The Pictorial Press Part 14

'Then another of the patrol cried, "We are officers; seize their arms."

'And a third, "Gentlemen, we have got a warrant to apprehend you all, and as such we hope you will go peaceably."

'Just then Smithers, distrusting further parley, and believing, in his staunch way, in prompt.i.tude, before the conspirators could discover the scantiness of the a.s.sailing numbers, or could muster courage to use their arms, cried, "Let me come forward," and pushed towards the door of the inner room, where Thistlewood stood thrusting with a very long sword. The leader of the conspirators instantly rushed forward, and struck Smithers through his right side. The constable threw up his hands, his head fell back, he staggered against Ruthven, cried, "O my G.o.d, I am done!" and fell dead near the opening of the stairs. Ellice held up his staff at Thistlewood, and threatened to fire with the pistol in his right hand, unless he instantly surrendered. The lights were immediately dashed out, and a voice cried in the darkness, "Kill the ---- at once! Throw them down-stairs! Kill them!"

'Then there were twenty or thirty pistol-shots fired, and a tremendous headlong rush was made at the stairs, driving the Bow Street men backwards; the conspirators leaping down into the manger through the holes in the floor, or by the window, others firing at the officers on the stairs, or up through the manger, all making for the archway in John Street.'[2]

It would appear the conspirators were closely watched for some time before they were arrested. Indeed, it was suspected that Government emissaries were employed to foment the conspiracy in order that a terrible example might be made for the benefit of the disaffected.

However this may have been, the plot excited the most intense interest among all cla.s.ses. Thistlewood and the other prisoners were tried at the Old Bailey, April 17th, 1820, and found guilty of high treason. Six were transported for life, the other five, including Thistlewood, were hung on May 1st, and their heads severed from their bodies--the quartering, the usual doom of traitors, having been graciously forgiven.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. Door to the cart-house. B. Door by which the officers entered. C. Stable window. D. Loft-door.

STABLE WHERE THE CATO STREET CONSPIRATORS MET. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,'

MARCH 5TH, 1820.]

The _Observer_ for March 5th, 1820, published some ill.u.s.trations of the Cato Street Conspiracy. One is an exterior view of the stable in Cato Street where the conspirators met, which is copied on the opposite page.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SECTION OF GRENADE PREPARED BY THE CATO STREET CONSPIRATORS.

FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' MARCH 5TH, 1820.

A. Cylindrical tin Box containing gunpowder.

B. Pitched tow.

C. Bullets, old nails, Spikes, &c.

D. Tin Tube a Fuze filled with damp powder.]

There was also an interior view of the hayloft, together with sections of some of the grenades, daggers, &c., large quant.i.ties of which were found in the loft.

These cuts, which are roughly done, were reprinted in the _Observer_ for March 12th, and two new ones were added, 'Interior view of the Hayloft at the moment when Smithers received his Death Wound,' and a view of the interior of the stable. They are all interesting as examples of ill.u.s.trated news at a time when the means of producing such things were extremely limited.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DAGGER PREPARED BY THE CATO STREET CONSPIRATORS. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' MARCH 5TH, 1820.

A. Dagger made out of a bayonet to use singly or on top of a pike handle.

B. Dagger with hole in the middle to receive dagger A. when screwed on, to be used right and left.

C. Section of the transverse dagger B.]

Mr. Clement, the proprietor of the _Observer_, gave a remarkable proof of his enterprising spirit when the Cato Street conspirators were tried.

At that time newspapers were prohibited under a penalty of 500_l._ from publishing reports of cases in the courts of law before they were concluded. Mr. Clement, seeing the universal interest excited by the trial, determined to publish a report without waiting for the verdict.

He accordingly sent reporters to the court, and published the whole in the _Observer_ before the verdict was given. This was a contempt of court for which he expected to have to pay, and, though the penalty was duly inflicted, it was never exacted. The _eclat_ attending this proceeding was of immense value to the _Observer_, and the sale of that number was so great that the proprietor could easily have paid the penalty of 500_l._, and he would still have been a gainer.[3]

The Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV.), whose unhappy marriage with Caroline of Brunswick produced so much scandal and excitement in this country, had long been separated from his wife, who was residing abroad at the time her husband became King. Her Majesty announced her intention of returning to England; and though the King's Ministers endeavoured to dissuade her from her purpose, she persisted in her resolution, and on June 6th, 1820, she landed at Dover. Her journey through London was one long triumph, thousands of people escorting her to her temporary residence, and giving her the warmest possible welcome, for they looked upon her as an ill-used and persecuted woman. The question of omitting her name from the Liturgy had been debated in Parliament, and afterwards a 'Bill of Pains and Penalties' was brought in, which was in effect placing the Queen upon her trial. Contemporary newspapers show what intense excitement filled the public mind upon this subject, and how the nation ranged itself on the side of the King or Queen--by far the greater number being for the latter. Nothing was talked of but the 'Queen's trial,' and the wrongs and indignities that had been heaped upon the head of an innocent woman.

On Aug. 16th, the married ladies of the metropolis presented Her Majesty with an address, and three days after the trial commenced, the defence being conducted by Mr. Brougham and Mr. Denman. When the Queen attended the House of Lords large crowds accompanied her through the streets, and manifested by their cries their sympathy for her cause. The Bill of Pains and Penalties was carried on a second reading by a majority of twenty-eight, but it sank on the third reading to a majority of nine, and was finally abandoned owing to the threatening att.i.tude of the populace. Great rejoicings ensued, London was illuminated for three nights, and on Nov. 29th the Queen went in state to St. Paul's. On this occasion William Hone, who had distinguished himself as one of the Queen's champions, displayed a transparency at his house on Ludgate Hill, which was painted by George Cruikshank, and is engraved in Hone's collected pamphlets.

The _Observer_, having to some extent laid itself out for 'ill.u.s.trated news,' the occasion of so much interest and excitement as the Queen's trial was not likely to pa.s.s unnoticed. Accordingly, we find in the number for Sept. 17th, 1820, a large woodcut, ent.i.tled, 'A Faithful Representation of the Interior of the House of Lords as prepared for the Trial of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Caroline.' This was published at the time the excitement was at the highest, and no doubt the eager public properly appreciated the enterprise of the conductors of the paper.

In 1821 the House of Commons contained many notable politicians and eminent men who afterwards became leaders and champions among the ranks of Whig and Tory. Amongst the most prominent were Canning, Brougham, Peel, and Palmerston. The question of Reform was becoming more and more pressing, and the House of Commons as then const.i.tuted was tottering to its fall. The conductors of the _Observer_, ever on the look-out for what would interest their readers, published on Jan. 21st, 1821, two views of the interior of the House of Commons, one looking towards the Speaker's Chair, the other looking from it. In one the House is empty, but in the other most of the leading politicians of the day are introduced. The figures, however, are on too small a scale to be likenesses of the persons intended, but the reader is a.s.sisted by references showing the places occupied by the most prominent members of the House.

The national excitement about Queen Caroline's trial was dying out when the first gentleman in Europe prepared for his coronation. On this occasion the _Observer_ gave the lieges appropriate pictures of the august ceremony. The best draughtsmen and engravers on wood, then very few in number, were employed to prepare views of Westminster Abbey and Westminster Hall during the coronation ceremony and the banquet which followed. The _Observer_ of July 22nd, 1821, contains four engravings, which, considering the limited artistic means at command, are by no means discreditable to the management of the paper. On this occasion a double number was published, the price of which was fourteen pence, and the publisher evidently thought it was very cheap. He announced that he would keep the number on sale for ten days after publication, so that no one might be disappointed in getting a copy. All these engravings of the coronation of George IV. were done on what was then considered a large scale, though none of them exceed a half-page of the present ill.u.s.trated newspapers, and were finished as regards light and shade, according to the best ability of the artist.

The coronation number of the _Observer_ produced a great sensation, and it had a very large sale. Nothing like it had ever been done before, and the public eagerly paid the double price for the sake of the engravings.

Fourpence was paid for stamp duty on each sheet, amounting on the whole to 2000_l._ paid to Government for stamp duty, exclusive of paper duty.

The number consisted of two sheets, each of which had a sale of 60,000 copies. This was a very good stroke of business, and Mr. Clement had fair reason to congratulate himself on his successful enterprise. It prompted him to further efforts; but, unfortunately, he had not the wisdom to confine his energies to one channel, and what he gained by one speculation he lost by another. It was at this time he purchased the _Morning Chronicle_ for 42,000_l._; but, as I have before stated, this turned out a disastrous investment, and also injured for a time the otherwise successful _Observer_.

Soon after his coronation George IV. visited Ireland, and while on his way received the melancholy intelligence of the death of his consort, the unfortunate Queen Caroline, which, however, did not prevent His Majesty from continuing his journey. The _Observer_ of Sept. 2nd, 1821, published 'A correct View of his Majesty King George the Fourth landing from the _Lightening_ Steam Packet, Capt. Skinner, on the Pier of the Harbour of Howth, on Sunday, the Twelvth of August, 1821.' In describing this event the _Observer_ spoke of it as the opening of a new era for Ireland, and of the highest importance both in an historical and political point of view.

In the following year the King went to Scotland; but, though the _Observer_ published long and elaborate descriptions of His Majesty's visit, the occasion was not deemed worthy of ill.u.s.tration. The opportunity, however, must have been far richer than the visit to Ireland in affording subjects for sketches. It would have been curious to see what a contemporary 'special artist' would have made of Sir Walter Scott; and posterity would have been glad to have had handed down to it the 'varra effigies' of George IV. and Alderman Curtis in the kilt!

In 1823 the city of Cadiz, in Spain, was invested by the French, who took possession of the place on Oct. 3rd in that year. The _Observer_, in its issue of Oct. 5th, printed a plan and view of Cadiz, the plan first appearing in the _Morning Chronicle_ of the day before. The view of Cadiz is well engraved, in the manner of that day, by W. Hughes. The plan is also well done, and very complete.

Towards the end of 1823 a murder, unparalleled in the history of crime, excited immense public interest, and the _Observer_ at once took up the case, and described and ill.u.s.trated it with a particularity and minuteness of detail that must have satisfied the most ardent sensationalist. The incidents of this remarkable crime have been long forgotten; but I will give an outline of the story in connexion with the engravings published on the occasion by the _Observer_.

Mr. William Weare was an attorney in Lyon's Inn, who added to his legal practice the business of a bill-discounter, and enlivened the dulness of both pursuits by indulging occasionally in the excitement of gambling.

He counted amongst his friends one Mr. John Thurtell, a notorious betting-man; and it was to keep an appointment with this friend that he left his chambers in Lyon's Inn on Friday, Oct. 24th, 1823. The two friends had agreed to go on a short shooting excursion to a lonely cottage on the St. Albans road, about fourteen miles from London.

Thurtell was respectably connected, but had an evil reputation, he and his brother being then in hiding to avoid a charge of arson. Two other men were concerned in the murder, Hunt, a public singer, of doubtful character, and Probert, a spirit merchant, a fraudulent bankrupt, who lived at the cottage to which Thurtell and his friend were going. In the gambling transactions between Thurtell and Weare the former conceived himself to have been cheated of 300_l._, and in revenge he determined to murder Weare, and by robbing him recoup himself as far as possible for his losses. The crime was coolly premeditated, and Hunt appears to have been an accessory before the fact, having arranged to meet Thurtell on the road, and to a.s.sist in despatching the victim. For this purpose the shooting excursion to Probert's cottage was planned, but, owing to a mistake of Hunt's, he did not join Thurtell as agreed, and the latter committed the murder alone.

Thurtell and Weare were seen driving in a gig towards Edgeware about five o'clock in the evening on Oct. 24th, and they afterwards called at the 'White Hart,' Edgeware, for refreshment. After they were gone Probert and Hunt, also driving in a gig, called at the same inn, where they had some brandy and water, and afterwards drove away.

Gill's Hill Cottage, the place where Probert lived, was about two miles from Elstree, and was approached by a narrow road called Gill's Hill Lane. Some country people pa.s.sing in the neighbourhood of this lane about eight o'clock in the evening heard a shot fired and deep groans as if some one was injured. They also heard voices and the wheels of a cart or gig moving. Near nine o'clock Thurtell arrived at the cottage _alone_, and giving the horse and gig to the servant, went out to meet Probert and Hunt, with whom he soon afterwards returned.

Hunt being a stranger, was formally introduced to Mrs. Probert and a Miss Noyes who was staying at the house. The whole party supped together, and spent the evening in jollity. Hunt sang several songs, and Thurtell produced a gold hunting-watch which afterwards proved to be Weare's, and, taking off the chain, offered it to Probert for his wife, but he declining it, Thurtell put it round the lady's neck himself. It was after midnight before the ladies retired, and the sleeping accommodation being limited it was arranged that Thurtell should sleep on some chairs and Hunt was to occupy the sofa. A drawing of the sofa forms one of the ill.u.s.trations in the _Observer_, and proves how thoroughly every circ.u.mstance of the horrid tale was followed up and exhibited to the public. All this time the body of the murdered Weare was lying behind a hedge in the lane.

Mrs. Probert's suspicions had been aroused by several strange circ.u.mstances. A vague and horrid alarm took possession of her, and when she retired to bed she stole to the head of the stairs and listened to the talk that was going on below in the parlour. She heard her husband and his two visitors apparently dividing money, burning papers, and making mysterious plans to conceal something dreadful that had been done. Then the parlour door was opened, and the frightened woman stole back to her room. She heard two of the men go to the stable and bring out the horse. Afterwards, hearing a noise in the garden, she looked out of the window, and it being a moonlight night, she saw a man dragging something large and heavy along the garden walk towards the fishpond.

Then followed a hollow sound as if something had been thrown into the pond.

That night, when Probert went to bed, he found his wife sitting up and crying. She questioned him about the mysterious sounds she had heard, but he told her that he and his companions had only been out trying to net some game. In the morning she renewed her inquiries, but he only replied, 'Don't torment me; you make my life miserable.' He seemed in low spirits, and went moping round the garden and about the pond. Going into the kitchen Mrs. Probert observed the gig cushion drying at the kitchen fire, although there had been no rain the night before, and the cook was surprised to see in the stable a wet, ripped-up sack hanging on a nail.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE COUCH ON WHICH HUNT SLEPT AT GILL'S HILL COTTAGE.

FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' NOV. 10, 1823.]

Early on Sat.u.r.day morning two labouring men were busy in Gill's Hill Lane repairing the road, when two gentlemen pa.s.sed them on foot. At the bend of the lane they stooped down and appeared to be looking for something among the dead leaves and brambles. Coming back they had some conversation with the road-menders, and afterwards pa.s.sed on up the lane towards the cottage. A short time afterwards one of the labourers found at the spot where the gentlemen had been looking an open penknife covered with blood, and a little further on a pistol with hair sticking to it, and also b.l.o.o.d.y. These articles the man gave to his master the same morning when he came round to inspect their work. About noon they saw the two gentlemen from Probert's drive away in a gig. They both looked hard at the spot where the knife and pistol had been found, but said nothing.

Mr. Nicholls, the road surveyor, to whom the knife and pistol had been handed by the man who found them, went to the magistrates at Watford and told how and where the articles had been found. The magistrates at once sent information to Bow Street, and two of their number immediately went to Gill's Hill Lane, where they discovered spots and gouts of blood on the bank and under the leaves, and there was a gap in the hedge where a body seemed to have been dragged through. The field was also much trampled. They at once came to the conclusion that a murder had been committed, and took instant measures to trace the guilty parties. The police seized Probert and Thomas Thurtell at Gill's Hill, and searched the house and premises. John Thurtell was apprehended at the 'Coach and Horses,' in Conduit Street. Marks of blood were found on different articles of clothing belonging to him. At Hunt's lodgings various articles belonging to Weare had been found. Weare being missing it was suspected he had met with foul play at the hands of these men. A billiard-table keeper in Spring Gardens proved that Mr. Weare had called upon him about three o'clock on Friday, October 24th, and told him he was then on his way to join Thurtell in the Edgeware Road, as they were going down to Hertfordshire for a few days' shooting. Thurtell, on being questioned, admitted he knew Mr. Weare, but said he had not seen him for eight days.

It appeared by the disclosures afterwards made by Thurtell's two confederates that Thurtell had shot Weare while they were riding in the gig down Gill's Hill Lane, leading to the cottage where Probert lived.

Weare jumped out of the gig, crying he would pay Thurtell all he owed him if he would only spare his life. Thurtell jumped out of the gig and ran after him. He got Weare down and cut his throat with a penknife, and then struck him on the head with a pistol. He then dragged the body through the hedge and left it there. The same night Thurtell and Hunt went out from Probert's cottage to bring the body away, but they found it too heavy. Probert and Thurtell then went and brought the body on the horse, and put it in the fishpond with stones in the sack to keep it down. They afterwards removed the body from the fishpond and sunk it in a deep pond by the side of the Elstree road.

The cold-blooded indifference of the perpetrators of this atrocious crime was most extraordinary. The murder was committed on Friday night, and on Sat.u.r.day Thurtell and Hunt returned to London and dined with Thomas Thurtell and Mr. Noyes, Probert's brother-in-law, at the 'Coach and Horses,' in Conduit Street. They were very jovial, and next day (Sunday) the whole party met again at Proberts' house in Gill's Hill Lane, when the afternoon was spent in playing at cards. On Sunday night Thurtell and Hunt went to dig a grave to bury the body, but the dogs were barking, and they were afraid some one was about. On Monday, while Hunt engaged Mrs. Probert in conversation, Thurtell and Probert got the body out of the fishpond, and cut off the clothes. Then they all three carried it to the garden-gate and put it into the gig. A grave half dug was found in Probert's garden, but the soil was hard, and it is supposed that Thurtell and Hunt were afraid of the noise pickaxes would make.

Hunt, to save his own neck from the halter, confessed that he knew where the body was, and went with four men in a hackney coach to a bridge on the Elstree Road, near which was a deep pond by the side of the road. In this pond the body of Weare was found tied in a sack, with stones to keep it down.

[Ill.u.s.tration: POND IN WHICH THE BODY OF MR. WEARE WAS FOUND. FROM THE 'OBSERVER,' NOV. 10, 1823.]

Thurtell, Probert, and Hunt were tried at Hertford on January 6, 1824.