The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-06-04 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGEACE.

Mr.rtnion, it appeared that about the same tin e the same desert-
lions of goods were purchased from thou by Julia Thu e!
first and second parcels appeared to have been brought ii• the same
packages in which they were purchased by Thurtell. The tither
;parcels appeared as if they had been *penal, part taken alt, and!
!the remainder packed up again. The piece of silk tine produced is !
one of the pieces I purchased from Snowden. I know the piece..
because it was marked by me at the cost price. define I teemed of
•
I the fire l did not know 31r. Wittman', nor any person connected !
with the County Fire (lON ; but haring accidentally seen fn a I
Newspaper a report of the trial of " Thurtell a. Bentstoont," I
made an observation to a Mr. Pottery, who communicated it, an
have been informed, to Mr. Beaumont. Il'hilst these purchases
were being mode, I saw John Thurtell once or twice with Snow. •
den, wham be eked to pay over to him the proceed. Ilse last
I doe I saw John Thurtell was about the 7th of Sib of January,
I in company with Snowden, at the Posilterer's Arnie,
hisrket.
'rhr whnesa was cross-examined to thew that he left Mr. Mar. •
grave's employ from misconduct.
ke.esamined,-IViten I left Mr. Margreves service he gave me!
a character which got me leto employment.
Barber demmiont —I am Alanagirs Pirectorof the County
lire Oilier. The policy now produced was eartuted at our thee. I
Croses-examined—l cannot say whether the policy now produced !
was signed by one ; it was tilled up. I know all the defer.dants.
it butt the Ilth of February, last year. l'hiatias Thurtell made ay.'
plication at the ',eke for indemnity for the loss alleged to have
been sustained by hint in consequence of die fire in %Fedi-goitre/4 ;
he delivered me a statement of the goods alleged to be destroyed.'
In consequence of some 'actions information whirls I had rc.
ceievod, 1 asked hint of whom be bought the articles; men.;
dotted the names of filears. Todd and :dorrison, lhoss.n. Leith,
and other persons, whose names I don't recollect. I asked ;
if the goods were all on the premises at the tone sit the lire,
siul he said lie was sure they were, as they hai not begun to
dispose of any goods; he said die last time at which he was at
the premises before the
fire, was at four o'clock the preet.dianal
evening, hut he said his brother John was there at a later tfr
before the tire. 1 then asked him other question, but hr put his'
hand to his forehead—sahl his wife was at the point of death—that'
he would not answer any
.more questions—and that he would send
his brother John to explain everything. 1 said 1 should make In-
optiry about the invoice, and the persons of whom he purchased
the goods ; and he said he would Amish me with the in. '
voices. In half an hour afterwards John Thurtell called, and
I asked him similar tliteialnfill in those that I asked Thirlikal; and
he answered them, and said he would send the Invoicts.• In a
day
ser two afterwards Ns,. Ilanett's clerk cane with the
original invoices, and proiword to leave them with she, to
11l copied; but after having gone to the door, lie returard, wad
said he was not andioristal to leave the originals, but that he
would send me copies. In two or three slisysalierwords John Thor-
' ts II brought tee those invoices, which he said were exact copies of
the originals. Both the Thurtells told me di,hrsedy that nave oldie
goods had been sold. Snowden, whose invoice of goods sold w.ts
pica 'Om, rolled on ma, and I ; Ant Mtn it he sold 'lie goads men-
tioned in the invoice to Thurtell; and lie replied that he did, and
that he received in paymeut a bill for lOW. aid the remainder in
cads. I asked whose ogent he was in negotiating the sale, but be
n 'used to tell me. asked him in what way the goods were deli.
venal he aid they were sect to Watling-street. I raked hiut by
whom they. were se it ; but he seemed to be confused, and
**mild not gots a distinct answer. Ile soil some of them had
lwen left by himself, and he did not recollect who took the
' other fame's. I asked him where Iris warehouse was, and he
said I would hear him at the Po ulterers's Arms ; 1 traced
some of the goods to Mr. !deforest's warehouse in conscqus nee
of trim I horsed at the Poultcrer's Arens; I mule inquiries
about Snowden at Mr. Alarxrave's wareluntra. This was before
the Hid which took place in thin Common Pleas. On the day after
I made the inquiries at Mr. klary,TaWs, Snowden called upon me,
and scented very indignant at my having made any inquiries; he
theo said that he Uerl.l add any I„rocds to Mr. Margate. roe ever
acted As the agent of the Thurtells, except in one instance, in which
hr purchased fur them goods to the amount of between JIM or
lOW. front a person named 1/aw,on, at Leeds; I frequently after-
wards saw Min and Thomas Tbartell, and their account of the
transaction was always the same. John 'I :sorted said all the good%
which tune froth Norwich, amounting to PIK ie Una nuns
through IhiWtOsi; that lie received two boxes of goods in Nirvana
bee souse in December 1822, and a small paper parcel in Ja-
nuary 11i13. I told John Thurtell that I laul traced some of the
goods from Norwich to the Cook in the llama:krt. Ile said it
was sit, but they Were afterwards sent to Nl'atling-street, I then
refused to pay the demand, fowl Thorned brought Isis action. On
the day afire the trial in the Common Pleas, a gentlemen nursed
Pottery ceded upon nue, and through him I WAu introduced to Mr.
It iirles worth.

4120U1a OF KING'S BENCH, Jvir. 1".

!Blurt • Special Jury.)

Vile ZING i'. entlatert.t. aNn oettens.
This was an indictment against the detendants Thomas Thuftell,
Anderson, and --- Snowdon, for a co-mortal, in setting
ire to their premises, situate in Watling.sttert, in the year la ,
..t.ll for defirauding the I 'minty Fire Othce Of the sum kf 1,113 W.
Air. Scam stew opened the tsar. toil began by rolling upon the
Jury to surest them es selv of all joulice, and to (ovum, tor a time,
any past trammetinna that oar t attach reproach to the name of
Thurell. The case he would prove was a very alieik, and. he
lbeliessd, also a very clear one. line of the defendants (John
'ilurtell; was now no more. He had formerly been in the navy.
In lel hr. came 10 leindon, rind entered into statue speculation.,
and, beaming bankrupt, took the Iwnetit of the insolvent Debtor.'
Act. A public-Mouse wan kept in the Haymarket, in ,tt? name Id
Thomas 'Mu:tell. bet evidently for the benefit. and under the di-
rection of Sin brother John. A warehouse was taken by the de-
fendants in Watling-street, near St. Paul's. in November, 1:2121.
laimedisuly afterwards John Thortell ettitintilleell operntionn oil
the warehouse, and altered It so an to answer his purpose..—( Here
tor. Scant. it exhibited a model of the warehouse, and erdenvoured
to alley, that these attentions were tor the purpose of concealing
Item ;Arsons on die other side what vas in the wart Amine, and for
toeveeititig discovery if fire should bred: out.s—lle mentioned a
variety of other suspicion* eircumntances, such as John Thant!!
mm using to get out of bell when he wax informed the warehouse was
co. lire ; slurry being no remains of burnt goods found among the
f. 111.5; and prisons having seen from the opposite Side that the
~.crehotise was nearly empty. licit this he would leave to be
I toyed by the sittierses he intended to bring forward.
.baba Penny—Reside' in Sit'atling.street ; Is • wine-merchant
1. t the of ;eat of his premises to Thu.. 'nitric') fur UM. ; had
rot received payment.
711 r. Hots—Had you any still on the fin-mines, or any thing
likely to net the house on lire? Witness-- No.
NV Oinks continual—Left the blame on Swill-clay night, at mot
Inn o'clock; came to the honor daily • now one pared brought to
the warehouse; no communication betwixt bin rreitiines alai those
tot the defendants; never had any conirlaint from John Therteil
or his parlor about smoke.
Uy Mr. f-t • _....41w a parcel brought on tle• Saturday.
There was no fire not candle on the Salottlne on o•!• prrillit.eal.l
left iny servant in nu y warehouse, and no other reibidl ; huant a
noise like that made by carpenters.
I)uvison, carpenter, employed by Joliii Thortell to niter a
warehouse in Watling.stretf, In Noventiker las._ ..iiilerritood from
Jahn ThorteU the presses were for the ptirrior of keeping grind..
Saw the inside a one of the presses is. the I Ith or I.:111 December,
by accident. Numbing in the inside. Knew that a woman coo.
elected silk John Thurtell resided for some time o.i the premises.
Elle left them on the day that the irlutess left ref working All the
(ood. witness ever saw on the warehouse did ton ninotint to mute
than eight or nine rolls of brinibasine.
A. Williams was acquainted with John 'Fliitrtell in Jnneary,
11141; he lodged at bet house, liartlek-h111; cane on the 11'edoex.
day before airborne'. A woman came with him, caned Mrs.
Thunell ; slept there; stopped with her till after the fire. Rend-
lart, ionic ettmemithin betwixt John Thorsen and the woman.
bbe (the woman) said to John l'hunell, " If I were you
John. I would sell all the goods and set tire to the tom Scone."
11s replied—"l)on't talk so, Mary." John ill eri,l .1 musts home
on Sunday nimbing shout five, the morning the fire look piste.;
he said rt. witness-_' What are the nude. springing for ?" Wit-
new did nut hear any. M'asherw ~,,, an come shout eine; 141141
tiler,: was a great fire. %Viola-in knocked at .1. Thurtell's floor, and
told him than *an a large fire in Wading-street. Ile linked if
d was about Frklay-strret. Witness did not know, but sent the
washerwoman to invire. Mr.. Thortell then said toJohn Thur.
tell.• the warehouse is on fire ; she dill not hear the answer, but he
was a considerable time, shone a quarter of an hour, in getting up.
Witness wes requested by J. Thurtell to grease his boots before
going out ; did not leave the house hastily.
By Mr. setgeant VAValltAti —Dal you let your rooms for the
hour or half hour ? Whams NIA
Who did It ? Witness—l don't know.
You mean to swear to that ?—I don't mean to swear to any thing
tithe kind. (A laugh.;
Vint were esamined before; did you not say " I Mve got as
ousel: sometimes for a night as for a fortnight ?"—Never.
You swear that, very well ; did you ask if Thurtell and this we.
Iran; was married ?—No; I never interfere with conversation be-
tween men and *lie.

me for ibc

.Mr. Shyest V•tronsw—Nis ; you don't ask every couple that .al r. ScatI.ETT 'aid. ,hie was the case .. _of prosecution.
els= to your house if they are married; if !oil Teemed none but Mr. Sergeant Varian AM addressed the Jury. After a lung and
married,people. yon would not have many lodgers perhaps.-11r. painful investigation tor nearly eight hours, it became his duty to
11. Btruniont came to me and cenniined toe about Jului Thurtell; address then, on behalf of the doe:Wants, Thuttell and Antler-
could not recollect when. son, upon the manila, or rather the demerits, of this extraardivary
IVilliant Williams had a warehouse mote to that of the del n. prosecution. Ile was sure that the Jury would divest themselves
dart. The tire broke out Idiom Ave. Went to the warehouse door of all the prelneliees with which it was endeavoured to taint their
and knocked. sod the door was opened by Samuel Wilkinson. minds. The only question 'afore the Jury was, did the defendants
Saw 1.0 lire no the porn when the flames were issuing from Thor- owl into a conspiracy to defraud Mr. Bober Beaumont and the
tell's window. Writ to secure his own papers, and came back other members of the (aunty Fire Insurance Company ? The
twenty minutes after ; saw no fire on the floor them ( 'mild Learned Sergeant then comatental at considerable length upon the
dieeeni the remains of almost every thing that horn Intent. evidence for the prosecution, and concluded by expressing his firm
Leaked at 'Thertell's warehouse, but saw no acacias of goods. conviction, that he should be able to offer such evielpme as would at
Never NW anything in the conduct of Wilkinson, to make him uncejustify them in finding the defendants not guilty.
suspect that Its was in the bola of drinking. Mr. 111: a at:r then addressed the Jury ua behalf of the other
Simon IVllkinatm.-1 was porter to Mr. Penny, of ll'atling. defendant, Montle n.
street, who lived .ielt door to Mr. Thurtell at the time the fire Several witnesses were then examined to thew that Thurtell,
occurred. I went to 'we' about half- coil ten o'clock on the from time to time. received a considerable quantity of goods.
night of the tire. Defers I went to hed 1 put out the firm Wm. Beeves.-1 was foreman at the Beaton Fire-office; I ex-
the homer, lighted • candle, and took it with me up to bed; amined the premises of Mr. Thurtell in Watling street shortly at'.
but that was the only light at that time on the promisee. ter the tire ; found near the door about a bushel of pieces of burned
When I went to het I put out the candle carefully. I could barbarities and silk velvets; I was near the premiers whilst the fire
see into file. Thurtell's premises from lily hat-nom. I was was raging; there was a great explosion, and in consequence of
avrakmed by the watchman knocking at the door. I got out the quantity of spirits which took fire the Haines wen very high.
of bed, went down the step.tadder, and opened the warehouse Criess.exionined-1 evidenve on the trial in the Cot on
door. The warehouse was (mite dark ; I saw a light In the Pleas. The letter produced is nut in my band.writing, neither was
lint lt+t•r. There were a number of persons in the street. I it written by my directions; I never told Mr. Ikauniont that upon
seraimpeen to break open the dour from our warehouse into certain conditions I would blow up the Odle of the l'hurtells and
Thatch's. but I could not succeed bother than to break one enable him to resist that claim n 1 was astonished when Mr. Been-
panel. I does went and dressed myself, and broke open toy wont called %slam toe in Whitortiour.street ; I did not ac-
nreinee's4mk. to get out snow purer& I than want ard got a knowledge to Mr. Beaumont that I had suit this letter to I • ; I
light hem the street. During that time the lire was burn. never told the turnkey Baldwin to refer to etc any person who
mg in the drat door. Thmugh the panel of the door I saw might come to instate for I. I.
the tiro burning on Thortall's staircase. %ViR,Il 1 went to bed Re.examined—Whin Mr. Beaumont called upon no he said, If
t Lire was no Ire in the coaintingthinow. I could give hint any assimance about the lire, lie would see if he
Mkkard Mackay—l ant principal fireman at the (Hobe Insurance could not do something fur me when I should get discharged from
°lke ; I have been a fireman 21 'ears t I was on the premise% on prison.
Use morning of the tire, and observed the progress of it. l was in Another fireman belonging the Phoenix Fire-office said, that he
about threw slays afterwards sent to examine. the ruins, to look after went to the lire in IVatling-strert about five o'clock on the Sunday
salvage stmt for the (Hobe Insurance Company. Mr. Penny's morning, and the fire was then burning fiercely.
premises cows insured by the Ciotti.. Mr, Williame•e premises A. IVinelsor. a fireman of the Phenix Fire-office, swore that
were on the right of Thurtell's. 1 examined Mr. 11'd:isms's pee- when Inc first came tip, about a quarter hafore five o'clock, he saw
oiler, and lOW half burnt bales of goods, but on Thurtell's the &nuke issuing liow the lower part of Mr. Penny's premises;
premien, there were no Ruch things. From my espn inter, as a the back part of Mr. Penny's warehourn was burnt.
fireman, B can may, thut in live cases out of sue we always hind Mr. Thomas Mergence—The witness Itigglesworth was formerly
some remain* of the property. in u:y employ. 1 remember purchases having been made in lfe-
Joseph Jeplann-- I was employed by the (Babe Insurance (Hike camber, Vial, from Mr. Snowden. There was not any communi-
u. search Mr. Penny's premises, where I tOtll,ll sonic wine. sprite, ratios made to ow that the goods were purchased front Todd and
%Inger her, anti other goodie; there were also remains of bides of Morrison. Itigelessorth never tokl me that the goods had been
bondowiees. offered to hint at 20 per cent. less than the cost prince ,• if he had I
John Creliont-1 ant in the employ of 31 1.741‘. Todd :mil !Born. would not have bought the goods. lam not a judge of such goods,
Nem. enk.merrnya, in leore-street ; 1 knew John Timm II about five awl I therefore employed a buyer. The moods were afterwards Paid
or Ohl year. nr,o in Norwich, whirr he earned out the huaineas of a in small lots to (votary slropkeepene, and the gross profit was only
hoillbosinsonontsfirtnr". in the rear If it 1w applied h. Todd and 12 per cunt. I discharged Itigglesworth hirsute I was informed
Illonrison lor the purpose of puri•liasing goods bw his brother by good jueges that he bad made injudicious purchases for me; in
Thomas. Ile inleeted thanrands t but to what amount I can't say. o:instinct:ca. ef having burn infoniwel that he borrowed MIL in my
1 dlin't know wnetherall the goods which he wleeted were delivered awe, wii harm nay consort, from a Mr. benne', Smith, of Pater.
to his brin'aer. Thia took place, belleve, in December. 1821. flouter-row, to pay as he odd a rearm' hill ; I montluned that to
Jahn 1.111;e:i.-1 am in the employment of Messrs. Todd and Mr. It'i-e,iisweartli. The taleaboot the returned bill was • false.
3/erri.on. i remember John Thurtell riming to the warehouse to bewd• a had lasflicient Inns's to meet my bills.
pierebow goods; he always paid cash before the plOll,l were scut to John Taylor-- I buy 31stwitoter silk and woollen Floods on my
lilac paint upon one oceasion. when be gave • bill for :au. Some wwil account also buY fur those who employ me ; have known
cif tees odes .rho la arc entered as returnee' were, ita f..et, lICVIT sent Illgglesworth for years front what I know of him I would not
out of the warehouse. bdieve him on his oath.
Mr. Barber Iteuumont-1 hail a communication with John Mr. Lenney Smith was called to prove that Iligglesworth bor.
Thorsen respecting the intone., now in my hand ; lie 111111041 it told rowed MU. from him in Mr. blargrave'a name.
a toe areount of the portholes made by I • trona I.titb. This ihr.StAllt.er T objected to that Spl`Ciel, of evidence.
invoi.., was given to me by a versant who stated hinowlf to be the His LORDSHIP held that the evidence wee inadmissible.
chrk of John Thurtell's attorney. Mr. Sergeant Vali l) I lAN—That is the case tier the defendant&
Mr. Leith Raid the invoice proilpeed was • true copy from his Mr. SeatU.COT then called Mr. Barber Ilentimont-1 went to
boon.. we were paid cash fir all the goods sold by as to John Whiteout's-greet prison. where I inquired of the turnkey for J. J,
Theteredi. ter T.T. in consequence of baring received this letter ; I was intro.
James Itigt,lesworth -.1 lived with Messrs. Margraves, who were deer) to Reeves. who admitted that he hail cent this letter to
silk and hema1.a....,• warehousemen in flresii-street. I left their em. Barber Beaumont, whew Ile believed to be my father.
ployment about a year aril; lam now an accountant. I saw John I The letter was then pm in and read. It was elated August It,
Mayen at the werehonse three or four times in 11R22. when lie lOW, signed " Fireman," and directed to Mr. Barton Beau.
celled upon a person named Snowden, who was aeon to persons at : mom.
Npredch. On the Mot of thostaber, Itirt. Snowden and John I The writer wished Mr. Beaumont to call upon him, and stated
Thuttell. having had some erinvernetauti tour the tire in the ellice, that he amid elucidate many things which were (smuts:tell with the
they appli.sl to tite to porrhasc smile hosetb.ioncs and Niwa ich craiws, trial which luul just taken place at the Common Pleas, when'a
but I dealmd or latee„.them,..„.• altn'tngt,..,theyid 1 havent
~ venires was found against the proprietors of the County Fire
at cosy own 1in)". "nr'";fl '"'" me that "."'"ntll Office. Irlien I went to hint, he said he could lay open to nee
Was a nomniartnevr at Norwich. (In the next day "e brought the whole of the phut, it lie could get appointed furcourn at our
ens pattorns, sou the rues were so for that 1 agreed to par.
Office as he had lent the situation whole he formerly held. 1
base them. In two or three days afterwanbe, I found a box of • refused to comply with his ILYIUCIt. 111 consequence of having
itn" in my warehouse it was bough, believe, by Pt"' alto received another letter front him, I again, but I refused
et:Learn the goods a hieh I had previously bought Tom John to give him any unwary or employment, ur any promise of money
.pbotoott. pow for the fist hit by a cheque, which I gale to :lire tie employment.
i• inowelen. The how contained a general assortment of silk Knolls.
4Ya 'that day Snowden came to me and said the box contained also
Cross-examined.—lt is not true that 1 tol I him if he did any
to elucidate this business I would see what could bc done
tier cheap lot of goods. I opened the box and saw Todd and :Bor.
1.44111'0 invoice on the top of them. I declined buying them, be. I roe him but I raid that if he could refer me to any persons
camas considered than to Tow, property. end rod should I whew evidence would be lawful, we would reward then, for their
get into owes but-te diegrace, non den n •
'• • said he would take hi. oath I trouble. An inhabitant of tine rhood was called upon
wive paid for. maw they must have hero paid in bad by an individual, who said he could give miponant evidence
teine ; then, most tic.Yery in the treo,,tetioo. and I Mould about the fire ; and an advertisement was put into the newel-
ban nothinir to do with them. On the neat morning Snowden 'minis-
reque.ting that person to call on nor; but I did not,
came again • and brought me Todd's invoice. with Todd's receipt tier-nigh 11w medium of the newspapers, apply for any other in-!
nenexed. I still objected to holing them, and said, if you were formation.
.to go and lay Out IYOf. with Todd and MOnis.lll, and come to rue Mr. Sea grant 1' Att:ll Aat said, at this late hone of the night he
mu. morrow and offer th•os lisr 761. what Until be your motive for Rol would aintam Irmo making any observations at length, but ho
du's ? ille said it was of so rowahlwenc, that there were many could not help saying that 51r. Ilierber Beaumont would stand on
people who would boy them if I did hot. He then amid these sea a • higher groursel if he had disregarded anonymous letters, and had
grunt plan laid; the explosion would take place, but that I had no., manifested rather less zeal in the discharge of his duty as Director
thirg ro do with It. He diem went away, and on the SAW day I gut of the loottioporm„..
an ofda from Mr. Margrive to inepect the goods, and it, put them an? u.4a.rt.er___to..t_en___or'r_l o'clock
oll.r..Sarguesarn.ir.rent•rfutrotsetto reprelyn.asTitheie
to his amount. Sever parcels caner allarearls threegti tloosiden.!
WIVOW,OB DOW produced are the invoices sent wills the gouda. r.,Noit of `cem.'"o7l,7, support irriniorupsurn
un.
fact,
thhationtilthangh
the
TV first Invoice is Mated the 27th of December, 182% ae which day **rehouse in which, if there were no fraud intended, the invoices
I bought the tint lot of goods. The *camel invoice Is also dated would have been deposited, was destroyed, et the invoice* of the
site 27th of December lin?. It in an invoice of the same goods of gadtswere
prem.e".
vetch I SSW Told and 51orrison'e invoice. The prices charged in ,
hy Tom i zits Lordship mourned up very minutely, and directed the atteo.
this Invoice are considera len than the pricee c
lion of the Jury to such parts of the evidence OD in his opinion bore
and Morrison. The date title neat invoice tithe harttlay I).-
cernbcr. In this invoice the bandanas are onl chargnd at 19s. 2d. , 'Tun the tale.
-4The *barns here read flour the Invoices the various . Verdiet -Thurtell and Snowden t;ailty, se.d Auden= NM
tie aod upon reading the Mvoices of Told and