The National Register. — London, England, 1816-08-11 00:00:00

ATTGUST 11. CONSP/ RAMS. The Commissioners appointed by the Secretary of State for the Department, to investigate the charges of conspiracy, are, Mr. Ileck , ttt, the Under Si cretary of State for the Home Department. Sir N. Conant, Mr. Nitres, and Mr. Baker, one of the Magistrates belonging to Marlborough-street. They have sat daily since Tuesday. at the Secretary of State's Office. We understand the case which has occurred to the Commis. 'loners as the most serious, is that of Ben Johnsou, who, it ap pears, prompted and assisted young Baxter in breaking oleo the boast. of Mr. Snowsbill, in Gray's Inn lane, on the Sunday afternoon, two years since : and fur which Baxter was trans ported A considerable light has been thrown upon this trans action, and what will tend very materially to confirm anything that may have bean said upon the subject by the companions of B en Johnson in the transaction. An anonymous communication sent to Bow•street, and sight ed " Justitia," has le•.; to a discovery of a connection of II fs Johnson, in urrrespect connected with the Public Other, Bow street, ur the Police Officers. This man turns out to babe b- en Emmert./ employed as a porter in the warehouse of a re spectable army-accoutrement maker in Piccadilly, previous to his getting emoloyed as a path i After he Irad accomplished this engagement, he was in Oh of calling at the ware house, sad relating to his tat" fellow servants his different ad ventures in his pursuit of and apprehension of robbers and other offenders. Some of them appeared very marvellous; but that which seemed the most so, was the breaking (Teo and robbery of Mr. Snowabill's house, la Gray's Inn-lane; wherein he avowed his sending hack into the house Baxter to procure property, and that he actually furnished Baxter with false keys to open the drawers and poxes, pretending to be a thief till lie got the property, and then told Baxter he was his prisoner. This a armed to be such an extraordinary Liam' tive, that Messrs. Lades and Nettleton, the two foremen in Messrs. Hawkcs anti Co's manufactory, paid partie!ilar atteu thin to it ; and it made such it:l impression upon eteir minds, that it is perfectly in their recollection, and they are enabled to relate the whole in a very particular and minute manner; yet, extraordinary to relate, this very else is that which gained Ben Johnson the ap clause and aiiprobation of the Court at th-• Old Bailey, his conduct appeariug in a very different light then. ESCAPE AND RECAPTURE OF BROCK, AN ACCOMPLICE WITH VAUGHAN, TIIE OFFICE“.—HrOcE, whose name in••st be fresh in the rccollectim of -IR ftraders as an accomdice witn Vaughan, the 139%5-street Officer, made his escape from an upper window on Thursday morning, in front of Ginvur strect Compter. Ili% Ili::lit was observed by a butcher's (my, who immediately rang the alarm bell at the prison door, and commuaicated the circumstance ; on which information was without loss of time given to the City and other Officers ; when, fortunately, one of the former traced the fugitive to the iodg ings of his %vire, in Unary-lane, where he apprehended tam, and safely conducted isi:u back to hi: oil quartt-:s. . _ The Lord Mayor was on Friday se'nnight not a little surprised at a new circumstance whi At occurred in the course of a private examination, held at Mr. Newman's house is the Old Bailey, upon the subject of the Conspiracy. When the two Barrys were confronted with the three Irishmen, Quin, Donnelly, and Reardon, the three latter refused to make any statement of what took place between them and the conspira tors. Such a refusal naturally excited great astonishment and confu sion. The Irish interpreter was called, in order that his Lordship might be put in possession of the cams of their silence, when they were soli cited to disclose all they knew upon oath. At length it was ascertained, that they had sworn not to reveal a word of what they were directed to do upon the day they were set to work at the pieces of metal. It was in vain that they were assured of the invalidity of the oath. They told the interpreter, that it was in black and white against them ; and that they never would say a word about the men who employed them, ex cept they received absolution from the Priest. The elder Barry here interfered, and said, that when the three Irishmen were brought into the room where they were apprehended, one of his companions, named Power, produced a Roman Catholic Prayerbonk, and administered an oath to each of them, by which they were pledged to keep secret the circumstance of their employment, and every thing connected with it.— He added, that they said that they sat down to work without appearing to have the slightest knowledge of any thing criminal being attached to their labour ; they began to rub away with as much effort, hut as little apprehension, as if they had been at their usual occupation of paving.— Power obliged them to put their mark to a piece of paper, which, he said, was their affidavit before the Virgin M'ary. As soon as the cere mony of the oath was over, Barry and his son went forsome coffee ; and, us the three poor fellows frequently complained of hunger and thirst, brought them two twopenny loaves, and five quarts of coffee, which they disposed of in a very short time.—Barry's son corroborated most of this statement, having been present when the oath was administered, and observed the activity with which the Irishmen set to work when they were told that their bellies should be filled. The Lord Mayor ordered the attendance of the Roman Catholic Priest on a future day. The Rev. Mr. Devereux next day attended; when, according to the firms of the Romish Church, they were absolved. So eager were they then to clear themselves from any criminal intention, that they all spoke at once. Ibis Lordship patiently heard them for four or five hours, and then ordered the two Barrys to be brought in. This excited considerable alarm in the Irishmen, who imagined they were again to be loaded with the heavy convict-irons ; but this alarm totally subsided on the two Barrys being removed. We learn they made a full disclo ewe to his Lordship ot many interesting particulars in this nefarious business. Mr. Newman informed the Lord Mavor. that lie hail received many letters emit:lining inclosures to defray the ex erases of the prosecution ugainst the conspirators, and directions that the overplus of each share should be given to the three Irishmen. The following is the final examination of Brock and Pelham. The two Barrys were admitted as King's evidence. Brock was asked whether his solicitor was ready, to which an answer in the nega tive was given. Iv wished much for the presence of the solicitor of the Mint; but when his object was inquired, it amounted to nothing. The Lord Mayor expressed a wish that be would have som? advice, 'f it was for no other purpose than that at preventing his askieg ques tions end to eking admissions cal:ulated to injure him. Ile men in fonned the two pawners, that the charge against them was that of •• aiding and abetting in coining." Mr. Nobler, Chief Clerk, read the depositions of all the witnesses who had been publicly and privately examined upon this case; from which it appeared that the two Barrys were induced by the original eonspir.uors to give th:•ir assistance in the plan against the Irishmen. The elder Barry was in the deepest poverty, when he met a man called Power, who told him there was a way of making money that would do for them both. Under the impression of getting something to satiety nature, Earry went with the parties to a public-house, where they drank gin preparatory to the divulgement of the secret. It was then proposed to Barry to try to find any one who could he prevailed upon to break a pane of glass. Barry said that lie senuld have nothing to do with that kind of profit. Not discomfited by this refusal, they :eke" Barry whether he could not get somebody to flash 3s. pieces. After nue prevailing arguments. Barry became an accomplice in the plot. 'they immediately set to work, and faund at the corner ot a street tw o per .. sons who 'warned just fit for their operations. Quin and Reardon were iooking about for a lob; Power and Barry were selected to hire them for the job. The poor Irishmen instantly bounced at the invitation to work, and followed their employers to a public-house, by their com mand, where porter was given them to keep up their spirits. Power then administered an oath, which he told Barmy would be binding upon them. He made them kiss a printed paper, and cross them- Ulm, and then (Wary that they would itOYCI say a word of villat they THE NATIONAL REGISTER. were going to do. Every th i ng was then nearly arralged—i'elmun said, " All's right now, and I'll go for Brock." At separating, Pel ham in'i nated that he would take a room, and upon his return he said he had engaged one at Cow-cross; at which intelligence Power was much pleaed; but Brock, who came in at that ritornen, said it. would not do, as it was not in the city. Barry and Power then went to Angel :dim where they took the roo:n which became the scene of anion. Pelham brought in a hammer, two tiles, and a pair of Wissors, which implements were found on the premises by Taylor, when lie went to apprehend the Irishmen upon the affidavit of Brock. All being ready, Power and R irry went to the Irishmen, who were waiting fir tutu at a public-house, and told them that they should be put to work Milne- Qain and Reardon intimated that they had a frical who was as poor as themselves, and hoped that he would be employed. Power was glad to hear it, and administer xl the oath to Donnelly, who was brought into his company sum af:erwanls. Barry's son was in the mean time in deep conversation with Brock, who, at the end of it, sent him to buy brass plate colouring materials, of which a considerable qmintity was necessary, and aquarintis. The man who cut the brass into a round form was Power, who appeared very clever at his business in all its branches. Wiwi B irry's son shewed the brass to Power, that experienced man said, "This won't do; it is net good enough; we missal before by such stuff as this." The three Irishmen were, however, set to work by Power and Pelham at the brass plate which Power showed them how to use. They were promised bacon cabbage for dinner, and in the mean time were tarnished with coff and bread. Barry saw Burk mil after the wore was set ti-wring, and was told by him that lie had been after Mr. Taylor, the olicer. who said he would attend in a moment. Brock .ilso told Barry that Taylor did not know a syllable of the business. All was now ready, the par ties had taken their stations, and Pelham w to gi:a the signal; the signal was given, and the Irishmen were apprehend When Barry seemed anxious upon the oecasion soon after, he was told by the other conspirator it would be the making of his fortune. After the boy Barry purchased the brass, and was dispatched with it and the c ing materials to Angel-alley, he began to suspect that all was not right, and said, upon hand into Brook's house after the ilimen were taken. that it he had known aliat Brock and Pelican had b..en about, he would have suffered any thing before he had joined them. P , Pinin was at il.a7k's at the time; and upon hearing what Barry's son he rose and swore by the Cross of Christ, it' he said any thing about the matter to a living cree.ture. he and his father should be hanged as high as Hann - ion. Pelham denied this statement, and said he stated that nothing but the troth should be told. Barry swore to the identity of the two files which had been used, but could not to the hammer, as Power was toe man that could use that instrument. Power was the finisher. Taylor, the officer, who was solicited by Broek to engage in this business for the s2rvice of the public, stated nothing in addiuon to his evident: at the former examinations. ....____ _ ..... Brock and Pelham appeared very anxious about the evidence of a Mrs. Purkiss, who swore that the hammer and files produced at the office were sold by her to two men, whom sho believed to be Brock and Pelham. She would not positively swear that they were the pur cbasers. _ . _ Brock strcnuou-ly denied that he had ever seen her, or ever pur chased such articles. _ _ _ Nl'DoanelEs depositions were the last read. lie was present when Quin and Reardon were hired; .old that while lie was awaiting the event of the trial at the Old Bailey, he saw Powcr and Barry iu the Court-yard; that he followed and secured Barry. notwithstanding the opposition given to hiin by Power, who knocked him down, and that this transaction led to the development of the plot. The Lord Nfityor said, that the public were principally indebted to M`Donnell for his conduct on the occasion. A gentleman, who was in the office, immediately told his lordship that he would place Al• D 31. nell in a comfortable situation under him, and took him from the office for that purpose. The Lord Mayor having asked Brock the cause of his escape from prison, the prisoner said, although he could stand against a true wit ness, he hind no power against a false one; and the woman woo said he was the man who purchooal the lead perjured herself. The Lord Mayor told him, that he had not observed the caution with which her evidence had been given. She had refused to swear positively that he was the man. Brock hoped that his forms excellent character would be a matter of consideration. lie had done his utmost, he said, to come to the bottom of the bad business. Brock and Pelham were then committed for aiding and abetting in coining. They were then ordered to Gilespur-street Compeer. BOW-STREET. _ - - - - Monday morning Sir Nathaniel Conant, Mr. /Cares, and Mr. Baker, of Marlborough-street, assembled in a private room to examine the depadtions against Vaughan. After discussing them, J. Armstrong, of Worship-street, produced 6. Nyren, the boy who took the letter from Drake to Vaughan, for money to ' lush them well," (meaning the two Ilurleys, Saunderson and Webb,and R. Nyrcn, his father). The boy, who is about it years of age, stated, that On the night in question, Drake applied to - him to take a letter to Vaughan, as one of the Bow. street Officers, at Sadler's Wells, stating that he would give him a shil ling. He took it accordingly, and asked at the box door for a flow-st. Officer; when a man in a blue coat (answering the description of Vaughan) came to him, and he gave him the letter. The Officer read it, and gave witness los. to give to the man who sent hint, and fal. for himself. Witness then returned to Shoreditch, and opposite the church he saw Drake, to whom he gave the 10a.—This was the substance of his evidence before the Magistrates. He afterwards, however, stated, that before he had well reached the gates of Sadler's Wells, a man stopped him, and asked him where he was going with the money received from the Officer; having answered hint—to the Horns,public-house. at Shore , ditch, he was permitted to go. And he farther stated, that before he F at to Shorialitea-church three or four men attacked him, and told him if he did riot communicate to them where he was going, they would put him in the watch-house. Upon adding. however, that he told them he was going to a man who had sent him with a letter, they said, " it is all right," and let hint go.—The boy has not seen Vaughan, but his description of him StcMS to correspond in every particular. The Ma. gistrates did not Ouse their consultation until half past four °Veal.— Nothing further transpired. lATTON-GARDP.N. Not a post reaches town without bringing letters from the convicts at Woolwich, Sheerness, Portsmouth, &c. containing charges against the wretches now in custody for conspiracy, and giving the particulars of fresh plots. Some of these name various persons, not yet in custody, as connoetal with Vaughan. These have been laid before the Magis trates; but it would he improper to dist:lw the contents of most althorn. This caution not applying to the following, it is subjuined as a speci men : "To Mr. John Limbrick, Hatton-Garden Office, London. " SI. ernes, July 31, 1816.—Sir, I have taken the liberty of sending this letter to you ; I hope you wont be any ways offended at my se do ing, but really we are to glad to hear of your taking Vaughan; tin- he has been the instigator of nearly forty men here, and one half have been entrapped and swore false to ; as for myself, I own I am guilty of what I am now auffering ; but a certain mac you can remember, for which that scoundrel received ten pounds, (the Holborn job I moan). and of which I was entirely innocent of, and had it not been for that I should not have had more than six months. We render you and Mr. Read many thanks. for your unwatried diligence in unravelling this horrible plot. I mean when I gain toy liberty to drop all concern with these.— I remain your's, kr. " On board the Discovery Hulk." " Win. Herbert." WORSHIP-STREET. .T. Adltinson, t o years of age, and well known at the office a; t re puted thief for about 3O years. 14 of which he has been at Botany Bay, havikg been twin• uansportod for the terra of reven years, was charged with two burgl.chs at tioxton. Mr. J. Dowlie. of Foster-lane, and Mr. J. Saunders, of Cannon-street, each having a ganlen aid summer nouse at /loxton, which was broken into on Saturday se'nnight. and robh:;(1 of every moveable, attended. The pri. , oner was seen by two constables at an early hour in the morning taking a bundle from a 113 hedge ia t:, vicinue, containing looking-glass, napkins, shoes , and other articles, which were idented by Mr. Dowlie and Mr. Saluda'. Fully committed. QUEEN-SQUARE. In consequence of information being given at this office, by Mr. Pritchar I, agent to the Society fo,. the Suppression of Vice, that paint ings, &e. of a shameful tendency, were exhibited to young persons at the hous eof 4 Jew, wliogoesby thenaine of Green. th !M tgi trate ( Mr. Field i g) issued a warrant, and sent By, the ofti !er. appreitend Green, and setae every thing of the nature escribed in th' information. Bly re paired to the house in Round-co vt, shewed hi, authority to G-een's wife, end procetided to search a beek apartment, when he was attacked by her in a most violent manner; he entered the mai. ant saw a yonng man viewing certain paintings and print s , whi c h he s "'med. The person said, that he paid 3s. each for their inspection and Ply brought Mrs. Green to the office on Tuesday nght. The case wasputotf till nextday; when Green and his wife attended, and the paint. i figs, &c. 130 in all, were produced. Mr. F iel li.ig deprecatel th econ d uc , of M s. Green, who was the person that always shewed them to those who called at their house. She said, that her husband wa . incap .bls it' working. and she did it of necessity to support herself and husband. ".Ir. Fielder; said, that excuse but add7s.l to her wick xln , ss. and the inane of doing herself the most service, would be to give up the books which she had hidden while the officer was searching the house. She persisted in saying that she never had any imoks of the kind. The Agent of the So6ety said, that he saw different books is Green's house not more than a week since. Mr. Fielding said, that what he most wished was, to get posession of the books, that they might be de troyed ; however, as they acted against their own interest, the only means he could pursue would be. to hold them to hail for their ap pearance at the Sessions. Joseph Green and his wife, Susannah Green. wire then bound in rewgilizances of 1001. each, to answer to what may be objected against them at the ensuing Wesuninster Sessions. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. _ JUVENILE. DEPREDATORS.—TIICSday. Unsworth, a boy about 12 yzars of age, was finally exantinAl before the Sitting Magistrate. The prisoner's father, who was the only witness against lain, attended, and stated, that the boy had gone to the Play with several others, and laid out money to the amount of 11. in liquor, Sze. On his arrival at home he ciuld give nu account how he became possessed of it; his :hater than searched him, and found a quantiti of money in his pock its, which lie afterwards found out to belong to a Mr. Hall, in Tottenham-court-road, and fearing the boy had been led into bad corn pAny, he took him to the watch-house. Mr. Hall, who was the pro se.litor, refused to appear against him. The Magkrate therefore dis charged him with a severe reprimand, and highly applauded the con duct of his father. J. Butler, another boy about ten years old, was charged with a high. way robbery. Ann Reid. a child about six years old, whose parents reside in Brown's-court, Grosvenor-square, said, that she went out with her little brother to take a walk in James-street, Oxford-street, where she met the prisoner, who said he was going to buy some fruit, and if she came with him he would share it with her. She accordingly went, and the prisoner watching his opportunity when no person was passing, snatched her shawl and ran away ; she cried out for help, but no per son came, and the prisoner was not taken until Monday. when he was apprehended in Barrett's-court; he is a most notorious character, and was identified by the Officers, who have got various other chargft against him of a similar nature.—He was remanded, in order to give the parties an opportunity of appearing. RIOT IN TO/MILL-FIELDS BRIDRWELL.—A serious af f ray took place among the prisoners in this gaol, last Sunday after noon, but the keeper and assistants succeeded in securing two of the most active, and tranquility appeared to be restored. However, at locking-up time a spirit of insubordination again appeared, which at length broke oat into open violence; one of the most active agents of which was Dodd, who was lately tried for cutting a sailor in Newton's-court. This de perate roman swore he would commit murder before the morning. Further assistance was, thorefore, proeurad, and lie and about le others were secured, handcuffed and chained to the floor. This, however, only served to irritate the remainder, nor was it till about 20 were tlins secured, that tranquility was restored. These desperadoes were kept in irons the whole of Mondaya and but for the spirited conduct of the gaoler, it is supposed au attempt at e.cape would have been made. AFFRAY UPON' TIIE THAMES. — At the rowing match on Wei nesday, a melancholy event took place at the finishing of the last heat. A collier's boat ran foul of the umpire's wherry, fixed off Shadwell Deck, which caused a great disturbance, and a desperate aquatic con flict ensued, which terminated with a young man, named— Chew. of I.imehouse, receiving so many severe blows, as to leave no hopes oi his recovery. On Sunday afternoon, as Mr. Smith, the King's Messenger, was travelling from London to Lent Castlereagh. at his seat in Kent, he was thrown from his gig, and broke one of his legs. Fiorentino Herres, a galley-slave, egad 27, lately executed for mur der at the Ilayannah, confessal, shortly before his execution, that he had been guilty of seventeen murders, eight in that city, and nine out of it, and gave a full account of them all. On Tuesday morniag, before breakfast, two men, who appeared like working plumbers. knocked at the door of Mr. Lee's house, in Spring gardens, and informed the servant that they had been sent by their employer to measure the breakfast-table, which Mr. Lee had ordered to be altered. The servant immediately allowed the fellows to go into the breakfast-room, where there was a considerable quantity of plate, and left them to measure the table. A few minutes after they returned to the door, and left the house. It was then discovered, that the pre tended mechanics had carried off the plate and other articles of consi derable value. Monday evening, as Mr. Sloman, of Bunhill-row, Moorficlds, was coming from Darttard, in Kent. in his curricle, accompaniei by an other gentleman, the horses took fright, and hurried the vehicle in con tract with a gardener's cart, by which it was overturned, between Welling and Shooter's-hill ; both gentlemen were thrown with great violence into the rail, and Mr. Sloinan received a bad fracture on the heel, and was otherwise inueli hart; the other gentleman was only slightly bruised. Saiurday sennight an Inquest was held on the body of El: a-.o- Woodman, servant to Mr. Deyalien, of Lon s eauere, who met her death by poison.—R. Harrison, assistant to Mr. Paul, in New street, de posit!, that on Wednesday the deceased called for some arsenic to kill mice, saying, that since the nux vomica which she had mixed with oatmeal and flour. they had eaten a quantity of butter, and It had no• effect on them ; he cautioned her against the danger of arsenic ; she replied, there was r.o person in the house but herself, and the mice were very troublesome. lie then let her have a quarter of an ounce. Se veral witneeses deposed that the deceased bud, for the last three months. strewn evident symptoms of nielansaoly and derangement; and the Coroner having, in his summing up, observed on fie dangerous ten dency of apothecaries selling arsenic to strangers, the Jury returned their verdict—'Chat the dece i ved met her depth by taking arsenic. consequence of a despoialing state of mind, which prudueed temporary der:easement. Saturday sc'nnight as C. Fludder, aged 71, was greas ug the cogs of the 'Nicosa mill, belonging to Mr. Ansel', at Carsaalton, and which was necessary to be doer while the mill was going, his smock fete's: caught in some of the works; h we; in consequence drawn in amongq them, and was literally ground fiat, first hit head, than his shoulders, and so on the whole body, was spread like a cake. The deeeatA hod worked 50 years in the same mill, and for the same family. He has left a widow and 12 children, five of them not able to help theniselees. Wednesday the body of Mr. Ilawkesley, a horse-desler, in the London-road, was found suspended by a rope from the eti:ity of oue of his stables. The unfortunate man had bans far souse time in a very desponding way. Thursihey se nnight, J. Perkins, eight years old, who resides in Kenta street. in the absence of his mother, put c ontaining 2f, lbs. of gunpowder, which inaiintly and in jured him so dreadfu lly, that he wts c3,ll:e•A to Me ALLIN: 110 1 .3 Q 1 ter