The National Register.
London, England, 1821-08-26 00:00:00

ADJOURNED INQUEST ON TILE BODYOF
GEORGE FiLINCIS.

On Monday Mr. Higgs, the Deputy Coroner for the City
of Westminster, gemmed the adjourned, inquest, on the body
of George Francis, shot at Cumberland Gate on Tuesday
week.—The Jury suet sit three o'clur k, at the Goat, Arabella
place, Pimlico, where the inquest was held on Friday last.
Mr, Harmer, ou this occasion, attended fur the friends of
the deceased.
The Coroner addressed the Jury before the witnesses were
selainined, trod stated, that he had received a communication
front the Secretary of State. Ile then read a letter similar
to the one addressed to the Coroner on the other inquest.—
The witnesses were then called in.
Charles Boyd being sworn said, he lived at Shatiton-court,
Covent-garden He was a boot•maker. Ilejained the pro-
cession at the Queen's funeral, us a spectator, between
Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner. Ile observed the
people going out through Cumberland Gate to Oxford-street.
The Ciumlis were at the head of the process' . The w mess
was about fifteen yards within the Park. The 'people ap-
peared quiet. The soldiers made confusion by galloping
amou,g the crowd with their swords drawn. After they had
succeeded hi getting the street clear, the soldiers rode up to
the persons on the Park wall and cut at them, to make them
get down. lie saw no stones thrown: It appeared to him
the soldiers at that time wished to intimidate. They cleared
every our from the Park Wall. The witness was one that
was driven down, and he retired by the railing which sepa•
rates the road front the green. Ile removed, and returued
soon after to his former situation on the wall.—They were
only a few who resumed their former situations. They had
not remained more than two minutes when two or three of
the Life Guards came round that way, with swords in their
hands. Those who were on the wall neater to the Tyburn
Gate than himself dropped down; the soldiers cut at them,
but they were down before the swords could reach them.
—They came to the witness nest, mid the foremost made
n stroke at his head ; lie avoided it by stooping below
the rails, and it cut a young man's hat near him. He had
thrown no stones at the military. The men cut at, as weU
as himself could not have thrown stones; they were obliged
to hold by the railing. So soon as he got down he went
behind the wall, nearer Hyde Park Otte. He remained
there a few minutes, and heard several sheds go elf.—
The sound was heard lower titian, towards Cumberland Gate.
Ile did pint imagine there was any shot, and lie went hack
again to his old position. He had been up a short time when
he saw the deceased coming along the foot-way towards
Tyburn-tormoke. The man that ass shot found a few of
the Guards in his passage, a hick prevented him from making
his way to Cumberland Gate. The witness saw him snake
a step or two hack, finding his ally aas blocked, and ad-
taticheg towards the wall where the witness was, he received
u shot and fell. The man npiwared running away from the
soldiery. He saw It soldier a ith a pistol in his hand when
the man fell. Ile turned round in his saddle and tired the
Question by a Juror.—llid he appear to take a deliberate
aim
A. Yes, he did, or he would not have turned half round
on kit saddle. Tile man who tired was ;thou, 211 years of age
—there a as,no distal bane, at that time. The soldier fired
not the deceased fell. There were but few persons near him
at the time. He was of opinion the e hot esone from the man
is his turned round on his saddle. Ile could ma say a Nether
he was au officer or private. lie then went behind the wall
stud heard several discharges alter Ilea. He saw oue man
fire three different shots. We yr ese in the Park retreating
fur safety, and three of the life ~tesads were standing sit the
eerner of the gate. One of theta pointed his pistol and fired
in the direction where the a ttnrss and or semi others acre
smutting. He did not see a peace officer. No police officers
were active. After the life-guards had proceeded to the
Edgewareeread tan parties came back. It was one of the
first pity that shot the man. lie said us they passed, that is
the man who shot the deceased. The soldier was a young
man, about a, with a ruddy long face.
The Coroner.—They are to lie culled out at halferst
eleven toemeirrow iu Hyde Paik. Should you know him
ttitness.-1. do ant think I should know him again.

fie was recommended by the Jury attend.
Joseph Han kesivin th, of No. I, Woburn-place, 11"5"'111-
square, tAk orn —I um in We beririce of Mr. Borstal, oho
I esides in IV oburn•place, I went to Ilsde Park Col nor
liertator on the day of the Queen', foot lid. l Whined
among the crowd through the Pick. Tne procewitiii MOS I d
at a quick e atid the people followed. I nos hefore tile
procession.— 1 came to the gate I -..01 the bo!eliers

OP

kneekiag short their swords to prevent the people coming
through. They were life guards. I, with a great pub,
gut through the right-hand side of the gate late Ortford-
street. I turned round to the left to get out of the way, and
weal towards Tyburn-turnpike. M hen I was proceeding
that way I heard pistols firing behind me. Hearing the cry
of murder! Shame! &c. I looked round, and a soldier
mai ked with a wale on the left cheek, inapt a pistol at are
which missed fire. Whether the mat k was a mule or mud I
cannot say. It was a muddy day. I saw a man who had
been shot supported by two men. He was dressed in a fus-
tian jacket. I saw him before the pistol was snapped
of me. The pistol missed fire. He took deliberate aim at
me, and I was standing perfectly quiet with an umbrella in
my hand. No stones were thrown- No insult was given to
the soldiers except the cry of shame ! after the deceased was
;hot. I did not see any magistrate or civil officer. When
the pistol was pointed a woman was near.
William Sprint, of Russell street, Bloomsbury, shoe-
maker, sworn. I went to see the procession. I went
through Cumberland Gate, and gut into Oxford Street,
and fixed myself against the brick wall, as close as I
contd. The Guards came through, with drawn Swords,
and began to drive the people in all directions. One of
them struck me. They drove at the people with all the
force they could. The people were calling " the City:
the City! " One of the Life Guards, a farrier, made a
cut at me. I held up my umbrella, which saved my head.
[Here lie produced the umbrella, which was cut through.]
did not mean to tight the soldier. I ran away, he rail
after me, and fired a pistol—the ball whizzed by me. I
heard firing all around me. Each soldier appeared to act
' for himself. I heard as many as twenty-five shots. I did
not see a single police-officer. I saw one of the Guards
draw his pistol and shoot a man dead When he had
done it he laughed.
Examined by Mr. Hanson.—lle saw no stones thrown
until after the soldiers fired. Cumberland Gate was open
during the time he saw the transactions. The hearse did
not stop till be gut up. There was no annoyance of the
soldiers until after they fired. The soldiers were cowards
—they fired at those who had done nothing. The wit-
ness was ordered to inspect the troops on Wednesday.
Brook Page (rather hard of hearing) sworn.—l ava a
French publisher, residing at No. 9, Warwick Street. I
was at Cumberland Gate on the day of the Queen's fu-
neral, and was at the end of Cumberland Street, opposite
Cumberland Gate. I saw it arrive. The Blues were
guarding the hearse. The Life Guards were clearing
away the ground to tens the hearse into the Edgeware
Road. The crowd was great, and the Guards cleared
the street by chopping, ridding, and nutting. The peo-
ple then began to throw at the soldiers from both
sides of the way. 1 cannot say where they got the
stones from. Diem had been no firing at that time.—
The people kept throwing stones until the soldiers got
to Tyburn Gate, then they began firing. The stones
were gravel stones. The first filing I heard near
Lord Huntley's house near Tyburn Gate. Was pushed
along with the crowd to the corner of Edgware-roads
The people were much pressed getting away from the
soldiers. The first I saw tire a pistol was the officer of
the Life Guards. He levelled Iris pistol down the street
towards St. Giles's. There were many people in the street
who could not get out of the way. There might have been
&ink at the time at Cumberland Gate. I received two
shots through my hat, and one through my coat.--(The
witness exhibited his hat and coat with the shot lioles.)-d-
The holes were on the upper part of the crown of his hat.
lie did not know in the crowd that the shot had struck
him. Ido not know the precise situation I was in when
i
the shot struck me. J first discovered the holes n the
' Edgware-road. Before and after the hearse passed
through Cumberland Gate, the soldiers cleared the people
' by cutting and chopping away with their swords.
At this part of the examination, Mr. Harmer stated that
lie had many witnesses to examine, and suggested that it
might be as well for the Jury to adjourn. After the wit-
nesses had an opportunity of seeing the soldiers drawn
out, the Jury might resume their investigation with more
regularity and advantage.
The Jury approved of Mr. Harreees suggestion, and
the Coroner adjourned the inquest till Wednesday, at
three o'clock.
[THIRD DaTij
The inquiry touching the death of George Francis,
killed on Tuesday, the 14th inst. at Cumberland-gate,
by the soldiers, w.. 5 on Wednesday continued pursuant
to adjournmeta at :lie Goat, Pimlico.
Sprats sworn.-1 was examined on Monday
last. I attended on Tuesday about eleven o'clock, in
order to inspect the soldiers. I did not see them till near
dark. I remained in a sari of kitchen till about five
o'clock. %Vitae there I saw the ollicer who shot Honey
pass two or three times. Tile witnesses were kept to-
gether, and at last were out of patience waiting. One
insisted up.m going away, and was let out. When the
olfi er passed the window, whom I could then have
sworn to, was the person who shot the deceased. I
called out, " There is the officer who shot the Man."—
It was dusk whets I saw the soldiers drawn out. They
were so arranged, that it was almost iutpossible to Weil-
My any one. I could not recognise the officer who shot
George Francis. It seas almost dusk when I saw the
soldiers. The officer I saw go into the stable lam po-
sitive WAS the man who shot Richard Honey. i saw him
take a deliberate aim at hum. When I said that is the
man who shot Honey, he turned round, but said no-
thing. When the soldiers were drawn up, there were
two met so notch alike that I could not distinguish one
from the other. One of lite two men I can swear
was painted. It was all ileceptioll throughout. I told
sir Robert Baker that I could tint swear to the man.—
I had a doubt, and therelore could not point hiur out ;
they were disguised, I sin sure. 'lucre was only a titian
portion Of their faces vno'ule—they were inn i'eri its tin:ir
cloaks—every seventh or eight Matt his cloak.
A number of other witnesses were examined, bin no
new fact was elicited.
A sitonnons having been sent to the Adjutant of the
first regiment of Life Guards to attend with its 'lower
roll, that accordinly attended, and was called
: 11;11 esiikiice, however, wis precisely the same as
that given by him before the tuber Coronet's inquest.

'Eno Jury, niter some di4cmsion, aererii In on ad-
journment until o.) '1 mniday.
atlj )..nned tm:

268

[FOURTH DAY.]

The Coroner resumedhis enwory at five o'clock,
touching the death of Gitaree Francis.
6 John Lloyd, of No. it), Great Cumberland-street,
sworn, I ant a servant at ti .e house of Lord B3gol, and
a etr-keeper at the Cobingh Theatre. Just before the
foneral came tip from the Park, the people closed the
gates. The hearse was in the Park, and the soldiers
endeavoured to open the gate. The life guards wished
to open them, the people to keep them shut. I observed
the people lay hold of the horses' heads and turn them
towards St. (siles's. The solfliers and undertaker's wen
nutted the horses again by tome towards Tyburn gate.
The soldiers behaved with the greatest forbearance.
never saw them attempt to cut any man. They drove
them back, and flourished their swords to intimidate the
petiole.
Cross-examined by Mr. Harmer.—The procession had
passed 20 or 30 yards on, when the firing was heard. I
siw the swords flourished, but did not observe the sol-
diers strike any one. The men who assisted the soldiers
to open the gates appeared to be undertaker's men, hut
he did not know they were not constables. They had
soon black staves.
Dr. Henry Charles Osgood, surgeon, residing at 93,
Park-street, Grosvenor•solu.tre, sworn.-4 was there be-
fore the procession arrived —Prier to the arrival of the
brieral, a party of soldiers, stationed outside Cumber-
land Gate, went within the gate. There were twelve
Ide guards, and an racer. On the procession comin,t
Oil to the gate the fitst object which struck my attention
was a nam in black on horseback at the gate. They
were dragging hint away front it, and the bridle of his
horse broken. He was a slim young man, and he rode
a grey horse. I observed a soldier behind him strike the
1111.1:1 with the flat part of his sword. The conduct of
the people at that nine was confined to hissing and hoot-
ing. The gates were shut again immediately after the
man on horseback got through. lit the midst of this
the 12 truth jers within the gate came out and began to
clear away the mob. I observed the officer of the party
was the particular object of the popular fury. lie re-
sented their conduct more than the rest: several stones

struck hint. Oil the street being somewhat cleared, the
first carriage passed through, and then the hearse fol-
lowed. There was an effort to turn the horses down
Osford-street. but the Life Guards turned then► towards
Tyburn-gate. The first shot was through the iron rail-
ing, near Cumberland-gate. The people were running
into the P.O k. I saw two or three other shots in the
direction of Oxtind-street. The hearse proceeded up
Edgware road. I saw a cessation of violence by the
mob, during four Minuses. The soldiers 113,1 gained
their point, and I saw nothing to justify the firing at
that moment. I think it might have been spared. The
soldiers fired promiscuously. They loaded and fired
without taking aim. I saw no shots perpendicular.
Here Mr. Jaiksuil, one of the Jury, begged to retire.
He accordingly withdrew,and after a lapse of ten minutes,
the Coroner was informed that Mr. Jackson was so un-
well, that he mild nut attend any more that evening.
Mr. Harmer then proposed, as they could not finish
the inquest th,t night, to adjourn to the next sitting,
where they might have the benefit of Mr. Jackson's at-
tendance. Without that gentleman they had only 13
upon the Jury, and if two out of that number disagreed,
they could have nu verdict.
One of the Jury mated that Mr Jackson, who applied
to he excused on the first ,day of the inquest, had not
been well for three years.
Mr. Harmer said, the Coroner would not take a ver-
dict unless twelve men agreed; and if eleven out of
thirteen were only unanimous they could have no ver-
dict.
After some further conversation the Inquest was ad-
journed till Friday at four o'clock.

[FIFTH DAY.)

At four o'clock on Friday the inquest on George Francis
was continued. Mr. Jackson, the juror, who was obliged by
illness to retire on Thursday evening, attended on Friday,
and the enquiry proceeded.
A person who offered himself as a voluntary witness Mr.
Benson declined calling, Oil the ground that lie did not
kart* him.
Joseph Price George was then sworn. I belong to
the Coluttial Audit Office, James-street, %Vestminster, and
reside at No. Vitt, Oxford-street. It is within four doors of
Cumberlai d-gate. I was on the balcony of the first floor on
the 14th inst. 1 was nits acted to the window in consequence
of a shouting in the street. I perceived the people coining
very quick tip Pat k-lane, nod crying out " the Procession is
coming through the Park." Mete was a picquet of ten
men, u trumpeter, and on officer. The moment the people
tiled out " the pi UCKSIOII," the piquet was hooted, foal
pelted with bricks and skates. No other troops had arrived
at that time in my view. The mob appeared to rush In-
wards Cumberland Gate, with the intention of shutting the
gate. I saw a commotion between the military and the
mobh When a military officer went to the gate to see what
was the matter, I lie people near me cried out, '• hint,
unhorse him." The mob crowded round Cumberland-gate,
and 'tinged themselves on the park wall, using the part they
could drag away as material to throw at the soldiers. 1 sow
the Life Guards struck repeatedly with bricks and stones.—l
could hear the helmets ring Iron. the b ow.. I saw many
Instances of great forbearance oil the part of the soldiers.—
One man wan hit with a brick, or stone WI the head. He
appeared stapitied. VW hen he recovered he galloped to the
wall. w het e the mob were pelting. Ile lifted his arm over
his head, but made no attempt to strike with his sword.—
The violence of the mob was directed against an officer, who
Crum the blows I .taw hint receive, must have berm much
hot t. The hearse, after a condiet between the soldiers and
the mob, was turned down the Edgeweri -road. Immediately
after it had passed I ores it crowd of soldiers collected near
the turopike, and shot ily after the firing commenced. After
Ire or six trouts had been tired I heard a cry of murder. It
prt,cceded Irons w.tuiu a door or two of my side of Cum-
-1,1,1 land-street. I saw a man brought on the shoulders of
the people, near my 'sloth's., lie wore a fustian dress. 1 he.
hese it vi as Mouser, lie t. as bleeding, but not dead. 'I he
'Mowing of Win intermission, and the
eonilact tit' the nisei's. until the firing was marked with for-
berance. I did nut see a person led through Cumberland-
g.fie by a soldier. I aw sure stouts were thrown until within
a ;mush: atilt tiring.