The National Register. — London, England, 1812-01-19 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 46 Counsel for the prisoner—Messrs. SCAILL ET and ALLEY. Duriva the whole of the trial the prisoner was much affected, hut par ticularly when that part of the letters were read relative to the situation of his wife and children. The Court was exceedingly crowded from an early hour, and several Members of both Houses of Parliament attended to witness this extra tordinar y MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. At these Sessions on Tuesday, William Fi'her and William Granger (the latter keeper of the tap at the Angel inn, St. Clement's), were in dicted for unlawfully i aymg to John Williams, late a baker in St. James's-market, 31. 17s. 3d. in exchange for three guineas, being at the Late of 11. Ss. 9d. for each guinea. It was clearly proved, by Williams, that three one pound notes, and seventeen shillings and three-pence, were given at Vie house of Granger, for three ,uiueas; but there being toproof that the notes were the genuine notes of the Bank of England, as in the indictment they were averred to be, the Jury acquitted both prisoners. • ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES. ANOTHER DARING ATTEMPT A'l' MURDER. On Sunday evening the shop of Mr. Pryor, a respectable boot maker, residing at No. 71, High-street, Borough, Southwark, was entered by two desperate villains, though by what means is not yet discovered, but certainly with an intent to rob the premises. While employed in pack ing up several pair of boots, in a large skin of leather which the) found in the shop, the servant went down stairs to empty a vesse' in the cellar; on her way thither, though she passed through the shop, she did not ob serve any person, but on-her return she perceived two Ince, one of them packing up boots, and the other as coming from the back part of the premises, to whom she said, " What! Are you going to take boots away to night? it is Sunday!" thinking they were some of her master's jour neymen. At this instant one of the villains made up to her, and threat ened her, that if she uttered a word he would instantly murder her. On looking round, she discovered the other to have a blscle crape over his flee t which so alarmed her, tilt she screamed out inaisl:r murder! ateeeral times ' and ran towards the shop-dour, which was then open, and which in her fright she shut, and thereby inclosed h. rself with these monsters. She continued to scream, though one of them had levelled a blow at her head which knocked her down. On her rising, and not de sisting to call out murder ! thieves I &c. one of the wretches seized her by the hair, and with a sharp instrument, cut her throat right across the - wind-pipe. Ske then fell to the ground, and remembered no further of what passed. The screams of the girl had by this time alarmed the family up stairs, which consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Pryor, and three young men, lodgers. Mrs. Pryor then went down stairs, and on her reaching the bottom, ac tually fell over her wounded servant, as she lay senseless on the floor. The terror of Mrs. Pryor may be bete r conceived than described. Not withstanding her fright, however, she got ep staira ; hut it was not a matter easy to determine in the minds of those abevel, who should ven ture down to attack, what they sapposed a bstalitti of rourderers. Mr. Pryor and his lodgers at last went down, and found the servant as we have before described, the shop-door being wide open ; and, we are sorry to say, that the perpetrators of this horrid crime escaped, leaving behind them the -kin of leather, tied up, full of new boots and shoes. Medical aid was instantly sent for, and the wound on the neck was pro nounced not mortal. What adds to the daring atrocity of - this act ie that it was committed so early as between eight and nine o'clock : and the premises of Mr. Pryor are as piddle as any situation can be, being situated in tho High-street of Southwark, not many yards from the Town-hall, which is As great a thoroughfare as the Strand or Fleet streets The Magistrates at Union-Hall are making every exertion to discover these desperadoes. • On Wednesday, Peasegood Sleight, John Cotton, and Samuel Flower; three young students- belonging to St. Thomas's Hospital, who occupy the first floor in Mr. Pryor's house, were examined before G. Hick, Esq. at Union Hall. Mr. Carton stated, that they were all three sitting in the dining-room on Sunday evening, when they were alarmed by the cry of murder, apparently proceeding from some person near the door* the room where they were sitting---.he immediately seized the tongs, and Mr. Sleight the poker, and they were to the place from whence the cries came, but were prevented pror.eeding by Mr. Flower placing himself against the door of the ro ,m, and reventing their opening it; they however removed him, thou with great diffi culty, and this delay: d them so niutli that Mr. Pryor was down in the ' 'bop before them, and the villains gone. Sarah Wilkins was lying in an insensibte state, as already described. Mr. now( r. in excuse for hav ing so blacked-.d the door, said, he had heard so in ich 'of the murders at IS:vela-highway, that he was alarmed, a. d not knowing how many villains there :eight be the house, he placed his back against the dap: es prevent entering. The Worthy Magistrate expressed hiresaif highly ind:goant at thaeousillanimous conduct of Flow. r, which vastrvcd had ailowed time for the assassins to escape, and had yrte- JAN. 19. bably prevented their detection. Sarah Wilkins has been attend by Mr. A. Cooper, and we are happy to say, is considered as out of danger. George Hatton and Moses Clerk were, on Thursday, apprehended by Colloghourn and Glennen, rm suspicion of being concerned in the above outrage; they underwent a long private examination before Mr. Evance and Mr. Hicks, at Union-hall; but Sarah Wilkins still conti nuing in too weak a state to be confronted with them, they wire corn. mitted for re-examination. The parish of St. Saviour's has offered sio!. reward for the apprehension of any of the persons concerned in tLil atrocious outrage. • - - MURDERS AT SHADWELL., Mrs. Vermilloe, the landlady of the Pear-tree public-house ; Turner, the man who lodged in the house of Williamson ' and several oth er persons, have been again examined at aow •street before Mr. Graham ; the result has been the re-apprehension of a man of the name of Hart, who worked in the house of Mr. Marc on the day the murders were committed at night, and was seen in the comp:try of Williams, between ten and eleven o'clock on the night of Wrr s murder. Hart under. went a private examination before Mr. Graham, after which he was ordered into close confinement, and a man to take care and sit up with him. Mrs.Vermilloe also gave her evidence at considerable length, respect ing a man of the name or Alblas, who was apprehended on Wednesday evening, and brought to the Office. This man has been in custudi before, when he denied knowing Williams : it has since been proved, that he was his companion. A b_)y has proved, that he saw three men looking in at Mr. Mares shop, a short time before it was shop up, an the night of the murders.—Alblas is kept in close confinement, with a man to look after him. A most important discovery has been made within these two days, which completely removes every shadow of doubt respecting the guilt of the late suicide, Williams. It was proved before the Magistrates of Shadwell-office, that three weeks before the murder of Mr. Nil tama,n and his family, W';aiams had been seen to have a long French knife with an ivory handle.—That knife could never be found in Wiliiarns's trunk, or amongst any of the clothes he left behind hint at the Pear T:ee Pal lid house. Fhe subsequent search to find that deadly instrument has beer, crowned with success. On Tuesday, Harrison, one of the lodgers at the Pear Tree Public-house, in searching among some old clothes, found a blue jacket, which he immediately recognised as part of Williams's ap parel. He rpreceeded to examine it closely, and upon looking at the in. , side pocket found it quite stiff with coagulated blood, as if a blood stained hand had been thrust into it. He brought it down to hirs.Venn. loe, who immediately sent for Hope, and another of the Shadwill i - lice-Officers, to make further search in the house. Every ap: - .i;:n, t then underwent the most rigid examination, and after a search Of abot t an hour and a half, the Officers came at last to a small closet, in which they discovered the object of their pursuit. In one corner of it there was a heap of dirty stockings and other clothes, which being removed, they observed a bit of wood rrotruding from a mouse-hole in the wall, which they immediately drew out, and at the same instant they disc'.-- vered the handle of a clasp knife, apparently dyed with blood, which upon being brought forth, proved to be the identical French knife seen in Williams's possession before the murders. The Inclie and blade c , f it were smeared all over with blood. This important fact completes ire chain of strong circumstantial evidence already adduced against t! suicide. The bloody jacket is also a new and not less powerful arc:lr. - - stance to confirm the guilt, and it is pretty clear, that that part of Vs apparel must have h.en -stained with the Mood of the unforentate Williamson, when the suicide was transferring the money with his bloody hated to his pocket. I DARING ATTEMPT AT Roastßy.—On Thursday eveni"g early. a fellow, well dres.ied, about five feet eiuht or nine inches hi- c ;11, ciar: complexion, with black eyes, with a sort of hussar plaid mantle, ai worn by Officers, and termed a rmtrillo, knocked at the door of Yr. Sidney, a Gentleman of fortune, No. 9, Percy-street, Tottenham-court Road, and affected to have particular business with Mr. Sidney, who, he was told, was not at home. The servant had gone on an errand, and there was no one in the house but a young Lady, who has an swered the prisoner with the chain upon the door. The °bender affected to be much disappointed at the absence of Mr. Sidney; and he dropped a letter within the door at the SAII,C time; the young Lady, from the robber's address and appearance, was struck thit he might have brought Wings from Portugal, Mr. S. having recently heard e: the loss of a son there, an Officer in the 4:;d regiment. She o p ene,, the door, when the thief was shewn into a parlour, and here pen and ink was furnished him. When affecting to v"rite, be suddenly start e d out of his chair and presented a something, supposed to be a pistol , the young Lady, and demanded coarsely where money was to be tote The young Lady begged for her life, and showed the robber Mr. ' - ney's writing-desk, which contained Bank-notes and papers. The door was open at this time, and the young Lady requested she might be permitted to shut it, and when affecting to do so she rushed out at the street-door, where she saw .another fellow, short in stature, with a drab great coat waiting in the street. She alarmed Mr. Ewell, a next 1 door neighbour, but when they returned with assistance to the house , the thief had escaped through the garret window, and although he was 1 seen at the top of the hoine he eluded' purtuit, but did aut oV.:2 • Ji anY Lousy. Wm' a l WSJ (11