Star.
London, England, 1825-03-28 00:00:00

Pr-

THREATENING LETTER.

Mirk: Holder and David Gardener were indicted on
the Statute 4 Geo. IV. c. 54. for feloniously sending a
a letter to the Rev. Edmund Cartwright, clerk, threat-
ening to accuse him of a shocking crime, for the pur-
pose of extorting money. The indictment contained
thirtrtwo counts,so as to bring the case,by proper inuen-
does, within the scope of the. Statute. This case excited
considerable interest.

The Rev. E. Cartwright deposed, that having some
flower plants at Pulborough, which he wished to have
brought to Arundel in a barge by water, about a quar-
ter before seven o'clock on Saturday, the 26th of Fe-
bruary, he sent for the prisoner Holder, who is a barge-
' man of Pulborough, to make arrangements for carry-
ing them on the Monday following. The parlour door
being wide open, Mrs. Cartwright came in, and then it
was settled that the prisoner should go for the flowers
on some future day, and he was sent away. A few
minutes after seven o'clock witness went out of his
house to go to the play, which had been bespoken by
his wife, and wishing to make the prisoner some little
recompense for the trouble he had given him, told his
servant boy, C. Tune, to call Holder back. The boy
immediately went after the prisoner and brought him
back, and witness met them in the High-street of Arun-
del, and gave the prisoner a shilling. Witness then went
to the Theatre, being then about ten minutes after seven,
and remained there until half-past ten. About four
o'clock on Monday following, his servant•boy gave him
the letter now produced. The lettcr was put in and
read. It was expressed in the worst orthography, and
dated 4, Arundel, 1825." It stated, that about eight
o'clock on Saturday evening, the 26th of February, the
writer saw Mr. Cartwright and Charles Holder, is a
lane, conducting themselves in a manner too horrible to
mention. Jt then threatened that if Mr. Cartwright did
not give the writer satisfaction, he should write imme-
diately to Mrs. Cartwright. The letter then concluded
in these words :
You ut him about the Rev. that was houng, and the tad that
lived with him. If you chews to satersfy Holder and me, we will
keep it seared as though we was memos. ASlgned)
" C MOULDER.

64 D. G."

Mr. Cartwright then stated, that being unwilling to
alarm his wife, he determined not to take any notice of
the letter until early the next morning, when he took it
to Mr. Richard ,Holmes, the attorney, and asked him
what he ought to do in such an infamous business ? It
WAS then arranged that a warrant should be taken out,
that the witness should mark some money, and that he
should send word to Holder for him and the person
who wrote the letter, to call at his house at eight
o'clock in the evening, when constables were to be in
attendance to apprehend them. At eight o'clock the
same evening the prisoners came to witness's house and
were shewn into his study. Aimessage was then sent to
Mr. Holmes to have the constables ready. When the pri-
soners came into the room, witness said to Gardener,
" What could induce you to write such a letter, which
you must know to be untrue ?" Gardener said, "It is
all true ! I was close by where you were, and I heard
and saw everything. After you was gone, I went up
to Holder, who was crying like a child, and he then
told me what had passed." Upon which witness said,
" Although the charge isiuntrue,bl should be very sorry
to have it talked about." Gardener then said," If you
pay us we will keep it as secret as the grave."
Witness asked him what he expected. Gardener then
said, " from any other Gentleman I should expect a
hundred pounds ; but as I have a great respect for
you. I will take only fi•ty pounds ; and added, that
the same thing lately happened to another Gentle-
man, whom be, witness - knew very well, and was a
rich man, and he gave him; 501. and that he discovered
it in the same way, being near the place where the
parties were standing. Witness then told the prisnaers
that he had nut so much money by him; but would
give them the contents of his purse, and pay the re•
mainder on Thursday. Witness then gave each of
the prisoners a sovereign, a half crown, and a shil-
ling, which had been ill previously marked by wit-
ness and Mr. Holmes. The prisoner Gardener then
said, " To 'hew you that I act honourable, 1 will give
you a receipt," arid im !fled ately wrote the following
words and figures on a piece of paper:
That other Geatle.l,an gem me to keep the seckered—
£so .0 0
2 7 0

47 13 0

The prisoners then quitted the house, but were
iin-
mediately taken into custody by the constables, And
the money found upon them, which witness identified.
This evidence having been. fully corroborated by Mrs.
Ca; turright and other uitnesses, the prisoners being
called upon for their defence, both repeated the cha'ge,