Saturday 19 Dec 1818 (p. 3, col. 3-4) EXTRAORDINARY AND EXTENSIVE ROBBERY. (From a London Paper.) On the night of the 4th or 5th of Feb. last, the house of J. W. PARKINS, Esq., No. 17, Riding-house Lane, Portland Place, (the late Candidate for Carlisle,) was robbed under circumstances of great ingenuity and art, of a large rose diamond ring, valued at several hundred guineas; one large pearl, set as a breast-pin, India mounted; 4000 pearls; 14 Portugal purses, containing 4000 reals (a Portuguese coin of small value) each; a number of gold Swamy Pagodas, Louis d'ors, Napoleons, and other property of immense value. Mr. PARKINS had been the whole of that week engaged with Lord COCHRANE, who was about to leave the country; and on the night of the robbery had left town leaving orders with Daniel M'VEY, his servant, to take a hunter to Epsom, which Mr. PARKINS had promised to lend to Sir F. BURDETT, who was going to hunt with the Royal Pack. There were at this time in the house, PARRY, the groom, and M'VEY. The latter contrived to send PARRY upon some trifling errand, and about ten o'clock the whole neighbourhood was alarmed by the report of fire arms, which proceeded from the back of Mr. PARKINS's house. The people rushed out, when the first thing they saw was M'VEY coming down a ladder, that was planted against the back window which looks into the Mews. He appeared much alarmed and said that thieves had broken into the house.—An ostler agreed to go up the ladder and search the house with him, to which he consented; but after a most diligent examination of the place, no one was discovered. M'VEY said, that whilst he was sitting by the fire, a robber rushed out of his master's closet, and, discharging a pistol at him as he passed (the contents of which did not strike him), ran into another closet, against the window of which a ladder was placed, to facilitate his escape, and got sway. This was the account he gave of the robbery. Soon after, the other servant, PARRY, came home, and being informed of the robbery, agreed to sit up and watch the house. Next morning these circumstances were communicated to Mr. PARKINS, who, having suspicion of M'VEY's story, sent for him, but it was then found that he had absconded, and suspicion, of course, fell on him.—Information of the circumstance was sent to the different Police Officers, with a description of the delinquent, who was proved to have been seen about Chelsea the following day by some soldiers, carrying a bundle. The residence of his wife at Pimlico was searched, but nothing was found to throw the least light on the subject. Mr. PARKINS sent printed descriptions of the robber to all the Post-masters, Government Agents, and Magistrates throughout the United Kingdom. W. KENNEDY parish clerk of Aghaderg, and also a constable of the county of Down, having received intelligence that M'VEY had committed a robbery in England, repaired by order of Mr. BAILEY, the High Constable, and under a warrant from John FIVEY, Esq., one of the Justices of the Peace, to the house of James GARDINER, innkeeper, of Cappy, to seek for him. He arrived at Cappy early on the morning of Wednesday the 12th of Feb. He was told by Mr. GARDINER, that in the course of the day M'VEY would be going to the town of Rathfrieland, and that there was then in the house a person named STEWART, who also came in search of him, and had a particular description of his person. KENNEDY, fearful that M'VEY would escape, if he waited till STEWART got up and had breakfast, took a description of his person, and set off for the Rathfrieland road. He took his post at a certain place, where he could have an opportunity of seeing all that passed the road; but fearing from the view of the country, that M'VEY could go another way across the fields, he thought it prudent to go about half a mile further up the road. He was not deceived, for when he got about half a mile up, he saw a man coming across the fields. He had no doubt that it was the person he wanted, and accordingly went into a cabin on the read, and waited his coming up; he joined him, and they entered into conversation. KENNEDY asked him if he was going to Rathfrieland? He said he was. The constable asked then if he had ever been abroad? and he answered that he had, but came last from London, where he had lived with an Officer who was going abroad, and had given him leave of absence for a month to see his friends. KENNEDY then observed, that there was a great alteration in the price of land; for what was let about six years ago on the old leases, at 10s. was now let at 50s. and upwards per acre, and it was rumoured that many of the farmers would be ejected out immediately. M'VEY asked who was likely to be ejected? as he knew most of the neighbours; and the constable replied that one Robert M'VEY would. At this his companion got nettled: he said M'VEY was his uncle, and would in a few days be able to pay his rent, as well as any one else. KENNEDY was then certain he was the man, but forbore from apprehending him till he came to the house of Daniel KAY, about two English miles further on. Here he proposed to his companion to have a dram, and they entered the house, the landlord of which knew M'VEY, and congratulated him on his good appearance. KENNEDY collared him instantly, calling KAY to assist, fearful that the prisoner might have fire-arms. On searching him, a pocket-book, with some Freemason's gold medals, were found on him, but nothing more. He was dressed in a Gentleman's green hunting frock, lined through the body with silk, and round the breast and collar with green velvet; the coat appeared too big for him; also a pair of plush breeches, a good hat, and boots. M'VEY said he must be mistaken as to the person, for he did not know him; and KENNEDY answered, that he knew him better than he thought, and would tell him more when he got him before a Magistrate. They proceeded on the road to Cappy, expecting Mr. FIVEY would meet them, and on the way M'VEy said, he had been rather too rash in taking him in the presence of KAY; for if he had taken him whilst they were on the road together, it would have been better for him, for he had a very good watch that would not have hurt him. He said he supposed there would be a very great reward offered for his apprehension; but he had nothing to fear from his master, only for stealing the clothes he then wore, and requested permission to change them at his uncle Robert's house. A considerable distance up the road they met Mr. GARDINER, the innkeeper, and Robert STEWART, the constable, who were also in pursuit of M'VEY. They asked KENNEDY where he had been? who pointed to the prisoner, and charged them, in the King's name, to aid and assist. They all proceeded to the house of the prisoner's uncle, where he changed his clothes, the green frock for a livery coat; but on pulling the coat out of a bag, they heard a jingling, and KENNEDY searching it, found a Napoleon. On asking him where he got it, he said at Gibraltar, that he had three more, but spent them. He then took his clothes out of the bag, consisting of two coats, two pair of breeches, several waistcoats, one pair of boots, one pair of shoes, exclusive of those he had on, which he tied up in a shawl, and then asked for his shirts, when he was informed by the people of the house that he could not have them, they being washed. They left the house together: the prisoner was taken to the inn kept by Mr. GARDINER, where Mr. FIVEY, the magistrate, and the High Constable attended, and took his examination, after which he was handcuffed, and sent in a post chaise, which arrived from Banbridge, under the care of KENNEDY, and the other constable, Robert STEWART, to Rostrevor. They passed through Lough-brickland, where KENNEDY handcuffed himself to the prisoner, the night being dark, and he entertaining some fears of an escape or a rescue. On arriving at Newry, fresh horses were got, and the prisoner was safely taken to Rostrevor, where he was delivered to Counsellor STEWART, one of the magistrates for that place, who, STEWART the constable said, had orders from Mr. PARKIN'S [sic] what to do with him, or else Mr. FIVEY would have committed him to Downpatrick gaol at once. On the following morning, the prisoner was taken before Mr. STEWART, who gave him regularly into the custody of STEWART, his namesake, and discharged the constable KENNEDY from all further responsibility. The handcuffs were left on the prisoner, as Mr. STEWART had none, and KENNEDY was on the point of returning home, when he was sent for by Mr. STEWART, the magistrate, who after a conversation with Mr. STEWART, the constable, commended his diligence, and gave him the sum of £1 2s. 6d. with leave to return home. A day or two after, when the prisoner was in custody, Mr. PARKINS received the following letter from Ireland:— "Bally Edmond, Rostrevor, Feb. 16, 1818. "DEAR PARKINS—I received your letter and enclosure, and am very sorry indeed for your loss, and sincerely hope we may catch the scoundrel; for which purpose I will use my exertions, and send down to his father's neighbourhood an intelligent person to look after him. But as no doubt you must have lodged an information against him at some police-office, or before some Magistrate, I beg you may procure a warrant from them, and send it to me, and which warrant I, as a Magistrate, can back here, as I don't think I could keep him otherwise in custody. However, every thing that can be done I will do for you. In the meantime, "Your's sincerely, "ALEX. STEWART. "J. W. PARKINS, Esq. 17, Riding-house- lane, Portland-place, London." In three days after, a second letter, announcing the arrest and confession of Daniel M'VEY, and discovery of some of the property, was received by Mr. PARKINS, from Mr. STEWART: it was to the following effect:— "Bally Edmond, Rostrevor, Feb. 19, 1818. "DEAR PARKINS,—Daniel M'VEY is caught, and now in custody at Rostrevor. I employed a most clever fellow, who spared neither time nor expense till he took him, and he received every assistance in the neighbourhood, very much to the credit of this country. I do not think you could have managed it better in England. He had only been a week home. One Napoleon was found in his bag, and your coat and breeches, which he admitted, but nothing else; he denies, of course. As we cannot keep him here long without examination, I request you will immediately send a man over with a warrant to take him to England. Send the man by Liverpool, and to come to Warren Point, within two miles of Rostrevor, in a Newry packet. Pray lose no time, as M'VEY is kept in the constable's house, which is very inconvenient and troublesome, and I cannot commit him to prison here. "The person I employed to catch him is a very respectable man, and must be well paid, He has been already at a very considerable expense, as well as the constable in the neighbourhood of M'VEY, who assisted him, and is also entitled to the reward. I have advanced the necessary money in the mean time; and all these exertions have been made on my account, and relying on my word. "Send me, by return of post, at least a £30 Bank note, as also full instructions what you intend to do, and when I am to expect the police officer; but do not on any account think of coming yourself! I have a man at present employed to see if he can find any of the jewels; but I fancy M'VEY left them in London with his wife, who lives near Pimlico. So you had better search her lodgings. Write without fail by return of post. Your's truly, A. STEWART. "P. S. Don't forget the Bank-note. "J. W. PARKINS, Esq." Contrary to this advice, however, Mr. PARKINS, who, when he received the letter, was engaged to hunt with Earl FITZWILLIAM and a party of fashionables, set off for Ireland, and on his arrival there found, to his surprise, that M'VEY was gone, he having escaped from the constable's house before their faces. He crossed to Scotland after him, and arrived at Dumfries, where he left his horses and servants, and proceeded by the mail to Glasgow, but failed in getting any intelligence of M'VEY.—Mr. PARKINS, however, persevered in his search, and traced him to Banbridge, Ireland, where WARREN, the Keeper of the Post there, apprehended him. Mobs of persons attempted to rescue him on his way to Downpatrick Gaol; and when he was brought by break of day to be shipped for England an armed mob came to rescue him, and in a scuffle Mr. PARKINS found it necessary to resort to his pistols for protection, and to call out a military guard. When the prisoner had crossed the British Channel, he was very heavily ironed, and tied on the mail-coach. Mr. PARKINS cams with him till they were set down at the Peacock, Islington. Here all the parties, amongst whom were two Ladies, went into the parlour, and the prisoner was for a moment disencumbered of his irons, and, finding himself at liberty, he seized the poker, and swore with a horrid oath that he would instantly kill Mr. PARKINS; but that Gentleman having a pair of loaded pistols in his pocket, presented one, and threatened him with instant destruction if he did not submit, which had the desired effect, and he was again secured, and lodged in the watchhouse. Monday morning he was taken to Marlborough-street Office, examined, and committed for further examination.