The National Register.
London, England, 1820-03-19 00:00:00

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No. 1,227.—V0L. VIII.]

THR CATO STREET OONSPIRACY.
We copy the following curious statement from a paper of
Thursday night, which introduces it by saying—
The following is the Report of a man who has been privately
exiunined, and of which he informs us he is ready to make
affidavit :
On Monday last, Mr. Chambers, a shoemaker, residing at
No. 3, Heathcock Court, Strand, received a summons to attend,
next day, ti fore the Magistrates at Bow Street.
He accordingly attended, and was taken into a private roam by
Ituthven the officer, before Mr. Birnic, when the following ex-
amination took place :
Mr. Birnie—What is your name and residence ?
Chambers—My name is Thomas Chambers. I live at No. 3,
Heatlicock Court, Strand.
Magistrate—You know Thistlewood ?
Chambers—Yes, very well.
Magistrate—You know Dr. Watson?
Chambers—. Yes, I know his person by fecing him at public
meetings ; I don't suppose the Doctor knows me.
Magistrate—Do you know Cooke ?
Chambers—No, I do ncr. know a person of that name.
Magistrate Do you know Preston ?
Chambers—Yes, I know Tommy Preston very well.
Magistrate—Do you know Hall
Chambers—l do not know him.

Magistrate—How did you first become acquainted with Arthur
Thistlewood ?
Cluunbers...ln consequence of the flags used at Mr. Hunt's
.procession being taken to my house.
Magistrate... How came they to.be taken to your house, and
by whose orders were they taken-
Chambers...By the orders of no one. They were removed
to the White Lion, Wych Street, from the Crown and Anchor.
by me and others; and Baldrie, the landlord of the White
Lion, refused to takqsdietn in; lie said he should lose his license
if be did. I told bun illeould take them to my house for they
could not take my license from me.
Magistrate—Ali poor &shine, he has lost his licence though,
and lam forty for it. But when do you say that Thistlewood
came to your house?
Chambers... Three or four days after the dinner given to Mr.
Hunt, at the Crown and Anchor, with several other pursous. I
beg to state that I nevi:A one of the flags, •• Trial by Jury," at
the procession. s..
Magistrate ..Who were the persons who came to your house
with Thistlewssid?
Chambers—l do not know them all ; I had not been in their
company before.
Magistrate—Did you dine at the Crown and Anchor ?
Chambers—Yes I did ?
Magistrate--W ho dined there besides?
iChambers—A great number of persons ; I did not know them
all.
Magistrate—Who took the flags from your house?
Chambers—The flags were distributed z.t my house to those
persons who carried them at the next public meeting after the
dinner at the Crown and Anchor. I carried one myself, which
had " Manchester Massacre" upon it. It was either to the
Finsbury_ or the Smithfield Meeting the gags were carried ; I do
not recollect which, but I am sure it waste first meeting after
Mr. Hunt's entry into London publicly. I went to all the pub-
lic meetings, and generally stood in the waggon.
Magistrate—So you lost your time by going to the procession ?
411aittibers—I am an linntite , I thought Hunt an honest imin,
ate I think so still. I went to the procession; I thought him
*tied to a triumph in consequence of Ins manly conduct in
Lancashire.
Magistrate—Were you ever at the Black Dog in Gray's Inn
Lace, when Brunt was in the chair?
iChambers--Never, runty knowledge; I never was at *private
meeting.
Magistrate—(Bather doubting the truth of Cliambers's 'asscr-
tion)--IJon't you say what is not true ; our information is very
correct.
Chambers—l recollect a person mused Brian asking me to take
a.pint of beer at a public-house on INIe left-hand side in Gray's
Inn-lane, out of Holborn, I do not know the sign. Brian and
sanusof his friends were going to the Cape of Good Hope ; it
teas &parting pint.
Magistrate--How long have you known Brian ?
Chambers—Fromithe time your Worship ordered me to be
lacked up behind this tact, and as I consider, very unjustly, as
)air Worship did not hear what I had to ray in my defence.
Magistrate—What was that you were locked up for: do I
blow any thing about it ?
Chambers—Yes ; I was coming out of my house to get some
'eer, sad heard a disturbance with the watchmen and two men ;
went up to the row, and found that two persons were charged
Irti firing a pistol. One of die watchmen took me into custody.
nti conveyed me to the watch-house. I made no resistance ; I
myself innocent. On urn arrival at the watch-house, with
.ri and another man named Warily, the watchman bail no
mee against nie whatever, and the night constable desired
about iny business, whim I did. I came to blow-street
"i'arning and I was taken into custody, and the watchman,
who kno Marge against me on the over-night, swore positively
16
to ;rind one who final the pistol, and your Worship ordered nie
tak,ded, and it was when I was locked up that I became ac-
t ith Brian and Ileartley.
'96'sk..•at.hdyou ever see 'rhistlewood and Heardey walk.
Lelltthni
:kersrll never knew the man tell I was locked up, and
Ineversaw
7my life. iistlewood and lieartley or Brian walking together
Ma'B. trace—so, you know where Heartley lives, and what
trade ne is ?
Chambers—l do of know where he lives, nor do I know his
1,
web& He has called frequently upon me since I and lie
wereairi tastily together.
1%
filstratei.Was ever Ileardey in your house when Thistle.
wood WilS
Chem hers... \
Vet.
Magistrate--.,1e you sure of dust ?
Chambers...l as -sure.
klagislrftle••• On .1)u know a person named Matthews?
Chambers...l do nit.
pagist._rate..;Are yes certain ?
1PorTIN:"*" an) postive 1 do not know a man of that name.
4enetv...Wiet Thielewood at the Black Dog, (;try's Inn
when you and Brian were there