The Statesman. — London, England, 1812-05-12 00:00:00

TIT E STATESMAN. ASSASSINATION OF MR. PER CEVAL. sengers was called in, who followed with Be Lt.tmo- HAM in their custody, and they were succeeded by Lord OiitILSTON, Mr. VILLILIVI, Mr. Mamatad, Mr. %Vl'Aims, Mr. PULL, and about ten others. The Sew sa also directed that all Members who were Magistrates of Middlesex, as well as all per sons who had witnessed any part of the transaction, should attend the Committee, to examine and to give evidence. Sir C. Bement: produced the loaded pistol taken from the Prisoner, and another Member the bundle of papers found in his co it pocket, ' The House was then adjourned, List night we had the painful task imposed upon 43 of being the first to announce to the Public, in a l'hitd Edition, the above dreadful occurrence. We now lay before our Readers the whole particulars which have come to our knowledge respecting this awful catastrophe. Yesterday afternoon, at about a quarter past five, as Mr. Pt•tcrrar, was entering the Lobby of the House of Commons, he was shot by a person of the name of Bettrstanus, who had placed himself for that purpose at the side of the door leading from the stone staircase. Mr. PLRCEVAL was in company with Lord F. Osnoasx, and immediately on receiving the ball, which entered the left breast, he staggered and fell at the feet of MOV.SIII2II, who was standing refer thesecond pillar. The only words he uttered were, 4 ' Oh! I am murdered," and the latter was inarticulate, the sound dying between his lips. He was instantly taken up by Mr. SMrrn, who did not recognize him until be had looked in his face. The report of the pistol immediately drew great numbers to the spot, who assisted Mr. SMITH in conveying the body of Mr. PERCEVAL into the Speaker's aparhneuts, but before he reached them, all signs of life had deputed. Mr. Pant-tam.% corpse was placed upon a bed, and Mr. LYNN, of Great George-street, who had been sent for, arrived, hut too late even to witness the last symptoms of expir ing existence. He found that the ball, which was of an unuenaliy large size, had penetrated the heart near its centre, and had passed completely through it. From thence the body was removed to the Speaker's drawing-room, by Mr. LvriN and several Members, and it was laid on a sofa. The horror and dismay occasioned by the assassi nation of Mr. Pracevat. prevented any attention from being paid to other persous, and it was not un til the Right Hon. Gentleman was raised from the door that a person belonging to the Vote Office ex- Maimed, C 6 Where is the rascal that fired?" when a person of the name of BELLINGMAX, who had bees unobserved, stepped up to him and coolly observed, " I am the unfortunate man." He did not make any attempt to escape, though be had thrown away the pistol by which he had perpetrated the horrid deed, but resigned himself quietly into the hands of some of the bye-standers. They placed him upon a bench near the Ire. plate, where they kepe hits, and all the doors were closed, and the egress of any persons prevented. When the assassin was interrogated as .15 his motive for this dreadful act, he replied, " My 1 name is Bruastosiewi it a private injury—l I know whet I have done—lt was a denial of jus.; dee on the part of Government." At this time i the Pthelllif Was in DO legal custody, but was summed.' by Assay Members, vibe insiatied diet he should be taken Into the body of the Home. The trinsimal was, however, previously seerched,lowhich he made no resistance, and upon his peries were' found a steel piped, loaded, about seven inches.ln length (the fellow to that with which he had effected his fatal purpose, which had been secured) with a short screw barrel, and a bundle of papers faded like letters. Two Messengers, WRTOMT and Sart. ton, then conveyed the Prisoner to the bar of the House of Commons, where the utmost confusion and anxiety prevailed. The Speaker had quitted the Chair, the-House having resolved itself into the Com mittee on the Orders in Council, but on hearing the, afflicting intelligence, he returned and resumed his seat. Order having been restored, General GAR. COIGNE said in an audible voice, " I think I know the villain," and walking up to the assassin, and looking in his face enquired, " Is not your name BLLLINGNAId?" Ile returned no answer, but by. shaking his head, and stood afterwards motionless, and apparently composed, resting his hands upon the I 13ar, and looking directly forwards to the Chair. The SPEAKER then proposed in a firm voice, that the criminal should be conveyed to the prison-room , and that a Magistrate should be sent for to receive the examination of the witnesses of the shocking , rkisactiou. , ;--[Hear, hear ?] He also stated, that in order that the Prisoner might be less able tp at. tempt an escaee, or a rescue be effected by accom. plices, it would be fie that he should be conducted to The place of confinement, not through the lobby where the murder had been perpetrated, but through tap private avenues rouud the House. This proposal was highly approved, and the SPrAKER further said, that it might render the do .ention of the criminal moresecure if Members would precede, in order to see that all the passages were -!tar. BELLI NGH AM was conducted without the slightest resistance to a large room beyond the termination of the upper lobby, where the Magistrate (Mr. W tr. soy, Serjeant at Arms of the House of Lords), who had been sent for, attended ; Mr. Alderman COMAE, Mr. ANGELO TAYLOR, and other Magistrates, as. sisted at the examination. The following are Minutes of the Rumination : • EVIDENCE. Mr. BunGess, the first witness examined, stated, that he secured the prisoner after the pistol had been fired. The prisoner did not attempt to escape. General GASCOtes c, M. P. said, he was acquainted with the person of the prisoner, and he remembered his name, but not kis Christian name. Witness knew him from the circumstance of his calling on him to present a Petition to Parliament. The Ceneral re lated, that he was cooling out of the house when Mr. PERCEVAL was shot. lie seized the prisoner, and took from him a pistol, w hich he produced. (The pistol was a small pocket size, with the name of • Locke on it.) Mr. Sxxrom stated, that he was standing in the Lobby : witness saw Mr. PERCEVAL fall. The pri souer at the same time came close to the witness, touched him on the shoulder, and exclaimed, " I am the unfortunate man who did it." After Mr. PER- I CEVAL had been shot in the left breast, he advanced • half up the Lobby, and sunk down, audsaid, " I am murdered !" He sunk on his knees, and was carried in thearms of Mr. BRADiIIAW and Mr. GUMMING to the Speaker's room. .While Mr. PERCETAL was falling, the prisoner repeated the words before stated, and immediately sat down on a teat on the left side of the Lobby, saying, " So much for the Orders in Council." In the course of ten minutes be was secured, and carried to the Bar of the House, from thence to the Strong Room, and afterwards to the Private Committee-room, where he was then under leivamination. The prisoner was secured by General GAscoicNz and Mr. IkßUess. lie had two pistols. l Mr. HOME SUMNER took some printed papers from ,the prisoner. On searching the prisoner, a 11. I note, a guinea, and some silver, were found io his 'pocket. Laid Ossta.svow said, he heard the report of a pistol ; but could not swear who tired it. Ile saw the Prisoner by the side of M.r. PERCEVAL. lie was I • igorog out of the House at the time. Lord FAANCIS G. OSIIORNE deposed to the same affect. Mr. GVIWING deposed, that he raised up Mr. Peaccras, and wiled him to the Speaker's room. lle saw Mr. PEnctv.t.t. fall, and he never left him till he died. - - FRANCIa RoMILLY, nephew to Sir S. Ro mILLY said, he was behind Mr. PERCIVAL coming up the steps to the Lobby. The witness heard the report of a pistol; but could not tell who had fired it. The Prisoner, after each witness had been inter. rogated, was asked, what he had to say ? and re. turned for answer, that he should know what he had to say at another place, but he did not deny that he had said the words which Mr. SAXTON had men• tioned. General TARLETON said, he knew the Prisoner by calling on him six weeks ago. On that occasion he could hardly get him out of his house. He formed an opinion, at that time, that the Prisoner was insane. The Magistrates considered the evidence sufficient to warrant the committal of the Prisoner, and he ac. tordingly stood committed. The examination then closed, and the witnesses were bound over to prose. cute. Lord Carrttaracit, Mr. CvmwzNo, Mr. Wnivaaxxo, and other Members were present at the euminatiou. The facts stated, seem to discountenance altoge ther the idea that any accomplices were concerned with BLLLINIIHAM I; this inhuman deed. A great many Gentlemen immediately rose to corn. ply with the request, when Mr. INutrasE.to, in a tone of voice which be- 1 frayed the difficult) he felt in commanding his feel- ' 1 logs, observed, that to prevent confusion it would he better if those Members who should go before for the purpose of seeing that the passages were clear were named from the Chair, or the eagerness of all to fulfil the undertaking would prevent its proper ciecotiort.—[Hear !] • 'the SPZAKIM added, that it would be right that the ohnott precaution should be used, not only lest tae criminal should injure other!, but should attempt violence o:i bitasulf [Hear, hcw' I—He then named Mr. WILITBRI;AO, Mr. and Mr. Booms * who iireely left Ow llouse to clear the avenues to the ;r:so . o-toom . • The ... as" sistai.ce of several other Mes- ,I , • Daring the whole of the examination the assgssiti mainttined the utmost composure. Ile said he had for more than a fortnight watched for a fayourable opportunity of effecting his purpose; that he had im plored for justice in vain that fie had Made applica tion to every person likely to procure him redress ; and that he had been at length driven to despair, by bei'ig told at the public offices that he might do his worst.—" I have obeyed them—l have done my worst, and I rejoice In my deed." Not the slightest Ayttiptom cif remorse appeared in the wretch, notwith standing the universal horror which his atrocity had produced on all that surrounded him. Mrs. PERCEVAL was on a visit to the Hon. Mrs. Rirortt, Ludy of the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Home Department, at his house in Great George.street, Westminster, when the sad ca tastrophe bappenod, and was apprised of it en her return at five o'clock, to Downing-street. Mrs. Pm- MAL and his children, 12 in number, are plunged into inexpressible grief, as is Lord ARDEN, his bro ther. Every window of the house was immediately closed, but the street was thronged with the populace till midnight. The environs of Parliament-street and Palace-yard were rendered almost impassable by the pressure of the crowd, notwithstanding the vigilance of the Po be Moms. I A Cabinet Council was summoned, and the de ! pansy, of the Post was delayed, till dispatches could be made out, and instructions prepared for die Civil land Military Authorities in every part of the United Kingdom, in order that seasonable steps may be taken for prsreerring the peace throughout the coun try—and particularly in these districts where an in flamed and infatuated multitude have committed the most savage barbarities. We have every reason to belie►e that the measures taken will be effectual ; as the military power in the disturbed counties is en trusted to a most rigorous and yet humane Officer, the Hon. General MAITLAND, in whose sagacity, firmness, and exertions, the public may have the most entire confidence. The Earl of DERBY and Earl of STAMFORD have also left town for their respective counties, to exert VA,. authority as Lords Lieute slants, to restore tranquillity. The Committee concluded their examination of the assatain at half after nine o'clock ; and a notice was sent to Mr. NEWMAN, the Keeper of Newgate, to prepare for the reception of the delinquent. Mr. Sheriff lieyovre went himself to Newgate, and gave particular directions, that the murderer, when re ceived into the gaol, should be watched in such a way as to prevent the possibility of his perpetrating sui cide. The Cabinet Council sat to a late boor, and be tween twelve and one o'clock this morning he was conveyed under a strong escort of Dragoon Guards, in a coach, to Newgate. The commitment was signed by MICHAEL A xcelo TAYLOR, Esq. who accompanied him in the coach to Newgate, attended by Mr. Russ, one of his Majesty's Messengers, and two Officers of the Police. The troop of horse was under the command of Colonel BARTON: the cavalcade did not arrive at Newgate till one o'clock, and by orders of the Cabinet Coun cil two men were ordered to sit up in the cell with him. To prevent any disturbances from the advantage which the ill-disposed might take of the general agi tation, a number of constables were ordered out. In the city, the Loan Mayoa adopted similar pre cautions, by issuing his precepts through the Mar shalmen and Beadles, to compel the attendance of all the constables at the watch-houses, and ordering them to pay special attention to their duties. The nature of the man's claims we understand to be no other than that he imputes to our Ministers in Russia the want of protection, or of interference iu a dispute which he had with the Consul of Archangel s by which he incurred a loss of 7 or 80001. hut ink which the British Government had nothing to do. He was imprisoned in Russia, in consequence of his violence; and on his arrival here, he applied to ail the Public Offices, even those which had nothing to do wills auy sack bunions; and was told by ail of them, that they could not take cognizance of his private affairs. He says that he was driven to des pair; be three weeks ago, bought the pistols for the horrid deed, which he has at last perpetrated. BELLINGMAX is a tall, large-boned man, about 40 years of age, with a thin, long visage and aquiline nose ; his e y es are sunken, and his complexion, at The dreadful intelligence spread with amazing ra- the time we saw him jest after the assassination, of a pidity, and before six o'clock, the crowd collected ghastly, pallied hoe. lie wore a drab coat, light on the outside was so great, that it was deemed pru- striped waistcoat, breeches and boots, and is of gen dent to close the doors of Westminster Hall, as well teel appearance. After committing the horrid deed as to plant constables at all the entrances, to prevent he quietly sat himself down on the bench near the fire a concourse within the passages of the House. In in the lobby ; but before he was taken into the House, gress was denied to all persons but Members and wit- he appeared greatly agitated and clasped his hands, nesses. The multitude kept augmenting every 'although he was far from supplicating pity. His mute, and a... length it was resolved, that in order to . principal anxiety seemed to be, to persuade the won ensure traoquillity, and to produce a dispersion of dering spectators that the act was justifiable from the the mob, that the Horse Guards should be called provocation he had received. out. They accordingly left their quarters, and pa- A new writ will be moved this day for the election raded in Old and New Palace-yard) and in St. Mar of a Member for Northampton, in the room of Mr.' gavot and Parliament-streets until a late hour. The gates of St. James's Park were closed about eight .Psacas tt.; after which, it is supposed a short ad. o'clock, where the Foot Guards were drawn out, journment (at least of public, business) will take place, to give the Panics FiIiGENT time to arrange a and the City Militia, as well as several bodies of vo lunteers, were called on to'preserve the peace of the new AAlmiuistmtion. Metropolis; and they all mastered with an. alacrity The inquest on the body will be taken before Lord that did them thebighest bonen. t ELLexueaoven, the Grand Corouer of England. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. A few minutes after fire o'clock . yesterday after neon, Mr. PERCEVAL proceeded on foot and aloft, from his residence in Downing-street to the House of Commons.—On entering the lobby, a man, who had been some time there, held a pistol over him on hii ' left side, fired, and shot him through the left breast, near his heart. Mr. PERCEVAL walked forwards for three or four yards, as ir nothing hail happened, and had reached the midway between the door of the lobby and the immediate door of the House, when ihe staggered, and sunk on his knees, exciaimii.g in a faint voice, " 4 lam murdered, murdered !" Loud FRANCIS ONDORNE and Mr. RIDLEY Cl/LSI/URNS, who were passing from the llouseat the time, aid Mr.' F. PHILLIPS, a gentleman from the neighbourhood of Manchester, who happened to be in the lobby, instantly rushed forwards, raised, and suppo!ted him. Mr. PERCErAL groaned twice very deeply, and was carried into the Speaker's Secretary 's room ('he • door leading to which is between the fire-place in the Lobby, and the Vote Office), where he bled pros .fusely, both from the wound and from his mouth, and in about five minutes, without uttering a-4,11e I word, expired in the arms of Mr. PUILLIPS. The Lobby was very thin, not above twenty persons ' being in it. The assassin, as soon as he had perpe • traded this diabolical act, made no attempt w batove to escape, but retreated to a ketch near the fire place in the Lobby. A Gentleman, of the name of , Minas, who had followed Mr. PERCEVAL Into the Lobby, immediately seized him, and never quilted his grasp until he was taken into the House of Cost ' mons. White held securely on the bench, Mr. Buttons, the Solicitor, of Curzon-street, May Fair (who was also in the Lobby), wrenches! the pistol which he had just discharged, and which was yet ear*, from the right hand of the assassin. Soon after this General GAimoteree entered the lobby from above stairs, and on seeing the assassin, and 'nearing what a ! dreadful occurrence had taken place, was ..vein ditt , culty prevented from shooting him. The Get era!, and is Mr. VINCENT DOWLING, Who I ad eotered the Ite.hy 1 with him, proceeded to search the villa, a. M. Dowursc took from his bre dos pocket an opt ra glass and a loaded pistol. Genet al flascortls c drew from another pocket a bundle of papers, which he handed to Mr. Hu six, Member for Wicklow . Mr. &Janus (whom we before mentioned) also took from him a guinea in gold, a one pound note, a i ss. 6d. token, two Is. 6d. tokens, some keys, and a ' penknife. By this time the lobby had become a scene i of the utmost confusion. The alarm had been circu -1 lated through every adjoining part. Members came rushing in from the House, Peers from the House of Lords; strangers from the gallery, and witnesses from the Committee-rooms, and loud expressions of horror, i grief, and indignation resounded from every side.— Two of the Messengers proceeded to drag the assas sin into the House, the occurrences in which our Readers will find in their proper place. In the mean 1 while all those persons in the Lobby, who knew any thing of the transaction, were requested not to with draw. When the Prisoner was conducted to the ! prison-room (which is at the top of the House of ! Commons), he was guarded by the Serjeant at Arms, I and several of the Messengers preceded and follow- I 1 ed by Mr. Alderman Comae, Mr. M. A. TAYLOR, 1 Mr. WHITBREAD, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. ROSE, Lord I CASTLEREAGH, General GASCOIGNI, Mr. MIKE, Mr. R. COAILROURNE 7 Lord F. OSBORNE, Mr. C. LONG ' Lord FOLKESTONE, Mr. P. Mootte, Lord STANLEY, :S Mr. WILISESIFORCE, Mr. W. WYNNE, IMr. MORRIS, Sir J. C. lIIPPISLEY , Mr. WHARTON, !and a great many other Members of the House of Commons. On special application, Earl GRIT was permitted to be present. When called on at the close of the examination, I the Prisoner said, " his name was Geonoz BEL.. LINGRAU, that he had lately been a Merchant in Li , • verpool, but had become a bankrupt; that before that period, he had been in Russia, where he bad . , suffered an injury, respecting which he had been some time applying to Government, and that.he had a Memorial of his case in the hands of many Mem bers of the House of Commons. He spin admitted the fact of his Wirt./ shot Mr. Placevat., and en ' deavovred to justify himself on the ground that his grievances had not been redressed Ly Government. Re intimated that Government had knowledge of his intention six weeks ago from the Bow street Office. On the day of trial he would ' state his motives, and leave his country to deter mine whether be had been right or wrong. The Secretary of State (he did not say which) and Mr. 'hearty, knew him very well, and what he wetted." Ile was then permitted to put on his coat, waistcoat, and neckcloth, of which he had been di vested, for the purpose of searching him; and has been committed " for the Wilful Murder of the Right Hon. SPENCER PERCETAL," Wel bendalffed., and conveyed by some of the Messengers, and mtge. ral Magistrates and Peace Officers to Newgate Prison. The witnesses were bou d ver on their recognizances, th e hi el ph ere in 2001. each, and the others in 1001. and 501. each, to appear before the Grand Jury and on the trial. FURTHER PARTICI Its. BIELLIPIGILIK is a native of St. N. nes, lissntingdeashire, awl aged 41 years. It is said be has a *ire and a nommen. fatally. He is at present double ironed in New gate, and lodged is a strong room near the Chapel. L4st nipt be slept very little. His trial will take place AO Friday ; so that if the r lea of his being insane, which I. generally tn•li , •ved, is out urged with ef fect to his behalf, he is likely to atone for his offence ow Monday. ~".A~L~~11~"^-. ... .- ,~ • 4 j 1 r f;tj. • , t 1 I I is ~;