Thistlewood proposed they should meet the following morning at nine, to draw out a plan to go by. Thistlewood said to Brunt, “You had better go round this afternoon and mention it, in order to have the committee to-morrow.” Brunt said, he did not think he should be able to go, as he had some work to do, but he would go on the next morning, and perhaps he might see some of them: it was not necessary to bring a great many. Brunt appeared to be leaving the room then, and Thistlewood called to him, and said—“O, Brunt, it will be highly necessary for those that come to-morrow morning to bring fire-arms with them, in case any officers should come up.” On which Brunt said, “D—n my eyes, if anyofficer should come in here, the time is so near now, I would run him through the body. I would murder him here sooner than we should be discovered.”
On the next morning I went there about eleven o’clock. It was a little dark in my eyes when I went in after the snow. There were Thistlewood, Brunt, Harrison, Cooke, Bradburn, Tidd, Edwards, and Wilson, myself, and another. William Cooke, on looking round the room, said, “There are twelve in the room, and I think it enough to form a committee.” Thistlewood proposed that Tidd should take the chair. Tidd took the chair, and sat with a pike in his hand. Thistlewood was on his right and Brunt on his left. Thistlewood said, “Gentlemen, you all know what we are met for;” and then he turned to the door, as if unwilling to mention it, and said, “the west-end job.” Brunt then said, “D—n my eyes, name it.” On which Thistlewood again said, “Gentlemen, we are come to the determination to do this job, that we were talking about so long, and as we find there is no probability of meeting them (Ministers) altogether, we shall, if no opportunity of doing them altogether occurs, take them separately, at their own houses, and do as many as we can. If we can only get three or four at a time we must do them.” He also said, “I suppose we can take forty or fifty men to do this west-end job; and I propose to take the two pieces of cannon in Gray’s Inn-lane, and the six pieces in the Artillery-ground.” He proposed Cooke to lead this party, and he himself would command. He said they should take the Mansion-house as the seat of the Provisional Government.
They were next to take the Bank of England; and Palin should be the man who should set fire to the barracks, and several parts of London.This was the principal part of the plan, but if any thing else occurred before Wednesday, they would think of it. Brunt was then going to put a proposition which he had for assassinating the Ministers, but Thistlewood said, his plan should be first put from the chair, as they were nearly all agreed on it. He desired the chairman to ask if any of them had any thing to say, and that they should say it; but none of them saying any thing, the plan was carried unanimously. Brunt then came forward with his plan, which was, that they should assassinate as many of his Majesty’s Ministers as possible; that they should draw lots to assassinate some of the Ministers; and whoever the fellow was on whom the lot fell, he should murder the Minister, or be murdered himself; and that if any man failed in the attempt, he (Brunt) swore by all that was good, he should be run through the body. On which I got up, and said, “Mr. Brunt, do you not think it possible for a man to attempt such a thing, and not succeed in it; and do you mean to say he should be run through the body for not doing it?” To which he said, “I do not: if a man should attempt it and not succeed, he is a good man; but if he shews any cowardice, he deserves to be run through the body.” This proposition of Brunt’s was then put to the meeting.
Soon after this, Palin, Potter, and Strange, came in. They were welcomed, and were desired to sit near the fire, as they were wet. Palin said, “There is one thing I want to know; if it can be done, it will be a great assistance to our plan. I want to know what men are to perform each part of the plan, and who are to take the cannon. I want to know, in calling upon the men, whether I can tell them in part or whole what is to be done.” The chairman said, “I don’t see where the harm is of telling what is to be done.” Mr.Palin, seeing that he had that liberty, sat down quite satisfied. Nothing regular was transacted in the chair after that. Mr. Thistlewood said, “O, Brunt, that is well thought of, as Palin is here: you and Palin go, and see if the house near Furnival’s Inn is fit for setting fire to.” They went (Palin and Brunt), and reported it would make a d——d good fire. Thistlewood talked of getting means for a treat on Tuesday and Wednesday. Brunt said, he would be d——d, but he would contribute the only 1l.note he had earned for a long time. They proposed the White-Hart for the house. Thistlewood proposed his own room; but afterwards thought it would not do, as it might lead to suspicion. This was all on the Sunday morning. On Monday morning they met again. Witness then told them what Hobbes told him on Sunday night, of inquiries made respecting radical meetings at his house, and that information of it was given at Bow-street office, and at Lord Sidmouth’s office. Harrison turned round on witness like a lion, and said “Adams, you have acted d——d wrong.” Brunt said so too, and added, “Whatever you have to communicate, you have no business to communicate but to me and to Thistlewood.” Witness said, it concerned all, and he should tell all of it. They repeated the same observations. They talked of calling a meeting of the Mary-le-bone Union, as they wanted some money; and Brunt said, it would be of use for that purpose.
Witness and Potter went in the evening to the White-Hart; Palin and Bradburn joined them. Next morning they were there too, and with them Thistlewood, Tidd, Ings, Harrison, and Brunt. Edwards came, and told them there was to be a cabinet dinner next night. Thistlewood said, he did not think it was true. A newspaper was sent for, and read by Thistlewood. He read that they were to dine at Lord Harrowby’s,Grosvenor-square. Brunt then said, “I’ll be d——d if I don’t believe there is a God. I have often prayed that he would bring all these thieves together, in order to destroy them. He has answered my prayer.” Thistlewood proposed, that they should form a committee and sit immediately. Witness took the chair.
Thistlewood proposed immediately a fresh plan to be formed respecting the assassination. Witness expressed a hope they had paid due consideration to what he said yesterday. All got into confusion. Harrison said, “D—n that man who attempted to throw cold water on the plan, but he would run him through with the sword.” Witness left the chair, and Tidd took it. Brunt moved that a watch should be set on the Earl of Harrowby’s house that night. The object was to see if any men or soldiers went into Earl Harrowby’s. Two were to go at six, to be relieved at nine, and they were to continue till twelve. The watch was to be resumed at four next morning.
Thistlewood said he hoped they would be satisfied that no officers or soldiers went in. They would do what they had determined to-morrow evening; and added, that it would answer their purpose much better than to attack their houses separately, when only two or three could be got together. Here they would have fourteen or sixteen; a rare haul to murder them all. “I propose,” continued he, “when the door is opened, to rush in, seize the servants, present pistols, and threaten to kill them if they make any noise; two to take the entrance to the stair upwards, and two others to the stair to the lower part of the house, armed with blunderbusses and hand-grenades; and if any attempt to pass, to throw hand-grenades and destroy them all. Others are to go where the ministers are to murder them all. If there shall be any good men, kill them forkeeping bad company.” All agreed. Ings said, he would go in first, with a brace of pistols and knives. The two swordsmen would cut off all their heads; and Castlereagh’s and Sidmouth’s should be flung in a bag by themselves. He added, “I shall say, my Lords, I have got as good men here as the Manchester yeomanry; enter citizens, and do your duty.” Harrison and witness were to be the swordsmen. After the execution of Lord Harrowby, at his house, Harrison proposed that some should go to King-street horse-barracks, and set fire to the premises by throwing fire into the straw in the stable.
Harrison and Wilson were to go to Gray’s Inn-lane, and, in case they could not carry the cannon out of the military-school, they were to wait till a party came to assist them. Thence they were to proceed to the artillery barracks, to assist Cooke in taking the cannon there. If they found their strength sufficient to proceed, they were to advance to the Mansion-house, and plant three of the cannon on each side of the Mansion-house, and to demand the Mansion-house. If it were refused, they were to fire, and then it would be given up. The Mansion-house was to be made the seat for the Provisional Government.
The Bank of England was next to be taken. They would take the books, which would enable them to see further into the villany of the government. The further parts of the plan were delayed till Wednesday. They agreed upon a sign and countersign. The word was “Button;” the man who came up was to say B-u-t; and the other was to reply t-o-n.—Being asked as to the watch, witness said, There are other things which I wish to state. I went there next morning, and found Edwards, Ings, and Hall, making fusees for the hand-grenades. Davidson went on the watch at six. Witness and Brunt went to relieve the watch. They saw Davidson in the square, on thewatch. They went into a public-house, where Brunt played at dominos with a young man.
About eleven they went out into the square, and walked for some time, till witness got ashamed of himself. They went away at twelve o’clock. He went next day to Fox-court, between two and three. He found Brunt there. Strange came in, and in a few minutes afterwards two more strangers. Strange and another were trying the flints. They went into a back room to avoid the strangers, where witness saw cutlasses, blunderbusses, &c. Thistlewood, Ings, and Hall came in. Thistlewood said, “Well, my lads, this looks like something to be done.” He touched witness on the shoulder, and asked how he was. Witness replied that he was very unwell, and in low spirits. Thistlewood sent for beer and gin. Thistlewood then wanted some paper to write bills on. Witness said, cartridge paper would do. The paper was brought; and table and chair were got. The bills were then written; they were to be set on the houses, to let the people know what had been done. Thistlewood read as part, “Your tyrants are destroyed—the friends of liberty are called upon to come forward—the Provisional Government is now sitting. James Ings, Secretary. February 28.” Thistlewood was much agitated, and could write only three. Another bill was written, which was an address to the soldiers. Another person was employed to write it, and Thistlewood dictated to him.—Witness said he would tell what he had seen.
Mr. Adolphus objected to this, and contended, that the writing alone was evidence.
Witness could not say what became of the papers, and he had not seen them since.
Mr. Solicitor-General now stated, that notice had been given to produce the writings.
Witness said that this second kind of bill was not finished,—they could not agree as to the terms.
Mr. Adolphus renewed his objection to the question what Thistlewood dictated to be written.
Lord Chief-Justice Abbot.—In whose hands had you last seen the paper?
Witness did not know him.
His Lordship said, some doubts were entertained by some part of the Court.
Mr. Solicitor-General said, he would not press it.
Witness went on.—Ings had two black belts on, one for two pistols, the other for cutlasses. He had two bags on his shoulders, like soldiers haversacks. He looked at himself and said, he was not complete yet, he had forgot his steel. He took out a large knife, and brandished it about, and said, it would cut off the heads of Castlereagh and Sidmouth, and it would be thought a great deal of at some future time. The knife was a large broad knife, twelve inches long, the hand bound round with wax to keep a firm hold of it. Others were busy at other arms. They began to leave the room about half-past four or five, to go about the business.
Palin came in half an hour before. Palin said they ought to be aware of what they were about, and to think within themselves whether they were to do their country service or not, and whether the assassination would be countenanced by their country. If they thought their country would join them, then the man who flinched should be run through on the spot. Unless they came to this determination they would do no good. A tall man came in, and asked what the business they were about was. Witness had never seen him before. The tall man said, if they were to serve their country, he was their man, and if any one was afraid of his life, he ought to have nothing to do with such a concern as that. Thistlewood was then gone. Brunt was told, that inquiries were made by some who were present, as to the planthey were about, Brunt said, that was not the room for telling that; but they should go with him, and they would know. Brunt promised spirits; and the tall man cautioned against drunkenness, as ruinous to a cause like that. They went along the street, two and two, and at some distance, that they might not be observed. There was a cupboard in the room used for swords, hand-grenades, and flannel bags for cartridges, one of which was full. The rest of the arms were in Tidd’s room; that was the depôt. Thistlewood was always in a hurry to carry every thing that was got ready into the depôt, lest any officer should see it. Witness carried a brass-barrelled blunderbuss. There were pikes made of old files. Witness as he went on missed all his associates. He returned back, and met Brunt, who returned back with him along the Edgeware-road, till they met Thistlewood.
They went altogether to the stable in Cato-street. Witness stayed behind till Harrison came up, and made him go in. He saw there, Davidson and Wilson below, Thistlewood, Ings, Hall, Bradburn, Strange, Cooper, the tall man, and others above. There were, as Thistlewood calculated, at last, eighteen above and two below. There was a bench above and arms on it. Some beer was standing on the table. There were lights. There was a chest. Before Tidd came, Thistlewood went out for some time. Witness heard a deal of talk below, and he found Thistlewood, Brunt, Harrison, Davidson, and Wilson. They spoke of the good news, they heard that the carriages were arriving at Lord Harrowby’s as fast as they could. Witness went up to the loft, and saw Thistlewood and Brunt much agitated. They spoke of Tidd’s absence. Brunt pledged his word that he would come. He soon afterwards came. Thistlewood said, “I hope you will not give up what you are going to do; if youdo, this will be another Despard’s business.” He then counted twenty persons, and said that was enough, fourteen would be sufficient to go into the room, and the other six would take care of the servants and doors. They then set apart fourteen.
The gin bottle was then started. Thistlewood said, if Lord Harrowby had sixteen servants, that was nothing, as they would not be prepared. A noise was heard below. Thistlewood took a candle and looked down to see who they were, and then set down the candle quite confused, according to witness’s judgment. Two officers took command of the room, holding small pistols, and said, “A pretty nest there is of you. We have got a warrant to apprehend you all, and hope you will go peaceably.” A man who was on the step of the ladder said, “Let me come forward.” This was the man murdered. A group of persons had got into the little room, and then came forward, and one of them stretched forward an arm, witness saw nothing in it, and another presented a pistol. The man fell. It was impossible for him to give a particular account of the other transactions. He got away, went home, and was apprehended on the Friday, and remained in custody since. He identified Davidson, Wilson, Brunt, Ings, Cooper, Harrison, Tidd. There were two he did not know. They were again called forward, but he said he could not swear to them. He was sent forward near the dock: but he said he did not know them. One of them, he said, he saw at the meeting.
Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood.—He went not there to assassinate his Majesty’s Ministers. His legs carried him there. His outward intent to all appearance was for that; but his inward intent was against it. He was kept to it, because Brunt said, whoever forsook them would be marked. He became acquainted with Brunt inCambray, in 1816. He had been a soldier years before. He was a shoemaker. He had never been treasurer to a benefit society. He carried with him 40l.He thought the money his own. He had never been charged with stealing it. He was introduced to Thistlewood by his friend Brunt, to assassinate his Majesty’s Ministers. That was the first object. He first gave information on the Saturday after. It was indeed from compunction. “My motive was, gentlemen of the Jury, I do assure you, that I made a vow to God that I should tell the whole truth. I did indeed regard it with horror. I felt compunctious visitings before I was in custody. It was not because I felt my neck in danger, or because I thought it was better eighteen should be hanged than myself.” The greatest number he ever saw present was fifteen men. The greatest sum he saw was sixpence. There was no collection of halfpence and pence for the newspaper. Tidd’s was the depôt. He saw no muster-roll, and no cannon-ball. The cannon were to be charged with cartridges, and a large hammer was to be bought to strike down the tops of the iron palisades, as it was thought they would do more execution than balls. The newspaper was “The New Times.” Witness did not know whether it was correct. He had seen nothing of Edwards since. He was employed to carry a sword, as being expert at it. He was not sufficiently near to have killed the man in the loft with the sword. His hand was not extended. He could tell nothing of the proceedings that followed. He went away, and did not deliver himself up, because he saw no officer. He went home to abide the event.
Re-examined in chief.—He said, the British army were at Cambray when he became acquainted with Brunt there.
Another witness was then called, but the Courtand Jury were of opinion, as it was half-past seven, that it was the best time for adjourning. The Court was accordingly adjourned till nine o’clock on Tuesday morning.
SECOND DAY.—Tuesday, April 18.
The Court met this morning at nine o’clock, and the names of the Jury having been called over, and Thistlewood and the other prisoners being put to the bar, the evidence for the prosecution was continued.
Eleanor Walkerexamined by Mr. Gurney.—I am servant to Henry Rogers: he lives at No. 4, Fox-court, Gray’s-Inn-lane. We had a lodger named Brunt. He occupied two rooms on the second floor. They were front rooms. In January a lodger came, introduced by Brunt. This was a month or five weeks before Brunt was taken up. He (Brunt) said the lodger lately came from the country, and he wanted a room; and as we had one to let, he wished him to have it. The room was unfurnished. He paid three shillings a week for it. He (the lodger) said he might not bring his goods in for a week or better. He never brought any in to my knowledge. I do not think I should know him again. I do not remember having heard him called by his name. The room he took was a two-pair back room.
This witness was not cross-examined.
Re-called.—While this person occupied the room, I heard persons frequently go up stairs.
Mary Rogers, the aunt and mistress of the last witness, examined by Mr. Gurney.—The room was let by my maid while I was out. After the lodger had been in the house for a week, I said to Mr. Brunt, “You have brought a lodger.” He said, “Yes, I have, and I hope he will pay you. I know nothing of the man, but seeinghim at a public-house, and seeing him want a room.” He said he was a butcher out of work. He paid me for four or five weeks. I cannot say whether he ever slept there; he did not to my knowledge. I and my maid in the evening saw three men coming up stairs. The one in the middle was a black man. The light from my room was on their faces. At other times I heard persons going up stairs, but took no particular notice.
This witness was not cross-examined.
Joseph Hale, a young lad, the apprentice of Brunt, examined by Mr. Gurney.—I am apprentice to Brunt. I have served two years and better of my apprenticeship. I lived with him in Fox-court. I remember a person coming to lodge there in January. His name was Ings, a butcher. Brunt and he looked at the room. Brunt said, “It will do; go down and give them a shilling.” After that Ings used to come to the room. The key was mostly left in the front room, and Ings used to come there for it. Persons used sometimes to come to the room before my master was taken up. This was every evening. I saw different persons. They were Ings, Tidd, Thistlewood, Bradburn, Edwards, Hall, Potter, and Strange. I remember a man named Adams: he came. Davidson, the black man, came also. Others used to come, but I do not recollect them. They used to stay nearly about two hours. There was no furniture in the room that ever I saw. They used to take chairs in, out of the front room. I did not hear any of their conversation. They used to call Thistlewood sometimes T., his initial, and sometimes Arthur. I once saw the door of Ings’s room open, and saw some long poles, like branches of trees cut rough; I suppose about twenty of them. I sometimes heard hammering and sawing in the room. My master was taken on Thursday, the24th of February. On the Sunday before that there was a meeting in the room. There were more that morning than ever I had seen come up before. All the persons whom I have named were there that morning. After the meeting broke up I saw Strange in my master’s room. There was no meeting on the Monday evening. There was no meeting on Tuesday. On the Wednesday there were several persons going in and out. Some of them came into the front room, where I worked. They got some pistols, and were putting new flints in them. There were five or six pistols. One of the men said there were people overlooking them from the next house, and Brunt told them to go to the back room. Strange and a man whom I did not know were the men who had the pistols. I cannot say how many I saw go in and out. I saw Thistlewood that day. In the afternoon he asked me for a sheet of writing-paper. I gave him one. He took it, I believe, into the back room.
My master after this came out of the back room, and desired me to get six sheets of cartridge paper. He gave me sixpence. I bought the paper and gave it to him, and he took it into the back room. This was about four or five in the afternoon. I heard people going down stairs between five and six. My master was in and out several times. He went away finally about six. There was a man went with him. It was not one of the men I used to see there. A table had been taken that day from my mistress’s room to the back room. I wanted the table, and went for it. I knocked at the door, and Potter opened it. There were four or five in the room besides Potter. After my master was gone, I saw Tidd between seven and eight. Mrs. Brunt called him, and he came into her room. She showed him a pike-head and a sword. She asked him what she should do with them. She then gave them tohim, and he took them out of the room into the back room. After this I heard some persons go down stairs. Tidd left a message, that if any persons called they should be sent to the White Hart. Some persons did call on my master, and I went to show them to the White Hart. Potter came, and he went. He knew the way himself. There were three came to whom I shewed the way.
My master came home that night at about nine o’clock. I observed his dress was dirty. He appeared confused. I heard him say to his wife, it was all up, or words to that effect. He said that where he had been, a great many officers had come in. He said he had saved his life, and that was all. Just as he said this, another man came in. I do not know that man. Brunt shook hands with him, and asked him if he knew who had informed. The man said, no. The man then said, he had had a dreadful blow on the side, which knocked him down. Brunt then said, “There is something to be done yet.” After this Brunt and the other man went away together. Mrs. Brunt and I after this went to Ings’s room. I saw several rolls of brown paper with tar in them. I saw only one pole remaining. I saw something rolled up, and tied round with strings. I understood them to be hand-grenades. I saw an iron pot belonging to Brunt. My master came in about eleven o’clock. He told me to get up in the morning as soon as I could and clean his boots. They were very dirty. He called me in the morning at half past six, and when I got up he asked me if I knew the Borough. I told him yes. He then asked if I knew Snow’s-fields. I said no. He then went into the back room and put the things out of the cupboard into two baskets; one of which was afterwards put into a blue apron belonging to Mrs. Brunt. This apron had before this been as a curtain in Ings’s room.
My master told me that Potter lived in Snow’s fields. When we had the baskets ready, two officers came in and took my master into custody. I knew where Tidd lived. He lived in the Hole-in-the-Wall-passage, Brooks’-market. Adams lived next door.
Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus.—My master is a journeyman shoemaker: not a very poor man. Adams is also a shoemaker. Ings had the lodgings five weeks. I believe they had meetings there every night. I thought there were about twenty persons there on the Sunday. I know some of the prisoners. Strange is a boot-seller—selling boots in a shop. Edwards was an artist. Edwards was there very often: oftener than Adams—almost every day. Hall was a journeyman tailor, I believe. I don’t know where he lives. I cannot say how many persons were there at one time on Wednesday. The baskets used by my master were rush baskets. As near as I can guess there were about twenty poles. They were branches of trees in a green raw state. I believe they kept a fire in Ings’s room. I do not know whether the poles were cut up to light the fire or not.
Thomas Smartexamined by Mr. Littledale.—I am a watchman of the parish of St. George, Hanover-square. I was on watch on the south side of Grosvenor-square, on Tuesday the 22d of February. I went there about eight o’clock. About half-past eight I saw four suspicious men walking the square. I thought they were after no good; one of them was a dark man, and the other a tall man. I watched them. They were looking down the areas. Charles Bissix’s box is at the west side of the square.
Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood.—It was not a very uncommon thing to see suspicious men walking about.
Henry Gillanexamined by Mr. Bolland.—Iam a servant to Mr. Whittle, apothecary, at 15, Mount-street, Grosvenor-square. I sometimes use the Rising-sun public-house. It is in Charles-street, which runs into Grosvenor-square and Mount-street. I was there on Tuesday the 22d of February. I saw that short man (pointing to the prisoner Brunt) there. There was a tall man with him. They had some bread and cheese and porter. There were dominos on the table, and the short man challenged me to play with him. I played two games with him, and left the house before ten, leaving them there.
John Hector Morrisexamined by the Attorney-General.—I am a journeyman cutler to Mr. Underwood, in Drury-lane. I remember on Christmas-eve a man brought a sword to my master’s shop. The man was habited like a butcher. He drew the sword from under his smock-frock, without a scabbard. He wished to have it ground sharp, particularly at the point. He said to put the name of Inns on it; but I am hard of hearing, and it might be Ings. He called for it in a few days. In about a fortnight he brought another sword to have it sharpened in the same way. It was much longer than the other. [Here the witness identified the prisoner Ings as the man who brought the swords.] I should know the swords again.
Edward Simpsonexamined by the Attorney-General.—I am a corporal major of the 2nd Regiment of Life-Guards. I know a person named Harrison. He was in the Guards. (Here he identified Harrison.) He was discharged in 1814. When I knew him, he was in King-street barracks, Portman-square. He had an opportunity of knowing them. Part of the barracks looked into Gloucester Mews. There was a loft with five windows looking into it. There was hay and straw in that loft; the windows had been stopped up since the Cato-street business.
Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood.—I don’t know how many men are in Knightsbridge barracks; they would hold about 300.
James Adamsexamined by the Attorney-General.—I am a pawnbroker in Berwick-street. I know the prisoner Davidson from his having pledged things at my shop. He came on the 23d of February, in the morning, and took a brass-barrelled blunderbuss out of pledge.
This witness was not cross-examined.
Thomas Hydenexamined by Mr. Gurney.—I am a cow-keeper. I was formerly a member of a shoemakers’ club. I knew Wilson there. I saw him a few days before the 23d of February; he met me in the street, and made a proposition to me. He asked me if I would be one of a party to destroy his Majesty’s Ministers; he said they were waiting for a cabinet dinner, and that all things were ready. He told me they had a sort of things which I never saw; they were called by the name of hand-grenades,—and, he said, he depended on me to be one. He said that Mr. Thistlewood would be glad to see me, if I would be one. He said, the use to be made of the hand-grenades was to be put under the table, at the cabinet dinner, with the fuse alight, and those who escaped were to be destroyed by the sword or some other weapon. He also said that fires were to be lighted, and the town to be kept in confusion for several days, till the thing became general. He named some houses. Lord Harrowby’s, Lord Castlereagh’s, Lord Wellington’s, Lord Sidmouth’s, the Bishop of London’s, and several others which I do not remember. I told him I would make one. This was, I believe, four or five days before the Cato-street business. Before that I went to Lord Harrowby’s. I do not remember the day. I followed his Lordship in the park. I gave him a note. On Wednesday, the 23d, I saw Wilson again. I believe it wasbetween four and five o’clock in the afternoon. I met him in Manchester-street, Manchester-square. He said, “Hyden, you are the very man I wanted to see.” I asked him what there was going to be; and he said, there was to be a cabinet dinner at Lord Harrowby’s, Grosvenor-square. He told me I was to go to the Horse and Groom public-house, the corner of Cato-street. I was to go in there, or otherwise I was to wait at the corner until I wasshovedinto a stable close by. I asked him the hour, and he said about half past five or a quarter before six. I then asked him how many there were to be, and he said twenty or thirty. I asked him, was that all there was going to be? and he said, there was to be another party in the Borough, another in Gray’s Inn-lane, and another in Gee’s-court, or in the city. He said, all Gee’s-court were in it; but they would not act till after the English began, as they had so often deceived them before. Gee’s-court is inhabited by Irish. It is at the St. Giles’s end of Oxford-street. He also said there was a gentleman’s servant supporting them with money; and, if they would act on the subject, he would give them a great deal more. He asked me if I had a gun; and I said yes, but it was only arubbishingone. He then said they would provide me with a gun, and something to work with. There were, he also said, two pieces of cannon in Gray’s Inn-lane, which they could get by breaking in a small door. He said there were four pieces of cannon in the Artillery Ground, and they could be very easily taken, by killing the sentinel. After they left Grosvenor-square, they were to meet near the Mansion-house. I was told to come to my time, or the thing would be done before I came.
I went to John-street that evening; it was nearly seven o’clock. The entrance to Cato-street is a little gateway from John-street. When I got there I saw Wilson and Davidson; I had seen him(Davidson) before. Davidson said I was come, and he asked me if I would go in. I said no, as I was going somewhere else to look for some cream. He said if I would go in, Mr. Thistlewood was there. I asked him what time I should be there, and he said eight o’clock. If I were not there in time, he said, I was to follow them down to Grosvenor-square, and, at the fourth house from the corner, at the bottom of the square, I should find them.
Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus.—I am not certain whether the first conversation I had with Wilson was before the Sunday, before the Cato-street business. I am not quite certain. It was four or five days before. I am not able to say what day I gave the information to Lord Harrowby. It might be a day or two before I saw Wilson in Manchester-street. The conversation with Wilson was in Manchester-street; we were walking up and down the street.
A note was here put into witness’s hand, which he said was the one given by him to Lord Harrowby. It was in his own hand-writing.
Cross-examined.—The reason why I gave the note to Lord Harrowby was, because I could not see Lord Castlereagh.—I did not call at Lord Castlereagh’s house, but I went three or four times near the house, in order to see him. I did not see him, and then I gave the note to Lord Harrowby. I am certain that in Wilson’s conversation with me, the words, “His Majesty’s Ministers,” were used.
TheEarlofHarrowbyexamined from the bench by the Attorney-General.—I reside in Grosvenor-square, on the south side, near Charles-street, next door to the Archbishop of York’s. I am a Privy-Councillor, and one of his Majesty s Ministers. I am President of the Council, and one of the Cabinet. On the 23d of February last, I intended giving a cabinet dinner; I thinkit was on Wednesday, the 23d. Only those who compose the Cabinet are invited to Cabinet dinners. I believe the invitations went out the latter part of the week before, but my head servant can speak to that more correctly. Invitations were sent to the Lord Chancellor; to the Earl of Liverpool, the First Lord of the Treasury; to Mr. Vansittart, the chancellor of the Exchequer; to Earl Bathurst, the Secretary of State for the Colonial department; to Lord Sidmouth, the Secretary of State for the Home Department; to Lord Castlereagh, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; the Duke of Wellington, Master General of the Ordnance; Mr. Canning, the First Commissioner of the India Board; Mr. Robinson, President of the Board of Trade; Mr. B. Bathurst, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; Mr. Wellesley Pole, the Master of the Mint; and the Earl of Mulgrave; all these are Privy-Councillors. They are employed in the different offices I have mentioned, and also form what is called the Cabinet. In common parlance they are called his Majesty’s Ministers. On the Tuesday before the intended dinner, I was riding in the Park without a servant. It was about two o’clock. I went to a Council at Carlton-House. I am not positive as to the hour. As I came near Grosvenor-gate a person met me, and asked me if I was Lord Harrowby. I said, yes. He said he wished to give a note to Lord Castlereagh, which was of considerable importance to him and to myself. He then gave me a letter. After some further conversation, he gave me a card, with his address. I saw the man again by appointment on Wednesday morning in the ring, among the young plantations in Hyde-Park. The dinner did not take place at my house on Wednesday. The preparations went on as if the parties were to dine together, until I wrote a note from the Earl of Liverpool’sto my head servant, to say the Cabinet would not dine there. It would be seven, or half past, at which the party would dine.
JOHN MONUMENT
Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood.—I had some general knowledge of some conspiracy, or something of the kind, going on before this. I do not know a person named Edwards. We had some general information a considerable time before this, that some plan was in agitation, but we did not know the time at which it was to take place, or the particulars. I will not say to two months. It was some considerable time before this.
John Bakerexamined by the Attorney-General.—I am butler to Lord Harrowby. The cards of invitation were issued for the cabinet dinner on the 18th, or 19th. It was about eight in the evening of the 23d when I first knew that the Cabinet were not to dine at my Lord Harrowby’s. The preparations for it went on till then. The Archbishop of York lives next door to my Lord Harrowby’s. I can’t say whether his grace had company on the 23d of February. I noticed several carriages draw up at his door.
John Monumentexamined by the Solicitor-General.—I am by trade a shoemaker. I generally live near Brooks’-market, but I am now a prisoner in the Tower. I know the prisoner Thistlewood. I met him at the house of one Ford some weeks before the transactions of the 23d of February. He afterwards called upon me at my lodgings. He was not alone. Brunt was with him. He told me that he wanted to speak with me in private. In consequence I went out of the room with him, my mother and brother being at that time in the room with me. Brunt staid behind when I went out. Thistlewood then said to me, “Great events are now close at hand—the people are every where anxious for a change. He had been promised support by a great manymen, who had deceived him, but he had now got men who would stand by him.”
He then asked me if I had any arms. I said, “No, I had not.” He said, that every man of them, that is, of those who were attached to him, had arms, pikes, pistols, or sabres; and added, that I might buy a pistol for four or five shillings. I said that I was too poor to buy one. He replied, that if such were the case, he would see what could be done for me. Brunt called upon me again in four or five days. He said, that he could not stay long with me; there were several more men of his trade waiting to see him on this business, and he must call on them. I did not see him afterwards for some time. He called, however, again upon me on the Tuesday previous to the 23d. I then told him that I thought I had lost him, as he had staid away so very long. He replied, that owing to the King’s death, an alteration had taken place in their plans. I asked what those plans were. He said that I should know them better at a meeting to be held the night afterwards, than he could tell me. I asked him where the meeting was to be. He said at Tyburn-turnpike. He did not tell me what was to be done there.
I asked him if I was to see any persons there how I was to know them as friends, and requested him to give me the word. Brunt then told me, that if I saw any persons about, I was to say B-U-T; and if they were friends, they would say T-O-N. He would, however, call on me the following morning, and tell me more particulars.
On the Wednesday afternoon, between four and five, he did call again: he came by himself. He called me down stairs, and asked me if I was ready to go. I said, “No, I have got some work to do, and it must be done before I go.” He asked me how long it would be before it wasfinished. I said, that it would be done about six o’clock. He then said, that he could not wait for me so long—that I must therefore come to the place appointed along with the man to whom he had introduced me; that man’s name was Tidd. He charged me not to be later than six o’clock, as Tidd had others as well as myself, to take with him to the place of meeting.
I went to Tidd’s at half-past six, who complained that many men had disappointed him. We waited till seven, but no person came. Tidd then went into a corner of the room, took out a large pistol, and stuck it in a belt, which he wore round his waist. He also took out four or five pike-heads, which he wrapped up in brown paper. He took also several shafts, four or five feet long. We then went out, along Holborn, and up Oxford-street. I asked him, in his room, where we were going. He said to a room in a mews in John-street, Edgware-road. When we got into Holborn, he gave me the pike-shafts, and told me to take care of them. I asked him again, as we were going along, where we were going; and wanted to know whether it was to the House of Commons. He said, “No, there were too many soldiers near there.” I again pressed him on the subject, and he said that they were going to Grosvenor-square, as there was a cabinet dinner there that evening. I did not ask him any more questions; for on his saying that, I was satisfied for what purpose they were going.
We then went to Cato-street. Under the archway I saw two men, whom Tidd appeared to know. He spoke to them; and, after a few moments we all went into the stable together. There were in the loft and stable about twenty-four or twenty-five persons. I had not been there long when some one proposed to count the numbers assembled. Thistlewood replied, that there was no occasion to do so, as he knew thatthere were about four or five and twenty persons in the room. There was a person in a brown great coat sitting on a carpenter’s bench, who spoke of the impropriety of going with so small a number to Lord Harrowby’s. Thistlewood replied, there were quite enough of them. He only wanted thirteen to go into the room, and supposing Lord Harrowby to have sixteen servants, that number would be quite enough to master them.
The man in the brown coat said, “After we have done, there will be a crowd about the door, how are we to make our escape?” Thistlewood said, “You know the larger body is already gone to arrange matters; we, the smaller, are left to do the business.” Davidson then blamed the tall man in the brown great coat for throwing cold water on the plan, and added, that if he was afraid, he might as well go away. Brunt said, “Rather than give up the business, I will go to the house and blow it up, though I perish myself in the ruins, for you know we have got that which can easily do it.” The man in the great coat then said, as they were all for it, he would not oppose it. He then proposed that all in the room should put themselves under the orders of Thistlewood. Upon which Thistlewood said, that all engaged in the business were equal, and should have the same honour as himself, and proposed that fourteen should volunteer to go into the room at Lord Harrowby’s. Those that volunteered were to range themselves on the side in which the fire-place stood. They did so in the course of a few minutes. Whether they were exactly fourteen I don’t know.
I heard nothing said of what the rest were to do. On somebody asking that question, Thistlewood replied, that they all knew their places. Thistlewood then went out for a few moments. On his return, he said that he had receivedintelligence that the Duke of Wellington and Lord Sidmouth had arrived at Lord Harrowby’s. I was myself taken into custody in the room.
Cross-examined by Mr.Adolphus.—I never saw Thistlewood till I saw him at Ford’s. I attended at the meeting in Finsbury-market. I was so far off that I could not tell whether Thistlewood was there, nor even the purpose of the meeting. There was no particular acquaintance at that time between me and Thistlewood. I did not then know Brunt or Edwards. There was a long interval between my first and second conversation with Brunt. I thought that they had done with me, finding me so reluctant to join in their measures. The man in the brown coat was not Adams. I have seen Adams since, at Hicks’s Hall. The room was much crowded—the parties in it were eating bread and cheese. I do not know that I ever saw Adams before I saw him at Hicks’s Hall. I recollect the prisoner Davidson from his colour. If any person had addressed them besides the man in the brown coat, I must have heard him. I was taken in the room when the soldiers came. I had no arms. I made no resistance.
Re-examined by the Solicitor-General.—I was nearly the last person who entered the room. I was there nearly a quarter of an hour before the officers came. I was unacquainted with every person in the room except Thistlewood, Brunt, and Tidd. It was candlelight. On the bench were swords, pistols, and blunderbusses. When I was brought up to Whitehall, I was handcuffed to Thistlewood; who advised me, when I came before the Privy-Council, to say that I had been brought to Cato-street by Edwards. I asked him how I could tell such a falsehood, when I had never seen such a man as Edwards in my life. He said that was of no consequence. If asked what sort of a man he was, I was to say, he was a littletaller than myself, and dressed in a brown coat.
By a Juryman.—I have had no communication with Adams since my apprehension.
By the Solicitor-General.—I never saw him except when I was brought up as a witness to Hicks’s Hall.
Thomas Monument.—I am brother to the last witness. I remember Thistlewood calling upon my brother. He brought Brunt with him. They did not stay in the room more than five or ten minutes. Thistlewood then asked my brother if he might speak with him. On my brother’s replying yes, they went out together for ten minutes. They then returned; and Brunt and Thistlewood went away.
On the Tuesday before the Cato-street business, Brunt called again on my brother, with a man named Tidd. My brother said, “Brunt, I have not seen you for so long a time, that I thought I had lost you.” Brunt said, “The King’s death had made some alteration in our plans.” My brother asked what those plans were. Brunt said, they had different objects in view. Brunt asked my brother to meet him at Tyburn-turnpike that evening, when an outline of their plan should be given to him. Brunt said that he ought to be there at six o’clock: if he saw any persons about, he should say, B-u-t, and if they were of their party they would say, t-o-n. They did not press me to go, but spoke only to my brother. I did not go. Brunt called at five the next evening for my brother to go. He said, he could not go then, as we had work to do. Brunt then bade my brother call on Tidd, at the Hole-in-the-wall passage, at seven. He did so, as I was informed.
Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood.—Not suspecting that any mischief was going on, I was not anxious to know to what the conversation of mybrother and Brunt referred. I thought that it might perhaps relate to some club-dinner.
Thomas Dwyerexamined by Mr. Gurney.—I live in Cheese-court, Oxford-street. Some time in February I became acquainted with Davidson. He introduced me to Thistlewood. We went together to a public-house at the end of Molyneux-street, not far from Cato-street. This might be about the 9th, 10th, or 11th of February. Thistlewood said nothing particular to me at that time. He observed, that he had been in four or five revolutions, and that Ireland was in a disturbed state. I am an Irishman. Thistlewood said, that he had a good many of my countrymen with him. He pressed me to go with him also.
I saw Davidson on the night before the 23d. He told me that he was going to stand sentry. The next morning I was called upon by a person, who took me to Fox-court, Gray’s Inn-lane. He was a tall man, and his name is Harrison. We went into a two-pair back room; the room door was locked. He knocked at another door, and a woman gave him the key. He opened the door, and we entered.
There was a cupboard in the room, out of which was taken a ball, wrapped up in yarn. Harrison told me the purpose for which it was intended, and called it a grenade. Shortly afterwards Thistlewood, Davidson, and a few more, came in. Davidson had a blunderbuss, a pair of pistols, and a bayonet, in his side pocket. Others also came in, but I did not know their names. [The witness was here told to look into the dock, and see if he could identify any of the prisoners as being then present. He instantly identified Brunt.] On Davidson’s saying that he had only given twelve shillings for his pistols, Brunt said he would go out and buy a pair.
I had some conversation with Thistlewood about the hand-grenades. Thistlewood said, thatsome of them were to be thrown into the horse-barracks, and others into Lord Harrowby’s house, to set fire to it, and blow it up. Thistlewood asked me how many of my countrymen I could muster, as he should want some of them at half-past eight that evening. I told him that I could muster about twenty-six or twenty-seven. He told me that they, meaning himself and friends, were to assemble at the Horse and Groom; and ordered me to be at the Pontefract Castle, at the end of Barret’s-court, a house much frequented by Irishmen. He told me that I was to pick out the best of my countrymen, and go to the Foundling Hospital, knock at the porter’s lodge, put a pistol to his breast, and turn on to the right hand, as there were twenty-five or twenty-six stand of arms in the other lodge: these I was to seize. At the same time another party would secure two pieces of cannon which were in the Light Horse Riding-School, Gray’s Inn-lane. Another party was in the meantime to go to the Artillery-ground, Finsbury, and seize what was there. He also mentioned that there was to be a cabinet dinner at Lord Harrowby’s, and that the party there were to be attacked.
After this, I saw a bundle, containing gunpowder, taken out and laid upon the floor; a tin measure was produced, and several smaller woollen bags were filled with it. This was done by Harrison. I afterwards heard Thistlewood give directions generally to them all. He said that a dozen pike-handles were to be taken to Mary-le-bone, some others to Finsbury, and some elsewhere. I was asked, but refused, to take some of them. I saw a bag; and the powder which had been measured out, and also the grenades, were put into it.
I heard directions given to a man by Harrison, to take something to the Horse and Groom, at the end of Cato-street. In the mean timeanother person went out to get the pike-handles. I got back to my own place at twelve o’clock. I told Major James of what I had seen and heard: in consequence of what he said, I went to the Secretary of State about one, or half-past one o’clock that day.
Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood.—I am a bricklayer by trade. I never, before the month of February, saw Davidson. Davidson introduced me to Thistlewood on the ninth of that month. They did not know me, and I did not know them, yet I was let into their secrets on the morning of the 23d of February. I have lived fifteen years in the parish of Mary-le-bone, with a good character, and yet all of a sudden a band of traitors intrusted me with their traitorous designs. I told them that it was a hard thing to inveigle men into a scheme like theirs, and doubted whether I should be able to accomplish it. Though I expressed this doubt, I was sent to the Foundling Hospital to take the arms. I acceded to their proposal at the time, but had no intention of executing it. I do not know a man of the name of Hugglestone. I never was in a court before, except on the trial of a woman for stealing. I was in Ireland at the time of the rebellion. I cannot tell how old I was then.
George Kaylockexamined by Mr. Littledale. I live at 22, Cato-street. I saw Harrison and another against the stable-door in Cato-street, at five o’clock on the 23d February. I asked Harrison how he did. He replied, pretty well; he had taken two rooms there, and was going to do them up. Between five and seven o’clock I saw more than twenty people go in at the stable-door.
Richard Mondayexamined by Mr. Littledale.—I live at 23, Cato-street. About twenty minutes after four, on the 23d, as I was coming from my work, I saw Davidson standing underthe archway. I knew Davidson, from seeing him with Firth, the cow-keeper. I went home and got my tea. I came out again at twenty minutes past five, and went to a public-house. On leaving it, I saw Davidson going into No. 1 for a light. In going into the stable, into which Harrison admitted him, he stooped for a bundle, and I then observed that he had two belts on, one across his shoulder, and the other round his waist; in that round his waist, on the left side, two pistols were inserted; on the other a sword was suspended, which jutted out considerably. The place where they met is a stable, belonging to General Watson; it has lately been used as a cow-house by Firth. There is a chaise-house, and a stable below, and a loft, with two rooms above. One of these rooms has a window, the other is dark. I observed, in the course of the afternoon, that something like a coarse matting was hung over the windows, and the partition in the stable-yard.
Elizabeth Westall.—I live at No. 1, Cato-street. About three o’clock I saw a man go into the stable with a sack on his shoulder. About six o’clock I went out, and saw a man of colour standing by the stable. I was much alarmed by that circumstance, thinking that the stable was unoccupied. I was out ten minutes. Shortly after I returned, the man of colour came into my house, and asked me for a light. I gave him a light. He then went back to the stable where I had seen him at first.
George Ruthven, the police-officer, was then examined by Mr. Bolland.
I went, on the 23d of February, to Cato-street. Three others were to meet me there. When we were all assembled we were about twelve of us. I went into the stable, and saw a man with a sword by his side, and a blunderbuss on his shoulder. I saw one man below, and I havesome faint recollection that I saw another. The whole of my party followed me into the stable. On seeing the man with the blunderbuss on his shoulder, I told some of the party to secure him. I went up a ladder, which led to a loft.
When I got there I saw several men; heard the clattering of arms, and saw swords and pistols. Three or four of my party went up with me. I am sure that Ellis and Smithers were with me. From the view which I had of the place, I think there were 24 or 25 persons present. The size of that room is 15 feet, five one way, and ten feet ten the other. There are two rooms adjoining this, separated by doors. When I got into the room, I said, “we are officers; seize their arms.” I saw in the room Thistlewood, whom I have known for four or five years.
Thistlewood was standing, at the time we entered, at the right hand side of the table, near the door of the little room. On my saying, “We are officers,” he seized a sword, which was drawn, and retreated to the little room. The sword was a very long one, and rather bright. He stood in the entry of the door fencing, to prevent any one’s approach. Smithers approached him. Thistlewood stabbed him, and Smithers fell, saying, “Oh, my God! I’m done,” or something to that effect. Somebody from the corner of the room where Thistlewood stood said, “Put out the lights—kill the b——rs, and throw them down stairs.” The lights were then put out; I joined in their cry of “kill them,” and rushed down stairs.
I did not observe any thing till I got into John-street, where I met the soldiers, whom I brought. Several shots were fired from the corner of the room where Thistlewood was standing; I think down the stairs. On arriving a second time at the stable, I met Tidd grappling with one of the military. I secured him. I was afterwards in the public-house, (Horse and Groom) and sawBradburn brought in. On him were found six ball-cartridges and three balls. Davidson and Wilson were brought in. Davidson sang a song. I then went back to the loft, and found there, Shaw Strange, Cooper, Monument, and Bradburn. I saw arms in the hands of several persons. I found two swords and a bag. The bag contained ten hand-grenades. I also found balls and fusees. They were brought to Bow-street, and remained since in possession of an officer. Afterwards I went to the Horse and Groom. I had seen Cooper there, with a stick, and Gilchrist came back for it, but did not get it. I observed it cut.
Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus.—Thistlewood had not been much out of sight since Watson’s trial. Witness had seen him five or six times. He had a motive for it. It was not for this purpose, that he was aware of. There were four or five Edwardses, officers with him, but he was not aware that Edwards, who had been concerned in this business, was connected with any of them. He knew nothing further, than that he was directed to watch Thistlewood.
James Ellis, by the Attorney-General.—Went with the other officers to Cato-street on the 23d of February; he went in immediately after Ruthven. He saw two men, one having on two cross-belts; either in his right or left holding a carbine, in the other a sword. Witness observed, that he was a man of colour. The other person was between the foot of the ladder and the stall next to it, for there were three. He followed Ruthven up as close as he could. The man of colour said something ending with “men.” He heard the men above rushing back behind the carpenter’s table, and a noise like fencing with swords. There might be twenty or twenty-five men. Ruthven said, “We are officers, seize their arms, or surrender your arms.”
Witness had not known Thistlewood before,but he was satisfied it was he who menaced with the sword. Witness had before held forward his staff of office; he now presented a pistol, and desired him to desist, or he would fire. Smithers then gained the top of the ladder, and advanced towards the little room. Thistlewood struck him with the sword near the breast. Smithers fell back, held up his hands, and exclaimed, “O, God!” Witness fired on Thistlewood, and Smithers staggered towards him. The candles were put out, and the witness was forced down. He stood at the door to the street. Several shots were fired: some balls passed him. On going out he heard a cry. Saw a man running towards Queen-street, with belts on. He secured him. It was Davidson, the man of colour. He had a carbine in the one hand, and a sword in the other. He afterwards assisted in securing four, to whom he could not speak positively.
Cross-examined by Mr. Curwood.—He was a constable, and had the warrant. He had a part in conducting the officers; but Mr. Ruthven was there.
William Westcotthad part in conducting the patrol at Bow-street, and was a constable. He was down in the stable the whole time, and heard firing on the loft. He saw Ings in the stable, who wanted to rush out, while the other officers were up. Witness and Ings had a contest. There was terrible confusion in the loft; some came tumbling down, and some singly. He knew Thistlewood. There was a light. Thistlewood fired at witness. Three holes were in his hat by balls. Witness rushed towards Thistlewood, when he was struck down. Thistlewood then made a cut at him with a sword, and ran out. Witness was wounded in the back of his hand with one of the balls, as he had held up his hand to protect his head.
Hugh Nixon, one of the Bow-street officers,saw Ruthven, Ellis, and the deceased go up the ladder. He went up, and saw Ellis fire. There was a rush down, and he saw a man fire a pistol; he rather believed it was Thistlewood. Ings was pursued and brought back. Witness found a sword in the stable, and a bayonet up stairs.
John Wright, a patrol of Bow-street, was one of the officers who went to Cato-street. They mustered at the Horse and Groom. He saw Cooper having a broom-stick, and another coming to drink beer. Cooper left the stick. Witness took a sword and a knife from a man who was in the stable, near a stall. That moment he was knocked down, and received a stab in his side. Wilson and Bradburn were afterwards taken. Witness found about two dozen ball-cartridges in Wilson’s pocket, and a pair of scissors; and found two haversacks on his sides.
William Charles Brookes, a patrol, being directed by Mr. Birnie towards persons passing, saw Ings, and a person in front of him with a cutlass, and spoke to them. Ings fired, and slightly wounded him on the shoulder. Witness staggered into the road. Ings went off towards the Edgware-road. Witness pursued. Ings threw away the pistol. Moy took him. Witness asked him why he had fired at him, a man whom he had never seen. He said, “I wish I had killed you.”
Ings.—“Pray, my Lord, am I not allowed to ask any question?”
Court.—“You are not on your trial at present.”
Witness stated, that two haversacks, a knife-case, and a tin box, three parts full of powder, were found on Ings.
Giles Moyconfirmed this evidence, so far as he was concerned.
Robert Chapman, one of the Bow-street officers, went to Cato-street; saw Ings in the stable, and heard him say, “Look out, above.” Witness,in the watch-house, took from Ings a knife-case, two balls, and a pistol-key. He saw one running through the stable with a sword in his hand.
Captain Fitzclarenceappeared on the right of the bench, and said, he was a lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards; he went with a piquet to John-street on the 23d of February, about eight in the evening. On hearing reports of pistols, they went to Cato-street. He was directed by a police-officer to the stable. He met two men at the door: the man on his right cut at him with a sword, the other man presented a pistol. He got in and seized a man, who called out, “Don’t kill me, and I will tell you all.” He gave him in charge, and then secured another man in one of the stalls. On going up stairs, he secured three, four, or five persons. He fell against the body of poor Smithers, who was lying dead. He saw several arms.
Samuel Taunton, a Bow-street officer, went to Brunt’s lodgings, searched the front and back rooms, and found two baskets. Brunt, who was in the front room, and had been previously taken into custody, said, he knew nothing of the baskets. The room did not belong to him in which they were; it was the back room. In the same room there was a pike-staff and an iron pot. Witness sent for the landlady, Mrs. Rogers. She said, her niece had let the back-room to a man she did not know. Brunt, said, it was a man at the public-house, and he did not know his name.
Witness then went to Tidd’s, in the Hole-in-the-Wall passage, near Gray’s Inn-lane. There he found a box full of ball-cartridges, 965 in number; he found ten grenades, and a great quantity of gunpowder. He found, in haversacks, 434 balls. He found also sixty-nine ball-cartridges, and about eleven bags of gunpowder, one pound each. The grenades were in a wrapper. In one of the baskets at Brunt’s were nine papers of rope-yarnand tar; in the other, three of the same, two flannel bags of powder, one pound each, and five empty bags, a paper of powder, one leathern bag, with three balls in it. They were all here.
Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus.—This was on the 24th. Brunt had been in custody before. Tidd was absent.
Daniel Bishop, a Bow-street officer, went on the morning of the 24th, with other officers, to apprehend Thistlewood, about ten in the morning, to Whitecross-street, Moorfields. The house was kept by Harris. He received a key from Mrs. Harris, which opened a ground-floor. There he saw Thistlewood, who thrust his head from under the clothes in bed; the shutters were shut. Witness told his name and business, and, having a sword in one hand, and a staff in the other, threw himself on the bed. Thistlewood said, he would make no resistance. He had his breeches on, in the pockets of which they found two balls, two cartridges, and some flints. They also found a small silk sash.
Cross-examined.—A man of the name of Edwards did not go, nor any who knew where Thistlewood was.
Lavenderproduced and identified the belt found in Thistlewood’s coat-pocket.
Ruthvenproduced the pike-staff, grenades,&c.
All the soldiers and officers who had any of the articles seized were now arranged behind the witness-box, and handed to Ruthven their several charges, and Ruthven laid them on the table. A pike was screwed on a staff, and handed to the Jury. The whole of the frightful apparatus was now exposed to view. Guns, blunderbusses, carbines, swords, pistols, pikes, sticks, cartridges, bullets; even the pot in which the tar was boiled,—all were produced and identified.
The fire-arms remained loaded till producedon this occasion, when the charges were drawn; they were loaded with ball. One of the grenades had been given to a person by an order of Colonel Congreve to be examined. The production of Ings’s knife excited an involuntary shudder; it was a broad desperate-looking weapon.
The Jury inspected the arms separately, and particularly the pikes, the construction and formation of which have already been minutely described. The whole had a most formidable appearance.
John Hector Morrison, servant to Mr. Underwood, cutler, in Drury-lane, was re-called, and looked at two swords, which, he said, were the same he had ground for Ings.
SerjeantEdward Hanson, of the Royal Artillery, examined by Mr. Gurney.—I examined one of the grenades produced to me at Bow-street; it is composed of a tin case, in the form of a barrel, in which a tube is soldered. The case contains three ounces and a half of gunpowder. The priming in the tube is a composition of saltpetre, powder, and brimstone. The tin was pitched, and wrapped round with rope-yarn, which was cemented with rosin and tar. Round the tin, and in the rope-yarn, twelve pieces of iron were planted. From the lighting of the fusee to the explosion might take about half a minute. If one of them were to be exploded in a room where there were a number of persons, it would produce great destruction. The pieces of iron would fly about like bullets.
[The witness here opened another of the grenades for the satisfaction of the Jury; it was composed in the manner already described. The pieces of iron principally consisted of old cart-nails, such as the tires of wheels are nailed on with. The carcase, or tin-case, was wrapped in an old stocking, and the powder which it contained was pronounced very good.]
Witness, in continuation.—I examined one of the fire-balls; it consisted of oakum, tar, rosin, and stone-brimstone, pounded. If one of these was thrown into a house, and alighted on wood, it would be sure to set it on fire. The effect would be still more certain on straw or hay.
The Attorney-General.—“That is the case, my Lord, on the part of the Crown.”
THE DEFENCE.
Mr.Curwoodnow rose to address the Jury on the part of the prisoner. He commenced by stating, “That if it were consistent with a sense of moral and professional duty, he would not have stood there to address them. It was one of the characteristics of the profession to which he had the honour to belong, however, and one which perhaps reflected upon it the greatest credit, that they were not at liberty to refuse their assistance to persons in the situation of the unfortunate man at the bar. No man could feel more impressed than himself with the sense of the great and weighty duty he had to perform. He felt that the unhappy prisoner had a right to call upon him to do his duty boldly and fearlessly, and without any consideration for the Government who were the prosecutors on this occasion; he felt also that he had a duty to perform to his country, by assisting in the administration of the law, and not by any power which he possessed, if he did possess such power, to endeavour to pervert that law. He owed something too, to his own fair fame, which was all, his only inheritance.
“With these feelings pressing upon him, he might truly say, he was placed in a trying and critical situation. It was fit on an occasion of this sort, that they should know something of the man by whom they were addressed. It could not bedenied that the unfortunate transactions, to which their attention had been so painfully directed, had arisen out of that state of the country which they must all alike lament and deplore. It was clear also, that while they had attachments to certain parties, prejudices would arise which it was out of their power to control in favour of the sentiments of those parties. With respect to himself, although like every other Englishman, he had his feelings upon certain points, yet he never belonged to any particular party, nor was he in the habit of attending political meetings. With respect to Government, he never had received any place or appointment from them, nor was it likely that he should. In the present instance, therefore, he had no motive to influence him in doing his duty, or at least in endeavouring to do it fairly and honestly.
“It was due to his Learned Friends and to himself to state, that in consequence of the lateness of the moment in which they were called upon to undertake this arduous task, not having received their instructions till a late hour on Thursday, that the difficulties with which they had to cope were of no ordinary kind; and these difficulties became the more formidable, when it was recollected that they had arrayed against them the most distinguished talents which it was in the power of the Crown to procure—talents not a little aided by the advantage of study, and of a mature consideration of all the facts of the case which they were called upon to discuss. No doubt, in the notice which they (the Jury) had given to the Attorney-General, when he opened this case, they had not failed to observe, and he had observed it with unfeigned surprise, that he had not stated to them precisely what were the points which they were called upon to try. He had indeed stated that it was a prosecution for high treason, but he had only defined what wasthe quality of the treason which he meant to impute.
“Unfortunately, there was mixed up with this transaction a great deal for which the prisoner might hereafter be answerable, and which was calculated to make a deep impression on the minds of the Jury; but whatever was their opinion upon the moral guilt of the prisoner, if, upon a review of the evidence, they should not be of opinion that he had committed the precise offence charged in the indictment, it was their duty to pronounce a verdict of Not Guilty. It therefore devolved upon him to state precisely what they had to try; it was not merely a question of high treason, but a question of a particular species of high treason.