The Blackpool Herald. — 1882-11-24 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

THE ROBBERY FROM A SAFE—PAINFCL SCENE IN COCRT.—Thomas Honour Dickson, bookkeeper and clerk, of 30, Clappen Hill, Old Trafford, Manchester, was again charged with stealing £3 12s. 6d. from a safe in the office of the India Rubber Works, in Blackiston-street, owned by Mr. Harris Marcus, sometime between the 6th and the 9th inst. Oscar Ferguson said he was cashier for Mr. Harris Marcus, in the India Rubber Works, in Blackiston-street. He knew the prisoner, who was employed at the works as bookkeeper, commencing on his duties on the 6th inst. Witness, on that day, placed 30s. in silver in the safe and locked it up. On the Bth inst. he placed three sovereigns and a half sovereign in the safe, in a small linen bag, upon which was printed "Lancaster Banking Company, Preston." At that time he missed 2s. 6d. from the 30s. On Monday, the 6th, witness gave prisoner the key of the closet in the back yard. This key was on a bunch, of which the key of the safe was one. On the Bth inst., he gave the keys to prisoner three times, the last time being about six o'clock. After that prisoner went to his tea, taking the keyalwith him. Witness left the place at half-past seven, and returned shortly after eight o'clock. Prisoner was then in the office When he (the prisoner) left for the night, witness went into the office and found the keys lying on the desk. On the following morning prisoner said to witness "I have been to Gornall's for some medicine. I had to get 'tick' for a shilling. Will you lend me Is. 6d.?" Witness refused to do this. Witness afterwards missed the £3 10s. from the safe, and charged prisoner with taking it, when he said "I never took a penny of yours, or the firm's money." He afterwards said " I took it, and threw the bag away, in an area near the Church." When charged, on the Bth inst., with stealing the money, prisoner pulled out a jar of phoshor of paste, and said "If you had sent for the officer he would never have taken me out of this place alive," meaning that he would commit suicide sooner than be apprehended. Witness took the jar from him, afterwards giving information to the police. Prisoner had no right to open the safe, or take the money. —Samuel Davies, 'manager and cutterout at the Rubber Works, stated that on the evening of the Bth inst, shortly after the last witness left the works, prisoner came out of the office and asked if Ferguson would be coming back again that night. Witness replied that he did not know, whereupon prisoner went back again into the office. Witness saw him open the safe and go in and out of the office three times before Ferguson returned.— The purchase of the collars, Ste., having been proved, P.C. Wilson stated that at half-past one on the 9th inst., he apprehended the prisoner in the works, and charged him with the offence, when he replied "Can I see Mr. Marcus, and I will pay him all the money back again. I have some of it, I have sent £1 of it to my mother, and bought a tie, two collars, and some medicine with it." On being searched, £1 17s. Id. was found on him. Prisoner was then brought to the Police Station, and locked up.—Mr. R. Edmondson appeared for the prisoner, and called Mr. Harris Marcus, the proprietor of the India Rubber Works, who was examined as follows— When did the prisoner enter your employ? On Monday morning, the 6th of the present month.— From information you received, you heard that a robbery of certain money had taken place from your safe! Yes.—Did you see the prisoner at all on the Thursday? Yes.—Where! I saw him in the office.—Did the prisoner make any statement to you? Yes.—And in consideration of that statement, you forgave him! Yes.—Freely forgave him? Yes.—Prisoner remained ia your employment for two days after? Yes.—The Clerk: When did the prisoner make the statement? About half-past eight, or nine o'clock, on Thursday evening, the 9th inst.—By Mr. Edmondson: What did he say! He said he had taken it. I had a long talk to him, and threatened him till he acknowledged it —And then what? I promised to forgive him, after acknowledging it.—And he did acknowledge it Yes? And you :forgave him? Yes.—After this, he remained in your employ? Yes.—Mr. Edmondson then addressed the Bench, submitting that there was no case. As had been shown by the evidence, a robbery had been committed, and he was sorry to admit, on behalf of his client, that the charge was a just one. This, as had already been shown, he admitted to Mr. Markus, who in consideration of the confession had f orgi ven him. Nothing further was required, and therefore the Bench had no jurisdiction over the case.—Superintendent Stafford stated that the police had locked him up, owing to receiving a telegram from Manchester ordering them to do so.— Mr. Markus here stated that he did not wish to press the case.—The Chairman informed the prisoner that he was discharged, but had had a very narrow escape, and it was a question in his (the speaker's) mind as to whether or not Mr. Markus was doing his duty to him as he ought. He must, however, remember that if ever he appeared again for a similar offence, this would figure against him.— Prisoner, who was of very respectable appearance, evinced signs of feeling the trial most acutely throughout, and at the expiration of the Chairman's remarks, fell out of the prisoner's dock in a swoon, but was caught by P.S. Wilson, who prevented him from falling on to the floor. For some time he was supported by two or three who were standing near, and as he was assisted out of the Court, he was weeping very bitterly.—The Clerk informed Mr. Marcus that he would have to pay all costs.