The Sun. — 1833-04-08 (London, England)

UCES TER, APRIL 5. ROBBERY AT THE DURSLEY BANK.  TILE KING V. G. 0. PARSONS, THOS. NICIIOLLS, AND  SARAII PARSONS.  The two male prisoners were indicted for robbing Henry Eade Stephens of notes and cash to the amount of 8,0001., and the female for harbouring and concealing Parsons after the felony. Henry Eade Stephens was the clerk to Messrs. Bloxsome's bank at Dursley. The bank opens into an entry which runs from a street called Longstreet into the church-yard. At the back of the bank, near the end of the entry, there are some pillars, and a tomb, called Trotman's tomb. He was accustomed to carry the cash and securities of the bank in the evening from the bank to the house of Mr. Player, where there were better safes. On the 13th of February last he packed up in a bag cash and notes to the amount of 8,0001., and sealed it. He took the bag and had closed the door with his right hand, when some one passed him in the entry, seized the bag, and rushed on to the church-yard. Witness kept hold of the bag, and was dragged on. When he reached the pillar he was suddenly struck on the head with somethiog, either iron or wood, which broke in his hat and brought him to the ground. His head was cut, and bled profusely. He cried " Murder," but still held the bag. He then received another blow upon his hand, so severe as to disable him from the use of his finger. He let go the bag, and the man ran away with it. He was on the ground, and, attempting to rise, he was struck again by the man behind the pillar on his eye. He was again brought to the ground. He arose, and alarmed the batik. His hat hail been knocked off, and another was offered to him which was not his own. This hat was afterwards identified to have belonged to Parsons.  Ann Mercer swore to having seen Parsons and Nicholls about the bank premises the night before the robbery. On the next night she saw Parsons near the entry, and another person in it. She was in the street not far off when she saw Parsons run out of the entry down the street without a hat, and with a bag, followed by another man. On her cross-examination she admitted herself to be a street-walker, and behaved with great flippancy and impertinence. John Smith had also seen the prisoners about the premises on the previous night. On the night of the robbery he saw them there again, and went and concealed himself behind the tomb. He swore to having seen Nicholls at one of the pillars, and that he struck the prosecutor. The two men ran down the street. On his cross-examination he stated that he had been in prison on suspicion of stealing 100/. from a Mr. Shepherd. James Jackson and Charles Cogswell went to the house of the prisoner Sarah Parsons on the night of the robbery,and there they found Parsons, partly undressed, concealed in the roof. They said to him they had come for that parcel which he brought from Dursley. He said, "If you look pretty sharp you'll find it in the house; but I don't think you will by that light." They found 170/, in notes that evening in a piece of flannel concealed in the roof, and afterwards 1931 sovereigns on another search. Parsons was then apprehended. Nicholls was not apprehended for some time. The jury acquitted Nicholls, and found Parsons Guilty. Upon him his Lordship passed sentence of death.