Star.
London, England, 1830-08-19 00:00:00

THE MURDERED POLICEMAN.

INQUEST ON THE BODY.
Yesterday morning, Thomas Stirling, Esq. Coroner for the
County, had summoned a highly respectable Jury, at the Crown
Tavern, Clerkenwelt green, to inquire into the death of the deceased,
John long, No. 43, Div. G. of the Metropolitan Police.
Before the Jury were sworn, one of the gentlemen said, that he
wished to remark an irregularity which had occurred in this af.
fair, which ought not to pass without observation, namely—that the
murder had been perpetrated in one parish, and that the body had
been removed to another parish, where, consequently, the inquest
must be holden ; the expense thereby incurred was certainly but tri-
fling, yet it was a deviation from the usual practice, and was trans.
(erring the casualties of one parish to the burthening of another ;
and he hoped the Coroner would mark the irregularity, by expres.
sing an opinion on the subject, and that the like might not be per-
mitted to occur in future. The speaker did not wish to object to
the proceedings as they stood, but merely to prevent a recurrence of
the same.
Inspector Busine explained ; that he bad in vain attempted to get
the body conveyed to a public-house in the neighbourhood, on ac.
count of the lateness of the hour ' • and that of necessity they were
obliged to remove the body to the station-house, which was in a
different parish.
As a great portion of what transpired at the examination before
the magistrates was repeated at the inquest, we will merely note
such as differ materially in this inquiry, and give such as were
added by the witnesses on their cross-examination.
Mr. James Holmes, surgeon, of Guildford-street, St. Pancras,
stated, in addition to what has already appeared, that as the wound
was in the immediate region of the heart, he had no doubt but it
must have occasioned death in about three minutes from the effusion
of blood. The knife, which was a shoemaker's knife, wanting the
handle, was very sharp, and worn to a point, and was about six
hubs. in length of blade.
IN emesquence of this witness not having opened the body he re-
do" Ise that purpose, and in the course of the investigation was re-
eznatined, when lie stated that he had ascertained that the wound
bed been made between the fifth and sixth ribs, that the point of
the knife had perforated one of the ventricles of the heart, and had
entered a cavity. The only way that witness could account for the
deceased being able to speak after receiving the injury was, that,
perhaps, from the knife being left sticking in the part the blood
was, in some degree, prevented from flowing. Had the blow been
struck two or three inches in another direction, its fatal effects
might have been arrested by the breast bone.
Mary Ann Griffith., widow, Gray's Inn-lane. (This witness
gave her name Stevens, as being the name she was best known by
but when questioned, she with much hesitation admitted her real
name, which was adopted.) She stated that about an hour and a
half before the murder on Monday night, she, on her way to Bsg.
nigge Wells, spoke to the prisoner in (hay's Inn-road ;he was then
in good health, and very jocular. She was returning by the same li
road a little before twelve o'clock, when she met a person in dress
and manners apparently a gentleman ; he treated her to a glass of
rum at a public-house. and had a glass of ale for himself. He spoke
In a peculiar accent, but witness could not say to what country he
belonged ; he had a very remarkable impediment in his speech.-
-After witneu left the public-house, this person stood in convey.
sation wiih her in the streets, and had hold of her hand ; they
were in this position when she saw three men coming from the
Holborn direction towards Battle-bridge ; deceased was a little way
behind them, but she did not at that time recognize him. She saw
one of the three men dressed in a blue coat and gilt buttons, with
very dark whiskers and a remarkable scar on his left cheek, run
away ; he seemed to be intoxicated, as he reeled considerably when
he ran, and having come opposite a lamp, she had a full view
of his face. When this man had run a few yards, another of
the men also ran away ; he wore a brown coat; he went in the
same diiection as the other, on which deceased instantly called
out, "Oh GOD ! lam a dead man !—Stop hint 1" The person
who was in conversation with witness immediately quitted her
hand, and called out to the men who passed them. " Run
a-head !" and set off to follow them running. Witness has
since entertained an opinion that he might have been an accomplice.
Witness did not see the third man, who was near deceased, because
he ran in another direction. She is decidedly of opinion that the
cry of the deceased applied to the man in the brown coat, because
the other was at a little distance before it was uttered, and she in.
distinctly saw the man In the brown coat, as if in the act of striking
the deceased a blow ; but it was only one blow, for there was so
strife occurred between them. She went to deceased, who had
dropped on his knee, and he exclaimed—" I am murdered," and put
his hand to his side. She called out—" Murder, and stop thief I"
She went with the body of deceased to the surgeon's; when there,
saw the man in the brown drat taken past in custody of two constables.
She immediately recognised him ; and when she saw him afterwards
at the station-houseohe identified him as being the very man she
saw the last to run away from the deceased, he whom she had
seen in the act of striking him, and who had since given his
same Smith.
John Code, No. 66. Cromer-street, was in Gray's Inn.lane.r.

en Monday night, when be beard the female screaming, and also
bad a men cry Murder I The *male called out, " For Gas's
win ease and help, one of the G. Division is stabbed." Witness
*Gni deceased lying on his left side, and with the assistance
of enether young man who had come up, he took the deceased
en his knee. The young man asked deceased where he was
wended, be replied, " I am stabbed," and lifting his right hand to
kis Neck, said, " I am choking." Deceased's head fell back as
soon as he had uttered these words, and a young gentleman who
was present felt his arm, and remarked, "the man is decidedly
dead." Witness saw but could not describe the three men who ran
away from the deceased, on account of their running in the opposite
direction to that in which he walked, andhe stopped with the wounded

Man
Amos Dennis, No. 31, Noble-street, described minutely the three
men who were walking with the deceased near the Caltborpe Arms.
Witness was a very little way behind them—one of the men on
deceased's left struck him a back-handed blow about the breast ;
the men all ran away, and deceased dropped on his knee, and when
witness came to him he exclaimed, « Oh, my man, I em stabbed,"
and:pointed to his breast. Witness saw that the man who struck
the blow had on a brown coat. Witness immediately took de-
ceased's rattleand sprung it ; he remained beside him, but he kept
his eye upon, and never lost sight of, the man who struck the blow
till he saw him stopped by Mr. Cubitt's watchman, who was alarmed
by the springing of the rattle. Witness is of opinion that the pri-
sorter who cells himself Smith is the man he saw strike the con-
stable.
Thomas Prenderver, watchman to Mr. Cubits, stated that when
he stopped the prisoner, who had given ,his name Smith, be made
noreaistance, but was very pale and breathless, and seemed very
much agitated ; he denied any knowledge of the constable having
been wounded.
Petit Millican, Portpool-lsne, saw the deceased come up with the
three nten,One of whom he seemed to be taking into custody, on

which the others hustled him, and the constable called out, " I am
a dead man 1" Two of the men ran straight down, but the other
turned short at Well-street, where he turned round and called out
" Stop thief," and walked. sway
In answer to a question from a Juror, Mr. MiWcan said that he
was so agitated, that he scarcely knew what to do; and the reason
why be Aid not follow the man who went by Well-street, was, a
dread that he might serve him the same way that the constable had
been served. lie saw the prisoner Smith running,aad at s darker place
of the road he saw him throw something away to the right and to
the left. This witness's description of the man with the blue coat,
who escaped, was the same as the preceding witnesses who had
spoken to him. Witness was with Inspector Busine when Summers
was subsequently taken.
Inspector Busine gave a very lengthy and particular detail of all
the circumstances, he being the Inspector on duty at the the time,
and who accompanied the constables when the information reached
tke station. house. The substance of his evidence appeared in the
report of the first examination ; it chiefly related to the apprehen-
sion of Summers, who denied that he had been in Gray's-inn-road
that night, but who was afterwards identified by several witnesses as
having been seen among those among the crowd. Bonne knew him
to be of a general bad character.
Wilson Conatabell, No. 34, Division E. produced the blade of the
knife that he had received from the surgeon—it was stained with
blood; and the handle, which witness had picked up about an
haw after, a few yards from where the murder was committed ; the
Wolk had a drop of blood upon it when found, but that had been
rubbed off. Witness had also a shoe-maker's awl, with a particular
mark upon it, which he had picked up near the spot.
It was stated also, that a great coat and a crow-bar had been found
where the former witness had described the prisoner Smith to have
thrown something sway.
Some difficulty existed in the minds of the jury regarding the de.
tendon of Summers, who had not been identified by any of the wit.
Doses, nor was there any evidence to trace him having been in
company with Smith on that evening; but the Coroner thought
there was enough in his denial of being at the spot to detain him till
further inquiry could be made.
The jury without hesitadou returned s verdict of Wilful Murder
against the prisoner Smith and two others, names unknown.
After the inquiq had terminated so far as regarded the verdict,
Air. Stirling issued an order to the Governer of the new prison, Cler.
kenwell, that the two men, John Smith and Laurence Summers,
should be brought before the Jury, and in about half an hour they
were brought into the jury-room in the custody of Mr. Kihby, the
Governor of the prison, and Bugg and Mountateven, the beadles of
Clerkenwell. They were fastened together with a leg-chain and
handcuffs. They were placed at the foot of the table, when
The Coroner, addressing Smith, informed him of the result of
the inquiry which had just taken place, and after cautioning him
that he was not bound to answer any question, nor make any remark
übiess of his own free will, asked him if he or his fellow-prisoner
had -

anything to say ?
Smith said, I am perfectly innocent of the crime I stand charged
with, and I am willing to give any explanation that may be re.
quired of me.
The Coroner then asked him where he resided ?
Smith—l must decline answering that question altogether.
A Juror.—What business do you follow ?

Smith.—l am a porter and messenger.
The Coroner.—Who was your employer ?
Smith.—l hope your Worship will excuse my telling—it is on
account of my not wishing that my friends, who are very respecta-
ble, should know the situation I am placed in.
A Juror remarked, that considering the situation in which he
stood, he ought to lose no time in communicating with his friends,
in order that they might assist him.
Smith.—lf I make any communication to them I shall do it in
due time, and privately.
Summers, in answer to questions, said he lived at No. 3, Lay.
stall.strect, Clerkenwell ; that he was by trade a smith ; that be
knew nothing of the transaction, and that be was a perfect stranger
to the prisoner Smith. •
The prisoners were then removed in the custody of the same

officers.
Smith is a man of the middle stature, a countenance by no means
Indicating ferocity of disposition, and is about 30 years of age. He
seemed rather depressed, but conducted himself firmly and re.
sportfully to the Court. Summers is a lad of 19, and has nothing
remarkable in his appearance.

Mr. Cobbett's idea, that " to believe oneself young is
as good as being so," will be received among certain elderly maiden
ladies as a standing and most gratifying maxim.
His Majesty has been pleased to present to the Zoo-
logical Society the whole of the collection of birds and beasts which
belonged to the late King, amounting in number to one hundred and
fifty !
Wben Charles X. resided at the Palace of Holyrood
House here, one of the muter. of the High School, the late Mr.
Richie, was employed to give him some instructions in the English
language. Mr. Ritchie, by way of rendering his lessons useful,
recommended his royal pupil to study history, in which he found
him very ignorant. He tried him in French, English, and Scotch
history, but in vain. The only book he could ever induce him to
read was the " Vicar of Wakefield."—Edinburgh .ddeertiser.
Within a few days after the King's accession to the
throne, his Majesty ordered that a way for the public should be im-
mediately opened into St. James's park, from Pall-mall, through
that most extraordinary, and exclusively aristocratical, barrier and
embankment—Carlton-terrace. More than six weeks have now
passed away Since that Royal order was given, and, as yet, nothing
whatever has been done towards carrying it into effect ; the lordly
barrier still remains untouched, and untrodden—aave by the feet of
" the eaclusives ;" and " the people" who wish to enter the Park
are still doomed to tread their way into it by the old roads which
liked; them best. Query. Is the King's order merely "wain
the convenience" of the architect P--or is it altogether rescinded
There are folks who say that the King's order was premature, and
will not be carded into effect ; for that when his Majesty issued it
he was not aware that his Royal brother, the late King, had given
his direct sanction to the exclusive embankment in question, Inas-
much as he thought it extremely improper that the multitude should
be permitted to trample on the site of a once Royal Palace.
Until last week the movements of the new Court have
been highly favoured by fine weather; but, it seems, those move.
ments would have been in no wise impeded by the very worst wea-
ther to which our variable climate is subject. Instance r--On
Saturday last, while the King was inspecting the sth Dragoon
Guards in the court of the cavalry barracks at Windsor, the clouds
rained what the Scotch call an even.down.pour ; insomuch that
some of the Field Officers in attendance would fain have availed
themselves of the shelter of the barrack piazza ; but not so
the King. His Majesty was on foot, dressed in a Field.
Marshal's uniform, with white overalls, and without any
cloak ; but he nobly stood it out, attentively watching the
evolutions of the troops, and making his comments
as composedly as though the sun had been " aimaidag us.
clouded o'er the blue serene." Three times, in the coarse
of those evolutions, did the Prince Leopold, Colonel of the
regiment, offer his Majesty ari umbrella; and each and every time
did his Majesty, by a rather impatient wafture of his hand, signify
that he needed no such unsoldierlike—or, at all events, such an on*
sailorlike accommodation. At length the Prince, giving the um-
brella to an attendant, said " At least, your Majesty will permit me
to shelter you as well as I can with my own person;' and so hav-
ing said, his Royal Highness placed himself to windward of the
King, which luckily happened to be in the rear ; otherwise it is more
than probable that the Prince would have been pat aside with as
Bide ceremony as the paraplaie. Three quarters of an hour passed,
and the rain never ussed to pour down " in torrents" as we En-
glishers say ; but so little trouble did it give his Majesty. that, when
the regiment had gone through its evolutions on horseback be or-
dered that it should perform certain other evolutions on fiat ; all
which he waited to see duly performed before he withdrew from the
pelting of the storm, and joined the Queen and the rest of the Royal
potty in the Officers' barracks. England has long and justly boasted,
both in prose and verse, of her "roes for all weathers; and now—
thanks to his Majesty's bringing up—she may be proud of having a
Zing of the same quality.—Morning Herald.
REMISSION OF SENTENCE.ThOMIUS Buxton, Wil-
lem Webster, and Erasmus Webster, convicted at the Lent Arakes,
11639, and ordered to be imprisoned three years—for having pprorosc red
a certain marriage between the said Thomas Buxton and Elisabeth
Hickson, at Manchester, were on Friday, the 6th instant, discharged
keen the Castle of Lancaster, they having received his Majesty's
most gracious remission of the remaining part of their sentence of
linprisonment.
This morning, between one and two o'clock, a fire
was discovered at the house of Mr. Lewis, a turner, in Prim&
street, nearly opposite Drury.lane Theatre; and, curiously onmels,
the whole appeared to be on fire without any flame bursting tank
in the manner usually characterising houses on fire. Two engines
were speedily on the spot, one of them from Drury; and they
were able to go to work very soon, in consequent of a prompt
supply of water. They played on the premises for at least half all
hour before any thing like flame burst forth, though by that time
the house was nearly gutted t this peculiarity called forth general
observation. Other engines arrived, and in about an hour the fire
was so completely subdued as to remove all alarm for the neigh.
bowing houses, which are rather old, and would have stood a may
chance had flames burst forth, instead of the fire being etas singular
and smouldering a character. The lower doers could not be got
open, but ladders were raised to the windows; the Inhabitants trim
aroused, and much of their furniture removed by the active later.
Terence of the Police and others. The next house to Mr. Leeds's
was burnt down about two years ago.