The National Register. — London, England, 1820-04-09 00:00:00

COMMITTAL OF NESBET, TUE sorrobED YMELPETRAToR OF THE MURDERS AT WOO L W At an early hour an Thursday morning the inhabitants of Woolwich were on the alert, in the expectatiou that the supposed murderer amid soon arrive. Several persons went on the road to meet him, and others took attar station in those directions where they thought it most pi liftable then would have an opportunity of seeing him. Many false alarms were given, and much mortification was in come mience experienced. At last, about eleven o'clock, Mr. Ridout, the high constable, and the two Mr. Jacksons, Caine town by the first NVoolovich coach. The former immediately proceeded to the Castle-tavern, at a hit h the bench magistrates were expected to he assembled. These gentlemen had not set come, auil Mr. Radom went to Dr. Watson's mouse, and ermined that the prisoner would not arrive benne six in the eveuing. The secrecy which IV isS observed with respect to this communication had the alert of keeping a crowd assembled in front of the Castle tavern the whole of the day, which, as the evening approached became still greater. The justice-room was crowded the whole morning. At six o'clock the Rev. Dr. Watson and Mr. Webb took their seats, and in a quarter of an hour afterwards loud shouts all!) JJJJJJ red the approach of the prisoner. In a few minute, the chaise was. driven up to the door with great dif ficulty, am; a pa.-age was made by the constotiles. The prisoner uuw s ...lased sinking under the weight of his feelings, and it became almost necessary to carry him up stairs..—He was conducted into a hack roam to :Ilford him an iipportii nity of collecting himself. He was scarcely able to hold up his head until relieved by a Hood of (ears. He said he could not bear the shouts of the people. At his own request the handcuffs were then taken from his wrists, and he ions furnished with a glass of ruin mind water. The wounds on his head received at Portsmouth were visible, and appeared to have been carefuily dressed. He is a man about SS years, of age. about five feet eight inches in height, dark complex ion and eyes, and his features, although irregular, not dis pleasing He speaks with the Irish accent, being a native of Armagh. He said he had been fourteen years in the service. At a quarter before seven the magistrates directed that the prisoner should be brought before them, this order, in con. sequence of the immense mass of spectators collected up *lairs, was with difficulty obeyed, nod the prisoner was led to the bar by Mr.Hont and Mr. Hill. His counteuance was Bushed, but he did not ventnre to look round. Dr. Watson.—Who is this man? Mr. Hunt—His name is James Nesbet ; and I bring him here under the authority of Mr. Carter, a magistrate of Portsmouth, upon suspicion of having been concerned in the crimes of murder, arson, and burglary in this county. Dr. Watson—Who are you ? Mr. Hunt—l am gaoler of the prison of the Borough of Portsmouth, and 1 am the bearer of a letter to Mr. Stace, a = v istrate of this town, explanatory of tne circumstances which I appear before you. Or. Watson—Mr. Stace is not present, but we are autho. sized la his absence to .pen any letter connected with his magisterial duties. Produce the letter. Mr. Haat banded in the letter, and it was read by Dr. Watson. It simply stated that the prisoner, Jaines klesbet, having been apprehended in the Borough of Portsmouth, open impieion of murder and arson committed in the county of Kent, he underwent several examinations, and several depositional were taken which confirmed the suspicions against him. Under these circumstances the magistrate before w I he had been brought (Mr. Carter) felt it his duty to send him to the local authorities where the crime had been committed, to be dealt with as they might think fit; lie had also intrusted to his officers, Messrs. Hunt and Hill, Copies of the depositions which had been taken before him. Dr. Watson—Have you got the depositions to which this letter refers ? Mr. Hunt—l have: they are here. The depositions were handed to Mr. Moore, the clerk of the magistrates to read. Mr. Moore immediately read them. The particulars of which we have already given. Dr. Watson.—Are there any other witnesses present to give oral testimony with respect to the charge against the prisoner, in addition to the depositions which have been just read? It may be necessary here to state, that the magistrates were all eatly in possession of a great volume of evidence taken by them immediately after the discovery of the minder. This went to explain all the circumstances con nected with the first discovery of the lire in Mr. Parket 's house—the subsequent discovery of the half consumed bodies of Mr. Pinker dud his housekeeper—the state of the premises, and a description of the property lost. These was also the testimony of some persons who had seen Nesbet in Woolwich just before the murder—it was suspected on the day on *hien lie ars iced at Portsmouth. These pei soils acclaimed tor their Inn stating this to t before, Irian their disiiirlinetion to be consideied Modul en against a Milli, %%hose life they might, by such iiii-ails, he insti timeidal in sacrificing. No person having MIS nCI ed Dr. Watsuies input y, he immediately addressed the pri soner, who had been permitted to sit while the Poi tsinouth depositious were read, and who had kept his head let:lined against the liar, and said, the nest step wont(' be f r the prisoner to say any Wile ; which he ptee<rd,amid which the clerk would as tte down. There we no compulsion, how ever : he was atliberty' to speak or not. Let Cie p.iMiMl say any thing he aisles to inform Mini. Nesbet mints stood tip, and, with his eyes gist towaids the ground, said, " The depusitions are all ii,:lit, ..acetit that oft be girl, and she has sworn false; she aielovs taai it was a 51. and not a 10i. note I gave in pay Mi. l' , ;c. I have nothing to say about any thing else ; but l cam bring plenty of peoeie to make their affidavit that what she has sworn is fajoe. Dr. Watson —lf pm are able to do this, it will be very valuable testimony on your ti The worthy alog.sti ate then consulted with Mr. %Veld:), and it was readoud to commit the ai istioer t4thioiri, neon the depositious Whit li hail been taken, to Malik! one gaol. Mr. Jackson Wass then called, and baring auiswcic.l, be acknoa ledgeo that he tad signed the depusitioli beating his name at Purtsimnith. Dr. Watson.-1t w ill be necessary that we have Mess's. Daley and Croatia d. Nesbet now stain stood up, and in some agitation said, You tired not si.iid fur any pet sou; nobody in Wool% telt knows a.i.y thing at all abuitt my doings. I)r.lVaison.—Tiiere are persues in Woolwich who know something of your transactions lately. Nesbet.—You have no reason to call for them, for they know uothing of we since I Intl away from Denton (the THE NATIONAL REGISTER. constable front shout he escaped in Ashall's case). No body knows am thing of my doings lint myself; and it is hard they shouhl sutler for me. Neither my own family nor any body else know any thing of what I done. Any thing I did myself• stand by it. Dr. Watson was then proceeding to make sonic further observations, when Nesbet said—May I speak again? Dr. Watson.—Certhinly. Nesbet.—The woman that swore against me at Ports mouth is a COIIIOIOII prostitute, and it is hard her affiditv:t should be taken against me: it was all through vexation because she Inst a fancy-man through ate. Dr. Watson.—To all these facts it will lie important for you to produce witnesses on your trial. Mr. Jackson was then bound over in a recognizance of 501., to prosecute the prisoner for the treble crime altitu des, arson, and burglary; and in another sum of 501. to answer for the appearance of his son, who is a minor, to answer and give evidence on the trial. Nesbet begged to know if he might have the money and wearing appal el which had been taken from him. Dr. Watson said, that whatever was not necessary to be produced iu evidence should be given to him. In the interim he alimild be provided with every thing necessary . . Nesbet said, he was only anxious, if any thing should happen to hue, that his wife might have his propel The prisoner was then recondoeted to the room from whetter lie had been brought. lie was much agitated; he said to a gentleman w ho enteicti into coaversation with him, that lie knew the property to be Squire Parker's; but lie tonight them from three fellows. He had nothing to do with what was alleged against The gentleman said, that it would be most fortunate for him it he could prove the truth of this statement. Some of the other witnesses who were present in the justice-room were subsequently bound over to give evi dence on the trial. Among those was Mr. Mitten, the surgeon, who declares the moulds visible on the persons of Mr. Parker and his housekeeper might have been in flicted by one and the sante instrument, and by one and the same hand - _ _ _ Daring all these proceedings the crowd in front of the Castle continued to increase, and nt length became so oppressive, that a guard of artillery soldiers was called out to preserve order. Mr. Ridout finding there was no chance of the pop place dispersing while the prisoner remained, resulted to remove him at once to the watch-lioase, whet e every Ile cessary accommodation wits provided for him. The handcuffs were then put upon his wrists, and he was con ducted on foot to his place of confinement: he was enard ed both by a civil and military force, anti was followed by the crowd in an overwhelming mass, and was with great difficulty safely lodged in his prison. It was a late hour before the throng dispersed When all was quiet, Mr Moore, the clerk of the magistrates, called at the watch house, to see that every necessary precaution had been adopted. The prisoner recognized him, and said he was innocent of what was laid to his charge. Mr. Moora said he should be most happy if he was able to prove his words. Nesbet then said he should not be in Maidstone gaol three weeks. Mr. Moore asked what he meant ; and reminded him that the offence imputed to him was nut bailable. Nesbet said he knew that, lint he would write to Mr. Moore within 2 weeks, and make some disclosures which would astonish him, amid at the Santo time prove his own innocence. Mr. Moore sincerely hoped this might be the case, and left him. Dui ing the night Mr. I:iituat, Campion, and Hampton, remained with the prisoner, affording him ever• refreshment he required. Having expressed a strong desire to see his family before lie went to prison, Dr, Watson humanely detel mined to gratify him ; and as lie was to set off for Maidstone ou the ensuing mottling at seven o'clock, lie desired that his family might attend at ' his house, at that hour, for the purpose of having an in terview. . . . They all attended at the time appointed. Mrs. Nesbct, who is rather a good-looking woman, bearing an excellent character. did not seem so sensibly af f ected by the situ ation of her husband as might have- been anticipated.— The children were all dissolved in an agony of grief, and thin prisoner Mabel(' was greatly affected. Soon alter this meeting he set off in a post-eltaiNe, accompanied by the high constable, Campion and Brampton, fur Maid stone, wheat: he safely arrived in the :be of tutu day. and was delivered with 'proper precaution to the gaoler. Ilat taking leave of Mr. [Odom he was again much agita ted, And promised to write to Min at ‘Vuolssich. Mr. Hunt, the gaoler of Portsmouth poison, and Mr. Hill, returned home yesterday. They base a letter front Dr. Watson, to Mr. Cat ter. Constant ansort% and unremitting zeal have been dis played by Dr. Matson, Mr. Siace, and Mr. Webb, throughout the whole of Ili. it pitiful duties. The proiwity which has devolved upon Mr. Jackson, it is said, exceeds 1.5.0:10l. BOXING. The match between Joshua Hudson and Bennis worth, the Essex champion, or at least so deno minated in that county from his clearing the way qualifications, came off on Tuesday in the Hundred of RoAtha, near Southend, Essex. It %%as fur a purse of 30 guineas, and a march ot• twenty. Hud son is a first-rater, who beat Scrag ins, but who Lst the tight with Martin, by an accidental blow, and, as proof that his adversary was thought sometillog of, betting was even. There were mot:: persons present than is generally seen in the fights rottna London, and the snivel: frock gentry, who wer.: elevated on the tree:, and the numbers of females who covered the hills contiguous to the ring, thrilled a contrast to a London ring. Hudson was se conded by •font Owen and Purcell, and Bennistvorth by his brother and a stranger. Hudson is between eleven and twelve stone, and his adversary is a well grown man of thirteen stone. HOUNDS.. . The first round was well contested. and Hudson kept his distaacc, and avoided .on blai , hing hits, I n a ra lly some 119 blows were exchanged to the advantage of Hudson, but he was floored by a right handed teazer. 2. Hudson had found out the vulnerable points of his anta gonist, and he uninuzzled at him and turned to gallantly. The Essex man threw away many blows, which were praventid telling by Hudson going manfully up to his adversary's head, and keeping at in-fighting. Bennisworth was skilfully dropped by a flush facer. S. Hudson led again, and exchcquered his head by strait hitting until he stupitiLd him. Benniswerth, however, hit away at random, and although floored again, some of his blows told. But it was Fenchurch Street to a fig. 4. This was the last round. Bennisworth made his List efibrt, but lie was met at goihg in with such force, that he yielded without knowing of it. He was knocked down, and could not be mad., sensible to come to time, and Hudson won the stake. Atter it was over, and Bcnnisworth had somewhat recovered himself, he went instinctively to the set ting-to scratch to continue the combat, and when told that he had lost it he expressed much dissatis faction, and asked where the Londoner was, as he (Bennisworth) only wanted a little more time, but he was not beat. It lasted eight minutes and a half: Another battle was fought, between Rasher and Adams, pugilists of second rate, fur a parse of 151.. which was won by the former, after a long and slaughtering fight. Oliver and Gibbons seconded the winner, and Purcell and Scroggins the loser. Match between Spring and R. Burn.—Spring for feited the hundred guineas to Burn lately, through indisposition, and on Tuesday evening the match was renewed at B. Burn's, by a deposit of 50 guineas a side, to fight for 100 a side, agreeable to the fol lowing articles:— " The pugilists agree to fight on the 16th of May, for 100 guineas a side. Fifty guineas a side are now deposited in the hands of Thomas Cribb, and the re mainder to be made good at Spring's on that day week before fighting. The battle to take place in a 24-feet roped square, within 30 miles of London, and the place to be named by Mr. Jackson. To be a fair stand-up fight, of half minute time, and umpires to be chosen, one each by the friends of the • men, and Mr. Jackson, or, in his absence, Mr. Sant, to fix upon the referree umpire, to whose decision, . in case the other umpires disagree, the parties con cerned in backing the men must accede. In case of default, the money staked to be forfeited." (Signed, &c. &c.) This has been a fighting week amongst the tan• ciers, and the battle we are about to record excited much interest. It was between .Elias Cart, who weighed more than 13 stone, and Dan Crowther a 1:.". stone man of science, who had bunged up many an eya. The battle took place on Spital-heath, at eight o'clock on Thursday morning. It was science against strength, and although six rounds only were fought, it was a gallant combat. Round 1. Crowther placed a direct Bush hit upon his adversary's ear, and it was returned by a tie-up body hit.— Crowther retreated, and after placing another hit lie was thrown. 2. Cart received three heavy hits, and the returns were dexterously avoided, bat in making a third blow Crowther • received a heavy hit in the body n hich floored him. S. Cart made play, and his adversary seemed to feel the effects of the last round, by keeping his distance, until pressed • against the ropes, when be fought himself out a to Randall, and much goodness was shewit on both sides, but strength gave Cart the best of ii, and he threw his adeersary a heavy full. Two to one on Cart, whose bead was mach mangled. 4. Ciowther had got second wind, as it is technically termed., and he bit his adversary's features out of place, and floored him by a body hit. 5. Both were much exhausted, and it was a tedious round, but Cron thee darkened leis adversary's right eye, and left only a gliinintr ofsiglit in the other. Both went down in a close, and Crirn•ther was barked at three to one. 6. Cart made a gallant rally, but his sight prevented him doing much execution. lie loosened his adverary's left jaw by a light handed Wan, and hit out too of his teeth hot Crowther fought at points, and beat his adveisary by blindosg him. Cwt was bit , it times on the head in this round ; and lie was floored by a closing hit in the wand, %%lin is gave victory to Cron flier.. 'fiwre was a second battle for a purse of five guineas. On Sunday afternoon, between the hours of three and live o'clock, the dwelling house of Mr. Robert uf Attleborough, was broken open while t 1),.: family were at chapel, and robbed of live pounds ten shillings in money, two watches, some silvee tea spoons, and a quantity of linen. Several drawers were broken open, in one of which was a bank re ceipt Inc 601. belonging to an inmate, which they left on the bed, thinking must probably it w0,d..! lead to their detection. DREADFUL ACCIDENT. — On Saturday List, es a tva 4 gotter was driving his team along Isleworth, heavily laden with goods, in turning in a gateway, the wheel came in contact with a newly built wall, and threw i t down. The waggoner, thinking no other injury wa dmie, drove on, 'ln was warned to turn hack, on hear s dreadful screams (ruin where the xva:: had fallen" o lieu it appeared that four children had been sitting behind the wall at the time of its failing, by which they were hurt d under the bricks. and mortar. Assistance was immediately proaured, end they were all dug out dreadfully bruised. A boy, abont six years of lig:, soh to Mr. Newsun, a carpenter, living at t he above place, was so much injured, that he died shortly afterwards,„ but we are happy to learn that all the rest ate like/1 era. recover. _ ~.