Star. — London, England, 1821-08-21 00:00:00

-..- • • s • 4.DJOIIRN,ED4INQUEST UPON R. HONEY. (WIRD DAY.) -, . • This Inquest met, pursuant to adjournment, yester day, at two o'clock. At twenty minutes after two Mr. STIRLING, the Coroner, entered the room. The Jury were called over, and the usual Proclamation made, when the Coroner stated, that in consequence of the wish expressed by the Jury, he on Saturday communicated to Mr. Hobhouse, in the absence of, Lord Sidmouth, their desire that the troop of Guards employed on Tuesday should be drawn up, accou tred, dressed, and mounted, as on that day; and that the witnesses should be allowed to see them thus drawn up. In answer to this request he had received the following letter from Mr. Hobhouse : " Sia—Having sent to Lord Bathurst, in the absence of Lord Sidmouth, the paper you placed in my hands, containing the request of the Jury now sitting to inquire into the cause of the death of Richard Honey, that the witnesses should be permit ted to view the military employed on Tuesday at Cumberland gate, in the dresses and mounted on the horses which they rode on that day, I have to acquaint you that the troop will be drawn up in the barrack-yard, Hyde Park, to-morrow morning, at half past eleven, mounted and accoutred as they were on that day ; and that any witness, having a ticket,will be admitted to inspect the troop ; and, in the presence of two Magistrates, to see every (Nicer and private, in the same dress as they wore on that day. " I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, a B. HOBHOUSL" This communication having been read by the Co.. roner, one of the Jury proposed that they should also be admitted to view the troop at the same time. The Coroner expressed a doubt whether the Jury would be admitted: all they had applied for had been granted . ; and, as appeared to him, all that was necessary had been granted. He saw no use in the Jury attending to view a regiment of horse. He was not aware that by so doing the ends of justice would be at all promoted ; or that the Jury would be better enabled to discover how the man came by his death on Tuesday. A conversation of some length followed, in which many of the Jury expressed a wish to go to the bar racks; some urging the necessity there was that the Jury should be admitted, and claiming admission as a right ; others differing in opinion as to the neces sity, and especially as to their right as Jurors to go ; and one Juror suggested that, as their first applica tion to the Secretary of State had been so readily agreed to, a second application should be made to him to have the indulgence extended to the Jury ; and he had no doubt but their application would meet with the same indulgence. Mr. Sheriff WAITUNIAN submitted that a Jury had a right to go anywhere if they considered their doing so necessary to promote the ends of justice. It might be very important that they should be present on this occasion to see the manner of the witnesses, and ob serve how they recognized any person, whether they did it immediately or hesitatingly. The Foreman was anxious to go, considering it es sential to their giving a right verdict. One of the Jury still urged the propriety of making an application on the subject, and proposed to put the question to the vote. Others contended that they had a right to go, and therefore it would be improper to make any such application, and proposed, as an amendment, that the Jury at its rising should adjourn to Knights bridge, that they might be in readiness to attend at the barracks. A conversation of some length followed, and the motion for making an application to the Secretary of State was negatived by 8 to 7. Mr. Sheriff WAITiIMAN then addressed the Coro ner and Jury, and said he was anxious to state the course which he had to pursue. He had a list of witnesses in his hand, which had been handed over to him by the brother of the deceased. This list contained about 100 names, and he was anxious that no one should be excluded who could identity the person who fired the fatal shot , w h ether the y h;.cl been examined, cr remained to be so. The brother of the deceased had no vindictive motives, and he trusted he had none. He would be most reluctant to occupy unnecessarily the time of the Coroner or the Jury : he had looked over the list, and believed that many would only prove the facts already before the Jury. Out of a list of thirty he believed there were about six or eight of these who could identify the Officer, and to those he wished the Coroner to give tickets to see the troop drawn up. With respect to the course of examination, he should con fine himself to what occurred at Cumberland-gate ; other Gentlemen might put whatever ques.ions they thought fit. Mr. HaNsosr said, if these six or eight were now examined as to that fact, they might now have tickets given to them. Mr.WatTIIMAN said he would proceed to call these six or eight witnesses; lie would put the list of thirty in the hands of the Foreman, who would call any he thought proper.—The first witness called was Brooke Page—He lives at No. 9, Warwick-street, Golden-square ' a French polisher. On the day of the Queen's funeral was near Cumberland-gate ; the first thing he saw was the Procession coming through Cumberland-ate, and turning towards Oxford-street. He saw the Guards retreating. The witness was at Kensington, and saw the resistance of the people at Kensington-gate ; the people got the gates shut, and the soldiers attempted to open them ; the people, however, persisted, and the soldiers then rode at them, and began to chop at them with their swords. Witness saw one soldier's sword break short at the andle. The gates were forced a little open, and witness, with a few others, got through. Witnes s soon after saw a poor man, in a fustian jacket, lying on the grass, and a Life Guardsman rode at him and made two cuts with his sword. He then re treated three or four yards, and the man recovered himself a little and drew up his legs. The soldier's horse started back at the moment his rider made a cut at the man, and he missed him ; the soldier then retreated to his comrades at the gate. The witness then proceeded to detail the transactions which took place between Kensington and Cumberland-gate: witness got to Cumberland-gate soon after the Guards did ; the hearse was just then passing through. The Guards were there, and also a great procession of horse just before him, and he saw them clearing the way in a furious manner. He saw the hearse enter Edgeware-road and turn towards Oxford-street, but immediately the soldiers returned, and the hearse turned towards Edgeware-road, and there was a great piece of work in a minute, the soldiers cutting ;L ad dashing in such a manner, which caused the many stones to fly, as near as I can say, opp6site Ski One of the Imes said he was of the tame opinion, William Manners's, near the corner of Tyburn-gate; but they had.invariably been dragged down to Ken here they began to fire ; it was an Officer that I saw sangton against their inclinationss had no inclination to press shoot first. I was pu shed away with the crowd, Mr.Sherff WAITTIMAN sometimes in the road, sometimes on the pavement. this point, but the last witness had eve saidn been p ress eded I remained with the crowd until th e y ceased firing, not only as to what Sir Robert Baker , b and the soldiers moved on, and I moved on by this as to hi s gestures. This evidence would open the house (the New Inn) , till at a distance I recovered The CORONEIL— myseIf, and began to examine myself to see if I was door to conversations, and to all other evidence, how hurt, and found I had a shot through the crown of ever irrelevant. The question was, did the witness my hat. I have been in the Navy, but never was in hear the Riot Act read, aye or no. such a phillaloo in my life. I had also a shot through The witness.—i Certainly I did not. the skirt of my coat. The stones were not thrown at The Cortimsaa.—That is evidence. the soldiers till after the cutting, but before the firing. Witness.—Sir Robert Bak Robert also told me that as I was engaged in taking care of myself. I did not the Procession should go thro not eughviden the ce.City. see the man shot. The CORONER.—That is The CORONER.—Then there would be little use in Mr. Alderman Warrasraw.—What ! not the con your seeing the troop ? versation of Sir Robert Baker with the witness.— Several questions were put by the Jurors, bat no Good GOD, Sir, if this is not evidence we had better new fact was elicited. . • withdraw from the inquiry altogether I By Mr. Haasorr.—Can you make it convenient to One of the Jury.—This is a link in the chain which be at the Barracks at eleven o'clock to-morrow ?_ the devil can't break. Witness.—Certainly ; but I cannot swear to the O ffi - Another Juror.—lf this evidence is not admitted, it is not fair play. cer ; I can only swear to a soldier who struck a Gen - tleman on horseback. Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN.—The question here is, W. I). Jones is a Gentleman, resident at Oxford, whether the Riot Act was read or not. If the Riot but at present on a visit in town, at No. 9 , Richmond buildings, Soho-square; joined the Procession at Ken- would not be justified even in flourishing a sword, sington ; the oe were shouting and making a great for that would be an assault. The question was, did noise, and c ry i ng—" Through the City!" Sir it:. the military act under the orders of the Magistrate Baker came up and placed himself at the head of the or against those orders ? Sir Robert Baker said, the Procession, with a soldier by his side ; the soldiers rode Procession should go through the City ; now did the about Kensington-gate, and drove the people on the military afterwards act against that order, and force pavement, and the people called out, " What do the the Procession another way ? If so, we were for soldiers do here?" and, as the witness conceived , ra. a time under military government—that was the , I ther abused the soldiers. Witness saw a soldier point question. his sword downwards towards the people, but he Mr. Haasoa.—No, that is not the question—the I would not swear he intended to strike any one. Wit. question is, did the populace so maltreat the soldiers ness left the Procession here and ran through the that they were obliged, in defence of their own lives, Park, and arrived first at Hyde Park Corner; here to fire? When he came to call evidence he would he heard the people-making a g reat noise, and con- prove that to be the fact. tinuing the cr y of, "To the City.' At Cumberland- A long conversation followed on the admissibility gate witness saw the Park gates closed; the people of Mr. Gregg's evidence; and, at length, the Co were crying out, "Butchers!—Piccadilly butchers!" roner decided, that what was public conversation The soldiers forced the gates; some of them rode into might be received. Oxford-street ; others remained to keep the gates The witness then proceeded to detail what passed open. Witness then heard some firing in the Park, under his view at Kensington-gate. He saw a con and presently after lie saw stones and mud flying test between the soldiers and the people. They cried about ;he did not see the flash, or the person who and screamed, " the City ! the City !' Witness rode fired, and he did not know who fired ; after the firing through the crowd up to an Officer, and asked him 1 the brick-bats flew in all directions. Witness begged under whose orders he acted ? and he said, he was of those who stood near him not to throw anything; acting under the orders of Sir Robert Baker. Witness and one of the soldiers said, " Sir, you had better get asked if the Riot Act had been read? away, or you'll have one at your head—you'll get The CORONER.—His answer is not evidence, and, hurt." There were several shots fired after this, and therefore, we will not have it. witness moved towards Cumberland-street, where Witness.—l asked him how he dared to strike the there did int appear to be so many people. After People if the Riot Act had not been read ? He re that he saw an O ffi cer, fourteen or fifteen yards from plied , "If you do not get out of the way I'll cut you him, or more, towards Tyburn, fire; but witness down r or if I struck him (or words to that effect) could not say whether any person fell by that shot, lie would cut me down. Witness then called Sir R. but at the moment there was a cry that a man was Baker, and he made his appearance. Witness said, shot. Witness could not say that the Officer took " Sir Robert, do you see what the sold iers are doin g direct aim at him. He should know the Officer again. ? has the Riot Act been read ?" In a mild tone -he The impression on his mind was, that he had fre- said, " No, it has not." Witness observed, " Then at quently seen the individual in his plain cloaths. Wit- you; peril allow a man to be hurt." This was said in ness saw Sir Robert Baker several times. Sir Robert a loud voice. After a minute or two he called the seemed mach distressed, and said, in the witness's soldiers away. The funeral then proceeded along the hearing, "Fur Goo's sake, Gentlemen, eve ou have road, Sir Robert accompanying the Procession, and any influence exert it." This was said sevral times heading the soldiers. Witness again rode up to him, to the Gentlemen about him, who witness supposed and addressed him, " Sir Robert Baker!" I believe belonged to the Committee, as they had crape hat- he replied, " Yes." Witness said, " The minds of the bands on. The Guards afterwards made a movement people are extremely irritated ; and I fear, if you in to go away, and witness got into the New-road. The sist on not going through the City, lives will be lost." Officer is a young man. Witness did not hear the He replied, " I think so ; and I have made up my Riot Act read. mind that we will go through the City." Witness By Mr. HANSON.—Before the Of icer fired, stones as ke d , a Which route will you have the people to had been thrown for some time. Witness would not take ?" He answered, " The most usual way, which have come forward on this occasion, but a Clergy- is the best, St.James's-street and Pall-mall,l believe; man, a friend of his, to whom he related the or- but if you have any influence, pray exert it to prevent cumstance, said it was his duty to come forward, any confusion opposite Carlton House." Witness re and state all he knew ; and under that impression he plied, if he possessed any, he certainly would. And had come forward. Sir Robert said, " Yes, yes, I am sure you and every Aungier P. Cropley, N. 3, Fountain-place, Mi- respectable man with to see order preserved as they nories, carpenter, was with the Procession, and bore Pass the Palace of the King." Witness asked if Sir the Carpenters' Banner ; he had got to Cumberland- Robert would authorise him to go and communicate gate, and was going down Oxford-street, towards to Sheriff Waithman, Lord Hood, and the people, Park-lane, preceding the Funeral Procession. He that they were to go through the City? and he re was standing still and saw the soldiers riding along , p lied in the a ffi rmative, and witness made the com two of them passed his left; they turned round and munication accordingly. Witness then rode to Hyde' came back to the right side of him, and one of them Park gate, and announced it, and the Procession pro struck him down and his banner fell with him; he ceeded alon Piccadilly, till nearly opposite Park got up again as well as lie was able and ran t o the lane ; and af ter waiting tea or fifteen minutes, some pavement, when two friends took him to the Middle- One announced that the hearse was gone through the sex Hospital. Ile saw no more of the Procession ; Park. Witness was at this time just before Sir Robert saw no stones thrown, nor any pistols fired, lie was Baker. He rode back and ascertained the fact, and hurt in the head and arm. He did not hear Sir Ito- then went back to Sir Robert, who was with the beet Baker read the Riot Act, nor admonish the Commanding Officer of the Guards, and said, " Sir people. The hearse was not at this time through Robert Baker, knowing you to be the Chief Magis- Cumberland-gate, though the horses were. Ilis hat trate, I took your word that the Procession should was cut through, and he was wounded in the head ; go through the City. You authorised me to proclaim his arm was hurt in the fall.—(The witness had a it, and you have now been persuaded to break your bandage round his head, and his arm was in a sling). word. On your own head be the consequences—l By Nlr. HANsons.—l was just before the hearse.— dread the result." He made no reply. After waiting The horses in the hearse were turned , but witness a few minutes, the people began to reproach him could not say by whom. Witness would not know (witness) for having deceived them. the man who cut him. I have only to say, that the CORONER.—What have we to do with that? best satisfaction I could receive would be, for the Witness.—After a few minutes I returned to Mr. man who cut me to come forward, and let me have Sheriff Waithman and Mr. Hume, and said— it out with him. It was a cowardly act. The ConoNER.---Well, are we now to have all that The CORONER.—WeII, we don't want to hear that. conversation? we may have the conversation of the Such a temper is calculated to procure you a cut bead. whole of the day. This can have nothing to do with 'By a Juror.—Were you long in the Hospital? No, the present case.—The Jury—No, no, certainly not. l it was not a place fit for me. I was taken away by By Mr. liaasow.—lt was soon after leaving Ken friends who can support me. I should not know the sington that Sir Robert Baker said they should go soldier who struck me. through the City. I cannot say that he did not re- Mr. Haasosr.—Are you any relation to the fighter, ceive subsequent orders. Cropley ? I know no fighter, but I can fight my- T h e had the .—Sir Robert Baker rocession never told y N ou o ; self, if it be necessary. I can bring forward many that marshalling the P ? persons to state who I am. but I asked repeatedly under whose orders the mili- The Foreman objected to this last ques tion, as tary acted ? I knew what I was about. The answer wholly irrelevant to the case. always was, that they acted under the orders of Sir Mr. Sheriff Warrant/al.—Supposing the witness Robert Baker, as Chief Magistrate. to be a boxer, that is no reason why his brains should CORONER.—Certainly. A Magistrate was neces be knocked out. sary, and Sir Robert Baker was there : but no one Mr. HaasoN.--I asked the question, because the ever supposed he had the marshalling or managing witness talked of thrashing the soldier who struck him. the Procession. That, no doubt, rested with the Mr. Gregg, upholsterer and cabinetmaker, 32, City- Heralds. road.—Witness had general communications with By Mr. Warrinstaa.—The change in Sir Robert's Sir Robert Baker, and had opportunities of observing determination irritated the people, and witness be the conduct of the military. He was with the Pro- came afraid of his head. He was hissed, and the cession from Kensington to Piccadilly, but nowhere people said, " that is he that deceived us." He be else. Witness asked Sir Robert Baker if he had read came alarmed, and got away as soon as possible. the Riot Act? and he said he had not. Mr. WAITHMAN, now adverting to the persons The CORONER thought this evidence was'irrelevant who had signified that they could identify the Officer to the present inquiry. who fired the pistol, said, he had a list of sixty wit- tresses in his hand. He believed about twelve or fourteen of them could identify the Officer. He now desired that these persons, though not exam i ned, should have tickets to admit them to the inspection to-morrow morning. This course had been adopted at the other Inquest now sitting. He wished a l so now to say, that it was not his intention to call any witnesses after this evening. He would delive r hi s 'list to the Foreman ; and if hereafter it should be ne cessary, others might be called. Josiah Dean, 2, Hill.place, Tottenham-court.ro a d, linen-draper, joined the Procession at Kensington, and saw two Officers. The witness then proc ee d e d to detail the occurrences at Kensington, and up to Piccadilly, and corroborated the statement nt t h e last witness, as to Sir Robert Baker's declaration tha t the Procession should pass through the City. Wi t . ness proceeded from Piccadilly across the Park, a n d passed the Procession. He soon after saw three o r four of the soldiers come riding up the Park, and he observed three persons knocked down by the horses. . One of these persons appeared to be much butt. Wn ness overtook the soldiers at Cumberland Gate, and - they endeavoured to prevent his passing ; they turned round in Oxford-street, and ultimately they allowed witness to pass. In Oxford-street he saw an Office r tiding on the pavement, and cutting at the Witness went and spoke to him, and told him t!:;-.e was no occasion for such violence, it was slau3hter ing people. He said, " D—n you, Sir, stand out ff the way, or you shall feel the weight of this," at th e same time shaking his sword, and then he gallopped quickly towards Cumberland gate. T.e p.0,1e were at this time attempting to shut the gate; nor part was shut, and witness believed both. The so', diers were cutting at the people, and witness believed it was soon opened. He i.:tw one man cut n n t h e • arm, and another on the side of the heal The same • Officer went up to the gate, and called to th e , 0 1. diers to charge, and clear the mob. Oae patty went up Oxford-street, and the others towards E!j ?tere . road. The Officer rode near the pavement. A; t hi s time the people became indignant. aiad begin tarit the soldiers with dirt and mu.i. Whether brick was thrown witness could not tell. The °lce: came down towards Tyburn Turnpike first, ani then te turned towards Oxford-street alone, without the sol diers ; and when near Cumberland-gate, he fired to. wards Cumberland-street, over his lett arm, put up his pistol, and rode amongst the other soldiers. IV :t. ness saw the pistol flash in the pan. Witness knew not that any man had been shot, and the Officer rode off as if he did not care about it. At this moment the Coroner interrupted the en. k mination of tile witness, by stating that he haJ jut received from Mr. Hobhouse an answer to a letter which he had written to the Home Department in the morning, relative to the detet initiation which the Jury had come to. The answer of Mr. lio4ouse, as read by the Coroner, was in substance AS toIiOWS: Sia—l have received your letter, intimating that the Jay Intend to appear at the Knightsbridge barracks to.nwrrow, u matter of right, and not of favour. I have laid the sum before Lord Bathurst, by whom I am directed to acquaint you, that, as a Jury have no such right, no order will be made on the sob. jest. I have further to inform you, that, as it would be foot inconvenient to assemble the regiment at half-pa,t eleven o'clock, they will be mustered at two o'clock r. )e. to-morrow." This letter excited an extraordinary sensation among the greater part of the Jury. The Foreman—No reason has been assigned for this refusal. A Juryman-0 yes ! a reason has been assigned. It is because you claim the inspection as a right. Therefore you will not be suffered to go. This is the short and the long of the matter. It is as plain Eng lish as possible. The Foreman—l think so many objections are made—so many obstructions are interposed—that there will be little use in going to the barracks. It is determined that we shall be opposed in every pot sible way, A Juryman—l believe the understanding was that we should go to-morrow to the barracks, without any further observation—without any commuMcafion being made to Government ; then if we were retuned, it was not our fault, but the fault of those who op posed that which is evidently just. The Foreman—The Coroner has sent a letter ott• known to us. He has taken a step beyond the boun dary of his duty. The CORONER—I have done nothing more than! was bound to do. A Juryman—lt is all a collusion; I see it plainly. Another Juryman—And so do I. The CORONER—I communicated on this occasion, as I did before, the sentiments of the Jurors to the proper authority. It was right that I should do so. The Foreman—This last was a private communi cation, of which the Jurors were ignorant. That was not the case with respect to the other. A Juryman—Everything is thrown as an irnped ment in the way of this Jury, as was done with the Jury at Oldham. Mr. Spicer (a Juror)—What have we to do with the business at Manchester? I protest against the intro duction of that subject. I think it a disgrace taxi ,Gentleman to name it. Juryman—And I think it a greater disgrace for Mr. Spicer to use such language. The Foreman—We have heard an answer to adv. fain letter ; now I think it right that a copy of the letter sent to the Home Department, to which that answer was returned, should be laid before us. lAt us know the whole of it. man—Give lerel me y lea a vmeatttoesar of y r ight; g tht the A barracks isn not ti will say, in unison with downright h onest deahak This refusal is a decided insult to the J ur y . Mr. Spicer—You asked for one thing as a faro and how is it inconsistent with reason , when a new_ point arises, you should solicit for that also .as 4 favour? a Jury, other Pe t we possessed, as matter of right , th e A Juryman—We considered , th at bein g that of proceeding to the barracks: therefore that the witnesses only were mentioned. it Os ooi b n u g t, t ; The Foreman—l am astonishe d to hear peop le oug ht talking of things as matters of f avour, peop le to be looked on as matters of right. We are nel : su re the moned on an Inquest. We are b ound to pro ti we tate best information we can. Here is a right; no necessity to seek for favour. Mr. Spicer—When no right is shewn, y ou must apply The CoaosLa—Was it nut solemniy ► for any privilege as matter of fa.vouar,:ice 4, by your former pro ♦isit the barracks The Foreman - lude, we had a c sion. The matte however, willing this is a point of ; _ . The CORONER— sIot receive it as a A Juryman-1 say that we wool your ; we merely barracks. A Juryman—S hot the witnesses ask the names of I tan the business E _ _ . _ ... Mr. Shetiff 11 .- o word.pn this s! interfere with the serve, that the pre Jury should proce ment was propos Made to allow the spection of the It! ment was negative the Jurors to the Sir, I conten.i tha! cecd to the Ban being refused to v of a very different seeding. A Jury that of finding II or asking, for in But the present c: here made is to fu those ends while pose a patticula! mark oa any gai discovered in the right to go to the by their inspectio decision ? Everyt so :o decide, that is an offensive at: proposition. Ind that they will att that they will be but if you send a in power what is as in the present you claim this ; you?" Such a c viting a contest Mr. Spicer—l baying received c own request, we ought to ask an against sending was clearly overr a right to proc doubted, and I d impartial man in he has no views far is he justified Gentlemen think tial inquirer bets dead. Standing had a right to thing that was do Tile Foreman. do so and so ? 1 private kind of n Jury, and I shall The CORONER, The Gentleman a of State sent an a thought I had a sequently occurr to the Barracks of favour. Mr. Sheriff W subject, I left it opinion. I wouic dispute. It is ti right, when that of proceeding w I would not rash always like to n than crawl on might have tree U That the Jury the Jury should plish this objet putting forth m the necessity of This, I should fensive ' - and b will be done. A Juryman.- who appears for to introducing desirous of enter Mr. HANaos. pear cannot pro but they have n of all the witne: A Juryman.. Commander of Mr. HANSOM over the Barrac A Juryman.- of Knightsbrial Mr. HANSON ties of State. A Juryman, be refuses to m: that he holds tl A Juror.-1 summon the A Let him bring] will be able to expense in coi must answer it A Juryman. a former nigh A trusi of s:ra‘ 1 have no dou be attempted. The witness to whom I can What, in that you cannot sw tind hint as yc A Juryman. all those ticket ' lt I • • $ 11 , 4 $ • 41'