Star.
London, England, 1822-09-11 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SXSUOSS.. .
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CHARON 07.CONSPIRACT.
Thomas Gook, James Harrison, and John Connell,
were indicted for combining, conspiring, and agree-
ing falsely to accuse Thomas Jay of a felony, in steal-
ing from a person unknown, a watch and key. The
indictment was of considerable length, and contained
various other averments.
It will be remembered that Thomas Jay, one of
the King's postillions, was tried for the felony at the
last Old Bailey Sessions, and acquitted, no evidence
being adduced against him. The three defendants
now indicted were witnesses against the lad, and by
their evidence at 'Bow-street, obtained his commit-
ment for trial. They were now indicted for the con
spiracy. The Court was extremely full at an early
hour, and Mr. Ex-Sheriff Parkins was present.
Mr. ALLzy, on the part of the prosecution, having
detailed the facts to the Jury at some length, called
the following witnesses to substantiate his case:-
Thomas Jay stated, that he_ was one of his Ma-
jesty's postillions, and was at Carlton-house on the
night when the King went to Drury-lane Theatre.— -
He was not on duty, and was in a postillion's undress,
wearing a plain grey coat. After his Majesty had
gone to the Theatre, witness, with some of his fel-
low-servants, followed the carriages, and arrived at
Drury-lane at about half-past seven. A servant of
the name of James Smith, and another named Sal.
muel Berwick, were with him, and attended.to the
horses whew necessary. About ten o'clock he went
to a public-house opposite to the Theatre, and had
some ham and beer. Soon afterwards he understood
the King was about to leave the Theatre, and be
assisted.rn bearing up the horses. The carriages had
Icarcely driven off, and he had hardly got into the.
crowd, before the defendant (Gook) came up and
took him into custody. The other two defendants,
Harrison and Connell, immediately joined Gook,
and took him to the Bunch of Grapes public-house.
They charged him with picking pockets. Ile had
never attempted anything of the kind, and such an
intention had never entered into his imagination.—
The defendants searched him, and found in his
pockets a crown-piece, a half-crown, a pocket-hand-
kerchief, and a small key. The wages he received
from his Majesty were a guinea per week, and be
found them amply sufficient. Ile was afterwards
taken to Covent-garden watchhouse. Gook told the
watchhouse-keeper that he had brought a notorious
character and pickpocket. The watchhouse-keeper
answered, " Surely that cannot be." Witness re-
Rained in the watchhouse all night, and the next
d6y was taken before Sir Richard Birnie, at Bow-
street. Ultimately, he was committed for trial, and
was tried and acquitted at the Old Bailey Sessions.
The three defendants appeared as witnesses against
,him. He was suhsequently set at large.
The witness was not now cross-examined, Mr.
AnoLPHus, who was Coutisel for the defendants,
wishing the cross-examination to be postponed until
the other evidence for the prosecution had been
produced.
James Smith, one of the King's stable-keepers,
deposed that he accompanied Jay on
,the night in
question to Drury-lane. Witness conversed with him
'occasionally, and Jay frequently mounted the coach-
box of one of the carriages. Witness left the Theatre
at about half-past eight o'clock. He never saw Jay
attempt to do anything wrong that night.
Cross-examined.—There was a great crowd at
Drury-lane on that night. He stayed no later than
half-past eight, and he then went home.
Robert Duke, one of the Bow-street patrol, saw
Jay when he was brought into the Bunch of Grapes
public-house, and.was present at the examination at
Bow-street. Two or three nights after the transac-
tion,Gook and Connell were in a public-house in com-
pany with a notorious thief, who went by the slang
name of Colonel Barton. Witness was present, and
heard them talking about the affair of Jay. Gook of-
fered to lay a Wager of two to one that Jay would be
convicted, and said it was a very clear case.
Cross-examined.—This conversation took place at
a public-house near Leicester-square. He could not
positively swear on what night it took place. It was
two or three nights after Jay's examination, and to-
wards the latter part of the week. Gook's brother
was present at the time, and one of the patrols of St.
James's. Witness was drinking with a young man
of the name of Waddington. It was about nine or
ten o'clock at night. Witness had been a patrol only
about a fortnight. Before this lie got his living by
brokerage, but kept no shop. He sometimes did bu.
sinus about the Police Offices, and had been em-
ployed as a special constable at Bow-street.
Francis Holylands was also one of the Bow-street
patrol, and had been so for nearly four years. He
remembered the examination of Jay at Bow-street.—
Previous to this examination,. and in one of the outer
offices, the three defendants were together. There
were a great many people in the Office at the time.—
One of the defendants said that it was a very strong
case, and he added, " If the swells do not come for-
went and settle the business, we shall lag him."—
Witness told the circumstance to Mr. Woods, the
Clerk of the Office.
Cross-examined.—He never mentioned the circum-
stance to Sir Richard Birnie, and never went before
the Grand Jury to tell the story. He was, he be-
lieved, in the country at the time, at Egham, or
Staines, but did not continue there. Observing that
Mr. Parkins had taken up the business, he mentioned.'
the fact to him. He could not recollect whether.he,
,was in London at the last Sessions at the Old Bailey
or not. He thought he was in London.
James Pike, a publican, keeping the Harp, in Rus-
sell-street, proved that he saw Jay on the night in
question, with the first of his Majesty's coaches.—
Witness was taking some porter to the two-shilling
gallery at the time. Jay was seated on the coach-
box. At a little after ten, Jay came into his public-
house to have a plate of ham. He ate it, and drank
with one of his fellow-servants. He saw Jay nearly
up to the last minute when the King left the Theatre,
and saw him taking the cloths off the horses. He
saw nothing improper in his conduct.
Examined by the Couar.—About ten minutes af-
terwards the King came out; he saw no more of him.
William Nettleton had been a parish constable of
St. Martin's for seventeen years, and during that pe-
riod had been in the constant habit of attending
Drury-Lane Theatre. He was there on the night in
question. He wets always imam* vigilant i &look-
-‘w after t4ieresi and saw, nothing of Jay picking