The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-27 00:00:00

THE DUEL NEAR WINDSOR.

The coroner's inquest on the body of M. Frederick
Cournet, killed in a duel near Inglefield-green, on the
19th instant, was resumed yesterday before C. J. Woods,
Esq., at the Barley Mow Inn. The inquiry created the
most intense interest, and amongst those present were
General Sir John Cathcart, Bart., Colonel Galwey, Cap-
tain Seymour, J. Bonnell, Esq., W. Newnham, Esq.,
T. R. Ward, Esq., J. Dobinson, Esq., county magistrates,
and many others of the neighbouring gentry. It was
nearly 4 o'clock before the proceedings commenced, the
Coroner, who resides at a distance, having been detained
an hour beyond the time fixed on Thursday last.
The Coroner said, since Thursday last, through the
exertions of the very active superintendent of police,
Mr. Biddlecome, a mass of additional evidence, of a very
important character, had been obtained, which he trusted
would enable them to conclude the inquiry at the present
sitting.
Henry Hand, of 5, Harpur-street, New Oxford-street,
deposed that he is the proprietor of the Assault of Arms,
and secretary to Mr. Green, the proprietor of the
Shooting Gallery, Leicester-square, London. On Mon-
day evening, the 18th of October, about half-past seven
o'clock, three foreigners came into the gallery to hire
pistols for practice. They were supplied with a brace of
pistols, on leaving a deposit. Witness did not know the
parties. The pistols now produced they did not approve
of ; another brace of pistols was procured, and
they took them. (The pistols were here produced;
they were a brace of rifle pistols, the same as
they used in the shooting gallery.) The foreigners
left 81. as a deposit. The pistols were returned
about 5 o'clock on the evening of Tuesday, the 19th inst.
The pistols were brought back by a stranger, who ap-
peared like a waiter at one of the neighbouring hotels.
At the time the messenger delivered the pistols to wit-
ness he stated that one of them was loaded. Witness
put a cap on the nipple, and afterwards put some gun-
powder in the nipple, but the pistol missed fire both
times. Witness then drew the charge and found the
rag produced, and a ball (also produced) in the chamber.
The rag rendered it next to an impossibility that the
powder should explode. This rag was where the gun-
powder should have been. Witness had not since been
able to trace the messenger who brought back the pistol.
The pistols were not loaded when the foreigners took
them away. They had just previously been used in the
gallery. The parties who hired the pistols took about
two dozen caps, and the same number of bullets. One
of the foreigners came back about half-past eight o'clock
on the Monday evening, and said he wanted more balls.
Witness gave him ten or a dozen more, and saw nothing
more of the foreigners after that time. Mr. Green vo-
lunteered the information in consequence of seeing the
account of the proceedings in the newspapers, and find-
ing that a powder flask had been found upon one of the
prisoners (Allain). The bill produced (found upon
Allain) was the paper in which witness wrapped the
balls. A certain sum was paid for the use of the pistols,
and for the powder flask, which was not returned. The
pistols were taken away without being cleaned—there
had been many shots fired from them on Monday, the
18th inst., but they were not very foul.
_ _ _

In answer to questions from Mr. Ashurst (who ap-
peared for MM. Baronnet and Allain), witness said the
pistols were cleaned on the Monday morning, but not
afterwards before they left the gallery on Monday. The
pistol in which the wadding (or rag) was found was in
use on the Monday, and so was the other pistol. The
pistols were cleaned with tow, never with rag, like the
piece produced. He could identify one of the parties
who hired the pistols.
In answer to questions from the Coroner, Mr. Super-
intendent Biddlecombe said the four persons taken up
upon suspicion—MM. Barthelemy and De Mornay
(friends of the survivor), and MM. Baronnet and Allain
(friends of the deceased), had been lodged in Horsemon-
ger-lane Gaol.
Mr. Bryon, of the Mansion-house police, having been
sworn as interpreter,
Guisland Patrice Denis deposed, in French, that he
resided at 53, Old Compton-street, Soho, where he keeps
a restaurant and coffee-house. Ho know Frederick
Cournet, and knew Couruet had been residing in London
some time—for nine or ten months. Knew Emanuel
Barthelemy ; be is a Frenchman. Had seen Edmund
Allain at his house about fifteen times. Knew Baronnet
but did not know his Christaiu name. Did not know
De Mornay. Barthelemy had been in England for about
three weeks or a month on his present visit. Witness
believes that Barthelemy came direct to his house,
but could not fix the date in the absence of his
hocks. Barthelemy slept twice at his house, and
called a third time. Recollected Barthelemy writing
a letter from his house. Witness told Barthelemy
that Baronnet, Cournet, and Recherolles took their
repasts at his house. Witness had no knowledge
of the contents of the letter written by Barthelemy, but
the latter said he could not finish it without referring to
the last letter he had received from Cournet. He after-
ards said he must show the letter to some one before
he closed it, and he returned home for that purpose.
Barthelemy said he did not know Cournet personally,
and witness told him Cournet was a very fine man,
and
a strong man—a strong and robust man. Barthelemy held
his hand, as if in tho act of firing off a pistol, towards a
looking glass, and said, "At this, I don't fear the first
corner." He left the house, and said in an hour and a
half he would bring him the letter. Barthelemy did not
return. Three or tour days after that Barthelemy came
to witness's house and slept there. The first time
Barthelemy arrived at the house witness understood,
from his expressions, that he had a quarrel with Cour-
net. Barthelemy last slept at the house of witness on
the night of Monday,
the 18th ; he came in a little
before 12, and went to bed immediately afterwards.
Robellard was at the table with him, but took nothing
to eat ; he drank. They both slept in the same room.
Witness did not hear any particular conversation be-
tween them. Barthelemy left the house alone at a
quarter to six o'clock on the following morning. Robel-
lard came down about half-past 11. Four or five days
after the arrival of Barthelemy, Cournet said he had
heard that Barthelemy had said, in certain circles, that
he would burst his (Cournet s) belly. On the 14th
Cournet did not come to breakfast, but was at witness's
house at dinner. On that occasion Cournet said, " The
coward would not accept me to-day." Witness under-
stood that Cournet bad been to Richmond.
Louis Joseph Soulli, advocate, of Cranbourn-street,
Leicester-square, deposed, in French, that Cournet was
his friend. Did not know Barthelemy. [Witness was
deeply affected, and was accommodated with a chair.]
Thought he should know Barthelemy from Cournet's
description, but had never seen him. Knew that a duel
was about to be fought between Barthelemy mid
Cournet. Three days before his death Cournet said he
had a desire to avoid that fatal rencontre, but he could
not. The terms of the quarrel were such as not to ad-
mit of explanation. The cause of the duel was a
menace. Did not know De Mornay nor Allain, Ba-
ronnet was his friend. Knew nothing, excepting hearsay,
of the preparations for the duel. In France the terms
of a duel are always committed to writing. When op-
portunity offers, the principals have two seconds (or
witnesses) each. Among gentlemen the privileged
weapons are pistols and swords, when both are agreed
it is a duel to the death. It is seldom that both are
used. The offended party has the choice of arms, but
that point is somewhat difficult to settle. When the
seconds know that one of the parties is a better shot
than the other they increase the distance, in order to
place them more on an equality. They place the com-
batants at a distance of 40 yards generally; they each
walk up to a certain point, and then fire. Another
mode is to toss for the first fire. The seconds are
charged with the loading of the pistols. They show the
powder, and the ball to the seconds on the other side.
Each second loads the pistol of his principal. It is
always the practice to examine the pistols, and then
they draw lots for the pistols; that is before they are
charged. Gallery pistols are the most dangerous, and
require no wadding between the ball and the powder.
l 8
Joseph Joanny Pardigan, 78, Wardour-street, Ox-
ford-street, bootmaker, deposed that he knew Bar-
thelerey very well. Barthelemy first came to England
in
Barthelemyweeks last last Monday.,
An dma y. ,c Barthelemyorn er,
was
at
M. 4DB. en Three
o,re send
wanted o
fight Witness
again saw him at night. Cournet had previously men-
no,tios ; for whoever
nith e presence of witnesses, that he was about
certainly deceased. to fight a duel with
juryman said he should like to know who loaded
the
murdered the
put t
k rag i
Couldn thethe
they
pistolnot moatswear
pis
the other seconds?

The Coroner said the seconds were supposed to be in
custody. They had declined to make any statement,
and there was no power to compel them.
The Coroner having summed up the evidence, the
jury retired.
On the re-admission of the public,
The Coroner announced that the jury had returned a
verdict of " Wilful Murder against the four prisoners in
u
and also against a fifth person, name unknown,
not in custody."
custody,