The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-12-13

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 gentlemanly, we'll educated
man OF forty one, who by his own ac-
acknowledgement had lived by crime since
his thiraeth 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 yeteran offenders. That he might at
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 H5OO,
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 it's particu.
lar or prevailing character was more
than could be elected on examination.
Ho had "been in the United States,
where he specnlated q good deal;" had
discounted bills" and had received
eAio PhSS0SNo VI 6SNcTdl IOIQ6f16S.
More remarkable even than the details
OF his grand coup is his plain acknowl-
edgment that he was under no kind of
pressure from anything like poverty or
destitutiOn. AT this time, - he said.
"I was not in want of mouey:" an
avowal which he presently expanded and
confirmed by the admission that he pos
sessed no less sum than s3, 900. The
old proverb-"nl-got, ill-spent did
not hold good in his case, for it was all
Invested in government securities. In
fact, as the judge, who presided at the
trial, told the jury, he seems to have
been called into the case because of his
professional talents, in the same way as
an eminent lawyer or physician mi ght
have been. 1883 -
Pierce, who, before he became a
grocer, had been in the employ of the
company, first broached the subject to
Agar before his visit to the United
S;,ftes, and ho then deemed it impracti-
cable. Upon his return, Pierce asked
him if he had thought any more of the
robbery. Agar said he believed it would
be impracticable unless all impression
OF the keys could be procured. Pierce
then said he thought he could get an
Impression If Agar would undertake the
business. This he agreed to do, it being
.ierstood that two other persons, Bur.
sess and Tester. were to be connacted
with the affair. About tvelvs mcnths
b. fore the robbery Agar EAnt down to
Folkestone to reconnoiter. Tester was
at that time station master at Margate.
and at his house Agar stayed over night.
II ester showed the export am iron cafe
with a Chubb lock at Margate station.
AMI 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 ill luck which had caused the
: Job to be put up 80 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
ayr for time, engaging apar rtments at
Foikestone. They could thus watch the
trains IN and out, and see how the KEYS
o. the bullion chest were to be got at.
They accordingly took up their uarters.
under assumed names, at a frst-class
house at Folkestone andsstayed there a
fortnight. Every. day they went down
20 the Larbor 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
MN through the town." got away, and
setnrned to London. Agar returned
rev days later. The trip had not been
oootiess; they had noticed the arrival
ana departure OF the bullion chest and
on one occasion saw it opened. It was
paced on the platform, and a man named
onafman came and locked it with O kew
winch was attached TO label from which
~ snotner Key was suspended. Agar saw
Sharman s take these into the station
mouse. About eight or nine months be-
foro the robbery it was again ARRANGED
that he should 60 to Folkestone. Tes-
ter met him there, as il bv chance and
lntfoduced him TO Sharman. The latter.
however, turned out to be ga yery "a.
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.
~rote that ono of the duplicate KEYS
vas lost, that the chest was going to
Messrs. Chubb's to have the combine
t,on changed and new keys fitted, and
tnat pc was to take charge of the matter,
ana 70 receive the new keys from
onupbh. Pierce and Agar met him by
aPpointment at beershop in Tooley
. stree'; ne brought the new key with
MN, agar retired to bedroom, took
an an impression Of it, and returned it to
Iester, VINO hurried around to the Office,
lay. ' 0