Star. — London, England, 1821-08-25 00:00:00

ADJOURNED INQUESTS. FIFTH MT. Yesterday the Inquest, on the cause of the death of George Francis was renewed at the Goat, is Ara bella-row, Pimlico, at four o'clock. Mr. HANSON said, he had at least 100 witnesses to all, but he should only examine four or five more, as they would only prove the same things as the others did if they were called. The CORONER said, he had received a note from a witness, volunteering to give evidence as to the throw ing of stones before the firing. The Foreman thought there was no necessity for calling this person. Joseph Price George was then called, of No. 230, Oxford-street; is a Clerk in the Colonial Office, James street, Westminster. He lives about 100 yardi to the east of Cumberland-gate, and about four doors far ther from the gate than the Hyde Park Hotel. He was in the balcony of the first floor of his house on the day of the Queen's funeral. About twelve o'clock he was induced to go to the window, in consequence . of a shouting in the street. The peopl e were comin g quick up Park-lane, crying the Procession was coming through the Park. 'There was a picquet of ten men, an Officer, and a trumpeter, previously on duty at the gate. The moment the people were coming, the soldiers of the picquet were hissed and pelted with bricks, stones, and mud. This was considerably be fore the arrival of the Procession. The mob in the street rushed towards the gate, and then there was a contention between them and the military, as if on one side to shut the gate, and the other to open it. When the Officer went to see the reason of that, the people near witness cried out, " 13—n him, unhorse him !" The mob pressed upon him very Much, and he used his sword to prevent them. The soldiers were here much pelted, and all this was before he saw any part of the Procession. Part of the mob was on the top of the wall, using what part of it they could pull away to throw at the soldiers, many of whom were struck on the helmets, the sound of which he could distinctly hear. He saw many in stances of great forbearance on the part of the sol diers—one particularly. He saw a man take part of a brick or stone, and throw it with great vio lence at the soldier's head, which struck him.— He appeared stupified for a second, and when re covered, he gallopped to the wall where the mob was standing—to the spot whence the stones came. He lilted his arm above his head, but made no attempt to strike with his sword, though he might have struck many of them. The violence of the mob appeared particularly directed against the Officer, and ti om the blows he saw him receive, from stones and bricks, he thought he must have been a good deal hurt. The soldiers had by this time succeeded in getting the Procession through the gate, and the mob used their best endeavours to get the horses of the hearse down Oxford-street. They did not succeed, and the hearse at last turned down the Edgeware-road. The two • first horses heads had been turned by the mob down Oxford-street. Soon after this lie saw the soldiers as sembled about the turnpike, for what purpose he could not tell; and shortly after this the firing com menced. After five or six shots had been fired. he beard a cry of " murder !" and then he saw a man brought on the shoulders of some people, who seemed in a fustian jacket. Ile was bleeding from the left side, but he was not then dead. The hearse had passed, and he saw no more pelting. They did not always tire at the people, because a shot passed so close to his hand, that he heard the whiz of rt. From the time at which he saw any stones at all thrown until the firing might have commenced, might be fourteen minutes. Generally, the soldiers conduct ss as of more forbearancethan he should have possessed. He meant by general forbearance, that some of the soldiers, when struck on the head with stones, charged on the people, and would have cut them, had they not got out of the way. Ile did not see any pistols fired in the air. Cross acaniiaed.—lle belonged to a Government Office, and came to speak the truth, lie hoped. He saw the soldiers ride at, but not on the people.— Swore he never saw the horses heads against the people. The. distance was so small that the people who threw at the soldiers got into the Park before the latter could reach them. He saw no man with his arms across struck by a soldier. He thought he might say that there was no intermission of the throw ing of stones until the firing ceased. The soldiers did not charge the people till they were pelted by them. He saw stones thrown from the Park at the soldiers a moment before they fired. He heard shame cried, and murder, when the man was carried past, but not before. He saw no one struck with swords : but he would not swear that there were none. By a Juryman.—He did not see Honey killed. Ati.William King, of N 0.45, Great Portland-street, is a Medical Student. On the 14th, he was in the Park at Cumberland-gate the first thing he saw was the hearse coming up the Park, and it passed through the gate while lie was standing by the rails ; he used through into Oxford-street directly after.— Lien sew.' al of the people took hold of the horses beads, and endeavoured to turn them down Oxford street towards St. Giles's; the four first horses were turned down; a party of the Life Guards rode up; drove the people away, and turned the horses to wards Tyburn-gate. lle saw a number of stones thrown before the hear..e came up to the gate, and after; they were thrown at the soldiers, but many struck the people ; one hit him on the hat, while he stood by the rails, after the hearse passed the gate ; a part of the railing was pulled down by the people (xi each side. They then took the bricks and threw them at the soldiers as fast as they could, while they were riding towards Tyburn Turnpike. They tried to take the rails out of the bar and the stones; and one man excited them so to do to attack the Life Guards with them. There had been no- fixing at this time. They did not succeed in getting.the rails out of the coping. Stones were flying in, all di rections : and several of the soldiers (especially one young Officer whom he saw), were repeatedly struck. He had before this seen the Guards flourish-. ing their swords in the air, but he did not see them cut any one. if any one had been struck at bans-, berland-gate before this he must have seen it.--- After the soldiers had fired, he heard a person ad dress the people. He saw a man throwing a stone; he took bola of his arm to prevent him, and desired l;s not to throw, when lie told him he (witness) was • a Zing's man, and immediately struck him with a stick, and he and two others kicked witness. He saw twb 'or three Constables at Cumberland-gate, but they did not interfere in the least. Nearly ten mi nutes elapsed between the flinging of the llrst stones and the firing. The stones were flying as thick as hail at the time, and lie considered that to be the cause of the firing. The stones were so thick , that if you had been above, !pm could not have seen what passed under them t He saw seven or eight soldiers fire at the people, but the rest fired perpendicularly or slantingly in the air. The soldiers appeared to him to behave with the best temper and the utmost 'propriety. He did not see Francis killed. The people took to their heels and.ran down Cumberland-street, after they saw the man (Honey) fall. Stones were thrown immediately before and during the firing. He saw ire Guards turn doWn . King -street, and they were pelted all the . way into the Edgeware-road. Cross-examined.—A man mighthave been cut out. side Cumberland-gate without his seeing it. He did not see the gate closed on the people when the hearse had passed through. He did not observe any impe diment to the Pr cession passing through the gate. He passed through with the hearse. Before that the stones thrown from Oxford-street had fallen into the Park. He heard cries of 41 Shame!" and " Picca dilly butchers !" In fact,, the people were calling the soldiers all they could think of. He saw no cause for those exclamations. He saw no man riding through the gate with a soldier leading his horse. Lieutenant Edward Pack, of the Royal Horse Guards (Blue) was sent by Sir R. Hill to obtain in telligence how the Procession of the Queen's funeral was going on. He met it about 1.50 yards through Cumberland-gate, in the Park. He halted to see it pass, as he expected to see the Commanding O ffi cer cf the detachment. Ile found the crowd too great, and squeezed through the gate with the Procession. He was on horseback, as on duty, of regimental ob servation. The hearse was behind him in passing the gate, some distance. lie remained in the rear of the Life Guards in Cumberland-street with three or four others on horseback, as spectators. The Life Guards were clearing Oxford-street. He saw the people endeavouring. to close Cumberland-gate, when he first stopped in the Park. He saw the gate shut by the persons round it ; there seemed to be a conten tion, animosity, and fighting, between the Life Guards and the people, and some difficulty in keeping the gate open. When he first passed through the gate, stones were thrown from different sides, and some passed close to him. As he returned with the Pro cession, and before the hearse came up, stones were flying in all directions. He put his bead down as he crossed the street. A person in Cumberland-street said to him, " it 'ssis i'sliocking sight to which he answered, " the 'most shocking lie ever saw, to see stones and mud thrown at a solemn funeral." Then the stones were particularly thrown at the military, and there was a rush of the military to the people, but a greater by the, people to the leading horse; of the hearse, and a • cry of*- 4 .'. Take her to the City."— Three or foar:ot the Life Guards rode forward, and the hearse was quickly extricated, and the horses turned in the contrary direction. There were still a 1 great many stones thrown ; and there was a great confusion. lie should think almost all the advanced party of the Guards were struck with the stones. He saw a great many struck. No one at that time ap• plied to him for assistance. About that time the hearse was in the middle of the street ; there was a deuce cf a row, and no end to the stones flying from the Park. The Procession stopped, and conceiving sums impediment, he rode round to the Edgeware road to ascertain the cause. When he got a little way down Cumberland-street, he was hallooed after, and received a great deal of abuse. When about half way to the Edgeware-road, he heard the first shot. Ile immediately put his horse to a sharp canter, and rode lin front, where lie found the Lite Guards halted.— There were some impediments laid across the road, con,isting of a torn up sink and some pieces of tim ber, but he saw no waggon. He halted on the flank of the Procession, where he saw some shots fired and stones thrown. Three of the Life Guards close to him tired straight in the air. At this time there ap peared to be a regular fight. Ile should think from ten to a dozen shots were fired, but he could not swear positively. The impediments were removed, and when he saw them move down the Edgeware- . 1 road he rode off. lk conceived it the duty of the Life Guards to keep Cumberland-gate open. M I could with difficulty conceive men acting with greater forbearance than the Life Guards. They struck with the flat of their swords. He saw a man on horse back, and his head struck and his horse too, but with the flat of the sword certainly, in turning him out of Cumberland-gate, where he seemed to insist on his right to stay. Cross-examined.—lle should have acted under the orders of the Civil Power. He conceived the Life Guards were acting according to.their duty. Ile saw no one cut. He should not have liked a stone thrown at him ; he should have resented it as much as he could. It was not usual for Officers to carry fire arms on such duty as that. He never was in any other Regiment but the Blues; and he did not know what was the practice of other Regiments. He should think it was from five to ten minutes between the throwing of the first stones, and the first shot being fired. • The CORONER here read a note, signed Thomas Scott, stating that he could say something of the catastrophe at Cumberland-gate ; and told the Jury that they might examine him if they pleased. The Foreman wished to hear what he had to say. Mr. Hanson said, his case was not closed. He had one more witness to call. Thomas William Gordon, a Cornet of the Blues,) was on duty with the detachment at the Queen's fu-.! neral. He was at Cumberland-gate, when he saw the Life Guards attempting to open it, and the peo 'plc try to resist them ; and they were closed and opened amidst contention with the people for some time. At this time staves were flying, which con tinued after the Procession was through the gate, un til the firing commenced; and the Procession went on up the Edgeward-road. He did not see the firing. Between the first stones being thrown, and the com mencement of the firing eight or ten minutes had elapsed previous to the Procession going through the gate, and after he saw several of the Life Guards struck with stones ; they acted with great forbearance. Cross-examined—Their detachment was, he thought, of forty-eight men, wide( a Captain, a Cornet, and a Lieutenant. He was at the head et the detachment. He did not know that Sir Robert Baker had consented that the Procession should pass through the City.— He was not Aware that the Procession was under the superintendence of the Magistrates. ,He did not know whether the gates were cldsed after the Pro cession passed. Re-examincd.—Captain Bouverie commanded the detachment. Mr. HANSON had now closed his case, though he had above sixty more witnesses, whom the Jury might examine if they pleased. Mr. Thomas Scott was then called; he lives at To. 43, Old Compton-street, Soho. He saw the Pro cession come up, and three persons -standing by the place where the railing had been pulled down, and a Life Guardsman ride up to them; and - fire his pistol, so that the smoke went across one Man'areast, and he fell. He did not see the railing pulled'down. The soldier rode up to within three or four yards of a man, when he pointed his, pistol clowo, and immc . dately fired at the man. Cross-examined.--He was too fai distant from the gate to see any stones thrown. Re-examined.—He did not know the soldier who . fired; some few had cloaks on. " • Mr. HARMER said, he had a great many More wit- .; nesses whom he might call ; but the Jury thought it unnecessary to examine any more on either side. At abcut half-past eight the CORONER commenced reading over the evidence to the Jury; but having a severe hoarseness, it' was proteeded in by Mr. HANSON and Mr. HARMER alternately.' When it had all been gone through, except that of yesterday eveni ng, which was fresh in the memory of the Jury, and w inch they did not require to be read to-them, . The CORONER (Mr. llicos) proceeded • to address the Jury. After admonishing them to 'dismiss from ' their minds everything they might have heard out of doors upon the present subject, he said the remarks lie had to make would lay within a very• small com pass. The law of England viewed with becoming jealousy all interference of a military force, even in aid of the civil power, but with that jealousy the Jury had nothing whatever to do. Soldiers were en , titled to the rights and privileges of citizens, and to no other; and by those lights and privileges must their conduct be judged. From the appearance which the evidence had assumed, it was clear that the Jury could not agitate the question of the riot, as it did not properly come under their consideration. The case would therefore remain to be tried by the Jury upon the principle by which they would be regulated in trying a common assault. if they thought the killing of the second man was in self-defence, they would return a verdict accordingly; if not, the kill ' ing would be murder. With these observations he ktt them to discharge their duty, just reminding them that no person had been identified by name. If they wished for any further information upon the law of the case, he would be happy to give it them. The Jury then retired into an adjoining room, an Officer being previously sworn, in the usual form, to accompany them. Just as the Jury had retired, a drunken fellow forced his way into the room, and bawled out that he had a challenge to make against the fitness of one of the Jury, he being in the service of Lord Chol mondeley. The CORONER desired him to be silent, informing him that no objection whatever could then be made to the competency of a Juryman. Had any objec tion been made before, he was sure it would have . been duly considered. The Jury returned, after an absince of twenty minutes, and their names being called over, the Co RONEII demanded their verdict of the Foreman, who answered—" Our verdict is, Wilfid Murrkr ag o ainst . a Lift Guardsman, to us, as Jurors, unknown." The verdict was heard with due decorum in Court,' but a partial shout was heard from the people outside. The verdict having been recorded, The FoitcmaN of the Jury said he had now to per- 1 form the pleasing part of his duty. Every one who had been present at the Inquest must have observed , that the conduct of the worthy Coroner, from the , commencement of the proceedings down to that mo- 1 ment, had been marked by ability, impartiality, and the most exemplary patience. For that conduct he moved that the Jury should request his acceptanceof their thanks. The COItONER assured the Jury he had no feelings but those which resulted from a consciousness of having performed his duty; but he felt highly grati fied that his exertions bad met the approbation' of the Jury. The FOREMAN then said, it was impossible for them to separate without noticing the conduct of Mr. Harmer and Mr. Hanson, both of whom were entitled to thanks. The latter had discharged his duty with zeal and ability, and in a manner which proved him to be the perfect Gentleman. These Gentlemen severally returned thanks; and at ten o'clock the Inquest was discharged. ADJOURNED INQUEST ON RICHARD HONEY. SIXTH DAY S AUCUS? 24. _ _ - _ - At two o'clock the Adjourned Inquest on the body of this unfortunate man, held at the New Inn, Edge ware-road, was resumed. Proclamation being made in the usual manner, A Juryman observed, that two witnesses, Scott and Cottington, were promised that they should be exa mined early. He hoped they would be proceeded With, therefore, in the first instance. Another Juror suggested the propriety of examin ing Mr. Stafford first, as public business was interested in the d4atch with which his examination should be expedited. Mr. John Stafford, the Chief Clerk of Bow-street Office—l know nothing concerning the death of Richard Honey. I attended at the Barracks on the 21st, when the Regiment was turned out for inspec tion. Several of the witnesses pointed out individuals, but I don't know that I can call it identifying them, most of them spoke so doubtingly. Mr. Jones was the first, and he, after considerable hesitation, said he had looked with a good deal of care; he said, the only countenance I see resembling the person who fired is that person there; but mind, I do not swear to him. I inquired the name of this individual, and was told by the Adjutant it was Cornet Fletcher, and I put Cornet Fletcher down in my memorandum book he pointed out no other. I was there as Clerk to the Magistrates and I took a memorandum in pencil. I did not consider I was there to take any examination; I considered Mr. 13irnie attended to see that the wit- nesse ; were allowed a fair inspection. The neat 'mess who spoke to any one was John Pooke; he stop. ped and said, " This is like the o:Ecer to whom i• spoke." I inquired the name of this person, and w as told ; it was Hartley, a private. The irxt witness wa s William Cleaver—He looked- very attenti ve l y 40 , 1 the line, and he stopt and said, I was not in a tuation to swear, but I believe this is him." -.o a quiring the name of that person I was [Old it w as Lieutenant Gore. The next witness was William Spratt—He went up and . looked hard at two or three persons; he went back and looked again, but id ea . tiled no one. A Juror—Did he say nothing? , Mr. Stafford-. Certainly he made some observations. Juror—What were those observationi? •)Ir, Stat. ford—l really can't say. I took• no note, a n d cadi recollect. ecoll duror=Did he mot- say.that-he was ab out to point dosctibed 4 . b tu 1 can. . out one, when . about 'ten or twehe men kuaber ups saw another person - so much. like that he cou ld net s s tali 3 ;r i b n i g ch an iv d a i s o w ak h i i n c g h ? br : ki lr : ect lin it 4. Stafford --Ls .not-say what passed in his mind. The.aeist winless was William•Montague—lld pointed out a man, a u & said; " I think that is the man who pointed his o cce .at Honey." I inquired his name, and was told.Fiffh oo , a private. . The next witness was 11'illiam Ales:Wet— He pointed to an Officer, and said, " I saw him ti:c the pistol just before I saw the man dead." . I w as told, on inquiry, that this Officer's name was Lieute. 'rant Gore. - . By a Juror—l did not see the soldiers gnash the teeth at hints I never saw soldiers or men behara, better. They were not. hurried along the line; hi wheneVer they walked fast they were desired to go slow. They were sometimes desired to put their hands on the horses' heads, to ascertain the man they pointed out. The next witness, M.Gowran, looking one of the troops, said—" I believe from his statute and look, for he turned his head, and I just got a glimpse of him, that is the man." On inquirf, li ras told this person was Lieutenant Cox. No oth er w k. ness spoke to any one. By Mr. limcsos—Sir Robert Baker is a Magistrate for Middlesex, and head of the Police of Bow -street. Mark Cox and George Stayers are Constables for the four Home Counties, tinder the Police Act. By Jurors.—l recollect Mr. Green going round, but he certainly did not identify any one, or I should have noted it. I recollect also a person named Deane; I don't, however, recollect anything he said; I do recollect, however, that he considered himself as a person of no. little importance ; he went up and down, backward and forward, but ; lie said nothing worth notice. I should say as .neap:, as I can from recollection, that the examinativin 'closed about half past seven. I don't recollect any Officer being cloaked, several privates avere. There were not any witnesses who desired to go round, but could not be• *cause it was so dark. If any one said so, he said what was false= it was qUite._light•sliough for any one to makehis,pbsexiali3On4".4"Wgfeit - Mr. Hum. bert's coming do ti4line :.he came•esecitte Ilarracks with a witness s ticket.• He saidit was usekss for him to go up the line as he could not identify any one. A Jurcir.—There was something mysterious in the manner in which Mr: Humbert got . '-inAed . where he got his tic kali om. Mr. HA N so*—There . is no. mystery at all about it; he was summoned by Mr. Butler, Mr. Ilarmei'sclerk. The Adjutant,•/tir. - Er?,-e•v, was again cAed in. Was present at the iniiptiction of 1:•?. Itegimett. Mr. Jones was the first w:tness who- wentshp•the tne.— He pointed out Mr. Fletcher',. not Cornet, but Sale Lieutenant . ; think he spoke is zl:er doubtfully, bat I took no note except of the name.• Ile nest wit ness was Pooke. He pointed out J. Flaiticy, a pri vate, who was cloaked. The. Sviraess, \V. Cleaver, pointed out Sub-Lieutenant Gore; he said lie had reason to believe, but still he seemed to doubt; saw Sprat, but did not hear him make any remark; he looked hard at an Officer, Sub-Lieutenant Lock, but said nothing. The witness, Montague, • pointee out J. Fitthon, a private, I believe ; • Fitthon was not cloaked. W. Alexander, he seemed determined—be pointed out Sub-Lieutenant Gore, and though asked to go further round, he would not. The witness, M'Gowran, identified Lieutenant Cox. By Jurors.—There were two detachments out cos sisting of twelve men each, and an Officer. Hay ward and Forge were the Corporals at Cumberland gate, at least it was so represented to. me. I was also told that Lieutenant Gore commanded, but I do not know this but by report—cannot say whethe the Officers had pistols or not in their holsters on the 14th. I recollect' that Lieutenant Gore turned towards Hyde Park-corner, and Lieutenant Terry towards: Kensington. One of the jury. —Oh, we shall find it out; we have some English blood in our veins. By Jurors.—Lieutenant Cox and Lieutenant Gore , are a little alike ; Lieut. Fletcher is not at elflike. The Foreman.—Mr. Coroner, we at present ap pear .to be fumbling and gropeing in the dark. I think we had better have the Commandiug-Officer , Colonel Cavendish, up, and then we shall get at th e fountain-head. Another Juror.—Mr. Foreman, I think we should have the Corporals too ; we shall get at the bottom at last. By a Juror.—Liehtenant Gore was not atWaterke, and never wore a Waterloo medal. The servants of the °Akers, called their batmen, accoutre their horses. Lieutenant Gore's batman is Rutherford. 1 cannot say whether his name is John or Thomas. A Juror.—l think, Mr. Coroner, we should also have Rutherford. Examination rennned.--None of the witnesses stopped at Lieutenant Gore, except two. One of them stopped, but passed oh doubtingly ; the othe r, the boy Alexander, was more positive. I think there were about 100 men out on the 14th. I believe they were all present on Tuesday, except one confined by his hurts in'the Hospital. The next witness called was Robert Rayner, of 2:"=, Oxford -street, a cook by profession. L--1 was at Hyde Park Corner on the day of the funeral, about twelve o'clock, and seeing there was likely to be a dist!ule ante, went home, and shortly after the funerai rived at Cumberland-gate. I was at the top of nee own house, which is about 150 yards from Cumber land-gate. The first thing which attracted my 3 t; tention was a partY of Gentlemen in black c icaks,a . horseback, coming up Park-lane ; they rode up lane, and formed just against Cumberland•,;••,2.