The Sun.
London, England, 1832-01-04 00:00:00

nodded at witness as he passed, and proceeded up
to the prison.
In answer to a question froth the prisoner, Court-
ney, the witness, said that he (Couttney) had a
smochfrock on wh,ni. he eaw him in the prison, and
that it was about half•past three o'clock in the

afternoon.
Re-examined—When he first saw Clarke, he was
coming up by the outer wail of the prison. The
battering at the gates was going on about half an
hour before witness went on the roof of the lodge,
and it continued for another half hour after lie was
compelled to retreat from that position, After the
crowd got inside the iron gates, the prisoners were
all let out in about a quarter of an hour. They had
to break through eight or nine doors for that purpose.
By the C —When he met Clarke, the Go-
vernor's house was on fire. The next day, when
witness went there, the whole of it was burned

down.
William Henry Selwyn examined—llemembera
Sunday the 30th of October last. Recollects on
that day being near the gaol, between three and four
o'clock in the afternoon. tle was about fifty yards
from the gaol. ate was et the nearest aide of it,
where the gate is. There was at that time a consi-
derable number of people about the prison. He
would say from 400 to 500. The prison gates at
the time he spoke of were closed. The crowd was
employed its hammering at the large gates. He
knows two of the prisoners at the bar, Clarke and
Kearney. He saw both of them on the occasion to
which he alludes. Clarke had either a sledge-
hammer or an iron rail in his hand. Witness saw
Clarke hammering at the lower part of the large
door of the great gates of the prison. He should
think there were about two persons with Clarke at
the time. He saw them effect an entrance through
the gate. It was made in the bottom part of the
left gate. It was large enough to admit the body of
a man. After that he saw the gates thrown open,
and the mob rush into the prison. While witness
was there, he recollects soldiers corning up. Ile
saw Clarke harensering at the gates before the
soldiers came. Had known Clarke for six years.
He could not say that he saw him any where before
on that day. Witness had come from the Council-
house that day to the prison. Had known Kearney
about six years. He saw Kearney first on that day
in the mob, going to the Bridewell : that was about
half-past one o'clock. He next saw him at the
gaol. The mob,of which Kearney formed one, and
which was going to the Bridewell, was most riotous
Several of them had iron bars and hammers. Some
boys had small hammers in their hands, and he saw
large hammers with many of the men. Kearney at
the time, witness believes, had an iron bar in his
hand. Witness saw him next at the gaol. He had
an iron bar in his hand, swinging it about, and with
which, as witness believes, he struck the doors of
the gaol. He saN him very near the door of the
gaol, about a couple of yards from it. At that time
the doors were fastened. There was a great number
of persons about the doors of the gaol then. They
were behaving very riotously—shouting and hum-
ing tremendously. This was before the soldiers
came up ; and the mob behaved in the same manner
afterwards.
Cross-examined—Witness did not see the last
witness at the gaol on this occasion. Witness was
about thirty yards from the door of the gaol, and
had his eye on it. The mob, however, was so great
that the last witness might have come out without
his seeing him. He would swear that Clarke knocked
at the door before there was a fire in the gaol. When
he saw Clarke it was about four o'clock or a little
after it. When he first saw him it was before the
soldiers came. He was then at the door, and em-
ployed as witness has already mentioned. He be-
lieves that no door had been previously broken.
Clarke was in the act of breaking the bottom of the
large gate when witness saw him. From the place
where witness stood he could not see the small door.
Witness remained about five minutes after the mob
had entered the gaol, and not more. On Saturday
witness saw the Judge (Sir Charles Wetherell)
come into Bristol. There was a great crowd as-
sembled on that occasion, and he heard them hiss-
ing and groaning. That was about eleven o'clock
in the morning, and it continued about half an hour.
It took place on Sir Charles Wetherell's coming to
this Court, and on his return from it. Witness
had been an accountant for the last six years, and
he also had been an attorney's clerk ; at the time of
the fire witness was a special constable,'and neither an
accountant nor an attorney's clerk. He was an assis-
tant to the officers at the Council-house. He re-
ceived no pay for his services. He was neither at
the Bridewell nor at the New Gaol in the capacity
of an assistant to the peace-officers. He could not
say how far it was from the wall of the prison to the
river. Witness stood a very short distance from
the river. Witness was only distinguished from the
mob by his appearance ; they were of the lowest
order of society. The mob that he saw behaving
riotously at the Bridewell on the Sunday, extended
nearly as far as Nelson-street. That was about
twenty minutes past one o'clock. Between that
time and the period when he was at the gaol, he
was backwards and forwards to the Council-house.
From what he saw, the hole which was made in one
of the great gates of the prison was the first entry
effected by the mob : that was about four o'clock in
the afternoon. There were many persons taller than
him between him and the prison. He saw Kearney
and Clarke at the same time. Kearney was swing..
ing a bar about. Knows Clarke, who is a sawyer,
and of respectable connexions. Witness gave the
formation on oath before the Magistrates on Wed-
nesday evening. Believes the prisoner struck the
door, but cannot positively say.
Re-examined—There was sufficient room between
the spectators and the mob to distinguish every per-
son there. Saw 30 or 40 persons making a noise
at the door at the time he saw Kearney. When
witness went to the Council-house, he could find no
one there to watch the motions of the mob. Witness
was a sheriff's officer's assistant at the time he was
observing the mob.
By the COURT—The prisoners were all liberated
before witness observed any fire.
John Phillips examined—ls one of the turnkeys
of Bristol gaol. Was in the gaol on Sunday, the
30th of October ; saw a riotous mob. The first
blow from the rioters was struck against a small
wicket in the gate of the prison. By the wicket wit-
ness means the door of the turnkey's room. There
is no other entrance to the gaol but two gates and
the wicket. First heard the noise when under tie
arch of the great gate, about six or seven feet from
the door. Looked through the wicket on hearing
the noise, and saw several persons hammering at the
door. Knew none of these persons. Went back-
wards arid forwards to the wicket several times.
Went afterwards to the inner gates that divide the
yard from the Governor's house. After witness
went through the inner gate, the mob made an en-
trance through the outer gate. One came first, and
several others followed him. Does not know the
name of any one of those persons who came in
then. Those who came in had sledge-hammers and
crow-bars with them ; they made an entrance into
the gaol; they got into the space before the Gover-
nor's house, by passing through the iron gates which
were open. Witness and others asked what they
wanted, and when they did so the gates were locked.
There were three persons with witness. Mr. Deice,
a turnkey, asked what they wanted. They said
they wanted all the prisoners. The mob opened
the iron gates. The keys were in the possession of
witness, who unlocked the gates. He opened them,
because the Blob having bars and hammers, he
thought they were going to break the lock off.—
They had hammers up for the purpose of breaking
it off, and witness said, " Stop a bit, I will open
the gate." After unlocking the gate to the mob
they went up to get the Governor's money.,
There were about 200 of them. Saw neither of
the prisoner's at the bar there at first, but saw
William Clarke there afterwards. Saw him about
half an hour or twenty minutes after the iron gates
were unlocked. When witness saw him first, he
walked in with a crow bar on his shoulder, and went
towards the Governor's dwelling. That was after

•
'

N

the Governor's house was on fire. The house was
fired in half or quarter of an hour after the entrance
of the mob. It had been burning about ten
minutes when the prisoner Clarke first came.
After he pa red b e witness; ,he went up a night of
steps towards the GovCrnor'e dwelling: Saw him
again an hour afterwards. Did not Leaf him say
any thing in going up the steps. When witness
saw him return, he was coming down the steps at
the lodge by the iron gates There are two flights
of steps—one at the gates, and the other iMmedi-
ately at the Governor's house. Saw him return by
the former. When he saw him the second time,
the fire was still burning, and all the Crown
prisoners were liberated. The prisoners were
let loose before witness gas's- him the first
time. bid not observe anything in his hand
when he saw him the second time. When prisoner
came down past the lodge, he heard him say some-
thing to the mob. He then went out of the gaol,
and witness sew him rd more. He was in the gaol
above an hour. At his departure some of the mob
went with him. While Clarke was in the gaol the
treadmill was on fire, and the mob were employed
in breaking the locks of the different compartments
of the building. Saw the mob go into the C'sover,
nor's house. They set it on fire, and brought oiit
furniture, some of which they destroyed, but a great
quantity of it, as chests of drawers and boxes, they
took away. One cried to the other " i-joMe on,
come on." They made a terrible noise, hammering
the locks and breaking all the gates that were shut.
They called oat, " Come on to the tread-mill" and
to other pieces.
Cross-examined—On looking through the vvicket
witness could distinguish the rioters so as to be able
to know them again. Did not know the prisoner
Clarke before that day. Did not see him attacking
the wicket. When witness looked through the
wicket, he must have seen Clarke had he been oat
of the party. Did not see Kearney. Continued
his observations at the wicket from time to time,
until the mob effected an entrance through the gate.
Saw Clarke walk in from the road. 'that was his
first entrance into the prison. Saw him go up both
flights of steps at his original entrance. The tread-
mill is separated from the Governor's house, which
stands quite isolated in the middle of the prison.
The fire was at the tread-mill before Clarke came
down the steps, and witness saw the:fire at the Go.
vernor's house before he went up the steps. Did not
observe that Clarke was at all affected with liquor.
James Edwin Carver examined -Was a prisoner
for debt in Bristol gaol on the Sunday in last Oc-
tober, when it was attacked by the mon. Was in
the debtors' yard et the time. Since that period has
been seriously ill, and through a defect of memory
cannot perfectly now recollect all the circumstances
he witnessed. (The place allotted to the press is
elevated immediately in the rear of the witness-
box, so as to conceal the persons of those giving
testimony, and to divert the current of sound in a
contrary direction. We have no doubt that the ac-
commodation was given with the best intention; but
in the examination of the witness, the very respon-
sible duty of reporting on such an occasion became
I exceedingly irksome from the extreme difficulty of
ascertaining the answers.) Witness first observed
the liberation of the female convicts by the turn-
key, who was followed by a number of the rioters.
They opened the gate of the debtors' yard, but he
did not see it opened. The mob nearly filled the
yard, and when they got into it, they destroyed the
tables and broke the windows. ad not hear them
say anything. After the gate was opened witness
went into the large yard. The rioters were at that
time in every part of the prison. Knows the iron
gates between the yard and the Governor's house.
Saw the iron gates under the arch attacked. When
witness saw those gates at first, they were open.
Did not see any person close them. Saw them dosed
afterwards when there was a cry of" The soldiers are
coming." After that cry saw some of those outside
the gates, at the arch, strike them with sledge-ham-
mers. Believes the gates were opened by one of the
turnkeys. At that time witness saw Clarke there, but owing
to the failure of his memory, and the confusion in the pri-
son, he could not recollect what was done. Saw Clarke
at a late hour go into the prison. Witness was then stand-
ing on a line with the mob. There was then little nr no
confusion. Can scarcely say whether or not Clarke had
any thing in his hand. It was some time after the gaol
was broken open, and before it was on fire, that he saw
Clarke. It was between four and lee o'clock. Witness
was examined before the Justices. Had a clearer recollec-
tion of what occurred when examined then, than now. If
his memory were as good now, he could give a great deal
of information. Remembers the breaking of a gate, called
No. 21, but does not recollect how it was broken. Was
in gaol till the 26th of last month. Cannot recollect further
than that there was great confusion, and that he saw Clarke
go through the great gates. Witness was then outside the
walls, and heard some persons say, " There goes Bill
Clarke." Went into the prison again, but did not see the
prisoner. The last thing he can charge his memory with,
was seeing Clarke strike the outer iron gates—he believes
with a hammer. The prisoner was then outside the gates,
and witness was inside. This was after a cry was raised
that the soldiers were gone, A great many persons were
striking the iron gates when Clarke was striking them.
The gates were opened immediately afterwards. It was
not a great while after the hammering till the prison was

set on fire.
Cross-examined—Believes the iron gates were unlocked
while the rioters were knocking at them. He means the
inner gate. Witness's mind is very much disturbed, and
he can recollect nothing that occurred when the prison was
in a state of confusion. Dare not venture to swear that he
saw Clarke striking the gates, but thinks he saw him.
Alexander Shercock examined—Was a prisoner for debt
in Bristol gaol on the 30th of October last. Saw the
mob come into the gaol. Did not see how they obtained
entrance. They had sledge-hammers and iron bars. Knew
William Clarke, and saw him in the gaol once, some time
after they broke open the outer gate. Saw Clarke at the
debtors' gate. He had nothing in his hand. Might have
seen him for five or six minutes. Clarke called out to the
mob to " come here" or " come there ;" witness cannot
recollect the words distinctly. Does not know whether
the mob obeyed Clarke. There were a number of persons
telling the mob to do this thing and that. Had seen Wil-
liam Clarke before that day. When he saw Clarke in the
prison the mob were breaking open the transport-yard.
Witness first saw the fire after leaving the prison.
Cross-examined--Clarke was committing no violence
when witness saw him, which was nearly an hour and a
half after the first attack upon the gate. The rioters were
nearly an hour and a half making good an entrance. Saw
Clarke about three quarters of an hour after the mob gained
admission.
John Page examined—Witness was opposite Bristol
gaol on the 30th of October. There might have been
about 150 persons at the entrance to the prison. Witness
was on the opposite side of the water. The mob made
as entrance in about an hour and a half. There was a
Clarke Saw
awe mit
at hi: es
icdaen
de
oawn
nd
the
ht aeff
totsa, effr. the
Tlodge
sfetnheer pvir i,smo n. .
unshipped the staff and threw it amongst the mob. This
was immediately after the mob entered the gaol. The
fire took place about three quarters of an hour afterwards.
First observed the smoke arise from the Governor's house.
Clarke had passed over the water in witness's boat that morn-
ing about ten o'clock, in company with four persons, three
of whom were apparently his associates. Clarke repassed
in the boat about twelve o'clock, and witness did not see
him again until he observed him with the flag-staff.
Cross-examined—Did not know any of the men who
d over ith Clarkn the boat. Knew Clarke's
passe
but not his name.e i
Witness's son sometimes assisted
son,
in working the boat up to seven o'clock in the morning.
Assisted that day till seven o'clock, and from ten till one.
Witness was in the boat all the time from ten till one
o'clock with his son. Was about 120 yards from the
gaol when he saw the rioters. Cake repassed in the
boat a little before twelve. When Clarke unshipped the
staff, he was in his shirt sleeves, and without a hat. He
was not in the same dress then as that he wore in the boat.
after
t ehg are ovtte
ht
beapat
act
skit
sthne etdeo
coi3 gaol,vieareir;:tbioeNiruvi3.,fietitdi
llsnnar
Bedminster-
bridge, npebsii be
raos
:tut
re-
passing The staff was unshipped between three and four o'clock.
The ferry is a good deal frequented. Witness passed over
minutes
iyn aoyrn order
rfs
a good many t,lar
over.tt
apearn
statedis dsoignreg,tt
hCvitahalsetaenrhhtkeyfeee was not
Clarke ferried
n theacross
riot again.befo r
in the new gaol, on the following Wednesday.
wednesday. Saw Clarke
i custody,
positively as
the day he
previously igno-
rant
o f and
hisname.
recognised
e.Cannot
recollect
identified Clark : thinks it was on the second Wednesday
after the Sunday of the riot. He can swear that his ex-
amination was not so late in the week as Saturday.
James Wyatt examined—ls a toll-keeper at the bridge.

44,

:,~.

- -4.
‘.1.-4 fa, '
RemeMbeia‘i rtibb tinting tteltgelge,- which lies in the
way to the gaol, after two o'clock oh the 30th of Octo-
ber. The mob passed before the gaol was on fire. There
were some hundreds of the rioters—some 'had bludgeons,
some had square bars of iron, seemingly broken off. The
prisoner at the, bar (Clarke) was one of the mob, and bad
some kind of bar on his shoulder. The bar was bent a
little. Clarke, as he leaned witness, said, " They would
have libeeCy." Does not knot that he addressed himself
to any one in particulaC. Witness, in answer tti Clarke,
said " Yes," The mob were all coming, ore in a rush,
and Clarke was a good way behind the first of them.—
There si,'eat eeme hundreds in advance of the prisoner, eful
a great many behind hire:: The mob were huzzaing. Did
not know which way they were going, The bridge where
witness stood was less than a quarter of a mile :nem the
gaol, at the bottom of Prince's-street. When the people
first went on the bridge, they said they were going up to
the gaml and then coming back to him (witness), and told
him to make ready for them. He was standing at the
toll-house at the time. This was aa!el by many of the
rioter.. The mob afterwards came back.
James Cross examined—Was a merchant ; recolle6ted
Sunday, the 30th of October. Was at the Herse and
Jockey pubiic-Leude that night, about twelve o'clock.
While there the prisoner Clarke, wlth four or five other.,
came in. They were armed with iron crow here; from
eighteen to thirty inches long, and about the thickness el
witness's thumb. The landlord gave them a gallon of
beer ; Clarke pt lled out three or four keys, which he said
were the keys of the goal; One of them he held out,
which he said was the master-key, and that every gaol in
England would be open in a fortnight.Theyteitlate keys.
Crops-e±atnined—Had no knowledge of Clarke before,
It was about twelve o'clotk, and went to the house for a
glass of brandy and water. Had been there about five
minutes before prisoner came in. Witness wee es sober
then as now. Clarke was about half-and-half in liquot:
His acts and manner were those of a madman. 'When he
produced the keys, it was in a tone of bravado. Did not
know that the keys never were lust. Wse about fifteen
minutes in Clarke's company, who went first. The keys
were larger than front-door keys. Was not present at any
of the firm
Re-examined—Considered his acts, and saying every
gaol in England would be epees in a fortnight, the speech of
a madman.
James Moss examined—l a shoemaker. 'anew the
prisoner by sight a long time. Saw Clarke on Sunday)
the 30th of October, firsC at the Mension-house. There
were a great number of persons there ele!so were then pulling
down the boards and barricades at the windows. Clarke
was amongst these persons at that time. That was at a
quarto' after one o'clock in the day. Witness remained
about seven minutes. The mob went towards the Bride-
well. Witness was rather before them, and they over-
took him. Clarke was with the mob, but had clothing in
his hand at that time. Those who were with him had
sticks. Afterwards saw Clarke with a sledge-hammer at
the Bridewell door, which he was hammering at. Did
not see the mob after that. There was another hammer
and a hatchet, and the mob were hitting and cutting the
himt
thehe dfieahro°raogossdfatsr t:tt
door. The mob went direct from Queen-square to
Bridewell. It was about two o'clock, and there witness
left them.
Cross-examined—His only reason for going from
Queen-square to Bridewell was, that he was going to
St. James's-street. There was a nearer way, but that
was nearer his home, and he generally went it. He did
not go with the mob ; they overtook him. It might be
about five minutes after he got to Bridewell the hammer-
ing at the door began. He did stop to see the mob. Did
not know a man named White, nor of any bottles of wine
or spirituous liquors. Was at the gaol at five o'clock ;
went with his father. The fire was then burning. Had
no particular business there. 'Went near to the river when
at the gaol, but did not throw any thing into the river.
Did not ask, to his knowledge, any body to drink. Knew
one White, a shoemaker. Did not tell White or any other
person that he had some bottles. Did not pull any bottle
out of his pocket then. Did not say to White that he had
got two bottles. White did not ask witness where he got
the bottles. Did not, in presence of White, take any
bottle out of his pocket. Did not ask White to drink.
Did not say to White that he'd got bottles from the prison.
Did nothing whilst at the prison. Was there better than
half•an-hour. Was outside and did not enter it, nor either
of the outer gates.
Re-examined—There is a thoroughfare through Bride-
well in the day time to St. James's-street—a narrow par-
sage which had gates.
By the COURT—Saw White at the prison at the mo-
ment that he was leaving it, and went home with him.
Saw another man, a shoemaker, who lived in College-
street, there.
Robert Harding Trickey examined—Knew Mr. James
Cross, who had been examined. Was with him on the
night of Sunday the 30th of October, at the Horse and
Groom. Knew Clarke, and saw him come in there with
some others on that night. Clarke had a crow-bar, and
others had bars which looked as if they had been lately
sharpened. They demanded drink, which was given by
the landlord's son, be believed. Saw no money paid.
They came in in a mad way. Saw Clarke take from one
pocket a large bunch of keys, and from another a larger
key. Clarke said, " You --, here are the keys of the
gaol, and not a --- gaol shall stand in England in a
fortnight." They all appeared in liquor. They went
away in about a quarter of an hour. Saw the way that
they went, and saw the same party break the windows of
Reeve's Hotel. Saw Clarke soon after near the Boar's
Head, when he wanted witness to take some bread and
cheese.
Cross-examined—Clarke was not guilty of violence
while at the Boar's Head, except his forcing him to take
the bread and cheese.
Harriet Vowles examined—Lived servant with Mr.
Whittington, who kept the Britannia Tavern, in All-
Saints'-street, which joins the Bridewell-lane. Remem-
bered the Sunday of the riots, and saw " that gentleman
there" (Clarke) and about twenty others. Did not see
any others outside the first time they came, which was
between one and two o'clock. Had nothing with him the
first time, but had afterwards, the second time he came, an
iron bar. There were then about twenty with him. He
had beer, and took the iron bar, flung it round in his hand,
and said, " look here, you " He went away, and
desired the mob to follow him. Did not hear him or the
others say where they were going. Could not say how
long they stayed. The second time was about three or
four o'clock. Nothing violent bad occurred in the neigh-
bourhood, except the Bridewell being broken open, and the
prisoners being let out. Heard Clarke say they had some
out, and would have more, but what she did not hear.
That was in the tap-room. She knew that the prisoners
were out of Bridewell, by hearing some of the men say
that some hopped out, and they would have more. The
second time Clarke came the Bridewell was on fire, and he
had the bar on his shoulder.
Cross-examined by Mr. SMITH—It was about three
parts of art hour between the first and second time. Clarke
did not appear to have drank more than on a working-
day. They all seemed merry, but he did not appear very
tipsey.
Thomas Whittington examined—Kept the Britannia ;
remembered the Sunday, the 30th of October ; had seen
Clarke on that day at witness's house with other persons,
thabouten altogether I
burned.
ori
tnrnheeatndhnu.dryaei number.
obwote
hrfge.eantrihti
place,
waslnttarhsic.oeeres about
time. Clarke called for a gallon of beer, which was sup.
plied and drunk. They stayed about half an hour. Had
nothing in his hand at that time. One of the men with
it the
amnet
dei leg,,edyaindowdfnetaonhttot aigunbogtlhoet.tohcit,shwWlCaeafhrl
ranakteosdarrenkpei e went towards Nels o n -
street, and said to the men " Look sharp." Clarke came
again in about an hour, and persons came back with him
about the same number. Clarke then had an iron bar
bent in the middle. Did not hear
tsciniatrup:ColviaeotQlrreamcleoursl.eukwoaeretr)na,'kess.resa.b,
inuuiconversationdlr,arnrrthileineer;ya:viibh‘ioNpm,ival
while
with the peopleph,gieenedcoerGtoodofivLdiearrolw:fittness know where Clarke bad
been. It
iheAoxennabeing
afio r:sen fires were
doe See_wrbu
eunacdtenoafiny,gre,
is:iaencexamined—Was
eaiwitnesscotetlndhit
time,
wrneN
Severalavewsa
aearenensri!g raanybgohaoe
noud
mutt s
oetlkeepingros2ge.:werei‘mb i
ue
men
afterwardst.),
ouit
as a
icalvo constable, acnhbolotel,aasat-nstd:
Nicholas-street
whenishowh he
lefttGhPalace,eus there
severalileyaoryw b 0 housesk ep t werea
public-house
ieythevbrae.dedl
belonged
Sawa bunch
half-past eight o'clock ; four or five more weret xevieth
onesphO
said
et obbtfoheybleGovernor
of
ri kdoe,tf e
-a
ygt bsha
taewer. i
gpt
ahr i 0
prison.
Air.hn e. They
hc askedClarke.el
They
Clarke
ef
merely
had
l daey
some bacon, which he said belonged to Mr. Humphries—
stopped at the door.
Jacob Wallingford examined—Was on the night of Sun-
day, about two or three o'clock, with Captain Coltkurst,
in Prince's-street, Queen-square. Saw Clarke that night
in Priuce's-street, coming up from the square. He asked
witness " Was he a Reformer ?" and he answered
" Yes," under the impression that Clarke had come ft om
the square. Clarke said, " That's right, take care of
those hooks," and reckoned them to witness—they were
fourteen in number. He then pulled out keys, and said,
" These are the keys of the gaols." He held them up,
and showed them, and then put them in his pocket. The
conversation lasted about five minutes. Witness took the

hooks and put them in his house. aarke never called

for them after.

Cross-examined—Never saw Clarke before then. When
he gave the books witness noticed his features. It wan
under a gas lamp, and can swear positively to the identity
of the prisoner.
James Rouse examined—Ts a victualler, and remembers
the 30th of October. Baw Clarke at half-past eleven that
night, at the Boar's Head, witness's house. Clarke spoke
something about a boy, and then asked for drink : said
that he kept the Hen and Chickens at Bedminster, and •
was a landlord as well as witness. There were two or
three men and five boys ; altogether, about eight or
nine, They had crow-bars; and Clarke said, he had
been and broken open the three prisons. Understood
the Bridewell gaol, and Lawford's gate, which witness
had seen on fire. Clarke then produced some keys, and
asked fir bread and cheese for self and party. They
produced 25., which were laid down, and one of them
was picked up. Had a 101 l opportunity of seeing Clarke,
and was sore he was the man. The prisoner had an
iron bar. When he spoke of the gaols he also said he and
his few boys had burnt the Bishop's Palace ; that he had
done a good day's work that day, and he hoped to do a
better to-morrow.

Cross-examined—Clarbe was intoxicated when he said

these things.
Margaret Flinn examined—Was &tyrant to Mr. Hum-
phries; the governor of the gaol. Remembered a number
of persons breaking into the gaol. On that occasion one
ham and part of another were taken away, also is leg of
pork in salt.
John Wilde examined—Resided at the Horse Fair on
Sunday the 30th of October. Early on the morning of
Manley, befire daylight, about half-past one o'clock, was
in Queen-squ ire. There were a great many persons there,
and houses were burning. Had known W. Clarke there
three or four years. Saw him in Queen-square on that
night. He said to three or four other men, " Come on,
come on." The people were then standing quiet in the
square, but the mob was burning the Excise-office.
Cross-examined—Was not there when the Mansion-
;onee was burned. Was there later. Then two Bidet of
the square 'acre burned. These two sides included the
Mansion-house and Custom-house, and Excise-office,
which were all burned when witness left the square. Had
been in the square on Sunday morning, when he saw the
men taking the cellar doors off the Mansion.houses and
throwing them into the tide.
Reexamined—At the time he spoke of, the iron railings
were all removed, Witness only saw the mob in the square.
Thomas Austin examined—ls a watchmaker and jewel-
ler. Was in Queen-square on the Sunday night. Saw
Clarke there between two and three o'clock on the Mon-

day morning. There were a great number of people there
at that time. The mob was setting fire to the houses.
Saw Clarke with dishes and bottles, and heard him calling
to tie mob to come out.
William Perry examined—ls a constable. Went in
search of Clarke to Liverpool, with Mr. Harmer, on the
Saturday after the fires. Got to Liverpool on the Sun-
day. Found Clarke at Liverpool on the Sunday, at the
outside of Lagdon's public house. Took him into cus-
tody. Clarke said nothing of his name, and witness
brought him back on the Friday.
William Humphries examined.—Was Governor of the
gaol on Sunday, Oct. 30. Was not in the gaol when
attacked. Left it about half-past one o'clock to come to
this hall to summon assistance. Went with the Ma-
gistrates and gentlemen to the gaol, but were there driven
hack by the mob. They appeared to be about 1,000 in
number. Attacked Witness and his party with sticks and
stones, and they were obliged to retire. One gentlemen
was materially hurt. Witness was obliged to keep e
until the gaol was sacked, but was so close that he could
see all that was done. He retired to the nearest house to
the gaol, the Bathiest hotel. Then left the hotel on its
being reported that the mob were coming to destroy the
houee. Did not return until the morning, when he found
all demolished. His own house in the centre was com-
pletely destroyed. He held that house of the corporation,
as Governor of their gaol. Has a master-key of his own,
and three common keys, which were all locked up in his
desk in the office. Did not find them on his return.
There was one key larger than the rest.
LThe witness was under examination when our express
left Bristol at four o'clock.

THE BILLS AGAINST CAPTAIN LEWIS THROWN OUT.
In the course of the day the Grand Jury came into Court
with the bills against Captain Lewis, for murder, ignored.

COURT OF ALDERMEN.-Yesterday, at $
late hour, Dir. HUGMES HUGHES was called in, and
sworn Alderman of the Ward of Portsoken. The inti•
oration was not publicly announced ; but it was whispered
about the lobbies, and gave great dissatisfaction.

CORONER'S INQUEST.—Yesterday (Tues'
day), about seven o'clock in the evening, an inquest, V
Mr. PAY NE, was held at the Fleet Prison, on the body of
the late JOHN CHARLES LE POER BERESFORD Mow
ritrw, Esq., who had formerly been a Colonel in the
army. The surgeon (Mr. BULLEN) deposed, that he had
been in attendance on him for about a month, and whets'
he first went the deceased had strong symptoms of
pulmonary consumption.—An attempt was here made bf
the executor of the deceased, to prove that his death re'
suited from persecution and being broken-hearted, in cot?'
sequence of being unjustly incarcerated and detained is
prison for no just debt ; but the Coroner said, his busine
was merely to enquire respecting the treatment he had re'
ceived while in prison, and not whether he was or was PO
legally imprisoned ; and, after some further discussion, the
Jury found a verdict of Natural Death.

Between twelve and one o'clock yesterday 0
police constable of the L division, who was on duty it'
Mill. street, Lambeth, perceived a strong smell issue fro
No. 1 in the street, occupied by an old lady namd
CHARLES. Suspecting something was the matter
knocked at the door, and no answer being given, he alared
the neighbours, and an instrument was found with whid
the door was broken open, and immediately a dense shah'
of smoke issued forth. The stench was so terrible, that ,
was with the utmost difficulty the constable could get ink'
the room, where he saw the unfortunate old lady env'
loped in smoke and flame. With the assistance of son'
of the neighbours she was dragged into the street, but et'
was quite dead. The body presented the most dreadf'
highlyeccentricwasseparatedwas
most connected,
it but. I
to sit up all night in her chair, and go to bed in the o',
time; and it is supposed that her bonnet caught fire fro'l
the candle, and that she was suffocated before she had
opportunity of alarming the neighbours.
A FRIENDLY REMONSTRANCE.—The 041'
lowing characteristic epistle was received, 'verbatim'
literatim, en Tuesday last by a tobacconist in unie,
street, Spitalfields, from a member of the Society
Friends, who accidentally broke a square of glass for ht
Broadbrim conscientiously went in and paid the money
once " upon the counter ;" but finding, after a eh;
look out for a week, that the repairs were not proem',
in, and that in lieu thereof one of Iluttr's red pastebtt
blacking notices was put in possession of the vacnuw,
spirit sunk within at the unnecessary outlay, and ratlo
than his neighbour should be any the better for the ICC
dent, be addressed him from a distant part in the follow
ing terms :—" WILLIAM SAWYER—When a Qua/`:
breaks his neighbour's window, the most that can be e'
peered of Min is, that he pay for it; and when be h:
paid for it, the least that can be expected of his neighbe
is, that he repair.it. Thou shalt hear front me evil.),
this he not attended to, for the money may as well be e'
pended in postage as lie idle in thy till ; but in any case:
calculate that I have paid thee considerably more than lE
window glass is worth, or than the repair thereof c'
honestly cost thee. '6 ZACHARIALI." (Age.)
THE DESERTED WRECK AT BANNOWI,
The wreck of La Belle Julia, lately cast on shore
sails set, has created no small degree of, we may
painful interest. A brown pointer dog was found
board, and according to report is at present in possess
of S. Borcz, Esq., Bannow. It is also stated that se,
bloody shirts, napkins, ece., were since found on b 0!
This, if true, gives cause for a very generally circulat!d,
prehension that some foul deed caused the strandini
the vessel. We have heard a report of two young a
dressed in sailors' apparel, entering at a very early boo'
the morning, we believe, a the vessel first being see,
Bannow, the house of a respectable and intelligent pub?,
in the Faythe, in this town. The owner of the house
paired of them, as they were strangers, if they belof.
to the wreck ?—meaning eitter of the two other wiri
At present on this coast ? The reply was " No."
owner, who had spent many years in France, observitl,
bayonet half protruding at the wrist of one of them)
served, " Sir, I believe that is a French bayonet,"
answered, " I believe it is ; come Jack," addressia„
comrade, ‘' let WI be off." These are singular and P
mysterious facts, when connected with that of the bl°,
shirts, and invest the entire circumstance of the
stranding, with a degree of inexplicable uncertainty,
time only can bring tie light.r.Wexturd Herald.