The Sun. — London, England, 1820-04-03 00:00:00

iIE LATE MURDERS AT 11700LWICI1 ~.~,~_- We have already metvinued the apprehension, at Portsmootti, of th e s,tiposed run derer of Mr. Paares:a and his servant, Sarah B , own. The Wittily of the depositious having been completed ansi signed, on tVedatsday evening the prisoner w t is iletyvie Mr. Cats-rea to undergo a final cx miiontion, /preparatory to his being sent to London. The depositions •were lead over to hint disticctly by the Town Clerk, when he acknow ledged them all to correct, except that of Ann Kirby, who, he said, had sworn falsely, and was inveterate against bins in consegnetice of a pri vate pique. Ott his return to the gaol he ap• pealed to be more reconciled to his situation ; and asked for some supp t er. He was immedi ately provided with a het t steak, of which he ate heAri ily this wAS the first solid food of which he bad partaken from the Thursday night pre ceding : he was conscqueolly much exhaust ed, and greatly reduced in pet son. Hill cut his meat for him, and. suffered him to feed himself with a spoon. On the same night Mr. Ridont, Air. Jackson, and his son, wet e sent on to kliool wieis ‘yith so intimation tnat the prisoner should h e br,m g ht up the,next d.4y, in custody of flout and Hill, who- should also hriog with them co pies of the depositions which had been taken be foie Mr Carter. On Thursday monthly., at eight o'clock, the prisoner was placed to the Portsmouth co a ch ; he wore a pair of Si roog handcuffs, and on his legs were a pair of heavy chain irons ; he Was &comfy clad in a blue body coat, dark waistcoat, and grey trowsets ; he vote a new hat, and his appearance - in general was rather respectable ; in deed he seemed to be abundantly supplied with weating appaael, for he had no less than six changes of dress in his trunk. in consequence of the poriod of his departute not being publicly kn,wn, the Ctowd collected,to sec him set Off was but (rifling. Besides the prisoner and Isis guards, ...there was but one inside passenger and he imme diately took the roof in preference to such com panions. The inhabitants of the different towns through which the .coach passed, seemed to be apprized of the approach of the prisoner, and they were assembled in large ;;coupes to see him pass. At Guildtord, especially, where the coach stopped for the passengeis to dine, the multitude which Was collected exceeded calculation. The .prisoner here ate a sandwich, and drank a glass of rum. :tie appeared greatly distressed at the curiosity svhieit he excited i and endeavoured tokeep his hand kerchief to his face. As the coach drovtslOwly off, populace tittered the StroligeSttexpressions of indignation. At this he shied • tears. As they proceeded on towards Loudon, Hill introduced the subject of murder, and said that be would rather die a thousand deaths than commit such a Crime. 'flue prisoner looked earnestly in his face, and then turning aside, burst into tears. O n speakine of Ali.. Pat ker's muri!er, he said they knew codling abrant that Illattrr, and added, that lee wunid tell al, he knew on Its trial. He seemed extremely anxious about his wife and children, and assigned as a reas,n for wishing to make his will, the desire of securing to them his property, in the event of any thing happening to him. On being told that his wite and sun were its custody, be was much affected, and again shedding tears, said it was hard that they should suffer for his misdoings : they knew nothing of his transactions whatever. As be pissed a spot on the Portsmouth road, called the Devil's Punch Bowl, near to which is a stone to record the treacherous murder of a poor sailor by three miscreants, whose ne cessities he s had just before relieved, Neshet pointed to the place, and recalled to the recollec tion of his companions the circumstances of that melancholy case. He then tell into a deep reve rie, and was again dissolved in tears. The coach reached Kennington at five o'clock, and a post chaise, which had been previously ordered, being in readiness, he was ' placed in it, and, accom panied by Mr. Hunt and Mr. Hill, was driven towards IVoolwich. • Few persons witnessed this exchange of vehicles. A large crowd was assem bled at the ,Elephant and Castle in the expecta tion of his arrival, who were not a little disap pointed on discovering the prudent arrangement which had been made. The post-chaise in which the prisoner was, took the road through Peckham and Camberwell, and as it advanced he became still more pensiye• He said " a man could die but once, - and it was no mat ter how." As he went along his attention seemed to be suddenly attracted, by an unfinished house on the road side—he looked earnestly towards it, and exclaimed. If I had a thousand pounds, I would give. it that those walls might speak." He alluded to some past transaction with which that house was in some way connected, but he said no more on the subject. He once or twice said he deserved,to suffer for former offences, but not for that with which he was now charged. lie said also, that be had been ti ied for killing a man in an affray in Sicily, but was acquitted. At an early hour on Thotsday morning, the in habitants of Woolwich were on the alert, in the expectation that the supposed murderer would soon arrive. Several persons went on the road to meet him, and others took their station , in those directior►s where they thonght it was most probable they would have an opportunity of see ing him. Mao) , false alarms were given, and much mortification was in consequence'experienc ed. At last, about 11 o'clocti, Mr. Ridout, the High Constable, and the two Mr. Jacksons came down by the first Woolwich coach. The former immediately proceeded to the Castle 'tavern, at which the Bench of Magistrates were expected to be assembled. These Gentlemen bad not yet Cone, and Mr; Ridout went to Dr. Watson's house, and reported that the prisoner n0.,111 not arrive before six in the evening. The secrecy which Was obEerved with respect to this communication, had the effect of keeping a crowd assembled in 1-ront of { be Castle Tavern the whole of the day, as the evening; approached, became still er,.. d rer, The Justice Room was crowded the 4—lho!e. mortiiiiK by the .grutlemen aud military r.A. , !efg tle - neighbourhood, who were anxious td' he present at the exarnitiation i ol the prisoner, and.,to these private inforatarion was given of thy time f.,.t which he might be expected. 1n cutise queitc;etbithis iodulgeo.ce, lung betote the iip punzed h9ul-, the toont•was completely thronged ; inclerd, scarce a sufficient space was left for the aecommoddtion of ►he Magistrates and the pri Soper. At six o'clock the Rev. Dr. Watson and Mr. Webb took their seat's, and in a quarter of an hoer afterwards loud shows announced the ap proach of the prisoner. They were rather the cheers of exultation than those of disgust, which the crime imputed was calculated to excite. In a few minutes the cbai•e was driven up to the door with great difficulty, and a passage was made by the constables. The prisoner now seemed sink ing under the weight of his feelings, and it be, came almost necessary to carry him up stairs. He- was conducted into a back room to afford him an opportunity of collecting himself• Ile was scarce able to hold up his head until re lieved by a flood of tears. He said he could not bear the shouts of the people. At his own re (pest the handcuffs wire then taken from his wrists, arid lie was furnished with a glass of rum and water. "1 he wounds on his head received at Portsmouth_ were visible, and appeared_ to have been carefully dressed. He is a man about 38 years of age, about five feet eight inches in height, da,k complexion and eyes, and his features, al t bough irregular, not displeasing. lie %peaks with the Irish accent, being a native of Armagh. He said he had been 14 years in the service. At a quarter before seven the Magistrates di rected that the prisoner should be brought before them. This order, in conse net►ce of the in►- n►ense mass of spectators collected on the stairs, was witt► difficulty obeyed, and the prisoner was led to the bar by Mr. Hunt and Mr. Hill. His countenance was flushed, but he did not venture to look rauud.—The depositions were read. • Nesbet now stood up, and with his eyes cast towards the ground, said, " the' depositions are all right, except that of the girl, and she lo.s s‘vorn false; she knows that it was a 51. and not a 101. note I gave to pay Mr. Cole. I have no hiog to say about any thing else, but I can bring plenty of people to make their affidavit tha'.. what she has sworn is false. Dr. Watson.—lf you are able to do this, it will be very valuable testimony on y-ur trial. The worthy Magistrate then consulted with Mr. Webb, and it was resolved to commit the prisoner, forthwith, upon tl►e depositions which had been taken, to Maidstone gaol. Mr. Jackson was bound over in a recognizance of 501. to prosecute the, prisoner for the treble crime of murder., arson, and burglary—and in other sum of 501. to tins r for the appearance of his son, who is a minor, to attend and give evidence on the trial. • Nesbet begged to know , if lie might have the money and wearing apparel which had been taken front I►im ? Dr. Watson said, that whatever was not neces sary to be produced in evidence should be given to him. In the intetiet he should be provided with every thing necessary to his comfort. Nisbet said, he was only anxious if any thing should happen to him, that his wife should have his property. The prisoner was then re-conducted to the room from whence he had been brought : he was much agitated; he said to a gentleman wbo entered into conversation with flint, that he knew the property to be 'Squire Parker's, but he bought it from three fellows : he had nothing to do with what was alleged against hint. The gentleman said, that it would he most for tunate for him if 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 evidence on the trial. Amoug those was . Patten, the surgeon, who declares the wounds .• visible on the persons of Mr. Parker and his housekeeper might have been inflicted by one and the same instrument, and by one awl the same hand. During all these proceedings the crowd in front of the Castle continued to increase, and at length became 'so oppressive, that a guard of artillery soldiers was called on to preserve order. Mr. Ridout, finding there was no chance of the populace dispersing what the prisoner remained, resolved to remove him at once to the watch- I house, where every necessary accommodation was provided for him. The handcuffs were then put upon his wrists, and he was conducted on foot to his place of confinement. He was guarded both by a civil and military force, and 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. Moore said, he would be most happy it he was able to prove his words. Nesbet then said, he would not be in Maidstone gaol for three weeks. Mr. Moore asked what he meant, and reminded him that the ()Gime imputed to him was not bailable. Nesbet said he knew that, but he would write to Mr. Moore within three weeks, and make some disclosures which would astonish him, and at the same time prove his own innocence. Mr. Moore sincerely hoped this might he the case, and left him.—During the night Mr. Ridout, Campion and Bampton,' remained with the pri soner, affording him every refreshment he reqoir- ' ed. Having expressed a strong desire to see his family before he went to prison, Dr. Watson hu manely determined to gratify him ; and as he was to set off fur Maidstone on the ensuing- morning at seven o'clock, he desired that his family might attend at his house at that hour, for the purpose of having an interview. They all ittended at the time appointed. Mrs. Nesbet, who is rather a good looking woman, hearing an excellent' character, did nut seem so sensibly affected by the situation of her husband as might have been anticipated. The children were all dissolved in an agony of grief, and the prisoner himself was greatly affected. Soon after :his meeting he sei otf in a post chaise, accom- Punied by the High Constable, Champion and Bampton,,tor ALiifstone, where •he ,fely arrived in the middle of the day, and was deli+med with proper precaution to the gaoler. 1 taking leave of Mr. RAout he was again much agitated, and promised to write to him at Wookich.. WARWICK ASSIZES. FRIDAY, MAncit 51. THE KING versus RAGG. This was an indictment preferred -at the in stance of the Magistrates of Birmingh?m against the defendant, for publishing and selling a libel on the Church Establishment, and that part of its service called the Catechism, under the name and title of the 12th number of the " Black Book, or, Corruption Unmasked." Mr. HEADER opened the pleadings, and Mr. Setjeant VAUGHAN stated the case for the prose cution. The terms and character of the publica tion which had been just read would, he hoped, exempt him from the imputation of compromising his duty to the Crown, if he abstained from all observations PIS to its Contents. Tie same sub ject had already undergone a full and patient 'in vestigation by other Julies. All, therefore, to which he was anxious to invite their attention in the present case was, the circumstances under which the libel in question had been pohlihed. He' was ready to admit that nothing could be more painful or disgustiog than the introduction of sub jects like these iu o a Court of Justice. fife pub lic' discussion of them could not fail to produce mischievous 'effects,. but the only alternative was to resort to this proceeding, or buffer the evil to Spread till it should undermine all the religious institutions of the country. It might be proper for him rt:so to remark, that however able. it might be to proceed against the original author, when he could be fortiri, he thought that a publisher bad ninon I', answer for. I: was not enough for one who followed the trade of disseminating poison, to s 4 that he was not aware how noxious were 'he ingredients of which it was composed. It appeared to him manifest, on the face of this publication, tivt its object was to !icing the Church service into contempt, Ruti more especially that part of it which relaicit to the office of ordination. Ott this, howtrer, the Jury were !O decide; and, after a fair 'calm of the whole case, to pronounce whether or hot the pub lication was calculated to produce the effect im puted to it. William ILsrt deposed, that he knew the de fendant, and bought a copy of the 12th Number of the Black Book in his shop, at the bottom of Bull-street, Birmingham, on the 14:11 of Decem ber last. He was employed to make the purchase, and observed considerable nharboat of similar pamphlets in the shop. The shop was divided in to two parts, in one of which lace was sold, and in the other books and prints. He had not seen, according to his recollection, the defendant for some time previous to his purchasing the work; nor diet he know whether the name of Ragg was over the door or not. Payne, the Chief Constable of Bit-- mil:oam, stated, that he had often seen the de fendant in the house described by the last wit ness ; and it was also proved by Mr. Arnold, a solicitor, that the defendant held that house of him in December tast• Mr. DaaimaN, who was Counsel for the de fendant, objected that there was a deficiency of legal proof, inasmuch as no evidence was offered that the subjects to which the alleged libel ap plied, were parts of the Church Service or Church Establishment. I Mr. Justice Best• over-ruled the objection, re serving, however, to the defendant the right of subm is tiug it to the Court of King's Bench in the ensuing term. Mr. DENMAN began his address to the Jury, by submitting to them, that whatever decision might be ultimately pronwinced on the question of legal proof, there was not evidence to make out the positive allegation's of the indictment. What evi dence had they that the office of ordination form ed any part of the church service ? On other oc casions, as in the trial of Mr. Hone, it had been deemed necessary to put in formal evidence that the subjects supposed to be impugned were cer tainly legal parts of the church establishment.— From early instruction, all might be aware that the Catechism was a part ; but very few persons, be apprehended, were familiar to the terms in which ordination was conferred. It was one of the peculiarities of our Church, that ordination by a Catholic Bishop was a sufficient authority for a preacher of our Protestant establishment. How could the Jury, upon their oaths, declare that there had been an intention to :cast scandal and contempt oo the formularies of our Church with out knowing what these formularies were ? He entreated them not to suffer the current language of the day, about the necessity (which he did not mean to deny) of suppressing dangerous publications, to divert them from the consideration of their strict and simple duty. They did not sit there as censors of the press, but were sworn to give a faithful verdict upon one issue, an issue embracing these two questions ; bad the defendant been proved to publish this work at all ? and it he had, with the criminal intention itnputed o him ? His own conviction was, that neither of these propositions bad been supported. However, even a doubt could be entertained re specting them, the_ defendant was entitled to an acquittal. Let a publication be ever so mischie vous or dangerous, unless a criminal intention could be sheen, the penalties of the law ought not to apply. In his own opinion, if the formu lary of ordination did, in terms, invest a clergy man with the—power of absolving and remitting sins, the sooner such a supposed power was abro gated the better. Mr. Justice BEST, in strong terms, condemned the publication, and regretted that •the Learned Counsel had endeavoured to controvert principles which he must know had been established above half a century. Verdict—Guilty. ACTION FOR LIBEL. Before Mr. Justice BEs r and a Special Jury. SPURRIER V. EDMONDS. This was, an action brought to recover darrmges for a libel which appeared in the Fourth - Letter of a pamphlet published by the defendant; 'When the case;• was called on, the defendant addressed he Court. He said that from various causes, and more especially from the manner in which the Jury had been struck, he was unable to enter in to a defence of this action. ,The LeArned . Judge asked" the defendant .if he bad any affidavit in support of his assertion.---The defendant replied that be had not.--The Jury hal ing been sworn, Mr READER opened the pleadings. He stall that this was an action bro ug ht by the plaiP- ' Mr. Spurrier, a respectable attorney residirg - Birmingham, against the defendant, formed)! r prietor of The Argus, Bi rm i ng h am p a per, fo r l false and scandalous libel, of which the defend ati l was the author and publisher. Mr. Serjeant VA'JGHAN stated the case to Jury. He observed, that th e grdsseA anti fP ° l i slanderoui attack had bee n m a d e ou the chat"c l of the plaintiff, in his capacity of Agent 1 0 . tig o Bank of England, in conducting certain protie c a (ions for forgery, and as a witness on a rcce . i; trial at the W a rwi c k A ss iz es . Th e defendit, not satisfied tvidi insinuating- that Mr. Spury"iH had sworn falsely, added, that in ord er to sec, t , ii. the convictiOn of the accu s ed, a man nam ed Alb!.' he hail employed spies and other improper Ing B4 to obtain blood-money. If defendant though proper or could justify this libel, h e o' l 4 opportunity of so doing, from the m an ne r in wi",, the action was brought, but not doing so he WI be considered by every honest and honnoril b t mind as guilty of the charge ag a i n st hint. would be for the Jury to say what would tie di ' amount of damages to which the plaintiff was er' titled, but he felt it necessary to state that a Mat! aggravated libel had never been brought b,efore N Jury. , Witnesses were here called, who proved the alP' mission of the plaintiff as attorney, a copy al trial at Warwick, i n whi c h the plain tiff waS witness, and also the admission of defendant, th 4g r he was the author of the libel now charged again''' him. Here the case for the plaintiff closed. Mr. Justice BEST proceeded to sum up the ev i°. dence. He observed, that the defendant havil declined to avail himself of the opportunity fered to him by Mr. Spot tier, of proving the tro! 4 of his allegations, he (Mr. Spurrier) remained '0 the possession of that honourable and innepay dent character which he had always enjoyed. 4 was for the Jury to decide shat were the cl'f tuages to which the plaintiff was entitled, lookill ulways to the situation of the defendant. He tel it necessary to state libre that the plaintiff had r. O ceived what Wos sufficient to satisfy any tionoirl able man, namely. au admission that the delea i dant was unable to prove the truth of his state; tnents. The libel was no doubt of a grave. 00 serious nature, and to the Jury be would leave to decide what moderate damages they thoUghl the plaintiff entitled to. The Jury, without leaving.the box, returned verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 2001. . , SATURDAY, Aram 1. This morning 16 persons, charged with for' geries on the Bank of England, were placed 81 the Bar. The greater part of them pleaded guilty to the minor offence, and were sentencedto b 4 transported for 14 years. William Macdonald and Charles Clarke, two the prisoners who had refused to plead to tbQ minor offence, were then arraigned on the capita l charge. Before the trial proceeded, Mr. DCNMAN 104 Mr. ADAMS, at the suggestion of the C ou rt, en; deavoared to prevail on th e p r i soners to plead guilty to the minor; offence. Clarke consented t° do so, but Macdonald persisted in taking 'his trial, and th ere f ore the trial of both proceeded , .Mr. RRADER stated the ease to the Jury. •X t appeared, th at t h e d e f en d ants h a d not on ly qua' ed forged notes, but bad also disposed of theta t o other utterers. Two witnesses were called, who proved tb 3t they had purchased notes from the defendant s, purporting to be those of the Bank of Enfol d ' but which turned out to be forgeries. Macdonald in his defence observed, that the witnesses for the prosecution ,had conspired ft: swear against him, order to obtain the reWzr a on his conviction.—He called two witnesses, %vb . spoke highly of his honesty and industry. Clarke made no defence. _ _ The JUDGE summed up the case, and theitill returned a verdki of Goiity against both the prl' soners. The JUDGE, in passing the setnence of deal t on the prisoners, observed, that he shonld reconi mend Clarke to mercy, as be bad shewn hirtoch ready to plead guilty of the Minor offence were not for the obstinacy of the other prisoner. 11° at the same time expressed his hope that Clark' would ehew himself worthy of the Royal clay niency, by disclosing the names of the parties hi whom the notes were fabricated, and who swell the cause of bringing so many unfortunate wretch to an untimely end. To Macdonald he held 0 11 C 110 hope of mercy. • As the JUDGE pronounced the awful sentesq of the law, both prisoners fell on their knees, an', remained in that poSition until they wer e removed from the Bar. CHESHIRE ASSIZES._ The Commission for holding the Spring Sessio. for this County will be opened on Wednesdet next, before the Honourable C. WARREN an d SAMUEL AIARSHALL, his Majesty's Justices. - ' The trials which will come before the Court , ' are certainly of a nature the most import and interesting that have occurred within th e last fifty years. Perhaps_the trials of Sir Chola Wolseley, and Harrison, nicknamed " the Per** son," for sedition, be the most p ro minel in the attraction . uf public attention, and F i ll probably occupy a considerabli,length of tiM e. We have then the trials of J. G. Mace, aged 22 , , ° schooltnaster, from the Adelpbi, London, for st d ' and abetting a pet sun to shoot William Bire lb a Peace Officer ; W. Pearson, aged 22, a weaver' from Edgily, for aiding and abetting a person 1 , , shoot William Birch, a Peace Officer; Maginnis, alias Alqunis, aged 25, a weaver,fr"; the County of Down, Leland, for discharging loaded pistol at W. Birch, a Peace Officer, vc d it an intent to kill him . At the Nisi Prig.* P ad there will be also several interesting trials, aP we may particularize that of the Rev. Bryan on a charge of poisoning cattle and game, &c' at LONDON: Printed h} J. B. CATISI'AIRS, of No. 29, i„ t'c3, Ormond-street, Queen-square; and published SCRIPPS, of No. 7, South Melton-street, at THE ; 01lice, No. 112, Strand ; where Advettisements Or uc Lettsrl, *c, (post-paid) must be addressed. .1 . ......... 1.... %ex bishi ilaad 41111 !Lind Co m Pnbl vani toic thn lion 1~~• Sta Si