The Great Clyde Gold robbery of 1870.

 In 1870, a large amount of gold and banknotes was secured at the police camp at Clyde, safe behind a locked door.  But, not safe enough.

EXTENSIVE AND DARING ROBBERY.

Between midnight and four o’clock this morning, two boxes of treasure were abstracted from the Police Station at Clyde. It is supposed that they contained about 2000 ounces of gold and a large amount in bank notes. The boxes were locked up in a cell in the gaol; and there were two doors required to be opened in order to get at them, an outer and an inner door. This morning the outer door was found locked as usual and the inner open. As yet the mystery is unsolved. The Bank of New South Wales is stated to be losers of L2000 in notes, and gold to the of L5,500.

The Escort Robbery. — The burglary at Clyde, and the robbery of the gold brought down by escort have formed the principal subject of discussion in the City to day. Of course, rumor has been pretty busy, and the exaggerated stories that have been current have in many cases been most amusing. As the official telegrams state at present, the whole matter is shrouded in mystery. The number of notes stolen has been variously stated, but we believe between L2000 and L3000 is the correct amount. Detective Farrell was despatched to Clyde this forenoon to investigate the affair.   -Evening Strar, 1/8/1870.

The amount stolen was, all up, 6110 ounces of gold and L2553 in notes.  The value of both together, at time of writing, is $6,239,830.

NOTICE,

£500 REWARD.

WHEREAS, on the morning of the 1st inst., the Police Station at Clyde, in the Province of Otago, was broken into, and treasure to the amount of L13,981 stolen therefrom, consisting of Gold to the value of L7871 and Bank Notes L6llO, the numbers of which are known; It is Hereby Notified that a Reward of L500 will be paid to any person or persons who shall give such information as may lead to the conviction of the offenders and the recovery of the stolen property. 

It is Further Notified that His Excellency the Governor offers a FREE PARDON in the event of the person giving such information being an accomplice in the robbery. 

(Signed) W. A. TOLMIE, Deputy-Superintendent of the Province of Otago. 

Government Offices, Dunedin, 3rd August, 1870.   -Evening Star, 4/8/1870.

The Gold Robbery. — It will be seen by the advertisement that the reward for the discovery and conviction of the thieves who stole the gold from the Lockup at Clyde is increased to L1,500, should the treasure also be discovered. Posters announcing the robbery have been forwarded to the different Colonies. The numbers of the notes are also published, both in New Zealand and adjacent Colonies.  -Evening Star, 5/8/1870.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We are compelled to hold over, till next issue, a letter on Immigration, signed “W. B.,” also other correspondence. On Monday morning last, at an early hour, a most unusual amount of excitement prevailed in Clyde, owing to a rumor that there had been a robbery committed at the Camp, and that a large amount of treasure had been stolen. On making inquiry we ascertained the following particulars: — Five boxes of treasure were deposited in the usual receptacle at the Camp, to be escorted to Dunedin by Monday morning’s coach. Somewhere about one o’clock on Monday morning, everything being safe, bolts and locks were fastened, and the custodians retired to rest. Between five and six o’clock, everything being in readiness, the outer door of the building which serves as the treasury was opened, when it was discovered that the fastenings of the inner door were removed. Further investigation showed that two out of the five boxes had been stolen. It being dark when the robbery was first made known, but little could be done; but as soon as daylight appeared a most dilligent search was made in all directions, the telegraphic wires (as soon as available) promulgating the intelligence over all parts of the colony. The hardness of the ground rendered the tracking of the burglars by their footsteps impossible. The boxes had evidently been passed over the camp wall, and were unlimately discovered, minus contents, in a waterrace, and within about fifty or sixty yards of the Camp. The adroitness and boldness with which this robbery was effected shows that it was not the work of a novice, and the locking of the outer door after the robbery shews the greatest coolness. It would appear that the robbery had been carefully planned, and, opportunity offering, promptly executed. The amount stolen, as far as we have been able to learn, is as follows: Bank of New South Wales, Clyde, three hundred and fifty ounces of gold, and 2,528l. in notes; Cromwell, nine hundred and eighty ounces of gold, and 537l. in notes; Bank of New Zealand, Alexandra, three hundred and seventy-seven ounces of gold, and 1,470l. in notes; Teviot, three hundred and ninety-two ounces of gold, and 765l. in notes; Queenstown, 810l. in notes; making a total of two thousand and ninety nine ounces of gold, and 6,110l. in notes. The Government have offered a reward of 500l. for such information as will lead to the recovery of the property and conviction of the offenders; also a free pardon to any accomplice giving the required information. We had intended to have refrained from comment. We cannot but express the universal opinion, in which we join, at the insignificance of the reward, and say that this act of the Government is on a par with many other's, in which they appear to appear to take the most roundabout way how not to do it. As the numbers of all the notes are known, the banks will not be so great loosers as would appear at first sight, but we would caution the public from taking notes, except from those they know.   -Dunstan Times, 5/8/1870.

The last gold escort from the Dunstan, changing horses at Roxburgh.  The police uniforms have hardly changed from the early days.  Hocken Library photo.

SPIRITUALISM AND THE CLYDE ROBBERY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir — As our spiritualist friends in this city would probably not be adverse to receive L1250 as the commencement of a fund for the purpese of enabling them to still further prosecute their searches, allow me to call their special attention to the robbery at Clyde. If, by their "medium" they can discover the delinquent or delinquents, and possibly be the means of recovering some of the gold or notes, they will not only be able to claim the above reward, but also be the means of doing the public some great benefit as well as obtaining converts to their faith.

— I am, &c, Caversham.  -Otago Daily Times, 6/8/1870.

THE LITERARY BOHEMIAN

I am also jiggered when I read of the gold robbery at Clyde. Talk about cheek, Barnes's cheek sinks into modesty compared with it. The question of "where are the police?" the joke about "invisible blue," the riddle "why is a policeman like a rainbow? Because he's never seen till the storm's over."' All these have become "familiar in men's mouths as household words," and have not always been used without occasion. But this beats all. The second time, too. The Dunstan gaol has become celebrated. I should not be surprised if some Barnum were to come over, buy it up, and make an exhibition of it. "Hi! hi! here you are, the only show in the fair. Here's the door what was got through without being unlocked, here's the door what had the lock taken off, here's the policeman who never saw nothing, here are the boxes that were carried out without hands, and here's the gold —" No, stop, they haven't got that yet. My opinion is that it is spiritualism, or something else.  -Otago Witness, 6/8/1870.

THE CLYDE ROBBERY

RECOVERY OF THE TREASURE. 

CAPTURE OF THE OFFENDERS.

The Government this morning received a telegram from the Commissioner of Police, stating that all the stolen treasure was recovered excepting 30 ounces of inferior gold and 10 bundles of notes, worth about L550.

The offenders are in custody. 

The treasure was planted in four different places, extending over a distance of 40 miles. 

The Commissioner returned after the search at 3a.m., and would remain up the country a few days longer. 

The following additional particulars have just been received by the Government: 

“The prisoner Rennie confessed that his shipmate and companion in the old country is Malcolm McLennan, who concocted the robbery, and found the false key for the outer door of the lockup. He also kept watch while the theft was being committed. They arrived in this Province on the l9th March, 1869, in the E. P. Bouverie. McLennan, shortly after his arrival, was taken on as a constable, in which capacity he was acting when the robbery took place. Rennie was warden in the Queenstown Hospital until about three months since.” 

We believe both Rennie and McLennan will be brought before the Resident Magistrate to-day, and remanded. When again brought up, the former will be placed in the witness box to give “Queen’s evidence.” There are four persons resident at Queenstown claiming the reward offered, but we are as yet in the dark as to how they became possessed of the knowledge which led to Rennie’s arrest. The latter is said to be a shoemaker by trade. 

The Commissioner of Police was to have left Clyde for town to-day, but he will now remain there until after the preliminary enquiry takes place.  -Evening Star, 15/8/1870.

The Mount Ida 'Chronicle' says: — The down coach on Monday last brought down two prisoners from Clyde, under committal to take their trial — the one for felony, the other for forgery. These men stated that they were in the lock-up at Clyde, on the night on which the late robbery of treasure took place, and that they distinctly heard the noise caused in effecting an entrance. They further state that the boxes were opened in the lock up previously to their being removed. Of course we cannot tell what amount of truth is to be attached to the assertions of these men. The same paper says: — It is further reported that a Court of Inquiry will sit at Clyde upon Mr Inspector Dalgleish, having reference to the same subject.   -Bruce Herald, 17/8/1870.

The Clyde Robbery. From a private source we learn that the policeman MacLennan is in a state bordering on madness. It is necessary to restrain him by bonds and to watch him day and night.   -Evening Star, 24/8/1870.

NEWS OF THE DAY

We learn from the "Daily Times" that another lot of the Bank-notes stolen from the Clyde lock-up was recovered on the 22nd, Rennie showing the police the plant, which was at the Arrow. The value of the notes recovered on this occasion amounts to £161. 

In reference to the Clyde robbery, says the Otago "Daily Times," it is reported that a telegram has been received in town giving a few particulars as to how the man Rennie was induced to confess. He was suspected by a person in the employ of Mr Hallenstein, of Queenstown, who supplied him with drink, and when he was in a state of intoxication obtained from him a confession of his share in the robbery. The policeman, McLennan, is the son of a respectable Scotch farmer, and by trade is a working engineer.   -Press, 25/8/1870.

The Clyde Robbery. — On Sunday last the prisoner Rennie, accompanied by Detective Farrell, proceeded to the Gentle Annie, where the remainder of the gold and notes were planted. It will be remembered that when confessing the crime he said that he had lost this parcel of notes. A day or two ago MacLenuon attempted to dash his brains out against the wall of the cell in which he was confined, and the police, to prevent him committing any violence against himself, put him in chains.   -Evening Star, 26/8/1870.

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

We do not identify ourselves with the opinions that may be expressed by our correspondents. 

GOLD ROBBERY. To the Editor of the Dunstan Times. Sir, — By inserting the following facts concerning the recovery of the treasure stolen from the Police Camp, Clyde, you would he doing but justice to the energy and sagacity of Police Officers who were instrumental in the apprehension of the thieves and the restoring of the treasure without loss of time, while through their exertions suspicion is removed from the community of the district, heretofore remarkable for honor and fidelity; and it is to be hoped that the valuable services rendered hy Constables McGann, Hunt, and Smith will meet with due reward at the hands of the authorities, which would act as an incentive to other members of the Constabulary on future occasions. 

On the morning of the 11th inst, Constable McGann received information from a man named Cook, on the Gentle Annie Track, that on the morning of the robbery at Clyde, a man had been seen going up the track which leads on to the Arrow, and burning some clothes, whereupon Constable McCann immediately proceeded to the spot indicated by Cook, and found that some clothing had been burned (as stated by Cook) and also a bridle. In the debris he picked up a small portion of a bridle which had escaped the fire, and was tied together with a piece of wax-end newly made. It then struck Constable McGann that a shoemaker must be concerned in the affair, and without further delay, he at once followed up the mail man with two telegrams, one for Clyde, for additional assistance, and the other for Queenstown, to look out for strangers, and proceeded to the Arrow himself to keep watch over the shoemaker there. In this expedition, Constable McGann nearly killed his horse. On the 12th inst., Constables Hunt and Smith arrived on the Arrow, when McGann informed them of what he had found, and of his suspicions of the offender. The three Constables were then engaged up to two o’clock a.m. making inquiries as to what Rennie, the shoemaker on the Arrow, was doing on the day of the robbery. The result was that they arrested him at that hour on suspicion, and charged him with the crime, and on the following morning Rennie confessed his guilt. At the present time the whole of the property is restored with the exception of thirty ounces of gold and two bundles of notes. This result has been arrived at owing to the strenuous exertions of Constable McGann, ably assisted by Constables Hunt and Smith, and those three officers ought certainly to be rewarded by the Government for clearing up so quickly what at the time appeared to be a complete mystery to the public at large. It will also be in the recollection of your readers that Constable Hunt nearly lost his life in securing a dangerous lunatic on the Cardrona some time ago, and his praise-worthy conduct was altogether overlooked by the authorities. If valuable services such as the above are taken no notice of by the public or the Government, it is to be feared little emulation will exist in the Police Force of the Colony. 

I am, &c, A CONSTANT READER. Cromwell, August 16, 1870.   -Dunstan Times, 26/8/1870.

THE LATE GOLD ROBBERY AT CLYDE.

On Tuesday last, in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, before Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.M., Malcolm McLennan was charged with having, on the morning of Monday, the 1st of August inst, between the hours of half past 12 and 4, feloniously stolen one bag containing two hundred ounces of gold, and one bundle of notes amounting to £1,070, from the Clyde Camp. 

James Hazlett, Esq., Mayor, and J. D, Feraud, Esq., J.P., occupied seats on the Bench. 

Sub-Inspector Percy made application to have the Court cleared, which was granted. 

William Arthur, sworn, deposed: Am a Government Surveyor, stationed at Clyde. The plan produced of the Clyde Police accurately shows the position of the watch-house, Gaol, barracks, and other buildings, and also the sod fence around the camp and the wire fence enclosing Mr. Card’s garden. It also shows marks on the sod wall made by gold boxes. 

By the prisoner: Was not aware that Mr, Percy had made marks on the wall with gold-boxes a few days after the robbery. 

By the Bench: Constable Smith pointed out the marks. 

George Rennie, sworn, deposed that he was a shoemaker, recently carrying on business at the Arrow. Know the prisoner, Malcolm McLennan. Was a shipmate with him in the ship G. P. Bouverie from Scotland in 1869. Had been on terms of friendshin with him at home, as well as on the voyage. Soon after arriving in Dunedin I got employment at my trade, and was subsequently appointed Wardsman to the Wakatip Hospital. The prisoner joined the police force, and before leaving for Queenstown I saw him in his uniform. The next time I saw him he was at the Arrow, some three or four months ago, when he visited me. I have received several letters from the prisoner, in one of which he announced his intention of visiting me. In his first letter he said, “If you come to Clyde some dark night I will give you as much gold as you can carry.” In a subsequent letter he says, “As it is kept in an out-house, and can easily be got at” The prisoner came up to the Arrow one Fridav, after dark, and stayed with me until midnight, and then went to an hotel. After conversing for some time, he asked me if I had thought over what he had written in his letters to me. I told him I did not exactly understand what he meant. He then informed me that the Escort was in the habit of coming down once a month, but that the Escort left Clyde once a fortnight, and that when the gold came down from Queenstown the escort was the largest. During this visit we had a great deal of conversation as to how the gold could he taken from Clyde. The prisoner sain he had made a key for the outer door, and had intended to take the gold himself, but thought it too much for one to do. Prisoner said that a screw-driver would be necessary to remove the screws of the plate of the inner door of the building in which the gold was kept. On the Saturday night the prisoner slept at my house, and on Sunday morning I volunteered to accompany him part of the way to Clyde. While riding along the prisoner proposed that I should go the whole way, in order that I might make myself acquainted with the place where the gold was kept previous to coming down to take it. We came along together, drinking freely on the road. When we we reached Elliott’s Half-way Hotel, between Cromwell and Clyde, I was drunk, and my companion saw me to bed. On awaking in the morning I saw a note lying on the table, and missed my money. Not being able to read, I came down to Clyde, went straight to the Camp, and saw the prisoner, who told me I had my money tied up in a handkerchief round my knee. While at the Camp prisoner showed me the place where the treasure was kept, and then told me to get away quickly, before I was known, and I then made my way back to the Arrow. Sometime after this he called upon me at the Arrow, saying he was going to Queenstown to relieve Sergeant Fox, during the latter’s absence. During the time he was with me we had some conversation respecting the robbery. Prisoner said he had removed the screws from the plate which secured the fastening of the inner door of the treasure room, and after cutting off the greater portion had replaced the heads. He showed me some of the ends of the screws he had cut off, and said the job of removing the plate would he more easily done when I came to take the gold. He also showed me one of the screws belonging to the gold boxes, so that I might know what kind of instrument was needed to open them. He said he had a screw-wrench for the purpose, which he would give to me. He said he had informed Gantley, the lock-up keeper, that he had a mining share at the Arrow, which he assigned as a reason for his visits to that locality. I next saw the prisoner on his return from Queenstown to Clyde. He stayed one night with me. We had a great deal of conversation about taking the gold. He said the Escort would be down in a week or a fortnight, and that I must have everything ready, but was not to come until I heard from him. Having received a letter, I left the Arrow for the purpose of stealing the gold. This was about a month before the robbery took place. When just entering the town of Clyde, about 10 p.m. on Sunday, I met the prisoner, who told me that the robbery could not be done that night, as he had to go on duty, and that I must go back to the Arrow as quickly as possible, but that it would be all right next time. He then gave me the key of the outer door and also the screw-wrench. I planted the wrench, but took the key with me. Subsequently I received a letter from the prisoner, to the effect that I was to be in readiness on Sunday, the 31st of July. That letter I answered, telling him to have ready a feed for my horse and refreshment for myself. About 10 p.m. I arrived near Clyde, when I met the prisoner. He had with him some oats for my horse and a bottle of porter for myself. He told me it was all right, but could not stop, as he had to get back to the camp. After having drank the porter, I found the screw-wrench, which I put into my bag, together with the screw-driver, the key of the outer door, a pair of shoemaker’s nippers, and a dark lanthorn, and proceeded by the back of the township to the Camp. I there tied my horse to Card’s garden fence. I then went to the Camp wall, and waited till I saw two persons leave the nearest building, which I assumed to he the office, as I noticed by the shadow on the window that one of them was writing. Upon leaving, one went straight to the Sergeant's house, the other turned to the left. Shortlv after prisoner came to me and said, “Where are you going to put it?” He thought the burying ground would he the safest, and that it was better to bury it than hide it among the rocks. He left me saving he would get me a spade, and shortly after returned with one, coming from the direction of Card’s garden. He then told me to go to the place where the gold was, and said I was to take plenty of time, there was no danger, that he would keep watch, and would warn me by tapping at the window. The prisoner then went in the direction of the barrack room and I to the treasure-house, the outside door of which I opened with the key given to me by the prisoner. I went, inside and shut the door after me. I then commenced to unscrew the bolt plate, and while doing so heard a noise as of children crying, followed quickly by footsteps coming from the direction of the barrack room, and a tap on the window. I remained quiet for a short time, when I resumed the withdrawing of the screws. Three of the these I took out easily, but could not get out the fourth altogether, so had to wrench the plate to get it clear of the bolt. The door being free I entered the room, and saw boxes of gold upon the floor, two of which I took, and placed them in the passage, and shut the door of the room. I then opened the outer door, placed the boxes outside, and locked the door. Prisoner, at this time, was standing outside the barrack building. I went and told him that one of the screws would not draw. He asked if I had got the gold. Prisoner said, “It will not do for me to see the gold, as every one in the Camp will he searched and sworn tomorrow.” I then went to the boxes. I carried them one by one to the sod fence, over which I placed them. I then carried them to a water-hole, close to where I had tied my horse. I intended buckling them together, and slinging them across my horse, but found I could not do so. I unscrewed the boxes with the nippers, took out the parcels, and put them into a bag I had provided for the purpose. I threw the boxes into the water-hole, together with the lanthorn and the screws from the boxes. During all this time I had been without my boots, which I now put on, and led away my horse (avoiding the town) towards Cromwell. I proceeded as far as the Dunstan Dairy, on the Clyde side of which I planted four or five bags of gold. I then went on, still leading my horse, to where I made a second plant, consisting of all the remaining treasure, excepting one bag of gold and several parcels of the notes, the distance between the two places being about a mile. At the second plant I deposited the treasure in two separate places, not far apart. It was there I threw away the screw-wrench, the key of the outer door, and the screws of the inner door. I threw them into the river. The spade and feedhag I also threw away, but do not think they went into the river. I then mounted my horse and proceeded on my way to the Arrow, having only some parcels of notes and one bag of gold. Just before reaching the Gentle Annie Store I fancied something fell out of my bag, but failed to find anything. I then proceeded on my way, and reached within ten miles of the Arrow, where, in consequence of my horse being unable to travel, I was compelled to stop. Here I emptied the contents of the bag of gold into another bag, and planted it under a large stone, just off the track, and put the notes (I think two parcels) under a stone close by. I then had only one parcel of notes. I planted the empty bag under a flat stone. About fifty yards further on I burned some of the clothes I had been wearing, part of the bridle, and a false beard which I had worn as a disguise, and proceeded homewards on foot. On Sunday, the 14th of August, accompanied by Constables Smith and Hunt, I went to the Gentle Annie track, and pointed out where I had planted the gold and notes. I saw them find a parcel of notes and a bag of gold. Constable Smith found the bag from which I took the gold. We then proceeded towards Clyde, and on the same day I showed Constable Smith and others the places where I had planted the gold and notes between Clyde and Cromwell. I made the lanthorn which has been produced while at the Arrow. 

John William Mitchell Purday, sworn: — I am Clerk in the Bank of New Zealand at Alexandra. Remember Saturday, the 30th of July. On that day it was part of my duty to prepare the gold and bank notes for transmission by Escort to Dunedin. I made up two parcels of gold and two of notes. The parcel of notes produced I recognise as one I made up in the evening of that day I know it by the seal, and also by the paper label, which is addressed in my handwriting. It did contain £1,070 in mixed notes of various banks, and does not appear to have been tampered with, though the wrapper has been chafed through. The bag produced is similar to one I packed up on that day, and which contained two hundred ounces of gold. The address is in the handwriting of Henry Conway Jones, agent for the Bank, and the seal is the one of the Alexandra branch of the Bank of New Zealand. When I had packed up the gold I placed it in the safe, the key of which I keep. On Sunday morning, the 31st of July, I handed over to Mr. Jones the gold and notes I had packed up I gave him the parcel of notes produced, a bag containing two hundred ounces of gold, together with other gold and notes for transmission by escort. It being past seven o’clock, and there being ten other witnesses to be examined, an adjournment was neccessary. The Resident Magistrate said that as he had imperative duties to perform elsewhere on the two following days, he would adjourn the proceedings until Friday (this day), at nine o’clock a. m.  -Dunstan Times, 26/8/1870.

THE LITERARY BOHEMIAN

The gold robbery at Clyde turns out not to be such a wonderfully clever thing after all. The constable let the shoemaker in, and the shoemaker carried the gold out. But where were the police? As Hamlet says, "That's the question." Some of them will get hauled over the coals, I suppose; but we don't know anything yet. A friend of mine in the force informed me some time since, that a Commission was about to sit, to enquire into the matter; but, so far as I know, it has not yet been found convenient. It might be more convenient to allow the matter to blow over; and then, perhaps, one of these odd days we shall have another sensation of a similar kind. There's no telling.  -Otago Witness, 27/8/1870.

A private letter from Clyde contains the following with respect to the late gold robbery: — "Notwithstanding the wretch Rennie having turned Queen's evidence, and restored in the first instance the greater part of the stolen treasure, there were still missing two parcels of notes, containing respectively L212 and L537, also about L60 worth of gold. This he asserted he had lost on the road on the night of his flight, but fortunately, as it turns out, the police did not believe him. In the course of a week, persuasion had the effect of his revealing where Ll6l worth of the notes could be found, which were accordingly obtained, but as for the rest they were down the river, or somewhere else. This did not satisfy the police, who have all along been prosecuting the most persistent search, and the result was that Constable Hunt yesterday found on the Gentle Annie track, not far from where it will be remembered Rennie camped and burned his clothes, the bundle of notes containing L537 intact. This now reduces the loss to L5l in notes on the Bank of New Zealand, and L60 worth of gold belonging to the Bank of New South Wales.   -Otago Daily Times, 29/8/1870.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An unfortunate “printer’s error” appeared in our last issue, in the report of Rennie’s evidence concerning the late gold robbery. Printers are but human, and perfection is not to be expected. Our report would lead the public to believe that Rennie had contradicted himself, by stating that he was unable to read. The error of the printer was omitting the word it. From some cause or other Rennie was unable to decipher the letter left by McLennan at the Half-way Hotel. The word it being left out in our report, many were led to entertain a doubt as to whether Rennie was able to read at all.   -Dunstan Times, 2/9/1870.

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSION. This Day.  (Before Mr Justice Chapman) 

THE CLYDE GOLD ROBBERY CASE. 

Malcolm McLennan was indicted for having at Clyde on the 1st ult., aided and abetted George Rennie in stealing from the lock-up at Clyde 200ozs of gold and L1,700 in bank notes, the property of the corporation of the Bank of New Zealand. The jury was composed of William Barnet (foreman), James Burt, Edward Puling, John Hunter, John Brown, Thomas Allan, James Kirkland, William Selby, Ashworth Crawshaw, Lewis Michel, Neil Murray, Daniel Radcliffe.

Mr Barton, who appeared for the prisoner, mentioned that a statement had got into the newspapers that the prisoner had endeavored to destroy himself while confined in the lockup at Clyde. Now he was instructed that that statement was entirely without foundation, and it might tend to the prisoner's prejudice, if not contradicted. 

His Honor observed that the jury would be directed to confine their attention solely to the evidence brought before them. It would take two hours to refute every statement made by the newspapers. Mr Barton had not intended to touch upon anything except this one circumstance, which might be very injurious indeed. 

The Crown Prosecutor stated the case as follows; The prisoner was charged with being an accessory before the fact to the robbery by one George Rennie on the 1st August last of a quantity of gold and treasure from the look-up at Clyde, where it was in charge of the escort officers of the police department. It was necessary that the Jury should know what constituted an accessory before the fact. It was one, who being absent at the time the felony was committed, counselled, procured, incited, or abetted another to commit that felony. That was the legal definition of an accessory, and upon the present indictment, the jury would therefore have two questions to determine — first, as to whether George Rennie did commit the felony and second, whether the prisoner did counsel, procure, and aid him to commit the felony. There would be no difficulty whatever in convincing them that the felony was committed by Rennie, who had pleaded guilty to two indictments charging him with the felony, and when brought before them to day, he would admit that he committed it at the time and in the manner charged. The only difficulty would be in connecting the prisoner with the felony, and the principal evidence towards that end would be the evidence of Rennie himself, he being the only man, so far as was at present known, who was aware of the facts and circumstances of the case, and therefore, the only witness available to prove them. The circumstances of the robbery were such, that they would come to the conclusion that Rennie could not by any possibility have committed it alone; he must have had an accomplice in it, and that accomplice must have been some person connected with the police department at Clyde, and the object of the evidence which would be adduced, would be that that accomplice must have been the prisoner. As he had already said, the robbery was of escort treasure, which was always kept in the same place at Clyde — that was in one of the cells of the building used as a lock-up. (The learned counsel here described the apartments and their fastenings, and the means that must have been adopted to gain access to the gold room, but as these particulars must be fresh in the memory of our readers, we will not repeat them.) The person who committed the robbery required to have a particular knowledge of the gold, and to be furnished with instruments capable of opening the boxes containing it. He would proceed to show how the prisoner was connected with the robbery, and how the statements of Rennie connecting him with it were corroborated. He would tell them in the first instance that the prisoner and Rennie had been friends before they came to this Colony; they had been wardens in the Montrose Lunatic Asylum for some time before coming out, and came out together in the E. P. Bouverie in the early part of the year 1869. Almost immediately on their arrival in Dunedin, prisoner obtained employment in the police force, and was for some time stationed in Dunedin. Rennie for a short time practised his trade of a shoemaker in Dunedin, but within a short time he received an appointment in the Wakatip hospital, where he remained until his wife died, when he removed to the Arrow, and there practised his business of shoemaker. In about the month of January last the prisoner was removed to Clyde, and it would seem that not long after his arrival there, the scheme for the perpetration of this robbery entered his head. Rennie stated that for some time prior to the month of May he received a letter from the prisoner, in which he said that “if he (Rennie) went down to Clyde some dark night, he would give him as much gold as he could carry away;” and in another letter he told him he would go to the Arrow and see him about it. These letters were not forthcoming —they had been destroyed; but there would be sufficient other evidence. They would merely have Rennie’s statement for the fact of these letters ever having been in existence. Shortly after the receipt of those letters, on or about the 14th May, the prisoner actually did go to the Arrow/, and it was then and there that the robbery was concocted between them. Rennie sltted that after his arrival prisoner asked him if he had thought over the proposition he had made. Rennie said he did not quite understand it, and wanted the prisoner to explain it. Prisoner then told him that the escort went down from Queenstown every month; that the ordinary escort went down every fortnight, but at the time the gold came down from Queenstown the escort was very much larger than at any other time. He also said he would show Rennie how to get the gold out, and told him he had a key for the outside door of the place. He also said that he had intended to take the gold by himself, but the undertaking was too much for one to attempt. It was at this time also that he told Rennie about the inner door of the place. He told him he would have to come down with a screw-driver to take off the screws of the fastenings of the inner door. The prisoner remain"d with Rennie on that occasion from Friday, the day on which he arrived, until the following Sunday, and then, accompanied by Rennie, he went back to Clyde. It seemed that Rennie had had too much drink on the road, for when they got to the house of a man named Elliott, about seven miles on the Arrow side of the road, he could proceed no further, and the prisoner had to see him to bed, leaving him there and going on himself to Clyde. Previous to going, he asked the landlord for writing materials, and left with him a letter, to be delivered to Rennie in the morning. Rennie got the note, and followed the prisoner on to Clyde, where the prisoner showed him the place where the gold was kept. He explained a number of details, and then told him to get out of the place as quickly as he could, in case he should be seen and recognised. There was one peculiar circumstance connected with their visits to Elliott’s to which he (the learned counsel) desired to call the jury’s attention. The prisoner upon that occasion denied all knowledge of Rennie; he said he was a perfect stranger to him; he did not even know his name; that he was a storekeeper at Cardrona, and very well off. There was a second meeting between the men that was on or about the 5th June. Prisoner was then on his way to Queenstown to take the place of Sergeant Fox, who had to attend the criminal session of the Supreme Court, and on his way up called upon Rennie and remained with him some few hours, when the details of the robbery was talked over and discussed by them. It was at this interview, according to Rennie, that prisoner showed him the top of some screws, which he said were the points of the screws which fastened the plate on the inner-door of the lock-up. He said he had taken out these screws and had cut them, the object being that when Rennie came down to commit the robbery the screws would draw off more easily. The screws on the actual door of the lock-up were somewhat larger than those produced. This was important, because when the robbery was perpetrated, one of the screw was left in the door. The prisoner had cut it too much, so that it would not screw out, and when the plate came to be taken out afterwards, it was found cut in the way described by Rennie. Upon that occasion also when prisoner showed him the screws of the boxes, he explained to him the manner in which they should be removed from the boxes, and told him he had a wrench which would answer the purpose, and he would give it to him when he came down. Another circumstance took place at the time, worthy of mention. In order to blind people, he told Gantley, the lock-up keeper, he had a gold mining claim at the Arrow. (The learned counsel then detailed the first attempt at the robbery, the reason it was not then carried out, the subsequent attempt, and the part the prisoner took in both, but for the reasons before stated, we omit that portion of his address.) The evidence of Rennie was tainted with this suspicion that he was an accomplice with the prisoner, and therefore doubt was thrown upon his statement, in consequence of his being connected with an infamous crime. He might tell them in the first instance that it was perfectly competent for them to convict the prisoner upon Rennie’s evidence unsupported, if they thought it sufficient.

His Honor: I shall feel it my duty to advise the jury that his evidence requires to be confirmed.

The Crown Prosecutor was going to inform the jury that in spite of that direction the law allowed them to convict upon the approver’s evidence, if they thought it sufficient; yet they would no doubt look carefully for corroborative evidence. They had heard a great deal of the robbery as the great Clyde robbery case; and although it was a large amount that was stolen, it did not require any more evidence to convict than in a matter of Ll0. The same evidence would be legally sufficient in the one case as in the other, and the law made the punishment in the one the same also as in the other. He would also ask them to recollect that the prisoner was a constable, and when they came to consider that, they would think it remarkable that with the knowledge he possessed as a constable of the modes used to detect crime, he should have left any traces of the robbery at all. Yet he left traces sufficiently strong to enable them to test the truth or falsity of Rennie’s story. He should shew the men had been great friends; that after their arrival on the goldfields, on every occasion on which they were together, the robbery was talked over. Inspector Dalgleish would he called, and he would tell them how when the boxes were being fastened in the camp, prisoner was screwing them in such a loose way that he had to be told twice to screw them tighter, which he then appeared to do; that there was every reason to believe that the wrench used had been stolen by him. He concluded by saying that from these and other pieces of corroborative evidence, the jury could have no difficulty in returning a verdict of guilty. 

The witnesses examined were: — J. W. Purdie clerk of the Bank of New Zealand, Alexandra; H. C. Jones, agent of the same; Inspector Dalgleish (who, in answer to Mr Barton, said — during the time he had known the prisoner he held a very fair opinion of him); W. Arthur, surveyor; and the informer Rennie.

The grand jury made the following presentment: — “The grand jury, before separating, desire to express to your Honor their sense of the extreme carelessness manifested by the authorities in allowing so large an amount of gold, and valuable property, to be lodged for so long a period without any further security than that provided by two common locks, the innermost one of which could at any time have been removed with a common screw-driver in a few minutes. The carelessness being aggravated by the refusal of a safe when it was applied for by the inspector in charge; and by the further fact, that not only the general public, but what is worse, the members of the police force themselves were exposed to great and unnecessary temptation.” His Honor said he would forward the presentment to the Government.  -Evening Star, 7/9/1870.

At the Supreme Court yesterday, the whole day was occupied in the trial of McLennan for the gold robbery at Clyde. The prosecution was conducted by Mr B. C. Haggitt, and the defence by Mr Barton. When Rennie stepped into the witness-box, great interest was manifested by the public to get sight of him, and during his examination, numerous expressions of dislike were vented by the audience. Rennie is a shortish, stoutly-built man, of middle age, with dark hair and bushy whiskers, and a rather unpleasant expression of countenance. He gave his evidence in a low tone of voice, but without the slightest hesitation, and Mr Barton entirely failed to confuse him by a fierce cross-examination. Rennie was in the witnessbox for five hours, and Mr Barton had not done with him when the Court rose at 6 o'clock, and the jury were locked up for the night. The grand jury, having disposed of all the cases laid before them, were discharged in the morning, having previously made a presentment expressing their disapproval of the carelessness of the authorities in not providing better means at Clyde for the safe keeping of the escort treasure.  -Otago Daily Times, 8/9/1870.

The trial of McLennan for the Clyde robbery terminated at 9 o'clock last night, when the jury, after an hour's consultation, returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The verdict was received with great cheering by the spectators, who likewise applauded Mr Barton, and even His Honour, at the close of the summing up.  -Otago Daily Times, 9/9/1870.

THE LAKES.

(from our own CORRESPONDENT.) Queenstown, Sept. 13. The news of the war between France and Prussia, the trial and acquittal of McLennan, together with the conviction of Rennie, has found people plenty to talk about. Our German population is jubilant at the success of the Prussians, and a victorious result to the arms of the Fatherland is prognosticated. The spirit rappers or table turners say that the spirits gave warning of the war and its results before the arrival of the mail. This to my knowledge, was a fact; but as a matter of course anybody in the flesh might have guessed the same. 

In the matter of the late gold robbery, nobody seems sorry at Rennie’s punishment. There is one unanimous opinion, that “it served him right”. The next thing is the distribution of the reward. Private enterprise most certainly did a great deal towards the recovery of the property and the arrest of Rennie, and private enterprise deserves something for its pains. Police constables Hunt and McGann of course followed up the trail as soon as they got upon it, but it appears to me that the police at Clyde were sadly in fault. The army of detectives which swarmed in your quarter suspected everybody but the thier. Their share of the reward, if any, might be given to the Dunstan District Hospital; to relieve it from its financial difficulties. Everybody is very sorry for Sub Inspector Dalgleish, and the memorial in his favor was very generally signed. Those who refused, did so as a matter of conscience. One of the clauses of the petition saying “that no precautions could have guarded against the abstraction of the gold.” There is nothing done which might have been prevented in ordinary occurrences of life, and, when so much treasure was at Clyde, if our guard was not sufficient it should have been doubled. 

A twenty-two ounce nugget, together with about fourteen ounces of gold, was unearthed the other day by some miners at the One Mile Creek, just outside the Municipal Boundary. They, the said miners, have since been enjoying themselves amazingly, and every day a half-hogshead of beer finds its way from the brewery to the One Mile. This is “sweating it out” with a vengeance, and is something new in the shape of imbibing. If the lucky finders must spend their money in drink, they might at least give the publicans a turn. Thirty-six ounces of gold, turned into barrels of beer at wholesale prices, will kill the poor men before they can drink it all up.   -Dunstan Times, 16/9/1870.

THE CLYDE GOLD ROBBERY. ( From the Oamaru Times, September 16. )

A more thorough exemplification of the old adage, "the biter bit," probably never occurred than in the Clyde gold robbery case. With the strange inconsistency which often characterises criminals, Rennie appears to have displayed great skill and cunning together with great bungling and folly. A villain and a rogue, he has also showed himself a consummate fool. He cleverly plans a robbery, carries it out most successfully, plants his booty perfectly safely, gets away undiscovered and unsuspected, and then — gets drunk, and lets out, in the intoxication of drink and success, the whole affair. Pah! a clever rogue may, though despised for his roguery, be admired for his skill; but a man who is both a rogue and a fool is utterly contemptible. But Rennie has shown himself more than that even, for he has attempted to drag in a man, pronounced inuocent by a jury of his countrymen, for the consequences of his (Rennie's) crime, has built up a superstructure of plausible assertions upon a foundation of known facts, in order to criminate another, and to obtain not only a free pardon but a large pecuniary reward for himself; but he has, fortunately, failed in his diabolical plan, has lost both the pardon and the reward, and let himself in for a richly-deserved punishment. He has dug a pit for another and fallen into it himself; — Verdict, "Served him right!" Rennie's story was a specious one, and to a certain extent well-concocted. McLennan, whom he accused as the planner and contriver of the robbery, was a shipmate of his, a "new chum" in the country and in the Police force, and was therefore the least unlikely of the force to be suspected; he had had, and had been known to have had, business transactions with Rennie, and had often been in his company, and therefore there was an air of probability about Rennie's story as to McLennan having been an accessory in the matter. But the tale did not hold together. The evidence at the trial showed not only an evident and a strong motive to induce Rennie to try to prove himself but an accomplice in the matter, but as clearly showed that the robbery could easily have been effected by Rennie alone, without any accomplice whatever. There were only two common locks to pick, which would be a matter of no difficulty to an ordinary artisan, to say nothing of a professional burglar, and Rennie's intimacy with McLennan would, no doubt, enable him to ascertain, without raising suspicion, the most suitable time for perpetrating the theft. The only awkward circumstance is with reference to the screws in the lockplate of the inner door. Rennie states that there were four of these, and that McLennan cut them through, and brought him the worms, replacing the heads, and that on the night of the robbery he (Rennie) screwed out three of these, but could not get out the fourth, and an officer of police deposed to subsequently drawing the fourth, and finding it cut off as described; but there is nothing to show that Rennie himself did not get access to the cell where the gold was usually kept previous to effecting the robbery, and then cut the screws and replace them, so that they might easily be drawn when the robbery was to be effected. Taking the whole circumstances, as detailed in the evidence, together, we are disposed to believe that this was the case, and that, therefore, Rennie was not only a thief, a fool, and a perjurer, but that he was a traitor to his friend, and Judas-like would, if he could, have sold him for a reward — sold him to ignominy and prison — and himself flourished at the price of another's liberty. If so, and we think it was so, he showed himself a villain par exccellence, and it is to be regretted that a much heavier sentence could not have been inflicted on him. 

En passant, how is it that Rennie was not indicted for burglary? He was certainly guilty of that offence, and would on conviction have been liable to a much heavier penalty than on an indictment for larceny.  -North Otago Times, 27/9/1870.

The "awkward circumstance" of the cut through and shortened screws leads me to disagree with the North Otago Times.  For Rennie to have cut the screws on one occasion to make them easier to draw on another would have doubled his chance of being caught in the vicinity of the gold.  I do not believe that he would have done so.  I think McLennan was probably guilty as an accomplice, if not the instigator of the theft.  It is significant that Mc Lennan seems to have been discharged from the force following his acquittal.

It appears, according to the "Daily Times," that George Rennie, who was sentenced to six years' penal servitude in September last for the gold robbery at Clyde, has been released from prison. Rennie recently petitioned His Excellency the Governor for a free pardon, on the ground that he had given evidence which had led to the conviction of an offender, in terms of the proclamation issued after the robbery was discovered. As McLennan was acquitted, it was impossible that the Government could recognise Rennie's claim to pardon upon the ground stated. We learn, however, that the Colonial Secretary intimated that if Rennie would petition for a commutation of sentence because he gave evidence against an accomplice, it was probable that His Excellency would at once grant him a free pardon. At the same time he was to understand that the Government do not admit that he has any claim either to pardon or reward. Rennie received a free pardon, and was discharged from gaol on Thursday last.   -Tuapeka Times, 8/6/1871.

George Rennie effectively disappears from the record after his pardon.  It was very easy in that time and place to reinvent oneself, take on a new name and for the career criminal it had the advantage of being treated as a "first offender" if arrested and not recognised by a member of the police force from another occasion.  McLennan, however, had no need to.

News of the Week

According to an up-country paper, "Mr Malcolm McLennan, of Clyde celebrity, has returned to the scene of his former adventures. This time he comes as the pioneer of a company for extracting gold from the bed of the river by the aid of pneumatic tubes. Practical dredgers scoff at the whole affair."  -Otago Witness, 31/8/1872.

PNEUMATIC GOLD MINING.

We have been favoured by Mr Malcolm McLennan, of this city, the inventor, with the subjoined description of his invention, and the proposed method of working the same: —

The apparatus consists of a punt 48ft. long, by a beam of 16ft., with a well in the centre. There is a gauntree, being a contrivance for lifting the cylinders above the well, 25ft. high. On the top of the gauntree are placed double purchase blocks, for the purpose of lifting up cylinders when bottomed, and also a winch. The cylinders are 5ft. in diameter, and made in lengths of 4ft., to be fitted on in accordance with the depth of the water wished to be bottomed. When the party inside the cylinder sinking is upon suitable wash-dirt, he will be enabled to work for about 3ft. all round the outside of the cylinder. The cylinders are kept plumb, or in their place against the stream, by a bar of iron that slides up and down in a groove, according as it may be required. This bar is kept in its place by a chain at each side of the punt, which is taken forward, and worked by means of a capstan. The air-tight compartment on the top, has in its bottom a manhole door, through which the wash dirt is pushed up from beneath. The mode by which the wash dirt is raised is this: — Outside the air lock a small cylinder is placed, attached to which is a shaft running through the air lock, which works a winch inside. The party working inside will be enabled to put this out of gear or in gear at pleasure. The air lock also contains two doors, one outside and one inside. These doors are used for emptying the wash dirt into a tank situated on the outside of the air lock. When the tank is filled the inside door is closed, and the outside is opened, and the wash-dirt runs into the sluice box. The sluice boxes are placed below the door of the tank. A water pump supplies the sluice boxes. The receiver or tank is situated on the deck of the punt, and beneath the pump, and there is a tube from the pump to the receiver, and also a tube to the air lock. The use of this receiver is to keep up a constant supply of fresh air for the use of the sinker, and excluding the water. The party employed in sinking will be enabled, with watertight boots, to go down dry to any depth that may be required. The rest of the apparatus consists of an 8-horse power steam engine and pump. The engine works all the machinery. The number of men required to work the punt night and day, in fourhour shifts, will be 12. The above invention is intended to be worked by a company that has been formed for the purpose, on the river Molyneux, between the townships of Alexandra and Clyde. The punt is already on the river, and all the requisite machinery, &c, will be on the ground within the next five or six weeks.  -Otago Witness, 21/9/1872.

McLennan's invention was basically a caisson or pressurised compartment in which men could dig gold from the bed of the Clutha River.  The miners would require much faith in the reliability of the air pump.  At the same time, the submarine mining craft "Platypus," reported in a previous story in this blog, was being built and tested.

News of the Week

The pneumatic tube apparatus to be used by the Company of which Mr Malcolm McLennan is manager, for raising gold from the bed of the Molyneux, has been manufactured at Mr Wilson's Otago Foundry, and sent up to Clyde. It is now being put together there, and everything is being done to enable active mining operations to be commenced as soon as possible. It is expected that work will be commenced by the beginning of next year.  -Otago Witness, 16/11/1872.

We understand the Pneumatic Company, in their operations at Clyde, have satisfactorily proved the possibility of getting at the river bed dry. One paddock has already been bottomed as a trial, and operations have been commenced farther out into the stream. His Honor the Superintendent, on his recent visit, examined the apparatus, and watched its working, and expressed himself as highly satisfied with the results. He regarded it as a certain evidence that the bed of the river could be raised and the gold easily extracted.  -Bruce Herald, 7/2/1873.

The Dunstan Times of Friday states that "the prospects of the Pneumatic Dredge Company are improving. For each cylinder bottomed the yield of gold is increasing. Some week, or ten days since, Mr Siedeberg, the owner of the steam dredge, removed his vessel to a site nearly opposite the old landing stage of the Clyde Punt. We understand that he has succeeded in reaching the bottom, and that his prospects appear good, but as yet nothing definite has been made public."  -Otago Daily Times, 24/3/1873.

Warden's Report (excerpt)

The river Molyneux having fallen to a very low level, attention is being directed to dredging, and in particular to the best mode of overcoming the never-ceasing flow of tailings in that great tail race. The pneumatic tube system has now been fairly tried, and I think may be said to be the best, enabling the miner to descend and make occular examination of the bed of the river. The company who have introduced this system have only been moderately successful, owing principally to the small scale of their dredge, and to the want of some sort of iron fender across the bows of their punt to divert the stream of tailings. So satisfied, however, are miners with the system, that Hastie and Co., owners of a river claim that proved very remunerative with the old spoon dredge, have given orders for a tubular dredge that will cost about L2,000. The tubes are to be nine feet in diameter, so that if sufficient means are provided for the quick elevation of washdirt and diversion of tailings, it ought to be a success. Steam is to be the motive power, as it is in that of the other company.   -Dunstan Times, 2/5/1873.

The Pneumatic dredge is also in full work, and, from what can be heard, will not pay working expenses. This principle, no doubt, is also right, so far as getting on to the bottom of the river dry is concerned. It allows of the bottom being properly cleaned, but from the small quantity of stuff they are able to raise, it would need to be very good to pay. There was a great talk some time since about a steam dredge capable of lifting and washing 1000 tons per day (including stoppages) being placed on the river between this town (Alexandra) and Clyde.   -Tuapeka Times, 22/5/1873.

The Pneumatic has made a start to work the Clyde claim, which, has been lying idle for the last three years. It is reported that they have succeeded in getting on to the rich lead of gold, and that they intend to put on a night and day shift this week. It is greatly to be hoped they will find it payable.   -Cromwell Argus, 8/7/1873.

Mining Items

The pneumatic steam dredge is still sinking her cylinders on the Clyde Claim; however, with poor results. Once or twice they have obtained a taste of the rich deposits that are known to exist in this claim; but as yet have failed to strike the lead. We are really sorry for this, as much on account of the owners of the claim as the owners of the dredge, for their want of success, but would advise them to persevere.   -Dunstan Times, 18/7/1873.

From the action taken by two of the men employed on board the Pneumatic Dredge against the Company for wages, we are sorry to Lear that the Company are compelled to cease operations. We understand that steps have been initiated to wind up the Company.   -Dunstan Times, 25/7/1873.

Malcolm McLennan was listed as a bankrupt in Dunedin in 1875 - later that year he and a partner applied for a lease on the Otago Peninsula in order to begin a "salt manufactory."  It is possible that he died (a man of that name did so) at Martinborough in 1883.

The grave of (a) Malcolm McLennan at Waihenga Cemetery, Martinborough.  Photo courtesy of "Billion Graves."

In 1912, the 50th anniversary of the Clyde gold rush was celebrated.  McLennan and Rennie were long gone but alive in the memories of old miners.  The pneumatic dredge remained where it had been abandoned.

DUNSTAN RUSH JUBILEE.

A GREAT ROBBERY RECALLED. 

HOW A COBBLER STOLE £14,000 WHILE THE ESCORT SLEPT. 

[By Our Own Reporter.]  (excerpt)

Rennie pleaded guilty, and was convicted on two indictments. He was sentenced to six years' penal servitude, three of which were to be served on the roads. Some years after McLennan took a prominent part in the running of a "pneumatic" dredge on the Molyneux River, near Clyde. That dredge lies a dreary wreck not a great distance from the scene of the bold robbery. Diggers on the goldfields often wonder over a pipe what became of Rennie, who is known to this day as "the shoemaker what blabbed on a pal."  -Lake County Press, 12/12/1912.