The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-19 00:00:00

THE'MURDER AT FRIMLEY

EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONERS.
GUILDFORD, FRIDAY NIGHT. To-day having
been appointed for the re-examination of the parties
charged with being concerned in the murder of the
Rev. G. E. Holiest, very considerable excitement
prevailed in this borough in conseunence of its having
become known that Hiram Smith, one of the pri-
soners, had made a confession since the last hearing,
which, while it implicated himself in the matter, at-
tributed the death of the deceased to one of his com-
panions in guilt. Especial care had been taken by
the authorities to keep all knowledge of Smith's con-
fession from the other parties charged; and when the
prisoners were brought together this morning the
three men—Levi Harwood, James Jones, and Samuel
Harwood—had neither of them the slightest concep•
tion that their colleague, Hiram Smith, had made any
disclosures.

Mr. George Best, chairman of the local bench, ar-
rived at the House of Correction shortly before ten
o'clock. He was followed by Mr. E. Bray, of Shere,
and Mr. George Gibson, of Farnham, two local
magistrates. Major Birch, also in the commission
of the peace for the county of Surrey, arrived shortly
after ten o'clock, and joined his brother magistrates,
Before the prisoners were introduced Mr. Keene,
the governor of the House of Correction, at the re-
quest of the Chairman, made the following. state-
ment

On Sunday morning last, as I was leaving the
chapel, Joseph Sylvester, one of my turnkeys, came
to me and said that the prisoner Smith desired to speak
with me. I went to his cell directly, and asked him
what he wanted. He said he wished to have some
private conversation with me. I shut myself into
his cell, upon which he said, "I wish to see Mr.
Hollington, in order to ascertain from him the mean-
ing of the last bill issued about this Frimley affair."
He referred to the bill offering a reward of 1501. and
a free pardon. He said he did not speak with refe-
rence to the reward, but the pardon. I told him that
the handbill required no explanation, and any one
who could read must be able to understand it. He
asked me if I thought it would be acted upon. I re-
plied that I could give him no information on the
subject, but I supposed the bill would not have
been issued had not the authorities intended to
abide by it. I then cautioned him before be
said anything more, and told him to under-
, stand that anything he might say would be taken
down, and might be used against him or any other
parties. The prisoner said he was aware of that. I
then told him that as he had asked for Mr. Honing-
ton, before he said anything more 1 thought he had
better see that officer, and then if he wished to say
anything he could do so. The prisoner here burst
into tears, and exclaimed, "I am not the man who
fired the pistol." I replied, " I don't wish to hear
anything more; as you have asked for Mr. Holling-
ton you had better see him." The prisoner saw Mr.
Hollington on Monday morning, when the caution
previously given to him was repeated in the presence
of that officer and myself. The prisoner having ex-
pressed a wish to see one of the placards offering a
reward and a free pardon for an accomplice, a bill was
obtained and shown to him, and on seeing it he asked
the meaning of the word " accomplice," and put seve-
ral other questions in reference to the matter. At
length he said, " I have made up my mind. It be-
hoves every man to take care of himself, and I shall
speak all I know. If I am wrong I am, and must
abide by the consequences."
The Chairman said he thought they. had better not
receive this statement until the prisoners had been
brought together. He would suggest that they should
now call the accused parties and proceed with any
other evidence that might be forthcoming.
The prisoners were here brought from their respec-
tive cells, and each attended by an oflicer of the gaol.
When introduced to the room where the magistrates
sit, a turnkey was stationed between them, the gover-
nor himself taking up a position between Levi Har-
wood and Hiram Smith. The prisoners looked better
than on the occasion of their last examination, and so
little suspicion had three of them of the fact of the
fourth having confessed, that one of the former,
Jones, during a temporary adjournment of the pro-
ceedings, actually joked with a bystander on the
subject of his confinement in the gaol.
Mr. W. Holiest having explained the nature of the
evidence to be deposed to by the witnesses in attendance,
several witnesses proved that the prisoners were seen
in' Guildford on the afternoon of the 27th of Sept.,
and that later on the same day they were seen going
in the direction of Frimley.
-William Penny, aged fourteen years, was next
called, and said I know the prisoner Smith. He
always went by the name of the " flyman." I have
known him about a couple of months. I remember
the 27th of September. I heard of the robbery at
Frimley on the Saturday morning after it took place.
Three or four days before it happened I saw Flyman
standing in the Swan-yard. Oa the Wednesday be-
fore the robbery I saw Flyman standing in Mr. Black-
man's marine-store shop, in Market-street, Guildford,
looking at some pistols. I knew it was on Wednes-
day, because my master bad been out the two previ-
ous days with cigars, and he was out again at Farn-
ham on the Thursday. I heard the prisoner ask Mr.
Blackman the price of the pistols. I did not hear
what Mr. Blackman replied.
Mr. James Adsett, gunmaker, of St. Mary's,
Guildford, examined. He said—l know all the pri-
soners. On the evening of the 27th of September
last, as I was turning out of the Ash-road into
the Frimley-road, I saw two men, one some few
yards before the other. The first man had passed the
Ash-road a little, and was going on the Frimley-
road. Smith was the second man, and it was him I
met. I cannot swear to the person of the first man,
because he bad passed me, but I thought at the time
it was Levi Harwood; and when I heard of the rob-
bery the next morning .I communicated my suspicions
to Mr. Biddlecombe. I saw a third man about 3.00
yards behind Smith coming in the same direction.
He crossed the road before I came up to him and got
under some trees which overhung the road at this
point. I cannot say who this man was.
Mr. Thomas Freeman examined—He said, I am a
carpenter, and live at 'Worplesden. I know Levi
Harwood, and I believe I have seen Samuel Harwood
and James Jones before. About six o'clock on Sa-
turday morning the 28th of September, as I was get-
ting up I saw a man pasa my house in the direction
of Guildford. He had on a green roundabout, and
a kind of light coat. 1 think the prisoner Jones is
that man.
Richard Gyles, man servant to the deceased, next
repeated at length the evidence he had previously
given before the coroner.
Alfred Blackman, marine store dealer, said he had
had some conversation about three weeks ago with a
young man about pistols, but could not swear it was
the prisoner.
Thomas High, police sergeant, of Chil worth, near
Guildford, examined. He said—On Wednesday, the
2d instant, I received a warrant to search the lodgings
of James Funnel), the prisoner Jones's brother-in-
law. lie lived at a beer-shop called the Malt House
Tap, in Portsmouth-road, Guildford. I found a
quantity of green baize' and a small piece of white
ribbon, as well as a small marble, all of which I pro-
duce. I also received a warrant to search the house
of Samuel Harwood. I there found in a box a jacket
belonging to Levi Harwood, and tan empty power-
, flask, both of which I produce.
Examined by Mr. Hollest—The jacket looked

The witness hereupon remained silent.
Richard Macey, bricklayer and parish constable of
Frimley, said he recollected seeing the prisoner Smith
in conversation with the late Mr. Holiest, near the
residence of the latter, about two o'clock on the after-
noon of Tuesday, September 24. Witness was at
work nearly opposite where they were standing, and
when the prisoner left Mr. Holiest he came over tc
him and held up two small dishes, which he asked
witness to buy. He said he had tried to sell them to
the old gentleman he had just left, but lie was a " tight
fit." He added that he had tried it on for a bit of
" chuck" (food), but that was no go. He then asked
witness how many servants the old gentleman kept.—
(Sensation.) Witness replied he thought about three
or four. Nothing else of importance passed between
them. He told witness that he had come over from
Farnham, and that he thought there was to be a fight
at Frimley that day. lie added that he was present
at the fight in which Griffiths was killed a few weeks
previously near the same spot.
George Everest, keeper in the service of Mr. J. F.
Burrell, was next called—He proved having found
the silver communion cup stolen from the deceased's
house, and also two green baize masks, on the morn-
ing of the 34 of October, in a field belonging to his
master, about three quarters of a mile from Frimley
parsonage.
The articles were produced by the witness. The
masks were of enormous size, and with the holes cut
for the eyes and mouth, properly adjusted, would
have reached down to the chest of an ordinary sized
man. They had all the appearance of having been
made up by men and not by women.
Mr. Edward Kendall, sergeant in the metropolitan
detective police, was examined. lie proceeded to de-
tail the manner in which the robbers had effected an
entrance, and all the other facts connected with the
burglary. His testimony varied in no particular
from that of Superintendent Biddlecombe, of the Go-
dahning police, a full report of whose examination
before the coroner appeared in this journal of the Bth
inst. Mr. Kendall produced a shirt which the de-
ceased had on when he received the fatal wound, a
small ragged hole high up on the right breast of which
indicated where the missile had perforated.
Superintendent Hollington said—Oa Sunday last
something passed between myself and Mr. Keene
which induced me to come to this prison on Monday
morning. I was informed that the prisoner Smith
had expressed a wish to see me. When I arrived he
was brought up from his cell into this room.
Levi liar wood hero directed a piercing glance to-
wards Smith, who kept his eyes fixed upon the ground,
and appeared anxious to avoid ok)servation.
Mr. Hollington continued—When he came in Mr.
Keene said, " Here is Hollington." Smith then
asked to see one of the reward bills. As I had not got
one with me I produced the "Hue and Cry." I after-
wards sent for a bill, which the prisoner read himself.
After doing so he asked me to explain the meaning
of the word " accomplice," and what was meant by a
free pardon to any one who did not actually fire the
shot ? I told him he must use his own judgment as
to what it meant. He asked me if the terms of
the bill would be acted up to if he was to
"peach ?" Mr. Keene and myself both told him that
he had got the bill before him, and he must use his
own judgment. We added that we could neither of
us hold out any hope to him, in consequence of what
he might say. He then said he knew it was plain
enough in the bill and he had made up his mind to
make a statement.

Levi Harwood and the other 'prisoners exhibited
much uneasiness at this juncture, and looked fiercely
towards Smith.

Mr. Makepiece (to Mr. Hollington)—Did you give
the prisoner a caution when he said this ?
Mr. flollington—l did, sir, and so did Mr. Keene
several tirneF. We told him that anything he might
say would be taken down and used against him on his
trial.

Mr. Keene here repeated the statement he had made
at the opening of the inquiry, and handed in a written
document dictated to himself by Smith, which Mr.
Makepeace read, as follows 7 -

On the 27th of September last, being Friday
night, myself, with other persons now in custody,
named James Jones, Levi Harwood, and Samuel
Harwood, was at Frimley, and broke into Mr. Hol-
lest's hi by taking out a bar. I entered first and
Levi Harwood second. With a worm Levi Harwood
bored two holes in the frame of the door leading to
the kitchen, and pushed back the bolt with his knife,
and then myself, Jones, and Levi Harwood went
in and there looked about. Levi Harwood then
opened a work-box and took 2s. from it. We then
all three of us went into the sitting-room, and Levi
Harwood and Jones searched while I held the
candle, and there found a silver hunting-watch
and a small old•fashioned gold one. We then went
into another room, and I don't know what was taken
from there. They then went down into the pantry
while I stood in the passage. It was then about half-
past two o'clock. I then went out and fetched Samuel
Harwood in. Three of us then went upstairs—my-
self, Jones, and Levi Harwood went into a bedroom
and removed three ladies' dresses—two out of the
drawers and one from the bedstead. There was no
one sleeping in that bedroom. We then came down
stairs and put on the masks. Myself and Jones put
on the green ones which were produced last Saturday,
and Levi Harwood put on a white one, and a white
Guernsey over his wgistcoat. Jones put on a large
cloak which was hanging in the passage, and I put
on one likewise. The cloaks belonged to the house.
We then all four of us proceeded up stairs. Jones
went first with a pistol in his right hand, Levi Har-
wood second, with a pistol in his right hand, which
he loaded on the road to Frimley. lie loaded both
pistols with marbles. Jones first, Levi Harwood
second, and myself third, here entered Mr. Hollest's
room, while Samuel Harwood stood at the door with
a screw-driver in his hand. Levi Harwood then said,
Lay still, my good woman, or else I will blow your
brains out.' Ile was standing at the foot of the bed
at this time. Mrs. holiest instantly got from her lird,
and Jones being on her side of the bed, Levi Har-
wood at the foot of the bed, and myself against Mr.
Hollest's side of the bed, when Mrs. Holiest got out
of the bed, Jones took hold of her and thrust her up
in the corner of the room on her own side of the bed.
Mr. Holiest jumped out of bed and tried to lay hold
of Levi Harwood, when he (Levi Harwood) imme-
diately fired the pistol at Mr. Holiest, and I took the
gold watch from off the stand in the room, and we all
four then ran down stairs. 'We were in the room for
about five minutes. Jones and Samuel Harwood then
started for Guildford. After we had walked together
across the common about five miles Levi Har-
wood and myself then parted from them, and we
went to Kingston together. There I left him to
go to London, he having the things with him that had
been taken from Mr. Holiest's, and I returned to
Guildford. We arranged on the Tuesday previous to
commit the robbery. On the Friday evening Samuel
Harwood and Levi Harwood went first, and myself
and Jones met them on the top of the hill, about two
miles from Frimley. It was then about nine o'clock,
and there the pistols were loaded by Levi Harwood.
We all four went on to the canal bridge and there
parted. Levi liar wood and Jones went first, and my-
self and Samuel Harwood followed them in about five
minutes, and then joined them on the green near Mr.
Hollest's house."

As soon as Mr. Makep'ece had concluded reading
the document, Levi Harwood, in a half-stifled voice,
exclaimed, "It's all false—what he's said is all false."
The Chairman (to the prisoners)—l think you had
better consider well all of you before you make any
further observations. Those of you who wish to have
a legal adviser will be allowed •to see such a person.
Levi Harwood—l should like to have a lawyer my-
self. I suppose we can see our friends now.
The Chairman—That must be regulated by cir-
cumstances. You will be allowed to see any person
you may wish to consult as a legal adviser, but none
other at present.
The prisoner Smith here asked inquiringly, " Am
I to be locked up again, sir ?"
The Chairman—Yes, certainly. But pray under-
stand that the statement you have made is at present
strong evidence against yourself.
This reply appeared to take Smith by surprise.
The Chairman then announced that the proceedings
would be formally adjourned until Saturday next.
The prisoners were then led out of the room. As
Jones was in the act of turning round he looked
towards Smith and called out menacingly, " I hope
you will be shot yourself some day for making such
false statements." Levi Harwood contented himself
by whining out, " It is all false ;" and Samuel Har-
wood said nothing.
The prisoners have been supplied withfoo d up
to
the present time by their friends. Since Smith made
h
theenow
disclosures
onlygets the
however
prihs
prison
allowance.
supplies have ceased, end

BATFT, FRlDAY.—Considerable sensation was occa-
sioned in this city yesterday evening by a report that
Mr. and Mrs. Coplestone, landlord and landlady of
the Queen-square Tavern, better known as the Horse
and Jockey, Barton-street, had been cruelly mur-
dered by a man who had, during the last month, been
residing at their house. On going to the house we
found, although the sight was a sorry one, that death
had not deprived either of the parties of their exist-
ence. From the statements which were then made,
we learnt that the bloodthirsty miscreant at-
tempted to leave the house of his host about half-past
five o'clock, without defraying the debt which he had
accumulated during his stay there. Mr. Coplestone,
hearing him coming down stairs, instantly emerged
from the bar, and met him, carpet bag in hand, about
to make his exit from the premises. A demand was
at once made by the landlord for the money owing,
which was disputed by the lodger, and after a few words
a scuffle ensued, in the course of which Mr. Coplestone
was seriously cut and hacked over the head and face
with a sharp cutting instrument, and in a short time,
from loss of blood, he sunk to the ground. His wife,
who was attracted to the spot by the noise, seeing the
state her husband was in, immediately went to his
assistance, when she was treated in a similar manner
by the savage brute. A razor was afterwards found
lying near the spot completely covered with blood,
and was recognized as the property of the lodger.
Although this horrible scene was enacted withi❑ view
from the street door, yet, such is the quiet locality in
which the house stands, that the fellow was enabled to
walk deliberately away, without any apparent moles•
tation. A lad, however, seeing the terror in which
the man was, and also having procured a glimpse of
the interior of the house, the passage of which was
streaming with blood, was induced to follow him
After walking as far as Ansley's stables, the fellow
made a halt, and immediately retraced his steps in
the direction of the scene he had just left, but was
taken into custody on the weighing-engine. At the
station-house he gave his name as Ogle Wallis, and
described himself as having been an officer in the 12th
Dragoons, now Hussars. From papers which were found
in his carpet-bag, it would seem that he is a gentleman,
and in 1848 resided in King-street Covent-garden.
In that year he became possessed of upwards of 4,0001.
left him by the decease of a sister. The prisoner is
about five feet nine inches in height, fifty-seven years
of age, and of a robust military appearance. His
dress denoted anything but prosperity, and his un-
shaven dirty face gave him more the appearance of a
foreigner than an Englishman. Mr. Coplestone was
removed to the hospital upon a stretcher, and his
wounds immediately dressed. The injuries inflicted,
besides a few minor cuts, were upon one side of the
head, reaching from the crown down to the back of
the ear, one wound being about six inches in length ;
the left cheek left quite open ; the thumb of one of
the hands cut very deep between the lower joint and
the forefinger, and the forefinger of the same hand
nearly severed at the top joint. Mrs. Coplestone was
fortunately less wounded than her husband, her inju-
ries consisting of a cut on the forehead and cheek.
The forefinger of the right hand was also lacerated.
Mr. Gore, of Queen-square, promptly attended, and,
having ordered the husband to be taken to the hos-
pital, proceeded to dress the wounds of the wife, as-
sisted by Mr. 'William Bush, of Gay-street.
This morning the market-place was crowded with
anxious gazers long before the time arrived at which
the magistrates assemble. The magistrates' room
was also filled by many respectable inhabitants. The
prisoner was placed at the bar, and during the exami-
nation exhibited a total indifference to the awkward
position in which his brutal and cowardly conduct
had placed him. Mr. Coplestone was too weak to
attend.

Mary Ann Coplestone, wife of the unfortunate
landlord, was the first witness examined. She de-
posed : The prisoner at the bar has been lodging at
my house about three weeks. Yesterday afternoon
he came in about half-past four o'clock, and abused
my husband very much. I was up stairs at the time,
and my husband called me down. The prisoner then
went up stairs to his bedroom, where he remained
about ten minutes. When he came down my hus-
band went out and met him on the stairs. I was
close by. My husband said to him that he should not
leave the house without paying what he owed. The
prisoner had his portmanteau in his hand, and also a
walking •stick. As soon as my husband told him that
he should not go until he had settled, he struck
him with the stick. He then took a razor
which he held in his hand, and commenced cutting
my husband about the head, face, and hands. My
husband then called me to his assistance, and said,
" Missus, he has killed me—he has murdered me."
The blood was flying all over the place. I then went
to the assistance of my husband, and the prisoner
struck me with his stick first, and then cut me over
the face with the razor. The cuts and blows were
done instantly, and apparently with the same hand.
He did not speak at all during the fray. [The cuts
upon the witness's face appeared very extensive, and
ber features were hardly to be recognised from the
large strips of black plaster viith which they were co-
vered.]
Mr. Gore, surgeon, was then examined. He de-
posed: I was sent for last night, about five o'clock, to
the' house of Mr. Coplestone, in Barton-street. I
found him severely wounded on the head, face., and
hands. The wounds appeared to have been inflicted
with some sharp instrument. He was very faint from
loss of blood, and I had him removed to the Bath
United Hospital. This mornil.g I saw him. He is
doing wall. There is no immediate danger.
Toe prisoner was then remanded until this day
week.