Coroner.—Certainly not; there cannot be a doubt upon it.
The jury, by their foreman, then pronounced a verdict of “Guilty of Murder” against the following prisoners: James Ings; Charles Cooper; Richard Tidd; John Monument; John Charles Strange; Richard Blackburn; James Wilson; James Gilchrist; and others unknown.
In the course of the day, the afflicted parents of the deceased visited the body, and showed much feeling upon the occasion. The old couple were so decrepit as scarcely to be able to get up stairs. Smithers was a stout, good-looking man, about thirty-three years of age.
In addition to the wound that was the immediate cause of the death of Smithers, it was found that a pistol bullet had penetrated his shoulder nearly six inches. It was extracted by Bennett, and was found to have been cast from pewter. A second sabre wound was also found under his blade-bone. In what manner these wounds were inflicted, there are no means of knowing, but it is supposed they occurred after his fall.
On Thursday afternoon, the 2d of March, at four o’clock, his remains were removed from his lodgings in Carteret-street, in the Broadway, Westminster, and buried in the church-yard of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, amidst a great concourse of sympathizing spectators. It was too trying a task for his widow to undertake to follow him to the grave, and she was prevailed on not to attempt it. The deceased’s father and brothers followed as principal mourners. They were succeeded by some private friends, and a numerous assemblage of officers and others belonging to Bow-street office; Mr. John Lavender, belonging to Queen-square police-office, to which the deceased formerly belonged; Mr. Armstrong and his son, both officers belonging to the police-office in Worship-street; making in the whole 67 persons; thus showing the last mark of respect to a departed officer, who had fallen a sacrifice by the hands of a ferocious assassin.
The procession passed through the following streets; the windows of each house were filled with spectators of both sexes;—Tothill-street, Dartmouth-street, Great and Little Queen-streets, Great George-street, and through the grand opening leading to St. Margaret’s church. The rush from the crowd to gain admittance into the latter place was astonishing; but no accident occurred. The service was performed by the Rev. Mr. Rodber. The church-yard was filled with an immense crowd of persons of all descriptions, among which were numerous soldiers belonging to the Guards. A general regret and pity seemed to pervade the whole of this vast assemblage at the melancholy fate of this unfortunate man. The procession then returned through Tothill-street to Carteret-street, when the officers returned to the undertaker’s. The whole of this funeral was conducted in the most decorous manner; and several magistrates were amongst the spectators.
On Sunday, the 27th of February, at one o’clock, the Cabinet Council assembled at the secretary of state’s office for the home department, to proceed with the investigation of the charges against the assassins. Their lordships were assisted by the law officers.
Robert Adams, late a private of the Royal Horse-Guards, and who had become king’s evidence, was examined before their lordships, which occupied their time till half-past two o’clock, which was then too late an hour to proceed with the examination of Abel Hall, a tailor, who had been apprehended on Saturday morning by Lavender, Bishop, and Salmon, the officers, in Seward-street, Chiswell-street.
A quantity of ball-cartridges, a musket, and a cavalry sword, which they found concealed in a ruinous shed at the back of a small house near the Regent’s park, were this day produced. The woman occupying the house was also brought up, but after a short examination she was discharged. It did not appear that she had any knowledge of these things being on her premises. These articles appear to have been deposited in the place where they were found by some of the conspirators in their retreat.