The butler testified to the plate having been safe, the night before, and the strong chest in which it was kept having been forced open.
Directly it was discovered, the constable of the village was placed in charge of the room, with orders to admit no one; and a man on horseback was sent off to Lewes, to the chief constable.

The village constable gave evidence as to the state of the place, when he was put in charge.
The constable who had been sent over from Lewes then stepped into the witness box.

He testified to the marks of entry of the thieves, and said that the manner in which they had gone to work, and in which the door had been sawn through, and the chest forced open, seemed to show that it was the work of practised hands.

On examining closely the butler's pantry, he found a powerful screwdriver and a heavy chisel.

These corresponded to marks in the lid, and had evidently been used for the purpose of forcing it open.