The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-02-26 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON.
SATURDAY. Fitaiwass t 6, ism

The disoolutios of istilament. which wow ex-
,preted this day, it is now presumed will not take
14aeo otstitilfothsaftloys The recent discovery of
treason and conspiracy is the ostensible rinse of the
postponement: If the crime he of the alarming
and formidable nature and extent it has been re.
prevented, timid persons may expect that the Par-
liement should nut separate until all the ramifica-
tions of the treason have been ascertained. It was
rumoured last night that Government were so
strongly impressed with a sense of danger, ■Jdi-
ttonal troops had been ordered from the country to
teiriforer those already iu the metropolis, and way
be expected this day.
Hut r-f Harrison, lute a private in the 2,1 Life
Guard.. WWI yesterday apprehended as one of This-
tletcood's gang, and h-ought up to Bow-street.
A C col was held at the Secretary of State's
Office rsterilAy, which was occupied with the ex-
Captain FITZCIAIRENCE and sonic of
the soldiers under his command on Wednesday
night.

The Coroner's Inquest upon SMITHEIS was also
held. and brought to a conclusion. The result
was, a verdict of guilty of murder against Arthur
7 histiewood and nine others. It may not be un-
worthy c.f remit, k, that in the Extraordinary Gazette,
oßering a reward for the apprehension of niitletrod,
he is charged with high treason and murder, while
it Apyrnr. from the evidence on the Coroner's In-
quest, that in the warrant which the constables went
to te. he end his party were only charged al.
an unlawful ss.embly. The particulars of the
easminaiion hef..re the Council yestereay have nut
trWmpired. The following is a report of the In-
coma On SIMMERS, and of the proceedings at
Bow-street :--
INOCEST ON RICHARD SIIITHERS.

Yeats...,ley the neighbourhood of the Lste atroci-
ous scene of conspiracy and murder was one of the
greetest confusion ; hundreds of persons were ad.
spitted to visit the place where the unfortunate
object of this itsveatig dints fell by the assassin's
dagger.

rebterday morning the fullowing Jury were snm-
tufted. by Py4ll, the beadle, of 31ary-le- lione
Mr. John Morton, Forreczn, Mr. Thomas Hawkins,
Amur!l Sonl6. — John Darren,

tticharil Ilea iiiisson, — Edward Cooper,
Gair, Jiiisit Beckett,
.1..11,1 Morns I Frederick Mena,
—Wiliam Schein, William Ware,
(er, ; Charles Carwasd,
1t ulnas, /Nailer. Charles Wyatt.
Winnon S•oethwoucl, Osbrin Pearce.
Richard Nitauley,
The abcve Jury tonembled at four o'clock. at the
Kim and Tavern. John-street. corner of
Cataatreet, before Thomas Stirling, Esq. Coroner
for Middlearx ; and after being euapene Iled and
sworn, they took a view of the corpse of the de.
cubed, which lay ta an ante.rown upon a table ;
it had been opened and sewed up *rim
Mr. John William Fisher sworu—l am Surgeon

16'114 Place ; I wthi (41E4 upon this .thai to view
the body of the deceased ; I foetid a wound on the
ight breast, between the fifth and sixth rib; it
was shout two inches and a quarter in width-super-
ficially, and about twelve inches in depth ; I have
opened the body in order to discover the direction
and extent of the injury. The tipper surface of
the right -lobe of the liver was wounded by the in-
strument which inflicted the wound ; it passed
through the din/Aram into the chat, and penetrat-
ed the pericardium into the right ventricle of the
heart, and into the left lobe of the lungs. The
wound was given by an instrument which was
sharp m well as pointed ; the internal wound was
larger than the external one, and the membranes,
*lnch were severed in two, wank! lint have 'wen di-
sided by any other than a sharp instrument. The
blood flowed from the heart, and that was the im-
mediate cause of the decensed'a death. The wound
had bren measured by a rule, and was exactly
twelve inches in depth.
Georg* Thomus Joseph Rothiren; sworn.—l am
an officer belonging to the Public-Office, How-
street ; ou Wednesday evening, about half-past
eight, I was in this home. and I was directed to
go into the place where Richard Smithery was
killed, by Mr. Hirnie, who is a Magistrate of the
How-street Office ; the place I entered was a shed
in Cato-street, in consequence of a number of men
being assembled there.
Coroner—Was there any information given as to
the cause of these men being 34semblerl ?
Itutliven—They met for treasonable purposes.
Cormser.—How do you know ?
liuthven—Mr. Stafford told one so.
Coroner—Wm a warrant granted ?
Rittliten—Yes, by Mr. Hiker, but I have not
got it.

Coroner—What did you find upon► entering the
place ?
Rutliven—When 1 entered the street done,
which was not fast, 11.1 persons belonging to their
party occasionally were going in and out before, I
saw two persons in the lower place, one with a cut-
lass in his hand, and the other with a musket over
his shoulder—they appeared like sentinels. J.
Ellis and the deceased entered first, and about nine
others. Mr. !Single was not with us at this time. I
called out to some of the constaliles to seize the
man with the musket on his shoulder, while 1 wen,t
up stair.. I do nut know that they did, for 1 went
up immediately; I believe the man is since its cus-
tody. We ascended by a step-ladder, which was
so narrow, we could only go up one ■t a time.
When l got at the top of the ladder, I saw in the
upper room • kind of carpenter's boa or chest, on
the top of which lay a great variety of arras of dif-
ferent sorts. 1 saw swords, pistols, and daggers.
There appeared about 25 persons in the place.
Thistlewood stood on the right side of the chest,
handing the weapons to the other persons present.
I am quite positive that Thistlewood was there ; I
know him well; I have followed him for days to-
gether ; I have known him a long while ; 1 could
nut be mistaken, I know him as well as I do my
father. Ile had a brown long coat on that night.
I have no doubt whatever as to the identity of his
person. As soon as three or four officers were up,
I ssiitl, " We are officers—seize their arms." As
soon as 1 had said that, they (the conspirator.) took
up what arms they could, and retired to the further
end of the room. Thistlewood retired into the little
room which is adjoining to the left, and over the
coach-house. There were a great number of °then
in the little room, whose names and persons I do
not know-1 should think about five or six; they
all appeared to be armed. Thistlewood, as 14 re-
tired, held • large sword, which appeared bright,
in his hand, which lie brandished to keep us off.
Sraithers was on the right of me, and approached
Thurtlewond, when the latter ►tabbed him with the
sword which he held in his hand, on the right side.
I saw the candles put out with the swords of the
conspirators. At this time a pistol was let off.
The sword that Thistlewood had was ►traight in
the blade, and was remarkably long. I should think
about three feet sod a half or four feet long.—
Smithery fell against me; I heard him ejaculate,
" Oh, God ! I am done;" or something to that
effect. I did not see the sword drawn out of the
deceased's body by Thistlewood, fur a pistol was
fired at the moment, and the lights put out instan-
taneously. I have been able to recognise three of
the persons besides Thistlewood, who were iu the
room : Shaw Strange is one, but he has another
name; Blackburn is anwher ; and a man named
James Wilson. Another man, whose name is T,dd,
I secured as he was coming out of the room, just
after lie had fired at a serjeant of the Guards.
—Todd at first aimed the weapan at Captain
Fitzclarence, the serjeatit knocked it aside; I
threw him down and took him into custud3. I
found some broom-sticks, about four feet and •
half iii length, cut at one end, apparently for the
purpose of fitting /one implement upon them. As
soon as the lights were put out, I heard some of
Thistleivood's companions cry out, up stairs, "Kill
the h--a, every devil of them !" There were
nine of the men taken that night, but riot all inthi
stable ; Tsild I brought into this public hoarse and
secured him. and after assisted in securing Strang*
and Wilson ; they were then conveyed to Bow-
street, and fawn thence, to tee House of Correction
that night.
Coroner—More than ball the number escaped

ri l
f• 7" " '
, •
then ?-ARet6au—Y cme is • e span semis as per..
sous, therefore more than half most have gist away.
.luryinan—We *site wutliiiog of your brother
officer after he fell.
Rath/ten—After the prisoner. were secured, soil
the weapons and hassil.grenadrs were put away in
,defy, I saw Sossithers !yin,: on hi. face on the
Boor. Only four of us entered the upper room ;
the shots were fired on the stair-ca.,; I should
think at les-st there were 20 shots fired and some ap.
Peered to be fired in the street for alarm. I do not
know who the men who stood at the bottom of the
place, with a gun on his shoidder and a cutlass by
his side. was ; he has been identified. I do not know
that he was s man of colour ; Ellis can identify
him; he saw him very perfectly. Another person
was wounded by a shot ; his name is Surman ; he
was wounded in the head, very dangerously.—
Westcott was shot through the hat, and one of his
fingers were cut. Both these persons are officers
of Ilow.street. I hid a pair of pistols, one fi oohed;
and I slid not fire the oths4, becalm I thought I
might, as it was dark. wound my brother officer.
I secured some arms rod other thine, in the shed ;
there were eight hind grenades, small, and one very
large one, about 14 or IS pounds in weight ; the
latter bigot the end a cannister filled with combus-
tible., and pieces of iron, the whole bound round
witlo flax soil cord. There were also a number of
swords and pistols, and about three dozen bayonets
to fix upon sticks, and about a dozen sticks to fit
in them; also about a dozen ball cartridges and a
great massy balls.

Juryman—Probably some of the arms were car-
ried off by the conspirators who escaped ?
Rutheen—That is evident, as • sword was found
in the area of a house in the neighbourhood, and
two of them were stopped with inu4kets in their
possession. I sin sure that uo shot was fired before
Smithers was stabbed by Thistlewood, but • shot
was fired at the tame instant ; but by whom I do
not know.

James Ellis sworn.—l am • Bow-street patrole;
I live at No. 22, Paradice-row, Paliner's-village,
IVestminster. On Wednesday night, about half-
past seven o'clock, Mr. Stafford, the manager of
the patrole establishment at Bow-street, directed
'me to take Richard Smithery (the deceased), John
Summit. and Wm. Gibbs, and proceed to the car.
ner of John-street, Edgeware-royd, as quick es pos.
sible—and there, he sold, we should meet Mr.
Birnie, who would give us further orders. Wheo
we arrived at the spot we found Mr. Birnie waiting:
he asked if we had seen any thing of the military—
I said no; he told us 4 wait a little while. In
about twenty minutes Mg. Birnie called us to.
'ether, and directed us to go towards Cato-street.
Upon getting at the top of the ladder, Ruthven
I saw go on one side, and I observed • number of
men rushing towards the bark part of the room,
apparently all armed, and three or four men Irack-
ing into a little room on the right hand, all armed
with swords or cutlasses, when a tall man bran.
dished a sword at me in • posture of defence. I
held tip my staff with one hand, and my pistol in
the oilier, my staff I held high that he might see
it (witness described the manner lie held his staff);
it was very light at the time. I told him to desist,
or I should certainly fire.
Juryman—And did you fire?
Ellis— I afterwards did. At the moment I spoke
to the tall man (whom 1 since know to be Thistle-
wood), Stnithers rushed by me to endeavour to
enter the little room. The tall man pulled his
hand back, and made a push with his sword, which
I saw struck Smitbers on the breast, who imme.
diately threw up both his hands, and fell towards
me, exclaiming at the time, 1. Oh, my God!"
I instantly fired at the man who stabbed him, but
without effect. In consequence of Smithery falling
against me, lie pushed toe towards the top of the
stairs; I stumbled and fell, and by • rush of
the conspirators against me, I wu pushed down
the stairs from the top to the bottom. As I
fell, I saw the candles put out by the swords
of Thistlewood and his companions. When I was
in the stable, down stairs, I heard several shots
fired; I did not see by whom. Ido not know that
the officers tired at that time. I saw a man run
into the street (Cato-street) ; I pursued him, with-
in twenty yards of the farther end of the street ; I
seized him ; he appeared spent with running ; be
made • cut at me; 1 swinged my arm round his
neck 111111 took him, he had a carbine in his posses-
sion, and a sword, nail cut at me ; I was wounded,
but 1 do uot know that he did it ; I did not feel it
at the time; the man is a nun of colour, his Name
is Davidson; I believe him to be the same man
who stood sentinel at the bottom of the stairs when
1 first entered with Ruthven.

[One of the Jurynstneo produced the drawing of
a sword-blade, and asked witness if he saw the
sword Thistlewood had in his hand, and if the blade
resembled the drawing in shape ? The gentleman
said the sword bad been lately introduced at the
War Office ; it was a most destructive weapon
Rutliven resumed—l saw the blade of Thistle-
wood's sword, it was in shape exactly like the draw-
ing. When I had secured Davidson, by handcuffing
him. I returned to the shed, and found all the
conspirators una►med, and is the custody of the
.soldiers. I assisted iu tying the men together, and
when that was accomplished I looked to Susithers ;
I turned him over, and thought he breathed, he
was either dying or dead. I took off his neck.

•4 low F.'
kerchief. wad r.ioed hi. 63(17. .1 don, 00;d op
some ball cartridge (witeess produced them) mod a
pistol.
Juryman— tre you quige islititive that the man
who stahbrd SisoillePrs W 44 ThiSile4loo4 ?

Ellia-1 hare seen 'l'hi•tlewood. and I have no
hesitation iu swearing that he was the men who
thrust the sword in the deceased's body. Thistle..
wood was the only mini who stood direct before me.
Juryinsii—liefore yds, saw Thasilewond, did
nuthrrn tell you that Thistlewood was the men
who stabbed Swithers

Ellis—Millirem did soy so. but the moment
saw l'hostlewoool, ater his apprehension, I was pn.
sitive ih4t he was the m too who stabbed Smithey..
Ituthven's observation ollio! not at all bias me. 1
formed the conclusion from my own personal oh.
srrsa►inn at the time. Thistlewood plunged his
sword on the deceased's breast.

Coroner—Upon what charge did you go to ap-
prehend the Prisoners ?
Ellis—The warrant charged the parties with un-
lawfully assembling ; I had the warrant when I
went to apprehend them ; I have it not at this time.
I do not know the exact words in the warrant—Mr.
Baker hod the warrant.
The Coroner called Mr. Eyed!, the beadle, and
asked hiin for the warrant upon which the parties
were apprehended.
Pyat:—l have not got it, Sir; I can send a mes-
senger for the warrant to Mr. Baker.

Ellis—The warrant was given to Mr. Baker at
the Secretary of State's office, who wag there exa-
mining witnesses before the Council.

Juryman—lt may be two hours before we get
the warrant, had we not Netter adjourn.
Pyall— It is doubtful whether the warrant is at
Marlborough-street, or at the Secretary of State's
Office, and the latter he thought was closed.
Juryman—ls it necessary that the warrant
should be produced before us ?
Another Juryman—Yes, I think it is; for an
officer has DO right to enter any house without legal
authority.
Coroner—lt would be as well to have the warrant
produced ; can you, Ellis, say the contents of the
warrant ?

Ellis—Not all of it ; I read it; the names of
Thistlewood, Tidd. and twelve others were inserted
in the warrant.

Corporr—Send utf; Mr. Pyall. a person to
Marlborough-street, to Mr. Baker, and if the war-
rant is not there, we can adjourn the inquest. It is
now about eight o'clock.
Ruthseo—l am positive that a warrant was
issue'''.

Jurywan—We cannot and a verdict of murder,
unless the warrant is laid before us.

iiuly not. I hope nobody said or

thought so.
Ruthttets—The frien,la of the deceased have
been waiting three hours for the body, ■nd as the
Jury have viewed it, probably you would allow
them to remove it ?
Coroner—There can be no objection.

William %Vestcott .worn—l reside at Simmons.
street, Sloane-square, Chelsea. I am a pstrole of
Bow-street office for the western division. On
Wednesday night last I attended by the order of
Blr. Biruir, with another patrole, at Cato-street,
for the purpose of entering the stable where the
parties had unlawfully assembled. Houma, Ellis,
and &slithers entered. I followed them into the
stable., The moment the above officers had got up
the ladder I seized * man, who by his dress ap-
peared to he • butcher ; he was rushing out of the
place. He had a belt on his shoulder, and a sword
by hi. side. Ha clapped his hand inside the breast
of his coat, and I thought he was bent ou
mischief, and immediately gave him a side
blow with my stall on his eye. This was
about the same moment that &Dithers was
stabbed, for Ellis came tumbling down the
ladder, pursued by Thistlewooil. I had got the
butcher on the ground at this time, and was hand-
cuffing him. Ellis tumbling down stairs alarmed
me. I turned round, and Thistlewood clapped a
pistol at my head ; I stooped my head—[Here wit.
nese sheered his h■t, which was perforated in four
different places with balls]---and I rushed under
his arm, fur he lunged at me with • sword. I fell
down, and was considerably alarmed; I rose as soon
as I could; Thistlewood was gone. The man whom
I before endeavoured to secure. the butcher, whose
name is logs; rats away during my coolest with
Thistlewood. lugs was stopped in the street• by
Brooks the petrol ; the former shot at the latter in
the neck, but he was not hurt. Thiatlewood's
pistol, which he presented at me, went off I do
not know that it was his pistol, sea number of other
firearms were let.off while I was in the stable. A
ball permed through the fleshy part of my .hand ;
I did not feel the wound till after l left the stable.
There is a hole through the cuff of my coat,. made
by a ball. I was well acquainted with Thistle.
wood's person; I had known him some time.
He certainly made his escape out of the front
door; as soon as I was able I ran out of the front
door and looked down Cato-street. and did not see
Thistlewood; I then went to the tap of the street,
sad looked along John-street, and could not see
Isim there. When I retbrned to the stable the
military had arrived, and they had neared a ',um-
ber of the conspirators. I did not set Davidson
standing sentinel sheet I altered the stable.
Jarymaa—lt is strange that Ellis says, " he turn.

• her. r. • IP • p caret
ed Dade mom% end told his compsoirrs re
stew, hist," rrunolting at the time be «is
man or (soloist ;" and the last witness pig., e
entered the *table just at the heels of Kull vr.i.
Elba. mud Smithery," and yet he says lie did it-t

see D.svulson.

Giles Fraukhit Malay suyets..--I am a watchrrao,
and reside in Alary.le.hone-court ; my beat is iv
Cott.-street. Ott Werinesslay night I apprehr)!).l,l
big.; Brooks, the petrol was pursuing it g., r. -
jag et Slop thief," at the time I ran •up to es .t
Brooks, and logs fired at Books; the ball posed
through the coat and waistcoat of Brook-, iscl
grazed his ohoulder. I secured Ingo, and w•th rt e
assistance of another vratchtnen, conveyed ht•ri to
Mary-le-hone watch•house. We !searched fogs at
the watch-house, and found upon hips some it,....1)r
in a tin boz and a number of bullets. lie had sl-o
two haversack., and a cloth belt round hint, 1-r
the purpose of putting pistols in. There was on-
thing its the haversacks. 1 apprelornried I. in
the Edgeware-road ; he had run a cousikrab'e
lance from Cato-street.
Juryrossi—We have heard nothing of the ce-
Ploits of the soldiers. or Captain Fizclerence. Had
not one of the soldiers better he coll-d—hr may
throw some light upon the subject. •
Was. Legg sworn—l am • serjeant in the 13 hat.
talion of the Coldstream Guards. On' Weditesd,y
night, about eight o'clock, I was at Portfand•strett
barracks, when Mr. Birsiie called, and wanted as-
Instance. It was a picket guard, which is a'w.rs
ready to turn out at a moment's notice, C.1.'..1
Fitzcisrence was the officer. We were order, A
to John-street, and Captain Fitaclarepee wet t
to make inquiries where we were to go; he sotto
after returned and ordered us to merit) cloub'e •
quick time. We ran till we got to the gate-
way at the end of Cato-street. The first !Inc.;
I saw was a man standing near the stable s6-s
a pistol, which lie presented at Csplain Ft•z-
clarence. I posited it aside with my' Whew,
anti seized the arm of the fellow; we wrestled t:'l
the pistol went off. The contents tore open the
sleeve of my coat, and the flash took off my eye-
lash), and blood-ohot my eye.—[The eerjetrist •hev
ed Itiv coat, the right sleeve of which was torn con)•
plettly open, sod the s ffects of the injury on his ept
was very apparent.]-1 secured the fellow, awl de-
livered him over to the civil power, his name was
Tidd. I then catered the stable and saw Smithers
lying dead. Several men had surrendered to the offi-
cers; their names Ido not know. The men of the
picket turned Smidgen over, and I observed a
wound on his breast. I wag sent off for more as.
anotance—enother picket. On my reefers all the
business was over. Nine prisoners were take), off
to Bow-street. The persons who surrendered were
Cooper, Monument, and another, whose name I do
not know. I saw a quantity of tams lying on the
floor of the stable.

Juryman—We have got seven names or persons
who were present. I think it necessary we should
have all their names.

Another Juryusaa—We have evidence to prove
that Thistlewnod murdered Scuithers: we want no
further evidence.

Coroner—All who aided, abetted, and comfor►-
ed Thistlewoud io the act, are perpetrators of the
murder.

Ellis, the constable, who went with a message
from the Coroner to Mr. Baker, requesting bun to
send the warrant upon which the Prisoners were
apprehended, now arrived with a letter addressed
to the Coroner, to the following effect, from Mr.
Baker. He expressed his regret that.he could nut
send the warrant upon which the men were ap..
prelietided,.as it was at the Secretary of State's
office ; but if it was necessary for the Jury to have it
laid before them, he would take care it should ire
produced on the following morning (this day), but
in that case it would be necessary the Jury should
adjourn. If it were necessary he could semi the
information upon which the warrant was issued.
The letter was sigoed Robert Baker.
Wm. Salmon sworn—l am a tailor by reads; I
was passing through Cato-street on Wednesday
night, and heard Mr. Wolcott say that Suiithers
was stabbed. In a few minutes several persons
rushed out of the stable, and cut at me with a
sword, which cat through my kit . and mall.
clothes. One man who cat et me was ■ tall:•Thlia
person, witl► dark clothes. 1 knew Westesitt be-
fore, and hearit•.g his voice, 1 recognized him. L
suppose the parties took me fur an officer.

The Coroner took a list of the Dunce of the con-
spirators who were in the stable when Siusthers was
killed. He stated that they were inculpated sts the
charge of winder. The following are the names

Artheir Thistlewood, Williams Amidst's, Junes logs.
Charles Cooper, Richard Tidd, Joins Mooosnent, Jab, arm
&range, Janice Wilson, 'Man Gilchrist, sad Richard Black.
barn.

The Jury returned a verdict severally against
the above' persons, and others unknown, of the
•, Wilful Murder" of Richard Smithery,
The Coroner immediately issued his warrant, and
the above pri•oaer. are expected to be removed this
day frost the flambe of Correction to Newgrte.
It is acid titan a Spkial Cutocuinrion will be
issued to try the celp►its meat wet k.
EXAMINATION AT ROW.STNEET.
At an early hour yesterday morning, Lavender
and Bishop, the officers, went to Brouk's Market,
, ['Abort), with a war►aut against Robert Adams, liv.

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