The National Register. — London, England, 1820-07-31 00:00:00

• /,‘ k Les7,- :70. 1,259—V0L. XIII.] KENT ASSIZES. TRIAL OF NESRETT, TOE THE asuarovt or MR. PARKER AND 1119 HOUSEKEEPER MAIDSToNE, JULY S B. James Nesbett was indicted for the wilful murder of Thomas Parker, at Woolwich, tit th., 3.1 March, MO. A separate indictment charged him with the murder of Ssrah Brown, at the same time and place. There were also indict:, ems intrutmg to the prisoner the crimes of arson and borglary. The prisoner was first put upon his trial for the murder of Mr. Parker. The Common Serjeant and Mr. Chitty colducted the prosecution, and Mr. Andrews appeared fur the prisoner. At the first silting of the Court an application was made by the prisoner's Counsel to pfistpoue the trial, on the ground of the absence of a material witness, hut Mr. Baron Wood being of opinion that ample time had already been offered the prisoner td prepare fur his de fence, refused the application. Mr. Chitty opened the pleadings, and the . . Common Serjeant stated the case to the Jury at great length, and with much perspicuity. The following witnesses wk re then called in support of his statement. Isabella Johnson proved, that on the 31 of March, between one and two, she saw the deceased Sarah Brown, the housekeeper of the deceased Mr. Parker. Witness spoke to her. Witness saw Mr. Parker between five and six on the same day in his own parlour—if he had gene to bed that night witness could have seen hint, hut did not. Mary Giles proved that she lived next door to the de ceased—on the 3tl March heard no knocking at the door —heard it openand shut—heard a noise about eleven but did not know where it was. David Brooks proved, that on the 4th of March he was quartered at Woolwich, and passed Mr. Parker's house at one in the morning. He saw smoke coining out of the chimney. At half-past one, on an alarm of lire, he came to the house—he broke open the door and went in was locked withinside, on the spring, as in the day time; the house and furniture were ott fire—the front parlour was burning, full of smoke; he threw water Into the room. When the smoke was dispersed two beilks were laid on the table ; could distinguish that one was a woman, but not the man; there was only one leg of the woman left unhurt ; a man's lute was on the foot a that leg; there was blood on the floor behind the parlour door—no great quantity ; it was then web On his cross-examination he said, that there was a crowd of twelve persons at the door when he first went up—did not see any windows open. William Lyou, at two in the morninx of the 4th of Iklarch, came to Parker's house, on an alarm of fire—the door was open ; he wait in an I matiageil the engine hose; the fire in the front room up stairs was extin guished ; the parlour was smoking ; when the smoke subsided saw the skull of a litiman being on the floor; not severed from the body—it was much burnt. I gave an alarm ; there was a woman behind the skull de.td— her legs and feet is ere burnt, and her clothes Arty touch ; her head and face not at all burnt ; there was hood about the nose ; there were marks of blows on the bean: one fan the hack part ; the bodies were laid ou the table; the body of the man, in lifting, broke into pieces. Stephen Howard proved, that on the 3d , 1 March he • alarmed by fire between one and tne in the night ; went to Mr. Parker ' s house; the door tt3:, Opel.; got a ladder and broke the windows on the ground and tiist floors ; broke open the shutters of the prima and bed ✓oom ; went into the first chamber ; saw a chest of drawers, with all the drawers polled out ; they seamed to have been 1-11111nm,ed ; pa l ters were strewd about the room, and all appeared in confitsion ; the curtimis and counterpane looked as if they had been loom ; the tire there did not seem to comaintiicate with that below ; a blanket was fastened up CO ore window, which faced the street; went into the lied-chamber; nothing burnt there nor disturbed; neither of the beds had been slept in that night; examined the back dour; it was fastened; witness forced it open. On his cross•examinatiou, could not be sure as to the state of the beds. John Hay proved, that on the 4th of March, at two in the aisoilinig, he went to Parker's house; took the engine; went into the eight or ten people there; went the front chamber; there had been fire about the bed, but it w i gs out. The lire there did not communicate with time lire in the parlour. The bedding was nut much burnt—the bed was thrown out of the window before witness arrived. The drawers in every room had been opened, except in the parlour, so as to spew what they contained, and the articles dropped On tiw door just under the drawers; them had been fire in the ruom over the chamber, that was a bed-room tun, and mine than the lower one. The lire here could not have arisen from either of tbe rooms below ; the bed ow : , ius Were nearly destroyed; the bed and bed clothes very mulch Injured, particularly the feathers; it °not have been burning a considerable tulle. • ~P 5. IS' [PRICE Sid. moved, witness received a letter from ; witness de. strovvd it; don't know that the signature • James Nes belt' was the prisoner's hand-writiog. The letter asked witness to get a man anu Mr. Cole to take their c.aths, that the prisoner hail desired the man to pay money to Mr. tole by a 51. dote, which Ann Kirby [tad sworn to be a Inf. note; and wanted witness to go to NIT. Carter to gel some money, which was taken from him when he era 4 appre,tended ; also wanted to know if Ann Kirby was coming against hint; if xhedid he would base her caoppi4l, Mr she was ;lie worst enemy he had. Witness did not know whin 'cropped' meant. Joseph Irish, watchmaker, at Portsmotrh.—Prisoner came to witness on tile loth of March—lell a repeating watch to he cleaned—it was cleaned. Prisoner called for it en the 13t1r. Witness aiterwards saw the watch in possessioto of Barnard Solomons—it was an old fashioned watch and very particular. Witness brought back the walcit the same day—it had stopped—he called for it again in a few day s—.le asked its value. XV itness said it was worth 51.—he said, "Is it no:. gold ?" Witness said he thought 11 was. Pt !slim r said it had been in his (amity 100 years—he had the watch away. Barnard Solomons, pawnbroker, at Portsmouth, knows prisoner; he came to witness's shop on the 22J March; produced a watch—(last witness identified the watch as the one cleaned by him)—asked tell gaineas for it ; said it had belonged to his deceased lather ; he was 83 years old when he died. Witness svuMd not give that price for it. Prisoner said he had some °A silver at the Geowe Inn, and would call the next day; be took away the watco, and called the next day at three ; he produced tile watch and several spoons, six or seven Lble.spootts, and as many tea spoons; they weighed }ounces. Wittiebs bought the wuoe for 91. (is. (witness produced spoons), they are marked T. P. M. and smite W. M. P. Prisoner said his name was Pages witness sold some of the spoons but afterwards pt must of them back. Prisenter acknowledged that these were tile spoons and watch which he sold to witness. Edward llunt, gaol ' r at Portsnintith,arrested the prisoner oil the 23d of March ; went wins Thomas Hill, at half-past I L at night ; found hint at the Heti Lion ; he was alone. When I entered lie pulled out a pistol; I caught it by the muzzle; Hill followed ; in the scuffle I fell but got it front hint ; he drew another pistol; Hill and the landlord laid hold o him; I got up; we secured hint, and got away both the pisiois; one was loaded with powder and nearly to the muzzle —Ho Clint—toe other had balls, and a lion, and printiog. Hill searched him, and found torte opeucu a trunk, 31111 a box in it—they were iu the h.:LI-room— the ptisotier's romn—in the I...rge trunk were clothes, a coral, and a fit:; there were remains of mark Oil coral ; it had been filed away, as it appeared by tile file we found ; there was a cap with a gold baud, and a pnr of trowscrs burnt a; the hip, and a wot o aprou ; and ulro a pair of SpeCtaCles, not Silver. I the little Lux I found a gold watch, a pat: oi silver sugar tongs, thatkett M. 11. a siker sauce fa.ifc, IWO tilb.e spoons, six teL Spoons—the maker's nave en the Waco was Vick, I anttloo—severa I rings, brooch -s, ch sins, ear-I lugs, pins, and various ortiaineuts, all gold, also s ooi e kiree-hudsles. Tney wen! all shewit to the prisonet—tie a,ked for an inventory—lie said m ere all his. Cross-exatilitted.—P.isoner said he had bought some of the things of two men trained Pearce and Caritte. This was three days afterwards. Thomas Hill accompanied the last witness, and corm. borated the whole of his statement ; he produced the watch and a gold dia.') and seal, and motioer seal, eiw . .lued T. P. %vim carants other of the arneles men tioned by lluut, parccularly Ilse silvc r y.tcacics luau Lt d T. P. %%iiicli were bond cu t..e prisotiet's person; wit ness charged the pr atom .Vitil the lie replied, " You Lit...iv Im; little about that ;et, hut you mill Litow a great deal more." Henry It:Milli, High Constable of nlackheatli.—l :lace known the prison 7r lowly years; a.. long as 1 have known him he has A rnie by the name of Nesben ; pri- SOliees filter is haw Its Mg; lie is quite a poor Ina 4* From OCtolier to March tne prisoner was absent (ruin 11 uolcvich; Reid gave me some articles from the lire-- Jewellery (witness produced them); they resemble Mos.• found on the prisoner in fashion and date. I took clown what the prisoner said at Portsmouth, and it over to loin, in the presence til I fill, oil the 2stli March. No Iltieat protillSe Was used to littil.—('rite paper was produced, and identified tiv the cvoness.)-1 Paw the pri soner sign that paper " dames Neshett."—(The paper was read, and purported to Le at account of the pri soner's I.w - chasing, of some Wen shunt he met lie3r IL'oolcrtch, the articles found upon him at the time of his apprehelisimi.) On the 1 Ito of April prisoner twee another conindinical ion in me in the g.,nl at Nlattistotte. I took insult what he said, but tint in lit, pi:settee,. our did 1 ever shesv it its Ilitll.(WiLii, W. 13 adtmed to read the paper.) It was a confession that the riismier had been etine. riled in the :nuttier, with four ntlit r 1111..11. who were then out of the cotintry, anti %vim, if tticy cosild Icatiti, would, lie intro:Alt, el:Jr Litt. Jury returned a % erd lei t.f Gsiltrfottd the orisofier was ordeted tor execution on 310tt0 . ... ? ‘thts da).) .' Q -C . ;. ' 1 .. t /1 4 .. ::A'F: -• i_ . A. ! s l o i .\ • . 0 . , % ,,,41` A.., 1 Q........_•71%4'% i - e;) vy •doe uxe,4lAtx n . tiow. tzr+ Our litingt eondtituti3n anti t ataa• MONDAY, JULY 31, 1820. 1 his witmss deseribrd the state of tile bodies more particokirly, but trot materiallythlicriog from the twiner witotises. W.lliam Cant a constable, proved, that on the third floor there Was a box containing a consider:l'ole quantity of plate, some Of it illafked T. P. Al. Titete was no pbuidering on the premises. The rest of his testimony was similar to that of the other wit,tesses. Heaven pr0..e.1, that he found in the privy some /tapers and a tin box, which he gave to the Coro ner's ury. Adam Reid proved, that he well knew Mr. Parker and his houskeeper—saw then. bodies. No one Inc(' in the house but those two; recognized the body of Sa rah Brown; could not distinguish Mr. Parker; the shoe and foot of ONC leg were nearly entire ; thenuilit it was Parker's foot-and shoe; sow a good deal of jewellery on the floor in the parlour; deceased had been a fancy jeweller; witoesskileW SgtliC of the jewellery before as belonging to the deceased. Raven plover', that he made shoes for Mr. Parker; saw the bodies; reco4nized Sarah Brown; knew the shoe on the foot of the tither body; thinks it was of witness's making ; had tome s:retched that shoe, so as to break it on each side of the strap; had. doubt of the shoe; Parker's foot was particularly high on the instep; had no doubt the foot of the body was Parker's. William Patten, a surgeon, proved that he sow the bodies ; Parker's skull was fractured in several places; the blows seemed to be given with a circular Wenn in strument ; thought it must have been a hammer; they must hate caused instant death ; the female's head was fractured in two places; the lice much bruised; the fractures must have Caused instant death. Thomas Colts, publican, at Portsmouth, proved, that he saw the prisoner at Portsmouth a mouth before the murder; lode,ed with wtiness; prisoner left witness on the 10111 of February; he then owed 51.; borrowed 11. of wiIIICSS then to 140 to 1,011(1011. Prisoner said he was going there to sell sum.; it ,, ods, and to see his father and friends. Witness was repai : on the sth of March at 110011, by a !At - miring man, who took away the prisoner's tronk—it was paid by a 51. time ; SAW the prisoner once after this in Portsmouth. When ue lodgt:d wail witness he went by the name olJanies Watson. Cross-examined.—Prisoler had valuable gonds,chiefly silk. When sober, the prisoner was rely peaceable and quiet; had the optitalmia when living with witness; (lid not wear speet.icles. Francis Fataner—Coachman of the Ircro Coach; drives all the way; recollects prisont r ; nu the 4111 of March took bhp up at Mouse-hill, 3(i miles ir o n' L o n. don; had a small bundle with him ; he sat on the box; said he had come from town to M,iford by the Chiches ter coach that morning.; chewed witness a coral, which Ise slid he had 'Omni ; it was in a .arnisind state; Irft hist, at the Fountain Inn, Portsmouth, at six o'clock that evening. Cross-examincd—But not for the Way-bill should not have remembered the day. Ann Kirby lived at Portsmouth; an tin rortunate wo• mall there; lint knew prisonerin November ; Knew Ii :u by the name of Watson; know lion titl he left Pol.:s ummit) in February; he had a nephew there; the nephew called hint Prisoner said he tva. lig to duo to jr.ct some money; saw him on his :Thu:, from I.undrai on the 411 of March , said he hail come limn Woolwich friends; said he and another rode on horseback to %louse Mil, and front thence lie came by the coach; said tic arrived at ei.,111, and came to wit oess directly, prisoner slept with %%nuns that night, at the Red Lion. Next day, at breakfast, prisoner sent a mail r. Cole's, pith a note to pay 41. 1.5 i. trd. Tut: shah row - m . (l with a trunk and sonic llJar,c in a paper. Prisoner slept four nights more there with the witness. fter Ihat, the winless wasafraid to sleep with him. Ile threatened to kill witness, and w.ts su al.:rinei; to lus sleep, would cry out in his sleep " What's that !" and call on some name, Betsey or Sally. I n consequence of this witness lett prisoner. lie t ate witness ear-ringi and a shawl, sod in money. Witness occasionally slept with him .ifterwardv—lris behavidur in the night conti nued the saute. PI itoiler said he had killed two men and one woman—the men its duals; it was a secret, and witness must not divulge it. lle killed the woman by striking her, but lie did not like to hear of it. Pt isimer ()lien went to the play alter he returned from Lotnion, and dressed ditlert Illy to what he haul done before—a hat instead of a cap, and white tip boots—let his whis kers grow, which he did not before, athl wore silver spectacles. This witness underwent a very long and severe cross examination, but she did not deviate materially I runt her oriainal story. %Vinton' Ouffey, nephew to the prisoner, was at Ports mouth in illarch ; first saw plot:inter at 1' nisnlonth in November; his lialtle is James Neshett; lie went by the name oh Watson in November; he said he went after ins mother's name. On the 4th Ni arch saw th , ortstmer at seven in the evening; said lie cane from W: , olvvich by the coach, said he had seen witness's übothe.. at *Woolwich. On the sth of ;March saw prisoner and Ann 1> troy at the Red Lon, at holf.past Ik) 111 the morn ing; saw theta together again; alter he was