Star. — London, England, 1806-04-07 00:00:00

F conveyed up flairr, and to be placed upon a bed.— As loon as this was done, the witnefs requefted,every body to leave the apartment, excepting Mr. Jones, Mr. Ynunge (a for eon at Rotherhi t h e ), P atc h ( t h e pi ironer at the bar), and a gentleman of the name of Fognfon, a friend of the deceafed. Mr. Cooper then proceeded to examine the wounds, and dileo wed twb, une about two inches below the navel, in clining to the right fide, and another in the loin, in the fame direflion. The contents of the bowels exuded from the wounds. The witnefs pronounced the wounds to be mortal, but recommended a light dreffing to be applied to them. The next morning, at about (even o'clock, Mr. Cooper left the houfe of re', deceased. The witnefs having looked at the goo of 4110 wounds, felt it his duty to make Tome eng ,,iry concerning the mina who had committed the horrid at, and afked Mr. Blight whether there was any p e .co n whom he could ftifpeA ? The de ceased replied, "N., Got) &owe, I *ever did ally man ice•iry which road lead him to fat my life ;" and, be added, " Patti bar mentioned to me a man of the same of WeVer." The witnefs immediately turning to Patch, enquired, " Who is this Webber !" To which Patch anfwered, " He is a man who was fur peeled to have robbed thefe premifes. and spina whom a fearch warrant was granted. The houle was examined, and his fon has fence abfennded."—" But Learch his dwelling again."—" No," replied the pri. toner, "far nothing woad he found, and fn. shin} It *emend, he woad tertainlyfrot we." The witnefs underftanding that Mr. Blight's affairs were not fet tled, went to hitbed fide,l and reprefented to the deceafed his danger, and requelled him to calm his mind, and difpofe of his property. In confequence of this fuggeflion, Mr. Blight defired that his will might be brought, which, he (aid, Ise had neither concluded nor filmed. The will being brought, fome alterations were made : Mr. Patch and Mr. Fergana were added as executors, after which, with a siolerti effort, the deceafed figned the document. Sabin , quently Mr. Cooper. went away, promifing to return in the afternoon, and to bring with him a phyfi clan. At about four o'clock on the fame day he returned, and found that Mr. Blight had expired tibont three quarters of an hour before. The body, Of the deceafed was afterwards opened by the witnefe.' On the will being demanded from the panner at dial bar, in order that it might be fafcly depofited, it was delivered to the'witnefs without the leak helitation. On his ants examination he faid, that the will was de manded about two hours after the death of Mr., U t, and before the Coroner's Jury tat upon the Mils Anne totiifal Davis faid, that on the 19tIs of Septeltalier fhedleis near. the premifes of Mr. Blight, between eight and nine o'clock in the evening. When the had pallid the gate a few yards, the heard the report, and law the flats of either a pilled or gun. In the fituation in whith the flood, the was enabled to 4e the whole of the fide of the wharfs and was po fitive that no perfonsefcaped, either through the gate or over the fence. (The model of the buildings being (hewn to the stitnefs, the eiplained to the Court her (rotation with refpell to the premiles.] Mill Martha Eliza Davis confirmed the teftimony of the former witnefs, in whole company the was. • Michael Wright Rated, that he lived at Greenland. Doak, itotherhithes and on the night of the 19th of fiepteiniser, was returning with his wife from Deptford. At about ten minutes pail eight, he was freaking with a Man who lay inebriated by the gate of Mr. Blight's houfe, where he heard the report of a pifial from Same part of the premifes. The wit. tufa difeoverid nobody, until Patch came up. The palace Mked him i If he had feen any minus min ting down the Akta or had met any one in the lane? The witnsfs told him ; he had feen nobody. The pri foner tithed Wright to Rep in with him, as he had been fired at, and remain with him till the fervent ✓ eturned. The witnefs then entered the houfe, and the prifoner taking a candle (hewed him where the ball had perforated the (butter and the window blind. Upon fearching the floor, the ball was difeovered a few feet from die window through which it bad en tered. The bullet appeared to have been cut or bruifed, as it was only femi globular. In the Mean time, the fervant Kitchener entered with fome oyflers, and the prifoner explained the circumflance to her. The witnefs enquired of Patch, if he fliould fend for any perfon to remain with him ? to which the pri- Inner replied, " No ; you need not give ynurfelf that trouble." The witnefs nbferved, that the (hot might have proceeded from Come fmuggling veffel ;—but Patch appeared of a contrary opinion. The witnefs recommended, that the occurrence should be adver sized ; to which Patch anfwered, that be might de pend upon it he (hould do fo, and would offer a re ward of Sol. In the mean time, Froft was fent for, and the prifoner being Aced, if he had any fire arms? laid he had, but that they were ufelefs, for he bad no ammunition. Mr. Froft offered to fupply him, but he declined it. Richard Froft being again called, confirmed the former teflimony, that the prifoner faid he had fire-. arms, hut no ammunition. When the witnefs offered to fimply him, Patch refufed to accept it. They all proceeded to Frott's heufe, and the prifnner declared his intention of (non going to bed, exprelling his con vietion, that the villains would not again return. — The depth from the edge of the what fto the mud was about ten feet. Mr. Kinnaird, jun. depolcd to the corrcanefs of a model en the table, prepared under his direelion.— On faid, perfims might have efcaped over the railings, as in fome places their height was only five feet fix inches, although in other s nine feet. Eliher Kitchener was called, and examined by Mr. GARROW. She lived in Mr Blight's ferrite for two months. The family milli:led of her mailer and minters, two children, the prifnner at the bar, and herfelf The witnefs remembered when Mr. and Mrs. Blight were at Margate. The former went again on Tburfday the (9th of September, and Mr. Patch accompanied him as 'tar as Deptford. They were accultomed generally to fit in the parlour facing the River, which was called the front room. Before slight Mr. Patch returned, and in the evening fist alone in the front parlour. The wand's was defined by Mr. Patch to go for fome oyaers for his flipper, and when the returned, in about nine or ten minutes, the prifoner was converting with a man and woman ,at the gate, whom the afterwards learnt to be Mr. and Mrs. Wright : immediately he law the fervant, :.; exclaimed, " Is that you, Luber? I have L . .. • tot at."—ii Oh, Lord have mercy upon me!" ex., claimed th e, " wh erea b outs ?" an d h e t h en p o i nte d ( to the fhtitter, and laid, there." When the wit.' nefs went for the nyfters, the (butters were all f.f.' tened. The prifoner had told the whites that he was not well, and fhould go to bed fnon, and there. fore had defired her to dole the (hinters early. Weight went for Frail, and left Either and the pri. Inner in the bottle. Patch laid, he did not know that he or Mr. Blight had an enemy in the %amid. The witnefs was not aware that any body nffertd to flay with Patch that night, and did not hear any conver- Cation refpe&ling fire arms, as the was in the kitchen. They then all left the houfe to go to Mr'. Frofi's for a candle, becanfe the witnefc was afraid to go alone. They Raid (Owe time at Frog's. After their return, Patch went to bed, in Mr. Blight's bed, be caufe the witnefs would have been under apprehen lion to have remained in the main body of the houfe alone. The prifoner ufually flept in a dif. rant apartment over the counting houfe.. Her mailer came home from Margate, on the Monday following. The witnefs believed, that, is the former part of the day, the prifoner wore bouts. In the evening Mr. Blight and Patch fat in the back par lour, in which the family did not ufually fpend the afternoon. At night, the prifoner wore (hoes and white flocking'; but the witnefs could nut (wear whether they were ribbed or otherwife. All the gates of the premifes had been fecured. After tea. the deeeafed and Patch were drinking grog together in the back parlour. . During this time the witnefs was in the kitchen, and fitting by the fire fide ; the was unable to fee the door of the parlour. About half an -hour after the tea-things had been removed, the prifoner came into the kitchen to the witnefs, afking her to give him a candle, as he had a violent pain in his bowels, and with it he took the key of the counting-houfe from the dreffer.. The prifoner went out of the front door, and the heard him open the counting houfe, and flam the door after him. The witnefs likewife heard him walk acrofs the floor very quickly. She littened to his footileps till he reached the privy, the door of which he alto fh ut.with vio lence, and at defame asententfit heard the report of a itjtal. A few fecnnds afterwards, Mr. Blight came into the ki•chen, and fupporting himfelf upon the dreller, and placing his hand upon his wound, exclaimed, "Either fam a dead man. *. Lord have mercy upon me, I hope not, Sir," cried the fervant,fereaming violently. and immediately ran to (hut the houfe door. Before the could again reach the kitchen, Patch knocked vio lently, demanding admiffion. T he prifoner was hold. ing up his breeches, which were unbuttoned, and as loon as be entered he eagerly enquired what was the matter, when the witnefs replied, " Oh Lord. Sir, my wa fter is fhot." Parch then alined the deceafed into the parlour, where he had before been fitting. Soon afterwards the witnefs was requefted to fetch Come Alliance, but replied. that the was afraid, and therefore, the prifoner told her to take care of her mailer while he went. This, however, Either equally dreaded, and jumping out of the kitchen window, ran to Mr. Frog's, who, leaping over the gate lead. ing upon the wharf, entered the houfe. Before the witnefs was examined by the Coroner's Jury, Patch told her, that there were Rrange ideas, that he had (hot Mr. Blight, and defired her to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. On her croft examination, the Paid, that the did not know, if in the former part of the day on which her mailer was (hot, the prtfoner had been frequently to the privy. Mr. Chrillopher Morgan being called, depofed, that as he wat palling Mr. Blight's premifes between. eight and nine o'clock in the evening, he was in. formed that that Gentleman had been !hot. He immediately went to the houfe door, and Aced if he could be of any affiitance in fearching the premifes. This offer was thankfully accepted by Mr. Patch, who, pointing to the Carnatic, an old Eaft Indiaman, told him, and his friend who was with him, to go on board that relief, as when the former (hot had been fired, a rumbling noife bad been heard in it. As foots as this intelligence was given, the prifoner retired with a lanthorn to a Main part of the wharf, out offight. The witnefs was the more obfervant of this, becaufe he thought it grange that a man in the midit of danger fhould go fo far on the premifes aline. Mr. Morgan and his friend, however, proceeded to the edge of the wharf, with the view of examining the veffel, but found it imprallicable, on account of the dillance it was from the (bore. The (pace between the laud and the Carnatic was about 16 feet, and the tide then being ebb, that fpace was covered wth mud, fo that if any perfon had endeavoured that way to make his efcape, he would inevitably hare been fuffocated. He then, with his friend, returned to the houfe, and went into the room where Mr. Blight was laid, and requefted to be permitted to go to Bow. greet, to procure proper officers to fearch the pre miles. Patch, however, replied that he few no ne. ceffity for the meafure; and laid, that he himfelf was in as much danger of being (hot as Mr. Blight, as he had been in imminent danger the Tburfday preceding. The witnefs, however, remonftrated, and reminded Patch of the importance of an early enquiry, telling him, that human nature was not fo depraved as to (hoot a fellow creature without. any inducement.— The partner replied, that he had as much reafon to Banc& the witnefs as any man, and Mr. Morgan, not finding his ftrvices acceptable, retired from t h e houfe. Mr. James Berry corroborated this teftimony, and added upon troll-examination, that the gate which admitted them on the premifes was only on the latch. Charles Stoned ploduced the CAI and !butter. which had been pe'lorated by the ball on the preced ing Thmfday. The gates had been fattened by Patch that night, after the workmen left their labour. It was impoffible that a (hot fired from the Carnatic could have reached Mr. Blight, becaule it lay (loping from the Ihore, In that not even a view of the window could have been obtained from it. On the Thud: day after the murder was committed, he flept with t h e prifoner, and had no cloaths with him but what he pulled off at night, and put on again in the morn ' ing. He had no white Bookings with him, or even in his poireffion. If the print' were to Band below the wharf, it would be impollible for him to fire at the window of the room in which Mr. Blight was feated at the time of the murder. I was preient, laid t he witnefs, when Mr. Patch and Either Kitchener were together in the kitchen. As I was Banding in the kitchen along with Mr. Patch and Either Kitch ener, drinking a Either, of grog, Mr. Patch Paid to Either, " Now, Either, you arc going hi - ore the Jury, you mutt fpeak the truth and nothing but the truth ;" Either raid the would (peak the truth, and Mr. Patch faid, they will crofs examine yon, And alk you a great many queftions ; they will ornfs gnefiion you, and afk you a good many quef dons, ■nd if yon fay one Rory,. you mull keep to that Flory, and no other ; if you do not, you will get me into prifon. • Now, faid lieetbey will ark yon whether you have given me a candle—you knew 1 afked you for a candle, and you gave me a candle— I took the candle out of your hand, and went to the privy, and you heard me (hut Ole privy door ; and they will afk you all thelecreftions, laid he, and you muff tell them.—This was on the evening befit e the Coroner fat, between ten and eleven at night ; end it was known that the Jury were to fit the nett day. Mr. Patch and Either were drinking Come grog. The next day Either was called before the Jury, and Mr. Pavel) too. After the prifnner had been examined on the thquell, he came home, end odd the witnefs, that he had at near Mn hanged as any thing in this 'world, and if he bad be jhotdd have ken as happy at he was ;hen. The prifoner then talked about fome piflols which he had, and faid, that they were fhort puilols, with which he could not take an aim, and would give any man leave to take one, and he the other, and his adverfaiy Ihould have the firft fire. George Smith and John Brown gave an account of heating the report of a pillol, and proved pofitively that nobody came over the gates, or the rails of that bottle : if any perfon had, they mull have fern that perfon. Mrs. Sarah Blight depored, that the was-the wi• dew of the gentleman whofe murder was now under i ennfideratini. The acquaintance of her hulband with the prifoner, arofe from his coming to vifit his rifler, who lived in the family of the deceafed ■s a fervent. He reprefented himfelf to have fled from Devonlbire, on account of a difpnte concerning tithes. Patch firft engaged in Mr. Blight's fervice for his board, afterwards for a falary of 301. a year, and fubfequently. at that of tool. The witnefs was unaccinainted with the pecuniary affairs of Mr. alight, in iBo3. Six months before the death of her htifband, certain papers. in the abfeace of Patch, were delivered to Mrs. Blight, to be given to the pri- Inner in the event of particular eireumllances, viz. whets the right to the property (hould be queftioned by creditors, The witnefs never parted with theft, papers, until after the murdei of the deceafed. When the intelligence of the affalEhation was received, Mrs. Blight was at Margate, and on her return to town the found the-documents in the false Rate as the had left them. The prifoner did not receive the papers until the istle of September. Mr. Blight was induced to come to town, from a letter he bad from Patch, dated on the aoth of September. The letter was then (hewn to the witnefs, which the proved to be the handwriting of the prifoner. It -as in the following form : " Dear Sir—l have a'very unpleafant and alarming chromes— to inform you of. I was yeiterday in the apartment In which Mrs. B. fits at tweakfalt, and at half pall eight in the evening I heard the report of a guo, the contents of which came through the window ucareft the peed gate. When the fervent brought the light, I ordered her to (but the (butter, and the ball came dimuglr the window, and through the Quitters; bead's the frame, the blind was knocked all to *emcee of which (truck me in the head, but I am happy to fay, It has done me no material damage. I Imme diately rab into the yard, but could fee no one, and am at a lots to judge of the Intention at prefent, but It teems likely to be intended' for your's or for my life. I hope you will find it accidental, which will be a fatisfaCtion to me and you; but from the dircelion, I believe It was done in the wharf, and the party was difappointed to find the window Out. " I do not know what enemies you may have, but I have net ' offended any one by word or deed " 1 have had but little buboes fierce you were gone, and have very little more to Wert to you, but my WWI* to you and your family. I Stall be happy to have a few lines, but mush more to fee you, as you are the only friend I have to confolt " Your's, See. 11CliAltO PATCU." Diredted to Margate, and dated the loth of September, egos. The witnefs then continued. She was aware that aia amount of wool. was depending between her huG band and Patch, on a bill drawn at two months data upon amen named Goom, as it purported, for the' tale of an eßate, the produce of which the deceafed was to receive. The payment of this bill was at vat rious times, and under different pretences, delayert i l and the was ferifible that this circumflance prefred very Rrongly on the mind of her hutband, and there. fore, after the murder, on her arrival in town, the en quired if the bill had been honoured. The prifoner informed her, that Goom had been to the bankers, had paid the bill, and being invited to hreakfalt, had kept the appointment. Soon after the prifoner had been examined before the Coroner, the papers et♦ trufted to the witnefs were delivered to him, on hie Rating, that queflions had been afked concerning the property. Mr. Swindle, clerk to Mr. Humphries, Solicitor for the profecution, proved his having ferved on the pi- Caner, and on the prifoner's Counfel, notice of trial, and In produce in Court the draft on Goom for toool. Stephen Goom Paid, he was a glue-boiler, in Ber mondsey; that he knew the prifoner's brother about ten years ago ; and only knew the prifoner by having fern him twice or thrice there. He had never known nor had any connexion with him fince ; nor had eves feen him till under his examination at Bow-lireet. He never had with him any pecuniary connexion ; never gave him any authority to draw upon him for any Corn whatever. The prifoner never afked his permif- , Finn, nor propofed to draw upon him ; he never gave him any note of hand for cioney ; never made any appointment with the prifoner to breakfaft at Mr. Blight's, nor ever went there for filch a purpofe, nor did he know the prifoner livid there. Thomas Graham raid, he lived in Mile•encl-read, sad was a (hip owner. He was acquainted with the late Mr. Blight ; he called at his bottle on Monday the 23d of September, and had Come conserfation with him and the prifuner ; he had called on the Fri day at Mr. Blight's houfe, and the ['droner told him Mr. Blight was gone to Margate. Witnefa had called for payment of a chip which Blight had bought of him. The prifoner told him that a fad accident had happened the preceding night ; that a piltol, or mulket, had been fired through the parinur window, and nearly taken away his life. Witnefs afked him if he knew any caufe ? He anfwered No ; but laid, he believed it was intended for Mr. Blight; for that it had paffed in the direction of Mr. Blight's choir, where he was fitting, and bad (truck part of the Ve- netian blinds againit hit head. Witnefs afked !rim what became or the ball ? and prifoner (aid, " it had fallen midway between biro and the itvittdew." Witnefs a t. n bf d e e r x v p ed re f ir er c e . j r h a i l s fp fu li r n y t , e i r c s e uf the thalt h h l e in y ds haldyinngotobnetehencflicreanrr., , - - - • • ed away ;but the prifoner anfweresl, he aithed the -4 Ito remain until Mr. Blight timid tee them. Witness then aOced him, if lie tut - peeled any one pet fun in particular who could be guilty of inch an aft ? the prifoner laid No; but that Mr. Blight had I,me words with a perfon Pane time before who was form ing, nr teparing a dock for him, and that this w; he only man he could Wise& ;•his ',ante was Clarke. bloating more particular p.tlT.d on that slay ; but witnefs called on the Monday mort.ing following. 4nd was told by the prifoner that Mr. Blight aas come to town, hut gor,e into the city about route bonnet's. Witnels called nn his return from Green- land Dock; law Mr. Blight, who, after f tie con• verfation upon the wharf, afkcd him to take re _ frefhment. The pt ironer came into the room where they were, booted. and Aflted for Mr. Blight's fpurs. Mr. Blight pOinted to them in the window, and lail to the pi ironer, Patch, don't come back witl t 11:c money," and the plifoncr anfweted he Ilk,uld not come back until he law the bulincfa fettled. Mr. Richard Percival raid he was partner in the mule of Willis and Co. Bankers, No. 76, Llmbard lireet, that the prif mer opened an accJunt at their honfe on the 7th of September lull, and then paid int“ the honfe a draft fur wool. upon Mr. Goons. due 01: the 16th. He called upon him the day before the bill became due, and laid Mr. Doom was not prepared to pay the draft, but that he wntild fend an other in place of it on the next day, which he accor dingly did, fonilar, in all refpeas, except changing the dates. Here Mr. Percival produced the IA draft on Mr. Goom for toool. but before this draft became payable, he received a letter from Mr. Patch, dated the loth September, which he produced. and it was read, in Court, requelling him not to call on Goom for the bill; that he was not prepared to face it, and that he would give them a check for the turn, for that &stem had called on him, and had given him a note for the amount.payable in °Sober, which to him was perfally ratisfatory. On the sod of September Mr. Blight called at their office ; he had no account with them,but called to enquire about Go m's draft. The whoas then produced a Banker's pals book be tween his honk and the prifoner, in which the latter had made an entry of bills to a confiderable amount, Idefiring them to be placed to account of the teem liras of Mr. Blight; and upon this account k appear 'd that a 'cool. draft on Blight was the laft depofited, but not being paid, was erafed. Mr. Willis partner in the fame houfe,corroborated the teftimony of the laft Mr. Usateow then called Thomas Webfter (the ' perfon alluded to by the prifoner as the man whom he fufpated as moll likely to be guilty of Mr. - Blight's murder) who raid he was a lawyer, and had formerly worked for Mr. Blight ; that he heard of Mr. Blight's death the morning after he was thot ; ; that the whole of the day before he was at work with a perfon named Talk, his employer, at a confiderablo dittance from Mr. Blight's, and that he came from there at half pall fix in the evening to . a public houfe, where he continued till a quarter before eight, when be went home Immediately to bed, and was not out of his houfe until five o'clock next morning. His fon (whom the prifoner had laid had' abrconded) was gone a fortnight before to Deal, and was on , board a [hip in the Downs, and did not return until • a fortnight after the death of Mr. Blight. On his crors-eaamination, he 'kid - his yard bad' been revelled under the authority of a (catch waro rant Tome time before._ on furpieion of his ham fome goods there ftolen from Mr. Blight, but no foolfs. property was found there. It was Mr. Patch toured' • this fearch, and be never knew that Mr. Blight knew any thing of the matter. His fon was never nearer' than Deal to Mr. Blight's during a whole month. William Weblter, fon of the loft witnefi, corrobo: rated the teftimony of his father ; as did Harriet Webiler, the wife. Jofeph Clarke, the other perfon implicated by the prifoner, on the furpicion of having affaffinated Mr. Blight, fisted, that he was from five in the afternoon on the 'day of Mi. Blight's affailination, until ten at night, at Poplar, on the oppofite fide of the Thames; and a perfon named Cox, by whom he was employ. ed, and who accompanied him, corroborated his ta. timnny. Mr. GARROW next produced the deed of agreements under which the prifoner, in confideration of the funs of t 3501. was to have onc.third of the profits of Mr. Blight's bufinefo Mr. Jones, furgenn, who full attended Mr. Blight, was (worn. He laid, that on the evening of the ca taftrophe, he had converted with Mr. Blight upon his wharf, from half part five to nearly fie o'clock ; that he raw the prifoner, Patch, ride in at the gate. booted ; but that after the misfortune had happened. on being fent for, he raw Mn Patch again, and raw him in a kneeling pollute on the bed of gr. Blight, endeavouring to affift him ; he then had (hoes and white flockings on. but he did not obferve this till after ten o'clock ; he could not be certain that he law it fooner. Thome. Mufk proved his being prefent at the er• ecntion of the deed of partnerfhip between the pri foner and Mr. Blight, which was produced, and read in Court. Mary Salter, laundrers, proved, that the had 4. cently been employed to wane for the prifoner, and. received her fecond parcel of clothes to be walked, between eleven and twelve o'clock on the Monday, on which the cataftrophe occurred. She underwent a long interrogation by Mr. Garrow, refpthing a pair of white ribbed ftockings produced Lilies which were found in a clofet in the prifoner's apartment. marked with a thread of coloured worfted, which the admitted to be her ufual mark; but would not fwear pofitively, nor to any belief that the mark was ado ally het's. Mr. Stafford, principal Clerk at Bow-area, (worn, proved that he found thole Ilockings in the clotet of the npattment, which the prilhner acknowledged to be his, in Mr. Blight's }inure ; lie found them rolled up in the ufual manner of clean Itnekings ; hot from feeling them, obferved fnmething hard in the centre, which induced him to open them, when he found the legs tolerably clean, and not at all marked, even as if they bad been worn with boots ; but the roles of the feet were covered with mud, as if the wearer bad walked without (hoes in the dirt. This was on the 3orh of September : and the flocking. were bandit, over for the infpedion of the Jury. Anthony, the Bow. ftreet officer, corroborated the evidence of Mr. Stafford. Rkbard Mach. a Nightmaa, who bad been ern- Vane over. " . • I ; i !