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 9

Chapter 94,102 wordsPublic domain

_Q._ Any more than one?

_A._ No more than one.

_Q._ Who drove that coach?

_A._ One Crane.

_Q._ Did you see the gentleman get into it?

_A._ Yes, I did.

_Q._ How did he go in?

_A._ He stepped out of one into the other?

_Q._ Did you open the door and let down the step for him?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ How was that gentleman dressed?

_A._ He had got a kind of brown cap on, and a dark drab military sort of coat.

_Q._ Was there any thing round the cap?

_A._ There was a sort of band or something round the cap.

_Q._ What had he under his military great coat?

_A._ A scarlet coat.

_Q._ Did you see any thing on the scarlet coat?

_A._ I only took notice of the lace upon it.

_Q._ Where did that gentleman order the coach to drive to?

_A._ Up to Grosvenor Square.

_Q._ To what street?

_A._ I do not recollect whether he told me any street, only Grosvenor Square.

_Q._ Do you think you should know that gentleman again?

_A._ I do not know; dress makes such an alteration.

_Q._ Look round, and see whether you can see any one.

_A._ I do not see that I can recollect him, only seeing him that half minute.

_Q._ Look at that gentleman who is stooping down to write, (_De Berenger_,) and see whether you think that is like him?

_A._ Yes, I do upon my word, but I only saw him for about half a minute.

_Cross-examined by Mr. Park._

_Q._ You, being a waterman, take that particular notice of every body that gets into a hackney coach, that you are quite sure having seen him step from the chaise into the coach, that he is the man?

_A._ I said at first, that the dress made such an alteration that I should think I should hardly know him.

_Q._ If I were to get into your coach with this dress on, and afterwards with my ordinary dress, you would hardly know me again?

_A._ No, I should think not.

_Richard Barwick sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Adolphus._

_Q._ What are you?

_A._ I am clerk to Messrs. Paxtons and Company.

_Q._ Where is their house of business?

_A._ In Pall Mall.

_Q._ They are Bankers?

_A._ Yes, they are.

_Q._ Do you remember a particular circumstance in passing near the Marsh Gate any morning?

_A._ Yes, I do.

_Q._ On what day?

_A._ Monday Morning the 21st February.

_Q._ What did you observe in passing?

_A._ I observed a post chaise with four horses, it had galloped at a very great rate, the horses were exceedingly hot, and the man was getting into a hackney coach that the people there told me had come out of that chaise.

_Q._ Did you hear that person who got into the coach say anything?

_A._ No, I had no conversation with any body.

_Q._ Did you follow that coach?

_A._ I did.

_Q._ How far?

_A._ I saw it as far as the Little Theatre, in the Haymarket.

_Q._ Why did you follow that hackney coach.

_A._ Because I wanted to know what the news was.

_Lord Ellenborough._ How came you to know any thing about the news?

_A._ I was told, it was a General Officer arrived with news, and I wanted to know what it was.

_Lord Ellenborough._ You were told it was an Officer arrived with news?

_A._ Yes, I was.

_Mr. Adolphus._ Then you went to your own business, having followed this coach to the Haymarket?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did he pass by any of the public offices?

_A._ Yes, he did.

_Q._ Did he stop at any of them?

_A._ No.

_Q._ He went straight to the Haymarket?

_A._ Yes, he did.

_Q._ Was that the reason why you desisted from following?

_A._ It was nine o'clock, and I must be at the office by that hour, and therefore I did not go on.

_Q._ Did you see enough of that person to know him again?

_A._ I believe, I did.

_Q._ Look at him, and see whether you know his person again?

(_The witness looked round._)

_Lord Ellenborough._ Did you see his body?

_A._ I saw his face in the coach, he had a cap on such as the German Cavalry wear, after an evening parade, with a gold band upon it.

_Mr. Adolphus._ Have you seen that person in court?

_Lord Ellenborough._ There is no objection to his looking at the Defendant, and seeing whether he is the person.

(_The witness looked at the Defendant De Berenger._)

_A._ I really do not know that I do see him exactly.

_Mr. Park._ This is the gentleman said to be the man.

_Lord Ellenborough._ If you do not recollect the gentleman's person, say so.

_Mr. Park._ Is the result of your looking that you do not believe this to be the man?

_A._ He is something like him.

_Q._ One man is something like another, he goes upon two legs, and has two hands, and so on.

_A._ It is like him certainly.

_William Crane sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Adolphus._

_Q._ Do you drive a hackney coach?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ What number.

_A._ 890.

_Q._ On a Monday morning in February do you remember taking up a fare at the Marsh Gate?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ What day of the month was it?

_A._ The 21st of February.

_Q._ Where did the fare come from?

_A._ From Dartford.

_Q._ Out of what?

_A._ A post chaise and four--a Dartford chaise.

_Q._ Where were you directed to drive to?

_A._ To Grosvenor Square.

_Q._ Where to there?

_A._ He did not say where in Grosvenor Square.

_Q._ Where did you set him down?

_A._ I drove him into Grosvenor Square, and then the gentleman put down the front glass and told me to drive to No. 13, Green Street.

_Q._ Did the gentleman get out there?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did you hear whom he asked for?

_A._ He asked for Colonel or Captain somebody, I did not hear the name, and they said he was gone to breakfast in Cumberland Street.

_Q._ What did the gentleman say then?

_A._ The gentleman asked if he could write a note to him.

_Q._ Did he go in?

_A._ Yes, he went into the parlour.

_Q._ Were you discharged then?

_A._ Yes, the gentleman gave me four shillings before he went in, and I said, I hoped he would give me another shilling: he took out a bit of a portmanteau that he had, and a sword, and went in, and came out into the passage and gave me another shilling.

_Q._ What sort of a portmanteau was it?

_A._ A small leather one, big enough to wrap a coat up in.

_Q._ What sort of leather?

_A._ I think black leather, as well as I can recollect.

_Q._ Have you seen that person since that you drove that morning?

_A._ Yes, I saw him in King Street, Westminster.

_Q._ At the messenger's house?

_A._ At Mr. Wood's house.

_Q._ Do you see him in court?

_A._ I think this is the gentleman, here, (_pointing to De Berenger_.)

_Q._ Were you of the same opinion when you saw him at Mr. Wood's?

_A._ When I came down stairs he looked very hard at me.

_Q._ Did you know him then?

_A._ Yes, it was something of the same appearance, but he had altered himself very much by his dress.

_Cross-examined by Mr. Richardson._

_Q._ You went to Wood's for the purpose of seeing him?

_A._ Yes, I did.

_Q._ Wood is a messenger of the Alien Office?

_A._ He lives in King Street.

_Q._ He was pointed out there as being the person in custody?

_A._ No, I walked down stairs, and met the gentleman coming up stairs.

_Q._ You thought you saw a resemblance?

_A._ Yes, I thought he was something like the same gentleman that I had carried.

_Q._ You do not pretend to be able to recollect every person you carry in your hackney coach every day?

_A._ No, but this gentleman that I took from a post chaise and four, when he got out at Green Street I saw that he had a red coat underneath his great coat.

_Q._ You did not open your coach to him, the waterman did that?

_A._ Yes, the post boy ordered me to get on the box.

_Lord Ellenborough._ When he got out you opened the door to him I suppose?

_A._ Yes, I did.

_Mr. Richardson._ Did you open the door, or the footman at the house?

_A._ I opened the door.

_Q._ And he paid you and passed into the house?

_A._ Yes, he did.

_Q._ What was the colour of his great coat?

_A._ A brown grey great coat, with a brown cape with lace to it.

_Q._ You have before described the great coat as a brown great coat, have not you?

_A._ A kind of a brown grey.

_Q._ Did not you describe it before as a kind of a brown coat?

_A._ No.

_Mr. Gurney._ I will now prove the finding the clothes in the river, and then prove the purchase of them.

_George Odell sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Gurney._

_Q._ Are you a waterman?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Do you remember in the month of February last, fishing up any bundle in the river?

_A._ In the month of March.

_Q._ Where did you fish it up?

_A._ Above the Old Swan Stairs, off against the Iron Wharfs.

_Q._ Were you dredging for any thing?

_A._ I was dredging for coals with a drag.

_Q._ What kind of a bundle did you find?

_A._ I picked up a bundle, tied up with a piece of chimney line, or window line in the cover of a calico chair bottom.

_Q._ What was in it?

_A._ I think there were two sleeves of a coat, and then a coat cut to pieces, and embroidery, and a star, and a silver coat of arms, with two figures upon it.

_Q._ How was it sunk?

_A._ With three pieces of lead, three screws, and some marks for letters.

_Q._ With some metal?

_A._ Yes, and some bits of coal.

_Q._ Did you give that which you found to Mr. Wade, the Secretary of the Stock Exchange?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ How soon after you found it did you give it to him?

_A._ I picked it up on the Wednesday, and I carried it there on the Saturday.

_Mr. Park._ Can you give us the day of the month when you picked this up?

_A._ The 24th of March.

_Mr. Gurney._ Did you find it on the 24th of March, or give it to Mr. Wade on that day?

_A._ I picked it up on that day, about half after eleven o'clock in the day; I can bring plenty of witnesses to my picking it up.

_Q._ Are these the sort of things that you picked up? (_shewing a bundle of clothes with star, &c. to the witness._)

_A._ These are the sort of things, but the star was not in that state it is now; the star was in half, and one of the birds was off.

_Mr. Gurney._ This, my Lord, is an order of masonry, and this I understand a Russian order of knighthood, the order of St. Ann.

_Mr. Francis Baily sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Gurney._

_Q._ You are of the Stock Exchange?

_A._ Yes, I am.

_Q._ Were you present with Mr. Wade, when he received the parcel from Odell?

_A._ I was,--from the last witness in the box.

_Q._ Was it delivered over to Mr. Lavie?

_A._ I believe it was, it lay upon the table some time.

_Q._ Did you examine it?

_A._ I did, very minutely.

_Q._ Are the things contained in that parcel?

_A._ I believe them to be, they appear to be the same.

_Mr. Gurney (to Mr. Lavie)._ Did you receive that from Mr. Wade?

_Mr. Lavie._ I did, I took it from the Stock Exchange room.

_Q._ Mr. Wade and Mr. Baily were present?

_Mr. Lavie._ Yes, they were.

_Mr. Robert Watson Wade sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Gurney._

_Q._ You are the Secretary at the Stock Exchange?

_A._ I am.

_Q._ Did you, in company with Mr. Baily and other gentlemen, receive from Odell the bundle said to be found in the River?

_A._ I did.

_Q._ Was it given to Mr. Lavie?

_A._ It was.

_Q._ The star we understand was then in two pieces?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Was it afterwards sewn together?

_A._ It was, for the purpose of being exhibited.

_Simeon Kensington Solomon sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Gurney._

_Q._ I believe you are a military accoutrement maker?

_A._ Yes, I am.

_Q._ Have you a shop at Charing-Cross, and another at New-Street Covent Garden?

_A._ We have.

_Q._ On the Saturday the 19th of February do you remember any person making a purchase of any military dress at your house?

_A._ Yes, I do.

_Q._ What dress was purchased of you?

_A._ A military great coat and foraging cap.

_Q._ What is it made of?

_A._ Dark fur.

_Q._ Was any thing on it?

_A._ It had a pale gold band.

_Q._ Have you since had a cap and a coat made exactly resembling them?

_A._ I have.

_Q._ Are these the cap and the coat you have had so made? (_shewing them to the witness._)

_A._ They are.

_Q._ Do they exactly resemble the cap and the coat you sold?

_A._ As nearly as I could possibly recollect.

_Q._ What else did the person purchase?

_A._ They purchased at our house in New Street----

_Q._ You suppose some order had been given in New-Street, did any thing come from New-Street as having been ordered there?

_A._ Yes there did.

_Q._ You were at Charing Cross?

_A._ I was.

_Q._ Did any person come to your shop at Charing-Cross and take away that which had been sent from New-Street which you furnished?

_A._ Yes, he did.

_Q._ Was there any other coat purchased besides that great coat?

_A._ There was a military regimental coat, a staff coat was brought from New-Street.

_Q._ Was that scarlet?

_A._ Yes, fitted for a staff officer the uniform of an Aid de Camp.

_Q._ With this sort of gold lace upon it?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Have you examined these fragments?

_A._ Yes, I have.

_Q._ Were there any ornaments besides?

_A._ There was a star and a badge.

_Q._ Look at that star and badge and tell me whether you believe them to be the same?

_A._ Yes, I do believe them to be the same.

_Q._ Why do you believe them to be the same?

_A._ The star I certainly believe to be the same, because we had the very fellow star.

_Q._ Except these two, did you ever see any star like them?

_A._ I do not know that ever I did.

_Q._ Do you believe that badge to be the same?

_A._ The badge I did not notice much.

_Q._ You sold a badge?

_A._ The badge came from our house in New-Street.

_Q._ Had you any conversation with the person?

_A._ Yes I had.

_Q._ You have examined these fragments?

_A._ I have.

_Q._ Do you believe them to be the fragments of the dress you furnished, or of such a dress?

_A._ They appear to be those materials, as far as I can judge in that state.

_Q._ And the same kind of lace?

_A._ The same description of embroidery.

_Q._ Speaking of a thing so cut to pieces, does it appear to you to consist of the remnants of the dress you furnished?

_A._ Yes, except that the scarlet is very much discoloured by being under water, it appears the same description of coat.

_Q._ Had you any conversation with the person as to the use of these things?

_A._ I had very little conversation as to the sale of the uniform, for they were already purchased before I saw him, with respect to the great coat I sold that and also the cap.

_Q._ Did he mention for what purpose they were wanted?

_A._ He observed that they were wanted for a person who was to perform the character of a foreign officer, to be sent into the country that evening.

_Q._ Did he take them away with him?

_A._ Yes he did.

_Q._ Did you offer to lend them to him?

_A._ Where he purchased the uniform----

_Q._ If that was not in your presence you will not state it--did he take them away with him?

_A._ Yes he took them away in a coach.

_Q._ Had he any portmanteau with him?

_A._ He had a small portmanteau.

_Q._ Did he beat you down in the prices?

_A._ No, he did not.

_Q._ Did he say any thing about money?

_A._ No, he made no observations, he merely paid for them.

_Q._ You were conversing with that person for some time?

_A._ For a short time.

_Q._ Have you since seen him again--have you seen any person that you believed to be the same?

_A._ I was introduced to a person----

_Q._ Where was that?

_A._ At the Parliament-street Coffee House.

_Q._ Do you believe that person you saw at the Parliament-street Coffee House to be the person who so made the purchase?

_A._ That I cannot undertake to say.

_Q._ What do you believe?

_A._ In point of appearance he resembles him, except that the person whom I served had whiskers.

_Q._ I suppose the person you saw in Parliament street had not?

_A._ He had not.

_Q._ Look at him now and tell me whether you do or do not believe him to be the person? (_The witness looked at the Defendant De Berenger._)

_A._ This is the person I was introduced to at the Coffee-house.

_Q._ Upon the oath you have taken, what is your belief respecting him?

_A._ I really cannot undertake to swear that he is the person?

_Q._ What do you believe?

_A._ The Gentleman that represented himself to be Mr. Wilson was dressed in a different manner, he had black whiskers, and from that circumstance I could not possibly undertake to swear it was the same person.

_Q._ What is your belief?

_Mr. Park._ That belief may be founded on different facts?

_Lord Ellenborough._ To those facts you will examine, Mr. Gurney is now examining, there is no objection to the question.

_Mr. Gurney._ What is your belief?

_A._ Upon my word it is impossible for me to say.

_Q._ Do you mean to say that you have no belief upon the matter?

_A._ I mean to say I cannot undertake to swear it is the person.

_Q._ What is your belief?

_A._ I believe it resembles the person, except that the person I served had whiskers.

_Q._ Making allowance for whiskers which may be taken off in a minute, what is your belief upon the subject?

_A._ Upon my word it is impossible for me to say.

_Q._ You can certainly say what is your belief?

_Lord Ellenborough._ You are not asked as to whether you are certain, but to your belief.

_A._ If I were to say I believe it is the person I might say wrong, if I were to say I believe it is not the person I might say otherwise, it may be the person but I cannot undertake to say I believe it is.

_Mrs. Abigail Davidson sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Gurney._

_Q._ In the month of February last did you reside in the Asylum Buildings?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ That is near to the Asylum?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Is the house within the rules of the King's Bench?

_A._ Yes it is.

_Q._ Did Mr. De Berenger lodge with you?

_A._ He did.

_Q._ Do you remember on what day he finally quitted your house?

_A._ On the 27th of February.

_Q._ What day of the week was that?

_A._ Sunday.

_Q._ Do you remember where he was the Sunday before that?

_A._ No.

_Q._ Did you see him on the morning of that Sunday?

_A._ No, on Sunday the 20th you mean, I did not.

_Q._ Did he sleep at home that night?

_A._ I cannot say.

_Q._ Did you see him that night at all?

_A._ We never attended to the door.

_Q._ Did you usually hear Mr. De Berenger in the morning?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Much or little did you hear him?

_A._ We heard him very frequently.

_Q._ Did you on the morning of Monday the 21st hear him as usual?

_A._ No.

_Q._ What did you use to hear of him on the mornings on which you did hear him?

_A._ We heard the bell ring for the servant.

_Q._ Once or more than once?

_A._ More than once?

_Q._ What rooms did he occupy?

_A._ The whole of the upper part of the house.

_Q._ What part did you occupy?

_A._ The parlours.

_Q._ How many rooms up stairs were there?

_A._ Four.

_Q._ And you and your husband occupied the two parlours?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ On other mornings when you heard him besides ringing the bell did you hear any thing else respecting him?

_A._ Occasionally Mr. De Berenger would play on the violin or the trumpet.

_Q._ Did you hear him walk about?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did Mr. De Berenger then wear whiskers or no whiskers?

_A._ Whiskers.

_Q._ Was there any morning on which you were at home that you did not hear his bell and his walking about?

_A._ No, I generally heard his bell.

_Q._ Did you see him come home on the Monday?

_A._ No.

_Q._ How early on that evening did you see him?

_A._ In the evening about a quarter or half past five.

_Q._ Had you heard him in the house before that time?

_A._ I heard him in the afternoon.

_Q._ You say he quitted your house on the Sunday after?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Do you remember any Gentleman calling there the day before he quitted with a letter?

_A._ On the Saturday night--

_Q._ He called with a letter?

_A._ Yes he did.

_Q._ Have you since seen that Gentleman again?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Where did you see him?

_A._ I saw him at the Temple?

_Q._ Was it at the Crown Office?

_A._ I do not know what office it was.

_Q._ Was Mr. Lavie present at the time you saw him?

_A._ Yes he was.

_Q._ Did you point him out to Mr. Lavie.

_A._ I cannot say that I should positively know the gentleman.

_Q._ Do you believe him to be the same?

_A._ Yes, I think it was.

_Q._ The same you had seen on the Saturday deliver that letter?

_A._ Yes, I think so.

_Q._ Had Mr. De Berenger two servants of the name of Smith, William Smith and his wife?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ When he dined at home did his servants attend him?

_A._ Always.

_Q._ On the Sunday before he finally went away, Sunday the 20th, did he dine at home?

_A._ I cannot answer that.

_Q._ What was his usual dinner hour?

_A._ About four o'clock.

_Q._ Where were his servants at four o'clock on that day? At home or not?

_A._ I think they went out early on that day.

_Q._ What do you mean by early?

_A._ I mean two or half past two o'clock.

_Q._ Do you remember any thing about your key, respecting either of them, whether either of them had your key?

_A._ There was a private place where the key always hung for the accommodation of Mr. De Berenger and us.

_Q._ Where was the key put that night?

_A._ The key was always under the care of Mr. Smith.

_Q._ You did not see where he put it that night, did you?

_A._ No, I did not.

_Cross-examined by Mr. Park._

_Q._ What Sunday was it that these servants went out to dinner at two or half past two?

_A._ On Sunday the 20th.

_Q._ You were preparing to go to chapel on that Sunday at eleven o'clock, and Mr. De Berenger went out at the time.

_A._ Mr. Davidson was going out, I did not go out.

_Q._ You were not well?

_A._ No.

_Q._ Mr. Davidson was going out.

_A._ Yes, but I did not see Mr. De Berenger.

_Q._ Did you hear your husband make an observation at the time?

_A._ Yes, I did.

_Q._ You did not yourself attend to the door?

_A._ No.

_Q._ This Gentleman had been your lodger for some years, had he not?

_A._ Nine months?

_Q._ You do not mean to represent, that he slept from his own bed on that Sunday, the 20th?

_A._ I cannot say that he did, or that he did not.

_Q._ You do not make his bed or go into his room?

_A._ No.

_Q._ Do you sleep in the parlour?

_A._ Yes, we have the two parlours.

_Q._ What is your general hour of rising in the morning?

_A._ Between seven and eight.

_Q._ Mr. De Berenger's time of trumpeting is not so early as that I suppose?

_A._ I have heard him at nine o'clock.

_Q._ He did not alarm the neighbourhood at seven o'clock?

_A._ No, I have heard him by eight or nine.

_Q._ Not so soon as that I should think in the month of February, not being very warm weather at that time?

_A._ I cannot speak to the time.

_Q._ If a person went out at eight o'clock that morning, you had no particular reason to know of it?

_A._ No.

_Q._ You had no call to look after him on the Sunday, or Monday, or Tuesday morning?

_A._ No.

_Q._ And whether he slept at home or did not, you cannot take upon yourself to say?

_A._ No.

_Re-examined by Mr. Gurney._

_Q._ My learned Friend has asked you as to your husband observing upon Mr. De Berenger's going out on the Sunday morning: in what words did your husband make the remark as to Mr. De Berenger's going out?

_A._ He called out, our lodger is gone out with a new great coat on.

_Mr. Germain Lavie again called._

_Examined by Mr. Gurney._

_Q._ Who was the Gentleman that Mrs. Davidson pointed out to you?

_Mr. Serjeant Best._ I object to that, that is a leading question.

_Mr. Gurney_. I beg pardon.--Did the last witness point out any person to you at the Crown-Office, at the time of striking the Jury?

_A._ Before she came into the Crown-Office she saw Mr. Cochrane Johnstone getting out of a Hackney coach at the Crown-Office door--she then told me----

_Q._ Did she point out any person to you as having seen him before?

_A._ No, she did not then.

_Q._ Did she afterwards fix upon any person as having seen him?

_A._ No she did not, unless I can speak to what passed before.

_Q._ Did she mention having seen any person get out of a Hackney Coach?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Who was that person that she observed upon?