The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-06-05 00:00:00

FATAL RIOT NEAR CANTERBURY.

Froni 'the Tinge-s of Friday. j
Intelligence of this serious riot reached us at a late hour. The
accounts coming from 'various Persons, of course vary in some
particulars; and we have thought it best, in the impossibility of
judging which is the most correct, to give them all. But,
though there may be a discrepancy in some of the details; of the
main fact of the riot, and of the death of the military officer
and constable, as well as that of the insane instigator of the
mob, there can be no doubt.

(Fttom A CORRESPONDENT,)
It will be recollected that a person representing himself us
Sir William Courtenay was tried at Maidstone assizes some
years since for perjury. He was found guilty, and sentenced
to seven years' transportation; but some doubts having after-
wards arisen as to his sanity, the sentence was commuted to..
confinement in the Lunatic Asylum at Barming-heath, where
he remained about three years. Subsequently it was thought
that he might with safety be liberated, since when he has been
living with Mr. Francis at Boughton, until within a week ago,
when he left that gentleman's residence, and for the.last few
days has been living amongst the peasantry, gaining subsist-
ence at several houses, in return for which he made long and
inflammatory speecnes to the mob of the neighbourhood, and
promised them that if they would- follow his advice they should
have good living and large estates, as he had great influence at
Court, and was to sit on her Majesty's right hand on the day
of the coronation. These harangues rendered him very popu-
lar, and he stiminoned a large assembly .to meet him on Wed-
nesday at Blean-wood, about four miles from Canterbury. This
came to the ears of the local magistrates, and yesterday morn-
ing the Rev. Dr. Poore, of Sittingbourne, and Gen. Gosling,
of Ospringe, sent three constables to notice the proceedings,
and if necessary to arrest Courtenay. On their arrival they
found an assemblage of about 100 people under great excite-
ment, when one of the constables, named Myers, went up with
the intention of arresting Courtenay, but the latter immediately
fired a pistol at him (the ball of which entered the back of the
unfortunate man), and he immediately after stabbed his victim
with a dagger, which caused immediate death. The two other
constables, seeing that it would be madnessifor them to interfere
against so large a gang, immediately rode back to the magis-
trates and mentioned the facts, when a despatch was forwarded
to Mr. ►i alford and Mr. Baldock, of Pettam, requesting them
to send a detachment of the 45th Regiment (then stationed i❑
the town) to Bleanwood. The request was immediately com-
plied with, and two companies were despatched in carriages
and vehicles of various descriptions. On their arrival at the
scene of bloodshed the magistrates entreated the people to dis-
perse, and on their positive refusal the riot act was read.
Lieutenant Bennett, by order of the commanding officer, went
to where Courtenay was, in order to arrest him, when the latter
fired a pistol, and the officer in a moment lay dead at his feet.
The soldiers, ou seeing their officer fall, immediately attacked
Courtenay with their bayonets, and killed him on the spot.
This caused a general affray with the mob, who assaulted the
military with sticks, &c., and the result was, that 11 of the
ringleaders were killed, and many were severely wounded,
amongst whom we regret to say there were some Canterbury
people, who were attracted to the spot by curiosity. Several of
the rioters were arrested, and when our informant left Canter-
bury the greatest excitement prevailed iu the town.

(FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.)
It will be in the recollection of our readers, that in 1833 an
eccentric individual paid a visit to Canterbury, and took up his '
abode for some time at the Rose Inn. Great interest was excited,
and most persons were desirous of ascertaining who this eccen-
tric character might be. At length an election for member for
the city took place, on which occasion the gentleman in ques-
tion offered himself as a candidate with extraordinary success,
in the name of Sir W. H. H. Courtenay. Such were his per-
suasive powers that persons of all ranks felt an interest in his
society; some, however, considered him insane, while others
were of a contrary opinion. Eventually Sir William, through
advocating the cause of a party of smugglers on the Kentish
coast, was indicted for perjury, and was tried at Maidstone be-
tore Mr. Justice Parke, on Thursday, the 25th of July, 1833.
The sentence of the Court was imprisonent and transportation,
but Sir William being proved to be insane, his sentence was
commuted to confinement in the lunatic asylum at Barming-
heath. After four years' confinement he was released on bail
being given for his future good behaviour. His abode then
was at the residence of Mr. Francis, of Fairbrook, in the neigh-
bourhood of Boughton, near Canterbury. Some recent misun-
derstanding between Sir William and Mr. Francis's family oc-
casioned him to remove to a cottage adjoining, occupied by one
Wills. Subsequently he was received at a farm-house, called
Bossenden-farm, occupied by a person named Culver. From
this house appears to have commenced the horrid affair we are
about to narrate—an affair from which it could not be antici-
pated there would result such a melancholy 'loss of life. We
now proceed to give our readers an account of the proceedings
Irons Monday morning, the day on which several unfortunate
men went in public company with and at the command of
Sir William. On Monday they sallied forth from the village of
Boughton, where they bought bread, and proceeded to Willis's
house, near Fairbrook. A loaf was broken asunder and placed
on a pole, with a rampant lion. Thence they proceeded to
Goodnestone, near Faversham, producing throughout the whole
neighbourhood the greatest excitement. and adding to their
numbers by the harangues occasionally delivered by the ill-fated
madman. At this farm Courtenay stated that "he would strike
the bloody blow." A match was then taken from a bean-stack,
which had been introduced by one of the party. They next
proceeded to a farm at Herne-hill, where Courtenay requested
the inmates to feed his friends, which request was immediately
complied with. Their next visit was at Dargate-common, where
Sir William, taking off his shoes, said, " I now stand on my
own bottom." By Sir William's request his party went to
prayers, and then proceeded to Bossenden-farm, where they
supped, and slept in the barn that night (Monday). At three
o'clock on Tuesday they left, and proceeded to Sittingbourne to
breakfast, where Sir William paid twenty-five shillings; they
then visited Newn ham, receiving a similar treat at the George.
After visiting Easting, Throwlev, Seldwich Lees, and Sell-
ing, and occasionally addressing the populace, holding. out to
them such inducements as are usually made by persons desirous
of creating a disturbance, they halted' in a chalk pit to rest, and
on Wednesday evening arrived at Culver's farm, called Bossen-
den, close to the scene of action 111.,
uieu enticed from their work, applied for a warrant
for their apprehension. Mears, a constable, in company with
his brother, proceeded to the house of Culver, when, on appli-
cation being made for the men alluded to, Sir William imme-
diately shot the young man who accompanied his brother in the
execution of his duty. Such was the excitement, and the des-
perate menaces of Sir William and his party, that it became
necessary for the magistrates to interfere to put a stop to the
proceedings, by the capture of the ringleader of the party, from
whose advice to his followers the most serious consequences
were likely to ensue. At 12 o'clock they assembled at a place
called the Osier-hed, where every means were resorted to to
quell the disturbance, but without success, Sir William defied
interruption to his men, and fired on the Rev. Mr. Handly, of
Herne-hill, who, with his brother was assisting to take him into
custody. They then made their way to Bossen-wood, where
they lay in ambush, but as no means appeared to present them-
: selves by which the ringleader could with safety be secured, he
being evidently mad and in the possession of loaded fire-arms,
threatening to shoot the first man who interfered with him, it
became necessary to apply for the assistance of the 45th regi-
ment, stationed in Canterbury barracks. On the arrival of a
detachment of this regiment they proceeded to the wood, where
the party were waiting their arrival.
A few minutes previous to the attack Sir William loudly hal-
looed to his companions, supposed for the purpose of getting
them prepared for the fight.
Sir William, on perceiving his opponents, advanced with the
greatest sang froid and deliberately shot before the men Lieut.
Bennett of the regiment. This occasioned a return from the
man covering his officer, who immediately advanced and shot
Sir William, who fell and died instantly. The excitement at
that period, occasioned by each patty losing their commander,
caused a desperate attack, which terminated iu the death of ten
persons, besides the brother of the constable shot in the morn-
ing, and several others seriously wounded, of some of whom
little hopes are entertained of their recovery. The weapons in
the hands of the followers of Sir William were chiefly, if not
altogether, heavy bludgeons.
The following are the names of the killed :
Sir William Percy Honywood Courtenay, Knight of Malta,
&c., supposed to Ise John Nicholls Tura, late of Truro, iu
Cornwall.

Lieutenant Bennett, 45th.
Edward Wraight, Herne-hill.
F. Harvey, Herne-bill.
E. Brenchett, Dunkirk.
W. Burford, Boughton.
W. Foster, Herne-hill.
Thomas Griggs.
W. Wry, Herne-hill.
George Catt, constable of Faversham, killed in the execution
of his duty.
Lieutenant Prendergast, wounded in the head.
Names of persons taken prisoners, some seriously wounded,
and a few not expected to recover :—Stephen Baker, R. Had-
low, A.. Toad, G. Griggs, W. Willis, E. Wraight, E. Curling,
J. Spratt, Sarah Culver.
Amongst the magistrates who endeavoured to quell the dis-
turbance, and who exposed themselves to imminent danger, we
would mention the names of Mr. W. H. Baldock, the Rev. Dr.
Poore, Mr. R. Halford, Mr, Norton Knatchbull, and the Rev.
C. Handley.
The following is a copy of a slip of paper, which has been sent
to us covered with blood, and having the appearance of being
perforated by a ball. It was said to have been found in the
breast coat pocket of Sir W. Courtenay. The contents, which
are as follow, and the form of which we have preserved, are
evidently in the handwriting of a female, whose orthography
would justify the conclusion that she is not a person of educa-
tion. It niay, however, lead to the disclosure of important facts
connected with the recent proceedings of the deceased.
"Isit a delusion I' No, its peace I hear
" As yet welcome sweet guest
" A passing spiriet softly whispers
" Him safe from harm—and when
" The loud clash of War's alarm atacks
" Him and boasts the tyrants proudly
" Round him still his manly heart
" Shall know no fear—
" Then sink not oh ! my soul nor
" Veald to sad despair, the cause is
" Great that calls thy Lord away
" A sinking spiriet and a silint
" Tear but ill becomes the child
" Who from the bonds of Satann
" May go free."
A purse was found in the pocket of Sir W. Courtenay by the
surgeon who examined the body. It contained a sovereign and
three pence. A New Testament was also found on the person
of the deceased.