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

On May l5, 1856, three boxes, contain.
ing gold, were taken to the Southeastern
railway company's station at London
bridge for the purpose of being con.
veyed to Paris. The boxes were bound
with iron hoops or bars, and after hay
ing been weighed and sealed we're placed,
according to the usual practice, in iron
safes. These safes were secured by
Chubb's patent locks, duplicate keys OF
which were intrusted to confidential SER
wants Of the company at Folkestone,
Boulogne and Paris As further pre-
caution, the guard of the train usually
took the safes into his own van, and was
thus enabled to see to their safety dur
ing the journey. On the night in ques-
ton, one Burgess, who had been fifteen
ye rs in the company's service, was the
guard of the train, and in his van the
iron safes we're placed. On their arrival
at Boulogne, the boxes we're taken out
of the safes and weighed, and the same
process was again gone through at
Paris. At the latter place it was ascer-
tanned that considerable portion of the
bullion had been abstracted from the
boxes and quantity of shot substituted
for it, and on comparison Of the weight
at different stages of the journey, it was
found that the weights at Paris CORE
sponded with those at Boulogne, but
varied from those which were taken in
London. From this it was evident that
the robbery must have been committed
between London and Boulogne, but
further than this, the strictest investiga-
ton appeared to afford no clew to the
discovery of the criminals. In fact,
nearly two years elapsed before the mys-
terry was cleared up, and so skillfully
had the crime been planned and exc.
cuted, that it even then became known
only through dissensions among the
thieves themselves.
In October, 1856, a person Of the
name of Agar was tried and convicted of
uttering forged check, and sentenced
to transportation for life. At the time
of his arrest he had in his possession a
considerable sum of money, amounting
to several thousand pounds, and he ar
ranged with William Pierce, retired
wholesale grocer residing in an elegant
villa ut Kilburn, that the latter should
take possession of all his property, with
the understanding that woman in
whom Agar was Interested, and by whom
he had child, should be provided for
out of its proceeds. This Pierce did for
some time, but eventually, when Agar
had been convicted, neglected his
promises, and thus allowed the woman
and her child to be reduced to state
of the greatest distress. This fact COM
ing to the knowledge of Agar, he came
forward and made public the whole cir
cumstances of the robbery. The story
he told was graphic one, and forci-
BILE illustration Of the fact that in the
present age greater amount Of talent
and capital is invested in the pursuit OF
crime as profession than ever before.
The picture Agar drew of himself with
his G3, 900 in the three per cents, and
Pierce with his villa at Kilburn, both
for whole year rushing about in cabs,
lodging at fashionable watering places
and journeyihg up and down the South
eastern railway with frst-class tickets,
was view of criminal enterprise hardly
to be looked for.
In consequence of his disclosures, on
Jan. IL, 1857, William Pierce, Burgess
the guard, and traffic clerk named
Tester, were placed at the bar, charged
with stealing two hundred weight of
gold, and Agar was called to the stand.
He was a gentlemanly, we'll educated
man of forty-one, who by his own &C.
acknowledgement had lived by crime since
his thirtieth year. According to his
own story he was neither enticed into
wrong doing by the accidents OF special
temptation, or allured by the seductions
of veteran offenders. That he might ct
one time have known want is possible,
but he had evidently learned economy
to some purpose, for, while in his last
legitimate situation, he saved $500,
which he carried with him when he left
it. He frankly confessed that he had
been more or less engaged in crime for
sixteen years, but what was its particu-
lar or prevailing character was more
than could be elected on examination.
He had "been in the United States,
where he speculated good deal;" had
(" discounted bills" and had received
the proceeds Of several forg-rics."