State Trials Part 11

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--You say Mr. French, when he came into your house, was wounded, and there was care particularly taken of him because he was wounded.

POMFRET--Yes; my lord of Warwick desired to take care of him.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Then pray, was there no discourse how he came to be wounded?

POMFRET--Indeed I do not know how he came to be wounded; nor did I hear one word of discourse about it; indeed I cannot say any thing who wounded him.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Pray will you recollect yourself, and tell my lords what sort of handle had my lord of Warwick's sword when you saw it?

POMFRET--It had a steel handle.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Pray, can you tell whether the sh.e.l.l was open or close?

POMFRET--I cannot tell justly; I saw it, and that was all.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--If I apprehend you, you say my lord had a wound in his hand.

POMFRET--Yes, my lord, he had so.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Pray, in what hand was it that he was wounded?

POMFRET--To the best of my remembrance, it was in his right hand.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Pray, did there appear much blood there?

POMFRET--Yes, my lord, indeed there did.

SERJEANT WRIGHT--You talk of Mr. James and Mr. Dockwra's swords; pray in what condition were they?

POMFRET--Mr. Dockwra's sword was by his side, and not drawn.

SERJEANT WRIGHT--What did you observe of captain James's sword?

POMFRET--His sword was naked, and he had lost his scabbard; but how that came I cannot tell; and there was dirt on one side of the sword; and he said he had left his scabbard behind him.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Was there any blood upon his sword?

POMFRET--No, there was no blood that I did see upon it.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Pray did you see any blood upon Mr. Dockwra's sword?

POMFRET--No, indeed, I did not see Mr. Dockwra's sword, it was in the scabbard by his side.

Warwick's was 'a pretty broad sword': he did not take notice what length or breadth the other swords were of; French's sword was not a broad sword; he saw the swords at about three in the morning. James broke his sword on the floor after he came in.

_Goodall_, a servant in the Bagnio, and his wife were called. They spoke to Warwick coming in with his sword drawn in his hand and b.l.o.o.d.y; his hand was wounded. There was blood on the hilt of his sword, which was a close one. French may have come in with Warwick; James and Dockwra came in half an hour afterwards. Warwick gave orders that n.o.body was to be admitted; but he opened the door for James and Dockwra when they knocked and he saw who they were. Warwick, James, and Dockwra went away in a little time, Warwick ordering that particular care should be taken of French, who was his friend.

_Henry Amy_, the surgeon who lived at the Bagnio, was called, and said that he was called up at two in the morning of the 20th of October to attend the lord Warwick and captain French. The latter was seriously wounded, the former on the first joint of his fore-finger. While French's wound was being dressed there was a knocking at the door; Warwick ordered that n.o.body should be admitted, but when he found it was James and Dockwra ordered that they should be let in. They and Warwick went away in a little time, the latter telling the witness to take particular care of French. Warwick's sword was very b.l.o.o.d.y; French called for his sword the next morning, when the witness saw it, and it was a little dirty, but not with blood. There was no talk of any quarrel; the witness asked no questions; he did not then hear anything about Coote being killed. French's sword was a middle-sized one; it was not a broad blade.

LORD HIGH STEWARD--Mr. Attorney, who is your next witness?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Captain Loftus Duckinfield.

(Who was sworn).

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--This gentleman will acquaint your lords.h.i.+ps what discourse past between these gentlemen the next day; pray, Sir, acquaint my lords what you heard about Mr. Coote's death, and when and where.

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--Early in the morning I was told of this accident.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--By whom?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--One of the company, I cannot tell who, I think they were all together then, my lord of Warwick, capt.

James, capt. Dockwra, and n.o.body else.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--What was their discourse?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--They said, they believed captain Coote was killed.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Did they tell you by whom?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--By Mr. French, every body did say he was his adversary.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--What account was given of the action?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--They said it was done in the dark, and capt. French was his adversary.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Was there any notice taken of any duel?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--Yes, there was, between those two, and the other persons on both sides; and it was said my lord of Warwick was friend to Mr. Coote, and my lord Mohun.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Who were on the other side?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--Mr. Dockwra and Mr. James.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Was there any discourse, who actually fought?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--It was said, that capt. French fought with capt. Coote, as they believed, and Mr. James with my lord of Warwick.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Did you see my lord of Warwick's sword?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--Some time of the day I did; but I cannot tell whether it was in the morning, or no.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--In what condition was it? Was it b.l.o.o.d.y or not?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--It was a steel sword.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL--How long did they stay with you?

CAPTAIN DUCKINFIELD--About half an hour.