The trial (at large) of James Hill; otherwise James Hind; otherwise, James Actzen: for feloniously, wilfully, and maliciously, setting fire to the rope-house, in His Majesty's dock-yard at Portsmouth. Tried at the Assize, at Winchester, on Thursday, March 6, 1777. Before the honorable Sir William Henry Ashhurst, knt. ... and Sir Beaumont Hotham, knt. ... / Taken in short-hand ... by Joseph Gurney. And published by permission of the judges.

John the Painter

Date:: [1777?]

Credit: The trial (at large) of James Hill; otherwise James Hind; otherwise, James Actzen: for feloniously, wilfully, and maliciously, setting fire to the rope-house, in His Majesty's dock-yard at Portsmouth. Tried at the Assize, at Winchester, on Thursday, March 6, 1777. Before the honorable Sir William Henry Ashhurst, knt. ... and Sir Beaumont Hotham, knt. ... / Taken in short-hand ... by Joseph Gurney. And published by permission of the judges. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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[ *4 ] James Gambier, Efq; /worn. Mr. Gambier. I have here the bundle that has been fpoken of by the witnefs; I receiv- ed it from my firft clerk John Jeifereys; it has been in my pofiftffion ever fince •, it is exactly in the fame ftate now as when I received it-, I received it on the 21ft of Fe- biuary in the morning, about 9 o'clock. Eliz. Boxell. I believe that to be.the bundle ; it is tied up in an handkerchief of the fame pattern. John Jeffereys fworn. §K Do you know that bundle £ Jeffereys. That is the handkerchief, I believe ; indeed I have no doubt of it Com- mifiioner Gambier gave orders on the evening of Thurfday the 20th of February for fearch to be made in North-ftreet and the neighbourhood, for fuch a bundle. Q Where did you go to make that fearch ? Jeffereys. I ordered a junior clerk, and a mefienger of the .office to make that fearch in North-ftreet and its neighbourhood ; they came back in about an hour's time, and told me they had fearched that ftreet except a few houfes, in one of which, particularly the perfon was not at home •, I went next morning, and found.this bundle at Mrs. Cole's, in North-ftreet; I delivered it to Mr. Gambier, Ann Cole fworn. Look at the prifoner, do you know him. ? Cole. I do. j^. When did you fee him ? Cole. On the day of the fire. Where did you fee him ? Cole. At my houfe in North-ftreet, on Portfmouth Common, i^. What was the occafion of his coming to your houfe ? Cole. To take a lodging •, he took one. Q Did he leave any thing when he went away ? Cole. He left a bundle. g>. Is that the bundle ? Cole. It looks like it. What became of that bundle ? Cole. I delivered it to Mr. Jeffereys and Mr. Calden.1 Q Had you kept the bundle from the time the prifoner left it with you, till you gave it to thefe gentlemen ? Cole. I had. £L How long did the prifoner ftay in your houfe ? Cole. A quarter of an hour, not more. £K What time of the day was that ? Cole. In the forenoon, I can't exactly tell the hour; it was between nine and twelve ; he ftaid about a quarter of an hour, then he went out. Did he return again ? Cole. No. £K Did you open that bundle ? Cole. It was not tied clofe, and I faw it a little way open0 What did you fee in the bundle ? Cole. I faw fome books and other things; I did not untie it, I delivered it to thefe gentlemen when they came for it. £>j You took nothing our, nor put any thing in ? Cole. No. ' Prifoner. My Lord, I beg Mrs. Boxell may ftop. ' WlLLIAM ABR AM fWQM. £K What are you ? Abram. A hlackfmith. Where

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