The Sun. — London, England, 1820-02-26 00:00:00

A short time previously to the rendezvous being attacked by the officers on Wednesday evening, Davidson; the myn of c.laur, went to the next door, Mrs. tVeston's„ to beg a light. Ile had his hands filled with candles, and the lighted candle lie carried in his kat, and retutned to the stable. Jr was then observed that several lights appeared in the loft. Sonic of the squares of the two front windows belonging to the tuft were broken ; bin to•avoid observation, sacks were hung berme the windows. No more was heard of them till eight o'clock, which was Fist as the officers bad entered 3 and the first alarm was given by a noise which seemed like the crash‘ot falling premises. Tbeti the firing of guns moil pirol, spiced general. - After the loft And stable had been clr,red, the gallant Captain Fitzelarence, although their pro ceeding with his tight leg severely bruised, led on a sortie to the bark of the premises, proceeding through the passage of Weston's house. One of _ --• the soldiers, to light the way, took a I 14;it- be longing to Mrs. :Vestoo, which has been erro neously exhibited as helonginK to the Conspira tors. This unexpected appearance of the soldiers at the back of premises enabled the police• and military to Secure many prisoners, and. too much praise can Opt be bestowed on Mr. and Mrs, liVeston for their active co-operation, as—they. gave the alarm of the way by which the Con spirators were retreating, called in the soldiers, threw 'wide open all the doors to make way for the attacking party, and rendered all possible aid and facility: • CORONER'S INQUEST UPON RICHARD _SIII,ITHERS; THE OFFICER. The Inquest on Richard Smithers, the unfortu nate Bow -street Officer, who was murdered on Wednesday night, when in the execution of his duty, in Cato -street, Edgeware-road, was held yesterday, at the Horse and Groom public• house, John -street, which is situated but a few yards from the spot where the atrocious deed was perpettated. In the course of the day great numbers of persons visited the miserable building which the conspirators had selected as the scene of their deliberations, and one universal feeling of horror and detestation against Tltistlewood and his 'infamous , associates appeared to actuate the multitude. The Coroner for the County of Middlesex, THOMAS STIRLING, Esq., arrived at half past three o'clock ; and at font., proclamation having been made by Pyall, the Beadle of the Parish of St. Marylebone, that the Jury summoned should proceed to inquire " when, how, and by what means, Richard Smithers caws by his death," the following Gentlemen were swore on the Jury :-- WILLIAM CHURTON (Foreman), John Lewis, Bennet 'rrugent, Samuel Smith, - Oliver Pearce, Edward Chapman, Edward Minks, Robert Hutchinson, William Ware, Thomas Bier, I Charles Kirwood, John Morris, Thomas Evenden, Thomas, Hawkins, Ridhard Reid, John Barham, Walter Steel, Edward Cooper, Thomas Stanway, John Beckett, - and Frederick Nuggs,. - " Charles Wyatt. When the Jury wss sworn, the Crier ( Pyall) . asked the Coroner if be' wished tlie room to be cleared ? to which the CorOner replied, " I wish the room to be cleared of all persons except the Jury, and the Gentlemen who attend for the Preis." . Surgeon Fisher, who had opened the body of the deceased, expressed a wish to he examined niediately, as he had been a long time in atten dance. The Coroner said, he could not have been a long time, as the Jury bad 6eeu summoned for four o'clock. Mr. Fisher replied-, that be htid been occupied in opening the body since before 3 o'clock. The Foreman of the *Jury now observed to the Coroner, that he and his tellow-juro:s wished to who have strict orders to suffer no one to enter them. A private passage, from No. 6, in John street, to the back of the stable, is also under the charge of the Police, who, as well as the inhabi tants of the house, are strictly charged to suffer .no person to pass that way. Yesterday morning, on making further search in the stable iu Cato-street, the officers disco vered elevEn pike handles conceal's' under a door, and a tuck stick. The former ate .about five leer six inches in length, and two inches in diameter. They are quite green, and appear to be young trees recently cot down. At one en-,1 is an irnn krrrl and a socket to r ‘ geeive the %pike, which has been described : to he formed at the end of the stilettoes. A considerable quanrity of hall-ear, tridges,. foundin the areas of the neighbouring Louses, whirl, it is supposed were thrown +w ay by the consp+r►rtors in -their Hight, have also been obtained. They ate all lodged in 13ow-street Office. At Tidd's house were fouta?..ooo rounds of hall cartridges. The soldiers of the . . Guards. (rho were on the premiles Nadi their depo'sitiong drawn up yesterday murnink. It. is nor tree that any shots wet e firrit by the colliers . • Thisthewood is in Coldhath-firlds prison. He is war cited night and day. He slept well on Thinsdsy night, anti ate a hearty breakfast yes terday tootiiin4. lie does not enter at all into conveisatiou with the officers. His appearance is yr, y much chatie€4l within these few months. -A . cii CUMSt 41/CC, tat her cistiout at tire present moment-, ocettuen yeatentay.. A person followed a Gentleman on liotbeb,telc, and asked him if he Was o u t th e Cliai k e t il lt y of the Exchequer. He replied in the tiegistive ; hut as the Gentleman tsas riding into Dowuing-street, the_ man said, " Them you are—llte Chancellor's friend." Tie Gentleman rude gat, but the man continued loiter ing shout for some time bet overu.Downing-street a..d- the Home D e p artment . I inspect the body in the presence of the surgeon, in order that he might be ready to answer any question that might arise on the moment. Ibis suggestion -was complied with ; and on the return of the Jury from viewing the body, Mr. John William Fishei, Sargaon to the Police Establish ment of Bow-street, was sworn. fie said, that he was called upon yesterday morning, 'foe the purpose of examining the body of Eichard Smithers, who was stabbed last Wednesday evening : he found an external wound on his right side, which was about two inches in breadth ; on opening the body to ascertain the depth and direction of the wound, he found that the instrument bad penetrated the second rib ; it had wounded the outface of the upper lobe of the liver, and passed through into the-chest; it'went through the pericar dium into the right ventricle of the heart, and bad perfo rated the left lobe of the lungs; the depth of the wound was twelve inches. The wound was evidently inflicted by a pointed cutting instrument; the ribs on the left side pre vented its going through the opposite side; the immediate cause of death was the blood leaving the heart, caused by 'he wound that the deceased had received from some sharp nstriinient. George Thomas Joseph Rutliven being sworn, said, that he was au officer efoldoyed on the police establishment, at the Public Office, Bow-queer. On Wednesday evening last, about half-past eight o'clock, he was ordered with several other officers and constables, to go to the house where Smit hers was killed. It was a Lind of shed situate in Cato-street, in con sequence of a dumber of men being assembled fur,treason able practices ; he was inforinea that was the nature of the case, by Mr. Stafford, Chief Clerk at Bow-street. • Coroncr—Was there any warrant granted ?—A. There was, by Mr. Baher, the Alagistrate, at Marlhoro`ugh•street Police Office. Juryman—Have you got the warrant ?—A. No. Juryinaii—Do e s it specify the number of persons you were about to apprehend ?—A. It did. Juryman—How many officers Were there altogether?—A. About one dozen. Witness contimuxi—On entering the place by order of Mr. Biruic, the Magistrate, who was in the street, witness ob served a man naarching about with a cutlass, which was in a belt hanging . by his side, anal a musket on one of his shoulders, apparently as if he was on guard: Ellis and 'Smithere, the deceased, entered first (in company of witness) the place, with several constables, who were ordered to as sist them; the door was nut fastened; Ma. Dirnie was at hand; and ordered them to go in. Juryman—What was the man doing who was' on guard ? Witness—He did not particularize what he was doing.— Witness ordered the other Officers immediately to secure that man, while he securedanother who he believes is in cus tody. In one corner of the place (at the_lower part) there Was a ladder, which being very narrow, no more than one person could possibly go up at a time. Witness went up the steps first. On arriving at the top, he sawn table or car poster's bench in the loft, on which there laid sereral fire arms of different .descripti ons , and they were sorting them out. There were swords, guns, pistols, &c. There were, to the best of his calculation, 25 or 27 persons in the place. Arthur Thistlewood stood at the right side of the table or bench, handing the arms-About to the various pertens in the place ; be worea shalkhy, brown coat ; he had known Thistle wood alength of time, and was confident as to the identity of kii Person.' Wanes; first entered the place, and when he 'thought thricror - four of his comrades had entered, he said, " V4lstre ' , Officers ; seize their arms." As soon as he mensiiierd the sentence, the persops in the ,oft seized on what' they could of the arms, and retired to the further part of the place. Thistlewood immediately retired into a little room adjoining that in which the others were, and four or.five others were with him, all armed at th e ti me . Thistlewood, as he retired into the apartment, waved a sword Which be had in his hand, and appeared determined to stab any one who might approach him. Smithers, the deceased, was about a pace from witness ; as he approach e d Thistle wood, the latter nsade'a thru s t, and the point of the weapon entered Stuithers' right side. The sword about three and half or four feet in length ; it was As soon as the deceased was stabbed he fell sideways peen ,witnes,s, in a faint voice exclaiming, " Oh ! .my :_;od,! 1 1); words to that effect, and instantaneously a pi s :ol was fireesoff, - but by whom he was not positive. Some of the party'im. mediately ran their swords across. the lishtS, and put them out. Witness c , ,uld recognize three of the persons besides Thistlewood. One of them was Blackburn, Shaw, Strange, and James Wilson. Another man, named Tidd, fired off a pistol, which hit a Serjeant of the Guard's, who receiv ed the contents in an attempt to save the life of Captain Fitzclarence, at whom the pistol was presented. Two others lie saw, but not in the loft, one of whom was taken into cus tody-by Captainlritzclarence ; in the course of the day he had left a large stick, cut at the end as if to tit some instru ment. On Thistlewood stabbing the deceased, witness heard somebody hollow out from the room in which Thistlewood was, " Kill the throw them down stairs "It being dark, some of the party escaped, but nine of them were ap prehended that night; witness secured Tidal. Blackburn, and Wilson; others were secured in the loft ; they were all taken to Bow-street, and from thence they were sent to the House of Correction. Witness is confident if the lights had not been put out, that they should all have been. killed. The soldiers arrived sbdrtly after, when all the shot, were nearly fired. juryman —Did the warrant specify the naturist)/ the tneet. log of these persons ? A.—lt mentilued that it w•as au illegal assemblage.. Juryman—A►7d you acted upou that warrant.t A.—We did. Juryman—How massy shots were there fired altogether ? ♦..—There were twenty. Juryman—Do you know who was the person guarding the bottom place when you entered ? , Witness—Heard that it was a man of colour—there was a light, but he did not pay particular observation., Sumac' was dangerously wounded in the bead by a shot; three shots went through the hat of Westcot, and be was wounded bad ly in the hand by a shot. On the lights being put out Sc. veral of them were going down the steps; Witness heard a voice cry "Kill the ---," but could not say irtiether it was' Thistlewood's. Witness pretended to be one of their party, in the dark, and said," Aye, kill them ;" th ey thi n king he was one of their party , he escaped without any injury. Witness had fire-arms about his person, but they dashed in the pall. When the 'soldiers mule, the deceased.,was found lying on . his face in the loft quite dead. le was cautions not to fire in the dark, as he might kill his partner instead of ano ther. The following artisles were.found in the place, which wallets Las got in his possession ;—eight hand grenades, and one very large one like a canister, with noises bound rJund it ; several bullets, pistols, swords, bludgeons, ticc.— {Here lie produced one of the balls, which lie found on the floor of the loft; they are in ati unfinished state, and rendered to do snore tniselliefj ; three dozen bayonets with screws to fix on the end of a stick. There was not a shot fired until &withers, the deceased, was stabbed, nor was any sort of violence offered. A great number of ball cartridges were found; the bayonets were quite ne w, but rough and un finished. Several of the persons rscap'ed with their swords. and other weapons, it being dark. Three muskets were also found in the place, or in the possessiou of persons; several others were at the office. James Ellis being sworn, said, that he was a constable and conductor of the patrol at Bow-street. He resides at 0, Pa radise-row, 'Palmer's Village, Westminster. On Wednesday night last, about half-past seven o'clock, witness, Richard Smithers (the deceased), 'John Sunman, and William Gill, were directed to proceed to the corner of John-street, Edg ware-road, as quick as possible, and there they should meet Mr. - Mimic, the Magistrate, who . would gire them further directions and orders. When they arrived at the spot, they found Mr. Birnie, who enquired it they bad , seen. any thing of the military, as he expected theist every_ minute. They an swered, " they had not." Its about 20 minutes he called them together, and some enquiries were made as to what numbers might be in the room, and whether Thistlewood was there ? Mr. Birnie then gave him a warrant, signed by Mr. Baker, to apprehend . Mr. Arthur Thistlewood, and 13 move. Mr. Birnie was given to visderstand that Thistlewood and about 14 more were in the room. Witness had not the warrant in his possession. He believed it had since been given to Mr. Mettle. The latter asked how many officers thfre were, and if there were enottgleto apprehend the party ? Satiates., answered yes, they could stew! forty. Mr. Birnie said, there must have been some mistake . about the military, as they ought to have been there half an hour be fore. They then proceeded to the house without them, and Ruthven opened the door and went in first; witness followed next, and the other officers close to him; he observed a man with belts on, a fusee upon his arm, and a sword by his side, and Ruthven desired some person to take charge of him. The prisoner was taken by the rollar, and on turning him sound he observed he was a man of colour. At that mo ment Ruthven was at the foot of the ladder; he went up and witness followed hint as fast as possible, accompanied by Smithers and others.— Before he got up the ladder be heard a clatteting of swords—he at that moment heard Itutliven say, " We are officers—lay down your arms." Upon getting' at the top of the ladder, Ruthven turned a little to the left, and he observed 'a number of men falling back to the other end of the room, apparently all armed. There were four men backing into a little town on the right, all armed with swords orsulasses, and a tall man immediately brandished his sword at him, with his foot ex tended in a fencingattitude; he (witness) held up his staff in his left hand, that the man might' see it,, and his pistolalsoitt hit right hand. There were several lights then on the table, and witness desired the man to desist, or he would fire. At that moment Smithers rushed past hint (witness), and endea voured to get round into the little room. The tali man drew his hand back, and made a thrust at Smithers with his sword, which entered the deceased's breast. Smithers imme diately held up his hands, exclaiming "Oh, my God !" when the witness instantly fired off his pistol at the man who bad killed him, but missed him. Smithers fell against hint, and a rush then took place ; the witness was knocked down the ladder, from the top to the bottom. Be immediately made to the door, when two or three other slnsta were fired off in the stable by some of the party. He heard a cry of " stop him," and saw a man running - Oh the opposite side of the way, when he pursued and tools him. In lay ing hold of him, the prisoner made a cut at hint witb a sword. His name is Davidson. Witness believes hint to be the same man who kept the door; he had in his possession a fusee, such as the light horse, make use of. He is quite sure that Thistlewood was the man that killed Smithers ; it was done with a thrust. The moment Davidson was secured he returned to the place. The prisoners were all disarmed and taken into custody by the soldiery, when they proceeded to tie them together. As soon as they were all tied together he went to Smithers, and found hint lying on his face dying, or dead. He found a horse pistol, a ball cart ridge and some bullets. He was able to recognize Thistle wood, but no one else. Juryman —Are you certain it was Thistlewomi, or had you been previously told by ltuthrcn it was him ?—A. Quite con fideut. Several shots were fired from the window belonging to the shed. The Jury thought it was necessary that the warrant on which the officers acted should be produced ; in consequence of which a messenger was sent to Mr. Baker, at Marlborough- • street, to procure it. Williaw Westcott next underwent an examination, and it was to the following effect:-1 live at No. 13, Si mtnons-street, Sloane-square, Westminster, and am. one of the assistant Patrol of .Bow-street. On Wednesday night Last, L was sent to the stable in Cato-street, by order of Mr. Dirnie. I ac companied Itiitliven, Ellis, Smithers, and others . , to the spot. Itutliven went first, and I followed Smithers. I was behind him in the stable. The moment Riithren, Ellis, and Smithers had gone up the laddei leading to the loft, I seized a man in the stable below,dressed:like a butcher. His name I believe was', Inge. When I enteeedi.he rushed out against me; andfinding resistance, put his hand tolls belt, as if to pull something out of it. I immediately knocked him down by hitting him 'on the right eye. He Was dressed in a long coat beneath his jacket, and had'an apron over the whole. • This happened before the first pistol was fired; and I was in the act of hand cuffing him when I heard a fresh pistol fired in the loft. I had not quite succeeded before Thistlewood canie down the ladder, and as he was upon the steps, fired a pistOl ; whether levelled at me or:not I cannot say. Seeing me' so busily en gaged in securing the butcher, he levelled another shot at my head, and at.the same time made several cuts at me,with a sabre. The yistol went off, and the sheit penetrated my hat. 'I knocked him down with the stick I had in my band, ,but he 'rose, and succeeded in making his escape. While I'was en gaged with Thistlewood, logs contrived to make his' escape also; when Tltistiewood was, gone, .I.found that I was wound ed in thehand,,and that spme.shots had gone through the flap -of my cost. lathe:mean time • both. Thistlewood • and Ings succeeded , in getting snap .1 pursued• Thistlewood, but in vain, and after having 'billowed him through several streets I returned to the stable.' I theta went into the loft, and saw the deceased lying on the float; .There' were:several persons present, and the prisoners had been subdued. . Charles May.--I rise at No. 11, London-court, Mary-la bone, and am a watchman. On Wednesday night, about half-past 13, I apprehended /figs, wbile Brooks was in pursuit t • fia IVilliaur Salmon , of Edgware-road, tail or , deposed, 4-- - 41 on Wednesday night, about eight o'clock, on passiug tbecl* ..„eis Cato-street, he heard W es t co tt say that Smithers had in -- stabbed, and saw two or three persons conic out of the stable door ; one of them W as a t a ll man, with a dark coat, %"'lid cut at him with a cu tl ass; h e was cut through his pan ts' ii e loons and coat ; sev era l shots wet*. also fired and flying la"' street, apparently from the window of .the shed. Here the examination of the Witnesses terminated. , A Juryman asked th e C oroner w h et h er those who surf;a dered thernAelres w ere as muc h Imp li cated as 'Fbistlewood • s , Coroner—T here care be no doubt of it. They were allt e sembleel for one common purpose, and the ~t of one is l act of the whole. It i s c l ear l y M urder in them all. if a si s io " intends to do a mi'cbief to another, and, instead of kilit him, happens to kill a sec on d, it i s equa l ly murder as if "-- had killed the man he intended. d The Jury th en , w ith out f urther hesitation, returne VERDICT of WILFUL MURDER against the follovri •"' S Persons : Arthur Thistlewood, f John Shaw, James In e s, . 1 Richard ISrmlburn, James Wilson. James Gilchrist, Charles Cooper, William Davidson. ' Richard Tidd, and others uuliuoara' John Monument, In the course of the day, the afflicted parents of the de ; ,ceased visited the body, a n d s h owed much feeling upon iov occasion. The old couple were so decrepit as scarcely t° ~,, able to get tip stairs,—Smithers was a stout handsome so y thirty-three rears old. . - - THEATRICAL .REGIST,ER. Performed Laid . Night. THEATRE ROYAL, COVE:FT-GAROFN,—An OraWrio. THEATRE ROYAL, Dauer-LANE.—No -Performance. - • . af.fa For LOND O N J OURNAL' , ape t h e First Pa?..,e; and for t te PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS, see the Fourth Page. PRICE OF STOCKS' THIS DAY AT TtYEi.VY, o7o.ticit• rib' 3 per Cent. R e d 69li Bank Lon e A nn .' !RI 3'l 3 per Cent. Cons... 661 b 68.44 India Bonds .... 19s. 145. p 31 per Cent. 77 b E xch. Bills, 2d.... Is. qs• li 4 per Cents c if I'COns. for App it 6SI per Ct. Navy Ann.... 103f4i it -. MAILS. .- AatitvEu.-1 Dublin, 3 Wati.rford, 1 France, • DUE-1 Gotten/m.lEOi. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE ' O•Nt () Rft ( ? nr ‘l. Morning, 13 initiates after I. IF. ; • I';{'cnitl inmates aftgr_ . Havriburgh, THE SUN. SOLEM QUIS DICER'S FALSUAI Air/EAT? LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1820. THE LOTTERY. This morning the Gentlemen of the Stock s ‘' change attended the CHANCELLOR of the Exci l°' Quail, at the Treasury, to hid for 20,000 Lotted Tickets, when it appeared that there were 6sls parties, but one of them, Mr. SIVEWRIGHT, U P °ll seeing so many bidders, withdrew his offer. Afi e some preliminary conversation, the Biddings " 110 given in as follow Messrs. liszAßn and Co. - gel4 sl° Mr. GEORGB CARROLL • 14 5 10 Mr. T. Bisu . . • 14 3 9 And Mr. G. WEBB . .. 14 3 5 . Upon which Messrs. HAZARD acid Co. and Af ri CARROLL were declared the Successful bidders. We received this morning the Paris Papers ° , l Tuesday and Wednesday last. The Moniteur Tuesday •announces the following ath.llllo°6 l changes in the Ministry : " Louts, &c. " The Count Simeon, Under Secretary of Sis ql in the Ministry of Justice, is appointed Minist er Secretary of State for the Department of dig nterior. (Signed) (Countersigned) " LOUIS. " ktIcHELIgO. "'LOUIS, &C. The Baron Moonier, Peer of France, is Sr pointed Director-General o f the Departmen t a l Administration of the Police. - (Signed) (Countersigned) Lours, &c. " LOUIS. " RICHAiLiEti' " The Count Portalel, Peer of France, Co"; cillor of State, i s a pp o i nte d U n d er S ecretar y State in the Ministry of Justice. (Signed) " LOUIS. (Countersigned) " RICHE,LIEti• " In the Cha m b er o f Pe ers on M on d ay, a Specie) Committee was appointed for the examiuitioi) of him. Ile fit td at Brooks; but I cannot say what fire• all ' he used, as be threw it d own b e f ore I reached , bins. W ° cried out, Stop thief; and I immediately apprehended 101. The ball went through the coat and waistcoat of Brooks, 353 grazed the top of his shoulder. I took Ings down to Ma r l . le-bone watch-house, assisted by Brooks and another nth cera I searched him, and found seven or eight bulitts In bit pockets, some gun-pollee in a tih . flasket, and ,a havres ol ' . ,He had a kind of belt on each tide for pistols. . William Legge, a Serjeant of 'the 2d Battalion of the Co stream Guards, being sworn, stated, that on Wednesday D i g ll last, Near e i g ht o ' c l oc k, h e was ordered'by the Magistrates of Bow -street to attend at St. John-street. He received ord ers to turn out when called upon under Captain Fitzclare sce ' Upon arriving at John-street, they waited for orders, vibe's Capt. Fitzclarence ordered the soldiers to advance in daab l° quick time. On coming through the gateway leading o 0 "; street, witness prerceived a man with a pistol in his bat:141, 111;1c l be attempted to fire at the Captain; the witness seized holA d the muzzle, and ascuffie ensued which should have the pist A but he kept hold of it until it went off. The sleeve ef• jacket was burned, and also one of his eyelashes, and his d e . was blood-shot; he seized the prisoner arid pistol, and ` le ' livered him over-to. the Police, Tidd is the, name of the softer. He theu followed the officer and the picquet upsta irs ' where he saw, pistols, &c.; he also saw Smitlicrs lyin4 ' 444 ' The prisoners were then conveyed to BoW-street with a reinforcenient. [Here the Messenger returned ff`' .l Mr. Baker with a letter, stating, that the warrant was e iS at the Secretary of State's Office ; but if the Jury t h o ught is . necessary to adjourn, it should be produced to-morrow. answer of Mr. - Baker was so explanatory, that the Jury w de quite satisfied.] , re e xr hsu *r e Al has Pea 01) 1 Peim torl int o Wee of • Stitt Petit cubi t c twat ftUr p tnt, delay cf tt, "tee 11 the h Ra te!} e l 3 Veri *rho "Into eti ve It erniii 111 4 ere a ernbil 4tl ePec 'samifi, 144 !IL liQ es *f arm 1 etier e • due r 4$ to it wh ich 'eases / " 1 0 ar , ~eotlßle e pic o f People tli " 1 eh 114 ' 1 efor 911 the 0 Aas bee• 4 ot ross