Star.
London, England, 1823-11-01 00:00:00

TIDE MURDER OF MR IVEARE.

The case of murder near Wttford, noticed iA our
police Report of Thursday, same before the Magistrates
at that place the same day, when a matt named Hunt,
one of the four persons accused, made a confessions in
consequence of which the murdered body was searched I
for, and found in a pond within seven miles of Wat-
ford; the legs, which Were quite naked, were tied
together with some new cord, and the upper part of the
body was congealed in a sack tied on. Affixed to the
sock was a handkerchief containing stones. The body
was conveyed precisely in this state, to the Artichoke,
ii public-house, a short distance from the pond, where it
will retrain for the Coroner's Inquest. It was or-
dered that the sack should be removed, so that no
positive identification of the body took place.
The brother of the unfortunate murdered man, whose
name was Weare, went yesterday to identify the body.
His relatives went to his chambers, No. 2, in Lyon's
lon, where the unfortunate man had lived upwards of
five years, and the keys that were left by him with the
laundress previous to his leaving London on Ft Wry af-
ternoon, on the fatal Tourney, were delivered up to them.
Mr. Weare was of rather eccentric habits, and when-
ever he went in or out of the Inn, always held his hand-
kerchief to his mouth. He was invariably followed by
a favourite pointer, and the key of his chamber door
was a poem one, and always kept fastened to his purse,
in which situation it was found in the field where he was
shot. The murder was of the most atrocious nature.—
The pistol with which he was Shot, on being examined,
was found to contain part of the brains of the deceased,
from which it was evident that the parties must have
been in close contact, and that the-murderers must have
thrust the pistol into his head. The deceased had for-
merly had some concern in a gambling-house, and was'
known always to carry a large sum of money about
with him, and this is supposed to have been the induce-
ment to the murderers to commit the horrid crime. It
is understood that the Thurtells, who are in custody,
had invited Wcare to pass a short time with them at
their seclusion near Elstree, having been long in habits
of intimacy with him in the metropolis. The persons
in custody charged with the murder, are Thomas and
John Thurtell, J. Probart, and Joseph Hunt. The latter
is the person o ho made the confessioa by means of which
the murdered body was found in the pond.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
On the read between Radlet and Elstree, near the
pond in which the body of Mr. Weare was found, there
are two other ponds or pits filled with water, a short
distance trooi each other. The approver, Joseph Hunt,
when be left Watford with the officers, directed the
chaise immediately to the spot where the body was
found. He assisted in drawing it out, and when it was
brought out upon the bank, he looked at it without be-
traying the least emotion. He joked with some by-
standers upon indifferent subjects. After the exami-
nation had concluded on Thursday morning, J. Thurtell
was placed in a small room, and attended by two con.
stables. He was strongly ironed) and very narrowly
watched through the day. His bearing on Wednesday
night was exceedingly bold, and there was a great de-
gree of levity iii his manner; but after the examination
he became exceedingly dejected, and sent for Rutliven,
with whom be continued in conversation for a long time,
in the course of which he accused Hunt of having corn-
Mitted the murder, but admitted that he himself was
concerned in it. In the afternoon the Magistrates issued
an order for the conveyance of Thurtell to the County
Gaol at Hertford, and he was taken there in a chaise by
two constables of Watford well armed. On his arrival,
he was placed in a cell by himself, anal was watched dur-
ing the night. Hunt remained ip custody at Watford.
Hunt was called in in the course of the night, and un-
derwent a long examination, the interest of which is
superseded by his confession.
John Thurtell was then called in and examined. His
account of the transactions of the evening differed very
materially from that given by Hunt. He said he had
no appointment with a Gentleman to go down with him
on that night. Took no Gentleman up on the road.
Never told any one he could take him for a day's shocit-
ing. lie walked with Probart and Hunt on Saturday
morning in the lane for about ten minutes. They had
all three black hats on. His clothes and boots were not
so dirty as to regal; e a great deal of brushing cn Sa-
turday morning. The scratches on his hands were caused
partly by some brambles while he was shooting, and
partly by the bite of a dog. Ile never said anything to Mr.
Hunt or to any one else about4is hands being scratched.
Ruthven, on Thursday evening, when he arrived in
London, went to Hunt's lodgings, and there he found
a bag containing a backgammon board, wearing ap-
parel, Sze. and in the bed-room he found a double-
. barrelled gun, all of which were the property of the
deceased, and were taken with him on the evening on
which he started with John Thurtell.
Yesterday, the Coroner's Jury assembled at the Ar-
tichoke, at Elstree, and proceeded to view the body in a
room up stairs. It presented a spectacle truly horrible.
There was a wound on the right cheek, evidently occa-
sioned by a pistol-ball, which had passed into the in-
terior of the head. On the left temple was a wound, or
rather a hole, which went nearly through the head.—
It appeared to have been caused by some blunt in-
strument being driven with great force into the head.
The aperture corresponded in size with the barrel of
the pistol, in which brains were found. The instrument,
whatever it was; had penetrated both hemispheres of
the brain. The throat of the unfortunase man was cut
nearly from one ear to the other. Bruises were still
visible on his body.
After the Jury had assembled, Probart, T. Thurtell,
and Hunt were brought to the house, and placed in se-
parate rooms. Probart was taken, in company with the
CORONER and Jury, to- the room where the corpse was
lying, and was asked if he had ever seen it before ? He
looked at it, and said, in a tone of solemnity, " I never
saw that corpse; before in_my life. I declare to Gon I
never did. You may rely upon it, I never saw that
unhappy man before." Re betrayed no extraordinary
emotion. He was conveyed back to his room, and there,
in a few moments, he altered his tone, and made dis-
closures which in time el appear before the Public.
_ In the course of the . morning, a search was made
about the premises of Gill's-1411-couage, and in a dung.
hill was found a shirt steeped in blood, and cut down
the middle from top to bottom. This, on being com-
pared with some shirts of the deceased, was found to be
of the same size, and the work in each corresponded,
A sack was also found there, and some pieces of Lord.
The witneses who were examined before the Magis-
trates on Wednesday evening and Thursday morals;:
were again heard yesterday before the Bury, and gave
the same testimony. The Jigy were occupied until
tine o'clock last night in the inquiry, and they then ad
.icarnesi until clipde's. :ape brother of the deceased

Was present at some part of investigation, and W-.*;
so deeply affected as to be obliged to quit the root,.
The deceased was a man well-known in the gaming
circles, but was extremely penurious, and generallf car-
ried from £lOOO to C'2ooo abrmt his perton. This was
always contained in an old pocket-book, and generally
placed next his skin beneath his shirt. These habits
were known to all who were in the habit of being in
his company. He will be interred in Elstree church-
yard. None of his property has been found, except the
contents of the bag. The prisoners all remain in con-
finement, in separate places..
THE CONFESSION.
The following is the confession of Hunt, given very nearly in his
own words:—" One night that I was at Rexworthy's billiard-
rooms, John Thurtell told me he wished to see a Mr. Weare ; and
on entering the house we saw Mr. Weare sitting there. After some
conversation between Rexwortby and John Thurtell, the latter
called Mr. Wears out of the room. and they were absent about
twenty minutes. I was during that time in conversation with Mr.
Green and Mr. Rexworthy about a billiard-table. During that
,gonversatinn, Thurtell acrd Mr. Wears returned, and I and Thurtell
went away. As we were on one way up the Haymarket to the
Cock, Thurtell told me that Mr. Weare had behaved extremely ill
to hint ; for he, with another man of the name of Lemon, had won
.C3OO of him (Thutteli) at blind-lookey. When he discovered he had
been robbed of his money by false cards, he challenged Mr. Weare
with foul play, and Weare's reply was—` You dare not say a word
about it, for you know you have defraudedyour creditors of that
money.' John Thurtell then observed to me, that sooner or later he
would be revenged. At one time in particular he (John Thurtell)
was in difficulty, and applied to Mr. Weare for the loan of £5,
and Mr. Weare's reply was—' Go and rob for it, as I do.' On
Thursday night, which was the night before the murder took place,
John Thurtell asked me to call on hint on Friday morning, which
I did. Said he—, Hunt, I wish you would take a walk with me.'
We walked together as far as High-street, Mary.la-bonne. When
we got into high-street, we stopped at a pawnbroker's shop. After
looking at some jewellery which was in the window, John Thurtell
observed that those pistols (here the examinant looked at and
pointed to the pair already mentioned, which were on the table),
marked' I believe, were just the things he wanted to shoot
cats with. They were marked, a its. 6d. and he gave 11. es. for
them. We then returned to Mr. Tatsell's' the Coach and Horses,
in Conduit-street, and dined. After dinner, John 'Mundt asked me
to get hint a horse and chaise inunediately, as be had to meet a Gen-
tleman who was going into the country with him, on a shooting
excursion. He gave me 1/. 10s. to get the horse and chaise, fur
which I paid U. ss. He desired me not to say where the horse
and chaise were going. Mt. Probart, the proprietor of the horse
and chaise, supposed it was going to Dartford ; but it came down
into Hertfordshire. As soon as the horse and chaise came to the
door, which was at a quarter before eight o'clock, John Thurtell
told Mr. Probart, of Gill's-hill. who was present, that in e rinse,
quence of warrants being issued against hint and his brother for a
conspiracy to defraud the County Fire-office of 1,9001. he should go
to his (Mr. Probart's) cottage, for safety. Mr. Probart said, Well,
if that's the case, you may as well wait, and we will go together.'
John Thurtell said,' No, I can't stop, I have a Gentleman to meet
at Cumberland-gate; and he immediately drove off, taking with
him a great coat which he borrowed, of his brother Tom. I did
not see him pot these pistols into his pocket when he started, but to
the. best of my knowledge they were about his person. Mose
three-quarters of an hour had elapsed, Mr. Probart, of Gill's-Mb
cottage, said, he aid not want to travel by himself, and would be
glad it I would take a seat with him in his gig, and spend a plw
sant evening or two. 1 accepted Mr. Probart's offer. (Here 'the
exanunant described several houses at which he said they stopped
and drank.) We arrived at Mr. Probart's cottage, when John
Thereat came up and said, I have settled that who robbed
Me of 'MOO.' Probate said, ' Who dy'e mean? What dy'e mean?'
4 Why,' said John Thurtell,' I mean to say, that I have blown his
brains out, and he lays behind a hedge in the lane." Nonsense,
nonsense,' said Probart; you have never been guilty of aching of
that kind, John Thurtell; If you have, and near my cottage,ttly
character and my family are ruined for ever ; but I can't believe
that you have been guilty of so rash an act. Here, Hunt, (to exami-
nant) take In the loin of pork, and desire the cook to dress it imme-
diately.' I went into the kitchen, and waited until Probart came in,
which, to the best of my knowledge, was after a lapse of five minutes.
Before we went into the parlour. I said to John Thurtell, You are
jesting about killing a man to-night?' Ay, but I have,' was his
reply, • and no ale else but Weare, that rubbed me of my £300.'
Mr. ?rebut said, John, you have produced such an effect on me,
that bikes we retire and get sense refreshment, My senses will to-
tally leave me.' We' then had a glass of brandyeAllere he de-
scribed the supper which was served up, and said that John Thur-
tell complained of being sick, and could not eat} After supper,
Thurtell called mu and Mi. Probart out, and produced a very hand-
some gold watch, with a gold face, saying, What do you think of
it now ? This is something towards the 5001. I was robbed of ; and
ff you will go with me, I will thew you where he lays, stiff enough.'
Mr. Probart and myself both declined, observing that we would uot
witness such a sight for the world. Thurtell said—' You will not
see him, for he is in a sack.' I and Mr. Probate declined ping near
the spot. About one o'clock in the mmming, Mr. Probart called
me out, saying, Do you think Thurtell has been guilty of this rqur-
der ? My reply was—' It looks very suspicious, his having the gold
watch ; and in consequence of which I would rather decline going
Ito bed, and, if it was agreeable to him, I would sit up in the par-
lour with him, through the night.' About three o'clock in the morn-
ing, John Thane! said-o, Come and look at him ;heis a b---y
rogue, and I Mee bad my revenge.' We both declined going near
the spot, and walked about the garden till four o'clock. John Thur.
tell raid, If you decline going to fetch him,-I Will go myself;' and
in about ten minutes he left tae and Mr. Probart, for the purpose,
as we supposed, to fetch the dead man, William Weare. While he
was gone, Mr. Probart said to me,' Good Goo, blunt 1 what shall I
do if this account of Thumb's is true? --(Ruminant detailed some
further conversation.] During the conversation, Thurtell returned,
saying, he is so heavy,l can't carry him ; and if you won't assist me
in moving hint from behind the hedge, I shall put a bridle upon my
horse and throw hint across his back; and he accordingly took out his
horse with a bridle on. Mr.Probart said, be hoped he would not bring
a dead man near his premises; What b--y stuff you talk,' said
JohnThurtell: I shall bring him and chuck him into your fish-pond.'
—While he was gone with the horse, I and Probart went into the
parlour. Probart was much agitated, mid as for myself I had not
a nerve but what was in a state of convulsion. As nearly as I can
recollect, about a quarter or half-past five o'clock in the morning,
Thurtell came into the parlor, and said,' I bare thrown him into
the fish-pond.' 'Then, by Go,' said Probart, I insist upon your
getting him immediately off nay premises.' Mr. Probart and myself
went to the fish-pond, where we saw the feet of a man upwards in
the water. Thurtell fetched a line, which be threw across the feet,
so as to sink them, at the-same time saying, Probart, don't you
be alarmed, for I would not have you get into trouble, knowing that
you are a man that has a family. Let him remain here till night,
and then I will get him safe away. On Monday oight, Thomas
Thurtell asked me to go to Mr. Probart's, and inform hint ot the
disappointment respecting the hall, John Thurtell said, If you
are going down, 171 go with you, and take that man away from
Probart's premises. '•. I said, If you are going upon that businesi,
don't think I 'hall aid or assist you.' His reply was, I want tio
assistance; I tan do It myself, easy enough.' When we arrived at
Probart's, ThurteU appeared greatly agitated. When we had been
there some time, Probart and Thurtell went out together, and in
ten minutes Probart returned by himself. Its half an hour, Thurtell
came in, and asked us to put the horse in his gig, and take it
round to the gate. We did so, and Thurtell brought upcn his
shoulder a corpse, a male corpse, one part in a sack, and the
feet hanging out. Ile asked Probate to lend him a hand to put
the corpse in the gig, but he refused. He then asked me, but [de-
clined. He then put the corpse in-the chaise himself, endued the
feet to the dashing iron. He then said there was plenty of room for
me in the gig besides him and the corpse. I declined having any
thing to do with it, and said I would walk on, and set might over-
take me. I walked on two miles, when Martell ovrook me, and
told me be had disposed of Use corpse in a small muddy marsh about
four feet deep. From thence we made the beseof our way to town.
And aldwa Gentlemen, I believe you have it as clear as if you bad
been present yourseivee."
In the course of yesterday a person, sytio said his name was Thos.
Mallards, tieing in Henry-street, ilampsteattatoad, a sawyer, pre-
canted himself at 130 w-street, and fluted, that between five and
six on Wodaceday morning last, he was goiug along Little lltooke
street, lianover-square, and picked up a bundle of cloth toutainint
several pieces, which appeared to be part of a drab great coat ; oo
examining it minutely be perceived several splashes of blood upoe
it, and to many places ie we smeared with WM. as if a bloody
hand had been wiped epee it ; be had sins* heard of the murder at
Watford, and supposing t might some way or other relate to that
event, he thought it Deemer, to bring it before a liaeistrete.
The butane Was thee produced, Ind the pieties of cloth had cilia
deneip formed the body part of a inbreed coati spree and suteate
ing of blood were plainly visible its many parts, and the skirts and
sleeves wept Wish*
Dlr. Halms* that OccurUkiah", abatild be Medea •

NT ArA istratakivet

It is much feared that the BEd post will Ming disastroisactonnis
of the shipping oh the N.H. coast; the port letters of last night
mention the gale as being tremendous, but bad not sufficient time to
ascertain its effects.
Fatwomit, Octosee R. to S.E...A.AlliTett the Esther.
Foam's', front Malaga in twenty-five days.
PORTSMOUTH, OCTOBER 31.—tils Royal Highness the Duke of
CL A R FNC It continued his visit at this port until Sunday last, when
his Royal Highness left to tetUrn to his seat, Bushy %Park. During
Saturday last his Royal Highness was occupied in inspecting the
Semaphore signal stations. He afterwards embarked in Admiral
Sir JANIS HAWKINSWHITSIIRD'S barge, acconlpanied by the Admi-
ral, and proceeded to Gosport, akin after inspecting the liarracti at
Forton, returned to Weovil, and examined the brewery &gorging
to the Victualling Department; after which hit Royal Highness
again embarked in the Admiral's barge, and visited his Majesty's
ship Perste, Up the harbour. The Queers Cam:Lorre fired a royal
salute each time his Royal Highness passed her. His Royal High--
ness dined with Cdtrunissloner Sir Getman GRIT, and a largo party
of Officers, at the Dock-yards— Lord Viscount Amyl' i.e., First Lord
of the Admiralty, arrived here this morning, from London, and
shortly afterwards crossed over to Ryde, in the Commissioner's
yacht, where his Lordship intends eo remain a short time.—We
understand that the circumstances attending the affray which took
place at Natio, in China, in the month of December, 1821, be-
tween a watering party of seamen belonging to his Majesty's ship
TOPASC, andthe-natives of that place, in which several of the latter,
were killed and wounded, are shortly to be inquired into by a Naval
Court Martial at this port. The JASPER, 10-gun sloop, Captain
A. D. Y. ARBUTHNOT, sailed yesterday on a cruize. The SNAPPEt
gun-brig was paid off yesterday, and laid up. The guard-ships at
this port are to be immediately completed with their full complements
of Royal Marines. The LITSLT frigate is to be commissioned at
Chatham. Arrived on Sunday the Asitoir cutter, Lieutenant Joule
• Powaser, and delivered into the Custom House at this port 53 tubs
of foreign spirits crept up on Saturday last : also arrived bn Sunday
the rrovidence, Captain Ilusonzotoe, fur Madras, to embark pas-
sengers, &c. and the Success transport, Lieutt-:ntant PRICHARD, lot
the coast of Afriea ; both of which ships sailed on Thursday.—lt
hale blown a very heavy gale front the North the whole of this day,
but we have not heard of any damage don,: to shipping : no arrivals
or sailings.
The Sarruo is the only vessel of- war at Spithessis in Harbour
•••••QUlele CHASLOTTZ, Gasoes, Atstax, PihNAI, VICTOR, Haatttea.,
and ALACarrt.
DRAL, ()moue 31.—Wind F. by N —Passed through, the High.
lander, Mittea, from Liverpool for Loudon. TwU schooners under
quaientine, a bark, and several brigs have passed through the Downs,
Irons the Westward, names unknown.
YARMOUTH, OLVORWR 31.—Wind N.E.—lt has blown a heavy
gale the whole of this day : the accounts from Winterton state that
the Edmund, Ewiser, from Sunderland to London, was driven on
shore at that place—the Master and four men lost. One of the
fishing-smacks is likewise on shore, and the crew drowned.
HARWICH, OCTOSER 31.—1 t has blown a complete hurricane the
whole of the day from E.N.E. but as yet we have not heard of any
damage among the shipping.
Anaiven—At New York, Amity, Maxwell; Union, French;
Commerce, Whitney; Lady Gallatin, Briton; Manhattan, Michel-
son ; and the Leeds, Stoddart, from Liverpool ; Dublin Packet,
Newcombe, from Dublin ; Friends, Choate, from the Clyde;
Maria, Fowler; and Magnet, Mount, from London. At Jamaica,
Blacket, Murray, from London ; Bradock, Ilewson, from Liver-
pool; Brisk, Mossop, from Whitehaven ; Dispatch, Milne ;' and
Olive Branch, Thane, from St. John's (N. B.); Queen, Dutton;
and Peggy, Rosignol, from Halifax; RaMbler, Ludolf, from Lunen-
but; and Governor Hodgson, from Quebec.