TALES & SKETCHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 867, 12 October 1888, Page 8

TALES & SKETCHES.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED]. MEIKLEJOHN’S DETECTIVE EXPERIENCES, Related by Himself. THE GREAT WIMBLEDON BURGLARY AND THE COUNTESS OF ELLESMERE’S SHAWL. It was during the winter of 1865 that a successful burglary, marked by features of more than ordinary cunning and audacity, was perpetrated on the premises of a gentleman named Marvin, near Wimbeldon. Ihe house, known as Teviot Lodge, a mansion of recent ereotion, embodying the latest architectural improvements, was remarkable for the beauty of its site, abutting upon and commanding, as it did, an extensive view over the common. The house was separated from the main road in front by a high stone wall, while iron railings, of a solid but ornamental character, enclosed the rear. The garden and extensive pleasure grounds were studded with choice shrubs, while at inter, vals clumps of evergreens, after the fashion of the rhododendron bods at Kew, would, undoubtedly, even in the dead ot winter, afford ample concealment to burglars in esse or in posse. Here night after night they could, without any risk of discovery (always excepting the attention of a too inquisitive dog) remain, watching tho habits and movements of the servants and other inmates, Also _ the point most essential to the ‘cracksman ’-the limes and methods of working his beat, adopted by the policeman on his duty outßide, might be successfully studied. _ . e , Not only would the attacking force have to decide upon the most convenient hour for storming the citadel, but also, m the event of sucoess, the best time for getting away

with the plunder without encountering the watchful patrol on his rounds. Well-timed for a few nights, the policeman’s habits would be as well known to the burglar as to the constable himself. In such, a secluded spot, and in the dead of night, his footsteps could be heard when half a mile distant, and no conveyance or traveller would be at all likely to pass that way from ten o olook till ten the following morning. Once over the railings and the road they could, if so disposed, walk about a mile and a half through fields to a railway station (to which I shall subsequently allude), and so avoid all possible chance of inconvenient and unexpected meetings. DARING AND SENSATIONAL ROBBERY.

These, then, were the surroundings and natural features of the premises upon which, in the dead of night, while the inmatts, like all other good people, were calmly reposing in their beds, a daring and sensational robbery was committed, by which the perpetrators possessed themselves of upwards, of £250 worth of old and valuable plate, which money could not replace. As may be well imagined, there was the greatest sensation in the neighbourhood when the report of the burglary was circulated, but no tittle of evidence, information, or even suspicion as to the guilty parties, was forthcoming to direct or supplement the tact and experience of the metropolitan police, whose aid in tracing the perpetrators of the robbery was at once invoked. The case was entrusted to me, and with, as I may say, a blank sheet of paper to work upon, I at once commenced operations, determined, if possible, in spite of the odds against me, to unravel the mystery of such a sensational and cleverly-exeouted crime. As I have before stated, the mansion stood in enclosed premises. WHO WERE THE INMATES ?

The inmates of the house, in addition to Mr Marvin and his wife, ware a daughter—a young lady of about 18 years of age—the housekeeper—a certain Mrs Reed —five other female servants, and the butler, coachman, and footman. The gardener and his family lived in a lodge, or ornamental cottage, by the gate leading to the grounds in front of the house from the common. The butler’s pantry was situated at the north wing of the house, upon the ground floor, securely guarded - as, at any rate up to the time of the robbery, was generally supposed—oy iron bars fitted into the window. In this pantry the plate was kept in a cupboard secured with double locks. Before retiring to bed, about eleven o clock on the night of the robbery, the butler had seen everything in order, and, as was his wont, had attended to all the locks and fastenings. Judge, then, the surprise of an innocent, careful and thoroughly trustworthy man on entering his pantiy, to find his sanctum one scene of havoc and confusion the oupboard broken open, and the whole of .his much-cherished plate—gone 1 The first shook of horror and blank amazement having been dispelled, he immediately alarmed the house, informing his master and the other inmates of what bad occurred. A rigorous search was at once instituted throughout the house and premises, to see if the thieves were in concealment (for it. was not yet daylight), but it soon became evident that the ‘ bird ’ or ‘ birds ’ had ‘ flown,’ and the coachman was at once despatched to the nearest police station, viz., Wandsworth — about a mile and a half distant from the house —to give the alarm, and enlist the assistance of the police. I, with other assistants, at onoe hastened to the spot. HOW THE ENTRANCE WAS EFFECTED. An examination of the premises revealed the fact that an entry had been effected in a most ingenious manner. A large piece of brown paper, covered with treacle, had been placed upon the glass immediately under the catch of the window, so that when broken, it might, through the adhesiveness of the treacle remain sticking to the paper. In this manner any likelihood of the inmates being aroused by the noise and clatter of falling glass would be obviated, and the danger of an alarm being given through unusual sounds be decreased. The glass being then broken and withdrawn, the catch of the window was put back through the aperture thus effected and the window opened. The defence of the iron bars now remained to be overcome, and it was done in the following ingenious manner: Two pieces of rope were passed round the two centre and outer bars, and by the aid of two sticks insorted in the ropes, a sufficient leverage was gained to force the centre bars sufficiently wide apart for a man to get between them. These sticks were left behind in the ropes, showing clearly that two men must have been concerned in the robbery, as one would hove to force open tlie bars while liis mate effected an ingress. GETTING AT THE ELATE. An entry to the butler’s pantry was thus gained, but the coveted plate was still hidden from their view in the cupboard, under double lock and key. They appear to have come unpropared for this aspect of defenoe, or, at any rate, unprovided with proper tools for the emergency, as they seem to have re-

moved the morticed lock from the door of the cupboard by means of a large carvingknife, which they found in a drawer of the pantry dresser. This operation, from the clumsy nature of the only tool they had at their disposal, must have occupied them at least an hour aDd a half ; but the breech effected, everything wa3 now at their mercy,’ and they had only to pass, the valuable plate through the open window. This they apparently did, and then decamped, leaving me nothing to follow as a clue, beyond the ropes and sticks, still attached to the bars of the window, and a general mass of-confusion in the pantry. Two pieces of candle in a small tool-house garden had evidently been used by the burglars in preparing their sticks, ropes, and treacled brown paper, and apparatus neoessary for the undertaking. There were also footmarks of two different persons in the garden, one of them rather remarkable for the fact of the heel of the right foot being much worn and lower on the outside than the inside, the impression showing clearly the head of a nail, about the size of a pea, which had been driven into the most worn part of tho heel. This impression of the boot I caused to be carefully protected, from rain or interference, with a view to it* affording a comparison with the footmark of any individual who might be eventually traced or suspected. It was at this time the rule that a description of all stolen property, such as plate or jewellery, should be circulated among jewellers and pawnbrokers in the metropolis and the police in the larger country townß; this was accordingly done with the least possible delay, and the fact of the robbery widely advertised. I proceeded, the same day, to make inquiries of every policeman who had been on duty in the district on the preceding night as to whether any suspicious persons had been noticed either at night or in the early morning. I also made inquiries of the policemen at the nearest railway Btations as to whether any suspicious persons, carrying parcels, had left by the early workman’s trains. TRACKING TWO WORKING PAINTERS, The only information of any importance I elicited was given me byfa policeman who had been on night duty at New Wandsworth, which.' was to the effect that two men, having the appearance of painters, had passed him about a quarter to five o’clock that morning. They were each carrying what he took to be a basket, with something like overalls inside. One of them inquired what time it was, and he, the policeman, took out his watch and said, ‘Ten to five.’ I then asked him if there was anything suspicious or peculiar about them. He said, ‘ Not exactly, except that they were strangers, but I should know them again, for I had a good look at one under the lamp.’ I then said, ‘ Were they going in the direction of Clapham Junction for the five o’clock working, men’s train?’ He said, * They might hare been, for they would have been just in time to catch it.’ ■■ ~ Clapham Junction, Wandsworth and Battersea, are now, were even at that time, the principal resort for working people' on the south-west side of London, the lodgings being more convenient and cheaper than elsewhere. Hundreds of working men go by the early trains, and consequently there was nothing peculiar or unusual, or calculated to attract attention in the fact Of two men dressed as painters going to a railway station at that time in the morning. More particularly when no tidings of a robbery, or des. cription of any parties who were ‘ wanted ’ had been circulated in the district. Consequently no further notice was taken of these men at the time. THE * ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.’ It appeared that my only chance now was to seek information at the various resorts and * habitats ’ of thieves. In the face of the seductive influence of the ‘ almighty dollar ’ few among them can resist tho temptation of ‘peaching.’ Brother will often ‘ ael) ’ brother—father son—ay, even .‘lady’ her lover. For three or four days I visited the low dens of Shoreditch and Rateliffe Highway, Petticoat Lane and Seven Dials, and eventually finished up in the slums of Westminster in and around Pie Street; but nothing could I hear of the disposal of any such articles as those stolen from Teviot. Lodge, nor could I get a single hint or clue as to the identity of anyone who could have been mixed up in the affair, or was aware of such property having been obtained. My investigations and inquiries having thus far proved abortive, I decided, in my own mind, that my solo remaining chance of obtaining some clue to the malefactors was by thoroughly sifting and analysing certain suspicious circumstances connected with the robbery, WHO HAD ACCESS TO THE CANDLES ? To begin with, the pieces of candle found in the tool-house before referred to, and used by the thieves prior to commencing operations on the night of the burglary, were peculiar, and similar to those in use throughout Mr Marvin’s establishment. Without saying anything on the. subject

to any of the servants, I again consulted and interviewed Mr and Mrs Marvin with reference to this incident, which, as they readily admitted, seemed to point to Home one connected with the house having had a hand in the matter. But here again I was at fault, for the gardener alone had acoess to the place where the candles were found, and be fully satisfied me that nothing of the kind was there when he shut the plac6 up before retiring to bed on the night of the robbery. It then occurred to me that possibly some of the servants might have followers—if so, who and what were the> ?

I again saw Mr Marvin, who assured me that none of tha servants in the_ employ were allowed to introduce any friends or followers into the house, with the exception of his housekeeper, Mrs Reed, who had kept company with a young man, a painter by trade, for some years, and was about to be married to him.

The fact of bio being a painter recalled to my mind the conversation I had with the policeman at New Wandsworth, and I proceeded to inquire further from Mr Marvin as to what he knew about him. He assured me that he was a most respectable young man, and that he had been known to the family for years. ‘We have even gone so far,’ he said, • as to allow him to live for weeks in the house, while we were all away at the seaside ; so any inquiries about him would be waste of time, and you had better direct your energies and detective skill elsewhere.'” I replied that it seemed to me a most remarkable fact that on the morning of the robbery one of the constables should have met two painters, strangers to the neighbourhood, one of whom, at any rate, might have had access to the candles in the house.

Mr Marvin agreed with me that. it certainly did appear otrange, ‘ and what is more, ’ he added, ‘ I believe he was in the house with Mrs Reed the night of the robbery,’ and on inquiry being made of tbe servants, this was found to be the case. The next step was to obtain a description of the man. This I got most minutely, and then proceeded to interview the policeman who met and spoke to the two painters on the morning of the robbery. Without asking me a single question he gave a description of the men—that of one of them exactl y tallying with‘the description I had already received of the man ’paying his addresses to the housekeeper. * The next step was to let this constable see the man, and, if possible, identify him. Mrs Reed was in the habit of wearing every evening a large conspicuous brooch, with her lover’s photograph mounted in it. I therefore arranged with the constable to meet, and go with me to the house, and inspect this photograph. On our arrival we were informed that the man himself was with Mrs Reed in the housekeeper’s room, the door of which was exactly opposite the kitchen. I therefore placed the constable in such a position in the kitchen that, on the man leaving the housekeeper’s room, he would be faciDg him. About nine o’clock he opened the door and was coming out, but, seeing the constable, drew back again into the room. The constable at once said, * That is one of the men 1 met the morning of the robbery, about ten minutes to five o’clock, near Clapham Junction.’ He replied, ‘My name is John Short, I am a painter, and reside in Pimlico, near Victoria Station, and I was at home and in bed by half-past ten o’clock the night of the robbery.’ I said, ‘The circumstances are so very suspicious .that I must ask you to give me your addrtas, and to remain here until I make some further inquiries.’ , lathe first instance he demurred to giving me his address, but the housekeeper, who was perfectly innocent of any collusion with him, and equally convinced of the innocence of her lover, gave it me without any hesitation. HOW TIIE BOOT-HEELS CORRESPONDED.

On going to the house indicated, and seeing the landlady, she informed me that her lodger did not return home upon the night in question. She was so clear upon the point that I at once searched the house, and found, in an old box, a pair of boots, of which I took possession, as the heel of the right boot exactly corresponded with the impression I had preserved in the garden. Armed with thiß evidence, I returned at once

to the house, and charged Short with the burglary and took him into custody. The following morning I went to the gar. den, and there by the side of the preserved footmark I made an impression with the boot of which I had possessed myself the previous evening, and then, with a pair of compasses, measured the two prints at every point, and found there was not a particle of difference between them—not even in the position of the tell-tale nail. THE PRISONER’S ANTECEDENTS. The prisoner was taken before the magistrate the same day, and on this evidence remanded for a week. During the remand I ascertained that he had twice previously, been convicted of robbery, and been senteuced to three and 18 months respectively. I also searched the housekeeper’s boxes, and among other valuable articles of wuich I took possession was a most magnificent Indian shawl—said to be worth 100 guineas —which had been presented to her by the prisoner. Some additional evidence was procured previous to his being again brought before the magistrate. He defended himself, and conducted hid case with such skill and, ingenuity, and cross-examined the. witnesses with such tact, and frightened them into such a state of agitation, that some of them soaroely knew what they were saying, and were in imminent danger of contradicting themselves. On each hearing he took care to ask the magistrate that I might be out of court, and this course he pursued during the eight; weeks over which the remands extended. Daring this interval I had ascertained that he had been in the employ of three or four of the largest decorators in the West End of London, and that in every house where he had worked robberies had been committed, and in several cases part of tbe property so stolen was found in the possession either of the housekeeper, Mrs Reed, or of the prisoner’s mother. ■ TRIAL AND SENTENCE. I now applied to the magistrate, as no solicitor was employed to prosecute, that 1 might be allowed to remain in court and examine the witnesses through his intervention. To this course Mr Dayman, the magistrate in question, consented, and after two more remands, the prisoner was committed to take his trial on three separate charges—two besides that of the burglary at Teviot Lodge. He was tried at the Central Criminal Court, the trial lasting for two days. Here, also, although counsel was employed to proBecute, he defended himself, and exhibited the same self-possession and consummate ability he had displayed before the magistrate, and assumed the same attitude of defiance and injured innocence. However, all his arts were exercised in vain, for although he addressed the jury for an hour-and-a-half, he was found guilty and sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude. CONFESSION AND DISCLOSURE. The morning after his oonvictiou he sought an interview with the chaplain , of Newgate, and acknowledged his guilt and the justice of his sentence, and promised that if Mr Marvin was sent for he would tell him where he would find his property. Upon Mr Marvin complying with his request and visiting him, after several appeals on behalf of Mrs Reed which Mr Marvin declined to entertain, the convict indicated and described a spot in Mr Marvin’s own garden where, concealed amongst the shrubbery, all the plate, with the exception of a small teapot, would be found. On a search being made, His representations were found to be correct, and the whole of the plate, with the exception of the tea-pot, was recovered. CATCHING THE ACCOMPLICE. I had thus, in spite of the misgivings with which I entered upon the inquiry, conducted the matter to a comparatively satisfactory termination ; but I was yet by no means satisfied, for all throughout the investigation I felt certain that the prisoner must have had an accomplice, and that he could not have managed the affair single-handed. I therefore applied to the chaplain to induce the convict to disclose the name and whereabouts of hia companion iu guilt, but ho persisted in his assertion that he did the robbery alone. I felt sure it wa’i impossible that he could have done eo, and a few days affcerwarda I

obtained an order to see him in Newgate. At first lie adhered to his previous statement, that he alono did it ; but after hard pressure and repeated appeals to confess the truth he gave way, and spoke in effect as follows : ‘ The party who was 'with mo has never attempted to do any thing for me since I have been iu custody, and I do not see why he should not be made to suffer as well as me. His name is Mason, and ho was with me when we spoke to the policeman the morning of the robbery. He will be able to identify him, as also will a porter in the parcels' office at Putney Railway Station. We had oontemplated the job for weeks before we did it, and my mate was in the habit of frequently leaving a black bag, containing the implements with which we intended effecting an entry, in this man’s charge. The bag had remained so long in the office, that we were eveutually afraid to take it away, in case it might have been opened and the contents examined, and a watch set for us, and.l believe it is there now.’ In conclusion, he said, ‘Call the policeman from New Wandsworth and the railway porter as witnesses.’

On eliciting this information I at once shaped my course to find Mason, and spent the greater part of a week watching in the localities and haunts indicated to me by the convict until five o’olock in the morning. Eventually, one morning after I had gone away he was met by an officer of the P Oivision, who knew him, and brought over to me at Wandsworth. He was taken before the magistrate, and remanded for the attendance of his companion and other witnessses to give evidence against him. THE CONVICT’S EVIDENCE. On the occasion of his being brought up again before the court, his quondam associate in crime was duly iu attendance, attired iu convict garb, and wearing irons. Nothing daunted, though somewhat impeded In his movements by the chains on his legs, he walked into the witness box os coolly as if he were entering a church or the bar of a public house, and, with perfect nonchalance, detailed the whole case and every move that was made.

His story was fully corroborated by the evidence ot the policeman and the porter, and the prisoner was duly committed for trial at the ensuing sessions of the Central Criminal Court. He employed a solicitor, and an explanation of a somewhat caustic and naive character was given by Short in answer to a question put to him by that worthy. * What has induced you to come here,’ asked the solicitor, somewhat grandiloquently, ‘ and to give evidence against your former friend and associate in crime ?’ The convict’s serenity and coolness was in no manner up3et by the query, and he replied, in the most composed manner possible, holding up and dangling the end of the string from which was suspended the centre of the chain on his legs, ‘ He has had his share of the plnnder, and I want him to have his share of this also !’

Mason duly took his trial at the following sessions, was convicted and also sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude, so the tender solicitude evinced by Short for his friend’s future destinies and sphere of occupation, was realised to his heart’s content.

I had now made a complete finish of the Wimbledon casa to. my own satisfaction, and I presume, to that of the Court and all concerned (except the burglars themselves), as the Judge called me up and complimented me in the highest possible terms, and directed that a reward of £3, to be paid by the county, should be handed to me. I eventually ascertained after the second trial was over that the convict was the son of a man named Jeffries, who had some eight years previously been sentenced to a term of ten years’penal servitude for receiving the jewellery and other valuables, among them Indian shawls, stolen from the Countess of Ellesmere. I at once instituted a search for the housekeeper, Mrs Reed, to whom the Indian shawl found in her possession, and presented to her by her now conviot lover, had been given up. After considerable trouble I traced her, and found tnat the shawl had been sent on approval to a lady who was about to purchase it for the sum of £lO. It was recovered aud shown to the Countess of Ellesmere, who at once identified it as forming part of the property stolen some eight or nine years previously while in transit from the Continent. ‘ All is well that 6nds well,’ thought I, and such was the termination of the ‘ Great Wimbledon Burglary.’

(To be continued.)