Weapons Stored in a Stable

PRISONER BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE.

At the Clerkenwell Police-court this morning Thomas Walsh, aged 38, of 12, Charles-street, Hatton-garden, described on the charge-sheet as a carpet planner, was charged before Mr. Hosack with feloniously receiving and fraudulently dealing with certain rifles, bayonets, and other firearms, believed to be the property of Her Majesty's Government, since the 6th of April of this year, at 99, St. John-street-road, parish of Clerkenwell. The court and its approaches were well filled with spectators, and there was a body of extra police on duty in the yard leading to the court. Chief Superintendent Williamson, with Inspector Peel, prosecuted. Mr. Abrahams, solicitor, defended.
Mr. William George Schoof, watchmaker, 29, St. John-street-road, Clerkenwell, said - I know the prisoner by the name of Mr. Sadgrove. He first came to me in the beginning of this year or the end of last year, and asked about the stable which I had to let adjoining my premises. He did not at that time say what he wanted the buildings for. He inquired the rent. I told him 10s. per week, which he said was too much, and went away. I again saw him on the 6th of February at my house. The stable was still unlet. He said since he had last seen me he had had stables in Islington, but they were not so safe, as he had had small parcels stolen from them, and that he was going to give them up, and wanted some instead. I asked the same rent, and eventually agreed with him for 2 pounds per month. He paid 5s. deposit, and took possession as from that day. He said he was an exporter of lacquered goods and Birmingham articles, and that he occasionally had orders for India, and wished to use the stables to stow crates and goods until they were ready for shipment. He gave his address as Mr. Sadgrove, 37, Charles-street, Birmingham. About a week or a fortnight afterwards some crates or boxes arrived, I retaining the key in the meantime. He came with a cart, another man driving it, and I gave him the key. The things brought and placed in the stable seemed to be empty packing cases and crates. He then went away, and I did not see him again until about a fortnight afterwards, when he came with another load of what seemed to be the same sort of things, but the crates and cases appeared to be filled. The prisoner and the carman put these things in the stable, and then the prisoner put a padlock of his own on the stable, keeping the key. I next saw him about the middle of May, when he gave me 2 pounds for rent, having previously paid me 2 pounds, with the deposit when the first load was put in. The second payment cleared the rent till April 6th. Since then I have not seen the prisoner till Sunday morning, when I saw him in custody at King's-cross-road Police-station. He was quite a stranger to me when he first came to me. I addressed a letter about a week ago by post to Mr. Sadgrove, C 37, Charles-street, Birmingham, and it was returned to me through the Dead-letter Office. The London post-mark is May the 17th.
Mr. Abrahams said he should reserve the cross-examination.
Inspector Peel G Division, said: - At half-past ten on the night of the 17th I saw the prisoner at the King's-cross-road Police-station, he having been apprehended by my direction. I said, "Mr. Walsh, I am a police inspector. I have made a seizure of rifles, revolvers, and a large quantity of ammunition at your stable, 99, St. John-street-road." He replied, "I cannot deny I took the place, and that it is mine." I said, "I shall have to detain you here unless you can account for the possession of that property in a satisfactory manner." He replied, "There are others besides me." I said, "Have you any invoices for the goods?" and he replied, "No." I said, "have you a licence to deal in firearms?" He said, "No," nor could he show any papers, or give any reference that would lead me to believe he was engaged in an honest transaction with the public. I asked him if he could give the names of the others he alluded to, and he replied, "No." I said, "Some of the rifles have the Government mark on them," and he replied, "I did not know that." I showed him the Crown and Tower mark, 1871, on one of them, and he said, "I did not know there was anything wrong with them, or I would not have had them." He was detained, but not charged. I saw him again at a quarter to two on Sunday morning. I said, "Mr. Walsh, have you any objection for me to visit your house to see what is there?" and he replied, "No," and he then gave me his address, which I knew. I said, "Are there any revolvers or ammunition there?" and he replied, "No." I said, "If I find any there it may be used against you." He replied, "There are some there." I went to the address, with two other officers, to 12, Charles-street, and found in his room - the first-floor front - in a drawer, a six-chambered revolver, which did not appear to have been used for a long time; also a box of percussion caps and a box containing 100 small cartridges, and 400 cartridges that fit the revolvers found in the stable. Prisoner was subsequently charged at the station given above.
Mr. Hosack - Can you say how many rifles bear the Tower mark? - About 300 or 400, but they have not been all examined yet.
Witness, continuing, said - In reply to the charge, prisoner said "It will be all satisfactorily explained." Six keys were taken from him, and one of them opened the padlock on the stable. On the night of the 16th inst., from information I had received, I got into the stable in question by a back window. I found no one there. The window was not open, and I reached it by a ladder. In the stable I found 4 crates and 24 wooden cases, and some other articles. There were cartridges scattered about the floor, some loose and some in packages. The crates were full of finished rifles, and the boxes were properly fastened. I also found five barrels partly filled with rifle cartridges packed in sawdust; also four small boxes containing cartridges of various sizes. I had the arms removed to the police station and the ammunition to Woolwich. The four crates contained about 66 finished rifles, 24 cases contained revolvers, about 30, and some ammunition. There were also 66 bayonets.
Mr. Superintendent Williamson here asked for a remand. In answer to Mr. Abrahams, the inspector said - I have heard that it is the practice of the Government to sell and dispose of surplus rifles. The rifle produced is a Snider, and I am informed such are used by the Volunteers. I also heard that they were the same class of weapons as were used by the Zulus.
Mr. Hosack said that there could be no doubt that many of this class of goods were sold at a cheap rate.
Mr. Abrahams said he could give a satisfactory account of the possession of the arms, and asked that bail might be taken.
Mr. Hosack remanded the case, and refused to take bail.

Source: The Echo, Monday June 19, 1882, Page 2