Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-12-02

fact, Is the judge, who presided at tn
trial, told the jury, he seems to hav'
been called into tho case because OF hi
professional talents, in the same way a
an eminent lawyer or physician NIGH
have been.
Pierce, who, before he became ,
grocer, had been in tho employ OF thu
company, first broached the subject X
Agar before his visit to the United
States, and he then deemed it impracti
cable. Upon his return, Pierce asked
him il he had thought any more OF the
robbery. Agar said he believed it would
be impracticable unless an impression
of the keys could be procured. Pierce
then said he thought he could get ar
impression if Agar would undertake the
business. This he agreed to do, it being
understood that two other persons, Bur
CESS and Tester, were TO be connected
with the affair. About twelve months
before the robbery Agar went down tu
Folkestone to reconnoiter. Tester was
and at his house Agar stayed over night.
Tester showed the expert nm iron safe
with Chubb lock at Margate station,
and asked if that would be OF any ser.
vice in making the keys. Agar explain
ed that it would not, and Tester growled
at the i'll. luck which had caused the
"job to be put up" so late. He was
himself at one time in the Folkestone
station, and could have got hold Of the
keys if needed.
Agar, however, did not despair. On
his return to London he suggested that
Pierce and himself should take the sea
air for time, engaging apartments at
Folkestone. They could thus watch the
trains in and out, and see how the keys
of the bullion chest were to be got at.
They accordingly took up their quarters,
under assumed names, at a frst-class
house at Folkestone and stayed there q
fortnight. Every day they went down
to the harbor on the arrival of the tidal
train from London, and Of the Boulogne
boat, and watched carefully to see what
was done with the keys. This visit took
place nearly year before the robbery
was accomplished. Owing to their
presence at the station so often. the
police took notice of them, and the in
spector followed Pierce. He "took
him through the town." got away, an l
returned to London. Agar returned a
few days later. The trip had not been
bootless; they had noticed the arrival
and departure Of the bullion chest and
on one occasion saw it opened. 1t was
placed on the platform, and q man named
Sharman came and locked it with key
which was attached 10 label from which
another key was suspended. Agar saw
Sl,armau take these into the station
house. About eight or nine months be-
fore the robbery it was again arranged
that he should 60 to Folkestone. les
ter met him there, as if by chance, and
introduced him to Sharman. The latter,
however, turnel out to be ga very &c.
date young man," and no information
could be cleaned from him. The mat
ter now rested for while, and it seemed
as if it must be abandoned, when Tes-
ter, who was then in the London office,
wrote that ono of the duplicate keys
was lost, that the chest was going to
Messrs. Chubb's to have the combina-
ton changed and new keys fitted, and
that he was to take charge of tire matter,
and to receive tho new keys from
Chubb's. Pierce and Agar met him by
appointment at beershop in Tooley
street; he brought the new key with
him, Agar retired to bedroom, took
an impression of it, and returned it to
Tester, who hurried around to the Office,
without exciting any suspicion by his de-
lay:
This stroke of god luck encouraged
the confe1erates, though It was but
single step gained. As only one key had
been lost, only one lock had been over
hauled leach safe had two), and the key
of the other had never been in Testers
possession. It must be got hold OF, and
the way in which this was done is one of
the boldest strokes the friends attempt
ed. The man ut Folkestone who had
charge of tho keys and his assistant
used occasionally, on the arrival OF the
Boulogne boat, to leave the station
house unocsupied some ten minutes.
The lock OF the building was common
one, and with an ordinary assortment OF
skeleton keys they could not fail to open
it in moment. It was necessary, how
ever, to first ascertain whereabouts in
the station house the safe key was kept.
Agar therefore went to Folkestcne, and,
under the assumed name Of Adam, took
lodgings at tho Pavilion Hotel. While
there, Pierce forwarded him box con-
tanning 1900 in sovereigns advanced by
Agar for the purpose). On a Monday
he called at the station. his box appeared
on the way bill, and one Chapman, then
in charge of the Office, took the key
from cupboard, opened the safe, and
gave the sovsreigns to Agar.
He now had all the information he
required. He returned to London, and
in company with Pierce went down to
Dover by train, arriving at midday.
They walked over to Folkestone, reach
ing there before tho boat came in. They
walked about the harbor till she arrived,
when Chapman and his assistant left the
Office for the pier. The confederates
hurried to the door-fortune favored
them--it was not even locked. While
Pierce watched outside, Agar entered,
hurriedly took an impression of the key,
and they both left the office before the
return OF the station master. They hur-
ried over to Dover, and back to London
the same day. ....
Upon their return Agar had some
blank keys made and began to file them
down to the size of the impression he
had taken. It was weary work, He
at Pierce's, but, having
made up an old quarrel with his mis-
tress. Fanny Kay, he hired house at
Cambridge Villas, and there finished his
task. A new actor now made his ap-
pearance on the scene Burgess was
made acquainted with all that had been
done. It is good job" said he,
:" and I will do my best to help you"
The next step was to fit the keys to the
locks of the bullion chest, and Agar
made some seven or eight trips with |
Burgess in the van before he succeeded
in SO doing.
A year had now passed in constant
and in order to secure q
Citing reward for their toll and trouble, |
The confederates determined to wait |
until at least twelve thousand pounds |
vent down the line. The final arrange
mcnts were made. Pierce and Agsr
went to shot tower beyond Hungerford |
bridge and purchased 200
hounds OF shot, which they carried to
Villas in eight pound and