Star.
London, England, 1821-03-02 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

THE LATE FATAL DUEL AT CHALK FARM.
Yesterday evening, at seven o'clock, an Inquest was
held, at Chalk Farm House, before THOMAS Stitt-
wive, Esq. Coroner for Middlesex, on the body of
J. Scott, Esq. aged 40, who was mortally wounded
.in the late duel near Chalk Farm. During the whole
of the day, a great number of Gentlemen, who were
not aware of the appointed hour of the Inquest being
held3were in waiting, with great anxiety, until seven
o'clock, when the Coroner arrived. The Jury-room
was crammed to. excess. The following witnesses
were examined:
'Thomas Smith, sworn, said—He is a carpenter, and resides
at the Jolly Angler, Kentish Town, and was working for Mr.
Watson, proprietor of Chalk Farm, last Friday week, the time
the affair took place; a Gentleman made an ahem, and re-
qu :Red a board, or door, to bring Mr. Scott to the house; this
was between nine and ten o'clock at night—tHete the Coroner
desired that none of the witnesses should be present during the
examination of another, and those who were in the room with-
drew accordingly.]—Witness went to the ground, accompanied
by James, the hostler ; took a door with them ; went to the side
of Chalk Farm Hill; Mr. Scott lay on the ground, down in the
field on the aide of the bill; was on his back ; four or five Gentle.
men were at a distance of ten or twelve yards away from the
deceased ; there was no person nearer when witness saw the
body ; placed him on the door, and brought him to the house.
Mr. Scott shook hands with the Gentleman who shot him, and

wished him good night. Does not know who the Gentleman
was, but thinks it was the person who shot deceased. He bad
• on a long cloak, red inside, and blue outside—[Here the witness
corrected his testimony, by saying it was a plaid *cloak, lined
with red]—Had no conversation with the Gentleman, nor with
the deceased in his presence. Does not know wko the other
persons were that were present. One of them wore a white
great coat, the only part of his dress which he could describe;
two others bad plaid cloaks lined with silk. Deceased had shoes
and black gaiters on; bad no cloak, to his recollection. Ob-
served two pistols lying by the side of the deceasedowar to him.
Observed no other person with arms —[At this part of the evi-
dence a letter was delivered to Mr. Stumm, the contents of
which were not read.]—Witness was assisted by two or three
of the Gentlemen in conveying the body to the house. There•
were six in all, including Mr. Scott. The Gentleman who at-
tended
Mr. Scott, and assisted him to bed, had ott a blue coat
and white waistcoat. None of the Gentlemen left their names.
Heard their names, but now forgets them. Learned their
names at the time. Is not sure whether he should recollect
them if he heard them named, but should know them if he saw
them. There is no face in the room like any of them. De-
ceased appeared hurt kr the side, and bled from it. Was not in
the room when he was undressed. Cannot recollect any of the
mmes—t Here remark was made by a Juror respecting persons
who did not belong to the Jury ; and one stated himself to be a
Solicitor to the party implicated ; another was a Legal Gentle-
man, and friend of Mr. Scott ; and a third was a Barrister, also
a friend, 1. ut not appearing in his legal capacity.}—Witness re-
sumed :—The Gentleman in the blue coat and white waistcoat

was also one of the party whom he saw in the field. Did not
hear Mr. Scott complain of the injory he received, nor accuse
any one. Does not recollect hearing from Mr. Scott or any one
else how he had received his wound. It was about four mi-
nutes from the report of the pistol till the person applied for the
shutter—about ten minutes before he entered the house; was
l ing on the ground without any covering. Supposes the person
in the bine coat was a medical man, because he had some lint;
was a young man; did not hear his name, and does not know'
him. The party, two of them, remained in the house two or
thee hours ; they were the Gentleman in the white coat and the
6ne in the blue. Dees scot know where the others went to.
Saw the Gentleman go away who shook hands with Mr. Scott.
Went away before witness left the ground; he had on a plaid
cloak. Cannot say if pistols were loaded, or who brought them
away. Did not hear Mr. Scott s:ty anything after he wished
the Gentleman good night. Mr. Scott did not call him by any
name. Deceased appeared in muchpain, and cried out several
times on his way to the house ; medical assistance was sent for-
- [lt was again suggested to asset the witness's memory, by men-
tioning the names of the party ; but it was objected to by those
who appeared on behalf of the party supposed to be implicated.?
Witness recollects Dr. Poynter coming, in consequence of being
sea for, many others arrived in coaches, but cannot tell if they
were medical men. A Police-officer, named Davis, came to the
Tavern. Does not know well what took place on his arrival ;
there were two of the Gentlemen present; one went away; it
was the one with the blue inside coat. Does not know if any
charge was given of them to the officer; two of them waited till
Mr. Poynter and the Officer arrived.. Does not know who
sent for them ; believes it was Mr. Watson ; it was the same
person went for both. Does not temember anything that passed
when Davis arrived. Cannot say how many reports of fire-arms
there were; went out, on the list report, with Mr. Watson,
being alarmed in consequence of it, and met the per'son who
Caine for the :hotter, when lie got outside the door. The re-
pert appeared to come from the back part of the house. Does
not know who the person was that came; cannot say who he
v. aa, but be slimed him the way to where deceased lay ; he was
n"t one of those who had a cloak, but he was one of these who
were in the field; bad no conversation with him; is cer: ain he
sew six persons, but cannot say if there were more ; doe. r.ot
1-new how the person was dressed who came for the shutter;
ens give no description of hint; knows not if he was tall or
short ; has no recollection of what passed after Davis's arrival ;
believes that lie remained at the house all night; heard Air Scott
s.y nothing but what he has already deposed to; the person
who wished Mr. Scott good night, was of the middle size ; the
'gilt was moon-light, but rather foggy; could distinguish any
'ee at 2.0 or 50. paces ; cannot to the best of his recollection state
the tames of any of the parties. Witness withdrew.
Examination of Smith resumed.—Does not know by whom
the pistols were brought from the field, but supposes that Mr.
Watson had them, as he saw them in the bar; dues not know
what became of them, not having seen them since that night.
[Every effort was made to obtain from the witness the names of
the persons who were on tke spot the night of the duel, but to
no effect ; and what appeared r ithetimprobable, in reply to a
question from a Juror, he said, that he bad not since beard them
inentioned.) Remembers two Gentlemen coming into the room,
and drinking a bottle of wine; cannot say how long before the
occurrence; did not look at their faces; does not know how
long they staid; never saw any of the persons who were in the
held before to his knowledge; forgets whether he was in the house
the whole of that afternoon, or if he had dont any work that
day ; remembers it was en a Friday ; last Friday week.' By a
Juryman—" Upon your oath, have you had any communication
with any person relative to your evidence ?" Answer, " No."
Witness was ordered not to go out of the room ; but after a
short time it was agreed to let him go, accompanied by an officer,
and that on his leaving the room the ostler should be brought in.
James Ryan sworn.—ls ostler to this house. Recollects the
eight when deceased was brought to the house ; it was on a Fri-
day, in the night; it was the Friday before last. Remembers
two Gentlemen comingto the house about seven or eight o'clock ;
it might he before or after. Attended the Gentlemen; they
had a bottle of wine. Were both strangers to him. They
might have stopped £0 minutes or half an hour; cannot say ex-
actly. Was Waiter that evening to those Gentlemen, and no-
body else. Went away about eight o'clock or past, down the
lane towards town. Left part of the wine, and desired.he would
leave the glasses on the table, as they would r stunt. One bad
on a white coat, and a dark-coloured one under It ; the other
wes dressed in a dark dress. Met two Gentlemen In the lane,
ore cf whom he believed to be one of those, who left the house
before. lie had on a white coat. It was about ten minutes after
they left the house that he met them. Two other Gentlemen
came up to him and passed him, on'their road to join the two
best, On his entering the house two other Gentlemen came to
bitn; and asked him which way the other four went? He di-
rected them, and they followed ; there was sufficient light to di.-
tirguish them, it being a moon-light night. It *as about ten ml.
suites or a quarter of an hour after he saw the last couple before
he heard the disdbarge of the pistol ; was standing at the front
door at the time ; there Wss no one with him ; heard a second re-
port ; 'between the fine and second disebarge there was an inter-
val of about a minute or hftteel the first appeared to him a
single report ; the second was a looder report, and appeared to be
of two pistols. Did not move from where he was; could only
distinguish the sounds of what he thought to be thresoistols.—
Went into the house after the report and saw the tarlenser
did net say anything to him about what be bad beard. Cail-"
not say what the Impression upon his mind was at U 4 antt. •

Gentleman cause to him to'thelkmlit, and called foe the ender;
asked for a shutter and assistance, as a friend of his had met
with an accident. He was not one of the persons who were
drinking wine at the house before appeased to be quite a young
man • said his Mend had met with an accident, and asked witness
to assist hint. Witness calk4l Smith, the carpenter; the Gen-
tlensan described the place where his friend lay, and went back
again to the field, but took a different road from witness, who
' Aim went to the field, accompanied by the carpenter; saw Mr.
Scott lying in the field on his back; there were four or five
others, about thirty yards away from him: Ms clothes were
unbuttoned, and his cloak under his bead; lie said to witness
that he was badly wounded ; the other persons stood at a dis-
tance; did not come till be called them; cannot say if they
were the parties who passed him before ; imagines. they were;
bas every reason to believe they were: laid Mr. Scott on the
board, and put a cloak under him. The Gentlemen, who were
at a distance, then came to assist; did not see any person shake
hands with Mr. Scott, or hear any one wish him a good night:l
one of the Gentlemen said to Mr. Scott.—" I would rather that
I was in your situation, and that you were in mine," and Mr.
Scott replied-,—" as it has happened so, let it be so;' the Gen-
tleman had a cloak on, with a red lining to it; it was a dark
dress he had on; carried deceased to the house with assistance,
and was accompanied by four of those who were on the ground;
one of them seemed much affected; believes it was Mr. Chris-
tie ; knows the name of Christie, having heard it spoken by
some of the Gentlemen ; believes he heard Mr. Scott name
Mr. Christie ; did not see the Gentleman whom he supposes to
he Mr. Christie shake bands with Mr. Scott; not certain which
way this Gentleman went ; not certain whether it was four or five
persons who came to the house with hint; did not go to Cam-
den Town for Doctor goynter.—[Doctor Poynter here said,
that it was a person named Rutherford who called him).—
Thinks it was four persons who wean up stairs when witness
took deceased up; left them ,there; does not know who sent
for Dr. Poynter, but supposes it was his master; was employed
in conveying Doctor Poynter in the chaise-cart to the first
staze-coach ; does not know if any other medical man saw him
before Doctor Poynter's arrival; cannot say if any one of the
persons who were with Mr. Scot: was a medical man : saw no
person with lint in his hand; deceased was bleeding; has not
since seen any of the persons that were on the ground that
night; did nor recognize any of the five who can:e in with de-
Ceased to he those who had the wine; he only remarked one
Gentleman having a white coat on ; does not know of any alter-
cation having occurred in the house saw Davis, a conitable,vvlto
Came about the same time that Doctor Poynter came ; saw one
Gentleman with two pistols in his hand ; saw two pistols after-
wards. at the house; did not see pistols in the hands of more
than one Gentleman, who placed them on the shutter, front
which they were taken by his master when the body reached
the house; should not know any of the party again, if he were
to see them even la-the room; saw two chaises at the bottom
of the lane, when he was conveying Doctor Poynter to town,
and asked the drivers what they were there for? One of them
said, they were waiting for some Gentlemen who went down
Towards the Farm; one of them took Doctor Poynter into
town ; should know them if be saw them again. The chaises
belonged to Ann Shepherd, of Cavendish-street, Cavendish-
square; dces not know what part of the town they took up
their fare at.

Kr. Hugh Watson sworn.—ls landlord of Chalk Farm Ta-
vern ; recollects on the night of Friday week last two Gentle-
men coming to the house; did not know either of them ; they
drank about two-thirds of a bottle of wine ; one was dressed with
a dark coloured coat, and the other had on a dark coloured coat
with several capes to it. Curiosity prompted him to observe
which way they went, and he saw them go down the lane to-
wards liampatead-road ; saw no other person near the premises
till the alarm was given, when a person came running into the
house nearly out of breath, and asking for assistance, stating that
a Gentleman was shot"; did not say in what way ; gave orders to.
the carpenter and ostler to render prompt assistance; did not
hear the report of fire-arms ; was in a part of the house where
it was not likely he could hear it; the carpenter was with him;
a second Gentleman came running down, dressedin a frock coat;
he came iu search of assistance; was a young Gentleman, and
appeared to witness to be an Irish Gentleman.' beard no conver-
sation between deceased and any other Gentleman ; deceased
was extremely cold when he arrived atThe house; deceased never
' spoke in his presence; ordered a bed to be prepared for him, and
sett inunediately for a Doctor, and desired the messenger to
bring with him also a police-officer. Of the Gentlemen who
were in the room with Mr. Scott, one told witness he was an as-
sistant to Mr. Pettigrew; does not well recollect how the Gen-
tlemen were dressed, of whom there were four altogether ; some
of their cloaks were in the room, and were lined with crimson
silk. After Mr. Scott was put to bed, one of the Gentlemen,
who was slender and tall, came down stairs, and told witness that:
the Gentlemen had been fighting a duel; said he was an assistant
to Mr. Pettigrew, who was gone off to town with one of the
parties. Witness aoked him who shot the deceased ? This goes-
tiou being objected to, was rot put.—[The letter before alluded
•to was now read by the Coroner. It was from Mr. Petti-
grew's Lady, stating that be was out of town, and the assistant
was also out of thy way, but e'rpected in the course of the day,
and should be come, she wt)t.hi cause him to attend.l—Two or
three of the Gentlemen made their escape before the arrival of
Dr. Xoynter ; should have prevented their escape, had he known
of their Intention; the person 'who cafierl hiMself all assistant of
Mr. Pettigrew undertook to render deceased some assistance,
and said to. witness that he thought he could extract the ball ;
witness was not al!'wed to go into the room; was shut out by a
person whose name, he thinks, is: Pattmore, one of those who
ware on the pound ; told the Gentlemen that he considered
them as prisoners, previous to the arrival of the officer ; the offi-
cer arrived, Mr. rattmere came down and assumed a very high
tone; he gave him in charge, together with two others, who
were in the passage, one of whom was the young Irish Gentle-
man; the other two were up stairs. Mr. Pattmore went up
stairs, and the officer followed him, but Mr. Pattmore would
not suffer him to enter the room ; witness came down stairs, and
went into-the bar, when he heard that the Gentlemen had made
their escape, but does not know how it was effected; knows
only the name of Mr. Pattmore, whom be had known before
the duel, and knew his father nearly twenty years; they made
their escape while witness was engaged in conversation with
Dr. Brooks, Dr. Poynter, and some other Gentlemen ; re-
ceived the first intimation from the officer, who seemed to make
a great deal of noise Whilst relating the circumstance. Mr.
Pattmore was the most active of the party. Mr. Scott conti-
nued at his house till his deirise. Never had assy conversation
with him ; dues net recoliect seeing a pair of pistols ; has one
pistol which was found in the field, and thinks it belonged to
Pattmore, because it answers to the description given of one in
quired for after by Mr. Pattmore's father, which he said he bad
lost; it appeared to have been recently discharged. One guinea
reward was offered to the finder of the pistol by Mr. Pattmore,
sen. and also by a friend of his. The pistol was found by a man,
and brought to witness in consequence of the reward. Knows
nothing of a pair of pistols ' • saw none till such time as he found
the pistol now in his custody. Another pistol was found by a
man wbo refused to give it up till L. receives the reward. Ha's
heard the name of Mr. Christie, but does not know him • heard
that it was Mr. Christie who shot Mr. Scott ; learnt this from
one of the Gentlemen, but does not know from which; it was
Mr, Morris, Mr. Pettigrew's assistant, who gave the first alarm.
A person came to the house on Sunday morning, and told wit-
ness that Mr. Scott had a gold watch and seals about him, a
pound note and some silver, which he lost ; witness made every
inquiry, but could learn nothing of them; saw a Gentleman a
few days after to whom he related the occurrence, and that Gen-
tleman desired him not to be uneasy, as the watch would be re-
turned ; the watch has since been sent back ;.does not know the
name of the Gentleman.

Dr. George Darling examined.—Attended deceased on Satur-
day week last for the first time, by request of Mrs. Scott ; found
deceased in a very weak and fainting state, from having lost a
great quantity of blood, which be attributes to a wound he had
received In the abdrmer, between the lower rib and the hip
bone on the right aide; deceased was attended by Mt Brooks
before the witness saw him ; the ball was afterwards extracted
by Mr. Gutherie. Mr. Scott expired on" Tuesday night, about
ten o'clock. Witness attendcd him frequently, and attributes
his death to the wound which he received. Witness referred to
a memorandum which he made of what Mr. Scott said to him.
Mr. Scott, referring to his wound on Saturday morning, be-
tween nine sod ten o'clock, said, "this ought not to have taken
place—l suspect some great, mismanagement—there was no oc.
cad= for a second fire • ' after a short pause be proceeded,
all I required from 24-Christie was, a declaration that be
meant no reflection on my character, this be refused, and the
meeting became inevitable; on the field. Mr. Christie behaved
ere% and, when all was ready for the first fire. be called out,
• you must not stand then; I see your head above the
bottom; Yen give nu an "vantage; I team be *Could have
fiat see then if he liked. After the pistol§ 'rem missied, .14

everythisg was ready forfors asytad fire, hfr. Trail Called oat,
Now, Mr. Christie, take your ,aim, and do net throw sway
your advantage as you did last that.' I called out immediately,
' what! did not Mr. Christie fire at me? I was answered by
Mr. Pattmore, I you must not speak ; 'tis now of no use to talk;
you have nothing now for it but firing.' The signal was hum,diately given, we fired, and I fell," Does not know either Mr.
Christie or &Ir. Trail's Christian name. Deceased expressed
himself satisfied with Mr. Christie's conduct, whom he de-
scribed as very kind to him after he was wounded. Mr. Petti-
grew attended &teased on the day after he was wounded.
John James Gutherie, surgeon, proved that be extracted the
ball, and in every other respect confirmed the testimony of Dr.
Darling, as did also Dr. Poynter, who was the first medical per-
son called in to attend Mr. Scott
At this stage of the business, there being no other
witness present at one o'clock, the Coroner and Jury
proceeded to view the body, and afterwards adjourned
to half-past five o'clock this evening.