Old Bailey Proceedings:
Old Bailey Proceedings: Accounts of Criminal Trials
28th June 1780
320.
JAMES
GALL
proceedingsdefend
was indicted for
that he, together with forty other persons and more, did, unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously, assemble on the 8th of June
, to the disturbance of the public peace, and did begin to demolish and pull down the dwelling-house of
Cornelius
Murphy
proceedingsvictim
against the form of the statute, &c.
CORNELIUS
DEMPSEY
< no role >
sworn.
I keep the sign of the White Lion, a public-house, in White Cross-street.
Do you know Mr. Murphy's house? - Very well.
Was you there when the mob attacked his house? - No. The windows were broke when I got there, which was at about seven o'clock in the evening. I saw
James
Gall
< no role >
pull out part of the sash frames and throw it out; the mob were breaking the furniture to pieces, and throwing it out, and likewise the inside of the house.
Did you know Gall before? - Yes; I lodged in the same house with him four years ago.
How long did you stay? - Not above a quarter of an hour; I stood opposite Mr. Murphy's house, the street is about twelve yards wide.
Are you sure the prisoner is the man of whom you have been speaking? - I am sure he is the man.
Was the prisoner taken up upon your information, was you sent for to give information, or did you go by yourself? - I went by myself.
Cross Examination.
When did you go? - On the 10th.
After the proclamation? - Yes.
Had you heard of the proclamation when you went to give evidence? - There was no money at that time offered, only a proclamation.
Did you expected any money when you went? - No.
Do you claim any reward? - No.
Can you read? - Yes.
Did you read the proclamation? - Yes.
How then could you tell the gentlemen there was no reward offered? - I did not read the proclamation, I did not expect any reward.
What are you? - I keep a public-house.
You say you did not stay above a quarter of an hour? - No, they were pulling the house to pieces; I went off.
This man you knew perfectly well before? - Yes.
Did you see any of his neighbours there? - Yes; one.
Did you see Mr. Poole? - No.
Did you see Mr. Read? - No.
Did you see Mr. Wigmore? - No.
When was the first time you discovered this? - On Saturday.
Not before Saturday; how came you to keep it to yourself till Wednesday? - I did not know where he lived.
Did not you know where to find him? - No.
Did not you know where he lodged? - No, not till Saturday; I then saw him go into an house and thought he lodged there. I went to Captain
King
< no role >
, and we took him directly.
Did you mention his name to any body before Saturday? - No; if he had been out of the way I should not have given any information against him I believe.
Counsel for the crown. Did you mention that you had seen the prisoner at the bar to any of your acquaintance before Saturday? - No.
Jury. You say if he had gone out of the way you did not want to give yourself any trouble about him? - No.
(The counsel for the crown offered evidence to prove the demolition of the house. But the counsel for the prisoner admitted it.)
Prisoner. I leave my defence to my counsel.
For the prisoner.
DAVID
READ
< no role >
sworn.
I am a shoemaker; I live in Grub-street; the prisoner is a journeyman shoemaker; I have known him ever since he has lodged where he did when he was taken up; he lodged there about three years.
Did Dempsey know he lodged there? - I believe he did.
Was you at Mr. Murphy's house? - Yes, I was there from six o'clock till the whole of it was down. I stood close to the house.
Did you see any body pull down the window frames? - Yes; several.
Did you see the prisoner there? - No.
If he had been pulling down the window frames must not you have seen him? - I must have seen him, I was there all the time.
If he had been active in beating out the window frames must you not have seen him? - I certainly must, I know him so well.
Counsel for the crown. Will you swear the prisoner did not beat out the window frames? - I will not swear that; I swear I did not see him.
You will not swear he did not pull out the frames? - He was not there.
Will you swear he was not there? - I did not see him there.
RICHARD
PICKBARROW
< no role >
sworn.
I am an embosser.
Was you at Mr. Murphy's house, at the time it was demolished? - I went there a little after six and staid till near eight.
Did you see the persons pulling down the window frames? - I saw several people demolishing the house, but I did not see the prisoner. I have known him twelve months.
If he had been busily employed in pulling out the window-frames must you not have seen him? - I must have seen him; I was there opposite the house all the while; I did not see him there.
NICHOLAS
POOLE
< no role >
sworn.
I am a master shoe-maker. I have known the prisoner eleven or twelve years. He served his apprenticeship with me; I have known him up to this time; he is an honest and sober a lad as ever was in any man's house.
RICHARD
CRAVEN
< no role >
sworn.
I am a journeyman shoemaker, and live at No. 5, in Grub-street. Gall lodged and boarded with me near three years.
Do you recollect the night Mr. Murphy's house was pulled down? - Yes, it was on the Wednesday, the prisoner was at work that day and every day of the week.
Do you recollect how long he worked that day? - Not particularly.
Do you know Dempsey? - I have seen him several times, but never till this affair; I always found the prisoner an honest, sober, quiet, harmless young fellow; he is a very regular man, and supports his poor mother; he sends her half a guinea at a time.
Cross Examination.
You are not positive what time the prisoner went out that evening? - I did not take particular notice; I believe he went home between nine and ten, or just after nine o'clock.
- MORRISON sworn.
I have known the prisoner upwards of a twelve-month. He is a very sober careful man; he worked very hard.
JOHN
BOBINSON
< no role >
sworn.
I am a master shoe-maker. I have known the prisoner about four years; he is a just honest young fellow; he worked for me, and did my business extremely well.
GEORGE
CARTER
< no role >
sworn.
I am a shoe-maker. I have known the prisoner between two and three years he; is a sober, honest, industrious young fellow.
BENJAMIN
RUSHTON
< no role >
sworn.
I am a stone-mason. I have known the prisoner about four years; he has got an exceeding good character from his behaviour, which has been more like a man of forty or fifty years of age than a youth.
NOT GUILTY
.
Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice ASHHURST.