Star. — London, England, 1821-09-12 00:00:00

. • . IURNED IXQUEST ON R. HONEY. i• • THIRTEENTH DAY, SEPTEMBER The Coroner's Jury assembled at half-past ten o'clock this morning, pursuant to adjournment from Friday last. Mr. ADOLPHUS and Mr. HANSON made their ap pearance as usual. The Jury having been called over, The Foreman said, the Gentlemen of the Jury would feel obliged to the Coroner if he would suffer them to retire for a quarter of an hour, before they commenced the business of the day. The Cottons:rt.—Certainly, Gentlemen, if it is your 'pleasure. Mr. Anommus.—Before the Gentlemen of the • Jury. retire, I think it necessary, Mr. Coroner, to ob serve, that one day, when I was not present,l am given to understand, some mention was made of Co-' lonel Cavendish,' relative to his supposed presence at the business which gave rise to this inquiry. Mr. . Hanson then stated, that Colonel Cavendish was not mit of the Barracks during the whole of that day.— This, however, was a mistake ; for Colonel Cavendish says, in his evidence, that he was, on that day, both at Grosvenor and Cumberland-gate. But, lest this mistake should have anticipated or prevented any .question the Jury might have wished to ask, he is now in attendance, and ready to answer any question .that may be put to him. Mr. Blakie.—lt was in the course of Mr. Parkins's evidence that this observation was made. Mr. ADOLIPHUS.I don't think anything can wise out of this circumstance ; but if there should, Colo nel Cavendish is ready to be examined. . Mr. Blakie.—We are about to retire to consult on our future proceedings, and that to which you have alluded may form one object of our deliberation. The Jury withdrew ; and or, their return, The Foreman said, I am going to observe, that the Jury, in their retirement, have taken into considera tion certain circumstances, and they seem to be de sirous that witnesses should be called as to some par ticular points, before they proceed to the reading of the evidence. The CORONER..—I believe it was perfectly under stood that no more witnesses would be called. Mr. Blakie.—Oh, no ! we contended for the right to call more witnesses, if necessary. The fact is, we have received a variety of letters from different per sons, who state that they can give important and de cisive information ; and, knowing that we have a painful duty to perform, we feel that we should not perform it satisfactorily without hearing this fresh evi dence. Part of those witnesses are in attendance, and the others will he here immediately. We have no Wish to procrastinate this inquiry unnecessarily, which has lasted long enough for you, Mr. Coroner, as well , as for us ; but we conceive it to be our duty to exa mine any witnesses who are likely to elucidate the facts of the case. The CIORONER.—It is fit they should be examined, if their evidence be very material. The understand ing, however, was, that no more witnesses should be called. Mr. Blak ie.—There could be no such understanding. Mr. Gall.—l believe it was understood, that if the .Tury thought it necessary to call farther evidence, they should he at liberty to do so; and that Mr. A dolilins might afterwards, if he pleased, call other witnesses. The eOIIONER:e..TDO you wish for farther evidence from Colonel Cavendish? He has been waiting for a considerable time, with much inconvenience to him- Self. If any Gentleman desires to question him, he is now in waiting. If not, it would be proper to let him depart. Mr. Anoceuus.—l apprehend all that can be said by Colonel Cavendish has bcca said already : but I was anxious to remove any unfavourable inference that might arise in the minds of the Jury, in conse quence of the mistake to which I have alluded. The attendance of Colonel Cavendish was die rowed with. George Gunn was then called and sworn. He de. posed as follows :—I live at No. 10, Charlton-street, Vitzroy-square. I am by trade a tailor. I was pre. sent at the Procession on the 11th of August, at the Queen's funeral. I was sitting on the front spring of her Majesty's state carriage at Cumberland-gate. I was with the Procession from half-past eight in the morning till five in the evening. As we passed through Hyde Park-corner towards Cumberland gate, the first thing I saw was two Life Guardsmen, ordered by a serjeant to clear Cumberland-gate. Ac cording to his orders, they went to the gate. As they rode up to the gate, they knocked over several peo ple. The cries of " Shame !" and 66 Murder !" were shouted out directly. When the Procession came to the gate, it was stopped for about four minutes. Then the affray began about opening the gate ; and I saw two peace-officers with their batons endeavour ing to open it. They did open the gate ; and a party of the Life Guards came riding up Park-lane. They rode about, keeping the crowd away from the gate. The gate was at length thoroughly opened, and the l'rocession came through. The Procession was halted about sixteen yards after coming through. When it was halted, a shower of stones and brickbats came towards the Procession from the top of Oxford-street. Then I saw an Officer belonging to the Life Guards ride up as hard as he could gallop, and fire. I saw a person fall when he fired. Before the Officer rode past, I came down from the state carriage. At the time I saw the deceased fall, another shower of stones fell ; it came fiom towards Tyburn-turnpike. They were flying about so thick, that it was impossible al most to tell with any exactness from what quarter they came. Then I saw the Life Guardsmen form a sett of circle in the street. After so forming a cir-I , cle, an Officer came and gave them the word of com mand, when they all sheathed their swords, and every man, as tar as I saw the matter, took his pis tols and loaded them. All of them then rode off towards the Edgeware-road, except two men and a serjeant. Mr. Gall observed that the witness w2s evidently incorrect, because there were no serjeants in the Re giment he spoke of. . Mr. Anotamus.—Oh, no matter. • Witness.—He had stripes on his arm, and I took him, therefore, for a see east. The n more stones came flying about, and the three men who had re mained standing there loaded their pistols, and rode away towards Osford-strect s and one of them fired (I did not see with what effect): and the cries then were "Go on, go on with the Procession." Accord ingly they did so. Then the party of Life Guards men which was behind, and the Oxford Blues, came up. When the Blues came up, they all rode along together, as hard as they could riae, down the Edge ware-road. The Procession came on down that road, and at the first or second turning (I don't rightly know which) out of that road, the Life Guards I saw ride all down that street. I never saw anything more of any Life Guardsmen during the remainder of that day. The CORONER.—I don't observe anything very novel in all this. We have much the same evi dence before. By Mr. Brown.—l was en the fore spring of the state carriage. The carriage went before the hearse, after it came through Cumberland-gate, and went down the Edgeware-road. I saw an Officer of the Life Guards, I have said, come up and fire. I don't know •whether that Officer came through the Park with his detachment. That was the first pistol I either saw or heard fired. The first firing I saw a man fall almost instantly. He was about 20 yards then frour the gate, very near towards the Edgevrare-road ; towards the toll-gate. The man fell on the left side of Ox ford-street, towards the Park. Mr. Brown.—l asked the last question, because it is clear that he speaks of the death of Francis; the position in which the man was, proves that it is so. By a Juror.—l don't know the name of either of the deceased. I did not know them then. At thel precise time the pistol was fired, the mob was not in the act of throwing stones. They had been throwing before this. (Here a Juror obser r ved upon the manner in which the witness nodded his assent when a question was put to him by one of his brother Jurors). The stones had ceased to be thrown about a minute, 'while the Procession came through. Between the Pro cession coming through and the firing, about a minute and a half had elapsed. By Mr. Brown.— I saw no Magistrate or any peace officer remonstrating with the soldiers. Mr. Brown.—My motive for asking is, because I would not mind being shot through the b ody myself, if a Magistrate ordered it ! The Conox ER observed, that with every respect for the Magistracy, he thought it would be no luxury to be shot at by a Magistrate ! By the Foreman.—l saw a trumpeter there that day. I don't know his name. He appeared to me to be a youngish sort of man. I think I should know him again if I were to see him. I obierved him at no time while I was at the gate in conversation with the Officer. I saw a great many stones thrown. don't know whether much glass was broken in that neighbourhood in consequence. I neither heard nor saw any. I did not see any of the multitude cut with the stones. By Mr.lllakie.—l came all through the Park with them. We came up very fast indeed through the Park. The coach 1 was on was in front of the hearse. We stopped towards the second gate we passed, and walked there. I mean about or near• Grosvenor-gate. Then we proceeded very slowly. At that time I did not observe any stones thrown from Park-lane. There were some soldiers standing at Grosvenor-gate. The Procession came at a very fast trot. As near as I can re collect. the part of the Park where they went fastest, was from Piccadilly through the Park towards Cum berland-gate. By Procession, I mean the hearse, the carriages, and the soldiers. It was a very fast trot at which they came from Hyde Park-corner _to Grosvenor-gate. Some were trotting, and some were galloping."lhe stones I first saw thrown came from the top of the porter's house near Cumberland-gate. I did say I saw some persons thrown down by the soldiery. This was before the throwing of stones from Cumberland-gate. The soldiers were then riding very fast: some were galloping, some trotting ; but all were going very fast. By Mr. Gall.—After I passed Grosvenor-gate, and before I reached Cumberland-gate, I saw no stones thrown from Park-lane. I saw none till I arrived at Cumberland-gate. By Mr. Brown.—l rode on the front of the state carriage, and when I got off of it, went on with it, leaning my hand on it all the day. By Mr. ADOLPIIUS.—At no time did I see any per sons pulling down a part of thC Park-wall ; nor any persons endeavouring to pull down the railing near the Park. I saw no persons throwing down paving stones for the purpose of breaking them and con• venting them into stones to throw with. I heard no exclamatioas about " Piccadilly butchers ;" but I did hear the words—" They have murdered the Queen," or to that effect. I heard that at Cumberland-gate as we came through, and indeed all the way coming along fi om Piccadilly, and down Knightsbridge and through the Park. When I was near Grosvenor-gate, I had no opportunity of seeing what was done in Park-lane. When the Life Guards went forward to Cumberland-gate, the carriage on which I was, was about half way between Grosvenor and Cumberland gates. \There I was when I got near Cumberland gate, I could not see what had been done, or what might be doing, to the Life Guards on the other side of the wall, in Park-lane. Mr. Brown.—Which spring of the carriage did you ride on, the off, or the near one ; because that makes a material difference? Witness.—On the right hand side. Mr. Brown.—Ay, that is the off spring. The CORONER.—WeII, well; he could not see through the wall, I suppose, though he did ride nearest to it. Mr. ADOLPH us. —I will only ask two questions, and I mean no incivility in asking them. Are you a housekeeper or lodger where you live ?—1 am a lodger. Are you a master tailor, or do you work for some body ?—I work for Mr. Williamson, of Bond-street. The evidence of the witness was then read over to him, and he signed it.—The next witness called was Henry Charles Elsgoocl, examined by the CORO.. wita.—l live at No. 9, Park-street, Oxford-street. I am a Surgeon. On the day of the Queen's funeral I was in Lord Bagot's window or balcony. I was there for some time before the hearse came up, about', an hour. I saw the twelve soldiers with the Officer come to Cumberland-gate, where they remained for some time before the hearse came up. Oa the Pro cession coming up, the soldiers went and formed within the Park. The first thing I saw afterwards was one of the Life Guards having hold of the bridle of a horse leading him through the gate. Thelt Was a man on the horse making great resistance. lat this time saw one of the Life Guards strike the man with the flat part of his sword on the back, and having got the man through, the gates were immediately shut.— At this time the throwing of stones commenced at Cumberland-gate. I had seen them in the Park throwing before. The soldier I spoke of was leading 'the man on horseback out of the Park, consequently the two soldiers were in Oxford-street. The conten tion in opening the gate was very great at this time, in which several persons were struck both by the sol diers and constables. The gates . being opened, the remaining 10 men of the soldiers who were there passed from the Park into Oxford-street, and began to clear the street. ,The throwing of the stones at this time was dangerous in the extreme. I saw the greater part of the soldiers receive blows with stones, more in particular the Officer, to whom the greater part of the fury seemed to be directed. The street being somewhat cleared, the first coach passed.— Upon the hearse approaching Cumberland-gate, the right hand leading horse was seized by a stranger, immediately at the gate, and when four of them (the horses) were out of the Park, their heads were turned towards St.Giles's. I at this time particularly noticed a man with a flag, who seemed highly delighted at having the course of the Procession changed, and shouting and waving his flag in triumph. The sol diers being at this time at Tyburn-gate, they turned down Oxford-street to the hearse, and turned the horses heads in the direction of Tyburn-gate, the sol diers falling off under Lord Bagot's window. The pelting of stones at this time was extremely great, one man having his cap knocked off by a half, or a considerable portion of a brick. I saw the men at this time receive many blows, also the horses of the hearse, and the people attending it ; the hearse hav ing passed through the gate, and a body of the sol diers, I believe the Blues, afterwards. The Life Guards which were under Lord Ragas window re tired to Tyburn-gate. There was at this time zees sation for a few minutes of throwing stones. I do not mean to say entirely so, but nothing equal to what it had been. This state of quietude led me to observe to some one near me, that they were reading the Riot Act. I immediately heard a report of firing, and saw a flash of fire-arms at the other side of Ty burn-gate, succeeded by several others in the same direction. I particularly noticed three shots down Oxford-street, in the direction towards St. Giles's.— On seeing the shots fired, I endeavoured to trace them down Oxford-street, to see if anybody fell.— Seeing no effect, I concluded they were firing blank l , cartridge. One of the soldiers I pArticularly noticed fire twice down Oxford-street ; and on his re-loading the party immediately moved on to the Edgeware road. In the space of five or ten minutes the party of soldiers who were before stationed at Cumberland-gate returned to the same place. I at this time saw a man wounded brought past Lord Bagot's into the Park, the soldiers at the same time having returned into Cumberland-street. The soldiers who thus returned into Cumberland-street were another party which had been there before. I don't know anything more. When the street became peaceable I went away. I saw no Officer fire. I saw a trumpeter there. I did not see him fire. I don't think I should know him again. I did not see him have any conversation with the Officer. He rode four or five yards behind him. By the Foreman.—l observed the Officer at the gate all the time. I don't think that I should know him again. He was a respectable-looking young man. I think about 22 or 23 years of age. By Mr. Spicer.—l did not observe when the sol diers retired to Tyburn-gate, any soldier turn round on his horse and fire. I must have seen it if it had taken place. By another Juror.—l did see a man attempting to break paving-stones with all his force. I can't say I saw him break them. He used to take them up, and dash them against the iron post. That was at the right-hand corner, near Lord Bagoes windows. I can't say that I knew anybody that was throwing. There were stones throwing in all directions. I did not observe anybody in particular. By the Foreman.—The throwing of the stones had not entirely ceased at the time the firing first com menced. They were flying at this time in the pro portion of 10 to 500 to what they were before. I saw an occasion before that, when I should think there was a necessity of firing. I can't say that there was at that moment. It is very clear, after my stating that there had been a comparative cessation of throw ing stones, I must of course think there was not so much cause of firing. A few, moments before, there was a ground of firing, as I thought ; for I considered the lives of the soldiers in great danger. At the time the hearse had passed through I did not see the same necessity that existed before. By Mr. Brown.—The man on horseback whom the soldiers were pulling through the gate was making violent resistance. I thought there was a necessity for removing this man, as no one else could pass through while he remained. I did not see a Magistrate there. Mr. Brown.—There ought to have been a Magi strate on the spot. The CORONER.—We have it in evidence that there was a Magistrate present (Mr. White, of Queen square), though the witness did not see him. The Witness.—A person stated to me that a Ma gistrate was present, but I was not in a situation to see him. By Mr. Blakie.—When the detachment returned to Cumberland-gate, after the hearse had passed, the conduct of the people was friendly to the soldiers. I saw the people patting their horses and adjusting their cloaks. At that time there were 200 or SOO people about the soldiers. The shots fired by the three Life Guardsmen were not directed at any par ticular object. The soldiers took no aim. It appeared to me, that if their pistols were loaded with ball, the ball must have reached the pavement. The men who fired were between the Edgeware-road and the hearse. They fired toytards Oxford-street. The hearse, I think, must have been standing exactly opposite Sir W. Manners (Lord Huntingtower's) door when they fired. That is, at the corner of the Edgeware-road, in Oxford-street. I am sure the hearse had got that far when the firing took place. At that time the stones were flying in the proportion of 10 to 500, compared with the quantity thrown before: I was not surprised at the firing. By the Corso:mt.—Were you not much surprised that the soldiers did not fire before ?- The Witness .—I should not ha*e t -en tqrpii;,•,l they had fired sooner. By Mr. Blakie.—When the firing commenced I thought the Riot Act was reading. The ConoNem—There, you get the cvitness's mice, instead of matter of fact. We hare it in evl, dente from fifty IA itnesses that the Riot Act was never read at all. __ The Foreman.—We want to know why, whe n peace was restored, that moment should have be en selected to fire; The CORONER.—Peace Was not istored. Th e*. ness saw stones flying in the proportion of 10 to the 500 that were previously thrown: ThW e fi el r l i , n t g here the : , a c s o c m om mence? The reason of the delay was,ibt Paratire pea ce , and e ThehFcy: For e m a n.—Well, l E n d a Tt_h the soldiers could not fire before they were charged ; By Mr. Spicer.—,When the soldiers were mutt Lord Bagoes window, they were extremely ill-useti. They remained extremely quiet, and scarcely morel their horses. By the Foreman.—When the greatest Warriher of stones were flying, I saw none of the people wounded; but I saw the soldiers struck, and the blood flowinz from some . of their faces. 1 saw no windows broker.. By Mr. Blakie.—l saw stones flying in the Park, when the hearse was moving from Grosvenor -gate to Cumberland-gate. It wa; then going at a 4 0v , steady pace. The CORONICR.—We get on at a very slow pat; at all events. By Mr. Spicer.—l did not see any one cut by the swords of the military. By Mr.. Hasson.—l saw a number of stones thrown from the corner . of Cumberlana-stiret.— From Lord Bagot's balcony I could not sec ant p.m of the Edgeware-road. I could not see the turnpike gate-hou se. By the Foreman.—l dii not see a man cut on the back. I should not know the soldier again who loaded twice. William Bishop, the trumpeter, sworn, and en. mined by Mr. Blakie.—l am the same. uerson wh attended !ome time ago, and said I was the tram. peter employed with Lieutenant Gore's detachtnea on the 14th. Mr. Illakie.—That is the only question which I mean to ask you. The witness having signed his brief deposition, ins desired to remain in a corner of the room. John Watts sworn and examined.—l live at Nn.l, Osnaburgh-row, Pimlico. lam of the musical pro fession. I was at Cumberland-gate on the morning of the 14th, the day of the Queen's Procession. saw soldiers drawn up there at the time. They con. sisted of about Ig.l or 14. I cannot be positive. They were drawn up in Oxford -street, with thee horses' heads towards Cumberland-street. There was an Officer with them. I did not particularly notice him ; but he seemed, from what recollection I have of him, rather young than old. A persc.n. whoml took to be the trumpeter, sat next to him. The coo tenance of that individual (the trumpeter) struck me particularly. He seemed to be a remarkably land. I some young man. I think I should know him ages I d I were to see him. Mr. Blakie.—Have the kindness to look round& room, and see if you can recognize him. Is dada person (pointing to Bishop) whom you saw ? The Witness.—l do not think that is the man. I am almost positive that is not the man. I sae the person I speak of on my return. I saw him for a moment. Indeed I did not stop. At this time all was peaceable. One detachment had gone away. By the CORONER.—I am almost sure that the per son who sat next the Officer was the trumpeter. By Mr. HA NSON.—I think I could almost positively swear he is not the man. I will not swear that he is , not the man, but I believe he is not. Mr. HA NSON.—Bishop, however, swears positively that he is. By Mr. Spicer.—Bishop, do you now wear the same clothes you wore on the 14th ?—No, Sir. By Mr. Spicer (to the witness).—Do you think the change of dress could make any difference in your recollection P—l think it might. By the CORONER.—Hici . Bishop a cloak on on the 1 14th ?—I do not know. The Foreman.—His attention was directed towards the handsomeness of the trumpeter's countenance. Witness.—Yes. - By Mr. Blakie.—l think I should know die mum• peter to whom I have alluded, if I saw him. Mr. Blakie said, that it was not his wish to keep the Jury in attendance when there was nothing be fore them to proceed with. He found, on going down stairs, that two or three persons (witnesses) ha been waiting for some time that morning, but hal now gone, and there were no more, to go on with.— Under these circumstances, he must move an ad. journment, he supposed. The witnesses which hal been called by himself, and others of the Jurors, wee not like those called by Mr. Hanson. There was no- body even appointed to take care of them. He fool that Pyall was not down stain; but all that hecould ascertain was, that the parties in question were The Foreman begged permission, in behalf °aim' self and the rest of the Jury, to retire far an hour, for the purpose of taking some refreshment. —ka le being given, Mr. Brown suggested the propriety of sending their witnesses to the Hyde Park, or some rabg Coffee-house, like Mr. Hanson's were. The CORONER supposed there could be no obi° Lion to that being done, if they were inclined to Or port the witnesses while there. Mr. Blakie again observed, that they had nobedi . , to look after their witnesses, whereas Mr. Hans onho . two or three young Gentlemen who were acti vees alert in performing that duty towards his, and aug constantly at their posts. • The Jury then withdrew from the Inquest-room i c being about half-past two o'clock.—On their Tenn The Foreman said—Mr. Coroner, it is my dulre' spectfully to inform you, that it is not our interail to call any more witnesses. We have several (16 _1 witnesses whom-we might call, but we ha ve a g w not to examine any more. The CORONER then (at four o'clock) proc.--- sum up the evidence. He first observed, "Gendertl , I have now to request your silent attention will!. read the evidence to you. It is no novelty to poth; you have heard it all before, but it is my ilatY_. I read it to you. Before I begin, I shall only , that in the depositions of so many, there is to below ' , . 1 1 1 ; 1