1843 : Mrs Pluck - Owner of the City of Hereford Public House

Title:  The Times, 18,334 7
Date:   28 June 1843
Place: London

POLICE

MARYLEBONE. - Yesterday an elderly man, named Richard Norris, was brought up in custody, and placed at the bar before Mr. RAWLINSON, charged with having, under the following singular circumstances, stolen 65l. in Bank of England notes, the property of Gomidass Ahgickyan, steward to His Excellency the Turkish Ambassador, residing at No. 1, Bryanstone-square.

Prosecutor’s statement went to show that on Sunday morning last (25 June 1843) he went to the French chapel in Little George-street, Portman-square, and previous to his doing so wrapped up in a piece of paper a 50l. note, a 10l. note, and two 5l. notes, and then placed the said packet in his handkerchief, which he put into one of his pockets. In the afternoon about 2 o’clock he missed his money, and as he perfectly well remembered drawing out his handkerchief soon after he quitted the chapel, his impression was that the notes at that period fell from it; he speedily caused handbills to be issued, offering a reward of 10s. for the restoration of his property, and he had since seen the greater part thereof in the possession of a police-constable.

James Elms, who managed the business for Mrs. Pluck, the City of Hereford public-house, No. 10, Charles-street, near the chapel, stated, that on the previous morning the prisoner came to him and requested change for a 10l. note, when witness, having known him for some time from seeing him upon many occasions with an elderly lady who lived nearly opposite, gave him two 5l. notes, as he had no gold at hand; he (prisoner) then went away, and in the course of a short time witness, on passing the French chapel, saw on the door of that edifice a printed bill containing a description of a 50l. note, and others of less amount, set forth as being lost. On returning home he examined the 10l. note which he had taken of the prisoner, and at once satisfied himself that it was the same number as that for the like amount specified in the above-named bill.

Mr. RAWLINSON. - What led you to imagine when you first noticed the bill that the 10l. note you changed, formed a portion of those stolen?

Witness. - As the bill gave a description of a 50l. note, I recollected that the prisoner had a note for that sum in his hand when he gave me the one for 10l. While I was giving him the two fives, I made an observation to him respecting the 50l. note, and he said, “I have been out paying different tradesmen’s bills for the old lady, and I dare say she will put me down in one corner of her will.” Witness added, that at 3 o’clock on the previous afternoon (Monday) he found the prisoner at the Bazaar public-house, and gave him in charge.

Mr. RAWLINSON. - When you did so, what passed?

Witness. - The prisoner was drunk, and I said to the constable, pointing to him (prisoner), “That’s the man.” He muttered something, which I could not understand, and was taken away to the station-house.

King, 31 F, said, that while conveying the prisoner along, he asked him where he got the 10l. note from, and also whether he had the 50l. note by him, to which he answered, “That’s my business.” He was searched at the station, and upon him were found a 50l. note, two 5l. ditto, and about 13s. in silver and copper.

The notes were produced, and that for 50l., as also the 10l. one, were identified by the prosecutor as his; the two 5l. notes were also identified by Elms as being those which he gave to the prisoner in change.

The other 5l., making up the 65l., has not yet been traced.

Mr. RAWLINSON (to the prisoner). - Now, unless you can clear this matter up, I shall send you to Newgate; if you wish to say anything, you can do so, but you need not, unless you think proper.

Prisoner. - I have frequently waited on the old lady spoken of, and I declare to God I found the notes wrapped up in a piece of paper. I looked into the newspapers the next morning, but could see no account of them at all; and if the gentleman will allow me I’ll make up the difference in the money in a fortnight.

Mr. RAWLINSON. - You are committed to Newgate for trial.

The witness Elms applied to know if he was not entitled to the reward offered, but the magistrate told him he had nothing to do with that matter.

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