The further examination of the four prisoners charged with the
murder of the Reverend Mr. Holiest took place yesterday, before the Magistrates, in the House of Correction at Guildford : the proceedings were now public. The interest of the accounts is confined to the descriptions of the appearance
• of the prisoners, and the remarkable demeanour of the two Harwoods and Jones, when they first learned that Smith had " peached " on them. 'Hiram Smith, who appears to have been the ringleader and plotter in
the burglary, is about the middle height, with narrow contracted shoulders, and a stooping figure. His face, which wears a sallow unhealthy hue, is ex- tremely forbidding in expression; the features having that sharp prominent character which marks the rogue, while the doubtful and hesitating glance of the eye indicates a disposition at once cunning and irresolute. Of the four prisoners, by dress and manners, he seems to have been the most re- vectably connected. James Jones is also about the middle size, his features flat and repulsive, and his whole physiognomy expressive of a life of de- pravity and crime. Both he and Levi Harwood look like bold determined fellows, capable of carrying through any deed of violence they may once have undertaken. Levi Harwood is a ruffianly-looking man, square-built, and evidently possessing considerable physical strength. His features are coarse and rugged, and his face betrays the mastery of violent passions. He looks like one of those idle fellows, half ostlers half anything else, who are seen loitering about country inns and waiting for any job that may turn up for them. Samuel Harwood, apparently the youngest, and certainly the least unprepossessing of the gang, must be a man of great bodily strength; he is broad-shouldered, and has immense limbs ; there is a slight east about his eyes, but his features are good ; he has more frankness of manner about him than any of the rest ; and the feeling of those present in court appeared some way or other to run less strongly against him than any of his coin- panions." The prisoners were placed in a semicircle before the Magistrates, separated from each other by turnkeys, that all possibility of their communicating with each other might be cut off. The Magistrates went through all the steps of the evidence against the prisoners independently of the confession, as if that had not been made; and Hiram Smith put questions to the wit- nesses as if be had made no confession, and still stood on the same footing with the rest, of avowed innocence. When these formalities had been gone through, the evidence concerning the confession began with the statement of Sergeant Hollington, that "on,
Monday last the 14th instant," in consequence of whathad passed on the pre- vious day between Smith and the Governor, Mr. Keene, "Smith was brought
into the room where they were then assembled." Levi Harwood here glanced rapidly and suspiciously at Smith, whose eyes were fixed on the ground. Jones looked doggedly forward, turning his eyes neither to the right nor to the left; while Samuel Harwood, whose face became suddenly pale with ap-
prehension, gazed with an alarmed expression at the Chairman. The Chair- man—" What passed?" The witness—"Mr. Keene said to the prisoner,
Here is Mr. Hollington.' Smith then wanted to see one of the handbill; but Mr. Keene had no copy, and he therefore produced the Hue and Cry. I afterwards sent for a bill, which the prisoner read himself. He then wanted to know the meaning of the word accomplice' • and we told him that he must use his own judgment. He also wished to know whether the remise of pardon in the bill would be acted up to if he were to 'poach.' We told him that he had the bill before him, and must use his own judg- ment. Neither of us held out any hope to him founded thereon; but he said that he saw it was plain, and he would therefore make a statement." g..evi Harwood again directed a rapid but furious look at the prisoner Smith.] He had been cautioned several times, and told that his words would be taken down and used against him; but he answered, "Every man is bound to take care of himself" ; and so he made the following statement. On the 27th of September last, being Friday night, myself with other ! persons now in custody, named James Jones, Levi Harwood, and Samuel Harwood, was at Frimley, and broke into Mr. Holleses house by taking out a bar. I entered first and Levi Harwood second. With a worm Levi Har- wood bored two holes in the frame of the door leading to the kitchen, and pushed back the bolt with his knife ; and then myself, Jones, and Levi Harwood, went in, and then looked about. Levi Harwood then opened a: work-box, and took two shillings from it. We then all three of us went into the sittin,,e-room, and Levi Harwood and Jones searched while I held the candle, and there found a silver hunting-watch and a small old-fashioned gold one. We then went into another room ; and I don't know what was taken from there. They then went down into the pantry, while I stood in the passage. It was then about half-past two o'clock. I then went out, and fetched Samuel Harwood in. Three of us then went up-stairs—myself, Jones, and Levi Harwood, went into a bedroom, and removed three ladies' dresses, two out of the drawers, and one from the bedstead. There was no one sleeping in that bedroom. We then came down- stairs, and put on the masks. Myself and Jones put on the green ones which were produced last Saturday ; and Levi Harwood put on a white one, and a white Guernsey over his waistcoat. Jones put on a large cloak which was hanging up in the passage, and I put on one likewise. The cloaks belonged to the house. We then all four of us proceeded up-stairs. Jones went first with a instal in his right hand, Levi Harwood second with a pistol in the right hand, which he loaded on the road to Frimley. He loaded both pistols with marbles. Jones first, Levi Harwood second, and myself third, here entered Mr. Holleses room, while Samuel Harwood stood at the door with a screw-driver in his hand. Levi Harwood then said, Lay still, my good woman, or else I will blow your brains out.' He was. standing at the foot of the bed at this time. Mrs. Holiest instantly got from herbed; Jones being ou her side of the bed, Levi Harwood at the foot of the bed, and myself against Mr. Holleses side of the bed. When Mrs. I Holiest got out of the bed, Jones took hold of her and thrust her up in the corner of the room on her own side of the bed. Mr. Holiest jumped out of the bed, and went to take hold of Levi Harwood when he (Levi Har- wood) immediately fired the pistol at Mr. Holiest, and I took the gold watch. i
from off the stand n the room, and we all four then ran down stairs. We were in the room for about eve minutes. Jones and Samuel Harwood then started for Guildford. After we had walked together across the common about fire miles, Levi Harwood and myself then parted from them, and we went to Kingston together. There I left him to go to London, he having the things with him that had been taken from Mr. Holleees, and I returned. to Guildford. We arranged on the Tuesday previous to commit the robbery. On the Friday evening Samuel Harwood and Levi Harwood went first, and myself and Jones met them on the top of the hill, about two miles from Frimley. It was then about nine o'clock ; and there the pistols were loaded by Levi Harwood. We all four went on to the canal-bridge, and there pasted. Levi Harwood and Jones went first and myself and Samuel Har- wood followed them in about five minutes, and then joined them on the green near Mr. Hollest's house."
While this important document was read by Mr. Smallpiece, the clerk to. I the Magistrates, Smith em a Mew with s eyesfixed oi1 the ground. Levi Harodsunghseftoadfrooolushtokafulotho most savage anger at his approver-accomplice; his hands all the time being
deeply hes.ketstt:liriwmeomaet of violence. Jones scowled fiercely forward ; and Samuel Harwood looked ! more and more alarmed. When the reading of the confession had termi- nated, Levi Harwood exclaimed, though in a subdued tone of voice—"It is all false what he says, gentlemen, all of it." The Chairman observed, that the confession was important evidence against Smith himself: whether it affected any one else would be matter for future consideration. Smith—" It's all true, every word of it." Mr. Keene's written account of the confession was then handed in and read : it agreed exactly with that of Sergeant Hollington. Smith repeated—" It's the truth, and ne'er a one of them can deny it" Levi Harwood—"I oan deny it, for I don't know anything about it." Smith, with an air of astonishment on seeing the preparations making for the removal of himself as well as his associates, here asked the Chairman whether he was to be locked up as he used to be ? The Chairman—" Cer- tainly. What you have said is strong evidence against yourself." Jones then, for the first time since the announcement of the confession, turned towards Smith, and in a voice rendered hoarse by the vehemence of his passions, said, "I hope you will get shot yourself some day for what you, have said."
The prisoners were remanded till next Saturday, and removed ; Levi Har- wood protesting that Smith was a liar.
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