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

No. 1,263—V0t. XIII.]

KENT ASSIZES.

TRIAL OF NRSBETT.
IPOI THIC YUIDEI OT NW PARKER AHD HIS

MAIDSTONE, JUST 28.
James Nesbett as indicted for the wilful murder of
Thomas Parks*, at Woolwich, on.ibe 9d March, MO.
A separate indictment charged him with the murder of
Stull Brown, at the same time and place. There were
also indictments imputing to the pnaoner the crimes of
arson and burglary.
The prisoner was first put upon his trial for the murder
of Mr. Parker.
The Common Sedeant and Mr. Chitty conducted
the prosecution, and Mr. Andrews appeared Itir the
prisoner.
At the first sitting of the Court an application was
made by the prisoner's Counsel to postpone the trial, on
the ground of the absence of a material witness, but Mr.
Baron Wood being of opinion that ample time had
already been offered the prisoner to prepare for his de-
fence, refused the application.
Mr. Chitty opened the pleadings, and the
Common Serjeant stated the case to the Jury at great
length, and with much perspicuity.
The following witnesses were then called in support
of his statement.

Isabella Johnson proved, that on the 3d of March,
between one and two, she saw the deceased Sarah Brown,
the housekeeper of the deceased Mr. Parker. Witness
spoke to her. Witness saw Mr. Parker between five
and six on the same day nin his ow parlour—if be had
gone to bed that night witness could have seen hint, but
did not.
Mary Giles proved that she lived next door to the de-
ceased—on the 3d March heard no knocking at the door
—hoard it openand shut—heard a noise about eleven
but did not know where it was. _ _ _

David Brooks proved, that on the 4th of March he was
quartered at Woolwich, and passed Mr. Parker's house
-at one in the morning. He saw smoke coming out of
the chimney. At half-past one, on an alarm of 6re, he
-came to the house—he broke open the door and went in
—it was locked withinside, on the spring, as in the day-
time; the house and furniture were on fire—the front
parlour was burning, full of smoke; he threw water
11110 the room. When the smoke was dispersed two
bodies were laid on the table; could distinguish that one
was a woman, but not the man; there was only one
leg oldie woman left unhurt ; a man's.shoe was on the
foot of that ; there was blood on the floor behind
the parlour door—no great quantity; it was then wet.
On his eross-examinstion he said, that there was a
crowd of twelve persons at the door when he first went
up--did not see any windows open.
William Lyon, at two in the morning of the 4th of
March, came to Parker's house, on an alarm of fire—the
door was open ; he went in and managed the engine
hose; the fire in the front room up stairs was extin-
guished; the parlour was smoking ; when the smoke
subsided saw the skull of a human being on the floor;
not severed front the body—pit was much burnt. I gave
an alarm there was a woman behind the skull dead—
her legs and•feet were burnt, and her clothes very much;
her head and rice not at all burnt; there was blood about
the nose ; there were marks of blows on the head: one
.on the back part; the bodies were laid on the table; the
body of the man, in lifting, broke into pieces.
Stephen Howard proved, that on the 3d of March he
was alarmed by fire between one and two in the night;
went to Mr. Parker's house; the door was open; got a
•ladder and broke the windows on the ground and first
'floors; broke open the shutters of the parlour and bed-
room; went into the first chamber; saw a chest of
drawers, with all the drawers pulled out; they seemed
to have been rummaged ; papers were strewd about the
room, and all appeared iii confusion; the curtains awl
counterpane looked as if they had been burnt; the fire
there did not scent to communicate with that below ; a
blanket was fastened up to one window, which faced
the street; went into the bedchamber; nothing burnt
there nor tlisturhed; neither of the beds had been slept
in that night; examined the back door; it was fastened;
witness forced it open.
On his cross-examination, could not be sure as to the
state of the beds.

John Hay proved, that on the 4th of March, at two
is the morutug, lie went to Parker's house; took the
engine ; went in •' eight or ten people there; wean into
the flout chamber; there had been tire about the bed,
but it was out. 'f he fire them did not communicate
with the fire to the parlour. The bedding was not camel,
burnt—the bed was thrown out of the window before
witness arrived. The drawers in every room had been
opened, except in the parlour, so as to chew what they
contained, and the articles dropped on the floor just
under the drawers; there had been fire in the room over
the chamber, that was a bed-room too, and more burnt
than the lower one. The fire here could not have arisen
from either of the rooms below; the bed curtains were
nearly destroyed ' - the bed and bed clothes very much
injured, particularly the feathers; it must have been
%Unto& a considerable time.