The National Register. — London, England, 1820-10-15 00:00:00

33' DisrovEnr OF TIIR MANITFACTURR OF SEDI. TIOCS AND TIMASONADLE PLACARDS. I al I M BOW STREET, SATURDAY, OCT. I. On Saturday evening a simple looking country lad, mined Geoffery Aduiugfield, who stated himself to be a waiter out of place, was brought before the Magis trates, Sir R. Baker, Mr. Birnie, and Mr. MIIIOIIIII, by Bacon's party of patrole, charged with distributing se ditious and inflammatory handbills among the people assembled in Parliament Street on that day. The handbills in question purported to be an address from the Committee appointed to matiagee the subserip tion for a service of plate for her Majesty to the public, and certainly a more atrocious publication never issued from the press. It contained the most open and undis guised incitements to rebellion, and professed to set up the Queen in opposition to his Majesty, as being equally entitled to the throne of this country. There was no printer's name attached to them. The prisoner its his defence, said, that being out of employment, he was standing at Charing Cross, looking out for a job on Saturday snornitig, when he was accost e I by a respectable looking elderly man, who asked if lie would earn a shilling, to which he replied most illingly." The gentleman then called a coach, and they ;t ot in, and the coachman was ordered to drive to NVinielta!l, but they hail not gone many yards when the stratyat l ed:cc! cut the handbills in question, and de tired hint to distribute them plentifully amongst the people in Parliament Street. He gave hilts a shilling, upon which he (prisoner) alighted, and the coach drove off with his employer. Mr. Mimhoil, who was the presiding magistrate, said the prisoner must pay a fine of 201. for distributing bills not having the printer's name affixed, or go to prison.— The lad cried at hearing this infinmation, and Mr. Birnir pleaded for him, observing, that he was evidently the tool of some crafty knave. and was certainly not an object for rigorous punishment. Mr. Nlinsholl remitted the fine, but observed that he most detain him for the crime of sedition. Mr. Charles Pearson, the Solicitor, said he attended officially as Sicietary to the Qtleell'S Plate Subscription Committee, and stated, that it was the third attempt that had been made to put forth papers of this kind, as vomiting from the Committee; but the maeistrates most be convinced, from the language this bill con tained, that the Committee must have been madmen to tend such an address as that to the public. They sus pected these papers to be the production of a person whom, he had some hopes, with the assistance of the magistrates, he should be able to find. The magistretes assured Mr. Pearson that he should have every assistance front Mein, and the boy, after giv ing a particular dseeription of the man, was taken to a watch-house until inquiries could be made. At Mr. Pearson's suggestion the depositions were taken in a private room, the particulars of which we are not acquainted with; but a warrant was granted, and Vickery was despatched to assist Mr. Pearson in the apreliension of the party charged. Ve are informed that Mr. Pearson having traced the party home to his country residence, about four utiles from Loudon, ratty on yesterday morning, he returned to Vickery, and they both set off together at a very early hour, and surprised the gentleman in his bed. He was brought to London, and safely lodged at Bow Street. It appears that the person charged is a gentleman of family and independent fortune. MONDAY, OM'. 9. It is already known to the public that a poor and ignorant boy, Addingfield, was on Saturday last brought up to this office, charged with circulating hand-bills of the most treasonable character. When Mr. Minshull, one of the Bow-street magis trates, was proceeding to fine this unfortunate tool in die hands of others, NI r. Pearson proposed to get the person who employed hitn apprehended. Having sworn that he had traced the fabrication to an individual, and hav ing obtained a warrant to apprehend hint, he accompa nied Vickery, the officer, to his house, and had him taken into custody on Sunday morning. This morning soon after ten o'clock. Sir R. Barker, Mr. Birnie, Mr. Nliushull anon afterwards took their seats. There happened to be but little night business to require the atteution of the Count. Mr. Pearson.—Will your worship proceed now then, to inquire into the charge upon which I obtained a war rant on Saturday ? Mr. Biosie.—l have no objection: let the persou charged be brought It was obsersed, we believe by one of the officers, that the gentleman w ts not come. Sir Robert Baker.--He will be here. Mr. Pearson.—l ask you upenly whether you have discharged him? Sir R. Baker —He has given securities for his appear ance, and he will be here so y o u may a ttend another day. Mr. Pearson.—This day was fixed for the purpose, an d I wish to know how it is that he is net bete? Sir Robert Baker —lie promised to b e h eft; a t is now past 11, hot he will be here in a few minutes Mr. Pearson.—Then I shall wait for a few minutes. Mr. Pearson came forward again, and raid---I beg leave to state any charges i aga.m. a person of the Ilaalle of Franklin, who was apprehended on Sunday morn ing by Mr. Vickery and myself. Against this person I have several cieuges, for fabricating and publishing placards, not only recommending sedition and insurrt e lion, bet resistance to the government by force, and for doing all this under the protection and amherity of that government. 1 hold in my hand many of those trea sonable papers, issned by this person at various times.— I charge him with being at this moment in treasonable conspiracy in the neighbourhood. I call upon you to grant a warrant for searching the house in which I believe him to be in. Mr. Minsbull.-11 that the voting man that was charged here With CtfelliatillZ seditious placards? I TIIE RATIONAL REGISTER Mr. Pearson.—No ; he was but the instrument whom Nlr. liirnie described as ignorantly giving ellect to the purposes of others. I have been rive days and live nights in search of the author of the placard and employer of the poor boy. I now ask for an officer to search for his per:iou. r. Nlinsitull.—You charge with treason ; the term is sidliviently Mr. Pearson.—l charge him with treason ; and I say that from this charge he is attempting to run out of the country. 1 call upon you to use the same means for securing hint as )nit would against an ignorant, a poor, and a seditious person, in the usual SCILC attached to the word seditious. Sir It. Baker.—We have sent to the man who un dertook far his appearance—a very respectable man, whom I have long known, and who lives in the neigh bouring parish. Mryearson.—l stated other charges against him to you. Nlr.liirnie. - Mr. 13imie.—Yes, you did, in your letter; and I re fused on that account to bail hint. lam quite sure he will not appear. Sir R. Baker.-1 know only this, that I discharged him upon the responsibility of a most respectable gen tleman who lives iu St. Martin's lane. I have no doubt that he will appear: if he does not, I shall spare no means to apprehend him, not only for this charge, but because he deceived use. Mr. Birnie.—Where is old Mr. NV illiams ? It was answered that hL: was in attendance. Sir Robert Baker.—Let Mr. ‘Villiams come forward. An old man of very respectable appearance, cause for ward to the eod of the table. Sir Robert Baker.—Have you seen your friend? :\lr. have not to-day. Sir Robert Baker.—Will he he here to-day? Mr. Williams.—Yes, he told toe so. Mr. Birnie.—l never expected that he would appear, and therefore I refused to take bail. Mr. Williams.--I was to call on him ; and I called at nice o'clock this morning; but he was not at home. Mr. Birnie.—Were you surprised ? or did you expect to find him ? Mr. did expect to find him. Mr. Birnie.—l never supposed that the accused meant to appear, and therefore I refused bail. I understood the arrangements to be, then, that he should be here at twelve o'clock, and you Mr. %Villiatns with him, ready with bail. Mr. Pearson.—Mr. Williams, you must be anxious to get him apprehended as well as I. You probably can tell us the names of some of his relations, with whom he may have taken refuge. Is his name Franklaud or Franklin? Mr. Williams.—Franklin. Mr. Pearson.—What is his Christian namet—Wil ham. Mr. Pearson.—William Franklin ? He lives in Cla rendon Place, Ealgeware Road. Mr. NVilliams.—Yes. Mr. Pearson —Has he not a son in the Guards? Mr. Williams.—He has. Mr. Pearson.—An officer in the Guards? Mr. NVilliams.—Yes, he is an officer. Mr. Birnie.—Mr. Pearson, you are now stepping too far. All this ought to be p►icate. Mr. Minshull, Mr. Pearson, and Mr. Williams, retired then to Mr. Stafford's room, where the inquiry was proceeded with. Mr. Stafford returned soon after wards, and said that Mr. Williams denied having given I bail. _ _ Sir R. Baker.—He certainly gave an undertaking ; 1 don't know whether he considers it bail or not. He soon afterwards retired into Mr. Stafford's room, to assist in the inquiry. From the examination of Mr. Williams it appeared that Mr. Franklin was a gentleman of large and independent fortune, and that ht.: had a son an officer in the Guards: he also said that he had been on the Sunday with the officer and the prisoner to Mr. Baltic, at his country house, in order to obtain his libe ration ; but that Mr. Btritie refused to comply with his request, and had advised Mr. Williams, as a friend, not to have any thing to do with the prismor. In defi ance, however, of this advice, he went to Sir R. Baker with the prisoner ; and that gentleman discharged him out of custody, upon his promfsing to appear on the next day. At this tittle Mr. Pearson observed that he had received information that Mr. Franklin was probably, at a house in the neighbourhood, and requested that an officer might be sent with hint to search the house.— Vickery was appointed to that service. The house ill belongs to a Mr. Dennis Gilt yait ; is situ tied in Craven -street, Strand ; and it was represented at the office (we know not with what degree of truth) that that gentleman has, Ic,r several years, held a sitiecia, place under government, worth 6001. per annum ; and that he is a writer fur a certain morning paper, taihich advocates the cause of the Nlinisters. Information was given at the office that Mr. nankin had been watched for sonic dOVS, and has hero observed to meet every day, at the house of Mr. Dennis O'Brvan, with slene other distinguished characters connected with the Ministerial press ; and that all the treasonable and seditious hind.bills arc carried to that house, and tl.e conspirators are admitted by a signal given of drawing a stick along the railing. When Mr. Pearson and Vic kery arrived at Craven -street, they were refused admit tance by the servant; when Vickery threatened to get in at the window. At length a gentleman from within, who appeared not to like the aspect of affairs, came out ; and the officer took advantage of the door being opened to enter the house followed by Mr. Pearson. Mr. Den nis O'Bryan soon made his appearance, anil declared twist vehemently that he did not even know 'lr. Frank• lin, although Mr. Franklin has been tracod into Mr. O'Bryan's house constantly during the last three )ears, and although Mr. Williams, upon his exa admitted that be bad met the aforesaid Mr. Dennis O'Bryan at Mr. Franklin's house. The search of Mr.O'Bryan's house was unsuccessful, and Mr. Pearson returned to the office. During his ab sence Mr. Harlon contrived to d raw some very important facts from Mr. Williams. Ile admitted that on the Sun. day night, so late as ten o'clock, Mr. Franklin told him he meant to go out of town, and that that morning at eight o'clock, Misa Franklin had told him that before twelve o'clock her father would be above 100 miles front London. Mr. Pearson, attended by Mr. Ilaydon, Mr. Wilson, and two other gentlemen, then went to the Secretary of state's office, and had an interview with Mr. Clive, who, very much to astoaishment of the party, had received intelligence of all that lid transpired, and was as well acquainted with the mysterious escape of the accused, and all the minutiae of the case, as were the gentlemen themselves. Ile further laboured to justify the conduct of Sir Robert Baker, by saying the charge was only that of a mi,demeanour, and that therefore he might let him out at his discretion. Mr. Pearson, with great energy to Mr. Clive, told him, that he begged he would expressly tinderstand, that, in the prebence of the gentlemen then in the room, he invited me aid of the Home Depart ment to secure the apprehension of the accused ; that, as the Secretary of State was in the habit of offering rewinds, and issuing proclamations, for tile arrest of offenders of comparatively minor importance, he earnestly entreated of hint, that very day, to take measures for the appre hension of this daring offender. Mr. Clive said that Lord Sidmouth was not then at die office ; but that, if Mr. Pearson would call another day, he would receive an answer to his application. Mr. Pearson replied, that, as he believed the accused would quit the country, it was that night only, that the services of his Lordship would be of any use ; and that, therefore, he would call again if such were Mr. Cli%e'a pleasure ; but he woad not leave the neighbour hood without receiving a decisive answer. Mr. Pearson left with Mr. Clive two of the seditious hand-bids, and was appointed to call again at hall past four o'clock, at which time that gentleman and his friends returned, and Mr. Clive, addressing them, said, that Lord Sidinmth did not sue any thing in the hand bills to justify his interference. It should be stated, that one of the two bills left stated, among other seditious and inflammatory expressions, the following; alluding to the execution at Derby :—" Strike not at all, or strike home; think of our personal insupportable servitude, and always remember that the alternative is, liberty, or a glorious grave." Mr. Pearson replied, that if such were Lord Sid mouth's answer, and for such reasons, he had drawn his conclusions front insufficient premises ; adding that he rested his claim to Lord Situouth's interference, not relying upon those placards, infamous and treasonable as they were, but also urn 18 others, all of which had been circulated during re last three years. Mr. Clive said distinctly that he had stated this to Lord Sidmouth, who had replied that he saw no occasion for the inter. ference of the department over which he presided; and, therefore, Mr. Pearson and his frieuds made their bow, and retired. Late last evening Mr. Minshull, announced to Mr. Pearson, at Bow-street, that, finding the tale of Adding. field to be true, 41u1 that he had been the dupe of the designs of others, he (Mr. Minshull) had shown com passion to him, and had only find him oh., and sen tenced him to hard-labour in the house of correction for three months !:1 A gentleman standing by said, with great feeling, " From such conspeuion, good Lord, deliver us." What a singular inversion of the rules of judgment. — Mr. Franklin is charged with being the author of this bill ; poor Addingfield could not read it. Mr. Franklin is a man of fortune. Poor Addingfield is the very plc:Aire of wretchedness and distress. Mr. Franklin is charged with having lot three years endeavoured to excite the people to treason and rebellion. Poor Addiugtield, evi dently had not brains enough to catch a goose upon a common. Yet Franklin is permitted to escape, and Addinghcld receives the compassion of a Magistrate, which sends him to jail for a crime of which lie was unconscious, and imposes a fine which he can never pay. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10. This day Mr. Pearson again appeared at Bow Street, accompanied by Anhui Scale, John Mickley, and Jas. Brown, as wiinerses, to , prove some further charg e s against Mr. IVilliam Franklin, for the publication of other infamous placards. It appeared from the deposition of John Mickley, that during the nielit before the concinirse of peiip.e were assembled to witness thecha ring of Sir K Butilea, Mr. Franklin bad einieloycd the deponent to tut about the most popuious parts of Westminster, and those streets in which the crowd were collectec:, hand bilh of the intISI violent Cllar...‘ivr, todeaveuring to profit by ti.. the agitmed &Lae of public iccliiu to create tumult and h;sorfcciioii. The good sense of the Foide, however, reorkted them proof against the michwations of the mysterious individual.. It appeared further, that he einp!uyed ILa bill.stichert as late as twelve o'clock at night, and went about with them while they posted utlu the hi Is, w hiell was dote uoilzr his 11'1'i:enrl. 'flu, occupied them until between niece and four oVack hit the morning, during all which time he remained with the men. it further appeared from the deposition of the infer that Oil the night orevions to the last Smithfie id Meeting, he had watched Mr. Franklin from the hou e of the printer in 'Tottenham Court Road, wllh a 1 "' • bundle of bills, which he carried to a coach, and wan another friend (whose name, Mr. Pearson did not deem it pri;:lent at that time to disclose, went as tar as the stand at Charing-cross, whets they alighted, and gal 111(0 another coach, dnuhthu to baffle any Clldeavotir to truce them in this co,xll Mr. Frunkliu went as far as Parliament•street, amid then got out and went " i h the parcel down King•street, and then tinned up Downing street; the examinant waited, atid in about half an boa Mr. 1 : 11‘3.11111 rt turned to the coacn, drove to