The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-10-13 00:00:00

POLICR.
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I.
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•: 111 014TRISETION OF SEDITIOUS PraLICATIOM.

Yesterday Mr. Pearson anti other (leittlemen waited
wpvn Mr. Birnie at Bow-street, and having had some
conversation with the worthy Magistrate, Vickers' was
sent for to fetch Mr. Williams, the person who became
an.werable to Sir R. Baker for the appearance of
William Franklin, alias Fletcher, alias Forbes, on
Sunday lase.
Mr. Williams, on his arrival, was shewn into a pH-
s i.te room, and Mr. Pearson was about to interrogate
Lino, when Mr. W. objected to be etarnined, except
Mr. 'Butte was present. Mr. Pearson told him Mr.
Birnie was engaged, that he would take his esamin-
ation, and lir. B. would afterwards administer the
oath to him. Mr. Williams said, he would rather that
Mr. Birnie were present, and baring waited sometime
the Magistrate came iu.
Birnie said—Mr. Williams, 1 do not know what
to make of this business, which has assumed a much more
serious aspect than at first. Pray tell me, have you or nut
seen Franklin since Sunday night Williams. I
have not.---Mr. Birnie Have yon or your wife received
any communication from him?-31y wife took in a letter,
the envelope of which was addressed to Mr. or Mrs.
Williams, and within was enclosed a letter to Miss
Franklin, his daughter.—Mr. liirnir. Du you know
vs briber that letter came by the post ?--No. Have you '
the envelope or coyer?---\o; I have destroyed it.
When ?—Yesterday, I believe. IWho delivered it at i

your house'--I don't know. Did you know. it came
from Franklin at the time you re-tiverl it ?--I did nut.
Did you suppose it came from him diet not: though
when I saw the address I might have supposed it came
from him. Have you been in the hakit of being. s let-
err crier between Franklin and his family:—\e,
this is the first time.—Mr. Birnie. Yon may rentendaer
Mr. Williams, that when you were at my house on
Sunday, with this gentleman (with emphasis), whom I
never saw or heard of before in my life. I asked you
what he was? You said he was a gentleman ; and 1
asked von if he was a retired tradesmen? Yon said no,
you had known hint a long time as a neighbour.
Now, did you ever hear him say he knew me, or was
known to tie?-•1 never did. Mr. !limit. Because it
has gone forth to the world, that he told you lie was
a ell known to me,and if lie came before toe, all would
he set straight at once. I believe you nil! oh, me the
j•:•Oiee to say, that this introduction t., me was entirely
owing to the circumstance of my knotting yon as a
respectable fellow parishioner sertainly, it was en-
t' rely 141.-Mr. Well., am glad you are come,
as it %IS prevented the necessity, on my part, of taking
s Jrne steps that would hare beets very unpleasant.
There is one para•of your conduct that, with my long
knowledge of yon u a respectable loan, strikes me
with wonder. When vou were leaving Inv house on
Sunday, I called you back, and seriously warmed von
not to hare any thing to do with this man. sow,
having given you this advice, how do you account for
going directly to Sir Robert Baker, who knew nothing
about yen, and becameanswerable lurid, appearance?
It is to me inexplicable how you could do so. Mr.
Williams seemed much confused, mid said. I did not
exactly understand you. I thought you said, "We
can have malting to do with this bullies." I did nut
comprehend it. Mr. Birnie. Vow could nut suppose
f.st, for I told the officers to keep him in custody.
However, I have sent for you now to say, that it be-
hoves you, as a good subject, to do all in your power
fur the apprehension of this matt, and the nt• re open
aid communicative you are with these tientlemen the

Le:ter.
Mr. PEARSON then examined Mr. Williams as fol-
:—What lime did the letter you hare spoken of
come to )our hand?—About twelve o'clock on Toes-
day, het whether by the pest or not, I eannut say;
u y wife, however, I think, told me that it had the
Uereard-street post mark. Did you not suspect it was
from Franklin ?----I did. Had you any previous on-
rterstanding, either with him or his daughter, thatkeion
were to be the medium of their correspondence ?—\o,
I had not. Did you receive another letter under corer
on Monday morning from him?----Yes, I think there
was one. Did you not knew that that also came from
F'ranlclin?—lt appeared to Int so. What time was
that ?---Fletween 10 sad II o'clock on the Monday
morning. Now, Sir, try and recollect if there was not
arother letter beside these two really do not recol-
lect. Has Mrs. W. never mentioned that there was ano-
ther ?—I don't recollect hearing about another. Will
you swear you have Dot ?—1 can't swear, bat I bare
ro recollection of it. There might hare been a third
letter. One came by post, another not by post, and a
thlrd might have come some other way. Now, Sirolis you
rDt know he had another oast* besides Franklin 2--
I heard of any other. Nor his wife, sou, or
daughter by any other name ?—Never. Did you ever
see his sons at their father's house ?—They also went
by the name of Franklin,. and I never knew them by
Bey other. You have seen them both ?—I have fre-
quently. What situation does his second son hold ?
I have heard that he holds a situation at the Hoard of
l‘stitroal. Do yes know by whose influenre that si-
tittle' was procured for him ?.-Not directly. Di-
reedy or indirectly do you know?—Why I have heard'
Mr. Franklin say as much as induced me to believe
that it was by the inaseace of Mr. easaings as a)
proof of which, you may ivenaniter,- Mr. Pearson,
seeing a portrait of Mr. Calming over Franklin's
chimney-piece. Mr. Pearson—l do; bet yes know:
that the picture could not give the situation, M. Wil
hems. Mr. W. smiled. Have 'you nisilerstiod by
Amor interest his other sou got into the army ?—No;
bet I believe be pi s commission by purchase. 1
believe you hew stilted with •Franklin at the bane
of Mr. Deals (YLtryea N-Ne, sever. I saw M.
tetiryen owe for a quarter of an boar at FramitHters,
house. NoW, oi:,yenti oath, Mr. Williams, have
you not seen him sine* Sunday night ?—I swear
I have not. ,Nei-kad hay- cemmealcatioa with him
directly Or tadirectly N-sel hats net.
Youhave knows Ms% i think. four years ?—No. only
two. He told such had lived hr furnished lodgings
in Setiware-road, before he cams to Otereasiemplani.
I den't harmer bin isawd-weltier as as is be able to
swear to it. A popeiwas produced t? WIMMen, and
'said, the Writing en it appeared to be FrailcOm's.
Hare you looked fee the envelopes of the tore letters
spoken air:—.l hate, bet could net Bad them. They