The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane, commonly called Lord Cochrane, the Hon. Andrew Cochrane Johnstone, Richard Gathorne Butt, Ralph Sandom, Alexander M'Rae, John Peter Holloway, and Henry Lyte for A Conspiracy In the Court of King's Bench, Guildhall, on Wednesday the 8th, and Thursday the 9th of June, 1814

Part 6

Chapter 64,197 wordsPublic domain

_Mr. Park._ If they had asked was it that cap I should not object to it if they were prepared to prove that was the cap, but they might send to Covent Garden wardrobe and fetch all these things?

_Mr. Gurney._ I undertake to prove by the person who made the dress for De Berenger, that these are fac similes of the articles of dress made for him.

_Mr. Park._ You stated that very expressly and very clearly.

_Lord Ellenborough._ Unless his recollection goes to their being such things, I think it would not go far; it is a thing that occurs every day, I have seen it twenty times at the Old Bailey.

_Mr. Park._ It assists the recollection of the witness, which I say my learned friends are not entitled to do.

_Lord Ellenborough._ When the witness has given a previous description of the dress, it is very usual to ask wherein does it differ, or what sort of a thing is it--they must first lay the foundation for the production which I think they have done in this case.

_Mr. Bolland._ Had he a cap upon his head similar to that?

_A._ Yes he had.

_Q._ Had that gold lace on?

_A._ It had.

_Q._ You say the gentleman was walking up and down the room?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did he say any thing in your presence?

_A._ I asked him what the news was.

_Lord Ellenborough._ How came you to ask that?

_A._ Because I had heard Mr. Marsh say he was a Messenger come over.

_Mr. Bolland._ Did he reply to that?

_A._ He told me that Messengers were sworn to secrecy, but that he had got glorious news he had brought over to England, the best that ever was known for this country.

_Q._ Had you any further conversation with him?

_A._ He rung the bell and called for a pen, ink and paper, to write a letter to send off to the Admiral at Deal.

_Q._ Was that brought to him?

_A._ It was, and he was writing the letter some little time while I was there, and I bid him good night after that.

_Q._ Did you take leave of him before he had finished the letter?

_A._ I did.

_Q._ Where were the candles during the time that he was writing the letter?

_A._ On the table.

_Q._ Were they sufficiently near him to enable you to observe him?

_A._ Yes they were.

_Q._ Can you point out to the Court that person who wrote that letter on that night?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Will you point him out?

_A._ Yes, that is the gentleman (_pointing to De Berenger_.)

_Q._ Have you any doubt upon your mind of that?

_A._ None in the least.

_Cross-examined by Mr. Richardson._

_Q._ You did not come over until you were called for by Mr. Marsh to bring candles?

_A._ No I did not.

_Q._ You were immediately sent to order horses, were you not?

_A._ Yes, I went and called the ostler up.

_Q._ I think you state that you were absent some time in performing that service?

_A._ Yes, I was some little time before I could wake the ostler.

_Q._ You left the candles in the passage with Mr. Marsh?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ You handed the candles to him, and went immediately to call the ostler?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ It was not till after you returned, having been absent some little time that he rung the bell and ordered pen, ink, and paper.

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ That order was given in the parlour, not in the passage?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did you see him write upon the paper?

_A._ Yes, I did.

_Q._ You are a hatter?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ There is a hatter's club at Dover, is there not?

_A._ Not that I know of.

_Q._ Were you up at this time when this transaction took place, or did you get up for the purpose?

_A._ I was up at the time.

_Q._ Had you any particular meeting on that day?

_A._ No, nothing particular, only I was smoking a pipe with Mr. Marsh.

_Q._ At one o'clock?

_A._ Yes, a little after one, it was between one and two o'clock I stopped there after two o'clock, I stopped some considerable time after the gentleman was gone away.

_Q._ He was not there above a quarter of an hour, or twenty minutes, was he?

_A._ I cannot tell, it might be a quarter of an hour or it might not.

_Q._ He was in a great hurry to get off, and went off as soon as the horses were ready?

_A._ He did.

_Q._ Had you dined at the Packet Boat, or at the Ship on that day?

_A._ No, I had not.

_Q._ Have you seen that gentleman from that time till to-day?

_A._ No, not from the time I saw him at Dover till to-day.

_Q._ Have you not been at London to be examined?

_A._ No.

_Q._ You have heard a great deal about this transaction?

_A._ Yes, it has been in every body's mouth.

_Q._ I take for granted you talk about these things as we do in London?

_A._ Yes we do.

_Q._ And read the newspapers that have been full of this thing for a long time?

_A._ I frequently read the newspapers.

_Re-examined by Mr. Bolland._

_Q._ How long had you an opportunity of observing him?

_A._ Perhaps I might be in the room three or four minutes.

_Q._ During that time, was your attention called to him?

_A._ Yes, on account of the glorious news he said he had brought.

_Q._ It was a welcome face at Dover?

_A._ Yes, it was indeed, and that made me take more notice than I should have done.

_A Juryman._ Had he a cap on all the time you saw him?

_A._ No, he had not.

_Mr. Park._ It was only three or four minutes altogether?

_A._ I beg your pardon; I did not say it was only three or four minutes, I was asked whether it was three or four minutes, and I said I had no doubt it was.

_A Juryman._ Are you sure that is the man?

_A._ That is the gentleman that I saw there.

_Lord Ellenborough._ You have no doubt whatever?

_A._ No, I have none in the least.

_Eliott Edis sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Bolland._

_Q._ You are a cooper in the victualling yard at Dover, are you not?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Were you, on the morning of the 21st of February, at the Packet Boat?

_A._ Yes, I was.

_Q._ Was Mr. Gourley there with you?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Was your attention called to any thing particular on that morning?

_A._ Yes, a messenger arrived.

_Q._ Did you see the messenger?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Where did you first see him?

_A._ At the Ship.

_Q._ Was he in a room, or in the passage of the Ship, at the time?

_A._ In a room.

_Q._ At the time you first saw him, how was he occupied, what was he doing?

_A._ He was walking up and down the room.

_Q._ Did you make any observation on his dress?

_A._ He had a grey coat--his great coat.

_Q._ Did you observe the other coat that he had on?

_A._ He had regimentals; scarlet, trimmed with gold.

_Q._ Had they any other ornament on them?

_A._ I did not particularly take notice.

_Q._ Do you recollect how his head was dressed?

_A._ A cap, with a gold band about it.

_Q._ Will you look at that coat which lies there?

_A._ That is the color of it.

_Q._ How was the cap made?

_A._ A slouch cap.

_Q._ Where was the band?

_A._ Round it.

_Q._ Of what did the cap appear to be made?

_A._ It appeared to be made of a kind of rough beaver; I do not know whether it was black or brown.

_Q._ It had the appearance of rough beaver?

_A._ Yes.

_Mr. Bolland._ Will you now shew him the cap?

_Mr. Park._ I think it should be more described before it is shewn to him; this is a totally different description; this may be very material.

_Mr. Bolland._ Then I will not shew him the cap at all.--Had the cap any flap to it?

_A._ Rather a flap round, as I thought--all round.

_Q._ I ask you, whether the cap was cut off without any rim to it, or had it a rim like a hat?

_A._ No, it had not a rim like a hat by any means.

_Q._ Had you any conversation with him?

_A._ No.

_Q._ You say that at first he was walking about the room?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did he employ himself in any other way while you were there?

_A._ I saw him before I went away sit down to write.

_Q._ Did you hear him order a pen, ink, and paper?

_A._ No, I did not.

_Q._ Did he, in your presence, say any thing as to whom he was writing to?

_A._ No, I could hear him talk, but not to understand him.

_Q._ That was owing to your deafness?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did he keep his cap on the whole time you were there, or did he take it off?

_A._ His cap was on while I was there.

_Q._ From the observation you made upon his person, can you point out who that person was whom you saw on that night; have you seen him? look round and see whether you see him here to-day.

(_The witness looked round the Court for some time._)

_A._ That is the gentleman (_pointing to De Berenger_.)

_Q._ Have you any doubt upon your mind about it.

_A._ No.

_Cross-examined by Mr. Park._

_Q._ Had you ever seen him before that night?

_A._ No.

_Q._ Have you ever seen him since?

_A._ No.

_Q._ How long did you see him?

_A._ I did not minute the time.

_Q._ Upon the whole, how many minutes do you think you can now say you saw him that night?

_A._ I might see him perhaps five or six minutes, or more. I was in the room twice.

_Q._ Were you there before Mr. Gourley, or after him?

_A._ I was in the room with him.

_Q._ Did you go over before Mr. Gourley, or after him?

_A._ After him--I followed him.

_Q._ Immediately?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did you come away as soon as he did, or did you remain there after him?

_A._ I did not take particular notice of that; the door was open, and we went in and out as we liked.

_Q._ Will you tell us whether the word you used before was, that he had a flat cap, or a flap cap--had it not a flap to it?

_A._ It was a cap rather slouched down, no brim to it.

_Q._ How could it slouch down, if it had no brim to it? I do not understand that; if it had merely a crown to it that would go round the head, it would not slouch down.

_A._ It was drawn over his forehead.

_Q._ The round part of it was drawn down over his forehead?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Where have you been all the time that gentleman has been speaking?

_A._ What gentleman?

_Q._ Were you out of Court?

_A._ No, I was not out of Court.

_Q._ You have been behind?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Have you been in view of his Lordship all the time?

_A._ No.

_Q._ When did you come into Court; did you come in when Mr. Gourley was examining, or when Marsh, the former witness, was examining?

_A._ No, I was out of Court at that time.

_Q._ Had you left the Ship Inn before this gentleman, as you say it was, had left the Ship Inn and gone back to the Packet Boat?

_A._ No, I saw him start off.

_Re-examined by Mr. Bolland._

_Q._ Did you come into Court before you were called?

_A._ No.

_Mr. Park._ No, I give that up.

_Lord Ellenborough._ A deaf man is rather an awkward man to be an eaves dropper.

_Mr. Park._ I could not put so silly a question as that.

_Lord Ellenborough._ He is the very last man that one should suspect; he could not hear if he was in Court.

_Mr. Park._ If he had been as deaf as deaf could be, if he had seen a person point at the Defendant, that would have been sufficient for his purpose.

_Lord Ellenborough._ But you saw how he searched round the Court before he found him.

_Mr. Park._ But when I have a case presented to me I must do my duty, however painful it may be.

_Lord Ellenborough._ Certainly, it is my wish you should.

_The Cap was shewn to the witness._

_Mr. Bolland._ Was the cap like that?

_A._ It was in the same form as that.

_Q._ Was the lace like that?

_A._ It was like that; I cannot say that was the cap.

_Mr. William St. John sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Bolland._

_Q._ Where do you reside?

_A._ In Little Brook street.

_Q._ Were you at the Ship Inn at Dover, on the morning of the 21st of February?

_A._ I was.

_Q._ You were there as a guest--as a traveller?

_A._ I was.

_Q._ Was your attention called to any thing on that morning?

_A._ Yes, it was.

_Q._ Were you up in the morning, or had you retired to rest?

_A._ I had retired to rest.

_Q._ State to the Court what it was which excited your attention.

_A._ I think at a quarter past one, or somewhere thereabouts, I heard a violent knocking at the gate or door, and a person calling out for a post-chaise and four immediately. I got up and dressed myself as quickly as possible, and went down stairs. I met Mr. Wright, the landlord, and asked him----

_Q._ Do not state any thing that passed between you and Wright, unless the stranger was there.

_A._ I went into the coffee-room, I think it is called.

_Q._ Did you observe any body there?

_A._ I saw a gentleman in a military uniform.

_Q._ Will you state, if you recollect it, what his dress was?

_A._ He wore a scarlet coat, with long skirts, buttoned across, with a red silk sash, grey pantaloons, and a grey military great coat, and a seal-skin cap, I think it was a seal-skin cap, on his head, of a fawn colour.

_Lord Ellenborough._ You did not touch it to feel it, did you?

_A._ No; it had a gold band round it.

_Mr. Bolland._ Had he any ornament on his uniform?

_A._ There were some ornaments but I do not know what they were, something of a star on his military dress.

_Q._ How was he engaged at the time you first saw him?

_A._ He was walking up and down the room in a very good pace.

_Q._ Did any thing pass between you and him?

_A._ I asked a question.

_Q._ What question did you ask him?

_A._ I asked him about the arrival of a messenger, and he said, he knew nothing at all about it.

_Q._ What were the terms in which you asked him?

_A._ I asked him if he knew any thing of the arrival of Mr. Johnson, who was the Messenger expected.--He said, he knew nothing at all about him, and begged I would leave him to himself, as he was extremely ill. On my leaving the room, he requested that I would send in paper and pen and ink. I immediately retired, and met the landlord, Mr. Wright, coming into the room, I believe with the paper, pens and ink.

_Q._ Did you return into the room?

_A._ In a few minutes, I believe a few seconds afterwards, I did.

_Q._ How was he then occupied?

_A._ He was writing.

_Q._ Did he say any thing of what he was writing?

_A._ No.

_Q._ Did you afterwards hear him say any thing, or see him do any thing with the paper upon which he was writing?

_A._ No, I did not.

_Q._ Did you hear him say any thing to Mr. Wright?

_A._ No, I did not,--not in the room.

_Q._ Did you continue in the room during the whole time he was writing, or leave it?

_A._ I left it immediately.

_Q._ Did you again see him, and where?

_A._ At the door in the street, stepping into the carriage.

_Q._ Did you hear him say any thing there, or see him do any thing?

_A._ I asked him what the news was,--he told me it was as good as I could possibly wish.

_Q._ Did any thing more pass between you and him?

_A._ Nothing more.

_Q._ Did you see what he did with the paper upon which he was writing?

_A._ No, I did not.

_Q._ Did you hear any thing pass between him and any other persons?

_A._ No, I did not.

_Q._ Did you leave the place or did he go away first?

_A._ He went away first.

_Q._ Did any thing pass from that stranger or to him respecting the letter.

_A._ No, not that I heard.

_Q._ From the observation that you made upon that person, could you point him out?

_A._ Certainly.

_Q._ Look round the Court, and see whether he is here?

_A._ The gentleman is below me, (_pointing to De Berenger_,) this Gentlemen, who is writing here.

_Q._ Have you any doubt of it?

_A._ Not in the least.

_Q._ Had you seen him before that day?

_A._ This is the third time I ever saw him.--I saw him by accident in Westminster Hall, passing through the Hall.

_Lord Ellenborough._ Did you recollect him when you saw him there?

_A._ Immediately.

_Mr. Bolland._ By what accident was it that you saw him there?

_A._ I went down there.

_Q._ And there by chance saw him?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Were you desired by any body to go down?

_A._ A friend of mine asked me to go down. The fact is we were going to Newgate; having heard that he was gone to Westminster Hall, I went down there.

_Q._ Was he walking about the Hall, or where was he when you saw him?

_A._ I first saw him in the court.

_Q._ Was he alone, or were there other persons about him?

_A._ There were many persons about him.

_Q._ You have no doubt of the person?

_A._ I have no doubt.

_Q._ You recollect nothing of any letter?

_A._ No, I do not.

_Cross examined by Mr. Richardson._

_Q._ You told my learned friend you had seen this person three times;--once at Dover, and to day, and another time; by accident that was so--was it?

_A._ It was.

_Q._ Did you go to Newgate by accident?

_A._ No, I did not, I went there accompanied by a friend to see him; it was mere by chance that I went down to Westminster Hall.

_Q._ Do you call that an accident in your vocabulary?

_A._ I had no intention of going there ten minutes before.

_Q._ You did not go with your friend for the purpose of looking at him?

_A._ I went alone, I went with a friend to Newgate.

_Q._ You did not go to Westminster Hall for the purpose of looking at him?

_A._ I did.

_Q._ Do you call that an accident?

_A._ No.

_Q._ Did you not follow him to Westminster Hall for the purpose of looking at him?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Who was the friend who went with you to Newgate?

_A._ Mr. Oakes of the Stock Exchange.

_Q._ That was the day you knew he was to come to Westminster Hall for the purpose of pleading to this indictment?

_A._ I did not know any such thing.

_Q._ Were not you so informed when you got to Newgate?

_A._ I was.

_Q._ And then you followed him to Westminster Hall, and saw him pleading to this indictment?

_A._ I saw him in Westminster Hall.

_Q._ Did you not hear the officer read the indictment to him?

_A._ I was not in the Court, I think I just had my head in the inside of the curtain.

_Q._ Did you not hear the officer read something to him, and ask him whether he was guilty or not guilty?

_A._ I heard the Officer read something.

_Q._ And ask De Berenger whether he was guilty or not?

_A._ I heard him ask some question, but not what it was.

_Q._ That person was standing up in Court, under the Officer?

_A._ He was.

_Q._ You were not resident at Dover, I think?

_A._ No, I was not.

_Q._ What is your business in London?

_A._ I have a situation in a public charity.

_Q._ What is that?

_A._ The Irish Charitable Society.

_Q._ Are you Secretary to that?

_A._ No, Accountant.

_Q._ Is that your only line of business?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Have you nothing to do with the Stock Exchange?

_A._ No.

_Q._ You never had?

_A._ I do not understand that question.

_Q._ Have you ever had any thing to do with the Stock Exchange?

_A._ I have had some transactions in the Stocks.

_Q._ Have you ever acted as a Broker?

_A._ No, never.

_Q._ Your transactions in the Stocks have been entirely on your own account?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Buying and selling Stock upon your own account?

_A._ The fact is, I held some Omnium.

_Q._ And sold it again?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ About what time?

_A._ I bought it before that time.

_Q._ When was it sold?

_A._ Some days after this transaction.

_Q._ You were in this room twice, I think you said?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ When you first went down, you did not find your company acceptable?

_A._ The gentleman begged I would leave him, and I did so.

_Q._ Upon your oath, how long were you in the room at that time?

_A._ Not more than a minute.

_Q._ It might be less; you went immediately on his requesting you?

_A._ Yes, as soon as possible.

_Q._ The second time, you stated to my learned friend, you left the room immediately after you went in,--how long were you then?

_A._ I suppose a minute; I went up to the table and back again.

_Q._ You did not see him do any thing, but write a letter?

_A._ No.

_Q._ Had he his great coat and cap on, all the time you were with him?

_A._ Yes, I did not see him without them.

_Q._ It was a slouch cap we have heard it described?

_A._ No, it was not; it was a cap without any leaf at all to it.

_Q._ Coming over the forehead?

_A._ No, it fitted the head tight, but had neither a leaf or any thing else to it.

_Q._ What might be your business at Dover at that time?

_A._ I went down for the purpose of getting information.

_Q._ Was that for the benefit of the Irish Charitable Society?

_A._ No, certainly not.

_Q._ If it is not impertinent, for whose benefit was it?

_A._ One purpose was to send information to a newspaper.

_Q._ Another purpose, to send information to whom?

_A._ If any thing happened, such as the arrival of the preliminaries of a treaty of peace, which was expected, I should have come to London immediately.

_Q._ You would have gone to the Stock Exchange with it?

_A._ No, I should not, I have no connexion with the Stock Exchange.

_Q._ Upon your oath, you would not have communicated it to the Stock Exchange?

_A._ I should not.

_Q._ It was by Mr. Oakes's desire, you say, that you went to Newgate,--was it by his desire you went to Dover?

_A._ It was not.

_Q._ Did he know of your going to Dover?

_A._ He did not.

_Q._ By whose desire did you go down?

_A._ By desire of a friend of a mine.

_Q._ Who was that person?

_A._ He was a friend of mine.

_Q._ What was his name?

_Lord Ellenborough._ There is no objection to your telling it.

_Mr. Richardson._ Have you any doubt of it in your memory?

_A._ No.

_Q._ At whose desire did you go down?

_A._ Mr. Farrell.

_Q._ Who is Mr. Farrell?

_A._ He is a Merchant.

_Q._ A Merchant in the City of London?

_A._ Yes he is.

_Q._ Has he any thing to do with the newspaper you have spoken of?

_A._ Yes he has, he is a proprietor of it.

_Q._ What is the name of it?

_A._ The Traveller.

_Q._ Where does Mr. Farrell live?

_A._ In Austin Friars.

_Q._ What day did you go to Dover?

_A._ I went on the Saturday.

_Q._ That was the very day before?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ For the purpose of getting any intelligence that might arrive and to communicate it immediately to Mr. Farrell?

_A._ Yes, or Mr. Quin, the other proprietor of the newspaper.

_Q._ You told me just now, your object was to get information, partly for the newspaper;--what was the other object?

_A._ I do not recollect having said partly.

_Q._ I am in the recollection of the gentlemen of the Jury, whether you did not say so.

_A Juryman._ You said one object was that.

_Mr. Richardson._ What other object had you?

_A._ That was the only distinct object I had.

_Q._ Then you meant that you had no other object but that?

_A._ If there had been a preliminary Treaty of Peace arrived, I should have returned to London, and of course I would have made what I possibly could of the little Omnium I held.

_Q._ That was the other object?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ All information of slighter importance you would have communicated to Mr. Farrell, who sent you; if it had been very important, you would have come to London and sold your omnium?

_A._ Certainly.

_Re-examined by Mr. Bolland._

_Q._ At the time you saw that person in Westminster Hall, I think you told me he was standing with a number of others?

_A._ He was.

_Q._ Did any person point out that person to you?

_A._ No.

_Q._ Was it from the recollection of your own mind, that you discovered him?

_A._ It was.

_Q._ Do you know a boy of the name of Ions?

_A._ No. I do not know him by name.

_William Ions was called into Court._

_Mr. Bolland (to St. John.)_ Do you know that boy?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ He is one of Wright's boys?

_A._ He is.

_Q._ Did you see him on that night.

_A._ I did.

_Q._ Upon what occasion?

_A._ He was sent as an express, there were two expresses that night, he went with one of them.

_Q._ To whom was that lad sent?

_A._ I think to the Port Admiral at Deal.

_Q._ Whose express was that?

_A._ It was an express I believe that Mr. Wright gave him from the gentleman who was there.

_Q._ Do you mean from that gentleman?

_A._ Yes.

_William Ions sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Gurney._

_Q._ In the month of February last were you in the service of Mr. Wright of Dover.

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Were you up when the officer arrived there, or were you called up?

_A._ I was called up.

_Q._ Were you sent off with an express to Admiral Foley?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did you take to the Admiral's the letter you received there?

_A._ Yes, I did.