The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1885-01-31 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER  ROBBERY AND ATTEMPTED MURDER BY A PAWNBROKER'S ASSISTANT.  On Monday, Robert Leech, 18, a pawnbroker's assistant, was brought up, on remand, at the Worshipstreet Police-court, London, charged with having su,len a sum of 135., the money of his employer, Mr. landau Perry, pawnbroker, of Lea-bridge-corner; and further with having feloniously shot at Policeconstable 100 N, with intent to murder, &c. Mr. Attenborough appeared for the prosecution; the prisoner aas undefended. The deposition made by Mr. Perry last week was read to him, and he was further cross-examined by Mr. Attenborough. With reference to the facts of the robbery the prosecutor said the prisoner's duty was, when pledges were redeemed, to place the pawnticket given up with the duplicate kept, in a particular place, and the money paid into the till. The 13s. stolen was money paid on two pawnings. The prisoner, when ha confessed to having stolen the 135., was asked what he had done with the tickets, and said that he had thrown them on the fire, but that was untrue, as the tickets were subsequently found in a closet. The prosecutor added that the books showed a number of similar rcbberies, the total amount being about 50. Prisoner had proceeded very artfully in the matter, making false entries in the books to money advanced on pledges. On the charge of shooting, the prosecutor said that both himself and the constable had their backs turned when the first shot was fired, and when he faced round he saw that the prisoner had the revolver pointed at the constable; but the bullet seemed to have passed close to witness's head. The shot had entered the wall in a line with the constable's head. The second shot fired by the prisoner, just as witness rushed at him, was fired point blank; but, fortunately, at that moment one of the shop assistants, named Revelley, who had run forward on the first shot, struck up the prisoner's arm. The prisoner was secured, and further assistance sent for. It was then that he produced a second revolver from the breast-pocket of his coat, saying, "Here is another for you, old man. The first revolver was five-chambered, the second six. Both were fully loaded, but two chambers of the first were discharged. Theprisoner had been in his (prosecutor's) service since April last, and witness had a good character with him. The taking of stock had shown that there was a deficit of £5O Bs. 2d. In answer to Mr. Hannay, the prosecutor said that there were other assistants in the shop. The prisoner cross-examined the prosecutor with considerable ease and indifference as to whether the revolver was pointed at the constable for the first shot, or as to whether the prisoner had not had time to shift his position before the prosecutor could have turned round. The prosecutor adhered to his first evidence, and said he thought the prisoner could not have turned. In further answer to the magistrate, the prpsecutor said the room was not a small one, nor very large. The bullet of the first shot struck the wall in a slanting direction seven feet up, and then rebounded to the other side of the room. Police-eonstable Nelson,loo N, deposed to being called to the shop of - Mr. Perry, and to finding the prisons./ seated in the room behind the shop, as stated. The constable corroborated the evidence of the prosecutor as to the prisoner's confession that he had taken the money, and then as to the shooting, as to which the officer added nothing new. Evidence was also given by an Inspector of the N division as to the size of the room, the bullet marks, &c., and he produced the revolvers and a small pouch containing cartridges to fit the pistols, about 100, which were, found in the prisoner's box. The depositions being completed, the prisoner, who treated the.matter with much sang .froid, was committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court.