Aged thirty-two, admitted November 8th, 1816. This man, it will be
recollected, fired a pistol at Miss Frances Kelly, at Drury-lane
Theatre, while performing the part of _Nan_ in the farce of _Modern
Antiques_, on the night of Saturday, February 16th, 1816, with intent
to kill her, but most providentially she escaped his desperate purpose:
for which he was afterwards tried on a capital indictment at the Old
Bailey, under Lord Ellenborough’s Act, but acquitted on the proof of
insanity, and consigned to this institution.
It may not be uninteresting to state the leading circumstances
connected with this desperate transaction, as related in the journals
of that day.
While Miss Kelly was performing her part with her wonted vivacity, the
audience were thrown into great alarm and consternation by the report
of a pistol, fired from the front of the pit at the lady; and George
Barnett, who sat in the front row, was immediately pointed out as the
person who fired it. He was instantly secured; and, on being searched,
the pistol, and some gunpowder and shot, were found in his possession.
He avowed himself to be the person who had fired the shot at Miss
Kelly; and said that his object was only to frighten her. Miss
Kelly had retired, in the greatest fright and alarm, and the whole
audience were in the utmost solicitude and agitation, until Mr. Rae,
who was then stage-manager, came forward and assured the house that
the lady was unhurt, and the performance was resumed without further
interruption.
When Miss Kelly was informed of the desperado’s name she immediately
recollected him to be the person who had addressed to her several
love-epistles, which she had treated with silent contempt.
When he was taken to Bow-street for examination he declined answering
any questions, and was quite stupified.
It appeared, however, upon minute inquiry, that this desperate admirer
was an attorney’s clerk; and that his rash attempt was the result
of disappointment in the tender passion he had indulged, by his own
consent, for the lady: but finding it impossible to excite in her
bosom a reciprocal flame, even by all the genial influence of his
amatory epistles, sonnets, acrostics, and other professions of his
tender devotion (which were always rejected by the lady with apathy and
scorn), he took the tragical resolution of immolating to his slighted
love the object of his affections, upon the very altar where her charms
first kindled his ardent flame; and that if he was to be debarred the
possession of her, she should never become the prize of a happier rival.
His trial for this fact took place at the Old Bailey on the 9th of
April following, before Baron Wood. Miss Kelly, of course, attended
as a principal witness; and notwithstanding her habits of appearing
before a crowded audience without the least embarrassment in another
theatre, the solemn novelty of her _débût_ in this place, in a part
so perfectly new, overcame her feelings; and she was with difficulty
sustained through the performance.
Two letters of the prisoner to the lady were read on the trial, one of
which is as follows, and may furnish a curious specimen of his style
and devotion. It was written evidently after his suit became hopeless.
“Madam:
“I received a letter yesterday evening, which, from its apparent
rusticity, I believe to be yours. You would act wiser if you was
to add your name, as I am not sufficiently acquainted with your
hand-writing; and, as I hinted in my last letter, not to subject
others to be answerable for your forwardness. If the terms specified
in my letter were not to your satisfaction, why not express yourself
as one becoming your profession; why suffer your temper to over-rule
your reason?
“I love the sex, and once esteemed you as an ornament to it, until
you roused my indignation by your impertinence and scandalous abuses.
You are very partial to a disguised male dress, but let me not
experience any more of your folly; for if you do, I’d secure you as
an impostor, and punish you for your temerity. I am, Madam,
“Your well-wisher,
“GEORGE BARNETT.”
About two years since he composed an Ode to Miss Kelly, sufficiently
odious and nonsensical. In fact, he would be thought an amatory poet,
ready on all occasions to volunteer his talents in addressing any
and every young lady whose name and address he can discover, though
perfectly ignorant of her person and accomplishments. His effusions on
these occasions are in unison with his talents, and well suited to the
classic taste of the company he now moves in.
The Jury, however, acquitted the prisoner on the ground of insanity,
and he was sent hither from Newgate immediately afterwards.
This gallant Lothario bears at present no symptoms of frenzy in his
manners or conversation; but is probably in as sound a state of mind
as ever he had, which is that of a foolish, frivolous simpleton; of
mean and pitiful appearance, and by no means calculated to inspire the
tender passion.