Star.
London, England, 1809-12-12 00:00:00

not an actual conclave of persons, yet such an union
of circumstances and dovetailing of facts, as was
impossible to have arisen, except from an antecedent
union of mind, they might hold this to be proof of
conspiracy. It had been asked of the learned Coma.;
sea, why the present indictment was filed for conspi-
racy ? and it had been hinted that parties were in-
cluded in this indictment, lest others should have the
benefit of their testimony. He should say that both
he and his learned Friends who were with him, would
have degraded themselves and discredited the liberal
education which they had received, if they for one
moment had consented to smother justice. It had
been said, that an indictment for perjury would have
been the more correct mode of proceeding, because'
Colonel 'Wardle had pledged himself to the public to
prosecute for perjury. But his letters must have been
mis-read. Colonel Wardle's letter said, " There only
remains for me now, before my Gon and my Country,
to declare that it [the verdict] was obtained by, perjury
alone ; and I do pledge myself to prove that fact, the
earliest moment the forms of the law Hill allow me to
do so." This was what Colonel Wardle's letter stated,
that he AVOUId prove perjury, not that he would indict
for it. That was his declaration, that his pledge, and
had tie not kept his word? If he had resorted to an
indictment for perjury, instead of this for a conspira-
cy by perjury, he would have stultified himself ; for
he could .:ot then have prosecuted Francis 'Wright,
who was included in the present indictment, and
who, the learned Counsel ire his heart believed was
the worst offender of the whole. He had not sworn
himself ; he had only sent his emissaries into the
witness-box. Who, however, put Colonel Wardle's
money in his pocket ? Francis Wright. Not that
miserable woman, who had perjured herself in order
to enable him to do so : she had the furniture, it
was true ; but every farthing of the money went into
the pocket of Francis Wright, and he was at the
bottom of all the wicked machinations, by the
help of which he placed it there. Then the
Learned Counsel should prove a conspiracy to-day.
Had he indicted for perjury too, it would have been
said, " Here is oppression ! two indictments for per-
jury, and one against Francis Wright for a conspira-
cy." It would have been said, " you have put three
indictments on the record of the Court," and the pro-
secutor's Counsel would have merited the rebuke.
" Gentlemen," said Mr. Alley, " my Learned
Friends and myself do not meanly skulk back, and
suffer a gentleman, whom we know to be an honour-
able man, (Mr. Ellis, the prosecutor's Attorney) to
hear the brunt that we ought to face. We directed
that the present indictment should be for conspiracy,
and not perjury ; and if we have erred, upon our own
heads be the sin." It could not be said that the
channels of justice were dammed up, and that all
parties accused would be implicated ; for it was welt
known, that if any individuals were not inculpated, it
was not less the duty of the Noble and Learned
Judge, than his practice, every day to dismiss those
individuals from the indictment. If Francis Wright
were not by the present case proved guilty, he might
be dismissed from the indictment. The Learned
Counsel would give all the defendants the benefit of
their own evidence, of which they could not avail
themselves without his permission ; and requested the
Jury to believe it till it was overturned, to give that
unhappy woman, Mrs. Clarke, full credit for whatl
she had sworn till then, to get rid of all former im-1
pressions of her perfidy, and to believe her till he
proved her perjured. He would also give the defen-
dants
the benefit of what they could. not also hare
gotten • .a.hout his consent—the defendant Francis
Wright's answer to a Bill which Colonel Wardle had
filed against him in the Court of Chancery. This
was the defendant's own story—not given in the con-
fusion and flurry of a pare& evidence in a witness-box
—but his cool, collected narrative ; taken down in his
closet by Mr. Stokes, his own Attorney : and then
the Jury would have the oath of the defendant him-
self in his own exculpation. Were the Learned Coun-
sel and his friends then to be considered as blinding
justice ?
The Learned Counsel had stated generally what
his case was, and the law of it : he now proceeded to
the facts, upon which he should prove theDelendants
guilty. He should prove, beyond all question, that
Mrs. Clarke retired, in the summer of the last year,
into the country ; and as the winter season approach-
ed, having no hrnuse, she applied to Francis Wright,
with whom :he had been many years acquainted, to
look out for one for her. Being totally distressed,
and, according to her own evidence, without a single
guinea in the world, she applied to the man who had
taken many thousands of her money, and to whom
she then owed :CM. She could not apply to the
Leal ned Counsel, or to the Gentlemen of the Jury ;
but she could to Francis Wright, whose interest it
'a as to serve her, since he thereby served himself.—
He accordingly went to Mr. Bull, to take a house of
him in Holles-street, Cavendish-square, which he
stated he wanted for a lady of respectability from the
country, of character and reputation. He said, " I
avant it °Ply for a short time, for I am on the look
out for a house, which I am to furnish for her as soon
as T can get it." Under this false representation,
Mrs. Clarke, under the name of Farquhar, got into
Mr. Bull's house. He discovered, however, who she
was, and with the feelings of an honest man, said to
Franck Wright, " how dared you deceive me, and
send this strumpet into my house i" This dignified
Mr. Bull's conduct, and would materially validate
his testimony to-day. Driven hence, Mrs. Clarke
:wain took shelter under the wing of Francis Wright.
He had a house in Bedford-place, Russell-square, and
allowed her to reside there till in October he saw an
advertibernent in a newspaper, offering a house to
let in Westbourne-place, for which he applied, as he
was directed, to Mr. Curt. He told Mr. Curt he
thought it would suit the lady for whom be Wanted
it, and would mention its terms to the lady. Mrs.
Clarke accordingly called to look at the house, liked
it, did not object to the terms, and, in short, took
the house in the name of Farquhar. 4, But," saki