The National Register.
London, England, 1814-08-14 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER..

.AT'G. 14.

THE MURDERPF-MiSS WELCIIIIAN.-

HOW .STREET.—Yesterday James Mitchell, .a statement .of whose
apprebension has already .appeared in the public prints, wit- Itroli•it
up fOr re-examination' befOre Sir N. Couant an 3 Mr. Sketchley at
this office. Public curiosity had been so Much excited to obtain a'
sight of him, that,at an early hour the Mice and all the avenues
leading to it were crowded. At twelve o'clock the prisoner was
put to the bar, in custody of Atkins and Taunton, who had been
dispatelied to Salisbury for the purpose of brioginet him up to Town.
The peisoner, it appeared, was apprehended on Wednesday last,
within about four miles of Salisbury; near the house of his mother,
who had been buried about four days previously, haring, been recog-
nized b a farmey in that neighbourhood with whom in his youth he
lived servant. The evidence was as follows: .
Mist: Ann Welshman, sister to the deceased, deposed, that she
lived at No. 17, Mount:street ; ioneW the prisoner, Jamei Mitchell;
he called in Mennt-street, in the evening of the 4th instant. and
asked for informant's sister. He was shown up into a room on the
first fir Col-, in which was the deceased,. Miss 111a!alard, • Miss Macy.
Mary Lisson; 8 servant, and evititess. Witness inlet other ladies re-
tired, mud left her sister, the prisoner, and the servaet together ;
shortie-atter heard high words between her sister and the prisoner;
went 'down stabs, .and in about a quarter of an hour beat it :hat her
sister had been murdered. •
Miss-Mary ltheey resided in Mount•street. The deceased, Miss
Hannah Welshman, was her forewoman F recollects the prisoner
coming to her housean the evening of the 4th instant ; was in the
room with, the deceased .when the prisoner entered.' Deceased ae
cused him of having taken awly .a small pair of scissors, which he
&stied, and became very abusive:. The prisoner wanted the 11(teitStIl
to semi out for salmon to boil tor his supper ;•she refused ; he then
wanted her to give 'him some money, which she also refused ; he
at:erwards asked her to go out with him to supper, but this she also
declined ; witness left the room shortly afterwards, and went down.
stairs. 'fire deceased followed shortly, and said •he must• be alrioe
with pm isoner a few minutes. Site went up stairs, and after rentainiog
some time, witness heard her scream, and almost instantaneously
heard two- slots tired. Witness rushed up stairs, and found the de-
ceased lying on the floor dead, and the prisoner gone.
Robert ‘Vatk;as was landlord of a house, No. Mnnnt•strcet
The deceased and Miss Macey occupied his tint fluor: had sonic
knowledge of the prisoner. On the night of the 4th inst. heard the
screams of the deceased and the shots fired : rushed upstairs : found
the deceased lyiug dead in the door way. The window next the
street door was open : found a pistol on the flour, and another in
the back room ; they had both been discharged.
William Collinson, landlord of the Barley Mow, next door to the
house of Mr. Watkins, was sitting in his house on the night in ones
lion : I card the'screains of Miss Welchman: did not hear the pis-
tols fired : looked out of the window and saw a man king on the
pavement, opposite Mr. Watkins' door, en his hands awl face: had
some knowledge of the prisoner's person, and believed the man he
so saw to be hint. He cot up. how ee er, immediately, and run oft,
so that witoess had not a distinct view of his person. It appeared
to hint as if he had conic out of the first fluor window.

Thoma: Moon. a c listable of St. Geori!c's, Ilanover-square, pro-
duced a Ind avid pair i'f pi .to!s whie!i bi en delivered to him on
the night of the murder ; they had heen piclxed up in his pr eseuce,
one in the trout and the other in the back room. The pistols were
small pocket pistols, somewhat similar to those used by Bellingham
in the murder of Mr. Perceval.

Thonris Chapman, hatter, of Old Bond-street, deposed, that in
the month of June last the pri,oner purchased of him a hat, the
same he believed now produced. The prisoner then told him that
he was paying his addresses to a younk lady in Mount•street, and
asked witness's opinion respeetine her : did not recollect the young
lady's name although the prisoner mentioned it.
This was the whole *of the evidence adduced.
Sir N. Conant then addressed the prisoner, and observed, that the
eviden.7e against hint was of a nature Co clear and conclusive in
every p.trtictilar, that it was his duty to commit him for trial at the
ensuing Old Bailey Mec%ions, which would take place in September
next Ai nOthliW which he (priso ler) could thou say could do him
any service, he wr ul I advise him to reserve any thing which he
might wish to urge in his defence till the day. 44. trial. The worthy
Magistrate then delivered to the prisoner a Bill of Exchange which
had been found in his possession on the day of his being taken into
custody. This bill was drawn in favour ofthe.prisoner for 351. and
was dated in 1313 ; upon roceiving it, he tore it with great coolness,
and threw the pieces on the aqui. He was Iben conducted frow

523 •

.._ . •
the bar, ironed, and sent to Nevigate. 114, Jul not utter one word
in extenuation of i iv crime.

The prisoner in appearance was plain and neat. He was dresred
i” a Hack coat a„d kerse Inert' breeches, and lone
gaiter--; his shoes were much worn, and it-is supposed he had walked
from London to the place of his apprehension. %% hen taken he had
no mom). in his possession. On his Journey to town he said but
little, and seemed wholly wrapped in the contemplation of his awful
situation. On being first introduced to the office and recognised by
the sister of the deCeaaed, that lady, aa.well as the others present,
were so much affected, as to be obliged to retire. Upon the whole
the prisoner did not seem very deeply impressed with the precari.,
ous situation in which he stands.

Tietritst Langridge, the driver of a hackney Coach,
was summoned before Mr. Birnie, charged with driving over George
Pontm, an infant child. in Blackman-street._ Mr. Richard Norris, of
Swon-yard, Blackman-street, stated, that he saw the defendant's coach
coming slowly along, and at the came time obscrved the child crossing
the stre I, the defendant struck at the child with his whip. and the
intent in endeavoming to avoid the blow fell under the wheel of the.
coach which went over him. The defendant denied having seen the
child, or havine any kte wledge whatever of the wheel passing over
him. The Magistrate highly reprobated the defendant's comiuct, and
ordered hint to find b,til to answer the complaint at the Sessions.
'WysTE toys Cr lICUM ST NC E.—A fine boy, the son of Mr. Rainiest.
in Piccadilly, was on Sunday evenine last missed from his pareness
house. It was known that he had gAte to the Park. and he was ex.
pected home at eight o'clock ; not returning at nine, his parents became
*thrived, mid went in search of him. Their pursuit, however, was
ineffeened ; lie could not he found ; and although every means were
taken to obtain intt•llioence of hint, he remained undiscovered till Wed.
nesday evenine. when his father obtained a transient view of him, in
a very genteel earrinee, in Hyde Park. He immediately pursued the
vehicle. called on the coachman to stop, and his request being cons-
plied with, he opened the door, and in an instant his child was in his
arms. i lad v, who was in the carriaee. immediately handed out her
card, and desiird the coachman to drive on. A crowd assembled
round the enraptured father, and in the hearing of many of the by-
standers; the boy said he had been decoyed by the lady into her car-
riage, about the same hour on Sunday, and and Leen driven to a fine
house, a short distance from tont]; but where, exactly, lie could not
lie was treated by th•• lady with great kindness. but she peremp-
torily refused, as he entreated her, to send him home. The card, on
examination. proved to be blank ; but whether • this was intended, or
accident, it is impossible to say. The boy is only eight years of age,
and is remarkably handsome.

The Fanny arrived with two other ships at Poole, on Sun-
day, from Cherbourg, which she left on Saturday night.
brings a report, that through the whole of Saturday Cher-
bourg was in the greatest confusion, owing to the Act of
State, permitting the free exportation of corn. A person
named Robbins, having made large purchases for shipment
to this country, the people rose, and proceeded to acts of ex-
treme violence. Regiments of soldiers had been called out
before the Fanny sailed, to quell the riot, but it was quite
ineflectual ; the riot continued when the ships sailed.—The
following extract of a letter from Portsmouth, gives further
particulars:--" We regret to mention that the excess of the
popular feeling against this country, 'which has been at all
times manifest among the lower Classes of the Ft ench nation,
burst forth with considerable violence on Saturday evening
at Cherbourg, on the occasion of some vesels being about to
depart for this port. A report was spread that the vessels
co''ained Train, and on that supposition the canaille broke
a-board, and finding nothing but sheep and horned cattle,
they ill treated the crews, and hoisted the sheep on shore
again, with the m,st considerable number of the Cows. The
military then interfered, and suppressed the rising feelings
of the momentarily increasing mob, which resounded with
cries of " Vive Sacre les Anglois."—.-The
Falcon, Brighton Packet, was also boarded, and sttipped in
the same tumultuous manner.
Private Accounts from Paris state, tbat attempts have
really been made to assassinate the King.

1, 1 F E

OF

JOANNA SOUTHCOTT.

.10ANNAs'S (IC=;re of obtait ink nrosel% tes led ber to ite•
Me•ate through d:fleient parts of the conutry, particularly at
Leeds, ()Id ~‘y•tilotd, St •ckport, and the adjacent:
pa:ts, meeting with fu'l i,wei iii in diiectinns, but mote
especia..iv a! I.ecii4, where het cattse ate tly bed. Ile,
p,mpitlet, entitled a %Vol.(' to the Wi e, re,ointed in 141,),
js ushered into the Wot ;(1 with sonn• otefatory line d :ted from
4 lid s:winford, .August the 31-t. 1803, wile., she was employcd
on her mi,sionary tour. Perig. inattoo not being her ultitnate
wnh, Joanna has long since settled neat the metro..
polp:, her leading. chary' b• in; in Doke-street, St. George*s
piei:l4, in the vie ini,y of the Obeikk ; where her hiuli priest.
Mr. VV. Toter, presides. and %Oleic. the Lit tit gy of the (`hurt h
of England is rend. pi eparator% to the set monk e;ucidation
of her prognostications They have a choir of singers, he.
poetry supplying thcm•with hymns. Anxious to be .ega,ded
•s within the acknowledged pale of the Chtistian Church,
notwithstanding their eccentricities, the Sacrament is legit
tarty admini;tered among them. and they even affeet to con-
sqler themselves in the character of menthe's of the Esta-
b!isl-ment !
It was customary with the prophetess, during the early
part ef her career. to commit her supernatural contmunica•
Cons to paper with her own hand; but lattetl,. she has a se-
cretary in attet•dance on her. Several had imagined that
this spirit of her's add essed her ()reply. The spirit, it wis
supposed, spoke to her as man speaketh to matt ; and hence
it was mulct stood that he addressed her in an audible v ice.
till," says Mr Hann, suspecting the deception, I caused
her to be jute, rogated, when, taken unawares, shc coufess,al
that the Spirit's habit of addressing her was not in an audi-
ble voice ! Joanna was herself mu. h agitated on account of
her uncertainty of the twine of this spirit, and this tunet r-
taintv was formerly so prevalent in her own mind, that she
was frequently about to burn her writing.:, and relinquish her
pursuits." When the Spit it is about to impart some cont.
inunication, Joanna feels an agitation within ; then the Pro.
phetess, her secretary, and the witness, range themselves in
one group. After this, the Spirit begins to speak, addressing
himself not to the witness, nor the secretary, but to Joanna
within : so that our Pi ophetess has simply to sit down, and
talk to herself! This she actual') does, when the secretary,
:mother female, takes down what he says, and then the wit-
ness, likewise feminine, signs it. Joanna will sometimes die-
tate a line only, somuttmes a sentence, stopping till it is per-
fect!c committed to writing. While, however, site is thus
feta iving the einnninnications of the Spirit, her thoughts are
given to wander, which induces her to play a game at " mit-
maze to confine them !

Seeing how their Prophel(Ns has, accot ding to her own
declarations. ‘. been led on by types, shadow,, dreaans, and
vision:, from 1792 to the present dav," we cannot be stir-
prized ,o find that her votartes so en• itely re.etuhle her, as to
-regard dreams and visions as evidential of the divinity of her
• mission. Mr. trOzer, fin one. boldly affiiins that what he
has mtracul-msly seen and heard, sleeping and waking, is to
hint sufficient confiimillon el-Joanna's visitation being from
'God ! Nothing k more easy than human weAttess to re-
Pose on visions Of this kind; nor i an one So difficult to he
undeceived asthe man who confesses that he dreams while
Ikre 's awake.
I; the aspires to the credit of inspira'ion have proposed
some peculiar aidyan.age to such as should be induced to be-

Aril. 14

I eve it, them Brothe.,held seer Res!or.ation to the Is aclues;
though he denounced judgments on his own "con, try and
Joanna, while ,he is nt-clatming woe to the inhabitan!,
ea,th, not only assume, to usher in the Millenium, but
to seal the faithful fir the enjo, n ent of it, to the'am tof
one hundred and fort% four thousand ; :its() to chain it,wn
-atm% for the thou,and yo a,4. and having 'Pm, Itand-d .weer
the good fruit of the tree of ""wi 114 e. a" 'elleta:ed 1)..r
fallen .sex, to terminne the immense nude, taking of maws
redetnnti n. N,,w it is seat in lino constitute% the in, s, fa. y
of her scheme. !laving at first wo, ked 4,11 the (edin:s of her
adhey cuts, she next called on them to sign their nanies_t-.)r
"Ini,t's glorious and peat efol kingdom to come nun!) the
r,rth, and for Satan's to 1w de,tio• ai. Balt' a sheet of umter
was accoritingly got, on which was wri!ten the,c words
6 The Sealed of the Lard—: hr Elect, Precious—Alan's Red..m9.
tion—to inherit the Tree of Life-- to be made Hi irs of God,
awl Joint. Heirs will, Joni Christ P Joanna then affixed
tier signato,e Each of the ,ea's being then 14 igued, the in).
pres-iim of the seal of the ()Witless wis male 011 the Out.
side wi,h wax*.

Numbers at one time aopq.td I it- these sacred se.-k by
inscribing their names on the list provided for that end,
whirl) 'was understood to be sighing fit Satan's destruction.
When vou petition your govt., nous upon wot Idly aft'
ohsei VCS one of Joanna's chief champions, •• do you not first
give rior !lames to a rough rtition, then sign a petition pro.
peily drawn up, and then w tit the result ? Then, why sh,iiiA
you marvel that the Lord should deal wi'h men after the
manner of men ? If you wish to kivisv what this Sealing is,
read Joanna :•:onthemes book. c gilled Caution and Instruction
to the Sealed, whi• h you may get at Nil. Ti:zer's, Chapel
Plaee, Doke street, S:, (;eorge's Field .•' superstition was
about this period at its height for the oeople were actually
dying, and ordering these seals to be buried with them, only
fur years ago, that their spirits might he wafted to the
heaven of immortalitr
Of such importance was the sealing of the Fai-hful, and so
angered was the Dt vil at the success of it, that Joanna had to
conflict with him timing seven days, and was afterwards
compelled to fast for forty more days. Satan, it seems, had

• The impression was performed with a seal that Joanna found in
sweeping her house, anti %shill' she threw by into the till of tier box
tint the Spirit one day ordered her to look for it, when :be toond
the Teter. J. C. were enuraven on it. with Two Star% ; 11w initisl
J. being by the spirit to het interpreted to :tand both for Jesus mitt
Joaona, and that of C. for Ciniq. The :tars were lierealhr to :iv
nify those of morning and evening ; Justis being the Morning Start
anti Joir..na the Evening Star !
Anorxvil to her Sealing, says Mr. Lane. is this IIIeTOCIY Pik (S.
C.) the two initials upon which I can only understand to nw:4n
INFEttN COMMISSION, believing that Joanna at:is tinder the im-
mediate direction of Satatt

Hilt the prophetess still defends the valinity of the Seo/b, as the
impartial reader will perceive by the ensuing extract from her WorJ
ro the Wise. " Anti now you see," declares the Spirit to Joanna,
" Men have begun to write their Atones-- for the desire ot my king.
(tom ; as 1 said it was hastening oil. And now they are lislfillitq
my words ; and they shall be weleomed in with the Itrielegroolc--
hell I come to bring on the mielnieht hour for inaii.—then flay shall
lie known to me, fivin their names. who wish for my kituduln so
all is sliewsi in the visions, as I told thee." Aeon. " It i% not thy
prophecies," continues the SLiirit, sreal,ing to I)eiwa, '' that cont.
oleic their happiness, but the sealing their names. that they
have
.Signed for Satan s Destruction, ;mu their 'testi.. for my kingdom,
Via moist complete their haopiness iu I c end. 'thy prophecies shall
toting them to the perreet knowledge of the good ; but it is the seals
that must complete• their liappittes, in the end, $0 mail is an help.
mate with thee, and thou with man ; tor Cita shall complete this
liappine-s for man. .Anse it is for the sake of these, that elect toe fist
their chosen Priest and King, that Satun's r. ago shall be ahortesed.
So these are the elect, for whose bake he shall tie cast dorp;'