The Sun.
London, England, 1824-09-16 00:00:00

POLICE • INTELLIGENCE.

THE MURDER AT BECKENHAM.
UNION 'HALL.—Yesterday Thomas Coombs was again
brought up for re-examination 'on suspicion of being con-
cerned in the murder of Mr. Gocidhart's under-gardener.
Job Post, servant to Mr. Thomas Tyler, farmer, of Black-
fen, Bexley, said that about five or six weeks ago, he saw the
prisoner come out of a wood called West-wood, sometime about
four o'clock in the morning. He had a basket slung over his
shoulder, and a bag on his back, and was walking on towards
Eltham. Witness was quite certain that the prisoner was the
man whom.he saw. •

Mr. Thomas Tyler said the last witness acquainted him that
he had seen a man (whom he described) come out of the wood
in the manner stated. Witness, on hearing this, went to hill
neighbour, Mr. Robert Green, a farmer, and they both went
into the wood to search, suspecting that they might discover
something which the man had done. After looking about some
time, they found a quantity of hot-house grapes, which had
been covered over with some willow twigs, which bore marks
of having been recently cut off. They also found some wad-
ding of a pistol or gun, which appeared to have been unloaded.
There was likewise found by them a piece of tile, on which a
knife or some sharp instrument had been whetted. They found
a gun, inclosed in a sack, which had had the owner's name cut
out, and the part was mended with a thinner piece of stuff.
The gun was loaded with powder, some large shot, and four
rough pebbles. Witness and his neighbour took the powder ,
out of the gun, putting in its place some leaves, which they
gathered from a tree, over which they put the shot and pebbles,
and then placed it and the grapes in the same situation they
discovered them. They armed themselves with plenty of fire-
arms, and kept watch in the wood on the Thursday and Friday
night, but no one appearing, on Saturday they did not watch,
and when the place was examined, it was discovered that the
gun and bag were taken away. A hay-fork was then found,
on searching about the wood ; in all probability it was there
when the other things were found.
Mary Wright Lawrence was then called from the private
room. As soon as she appeared the prisoner seemed a good
deal agitated. She was decently attired, and is rather an in-
teresting looking young girl. On coming into the Office she
betrayed considerable emotion, and cried bitterly. She was con-
ducted to a seat, and a glass of water was given her. The pri-
soner said, " Don't cry Mary."
After a few minutes had elapsed she deposed as follows :
lam a single woman, and resided at No. 12, Fox-buildings,
Kent-street, Borough. I have lived with the prisoner since
the 22d or 23d of July last. I remember the Sunday before
the murder of Mr. 0 ootlhart's gardener. The prisoner was not
from home the whole of that &ay, except going to the 'White
Bear public-house, in Kent-street, to fetch some beer. I remem-
ber the day very well ; it was exceedingly rainy, and my mother
and sisters came to dine with us at Lindsey's. ‘Ve all stayed at
home together until after dark, when my mother and sisters
went away and the prisoner and I went to bed shortly after-
wards. The next morning (Monday), we got up about seven
o'clock and breakfasted together. The same day he dined at
home with me about 2 o'clock, and he went out directly after-
wards, taking with him a bagging-hook. He told me that lie
was going to a relation of his who was a master gardener, and
that he lived about four miles on the other side of Eltham.—
He said that I was not to expect him that night if he was not
back by eight o'clock. He did not return that night; but
about eight o'clock the following (Tuesday) morning, he came
back, bringing his bagging-hook with him. I perceived that
his coat was torn in the arm. My mother was with me at the
time. He told me lie had been to Seven Oaks. I asked him
how his coat came to be broken, and he answered "It was
a good thingg, that his neck was not broken." After my
mother had breakfasted she went away. The prisoner then
laid himself down upon the floor, and I put a blanket over
him. He lay there until tea-time, when he got up to have
his tea, and he then laid himself down again in the same
place, until nearly dark. He then got up and sat by the win-
dow, and said, Mary, I shot a man." I said, Oh my God !
what did you do that for ? Ile answered, "If I had not done
it, he would have shot me." He then added, " I did not hurt
him ; I only blowed a little powder in his face." I again said,
What did you do it for ? Ile answered, " That the man was run-
, ning after me, and I only blowed a Lute powder in his face to
blind him, that lie should not see which way I was going." On
the Friday afterwards the prisoner went to Camberwell fair.
During his absence my aunt came to me when I was washing,
and told me that n gentleman s gardener had been shot, but
she could not tell me where it had ,happened. The prisoner
came home before eight o'clock that evening. I told him what
my aunt had mentioned, and he replied, Thank God, I did
not do it; and them that did it, I suppose, did it in their own
defence." I then asked him where he had been on the Monday
night, and lie said at Sevenoaks. I said, you told me that you
were going to your relations at Eltham. We said that he did
not go there, I replied, it is very curious about this murder,
that you should be out that night. I told him I was very un-
easy. lie said, " I had not the least occasion to make myself
uneasy about it, for that it could do him no harm." I then re-
minded him what lie had told me about shooting the man.
And he said it' ever I mentioned to any one what he had told
me, lie would shoot me the first time he caught me. I replied
diet I never would say any thing about it. He never slept at
honie after that night, except on Saturday, Sunday, and Mon-
day following. I was in the habit of seeing him generally in
the day time when lie slept from home at night. On the Mon-
day before lie was apprehended lie left me, and I dill not see
him again until he wastaken away a prisoner to Union-hall.
The Magistrate inquired if the prisoner wished to put any
questions to the witness.
Prisoner—It is no use my asking her any questions ; she
having sworn what she has, you would not take my oath.
Sarah Lawrence, the mother of the last witness, sworn—l
came from Islington, where one of my daughters, who is mar-
ried,ias liNvie.ah,etrio
IFowxeinsibiuniltiasnire,downhTertleesTdot the 17th trnhyofeoaucgtohbceerr
said that he was gone out, but she expected him to return every
minute. In a short time the prisoner came with his coat torn
on the arm. I offered to mend it, but lie answered crossly, and
rejected the offer. I heard him tell my daughter, when she re-
marked that his coat was broken, " that it was a wonder his
. I
t Scarcely breakfast,w e n tar ywithc 01 which
ner.
neck was not
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ivt'oeeriPsnlagetdirgiel tpnoo'ayrkedp,lace during breakfast. The prisoner seemed to
be very melancholy.
Several material witnesses yet remain to be examined, who
have been summoned to attend when the prisoner is again
brought before the Magistrate.
A piece of canvass was missed from the rick of a farmer near
Bexley', about the time the prisoner was seen coming out of the
wood in that neighbourhood. On comparing the trousers
which the prisoner had on with the canvass remaining, it cor.
responded in quality.
Mary Wright Lawrence was again called, and she recollected
the prisoner bringing home a piece of canvass some time ago,
with which he made a pair of trowsers, and which she hemmed.
The prisoner was then remanded to a future day.
ALLEGED ROBBERY AND FORGERY.
MANSION-Hours.--Yesterday a porter, in the service of
Mr. Lee, a hardwareman in the city, was charged with robbery
and forgery.
Mr. Lee stated that lie had, several days ago, sent the prisoner
to the Swan with Two Necks Inn, with a parcel, containing
bills of exchange to the amount of upwards of 1801. and direct-
ed to a gentleman in Birmingham. The parcel ad not been
heard of since it was delivered into the prisoner's hands. Upon
the file of the prosecutor's office was found a piece of paper pur-
porting to be a receipt for the parcel, and with the usual sigria.
W tore (aterhouse) upon it. The clerk at the Swan with Two
Necks, before the loss was mentioned? upon being shewn the
paper, denied that any part of the writing was his ; and it did
not appear from- his hooks that any such narcel as the prisoner
was intrusted with had been received. The prisoner, upon be-
ing suddenly questioned as to the writing on the paper, appear.'
ed at first greatly confused, said it was not his hand-writing, and.
afterwards that it was, with the exception of the abreviauon of
the name of Mr. Waterhouse, the proprietor of the inn, which
he asserted, was the hand-writing of Mr. Watexliouse's clerk.
The Lon la Marcia asked to see some of the receipts which
were signed by the inn-keeper's clerk, and after a close examl.
nation of the signatures of those receipts and the supposed for-
gery, said lie really believed them to be all the hand-writing of
one person.
Mr. Lee said his clerk was in the habit of filling up receipts
for the innkeeper to sign upon occasions of' the kind, in order to
have business dispatched more quickly. Ile admitted that the
signatures exhibited were extremely alike.
The prisoner attributed the confusion he had betrayed to the
sudden manner in which he was charged with the crime. lie
declared that lie had, since he delivered the parcel, been in pos-
session of a sum of money belonging to 11Ir. Lee, which it
would be naturally supposed he would have been likely to
have gone off with, had he acted dishonestly in the first
instance.
The LORD MAYOR gave directions to Mr. Cope, the Mar-
shal, to make some inquiries, and remanded the prisoner for
further examination.