The National Register. — 1821-05-06 (London, England)

STRIET.—On Thursday a public examination of the men charged with the murder of Mr. Snow of the Preventive Service, took place at this once, before Richard Blrnie, Esq. the Sitting Magistrate. The prisoners are live in number, three having been admitted evidence fur the Crown. Their names are James West, William Beer, John Richardson, Thomas Richardson, and William Williams. David North, quartermaster of the Severn, employed on the preventive service, deposed to the circumstances of the outrage, in consequence of which Mr. Snow was killed.— He stated, that, after the officer was hemmed in by lb! smugglers, he attempted to get to his assistance, but such a heavy tire was kept up that he found it impossible, and was obliged to retreat. George Griffiths (on accomplice) swore that, owlllonday evening, the 30th of April, he was engaged by the prisoner James West, to assist in " working" (the phrase for running the cargo,) a boat that night at Herne Boy. Witness and a great number of other persons met that evening afterwards at the Grove Ferry, between Canterbury and the Reculvers, and proceeded from thence to the house of the prisoner John Richardson, where guns/old pistols were distributed amongst them, with about seven or eight rounds of ball cartridges to each armed man. It was arranged that those who were armed should cover those who were not, while they worked the goods, which were to be put into two carts provided fur the purpose. There were about 60 men in all their party. They then proceeded to the appointed spot itt a meadow at the back of some houses in Herne Hay, and arrived there at about a quarter before three o'clock on Tuesday morning.— Shortly after the boat landed, and at the 110111 C time witness saw two men who he believed were of the preventive service standing a few yards from them, rind lie saw one of them snap a pistol twice, but it did nut go off. His party then fired, and the man he had seen snap the pistol drew his cutlass and rushed in amongst them, and witness JAW no more of him. (This is supposed to . Mr. Sums.) They effected a landing of 63 tubs of spirits, which were conveyed away is carts. All the prisorien were present. The witnes, in answer to a question from Mr. Harmer, said, he fired himself six or seven times, but only with powder. He tore the bullet from each of ins cartridges-Here the prisoners were observed to smile and toss up their beads as if in astooishineut.  James Smith, another accomplice, stated nearly the same facts as the last witness. He admitted that he said nothing about the matter until he was in custody. Edward Howman, mho a party in the array, was next called, and described the plans of the sinu:glers more minutely than the others. By this statement it would appear that they are quite systematical in their operations, and act almost with the precision of disciplined men. It was, be said, sqrred upon that they should proceed to the spot in mall parties by dirreent roads, and arrive their precisely at the same period, and the armed men were then to form into two bodies of equal number, and to fall, one to the right and the other to the left of the place of landing, and tilos! without arms were to work the goods wider their protection. The landing of the goods was effected in this manner, a constant firing 'being kept up. After the boat had pushed off, witness saw a man lying nn his buck on the beach, and railed out to hi.o" Halloo!" and he replied, '• l ain a dead man.* Witness did got stop to assist hien, but mentioned It afterwards to his companions, who said " It an, uoly a sham." James West was the master of the company, and paid witness seven shillings for his night's work. He fired twice or three times himself.  ➢lr. Jones, the solicitor for the Admiralty, then requested that the prisoners might be remanded fur a neck, observing that his Majesty's law officers bad not yet determined whether they should be prosecuted fur the murder, or under the E tame for unlawfully assembling with arms, &c. Mr. Birine then ordered that the 1p r". ers should be brought up on Thursday nest. They 'sere all heavily ironed.