The National Register.
London, England, 1820-07-30 00:00:00

SUNDAY, JULY 30. 1820.

This witness described the state of the bodies more
particularly, but not niateriallydiffering from the former
witnesses.
William Campion, a constable, proved, that on the
third floor there was a box containing a considerable
quantity of plate, souse of•-• it marked T. P. M. There
was no plundering on the premises.. The rest of his
testimony was similar to that ashes othirr witnesses.
William Heaven proved, thet+esisuMi in the privy
some papers mud a tin box, which he gave to the Coro-
ner's Jury.
Adam Reid proved, that he well knew Mr. Parker
and his housekeeper—saw their bodies. No one lived
in the house but those two; recognized the body of Sa•
rah Brown; could not distinguish Mr. Parker; the shoe
and foot of one leg were nearly entire ; thought it was
Parker's foot and shoe; 51W a good deal of jewellery on
the floor in the parlour; the deceased had been a fancy
jeweller; witness knew some of the jewellery before as
belonging to the deceased.
William Riven proved, that he made shoes for Mr.
Parker; saw the bodies; recognized Sarah Brown;
knew the shoe on the foot of the other body; thinks it
was of witness's making ; had once stretched that shoe,
so as to break it on each side of the strap; had no doubt
of the shoe • Parker's foot was particularly high on the
instep; had no doubt the foot of the body was Parker's.
William Patten, a surgeon, proved that he saw the
bodies; Parker's skull was fractured in several places;
the blows seemed to be given with a circular blunt in-
strument ; thought is must have been a hammer; they
' must have caused instant death; the female's head was
fractured in two places • the face much bruised; the
fractures must have caused instant death.
Thomas Coles, publican, at Portsmouth, proved, that
he saw the prisoner at Portsmouth a month before the
murder; lodged with witness; prisoner left witness on
the 19th of February; he then owed 51.; borrowed 11.
of witness then to go to London. Prisoner said he was
going there to sell some goods, and to set his father and
friends. Witness was repaid on the sth of March at
noon, by a labouring man, who took away the prisoner's
trunk—it was paid by a 61. note; saw the prisoner once
after this in Portsmouth. When he lodged with witness
he went by the name of James Watson.
. .

Cross-eiansined.—Prisoner had valuable goods, chiefly
silk. When sober, the prisoner was very peaceable and
quiet; had the opthalmia when living with witness;
did not wear spectacles.
Francis Faulkner—Coachman of the Hero Coach;
drives all the way; recollects prisoner; on the 4th of
March took him up at Monse-hill, 36 miles from Lon-
don • had a small bundle with him ; he sat on the box;
said be had come from town to Milford by the Chiches-
ter coach that morning; shewed witness a coral, which
he said he had found; it was in a tarnished awe; left
him at the Fountain Inn, Portsmouth. at six o'clock
that evening.
Cross-examined—But not for the Way-bill should not
have remembered the day.

Ann Kirby lived at Portsmouth; an unfortunate wo-
man there; first knew prisoner in November; knew him
by the name of Watson;• knew him till he left Ports-
mouth in February; he had a nephew there; the nephew
called him Watson. Prisoner said he was going to Lon-
don to get some money; saw him on his return from
London on the 4th of March , said he had come from
Woolwich front his friends • said he and another rode
on horseback to Mouse Hall, and from thence he came
by the coach; said he arrived at eight, and came to wit-
ness directly, prisoner slept with witness that night, at
the Red lion. Next day, at breakfast, pris4ner sent a
man to Mr. Cole's, with a note to pay 41. 15e. ed. The
wan returned with a trunk and somechange in a paper.
Prisoner slept four nights.more there with the witness.
After that, the witness was afraid to sleep with him. He
threatened to kill witness, and was so alarntel in his
sleep, would cry out in his sleep •' What's that!" and
call on some name, Betsey or Sally. In consequence of
this witness left prisoner. He gave witness ear-rings and
a shawl, and 1.55. immoney. Witness occasionally slept
with him afterwards—his behaviour in the night conti-
nued the same. Prisoner said he had killed two men
and one woman—the men in duels; it was a secret, and
witness must not divulge it. He killed the woman by
striking her, but he did not like to hear of it. Prisoner
often went to the play after he returned from London,
and dressed differently to what he had done before—a
hat instead of a cap, and white top boots—let his whis-
kers grow, which he did not before, and wore silver
spectacles.
This witness underwent a eery long and severe cross-
examination, but she did not deviate materially from her
nritiiiial story.
William Duffey, nephew to the prisoner, was at Ports-
mouth in March; first saw prisoner at Portsmouth in
November • his name is James Nesbett; he went by the
name of Watson in November;_ he said he went after
his mother's name. On the 4th March saw the prisoner
at seven in the evening; said he came from Woolwich
by the coach; said he had seen witness's motives at
Woolwich. On the 6th of March saw prisonersand
Ann Kirby at the Kal Ltonbit half-past 10 in the morn-
ing; never saw them together ague; after ae was IT.

[Placa 9id.

moved. witness received a letter from him ; witness dee
stroved it; don't know that the signature James Nes.
bete was the prisoner's hand-writing. The letter asked
witness to get a matt and Mr. Cole to take their oaths,
that the prisoner had desired the man to pay money to
Mr. Cole by a 61. note, which Ann Kirby had sworn to
be a 101. note; and wanted witness to go to Mr. Carter to
get sonic money, which was taken Irons hint when be
was apprehended; also wanted to know if Ann Kirby
was coming against him; if she did he would have her
cropped. for she was the worst enemy he had. Witness
did not know what 'cropped' meant.
Joseph Irish, watchmaker, at Portsmouth.e.-Prisoner
came to witness on the 10th of March—left a repeating
watch to be cleaned—it was cleaned. Prisoner called for
it on the lath. Witness afterwards saw the watch in
possession of Barnard Solomons—it was an old fashioned
watch and very particular. Witness brought back the
watch the same day—it had stopped—he called for it
again in a few days—he asked its value. Witness said it
was worth 51.—lie said, "Is it not gold ?" W Mies' said
be it was. Prisoner said it had been in his family
100 yetis—he had the watch sway.
Barnard Solomons, pawnbroker, at Portsmouth,
knows prisoner; be came to witness's shop on the 22d
March ; produced a watch—(last witness identified the
watch as the one cleaned by him)—asked ten guineas
for it ; said it had belonged to his deceased father ; he
nes 83 years old when he died. Witness would not
give that price for it. Prisoner said he had some old
silver at the Geogre Inn, and would call the next day;
he took away the watch, sod called the next day at
three; he produced the watch and several spoons, Ex or
seven table-spoons, and as many tea spoons; they weighed
17 ounces. Witness bought the whole for 91. 6s. 6d.
(witness produced spoons), they are marked T. P. M. •
and some W. M. P. Prisoner said his name was Page;
witness sold some of the spoons but afterwards got
most of them back. Prisoner acknowledged that
these were the spoons and watch which he sold to
witness.
Edward Hunt, gaoler at Portsmouth, arrested the
prisoner on the 23d of March ; went with Thomas Hill.
at half-past II at night; found hint at the Red Limit
he was alone. When I entered he pulled out a pistol ;
I caught it by the muzzle; Hill followed me; in the
scuffle I fell but got it from hint; he drew another
pistol; Hill and the landlord laid hold of him; I got up;
we secured him, and got away both the pistols; one was
loaded with powder and wadding, nearly to the muzzle
—no flint—the other had balls, and a flint, and printing.
Hill starched liim, and found three keys. They opened
a trunk, and a box in it—they were in the bed-room—.
the prisoner's room—in the large trunk were clothes, a
coral, and a file; there were remains of a mark on the
coral ; it had been filed away, as it appeared by the file
we found ; there was a cap with a gold band, and a
pair of trowsers burnt at the hip, and a woman's apron ;
and alto a pair of spectacles. not silver. lit the little box
I found a gold watch, a pair of silver anger tongs. marked
M. H. a silver sauce ladle. two table spoons, six tea
spoons—die maker's name on the watch was Vick.
London—several rings, brooches, chains, ear-rings, pins,
and various ornaments, all gold, also souse knee-buckles.
They were all shewn to the prisoner—he asked for an
inventury—he said they were all his.
Cross-examined.—Prisoner said he had bought some
of the things of two men named Pearce and Carlile.
This was three days afterwards.
Thomas Hill accompanied the last witness, and corm.
borated the whole of his statement; he produced the
watch and a gold chain and seal, and another seal,
engraved I'. P. with various other of the articles 111C11.
armed by Hunt, particularly the silver spectacles marked
T. P. which were found oil tot• prisoner's person; wit-
ness charged the prisoner with the murder. He relied,
" You kuow but little about that yet, but you will know
a great deal more."
Henry Ridout, High Constable of Black heath.—l
have known the prisoner many years; as long as I have
known him he has guise by the untie of Nesbett; pri-
soner's father is now lit tag; he is quite a poor man.
From October to March the prisoner was absent from
Woolwich; Reid gave me some articles from the fire—
Jewellery (witness produced them); they resemble those
bound on the prisoner in fashion and date. 1 took down
what the prisoner said at Portsmouth, and read it over
to him, in the presence of Hill, on the 2.Bth March. No
threat or promise was used to him.—(The paper was
produced, and identified by the witness.)—l saw the pri-
soner sign that paper " James Nesbeit."—(The paper
was read, and purported to be an account of the pri-
soner's purchesing, of some men whom he met near
Woolwich, the articles found upon him at the time of
his apprehension.) On the 11th of April prisoner made
another communication to me in the gaol at Maidstone.
I took down what he said, but not in his presence, nor
did I ever show it to hiut.—(Wititess was allowed to
read the paper.) It was a confession that the prisoner
had been concerned in the murder, with four other men.
who were then out of the country, and who, if they
could be found, would, he dimwit, cleat Inns.
The Jury roamed a verdict of esualts,and the prisoner
was ordered fox no:cation on Monday nor..

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HOUSE OF LORDS.
dl//N DAY. JULY VI.
Commissiox.—The Royal Assent was given by
to the Mien Bill, the Irish Insolvent Debtors' Bill, the Royal
Family Bill, the King's Servants, the Assessed Taxes Compen-
sation Bill, the Irish, English, and East India Militia Bills, the
Navy and Anny Prize Money Bills, East India Volunteers.
Post Horse Duties, Irish Spirit. Intercourse, and several others.
The Commissioners were, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of
Shaftesbury, and the Duke of Montrose.
At four o'clock, after the house had been cleared of strangers.
the Committee appointed to investigate the best mode ofprovidii.g
for a full attendance of Peers on the t7th of August proceeded,
with the assistance of a distinguished architect, to measure
the House, aud obtain information respecting the tlitnensions,

&e.
Soon after five o'clock the doors were opened.
PETITION FllOll THE Qut:EN•--Lurd ERSKINE said lie
rose to present a Petition in behalf of her Majesty, which he
considered well eilculated to make a strong impression on the
reason and justice of that House. The Noble Lord adverted to
a former Petition front the Queen requesting a list of the witnes-
ses to be examined against her, and expressed regret that it had
not been complied with. The Petition lie had then to present
was addressed to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parlia-
ment assembled.—" The Queen being informed that the House
of Lords had refused her a list of witnesses to be examines
requested that a specification of the dates and place, or places, in
which the criminal acts were said to be committed, might forth•
with be furnished her Majesty's Attorney •General, for if that
information were denied, it would be impossible tar her Majesty
to meet the accusation, or take preliminary steps for live defence.
Her Majesty was further desirous to be heard by Coon: el at their
Lordships' Rar."—Lorl Erskine proposed, that the last part of
the Petition be complied with first, and mat the Houie should
bear Counsel at the liar in support of her Majesty 's applie.ation•
He din not presume to say there was an appearance of i: jtisticc
in the proceedings of the House, but, if Mem should bc
statement abroad derogatory to the honour and character of their
proceedings, their Lordships should take care they did not
afford the slightest ground for such allegations. It was univer.
sally known that the Queen was in various parts of the South of
Europe, and the charges being limited to six years residence
abroad, without naming place or date, it was impossible tier her
Majesty to prepare for her defence. If the specification was not
furnished the prosecution Mild not go on. After the evidence in
support of the Bill closed, the Home must adjourn to enable the
Queen to procure the miens of cross.examination. She had nut
the means of seeing the witnesses face to lac, and if they went on
without giving her fair means of i.efence, they would do an
injury to the laws of the land. He had ficant of the public mind
being inflamed, but it could not be if their proceedings were free
from suspicion. It was impossible he could have any other
interest in this question. His only desire was to see their Lord.
'hips give satisfaction to all mankind. If the specification was
delivered, the proceeding against her Majesty would be more
analogous to the common law. The Noble Lord concluded, by
moving that the Illustrious 'Petitioner be heard by Counsel at the
Bar.
The LORD CHANCELLOR observed, that the Noble and
Learned Lond had urged the House to a fair and honourable
pilinlidarration of Justice; but it would have given him great
witielbedan to hear on what principle of the common law the
Noble and Learned Lod supported an application of this kind.
If be law my thing tithe law of Parliament, the usages of
radioman eassaituted lb* law and it would belfound that the
lima had reeentiy refused to grant a similar application. The
gin dawn from the Common law of the country were not
aria out the Noble Lord. It appeared to him that a com-
=with dee Padden would be usemetiesed by any practice
to die bey. It ion his duty to sate, that no motives
thud dew bile lbw dekeg his day accesikag to the established
at justice, sad die law Pediment.
P lig
aIiaHOLLAND expressed a w h that the Noble and
Lamed Lad on the Walla& would point out to the House in
what instance a db
person accused try s hew of oesamon law had
so little information given slum bane Wok as Ibis 3W of Pains
,bpd Penalties gave the Quass. The lensiss was not to be con •
sadered with regard to the _elms of Pediensaus but the
justice and consistency of radievmst. Itartai* was *yea to
those who felt it was neceurimible a dower aportdpettea
the charger, to onnini dna Is be beard in su
port of the Padden. It wassail dei gragelest the Illustrious
Person had been consigned to die Attoraey-Generell but that
House knew nothing of the transaction. Tbe Lords ought to
know it in the regular way. The Noble Lord wee of opinion the
specification of charges aught to be granted. It was clear,
unless the Queen knew where the charges were laid, that she
must put the country to expence, by sending to every place
where she had been for the last six years, and bringing to
England a body of witnesses, whose evidence might or might not
be required.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL admitted that strict analogy ought
to give way to the principle of justice; but it was his wish to
state shortly in what situation the House was placed. In conse-
quence of a Report of the Secret Committee. a Bill was brought
in by his Majesty's confidential advisers. The Queen carne to
the Bar, and required the House to proceed forthwith. The
Lords took the question into consideration, and decided that they
would answer the call of her Majesty so far as was consistent with
justice ; but in a case of this kind it was held proper that they
should have the assistance of the Judges, and that an interval
must intervene. The second reading of the Bill was fixed for the
ilth of August, the earliest day that could be fixed consistent
with justice. In use the wish of the Queen to proceed forthwith
had been complied with, could the request before the House have
been made. His Majesty's Attorney General would have opened
the prosecution, and her Majesty would have been called on for
her defence. It was said the accusation did not go inn particu.
larity, but it ought to be recollected that the actual charge in the
preamble of the Bill was not • charge of one act of adultery, but
a continued adulterous intercourse. Then it was urged that this
was a charge of that generality that it required peculiar indul-
gence, but how was indulgence to be granted ? The Nellie
Lord who brought up the Petition stated+ that the request was
analogous with the prooesdlup of the Courts below, but did not
appear analogous, 40d hrbid be should deny any fair or rea-
sonable advantage to the illestrious person, but considering the
nature of the proceeding. and do wish of the Queen to proceed
forthwith, he saw no she apphcation.
Lord KING reminM the noble Earl who had just sat down,
that prejudice might be excited against the Queen, and it was but
just to give her some compensetion for that prejudice. She only
asked to have the places specified where the crime was charged to
have been committed. In the proceeding as it stood there was
an appearance of injustice. The noble Lord supported the mo-
tion.
Earl BATINIRST objected to the application, on the ground
that the House was bound to discharge their duty within the
limits prescribed by the Bill. If they were to give a specification
of particular places where the act of adultery was charged, they
would be confined to those places, and shut out front proof of
general misconduct. Tile Queen was to make her defence on the
17th of August, yet it was slid ale rhea have a ILL of witnesses
and places specified. Suppose Milan was named, and the date
16;6 _Jul 1819, what advantage could see obtain ? II she really
meant to defeud her_eit'au the 17th of August, site -would not
have time to in ocure evidence upon thus irtionnation.
Lord ERSKINE, in redly, said, ea it was not the intuition of
the mar. trap, rant his motion, he wished to say no ISM! tree: