The Tablet 1840
  Contents of The Tablet's first edition  

Recapture and Examination of Richard Gould, who was tried for the murder of Mr. John Templeman

It having been ascertained that the above-named individual was about to proceed to Sydney, under the auspices of certain parties officially connected with the City of London, the Commissioners of Police directed Serjeant Otway of the A division, to apply on Friday the 8th to the magistrates at Bow-street, for a warrant to apprehend Gould, on the charge of the robbery of Mr. John Templeman, late of Pocock's-field, Islington. The warrant was granted by Mr. Jardine, and Serjeant Otway immediately proceeded to Gravesend; and at an early hour on Saturday morning took Gould into custody, on board a vessel lying at that place, bound for Sydney. The prisoner was conveyed to London by a steam-boat, and at about four o'clock on Saturday he was brought before the chief magistrate, Mr. Hall, at Bow-street Court, charged according to the terms of the warrant. The appearance of the prisoner was much improved since he stood at the bar on trial for his life. He was dressed in a very respectable style, and although he appeared considerably depressed in spirits, he was perfectly collected, and heard with attention the statements made by the witnesses.

A good deal of the same evidence as was formerly given on the trial at the Central Criminal Court having been gone through,

The prisoner said (in a tone scarcely audible) - I wish to know if there is anything fresh against me; because all those witnesses have already been examined on my trial. I was tried and acquitted of the charge brought against me, and, therefore, unless there are fresh facts, I do not see why I should be placed here.

Mr. HALL - You are not going to be tried for the same offence. The present inquiry relates to the property of the deceased, and not to his murder.

Prisoner - As regards the property, I am quite sure I shall be able to show that the evidence is wrong; I can bring a female forward to was to have arrived before this time to have proved my innocence.

Mr. HALL - Where does the female live?

Prisoner - At the West-end, sir.

Mr. HALL then said that he should remand the prisoner until Monday next; and in the mean time he directed Inspector Miller to collect all the evidence he could.

On Monday Gould was again placed at the bar, and some of the former witnesses against him having once more gone through their testimony.

Serjeant Otway, A division, proved that on Saturday last he left the prisoner at Coldbath-fields, and in the course of the evening he was again sent for, to go to the prison. The turnkey was present, and the prisoner had made up his mind to tell the whole of the affair.

The turnkey then said that the prisoner had made a statement, which was in writing. The governor was next consulted, and he gave permission to witness to hold a conversation with the prisoner. The statement he made was quite voluntary, and witness wrote down every word he said, and the prisoner looked on as witness wrote down the words as they came from his lips. He said that the robbery had been talked over by himself, Jarvis, and his wife, but it was not finally agreed upon till the morning previous to its taking place. He was at Jarvis's house, but did not remain long, as Jarvis expected his brother; but before he left Jarvis got a piece of wood used as a dibber in a garden, and made a hole through it, putting a string through it so as to hang on the wrist. He then left and went to the Rainbow public-house, where he got tipsy. He was to have seen Jarvis on the Monday morning, but he lay a-bed too late, and Mrs. Jarvis came to his lodgings. Jarvis had left a message with her how it was to be done. It was that he was not to be seen near the house until after the public-houses were closed. Mrs. Jarvis said that she had prepared breakfast, and there was no fear of being noticed. He then left, and went again to the public-house, where he remained until twelve at night, when he went to Jarvis's house. The prisoner and Jarvis then went out again, while Mrs. Jarvis stood under a portico to give an alarm. Gould entered the cottage, after removing a small piece of paper and a small piece of glass. He then put his finger in, and moved the window. Jarvis followed. Gould took a chisel from Jarvis and broke the drawers open, and found silver in a box. Jarvis then entered the bed-room, and said to the prisoner, "As you have not found the notes, most likely he has them under his head. We must quiet him and fasten him." Jarvis then struck the deceased with the dibber. Mr. Templeman then jumped right out of the bed, when Jarvis struck him again, while the prisoner tied his hands with a piece of clothes-line they took with them, belonging to Jarvis. They then continued the search for the notes, and the prisoner found them in the drawer where the silver was in the box. He said they were of no use, as they were barbers' notes, and they left them behind. The deceased had by this time somewhat recovered, and said, "I know you." Jarvis said, "We shall surely be found out; I would rather finish him than be found out." Jarvis then went into the bed-room, and the prisoner jumped out of the window; but Jarvis also got out of the same window by which they had entered. They then went to Jarvis's house, outside which was Mrs. Jarvis standing, and the prisoner wanted to divide the money; but Jarvis said, "No; you had better take it and plant it, as all cottages about here will be frisked." The fire was out, and the prisoner said he had better put the wood out of the way; and the prisoner took it away and threw it into the New River. The dark lantern they had with them the prisoner threw into a pond in Pocock's-fields; and, before leaving, he agreed to meet Mrs. Jarvis the next morning at the Three Goats' Heads, Wandsworth-road, saying that he would show himself to some one as quick as he could. He then went toward the Angel, to a coffee-stall, at the corner of the City-road, and having taken some coffee, he remained about half an hour. There was a man there selling some pictures, and he sold four to a young woman for 6d. The prisoner asked if he knew of a tobacco-shop open, and he said he did not. The prisoner asked him to sell him a pipe. He then returned home, it being about two o'clock. He went to bed, and the next morning he placed the money, with the exception of 9s., in a large stocking, and put it where it was found. He then went to the coffee-shop opposite to the Three Goats' Heads, opposite the Wandsworth-road, and had his breakfast, and then to the public-house, and waited the arrival of Mrs. Jarvis, who shortly after arrived with a child. She had a half pint of porter and a quartern of gin, and started towards Islington. They next went into a shop in Lambeth-walk, where they bought a pair of shoes for 7s.6d., which they paid for in silver. When they left the shop the prisoner was going to throw the old one's away, but Mrs. Jarvis said, "don't do that, Dick, I'll sell them; if they only fetch a quartern it is better than nothing;" they next went into a shop to sell them, but they would not buy them. They then went into another shop in Oakley-street, Lambeth, where they sold them. The prisoner asked her going along if she had said anything to the girl Taunton, when she met her? and she said, "I asked her what was the matter, but she did not stop to answer me." Mrs. Jarvis said that as she came there, a man named Ellis met her, and she told him she was going to her sister's for a screw, and the prisoner told her to go, as then she could account for herself if there were any suspicion. She went, and the prisoner waited at the General Wolfe public-house, Gray's-inn-lane. They then went to the Belvidere public-house, where Mrs. Jarvis obtained a quartern of gin on credit; and from that to Thomas-street, Islington, where they met Ellis. Mrs. Jarvis spoke to him, and the prisoner then left her. As she went home, the prisoner went to the Rainbow, and he was to have gone to Jarvis's to tea when it got dusk. Mrs. Jarvis also came to the Rainbow, and desired not to come that night, as there was a rare stink about it. The prisoner shortly after went home to bed, and was apprehended about half-past eleven the same night. Jarvis left behind, in the deceased's cottage, an old handkerchief, which he had when a pot-boy, and it was washed nearly white, and Jarvis took it for the purpose of tying the old man. That was the whole of his statement.

Mr. HALL asked if he wished to ask any questions?

The prisoner asked, did the witness say that he would be entitled to £200 and a free pardon if he would make the statement?

The witness said that he should have the order of the Secretary of State, which he read to him, and drew his attention to that part which mentioned - except the person who participated in the murder and robbery.

The Prisoner - You had stated that if I related all the circumstances I should be admitted as evidence.

Witness - I told you that you would not be tried a second time for the murder; but said nothing respecting the robbery.

The Prisoner - When the witness first saw me, he said he was sent by the Secretary of State to offer a reward of £200, and a free pardon, except to the person who actually committed the murder. I at the same time declined, and the witness sat for a long time persuading me, and I said I wanted to get away and not to have anything more to do with it. The witness then asked, would I give him such and such information for a certain sum of money, whether there was a conviction or not? On your oath, have you not done so twice or thrice?

Witness - No. You looked at the paper, and, throwing it down, said you had told one person. I said, if the gentleman came down and offered the reward, would you give information? You then said, if they gave you £100 and paid your passage-money, you would make a disclosure. You saw me write this statement.

The prisoner was then ordered to be remanded until Wednesday.

Examination of Jaris and his wife

Mrs. Jarvis was next placed at the bar with her husband. She carried an infant in her arms.

Inspector Miller, N division, being asked by Mr. Hall was he prepared to bring forward evidence at present? he said, not against the male prisoner; but he would against his wife on a future day.

In answer to Mr. Hall, the male prisoner said he had removed from where he had lived in Pocock's-fields, and had got work with another master, as a painter.

Mr. Hall then asked each of them, would they come forward on any future day if they were required? and having received an answer in the affirmative, they were both ordered to be discharged.

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