The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane Part 11

_A._ No, I was out of Court at that time.

_Q._ Had you left the Ship Inn before this gentleman, as you say it was, had left the Ship Inn and gone back to the Packet Boat?

_A._ No, I saw him start off.

_Re-examined by Mr. Bolland._

_Q._ Did you come into Court before you were called?

_A._ No.

_Mr. Park._ No, I give that up.

_Lord Ellenborough._ A deaf man is rather an awkward man to be an eaves dropper.

_Mr. Park._ I could not put so silly a question as that.

_Lord Ellenborough._ He is the very last man that one should suspect; he could not hear if he was in Court.

_Mr. Park._ If he had been as deaf as deaf could be, if he had seen a person point at the Defendant, that would have been sufficient for his purpose.

_Lord Ellenborough._ But you saw how he searched round the Court before he found him.

_Mr. Park._ But when I have a case presented to me I must do my duty, however painful it may be.

_Lord Ellenborough._ Certainly, it is my wish you should.

_The Cap was shewn to the witness._

_Mr. Bolland._ Was the cap like that?

_A._ It was in the same form as that.

_Q._ Was the lace like that?

_A._ It was like that; I cannot say that was the cap.

_Mr. William St. John sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Bolland._

_Q._ Where do you reside?

_A._ In Little Brook street.

_Q._ Were you at the Ship Inn at Dover, on the morning of the 21st of February?

_A._ I was.

_Q._ You were there as a guest--as a traveller?

_A._ I was.

_Q._ Was your attention called to any thing on that morning?

_A._ Yes, it was.

_Q._ Were you up in the morning, or had you retired to rest?

_A._ I had retired to rest.

_Q._ State to the Court what it was which excited your attention.

_A._ I think at a quarter past one, or somewhere thereabouts, I heard a violent knocking at the gate or door, and a person calling out for a post-chaise and four immediately. I got up and dressed myself as quickly as possible, and went down stairs. I met Mr. Wright, the landlord, and asked him----

_Q._ Do not state any thing that pa.s.sed between you and Wright, unless the stranger was there.

_A._ I went into the coffee-room, I think it is called.

_Q._ Did you observe any body there?

_A._ I saw a gentleman in a military uniform.

_Q._ Will you state, if you recollect it, what his dress was?

_A._ He wore a scarlet coat, with long skirts, b.u.t.toned across, with a red silk sash, grey pantaloons, and a grey military great coat, and a seal-skin cap, I think it was a seal-skin cap, on his head, of a fawn colour.

_Lord Ellenborough._ You did not touch it to feel it, did you?

_A._ No; it had a gold band round it.

_Mr. Bolland._ Had he any ornament on his uniform?

_A._ There were some ornaments but I do not know what they were, something of a star on his military dress.

_Q._ How was he engaged at the time you first saw him?

_A._ He was walking up and down the room in a very good pace.

_Q._ Did any thing pa.s.s between you and him?

_A._ I asked a question.

_Q._ What question did you ask him?