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James Burgess
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James Burgess
James Burgess, the railway guard who was part of the gang that took part in the bullion robbery on the South-Eastern railway on the night of 15 May 1855. When the trial of the men involved came to an end in January 1857, Burgess was sentenced to transportation for fourteen years
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Media ID 4481581
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10472949
Bullion Burgess Guard Robbery Theft
EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting image captures James Burgess, the enigmatic railway guard who became an unwilling participant in one of the most notorious crimes in Victorian England's railway history. The photograph, taken around the time of Burgess's trial in January 1857, reveals a man in the prime of his life, with a stern expression and piercing gaze that seems to hint at the complexities of his involvement in the South-Eastern Railway bullion robbery on the night of 15 May 1855. The audacious heist, which took place near Borough station in London, saw a gang of thieves intercept a train transporting a substantial amount of gold bullion. Burgess, who was on duty that night, was coerced into helping the criminals by threatening his family's safety. The gang managed to make off with an estimated £120,000 in gold, causing widespread panic and outrage. The trial that ensued was a sensation, with the public eagerly following the proceedings against the eight men involved, including Burgess. The railway guard's testimony was pivotal in the case, and he was eventually sentenced to fourteen years of transportation for his role in the crime. Burgess's story is a poignant reminder of the human element in historical events. The photograph, with its somber tone and the subject's introspective gaze, invites us to reflect on the complex motivations and consequences of the choices people make, even in the most extraordinary circumstances.
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