Star. — 1826-10-28 (London, England)

AND MURDER.  Our readers will recollect, that, at the latter end of July la,t, in an affray between the blockade men and  some armed smugglers on the coast abreast of the town of Dover, a Q:iartermaster of the Ramifies guardship, named Morgan, was killed. A man named Horne,  however, who, it will be seen by his own statement, was one of the most active amongst those whom he now accuses, came forward as an approver, and upon his information, eight men were taken into custody on the morning of Wednesday, the 18th inst. by Bishop and Smith, of Bow•street, assisted hy a large body of the blockade men, at the village of Aldington Frith; in the parish of Billensden, Kent. They underwent a short exsmination yesttrday sennight beF•re Sir R. I3irnie, and yesterday they were 24:tin brought up, and soon after twelve o'clock put to the bar. Their names are George Ra,sdey, Samuel Bailey, Thomas Deward, Robert ariley, Thomas Gillian% Richard Ware, William Wyre, and Charles Giks. They all wore the dress of labouring men, except Ransley, who was habited after the manner of a middling country farmer.  Mr. Jonas, Solicitor to the Admiralty, appeared to conduct the prosecution on behalf of the Crown, Mr. Purr attending as Counsel; and Mr. Littattax, of Clifford's Inn. as Solicitor for the prisoners. The first case gone into was that of the murder of Morgan. Michael Pickett sworn—l am an ordinary seaman of his Majesty's ship Ramilies, and am employed on the blockade service. On the night of S.tturday, the 29th of July last, I was stationed on duty, near the bathing machines, abreast of the Parade, at Dover. Between twelve and one o'clock that night, I saw a French g. alley coming towards the shore. 1 knew her to be a French galley from her great length, and from having seen her before. Just as she was about grounding, I heard one of the men in her call out, " Jack, ashore," and imme• diately a great number of men rushed down the beach towards her, and began to take out the tubs from her. The working party, that is, those who were to carry the tubs, consisted of about fifty or sixty men, and they surd rounded the boat, while the armed party, about, I believe, six or seven, stood at high water mark, drawn up in a line on each side, to protect the working party.— The night was star light, and it was sufficiently light to enable me to distinguish a party of men as far as from low to high water mark. When the working party had got on each side of the galley I saw one of the men in her take two tubs, and pot them on a man's shoulder, upon which I ran forward, and called out, " You if you stir a peg out of that, I'll blow your brains out." I fired my pistol, which had only a blank cartridge in it. I fired before an answer was given to my threat. At this moment M ,rg.in, the deceased, came up and inquired what boat that was ? and before I had time to answer, he fired his pistol off for an alarm. Several of our men came running to our assistance, and the armed patty of the smugglers then fired a volley at Morgan, and he fell. Two or three straggling shots were fired after the volley. I was loading my pistol, when one of the smugglers came up to me with a mnsket, and said, he would do for me it I fired. He turned the butt•end of his musket, and struck at my head; but I put up my hands, and the blow knocked my pistol from my grasp. I told him I had no dread of him, and drew my cutlass; and he was ablut to make a second blow at me with his musket, when I cut at him across the arm.  Sir R. Maissr—Hadlon no assistance? Witness—None, Sir. Sir R.