The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane Part 70

_A._ The Stock Exchange applied to me and sent me a subpoena.

_Q._ Was the application made to you after Lord Cochrane's publication, or before?

_A._ After Lord Cochrane's publication. The information that I gave to the two gentlemen, Captain Taylor and Lieutenant Wright was prior to Lord Cochrane's affidavit, or its ever being mentioned in my hearing that Mr. De Berenger was implicated in this business.

_The Honorable Alexander Murray sworn._

_Examined by Mr. Bolland._

_Q._ You are in His Majesty's service as an officer?

_A._ Not at present.

_Q._ I believe you have the misfortune at present to be in the King's Bench.

_A._ I am.

_Q._ In the rules?

_A._ In the inside.

_Q._ Are you acquainted with Captain De Berenger, and how long have you been so.

_A._ About a year and a half I have been.

_Q._ Who introduced you to Captain De Berenger?

_A._ Mr. Tahourdin, who was my solicitor, and likewise the solicitor of Mr. De Berenger.

_Q._ In consequence of that introduction did a considerable intimacy take place between you and the captain?

_A._ There did.

_Q._ Were you frequently together?

_A._ Very frequently; when I first went over to the rules of the Bench, I lodged with Mr. De Berenger in the same house for about one month, till I took a house of my own.

_Q._ Had you at any time any conversation with Captain De Berenger previous to the 21st of February with respect to Lord Cochrane and Mr.

Cochrane Johnstone?

_A._ Towards the end of January I think, or perhaps the beginning of February.

_Q._ What was the substance of these conversations?

_A._ It happened one Sunday between one and two o'clock, Mr. Harrison called upon me, and we were conversing about a pamphlet he was writing.

_Q._ That Mr. Harrison was writing?

_A._ Yes; it was relative to the trial between Mr. Basil Cochrane and Mr. Harrison.

_Q._ That impressed the day upon your recollection?

_A._ Yes.

_Q._ Did Captain De Berenger come in that day?

_A._ Yes; he came in during the conversation and joined in it.

_Q._ Did any thing pa.s.s from Captain De Berenger on that day respecting Mr. Cochrane Johnstone and Lord Cochrane?

_A._ I at that time knew he was employed by Mr. Cochrane Johnstone.

_Q._ From whom did you understand that?

_A._ From Mr. De Berenger himself, that he was employed by Mr. Cochrane Johnstone in planning out a small piece of ground behind his house in Alsop's Buildings.

_Q._ What pa.s.sed at that time about Mr. Cochrane Johnstone?

_A._ He mentioned that there was a transaction going on.

_Q._ Does the circ.u.mstance of the pamphlet bring back to your recollection what Sunday it was?

_A._ I cannot state the day of the month, but it was towards the end of January or the beginning of February.

_Q._ State what Mr. De Berenger then said?

_A._ He said that they had a plan in view----

_A._ Who had?

_A._ That De Berenger had, with Mr. Cochrane Johnstone and Lord Cochrane, that provided it succeeded, it would put many thousand pounds in the pocket of Mr. Cochrane Johnstone and Lord Cochrane.

_Q._ Upon hearing this, did either you or Mr. Harrison ask Captain De Berenger what the plan was?

_A._ I did, and he declined answering it; I said, "is it the plan with regard to Ranelagh which it was proposed to build in Alsop's Buildings, on Mr. Cochrane Johnstone's land," and he said "no, it is not, it is a far better plan."

_Q._ Did you collect from Mr. De Berenger's conversation with you, whether there was any particular intimacy between him and Mr. Cochrane Johnstone and Lord Cochrane?

_A._ I knew there was a very particular intimacy between him and Mr.

Cochrane Johnstone, but I did not understand it was with Lord Cochrane at all; I understood he was a more recent acquaintance.

_Q._ From what did you collect that; what did Mr. De Berenger say to you that induced you to believe he was intimate with Mr. Cochrane Johnstone?

_A._ He was constantly with him; he was there almost every day.

_Q._ You say that his acquaintance with Lord Cochrane was recent?

_A._ I do.