The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-01-05


saved $500, which he carried with him
when he left Il. He frankly confessed
that he had been more or less engaged
In crime for l6 years. but what was its
particular or prevailing character was
more than could be elected on examina-
ton. He had been In the United
States, where he speculated a good
deal ~ had - discounted bills, I" and had
"received the proceeds OF several
forgeries." More remarkable, even,
than the details Of his grand coup is his
plain acknowledgment that he was I'M
der no kind Of pressure from any thing
like poverty or restitution. AT this
time,r he said, 81 was not in want Of
money!" an avowal which he presently
expanded and confirmed by the admis-
sion that he possessed no less sum
than $4,000. The old proverb-" III.
got, ill-spent"-did not hold good in
his .ase, for it was all invested in Gov
eminent 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 might have been.
| Pierce, who, before he became
grocer. had been in the employ Of the
company, first preached the subject to
Agar before his visit TO the United
States, but he then deemed it impracti-
cable. Upon his return, Pierce asked
him If he had thought any more Of the
robbery. Agar said he believed ii would
be impracticable unless an 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 be-
ing understood that two other persons,
Burgess and Tester, were TO be con-
nected with the affair. About twelve
months before the robbery Agar went
down to Folkestone to reconnoiter.
Tester was st that time station master
at Margate, and at his house Agar stay
ed over night. Tester showed the ex-
pert an iron safe with Chubb lock at
Margate Station, and asked if that
would be of any service in making the
keys Agar explained that it would
not, and Tester growled at the ill-luck
which had caused the ssjob to be put up"
so late. He was himself at one time in
the Folkestone Station and could have
got hold Of the keys II needed. Agar,
however, did not despair. On his re-
turn TO London he suggested that
Pierce and himself should take the sea
air for time, engaging apartments at
Foikestone. They could thus watch
the trains in and out, and see how the
keys Of the bullion-chest were to be got
1t. They accordingly took up their
quarters, under assumed names, ut a
first-class house in Folkestone and stay
ed there 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 care
fully to see what was done with the
keys. This visit took place nearly
year before the robbery was accom-
plished. Owing to their presence at
the station 50 often, the police took no
tice of them, and the Inspector follow
ed Pierce. He took him through the
town." got away, and returned to Lon
don. Agar returned a few days later.
Their trip had not been bootless; they
had noticed the arrival and departure
Of the bullion-chest, and on one occa-
sion saw it opened. 1t was placed on
the platform, and q man named
Sherman came and locked II with
. key which was attached to label
from which another key was suspended.
Agar saw Sherman take these into the
station-ho About eight or nine
months before the robcsry il was again
arranged that he should 90 to
Folkestone. Tester met him, as il BY
chance, and introduced him to Sher-
man. The latter, however, turned out
TO be's' very sedate young man." and
no information could be Cleaned from
him. The matter now rested for
while, and 1t seemed rs II it must be
abandoned, when Tester, who was then
In the London Office, wrote that one Of
the duplicate keys was lost. that the
chest was going TO Messrs. Chubb's to
have the combination changed and new
keys fitted, and that he was TO take
charge Of the matter, and to receive the
new keys from Chubb's. Pierce and
Agar met him by appointment at .
beer-shop In Tooley Street; he brought
the new key with him, Agar retired to
. bedroom, took IN impression OF it,
and returned it to Tester, who hurried
around to the Office without exciting
any suspicion BY bis delay.
This stroke Cf good luck encouraged
the confederates, though it was but .
single step gained. As only one key
had Jeen lost, only one lock had been
overhauled leach safe had two), and
the key Of the other had never been in
Testers possession. Il must be got
bold Of, and the way in which this was
done II one Of the boldest strokes the
friends attempted The man ut Folke-
stone who had charge Of the keys and
his assistant used occasionally, on the
arrival Of the Boulogne boat, TO leave