The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-12-01 00:00:00

'nit STATESMAN

THE PRISONERS IN HERTFORD GAOL.
At eleven o'clock oh Saturday morning, the High Sheriff
of the County, it. Sutton, Esq., arrived at Hertford, and
immediately went to the gaol, where he was received by
Mr. Wilson, the gaoler. He sit in the Counting House,
and sent en intimation to Tburtefl. Probed, and Hunt, of
his arrival. if they desired to see him. Tbertell expressed
great satisfaction on receiving the intitnatiob, tad skid be
was moat anxions tone the Sheriff, as he hada cOmmuttica-
tion to make to him. Thu High Sheriff immediately cote-
plied with his request,and repaired to Thu dell's apartment.
where he had a long conyenation with that prisoner.
Martell said he was glad to see the Sheriff, as he bad to
complain of what he deem a illegal treatment oft the
previous day. having been brought out by the Magistrate's
to be exhibited to strangers, who he supposed came for
matters of evidence against him. He said he was informed
by his solicitor that the Magistrates had no right td ekhibit
him in such a manner, and that he insisted on remon-
strating against such treatment. When he made this
remonstrance, he was so impassioned as to shed tears. The
high sheriff informed him that he was no party to the
transaction to which !simnell alluded, and would represent
forthwith to the Magistrates the objection which he had
urged. Thurtell thanked the high sheriff for his reply; and
the latter went without delay to the town hall, where the
Magistrates were assembled in petty sessions. and repre-
sented the prisoner's complaint, when after mune discussion
with closed doors, as usual, it was understood that the
Magistrates had resolved, that in future. none of the
prisoners indicted for the murder of Mr. Weare, should be
disturbed or interrupted in any way; and also that they
should be permitted to see any person or persons whom
they thought proper. The gaoler was authorised to notify
this resolution to the mho:sem
On Friday nielit Mr. Harmer, the solicitor for Hunt, arrived
la Hertford, and both then and yesterday morning had inter-
views with his client, who continues low spirited, alhough not
so dejected as when Mr. George Nicholson announced to hint
that the Crown did not mean to make use df his evidence,
and that it was determined he should be put epos 'his trial.—
Probert is also low spirited, sod has fallen away considerably
in his person since his imprisonment. He is pleased at the
alteration of the rooms made, on Friday. by the Magistrates,
as Thurtell's late apartment, which Probert now occupies. hes
afire place in it,which that he before occupied does not possum,
a want that Thurtell strongly complains of, as he has only the
kitchen fire to resort.to, which is common to the ward. Thur-
tell feels this loss psrtieularly,as in his former apartment he was
enabled to keep his fire up until six or seven o'clock, and
smoke his pipe without interruption. lie was very sullen, and
apparently disturbed, and uncomfortable throughout this day,
and since the raiment .when he was called out by the Magis-
trates, on Friday, to be seen by the coachman who drove Mr.
Weare from Lyon's Inn on the evening of the murder.
The manner in which the business on Friday was con-
ducted, was this 4—Mr. Clutterbuok and Mr. Mason came
over from Watford on Thursday night ; and on Friday, in
furtherance of a previous arrangement with Mr. Jenkins.
the Solicitor for the prosecution, they entered the gaol at
12 o'clock, and shortly after were adMitted the witnesses
who were assembled to identify (if possible) Thurtell and
Hunt. Nene of the witnesses were of any particular im-
portance in the cause, except the corichman. •
The coachman was sent into the inner yard, where Pro
bert's apartment Was situated before his recent removal, and
told to look among the prisoners, (there are several in
the ward.) and see if he could identify atiy of them.
Probed had nothing to do with this part of the investiga-
tion, and was therefore, pending the process of conducting
it, withdrawn into the gaoler's house.
When the coachman was sent In to look at the prisoners,
and evidently for the object of seeing if he could identify
Thurtell as being the man who was 'supposed to have met
Mr. Weare in Cumberland Street when he quitted the
hackney coach, Mr. Mason and Mr. Clutterbuck bed the.
irons strncks from Thertell's legs, that he should enter the
yard without any designating mark to eievet attention. All,
this time the coachman was looking among the other pri-
ssners in the yard. Thurtell then walked in between Mr.
eintlerbuck and Mr. lieorge Nicholson, followed by Mr.
Mason, the Rev. Mr. Lloyd, the gaoler, and his son: they
formed a groape together, and promenaded the yard for ten
minutes. The coachman moved backwards and forwards.
and twice fixed his eye attentively on Tburtell. but without
pointing at him as one whom lie recognised. He then
I came out, and said to the Magistrates, 1 sees nobody there
that 1 knows, no *hire.'
When the coachman retired. Thurtell complained of
the exhibition, as he called it, and said, " I think they have
lost a link in the chain in their evidence, or else what does
this mean ?"—Mr. Fenton has not been with him since
Thursday; and iie still talks of the advantage he would
derive from having Mr. Chas. Pearson to assist in pre-
paring the speech which, he says, lie will deliver on his
trial, and which he knows will relieve him from the heavy
imputations with which prejndice has loaded him. He has
been told of the seal which was found at Gill's Hill Cottage,
with his initials; but lie positively denies having ever
had such an article in his possession ; it is made of what
the jewellers call " dead gold," and he says, he never
had such a seal in his life. Nothing, however, seems to
turn upon this article, as connected with the approaching
trial.
It isfinally determined that Thurtell, Probed, and Hunt
shall be tried capitally: and that the evidence of neither
shall be taken in the cause.
The high sheriff, before he left Hertford, inspected the
court house, and expressed his approbation of the arrange-
ments which have been carrying on under his auspices
(for the visiting Magistrates have nothing to do with this
part of the business), and particularly of the arrangement
made for the public press. The Highs Sheriff, as the
constitutional officer of the Crown, has the sole superinten-
dence of the Court House, lie being in fact the only
responsible authority on each an occasion; and he has
determined that the Gallery shall be thrown open to
the public, without reserve, early on the morning
of the trial. It is right at the same time to state that the
Court is very small, will not contain shove five or six
hundred persons, and must be filled at the first rush.
KIRTIPOI,D. SUNDAY, N0V.30, roes O'CLOCK P.M.
There is very little of interest to communicate respecting
the unhappy inmates of the County tiaol; indeed very
little imams to be said until they shall have been put
upon their trials, and much of that which has been said
would have been better spared.
Thurtell, Hunt, and Probert attended the performance of
Divine Service in the Prison Chapel this morning—all
were tranquil and decent in their demeanour; but Probert
conducted himself with paiticular reverence, attention, sod
decorum. He is a good deal altered, but, although grave
in his appearance, is not so much depressed as the Public
have been led to believe. His Solicitor, Mr. Williams. lass
not been here to day. The exchange that has lately
taken place between the cells of Probed and Thurtell
remains yet unaccounted for—it may be a mere precaution-
vary step ; hut from what I have heard, it would seem to
indicate some degree of suspicion that Thurtell had specu-
lated upon the means of his escape. Mis apartment, now
occupied by Probert, is almost at the entrance within the,
interior wall of the prison. Nen which, it escape were at
all practicable, it would certainly he more easy than from
the place in which he is at present confined. The most
cautious arrangements for security are still observed ; three
persons are constantly w ith each of the three prisoners,
two being always on the weld. Another person, as r
sentinel, is inceesantly walking round the prison ; and
these, it will be remembered, are • in addition to the ordinary
number of turnkeys and keepers.
Hunt, who appeared to be overwhelmed by the first
intimation that he woold be put epos his trial, has re-
covered some portion of resolution. Mr. Harmer was to
see him yesterday. .
•Thurtell shed t, ars on Fri-Jay when remonstrating with

bedsself and bis

the Sheriff upon the exhibition of
prisoners to the witnesses of Friday. •
The Bills of indictment will be mat bike. the firmed
Jury on Thursday, and are expeited is be
te heal
Friday morning. It is noderstdOd that no
'is likely to take Omer.