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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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APPREHENSION AND EXAMINATION OF
MR . GEORGE WHITE . j ( From the BiTvuzghcim Journal ) On Friday rncrning , about ten o ' clock , Inspector William H _ li prc-ct tded with a warrant to the Fux , in H _ TEt-s > r »* -t . wh ? re he met Mr . White coming out of tha d ~ or . H _ inf Tn-td Mm that ho tad a warrant agsirst _?_ t . ; nr-on wjprh s ^ m c- words ensued , and a scvfiU t , ¦¦ ?; phc ? , nnd after some spght resistance , Mr . W :. ite mrrenderei , and was taken to the prison in NoiT-s . r-ce't . In the coarse of an hour after , ths Mayor , Dr . MvUon , T > r B'jth . Dr . Davis , Richard Spooner , T . Bni-by , T Briton , J . SchokSeld , and H Luckcock , E-qrs ., tie R-. v . R . Bedford . Commissioner Burgess , ; <> , ;•> * - [ Thorn , and the marjUrrat _» ' cl . rk 3 , came into cocti , which was densely crowded by the middla and . we i- * -leg cla- « 9 a . i The pris .-n- r -mis placed in the dcc _ ; upon which > Mr . G = m proceeded with the ex __ ii __ tion of
witnesses . The 5 r $ t i > ers ; n ca' . led -sras ESe _ z = r Pollock , who dep ^ s e-i as follows : —I live in Lord-street . On the _ 2 od in « tint , 1 * r _ s at a me . Ung in Summer-lane . 1 wee :, on m ? return from it , into the Britannia Inn , and od gcing into the front rocm , I found a p . rty corsisiins of fifteen or twenty iLr ? e . George White arc * J __ Fussell rushed cy into the room . O'Neill had been a&lr .- -. _ i _ g __ e people b-.-low , a d White brgr . n to spaai to them from the window . He told thiTn . hit they hr . d b ? cn nrnled by ONeill and Si- gc "_ pany—ths .: they had be-jn met by an armed fore * , and di'perc . d , bnt that he would call a me-ti _ g on tie folio-jri _ g eight , and he would , hold his mertii * g by foit --. and they shjnlc come prepare-. They said , ' Kk * e then in tleir j _ c-cts . " They cheered him , and he esLcd them , if ths ^ wjnld do &a he did ?—and they ehtvr ^ d him arain .
Prisoner—Wiil yon oblige ras with a htUe paper ? Mr . K-ifern supplied him wiih paper , upon which be comaifcnc . n uking notes . Tho witness , oa resuming , said the prisoner told them h » would hold a met ting , and all the polic 8 should not prev-n : tt > = m-PrLs .-aer—Now . micd what you say . Wiune 3 S—He told thera fco come preporei'to meet the police . He asked them , w ^ uld they coni 6?—and they said " We will . " PrUrnrr- Did I say anything about daggers ? Mr . Spoaner—Do not interrupt—because you shall have every Ggy . rtuaj-. y of asking any qnestfon you think
prepe . Prisoner—I am o _ Jy jnst trying to help him out . j "Witness—The landlord rushsd into the room , to turn thrm out cf his house ; upen which some ofthe p-0 T 7 called for pen , ink . and paper , and a table , to form a committee . Th ? landlord wculd ' , B 6 D £ tb them anything , and ordered thsm out of his bo- ¦ ,- . C . i'ss-stained by the prisoner—Now , r ay good , chap in— do yon £ = t your living ?—Witntsa—By hard i wciS . P .-iioaer—How do __ it fc _ pD ? n yon were employed in ; this cas- ? ; W U 3 = sb—I was not empkntd . Pd-.-nri—Dii Ton take do—n what was said in writ- j ;
ir . _? Vilness—No . ; P .-5 : on- _ r—Ch _ you report a sentence after a man , correctly , without taking it down ? Or are you i qnit- iure that , in five minutes after I repeat this i sent--nca I am now speaking , yoa will remember it ? j "Witness tna- ' e no answer . j Piisoner—Did I advise the people to use' force ? , TV : ines 3—Yon did . Yon told them to come prepared j Prisoner—What trad 9 areyeu?—and how did you eoffr to nxaks this statement ? j TritnPEs—I am a gun-barrel filer : and I Tolantarily } made this statement I am not employed . , Prisoner—You are the fine * t ssy I ever knew . j
Witness—There was a man in the room who was ; dressed h'ki a Quaker , and be said that they had brought j three or foci hundred colliers in , bat they were deceived ' by OXeiil and Stsrge . Fnssell also spoke . j Pri <;> ner—The f-e * is , Fussell sever spoie at all ; and itils feLow cornea to produce his evidence , by trTULp ^ S a lie . My g ood fcDow , { tnrcJDg to the witdpss . you will never be worth your wage * as a spy . ' , Wiji " . put of FosseL'B speech did you hear ?—Witness : I did nut hear any part of it . . ' Mr & 5 in—I wiii take that part of his evidence out . ; P . 'S'Etr—Xii yon will Kot ; b £ cans 9 this may come . int ); colt ; - f justice ; and it will shew what credit be L- -PCTth . Did yon ito witness ) see any person he 3 ve j np t ? window ? Witness—I did not ; but I liifitinctJy . beard the window thrown up . )
Prisoner—That tbfcws what a smart fellow you are . H& ~* yen r . ny religirn , and what religioD are yon of ? WiTiess—I profess to be a Baptist . ' j P . 'L > r = T— Explain what yen mean by a Baptist , because I do i-o : bt ' ii ^ ve , in my conscience , you know what an oatfi i « . ' Dr . ^ y . 'Ji—it is not necessary that he should explain « cy jSZTv . mlir doctrine . . f Mr . ? po ner— Your only question on ? ht to be , J wtt'thtr he belieres in the trali of tho Biole—that is ; « nm ; icnt to qualify him to tike an oath . j P . ; . ncr—H ^ vc yon aay political priacJples ^ j "W ^ t . t > 3—^• ¦ > , Ihsve not . ] Pr ^ - :-= r—Do you believe the present government a ; good - .- or a Lad one ?
Mr . Spoyner—That question is immiterUL He is not bone -1 t-o tnswer it . Prv . > i . 7—He says be has no political principles , and I beli- ^ t h-m , nor moral ones eitb « . Mr . Taylor , printer , exvnined—I livain Steelhouislace . On the night of the 24 th of August , I was at tie Chapel p-bitc-house , when I saw Mr . White ; ha hand- ^ o rot the copy of a placard , no < r produced , and » ake ; ma to prir . t him fifty of them , and get them post * ' ' . I did so . Mr . G- 'ji—Have you any question to ask the witsess ? Pri ^ rntr—Jo ; he i 3 not a voluateer witness in this matter
31 " . ' " - ^! DrUy , pol ' . se-sergetmt , examined—On Monday , -hv ljih inst , I was present at a meeting of persons in Oorz ^ n-street ; there were a good many persons p . '< jbc '» t- The prisoner at the bar was tfcsre , and ¦ was huciietaULg the pc-opls . He called upon them to be ¦ united , an" ! stand faat togetber . The people of the Kcita ^ cre out , and were determined not to go to w"or > iigain until thty got their rights , Kid . why Dot ibe ¦ pecpli of Binniughsm do the same ? If they woula t' -. r be muted , they would sosn let , Government see tb _ i ; they Were determined to have their rights . He tt ^ K ^> ofc 3 of a meeiing that was tu be held on the Tues ia ; . rr- ^' z followLug . They would let the people of B -iti . vLam see that they ttill bad something in Birar . i ^ taiu to be fiightened at . They would wa ' . k in pr je ^ -hs -a through the town . That ii all I can letvl ' ec - tls a"lTised vhem to siaad fast to each othev . ' i . A La called upon them repeatedly to go for nothi- i' -- thin the Chckrt 6 r .
D . -i .-. « : > s—Did you not ssy , before > Ir . Gem began to taka i .. own your deposition , that White said the colli > rrs h . ; " . rack for tho Coirter , and why not go wiih : L ii ? Wxitx . i ^—Yes ; ha said If they would stick t » him , tbej -Hv-u . 'i have la a Charter . Pri-. ; r-r—I : is ai "; repetition and waste of time . WLr . Mj-He also toid them to conduct themselves in a qui' -t .. a * psaceatie manner , for all the authorities Wnk-i ^ is on opportunity of bludgeoning them , and CUttiii ? Tifcm up I sr . w them go eff the ground . As
soon as be aaaonncea that a prc > ces £ ion would take place , I Iz ' . r . the inciting . He told thtm to marshal thenisc ' v ^ =. and marci : in proceiMon through the town , after a b \' .-uer which they had go ; . I then left the gronL . ^ i and wsnt arid give icformation to Mr . Burgess . I did n . 't ** fr the prisoner in that procession . I went to tht b-. f . _ ¦ n of C-rdigan Street , in company of Mr . Ssptrir ¦ - ; ¦ _ •' . nt Atkins ; the procession was then going along , s .-iu I saw no raora of it . Tiere were upwards of on = thua- 'in . ! persons at the iirst meetuig . They Were f rry u net .
Prir :-s-. r— Wtll , my good fellow , you b 3 ve risen ninLtv i-er cc : t in my estimation ; I only wish yon had "been Su-itner Lat : ? , in place r = f that volunteer witness *¦ ^ i : "e have ju-: t had . Xow , tell me how l ^ r . g iB it s ' - ^ e - ¦ -. a h& 7 e bein made a Bt ^ ean : ? V . 'i : ^ —f ^ st ApriL Pri ,:-,:- Do - o ^ kiow a man ' Eimed William Marti ; - Wi :. ' : ;—Y ?« . Pri-- ^ .. * You were not a sergeant when he was in Birniij . -, h 3 M . Wi * r ;?«—Xo , I was not
Pr' ^ jn ; : —Yon have been a companion of both me and M ¦ ¦ - > ., and have often walked about with us , linkeu :, n- \ n-srm , have you not ? VTi-u-s—Ym . Prij ^ ir—What clothes did you wear then ? Wit- ^;—Coloured clothes . P .- : > - ¦ . : « r- Were you then in the police ? Wi ; t-5—Yts . Pihi ^ tr— By *? hcse instructions did you attend oar Hiesrt'r . ii ; . ' ' . n pisia clcttes ? "VV _ .- ' -c « . —Bj order cf my offleer . Pru-rtr—Had y- > u orders from tbat effloer toin-Biniiatt yc -tself into out company ?
Mr . ' -.-iSthJ—You are not bound to answer tbat qua *?! n . PriiO-er—I hav 3 a tight to ask the question , because I want * ..: chow that the spy system is in this country , and th ^ t no nan ' s life is safe . Mr . Spooler—Yen have a right to aak the question , and if > he wi ^ nesi refuse * to answer , it will appear on the dtpo-ait'on * . Prisoner—Were youn » t directed by your officer to in-¦ innate yonr ^ elf into our company ? Witness—I will net answer that question . Prisoner—At that time you represented yourfelf as being kept in business by % relation , to leun the gunflnithln . ; tr » de ?
Witstts—I told you I ni a gon-finisber , bat I did » ot teU you I was kept by my friends . Prisoeer—What is your real trade ? Witness—A plasterer and slater . Prisoner—How long is it since you worked at that buriaesf , and where ? Witness—Two year ago , at Handswortb . Prisoner ^—Tea wor « police dothes , I suppose , when yOB were made erjeact ? Witafi »—Kptitw » ys . Ptiaonej— "Wb » i time was it when you used to walk linked arm-in-arm , with meand Hartin ? TT ' -s it until yoairereiude » Mijeant ?
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Witness—I was in their company about twelve months before I waa made seTjeant . Prisoner—Why Martin was in Lancaster gaol then . You saj you wore your own clothes then ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—I think I saw a cloak upon you at tbat time . Is that a dress usually worn by plasterers ? Witness—P ] a « terera may wear cloaks aa well as other persons , Prsoner—Who was it supplied you with the cloak to disguise yourself ? Witness—My own money .
Prisoner—I only wish to show that the spy system was carried on . Now , witness , I believe you bave attanned our meetings at Duddeston Bow yety ireqaeut . ' j ; and I ask you what was the general character of them ? Witness—They were quiet and peaceable . Prisoner—In that part of your evidence where you refer to the colliers' strike , I ask you , did I usa any violent language , or give the people advice to bo vio ' eat ? Witness—No .
P . isoner—Now , I bave shown , by a Bort of negative evidence , that I did not advise violent measures ; and I wish now to show , by direct evidence , which I think I can get out , that I advised the people to the contraiy 1 : ; ak aim , therefore , does hs not remember me telling the people that the intended meeting of Tue 3 day was cesijned for the purpose of taking the unbiassed opinion of the people of Birmingham with reapest to tho present state of tho country ; and did I not also &dv : sr that no man should vote Bgainst his conscientious belief , as by taking a show of hands the peopl-3 were ofien led into error , when they did not mean to carry out whal they held up their bands for ?
I Witness—I do not recollect that you said so . Ycu , micbt have said so , but I do not recollect it . | Prisoner—Did I not paiticularly warn the people at I evtry meeting 50 U attended , to be peaceable and not to break ths law , lest they should get themselves into th « fin ^ s of the authorities ? i Witness—Ton did , ' Prisoner— Did you not bear me say that the people of ' England could get ali their rights by strictly peaceable means ? j Witness—I cannot recollect that you did so . Prisoner—In all the meetings you attended it ig a wonder that ytu did not hear this Baid at any one of them ? ' Witness—I did not Prisoner^—An allusion has been made to the colliers 1 Did ycu understand me to allude to violent measures , wLen I tnlked nf their strike ? Witness—I cannot tell your ideas .
Prisoner—Do yon know what was the avowed object of the meeting on Tuesday night ? Witness—I heard it was to memorialise the Qaeen ; but I cannot say . 1 do not know the real olject for whjcb the meeting was called . P : i £ oner—Have you not beard me state , that I con-Bidered it to be the duty of every Chartist to act aa a peace efflctr at all public meetings , for that I bolisved the emisgiries of tae Government would en € eavonr to crea ' s a disturbance , in order to fix the odium upon the CS .-irrist body , and thereby afford a pretext for imprisoning them ? Witness—Part of that I have heard you ssy . I bave heard you ssy . it was the 6 uty « f every Chartist to act as peace officer at ev-ry public meeting : that the emissaries of the Government would try to create a disturbance and lead the people into error , that is a " 'L
Prisoner—Were yon present at the last meeting we held at Duddeston-row , on Friday evening ? Witness—Yaa . Prisoner—I then spoke of the groundless fern of the shopteepeis ? Witness—I don ' t recollect it . Prisoner—Did ycu hear me state tbat they might make themselves perfectly easy , for it was not our intent'on to injure the hair of any man ' head ? Witness—I don't recollect what took place-Prisoner—Did you hear me say that there was no earthly necessity fcr keeping np snen a body of police force to preserve the peace of the town ? Witness—I have often heard you say so—but cannot recollect baviBg h' ard you say so that night . Prisoner—Did I not often say , if the magistrates had common sense , they would dismiss the ferce , and rely on the good sense of the inhabitants ? Witness—I do not recollect that you did .
Prisoner^—Hive you not often beard me pledge myself , for myself , and in behalf of the Chartist body , to assist the magistrates at all tunes , for the protection of life aad property ? Witness—I never , that I can recollect , heard you Bay any such thing . Prisoner— Have you forgotten that you stated something like that in your former evidence ? Did you not say I advised the Chartists to act as special constables ? Witness—Not as you bave just expressed yourself ? Prisontr—Had cot the words I used the same effect ? Witness—1 never heard yen say the words you have cow used .
Prisoner—Did yon hear me Btate tbat Mr . Burgess and bis foroe could be dispensed witb altogether , and that they w « re a complete nuisance to the town of Birratr . gham—( laughter )—that nearly all the disturbances were created by them—that I would undertake to state tbat the Chartists alone would preserve the peace of this town , and save the inhabitants the enormous rates tbat are now dragged from them ? Witness—I have beard yoa say tne police could be dispensed with , and that they were a nuisance . Prisoner—Ton are the most honest policeman I ever met witb in my life .
George Philip Tandy , police-constable , examined—I have been a little more than twelvemonths in the force . On Monday evening , the lath instant , I was at a meeting on a piece of waste ground in Curaon-street . I went there at pas * , seven o'clock- There were some few people assembled there at tbat time . I remained until near nine o ' clock . Persons continued to assemble , I should think thera were one thousand persons there , Mr . White waa then addressing the persons standing round . I heard White say , that be hoped , at the close of the meeting , they would form a proccssiou , and march through the town , and continue to do so every evening . He said they would shew the people in Birmingham ; that tbere was spirit and Btrengtb left at the time they were sending the military to other parts of the country . I shall not swear to any more . The streets in that part of the town were in an
excited state , by the people being all up in arms . I mean by up in arms , tbat the people were coming out of their htuses . I do not mean tbat the people had any arms in their hands . The people in the neighbourhood were in expectation of something taking place . During the continuance of these proceedings I should think the ordinary business of some of the inhabitants could not ha carried on , and they were calculate to create alarm in the minds of the people . When the meeting broke up , they walked in procession . I should say there were two thousand persons ; they were five or six abreast Tbere was an Inscription upon the banner , but I can't say what it was . I can't say I know who was in the leading file . I should say the effect of such a procession passing through the streets would be to terrify the people . I only saw the proeessiun in Curzon-sUeet and Duddleston-row .
Prisoner—You have stated that these processions were calculated to cause alarm : were you a ' armed ? Witness—No . P . n 3 on . r—Did you ever see a procession before ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Why was that procession calculated to crente alarm ? Witness—By marching through the streets at that hour . Prisoner—Yon stated it was getting dusk , and now you say it was night , in order to give tffect Did you tver s&e a procession going to lay the foundation stone of a church 1
Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Were you alarmed at tbtm ? WitnuKS—No . Prisoner—Then if you saw one thousand gentlemen going from Dee's Hotel for tbat purpoBe , you would not be alarmed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—If you had beard they were Chartists , would you have been alarmed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—If you saw one thousand rich men walking throuih the town , should you bave been alamed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—Then if you saw one thousand poor man walking , you would be alarmed ? Witness—The pdor are generally ill behaved . ( Hissing . )
Priionsr—What would you ssy if you met one thousand bricklayers * labourers , after a bard day ' s work , should you thiak their apptarance calculated to create alarm ? Witness—I should ascertain the cause of their procession . Prisoner—But if tbey never said anything ? Has any shopkeeper complained to you in Cardigan-street of the terroi ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Who are they ? Mr . Spooner—He is not bound to tell the names . Prisoner . —Was there any confusion at the meeting ? Witness—Some pebbles were thrown . Prisoner—Did the 2 rooession do any barm ? Witness—No . Prisoner . —What do yon mean by being np in
arms ? Witness—I mean coming out of their houses , Prisoner—Yoa beat Dr . Johnson hollow . With regard to the speech ; will yon , Mr , ftem , res 4 the spirit of one port of it ? Mr . 0 em did 00 , and the prisoner said—Now , witiesa will you repeat tbat over again ? Mr . Spooner—He la not obliged to repeat it Prisoner—It is a parcel of jambled up nonsense , such as I sever used ; although some persons may think me simple , I never used such words . Now Mr . Spooner , just look at them ; they are quite nonsense . Witness—Your object was to frighten the people , and bo togaia your Charter . Prisoner—Were you in court while Daly was giving bis evidence ?
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Witness—No . Prisoner—What clothes had yon on tbat night ? Witness —Plain clethes that night Prisoner—For what object were you disguised ? Witness—I am not obliged to answer tbat question . Prisoner—Aro you aware that tbere are a large number of policemen kept in disguise in Birmingham ? Witness—I am not aware of it Mr . Griffiths—You are not obliged to answer that question . Prisoner—You have no right to Bay what questions he will answer . Mr . Spooner—He has ; and it is for us to decide . Prisoner—Can yott write I Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Why did you not write down tbat sentence ? Witnesii—My memory was sufficient to recollect what you said that night
Prisoner—Can you recellec ' c the last sentence I spoke just now ? Mr . Spooner said it was not necessary he Bhould recollect it Prisoner—Tea , but it is , I thi ; . k ; he mi ? ht have taken all the words delivered over a column of a speech and dove-tailed them together . Mr . Spooner—He could recollect those prominent words—spirit , military , and snch like , all clearly calculated to show the tendency of tha address . Prisoner—I wish to know if I may have some refreshment I hava asked Mr . Redfern ; and he says I cannot I hav « not had any breakfast , and I do not think I ought to be kept starving here . Mr . Spooner said , ho did not see any objection to his having refreshment , but he did not think tbere was any fund for the purpo 3 e . If he sent for it himself , he might have it Prisoner—Yes . of course .
Mr . Joseph Johnson , merchant ' s clerk , Garrison Lane , was the next witness examicod . He said—I saw the prisoner fix a placard on a wall on the 19 th inst ., about half-past three o'clock , at the side of the Green Man , Moor-Btreet There were flva or six persons prcstnt I read it , and left it there . On the following day I Baw a similar bilL Prisoner—How long have you been merchant's clerk ? Witness—Two years . Prisoner— What induced you to give evidence ? Witness—I toid a policeman , named Wheeler , because it was txciting the people . Prisoner—I only want to show tbat this man has been fished up by the police .
Sarah Mann , of Lichneld Street , examined—My husband is a shoemaker . On the night of the 15 th of August , I was at Daddeaton R 3 w , a little after seven o ' clock . The ground was very full—seven ox eight hundred were there . Mr . White was there , addressing tho people about the Queen ' s proclamation . He told them one had been put out at the time of the Bull Riug concern , but that w . is of no avail . Ho said the peopla in the North were all out for prices , and they had come to a determination they would not go in until they had gained tho Charter . He hoped the Birmingham people would join them ; in a fortnight they would ce compelled to do so . He said they would be walking about Birmingham streets clamming , and they would be furced to do so . There was a policeman in
the crowd , and they threatened to stone hitn , and some of them said be was a spy , and others said sUne him . The prisoner said the sy&tem of Government must be done away with , or we shouid continue in the distressed state we were then in . He said it they would take his advice their wives would wear a silk gown before the summer was over . Mr . Griffiths—What was the effect of these meetings ? Witness—I dont know . Prisoner—I protest against this prompting . The last two witnesses came up , told their tale , and said nothing against me . Then came the prompter—did you hear that ? I object to such proceeding . The Mayor—You can object to any question . Mr . Griffiths—You lift the meetings ?
Witness—Yes , I left it on account of my daughter , when I hvard the convcreatisn about the stones ,. The proceedings of that evening would create alarm amongst timid people . Last night I followed the people through Cardigan-street , to a long distance for about three miles , and there they held a meeting . Mr . Fussell spoke , and an alarm was raised that the police were coming , and they dispersed . When they found the police were not coming they returned , White spoke . * He said he was ashamed at Birmingham men running away at the cry of police . There were men enough there to drive away all the police they could bring . He said the next meeting he would call would be a meeting of women . He said the women in the north were holding the horses' reins while the men were gaining the victory . He said they were getting on well . He said the authorities of the town -were putting them down ; but he would put them at defiance , and would lead them to Manchester , or he would hold his meetings .
He spoke of the proceeding throughout the country , and said be was sorry that two or three of their men had got hurt , as be thought in the coure of a little time tbey would be wonted . He advised them to go home peaceably and quietly , and go to bed , telling them be should not hold any other meeting until Monday next . The people wished . to know what time the meeting would be held , and ha said he would placard the town . One or two carried ewords ever their shoulders , and others had sticks , and they marched when Mr . White told them . One man un&trewed somtthicg bright out of a stick , and pat it ovcrhta shoulder . On leaving the place of meeting , Mr . White wanted to go down the road , but some one said six policemen had gone down that road , and others said if he would go into the town with them they would guard him at the peril of their lives . Whita and Fussell came back witb the procession , the same way as they went
Cro 8 s-exaiB ! ned by the Prisoner—I cannot swear that it was a sword , but it was a bright instrument ; it waa pulled out , I was not in the procession . I was en the footpath . I will swear I saw you in the body coming back . Some came before you and some came behind you with etaves over their shoulders . I heard you advise them to give three groans for Mr . Muntz and the magistrates , and three cheers for the Charter . You told the people your object was sot to get them hurt , but to benefit theso . [ There were t * o or tbree more questions and answers to and by this witness , which our reporter lost uuiing a momentary absence from the court ] Her testimony closed the case against the prisoner , upon which Mr . Spooner asked him if ho wished to say anything .
Mr . White then said , in a bold firm tone , that he was not aware that there was any definite charge against him . He Bhould like to know what w : ia the charce to be brought against him , out of the mass of contradictory stuff which had been sworn to by the witnesses . If he had thought that it was intended to bring any charge against him for sticking up a placard , he might have been prepared . Nobody charged him witb violent intentions , except the first witness , who stated that which be knew nothing about There was no other witness produced who could say he had advised the people to any other than peaceable conduct ; and if a man was to be sent to gaol for giving peaceable advice , he knew not what sort of advice ought to be given . His idea was , tbat he had acted a 3 a man ought to
act ; and he could not bmt think , that in arresting him there had been some motive over and above the protection of the publio peace . His actions bad not tended to endanger property . He had only expressed his opinion publicly and fearlessly ; and , as a man , wherever he might be , he shonld always insist upon bis right to express his opinions . He would ask , had he not a rigLt to hold his opinions as well as a Tory or Whig ? But some men were so foolish , that they imagined if a man did not square his ideas according tu theirs be ought to be put duwn . But the fact waa , every man knew tbat he bad a right to express his opinions openly and fearlessly . He would ask the magistrates whether they would not rather that a man spoke his opinions openly and fearlessly In a public
meeting , than conceal them , and act privately upon them ? When a man went to a publio meeting and stated his opinions , he could be met by those who dinsented from him ; and if wrong , there was an opportunity Afforded of putting him right He might rematk , that that was nut the first time he had been dragged about for the honest profession of bis principles . He ha « j been ruined both In health and substance ; but all the prosecutions which they could inflict would never prevent him from advocating bis principles . He wished to state distinctly , that to every individual with whom he waa acquainted he had always given the advice not to iajure any man . He wished most heartily to see every power of the Government invested in the people , because he believed th-it waa the only way by
which happiness could be established . Men were naturally so slavish that , whether Tories , Whigs , or Cnartwts , tbey would make laws subservient to their own interests . The only way , thereforo , to . establish happiness , waa to allow the whole people to govern themselves . They knew that thousands of poor people were now dying fcr want of the necessaries of life . The Anti-Corn Law League had driven them out ; and when they had driven them out to starve , the Chartists took up their cause , and then these gentleman called opon the Government to hunt them to death . Would any man tell him that be bad not a right to express his opinions on the state of the country ? No man would attempt to deny bis right to do so . Hj could assure them tbat if tbey wanted to create excitement , and make a disturbance in the town , tbey would bant the Chartists about , and in so doing tbey would , perhaps , cause more uneasiness then they were aware of . Mr .
Hall came to him that morning , and knocked him dowa , as if be was a fellow that bad murdered somebody . ( Cries of " Shame '' from ths working men . ) They had their feelings as men , and their opinions M mea ; and they were determined to stand fcy them until they were kiown to be unjust Let than be met by argunent , and not by bludgeons . They might make hypocrites by persecution ; but they eould not make men sincere . He denied that the Cnartista bad any wish to destroy property . Why should they destroy property who produced it ? But they Lad bee * told that they had no right to meet because there had been a disturbance in Nottingham . What had Nottingham to do with Birmingham ? There was no disturbance in Birmingham ; and disturbances in another place ought not tu interfere with his right In conclusion he would say ; whe ' . Lar ha wts sent to prison or not , he should consider he had done no wrong . He knew tbey
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ARREST OF COOPER . From the Leicester Chronicle . About nine o ' clock yesterday morning , Mr . Cottrill , Superintendent of the Newcaatle-under-Lyne police , and Mr . Rhodes , Superintendent of the Haniey police , arrived in this town with a warrant for the apprehension of Cooper , for having incited a mob to acts of violence at Hauley and elsewhere , 011 the ISth inst . ( Monday ) They immediately sent up to the station-house for the superintendent or one of the sergeants of police , on which sergeant Wright went down to them at the Stag and Pheasant , when lie was told what their business was , and askea if they had buch a man in Leicester Wright described Cooper ' s appearance and manner , when they unmediattiy said that ha was the man they were after . The Staffordshire officers then followed Sergeant Wright to the magistrates , who , having heard
their statements , backed the warrant , which sergeant Wright-and policsman Smith proceeded to execute . Smith remained on the Coal-hill , while Wright went down Church-gate , and seeing that Coopor web in his shop , crossed over as if to look at some papers . Cooper saw him looking in at the window , and called out to hfm , waving his hand— " Go away , sergeant Wright ! go away 1 You sha'n't see any of them , " ito ., and moved away the papers he supposed Wright was looking at Af t « r a minute or so , Wright beukone 1 Smith down to him , and they entered Cooper ' s shop , and told him they had a warrant against him . Cooper turned to bis wife and said , My dear ! they have ccrae for me at last—it is no more than I expected . I ' m done for . " As they were leaving the shop - lib turned to the cro ^ d outside ( some forty or fifty ) and
said , "My lads 1 I ' m going—they have come to fetch me ; but ita all in the cause of truth . " And when going towards the station-house , he told Wright be was to mind and never abuse the Chartists or himself ( Cooper )—the Ckartists had a good cause and he was to let them alone . He was removed to the railway about half-past one , in the custody of the Staffordshire officers , in an omnibus , a guard of police accompanying it ; a large number of his " beloved brigade " of Shaksperean Chartists , who had heard of what was going on—men , boys , and girls , tiae greater part of whom were very active in the . lute disturbances—also followed as close as they could : —the women were very angry , and decidedly the most noisy of the lot The officers and their prisoner left by the twenty minutes to two down-train .
To the above statement of the Leicester Clironicle , we give the following aa received personally from Mr ; Cooper : — Stafford County Gaol , Monday evening , August 2 $ > tn , 1842 . My dear Hill , —You will expect Borne account from me . The warrant for my apprehension was served upon me at my own house , 11 , Church Gate , Leicester , last Friday morning , the 26 th of August , by Wright and F . Smith , two of tho Leicester " bluebottles . " The men were quite civil to me , and conducted me ( handcuffed to one of them ) along tae public street to the lock-up . My beloved little wife parted with me like a heroine . God bless her , and rapport her 1 She is worthy , indeed , to be the wife of the " Shakspmcean General . "
The squad of the Wbigllng papers came on the espial to the lock-up , to see how the democrat would conduct himself . I gave them to know that I smelt what they were about , although the Chronicle hyyocrite warned me to beware of poor BotteriU , a reporter to the Tory press . '¦ . ' . . ' •¦ ¦¦'¦ ¦' . - . ¦¦'¦ ¦ :. '¦ . - . After waiting some time , and seeing a few of my brigade , I was ushered into the august presence of the Leicester boroagh authorities ! and by them finally committed into the bands of the Potteries' officers , who
had brought the warrant for me . An omnibus was brought to the door of the Police-office , aad , amidst a guard , and a crowd of my own beloved lads , I bad to step into it ( handcuffed again ) , and to be driven off , at a rattling rate . Crowds ran along the streefca , and I gave my hand , perhaps for the last time , to many a bane and faithful-htarted , though poor and despised Chartist , who bad cleaved to me through months of evil report and good reparf . Again , they crowded the bridge above the railway station , and once more I beckoned them " farewelL" '
The two offlceis who had me in custody were kind to a degree which will causa me to respect them while I have breath . They constantly said , " You conduct yourself like a gentleman , and it ia not in our place to injure you . " . From D-rby we travelled in a k ; nd of rfoubfegig , stopping at Uttoxet « to tat © t . a , and arrived at
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Haniey , in the Potteries , about ten at night' After being allowed some coffee at an inn , I was committed to the care ef the keeper of the lock-up—an ironbrowed , tall roan , who pnt a heavy pair of fetters on my legs . In thl * uneasy condition , I threw myself on my cloak , which I laid upon a rude kind of bed they had brought , and stretched upon a bench . I could not sleep ; for , in addition to the soreness of my ancles , from the weight of the fetters , there was a fire in the little place , and the door waa closed after two persons had been smoking . I asked , once , to have tha fetters taken eff ; bnt the iron-browed man had laid him down to snore , and he would not take them off to watch over me . Diyligat , to my joy , brought one ef tha kind officers who had journoyed with me , and he immediately gave orders that the galling fetters should betaken off .
The amiable wife of . Jeremiah Yates , the Chartist , ( 0 how my dear little wife will blesaher !) came and brought me some breakfast , and the Star . I washed , changed my linen , and felt refreshed . Afc twelve at noon ( Saturday , August 27 tb , ) I was , once more handcuffed , tbia time to another poor culpiit , —a rebel , I suppose , like myself , —was placed again in the double gig or car , and conveyed from Haniey'to Newcaafck-under-Lyme , in the style of a state-prisoner , guarded by sixtean of the 34 th regiment of foot , with fixed bayonets . As we want alow ] y , every body was edified with a sight of the rebel Chartist . : Well ; arrived at the ancient borough of Newcastle ( the town was enfranchised by the second Henry ) , I
was conducted up stairs to the-Town Ha . 1 , where Captain Mainwariog and other magistrates were' on the bench . The warrant was then read , stating that on the 15 th of August ( O Connor ' s birth-day , and the day before the anniversary of Pet&rloo , ) I " unlawfully and wickedly did incite , stir up , persuade , and induce , a great number of the liege subjects of our Lady the Queen , wiih force and arms , unlawfully , rio ' . ously , and luuiuitously , to assemble together at ths said parish of Stoke-upon-Trent , ( Hanley is in that parish ) , in order to make a great noisu , riet , tumult , and disturbance , in open violation of the laws , good order , and
government of this realm , to the evil and pernicious example of others , and against the peace of our Lady the Queen . " The witnesses against me were seven . I do not wish to say that any of the men spoke wilful untruths . Two swore to seeing me in the street at Haniey , during the night of Monday , asseverating that they krew me by my cap , &c . The men , however , laboured under a deeepdo visus , for I was not out of the George and Dragon Inn ( after closing our out-door meeting at dusk ) until midnight , aud I then bad on a hit and great coat , and was conducted up to Upper Hauley , and from thence to Barslera . &c
Otherpoor men swore that I had actually said , "I have heard of your day ' s work , and I approve of it ; " and this , too , in reference to violence and destruction of property . In vain I protested my Innocence of such a crime : a supercilious smile dwelt on the faces of soveral around me . I did not shrink from admitting at once that I was at the meetings , and addressed the people , aye , and that I approved " of the strike for the Charter , —for I will never shrink from the truth , let it cost ma what it may . The chief magistrate , —to bis honour be it spoken , —told me I was endangering my own case , although now and then he was a little keen in questioning the witnesses in such a way as to open an answer very adverse to me . I protested gently again this , and Was heard . I was committed for the Ass : 8 (; to bo held here , It is said , very soon , by Special Commission . This was no more than I expected : aud I must again bear testimony to the handsome conduct of Cxptain Mainwairing , the magistrate , who told Mr . Cotterjll ,
into whose custody I was committed , to U 38 ma well . The Ctiptain is an elderly country gentleman , residing at Whitmore Hall , in the neighbourhood . He is , I believe , of Whig politics ; and in parson is not much unlike Paget , of Leicester , but is not quite so tall . I am also informed that he was a midshipman at tho Nile , under the gallant Nelson , and has seen considerable service . He certainly conducted my examination in a way tbat did him credit Nov ? and then he showed an un-logal-like sort of ^ agerness to get ab the tru th , without 8 seniing to remember that bis questions would prejudice the prisoner . But when I respectfully urged the impropriety of this , and mentioned my experience in the hearing of evidence , as an old reporter , < tc , tho Captain yielded . I should say , that Captain Mainwaring , although evidently a little prejudiced against me ( and no wonder , remembering how the papers of the factions aim to slaughter us ; , is an honest man and a gentleman , in the real sense of the word .
I had a comfortable reception and a eomfartab'e bed at Mr . CotteriU ' s , the chief policeman at Newcastle . S .-. w a few Hauley friends there , by Captain Mainwaring's permission , on Sunday morning ; and at twelve at noon was placed in an open chaise , aad proceeded ( at a " devil ef a mte , " as their officer ; himself said ) accompsnied by fifteen of the Queen ' s Bays , or 2 nd Dragoon Guards , to the Whitmore station . This guarding with drawn sabres and splendid brasa helmeja , made wo feel I was considered a captive cf distinctien , more especially when I reflected tbat my poor weak body was offered bail , itself in £ 500 bond , and two sureties in £ 250 each . At the station , ( manacled-once more on one wrist ) I got into the railway with . Mr . Cotterill , the troops returning . On arriving at Stuffjrd ,
und finding it waa beyond the dinner hoar , I was allowed some refreshment , at the Greyhound tan , and was then speedily handed over to my present keepers . The Burgeon was polite in his examination—the turnkeys axe all civil and respectful , but remarkably strict and punctual in their determination to enforce order ; and the Governor I saw only en passing by his drawing room door , but he seemed to be a very gentlemanly and kind-looking man . Of course , I bave slept on the prisoner ' s proverbially " hard bed . " Aye , and it is a bard bed , indeed ! But then I slept on it with aa unstained conscience as to the crime for which I am committed . My meals aro supplied at my own cost—( or rather at the cost of my most dearly beloved wife , and of those who are kind enough to help her )—by Mr Peplow , an intelligent Chartist of this place My
sleeping cell is above several stairs ; it is but about eight feet long , and five wide ; but never mind that I will bear it with the cheerfulness of a man and a ¦ patriot-At a quarter to six , the bell rings for ns to rise : we jfxe in our walking-yard and day-room till evening ; and at six we again are locked up is our sleeping-cells . The gaol is so crowded that four men , two a * bed , have to sleep in some of tho cells , and this cannot be avoided . There are about sixty men in the day-ward , in which I am placed , and they are poor lads from the Potterie ? . The charges against many of them , I trust , will not be proven , or it will go hard with them . I have taken the cfBce of " chaplain , " as they call it , to our ward , and read the form of prayer , morning and evening . The prayers are really fine ones , and I feel a high pleasure in filling this < . ffi . ee .
Now , I might complain , if I were querulous—for who does not know that there is in a prison , much to a man of my habits and disposition , especially , which is irksome ? But no : I am a Chartist and an Englishman , and will neither disgrace my political creed , nor the brave spirits of my forefathers . Your ' s , a prisoner , but an unchanged and honest Chartist , ¦ '¦ +- ;¦ Thomlas Coopee .
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EXAMINATION AND COMMITTAL OF CNEIL
THE CHARTIST PREACHER . Dudley / Monday Night The re-examination of O'Neil , apprehended for sedj . tlonat Craley , was appointed to take place in thi Town-ball this morning , and , as might be expected , led to a large assembly of the people . The prlsonej was brought into the court about eleven o ' clock . Bs was loudly cheered aa be passed along the streets from the prison to the Court-houae . Among the magistrates present were Lord Lytteltoo the Lord-Lieutenant of the couDty , Mr . T . Badger tha Rev . W . H . Cartwrisht , and Mr . C . H . Mollineux . Mr J . Y . Hunt , the Hon . Colonel Clive , and Captain Bennett , were also in court , but did not take part in the proceedings . The prosecution wm conducted by Mr . Bourne , and Mr . C . Twamley appeared on the part of the ' pri . soner . John Collins also assisted in the defence of the prisoner . . ¦ ' $
Among the andltory in court were several female * members of 0 " Neil ' s congregation , who wept bitterb daring the proceedings . O'Neil and Blanchfield were charged with being lo . plicated in the same efface , and upon being placed at the bar refused to take off their hats . They were immediately removed from tfeeir h&iids fay order of the magistrates . The charge , as read by Mr . Bourne , was to the fallowing effect . — " Being , together with divers other evil-disposed persons , unlawfully assembled together , on Friday last , to the disturbance of the publio peace , uotwithstanding the proclamation of her Majesty , lately issued , for . bidding all such meetings . "
The confusion and tumult at this period waa so great , that Mr . C . Mollineux proceeded to read the Riot Act out of the Court-house window , and immediately after the Dragoons proceeded to clear the streets around the hall . O'Neil aud Blanohfltid appeared much amused with the proceeding . . Mr . J . J . Dranafield , accountant of the British Iron Company ' s works , was called , and spoke to the attendance of the two prisoners at a meeting held at the Five * ways , in tho parish of Rowley , on Friday last , and described the language used by the prisoner O'Neil on tbat occasion . In speaking of the House of Commons he inquired of what was it composed ? Of lawyers—Did they care for the people ? Of cat-throat gentlemen—I mean the paid military—Did tbey care for the people » Of fox-hunting gentry—Did they care for the people ? He said , I have declared , and de declare , that I » we no
allegiance to the Government . It is an usurped Government I am a Christian and a man of peace . H « went on to say , " I will not pay taxes . I have not drunk any intoxicating liquors for two years , nor have I drunk tea , coffee , or any exeiseable articles for many months . " Ho told the meeting that there " was once s king of France who attempted to lays poll-tax . A poll-tax was a tax upon every bead . A countryman of mine resisted this tax , and killed ( be collector . Hii name was Wat Tyler ; and from that time to the present no Gjvernment has ever dared to impose a tax opon each individual . " Witness considered the meeting calculated to create s great terror in the neighbour hood . There was not much shouting until the military arrived . O'Neil had then left the field . Before he left he stated that a meetuig would take place at half-past two , at Old-hill , which he intended to address . I did not notice the prisoner Blanohfleld there .
The colliers in the neighbourhood of the place whets the meeting was held are now out of work ; in eonss > quence of intimidation , and the second meeting was to be held near some of our pits where the men wets at work . The country in that , neighbourhood is in i state of great excitement . The country being jo excited , I think the meetings calculated , to create terror . ' , ¦ Thomas Llewellin ' s evidence spoke to the . character of the meeting held at the Five-ways , Old-hill , and identified ONt . il and Blanohfleld as the two partia most conspicuous in the proceedings .
Charles omaiL—I am a mine agent , and live neu Corngreaves . I attended the meeting on Friday at tit Five-ways . When I went , there might be 200 peraoa present . I afterwards saw the multitude of colllm move into a field near Corngreaves works . A pereco came up riding through the erowd ; O'Neil was that person . The mob increased in number to betvreo 300 and 100 , or it might be more . The two prisooea and two other pDrsona were elevated above the rat The chairman was a person named Forrest He addressed the meeting for a few minutes , but I could not hear what he said . O'Neil then got up . He commenced by observing tbat by trade he was a letter-pies printer , aad had little more time than themselves to inquire into things . He found by inquiry that tnd «
was reviving—that the day before iron bad risen £ l a ton , and was that a time for masters to reduce men ' s wages ? The next witness could hear was " a rotten and corrupt House of Commons , and that Sir Robert Peel was a robber . " He referred to the income-tax , whkb would be 7 d . in the pound ; and said , the masters , to meet it , were reducing wages 6 d . a day , which weald be a vary profitable thing . He aaid he was a Christiu , and belonged to a Christian society , and would not J * J taxes , and that the law had no command of him , mi that he would not obey the law . Tha witness here confirmed the evidence of Mr . Dransfield , as to O'Neil ' i reference to the conduct of Wat Tyler and the killing of the collector . O'Neil then told them about a canning monkey , who sat by the fire while some ch&snnti were roasting . He durst not put In bis own paws , hi put in the cat ' s to pull them out . He tb « n put a shoi of hands to see . ii they would stand the reduction of wages . There wero many bands help np , aud oael
uoticsd was the hand of a man who had not worked ta tb . last Bix years . Tbere have been many meeting ! ia the day and night In the neighbourhood , which han put the inhabitants in great fear . The man who I s » put up his hands and who has not worked for six yean , is a married man witb a family . I da not know hoi be has supported himself . The meeting of Friday mi calculated to create great alarm . Many 0 / ths collkn had sticks . After O'Neil kad done , Blanchfield , tin little tailor , addressed the meeting , and I went away . Crass-examined by Mr . Twamlet . —I expected tb persons who attended the meeting would visit me and my men , who were at work , about half a mile distant Just as the meeting broke np , the soldiers arrired There was some little shouting , but not much . At soon as the sermon was over , the soldiers came up . By Mr . Boubmb . —The tendency of O'Neil ' s speech was to induce the people not to pay taxes , and to disobey the law .
By O'Neil—I was afraid of the consequences 0 ! tifl meeting , because of the threats ; I had heard d ths colliers being forced out of the pits ; but I never bod of these threats , until you gentlemen came preaching abflut the country . . Isaiah Nortball deposed that he lived at Craley-heitfi , and attended on Wednesday evening , the 24 th of August , and saw Blanchfield there . I heard him « T » that they had had a meeting at Westbromwicb , ud the colliers had all agreed not to go to work until they had got 4 s . for eight hours . He gave notice of tte meeting at the Five-ways on Friday morning , and aid O N- ; il would be present , and alBO a meetiug oaths ground on which he stood the same day . That was the case against the prisoners .
Mr . Twamley said , be presumed there was no nee * sity for him to make many observations , as there ww no charge against bis clients . The workmen had not clear right to combine fur the purpose of supports ^ the present rate of wages . This could net b » denM . There was a dispute between the masters and the men , and , in tha present case , the latter had held & P *** ablfe and perfectly legal meeting for the assertion « what they considered their righta . He did n « t M that illegal meetings ha 4 been held in various parts the country , but it was moat extraordinary that , *™ one exception , the witnesses for the prosecttw 8 had all declared that they had no apprehenwf of danger . He contended , then , that his cm * had ouly attended a perfectly ' legal meeting , ^ which , throughout , was conducted in a peacasw manner . With regard to the prisoner BlanchfleWi sn "
questionably tbere was not the slightest evidence w affect him in a criminatory manner ; and the ***? against him must be dismissed . With respect to 0 *<* he felt that the case against him rested upon th « " * tinionyof Mr . Dransfleld , which had been given . »• fair , clear , and impartial manner . He ( Mr . Tw'f confessed that some ieolated expressions attributed Mr . O'Neil did not meet with bis ( Mr . Twamle ^ j approbation , but nevertheless their general scope , bearing would be justified by a large minority » reformers . d Lord Ltttleton Bald , the magistrates *** ^ opinion that Mr . Twamley need not address him «'¦>* _ the points to whicbhe referred . They should , ho »« ^ j be happy to hear him upon the point whether 0 * was or was not guilty of an offance in a ' -teuQ " ? meeting after the publication of the Qaeen ' s P * *
matiou . t , t ths Mr . Twamley would do so . He contorted Vta . ^ Queen ' s proclamation did not make a law . ™ t * , onJy effect was to give notice of an existing ¦»*» , ^ notifying to the public that the authorities i ^ fjr ^ apply its provisions rigidly . The proclamation **' law where it found It , but it prevented tht P . u ! w being taken by surprise . This meeting was pu **; called , and held inthefaeeof dsy , for a legal pnV and conducted ia a peaceable manner . „ . Mr . BOUfiNE said , Mr . TwamJey'a observations 1 piled merely to a cast of riot The nature ana «^ raeter of the meeting in terrorem popm . at * r , prisoners attended after . the proclamation of the V ^ in bis opinion rendered it iilbgaL He apprehen ^ magistrates would deem ii their duty to comautM' ^ Mr . CALtiBCOTB—The attendance at the »*^ j 8 question after the Queen ' s prootomatioa *•¦ atatuabUi offence , bat ome at coaamon law . . _ ^ The Magistrates , after being abient ta * JJ [ riii turned and committed both prisanns to take u > ^ at Stafford . They would , bowever , take l « f . Bjjn himself In £ 200 , and two rarsties of , £ 100 eacn . chard in £ 100 , and two sureties in £ » 0 eacfr The prisoners were the » removed . <
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Letters from Alexandria of the , < th . » 8 . aa d that the Nile continued to rise very slow u trfC lTe groat arixiety for the crops . A to ^ Vmeai 016 * physicians" h ' u . d been appointed to aaw ^ , ™ nnBi ber against the . pla « ue in Lower , Egypt . ; ABB » ^ of cases in Alexandria did not exceed tvro «* a day .
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6 THE NORTHERN STAR . -, . ' .. ' ¦ . ;• ' . . ' ¦ .. ' " — ' . _ - __^_^_~ . . r-, , ' . . M _ iii . ' ' * ' " ' 1 "" " * T ~~ __ ~^' 1
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As every thing about White must now be interf sting , we give in addition to the above from the Birminyhum Journal the following letter from himself : — Warwick County Qa . l , August 29 th . 1842 .
Dear Mb , Hill , —You will p _ rhap _ have received Birmingham reports forwarded by me last week , which would Ehew you the state ef the town up to that time Previous to writing them , I understand thut a warrant w . is issued for my apprehension on some charge connected with the meetings which I attended , and on Friday morning I was taken into cusiody whilst having a look at the Times paper in Hurst-street . I waa escorted to the Public-Office by a number of policemen , and in a short time was brought before the magistrates . The evidence again _ t me was of a most palty description . The main part being furnished by two spies in pay of the police .
I ciO 83-examiued the parties at great length , and exposed a most infamous system of espionage which exists in Birmingham . The examination iasted for five hours , ufter which the magistrates , ( eleven in number , ) retired for nearly au hour , and returned with the Mayor at their bead , who informed me that tbey had resolved to prefer two indictments against mo—one for infl himatory language , made use of in the borough of Birmingham ut two public meetings , and another for language made use of at a village called Ltzulls , out of the borough , but in the county of Warwick , for which I wouH be tried at Warwick . I then applied for bail , and was informed that it would be granted under the following conditions : —Myself in £ 200 , and two sureties in £ 100 each , to give forty-eight hours notice . Several very respectable persons came forward in the morning and immediately . entered their names as bail without any solicitation on my part This was well understood by the magistrates , aud tho forty-eight hours sbufio was thereupon invented .
I waa then removed from the bar to the prison which is under the Court , much the same as at Leeds , but was not there ten minutes before I was ordered out , and marched through about two hundred policemen armed with cutlasses . After passing the raw lob-ters , I was brought to a carriage and pair , which was drawn up iu Moon-atre . t for my reception , and surrounded by a troop of dragoons . An immense concourse of people were present in Moor-street , and the Bullring , who cheered loudly as the carriage drove towards the Warwick-road . We arrived hero at ton o ' clock oo Friday night , and I was immediately c » nveyed to my cell .
I have bad a yard to myself since I have been here and a day-room , and am allowed to purchase one shilling ' s worth of food daily ; of course not having the prison diet at the same time . The charge ia the old story , violent placards , exciting language , and esdiUon . I am to ba tried for one part of it at Birmingham session ., but , if I cannot remove my trial from the sessions there is no earthly chance of escape , for the magistrates who preside , hate me most cordially . I am , yours truly , Geokge White . Rev . Mr . Hill .
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had prejudices , and he wished they would lay them aside . If they seat him to gaol , they would increase the hatred of the p 6 ople against them , and they would cause him to come out with tenfold more determination and hatred against the present system . If they sent him home to bis family , men would begin to think that they were acting witb justice . As fathers of families , be would leave it to them to Bay whether he onght to go to prison or not The question for them to consider was , not whether White was a Chartist , but whether he had injured tho people ; whether he had committed any crime against society ; and whether be bad not a right to walk the streets , and meet in public to declare his sentiments . The prisoner was frequently applauded by his friends during the delivery of bis address .
The Magistrates theu retired , and after deliberating for about three quarters of an hour , they returned into pourt at a quarter to six o'clock , when the May > r stated thiit the magistrates , after carefuily considering the caae , wurc of opinion tbat the prisoner bad acted illegally . He wished it distinctly to be understood that it was not the right of meeting / which the magistrates denied , but it was the peculiar circumstances of the case , the mode of calling , aud the manner of conducting tuch meetings , that rendered them illegal . The prisoner was then ordered to be committed to the next borough sessions upon three separata ( fF . nces ; one for issuing placards , Inciting the people unlawfully to meet , and . another was for attending an unlawful assemblage to disturb the public peace .
The prisoner asked if he would be admitted to bail , and waa answered in the affirmative ; , but was told that he must give forty-e ' ght hours' notice . The fo ; il required was himself in £ 210 for each offence , and two sureties in £ 100 each . The prisoner Baid the decision was a piece of monstrous tyranny ; they might call it what they pleased . He had his bail then r . ady . Mr . Spooner said , that they would have a right to consider the nature of the ball . If , for inutanca , he offered as bail persons who were implicated with him in illegal proceedings , he , for one , would most certainly object tu such ball . Inspector Hall wished to observe , with respect to what tho prisoner had said about his knocking him down , that he had no intention whatever to treat him witb any violence , but that he had offered some resistance , and used strong language to him .
The prisoner was then removed from the deck , en-• ouraged by the applause of bis friends , and was immediately after conveyed , under a strong escort of the third dragoons to Warwick gaol . There was a large crowd in Moor Street and the Bull Ring , who sheered as be pawed along .
Untitled Article
To this we add tho following , which though intended as a private letter , gives so strong a , characteristic picture of the mind , habits , and disposition of this suffering patriot , that we venture its publication : — Stafford , County Ga . l , Tuesday , Aug . 30 , 1842 .
My Dear Hill , —Last night my writing papar was taken from me , and I was told that , in future , I was only to have one sheet at a time , and I waa to ask for it when I wanted it , delivering ia the sheet already written upon ! I felt galled at this , but said nothing awry . This morning I have been delayed forhaif-anhour between ' giving in and receiving a sheet of paper : true , the turnkeys could not help this , for their hands were over full from the coming in of visitors and th _ cailing out of prisoners to see them , for a few minutes each , —and the perpetual unlocking and . clocking of doors occasions them much exertion . I hope I shall not be further annoyed in this manner , as I have not given or . e cross word to a single human being -since I left my own home , and I would not like to . feel the spirit of resistance kindled within me . I will bear this persecution with the equanimity of a man and a philosopcer—if possible .
I happen to have a few resources within me for " whiling away" the hours of my solitariness . You will recollect me once telling you , my dear Hill ,. that I committed the first three books of Paradise Lost , and the whole of Hamlet to memory , when about two arid twenty years of age , These , and other delightful treasures of the ** immorui - mind" cannot be Btolen from me , —no , thank Heaven , nor ever annihilated till my poor frame itself is rendered lif-leas . Last night when closed up in my sleeping cell , I contrived , by resorting to this inward wealth to buy some hours of extatio enjoyment , even witbin the grated prison . I first repeated the opening half-book of Milton , —( in a very low under tone , of course , —for prisoners are not allowed to speak alsud ;)—and then glided from the majesty of 'Paradise Lost '; to the witching wildness
of Christobel , "—repeating aa much as I could call to mind of that singularly beautiful and mysterious poem of the singular Coleridge . After tunning ovsr a few sweetly plaintive pieces of Wordsworth—I thanked my enjoyment for music , —and-partly in a low vocal strain , and partly in a mock-whistle , called up to ray imagination as fully as 1 was able , the choruses in the Dettingen , Te Detim , the gay pastoral music of Aci _ apd Galatea , and ended my reminiscence , for the nonce , of the magnificient Handel , by imitating the instrumental and vocal pomp of *• From the Censor , " the grand double chorus in the superb oratorio of Solomon . ' I could easily fancy myself in old Lincoln , and imagine , as in past years , I beard the enthusiastic arid skilful voices of the choral society ( an old subject on which I expended some years of energy ) pealing forth " Live foi ever , mighty Solomon . "
These may be trifles to talk of , my dear Hill , but some , at least , may feel a little pleasure in learning that one victim of the " powers that be , " ? can contrive to turn the hours of lonely confinement into momenta of joy , I am , my dear Hill , . < Yours , and mjr brave Brigade ' s , Faithfully , Thomas Coofejl
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 3, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct769/page/6/
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