The Great Silver Robbery

THE GREAT SILVER ROBBERY.

[FROM THE EVENING STAR'S CORRESPONDENT.]

LONDON, October 18.

Fresh light has been thrown on the great silver robbery, of which I sent you particulars some mails back, by the arrest of Alexander Sarti, manager in the employ of Elkington's, the great electro-platers, in whose possession one of the thirty-one missing ingots was discovered. Sarti appeared at Clerkenwell yesterday charged with feloniously receiving a quantity of the stolen Swansea bullion. Mr. Bodkin told the Court the story of the discovery of the acid-eaten ingot at Messrs. Elkington's premises, 15 Myddelton street. He gave details of the electro branch of the business, and technically described the effect of the acid bath and the formation of silver salts. Sarti, said Mr. Bodkin, had superintendence of the preparation of the acid bath. The finding of the reduced ingot in the bath by the employee Toome was detailed; it was then considerably disintegrated, but the action of the acid being equable the original shape was preserved, and the Swansea firm's initials ("V. and S.") were still to be seen. Toome and a fellow-workman named Conroy spoke to Mr. Sarti about it, and he made some confused reply. It was on Saturday last that they communicated with Mr. Elkington, a member of the firm, who lived at 25 Hans place, Brompton. On Wednesday, therefore, Chief Inspector Moore and Inspector Conquest visited the premises and had an interview with the prisoner that he would leave them to detail in the box. He first declined to allow them to search the bath, but at last they did search it, and the ingot was found. Having been lying there nearly a week, the erosive action of the acid had nearly obliterated the marks which Toome saw, but he believed the magistrate would be able to discern the remains of these letters. Mr. Bodkin explained that this bath was used for the purpose alone of removing the silver from plated articles, and that it was sold only in the form of crystals, and there was no motive in a legitimate business of reducing silver ingots by that process. He emphasised the position of Messrs. Elkington in the matter, and the promptness with which they had rendered every assistance in the detection of the crime.
Chief Inspector Moore told the striking story of his visit to Myddelton street. He said to prisoner: "We have reason to believe that you have at the present moment some of that silver on these premises being destroyed by acids." He said: "Nothing of the kind." Witness replied: "We shall be glad to know what records you have of silver purchases." He produced a book which showed the purchases of the firm since 1st September, but which did not include any silver corresponding in weight or amount with the stolen silver. Prisoner said that was all the silver purchased by the firm. His attention was then drawn to some new silver coins lying on his table, and he said that he bought 50oz of that stuff the other day at 2s 6d per ounce. Asked by witness for the invoice, he said he had none, as the transaction was a private one. He was afterwards charged with being concerned with Henry Bailey in the robbery of the ingots on September 25. Prisoner said: "I know nothing about it. I was away at Scarborough on that date." Inspector John Conquest, who accompanied the last witness, related his conversation with prisoner. He asked prisoner who was in charge of the tank, and when Toome was pointed out said to him: "There is something bulky here - what is it?" Toome turned to Sarti and said: "You know what is there," adding "Mr. Sarti put it there." Prisoner said: "I have not put anything in. I am responsible for whatever you find, and that man knows nothing about it." There were a few pieces of silver suspended in the tank by wires undergoing some process in the firm's business, but no wire was attached to the ingot. Sarti was convicted and sentenced to a year's hard labor.

Source: Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 4302, 18 December 1895, Page 5