The Sun. — 1857-08-19 (London, England)

SOUTHWARK,  BURGLARY AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.—Charles Heather, a coal-heaver, was brought before Mr. Burcham for re-examination, charged with being concerned with others not in custody in breaking into the counting-hou-e of Messrs. Cory and Sons, coal merchants, Commercialroad, Lambeth, and stealing therefrom seventy pounds in Bank of England notes, and gold, and silver, besides several shares in the Crystal Palace Company. He was also charged with being concerned in attempting to murder Henry Newall, the watchman. The latter person was so severely illtreated by the thieves that he was unable to attend to give evidence until this day. Henry Newall, the person above described, was put in the witness box, and appeared to be et''l suffering from the injuries he had received. He said that he bad been for many years watchman to the prosecutors, and he had known the prisoner as having worked for them casually some time ago. About one o'clock on the morning of the 26th of June, witness was near the water side on the wharf, when some men suddenly came behind him and seized him by the throat, nearly strangling him: another man at the same time put a cloth over his face saturated with chloroform, which rendered him senseless immediately. lie recollected nothing until about four o'clock, when his senses were partially restored. He was then iu great pain, and he thought he was dying. A thick cloth was faitened over his mouth. His arms were tied behind him and bound with ropes to his legs, so that he was unable to move or call out. He laid in that half sensible state until about five o'clock, when one of the labourers came in and rescued him, lie was then conveyed borne and attended to by a medical man, who directed him to go into the county, where he remained until yesterday. Witness was still suffering severely, and he was unable to attend to his business. lie distinctly saw three men about him when he was first attacked, but he believed there were more of them. Mr. Burcham asked him whether he could identify the prisoner as one of the men ? He replied that he could not speak positively to him, as he was so suddenly attacked. William Hasper, fireman to Messrs. Cory and Sens, said he saw the counting-house safe on the night of the 25th June. On the following morning he received information that the watchman had been nearly murdered, and on proceeding to the wharf he found that the counting-house had been entered, and all the desks broken open and ransacked of its contents. The thieves had stolen upwards of 701. in Bank of England notes, gold and silver, besi les several shares in the Crystal Palace Company. Witness knew the prisoner, he having formerly worked as a casual labourer on the wharf.  Edward Smith, 66 L, said he saw the prisoner and another man near Messrs. Cory's wharf about two o'clock on the morning of the 26th of June. He said he was waiting for work. Sergeant Romaine, 14 L, said ho received information of the robbery and outrage, and suspicion fell on the prisoner as being connected with it. Ho however absconded from the neighbourhood, and nothing more was seen of him until Monday evening, the 10th inst., when he met him in the New Cut and took hi in into custody. Since last examination he had traced one of the stolen notes to a money changer in the Haymarket, who bad cashed it for a strange female the day after the robbery. Mr. Burcham expressed his surprise that any one should change a bank-note for a stranger. Romaine said that the party called himself a banker, and after the closing of the banks he changed notes on commission. Mr. Burcham observed that it was a singular mode of doing business—changing banknotes for strange's on commission, It gave great facility for getting rid of stolen notes, and he should cause further enquiries into the matter. The prisoner must be remanded until Monday next, and he should grant a summons to compel the attendance of the Haymarket money changer on that day.