How a Great Robbery was Planned. A Convict's Confession.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 176, 30 October 1886, Page 6 (Supplement)

How a Great Robbery was Planned. A Convict's Confession.

At Bow-street, on Wednesday, James Palmer, Samuel. Soandand, Leon Weiner, Adolpbe Weiner, and Daniel Jacoby were further charged with boing concerned with a man named Toussaint in attempting to murder Mr Tabak, diamond merchant, and etealing £2,000 worth of diamonds. Donada Toussaint, who is now undergoing a term of penal (servitude for complicity in the robbery in question, deposed that he knew Mr Tabak, and went to his house with the prisoner Palmer. He also met Scandand by appointment. Scandand remained outside Mr Tabak's house while witness and Palmerentered. Witness knew Mr Tabak through Jacoby. He told Jacoby thai he had no employment. He said he was doing badly, and added that he had a friond who had something that witness could do for him if he would aee him. They tdbk a cab and went to see Weinet. They went to a coffee-ehop and A. 1 Weiner joined them. They asked Jacoby if he had told witness what he was required to do. Weiner then said, "I have an old Jew who is worth about £15,000 in diamonds If you go to him he will receive you upstairs in the backroom, arid will show you everything freely, because he is anxious to do business. If you give him a good tap you can take everything, because there is no one at home except his wife and servant, and they aro always .downstairs." Witness said he could not do that. Jacoby replied, " I will get eome rhloroform." Adolpbe Weiner said, "No, you must not get it." Jacoby eaid " I'll get it." After some further conversation they parted. They met each day afterwards and talked the matter over. Leon Weiner was introduced by Jacoby. Jacoby gave witness some chloroform, and he tried it on a kitten. Jacoby eaid, '• It's no use, as a cat h&8 nine lives." They afterwards experimented on a rabbit. Witness saw the two Weiners at a restaurant in Holborn. He told them that he could not do tho job himself, but that he knew two brothers, but did nok want to meet them. They wanted to be introduced to Palmer. Witness* had fitld Palmer that he had some chloroform, and that it was for a man with several thousand pounds 1 worth of diamonds. Witness and Adolphe W9iner went to witness's house to try and chloroform the rabbit. The rabbit became lifeless. Adolphe Weiner said, '* It is all right, and you can do it. You must put it on a sponge and hold it to his nose." Witness said, " If he calls out I shall be in a trap." He replied, " You have always some excuse. " It was good stuff and the thing would be done. Witness replied, *' I am not going to destroy myself for life." Leon Weiner said, "Don't you do what my brother says if you think it will get you into a scrape." Leon Weiner gave witness a half sovereign. Witness afterwards met Jacoby and Adolphe Weiner in Edgeware-road. They went to a restaurant together. Nothing particular was said. The two Weiners and witness met Palmer in OoHege-street, and Adolphe Weinor told Palmer all about Mr Tabak and the diamonds. Palmer, Scandand, the two Weiners and wilnees afterwards met at a publichouse in Gray's Inn-road They afterwards went to a public-house in Theobalds-road. They talked of the affair. Scandaod said, " I think I will go. From what the men tay it ia all right." It wa3 arranged that witness should go upon the Wednesday moraing to Mr Tibak's house- He "was to go as a merchant to buy, and Palmer was to go as a man who was showing witness the way to the house. WitneBB was to go as a Frenchman and a stranger, and nppears not to know London. Scandand was to remain outeide. It was arranged that when the diamonds were shown to witness a blow was to be struck which would render Mr Tabak senseless for ten tninuces or a quarter of an ho,ur. Adolphe Weiner suggested this, and it was arranged that Scandand was to stop the servant if she ran out to give the alarm. Having made this arrangement the prisoners and witness parted. They met the next day. On the Wednesday morning witness and Palmer went to Mr Tabak's house. Scandand wad in the street. Palmer knocked at the door, and when it was opened Mr Tabak said, " What have you to sell ?" Palmer said, " We don't want to sell ; we want to buy something." Mr Tabak invited them in, and produced a pocketbook from the safe and uhovved them some diamonds. WitneFS examined them, and selected some. Ho g-ot some in his left hand, and was about to put them into his pocket when Palmer eaid " Don't do that, we will have the lot directly." Witness turnei to Palmer and placed a diamond in his black hat. He did so as an excuse to give him an opportunity of speaking to him. He said, "For God sake don't do it. There are some people in tha next room." He said, *' No, there is no one there. " He then said to Mr Tabak he would go to the bank to get the money to pay for the diamonds he had selected. Palmer had a life-preserver in his 'pocket.. It was bought at a shop near the Elephant and Castle. They covered it with indiarubber in order that Mr Tabak, should not be seriously hurt, but only stunned The blow which stunned Mr ( Tabak was then given by Palmer. The prisoners were remanded.