The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-18 00:00:00

TARY OF STATE.

Murston ,near Sittingbournc, May 31, 1838.
My I,ollo,—it is my painful and distressing duty to inform your
Lordship that a serious disturbance took place this day at the ville of
Dunkirk, distant between four and five miles from Canterbury, which
terminated in the death of eight of the rioters, including Courtenay, the
leader, and two others, one an officer of the 45th regiment, quartered at
Canterbury, by name of Bennett, and a private individual of Faversham,
who was assisting the Magistrates in suppressing the disturbance. Seven
of the rioters arc also wounded, as well as one other officer of the 45th
regiment, by name of Pendergrass. The particulars arc briefly these :
A man, calling himself Sir William Courtenay, but whose real name
is, I believe, Thom, was, in the month of October last, dicharged from
the Kent County Lunatic Asylum, although of unsound mind, as appears
by a letter accompanying this. It was represented to me, Tuesday after_
noon last, that this man was exciting the lower classes residing in the
ville of Dunkirk, Boughton, and the adjoining parishes, to breaches of
the public peace, by assembling in large numbers, and using violent in_
flammatory larguage. Courtenay represented to them that they were
oppressed by the laws in general,:but more particularly by the New Poor-
law ; he called upon them to place themselves under his command, and
that he would insure them not only redress, but plenty and affluence.
From fifty to a hundred of the most determined characters joined
him, and marched about the various parishes, inviting others
to join them. Courtenay himse'f was armed with pistols and
a sword. He drilled the men to march as soldiers, and some, lam
told, had fire arms, and others clubs ; one was appointed, and called
their General, and they had a flag. Yesterday I issued warrants for the
apprehension of Courtenay and two others, who seemed to be leaders*
This morning a constable who had the warrants, and who was known to
Courtenay, went to expostulate with him, accompanied by his brother,
who was not a constable. lam told there was no intention of executing
the warrants if there was the least reststance. When they came to
where Courtenay and his party, of between forty and fifty, were en_
camped, Courtenoy came forward, and asked the brother, " if he was the
constable ?" who said " yes," (this was not true), when Courtenay
immediately shot him dead, and endeavoured with his sword to run
the constable through the body, which he was only prevented doing by
falling in snaking the thrust. Courtenay ❑ever knew that warrants
were issued, neither were they attempted tol be executed. An express
was cent to me of the circumstance, and the military sent for from Can-
terbury, as it was found impracticable to subdue the rioters without
their aid. A major and about one hundred men of the 45th regiment
arrived, when Mr. Norton Knatchbull, Mr. Halford, Mr. Baldock,
aid myself, all County Magistrates, accompanied the military.
They were divided into two parties, in consequence of the rioters
having moved into a large wood. That part of the military accom-
panied by Mr. Knatchbull and myself came up with the rioters, when
they resolutely came down on the military, Courtenay calling on the
rioters to behave like men. The military advanced, when Courtenay
shot one of the officers dead, and the military, in self defence, were
scribed.obl g e to
Theflre ; theoro consequence Coroner
will
ilt
si t obSnvelart was the
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regret
ogyroeut your Lordship. otrid,eshniup..
melan-
choly occasion, and all to be attributed to the act of a madman, and
which would have been greatly increased but for the military. Can any
thing be done witn the parties who ought to have taken care of Courte-
nay on his discharge from the lunatic asylum ? Time will only permit
me to add, that I have, &c.

(Signed) JOI-1N POORE, D.D.,
Justice of the Peace for the County of Kent.
S rioters killed, including Courtenay.
1 officer, Mr. Bennett, of the 45th regiment, also killed.
1 private individual, who went to assist the magistrates.

T0ta1...... 10 killed.

7 rioters wounded.
1 officer, Mr. Pendergrass, of the 45th regiment.

Total ...... 8 wounded.
And three other rioters taken prisoners, the rest dispersed in the woods.

Statement of what came to my knowledge from the release of the person
calling himself Sir William Courtenay from the Kent County Lunatic
Asylum, to the melancholy transactions that occurred Thursday last,
the 31st May, 1838.
Sonic time in the autumn of last year I saw in the public newspapers
that Courtcnay had been released from the Lunatic Asylum, and was
spending a few weeks with Mr. Francis, of Fairbrook, in the parish of
Boughton. From that period to Tuesday last, 29th May, I never heard
anything of him. On that day, about four in the afternoon, Colonel
Groves, of Boughton, stopped me as I passed through Sittingbourne,
and told ine that he had called at my house, to inform Inc that Courtenay
was collecting large mobs in the neighbourhood, and that the language he
used was of the most exciting description ; telling them they were greatly
oppressed, but particularly by the New Poor-law ; and that if tt.cy would
follow him, he would rescue them. I immediately told him that if he
would snake an affidavit of these particulars I would issue warrants
against Courtenay and the leaders of the party ; this he declined doing,
as he only spoke from hearsay. I then arranged that he should collect
all the evidence he could, and meet me the following morning, at tell, at
Mr. Shepherd's office (he is clerk to the Magistrates), at Faversham.
About six o'clock of the same evening Mr. Francis called on me, and
told me that on the preceding Sunday Courtenay had a meeting of more
than 200 of his followers at Boughton-hill, when he excited the people,
by stating the hardship the poor were labouring under from the New
Poor-law Bill, &c. &c. ; and that on that very morning (29th May)
Courtenay had been in his field attended with more than twenty people,
and that he understood he was going to Ospringe fair in the evening.
I asked Mr. Francis to make affidavit of these facts ; he said he could
not, as he only spoke from what others told hint. I then requested him
to sec Colonel Groves, and get what information lie could for me on the
. following morning, than I should be at Mr. Shepherd's °thee. The
same evening I wrote to the Lunatic Asylum, to learn by whose au.
thority Courtenay had been released. The answer I have already for-
warded to your Lordship.
On Wednesday the 30th May, I was called up about six in the moan-
ing, and informed that Courtenay, with about 30 followers, had come to
Sittingbourne; I desired them to be watched ; Courtenay was armed
with a sabre and pistols; his men with clubs, and one carried a white
flag, having a lion painted in the centre. I soon after went to Sitting.
bourne, and found that they were at breakfast in a public.house of the
lowest class, conducting themselves peaceably and quietly; I then pro- •
ceeded to Faversham as arranged, add was met there by Colonel Groves,
the Rev. G. Marsh, and Mr. Curling, the overseer, and one of the prin:
ciplc occupiers of the ville of Dunkirk. I then received the evidence
cf Alfred Payne and John Dunkin, sent herewith, and issued warrants
against William Courtenay, William Wills (the person at whose house
Courtenay had lodged), and Edward Newman, who liv,2d under the same
roof with Wills.

From the representation of the gentlemen present of the excited state
of the country, I considered it essentially necessary that Courtenay
should not be allowed to continue tampering with and excising the people;
but at the same time they should not attempt to apprehend him with-
out an adequate civil force, and that touch care should be used to pre-
vent any fatal result.

I then returned to Sittinghourne, and found that Courtenay had left,
going back to Boughton by a different route, and passing through several
retired villages; no act violence had been committed, and no ,ob
harrangued.

The fatal results of Thursday, 31st May, you arc fully acquainted
with, and therefore it is not necessary for me to recapitulate them,

From the above your Lord6hip will perceive that I did not know
Com tenay was in the county until the afternoon of Tuesday 09th ; I
obtained information on oath of his exciting and tampering with the
people on Wednesday the 30th, and on the following day the melancholy
scenes took place we all so greatly deplore.

From this statement your Lordship will, I hope, feel satisfied that no
exertions were wanting on my part to secure the public peace.
Murston, sth June, 1833. (Signed) JOHN POORE.
Perhaps I ought to observe that I am residing between 14 or 15 miles
from where the affray with the military took place, 10 from Boughton,
and 7 from Faversham.

Kent to Wit—Alfred Payne, of St. Stephen's, near Canterbury, bar-
ness_maker, on his oath saith, this 30th day of May, 1838, that yester-
day morning, the 29th May, I was at work at Colonel Groves, at Bough.
ton under the mean, when I heard two women say that Sir William
Courten.ty was gone down the street giving away bread. Never
having seen him, I went down the street ; I saw him come out of a
baker's shop on the right hand side of the street; I followed him about
a mile to Fairbrook ; he had with him about 13 others; they went into
a garden, and thence into a house that I was told belonged to a person
by name of Wills. I went into Wills's on the invitation of Sir
William ; I sat down and heard him say, " this is the 29th May,
and a glorious 29th of May it shall be for the poor who stick by
me. They have been long enough imposed on, both for truth and liberty,
and I will head them through it. Now, Wills, let us have the bread
and cheese, and beer, and fill their bellies." After eating a crust of
bread he gave toasts, one was " Health to the poor, and may they gain
independence." About half an hour after this, Sir William sent for
sonic tobacco, which he gave away. lle then got the women that were
assembled to sing; but what they sang I could not make out. It
seemed as if they had composed it themselves, against some person
that had injured them. In about ten minutes after this, I heard a
woman, who they said was Mrs. Wills, use this expression, " There
goes (pointing to Mr. Francis who was going across a piece of grow.
ing corn) who was the first that wanted to be topped." The
name she called him by I could not make out ; she also said he wanted to
know who had written something she repeated, " he will not know, but
will soon." in the room where we had the bread and cheese, there was
a respectable.looking female with glasses on, and who appeared deaf.
She said to Sir William, " Give me your hat," and kissed him;
this person, I heard, was Mrs. Francis's sister. I heard Sir Wil-
liam desire the men to get some good big boughs, and lie would
soon be with them, telling a man dressed in a fustian jacket, at
the same time, to go and take his horse. The number of men
that
assembled at Wills's was about 30, and about 12 or 14 women. When
we went into Wills's house it was about nine in the morning, and when
we left about eleven ; when we left, Sir 'William came out with a loaf of
bread on a stake. Wills with a white flag, having a blue border round it,
and a red lion painted on it, over his shoulder a leathern haversack ;
man who lives under the same roof with Wills came out with them,
having also a leathern haversack over his shoulders. Sir William had
on a brown Holland frock, and overalls of the same; round his waist ct
leathern belt, with a brace of pistols and a sword in a steel scabbard; he
had suspended from his neck a trumpet; he desired the met) to fall in by
threes, as soldiers ; they did so; he also told them to look at the lion,
and to hare hearts as fierce, also to be as hard as heart of oak ; he then
sounded the trumpet, bidding them to "go on, boys;'' they marched on
some considerable distance. After this I saw a man with a dark blue
bag ; he was in front of me ; I felt the bag, and it had something in it
that was round, which I thought were bullets; it had also several other
things in it. After going some distance we came to a farmhouse on the
. . . .

light hand side, with a good pond in the yard ; near the yard was
hop-garden; two men were at work in the garden ; Courtency called to
them and desired them to put on their clothes, for he was the shepherd
that would lead them to life and happiness; he then pointed to the loaf,
and said to the two men, "the loaf,
the hat; my boys ; come on, or
you will be sorry for it." They did not join him. We then passed a
public-house and came to a stile, where he halted the men, bidd'ng the
man who had his horse to go to Graveney church. He told the iran
to stop all he met with, whether at work or not, and to desire them to
go to Graveney church, and wait for him their shepherd. Courtenay
then went over the stile, and called Wills, and spoke to him. Courtenay
then said, " any of you who have hearts true to follow me,
come." The whole did follow him. After crossing the corn-
field we were in we came to a meadow, when he again called Wills aod
spoke to him. He also called three others. There were four besides
Courtenay. He then desired the rest to remain in the corn-field, under
a man he called the general (the same person who dwelt under the same
roof with Wills), and told them to remain there while he struck the
fatal blow, and they would see something. After this he proceeded to-
wards a bean-stack in the meadow, and near the hop garden. He '3.11
Wills went on the west side of the stack, the other three on the oppo-
site side. I saw Courtenay take something out of his right-hand pistol
case; I do not know what it was, but it appeared as if it was paper from
the packing of a cartridge. He then went round the stack by himself,
and Wills joined the other three. While they were at the stack the Men

in the field murmured, and said, " Surely he is not going to set fire to
that bean-stack." After that, the man who was acting as general over
us, said, " Never mind, you will sec something presently." After this,
Courtenay and the four came back to us, when he said, " I am going
now going to strike the bloody blow; the streets that have heretofore
flowed with water shall flow with blood for the rights of the poor." He
and the others then advanced, except myself and two older men, who
remained at the stile. I recommended them to return with me, which
they slid. After this, I saw a person, as if going from the hop-field, go
to the bean-stack and look round it, apparently examining it. One of
the old men wished to go and examine the stack. I recommended him
not, for if anything should happen he would be blamed for it. We three
then went to 13cughton-street, and parted.
Alfred Payne cross-examined.

The quantity of beer drank, I should think, must have been about
three or four gallons. Courtenay sent out 2s. to pay for the half-pound
of tobacco. When he was in the room at Wills's he said, "he was not
an earthly man, he fell from the clouds, and that he should leave them
without their knowing when."

I met Sir William Courtenay and 41 men armed with flawed sticks this
morning, the 30th May, at Boughton Chalk Pits. There were several
among them who were at Gravency yesterday.
The man (John Dunkin) just come into the room is the person who
went to the bean-stack when Courtenay and the four others came from it.
ALFRED PAYNE.