John
Castle was born in Yorkshire in about 1785. Castle moved to London
where he found work in a brothel run by Mother Thoms in King Street
Soho. In 1812 Castle and his friend, Daniel Davis, were arrested for
forging bank notes. The charges against Castle were dropped when he
agreed to give evidence against Davis. As a result of Castle's evidence
in court, Daniel Davies was executed.
In 1816 Castle was working as a whitesmith when he met James
Watson, one of the leaders of the Spencean
Philanthropists, a group inspired by the ideas of Thomas
Spence. Soon afterwards John Castle became a member of the Spenceans.
William Salmon, a police officer at Bow Street, knew of Castle's police
record and when discovered that he had become a Spencean
he told John Stafford, the Chief Clerk
at Bow Street, and Home Office spymaster.
Stafford decided to recruit Castle as a spy. After a combination of
threats and promises, Castle agreed to provide Stafford information
on the activities of the Spenceans.
On 2nd
December 1816, the Spencean group organised a mass meeting at Spa
Fields, Islington. The speakers at the meeting included Henry
'Orator' Hunt and James Watson. The
magistrates decided to disperse the meeting and while Stafford and
eighty police officers were doing this, one of the men, Joseph Rhodes
was stabbed. The four leaders of the Spenceans, James
Watson, Arthur Thistlewood, Thomas
Preston and John Hopper were arrested and charged with high treason.
James
Watson was the first to be tried. John Castle was the main prosecution
witness. However, the defence council was able to show that Castle
had a long criminal record and that his testimony was unreliable.
The jury concluded that Castle was an agent provocateur (a
person employed to incite suspected people to some open action that
will make them liable to punishment) and refused to convict Watson.
As the case against Watson had failed, it was decided to release the
other three men who were due to be tried for the same offence.
(1)
John Stafford recorded his first meeting
with John Castle (6th February, 1816)
I
told him he did not deal candidly with me, and that I knew he had
not disclosed all he knew. He declared nobody could say anything against
him, for he detested violence and bloodshed. When people had too much
drink they talked of that had better not been mentioned. He said he
knew he was liable to be brought to Bow Street and publicly examined.
He with others had suffered a great deal from distress and that he
did not much care for his life and a man could only die once.
(2)
John Castle later recorded his first meeting with John Stafford on
6th February, 1816.
Mr. Stafford introduced me to Mr. Beckett the Under-Secretary (at
the Home Office), who did assure me my safety on condition that I
told the truth, which was a great ease to my mind, and from that moment
I entered into confidential communication with Mr. Stafford. I shall
get away with it if I can but if I should be taken I expect to be
protected. I know I run great risk of assassination but I am determined
to go through with it and report everything.
(3)
John Castle was cross-examined during James Watson's trial in June
1817.
Question: How long have you had that coat on?
John Castle: A month or six weeks.
Question: Did Mr. Stafford order it for you?
John Castle: No.
Question: Who did?
John Castle: I ordered it at the clothes shop.
Question: Mr. Stafford. Question: Ever since your arrest you have
been supported by him?
John Castle: I do not know who paid the expenses; the clothes were
purchased by Mr. Stafford and given to me.
Question: Have you had any pocket money from Mr. Stafford?
John Castle: I have.
Question: Who furnished the money for your wife's going down to Yorkshire?
John Castle: Mr. Stafford.
(4)
Percy
Bysshe Shelley, letter
to a friend in 1817.
It
is impossible to know how far the higher members of the Government
are involved in the guilt of their infernal agents. But this much
is known, that so soon as the whole nation lifted up its voice for
parliamentary reform, spies went forth. These were selected from the
most worthless and infamous of mankind, and dispersed among the multitude
of famished and illiterate labourers. It was their business to find
victims, no matter whether right or wrong.
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