291. 292. WILLIAM LAURENCE proceedingsdefend and RICHARD ROBERTS proceedingsdefend were indicted for that they, with five hundred others and more, did unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuosly offem, to the disturbance of the pistol, and did begin to demolish and pull down the dwelling-house of Sir John Fielding proceedingsvictim , Knt. against the form of the statute , June 6th .

PATRICK < no role > M'MANUS sworn.

What are you? - A constable.

Was you at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's on Tuesday the 6th of June? - I was ordered by Mr. Bond to remain in the house with two more people, while he went to fetch part of the army to prevent the house being pulled down. I staid in the house near three hours.

What did you see whilst you staid there? - I saw a great crowd of people, they filled all Bow-street and all the streets leading to it, some of them had clubs and others had sticks and iron bars and choppers; I saw in particular the prisoner Lawrence; I saw him constantly close to the door.

What number of people do you think were collected together? - I do not know; a great many at one time; they cried out Newgate, Newgate, Newgate.

Had Newgate been broke open at that time? - No, I believe not.

What time in the evening was this? - Between seven and eight, as near as I can guess; when the people went off for Newgate, as we thought, the crowd was much less; then I saw Lawrence at the door and spoke to him out at the window. I said, Lawrence what do you do here? go away about your business. I knew him very well, for I had pressed him some time before; when I spoke to him he left the door and went towards the top of Bow-street; he then crossed the street and stood on the other side of the way.

Did you see him again that evening? - At a considerable time after, but I cannot be exact to the time; the street began to fill with people again, and then we saw that some of the people, who had been there before, come back again; they had clubs, iron bars, and choppers in their hands; then one of the persons who was in the house, went out the back way; and there was no-body in the house but Prothero and me.

What time was it when the mob returned? - A little after nine, or it might be more.

How did they behave when they came back? - They came all up in a body to the door; numbers of the people who had the clubs in their hands came up to the door and said D - n you! we will have it down presently. Then Prothero and I put up the chain to the door, and made it as secure as we could, and then we got out the back way through a gentleman's house. I went to the top of Bow-street, and there I met two more of Sir John Fielding < no role > 's people, who were coming to the house. I told them the house was then pulling down; we could hear it. I then crossed to Broad-court and went home. I got my pistols and cutlass and put on my great coat and came back into Bow-street, it was then pretty near ten o'clock. When I came near Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house, I saw Lawrence come out of Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house with two pieces of board; he brought them into the street and chucked them on the fire.

Are you positive as to the man? - I am very sure.

Were the wainscoting and window frames intire when you left them? - There was nothing destroyed that I know of.

How did you find the house when you came back again about ten o'clock? - The inside was all torn out and a good many fires were made in the street.

What do you mean by the inside being torn out? - The windows were all broke and the wainscoting was torn down, some of the window frames were cut out with choppers; part of the frames were left and part taken away.

Did you take notice of the two pieces of board you saw in the prisoner's hand? - Not such notice as to be able to say what part of the house they belonged to.

Did you see the prisoner Roberts there? - I do not know that I did. I think I saw Lawrence in the two pair of stairs room, after he threw the two pieces of wood upon the fire, but I am not quite sure.

GEORGE HULL < no role > sworn.

What are you? - A publican; I keep the King's-Arms in Arundel-street.

Were you at any time in Bow-street on Tuesday evening the 6th of June? - Yes. I went there between ten and eleven o'clock, hearing that Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house was on fire; when I came into Bow-street I saw Richard Roberts < no role > .

Before you speak to any particular, respecting either of the prisoners, describe what was the general state and appearance of the multitude there? - I dare say there were thirty or upwards of them; I know all of their persons; I did not know their names. I know the Christian name of this lad was Richard; but I did not know his sir-name.

What were they about? - Breaking the windows of the wainscot of the house of Sir John Fielding < no role > with iron crows, hatchets, and other things. I saw Roberts breaking the stair-case with a crow, or an instrument of that nature, and carrying down the wood and throwing it into the fire, which was in the middle of the street, opposite the door.

You say you knew his person before? - Perfectly well; the house I keep is a rendezvous for sailors, he had been there some days with Lieutenant Preston of the rendezvous.

Was he entered for the sea? - Yes. He had run away from his master.

No matter for that, you know his person perfectly well, did you observe him in any other part of the house? - I believe, he was in every room in the house; I met him coming out at the door.

Do you know what his age is? - I believe, between seventeen and eighteen.

Did you observe the other prisoner there at all? - I did not see him at all.

Jury. What part of the street were you in when you observed this lad doing what you describe? - I was in the house; I went into the house.

Cross Examination.

You say you have known the prisoner some time? - Yes; I have known him for these twelve months past.

Did you know who he belonged to? - I did not know where his father lived; I knew he lived somewhere in Spitalfields.

Did not you know his master? - No; I never saw him in my life, as I know of.

You knew he was an apprentice? - Yes, from what I heard.

Did you see the prisoner with a mop in his hand? - Yes; I saw him with two mops in his hand; another boy took one of them out of his hand and they mopped the windows and the places, to prevent their taking fire.

And you do not know but that the prisoner Roberts mopped the windows as well as the others? - No; he did not; I saw him chuck the mop into the fire immediately.

Throw his own mop or the other boy's mop? - His own mop.

Did you order some liquor to be given to these people? - Yes.

To whom? - Several of them, for them not to set the house on fire.

You did not go till eleven o'clock, did you? - I might be there something before.

When you went there what was there set on fire? - A great deal of the furniture.

What time of night was it when you saw the stair-case pulled down? - It might be between eleven and twelve, or twelve and one, I cannot say; Roberts went over to the bar of the Brown-Bear and demanded rum or brandy; then he said boys, or something of that sort, now away to Lord North's.

You must know it was not a likely thing to give such a boy as that ale to make him peaceable, and this porter and ale you gave them before you saw the boy pulling down the stair-case? - I carried it into the house; he might drink as well as the others; I make no doubt but what he did.

You gave it him before you saw him doing this act? - I do not know that I gave it him, I believe, he, as well as the rest of them, drank of it.

And before that time you did not see him active? - I saw him active the whole evening.

But did you see him pull down any thing? - Yes. I saw him pull down something in some part of the fore-room of the office.

Was that before or after the ale was given away? - I believe, it was after.

Then you think when a mob is riotous the way to make them peaceable is to give them strong beer? - I believe, if we had not given them beer the whole neighbourhood would have been burnt down.

And you gave them spirituous liquors? - I did not give them any; the woman gave them some rum herself at her bar, in order to appease them.

You swear that was not given by your orders, nor at your expence? - No; neither.

WILLIAM ELLIOT < no role > sworn.

What are you? - A tobacconist.

Where do you live? - In Queen-street, in the Park.

Was you in Bow-street on the 6th of June? - I was there from about four in the afternoon, till twelve at night. I serve some customers in that neighbourhood. I was at a friend's house in Exeter-street; I was told by the gentleman at whose house I was, that the mob were going to pull down Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house, in Bow-street. I went there between six and seven o'clock, as I suppose it was, and found about two hundred people assembled round Mr. Mahon's, the apothecary's house. Between seven and eight o'clock, they departed, from Mr. Mahon's and a body of them came back with a multitude of other people, and went to Sir John Fielding < no role > 's, that was a little after eight, there I saw that youth, a child I call him (Roberts) among the crowd.

Did the mob do any mischief to Mr. Mahon's house? - No, I believe not, he gave them liquor and money to appease them. I saw the mob at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's door with bludgeons. I saw Roberts with the people at the door, forcing it with bludgeons; there might be I suppose twenty or thirty of them. Some of the bludgeons were almost as big as my arm; others of the mob had iron crows. They rushed with a great deal of force, and broke the door of Sir John Fielding < no role > 's dwelling house. I saw nothing of Roberts after that till they had destroyed the first part of the house; the windows, the wainscoting, and every thing came out. I saw nothing more of Roberts till they had got to the windows of the first floor; by that time a great many chairs and a good deal of furniture were thrown out and set on fire in the street in five different places. I saw Roberts throw out several chairs, and a good deal of bed linen; by this time the fires were so large that one might have seen to pick up a pin in the street. Roberts came down and came out into the street; there was a good deal of the wainscoting of the rooms, chairs, and other furniture that had been destroyed, which I saw Roberts very active in throwing into the flames.

Did he burn that which he threw out of the window, or did he take up and born that which was already there? - He took up that which was lying in the street, and was very active in destroying it. I said to a gentleman who stood by me, what a cruel piece of work it is to destroy a gentleman's property in such a manner; I said, particularly, that boy, alluding to the prisoner Roberts, and I wished I might have an opportunity to give evidence against him and others of them. I noticed Roberts in particular to Mr. Hull, the last witness. He said he wished me to protect his friend's house, the public-house opposite Sir John Fielding < no role > 's, he and I stood together best part of three quarters of an hour. We went into the public-house. He left me; he was employed in carrying over beer to the people at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house. After Mr. Hull left me, some of the people who stood by me in the street said, Out, out, out; this was at about half after ten o'clock.

Do you know what was meant by that? - As I learned from the mob, it was for them to disperse themselves for fear of being taken. Almost all the people who were in Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house upon this came out, but they returned back again in the space of about ten minutes, when they found that there was not any body coming to interrupt them. I then saw Roberts with some linen sheets in his hand, which he threw into the fire. And from about ten till half after eleven they were burning and destroying every thing which was thrown out from the house.

What time did you leave Bow-street? - Not till half after twelve o'clock.

Did you see any thing more of Roberts? - Nothing more but destroying the things which had been thrown out at the windows.

Cross Examination.

Are you one of Sir John Fielding's-men? - I am a tobacconist.

You do not act for Sir John Fielding < no role > ? - No, I have no occasion.

You act merely from public spirit? - Yes; I do it without any reward.

You said you felt yourself extremely happy when you saw this boy, and you hoped you should have an opportunity in future to appear against him; you was not there between seven and eight o'clock? - Yes; I was from the first starting of the business.

You said you did not see Roberts do any mischief at Mahon's? - There was none there, but drinking; Mr. Mahon gave them a good deal of wine.

Then you came near to Sir John Fielding's, and saw your friend Mr. Hull? - I saw Mr. Hull after the dwelling-house was broken open, not before.

What time was that? - At about a quarter after eight.

Was there a great deal of liquor given at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house? - I saw none given at first, I saw some carried in. At about half after nine o'clock Mr. Hull went to protect the house; they were then on the other side of the way at his friend's house.

How came they to give the liquor away in the house that was opposite? - I saw nine given away there; I saw Mr. Hull carry some over to Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house to quell them.

Was that for the purpose of saving the Brown Bear < no role > from being burnt? - Yes, I believe so.

Did you hear Mr. Hull give any orders for this beer to be sent over? - Not a word.

It was sent over by his orders? - I cannot say; from what he said to me he wished to protect his friend's house.

Was any attack made upon the Brown Bear < no role > ? - None that I saw.

Was the whole of Sir John Fielding < no role > 's property destroyed? - I never went into Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house.

You said you saw him very active in the house? - Yes, by the light of the fire, I saw him when he came to the windows to throws things out of the house. I saw him pulling down the wainscoting too; I saw him repeatedly; I stood on the opposite side of the way, I saw him destroying the wainscoting after there were five fires alight in the street; and I saw many others there, who I hope will be found at a future day, and I am not ashamed to give evidence.

When you went away the house was pulled down? - The inside of the first, second, and third floors was totally destroyed as far as I could see; I do not know what was backwards; I never entered the house at all.

Between eleven and twelve you say you saw Roberts pull out the inside of the house? - Yes.

At what time did you see him burning it? - He came repeatedly out of the house bringing things out with him.

That was subsequent to the time at which by the desire of Hull the beer had been given away? - I know nothing of that, but what Mr. Hull said to me, that he gave it them to pacity them.

MOSES MORANT < no role > sworn.

Whose dwelling-house is the house which the witnesses have been speaking of? - Sir John Fielding < no role > 's.

What condition was that house in on Tuesday morning the 6th of June? - In the same condition it used to be in.

It was in repair then? - It was.

What condition did you find it in the next morning? - Pulled to pieces. The doors were broke to pieces, the window shutters were broke, the glass and frames of the windows were broke, and the household goods had been thrown out and burnt.

How was the wainscoting of the rooms? - A great deal of it was pulled down but not all. They began again to complete it the next day.

Were any of the stairs broken? - Yes, the next day.

Did you perceive any of the stairs or the wainscoting at the side of the stairs broke the next morning? - There was some of the railing pulled down, and a great deal of the wainscoting was broke, but not so much as was broke the next day.

LAWRENCE's DEFENCE.

I came from Deptford at seven o'clock in the evening with two shipmates into Whitechapel. I came to Alderman Bull's house, there was Lord George Gordon < no role > there with his chariot without horses. Three ladies came out of the coach to Alderman Bull. I stopped a considerable time to look at them; then I went to a linen draper's in the Minories, that might be a quarter before ten o'clock; I then went to Covent-garden; I got there about a quarter before eleven. I drank at a public-house there with a shoemaker and some women; they said Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house was all on fire, and all Bow-street. I went like a simple fellow up there with one Mortimer; he said I would not have you stand by the fire, you will get into trouble. Then four of us went to a house in Broad-street and had a tankard of porter; they said, Bill, you are used to ship-beef, we will have some mutton. There was a shoulder of mutton there; we had some of it. It was past twelve o'clock. I took the blade-bone away to carry next day on board my ship, which is the Alarm frigate. This man has pressed me twice since I have been on shore, though I had a ticket with leave to come on shore. He pressed me because I went to enquire after a girl of the town I am acquainted with. I belonged to the Counters of Scarborough; I was in the engagement with Paul Jones < no role > .

ROBERT's DEFENCE.

I was not in Bow-street, I was at my master's house; I can bring my master, whole name is James Collett < no role > , to prove it; but I do not know whether he is here or not.

( James Collett < no role > was called but did not appear.)

For Roberts.

THOMAS DENISLEY < no role > sworn.

Was you at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's at the time of this riot? - I was.

What time did you go there? - I cannot justly tell the time, I believe it might be about eleven o'clock.

Was liquor given away at that time? - Yes, there was some porter given away.

Was any thing else given away? - Yes, rum, at the Brown Bear < no role > .

By whose order was it given? - I cannot say.

Did you see Hull at Sir John Fielding < no role > 's? - Yes; he asked me to drink. He said I shall be obliged to you if you will tell the people not to throw any thing upon the fire for fear of burning the widow's house, at the Brown Bear < no role > directly opposite. I went up to several of them who were carrying wood out and desired them not. One fellow knocked me down; who he was I cannot tell. Richard Roberts < no role > was coming up stairs with two mops. I asked him to give me one; he would not give me one; I took one from him; he threw the other into the fire. I ran to Sir John Fielding < no role > 's door and wetted it with the mop, for the door was just catching fire.

Did Hull send people over the way to get rum and brandy? - He said if they were not satisfied they might go over the way and get rum; and he begged they would not put things out of the window to burn, for fear they should set the neighbourhood on fire.

Did you get any rum? - I went over and got about half a glass; then I went home directly.

Did the prisoner go over to the Brown Bear < no role > with you? - No, I left him in Sir John Fielding < no role > 's house.

JAMES BADDELY < no role > sworn.

Do you know Richard Roberts < no role > ? - Yes, I have known him from a child. When he was first apprentice his master had not a convenience to lodge him. I told his master he should be welcome to lie in my shop; he say there about a twelvemonth. I never knew him take a pennyworth of mine. There were things I must have lost if he had been dishonest.

GEORGE SWEET < no role > sworn.

You are Robert's father-in-low? - Yes, I have known him five years; he is a very honest sober boy. I believe Mr. Hull enticed him. I have known him to be night after night at his house with a press-gang. He said he should not have gone into the house if he had not known Mr. Hull, and seen him there. He say five nights at Mr. Hull's house whilst his master was out of town last summer, and many nights since.

BOTH GUILTY ( Death .)

Tried by the First Middlesex Jury before Mr. Justice ASHHURST.

( Roberts was humbly recommended by the Jury to his Majesty's mercy on account of his youth .)