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Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, Sunday 27 February 1848.
Extraordinary Capture and Committal of a Notorious Gang of Burgers.
At the Woolwich Police-court on Saturday last, William Mayhew, described
as a gentleman, living at Brighton, W. Johnson, alias Montroe, alias Jim
the Greek, a well-known cracksman, and J. Flower, the keeper of the beer
shop in Barnsley Street, Mile End, were placed at the bar before Mr.
Trail, the sitting magistrate, for final examination, charged with
having committed a burglary at the "Powerful Inn," Warwick Street,
Woolwich; and J. Burnton, a greengrocer, in Albion Street, Woolwich, was
charged with aiding them in the commission of the felony.
The case excited the greatest interest, in consequence of its being
suspected that the prisoners are the parties who have been concerned in
the very numerous robberies that have of late been committed in the
district.
The evidence, which was very volumus, went to prove that on the 22nd of
last month Burnton went to a beer shop, kept by a man named Duffill, and
after drinking a pint of beer asked the landlord to step out with him,
as he wanted to speak with him. Duffill did so, and when they got as far
as Warwick Street, Burnton said, "Would a thick one or two be convenient
this cold weather?"
Duffill said, "I do not understand" when Burnton rejoined, "Can you
tumble?" Meaning, understand.
Duffill said no, and Burnton and said, "Do you know anyone that has any
dust?
Duffill said, "I know not what you mean."
Burnton then went on to state that he had been concerned in stealing
£170 from an innkeeper in the town, named Covill, and offered to let
Duffill go regulars in any job he could put the gang up to, and pointed
out the grocer, named Oliver, whose house they have fixed upon for a
crack. They then party, but on several subsequent occasion; at each of
which Burnton bound Duffill to secrecy.
On the Sunday following, Duffill called upon Mr. Covill, who had been
robbed, and also the grocer whom it was proposed to rob, and they all
went to the police, who advised that Duffill should seem to give his
consent, and fix upon the "Powerful Inn," as the scene of their
depredations.
On the next day, Burnton again called on Duffill, who told him what he
had been instructed, adding, that it must be done before Friday. Burnton
then asked him about several others in the town, and if they were worth
robbing.
They ultimately came to London, and went to Flower's beer shop, where he
was introduced to Flower and Montroe, who fixed upon the next day to do
the job, and they said they should allow Duffill and Burnton £10 a Piece
if £100 was got, and arranged to meet the next day at the "Trafalgar,"
Woolwich, which they did. The police were previously stationed at the
"Powerful," in such a position as to have a view of the bedroom; some
also at the "Trafalgar," to identify the parties when they came.
At the hour appointed Duffill went and met Flower, Montroe, and the
prisoner Mayhew, who was to be one of the party.
They then arranged that Duffill should go and get Mr. Mould, the
landlord of the "Powerful", out for a walk, and bring him past there,
which was the signal for them to go and commit the robbery.
This was done; but Duffill and Mould went back to the "Powerful", and
having entered by the back way, and found that Montroe was upstairs, a
preconcerted signal was given, and the police downstairs rushed from
their hiding place and captured Mayhew and Flower, whilst the officers
upstairs took Montroe just as he was entering the bedroom with a
skeleton key.
Upon the officers entering the coffee room, where they took Flower, they
found he had thrown a handkerchief containing a number of skeleton keys
into the fire.
After some resistance, the whole party will locked up, and upon Flower's
house in London being searched, skeleton keys and various burglarious
instruments, most ingeniously concealed, found.
The evidence being of a most conclusive nature, the depositions were
taken and the prisoners fully committed to take their trial at the next
sessions of the Central Criminal Court.
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