Free The Great Train Robbery by Andrew Cook Page A

robbery were in custody awaiting trial. A further three had already been publicly identified by the police and were on the run: Buster Edwards, Bruce Reynolds and Jimmy White. Four more remained publicly unidentified and still at large.
    Looking back from today’s perspective in terms of court procedure and the rules of evidence, the case presented by the Crown was an exceptionally thin and circumstantial one. Their argument was essentially that if it could be proven that an individual had been at Leatherslade Farm then they were, by implication, at Sears Crossing and Bridego Bridge too and hence guilty of conspiracy and robbery. Even on this flimsy hypothesis, the Crown was on thin ice, as the fingerprints of Ronald Biggs, John Daly, Jimmy Hussey, Roy James and Bob Welch were all on movable objects that could plausibly have been made before they were taken to the farm. Other evidence presented by the prosecution was even more dubious. While the judge raised the eyebrows of many trial observers by ruling as admissible a number of clear breaches of Judges’ Rules of evidence, other breaches were so blatant that he had no option but to overrule them.
    When the case opened on the cloudy, rainswept morning of 20 January 1964, all the prisoners appeared in the specially constructed spike-topped wooden dock at the Buckingham Winter Assizes, which was held in the Rural District Council Chambers, Aylesbury. The usual court building was far too small for such a major case, so it was decided to convert the Council Chamber instead. Each prisoner in turn was asked to enter a plea to the court in the respect to each charge against him. The following charges were laid against the following individuals:

    1  For that they:
        Roger John Cordrey
        William Gerald Boal
        Charles Frederick Wilson
        Ronald Arthur Biggs
        Roy John James
        John Thomas Daly
        Thomas William Wisbey
        James Hussey
        Leonard Dennis Field
        Brian Arthur Field
        Douglas Gordon Goody
        John Denby Wheater
        Robert Alfred Welch

    On divers day unknown between the first day of May 1963 and the ninth day of August 1963 in the County of Buckinghamshire conspired together and with other persons unknown to stop a mail with intent to rob the said mail.
    Against the peace of our Sovereign Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity

    2  For that they:
        Roger John Cordrey
        William Gerald Boal
        Ronald Arthur Biggs
        Roy John James
        John Thomas Daly
        Charles Frederick Wilson
        Thomas William Wisbey
        James Hussey
        Leonard Dennis Field
        Brian Arthur Field
        Douglas Gordon Goody
        Robert Alfred Welch

    On the eighth day of August 1963, in the County of Buckinghamshire, being armed with offensive weapons or being together with other persons robbed Frank Dewhurst of 120 mailbags.
    Contrary to Section 23(I) ( a ) of the Larceny Act 1916

    3  For that he: William Gerald Boal

    On a day unknown between the seventh and fifteenth days of August 1963 received £5 6,037 in money the property of the Postmaster-General knowing the same to have been stolen from and out of a mailbag and to have been sent by post.
    Contrary to Section 54 of the Post Office Act 1953

    4  And or that he:
    On a day unknown between the seventh and fifteenth days of August,1963, received £7 9,120 in money the property of the Postmaster-General knowing the same to be stolen from and out of a mailbag and to have been sent by post.

    5  And for that he:
    On a day unknown between the seventh and fifteenth days of August 1963 received £ 5,060 in money the property of the Postmaster-General knowing the same to be stolen from and out of a mailbag and to have been sent by post.
    Contrary to Section 54 of the Post Office Act 1953

    6  For that he: Roger John Cordrey

    On a day unknown between the seventh and fifteenth days of August 1963