The Sun. — London, England, 1832-01-04 00:00:00

THE BRISTOL RIOTS. SPECIAL COMMISSION. BRISTOL, TUESDAY. A little after eight o'clock this morning a van, con veying sonse prisoners, again whom bills were found last night by the Grand Jury, approached the Court house. It was escorted by a numerous mounted guard—not of soldiers, as there is not the least ap pearance of military force in this city, but, as I un derstand—of pensioners resident there, who have been sworn as special constables, and form an appa rently very efficient patrol. It was known last night that the first bills cent up to the Grand Jury were those against William Clanie and seven or eight others, who were ac counted the ringleaders in the demolition and burn ing of the gaol, and a strong interest in consequence prevailed, as well from the well-known character of the man (a prize-fighter by profession) as from re ports that 700 or 800 of his fellow parishioners of Bedminster had determined to attem?t his rescue. There was not, however, the slightest appearance of tumult or disturbance,nor even any of that pressing eagerness to catch a view of the prisoners which is frequently so annoying to those who have them in their custody. At nine o'clock the Learned Judges, accompanied by the Duke of Btaufort, took their seats on the bench. The gentlemen of the bar very speedily followed amongst whom we noticed the Attorney-General, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Messrs. Wightman, Follett, Coleridge, Palmer, Ball, &c. The Grand Jury then came into Ceurt, when the Foreman on their part requested a copy of the Lord Chief Justice's charge in order to have it printed. His Lordship complied with their request. Immediately after they handed in true hills against Thomas Evans Bendall and .lames Sims, for arson (firing the Bishop's Palace;) and for felony, via.—pulling down and destroying the same. They also handed in true bills against Wm. Clarke before mentioned, and five others. TRIAL OF CLARICE AND HIS ACCOMPLICES. Wm. Clarke, Patrick Kearney, James Williams, Daniel Higgs, James Courtrnsy, and John Mecay, were then placed at the bar. They stood indicted for that they in that part of the parish of Bedmin ster, within the city and county of Bristol, %%ith others, riotously and tumultuously assembled and pulled down and destroyed a house, the property of his Majesty. Other counts in the indictment laid it as the property of the Corporation of Bristol, of the citizens, of the commissioners for building the gaol, and of the Governor. Having severally pleaded " Not Guilty," they were again arraigned upon the indictment for having bunted down the same gaol ; to which also they it a firm tone put in their plea of "Not Guilty." As the Jury were about to be sworn, the AT TORNEY. GENERAL suggested that if any one of the gentlemen whose names had been called had suf fered by the late riots, it would be more advisable for him not to serve as a Juror. The CHIEF JUSTICE observed, that the better course for any individual who had suffered would be to withdrew from the Jury-box, The Jury were then sworn, and the prisoner give', in charge to them. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then proceeded to state the case for the prosecution. It would appear from the evidence to be laid before the Jury, that the pri soners now at the bar took an active part in the die. turbances that had taken place in that city, in tilt course of Sunday, the 30th of October last. IL should avoid, as he had already said, all reference to the previous transactions on the 29th of that month, as he could not bring any of them home to the pri soners, and, indeed, he had no reason to suppose that they were connected with them. The charge now against the prisoners was framed on the words 01 the Act of the 7th George IV., which contained almost in precise words the terms of the Riot Act, passed in the Ist George 1., " that if any person , shall riotously !sad tumultuously assemble together, and begin to pull down any house, &c., every StICI) offender shall be a felon, without benefit of clergy." They would observe that, under this Act of Parlia ment, persons tumultuously assembling together for toe purpose of destroying any house, were guilty of a felony ; and with regard to the individuals nosy before them, he was sure that when they heard the evidence, they would arrive at the conclusion that the prisoners came under that description. In the first place, it would be proved that they were riotously and tumultuously assembled together, to the disturbance of the public peace,—tha+ they were parading the town about noon on Sunday _ . the 30th of October, in the most riotous and disorderly manner,---that after destroying the Bride ... well by fire, they proceeded to the public gaol, and whether for the purpose of liberating the person , there confined, or whether with a view to the general destruction of property, he was unable to determine, but it would be proved that they broke into the gaol, and set fire to several parts of it. Ii would be proved that Clarke, the first person named in the indictment, was seen with a crow-bar on his shoulder actively engaged in acts of violence and outrage at the head of the party that attacked the gaol, which was a strong building, and the gates 0! which required considerable force to break them down. They did resist for some time all the corn bined efforts of the mob. At length, however, an entrance was effected by making a small hole through one of the gates, through which some of the rioters made good their way, and then suc ceeded in wrenching them from their hinges. It would be proved that the prisoner, Wm. Clarke, was seen with a sledge-hammer battering the gate, for the purpose of making that entry, and using the most violent language at the head of the mob, whu finally succeeded in making good their way into the interior of the prison, where they proceeded, amongst other acts of outrage, to the destruction of the Governor's house, which was in a short time re duced to that heap of ruins that it now was. These acts would be satisfactorily proved ; and it would be also proved that the other prisoners criminally participated in those acts of outrage. To esta blish still more clearly the guilt of the prisoner Clarke, it would be proved that he was afterwards seen with the keys of the prison in his hand, going about in one of the public-houses in this town, boasting of what he had doge,—talking of the keys of the Hen and Chickens, or some expression to that effect, and still indulging in the most violent and inflammatory language. He believed that this prisoner was rather of a superior caste, and one from whom such conduct was not to have been expected. Ho stated himself to be a Dorsetshire man, and it appeared that he had for some time been himself proprietor of a public-house. It was to be the more lamented that an individual thus raised above the common crowd should have demeaned himself in so disgraceful and criminal a manner. He would be found from first to last as acting as leader of the mob, inciting them to acts of violence and outrage, and doing all the mischief it was in his power to effect. With regard to all the other prisoners, he did not believe that they would be affected by evi dence of the same strong description; but he be lieved there was no one of them who would not be clearly proved to have taken an active part in the late disgraceful riots. It was not necessary for him to prove, with regard to every one of those indivi duals, that they had been guilty of the direct em ployment of force by their own hand:. It would be enough for him to show that they were wilfully present, countenancing and encouraging by their presence the acts of outrage which were committed. If they had never lifted an instrument or uttered a sound, their mere presence swelling the dangerous force from which the commission of such crimes resulted, rendered them as much guilty of a partici pation in them, as if they were amongst the most pro minent actors. It was of the highest importance that it should be known, and he was glad to find that the statement did not rest upon his authority, but that it had been already yesterday laid down by one of the highest judicial authorities of the country in that city, and that it would be promulgated through- Yuan out the kingdom,—that the law of England, with that jealous anxiety for the preservation of public peace, and of the lives and properties of the King's subjects, not only providbd that the active leaders in riot and mischief are to be punished, but that those who by their presence add to, and encouregs, such criminal proceedings, participated fully in their guilt, and were equally liable to the same punishment. He believed that in the course of the preen inquiry, it would not be necessary to resort to that particular 1 principle of the laws of the land ; because, without troubling the Jury with a detailed statement, he be lieved he should be borne out by the evidence in stating, that there was no one of the prisoners who would not be proved to have taken an active part in the late disturbances. If, however, through any accidental failure in 'fiat part of the evidence, there might be some of the prisoners to whom particular acts of outrage could not be brought home, he would then have to call upon the Jury to consider whether sufficient evidence was not produced to show, whe ther by their presence they were not criminally con nected with those proceedings, and applying to them the principle of British laws he had just referred to, whether they were not guilty of the charge in the indict ment. Such was the general statement of the evi dence that he had to lay before then). The simple fact they had to try was, in the terms of the Act of Parliament, whether a tumultuous mob had been assembled—whether they had engaged ih the at tempt to destroy the public gaol—whether the pri• Boner Clarke W t'A not one of the leaders on that occasion—and whether the other prisoners, by their wilful presence, had not participated in the offences that had been committed, William S rattota examined—ls taskmaster in the geol. Was there on the 30th of October last. The gaol is in the New-cut in the city of Bristol, and near the river's side. About a quarter-past two o'clock on that day he heard a great noise in the di rection of Prince's-street. There was shortly after a great knocking at the prison-gate. The previous noise was caused by the cheering of the people. Witness was at the time inside the gates, in the open space 'between the outer wall and the Governor's house. Between the outer wall and Ilse Governor's house there is an iron gate. There is a lodge attached to the outer gate, and the rooms of it go over it. He first heard the knocking at the outer gate. There was also a small side door through the lower room of the lodge, by which persons could enter the yard of the prison. It was at the great gates he heard the knocking. It was extremely loud, and ap peared to be caused by large hammers. It con tinued about three-quarters of an hour before the rioters made an entrance. Witness, while it was going on, went on the top of the lodge, From whence he saw the persons assembled. He thinks that at the time there were about 10,000 or 12,000 persons round the prison. The outer gates of the prison are about 20 yards from the hank of the river. The crowd was on both sides of the river. While the men were hammering at the gates, if a splinter was broken, it was thrown amongst the people, and was received with cheers. The gates were struck with sledge-hammers and wedges. Stones were thrown at witness while on the top of the lodge, which compelled him to retreat from that position. In about three-quarters of an hour the rioters made a hole in one of the great gates sufficiently large to admit one man, and one man did come in. Witness, standing inside the second iron gate, the bars of which were three or four inches apart, called to the man, and asked him what was his business. He was at the time making an entrance through the hole in the door. Has never seen him since. Witness saw five or six men come in a moment or two afterwards. He did not see either of the prisoners on that occasion. He saw the prisoner Courtney afterwards inside the prison, assisting, with several others, to drive the prison van into the river. The five persons who came in through the hole, wrenched the bars of the gates, and forced them open. Then there was a general rush of the crowd into the prison. About 300 or 1400 rushed in. The bars with which the rioters forced the gates looked like bars taken from a rail ing. The persons who rushed in made their way then through the inside iron gates to the Governor's house and the interior of the prison. The Go vernor's house was in an open space in the interior of the prison. The rioters entered the prison about twenty abreast, and went to the places where the prisoners were confined. There are several yards for the prisoners to walk in. There were about 170 persons confined in the prison at the time. They were all let out, and not one was left in the prison. There were iron fences between the different yards, and the Crown prisoners were locked up in the day room. Unless the doors were forced, the prisoners could not have got out. When the prisoners were let out, he saw the crowd driving the van out, and Courtney was one of those doing so. The tread mill part of the gaol, the Governor's house, and se veral other parts of the prison were then set fire to; that was about four o'clock. The crowd remained in the prison till there was a cry that " the soldiers were coming." That was near four o'clock. Wit ness and another turnkey endeavoured to shut the iron gates through which the mob was attempting to get away when that cry was raised. Witness succeeded in doing so, but the rioters forced the gates open again, when the soldiers went away. When the soldiers came up one of them ,howed himself at the gate, and then went away. When the cry was raised that the soldiers were coming, the rioters began to run away as fast as they could out of the gaol, until the witness and one of the turnkeys shut the gates on them. The soldiers did not remain half a moment. The soldier who showed himself at the gate at once turned round his horse, and went away again. After the soldiers retreated there was a general rush from the rioters, and they came in again into the gaol. There had been no fire then. The first part of the gaol that he saw on fire was a room in the Gover , not's house over the office. There was a great num ber of the rioters in the house at the time. He saw one of them looking with a spy-glass out of one of the windows. He saw the others of them breaking up the furniture, and throwing them along with blankets, sheets, &c. into the river. Witness went out of the gaol, and then saw that the tread-mill was on fire. It is behind one of the yards, and is about forty yards from the Governor's house. It was a separate fire. When witness quitted the prison there were about 300 there, and there was a great number of persons outside. Witness, while walking down to Wood's Hotel, about fifty or sixty yards from the prison door, met the prisoner Clarke coming up. He had an iron bar on his shoulder, and there were several boys and men walking after him. He saw him go into the prison, accompanied by several others. This was a few minutes after four o'clock, and nearly two hours from the first arrival of the rioters at the prison. The Governor's house was burned to the ground, and so was the tread-mill. The hammering and the huzzaing con tinued the whole time the witness remained at the gaol, which was up to about four o'clock. The bar which Clarke had on his shoulder was a square rail, and it was bent at the end, apparently from having been used. It was about two inches thick. It was such a rail as is to be found before houses in the street. He only saw the prisoner Courtney, as he already stated, in the prison, and he met Clarke coming up to it. He does not know any of the other prisoners. Cross-examined—He calculated the time the crowd came, and the period it remained, by his watch. When on the top of the lodge, he could see the persons who were at the gates of the prison. He did not know the persons of any of the pri soners before that time, with the exception of Clarke. He should have known the prisoners if he had seen them at work at the gates. He could not say that they were not there, as there was a great number of persons there. Courtney was the only prisoner he saw within the prison. When witness met Clarke, he was coming from Bristol in the direction of Prince's-bridge. At that time the prison was on fire. Witness did not return to the prison till next morning. Clarke did not appear to be intoxicated at the time he met him. He walked steadily. He nodded at witness as he passed, and proceeded up to the prison. In answer to a question froth the prisoner, Court ney, the witness, said that he (Couttney) had a smochfrock on wh , ni. he eaw him in the prison, and that it was about half•past three o'clock in the afternoon. Re-examined—When he first saw Clarke, he was coming up by the outer wail of the prison. The battering at the gates was going on about half an hour before witness went on the roof of the lodge, and it continued for another half hour after lie was compelled to retreat from that position, After the crowd got inside the iron gates, the prisoners were all let out in about a quarter of an hour. They had to break through eight or nine doors for that purpose. By the C —When he met Clarke, the Go vernor's house was on fire. The next day, when witness went there, the whole of it was burned down. William Henry Selwyn e xamined—llemembera Sunday the 30th of October last. Recollects on th a t day being near the gaol, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon. tle was about fifty yards from the gaol. ate was et the nearest aide of it, where the gate is. There was at that time a consi derable number of people about the prison. He would say from 400 to 500. The prison gates at the time he spoke of were closed. The crowd was employed its hammering at the large gates. He knows two of the prisoners at the bar, Clarke and Kearney. He saw both of them on the occasion to which he alludes. Clarke had either a sledge hammer or an iron rail in his hand. Witness saw Clarke hammering at the lower part of the large door of the great gates of the prison. He should think there were about two persons with Clarke at the time. He saw them effect an entrance through the gate. It was made in the bottom part of the left gate. It was large enough to admit the body of a man. After that he saw the gates thrown open, and the mob rush into the prison. While witness was there, he recollects soldiers corning up. Ile saw Clarke harensering at the gates before the soldiers came. Had known Clarke for six years. He could not say that he saw him any where before on that day. Witness had come from the Council house that day to the prison. Had known Kearney about six years. He saw Kearney first on that day in the mob, going to the Bridewell : that was about half-past one o'clock. He next saw him at the gaol. The mob,of which Kearney formed one, and which was going to the Bridewell, was most riotous Several of them had iron bars and hammers. Some boys had small hammers in their hands, and he saw large hammers with many of the men. Kearney at the time, witness believes, had an iron bar in his hand. Witness saw him next at the gaol. He had an iron bar in his hand, swinging it about, and with which, as witness believes, he struck the doors of the gaol. He saN him very near the door of the gaol, about a couple of yards from it. At that time the doors were fastened. There was a great number of persons about the doors of the gaol then. They were behaving very riotously—shouting and hum ing tremendously. This was before the soldiers came up ; and the mob behaved in the same manner afterwards. Cross-examined—Witness did not see the last witness at the gaol on this occasion. Witness was about thirty yards from the door of the gaol, and had his eye on it. The mob, however, was so great that the last witness might have come out without his seeing him. He would swear that Clarke knocked at the door before there was a fire in the gaol. When he saw Clarke it was about four o'clock or a little after it. When he first saw him it was before the soldiers came. He was then at the door, and em ployed as witness has already mentioned. He be lieves that no door had been previously broken. Clarke was in the act of breaking the bottom of the large gate when witness saw him. From the place where witness stood he could not see the small door. Witness remained about five minutes after the mob had entered the gaol, and not more. On Saturday witness saw the Judge (Sir Charles Wetherell) come into Bristol. There was a great crowd as sembled on that occasion, and he heard them hiss ing and groaning. That was about eleven o'clock in the morning, and it continued about half an hour. It took place on Sir Charles Wetherell's coming to this Court, and on his return from it. Witness had been an accountant for the last six years, and he also had been an attorney's clerk ; at the time of the fire witness was a special constable,'and neither an accountant nor an attorney's clerk. He was an assis tant to the officers at the Council-house. He re ceived no pay for his services. He was neither at the Bridewell nor at the New Gaol in the capacity of an assistant to the peace-officers. He could not say how far it was from the wall of the prison to the river. Witness stood a very short distance from the river. Witness was only distinguished from the mob by his appearance ; they were of the lowest order of society. The mob that he saw behaving riotously at the Bridewell on the Sunday, extended nearly as far as Nelson-street. That was about twenty minutes past one o'clock. Between that time and the period when he was at the gaol, he was backwards and forwards to the Council-house. From what he saw, the hole which was made in one of the great gates of the prison was the first entry effected by the mob : that was about four o'clock in the afternoon. There were many persons taller than him between him and the prison. He saw Kearney and Clarke at the same time. Kearney was swing.. ing a bar about. Knows Clarke, who is a sawyer, and of respectable connexions. Witness gave the formation on oath before the Magistrates on Wed nesday evening. Believes the prisoner struck the door, but cannot positively say. Re-examined—There was sufficient room between the spectators and the mob to distinguish every per son there. Saw 30 or 40 persons making a noise at the door at the time he saw Kearney. When witness went to the Council-house, he could find no one there to watch the motions of the mob. Witness was a sheriff's officer's assistant at the time he was observing the mob. By the COURT—The prisoners were all liberated before witness observed any fire. John Phillips examined—ls one of the turnkeys of Bristol gaol. Was in the gaol on Sunday, the 30th of October ; saw a riotous mob. The first blow from the rioters was struck against a small wicket in the gate of the prison. By the wicket wit ness means the door of the turnkey's room. There is no other entrance to the gaol but two gates and the wicket. First heard the noise when under tie arch of the great gate, about six or seven feet from the door. Looked through the wicket on hearing the noise, and saw several persons hammering at the door. Knew none of these persons. Went back wards arid forwards to the wicket several times. Went afterwards to the inner gates that divide the yard from the Governor's house. After witness went through the inner gate, the mob made an en trance through the outer gate. One came first, and several others followed him. Does not know the name of any one of those persons who came in then. Those who came in had sledge-hammers and crow-bars with them ; they made an entrance into the gaol; they got into the space before the Gover nor's house, by passing through the iron gates which were open. Witness and others asked what they wanted, and when they did so the gates were locked. There were three persons with witness. Mr. Deice, a turnkey, asked what they wanted. They said they wanted all the prisoners. The mob opened the iron gates. The keys were in the possession of witness, who unlocked the gates. He opened them, because the Blob having bars and hammers, he thought they were going to break the lock off. — They had hammers up for the purpose of breaking it off, and witness said, " Stop a bit, I will open the gate." After unlocking the gate to the mob they went up to get the Governo r's money., There were about 200 of them. Saw neither of the prisoner's at the bar there at first, but saw William Clarke there afterwards. Saw him about half an hour or twenty minutes after the iron gates were unlocked. When witness saw him first, he walked in with a crow bar on his shoulder, and went towards the Governor's dwelling. That was after • ' N the Governor's house was on fire. The house was fired in half or quarter of an hour after the entrance of the mob. It had been burning about ten minutes when the prisoner Clarke first came. After he pa red b e witness; ,he went up a night of steps towards the GovCrnor'e dwelling: Saw him again an hour afterwards. Did not Leaf him say any thing in going up the steps. When witness saw him return, he was coming down the steps at the lodge by the iron gates There are two flights of steps—one at the gates, and the other iMmedi ately at the Governor's house. Saw him return by the former. When he saw him the second time, the fire was still burning, and all the Crown prisoners were liberated. The prisoners were let loose before witness gas's- him the first time. bid not observe anything in his hand when he saw him the second time. When prisoner came down past the lodge, he heard him say some thing to the mob. He then went out of the gaol, and witness sew him rd more. He was in the gaol above an hour. At his departure some of the mob went with him. While Clarke was in the gaol the treadmill was on fire, and the mob were employed in breaking the locks of the different compartments of the building. Saw the mob go into the C'sover , nor's house. They set it on fire, and brought oiit furniture, some of which they destroyed, but a great quantity of it, as chests of drawers and boxes, they took away. One cried to the other " i - joMe on, come on." They made a terrible noise, hammering the locks and breaking all the gates that were shut. They called oat, " Come on to the tread-mill" and to other pieces. Cross-examined—On looking through the vvicket witness could distinguish the rioters so as to be able to know them again. Did not know the prisoner Clarke before that day. Did not see him attacking the wicket. When witness looked through the wicket, he must have seen Clarke had he been oat of the party. Did not see Kearney. Continued his observations at the wicket from time to time, until the mob effected an entrance through the gate. Saw Clarke walk in from the road. 'that was his first entrance into the prison. Saw him go up both flights of steps at his original entrance. The tread mill is separated from the Governor's house, which stands quite isolated in the middle of the prison. The fire was at the tread-mill before Clarke came down the steps, and witness saw the:fire at the Go. vernor's house before he went up the steps. Did not observe that Clarke was at all affected with liquor. James Edwin Carver examined -Was a prisoner for debt in Bristol gaol on the Sunday in last Oc tober, when it was attacked by the mon. Was in the debtors' yard et the time. Since that period has been seriously ill, and through a defect of memory cannot perfectly now recollect all the circumstances he witnessed. (The place allotted to the press is elevated immediately in the rear of the witness box, so as to conceal the persons of those giving testimony, and to divert the current of sound in a contrary direction. We have no doubt that the ac commodation was given with the best intention; but in the examination of the witness, the very respon sible duty of reporting on such an occasion became I exceedingly irksome from the extreme difficul t y of ascertaining the answers.) Witness first observed the liberation of the female convicts by the turn key, who was followed by a number of the rioters. They opened the gate of the debtors' yard, but he did not see it opened. The mob nearly filled the yard, and when they got into it, they destroyed the tables and broke the windows. ad not hear them say anything. After the gate was opened witness went into the large yard. The rioters were at that time in every part of the prison. Knows the iron gates between the yard and the Governor's house. Saw the iron gates under the arch attacked. When witness saw those gates at first, they were open. Did not see any person close them. Saw them dosed afterwards when there was a cry of" The soldiers are coming." After that cry saw some of those outside the gates, at the arch, strike them with sledge-ham mers. Believes the gates were opened by one of the turnkeys. At that time witness saw Clarke there, but owing to the failure of his memory, and the confusion in the pri son, he could not recollect what was done. Saw Clarke at a late hour go into the prison. Witness was then stand ing on a line with the mob. There was then little nr no confusion. Can scarcely say whether or not Clarke had any thing in his hand. It was some time after the gaol was broken open, and before it was on fire, that he saw Clarke. It was between four and lee o'clock. Witness was examined before the Justices. Had a clearer recollec tion of what occurred when examined then, than now. If his memory were as good now, he could give a great deal of information. Remembers the breaking of a gate, called No. 21, but does not recollect how it was broken. Was in gaol till the 26th of last month. Cannot recollect further than that there was great confusion, and that he saw Clarke go through the great gates. Witness was then outside the walls, and heard some persons say, " There goes Bill Clarke." Went into the prison again, but did not see the prisoner. The last thing he can charge his memory with, was seeing Clarke strike the outer iron gates—he believes with a hammer. The prisoner was then outside the gates, and witness was inside. This was after a cry was raised that the soldiers were gone, A great many persons were striking the iron gates when Clarke was striking them. The gates were opened immediately afterwards. It was not a great while after the hammering till the prison was set on fire. Cross-examined—Believes the iron gates were unlocked while the rioters were knocking at them. He means the inner gate. Witness's mind is very much disturbed, and he can recollect nothing that occurred when the prison was in a state of confusion. Dare not venture to swear that he saw Clarke striking the gates, but thinks he saw him. Alexander Shercock examined—Was a prisoner for debt in Bristol gaol on the 30th of October last. Saw the mob come into the gaol. Did not see how they obtained entrance. They had sledge-hammers and iron bars. Knew William Clarke, and saw him in the gaol once, some time after they broke open the outer gate. Saw Clarke at the debtors' gate. He had nothing in his hand. Might have seen him for five or six minutes. Clarke called out to the mob to " come here" or " come there ;" witness cannot recollect the words distinctly. Does not know whether the mob obeyed Clarke. There were a number of persons telling the mob to do this thing and that. Had seen Wil liam Clarke before that day. When he saw Clarke in the prison the mob were breaking open the transport-yard. Witness first saw the fire after leaving the prison. Cross-examined--Clarke was committing no violence when witness saw him, which was nearly an hour and a half after the first attack upon the gate. The rioters were nearly an hour and a half making good an entrance. Saw Clarke about three quarters of an hour after the mob gained admission. John Page examined—Witness was opposite Bristol gaol on the 30th of O c tober. There might have been about 150 persons at the entrance to the prison. Witness was on the opposite side of the water. The mob made as entrance in about an hour and a half. There was a Clarke Saw a w e mit a t h i: es i c d a e n d e o a w n nd the h t a e ff t o t s a , e ff r . the T lodge s f e t n h e e r p vi r i , s m o n . . unshipped the staff and threw it amongst the mob. This was immediately after the mob entered the gaol. The fire took place about three quarters of an hour afterwards. First observed the smoke arise from the Governor's house. Clarke had passed over the water in witness's boat that morn ing about ten o'clock, in company with four persons, three of whom were apparently his associates. Clarke repassed in the boat about twelve o'clock, and witness did not see him again until he observed him with the flag-staff. Cross-examined —Did not know any of the men who d over ith Clarkn the boat. Knew Clarke's passe b u t not his name.e i Witness's son sometimes assisted son, in working the boat up to seven o'clock in the morning. Assisted that day till seven o'clock, and from ten till one. Witness was in the boat all the time from ten till one o'clock with his son. Was about 120 yards from the gaol when he saw the rioters. Cake repassed in the boat a little before twelve. When Clarke unshipped the sta ff, he was in his shirt sleeves, and without a hat. He was not in the same dress then as that he wore in the boat. after t e hg a r e o vtte h t be a pa t act ski t st h ne e tdeo coi3 gaol, vieareir;:t b ioeNir u vi3.,fie t itdi llsnnar Bedminster bridge, n pebsii be raos :tut re passing The staff was unshi pp ed between three and four o'clock. Th e ferry is a good deal f re q uented. Witness p assed over minutes iyn aoyrn order r f s a good many t,lar over.tt apearn statedis d soi g nr e g , t t h Cvit a h a l s e t aenr h h tk e yf e ee was not Clarke ferried n theacross riot again. befo r in the new gaol, on the following Wednesday. w ednesday. Saw Clarke i custody, positively as the day he previously igno rant o f and hisname. recognised e.Cannot recollect identified Clark : thinks it was on the second Wednesday after the Sunday of the riot. He can swear that his ex amination was not so late in the week as Saturday. James Wyatt examined—ls a toll-keeper at the bridge. 44, :,~. - -4. ‘ .1.- 4 fa, ' RemeMbeia‘i rtibb tinting tteltgelge, - which lies in the way to the gaol, after two o'clock oh the 30th of Octo ber. The mob passed before the gaol was on fire. There were some hundreds of the rioters—some 'had bludgeons, some had square bars of iron, seemingly broken off. The prisoner at the, bar (Clarke) was one of the mob, and bad some kind of bar on his shoulder. The bar was bent a little. Clarke, as he leaned witness, said, " They would have libeeCy." Does not knot that he addressed himself to any one in particulaC. Witness, in answer tti Clarke, said " Yes," The mob were all coming, ore in a rush, and Clarke was a good way behind the first of them.— There si , 'eat eeme hundreds in advance of the prisoner, eful a great many behind hire:: The mob were huzzaing. Did not know which way they were going, The bridge where witness stood was less than a quarter of a mile :nem the gaol, at the bottom of Prince's-street. When the people first went on the bridge, they said they were going up to the gaml and then coming back to him (witness), and told him to make ready for them. He was standing at the toll-house at the time. This was aa!el by many of the rioter.. The mob afterwards came back. James Cross examined—Was a merchant ; recolle6ted Sunday, the 30th of October. Was at the Herse and Jockey pubiic-Leude that night, about twelve o'clock. While there the prisoner Clarke, wlth four or five other., came in. They were armed with iron crow here ; from eighteen to thirty inches long, and about the thickness el witness's thumb. The landlord gave them a gallon of beer ; Clarke pt lled out three or four keys, which he said were the keys of the goal; One of them he held out, which he said was the master-key, and that every gaol in England would be open in a fortnight.Theyteitlate keys. Crops-e±atnined—Had no knowledge of Clarke before, It was about twelve o'clotk, and went to the house for a glass of brandy and water. Had been there about five minutes before prisoner came in. Witness wee es sober then as now. Clarke was about half-and-half in liquot: His acts and manner were those of a madman. 'When he produced the keys, it was in a tone of bravado. Did not know that the keys never were lust. Wse about fifteen minutes in Clarke's company, who went first. The keys were larger than front-door keys. Was not present at any of the firm Re-examined—Considered his acts, and saying every gaol in England would be epees in a fortnight, the speech of a madman. James Moss examined—l a shoemaker. 'anew the prisoner by sight a long time. Saw Clarke on Sunday ) the 30th of October, firsC at the Mension-house. There were a great number of persons there ele!so were then pulling down the boards and barricades at the windows. Clarke was amongst these persons at that time. That was at a quarto' after one o'clock in the day. Witness remained about seven minutes. The mob went towards the Bride well. Witness was rather before them, and they over took him. Clarke was with the mob, but had clothing in his hand at that time. Those who were with him had sticks. Afterwards saw Clarke with a sledge-hammer at the Bridewell door, which he was hammering at. Did not see the mob after that. There was another hammer and a hatchet, and the mob were hitting and cutting the himt thehe dfieahro°raogossdfatsr t:tt door. The mob went direct from Queen-square to Bridewell. It was about two o'clock, and there witness left them. Cross-examined—His only reason for going from Queen-square to Bridewell was, that he was going to St. James's-street. There was a nearer way, but that was nearer his home, and he generally went it. He did not go with the mob ; they overtook him. It might be about five minutes after he got to Bridewell the hammer ing at the door began. He did stop to see the mob. Did not know a man named White, nor of any bottles of wine or spirituous liquors. Was at the gaol at five o'clock ; went with his father. The fire was then burning. Had no particular business there. 'Went near to the river when at the gaol, but did not throw any thing into the river. Did not ask, to his knowledge, any body to drink. Knew one White, a shoemaker. Did not tell White or any other person that he had some bottles. Did not pull any bottle out of his pocket then. Did not say to White that he had got two bottles. White did not ask witness where he got the bottles. Did not, in presence of White, take any bottle out of his pocket. Did not ask White to drink. Did not say to White that he'd got bottles from the prison. Did nothing whilst at the prison. Was there better than half•an-hour. Was outside and did not enter it, nor either of the outer gates. Re-examined—There is a thoroughfare through Bride well in the day time to St. James's-street—a narrow par sage which had gates. By the COURT—Saw White at the prison at the mo ment that he was leaving it, and went home with him. Saw another man, a shoemaker, who lived in College street, there. Robert Harding Trickey examined—Knew Mr. James Cross, who had been examined. Was with him on the night of Sunday the 30th of October, at the Horse and Groom. Knew Clarke, and saw him come in there with some others on that night. Clarke had a crow-bar, and others had bars which looked as if they had been lately sharpened. They demanded drink, which was given by the landlord's son, be believed. Saw no money paid. They came in in a mad way. Saw Clarke take from one pocket a large bunch of keys, and from another a larger key. Clarke said, " You --, here are the keys of the gaol, and not a --- gaol shall stand in England in a fortnight." They all appeared in liquor. They went away in about a quarter of an hour. Saw the way that they went, and saw the same party break the windows of Reeve's Hotel. Saw Clarke soon after near the Boar's Head, when he wanted witness to take some bread and cheese. Cross-examined —Clarke was not guilty of violence while at the Boar's Head, except his forcing him to take the bread and cheese. Harriet Vowles examined —Lived servant with Mr. Whittington, who kept the Britannia Tavern, in All- Saints'-street, which joins the Bridewell-lane. Remem bered the Sunday of the riots, and saw " that gentleman there" (Clarke) and about twenty others. Did not see any others outside the first time they came, which was between one and two o'clock. Had nothing with him the first time, but had afterwards, the second time he came, an iron bar. There were then about twenty with him. He had beer, and took the iron bar, flung it round in his hand, and said, " look here, you " He went away, and desired the mob to follow him. Did not hear him or the others say where they were going. Could not say how long they stayed. The second time was about three or four o'clock. Nothing violent bad occurred in the neigh bourhood, except the Bridewell being broken open, and the prisoners being let out. Heard Clarke say they had some out, and would have more, but what she did not hear. That was in the tap-room. She knew that the prisoners were out of Bridewell, by hearing some of the men say that some hopped out, and they would have more. The second time Clarke came the Bridewell was on fire, and he had the bar on his shoulder. Cross-examined by Mr. SMITH—It was about three parts of art hour between the first and second time. Clarke did not appear to have drank more than on a working day. They all seemed merry, but he did not appear very tipsey. Thomas Whittington examined—Kept the Britannia ; remembered the Sunday, the 30th of October ; had seen Clarke on that day at witness's house with other persons, thabouten altogether I burned. or i t n rnheeat n dhn u .dryae i number. o b wot e hrfge.eantrihti place, was ln t tarhsic.oeeres about time. Clarke called for a gallon of beer, which was sup. plied and drunk. They stayed about half an hour. Had nothing in his hand at that time. One of the men with i t the amn e t dei leg ,,edyaind o wd f net a onhtto t a igun b ogt l ho e t . tohcit,shwWl C aeafhr l ran a kteosda r ren k pei e went towards Nels o n - street, and said to the men " Look sharp." Clarke came again in about an hour, and persons came back with him about the same number. Clarke then had an iron bar bent in the middle. Did not hear tsciniatrup: C olviaeotQ l rre a mcleou r sl.eu k woaer e tr)na, ' ke s s.resa.b, inuuiconversationdlr,arnrrthileineer;ya:viibh‘ioNpm,ival while with the people ph , giee n edc o e r Gtoo d of i vL d iearrol w :f i t tness know where Clarke bad been. It iheAoxenna being afio r:sen fires were doe S ee_wrb u eunacdtenoafiny,gre, is:iaencexamined—Was eaiwitnesscotetlndhit time, wrneN Severalavewsa aear e ne n sri! g ra a nyb g ohao e nou d mutt s oetl keeping ros2ge.:werei‘mb i ue men afterwardst.), ouit as a i c alv o constable, acnhbolotel,aasat-nstd: Nicholas-street when ishow h he lefttGhPalace,eus there several ileyaoryw b 0 houses k ep t werea public-house ieythevbrae.dedl belonged Sawa bunch half-past eight o'clock ; four or five more were t x e vi e th onesphO said e t obbtfoheybleGovernor of r i k do e ,tf e - a ygt b sha t a ewe r. i gpt ahr i 0 prison. Air.hn e . They hc askedClarke.el They Clarke ef merely had l d a ey some bacon, which he said belonged to Mr. Humphries— stopped at the door. Jacob Wallingford examined—Was on the night of Sun day, about two or three o'clock, with Captain Coltkurst, in Prince's -street, Queen-square. Saw Clarke that night in Priuce's-street, coming up from the square. He asked witness " Was he a Reformer ?" and he answered " Yes," under the impression that Clarke had come ft om the square. Clarke said, " That's right, take care of those hooks," and reckoned them to witness—they were fourteen in number. He then pulled out keys, and said, " These are the keys of the gaols." He held them up, and showed them, and then put them in his pocket. The conversation lasted about five minutes. Witness took the hooks and put them in his house. aarke never called for them after. Cross-examined—Never saw Clarke before then. When he gave the books witness noticed his features. It wan under a gas lamp, and can swear positively to the identity of the prisoner. James Rouse examined—Ts a victualler, and remembers the 30th of October. Baw Clarke at half-past eleven that night, at the Boar's Head, witness's house. Clarke spoke something about a boy, and then asked for drink : said that he kept the Hen and Chickens at Bedminster, and • was a landlord as well as witness. There were two or three men and five boys ; altogether, about eight or nine, They had crow-bars; and Clarke said, he had been and broken open the three prisons. Understood the Bridewell gaol, and Lawford's gate, which witness had seen on fire. Clarke then produced some keys, and asked fir bread and cheese for self and party. They produced 25., which were laid down, and one of them was picked up. Had a 101 l opportunity of seeing Clarke, and was sore he was the man. The prisoner had an iron bar. When he spoke of the gaols he also said he and his few boys had burnt the Bishop's Palace ; that he had done a good day's work that day, and he hoped to do a better to-morrow. Cross-examined—Clarbe was intoxicated when he said these things. Margaret Flinn examined—Was &tyrant to Mr. Hum phries; the governor of the gaol. Remembered a number of persons breaking into the gaol. On that occasion one ham and part of another were taken away, also is leg of pork in salt. John Wilde examined—Resided at the Horse Fair on Sunday the 30th of October. Early on the morning of Manley, befire daylight, about half-past one o'clock, was in Queen-squ ire. There were a great many persons there, and houses were burning. Had known W. Clarke there three or four years. Saw him in Queen-square on that night. He said to three or four other men, " Come on, come on." The people were then standing quiet in the square, but the mob was burning the Excise-office. Cross-examined—Was not there when the Mansion ;onee was burned. Was there later. Then two Bidet of the square 'acre burned. These two sides included the Mansion-house and Custom-house, and Excise-office, which were all burned when witness left the square. Had been in the square on Sunday morning, when he saw the men taking the cellar doors off the Mansion.houses and throwing them into the tide. Reexamined—At the time he spoke of, the iron railings were all removed, Witness only saw the mob in the square. Thomas Austin examined—ls a watchmaker and jewel ler. Was in Queen-square on the Sunday night. Saw Clarke there between two and three o'clock on the Mon- day morning. There were a great number of people there at that time. The mob was setting fire to the houses. Saw Clarke with dishes and bottles, and heard him calling to tie mob to come out. William Perry examined—ls a constable. Went in search of Clarke to Liverpool, with Mr. Harmer, on the Saturday after the fires. Got to Liverpool on the Sun day. Found Clarke at Liverpool on the Sunday, at the outside of Lagdon's public house. Took him into cus tody. Clarke said nothing of his name, and witness brought him back on the Friday. William Humphries examined.—Was Governor of the gaol on Sunday, Oct. 30. Was not in the gaol when attacked. Left it about half-past one o'clock to come to this hall to summon assistance. Went with the Ma gistrates and gentlemen to the gaol, but were there driven hack by the mob. They appeared to be about 1,000 in number. Attacked Witness and his party with sticks and stones, and they were obliged to retire. One gentlemen was materially hurt. Witness was obliged to keep e until the gaol was sacked, but was so close that he could see all that was done. He retired to the nearest house to the gaol, the Bathiest hotel. Then left the hotel on its being reported that the mob were coming to destroy the houee. Did not return until the morning, when he found all demolished. His own house in the centre was com pletely destroyed. He held that house of the corporation, as Governor of their gaol. Has a master-key of his own, and three common keys, which were all locked up in his desk in the office. Did not find them on his return. There was one key larger than the rest. LThe witness was under examination when our express left Bristol at four o'clock. THE BILLS AGAINST CAPTAIN LEWIS THROWN OUT. In the course of the day the Grand Jury came into Court with the bills against Captain Lewis, for murder, ignored. COURT OF ALDERMEN.-Yesterday, at $ late hour, Dir. HUGMES HUGHES was called in, and sworn Alderman of the Ward of Portsoken. The inti• oration was not publicly announced ; but it was whispered about the lobbies, and gave great dissatisfaction. CORONER'S INQUEST.—Yesterday (Tues' day), about seven o'clock in the evening, an inquest, V Mr. PAY NE, was held at the Fleet Prison, on the body of the late JOHN CHARLES LE POER BERESFORD Mow ritrw, Esq., who had formerly been a Colonel in the army. The surgeon (Mr. BULLEN) deposed, that he had been in attendance on him for about a month, and whets' he first went the deceased had strong symptoms of pulmonary consumption.—An attempt was here made bf the executor of the deceased, to prove that his death re' suited from persecution and being broken-hearted, in cot?' sequence of being unjustly incarcerated and detained is prison for no just debt ; but the Coroner said, his busine was merely to enquire respecting the treatment he had re' ceived while in prison, and not whether he was or was PO legally imprisoned ; and, after some further discussion, the Jury found a verdict of Natural Death. Between twelve and one o'clock yesterday 0 police constable of the L division, who was on duty it' Mill. street, Lambeth, perceived a strong smell issue fro No. 1 in the street, occupied by an old lady namd CHARLES. Suspecting something was the matter knocked at the door, and no answer being given, he alared the neighbours, and an instrument was found with whid the door was broken open, and immediately a dense shah' of smoke issued forth. The stench was so terribl e , that , was with the utmost difficulty the constable could get ink' the room, where he saw the unfortunate old lady env' loped in smoke and flame. With the assistance of son' of the neighbours she was dragged into the street, but et' was quite dead. The body presented the most dreadf' highlyeccentricwasseparatedwas most connected, it but. I to sit up all night i n h er c h a i r, and go to bed i n t h e o', time; and it is su p pose d t h at h er b onnet caught fire fro'l the candle, and that she was suffocated before she had opportunity of alarming the neighbours. A FRIENDLY REMONSTRANCE.—The 0 4 1 ' lowing characteristi c e pi s tl e was received, 'verbatim' literatim, en Tuesday last by a tobacconist in unie, street, Spitalfields, from a member of the Society Friends, who accidentally broke a square of glass for ht Broadbrim conscientiously went in and paid the money once " upon the counter ;" but finding, after a eh; look out for a week, that the repairs were not proem' , in, and that in lieu thereof one of Iluttr's red pastebt t blacking notices was put in possession of the vacnuw, spirit sunk within at the unn ecessary outlay, and ratl o than his neighbour should be an y th e better for the ICC dent, be addressed him f rom a di stant part in the fo llow ing terms :—" WILLIAM SAWYER—When a Qua / `: breaks his neighb our ' s w i n d ow, the most t h at can b e e' peered of Min is, that he pay for it; and when be h: paid for it, the least that can be expected of his neighbe is, that h e re p a i r .i t . Th ou s h a l t h ear f ront me evil .) , this he not attended to, for the money may as well be e ' pended in postage as lie idle in thy till ; but in any case: calculate that I have paid thee considerably more than lE window glass is worth, or than the repair thereof c' honestly cost thee. ' 6 ZACHARIALI." (Age.) THE DESERTED WRECK AT BANNOWI, The wreck of La Belle Julia, lately cast on shore sails set, has created no small degree of, we may painful interest. A brown pointer dog was found board, and according to report is at present in possess of S. Borcz, Esq., Bannow. It is also stated that se, bloody shirts, napkins, ece., were since found on b 0! This, if true, gives cause for a very generally circulat!d , prehension that some foul deed caused the stran dini the vessel. We have heard a report of two young a dressed in sailors' apparel, entering at a very early boo' the morning, we believe, a the vessel first being see, Bannow, the house of a respectable and intelligent pu b? , in the Faythe, in this town. The owner of the hou se paired of them, as they were strangers, if they belof . to the wreck ?—meaning eitter of the two other wir i At present on this coast ? The reply was " No." owner, who had spent many years in France, observitl, bayonet half protruding at the wrist of one of them) served, " Sir, I believe that is a French bayonet," answered, " I believe it is ; come Jack," addressia„ comrade, ‘' let WI be off." These are singular and P mysterious facts, when connected with that o f th e bl°, shirts, and invest the entire circumstance of the stranding, with a degree of inexplicable uncertainty , time only can bring tie light.r. Wexturd Herald.