The Sun.
London, England, 1830-07-31 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

TIOW-STItEkIr.

Yesterday Captain George Paul HeWarn, who
stands charged with the wilful murder of Lieutenant
Crowther, in a duel at Boulogne, on the Ist of
April, 1829, was brought before Mr. MiNsitum for
a final examination.

Mr. Harmer attended for the prosecution, and
Mr. Wright, a solicitor, appeared on behalf of the
prisoner, who had also engaged Mr. Adolphus, but
that learned gentleman had intimated that he could
not attend. Mr. C. Phillips, who is retained by the
prosecutors, was also prevented from attending,
being at the Canterbury election.
Mr. William Hopkins was then called forward by
Mr. Harmer, and having been sworn, stated that
he was at present living at Boulogne, and was re-
siding there in the year 1829. On the Ist of
April in that year he remembered being near the
Column, which is on the road to Calais, not far
distant from his bouse Witness saw a crowd of
persons near the column, and saw the prisoner,
Captain Helsham, and the deceased, there. He
then saw them approach each other.
Mr. MINSIIM—Had both gentlemen pistols in
their hands ? Witness—They lad.

Mr. Harmer—At what distance, to the best of
your recollection, did they stand from each other
Witness—Perhaps about 15 steps.
Mr. Harmer—Were you near enough to the
parties to identify them? Witness--I know
that Captain Helsham was one of the parties, and
that Mr. Crowther was the other.

Mr. Mmstimr,--Be good enough t' state now
what you saw. Witness—l saw Mr. Crowther fire,
and I afterwards saw Captain Helsham fire. The
former gentleman fired first.
Mr. Harmer—What interval of time was there
bet ween the shot of Mr. Crowther and that of Cap-
tain Helsham ? Witness—There might be as in-
terval of four seconds between the shots. When
the last pistol went off I saw Mr. Crowther fall,
and I ran to the spot and helped to pick him up, and
gave him all the succour in my power. He never
spoke, however, but died, 1 believe, instantly. I
think it right to add, that Captain Heisham ap-
peared particularly agitated upon seeing Mr. Crow-
ther fall.

Mr. MINSIIIILLDid you hear him make use of
any observation ? Witness—Yes; as soon as Mr.
Crowther fell, I heard Mr. O'Grady, Captain Mel-
sham's second, say, " I am afraid, Helsham, you
have killed him," upon which Captain Helsham re-
plied, " Oh God, I hope not !" We then conveyed
Mr. Crowther to a public-house in the neighbour-
hood, where he was attended by a surgeon, but he
never opened his eyes after.
Mr. Harmer—Did you hear any observation made
by Captain Helsham relative to the pistols? Wit-
ness—None whatever.

Mr. William Cooksley was then called forward,
and having been sworn, deposed that he was living
at-Boulogne during the last year, and resided there
now. On the Ist of April, 1829, he saw a crowd
near the Column at Boulogne, and 8111, Captain
He'sham, Mr. Crowther, Mr. O'Grady, Mr. Ma-
lony, and Dr. Denon, standing together. He was
not, however, sufficiently near the parties to over-
hear what passed between them. A moment or two
after Captain Helshum and Mr. Crowther were
placed on the ground by their respective friends.
Witness then saw Mr. Crowther's pistol go off, and
after the lapse of three, four, or it might be five se-
conds, Captain Helsham fired, and Mr. Crowther
fell instantly.
Mr. MtNsittim—Were the parties standing face
to face when they fired ? Witness—They were.
Mr. Harmer—How was Captain Witham en-
gaged in the interval which elapsed between the fire
of his adversary, and the discharge of his own pistol ?,
Witness—His pistol was raised up during the in.:
terval.

Mr. !VimHum, requested the witness to explain
himself more fully on this point of his evidence.
Witness—The moment I saw Mr. Crowther fire,
my eye turned towards Captain Helsham, whose
hand I saw raised up. As soon as Mr. Crowther
fell, I ran with others to his assistance, and I observed
a motion of life in the body, a sort of convulsive mo-
tion, that was all. I perceived that the ball had gone
through the. lota. •
Mr. lllll+thliULL—Did you hear any remark made,
by ° Captain Helsham at the time ? Witness—l'
was not sufficiently near to hear Captain Helsham
say any thing.
Mr. MINSUULL—Are you quite certain that Cap-
tain Helsham, the person who now stands before
you, was the party who fired at Lieutenant Crowther,
and occasioned his death in the manner you have
described ? Witness—Certainly ; Capt. Helsham
is the man. I knew both parties before, having
frequently seen them at Boulogne.
Mr. AIINSUULL—And have you any doubt upon
your mind that Mr. Crowther's death was occa-
sioned by the pistol of Captain Helsham ? Wit-
ness—lt is impossible, I should think, to entertain a
doubt upon the subject.
Mr. MiNsum.—What distance might it be from
the place where you stood to the spot where the
duel was fought ? Witness—l think it is about
200 yards, to the best of my opinion.
Mr. Harmer—You have no means of knowing
the exact distance.

Mr. Mtrisnum.—lle is as good a judge, I should
think, of distance as of time, Mr. 'lamer.

The witness repeated that he thought the distance
MR about 200 yards.
The first witness, Mr. Hopkins, was again called
forward, and asked as to the distance which he stood
from the parties Hopkins said that the last
witness and himself were standing close together at
the time, and he thought that the distance at which
they stood from the parties concerned in the duel
was about 200 yards.
Mr. MINSIII.III, told the clerk to take that down.

Mr. Harmer---I must beg the clerk to add also, if
that be taken down, that Mr. Cooksley said, he saw
distinctly every thing that passed. This being done,
Mr. Harmer said, he did not mean to offer any
further evidence at present.
Mr. MrNsilum, then asked the prisoner, if he
wished to say any thing in answer to the charge ?
The prisoner replied, that he left his case in the
hands of his solicitor, and did not mean to offer any
evidence at present.
The deposition of the Rev. James Crowther, the
brother of the deceased, was then read over. It
merely proved his having gone to Boulogne, having
heard that his brother had been shot in .a duel by
the prisoner. He saw the deed body of his brother,
end found that a ball had passed through his neck.
The witnesses, were then bound over to prosecute
the prisoner at the next Old Bailey Sessions, for
having killed and slain the deceased, one of his
Majesty's subjects, at Boulogne, in the kingdom of
France, on the Ist of April, 1829,
The appearance of the prisoner was much the
same as when he first appeared at this office. lie
seemed, however, to feel considerably affected when
the witnesses described the fall and instant disso.l
lution of the unfortunate deceased. The second
witness was not in the ollice when the first was ex-
amined.