The National Register. — London, England, 1820-02-27 00:00:00

_' • - INQUEST ON RICHARD SMITHERS. .. .. N k .., The inquest on Smithers, the unfortunate Tlneestreet officer, who was ))))) retried on Weduesday night, when iu the execution aids duty, le Cato-street, Edgeware.rotel, was held on Friday, at the horse and Groom public-honse, John-street, which is situated but a few yards from the spot where the atrocious deed was perpetrated. hi the confetti of the day great numbers of persons visited the miserable building which the conspirators had selected tie the , smile of lb. it deliberations, and one universal feeling of horror mid detestation against Tl.istlewood and Lis associates appeared to actuate the multitude. The Coroner for the county of Middlesex, T. Sterling' Esq. ari ived at half past Once o'clock ; and at four, the Jury were sworn. The Jury having been sworn, Surgeon Fisher, who had opened the body of the deceased, expressed a wish to be examined immediately, as he had been a long time in attendance. The Coroner said, lie could not have been a long time, as the Jury bad been smuinoned fur four o'clock. Mr. Fisher replied, that he had been occupied in open ing the body since before three o'clock. 'the foreman of the Jury now observed to the Coroner, that he and his felluw jurors wished to inspect the body In ihe presence of the etirgeon, in order that he might be ready to answer any queetion that might arise at the mo ment. This suggestion was complied with; and ou the eel ern of the Jury from viewing the body, Mr. Fisher was sworn, and deposed as follows am Ins deem to the police establishment in Bner.street. I was called upon for the first time, this day, to examine the body of the deceased. I found an external wound under the right breast. It was two inches in length, and half an inch broad. I upeued the body to ascertain the depth and direction of the wound, and I discovered that some sharp instrument had penetrated between the fifth and vh oh ribs, wounded the left lobe of the liver, passed thi tenet' the diaphragm into the chest, lacerated the mel ees-4mm, penetrated the right vennicie of the heart, wounded the left lobe ()rube lungs, and st-ick against the tubs on the left side. The wound I supposed to be about 1.2 inches in length. The blood flowed from the !wait, and occasioned immediate death. The opening in the pericardium was larger than that presented by the eter ual which is always the case with wounds of this description. The weapon was prevented from passing entirely through the body by the ribs on the left side. It roost have been a very sharp instrument, both pointed lied cutting, to make such a wound. The ineintrranee, which were eat asunder, could only have been severed by an exceedingly sharp instrument. In answer to a question train the foreman, the witness said, that death was inevitable eftor such a w I, the heart having been cut open, and the blood effused into the easily of the chest. George Thomas Buthven haing sworn, said, I am an officer belonging to the public office in Bow-ate eel. Ou Wednesday evening last, at half past eight o'clock, I was in this house. I received an order front Mr. Bailie, also is a justice of the peace for the county of Middltsex,to go to a shed or stable in Cato-street, in consequence of a of men being assembled there. Coroner. —Was there any wan ant issned ? Wititess.—There was a warrant ismed.by Mr. Baker, a rangistrate of Marlborough-street. Coroner.—Have you got the warrant ? Vitness.—l have not; it win given back to Mi. Baker of Mir Ilsortaigle•stieet. A Jeirynein. —l)id that warrant specify any aamrber of pet sons who sense to he apps chewiest % Witless--It w Beers then continued his evi desire : —On entering the hawse 1 ulot.urved iii the lower place a man .with a cutlass by his side, and a musket ou his shoulder. The door by which I entered from the street was not fast; there were persons going in and out ; the man with the musket seemed as if lie was guardiag the staircase ; Mete was only one Mall tin paid. Ellis, e ne i. e.ers the deceased. and several others, went in with inc. I 'lifer I,ow they came in. They were of centre 4.1.1er5 , !. 'they were all cosistables, in number about a ; I teas the first person that entered. Mr. Menlo., 11..leistiate,.was not there at that time; he was et [avid iT the .greet, giving orders. The man who stood at the doer as seutinel was walking about. I did not stop to see what he had particulaily, but immediately called out to s• we of the piety at.o billowed to secure hint. I airs not ma ate that tl.ey did seem c him, fur 1 immediately went by the. .telts. By a Juryman.—Was that man taken? Mies,— I Inthese he vtit,, take es; but I am not aware that he elks ripe :heeded 111(.11; l believe hr was caught ri , :Ca al di,— itne,s continued. 1 ascended by a sort of tepladder stai.ca.e. The stairs were: so stariuw, that the officers acre obliged to go oue by one. When I got to the top of the ladder, I ohserved a sort of table or car retitle's Sahel', and a number of' arms on it. Thistlewood to as 011 the right heed side of the table. I know very well. I lase followed hi:n..fut de.)s and nights I. e. ther. By a Juryman.—How many persune do you think were a • cml.le4 Witaess.-1 think about 21 or 2 n.—Willis...3 went on. 't heir acne different soils u: urn,, oil the ; a thiriety c; phitols and swords. 'I as tithe, e etc sorted 'Phil were handing await as if they t IC giving or si.slrilititisist Ilion to each usher. OS I I:1011011 I last three or 1:1111' CA tile part!, %%cif , uo, I -eel /demi, •%k e are olhe - eus, Beige Owls ii 111 1 , ." I did t.ii. 10 a'4lll the who oc Were. A] bOUrl OS 1 ssi,l they each funk shp alto. they could nom the lalsle, and r , •t is eil to Ilse toitlies past of the mom. Thisilewood, being us or is dour that leeits ;u: , , a little closet over We coach house, reined lulu that Itone. its was u:,l farther is•ista site (Ivor of the lace room than I .1111 Horn that gentleman villa is wining there (pointing to a gentleman who sat writing within tomtit tutu feet of witness.) There at.e others its that tutor too.a; how they got in these I c.i0.1,,t tell. I bop. -.0,e Bole were five ol :ix , or t our or five persons in 11. lihn hole pasty aps,.. 'red at that time to be armed.— (id, us tie i tin ed, had a award Su his haudavbieli lit nursed h. a shee.e way to keep the Wheels cif. He liar out with it, but moving his aria sound ss if to make a stab. The .lined .ippeas es' ig.lll. As we .sp ptioselay.l he rushed, awl ssa,it:ts s•, soloi aas within a 1.1141'e tO tile 1 101, stepped 1.11,‘ al a alas hi- stab. This tles' ~,,, I slanciliesely stahlwl bun, suit Ise ti II tou me. A pis-lot via , ilsess lista. I kllO Mil hi) saw l e e •,rd, earl) directed agauii.t the candles, which were immediately put out. 'tabbed the de ceased in the right side as lie approached. He did riot conic out of the little wont to do it. He was within the little ninth, and thrust fora aril his arm to strike the blow. I raw die sword lie rallied. It aas Wield, and clines ed. I did not see the hilt. It was a long blade, three lees and a half or fonr feet long. It appeared straight, lint he waved it in such a way, that my eyes might have deceived me as to its shape. When Smithera fell, he fell nitre, me, being stabbed on the tight side, and I standing a little to his left. I could not at the moment tell whether he ap peared to bet much injured. In falling, lie bald, "Oh Lord ! Oh my God, lam done!" I believe these were . ae. his words, or something of that sort. By a nryniaii.—Dtil Thistlewood draw the illthon out of his body immediately? Witnese.—That I don't know, for instantaneously a pis tol was tired, and the lights put out. Coroner.—Did you know any of the persons in the room except Thistlewood ? Witnees.—l have been enabled to recognize three, I think, since. Col oner•—Name them. Witaiess.—Shaw Strange (he has another name), a man named Blackburn, and James At ilson. Ther e was another man who stood at the door and fired at a sergeant—his name is Tidd ; I don't know Isis Clio t.lOllll ; the ser geant at whom he fired is present. l'idd first attempted to fire a pistol at Capt. Fitzclarence. I seized his arm, and he pulled me down on hint. I called on the sergeant to take the pistol from him, and lie fired at the sergeant and tore his clothes. I am sure that Blackburn, Wilson, Shaw Strange, and Tirld, were prevent. There were al so two other persons taken, who hod beets in this house (the Horse and Groom) in the course of the evening. I did not recognize them in the roam, but I know they were apprehended, and, I believe, ad iii i stied that they had been theca They left a stick behind them in the Horse and The end of it was evidently cut for the purpose of bolding a weapon. Dv a Juryman.—What sort of a stick was it ? Witness.—lt was like a hi UUIII slick, with a link cut in the top. The prisons trat I allude to het C admitted that they were in the room at the time the officers entered, but Ido not know it. One of diem war taken by Capt. Fitzelarence. I have sects hint here before. These two persons came in to drink a pint of porter, and left the stick behind them in a mistake. One of them came back, and asked for a little walking stick. The buy, who thought it a queer sort of a walking stick, had taken it lip stairs, but returned it to the person aho called for 'That stick was at the mitotic office. These persons called at the Horse and Groom an hour before the officers pro. cceded to the lon. Nothing took place before the party fired, except my exelaiming, " We are office, s—arie their arms." When Sandie% s fell, a pistol was fired, and the lights were put out. I C4llllot say by ts linen the pistol was hied. The moment Siiiitheis tell, somebody in the room where Thistle wood wars, cried out," Kill the 11—is! throw them ila wit stairs !" I also cried," Aye, kill them," that they might mistake me for a friend. There were nine persons taken that night. 1, was nut present at the apprehension of all of them. While I was scant lug two of them. the rest were brought in. After I hid seciited Tiild, Wilsaii, and 'Backbone, I proceeded to secure flue others. They were then conveyed to Bow-street, and afterwards to the House of Correction. By a Juryman.—Do you know what the warrant stated ? Witainsss.—l am aware that the warrant specified MC nature of the offence. I secured a considerable quantity of arms ; :timing:4 the rest there was a large grenade, and several hand grenades. The large one consisted of a tin canister, with a plate at top, strengthened by several piece. , of iron, and bound round with a quantity of tarred rope. I got eight of the hand-grenades; they were about the size of my doubled list. I also found in the room two swords, and some ball cartridges, which are in my poasiasion. The lair grenade weighs 14 or 15 pounds. There were likewise found in the room about three dozen of weapons which resembled a sort of bayonet, butiwith a screw to fasten into a stick. I have also a dozen of sticks, formed for the purpose of being fitted to those bayonets. By a Juryman.—Did the bayonets appear to be new? Wittiess.-1 - es; they appeared to be newly made. They are very rough, and not r ail brightened or polished. The balls I picked up w the tooisewere nut haul tram pistols. If they had. they would have been flattened; two on three muskets were either found its the room, or cue taken from some of the persons who hail been apprehended. James El:is was next calletl.—Having been sworn, he stated, I live at Nu 21, Paradise-11,w, Palmer's Village, St. Marga ret's Westminster, and am an officer belonging to the Bowatreet petrol. I sits slau a ciaraaole. On Wedneelay night last, about half east seven o'clock, Ala Stafford, the thief clerk at Boa street, directed me to take Weitard Sinithers, John Sunman, and William Gibbs. and to proceed in acoacit with them to John Street. ledgeware-road, as hat us poeible, there to meet Mr. who would give us further orders. We did so ; and when we arrived at die spot, we Muria !Mr. Birnie waiting, lie iniisireel whether we had seen any thing of the military. We told him we had not. Ile said he expects]/ them every minute. In about tat minutes called us together, Some inqui• ries were made, but I don't know of whom, as to what number were likely to be in the room to which we were amtg, and who Arthur Tilistlewood was to be were. Mr. Baffle gave sues warrant, signed by Mr. Baker, of Marroorough—treet, to ap prehend Arthur Thistlewood and to other persons named in it. I have not the warrant; 1 have given it to Mr. liaaer. On our being called together, and Mr. Birnie given to understand t h at Thistle wood and others were in the room, be raked how many there might be pr es ent, and was thiormed that there was about a doyen. He then inquired how many there were of us. We told hint about a dozen also. He said lie had been disappointed in the soldiers, who hail perhaps missed their way, and were halt an hour too late, and that we must pmceed to apprehend the parties We said we would do the best we could. Snitchers ob,erved, if there were toot them we would secure diem. Mr Birnie then directed me to call Itutliven, manlier officer, nut re. , tile Done and Groom, alai we were sent forward to the home' the military not haviug c sue ha Unit. V, i b is I arrived at the door, I heard a cry of .• Stop Tam," end instantly saw a man rucning at the other side of the street; I purstiad, and took him is the atrae, Omen .ao yards from the door. When laying braid of him, lie 1117Ak 3 cut at with a long sword. This was the Mall of coleur. I reeeived a cat, a very slight ore, in the leg. I think it was when Lis riati, in striking at me, swung round my neck s lata: the sword. which was a very lung one, hit my kg. Tar tann's :tame is Davidson. I believe •litin to be the ..ante man whojkept the door, la t I will not positively swear to that 1 mirk hint to a shop at toe corner, raid seized his fusil, which was that of a light.laireeetan, but perhaps rather heavier. lere the witileas banded smile of the bullets which he had take!, to til.• Jury A Jur Looking at one of the Indicts. I This ball is med.: of pea tea. I suppose these villains had been stealing few pewter pots. AA itness continual—l was entering thecentre room when Sanithers passed are. I and my eyes fixed on Thistlewimsl, whets lie was brandishing his mud. 1 widen able to tee:swage r.. if •.; ::y~ THE NATIONAL REGISTER. any of the others. I saw him fur eight or ten seconds, but I can: not speak to his dress : it was a dark dress, but I cannot speak to it distinctly. I heard y,: , :day that Thistlewood was the person who struck the blow. btu th at did nut alleet my Opinion. I would have sworn to h to. If lie had not been mentioned. Them were several persons %%minded. Whim I ten down the ladder. I tell on some of the othee.s who were comitig up. I shovkl have been shut if 1 had nut so fallen. There were several shots fired in the stable. I had a cutlaa by my side, but could not use it. Mr. Stirling, Jim. who assisted his father, observed, that it was necessary that the svarrantshould be produced. The witness.—The warrant was in my possess.,n; it author ized us to apprehend Arthur Thistle..ood and thirteen other persons named in it, for unlawfully assettibliog together, but for what specific purpose I cannot soy, and to bring them before the bitting magistrate, to be dealt with according to law. I'yall the Beadle was despatched to Mr. Baker to bring the warrant._ . . Several otther of the officers were examined, whose evidence as to the same effect. ......—..._ Sergeant l.egge, of the 2d battalion of Coldstream Guards was next examined.—On Wednesday evening last i was called up about eight o'clock, and received orders to march to John Street Edgeware lto.A. I was then quartered in Wittman Street barracks. A picket usually employed on occasions when the military is required in aid of the civil power, was ordered out. It was commanded by Capt. Fitzelarence. Upon arriving at John Street, we were unable to ascertain the spot whither we ought to proceed, and the Captain advanced to know what we ought to do. When he returned the Captain ordered the picket to advance at double quick time. Upon reaching the stable in Cam Street, I observed a man standing with a pistol in his hand. He pre:mired it at Capt. Fit zeltrence, and I knocked it aside with my pike. I then seized the niuza:e-end of the pistol with my hand, and a scuffle ensued between the man and myself about the pistol. I kept firm hold of it till it went off, and the ball passing by my arm tore the cloth trd' my sleeve. (Witness here exhibited the sleeve of his coat, which appeared to be very much torn.) In wrestling with the prisoner I held my face down to the lock of the pistol, and as it went off the ball grazed any right eyebrow. As soon as the pistol was diseltarged, the priso ner let go his hold. I secured and delivered him over to the police. I believe the person's name is Tidd. After this skirmish I folliwed my officer and part of the picket up the steps into the loft. Tie: greater part of the picket had reached the loft before I was disengaged from the prisoner. When I reached the loft I discovered a table in the centre of it, nearly covered with pistols, blunderbusses, ammunition, and other anus of various descriptions. Three men had then surrendered; I think their names were Monument. Cooper, and Gilchrist. I do not recollect what police officers were present at Idle time. Upon looking on the door, I saw the deceusesl lying dead at my feet. His body was examined by the picket, and 1 perceived the wound on his light breast. I %as ordered back to the barracks for a reinforcement, and wnen I returned, the whole of the pri soners taken at that moment were collected in the loft. Upon the arrival of the reialorennent, the prisoners were conveyed to Bow Street. llerc the examination was interrupted by the arrival of a messenger, with a letter from Mr. Raker. the Magistrate, to the Coroner. It was read aloud, and was to the following ttfixt " I beg to inborn you, that t granted a warrant on Wednesday the 25d instant, lin the apprehension of Arthur Thistlewood, and several other., on a charge of felony, and that I afterwards received front Mr. Ellis an order to lay it before the Patty cif on the examination uf the prisoners when in custody. It leis not yet been returned to one, nor do I think that 1 Audi be able to' obtain it at the present inoment. Perhaps it would be better to adjourn the inquest for the present, and I will endea vour to get it our you to-morrow, or send you the Liformation on which it was issued." William Sarnion.—l live in Edgeware Rood, and am a Tailor by trade. On Wednesday night, about eight o'clock, I was passing through Cato Street, and when oppo , ite to the stable I heard Westcott say that Smithers had been stabbed. In Itwo or three minutes afterwards two men rushal out of the stable.— One of the two cut me with a sabre on the hat. He was • tall man dressed in a dark coat. He struck at use tw lee. and hit my thigh, but fortunately did not wound we. I was so trigli.ened at the moment that I could not tell which way he ran, and I did 1 did nut stop to look. Here the examination of the witnesses terminated, and the Coroner expressed a wish to know whether any of the Jury required an adjournment of the inquest; if they did, he would willingly attend to their request. The Jury unanimously (de clared that they were satisfied, and the Coroner, in a tarnish manner, asked," Is Arthur Th.stlewood guilty or not guilty of murder _ Foreman—Guilty. Coroner—ls Witham Davidson guilty of murder or man slaughter ? Guilty murder. One of the Jury wished to ask a question, which he thought of some importance, before the verdict was pronounced upon all the pristine's. Ile wished to know whether those who urtght have met tor a different purpose were equally guilty of the murder with Thistlewood The Coroner replied, that there could be no doubt that they were lowliest d in the murder as much as 'lllistiewood himself, fur whatever Ilegal purpose they might have met. They had impeded the officer in die execution of 1... duty, and one of them had killed him. A Juryman.—lf any of the pi ismers had been put in the same situation as Tilistlcwool, they would probably have acted an the same manner. Another Juryman.—But a:e those who surrendered themselves equally guilty ? Coroner.—There can be no doubt of it. They were all astern• bled for one common purpo e, and the act of one is the act of them all. If a man intends to do a mischief to another, and. instead of killing him, happens to kill a second, it is equaily muid,r, as if he had killed the man lie intended. A Juryman—Another doubt arises in my mind. Had not these men a right to defend themselves, after the pistol hail been fired by the officer Ellis? Coroner—Certainly not: there cannot be a doubt upon it. The Jury, by their foreman, then pronounced a verdict of Guilty of Murder" against the following priso..ers :—Jarii , s Ings, Charles Cooper. Richard T it'd, John Monument, Jahn Charles Strange. Richard Blackburn, James N ikon, Julut Gilt hrist, and others unknown. In toe course of the day, the afflicted parents of the deceased visited the body, and showed much feeling upon the occasion.-- Tire old couple were so decrepit as scarcely to be able to get up stairs. Smithery was a stout handsome man, 53 years 0141. THE SAVAGE OF JAV.t.It is stated in a letter from a traveller in Batavia, that a savage has been tinind in the woods of the island ; it is thought that he must have lost himself in the early part of his youth, and he now seems to be alsmt thirty years old. He speaks no articulate language, but bellows like an animal, or rather barks, tin his voice is like that of a dog. He runs on all fours, and as soon as he perceives any human being, he climbs up a tree. like a monkey, and springs from one brunch to another. When he sees uny bird or game, lie cinches at it, and very seldom misses his Fey. OW , -•