The Sun.
London, England, 1816-09-23 00:00:00

THE coNspiaxrons.

On Saturday Geargc Ro...ert Mac-
kay, and George .Prowti, were put to the bar
charged with a Conspiracy to intloce William
tlueley, Michael linrley, William anrferson,
IVillialn WOO,l, and amnia Hurley, to conrui a
burgl-ary in the mouse of Mrs. MiDonald, at
Hoxton. There was also a count in the
mem, charging the acfetitlanis generally Uhl] con-
wiring to induce certain persons to commit
glories, that they might afterwards obtain the re-
ward for their apprehension.
Mr. GURNRY inhlreSSed the Jury on the part of
the prosecution, and observed, that had the
opening of his learned friend been the first infor-
mation which they hod heard of the case they had
now to try, it would ,still have been a mos.t im-
portant one : butt it) a country like this, where
it was impossible that .poptdar diSeussina anti
popular feeling should not exist, it became doubly
important ; and he had now to call on the Jury
to divest their minds of every impression ,which
they might previously have received, and to enter
into the present investigation coolly and dispas-
sionately, and to decide on the guilt or innocence
of the (uisoners on the evidence which should be
laid before them. Having% said thus much, he
should proceetho state the case. 'lt was necessary
for the peace and well-being of society, that
crime should be reniessed, .utol'otfeAderi appre-
hended ; and to accomplish this object, it'wes oc=
cessary that reward and encouragement shoeld be
given to those persons who risked their personal
safety, and frequattly even their lives, in the dis-
covery and apprehension of offenders. The law
had given rewards to such persons, and still the
country owed much to individuals who meritori-
ously performed such services ; but as Much merit
attached to those who well discharged this duty
towards the public, great in proportion was the
guilt of those, who, for tha sake of obtaining
these rewards, should lay traps and thro At temp-
tations in the way of others,. to induce: them to
commit crimes. Stich was the offence with which
he had to charge the prisoners at the her : and in
proeing his case he should he obliged to havere-
Cohrse rt) evidence, which it would be the duty of
the Jury to look to it ith suspicion, and re-
ceive with. caution. The witnesses might per-,
haps, differ in Some immaterial facts ; but if
they should agree, in the main points, and
after being sifted and cross-examined it should
appear that there was no reason to dottbt the truth
of their testimony, he should submit that, what-
ever might have been their former associations or
modes of living, their evidence was not therefore
to he rejected on this occasion. This transact tion
was brought to light in consequence of 'five per:
sons, named Wm. Sanderson, Wm. Ward,
,darn,
Hurley, Jas. Hurley, and Dennis 1-11111ey, being
Chart:et' with a burglary in the. house of Airs.
M' Donald, at Timm); and on that orett,iol.
Vaughan, who:was a thatrole, Mackay,
.who b.o;
been in the employ of the City Police, and Brown,
the other ,detentlant (what be had betm he (\I r.
G.) could not state),. brought the prisuurrh
and Vietighao deposed as to the facts of the bur-
glary to question. (Here Mr. Gurney, read the
`depositions of Vaughan and the other defendants,
which have already been befire the public ; and
continued). Had these depositions been all that
passed, the magistrate would have completed his
fluty by committing the prisoners fur trial ; but '
the prisoners, au being questioned, said they were
tak,u In the house of Mrs. MlDoottlil by a man
they met at a imblie-house, andweut in it'll", him,
but took nothing.. Something here occurred,'
either a Itiok or a word, he (Mr. G.) could not
say. what it was, which excited suspicion in the,
mind of Mr. \Tares, the Magistrate, who tutted to
'Vaughan, and observed, 4‘ Vaughan, you went to
the spot at the time the prisoners were ealtHylitting
the burglary in consequence. of inform:lt inn you
received; who gave you that infottnation
Vaughan declined to say who gave hint the ink-
matioo, observing, that mentioning. names might
be ht ten-fled 'with illlnger to indi viduills,, find wonld,
operate, tie prevent their receiving information in
Intore... This, and some other circumstances, in-
duced Mr. fares to commit the prisoners for re-
ex-amination, that he might have time to inriuire
more .minutely}' into the circumstances of the case.
Mr. Gurney then; at considerable.length,. detailed
to the' Jury all.the circomstances,, which hare al-
ready been repeatedly before • the Public., as they
came out on the different examinations of the de-
fendants and Mrs. MeDonald. The Learned.
Counsel was also proceeding to ,read. the conies-
Sion of Mackay, when 7--
.Mr..AosatW, -far the defendanti, objected to the
reading of this docnment, and contended • that it
could not be ,taken 4s evidence against Vaughan..
The CHAIRMAN observed, that the coutesslim
of Mackay certainly Unlat lint' he' taken as
deuce against any .ot ker than himself.
*Mr. GURNRY resumed, and ob;erveu, it. Wa.s
only as such that he wished to read it. Mr.
Gurney then proceeded to read it, and it wits
found particularly to relate to the burglary at -the
house in Gray's It' detailed different
oonversations between Vaughan, Drake, and
Hubbard ; in one of 'which Vatighan ontlerinOk
to furnish Hubbard with a craw-har, skeleton
keys, and other necessary implements of house-
breaking ; amid in another 'cOnversatiOtt Vaughan
was stated to have said to Drake, " I am told
yon can do a great deal ; Can yO,l get ,1 we, or
three melt to do tt crack 3" Drake sail lteCould ;
Vatighmi said, et' If lie did, he should ' have 51.
after they were committed." This testimony
otight be-said to be that of a' party concerned.
Some other witnesses which he should have to
it 'night he said, bore the same character
bat he had another witness to call, a person of the
tittmeoll.ttiwarels,4Poliet officeralso,bto one who,
Lt %roold.appear,front 't he testin.oity of all, even of
Vaughost) himself, lead been mho is red nal) the traint.
aOuly occasionally, to give it ( though he hail
never been in the secret. 't%'itt, this corroboi;ti've
evilittilc.lo.s.ity was persuaded the JurywOuld consider
the case otiniOkte; and if it should so appear
to the Jttry, they +Nook! have no other duty to po,
tort bin to find the defendants guilty. It was

1

le

!Impossible to
aggravate the case by calling in t _
4$ f fancy, or by nsing tiny terms !hot mu. Lin.
gnage supplied. Jr disclostd an tntempt 1,, eo:n.
mit noti-41er, by malting, the law'andit.e att ilittiA-
tratioil of
.jitsiice subservient ta 'so it(); lid t
pOse. Nothing could be sitid in pall.atiou ,st such
an offence—nothing could be pleatic4-ill its favour
to reduce our indignation against it. tie was
sure thht 1)1) endeavour- at tuitig.ttion would be
mode by his Learned-Fc:e.ri
one nt the pristrners. tie was cotaioced t flat he
would allow the enormity of the gutiii itod woolfi
draw un urgnment in favour of his client's hint).

cence from. that very eummity.. Admittiug the
blackness of: the transaction if ,proved, his Learned
Frieud.would attempt. to show, :that there was nn
so.devoid of every sentitucat of Itilutuity, of
every feeling of nature, as to have.engaged in it ;
inshore, that thecomthission of such guilt would
infer a monster who did not exist. But if, by the
evidence which bE shouldlaYbefore the Jury, this
guilt was 'established, he should have to regret,
that the-la W-had not provided'an adequate punish-
ment,: and "that it was inviissible, it) the present
eirctenettancts, to indict fur a higher offence than
the charge against the prisoners' contained.
Willima Drake was the first Nvitheis examined,
who deposed; that he was fOrrnerly a midshipman,
and an acting lieutenant in the navy. lie knew
ali the prisoners, and Mackay in particular. They
bath held.. situations in .the Custom-lionse.
could not say in. What situation Brown was, but
he knew that Vaughan was one of the Bow-street

natl.**. Early in July list the witness was in a
public-house pear Slioreditch Church, when his
.attentioo. was, drat te,the ;onversstion of some
persons in the place, which induced him to sup-
pose they were thieves. This citcumstance he af-
ter wards commUnicated to Mackay and Brown.
The former immediately proposed to introduce
the witness to Vaa;;tiva, and this was accordingly
thine next mrning. Mackaronly was present,
and they hail some conversation respecting the
Characters of the men whom ‘vituesS had heard'
convetsing at the public-1.1665e mentioned ; and
Vaughan immediately proposed that they should
commit a, burglary at the house of a friend of

his in Gray's-inn lane, and whefe an attempt
had been. pteviously. made by a man named
Hubbard, but which was. defeated by the bark-
ing of a dog, Witness, in the course of the
same afternoon, saw the Uurleys at a public-
!louse in :Shoreditelr, Hp - was OCCOMpanie,4
to the neighbourhood by Niqckay,, who waited
tot him at some [hit a iiCe. WitllVtg etiMtl49lli..
cated to the persons mentioned the intention
of breaking npen the house iu Gray's-inn-lane,
where he represented there was considerable pro-
perty, and asked "their assistance. They imme-
diately consented, and Pennis Hurley said, be
knew a man who was accomplished in bn.4ines, of
the kind, and„Otil. %Y.Olll they mi:.:ht depend. This
person he- 'aid he would hring with theft'. They
then parted, and witness afterwards communicovd
t he'Cotti-Crsat ion he hal had he persons men.
tinned to Mackay and Vaughan, and his appoint-
ment to meet thept again at eight We-ImA that.
evening. " This the witness did at! a public-house
in Shoreditch, and thty all went to tits how's of
Joltn I.3,livit, to talk the Matter over. The latter
teas the person who principally planned the busi-
ne:s ; and he, Nlackay, anti- the wit tick went to
Sadier'l Wells, where they met Vanglhin, who
accompanied then) to a tavern. Witness tohl,
Vaughn' all was ready, whenever he vt ished the
business to he done bin' the lat ter said it could not
he done that night on account of some lodgers,
bat he wished it to be effected the. following night,
when all would he ready. It ‘vdsthen fixed that they
should meet at Vanghan's house next, day, and the
witness waS.petiviottily to ik:t
,the: Iforleys and
others, .41110 et tietaiut thcal that' that htlrgLit'y was

to be eonunitted the following
.night.,-. Witness
accordingly met them, and said all would he really,
amt in Wei tvotilsTof Vatighan informed them time
there would conliderable property," an 4,.
.that it won't( be '':npericet gift,". Witness
seiviently Went with Mackay and Vaughan, who'
gave him swim keys and a• crow-bar, 'and some
money, in (inlet .to defray :the 'expellee of keeping
the men at itie public-house wlip were to commit
'the bari:hrv. Vattthan thett,l4ft them to go upon.
his duty at 'Sadler's Mackay: went to a
publ,c-hotte, anti witness %vent to ShoreditelL,
'and tact two of the men. together, with' the boy
Wood and D. Hurley.. They . were :afterwards
found/by Sanderson and, Vaughan, and Mackay
eatne•doWn ahoot i witness 'vent with
them, and Vaughan pointed out.the house, and
desired _WittleaS to -be'eircumspeet, and mark the
right door,v:and that everY: thing should be ready
in 15 minutes. Witness then returned to the
men,. and:at the. time took them -towards the
house, When Nlaeltay came.runaing up in haste,
and-said it could not be done on account of the
.watehman. Vanghan afterwards lOW withess.64t
lie could not get the watehthan-tognit his bliat, bat
that he "%voithl report him the next morning, and'
.get him discharged, Some time- after, Mackay,
Brown, and the wituesS; proposed the burglary at
,Mrs, Macdonald's., at floscton,anti it witaeotil.
m
unicated to Vaughan, who highly approved of
it, and, siinihit filet-tills and arrangements took
place as in the former case. The men 'to he ctn..'
prayed were Dennis,
:John and Michael
Hurley, Sanderson and 'Wood. %%Fitness had part
of the money to treat theta With franc Vaughan,
and part he furnished himself. .13rn'On undertook
to keep Mrs. Macdonald ,ont of the way, and she
was keplt three nights. One night it, was not
doneAteetruse only three 11)01i were present, and
heywanteidiro.have.all.fire, as the reward would
bt grenttr,,,,Q,n the '.2fl of Jaly It was done, and
on that bight Mrs,. il.l4cdonaipi was taken to ak
house in tr:i bet mtele-strure by Browtt, where site
was to be kept till `rust heirs shattid there : wit-
ness 'rent with thV.,tiVe tutus);; he tttld them they
would find some prop, rty, and men inned a ring to
theist. He bed .Mrs. Maetlonitld's ring in his pos-
session severaldays, and returned it on the dayorthe
rob.hery to Nittektly. pn the highi the roV,ery was
effected, Edwards,thecoustol,:.was a itfl Vt.gthin
l wilrnc ss
Hitt ni►t beiie~e hi: !toil
airy e i ti
of tie ita
Ciro went two is detail of the partittdars of the
nd
,tad on at, iving with Tler t,cr lawn- house, they
1);11:.144104irt 8,
et.; 11.11 ahveirnstrt Zi'
v ttl ;
the dour brviitu oprii, and almost itume-