The National Register.
London, England, 1812-01-19 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

46

Counsel for the prisoner—Messrs. SCAILL ET and ALLEY.
Duriva the whole of the trial the prisoner was much affected, hut par-
ticularly when that part of the letters were read relative to the situation
of his wife and children.
The Court was exceedingly crowded from an early hour, and several
Members of both Houses of Parliament attended to witness this extra-
tordinar y

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

At these Sessions on Tuesday, William Fi'her and William Granger
(the latter keeper of the tap at the Angel inn, St. Clement's), were in-
dicted for unlawfully i aymg to John Williams, late a baker in St.
James's-market, 31. 17s. 3d. in exchange for three guineas, being at the
Late of 11. Ss. 9d. for each guinea. It was clearly proved, by Williams,
that three one pound notes, and seventeen shillings and three-pence,
were given at Vie house of Granger, for three ,uiueas; but there being
toproof that the notes were the genuine notes of the Bank of England,
as in the indictment they were averred to be, the Jury acquitted both
prisoners.
•

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

ANOTHER DARING ATTEMPT A'l' MURDER.

On Sunday evening the shop of Mr. Pryor, a respectable boot maker,
residing at No. 71, High-street, Borough, Southwark, was entered by
two desperate villains, though by what means is not yet discovered, but
certainly with an intent to rob the premises. While employed in pack-
ing up several pair of boots, in a large skin of leather which the) found
in the shop, the servant went down stairs to empty a vesse' in the cellar;
on her way thither, though she passed through the shop, she did not ob-
serve any person, but on-her return she perceived two Ince, one of them
packing up boots, and the other as coming from the back part of the
premises, to whom she said, " What! Are you going to take boots away
to night? it is Sunday!" thinking they were some of her master's jour-
neymen. At this instant one of the villains made up to her, and threat-
ened her, that if she uttered a word he would instantly murder her. On
looking round, she discovered the other to have a blscle crape over his
fleet which so alarmed her, tilt she screamed out inaisl:r murder!
ateeeral times' and ran towards the shop-dour, which was then open, and
which in her fright she shut, and thereby inclosed h. rself with these
monsters. She continued to scream, though one of them had levelled a
blow at her head which knocked her down. On her rising, and not de-
sisting to call out murder ! thieves I &c. one of the wretches seized her
by the hair, and with a sharp instrument, cut her throat right across the
- wind-pipe. Ske then fell to the ground, and remembered no further of
what passed.
The screams of the girl had by this time alarmed the family up stairs,
which consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Pryor, and three young men, lodgers.
Mrs. Pryor then went down stairs, and on her reaching the bottom, ac-
tually fell over her wounded servant, as she lay senseless on the floor.
The terror of Mrs. Pryor may be bete r conceived than described. Not-
withstanding her fright, however, she got ep staira ; hut it was not a
matter easy to determine in the minds of those abevel, who should ven-
ture down to attack, what they sapposed a bstalitti of rourderers. Mr.
Pryor and his lodgers at last went down, and found the servant as we
have before described, the shop-door being wide open ; and, we are
sorry to say, that the perpetrators of this horrid crime escaped, leaving
behind them the -kin of leather, tied up, full of new boots and shoes.
Medical aid was instantly sent for, and the wound on the neck was pro-
nounced not mortal. What adds to the daring atrocity of- this act ie
that it was committed so early as between eight and nine o'clock : and
the premises of Mr. Pryor are as piddle as any situation can be, being
situated in tho High-street of Southwark, not many yards from the
Town-hall, which is As great a thoroughfare as the Strand or Fleet-
streets
The Magistrates at Union-Hall are making every exertion to discover
these desperadoes. •
On Wednesday, Peasegood Sleight, John Cotton, and Samuel Flower;
three young students- belonging to St. Thomas's Hospital, who occupy
the first floor in Mr. Pryor's house, were examined before G. Hick,
Esq. at Union Hall. Mr. Carton stated, that they were all three sitting
in the dining-room on Sunday evening, when they were alarmed by
the cry of murder, apparently proceeding from some person near the
door* the room where they were sitting---.he immediately seized the
tongs, and Mr. Sleight the poker, and they were to the place
from whence the cries came, but were prevented pror.eeding by Mr.
Flower placing himself against the door of the ro ,m, and reventing
their opening it; they however removed him, thou with great diffi-
culty, and this delay: d them so niutli that Mr. Pryor was down in the '
'bop before them, and the villains gone. Sarah Wilkins was lying in an-
insensibte state, as already described. Mr. now( r. in excuse for hav-
ing so blacked-.d the door, said, he had heard so in ich 'of the murders
at IS:vela-highway, that he was alarmed, a. d not knowing how
many villains there :eight be the house, he placed his back against
the dap: es prevent entering. The Worthy Magistrate expressed
hiresaif highly ind:goant at thaeousillanimous conduct of Flow. r, which
vastrvcd had ailowed time for the assassins to escape, and had yrte-

JAN. 19.

bably prevented their detection. Sarah Wilkins has been attend
by Mr. A. Cooper, and we are happy to say, is considered as out of
danger.
George Hatton and Moses Clerk were, on Thursday, apprehended
by Colloghourn and Glennen, rm suspicion of being concerned in the
above outrage; they underwent a long private examination before Mr.
Evance and Mr. Hicks, at Union-hall; but Sarah Wilkins still conti-
nuing in too weak a state to be confronted with them, they wire corn.
mitted for re-examination. The parish of St. Saviour's has offered sio!.
reward for the apprehension of any of the persons concerned in tLil
atrocious outrage.
• - -

MURDERS AT SHADWELL.,
Mrs. Vermilloe, the landlady of the Pear-tree public-house ; Turner,
the man who lodged in the house of Williamson' and several other
persons, have been again examined at aow •street before Mr. Graham ;
the result has been the re-apprehension of a man of the name of Hart,
who worked in the house of Mr. Marc on the day the murders were
committed at night, and was seen in the comp:try of Williams, between
ten and eleven o'clock on the night of Wrr s murder. Hart under.
went a private examination before Mr. Graham, after which he was
ordered into close confinement, and a man to take care and sit up with
him.
Mrs.Vermilloe also gave her evidence at considerable length, respect-
ing a man of the name or Alblas, who was apprehended on Wednesday
evening, and brought to the Office. This man has been in custudi
before, when he denied knowing Williams : it has since been proved,
that he was his companion. A b_)y has proved, that he saw three men
looking in at Mr. Mares shop, a short time before it was shop up, an
the night of the murders.—Alblas is kept in close confinement, with a
man to look after him.
A most important discovery has been made within these two days,
which completely removes every shadow of doubt respecting the guilt
of the late suicide, Williams. It was proved before the Magistrates of
Shadwell-office, that three weeks before the murder of Mr. Nil tama,n
and his family, W';aiams had been seen to have a long French knife with
an ivory handle.—That knife could never be found in Wiliiarns's trunk,
or amongst any of the clothes he left behind hint at the Pear T:ee Pal lid
house. Fhe subsequent search to find that deadly instrument has beer,
crowned with success. On Tuesday, Harrison, one of the lodgers at the
Pear Tree Public-house, in searching among some old clothes, found a
blue jacket, which he immediately recognised as part of Williams's ap-
parel. He rpreceeded to examine it closely, and upon looking at the in.,
side pocket found it quite stiff with coagulated blood, as if a blood-
stained hand had been thrust into it. He brought it down to hirs.Venn.
loe, who immediately sent for Hope, and another of the Shadwill i -
lice-Officers, to make further search in the house. Every ap:-.i;:n, t
then underwent the most rigid examination, and after a search Of abot t
an hour and a half, the Officers came at last to a small closet, in which
they discovered the object of their pursuit. In one corner of it there
was a heap of dirty stockings and other clothes, which being removed,
they observed a bit of wood rrotruding from a mouse-hole in the wall,
which they immediately drew out, and at the same instant they disc'.--
vered the handle of a clasp knife, apparently dyed with blood, which
upon being brought forth, proved to be the identical French knife seen
in Williams's possession before the murders. The Inclie and blade c,f
it were smeared all over with blood. This important fact completes ire
chain of strong circumstantial evidence already adduced against t!
suicide. The bloody jacket is also a new and not less powerful arc:lr.--
stance to confirm the guilt, and it is pretty clear, that that part of Vs
apparel must have h.en -stained with the Mood of the unforentate
Williamson, when the suicide was transferring the money with his
bloody hated to his pocket.
I

DARING ATTEMPT AT Roastßy.—On Thursday eveni"g early. a
fellow, well dres.ied, about five feet eiuht or nine inches hi-c;11, ciar:
complexion, with black eyes, with a sort of hussar plaid mantle, ai
worn by Officers, and termed a rmtrillo, knocked at the door of Yr.
Sidney, a Gentleman of fortune, No. 9, Percy-street, Tottenham-court
Road, and affected to have particular business with Mr. Sidney, who,
he was told, was not at home. The servant had gone on an errand,
and there was no one in the house but a young Lady, who has an-
swered the prisoner with the chain upon the door. The °bender
affected to be much disappointed at the absence of Mr. Sidney; and he
dropped a letter within the door at the SAII,C time; the young Lady,
from the robber's address and appearance, was struck thit he might
have brought Wings from Portugal, Mr. S. having recently heard e:
the loss of a son there, an Officer in the 4:;d regiment. She opene,,
the door, when the thief was shewn into a parlour,
and here pen and
ink was furnished him. When affecting to v"rite, be suddenly started
out of his chair and presented a something, supposed to be a pistol,
the young Lady, and demanded coarsely where money was to be tote
The young Lady begged for her life, and showed the robber Mr. ' -
ney's writing-desk, which contained Bank-notes and papers. The door
was open at this time, and the young Lady requested she might be
permitted to shut it, and when affecting to do so she rushed out at the
street-door, where she saw
.another fellow, short in stature, with a
drab great coat waiting in the street. She alarmed Mr. Ewell, a next
1 door neighbour, but when they returned with assistance to the house,
the thief had escaped through the garret window, and although he was
1 seen at the top of the hoine he eluded' purtuit, but did aut oV.:2•Ji anY
Lousy.