The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-04-10 00:00:00

'THE STATESMAN

The Cifutte.---You shall bays • copy;
Mr. Sterjoant Citoss.-1 do not objzti.voly Lord. to Hsi
I h•ing given, het I beg it to be isisde the prisoner'
Las no right to it.
The Locirr.—Most undoubtedly, it mast not be nn-
, tlerstood as a tight, hut as a matter tat courtesy. 't he
I prisoner Las applied for a copy; the coutisel fur the
', prosecution Jo Lot ulsject to his having one, and it is
i granted as a eurseu-sy.
Mr lia:SV:o!4.—Aly Lords and Iluntlettstua of the Joey.
I tired scarcely say:, that the prisoners at the Isar are
rhar4,il with crime of very hear!y as deep a olyr as
I, that of murder. And hair it cod beets for aou:e super-
natural interposition, they would have new been tried'
for that
you. fleiitleorten, as slim tiy and as perspicuously the na-
ture of tine case aua the char.:vier of the evidence I wean
to lay before you ; your terilict roust not he ground-I
, cal any thin,; I may ant, it must sulelydepend on thr!
evident e. fentleisien, yon have heard the indiottuent
read. M•I Idris is there charged with maliciously and Mk-
nisor-ly: shooting at one Mr. Birch ; anti Bruce, the other
prisimer, nit!' aidiog and assisting the first named pri- I
soars. in I:as. c. !lion of siEtt crime. Dy au Art oil
the fori:.-thiril lieorge 111. chap..:s,N, it is rssActeti, that ;
if any persou nil rile an I itniau fu:iy shout at, or pre-;
sent .11,y ',Jaded weapon, or any species of fire-Tanis, ;
tiny of Isis .11 sjrsty's 30/jell*, toe if any one aid or %fret
such person, rn such case the patties when convicted
shall Then there is a proviso in case death
elialleA, but that rather applies to cutting and stalshing,
and I sia:111 not further it. lb* lassearl l'ounsel
then 111..ccedeil to detail the eireundiatWit. :Lich lead
, to thin utlertirt to lust:c•ler threls, a,, l arserri•d, that hr
should call several asltl ”111 tu sulwaniiate the charges
against the prisoners.
ttilliato Ifirrh,examined I y fierjeant Canes—l had a
person of the name sat Harrison at toy own house on the
2Ztl of siuly; I went to 31r. house about twenty ,
minutes hrfore ten, it was in the dusk of the et ening ;1
there was light e tliszern the matures of auy
parson; the distance I tv.ss going: was inure than WO,
yards; on my way I met a number of persons in the
street; it was welt kitoon Ilartison was my prisoner; I
stopped as I went alung, and met with Bruce, whom
; had known for many :Ors ; two or three others were

rousing up the street as I ass going down ; when Ise
(Bruce) stopped they rapped; they were nut exactly
abreast, thong's near eacti other; there were four of
, them; they formed .1 ratty to thentsalves ern uly stopping;
Isefure they stopped they appeared a. oue ; whet,
, Brave mad the slop with me, they went oft about a yard,
air a little more, but not tat: yards; 1 um sat certain, ou
sty uireting Bruce, whether he or I spoke first.—Ou
Bruce and me stopping,they all stopped,tior can I remem-
ber which stop; ed iir•t ; the moment we wet at 00111*81
together. I kttem Bruce at that time by name; 1 believe
Brace asked nut it I haul (.fought Harrison to my house;
that was the tird thing be said; to which 1 replied,
(lawless nos at my lASIVie asst at that au cut a man
towards my left, B. uce aas then right in front of we,
and then a man came toa the lett, and walked gm till hr
came to nt) rear ; I kept ant sti es on Bruce all the time '
Ise was (Vining; I had pecicular reason to look round,,
as a great mow.' sts.emblett in the street around sty
house; taut still I kept me soy conversation with Bruce ;
as soon as the HMO got its trout ut use, and behind Bruce,
s3w a movement with hi, rapist hand, he bad something
in it; lwfure 1 could olisert e any thing else, I was shut ;1
, I knew Bruce many the beture 1 was shot, and have;
no doubt, in looking at 31`Innis, but he is the man a iso
sent by toy left to use rear, and then, on tonsil% round
to the front. behind Bruce, shut at use.—clle waistcoat
whare the hall entered was here produeed.)--The man
who came in rear ut use, anti attereards behind, Nil nnis,
was the man alto shut use; I had my eyes theft on him;
I am certain he is the mar ; it is only silt or seven weeks
since I saw I ttttt in the Castle at Cheater; I cause for the
purpose of seeing it he was the man t the impression
was so strong in lily mind of the features of the man,
that for many nights I almost thought I saw him; but I
wished IO conic to nhr I astir, lest my recollection might
not lw right. When I nits at the Castle I was it,Mr.
Iludtits's routes ; I came several times lwfore I could see
him, and the in .nt i saw him I knew bins; I have no
doubt whatever he is the note who shot me.
Cross-examined hy Mr. J l'N I:11. Basra I saw 31,Innis,
Mr. Hodson said he would have bins turned nut of his
cell, and whets I stile him he was walking by himself.
There was a considerable disturbance that night at
Stockport; the news of Ilse arrival of Harrison caused a
great sensation. The 1111 l •nt Bruce and me began to
speak to eat It other, the ti.ree persons who appeared to
Ise walking. together, made a stand as well as Bruce,
widths a yard or Iwo ; we all stood in the compass of
two yards. It was so light, that 1 shoitlil have knots n
you (Hr. Jones) if I met you xt seem yards' distance.
it was what I %situ:id call a light night at that lime ut
the year. I Hever before saw al.lntsia. I saw a magis-
trate its less than hail an hone attar I was shut; it was
Mr. Presente; I don't know that at hat I then said was
Likat; down in writing. I immediately fell asleep ; I
du not remember if what I said to the ilegistrates was
in writing ; I never fancied Bruce was the man who
shut use, and never said : hail Brat cc 'hot me I would
Isave known it; I the;: described tilt, man who shot use
as haing of sandy asisirkcrs, anal shout the height of my-
self; he was a young man, anal rather full about the
cheek-hone ; I have not seen the arconnt I gave at the
thaw, nor heard of it, nor made any inquiry about it;
Inv present le position is fruits recollection, without bring
refresheti by looking near any papers or examinations;
I have never been exausint.;l say any hotly 'since I soya
examined immediately after Use accident happened; I
never said I thought the man who shot me was a low,
dark complexion man; I never did so; I could not leave
said so, that I swear positively; I never"said he was a
man of low stature, nor that lie was a dark man; 1 can't
say I know a person of the name of Edmonds, nor that
lie was taken up from env description; know a man of
the name of Davis, snort believe htMenoteitew ow my
description, as the man who shot me; bit I described
hint as one of the other men of the party, being a little
taller than firma; I never said or insinnated that a man
like Davis shut me; I know Robert Jae", but not that
Ise ever was apprehended on that charge ho consequence
of any information of mine. Jump is a tall man, of fresh
complexion, higher than 311'Innis. Ido not know that I
Richard Shelley was apprehended on the charge; many
were brought to tsar Iwilotile, butt I do Not know that they
were all discharges immediately. Ido not know Joseph
Cox ; nor ir there was a public examination at the BucklX
Arms public house. I rensensber Pearson being brought 1
to my bedside, when I said he was very near me at the
liaise of my !wing shot ; this happened some days after; ,
can't tell bow many. I never expressed any doubt as
to any man brought to my bedside having ;hot are; I
am quite sole of it ; I first learned the man now at the
bar was 111• Innis in less than a month after I was shot.

fly Benee.---1 do not know whirl' of us neeosted the
other first. I was very near you (linter) when you did
call me ; 1 was going down amt you condi% up,
never thought you had any enmity to me; and wfflie I
had known you at Stockport, if you were otherwise than
peaceably dimposed I must have known-it. Too (Renee)
were with the man who shot we ; and if any other
ream I knew were standing so near the person who
shot at toe. I would have mentioned it. The person who
shot me merit have been at year shoulder.

07 the Cocne.—l, cannot say they vrere in conventi►
than to ether, but they were walking op that 'street.
Mr. Flint, surgeon, who attended Birch, was then ea•

assailed, as to the state of the wound, lot., by W-
AVILY.
Jane Campbell examined by Hr. BINTON.—Saw her
uncle, Birch, in company with three men, Bruce was
one of them.
W. Pearson examined by Serjeant Caots.—T alit ac-
' quaintest with Jacob M'lnnis about twelve months be-
fore I came to Chester; I sin now under a charge, but I
cannot exactly answer if for this business; was pre-
sent when Birch was shot ; George Bruce, James
Jacob Al'lnnis, David Davis, and myself, were
there; we nen' not in company before Birch CAMS up,
nor in conversation with any one; Jacob M'lnnis, the
prisoner at the bar, tired the pistol; Birch clapped his
hand upon his stomach and ran away ; Bruce ininiediate!y
after ran sawitli the two Nl'lnnises; they ran up Church-
gate, and Birch ran down; Birch ran in the direction
of Mr. Lloyd's house, and they in a contrary direction ;
I saw Jacob Al'lnnis again that night, perhaps an
hour after the pistol was tired ; we met at our lodgings ;
he (Jacob Mimics) said, Birch has been shot, and you
saw we do it : he drew the pistol, and said, that was the
pistol, and any one who lodges the least information be-
fore the Magistrates sl Id have the benefit of it, and
he wonlil go himself to do. North of America. I told
him I knew nothing about it, and 1 wanted to know
nothing about it. Jacob after never lodged at the cone
lodgings, he came there, but did nut sleep there; I saw
him on the Monday following; the shot was on the
Friday.
John Ross, examined by Mr. MANLY.—.IS S special
constable in the barony of the county of Down, where
M'lnnis was taken, near Dundrutu, in the county of
Down ; he arrested prisoner at his aunt's; was in. bed
when he took him, aWI a woman's cap on • when
looked at him, •Ir he had red *thither"; 1 desired
him to rise, and his aunt being alarmed, asked him if
any thing nits wrong, and he said, " I suppose I am tl.e
min you are in search of ;" said he after to me (witness)
" he well rewarded for this night's work ;" I re-
plied I had often done so, and never was rewarded ; he
said he knew lie was sworn against in England, by a
man who only wo,ked eight days in a cellar with him,
for si :ing *Birch; I asked hint if lie was guilty ? he,
said no:, hitt that lie was arm in arm with the man who
tire I the pistol.
cross-examined by Mr..losces.—l apprehended him as
a constable on the g;th August.
Thomas King Manning examined by Mr. BENTON.—
Is a public officer of Dublin.
Here ihe ease for the proserution closed.
The Corer called ins the prisoners for their defence.
Al'lnnis declined saying any thing; lie left it to his
Counsel.

Bruce said, that bearing of Harrison's arrival on th.•
day in question, he went towards the house in which he
was confined, for the purpose of atsistiolg in procuring
Itail,or of rendering him anv other service in his power.'
As he parsed along he !mail a voice calling after him,
and shortie atter he heard the report of a pistol, hut he
had not the slightest idea from whence or by about it 1
was fired. Ile had been but three months in Stockport
before •ln• period 'leo the shot was tired, and as to his
fellow prisoners, lie declared most solemnly that he had
never seen them until be was committed to the Castle of!
Chester. Being in distress, he had applied to a gentle-I
man in Stoscloport for employment; he was afterw•ardsl
directed to .Ur. Ilarrison, who kept a Sunday-schoo!, in
which he was fur lime time employed during Air. H.'sl
&limner. Some tim • after this, he purchased the good-
will of s school at the hatwaster side of Stockport, by
which means he bad supported himself up to the period
in question.
The folirwing witnesses were then called on the part
of the prisoners.
l'e.trson again called, had a paper put in his
It.tod. I think that is my writing, toy moue is to it.
It was not sent by me to a►y one. I desired Dlr. George
I imlson to write that letter for me, but I cannot say whe-
thrr it WES read to me or tint. I cannot read it.

licorre Hudson examined be Mr. Joins.—(A letter
was put i witness's hand.)—'this is niy hand-writing:
I recollect Pearson asking we to write it for him. i.e
substance of it was a ritten by his desire. 1 hare no
&Ott hut the words of the letter arc those dictated to
toe by Pearson.
Pearson again examined.—The letter was written be
my desire. but 1 cannot recoiled whether it was read
user to me. I rather think it was not read to we.
Mary 3i'Donatil examined by Mr. JoNgs.-1 live at
Stockport, and ant a wearer by trade. 1 remember the
night on which Birch was shot. 1 was in Church-gate
along with many other persons. It was known that
Harrison hail been brought to town by a constable. I
heard the pistol fired. 1 know the prisoner Wlnnis ; I
have known him nearly two years. 1 was abont 1110
yards from the spot where the pistol was fired.—M•lnnis
was discoursing with me at the time ; 1 mean the ennui
at the bar. We were talking one foolish immense or
another like other people; he was tickling and toting
with the girls that stood by. After the shot was fired
the people began to run; *lnnis ran lop Church-street,
and I saw him no more that night. _ _

Cross-examined by 31r. Ilt:som.-51,Innis was not
ann in arm with the man wbo shot the pistol.
Richard 31orrison examined.-1 am a w , and re-
side near Stockport. 1 remember the night on which
Birch was shot. I was going down Church-gate with
my brother, and 1 saw 31.1meis talking to a woman.
After I had passed hint a little I heard the pistol go off.
I was then near fourteen yards nearer to Birch than
31'1nnis wai; he was lOU yards at least from the scot
where the shot was fired.

Bruce was here asked if be bad any witnesses?—ll.
answered in the negative. lie was a total stranger in
Stockport. If Mr. Harrison was in Court he would
speak to his character, since be had known bins.
Mr. liarrioon was called, bat did not appear.
Robert Morrison, brother to last witness, examined,
and deposed to the same effect.
Jamas Blliot examined.-1 am a weaver. residing in
Stockport; said he bad known Murk three years; he
was always an honest, industrious, Tian lad.
Jonathan Cursbaw said be knew Bruce, while em-
ployed by Mr. Harrison. Ile hail always behaved with
great propriety, and was considered a Immune and ho-
nest man.

Betty I)avison said, she bad always known Monists
be an ilunest, well behaved young mau.
The prisoner grime (*llea Mr. John Edward Hudson,
the Con‘tahle of the Castle, who stated the prisoner bad
behaved with great propriety while ander his care.
Bruce again addressed the Cond. He said that Mr.
Hudson had beard Mr. Marsden, one of the Magistrates.
say, that he knew or had beard nothing against his
(grace's) character. He was sore that if Mr. Marsden
were present he wonld speak in his favour. It was
from that gentleman's book-keeper that he had purchas-
ed his school.
Here the defence closed.

The charge of the Cater Jetties was nearly is sub.
stance 10 the hollowing effect, but owls, to its great
length it is merely an uotliee:-71te Mildews of the
Jury were esUed apes to decide in the case of Jacob
whu was charged with maliciously, wilfully,
ualawfally, and with malice aforethought, of attempt-
ing to murder W. Birch, • coustabli., and • subject of
his late Majesty. The indictment consisted of six
counts. The said Masi, was charged with as latent
to murder, disable, et to do some bodily harm to Birch ;