The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-23 00:00:00

HUNTS CONFESSIOA:

Woodwind from the British Press 9f Monde/ 1484-1
The next morning (daturday) saloon as it was sufficiently light,
I went with John Thurtell to the lane to look for the pistol and
but we were unable to make any very particular search,
because some labounrs were near the spot, employed in repairing
the road. We however saw a great quantity of blood at the place
where John Thurtell said he had cut Mr. IVeare's throat. Thur-
tell, in order to account for bur being there, and also for the blood,
if they should discover it, pretended to the labourers that we had
been upset these overnight in the gig. About eight o'clock Pro-
bert came down stairs, and we told him we had been looking in the
lane for the lost thing., but could not find them; and he promised,
after breakfast, to take the dogs, and go to look after them.
• In the course of the morning he took us round to the shrubbery,
and pointed out a spot where he thought it would be best to bury
the body; because, as he said, it was very mach hid by the shrubs
and trees : and he desired us to bring down a new spade from town,
as he had not one that was fit for use; and he said that lie would
1 assist at digging in the night-time, because he understood it better
than us ; and hessad, " I will not leave here until everything is
safely stowed away."
After we had breakfasted, Probert put the bag, the box, and the
gun into the chaise, and John Thurtell and me went to London.
On reaching Oxford.street, John Thurtell got down, laying he
• would go the bark streets to Tamil's, for fear he should meet
Upson, who had the warrant against hint for the fire-ofli,x prose-
, cuuon ; and he desired me to take all the things home to my
lndgings, and return the horse and chaise, and then join him at
Tetsall's. _ _ _

According to these directions, I called at my lodgings, and left
the articles 1 have described; and I also secreted under the bed
the drab great-coat which Thurtell wore when he committed the
murder, and which was a good deal stained with blood : and after
taking home the horse and chaise, I went to Tetsall's, where I
found the two Thurtells. From the conversation that passed, I
found that John had communicated every thing to his brother ; and
in my presence he told hint that we were going down again, for the
purpose of burying the lady.
After a little time John gave me a duplicate, and one of the 31.
notes which he had retained, to go to Mr. (fray's, a pawnbroker,
in Fleet-street, to redeem a suit of clothes which he had in pawn
there ; anti 1 paid thetione note in the name of Price, to the pawn-
broker, who wrote that name on the back of the note. The things
came to 3185., and I took them and the change to Thurtell.
Some time after my return with the clothes, John took Mr.
Weare's watch out of his pocket, and 3'hunuts said to John, " you
ought to make me a present of the watch, because you got those
clothes by means of one of my bills ;" and he several times after-
wa-ds proposed to buy the watch.
In the course of the afternoon I went with John Thurtell to an
ironmonger's in %Varerick-street, Golden-square' to buy a spade.
Nl'e both went into a warehouse up stairs : John Thortt II selected
pnid for enc. and I took it by his desire to my lodgings until
titenext morning, when we were to take it darn to tiill's h ill.
. .

On the Sunday morning I again got the horse and chaise for
huttell and int, to go down to the cottage, anti the spade was
put into the chaise. (In the road we overtook Thomas 'l'hurtell,
and John got nut tlf the gig to let his brother ride. (In arriving at
the votutge Thomas threw the spade over the hedge into the field,
and Probert afterwards went and fetched it front thence, and rtgaitt
pointed out the place where the batty should be buried • and in tie
coneste of the morning, while walLiog in the garden, :John 'Fluty-
tt-11 told his brother 'hounds, in my presence, where the body was
se:rettd. He pointed to the place in the pond, and said, " There
Ins the h_y thief, safe enough. who rebbed me of 34)01.„ and
would nut lend MC id. ; that's the way ail such b—s should be
served ; and it will not be long before we have Holding there."
Thomas 's'hurtcll laughed, and said it a famous place for the
purpooe. bermlse there was no other ht•tise near.
While we were near the pond, John Thurtell said to Probert,
It you do the thing that is right, Pill. this is how I will serve
the man von went out of the way. Bankroptcy, I mean. You
know Holding, don't you, Hill ?" " Yes, said Prober!, "tot
well." " Then," said John Thurtell, " you understand what I
intend doing." " Yes, yes," said Probert, " I know well enough,
we will have him foe another turn."

In the course of the afternoon, Pmbert went to Mr. Nicho
and was absent about two hours. On his return he a
greatly agitated ; he called me Into the garden, and told me had
hem much alarmed, In consequence of his haring seen two or three
gentlemen at Mr. Nicholbes, one of whom told him that he had
baud the report of a piotoL about eight o'clock on Friday night;

that anther man lima said he heard two pistols ; and Mr. Nicholls
raid a report was raised that dreadful groans had been heard, and
some one calling oon'for help, and saying, Oh ! John, for God's
sake, spare me, and I'll give you all the money I've robbed you
of." That at the time this was mentioned, he, Probert, had a
glass of gin and water in his hand, which, with his great fright
and trembling, shook very much, and he was so agitated that he,
thought he ►hould have dropped, and had no doubt he should ac.
tually have fallen if he had not act down ; and he was very much
afraid lest his agitation should have been discortrcd. While Pro-
bert was relating this to me. John Thurtell came out, and Probert
repeated it to him, and added, that Mr. Nicholls had talked about
r drugging the pond for large fish, and said, of course if this is done
the body will be found. John Thurtell appeared alarmed at this
information, and said, " Then I'm done.'

%Ve consulted on 'the best steps to be taken ; and in the
course of conversation John said, as he had brought down a spade,
he would, in the course of the night, endeavour to dig a hole to
bury the body. Tile next morning John 'l'hurtell showed me,
Pr&crt, and his brother Thomas, where he had commenced dig-
ging the hole, but said he had found he had not sufficient strength
to complete it, and had therefore filled it up again ; and it was ar-
ranged that the body should be removed that sante night to some
spot where it could be concealed.
After what had passed at Mr. Nicholls's, we all became very
much afraid that some stir would be made in the business ; and
in order to prevent the boy from being questioned, or giving any
information as to what he had seen or observed, it was determined
to take him to London. Anti on Sunday night it was settled, that
the boy should go up in the chaise with me and Thomas Thar-
tell, in order that one of the Thurtells might get him a place in
London.

On the Monday morning John Thurtell told his brother, Pro.
bert, and myself, that he had been endeavouring to dig a hole for
the Lody, but finding the task too laborious, he had given it up.
Ile skewed us where he had made the attempt, and the earth ap-
peared to have been newly disturbed.
Several plans were then talked of for disposing of the body.
Thomas Thane!! suggested, that it would be a safe way to get rid
of it, to cut of the head and bury it, and bring the body to the
house in Alanchester-buildings, and secret it there until a conve-
nient opportunity occurred or throwing it into the Thames; and
then, if it floated no one would be able to recognise it : and this
plan, I understood, was to be adored.
According to the arrangement which had been made over-night,
the boy came up to London, on the Monday morning, with
Thomas Thurtell and me, in Probert's gig; and as the lad was
with us, nothing. particular passed, except, when we were passing
ever small bridge, near Edgware, Thomas Thurtell, pointing
to the water, mid, This would not be a had place." At another
time he said, '••• we might find sonic difficulty to get rid of the
job ; but it was well planned to leave the big one (meaning Proben)
at home."

Thos. Thurtell quitted the chaise at the corner of Maddox-street,
and sent me on to his attorney, in Clenienes Inn, to inquire if the
bail had been accepted. I went them, but the attorney was not
within ; and, on my going to Tetsall's, I found Thos. Thurtell there,
reading the newspaper. lie then sent me to my mother's, whose
name had been given as one of their bail, to ask if any inquiries
had been made there. On seeing my mother, she was displeased
at her name being used, because she knew nothing of the Thurtells,
and said she would decline becoming bail. Just after I came out
of my mother's, I met John Thurtell, Miss Ann Noyes, and
Thomas Noyes, in the gig I had hired at Charing-cross, and John
Thurtell left the gig he was in, and joined me; and we rode to-
gether as far as Osford-street, when he got out to go to Tctsall's.
I took the chaise to the end of Conduit-street, where Tetsall's man
took it from me: and Mr. Noyes having come up with the hired
chaise and horse, I received it from him, and took it home. I at
the same time ordered another horse and chaise to be ready for
me the same afternuon, at three o'clock, and then returned to
Tetsall's.

The two Thurtells, Noyes, and Ennison, and myself, dined at
Tetmll's ; and at three o'clock Thomas said to his brother, "John,
you had better go down sod tell Probert that Hunt's mother has
declined being bail, so that he may get another." John, who un.
derstood what was meant. replied, " Very well; Hunt, you go and
get the hor.7 and chaise again, and we will ride down.' And he
directed me to drive to Tybum-gate, and there wait for him.
It was nearly six o'clock before John Thurtell joined me ; he
was dressed in a great-coat, and trowsers over his breeches, which
I had never before sxn him wear. On reaching Elstree we
I stopped at Field's for nearly an hour, and then went on to the
cottage.
On seeing Probert, he expressed considerable fear of a discovery,
and begged that the body might be removed as early as postale
that night from his premises; and he stated his determination, in
consequence of the reports in the neighbourhood, to leave the cot-
tage entirely, with his family, on the following Thursday. Probert
suggested the propriety of cutting all the clothes MI the deceased,
so as to prevent his being identified ; and he undertook to rend or
cut them irate small shreds, and distribute them in such a manner
as that they could never be put together again or be known.

Between twelve and one o'clock Probert and John Thurtell left
me with the females, while they, under pretence of getting the
horse harnessed and chaise ready, took the body from the pond,
and cut off the clothes. Probert took out with him a white-handled
knife for the purpose. After they had been out some time, Pro-
bert came in and told me the chaise was all ready, and that Thor-
tell was waiting for me. I then took leave of Probert and his fa•
mily, and on Joining John Thurtell, perceived the dead brdy, en-
closed in a sack, lying in front of the ;pg. We went on with it to
a pond near Elsetree, and there threw it in. The pond I understood
was selected because it contained several feet in depth of soft mud,
into which the body would sink, and there was therefore no danger
of its being discovered. We then came together to Coventry-
street, where I put hint down, and after returning the horse and
chaise to the place from whence it was hired. I went to my own
lad
41121 Tuesday forenoon I joined the Thurtells at Tetsall's • and
about three o'clock Prolwrt's entitle was brought there, and Thomas
Thurtell desin-d fie to go down to Peobert to arrange about benig-
n!) his children the next morning. I accordingly went, but hap-
pening to stop at field's in my way down, I heard some people
talking about a woman having been found drowned ill a pond ;
and suspecting it might be Ireare's body that had been discovered,
I became greatly alarmed, and instead of going on to Gill's Hill
Cottage, I returned directly to town to the Thurtells, and told
them what I had heard, and my fears that something was wrong;
on which John was as much frightened as myself, and be said to
his brother, " You had better go down, Tont, and inquire the par-
ticulars, and you can do it with safety, because no one knows
you." Thomas Thunell accordingly went down almost directly,
with the same hone and gig, and that was the way he happasW
to be at Probert's when the officers went there that night and ap-
prehended him.
All the things belonging to Mr. Afeare had been taken to my
lodgings, until John l'httnell should have an opportunity of
taking diem to some man in the city, who he said he knew would
buy tem ; but as there was now sonic danger of suspicion falling
on use and a probability of a search being made at our lodg- I
ings, it was determined to get rid of any thing that was likely
to be identified, and also to remove the marks of blood from the
great coat which had been worn by John Thurtell when he'
committed the murder, and which was still under my bed. We
accordingly wem to my lodgings, and sent my wife out on an
errand, toredemt a coat of mine that was in pledge an a pawnbrok-
er's in St. Martin's lane, while we did what was necessary. We
tried, by washing the sleeves of the coat, to remove the stains of
blood, but could not succeed, and it was therefore determined to
cut the sleeves off, and throw them separately away, and secrete or
otherwise dispose of the body of the coat. The sleeves were left
with me to get rid of, and I threw them down the privy of the house
where I lodged, and the other part without the sleeves was dropped
in Mary-la-bonne. Tburtell cut Weare's hat in small pieces, and
, threw the pieces awry in a street near Maddox-street. lie also threw
a white-handled razor and strop on the pavement in a street facing
Maddox-street and Bond-street, which was directly alter picked up
by a man accidentally passing by. Ir. Weare's tortoiseshell comb
and hair-brush he dropped in the middle of the same street, and •
housewife billed with thread and needles belonging to the deceased
was thrown behind the railings of a house in Maddox-street.

The next morning. I was apprehended, and John Thurtell also,
when, after undergoing a short examination at Bow-street, we
were conveyed to Watford ; and there, in consequence of the soli-
eitatior.s and promises made to me, l disclosed where the body sits
concealed, and confessed many of the leading particulars of the hoc.
rid transaction. I also told the officers what articles they would
still find, belonging to Mr. Wears, at my lodgings.
The reason for marking out Mr. Graham, who is, I understand,
related to Mr. Clutterbuck„ was to get rid of a prosecution he was
carrying on against some parties who had won a large sum of mo-
ney from him : and Weare and others were supposed to be urging
on the prosecution, because tie party who won the money refused
to let him share with them.

JOSEPH HUNT.
(A copy of the above confession, which may be relied upon for
authenticity, has been deposited at the Mike of the Home Secretary
of Slate.]

I NFA NT IC inE.—Tuesday last, an inquisition was taken
at Luton, Bedfordshire, on view of the body of a female infant,
which on the preceding afternoon had been turned up by a sow,
which was groping about in an outhouse belonging to an old farm
house, which is now converted into several tenements, and occu-
pied by poor penile. The child's entrails, and also its arms, had
been eaten by the sow, and it is probable the body would have been
completely devoured by the voracious animal in a few minutes,
had not tome children who were playing near the spot discovered
the circumstance. It could not have been buried more than two
or three inches below the surface of the earth, and was merely
strewed ore? with brielts and dirt. In cons,quence of the informs-
ton given by the children, several persor.s opaired to the spot, and
a bloody shut and shawl, in which the child appeared to have been
enveloped, were found. A great mass of evidence was taken, front
which it appeared that the body of the infant had been concealed
for about six weeks in the room occupied by its mother, and had not
been interred till early on Sunday morning last. One witness spoke
particularly to an inteltivable ster.ch which she had several times
perceived on going up ar.d down stairs which led to the room oc-
cupied by the mother of the child, aid where it was doubtless con-
cealed. John remitted, with whom the mother, Elizabeth Hare,
cohabited, and by whom she had previously had a still-born child,
appears to have been implicated in the horrid affair. Front the
Istate of the child's body, the surgeon was of opinion that it must
hare been dead six weeks. The investigation occupied about 12
hours, when, after a mature deliberation, the Jury returned an una-
nimous verdict of Witful Itrueder against Elizabeth Hare, the mo-
ther, as principal in the first degree, and against John Fromm in the
second degree. John Femora, who was in custody, was committed
to the county gaol, under the Coroner's warrant, and a warrant was
issued by the Coroner for the apprehension of Elizabeth Hare, who
bad absconded, but who has been since taken, and conveyed to
gaol.-41ustisidoi Gazette.

MIDDLESEX SENS TO NS, FEN. 21.

CRUELTY TO A CHH.O RY ITS FATHER.

George. Prizrnme, a banister's clerk, and Racl4ael itzZer,
sister-iv-law, were placed at the bar, on indictments roselesd.
against them by the parishes of St. Giles and St. George,
bury, which charged them with almost unheard-of cruelty to an
infant child, son of the male prisoner.—The father was chargal
with being an eye-tritneks of the cruelty to his own chibl: tht other
prisoner was charged with inflicting that cruelty.
Eliza Scott.—l am servant to Air. Eaten, of Tottenham-court-
road. Prizeman (XVII pied part of the house. The female risontr
had the care of the children. The child's person was not taken
care of. She said she would be the death of it before she left. rie
miscreant had cut, bruised, and deformed the child, until it was
quite a piteous objcct. The witness informed the parish officers,
who took the child.

Mr. J. ('utter took the child on the 2lith of January. It waa then.
black from head to foot.

Mr. Burgess, a surgeon, deposed that the child was a miserable
object. It had not been properly fed or cleaned. It was in a state
of starvation, with many bruises about the body, and a wound on
the right eye-lid.
Mr. Eaton esaminctl.—lie spoke to the prisoner: rucked him if
it was his child ? Prisoner answered " Yes." He did not see it
after, for the fact was he did not like it.

The Jury acquitted the father upon the Chairman passing a
censure upon him; and found the female Guilt', who wee ad.
judged to fourteen days' hard labour at the treadmill

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET COURSING MEETING, 1324.
For the Couples.
1. Lord Iluntly's Viscount beat Lord Rivers's Ronald, and mot:
the couples.

Matches.
I. Lord Rivers' Racer beat Mr. Redhead's Lovely.
2. Mr. Denn's Dinah beat Mr. Hill's Helen.
3. Mr. Redhead's Leman beat bard Huntty's Valiant.
4. Lord Rivers's Rarity beat Mr. Aytoo's Poll.
A. Mr. 11111's Iludibras beat Mr. I)enn'sDanby.
6. Lord Rivers's Red Rose alga Mr. Wilk taco's Cesta. No
course.
7. Mr. Buckworth's ]'are beat Mr. Scott's Ink-
8. Lord Iluntly's Van beat Adm. Wilson's l'nelerweigh.
9. Mr. Redhead's Leveret beat Adm. Wilson's Uri*.
10. Mr. Redhead's Lapsing beat Mr. Scott's !no.
11. Mr. Buckworth's Youngster beat Mr. Denn's Dewdrop.
12. Mr. Rust's Barossa beat Mr. Alington's Argus.
13. Lord Rivers's Rushmore beat Mr. Scotts Insect.
14. Mr. Rust's Beatrice beat Lord Dunwich's Eleanor.
IS. Mr. Ruses Bonus beat Adm. Wilson's lysses.
16. Mr. Palmer's Pelter agst Mr. Ayton's Pluto. Undecided.
17. Mr. Buckworth's Youth beat Lord Dunwich's Marshall.
18. Mr. Wilkinson's Calliope beat Lord Dunwich's Everlasting.
ill. Mr. April's Puss agat Mr. Scott's Indus. Undecided.

FRIDAY, FED. 21.--SECOND CUIPPENUAM FIELD.
Matches.
Lord Huntly's Vermin beat Mr. Redhead's Leman.
Mr. Aytoo's Pyrrhus beat Mr. Palmer's Pickle.
Mr. Scott's Inkle beat Mr. Redhead's Lounger.
Lord Hundy's Violate.: beat Mr. Redhead's Logic.
Mr. De Burgh's Quick beat Mr. Redhead's Lottery.
Lord Rivers's Rebecca beat Mr. Denn's Daphne.
Lord Rivers's Rutilla apt Mr. Dr Burgh's Quiz. No course.
Mr. Aytoo's Pallas beat Mr. Palmer's Puss.
Mr. Rust's Betsey beat Admiral Wilson's Una.
Lord Handy's Vintner beat Mr. Buckworth's Yeoman.
Lord Rivers's Regulus beat Mr. Rust's Belmont.
Mr. Redhead's Ludy beat Adm. Wilson's Ursula.
Mr. Wilkinson's i'ognier beat Mr. De Burgh's Quorne.
Lord Rivers's Robin Hood against Admiral Wdson's Uxbri4c.
No coarse.
Lord Rivers's Rhoda beat Mr. Denu's Dairymaid.

NEWMARKET SECOND SPRING MEETING, 1624.

THITIIIIIDAY-EXTII
Sweepstakes of 200 sovereigns esteh, b. R. D. 31.
Duke of irsiton's Poithania, Bit. 61b.
Duke of Rutland's Scarborough, 7st. 101 b.
Duke of Oration's Cinder, 7st. bib.

CHESTER RACES.

TRADESMEN'S Cr r.—The Dominations to this elegant plan
now stand as follow ; the forfeitures closed on Saturday the
14th instant :.. s:. lb.
Earl Grosvenor's bl. m. Etiquette, 4 yrs 01l - . 8 5
Lord Belgrave's br. h. Hymettus, 4 yrs old . . 8 :t
Sir T. Stanley's ch. h. Doge of Venice, 6 yrs old . .9 3
Sir H. Mainwaring's ch. h. General Mina, 4 yrs old - 8:I
Sir W. Wynn's b. h. Belmont, 5 yrs old - Bln
b. f. Rebecca, 3 yrs old _ . fl 2
Mr. Tome's b. h. Felix, br Comns, 4 years - - . 8 2
Mr. Rogers's gr. h. Sir Edward, S years - . . 819
Mr. Houldsworth's Amiable, 6 years - - - 811
Mr. Beardsworth's Binningham, 4 ream - - 8 3
Mr. Beardsworth's Fearnought, 4 yeah - - 8 3
Mr. Slytton's eh. g. Euphrates, aged . - - 812
Sir. Alytton's b. c. Whittington, 4 years - - 8 2.
CoL Yates's Orator 5 yrs old - - . - - 8 9
Sir T. Moihn's b. e. 3lmloc, 4 yrs old . . 8 5
Mr. Clifton's ch. h. Adroit, 4 years - . - ti 4
FORFEITUR VS.-Sir T. Stanley's Falcon; Mr. SValmsley's
Hengist ; Sir G. Pigott's Potation; Marquis of *lige, ttkeleter ;
Mr. Houldsworth's Sherwood ; Col. Yates's Swap; Lord Stamford,
and Lord Grey, forfeit M. is. each.