Celebrated trials of all countries, and remarkable cases of criminal jurisprudence / Selected by a member of the Philadelphia bar [i.e. J.J. Smith].

  • John Jay Smith
Date:
1835
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Celebrated trials of all countries, and remarkable cases of criminal jurisprudence / Selected by a member of the Philadelphia bar [i.e. J.J. Smith]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/612 (page 13)
    stairs, found Mr. Probert, John Thurtell, and a stranger in the parlour. My husband introduced that stranger, as Mr. Hunt, to me. I saw John Thurtell take out a gold chain, which he showed to me. It was a gold watch chain, with a great deal of work about it; it was such a chain as this I think (the chain was shown her). He offered to make it a present to me; I refused it for some time, and at last he gave it to me (she was shown the box and chain produced by the constable at Watford). I recollect giving the box and the chain to the constable, in the presence of the magistrates. When I and Miss Noyes went up-stairs, we left John Thurtell, Hunt, and Mr. Probert in the room. I did not go to bed immediately ; I went from my room to the stairs to listen; I leaned over the banisters. What I heard in leaning over the ba- nisters was all in a whisper. What I heard at first was, I thought, about trying on clothes. The first I heard was, This, I think, will fit you very well. I heard a noise like a rustling of papers on the table ; I heard also something like the noise of papers thrown into the fire. I afterwards went up to my own chamber. Out of doors I saw something; I looked from my window, and saw two gentlemen go from the parlour to the stable ; they led a horse out of the stable, and opened the yard gate and let the horse out. Some time after that I heard something in the garden; I heard something dragged, as it seemed, very heavily; it appeared to come from the stable to the garden; the garden is near the back gate ; it was dragged along the dark walk ; I had a view of it when they dragged it out of the dark walk ; it seem- ed very large and heavy; it was in a sack. It was after this I heard the rustling of papers, and the conversation I have described. After the sack was dragged out of the dark walk, I had a view of it until it was half-way down the walk to the pond. I had a good view of it so far. After this I heard a noise like a heap of stones thrown into a pit; I can't describe it any other way; it was a hollow sound. I heard, besides what I have before mentioned, some further conversation. The first I heard was, I think, Hunt's voice ; he said, Let us take a £5 note each. I did not hear Thurtell say any thing; then —I am trying to recollect—I heard another voice say, We must say there was a hare thrown up in the gig on the cushion—we must tell the boy so in the morning. I next heard a voice, I can't exactly say whose, We had better be off to town by four or five o'clock in the morning; and then, I think, John Thurtell it was, who said, We had better not go before eight or nine o'clock ; and the parlour door then shut. I heard John Thurtell say also (I think it was his voice), Holding shall be next. I rather think it was Hunt who next spoke; he asked, has he (Holding) got money 1 John Thurtell replied, It is not money I want, it is revenge; it is, said John Thurtell, Holding who has ruined my friend here. I did not at first understand who this friend was ; I believe it meant Mr. Probert, my hus- band ; I cannot say whether Holding had any thing to do in the transactions of my husband's bankruptcy. It was Holding, said John Thurtell, who ruined my friend here, and destroyed my peace of mind. My husband came to bed about half-past one or two o'clock, I believe it was; I did not know exactly the hour.— At the close of the evidence for the crown, although in answer to his lord- ship's inquiry, the jury decided on going through the case—they revoked that decision at the desire of John Thurtell, who strongly but respectfully pressed on their attention the long and harassing time he had stood at that bar ; and begged for a night's cessation to recruit his strength previous to his making his defence. Hunt said nothing: but Thurtell's manner was too earnest to admit of denial, and the court adjourned—an officer having been sworn to keep the jury apart from all persons. The court reassembled on the following morning, and the trial proceeded. Ruthven and Thomas Thurtell were called on some trifling points ; and in a short time Mr. Justice Park informed John Thurtell, that he was ready to hear any observations he had to make. Thurtell intimated in a murmur to B