The National Register.
London, England, 1814-02-13 00:00:00

MURDER AT VAUXHALL.

The eircumatances attending the atrocious murder of Moaes
Merry, it is themaist, wdl excite nearly as mach public interest AS
the celebrated Patch did, Vthell the AA hOle Of the hefOre the
Fthhe, Ihrlillgh the means of a public trial.—The contessitni of
Mylas Parrish, which was sworn to him on Monday, in the to eaeoce
of Air. Naves, the Magistrate helot:ging to the Public Wive, Bow-
creet, at Iforsemonger-how Prison, in the Borough, in the presence
of Chatles Callaghan (after statiug how he first hecante acquainted
ev iiii Cailagleim). is, that Callaghan laid the plait to rob the house of
the isses Gompertt, as he knew the premises extremely well. 'Hwy
went armed w kook() pistols w ballets, a elti-sel, and Villit)ll3
it:1141 molts necessary tor hottselneakisig. 'I hey got to Vauxhall
Blotto twelve o'clock at night. lii crossing the road to ga towards
Vac Misses tiompertz premises, they met a man, who wits afterwarda
found by the Polies ► ffiret s, and brenglit lomat(' as all evidence
ogionst the I'tisOltera, who entertained &obis as to swearing
pwitively to their persons at the titivate examination which took
ttlace at the Pothlic Office., Dow street, respreting the pleader;
however l'arri•li has cleated tip his doubts by contesting that they
did meet, awl that he lerolleeted his person as soon as he saw him
make his appear:Aire at Vovvastreet ()Wee, whole they were under
caaitnuatiom before Mr. Niue% and Mr. Burnie. They proceeded to
the hauk ;itemises of the Al isses Gompertz ; mitside gate was
fastened with a padlock, which they wrenched off w ith a chissel, hilt
left it in the same state as they found it except being loose, so that
they could pass and ignite, thiot4,ll the gate without iaterruptiote
They proceeded to break opal all the other parts which led to the
house, so that in retorting they should not meet with any
meta in retreating in ease of an atarm. On approaching close to
the house they found that sonic of the flintily were still op. they
therefore agreed to leave the in ensises, A% !jell Ikea aecordivaly
het W ecu thrce and four o'clock, and found all the
places open as they bad left Balsa They took out a sgeat eof
g;a•s in a whitlow leadirg to the kitchen, which enabled them to
take off a bell which was placed for the pinpase • of giving all
;slin). Tie y then sort (• ettabled to open the window, but it was so
small lie could not get throoith ; he therefore pulled off Ida ;peat
coat alai body coat, which reduced his size so ranch, that he paased
in withaut Limit tliffitanty, he being much smaller than Callaghan.
After he had gainell inimittance, he opened a door and let in Cal-
laghan, vv.ho, shoes on with very large nails which he bad
pot in Itittist-F. after lie had stole them from his friend, Mr. lloxltay,
the shoemaker, in Linnlun Wall, he took them off to avoid making
to noise. Soon arti r they heard something moving, which caused
them to suspect than the lainily were alarmed ; they stood still low
a„La, t*-a,a eansidarahly agitated ; they were both armed with
laaded piatols. heart::: It' thing mbre, they concluded that their
tears were unfontidi el, or that what they head was protium' from
a cat ; lie therefore proceeded to strike a !laid, having taken with
him some tinder in a pier. (if leather, apiece of flint. a steel, some
matches, and a cantfia \Viten they hail got a light, they saw a large
cal but they could not persnade themselves that it was the cat that
had ahirmed them with tae noise. Callaghan knowito: the premises,
which was Ow ino•t likely place to find out a quantity of the
moist Vahlabh: thit,g., directed hint which way. and where to 40 to.
f;tid them. They went tegettiCr into the pantry, where they Pallid
a taitutier of silver spoons, and other articles of plate, which had
beets ased for sapper the precedima night, -vv Hell frul not been.
vvashed thee, teaethi r with a onmber of atticks of plate, and
ot:wr property of considerable value, they pot into their pockets.
They ohs( reed two large waiters, which had the appearance of
being adv cr. Calhahall ashed bite if I.e thought they w ere silver or
ph.ted, but he could not decide ; however, they had another diffi-
culty about takino them on account. „their size, they not hying
%%ills a bag to lint the in, and they were afrant,of their
bring untie( d, from their size, by the Watchinan'or Pat role as they
passed akin„ theyoad Callaghan then directed him to the room
where the deceived and desired him to go and fetch Iris soak!,
saying, he would find it among Isis clothes, which he cemplied With,
aol at the time he was feeling anion,' the clothes for the watch, the
aleceased awoke; but could nut see him, but l:avtng hcatd the noise