The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

323.   THOMAS SALE   GEORGE M'COY,  THOMAS DOYLE , and   JOHN LLOYD , were indicted for the willful murder of   John Bellchambers, and   THOMAS DAVIS for feloniously inciting them to commit the said murder: They were also charged on the Corner's Inquisition with the like murder.

MESSRS. CLARKSON and PARNELL conducted the Prosecution.

  HENRY FREDRICK HOLT. I am a surgeon and general practitioner, in Abingdon-street, Westminster. I had known the deceased, John Bell-chambers,

for about twenty-five years—I last saw him alive about a quarter to seven o'clock on Monday morning, 11th Oct.—I had been sent for—he lived at 44, Wilton-street, Westminster—I found him in bed in a state of insensibility—he had two black eyes, and a cut on the right side of the fore-head, just above the brow, a graze on the right cheek, and a small cut on the left cheek—I applied lotions to the wounds, and did what I considered necessary for him—I then left him—I returned again at eleven o'clock, and found him much in the same state, still perfectly insensible—I saw him again at four o'clock, and bled him at the arm first, and then ordered him to be cupped—he was attacked with convulsions, at intervals of about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, or sometimes longer—I continued to attend him until he died, which was on the following Sunday evening, the 17th, at about nine o'clock—I just got into the house as he died—I saw him after he was dead—I thought it right to call in to my assistance my son, who is surgeon of Westminster Hospital, as he was more acquainted with these cases than I am, I being a private practitioner, and, in conjunction with him, I made a post-mortem examination of the deceased's person—in my judgment the cause of death was injury done to the brain, in consequence of a fracture of the skull—the fracture went through the frontal bone, and extended right across the upper part of the orbits—it was directly over the right eye-brow; not exactly in the front, but more towards the corner—it was a perpendicular cur, and then took a lateral direction over the plate of the upper organ—the fracture perfectly corresponded with the cut under the right temple—I attribute that injury to violence certainly—I should hardly think it possible, from the position of the cut, that it could have been caused by a fall—if the deceased had been struck on the head with such an instrument as this bolt (produced), it might have produced such an injury.

Q. Were the injuries you found on the person of the deceased such as could have been the result of one blow, or must there have been more? A. I should think there must have been at any rate one for the cut, and one for the blow on the eye—the other injuries about his person were not material—the fracture was downwards, and across the base of the skull, making almost two sides of a triangle, but they would not be equal in length.

Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. You think there were two blows given? A. I think, from the appearance of the left eye, that he must have been struck, because it was a very slight cut, as if he had received a blow with a fist—there certainly were not two blows with the same instrument—I knew him well—he was a stout man, about five feet six inches, I should think; not a big man—I do not know that he was bigger than I am, and a very little stouter—the wound was a clean cut, not as if done with a life-preserver, or any blunt round instrument—this bold is precisely such a one as would produce it—this is not a sharp instrument, but it would come down at once on the single edge—it must have been a blow struck downwards, as if you struck a blow with a ruler—it would not be the point of a circle that would come on the forehead—if I was to strike in this way I should make a straight cut down—it would certainly be a portion of a circle that would come in contact with the body—the wound was so high up on the forehead that he could not, in my opinion, have received that cut, and consequently a fracture by a fall—I think, in consequence of the cheek being grazed, he must have come with his head in that way—the grazing of the cheek itself would raise a presumption that it might be the result of a fall—supposing that he stumbled for a yard or two, and fell with his head upon a high

kerb-stone, I do not think that would account for it—I do not think it would be morally possible that a man's falling on his cheek, and grazing his cheek, would inflict a would above his eye—I know the spot perfectly well; it is a high kerb, but not very high; it is not six inches high—I went by it this morning—I did not measure it, but I should say, by my eye, that it certainly was not six inches—it is at the corner of Kensington-place where the deceased fell, and where the blood lay—I look particular notice of it as I came here—I do not think there is a gradual descent towards the kerb where he was found—there is no descent in the street of five or ten yards, before you come to the spot where he was found—I should think, from the spot which was pointed out to me, and where I saw the blood next day, that he must have fallen off the pavement on to the stones, instead of falling against the kerb—there is no descent in the street, I think it is quite flat—it is a very narrow street, with the kerb-stone flat—there is a grating not six inches form the kerb where he was found, for the purpose of carrying away the water—there is not a small channel running down there, nor any channel at all; it is all flush—the grating is close up to the kerb—the street is not very rough there—I took particular notice of it this morning—I should certainly say there are not stones projecting two or three inches over—it is as flat a paved street as any I know in London—there are no stones sticking up about there—I will swear that—there was no water when I came up this morning—I did not pass it yesterday, but I did the day before—I am in the habit of passing it every day of my life—the kerb is about six inches above the road paving.

  BARNARD HOLT. I am the son of the last witness, and one of the assistant-surgeons at Westminster Hospital—I assisted my father in his post mortem examination of the body of the deceased—I have been in Court, and have heard to what he has attributed the death—I concur in that opinion, that he died from the effect of concussion and irritation of the brain, produced by the fracture of the skull, as he has described—I should think that the injury over the right eye, to which the fracture was traceable, was occasioned by external violence, and not by a fall—this iron bolt would be likely to produce such an injury if used against his person—in my opinion the position of the wound was too high to be ordinarily received by a fall—there was no abrasion of the skin, merely as wound—if a fall had occasioned it, I should have expected to find abrasion of the skin besides—it appeared to be a cleaner wound than would have been the result of a fall, as if some smaller instrument had been applied, producing the injury, than falling flat on a surface.

Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. What was the length of the cut? A. From half to three-quarters of an inch—it was such a wound as would be produced by a blunt instrument of a small calibre—it was what we term a clean cut produced by a blunt instrument—supposing a man to have struck his head against a sharp kerb-stone of the caliber of this instrument, of course it would produce the same kind of wound that might have been produced by this instrument—there was a cut on one side of the eye and an abrasion on the other—there was an abrasion on the cheek.

COURT. Q. I do not quite understand what you mean by saying that the edge of the kerb might produce a similar cut. A. If you can imagine one surface of this bolt to represent the edge of the kerb-stone, of course any person falling with that particular part of his forehead against the edge of the kerb would produce such a wound as was produced by this instrument, except that probably the edge of the kerb-stone might inflict a wound of rather a

sharper kind than this instrument—this has no sharp edge—if it was described as an incised wound, I should imagine it would come nearer the character of a wound inflicted by the kerb-stone than by this bolt—if it was produced by the end of this instrument, I should imagine it would produce a wound of a more jagged character than that which was produced.

  WILLIAM MERER. I am carter to Mr. Weeks, as ginger-beer manufacturer, and live at the King's Head public-house, Orchard-street, Westminister. Mr. Beese manages that house for his brother—I was there at two o'clock in the morning of Monday, 11th Oct—I knew the deceased, Mr. Bellchambers—he was there that morning—I was serving behind the bar, and saw him come in—Mr. Beese was behind the bar—when Mr. Bellchambers came in he went in front of the bar, and offered Mr. Beese a pinch of snuff from a silver snuff-box—there were other persons in the house at the time, two of the prisoners, M'Coy and Sale, were standing by the beerengine in front of the bar, not far from Mr. Bellchambers—Mr. Beese invited Mr. Bellchambers to come behind the bar—he did so—he told him that he thought there was some bad company, some bad parties, in front of the bar, and advised him to come in behind out of the company—I should say that was said loud enough for Sale and M'Coy and the people in front of the bar to hear—Sale said to me, "Do you know that old gentleman that is going behind the bar?"—I said, "Yes"—Sale said he should like to have what the old gentleman had got in his hand—Sale and M'Coy were in company together—M'Coy did not say anything—the old gentleman bad the snuff-box in his hand, and a sort of yellow cash-bag, from which he paid for what he had—M'Coy said, "I will not do anything for the sake of hurting the house, as you know the old gentleman"—Sale was with him at the time he said that—M'Coy and Sale were drinking ale together, which some sailor was treating them to—about three-quarters of an hour after Mr. Bellechambers had come in, Doyle came in—Mr. Belchambers was then behind the bar—M'Coy and Sale were in front—there were several people with Doyle, but none of the prisoners except Sale and M'Coy—I noticed Davis come in about three o'clock, or half-past, dressed very decently with a plaid shawl on—he called for six pennyworth of brandy and water—that was about half an hour after Doyle had come in—Doyle spoke to Davis, but not to any of the others that I saw—I do not know whether he took any of Davis's brandy and water—Doyle and a woman were quarrelling together—Doyle struck her, and there was a bother, and Davis attempted to get behind the bar, which I and Mr. Beese refused, and said, "We do not allow strangers behind the bar"—Mr. Beese went to turn the woman out, and Davis forced himself behind me and went behind the bar to speak to Mr. Bellchambers—he did speak to him—Mr. Beese, on that, made a communication to me, in consequence of which I kept my eye on the parties—Davis said, "How do you do, Mr. Bellchambers?"—Mr. Bellchambers seemed to know him, and said, "I have lent this man a shilling, and I have lent him many a one, and I have lent him one now"—he asked Davis what he would take to drink—Davis said he would take a little drop of brandy and water—we had no brandy up, so we wee obliged to make sixpenny-worth of shrub and water—a few minutes after that Davis went from behind the bar, and went out with M'Coy, Sale, Doyle, and others—they all four returned in about five minutes—Davis went behind the bar again, and Sale and M'Coy stopped in front of the bar and called for a pot of sixpenny ale—Davis went and spoke to Mr. Bellchambers again—they seemed to know one another very well indeed—after Davis had been in there

some short time, he invited Mr. Bellchambers home to take a cup of tea with him—Mr. Bellchambers asked him in what direction he was going—he said towards Charing-cross—Mr. Bellchambers said he was going in a contrary direction, and declined—I saw him hand the shilling to Davis—he took it from his cash-bag—Davis saw the cash-bag—it was after Davis had asked him home to tea that he handed him the shilling—M'Coy, Sale, and Doyle were then in front of the bar—they might have seen the cash-bag when Mr. Bellchambers was in front of the bar, but I cannot say whether they saw it afterwards—Mr. Bellchambers had a watch with him, which he was wearing in his pocket, with the seals hanging outside—he called for some ginger-beer, one glass for himself and one for Davis—they were the only two behind the bar, except me and Mr. Beese—Mr. Bellchambers and Davis were talking to one another; I could not hear what—after the shilling had passed, Davis was counting some money in his hand—I do not know whether it was five shillings or six shillings, and he dropped a half-crown underneath the settle where he was sitting—he took that money out of his trowsers pocket—I did not hear from him why he wanted to borrow a shilling, he having money of his own—I did not speak to him about it—about a quarter-past four o'clock Mr. Beese ordered all the prisoners, except Davis and Mr. Bellchambers, out of the house—he turned out all the party at the bar, and about half-past four Davis went out.

Q. Did you learn from M'Coy or Sale, before they went out at the landlord's bidding, whether they had any money? A. They had told me previous to their going out with Davis that they had none—they both said so when they went out together with others—when they returned, which they did in five minutes, M'Coy called for some ale, and I said to him and Sale "Why, you had no money just now when you went out, and you have got 6d. now"—they paid me for it—Davis did not return after leaving at half-past four—he attempted to come in again, but we fastened the door to prevent him—at that time there was no one in the house but Mr. Bellchambers, Mr. Beese, and myself—Mr. Beese assigned a reason to Mr. Bellchambers why he should remain behind—that was not in the hearing of any of the prisoners—in consequence of what Mr. Beese said, he did remain until about five o'clock—he then went—before leaving Mr. Beese tucked his seals inside his trowsers for him, and buttoned his coat up—in my opinion he was quite capable of taking care of himself when he left the house—he had had a little, but not enough to hurt him—I observed him leave the house—he went out sideways because there was not room enough for him to go out without the front door being open—Mr. Beese went to the door with him—I did not see which direction he took—I know New Pye-street—it is the first turning past our house on the left, about a dozen yards off, going towards Stratton-ground—I knew the direction in which Mr. Bellchambers lived—he left a card with his name written on it, to tell Mr. Beese where he lived—they had been taking together before he came behind the bar—he gave it to Mr. Beese first and me afterwards—he recommended me to serve a customer down in Shoreditch—I did not know where he lived—eh inspector has the card—this is it (produced)—he gave it me a little after two o'clock, when Sale and M'Coy were in front of the bar—I dare say they saw it—they might have done so—Mr. Bellchambers wrote it on the counter, in front of the bar, where they were standing—the first two lines are his writing, the other two are Mr. Beese's, because we could not exactly understand where he said—he said, "You know Wilton-streets, don't you?"—I said, "No, I

do not"—he then asked me for a pen and ink—I got it and he wrote on the back of one of our cards—Wilton-street is half or three-quarters of a mile from the King's Head—you pass New Pye-street, to get to it—it comes out at the same corner as Kensington-place—it makes one side, and Kensingtonplace runs into it—if I was going the nearest way there from the King's Head, I should pass the end of New Pye-street, up Orchard-street, along by Strutton-ground, and the Horseferry-road.

Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. Had you ever seen Mr. Bellchambers before? A. Yes, five or six times at other houses, but not at the King's Head—I knew his name, but not where he lived—I was assisting Mr. Beese behind the bar that night—it was the first time I had acted as barman—I should think there was not above a dozen persons in front of the bar when Mr. Bellchambers came in—they were sitting in the lobby—they were not all standing round the bar—there were two women—I cannot say exactly how many men—there were a few more came in—I cannot say there was twenty, there might have been—when Mr. Bellchambers came in he called for three pennyworth of brandy and three halfpennyworth of gin mixed together with cold water—he took that before he was invited inside the bar by Mr. Beese—I did not take sufficient notice of him to see whether he appeared as if he had been drinking when he came in—he stood at the bar five or ten minutes before Mr. Beese invited him in—Sale and M'Coy were round the bar—there were no others at that part of the counter—there were not above three or four more persons there—the sailor was there—I did not notice any women there then—he paid Mr. Beese for the brandy and gin and water before he went inside—when Mr. Beese asked him inside the bar, he did not speak loud enough for everybody to hear—he whispered to him—I do not know whether the prisoners heard him—I should say they might, there was only the counter between them—Mr. Bellchambers was standing up—Mr. Beese leaned over his ear and whispered to him—I was about as far off as the prisoners—he said, "You had better come behind the bar, because there are some queer characters in front of the bar"—those are the very words, I swear to the words—that was after he had paid for the brandy and gin—Davis came in about half-past three as near as I can guess—Mr. Bellchambers had six pennyworth of shrub and water afterwards—he also had two bottles of ginger-beer—after Davis left he had brandy and water with me and Mr. Beese, one shilling's worth—we drank it between us—there is a quartern of brandy in a shilling glass—we do not call that a stiff tumbler—there is only one public door to the King's Head—there is a private door leading into a court—Mr. Bellchambers went out at the front door—Sale spoke in a low tone when he said, "I wish I had what that gentleman has in his hand"—he did not whisper—I do not think any one heard it but M'Coy and me—that was after Mr. Bellchambers had got inside the bar—I had never seen Sale before to my knowledge—Beese was then behind the bar speaking to Mr. Bellchambers—I was behind the bar—the bar is about ten feet long—the beer-engine was four or five feet from where Beese was—I heard him whispering to Mr. Bellchambers at that distance—I do not consider Mr. Bellchambers could have heard what Sale said.

MR. CLARKSON. Q. Did you hear Davis say anything to Mr. Bellchambers about a shilling? A. Yes—he asked Mr. Bellchambers to lead him one shilling—that was about four o'clock, before I saw Davis drop the half-crown—Mr. Bellchambers pulled out his bag before him, to lend it to him.

Cross-examined by MR. CHARNOCK. Q. When did you first see Doyle?

A. From half-past two to three o'clock he came in with some others, but I did not notice what he did—I did not see him drinking at the bar—I do not know who the parties he came with were—he came in with some female—I did not know him before—he was quarrelling with that women for some few minutes—he left about a quarter-past four, with a great many other who were turned out then—twelve, fifteen, or twenty went out at once, as I cleared out the house—the whole body of persons went out as well as the prisoners.

Cross-examined by MR. PARRY. Q. Did not Davis appear very well known to Mr. Bellchambers? A. Yes—I am quite sure he asked him to lend him a shilling—Mr. Bellchambers said to me, "I have lent him a shilling, as I had lent him many a shilling before"—Davis came in by himself about three o'clock, or half-past—when he forced himself behind the bar I refused him—there was a row then in the house—Beese was turning Doyle and the woman out at the time for making a row—Davis afterwards got behind the bar—he was in conversation with Mr. Bellchambers from that time till he left—he went out for about five minutes—with that exception he was conversing with Mr. Bellchambers, and Mr. Bellchambers with him, during the whole time; they were drinking together, and appeared very intimate—I had never seen Davis in Orchard-street before, or with Mr. Bellchambers—about seven or eight person went out together with Sale and M'Coy—they did not all return—Davis and the other prisoners did—he went behind the bar again, conversed with Mr. Bellchambers, and remained till he left—he was not turned out at all—all the others were, but he being a friend of Mr. Bellchambers', was sitting and talking with him.

Lloyd. Q. Have you ever seen me in company with either of these prisoners? A. No—you were all sitting in front of the bar—I did not see you associate with them, or in their company.

  HENRY BEESK. I conduct the business of the King's Head, Orchard-street, Westminster, for Mr. Weeks—I knew Mr. Bellchambers five or six years, by coming backwards and forwards to the house—he came there about two o'clock on the morning 11th Oct., he was quite sober—he had a cashbag and silver snuff-box with him—he pulled out the cash-bag to pay for what he had, and likewise the snuff-box, and handed me a pinch of snuff—that was when he first came in—M'Coy and Sale were then standing outside the bar drinking some ale—I do not know that I had ever seen them before—I might, but not to notice them, as there are so many coming in and out—there were two or three others there, but none of the other prisoners when Mr. Bellchambers came in—I observed that his seals were hanging down out of his pocket, so as to be seen by anybody—there was a bunch of seals and a key—M'Coy and Sale had an opportunity of seeing the snuff-box and money-bag—Meyer was assisting me in my business—I did not over-hear the prisoners say anything about Mr. Bellchambers—Doyle and Davis came in together about a quarter of an hour afterwards, and two or three besides—they drank with the other two at the bar, and appeared to know each other—I spoke to Mr. Bellchambers when the others came in, and asked him if he would come inside the bar and sit down—he did so—I told him I thought there was a roughish lot come in—I said that sufficiently loud for persons standing at the bar to hear—Mr. Bellchambers generally used to come inside when he came there, he hardly ever stopped outside—I observed a woman on the outer-side of the bar at about half-past three—there was a row between her and Doyle about four o'clock, or a little

after, and I turned them all out except Davis—I had not given him permission to come inside the bar—I told him I did not allow strangers inside there—when I came back from turning Doyle and the woman out, he was inside the bar with a glass of something to drink in his hand—he was not talking to Mr. Bellchambers then—they appeared to know each other—Mr. Bellchambers told me that he knew him—Mr. Bellchambers stayed till about twenty minutes past five—Davis went away about a quarter of an hour after the others—Mr. Bellchambers took out his watch while inside the bar, before he went, and I saw that it was twenty minutes past five by his watch—as he was going away I told him to put the seals inside his pocket—I put them in his hand, and he buttoned up his pocket—I had told him to stop till the other people were gone—I had a reason for doing so—he was quite capable of taking care of himself—when he left he had his hat with him—he went out of the door sideways—I followed him out, and stood on the step and saw him go down the street—there are two steps out of my house—I saw him go down those steps, and he turned down Strutton-ground—he had to go past Pye-street—that would be the right direction towards his house in Wilton-street—it was then getting light—I observed him for about 100 or 150 yards, nearly to the top of the street—he walked very well indeed—I should think Wilton-street is about half or three-quarters of a mile from our house—Kensington-place would be in his direct way home.

Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. Did you watch him entirely to the turning? A. Yes, to the top of Orchard-street—I think the King's Head is about 100 or 150 yards from the corner of Strutton-ground—I could see him up to the top of the street—there are two turnings at the top of Orchard-street—he took the turning round Strutton-ground—the other turning is Chapel-street—Strutton-ground is on the same side of the street as the door of our house is—he kept on the same side of the way till he got to the top—I saw no other person in the street while I was looking at him—if there had been I could not have missed seeing them—I did not ask him inside the bar till some others came in besides Sale and M'Coy—I had not to my knowledge seen Sale and M'Coy before—I might have done so—Mr. Bellchambers used generally to come in and sit down in the bar—he had a frock-coat on—he put the seals into his pocket and buttoned his coat himself—I touched the seals and told him to put them in—there were a dozen or fourteen people when I closed the house at four o'clock—I drink with people at times—I drank part of the brandy and water with Mr. Bellchambers, as much as he did himself—I served him with the brandy and gin and water—I cannot tell you what shrub is composed of.

Cross-examined by MR. CHARNOCK. Q. Have you not said before that you watched him 200 or 300 yards up the street? A. It might be—I cannot say exactly—I never measured the distance—I saw him up to the top of Strutton-ground—I watched him about three or four minutes after he left—that was perhaps twenty-five minutes past five—I saw him safe as late as that—there is no mistake about that—Doyle was not there when he took out the cash-bag and snuff-box

MR. CLARKSON. Q. If there had been other people in the street when he went out you think you must have observed them? A. Yes—I was standing on the steps of the door—I did not observe anybody walking about the street.

  WILLIAM BOLT. I live in Vincent-terrace, Westminster, with my parents—I knew Mr. Bellchambers—on Monday morning, 11th Oct., about a quarter-past

six, I was in Wilton-street, at the corner of Kensington-place, which runs into Wilton-street—I heard a groaning noise—I went across—there were two other boys with me—I saw Mr. Bellchambers lying on his right side on the curb—his feet were towards Holywell-street, that is, away from Wilson-street—I went up to him and called him by name twice—he did not give me any answer—I took up his head, and called him by name, and Godwin the brewer assisted me—his head was close to the kerb, and his face all over blood—I saw a cut over his right temple, and another wound underneath one of his eyes—I do not recollect whether that was on the same side of his face—Godwin came, and lifted him up, put him on the step or a door, called for a policeman, and Skate, No. 157 came up—I went with them to his house, 44 Wilton-street—they did not carry him, they dragged him along—I did not see any one look into his pockets while he was there—I did not see anything of any watch—nobody looked for his watch—he had no hat on—it was not lying on the ground—it was gone.

Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. Was it quite light when you came up? A. No, it was about a quarter to six—his feet were extended, as if he had come down Kensington-place—I observed a channel there by the kerbstone where water runs—his feet were not extended over that gutter, they were lying on the kerb-stone—I observed a grating near there—I did not observe that the street was very rough—his head was lying on the kerb-stone—the kerb-stone was round—there was blood on it in more than one place—if Mr. Bellchambers had been going home down Kensington-place he would have to turn that corner; but he was not quite at the corner, he was about turning it—there is a lamp in Wilton-street—on the other side of the road, directly opposite, within five or six yards of where he was found—it is not at the corner—I know Horseferry-road—there is a dead wall there a long distance—if he was coming down there he would pass that dead wall before he got into Kensington-place—it is the back of Broadwood's manufactory—there is a dead wall there also—he would come down that way supposing he was coming from Orchard-street.

MR. CLARKSON. Q. Is one of the dead walls along the high thoroughfare leading to Vauxhall-bridge? A. Leading to Millbank-street—that is a little wider thoroughfare than Wilton-street and Kensington-place.

  GEORGE GOODWIN. On Monday morning, 11th of Oct., I was passing near the corner of Kensington-place, and saw Mr. Bellchambers lying there—I did not then know it was Mr. Bellchambers—he was lying on the kerb—the boy Bold was there and two others—I assisted to raise him from the kerb, and fetched policeman Skate—I did not assist Mr. Bellchambers to his house—I found a cotton handkerchief about five or six doors from where he was lying, about half-way up Kensington-place, on the same side of the way, towards the Grosvenor Arms, towards Holywell-street out of Wilton-street—if a person were coming from Horseferry-road, or Strutton-ground, to the end of Kensington-place, and so to Wilton-street, that would be the course that he would take—I put the handkerchief into my pocket, and kept it until I gave it to Sergeant Luff on the 12th—I did not examine Mr. Bellchmabers to see it his property was safe—he had no hat on—I did not see any hat at all, nor any watch—this is the handkerchief (produced.)

  WILLIAM SKATE (policeman, B 157.) On Monday morning, 11th Oct., I was called, and found Mr. Bellchambers at the corner of Wilton-street, in Kensington-place, about thirty yards from his own house—he was assisted by two men to his residence, 44, Wilton-street—he did not appear to be seen

sible—I saw him taken into the house—I did not examine his pockets—I spoke to him, but he gave me no answer.

Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. Did you observe whether he smelt strongly of liquor or not? A. He smelt of liquor—my first impression was that he was drunk.

  ANN RELLCHAMBERS. I am the widow of the late Mr. Bellchambers. He was brought to my door on the morning of 11th Oct., a few minutes before my clock struck six—he was quite insensible, and remained so—I had him brought up stairs, and assisted in taking off his clothes—his watch was not in his coat or trowsers, and he had no hat—the watch and seals, and handkerchief, were gone—this is my husband's handkerchief—I had given it him on the Sunday morning—I looked in his trowsers' pocket and found this bag there—it is the bag in which he used to carry his money—there was nothing in it then but the piece of paper that is in it now—he used generally to have that piece of paper in the bag to roll his gold in—I had last seen him before six o'clock in the evening—I do not know what money was in the bag then—his snuff-box was not gone, I found it myself in his trowsers' pocket, on the other side from where he used to carry his watch and money—the watch and money was carried on the right side and the snuff-box on the left—I missed nothing from his left-hand pocket—his name was John.

  JONATHAN BELLCHAMBERS. I am the son of the deceased—I last saw him before this occurrence, on Sunday, 10th Oct.—he dined with me, and left my house about five o'clock—he then appeared to be in good health—he was perfectly sober—I live at 19, Park-walk, Chelsea, which is about three miles from my father's see

  JOHN PRICE. I live at 51, Wilton-street, Westminster, and am a carpenter—I knew the late Mr. Bellchambers, he lived at No. 44—I was at home on Monday morning, 11th Oct., after two o'clock—the house is in Wilton-street, and the workshop faces Kensington-place—the entrance of it is in Kensington-place—about half-past five, on that morning, I was in my loft, over the workshop, and heard some one in Kensington-place say, "Knock the b— —down"—I heard a fall against the shutters, and then down on to the pavement, as if the fall was first intercepted by the shutter, and then on the pavement—that was followed by a groan, and I heard some person run away—the groaning continued—a short time after I heard another person run—I heard a sort of sigual up the street, a sort of call, I cannot exactly describe it—it was some noise made by the mouth—I only heard two footsteps—the first was a heavy step, and the second a light one—I heard the fall instantly the words, "Knock the b— —down" were made use of—I should say the whole of this, up to the time the last person ran away, occupied about a minute or a little more—I did not go out into the street—I could not get out by the workshop door.

Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. Were you at work this morning? A. Yes, sharpening my tools on an oil-stone—my place is forty-five feet from where Mr. Bellchambers was found, taking it on the lower surface independent of the height—the door was not exactly closed, it was ajar, about an inch, against where the padlock is—it was padlocked outside—I had a light—I cannot describe the signal I heard, except that it was some noise made by the mouth—Kensington-place is not very rough—there are no gardens in front of the houses near where Mr. Bellchambers was found—there is no garden in front of the shutters—there is a garden to the corner house—I know where he was found, it was opposite the shutters.

Cross-examined by MR. CHARNOCK. Q. When did this occur? A. About half-past five—it was not nearer six—I heard the clock strike the quarters, and it was instantly after the second quarter—I did not see any of the parties—I only heard the footsteps of two persons.

  ELIZA HOGHES. I reside at 4, Kensington-place, Westminster; about eight or ten yards from the corner of Kensington-place and Wilton-street—there is a small garden in front of our house—there is hardly anything growing there; it is almost bare—on the morning of 11th Oct., I found this bolt there (produced) about a yard from the pavement—it was not more than eight yards from where the blood was—I afterwards gave the bolt to Inspector Taylor—I had been in the garden on the morning before, about ten o'clock, and it was not there then—if it had been there I must have seen it, as I found it close to the door, and I had been cleaning by the door.

JURY. Q. Is the place where it was found, soft ground or stoney? A. It was mould.

  THOMAS PRONGER (policeman, B 74.) I was on duty on Monday morning, 11th Oct., in Orchard-street—I know Dacre-street and New Tothill-street—about four o'clock I was standing at the corner of New Tothill-street and Dacre-street, and my attention was called to the King's Head, by a noise of hallooing and shouting—I went towards it, and saw Mr. Beese turning fourteen or sixteen people out—I was about twenty-four yards off—I could distinguish the people he was turning out—Sale, M'Coy, and Doyle, were three of them—the place became quiet after a short interval, and I went on my duty at a few minutes before five, or just on five—I went to the corner of Cooper-street and Orchard-street, which is about twenty-one yards from the corner of New Pye-street—it was light enough to distinguish persons at that time—there was a lamp right over the prisoners heads—I saw Sale, M'Coy, and Doyle, and a man, named Conolly, standing talking together at the corner of New Pye-street and Orchard-street—I knew them before, and had seen Sale and M'Coy together between twelve and one that night—Sale lived at 15, Union-court, which turns down close by the side of the King's Head—when I saw them at five, I believe they saw me—Conolly left them, and went up New Tothill-street; and the three others came up Orchard-street, towards Strutton-ground—when I saw them move I went on my duty—only part of Orchard-street is on my beat—when I left the corner of Cooper-street I went to the corner of Dacre-street, stood there a moment, and saw one person come out of the King's Head, and only one person—it was about five minutes after that that I noticed the three prisoners standing together where I have described—Mr. Beese let that person out—he seemed to walk very steadily the distance I saw him—I could not see him above seven yards from where I stood—he was going towards Strutton-ground—that would be in a direction towards Wilton-street—I then went round to the corner of Cooper-street, and saw a person who I thought was the same I had seen come out of the King's Head, go up Orchard-street—he was still in the way towards Wilton-street and Strutton-ground—I saw the three prisoners not above a minute after that at the corner of New Pye-street—the gentleman had then just got to the corner of Duck-lane, towards Strutton-ground—the three prisoners were then about opposite me—as I stood at the Cooper's Arms they left the corner, and came right past me, and were going towards Strutton-ground, the same way that the gentleman went—that was all I saw of either of them—I left at the corner of Strutton-ground—the prisoners were then going on after the gentleman—on the following Wednesday

morning about two o'clock, I met M'Coy in Orchard-street, took him into custody, and told him I took him on suspicion of robbing and violently assaulting Mr. Bellehambers—he said he knew nothing about it—I then told him it was from the King's Head, in Orchard-street—he afterwards said, on the way to the station, that he knew he was in the house between two and three o'clock—that was all he said—on the same day, about a quarter-past three o'clock, I took Doyle into custody—I took him out of a soup-shop, in Orchard-street, and told him that I took him on suspicion of robbing and violently assaulting Mr. Bellehambers—he said, "When I left you at the corner of Strutton-ground, I went home"—he gave me his address, 3, Orchard-street—I went there, and the landlady said he had never lived there—I produce a pair of old shoes, which I received from Mrs. Tuck, the land-lady of the house, 15, Union-court, where Sale lived—I know nothing with reference to those shoes.

Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIEN. Q. Is New Pye-street on the same side as the King's Head? A. Yes, and the same side as Duck-lane—Cooper-street is at the opposite side of the way—I saw the man come out of the King's Head, from five minutes to five to five o'clock—that was before I saw the prisoners—I first saw the prisoners, then saw the man come out, and then saw the prisoners again—I first saw the prisoners at the corner of Cooper-street, then saw the man come out of the public-house, I went back to the corner of Cooper-street, and saw the prisoners again—Duck-lane is about 104 feet Strutton-ground—I could see the man nearly to the end of Orchard-street—when I saw him come out of the King's Head I was at the corner of Dacre-street and New Tothill-street—I then went back to Cooper-street, and saw the prisoners still standing there—it did not take me more than a minute to go from one corner to the other—I again saw the person whom I supposed was the man who came out of the public-house just on Duck-lane, going towards Strutton-ground—that is rather more than half the way—it is rather farther from the King's Head to Duck-lane, than it is from Duck-lane to Strutton-ground—I will not swear whether the gentleman turned down Strutton-ground or up Chapel-street—there is a public-house at the corner of New Pye-street, where I saw the three prisoners—they were standing just at the door—there is a lamp right over the door—I could not see whether they were in Orchard-street when the gentleman came out of the public-house—they were in Orchard-street all the time—when the gentleman was near Strutton-ground they were right opposite me, in Cooper-street, only in Orchard-street—they had moved from where I first saw them to right facing me in Cooper-street—the gentleman had not turned the corner before they went up Orchard-street—they were all walking in the same direction, all walking at one time—I think there was about forty yards' distance between them—they were on the same side of the way—I was on the opposite side—I believe they saw me.

Cross-examined by MR. CHARNOCK. Q. Were you fronting them, or beside them? A. I fronted them once, when they left the corner and came up Orchard-street—that was after I had seen the man going up—I was on the right as you come from the King's Head, and the prisoners and the man were on the left—I stood in the street while they passed me—I did not speak to the man who came out of the King's Head—he was along distance before me—I was nearest to him when he came out of the King's Head—that was about fifty yards, as I stood at the corner of Dacre-street—I do not undertake to swear to the person—my belief is that he was the same person that I saw afterwards—I would not swear it.

M'Coy. Q. Where did you speak to me and Sale together; you spoke to me, but I was not with Sale? A. I did speak to you—you were not with Sale at that time, you were before.

MR. CLARKSON. Q. You will not say whether the man went actually into Strutton-ground or not? A. I cannot say—Chapel-street would have been out of his way going towards Kensington-place.

JURY. Q. Did you see Davis or Lloyd in the course of the evening? A. I saw Lloyd, about five or ten minutes to four o'clock, standing against the steps, talking to two girls, at the King's Head—I saw no more of him—I never saw Davis at all.

  ELIZABETH TUCK. I am the wife of Richard Tuck, and keep No. 15, in Union-court, Orchard-street, which I let in furnished rooms. Before and up to 11th Oct., Sale and his wife took a room of me—I recollect hearing of Mr. Bellchambers' murder—I saw Sale on the afternoon of Tuesday, 12th—I did not see him after that before he was taken into custody—he did not give me notice that he was going—his wife went on the following Saturday—I had given her notice—they occupied the front parlour on the ground-floor—the shutters there are secured with an inside bolt—that bolt had lost the knob—the bolt produced resembles the bolt belonging to that shutter—I did not miss that bolt till the night Sale's wife left—it was their duty to fasten the shutters while they occupied the room—I had nothing to do with it then—when they came to lodge there, six weeks before, it was quite safe—I never was in the room but twice after they came there—no complaint was made about the shutter not being bolted—Sale did not complain to me about the loss of the bolt—I knew it was missing, but did not hear anything of it till Mr. Taylor produced it to me.

Cross-examined by MR. O'BRIAN. Q. Were there many lodgers there? A. Two more—they are outside shutters, but fasten inside, and are supposed to be shut every night—I saw Sale in his room on the Monday evening, 11th Oct.—I lent him 1d. then—he came for it, it was after candlelight—I cannot say the exact time—I saw him several times on Monday—I saw him in his own room when I went over to ask him for the money—I had seen him about twelve o'clock in the morning, and I believe I saw him pass up the court on Sunday afternoon—I live at No. 1, and Sale lived at No. 15—I know that M'Coy used to go into Sale's room.

JURY. Q. Was the bolt within reach of any person passing along the court, as it was a shutter that fastened outside? A. Not very well, they go up two steps to the room—the house is rather high, and the window is high—the shutters fastened with two bolts, one went up and the other dropped down—a bolt is put through the shutter on the outside, and fastened with a cross-bolt inside—it was not fastened from the outside—the bolt was visible in the day-time, it was left in the shutter, which was turned back—I do not know whether it was usually kept attached to the shutter—I do not recollect seeing it after Sale took possession—it was on the chimney-piece when he took the room, and I told him there was the bolt—on account of its having lost a knob it was not very easy to keep it in the shutter.

  WILLIAM NOWLAN (policeman, B 56.) I know all five of the prisoners—my beat is generally in Orchard-street and Old Pye-street—I was on duty on the morning of 11th Oct., between four and five o'clock, and saw Doyle and M'Coy come out of the King's Head—I saw them as late as ten minutes to five—they were in Orchard-street, between New Pye-street and the King's Head, and about in that neighbourhood—I did see Sale that morning—I noticed two or three men go down the court, and come out of his house, but

I could not tell who they were—Doyle was quarrelling with a woman who cohabited with him—in consequence of what saw, I told him if he did not leave the street I would take him into custody—he left, and returned in about five minutes—at about ten minutes to five he went to the corner of New Pye-street, about twenty on twenty-five yards from the King's Head, I there lost sight of him—I saw no more of any of them from that time.

Cross-examined by MR. CHARNOCK. Q. Did Doyle part from the woman after quarrelling with her? A. I caused them to part, and he went in the direction of the street he lives in—that was about a quarter or twenty minutes past four—at ten minutes to five I saw the three prisoners go through Pye-street—Doyle then stood still, and I saw nothing of him after—he was not alone, M'Coy was at a distance of six yards from him—I knew where he lived.

  JOSEPH WRIGHT (policeman, B 137.) On Wednesday afternoon, 13th Oct., in consequence of directions, while M'Coy was at the Rochester-row station, I took him out of the cell to examine his coat—while taking off his coat, he said, "I dare say you will be likely to find sone spots of blood on my coat, for I was brought here last Saturday night for fighting with an Irishman in Orchard-street"—I examined the coat, and found a red spot on the sleeve, which looked like blood, but I could not swear it was blood.

  JAMES BRADLEY (policeman, L 42.) I took Sale into custody on 18th Nov., on London-bridge—I knew him before—I had been in search of him for ten or eleven days—I did not then know where he lived—it was about ten minutes to nine in the morning—he was in company into with two others, neither of the prisoners—I said, "Tom, I want you"—he said, "What for?"—I said, "On suspicion of robbing and murdering Mr. Bellchambers"—he made no reply—I went to put the handcuffs on and he made a bolt to try to get away from me—I got the assistance of a gentleman—we secured him and put the handcuffs on him—his conduct was violent—he resisted as much as he could—I called a cab—when I put him in he said, "I know what they want with me, because I was in a public-house with Bellchambers"—I had previously told him what I wanted him for—that was all that passed respecting this—we drove to the Rochester-row station.

  WILLIAM TAYLOR (police-inspector, B.) I produce a letter which I received from Mr. Taylor, the chief clerk at Westminster Police-court—I have also produced the bolt which I and Pronger have compared with the shutters at 15, Union-court—it fitted and appeared to belong to that shutter—I was present at the examination of the prisoners on 25th Nov.—some time after that I received a massage by the gaoler, in consequence of which I spoke to Mr. Taylor, the chief clerk, who spoke to the Magistrate—in conesquence of some directions, I got an order and went with the gaoler to see M'Coy—I said, "M'Coy, I understand you wish to see me"—he said, "I do"—I said, "Well, what is it?"—he said, "I was at a public-house, at the corner of Dartmouth-street, in Tothill-street, and there was a man there who I think saw Sale give me and Lloyd some money, his name is Thomas Stirrup; he is known or to be found at the Craven Head, Drury-lane; if you find him, tell him M'Coy wants him to come forward and speak the truth what he knows; for we had two pots of half-and-half there"—I do not know whether he said the word "there" or not—he then said, "I can tell you where the watch was sold; but that is of no use, as the party or parties will deny it"—I then left him—I put no question to him.

  WILLIAM LUIF (police-sergeant B.) On the morning of 12th Oct., I

received the handkerchief which has been produced by Goodwin, and took it to Mrs. Bellchambers the same day—she identified it and brought it here.

  CHARLES LEWIS OTTEY. I am one of the warders of the House of Detention, at Clerkenwell—I was acting in that situation on 19th Nov.—M'Coy was in my charge—I observed that he was gloomy and declined to take exercise—I asked him whether he wished to go to exercise—he said he did not—he asked me for some paper, and said he should like to see the governor, as he wished to say something—I went with the governor to his cell, and took pen, ink, and paper—the governor asked him what he wished to state—he said he had something to say—the governor told him to put it to paper, and if he wished it to be sent, it should be forwarded immediately—I left him with pen, ink and paper—about an hour afterwards I went back, and he handed me this paper (produced)—it was folded in this form—he put the pen and ink into one of my hands and this paper into the other, and said he felt his mind greatly relieved, or words to that effect—he afterwards said, (but I believe I am rather incorrect,) "Tom Doyle is innocent; it is a pity the innocent should suffer for the guilty"—he said it was a pity the guilty should remain so long in prison—he did not say anything about a watch—this is my signature to this deposition—I cannot recollect whether it was read over to me before I signed it—I have not been sitting in a public-house while the other witnesses have been examined—my deposition was not read over to me in the Court—I cannot exactly recollect what it was—yes, it was read over to me before I signed it—I cannot recollect that M'Coy said anything more than I have stated.

M'Coy. I asked for the letter to be forwarded to the Magistrate? Witness. I believe I have stated that before—the Governor said what you wished to say should be committed to paper and forwarded to the Magistrate—he said it should be forwarded—he is not here—(Letter read—"House of Detention, Nov. 19, 1847. Sir,—I write these few lines to you, which I think myself justified by turning Queen's evidence in the case of Mr. Bellchambers, so that the guilty persons should be brought to justice, and the innocent have their liberty. About half-past five, on Monday morning, 11th Oct., Mr. Bellchambers came out of the King's Head, in Orchard-street, and went up Orchard-street towards Strutton-ground. Me Bellchambers down Strutton-ground, down the Horseferry-road, down Regent-street as far as Kensington-place. When he had turned the corner at the bottom of Kensington-place, I asked him what o'clock it was; he answered twenty minutes to six; when I stole the watch from him and ran up Kensington-place. He hollowed after me, 'Stop the b----.' The two persons that were with me were behind me when I stole the watch. I had not run more than twelve yards when I heard a blow and then a fall, one after the other. I ran home to Sale's place, at Union-court, with the watch. I was there about five or six minutes when Sale and Lloyd came in. Sale said he had hit him on the forehead with a bolt, and knocked him down. Lloyd said he had brought his hat with him, which he had on his head when he came to Sale's place. Thomas Sale, John Lloyd, and myself. Lloyd is well known to the police; he is a short lad; he wears the hat of Mr. Bellchambers, a blue jacket, with anchors on the buttons, corduroy trowsers, and low shoes. He is somewhere over the water by the New Cut. Thomas Doyle is innocent. Your unfortunate prisoner, George M'Coy. Sir, will you please, when I come up to the office on next Thursday, to keep me from Thomas Sale."

M'Coy's Defence. The letter is every word true.

Lloyd's Defence. I was in bed with my father at the time the murder happened; I have witnesses; I believe a woman in the next room heard me come in.

SALE— GUILTY. Aged 25.

M'COY— GUILTY. Aged 25.

DEATH .

DOYLE

LLOYD

DAVIS

NOT GUILTY.