Old Bailey Proceedings:
Old Bailey Proceedings: Accounts of Criminal Trials

6th July 1768

About this dataset

Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: t17680706-57




479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487. (M.) James Murphy proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3689. , James Dogan proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3678. , Thomas Carnan , otherwise Carne proceedingsdefend , John Castillo proceedingsdefend , Thomas Davis proceedingsdefend , James Hammond proceedingsdefend , Hugh Henley proceedingsdefend , Michael Doyle proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3677. , and Thomas Farmer , otherwise Terrible proceedingsdefend This name instance is in set 3680. , were indicted for the wilful murder of John Beattie proceedingsvictim ; the first, that is, James Murphy < no role > , for giving him a mortal wound with a drawn cutlace on his head; and the others for being present aiding, assisting, comforting, and abetting him the said Murphy to do and commit the said murder , May 24 . ||

James Beckett < no role > . I am a watermen, I know all the prisoners at the bar; I have known Castillo six or seven years, Murphy about three months, Carne about two or three years, Farmer about four months; I have not known Davis above a month; I have known Hammond six or eight months, Henley about six months, Doyle about three or four months, Dogan I have known but a little while. On the 24th of May I saw them all about two o'clock; they came down outrageous, hallooing, with sticks and cutlaces, for the sailors to come on shore to engage them; there were some sailors in boats, they found they would not come on shore, they walked back again; then in about half an hour they gave them three chears, and desired them to come on shore; Grainger took a boat and went off, then a ship's boat put off to him; then he said, you shall not kill me, and he rowed on shore again; they stood about half an hour, hallooing and knocking their sticks and cut-laces against the wall; at last they laid down their sticks and cutlaces, and called out, they would not hurt them; then two boats came on shore, six in one boat and eight in the other; when they came on shore, the sailors asked what was their intent in coming on shore, why did they not stay on board and work; the coal-heavers said, one ship was at work, and they should not long, for no body should work it but themselves; they were thus holding a bit of an argument: one Peter Pratt < no role > , a sailor, came on shore; one of the coal-heavers came and shoved a stick against his throat, another came and said, if he did not hold his tongue, by Jesus he would cut his head off; then Pratt walked down the stairs again, and took to the boat; one of the coal-heavers came down with a cutlace in his hand, and ran and struck him; as soon as they saw that all the coal-heavers began striking, directly there were some of the sailors on shore close by the boat; the coal-heavers began to cut and knock about as fast as they could; some that were in the boat were knocked over-board, some of the coal-heavers got into the boats, and fell to cutting them; some of the sailors jumped over-board, some lay under shore bleeding; Peter Pratt < no role > got overboard into a lighter; the deceased, John Beattie < no role > , was knocked over the stern of the boat, and it being a stood-tide he got upon a raft of timbers, and one particular man got up after him, and began to cut away as fast as he could.

Q. Which boat was the deceased in?

Beckett. He was in that which had the six men in it; I saw Murphy strike him once or twice with a cutlace, I cannot justly say whereabouts he struck him, there were so many of them about him; it was much about his head and shoulders: I saw also James Dogan upon the timbers with a stick in his hand, he struck the deceased once, twice, or three times, and afterwards flourished his stick over his head; he had the stick in his left-hand, he is very remarkable, his right hand is lame; the deceased lay on his face ging for mercy; I heard him say, for God's sake do not take away my life, do not kill me, gentlemen; one of them that is not taken, said, d - n your life, we will have all your lives before we have done with you.

Q. How many might there be on the timbers?

Beckett. I suppose there might be sixteen or twenty, there were no sailors there but the deceased.

Q. Did you see any of the other prisoners there at that time?

Beckett. I saw Carne on the side of the dock in the mob on shore, he got a blow on the right-side his temple with a stone; there were many stones throwed, I do not know who throwed them; I saw Tom Farmer < no role > there, he had a drawn cutlace in his hand; he offered 5 l. for a sailor's head for supper, and 10 l. for a merchant's, that was in the streets, walking down towards the water; about three or four minutes before this was done, he came down at the head of them, but I did not see him after; and Michael Doyle < no role > was at the head of them also with a cutlace in his hand, he said the same; I saw Hugh Henley < no role > there with a cutlace in his hand; I took to my boat, and went fifteen or twenty yards off from shore.

Q. Were any of these sailors armed at the time this happened?

Beckett. No, none of them were, if they had any I must have seen them, this was between three and four o'clock; I saw Thomas Davis < no role > there, he was armed with a broomstick, he was in the water, about ten yards from the deceased when he was murdered; he was one of those pursuing the sailors, the mob was so thick that I could not see all; I saw John Castillo < no role > there, he had a drawn cutlace; I saw him in Thomas Spikes < no role > 's boat, a waterman, he wanted to talk to the sailors; this was after the sailors had taken to their boats, he was pursuing them.

Q. Had the sailors stones with them?

Beckett. No, they had not, I did not see them throw any; I saw the coal-heavers walk all away together after the murder; Murphy flourished his hanger, and some of the others did the same, I saw Doyle do it.

Cross examination.

Q. Did you ever quarrel or fight with Murphy?

Beckett. No, I never did.

Q. Had none of the sailors been on shore before they called to them to come on shore, and engaged them?

Beckett. I do not know that any of them had, I am sure none of them had been on shore before the coal-heavers had called to them to come on shore; there had been no conversation between the sailors and coal-heavers as I knew of before; this was the first I ever heard or knew of; when they came on shore, I am sure none of the sailors made any attempt upon the coal heavers; they were talking about five minutes, then I saw the sailors run away, and in about six or eight minutes the deceased got upon a rast of timber; I saw Murphy upon the rast, he cut the deceased.

Q. How far was the raft from the causeway?

Beckett. It was about ten yards from it; the timbers were masts, one end lay upon the shore, and the other lower in the water; it was about an hour's stood.

Q. Are you sure Dogan was there?

Beckett. I am, he struck the deceased upon the timber; there were a great many people there out of curiosity,

Peter Pratt < no role > . I am a sailor belonging to the Thomas and Mary, Richard Codling < no role > , master, she lay in Shadwell-dock; there were a great many colliers lay in the river, and no coal-heavers to be got, then our master employed the ship's company to unload; the coal-heavers came on board, and were going to murder us, and opposed our working; this was on Monday the 23d of May; I cannot say I know any of the prisoners, we continued to work. The 24th there came a gang on board, whether it was a false gang or not we did not know, and therefore we would not deliver the ship up to them to work; they went on shore again, there were twelve or thirteen; some of us went on shore between three and four o'clock in two boats, to know why they left off work; we wanted them to go on board their ships where they were at work; they called us to come on shore from our vessel, which lay 2 or 300 yards from shore; Beattie, the deceased, was with us in the boat I was in, he belonged to the Freelove; our ships lay in one tier close together; when we came to the shore I got up stairs, and shook hands with many of them; one of them came and ran a stick at my gullet, I had given no provocation for it; three or four words passed, and I went down again directly, we had no arms with us; in about ten minutes after that we were all attacked and knocked down by the coal-heavers; a great many of them had sticks and cutlaces, there were none on shore but myself as I know of; the rest were in the boats, one end of the boats was on shore; they came and got hold of them, and drawed them farther on shore; I was taken up for dead, being wounded on my head, and all over my body; they hoved us out of the boat into the water; I got into a sculler, and got off into a lighter, there I lay for some time before any body came to assist me; I could not observe what was done to the deceased.

Cross examination.

Q. Was not your intention, when you went on shore, to have a battle with the coal-heavers?

Pratt. No, what with 3 or 400 men, we did not go for such a purpose.

Q. Was there not a flag hung out for a signal for others to go and assist against the coal heavers?

Pratt. There was a flag out.

Richard Robson < no role > . I belonged to the ship Amity, I left her the 20th of May; I went then on board the Thomas and Mary, Capt. Codling, I remember there were a good many coal-heavers on shore; the 24th of May I went in one of the two boats, Beattie was in one of them; we went to see what was the matter; the coal heavers had left off working in the ships that they had been at work, they were standing on the shore; as soon as they saw the boats coming they laid down their sticks, and shook hands with some of us as we were near shore; several of them ran into the water, and with a cord hauled the boats on shore; Peter Pratt < no role > was got on shore; the rest of the coal-heavers came down with sticks, and paid us over our heads; they knocked me down three or four times, I had three or four wounds, my head was either bruised or cut; I lost my senses, and was carried in a chair to the hospital.

Q. Had you any arms in the boats, or stones?

Robson. No, we had no arms in the boats, nor stones neither; I did not fling a stone, nor none of our men in the boats.

Elizabeth Moncoe < no role > . I was between Shadwell-dock stairs and James's stairs, I saw all the prisoners there; on the 24th of May, between four and five o'clock in the afternoon; I was frightened, seeing stones throwed at the sailors at coming to the shore; Murphy and Hammond were so severe in flourishing their cutlaces, and striking the poor lad that lay upon the raft; I saw Murphy strike him several times with a cutlace, he had a stick in one hand, and a cutlace in the other.

Q. Which did he strike him with?

E. Moncoe. I do not know with which it was, there were a great many people throwing stones, there might be 20 or 30 of them throwing stones and brickbats; I saw Hammond among the crowd, flourishing a stick, saying, he would have the first sailor's head that came on shore; there were a great many of them upon the rast with the deceased, I cannot say I saw Hammond upon the rast; I saw Murphy several times on shore, I have seen him several times and in different dresses, I knew him before, though he changed his clothes.

Mr. Grindal. I am a surgeon, I attend the London-hospital. On the 24th of May in the afternoon, between six and seven, to the best of my remembrance, the young gentleman that attends to take in accidents, sent me word a very dreadful one was just come in; I went to the hospital, and found John Beattie there, he was very sensible; he had received a blow, which he said was by a broomstick that broke his nose; he said there were several of these men set upon him; he said one knocked him down with a broomstick, another cut him cross the head (the wound began at the temple, and went quite to the back part of the head through the skull) done with a cutlace; it had broke a piece of bone in about the bigness of a shilling, which I took out, it went through the scull into the brain; he said he thought they left him for dead, but seeing him struggling another came up, and gave him a cut cross the shoulder ( which went into the joint of his shoulder;) he languished ten or twelve days in a deplorable situation, and then died.

Q. To what do you impute his death?

Grindal. I impute it to that wound on his head, they were either of them enough to have killed him.

Q. Did he mention who they were that did him this injury?

Grindal. He mentioned no names, but said they were coal-heaver, and that there were a great many of them.

William Andrews < no role > . I am a waterman, I was at Shadwell-dock on the 24th of May last, I saw from the beginning to the end of this affair; I saw the two boats come on shore, I believe there were three, they seemed to be very sociable together while the watermen were in the boats, that is, the coal heavers and sailors; after they began, which was in half an hour, I saw the coal-heavers beat the sailors in such a barbarous manner they were obliged to jump overboard, whether they could swim or not swim; I saw three of them jump over board, one Ashley and I were in a boat together, near Shadwell-dock; I saw several people on the timbers, with sticks and cutlaces, using the deceased in a most cruel manner; I saw a great number of cutlaces, I saw the deceased struck several times with cutlaces.

Q. Do you know either of the prisoners?

Andrews. I know Murphy, I have carried him on board, and brought him on shore when he has left work; I saw him come down Shadwell-dock stairs at the time when they all jumbled together and came down; Murphy came in a very riotous manner with a cutlace in his hand; I cannot call any of them by name that I saw upon the raft, because I was in a boat, and there was a number of them.

Q. What time was this?

Andrews. I believe this was about four o'clock in the afternoon; I cannot say who struck the deceased, nor who did not; I was at about 100 yards distance, the chiefest man that I took notice of was James Hammond < no role > ; after the man was murdered I saw him about twenty yards from the timber, they were then all coming huzzaing up to the shore, he was one of them.

Q. How big was the raft?

Andrews. It was four or five times as big as this table in the court (that is, near four yards long and one over;) I was obliged to keep off, searing the brickbats which were throwed; the coal-heavers went huzzaing, daring the sailors to come on shore, some crying 50 l. for a sailor's head, some threatening they would rip them open; there might be 2 or 300 of them all.

Cross examination.

Q. What time did you see Murphy?

Andrews. I saw him at Shadwell-dock before I saw the people on the rast, that was about half an hour or three quarters before I saw them upon the rast; they were sometimes disputing with the sailors, I thought they were all agreeable together: I would have shoved my boat, and took some of them up, which were overboard, if I could, but the stones came so that I could not.

Q. How long were they upon the rast?

Andrews. They were there about a quarter of an hour.

Thomas Touchfield < no role > . I remember this affair at Shadwell; I saw Thomas Davis < no role > there, I saw him go into the water, and take hold of the sailors boat, with a stick in his hand, as the boat was going off; he was among the coal-heavers, I cannot say I saw him strike any body; he hauled the boat back again, the people were so thick upon the shore that I could not see through them; I saw some blows pass from the coal-heavers when Davis took hold of the boat, they struck the people as they lay in the boat; there were two men lay down for dead in the bottom of the boat.

John Mason < no role > . I live with Daniel Burk < no role > , a ship-chandler, on Wapping-wall; I saw it from the beginning to the end, I was on a barge near Shadwell-dock, I observed some sailors in some boats coming to land; the sailors began to call to the coal-heavers to shake hands in a friendly manner, till about ten or a dozen might be on shore; this might be about three o'clock: as soon as they had got on shore the coal-heavers marched down the stairs, some with sticks, and some with cutlaces, and fell upon them in a most desperate manner; they struck the sailors as fast as they could; it is impossible for me to tell how many sailors came down, there were as many as could fill the stairs, and more behind; then some of the sailors got into the boats again, and pushed off into the water; they were all got in, except one young man; when he was got in the boat they throwed a stone, and knocked him down; he was in a boat by himself, I mean the deceased, I believe it was him, he could not get the boat off I imagine; he then went into the water, and got out upon some timber; then one man threw a stone, and knocked him down upon the timber, that stone came from the crowd; he got up again, and made a slip; then one of the fellows came up to him with a drawn cutlace, and took him a knock upon the head, I saw it bleed, that fetched him down; I was then within ten yards of him, it may be less, he cut him several times; he struck him with the cutlace, and sometimes with the stick, and several others came and struck him while he was down at the same time.

Q. Can you mark any among the prisoners that you saw strike him?

Mason. There is one of the prisoners (I believe his name is James Dogan < no role > ) I saw him upon the timber at the same time they were cutting the man; Dogan had a stick in his hand, brandishing it; he has a lame arm, I took particular notice of him, he turned the stick over his head; when I came home I told our people I saw such a man.

Cross examination.

Q. Did you know Dogan before?

Mason. I have seen him several times before, I knew his person before, though not to be certain of his name.

James Green. I know the prisoner Farmer, I do not remember that I noticed any more; I was afraid of looking at them, it put me into such terror; I knew Farmer before, he had a very bright hanger in one hand, and a very large bludgeon in the other not longer I believe than my arm, but it was very thick; he headed this mob, he was running at the head of them; this was about three in the afternoon, they were running to Shadwell-dock stairs, it was the time the sailors were attacked; when they ran down I went a little way to the stairs, I was afraid of going too far, left they should think me a spy, and serve me so; I stood by the yard joining Mr. Miller's, I strove to go down there to see, but there was such a mob I could not see; I did not see any blow struck at all; when they cried it was all over (who cried out so I cannot say;) I came back to the end of the yard, and saw them come back to the head of the mob again, he was still at the head; there were some more of the mob came to meet them, I suppose thinking they were not quite strong enough, there were 20 or 30 I believe; they asked if they had catched any of the sailors; they answered, there was one, and they had laid him quiet or still enough.

Q. Do you know which of them made that answer?

Green. I think I remember Farmer speaking, I think I heard him, but there were four or five spoke.

John Paine < no role > . I saw the riot at Shadwell-dock, I saw Thomas Davis < no role > there with a stick in his hand, he swore he would have 500 sailors lives; he ran up to his knees in water, pursuing the sailors with stones as they sat in their boats, there might be about a score boats.

Q. How many boats did you see stones flung at?

Paine. Davis had stones in his hands, saying, he would have their lives if he could; I saw him the next day, I told him he had better be a lamp-lighting (he did use to go a lamp-lighting) than be in the riot he was in; he said, I was a villain, and that I went on board to inform the people that they were coming on board them; he said he would have my life besides, this he said to me the next day; he said the next day he did not care who they killed, rather than his family should starve; he did not deny being in the riot.

Richard Etherington < no role > . I knew the deceased Beattie, he belonged to the ship Freelove, I am mate of that ship; when I saw the coal-heavers coming down I bid them all stay on board, I feared some danger; I saw the deceased twice after this in the hospital, but he could not speak to me; I believe he did say Richard, but if he did it was very low.

James Robinson < no role > . I saw Thomas Davis < no role > there on the 24th of May, between four and five o'clock; I saw him in the water above his knees with a stick in his hand, striking the people in the boat; I saw one of the sailors jump overboard; the next day he came and made his brag, and said he had but one life to lose, and he did not care if he killed 500 others (he could mean no others but the sailors;) I was rowing up just come from Greenwich, and was about the length of this court-room distance.

Murphy's defence.

It is all false that is said against me, I never had a hanger or cutlace; these are villains, they are swearing our lives away for a little money.

Dogan's defence.

I was not there.

Carnan's defence.

I had a stone hit me on the temple, I never struck to man.

Castillo's defence.

I was at the other end of the town at that time; coming towards home I met a mob, I asked them what they were about, because they were all peaceable and quiet the day before; they said there was a bloody flag at a mast-head; I went down to see that, I had never seen one in my life before, I saw some boats coming on shore.

Attorney General. Carnan has had but one witness spoke to him, whatever we may any of us think, I do not desire to put him to the trouble of making a defence.

Davis's defence.

I have nothing to say as they have swore to me, let me go, let my life lie before my Maker, the Lord is my witness, and will bear me record another day, I am innocent.

Hammond's defence.

I have witness here to shew where I was when that happened, I was not there at all.

Henley's defence.

I had not a drawn cutlace at all, indeed.

Doyle's defence.

It is very false that they have said against me, I have witnesses to prove that I was not there at that time; I hope the Lord will do me justice and honour to show that I am not a villain, nor a thief; I suppose all that is said against me is, because I was subpoened a witness against Mr. Green * for the murder of William Wake < no role > ; I am as innocent as the holy God above.

* See the trial of Mr. Green, No 386, in last Sessions Paper.

Palmer's defence.

It is all false that has been said against me, I was on board a ship that day, and worked very hard; there were a boat full of coal-heavers came along side us, we let them pass by, we went to work, we had not time to do the seven fats of coals; we saw a flag of defiance hoisted, as they called it; they were armed with guns, and cut-laces, and broomsticks; I had an old waistcoat upon me, I left my coat on board the ship, and had a glass of brandy; I came on shore, and waited about an hour and a half, till word came the men would not go to work; I took a boat, and we came four or five of us down to Shad Thames; the sailors were in boats, there were a matter of forty boats full of them, some twenty, some ten, some twelve in a boat; I said to the waterman, let the coat go and be d - d, for I am almost sure, if I go on board that boat, I shall not come back alive again; then I came to the house of Tom Kelly < no role > , then I heard a great noise, and seeing a great crowd of people going down towards Shadwell-dock I followed them; I met a man with an old rusty cutlace in his hand, I said, what business have you with that; said he, I will do mischief, I do not care who I kill or destroy with this cut-lace; I took and broke it all to four or five inches, and struck it against a post; I am as innocent as the child unborn, I never saw a stroke given at Shadwell, no more than the child that is to be born; I never wronged man, woman, or child.

For Murphy.

Mary Murphy < no role > . I am no relation to Murphy, I have known him between two and three months; I remember the time the disturbance happened between the sailors and coal-heavers, on the 24th of May, between three and four o'clock; I saw him with a stick in his hand, I never saw him with a hanger, I cannot say what became of him after that.

Mary Fleming < no role > . I live at Shadwell-dock, I know Murphy by sight, no farther; I was coming out of my house on the 24th of May, betwixt four and five o'clock, I saw him just at the corner of the alley, he turned down, and I went up directly towards Shadwell-stairs; he had a stick in his hand, he bid me take care of myself, because a drunken man was coming swaggering his stick; I saw a great number of people go into a yard, so I went in; this was before the death of the boy that I saw Murphy: I saw a man cut the boy on the rast, he had white cotton stockings on, and buckskin breeches, and a white frock, much like a gentleman's servant.

Q. How do you know that was the time of the day?

M. Fleming. Because I looked at the clock, expecting my husband at home, and I asked Mrs. Filburdy, she said it was between four and five.

Arthur Moore < no role > . I remember the night the fray was between the sailors and coal-heavers; I did not see Murphy there, I was upon the top of Lawrence's warehouse, I saw the man that was killed, I saw a man strike him with a cutlace in his left-hand; he had a white frock on, and white breeches and stockings, with a little hat, and a piece out of it behind; he was a slim man.

Q. How near was you to the deceased at that time?

Moore. I was within about 80 yards, I saw none but one man strike him, he had strait sandy-coloured hair, I did not take him to be a coal-heaver.

Q. Was the deceased standing or lying on the rast?

Moore. He was standing upon it, and after that he was lying down; the man struck him with each hand one after another.

Q. How many blows might he give him?

Moore. He might give him an hundred for what I know.

Q. Do you think it could be so many?

Moore. I am sure it must be 20 or 30.

Q. What time of the day was this?

Moore. I take it to be about noon, it was about the middle of the day; I saw the sailors getting ready from ship to ship, to get their hands on board with sticks.

Q. Are you sure it was before two o'clock.

Moore. I am sure it was.

Joseph Gylan < no role > . I have worked with Murphy, I remember this affair between the sailors and coal-heavers. On the 24th of May Murphy went with me from King James's-stairs, about eight that morning; we worked on board the ship called Molly, a collier, we did fourteen chaldron of coals on board her, we came on shore together, I do not know whether he came on shore in the same boat as I did; I believe, when we came on shore, it was about ten o'clock; there was a rumour spread that the sailors were coming on shore at Shadwell-dock; Murphy to be sure was along with me, there were numbers of coal heavers; I was expecting to go to work again, I followed the mob of coal-heavers to the stairs, for I was not in safety to go home; I saw a red flag hoisted on board one of the ships, Murphy and I waited till about twelve; I saw nothing of him after twelve o'clock, I had been hard at work on board about one o'clock, and the affair was about ten or eleven o'clock.

Matthew Starkey < no role > . I live in Shadwell, I have known Murphy about six or seven years, he is a hard working man; I never saw nor heard but what he was a peaceable man.

John Magoury < no role > . I have known Murphy about 2 or 3 months; the day the fray happened, which was Whitsun Tuesday, I saw him a little before it began, I believe about a quarter of an hour before, crossing Shadwell-dock-stairs, going downwards between three and five o'clock, where he went I cannot say; I never saw him afterwards that day, he had a stick in his hand, no hanger as I could perceive; I know it was not Murphy, nor never a one here that killed Beattie with the hanger: the man that killed him was in a white fustian frock, an old hat with a bit out of the edge of it, he had the hanger in his left-hand and a stick in his right; whether his breeches were cloth or leather I don't know, they seemed to be white.

Q. What colour were his stockings?

Magoury. I did not observe his stockings.

Q. How near was you to the deceased?

Magoury. I believe I was about thirty yards distance.

Q. How long was this after you had seen Murphy?

Magoury. It was not half an hour I am sure; there was nobody on the raft but the deceased and that man that cut him, he made several blows at him with the hanger and stick.

Q. Was the deceased standing or down?

Magoury. He was down before the blow hit him; he crawled to shore and came to me, and leaned on my shoulder, and asked my help: I helped him a little way and then left him with some women; the man that cut him went thro' the yard and out upon the raft; I can't say I ever took notice of the man that cut him before.

Q. What are you?

Magoury. I am a lumper, and go to sea sometimes; after this I saw the man that cut him going along, I said that is the man that cut the man upon the raft; the other said, it is a shame for him to kill him, I could kill a thousand of him; this was one Smith Owen that said so.

Q. How long was this after the man was cut?

Magoury. This was not an hour after.

Q. Was any body with you when the deceased came and leaned on your shoulder?

Magoury. No, nor nobody near me.

James < no role > M'Daniel. I was standing at the landing place at the back of the Noah's Ark; I had seen the people going down upon the causeway, Murphy had a stick in his hand, and I saw him after the fray; he then had nothing else but a stick; I saw him on the causeway at the time of the fray, it was a black stick.

Q. When was this?

M'Daniel. This was the 24th of May between three and four in the afternoon; the sailors and coal-heavers were engaged in a battle, I saw them during the whole time.

Q. Where was the battle?

M'Daniel. It was about low water mark; there was a man wounded at the time of the fray; first the sailors got the better of the coal-heavers; before they got into the water, the coal-heavers got more force, then they got the better of them; three of the sailors jumped overboard, two were taken up with a boat, one jumped over on the other side and got upon the timbers, and two men followed him; one of them cut him with a cutlace in one hand, and a black stick in the other.

Q. When was the time the sailors got the better?

M'Daniel. That was when the coal-heavers were in the water; at last they knocked them backwards and forwards; then three jumped overboard, and there were two in a boat wounded.

Q. Did you see the man wounded upon the raft?

M'Daniel. I did.

Q. What became of him afterwards?

M'Daniel. He was carried up afterwards by some people.

Q. Did he not walk at all?

M'Daniel. He crawled in a manner, then he was assisted by other people.

Q. Was he standing or lying when the man struck him?

M'Daniel. He was standing upon his legs; the man had a cutlace in his hand, but he knocked him down with a stick; he cut him when he was down with the cutlace, he struck him again with the stick.

Q. How many men were upon the raft?

M'Daniel. There were two men, but the other was not close to him; there were three upon the raft in all when the man was wounded; I did not see the others do any thing; the man that out him on the raft was the beginning of the fray, he was dressed in a whitish coat and a flapped hat; he came down the stairs swaggering with the sword and stick in a terrible manner; he made them sheer off; they hawled this man in the water by his coat; one man got in up to his neck and catched hold of the boat, and I don't know who had the first blow; I am sure and certain I saw Murphy on the causeway at the time.

Q. What are you?

M'Daniel. I am a publican; I was coming from Wapping Old-stairs at the time to my house; I live on Cock-hill, at the sign of the Pewter Dish.

Q. Where does your landlord live?

M'Daniel. He lives in College-yard, his name is Stimson.

Q. What were the arms the sailors had?

M'Daniel. The first man had a cutlace, the rest had broomsticks; they reasoned the affair before they began; the man leaned his elbow over the bow of the boat, they asked what was the matter; the coal-heavers said they did not want to hurt never a person; then the fellow came down with a cutlace in one hand and stick in the other; I guess the sailors were in dread of him, and shoved the boat off; then another ran and hauled the boat in.

Sarah Dorin < no role > . Murphy lodged in my house; I never knew of his having a cutlace in my life; if he had one he never brought it to my house.

For Dogan.

Elizabeth Doyle < no role > . James Dogan < no role > has a very good character, I never heard a bad one of him, he is a very quiet man.

Sarah Edgecomb < no role > . I live at Mrs. Doyle's, my husband is a taylor; I have known Dogan about seven months, he has always behaved extremely well.

Q. What is Mrs. Doyle's husband's christian name?

S. Edgecomb. Her husband's name is Owen Doyle < no role > , he is a coal-heaver.

Thomas Mahoney < no role > . I have known Dogan two years, I never knew him riotous; he is lame in one arm, and a boy in the street can beat him.

Mary < no role > M'Kenzey. I have known Dogan about twelve months, he was always a very quiet man as can be.

Thomas Wall < no role > . I have known Dogan above two years, he is a hard working man, I never knew him quarrel in my life.

William Fling < no role > . I have known Dogan eighteen years, he is a hard working man, honest and peaceable.

For Castillo.

John Magoury < no role > . I have known Castillo two years, I saw him before the fray began, he was down upon the causeway; I saw him and James < no role > M' daniel < no role > both together; he asked M'Daniel, or the other asked him to go and have some beer; this was at Shadwell-dock between two and three o'clock, a long time before the man was wounded upon the raft; they went in at the Noah's Ark, and I thought to go with them; I saw them drinking in the box near the stairs; I never saw them the day afterwards.

Mary Flemming < no role > . I saw Castillo and M'Daniel go in at the Noah's Ark about twenty minutes before the fray began.

Anne Anderson < no role > . I keep the Noah's Ark; Castillo came in before the fray happened, I can give no account how long he staid.

Thomas Shean < no role > . I have known Castillo four years, I never knew him quarrelsome.

Cuthbert Alder < no role > . I have known Castillo 7 years, he was never quarrelsome.

John Highmore < no role > . Castillo has lodged with me three years, he behaved himself sober, I never saw him in any riot.

Tobias Philby < no role > . Castillo is not riotous nor apt to quarrel.

James < no role > M'Daniel. Castillo brought two sailors in at the Noah's Ark, and treated them with a pot of beer; I saw him go down to the bottom of the stairs and come up to me again; I said, how bad they behave to one another, then he went and took me into the Noah's Ark again; we were there at the time of the fray, and after that I went home. Hammond lodges at my house, he came to my house when the fray was over, and said there had been a fray; said he, I don't care, I happened not to be among them; I was at the Hoop and Bunch of Grapes in the Highway, he is a very honest man.

Susannah Wright < no role > . I have known Castillo ab out two years, he always behaved very quiet.

For Davis.

John Adams < no role > . I have known Davis about ten years, he is a very honest labouring man; he is remarkably useful in his employ, that is a lamplighter, till he turned into this of a coal-heaver; I am an oilman, he was my servant, he is not a quarrelsome man.

James Jones < no role > . I have known Davis from a child in Shropshire, he has an exceeding good character as far as ever I heard.

John Phillips < no role > . I have known Davis ever since he was a boy, I live in East Smithfield; he has as good a character as ever I heard a working man have in my life.

Samuel Wildman < no role > . I have known Davis between four and five years; he is a very honest, sober, and industrious man.

Andrew Seymour < no role > . I have known Davis fifteen years, he is an honest man; he was my servant twelve years, he was the best servant I ever had in my life.

For Hammond.

James Highmore < no role > . Hammond was drinking at my house, there came people saying the sailors and coal heavers are fighting, and one man was a great deal hurt; this might be about four or five o'clock; he might stay about half an hour after; I have known him fourteen or fifteen months, to the best of my knowledge he is an honest man.

William Gray < no role > . I have known Hammond about fourteen or fifteen months; I remember the fray happening betwixt the sailors and coal-heavers, but do not remember the day of the month.

Q. Do you remember any thing of Hammond < no role > that day?

Gray. No, I do not; he always behaved like an honest peaceable man, he has as good a character as any man in London.

For Doyle.

John Welch < no role > . I have known Doyle near ten months. On the 24th of May I was in company with him from between twelve and one till eight in the afternoon; I saw him first at King James-stairs, Wapping; he spoke to a number of people and desired them to desist, that I believe was between 1 and 2 o'clock; this was upon hearing the sailors were to come to fight the coal-heavers; he desired the coal-heavers to desist, otherwise the Justice would send somebody to take them; after that he and I went to Stepney Gardens together, there we remained till between five and six, I never was out of his company.

Q. Was any body else with you?

Welch. Yes, there was a woman, I don't know her name, but I believe I should know her was I to see her, this is she, ( pointing to her) her name is Christian Foot < no role > , (she was ordered out of court till he had gone through his evidence.)

Q. What are you?

Welch. I live in Nicholas-lane, Lombard-street.

Q. What day of the month was this?

Welch. It was Whitsun Tuesday.

Q. Are you a house-keeper?

Welch. No, I am not.

Q. What are you?

Welch. I have been a clerk.

Q. Where?

Welch. In Dublin; I came over here to be preferred by the interest of my friends.

Q. What was you a clerk to?

Welch. I was a clerk to an attorney.

Q. What is Mr. Doyle?

Welch. I think he was bred a shipwright, he is a coal-heaver now.

Q. Had you seen him fighting that day?

Welch. No, I had not; I heard him speaking to a body of coal-heavers, and after we come to Stepney Gardens I heard say there were a parcel of coal-heavers killed by the sailors; after that I heard say the coal-heavers had killed some sailors.

Q. What was the reason he chose to go Stepney Gardens that afternoon?

Welch. I don't know.

Q. Was you ever with him there before?

Welch. No, nor no other gardens.

Q. Was you ever at his lodgings?

Welch. No.

Q. Did you appoint to meet him that day?

Welch. No, it was accidental.

Q. How came you to be with him that day?

Welch. I met with him in the street by the waterside in Wapping, in the street that he desired the coal-heavers not to fight.

Q. Had you seen the sailors?

Welch. No, I had not, I only heard they were coming; I saw people running, and I went there to see what they were about.

Q. Where was you going?

Welch. I was going to see my acquaintance.

Q. Who proposed going to Stepney Gardens?

Welch. I really do not know.

Q. Whose acquaintance was the woman?

Welch. She was his acquaintance.

Q. Where did you meet with her?

Welch. He met her by chance.

Q. Before or after he met you?

Welch. After he met me, we had agreed to go there before we met her.

Q. Who invited her to go?

Welch. I imagine she went upon his invitation.

Q. How long have you been in London?

Welch. I have been in London twelve months.

Q. Are you got into employment?

Welch. No.

Christian Foot < no role > . I have known Doyle four years.

Q. What street did you meet him in in May last?

C. Foot. It was in King-street by the water side, where I saw a multitude of people.

Q. Was he alone?

C. Foot. I think there was another gentleman along with him, I did not know him; Doyle desired the people to get home, or the Justices would send people to take them up; after that we went to the gardens at Stepney.

Q. Who went with you?

C. Foot. Michael Doyle < no role > and another gentleman.

Q. How was he dressed?

C. Foot. He was in second mourning (such was the clothes of Welch.)

Q. Did any body else go with you?

C. Foot. No.

Q What might it be o'clock when you met Doyle accidentally in King-street?

C. Foot. To the best of my knowledge it might be past five.

Q. Where do you live?

C. Foot. I live in Litchfield-street at the other end of the town, I was out of place then.

Q. Where was your place of abode?

C. Foot. I lodged at a place called Meeting-house-alley.

Q. Where was you going when you met with these men?

C. Foot. I was going to see an acquaintance in King-street.

Q. Did you go there after you met Doyle?

C. Foot. No, I did not; he proposed to take a walk, there was a gentleman in white went with us.

Council. What became of the gentleman in second mourning?

C. Foot. We lost him.

Q. What dress had the gentleman on that was with you when you saw the mob?

C. Foot. That was a gentleman in white.

Q. What time was that?

C. Foot. That was in the forenoon after breakfast, between seven and eight.

Q. Where did you meet the gentleman in second mourning?

C. Foot. I cannot tell.

Q. What time did you get into Stepney Gardens?

C. Foot. That was at the time of dinner.

Q. Did you dine there?

C. Foot. No, we did not.

Q. Was the gentleman in white with you all the time?

C. Foot. Yes, he was.

Q. Did you see the gentleman in second mourning after you lost him?

C. Foot. No.

Q. What might you be doing all the time?

C. Foot. Walking about and drinking (no eating) I parted with Doyle in Farthing-fields at past five o'clock.

Q. Where did you part with the gentleman in white?

C. Foot. I parted with Doyle and him together.

Q. Do you know the gentleman you met in the morning?

C. Foot. Yes, (she points to Welch) that is he.

Q. Then you do not know where you dropped him, do you?

C. Foot. No, I do not; I did not know whether he was of our party or not, I had no conversation with him.

Q. Then can you tell whether he was any where with you besides King-street?

C. Foot. No, I cannot.

Mary Fagarty < no role > . I have known Doyle two years, he is a very peaceable man.

Eleanor Campbell < no role > . I saw Doyle at Stepney that day in the afternoon in one of the fields between one and two.

Q. Was he in company?

E. Campbell. There were men with him, but I did not know them.

Q. Were there any women?

E. Campbell. I cannot tell whether there was or not; I have known him by sight some time, but I have never spoke to him in my life; a woman with me knew him, and let him know that I saw him, so he came to the knowledge of me.

Q. What is that woman's name?

E. Campbell. Her name is Mary.

Elizabeth Doule < no role > . Doyle lodged at my house; whenever he saw quarrelling he was for making them all be quiet.

Thomas Wall. I have known Doyle four years; he lodged with me a year and a half, he has suppressed riots and quarrels in my house.

James Shannon < no role > . I have known Doyle from his infancy; I keep a stocking-shop in Smithfield; I never heard of a warrant being out against him in my life, only once for a bastard child; I have such an opinion of his honesty, I would be bail for him for a thousand pounds.

Thomas Mahony < no role > . I have known him ten years, he has as good a character as any I ever knew in my life.

Richard Fitzpatrick < no role > . I have known Doyle half a year or better; I once heard him admonish a person for quarrelling.

Patrick Rayner < no role > . I have known Doyle 8 months, he has a good character.

For Farmer.

Sarah Magee < no role > . I live in Ratcliffe-highway; I am servant at a public-house; I have known Farmer six months, he always bore a good character. On the 24th of May I saw him talking to a man with a cutlace in his hand; I heard the other man say, d - n your blood, if you speak to me I'll serve you the same; after that I saw him take the cutlace out of his hand and break it against a post; this was betwixt twelve and one in the day.

Mary Cooper < no role > . I saw Farmer take a cutlace out of a man's hand and break it, and throw the handle away.

Catherine Bates < no role > . I have known Farmer fourteen or fifteen months; he has behaved true and honest.

Robert Kelly < no role > . I have known him about twelve months; he has behaved well, he was always ready to work; the reason of his being called Terrible is, he being a very stout man, he had a gallon of beer thrown over his head, and so called by that name, that is a method of nick naming coal-heavers; I am a coal-heaver, and they christened me by the name of Bandy, I not going strait with my legs.

Murphy and Dogan, Guilty . Death .

This being Saturday they received sentence to be executed on the Monday following, and their bodies dissected and anatomized.

The other seven Acquitted .




View as XML