The Sun.
London, England, 1826-10-28 00:00:00

Michael Pickett sworn, and examined by Mr. Jones—.Am a
seaman in his Majesty's ship Ranalie*, and was employed in the
preventive service on the coast of Kent. On' Saturday night tl;
29th of July last, was stationed on the coast of Dover, opposite to
the bathing machines. Saw quarter-master MOrgan that night,
be was the visiting officer of the party to which witness belonged.
After being at the 'station for three quarters of an hour, witness
saw Morgan coming from the westward ; walked towards him
on his beat ; heard some people who were coming in a French
galley hailing some persons ashore ; knew the vessel was a French
galley from her great length, and because it was unusual to see a
vessel of her description on the coast. To the. beat'of Witeeas's
belief the people in the galley cried cut, " Jack ashore!" or
Some such exclamation. They hailed in this manner for three
times, and on the 'third occasion they were answered from behind
the bathing machines. Witness ran towards the galley when he
saw her approaching to the beach. Took a pistol in his right
hand on full ceek, and stood by the bows of the boat until such
time ise he saw the working people surround the galley
on both sides. Witness meant by the working-People, those
Denson' on short who answered to the hail of the boat.
There were about fifty of the working-party beeides,
the armed party. The latter drew up in a line on the beach at
high-water mark, and the working party ran down in aline to
the galley. There were six or seven men belonging to the armed
party. It was the latter end of the ninon, but the stirs were suf-
ficiently bright to distinguish perstnis at the distance of fifty pads.
Saw some of the men in the galley hand out two tubs and put
them on a man's shoulder. I cried Out to the party, " You b---
if you stir a peg I will blow your brains out," Witness_ napped
his pistol, but it hashed in the pan. It flashed before he received,
an answer. There was nothing in the pistol but powder. Mor-
gan hailed witnesa, and asked him what boat that was. Before
witness had time to answer, Morgan fired his pistol for an alarm.,
Morgan, at this time, was about 14 yards behind witness; aid its
the act of running towards him. The armed perty of the eniug-'
glers then opened a fire at Morgan, and he fell. They fired a
volley, and witness heard two or three shots after ahelvolleye *at.
fired. Witness was in the act of priming his pistol, when, tr o*
the armed party came up to him with a musket, and said, "Whet
are you up to? I'll do you." The man did not present the runeket,
but turned the butt-end, and struck witness with it. Witness. held
up both his hands, and the man knocked the pistol from hie,graep.
Witness told bins he was not in dread of bins, and when the ,man
raised the musket again, witness drew his Cutlev, and gave the
man a cut across the shoulder. Ile then returned to the earned
party, and the smugglers kept on working the tubs.
By Sir B. Blame—Meant that. the smugglers continued to
carry away the tubs from timalley. ' Wituesa then turned round
and struck at another of the arty. Thought he must have cut
him across the neck, because the man lied only his cravat on.—
As soon as one man got a tub on his *shoulder, he srati withit to.
the town, and other men came down to fetch more: There
were thirty-three tubs seised that night and lodged in' the
Custom-house. Some of the tubs contained brandy, others
gin. After witness struck the second *bailee he struck ,at a
third who snatched a bold of his cutlass in 'order to get it
away, but witness drew the cutlass through his hands, and he
ran towards the beach. Witness then struck two as three
more, and at last a man, who appeared to be 'one of the lissade
of the party, cried out, " There is no use in striking et the b.--,
shove off the beat." Witness kept the men from taking snore
of the tubs away. 'Witness then ran towards 11Iorgan, who
lay about 12 or 14 yards off, and asked him if he were'kill-
ed, he answered, " Oh God !" Ile lay upon his back with
a pistol lying at each side of him. Witsuess took up the, pis-
tols and loaded' them, and said he would have satisfectiosi for
him (Morgan). Both the pistols had been discharged ;' rare as
far as the bathing machines after the party; did not coree up
with them ; but saw a man run across the beach from the east-
ward. Thought he was one of the smugglers, but he turned out
to be Peter Prendergast, one of the quarter-masters ; told bins that
Morgan was shot, and both he and witness went back and found
he was dead.' Witness and Prendergast then went up the beach.
Witness said he had got some tubs, but Prendergast replied—
" D—n the tubs, let us follow the party." Both puseued the
'smugglers, but did not come up with them ; met Lieutenant Hall,
one of their own party ; he sent witness back to his station; at-
tended the coroner's inquest at Dover, when a verdict of wilful
murder was returned against some person or persons unknown.—
Observed the dress of the smugglers ' . the man who first came out
of the boat wore such a jacket as the prisoner George Ransley
wears now, it sort of shooting jacket, made of fustian ; the roan
who struck witness with the musket wore a, similar coat. , The
rest of the armed party appeared to be in dirk dresses, blue or
black coats, and dark trousers ; the working patty appeeeed to
Itbe dressed as labourers. •The man I last seta& had e eed cap en.
Bailey Sonic themohfad oo i had
co lightuld uogt green
aka::
ttltthil,estlncl latnalttv theil struckp rison erb i
risSamuelw
with
the musket; he was like:Chaska Giles, one of the prisoners.
_ _

Peter Prendergast was then called and sworn. Was one of the
Quarter-masters of his Majesty's ship Amities. On the night
Morgan was killed was stationed at the boat-how:. Beard sir-
ing at the bathing-machines. Proceeded to that direction, and
dischmed a pistol by way of alarm. Met Michael Pickett, the
last witness, who told witness that Morgan was shOt. On reach-
ing the spot where Morgan lay, found that he was dead. •
Mr. Jones said that this was all the evidence be had to offer in
proof of the murder having been committed on the night in ques-
tion by a gang of smugglers. It was now necessary fur him to
show that some of the prisoners at the bar were present when
that Murder took place, to prove which it would be requisite to
call Edward Ilorn, an accomplice, who came forward aa an
approver.
Edward Horn was then sworn.—Lived at Ruckinge, in Kent,
near Milford, and was a labourer. Knew all the prisoners. • Was
at Dover on Saturday night, the 29th of July Let. All the
prisoners, excepting Giles, were with witness that night.._.
'Was sent a message by George Musky, and went in (=se-
quence to meet him that night. Met him at Udder', at a public-
house, within five miles of Dover. Knew George Ransley for
nearly ten years; hail met him before by appointment.
Mr. Platt submitted that unless Mr. Jonas meant to bring for-
wardother charges than that of murder, it was not necessary for
the witness to state the business on Which those appointments bad
taken place.

Mr. Jones---I do not mean, certainly, to confine myself to that
charge. I Lave at least 30 distinct charges against the prisoner
Raniley, and d mean to bring forward several.
The examination resumed—Met Rauley between nine and ten
o'clock at night at Lidden.

Mr. Jones—Witness, in answering the question I shall now
ask you, you are not to name any persona but those who arapre-
sent now. My object is, that the names of persona not yet appre-
hended shall not be made public. .
Examination continued,—None of the prisoners except ,Ransley
were at Lidden that night. Met other persons at Lidden, and
went with them to a place called the Palm Trees, about two piles
from Dover. When at the Palm Trees, met with the whole of
the prisoners, except Giles. There Mere between 60 and 60
persons assembled besides. From a dozen to 16 had fire-arms.
Samuel Bailey, now present, bad a musket, and so bad Thomas
Dennard, Thomas Gillian, Robert Bailey, and Richard Wyer.
Ransley was not arrived. Proceeded towards the bathing
machines, between 12 and 1 o'clock at night. A boat was on
shore, Witness and others, who were armed, were stationed at
the back of the bathing-machines, near the road. Heard no
Caaiiieland Itturiatymedtheivutiolicuetomed goods, con.-
hailing. There was a signal made by Ramie, to go down to the
boat. Hit shouted, " Hallo ! come on r Ilansley was the com-
hmialittridderafotefrtwhearpdars,ty.
listing of brandy and other spirits, from the galley. There were
pistols fired; that interrupted the smuggling party • and witness
that
Witness himself was armed with a fowling-piece. There might
party, with witness, carried off about 70 tuba, but could not work
he
ey
fie::
the whole of the cargo, in consequence of the interruption gives
bolroscikax
dah:talfivriedtn.eu Saw
an the
ee
teat man
ofwil:oisgwialalsshaltdittvibedri:;:itsliE
gaged more than five minutes when they were obliged to leave the
shore. Took the tubs to the Pains 'rasa, and counted them.
The armed party was in the road to prevent surprise. Itausley
,
Ina with the other party, volo were counting the tube. There
were 30 or 40 rods diatom
lley. Borrowed it from him.
piece he bad belonged 10 Samuel Pabetween both parties. The firwling-
-11 makes up the anuminition. After
Re (Samuel Bailey) tie ":hakes
the tube were counted, they. were put . .
udi way new with itanszey thatnight. ies
Went nearly ''''' °•'two mike of Ilansley'm house ;
....ed to within nearly
re t into carte and carried away.
tuba were couvel ~.
but he would
'ley's) charge. Saw him about a week after.
them in 111 .2(sltinf 1 the night's work. Does not know what the
Ile was kg" - e. u.' • ~,-1 of them were paid ' tl
e the party mew—, ; none in the pre_
reet o
of ! not iiiow witnesses where they. were concealed.. Left
Mr. Jones here intimated that he did not mean to examine
' any further, and Mr. Platt innuediatily rose to cross-
this witness
examine him.
Mr. Platt—Pray, fern, where did you come from no*?
•
Mr. Jontis-1 must oppose the line of crose-extaduatial! 1 pre-
' met witnees.

mu-n; be is about to follow. We have only now arrived at the
threshold of a -most weighty and important investigation; and I
submit, that to eroas-examins this witness, with a view to throw
discredit on his evidence) would be datriaurntal to. this wads of