Part 20

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 passed 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, buttoned 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 pass between you and him?

A. I asked a question.