The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-09-05 00:00:00

DUBLIN COMMISSION. .
"-Nob—

litisloNs-110U81. (ARUN intern
On Monday morning the Right Hon. Lord Norbary seal
Mr. Justice Vandeleur having taken their seats on the
Bench,
John Murphy and William Spelman were indicted for
highway robbery.
Both prisoners pleaded Not Guilty.
Richard Browne, examined by the Recorder.—Witneess
lives at Tallaght; he was attacked near Roundtown, be-
tween the hours of twelve and one o'clock on the 23d of
Jnne ; be was attacked by two men; the night was bright;
he was knocked down by one of them; it was the pri-
soner Murphy knocked him down; when he was down, be
saw a pistol with one of them; does not know which of
them had it ; he was robbed of a silk handkerchief, a sur-
tout, an odd shoe, and a hat ; they also took a pound note,
and a taken for s. Sid. Murphy held him while Spelman
took the money from him; they disfigured his face in a
dreadful manner, his eyes were blackened, and he had
a spitting of blood, front the blows he received on his
breast; Speltnan wore a coat on that day of much the same
colour as that on him; Murphy wore a blue coat; witness
caught hold of Murphy's coat, and felt it tearing; they
were about a quarter of' an hour in all robbing him; this
was on the morning of the 24th of June; witness emir
them afterwards in a tent at ; this was on the
day following : it was about five o'clock In the eirening
they walked out of the tent on witness's going in; they
were taken on the same night; witness was not present
when they were taken; witness went to the police-office to
give information; Spelman asked witness bow he did, In
the tent at John's Well.
Cross-examined by Mr. Bawstarr.—Witness saw theft
before; met them in a house in Crampton-ceurt; witness
is a man of good memory; has sprskrn to Speltnan; witn-ss
had to them before the rohhery ; is not in the habit
of sitting in company, and drinking with men to whom he
has ill-will; has seen them at Mrt. (Minus's at itoand-
town •' has seen them at Dollard's ; he (witness) might
ace drank Witt Murphy L goer soppeiltaith iskiestlose-00
doubt bat he has eat oysters with bun; be sight lave sat
with him; they had a quarrel with' witness but be (wit-
ness) bad no quarrel with them ; they knocked him down ;
he was at Gillam's at Roundtown that night; never saw
them before; he did see them at Crampton-court ; they
knew that witness knew them; witness keeps a public-
house at Tallaght ; it was day light when be got home t
he had drank, and had the to them ; Spelmao said
in the tent at John's-Well, " How are you, Mr. Browne ?"
witness never mistook one man for another ; be (witness)
and his brother stood their trial fur shooting a man.
person in Court, who, it was said, was brother to the
witness, here exclaimed—" He was a robber !")
Witness was at Oillam's house that night; went about
twelve o'clock, and stayed about three quarters of an hour.;
Spelman told witness that Murphy was a smuggler uf
spirits; witness never knew of any circumstance relative a
a female, that could have made witness jealous of Mug*.
or Murphy of him.
Gerald Flanagan, etamined by Mr. litlKatac—Witqese
' is a peace officer ; recollects Mr. Browne having called. at:
tbe Head Office; witness went to Thomas-street, alien( he
heard that Murphy bad gone to John's Well; he (witneis)
went to John's %Veil, and saw him there; went to the bar-

racks for assistance; he afterwards took him into cut.toutr
in Nicholas-street; he would not open the door; wihesA
had to break it open ; it was not the ball-door, it was up
stairs.
Cross-examined by Mr. BertweTT.—Witness hear 4 Ake
Murphy was a smuggler, and that be had been out atTenr
pirogue that day, with three bladders of whiskey.
Win. Bergen, examined by the itcconnEn—Witnass
Spelman into custody ;he web coming up stairs ; he k 414.1
in the saute house. (Here a blue coat, much torn, ,sswpeo•
aimed.) Witness found that cost under Murphy's best; he
(Murphy) said, that Spelinan and he bad changed cods the
day before.
Haw:ca.—Anne Carty, examined by Mr. ITExsterr.--r
Witness lives at Hounoltown ; saw them at Gillam'a

night; Spehnan was there at eleven o'clock; he was sine
ing and drinking ; he drank when he finished his sonz
Mrs. Gillam and Murphy came to witness's house; Ali,.
Gillam slept there; Murphy went away on the roses,.
Dublin; witness's own bands shut the door after ;
be wanted to sleep there, but witness would est let him..
Diana Gillam was called, butdid not appear. A witne.s,
named John Bailly, was produced, who proved haviug
served a summons on her to attend.
.. •
William Byrne, examined by Mr. liganm.7Witngts
saw Spelman and Murphy, and Btowne,at Gilltto s on gnat
night; they were all drinking together.
Terence Toole, examined by Mr. iiINNITP.—Witis..4
lives at Spitalfields; knowl the prisoner Murphy; he is ot
sober, honest, industrious lad; •
Cross.examined by Mr. Al'Kaen.—Witness is a bailie
and bacon factor.

Peter Al,Grath, examined by Mr. Banteittg.-4W4Figs
lives at Hallycullen, near Firr House; Spellman hai *try
for rat caching. •
Michael Al`Loughlin, examined by Mr. BENNIVIT,i•N 41.
ness boom the prisoners ; they are of rely gnu 1 0.01113kko;.1
would give 500/. to the care of Mirrgby r• never heard
soy impeachment against them before; heard tlystl.l4pMtnal
has 54.11. a year as rat catcher to the Custom HOW t• net-
ness i. a butter, bacon and corn factor.
Cross-examined by Mr. APKana.—Witnews ndvee,da.lt
in spirits.—Here the case closed. .
Lord NORBUItir then charged the Jury, who telltale! fa
verdict of Guilty against both prisoners, bus rrevensteitilid
them to mercy. On the verdict being reeordadi
took up a prayer book and said, "My LotJ, law that is a
all over, will tell the truth." He then kissed the pi.i}er
book, and with much solemnity swore. that Le ne,,er r
a human being in his life. Morphrdid not speako—diotit
the prisoners w we then led back to Newgate.