Spence Broughton
MAIL ROBBERS PUBLIC OFFICE, BOW STREET.
Yesterday, 17th, Spence Broughton, Thomas Shaw, and John Oxon; alias Oxley, were again privately examined before Sir SAMPSON WRIGHT, Sir BENJAMIN HAMMET, AND Mr. PARKINS, Solicitor for the Post Office.
Shaw said, that he had been applied to by the other prisoners to join in robbing the Cambridge Mail, but he declined. As he was going there on some business, he however, obtained such information as enabled them to do it more easily. He received and for some time concealed all the notes, when they returned, and passed them off and participated in the booty.
Image Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection
Oxley was very eager to tell all he knew. He declared that Shaw first applied to him in the winter, and furnished both, Broughton and himself with money to go to Sheffield to rob the Rotherham Mail. He afterwards took Oxley with him into the country to plan the robbery of the Aylesbury Mail, which he and Broughton executed on the 28th of May, but they found nothing of use in it, and by that job, Shaw, who had provided all the money lost £14.
The robbery of the Cambridge Mail was next projected, and Shaw went purposely thither to learn the best means of accomplishing it. After he returned and communicated his information to Broughton and Oxley, they went and executed the plan. They found Bank of England Notes to the amount of £400. Stamford Bank Bills worth two or three hundred, one Bill of £750. another of £350. and other Bills; making in all, as near as could be guessed, eight or ten thousand pounds.
Their robberies were always committed by Broughton, who being a remarkable stout man, dressed himself in a smock frock and led the post boy and his cart into a field, where he tied the boy; Oxley waited at a little distance. The Cambridge letters were all buried in a wood adjoining where the robbery was committed.
Shaw is partly admitted King's evidence, upon condition that he tells the whole truth; but whether he will be able to avail himself of this engagement we cannot say, as he prevaricates very much, and seems anxious to exculpate Broughton and criminate Oxley:- the latter, by his manner, appeared to speak most candidly. It is therefore not improbable but Oxley may be admitted an evidence, and indeed of the three he certainly appears the least culpable.
They were committed to separate jails for re-examination.
Broughton, who is in custody for robbing the Cambridge Mail, is the son of the late celebrated Broughton Pugilistic memory. The father died a few years ago, at his house on the Vauxhall Road, and left the whole of his property, which was considerable, to his niece.
Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection
Most of the bills taken out of the Cambridge Mail were disposed of to a certain description of Lottery Office Keepers, by whom they were passed at the gambling houses at Newmarket.
It is said; a chain of iniquity in this business has been discovered, so completely linked, that nothing but the evidence of one of the parties could ever have broke.
The person's name who is in custody as an accomplice with Broughton is not Oxon but Oxley. He has been a long time black-legging it on the town.
Shaw has a very elegant house in St. George's Fields, near Gibraltar Row. His evidence, it is thought, will bring some extraordinary affairs to light, and let the public into the secret means by which so many Phaetons, chariots, and gigs are kept by persons who seem to have no visible means of livelihood.
A correspondent observes that more eminent characters of rank, genius, and virtue have filled the obituaries of the last two years, than can be found in any eight years preceding, within the memory of any man living.
Tomorrow the sessions begin at the Old Bailey. Further Particulars of the Examination of the Mail Robbers
