arrogate exclusively to themselves the whole
management, benefit, and income, throning all the
danger; burden, and losses, upon the• deluded and
excluded people, and then stigmatise as traitors, or,
•
• • .1
4t.
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