New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-19


- Young gentleman, these are what yonG found
in the box when you were in the train. The gold
and notes were stolen right enough. You had beer
robbed but you need not be ashamed OF it, for
am Sergeant Sharp, detective police officer who
is pretty we'll known, though say IL myself, and
II you were outwitted, so was I'm not ashamed TO
own u, for IL was about the cleverest thing ever
heard Of Something quite new, which is saying q
good deal for criminals, who are not very original
rs rule. The worst Of the thing seems 10 be
that, though you were drugged and asleep, was
wide awake while the robbery was being COM
mitted and never knew anything about it, only
discovered it by an accident And that not until
you were miles away from m" and the money
But do you mean 10 say that somebody opened
the box and exchanged such an immense weight
Of geld for other metal in the train 2 asked
" That do" said Sergeant Sharp, and, what
is more, that they made the exchange between
Rugby and Stafford whilst | was sitting, wide
awake, within few feet OF you
Then how was it dOne?'
BY the watch-saw,' was the answer
I have now reached a stage OF my narrative
when, for the convenience of the reader, l had
better, | think, summarize and tell as briefly
as can the real story of the robbery as 1t was
established lpartly by the testimony OF one OF
the gang, who tnrntd Queens evidenced during
the trial Of Hill and his accOmphces at the follow
HILL who WIS professional thief learned from
the marker that | was gong 10 marlborough
that night, and knowing that was engaged
in the Lombard Street Bank, he easily guessed
what my mission was, and that | should travel
by the express. Accordingly he arranged with
his confederates, and met me, as have described,
az EustOn.
When Douglas saw Hill he thought he recog-
niZed him as u suspicious character. His doubts
were only partly dispclled by my assertion that
Hill was StOckbrOkcr, and so, when, on leaving
the station, he accidentally met Sergeant Sharp,
whom ne knew, the sergeant was sometimes
employed by the bank, be communicated TO him
the nature Of my mission, and the suspicious
he had Of my companion and gave him the number
Of my carriage, which he had noted.
Sergeant Sharp at once went TO the train,
recognized Hill, took ticket, and travelled 70
Rugby in another compartment. At Rugby lie
saw Hill leave the train but did not detain
him as there did not seem 10 be any reason
for doing so, since | was apparently quite safe.
While the worthy sergeant was standing near
the train wondering what Hill might be about,
hr recognized in the next compartment 10 mine
two ticket-of-leavc men amongst the fashion
able party whom had watched when they were
getting into the train. II Immediately occurred
10 him, from their general get up and appear
ance, tlat they must be bent on some mischief,
though, AT the time, he had not any particular
idea Of their having any design on me. However,
partly 10 keep me SIft but chiefly 10 follow them,
hr got into my compartment and took his seat.
Nothing particular happened during the run to
Stafford Wien the train arrived there, thr party
In the next compartment got out, and Sergeant
Sharp got ont also. lie had no cOmpunctOn in
having me, rs the box and ! were, apparently,
quite safe though | WAS asleep, and as the guard
was evidently looking after US. While they were
getting into cab on leaving the station, he had
the whole party arrested on suspicion They
pounds In Rank of England notes, issued only
the day before, and 1000 pounds in gold were
found about them. The sergeant and the police
authorities in Stafford at once guessed that, in
some way or other, this money must, probably,
have been distracted from the box which was
in my possession, though IT. was not until some
hours nttcrwnrd that they discovered how the
robbery had been committed. Accordingly they
tcrgra phrd 10 Mr.. Church, who, when he re-
cclved tho advice | gave him from the London
manager, informed them OF the numbers OF the
p.fpg and flttIc lind tIp p,tB Nspf IN
borough. whe:r IT. arrived at u few minutes before
eight O'clock
When the train from Euston arrived at it's
terminus the carriage iii which | travelled was
thoroughly examined, and il was only then that
the mystery was explained Of how ME money
WAS distracted from the stronghold, and the rags
and weights and paper substituted for IT, Under
the SEATS and Immediately where the box was
placed, piece had been cut ont OF the partition
which divided the compartments. IL appeared,
from the pvidCnc" Of the lntOrmPr, TINT the Oper-
alton Of cutting the partition carried on be-
tween EustOn and Rugby. At Rugby, HlH
eignnlled that / was smoking the drugEHl cigar
whom sufficient time for II 10 TAKE eject had
elapsed, the part OF the partition which bad been
sawn away was removed, through the aperture
thus made the box was drawn into the next
compartment, ritPd, stuffed with rags and weights,
and then restored 20 its place. The noise OF the
train prevented Sergeant Sharp from hParing what
was being done. After this the piece of wood,
which had been cut with wonderful evenneSS from
tho partition, was replaced and secured with
clasps The instrument used in cutting through
the partition WAS one TINT is known ~ the watch
saw : that i 10 sIty. "A saw which is made ON
OF =" hh"N tmifrrt piece OF "Itr' Hlch us tie
mhih,HptihK OF u Wa'Cn.- sum an lhN Tum't' rulS
h"ls'WNSN anu pu'ch!S, anu p's>'S trTTnHh ron |
danger the thieves had 10 fear was, that If were
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