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Northern Star (1837-1852), 11th January 1840, Edition 1 of 1, Page 7, Untitled Article

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      fCtrninue d from eurSixih page . ) wen : u > ^ r It ;••'• - st Aberysebam , hot it bad a iiSo fe * i > e \ * "de abont to callect the iinif- ^ a the £ -. ; - iivv ni ght , I was at Jones ' r , 5 « r . i ^ ol" bee :-Lv ..-e . at Pantypool , about ^ i . ' -.-utkintlie -. rcub ^ The house i ? k ept by - ss * :- 'V 21 . Joce-.. wai hmaker . I went there to ¦ . Ti ., ± it there wvs a ¦¦ : tingthere , as I had heard . ¦ -, --.- ? & b £ . The :. . - -aconsiderable number of :-.-i . v'jmfcJeJ ¦ - , : r , p - . oane when I reacted it . .-j 5 > . ! ¦ ' i ' rem were *» r ¦ - -. * with guns , some with . ; , hi : 1 others I ? ..- < - -apons wbich I cannot ¦ ., ; i . > . Sntr . e p-mtv . ? * ere above stairs , and » - ti ? beiow ic if ¦ rooms to each floor . I :- ¦ i « 3 -at the Briih-. j ? er-houBB about half an s r * . _•¦¦! . « r « s 7 T « vilK >? # * . Vi « "fn fLrtnM I

      tf'ifi x Kft it . '; Jiil not see William Davies . t a'd that nigni . I iw a person of the nam « i ' lle : there . Ht <« a-- not armed as far as 1 .-.. ) heard him $ \ -, ; , \ - ctions to the people out-. ' - . ' icD . r fa goc !;" : le race-conrge , and that .-. - . i " -s gece off- * ' . ^ t . number of men . He - - . : ? nie of a ho ; : ^ :- Trossmont where there . 3 ^ . . He rod - ; r : were blunderbusses and [ ¦¦¦• oric The p ^/ ir went towards therace-L They did aor <¦ n 1 themselves at . all here . I .. r ¦ -. ' - o tie Tfice-oou ^ s . It was about ten o ' clock [ .-- aiJ think whea 1 arrived there . 1 found per-1 : iii -einblea in th&r . a . i apposite the race-course . i u . 1 u * jt go 02 tLe c . 'ti . ^ e , but 1 conld hear by

      , L-5 . - ; costing that genie ..- ; * them were on therace-:-. ; rf .. , A gocd mat-y of tfeose in the road v . e Krined . i s-t William Jones , the watchnafcer . sf . Pcntypool , th < re . He was speaka ? * -5 ih the other sen - * ho were there . 1 was : ¦ - ' hJtazi . I « t- - : n : ? fi ta run away , but wag / ¦ prc-i ny i « r ^ i or four ¦ n . < ? n armed , who took me to \ l . I- ' ew iEr . eboat *«¦ * niles and a half from C ; 7 p . x » lj between she : v . ce-couwe and Newport , !• ¦ „ -5 s of a . mile from tt > 3 race-course on the tarnn , iai . It wa # bttwe . ;;; ten and eleven o ' clock p ? : ; . s irrived s . t iSw Scir Inn . The hoose was p , i- tall of pecyle , & £ : ta ; number of . whom were tr . 1 wts taken i&dde . William Jones came

      | r . •* .: 3 1 ^ -R 3 tsere , acd entered the house . 1 fe . -.:. ; -ir-i c ^ r the m ; n ont repeatedly . He told fe - 0 turnout asd mar ^ h awards Newport ; that fe . - are' .-xpected b y rte peopl 9 at Newport in p . i / c ; di < : »; that 1 I 14 niits were to go first , and H ... - jiexi , and iie otV ' er ? with whatever weapons . .. vili k * i . i g&w them form ia the road . The - ¦ ¦ -. - uifM . ea tftcmychc * ia rank and file so many X - . : «? ., 1 saw the gnz 3 come ont and stand behind S r ; -r . - . 1 tb ? i < ras away . 1 was obstructed a 9 -r- "me by men arro ^ ^ ritb pistols , who threatm biow my trains > -- if 1 attempted to run m - or > f-seu . 1 did . howeTer , make my escape . rit TO Po ^ typool . ' went no further than « Iqd . . -

      . . xaminca sy Mir . Kell y—It was about ten en n ' oi-jck whe ? I made my escape from th « i . D . I hid 4 ' oiie a -little distance towards ¦ i ^ cal whea I was stopped b y the men with tht m Whftn the aen were going out and forming B : e iet (« ca {^ . . It w ? s not so Tery dark at that m It wfct a r « ry Ket bad night . I do not think ; a - . viio met ia = and slopped me knew me . I : ! : rc ? rtli ? c . . [ yrzz 3 Chartist at the time 9 fiiwi the sody about a week before . I had S ; .- <; » , ¦ their public citings , which they held B - w ^ i . icr abaat a twelremonth before . I » - ? t at Moajrevfh when Vincent was tried , or S ;> «> - ;?;« . -i ^ --wn a 3 the news conld reach

      9 .. ooi too Csi ^ iUts took a great interest in the m ,:- . There-were some two or three other Char-« -. Ticlea at ? ha fi % me time . I recollect nothing K ; . ;> . t .-r . » being £ r « Mt af satisfaction amongst the Si-: - ms A tii 3 stfjws « u ill-treatment of Vincent . » . , . smhidB vrcis excited by the treatment he «• - ^ v : d , and there wss something aboutapeti-¦•> ' J hi- , was iiuficicutly notorious for me to m . : ¦ : &rd It aliogetlier . I was not a regular mem-»; ¦ ;; ¦ hat tiac . I had gone to meetings before , as m is if » er 1 was ^ r . ifiCTbej . I went Tolnntarily m , » .. i mfot-g . I ban jio notice of it , and it was | : i-. seen I sa ? . - tlit uu ^ bf . is and the aims that I - •• ¦ - . ^ e 3 Jarm ; d . aad inahT got away .

      ! . - ¦) «»« Forejutacf tl . e . " ury—I think the object K ^ i .:- j pstifcoE -pas that Vincent should be released . I looo ?« fiv , sxamiiiei ! b r the Attorney-General I I : i ? a it yjct MowciJyn , about half a mile from f . - ' ^ p crt . I r ^ coiiwi Sunciay , tho 3 rd November . h Ti ^ d en rJ work in th « furnaces , helping the fc-ineiijr cm inat . etouiug . After I had finished | - ti Trent horns ta sj ! odging 3 . About eight : c £ sen-rs : peopb eac ^ in , amed with spears , ¦ ! Huji-iid ma that T ^ st come with them . I . v ., i « sa ? a ti > ; aka some rictuals , and thej told me . crc wss no time , that we ought to be there ! '•" ., Tneydid cot « ay where . They took me to rfeihns bt-er- ' iouse ' . That is not a quarter ' ¦ ¦ - iiiilfc froEi lay -icasd . There were a great many .. > h r « t Lki'T 5 : U"rr . I saw there but one man ¦

      ' 3 ^ mntca ^ -j . Orders were then giren r- ¦ u «« ra ^ - ' : •;*¦ an .- '^ urse . Two of the people i > roi ^ l ... ; . ;; LIcv . c . ' i-u ' awere armed . I went s - :. - " : thesLx : L- r £ w-. - = vie . There were a great : ¦ : ; .- £ ! ¦ of :- - - .:-v :-j rb"jv . ;• -. ^ t of whom were armed r ! -fiS .-5 - ¦ ¦ J vyr-i . : " . was about ten o ' clock r- ; w-v . aiv . " » i :, o v ^ c& * our « a ; » Tcry-tlarlC , » -.- ¦ ¦ -r .-i . - pz :-z \ " x - Joneeon therace-eourse , a " - - ! the , ic 3 oe « ij . < - ? ii ; - > a it . I remained there - "" i-e iwl'jvs / iu order was given , I believe m l-u . Joaos i « . niiuhutowardB Newport . N » 9 -: mn . ordered . Th : < ; r . cn marched five abreast i :- ; sj-s- i -. i . TvrrheJ in front , according to the order ¦ ' , . 7 e vcuri , -ff ' ao taiae immediately after the

      a -- , - ¦ idts . Thej marched five abreast on the * ,.,, ; : uil . ov . ^ rd ! : Newport . I remember com-| ' ^ / i ¦¦ ' : c <> r- '' Cro ? -y-Kyloz , where we made ••• it . ., ; - , ¦ - . - .- ! ire lucre , William Jones came mp - : ^\ r .. \ c .:. i-. i : h :: ^ . all .: to march to w ards New-K-. ^ l . > . u-jiji u : 1 ? r . ; iad gone into a publicpon v . . * : i t :-i ' . ti'r . i- 1 n rained behind . All the feh :. " t v / . vt ¦ iv vv u .- 'irir . I thought to make my ¦ " ¦ m . ! - aiui -.. i ; ..- ; ii .:, { i . j -eeain the kitchen . W . ¦

      a . - : « . » v » , acrj iud .- .: ¦ ' ¦ : ¦ and told me '' if I did fe ~ • : k ; (¦•; he t .: i . -. w out my brains . " He ft ¦ ¦; Lr . : i : * -s n : a . > ¦ .- ; i : ; £ t as he spoke , and then | r- ' -vt 5 ivi re . 'rivv a with the rest towards tjevt .,. . . \ Yh . - x . Lk .. . Hrnpikehalfa mile from IfvjRptrt . 1 £ ivr Jo r iere . It was near one Irdf . k . - 'M . -T v ^ % rr . : ¦ - here . I remained there lifcorif - ; : ! s « r . I ? hon > . ink , or more . I then t&at . c a . 'j -sc ; it from ili . place , and came home to K ^' J'yy- 'u .. / . litre 1 ~ r ; vi about seven o ' clock on Bf 2 r . r . rr 12 ¦ 'ni : ; 5 . > v .: v I eseaped , the men re-¦ wj - <>} - . '• .- iru . . - ^ ite , waiting for the men w « r » v :. ,, -. .. e fieri ; . ' u ; kwood .

      » - ? ani !?; e'T » j Sir ; .. Pollock—I was never a wAi- . . ¦ ¦«> r kitf . v . ftls . i » Chartist was .

      K * ' .: . c ^ o , csamincu . - Mr . Sergeant Lndlow—&i '~ : - ccJlici , wid live i- Abercairn . Ahout nine ¦ cliH k ct Sunday eveniajj , Not . 3 , I went with >> - ; . !' -- wfctciiraaker . fe the Bristol beer house . Hht > ki ; oL-. a was fui 'i'fcere was no room in it . « 5 ! icf and I v ? ent u * i rtai's , and sat above an hour . B . Eit ^ i or ( he nam 5 of Sbeller asked me where my Suu - s . He thcu Trent down , and brought up a » ig c : Ucr , aad poarc d it oat for the company . I saw la&'iciiKfth al-racc of- listok We went afterfsnl so Cross-y-Kv log . ¦ went there to keep myfcaTr . fe tint I should jic be pressed . It was a I ar : tr to tea o ' clock or Lilf-past nine when I left :

      | 3 Sv- ? Sheilc wmt dowr . stairs with me . Before f tf . •;¦ -, ; ^ . t , to go be csid . " It is time , or else we Kia : ; ye too ii : e . Us get up and went down , and tie ?' : ii ' iveiMtj . lweaikd me into the middle of Jtc s : . ' ;• - £ . He said ' H .-9 ia a man who lives at ifw top of TrheBiaid . I < j s one of our society . He « i : ital Cbfirti . 31 . Tl : ^ . s both guns and pistols E h »; -.-. G j fciero &nd ri : -i np the latch of the door E ud like whtt jon iikc . it " e will say nothing at all g 1 r ^•; . '• • He tOi < J we it was the second house at the 5 f . f Tr ^ sauid oa tLe lelt hand . At Cros 3-y-; . yio . i is the paoi ^ e I rcw Jones from eleven to i - fel . - 'i o ' clock . He bacsi'mething in his hand which | c-. id not Ae . I west ia beeause I was very wet . W-M r . o ; 5 t »>! ' a * the house at Trassaurd . 1 went a ^ -Visd tli £ i ' yv . ? i ia ( J i man who was Eent by Slkii j c&iied af ?^ r ine aid said , this is my house . 3 ' ••* -. ¦ & }

      •> Gi-CiS-y-Kylog I retarr . ed to Jones , and he said miTirry ; ~ *~ -on , I vn ± blow your brains out if if ^ near ^ bt iuw « ~ ot' yoiu lark . Jones said to me , m imt , iit you coming ! and I said I would eome 9 v xn I wc-iinei csyseif some beer . Ha said , I will a { : s yen a jug . He tk » r went away , and I stopped M '' -h taoorh ? n till half-past fire o ' clock oa Monday B - rniaj { j T-iidii Hfc wont on towards Newport for a 'ai ; . u ( i « i halieriKomilesfrom Cross-y-Kylog . I f st JoDed £ tasc : ug . talking to two men . They left " -Ts ia-i -wc ^ t < - > -.: T ^ vrards Newport . There was a ^ 3 E "l-llifr'i' u \> ia Ji > n «' s arm . They were walk-B f&riu in ; u ! u . Oi » - <> f the two men was called B '^ k . A ssfcrd iad a cjgger were given to him , II « Lc was talit i . > . j ? ' ) on towards Newport . It a yfeat bac < , shards Cros 3-y-Kylog again , IK •'¦ : I ¦ V 2 i : i » > ¦> Jvwi .. 'dj Newport , and saw no more

      w > nun . fl | rossteraabed ly Mr . Kelly—I wa 3 at one time gt L ^ riiiit I xai ^ d £ ; : )> scriptioiis for the defence of ¦ ff ' ceat . B our . Plt ujs ? i «* tbn nest witness called ; but , » ^" aa erji niiEatiotoatlie toir dire , and another '•" igi- LtY ^ jg Epqkca »« - « the locality of his rcai-II ' 1 * ' * ° ¦ ^ ' ' * corigjoorcd that the description in II ' : i £ iof mtuejies was so far doubtful that he If ia : not to be csaaiineJ i and his eridence therefore | f . « T i rejected .

      krutophcr r . idiagen , examined by Mr . Sergeant ^ uoTf—I am 2 , ba toacr , and live about four miles Wtn Pofltyiwoi , and -, ip > - Crosa-y-Kylog . On Mon-« - . nrr-. u ¦ > .. ; a = . ovember , I wasathomc ; B- ' : ' ¦ " ¦¦ •; . ' : '•' - ' - 'ht o ' clock five or six per-K :. u : r j . : '' - ' -f . •'' "• took me from my home . f i . i .-: ' " - < ' ¦ ;? ad pikes , some hatchet < = r * -iic- -- ¦ •< - ' ' >" ¦ ' ¦ ' •• ithat I must come abn [ kiA x • v * . • . lling to go ; " but I was rAcYfarc ? . Oas of r Ji « m put a spear to me , / fcfrj atid Ib » i ' ^ oied push it into me if I md

      Untitled Article

      not come . They put it against my waistcoat . I know Jones of Pontypool , the watchmaker He keeps tne Bristol public-house , at Pontypool . I first saw him on that day at Malpas . There were a large number of persons there . There were between 3 001 and 4 , 000 persons . I walked amongst the people There is a place called Crindaneer , near to the Malpas turnpike . There is a lane going towards Ponvlaer , which joins the two roads . The men all went ud that lane from the Pontypool-road towards the Risca-road . Jones said , this is the way , up this ane . That lane led to the turnpike road which leads from Newport to Risca . We met a collier coming across the fields from Newport . H « ^ _ .. 1 . fm _ _____« " i .

      np to the hedge , and Jones asked him where he had ^ een- ? f £ e had been t 0 Newport , and that there had been three or four men killed . Jones said , in answer , then we are done . I heard him sav so . He said no more . We followed him through ienylaer . There we left the company dispersed and I went to Newport . I don't know what became of Jones after I left him at Penylaer . A great many of the-body had arms—guns , pikes , pistols and hatchets , and a great variety of weapons . ' Cross-examined by Mr . Kelly—I don ' t know what Joues did after he said " Then we are done . " After I left him at Penylaer-maur I saw no more of him Going towards Penylaer-maur from the place where Jones said "We are done , " is going away from ^ ewport . Penylaer-maur is about a mile and a half distant from Newport , I suppose . Where I was taken trom was about six miles from Cross-y-KyW and we went about six miles . It might have bpfti '

      more altogether . It might have been upwards 01 two hours while we were going . I made a deposition on oath . While I was going with the men I did not know what we were goine to do . ° Re-examined by Mr . Sergeant Ludlow—The road upon which we were proceeding would have taken us to Newport , if we had not turned up the lane at Mai pas turnpike . John Matthews , examined by Mr . Sergeant Taifourd-I am m the service of Mr . Proihero , who was a partner of Sir Thomas Phillies . He hi , * w !

      beside the Malpas turnpike . I was in his service as gardener . On Monday morning , the 4 th of Nov while I was at my breakfast , a little before nine 0 clock , I heard a noise in the stable-yard . I wen out and saw a great number of men there . Some of them had pikes and some guns , and we had a hatchet . Mr . Prothero ' s coachman was there . Armed men were about him , speaking to him . On . mv coming up one catches hold of me by my jacket ant said "You mHst come along . " I endeavoured to resist them , but was not able . I dare say there were 160 or 150 men in the yard . I went with them , and while with them I heard Jones , of Pontypool inquired for . I was rather before him , and if he was not immediately in sight the people were inquiring for him . I saw him walking amongst them from time to time , but I did not see him do anything There was a person of the name of Aust . I went with them to the Malpas gate . There is a road which goes from the Pontypool road across the canal

      and then there is a lane which leads to the Risca road , a short cut from one to the other , without going through Newport . There were some people at the gate who cheered us up the lane . I saw ' Jones in the lane . We halted before we got to the end of the lane . Some persons who had been at the West-gate came , and gate intelligence that they had attacked the Westgate , and had been defeated . I saw Jones at that time . The mob then gathered around , and were conversing with him or he with them ; but what they were speaking ' about I cannot say . I got away int » Newport . Cross-examined b y Mr . Kelly—I was nearly two hours with the mob . When the intelligence was received , ! stood for a little time , and when I could I made my escape . I went into Newport . Some of the mob , at that time , were sitting down , some were standing , and some were going on towards RiscA .

      Richard Pugh examined b y the Attorney-General —I keep the Coach and Horses public house at Blackwood . 1 have kept it nine years next March . I know John Frost , the prisoner at the bar , by sight . I know Zephaniah Williams , and William Jones , of Pontypool , tho watchmaker . Mr . Frost was at my house on the Friday . Zephaniah Williams and William Jones were also at my house on rnday , as nigh as I can recollect between eleven and twelve o ' clock in the forenoon . They were altogether at the same time . They were in st long room , as we call the place up stairs . These were also some persons who were strangers to me . They left the house between five and six o ' clock in the evening or ni ght as I can recollect . They had been inthe

      together . room . There were thirty altogether in the room as nigh as I C 3 n understand . There were no orders given as to people going in . I did not see them deny anybody , nor hear of it . I had not seen the strangers before that Friday . They had no refreshments in the room . I do not know who the strangers were , or whence they came . It was not stated in the presence of Mr . Frost , Z . Williams , or Jones , the watchmaker , in mv hearing , who the strangers were , nor whence they came . My customer * go into that room when there is not room below stairs . The house was full that day . There was a Chartist lodge in my house , which was established about eight or nine months ago . The Chartist lodge met in that room . Tito time of meeting ' waa Monday evening . This meeting on

      the Friday was not a regular meeting of this lodge . The prisoner , and Williams , and Jones , left the house at the same time , or nearly . I saw no more of the prisoner on that day , but he was at my house perhaps for an hour or a little more , on the Saturday evening . I was not in the room and cannot tell who was with him . I saw no more of Zephaniah Williams , as far as I can recollect , from Friday evening until after the disturbance took place . I saw Jones after it was getting dark on the Sunday evening . He had a glass of brandy and water at my house , and left between five and six o ' clock . The fi-st time I saw Mr . Frost

      on the Sunday evening was as it was getting dark , between six and seven . He had a glass of beer , and did not stop above ten minutes . There were a sight of people coming and going out all the time . Not one of them that I saw was armed . The people continued coming in and going out about an hour and a half . I heard nothing more that night . I heard people going by almost all night . I could not judge in what direction they were going . I remained in doors on the Friday . Whilst the persous were in the long room on the Friday , I do not remember any persons going up , besides the strangers and the persons I have mentioned .

      Cross-examined by Sir F . Pollock—Blackwood is about fourteen miles from Newport . I know the persons of Frost , Jones , and Williams . I did not know any of the other people , except a man of the name of Barwell , who was secretary to the lodge . The judges and jury here retired to take some refreshment . On their return , Edmond Lloyd was called and examined by the Attorney-General—I keep the Royal Oak publichouse at Blackwood . I know John Frost , the prisoner at the bar , and Zephaniah Williams . I know

      Jones , the watchmaker , by sight . I never saw Mr . Frost in my house . I saw him in Blackwood three or four times in the week before the riots . Zephaniah Williams ' a horse was put up at my house either for three or four nights during that week ; I cannot recollect what nights these were , when he was taken away by Zephaniah Williams . I cannot tell the day of the month , but I believe the three days that thehoree was there Wednesday , Thursday , and Friday . Wm . Jones was at my house about the middle of thatweek . The Thursday or Friday Z . Williams and he came in together and talked to one another , but they took no refreshment .

      The witness was not cross-examined . Joseph Stockdale , examined by the Solieitoi General—I live at Aberystwith . I remember Sunday , the 3 d of November , before the riots at Newport . 1 was near Zephaniah Williams ' s house on the Sunday morning . There were a great many people there between five and six o ' clock . He spoke to me about going to the Mils , and told me to bring a weapon of some sort with me . He told me I should meet with 14 , 000 more on the hills . He did not sav anvthing

      about where arms were to be got . He did not tell me any more about weapons , where they were to be had or not . I did not go to the hills . Isot cross-examined . William Henry Williams , examined by the Solieitor-General-I know Mr . Crossfield very well . Was in partnershi p with him some time since . Ho is * considerable dealer in gunpowder , and supplies the mines very considerabl y with that article . He has 1 , 000 barrels a year . He has a warehouse in the borough of Newport .

      Cross-examined by Mr . Pollock—I was in partnership with him nine or ten years ago . He is still alive . I have since then known of his sending in and delivering out powder . What brought me to his place was other business . I know nothing of his business beyond any one else . The barrel of gunpowder is 1091 b 3 weight . They are always the same weight ; but I n 8 rer saw one weighed . Moses Scard , examined by Mr . Wightinau—I am one of the police of Newport . I was in Newport on the 4 th of November last . I was present at the attack on the Westgate . I saw the crowd that was ia front . Some of them were armed with guns , others with pikee and mandrils . When the attack was ov er

      I saw the mob dispersing . I saw one man throw away a pike . I saw also weapons lying about Vf ' aere the riot had been . ( Witness here , ar the desire of the court , produced some of the arms that had been found—one gun aud a sword , and a mandril , pikes , long iron rods sharpened at the ead , some well made , hnt the major part of them of Tery rot j « h and hasty workmanship . ) I picked np oae or f , vo guns . I found some of the arms lying 011 the line in which the mob was running away . I think I F / icked up about 250 of these sort of arms . 1 kuovv that there are powder-houses in Newport—that is , f laces where powder is kept . One of those places u . three-quarters of a mile from the poor-housi ? . r p } . powdcrliouse T refer to is a different one ¦ to Mr " . Crossfields .

      Untitled Article

      Cross-examined by Mr . Kelly—I was at the Westgate inn for five minutes when the attack was going on . I was not there at the end of the business . I have been examined several times before the magistrates . I know a man with a wooden leg , named Turner . I believe I saw that man in Newport . 1 have doubted since about my seeing Turner . I will not swear positively now that I saw Turner there that day , but I believe I did . I saw a mau with a wooden leg in front of the Westgate . _ I did not know Turner personally before that time , but I have since seen him very often . Mr . Kelly—You tell ma now you have a doubt about Turner . Witness—I have . Have you never said you had no doubt ! -I have said so .

      [ In the course of the examination of the last witness some laughter was caused in court by some of the pikes , which the witness was identifying , fallingover the seat on which the Attorney-General and tho Crown lawyers were sitting . ] Thomas Watts , examined by Mr . Talbot—I was on the road to Newport on the 4 th of November . I saw pikes and guns l ying on the tramroad . There were 200 or 300 pikes , like those produced in court . I saw , I am sure , from 8 , 000 to 10 , 000 people running . I saw about forty or fifty with guns .

      A discussion arose upon an objection raised by Sir F . Pollock to the description of Morgan James , which he contended was vague and incorrect . The description of the witness in the panel was " Morgan James , of Pillgwenlly , in tho parish of St . Woollas , in the borough of Newport , collier , sometimes abiding in the house of his son , Johu JaraeB , of the parish of Bedwelty , in the connty of Monmouth , collier . " On the examination upon the voir dire , it appeared that the witness usually resided with his son for the purposes of his work , but that he went up once a month to Pillgwenlly ( where he had rented a house for eleven years , and where his wife let lodgings ) to purchase provisions . It also appeared that the son ' s house was in the parish of Moneythrastline , and not in that of Bedwelty . The objection wa » allowed .

      General—I am a solicitor , living in Newport , and I am also clerk to the magistrates . I usually reside at Newport . I left home on the 3 d of November , and returned the next morning between the hours often and eleven o ' clock . I know the Westgate inn . I came into tho street ( Commercial-street ) in which is the Westgate inn . The first thing I noticed in the street was a dead body under the portico of the the mayor ' s house , which is on the right side of the street opposite the Westgate inn . I saw that morning nine dead bodies altogether . When 1 first saw them they were dying . A warrant had been that day granted against Mr . Frost , the prisoner . Mr . Frost has a shop , and carries on business as a draper in the town of Newport . The warrant for the apprehension of Mr . Frost was issued at five o ' clock . I had also a search warrant for the purpose of searching his house .

      The warrants were here asked for by Sir F . Pollock . Mr . PhillipB said he had not them in Court , but promised to produce them in the middle of the day . Examination resumed—I went to Mr . Frost ' s house with the superintendent of police Mr . Frost was not to be found in his house when we went there . I afterwards went to Partridge ' s house , but not in search of Mr . Frost . I had a search warrant for Partridge ' s house . I went to the house attended by some special constables . It was between the hours of seven and eight o ' clock when I went there . I knocked at the door of Partridge ' s house , but no notice was taken of my knocking . I then attempted to enter the house , but fiudingthedoorfastened . Icalled

      out" Partridge , " and he said , •¦ I am gone to bed . " I said , " Get up , and open the door , or I must force it open . " The door not being opened , I forced it open . I heard the irons that seemed to fasten the door inside falling down , and then when the door was opened I saw within two yards of it Mr . Frost , standing . He was facing me . The cottage in which Partridge lives is a very small one , and the door opens from the street into the room . There is no passage . Charles Walters was also in the room with Mr . Frost . Walters is the person included in this indictment . Partridgowas also there . These three persons were all in the same room together . I walked up to Mr . Frost . I laid my hand upon his shoulder on on » Bide , and Mr . Roger , who was

      with me , laid his hand on his other shoulder , and said to Mr . Frost , you are a prisoner . Mr . Frost said , Very well , 1 will go with you directly . I said , No ; I am not yet prepared to go with you . For I had the search warrant to execute . I then searched the house . Mr . Frost appeared to me at the tima to be very much fatigued , and he himself told me " that he felt uncommonly uncomfortable . " He walked arm and arm with me from Partridge ' s housa to the Westgate Inn . The one place ia distant about a quarter of a mile from the oth * r . At the time he was arrested , Mr . Frost was not searched . He was not searched till we got to the Westgate Jnn . Upon being .. searched , there were found «« t him" thteejriBtols , a powder flask and

      some balls . The balls , 1 believe , were loose in hi » pocket . Upon Walters being searched , there were found upon him four pistols , powder , ballB , and some lucifer matches . Tho pistols found on Mr . Frost were all loaded . [ The pistols were produced b y the witness . ] Two of them were very small pocket pistols , the third of that description which was generally called Buil Dog . The pistols are still loaded , but the caps are taken off . There were in the paper nine balls . ' Frost ' s powder flask was nearly full . Upon Walters there were about forty or fifty balls found . The prisoner Frost was committed to gaol . Cross-examined by Sir F . Pollock—I had a search warrant for Mr . Frost s houso , and I executed it .

      I searched the room that Mr . Frost usually sat in ; it was where he usually sat as a magistrate . I searched for his papers . I found all his papers open . There were a great many papers in his handwriting , which were lying on shelves and other places . They were all handed to me by oae of his daughters , who remained in the room all the tim « with me . Mr . Frost ' s family consists of Mrs . Frost , fiva daughters , and I believo two sons , one of whom I think is abroad . I made the search late on that evening . I think it was between seven and eight o ' clock . I made the search before Mr . Frost was arrested . Miss Frost handed her father ' s papers . The placeB that she took them from

      appeared to be those whero he usually kept his papers . I first saw Mrs . Frost and told her what my business was and the family then assisted me in giving me the papers . Two of Mr . Frost ' s daughters were in the room all the time I was there . ( Witness here pointed out on the map the respective situations of Partridge ' s cottage and Mr . Frost ' s house . ) The back of Mr . Frost ' s house is not far from Partridge ' s . Partridge ' s house is in a lane , and a sort of field or garden separates them . Partridge was very frequently employed as a printer b y Mr . Frost . I have known Mr . irost a very long time—for a great number of years . When he heard my voice he must have known it .

      Re-examined by the Attorney-General—There is a back communication between tho houses of Mr . Frost and Partridge , that is through fields . Coming from Tredegar Park to Newport by the road , one would come much sooner to Frost ' s house than to Partridge ' s ; but going by the paths along the fields , the shorter way is to Partridge ' s house . When I was looking over the files of papers in Partridge ' s houso , Mr . Frost asked me by what authority I was searching them . . 1 replied to him that I did net think it necessary to tell him what was my

      authority . He then said to me , " If you expect to find any of my papers there , you will Tbe disappointed . " The Attorney-General—This , my Lords , closes the case for the Crown . Sir F . Pollock—Perhaps your Lordships will not all upon me to speak at this late hour ? Chief Justice Tindal—Certainly not , Sir Frederick , unless you yourself wish it . At the request of the Foreman , orders were then given by the Chief Justice so that the Jury might be enabled to take the air , not only during the evening , but in the course of the next day . The Court adjourned , at a quarter to four o ' clock , until Monday merning .

      SIXTH DAT . THE DEFENCE . Monmouth , Monday Night . Their Lordships took their seats at nine •' clock precisely . Sir FREDERICK POLLOCK—May it please your Lordships , and Gentlemen of the Jury , —It is now my duty to address you on behalf of the prjj soner Mr . John Frost , and to state to you wharfs his answer to the charge that has been made SgSlDSt him . My learned friend towards the close of hit address , spoke of the difficult task which the prisoner ' s counsel would have to perform . 1 do Hot agree with my learned friend ; and 1 would to God that 1 had as little difficulty in relieving Mr . Frost

      from every charge of criminality on that fatal and eventful day , as 1 believe 1 have in answering the charge of high treason . 1 believe 1 shall satisfy you , certainly 1 believe so that I shall bring the tons within the compass of tho ^ e expressions used by the Attorney-General , and that will entitle the prisoner to y our verdict of acquittal . 1 b the eourse of my address 1 must entreat your indulgence to me . To " me criminal business i * exceedingly new—a charge of hig h treason altogether ho . The business of this court ( o opposed to that of \ hs other ) is always accompanied with feelings of anxiety to me so intense aud painful , and almost overwhelming , that 1 have on all occasions , wbere 1 could with propriety do so , declined it altogf iher . But , o& the

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      present occasion , 1 readily accepted the office . 1 thought it my duty , when called upon , to undertake this task ; aud 1 stated to the gentleman who first applied to me on the instant , asd without hesitation that if 1 could make it accord with my professional engagement ? , it would be a want of manliness on my part if 1 did not give Mr . Frost the benefit of any services which he wished to command . 1 am sure that my learned friend will cordially agree with me that no loyal subject can be betcer employed than in thus disproving the existsnee of treason ; and in satisf ying you and the public at large that there has been no case of that complexion , whatever degree ef criminality of another sort may attach to it . 1 am far from making any complaint , as sometimes has been made on occasions of this

      sort—on occasions of such solemn , and 1 may say almost sny awful proceedings-as those in which you are called to take a part . 1 make no complaint of the issuing of a special commissien on the charge of high treason being preferred ; and , least of all , do 1 make a complaint of the manner in which these proceedings have been conducted . 1 think it quite right , on occasions when the public peace has been flagrantly disturbed when numbers of her Majesty ' s subjects have been a larmed by the events which you have heard described by my learned friend , and to some extent proved by the witHegnes who have been examined , 1 think it quite right that these thiags should be as earl y as possible investigated , the law vindicated , the offenders punished , and that

      species of protection given to her Majesty ' s peaceable subjects wbich results from the law taking instant cognizance of such proceedings , of ascertaining tha character and nature o f the offence an awarding to it its due punishment , nor do 1 complain of the form of proceeding being that of hieh treason . 1 think it becomes the law officers of the crown under all the circumstances that first presented themselves , so offer that charge to your notice ; nor has the prisoner himself any reason to complain that it puts him in a worse position than he would otherwise occupy . From the earliest period of our history , and from all that 1 have read and heard of questions of this sort , it will be found that those who have been most engaged in conflicts with the crown for the liberties of the subject especi individuals

      ally guarded charged with high treason . The prisoner so . charged -is protected b y having a copy of the indictment ten days before the triala privilege from which others are excluded . He is also protected by having a list of the jurors and a list of the witnesses against him . And even before the Prisoner ' s Counsel Bill had passed , he had the privilege of being full y defended b y such advocates as must be assigned by the court ; and even the inexperience , in the present ease , of the counsel assigned has been a benefit to the prisoner , for instead of taking the practice of the law from any books , we sat down with the act of Parliament before us—we had the original documents in our view , and even our very inexperience induced us to exeroise that caution and vi gilance which has given rise to that point which my l . rds have deemed sa

      important as ts reserve it for further consideration . With respect to the proceedings which have occurred in your presence so far as the learned judges are cencerned , so far from being entitled to make any complaint , I do most full y and abs olutely declare that justice wasnever-I was about to say so ablycertainly never so satisfactorily administered from the court in such case as the present . I have never known on any occasion I have never read of any proceedings of this sort which have been conducted with such patient and untiring attention tn thapart of the learned judges presiding ; and 1 do , on the prisoner ' s behalf , mostfally and deeply thank them for the time and consideration—for the patience in hearing every point suggested for their readiness in

      giving the prisoner ' s counsel every possible opportunity of hearing and getting at the truth of the evi . dence and for the consideration which they have been enabled to give that evidence before they were called upon to address you for the defence . To you also , gentlemen of the jury , far your ready acquiescence in the suggestions of the counsel at lhe bar , and lor your cheerful endurance of wha » all persons will admit to be the greatest inconvenience—your protracted absence from your homes and your business- my sincere and cordial thanks are folly due and most fully and gratefully rendered . It ig } permii me to add , a very good omen for the administration of justice . Thus far every thing has been satisfactory . Of my learned friend ' s opening addiesii 1 havenothing to complain . It was short—1 think ifc was meagre . He abstained very much trom a detailed statement . 1 make no complaint of that ,. becaure 1 ascribe it partly to the moderation

      and forbearance of ray learned friend , and partly also to the nature of the cbbs he had to disclose , 1 know that it woald be satisfactory to me if instead ofthe cajje being summed up as it will be by my learnedfriend the SoJ | ieit ^ Qaneral , ititd-beenin ' | 6 jae -degrse ""^ et jiilga , * t the opening . ; it would aave Vesn gome assistance to me in looking at that evidence the giving of whieh has oocupied three not , very short days * . JJ . would liave been of great assistance / to me if my learned friend had stated distinctly and precisel y , not a few general points—not that so and bo was treason—not that eome general facts would be proved to bring borae guilt to Mr . Frost , but what were the particular fabts , or what the particular declarations on which he meant to rely , as bringing home the charge to the prisoner at the » ar . And after I kad heard the evidence I own it weuld still have been further assistance to m « if he had said which it waB of thp

      many inconsistent pjrfa of this case ke meant to ado . pt ; for not only i «| t in one , or in two , but in ten instances that it will b > , found that the evidenee of one part of the case is Completely at variance with the . evidence of the other , and 1 should like to know which of tho 3 e incontinent statements it was that ray learned friend meant to say was the true one ; , wnioh one it was of the varied , absurd , and isconsiatent disclosures supposed te be made by ray learned friend adopted as the true ne . Aud it would have been gratifying to me to have learned wkether such and suoh a witness , whose misconduct . 1 might : almost say whose infamy , 1 believe , has already distinctly appeared to you would be adopted by my learned friend as trustworthy . 1 ahould like to

      have asked my learned friead which of the witnesses , thirty-nine in number , he has called—which , of them he required of you to believe , which it was that he relied upon when he would ask of you to give your verdict against the prisoner . Gentlemen , 1 believe it was not heoause my learned friend had any desire to keep back remarks that ought to be made . 1 should do him an injustice if 1 were to put forth an j such complaint ; but 1 believe it arose from this , that my learned friend distrusted his own casf . He was afraid to state circumstances which might possibly be contradicted and knowing this , that the case wsuld come to be sifted ; and my learned friend being fully instructed , seemed to consider it was of such a descriptionthat the least said

      , of it the better . 1 de complain that he did nofrgite us his , statement in detail ; that he gave an outline 1 do nqt deny . 1 should Vkt Whave knewn how my friend would have put the case , ; and not left to the Solicitor-General to collect togother the scattered fragmento of the evidence upon which he will call charge is oae which , our law liwayg consideredand believe * justly bo—to b « the highest crime agaifiBtthe state . It is one , also , ' which is . visited with the severest punishment . This charge you trill now find presented ' to yon in aa indictmont of fonr very long counts . I maxe no complaint of the form of pleadings' in our courts of law ,, whether criminal or eivil . But here , yon perceive * the four

      counts of the indictment contain much ,, certainly , of repetition , and a plain man of sense might wonder that a charge apparently so plain should be involved in bo much circumlocution and repetition as mates it exceedingly difficult for aa unlearned and uninformed person to know what it means , or why there should be so many counts ,, or so many repetitions in the game count . I believe I have my learned friend ' s authority for saying , that yon need not give yonrnelve * much trouble in directing your attention to the third and fourth count * , that is , so far as they involve a personal attack on the Queen . I beliwe I may say that my learned friend ' s speech shewed yon that this charge conld not ba sustained ; and so it is with reference to tbe charge of the

      Government . It is , I believe , on the fourth count my learned friend , if I recollect right , did not point it out as one which would call for much attention ftomyou or from me I thus call your particular attention to the third and fourth counts now , as these are the charges contained in them , so far as I could collect from reading them . The first count , upon which my learned friend relies , is for levying war for & certain defined object ; the second connt , is for levying and making war generally . I believo I shall be able to satisfy yon , in stating the offence of Mr . Frost , that h 6 is not guilty . I mean to confine myself to the second connt of the indictment , for I am not aware that , BubRtantially , the charge in the second count differs from that in the first , except that the second states a certain

      purpose . Baron Parke obsened that there was not much difference between them , but the first contained more particulars than the second . Sir F . Pollock—But the second states the levying of war in very general terms . The Attorney-General—I am sorry to interrupt my learned friend , but I think it right to inform him that I do cot ir , eaB to give np the third and fourth , counts ,

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      Sir F . Pollock—I am somewhat . snrprised at my learned friends interruption . In my learned friend ' opening address to you he said that vour attention would be directed to the first and sVcJnd counts . When he said this it appeared to me \ ' « much an abandonment by an Attorney-General of a third or fonrth count as any Attornoj-Genpral cO * ld possibly give . I am , then , rather astonished , when 1 compare hia opening address with what h e now says 1 for he says now though I told you 0 / 1 the opening your attention would be purticnlarl ) * addressed to the first and second corrnte , yet I i'ow tell you it must ba called to the third and fumt " aho . But , gentlemen , the intimation from m learned friend produces no change of purpose in my mind—alters not a j& the view of the snbiect which

      I had taken , aud which is confirmed by what has fallen from the bench—not » tating that the- Attorney-General ought to abandon the third andfourth eonnts of the indictaient but that in substance the 1 st and 3 d counts contained the same offence—the levying of war ; and 1 undertake to say , that at the conclusion of this case , unless the levying of war , and that for a treasonable object , be made out , Mr . Frost is in no danger whatever on the third and fourth connts of the indrctraent . Certainl y , gentlemen , I am indebted to my learned friend for explicitly stating on the partcf the Crown what is your duty on this important and solemn occasion . Says my learned tnend at the outset , "You are to presume Mr . 1-rost to be innocent ; yon are to begin the inquiry with every presumption in favour of his innnrmri

      until asssiled by proof ; " and my learned friend said , "lhe evidence to prove himotherwise thaninnoceu must not be lef - . m ambiguity—you must be in a situation from strong , clear and convincing evidence distinctly to see that you are doing no possible wrong to anyone by the verdict . " Every doubt , every difficulty is to be resolved according to the original presumption with which , a * my learned friend said , you were to set out ; and if it be consistent with the inmocence of the prisoner , you are to adhere to the presumption with which you began and to believe Mr . Frost innocent , until by the strong , clear , and convincing evidence which my learned friend admitted to be indispensable , you find youwelves bound and compelled , acting under the conviction produced by that htrons ; and clear evidence .

      to produce a verdict of guilty . In my judgment , gentlemen , the great point in this important enquiry—important not merel y to Mr . Frost himself , who stand * at that bar , awaiting the issue of your verdict , for life or death , but important to the country in which we sit , important to the kingdem at large , under whose government we live ; and the great question will be this—was the proceeding of Sunday , Nov . 3 d , which terminated in the fatal transactions of the Monday morning , fatal onlv to the persons who were unfortunately engaged in " the transactions , was that—whatever yoa may call toby whatever name it is to be designated , criminal I admit it to have b * en—was it done with any treasonable purpose , aud was that treasonable purpose existing in the mind of Mr . Frost at the time

      he concersed , if he did concert , that proceeding , or joined , as I mustadmit he didjoin inir ,. and marched with those persons from the Welch Oak where , I think , we first find him , down to thecorner of the Westgate Inn , whero he appears to have been lost sight of . Gentlemen , I take that to be the great question m the case . If 1 can satisfy you ,, as 1 feel v * ry confident 1 have the means of doing—L do not feel so confident as to the use 1 may make of those means—but 1 must ask on your part all the indulgence which will be necessary while , by and by , 1 call your attention to all the important part of this melancholy transaction . ] f 1 satisfy yon ,. e » 1 think 1 have the means of doing , that th * re is no evidence on which the least reliance can be placed ,, even as the matter now standsby which can comeas

      , you , reasonable and judicious men , to the conclusion that this treasonable purpose existed : still more , il there are certain parts of the transaction-which 1 can prove not to be as they have been stated ,, then Mr . Frost will be entitled , whatever mny have been the criminality of the meeting—the marching—the arming—the alarm—the terror , and the fatal consequences which ensued—how criminal soever these things may have been—however much to be dep ] i > red and lamented ; if 1 can satisfy you that the purpose was not a treasonable one , then Mr . Frost will be entitled to your verdict of acquittal . Nor * , gentlemen , do 1 feel any alarm as to any prejudice on your minds to his injury . Many years ago ,, perhaps the advocate of a prisoner under these ciromstances might have felt a degree of donbt almost to

      , approaching despair , in a case where undoubtedly armed pewons were collected , where marching had taken place in different directions of the kingdom , and where the transaction ended , as my learned friend has said , in bloodshed—a doubt , I Bay , might many year * ago have been felt by counsel how far a Jury would discriminate and do justice to different parts of the same transaction , and how far they might be carried by their indignation 1 at the consequences , so as to give a character to the transaction which legitimatel y does not belong to it . But I speak not to flatter you , Gentl&nen , sitting in that box , nor indeed to flattt-r the general body of jurors to which you belong , butj dp thank . . God that * ro , liv » in a time' when ~ iBere"Ki . -tb . at general diffusion of intel iigence—still More , . that low of

      general g independence by which you will , I am » ure be animated unhesitatingly to fulfil tout duty ; and if I can satisf y yen that the object of the meeting was not for the pnrposes of treawn , you will not be misled by any strong comments which may be made on the mischief that was done , oron the sufferings of the wonnded , circumstances which 1 feel had nothing to do with the transactioor-by any remarks on the lawless character of the transaction before it terminated in the deplorable ewnft m front of the Wentgnte . Yon will not be misled by cireumstances foreign from the transaction ,. but your intelligence will discern , and yoar indepen . dence will give effect to your judgment ; and if 1 can persuade you that Mr . Frost had no treasonable intention , yon will give him the benefit of that jpdg *

      nwnt , aye , even of a donbt whether you can come to an opposite judgment from that which it will be my duty to ask at yonr hands . Nor , Gentlemen ,, let it be supposed that any one under these reaiuw , or in this connty , or in this court , han an interest in a verdict of an opposite character . If 1 can make oat that Mr . Frost is not guilty of treason , so far from that being a verdict to be heard with regret , or thartany one will have to deplore , it is of all others under ouch circumstances as these , the on » that would give the greatest satisfaction to this county , to the kingdom , and to the public at large—of all others , it u that which would best reassure those whom thi » transaction has alarmed , if U can shew that this wide spread of dangerous and destructive treason has no foundation in fact—if I

      can satisfy yon that the thousands and thousands who were there assembled had no treasonableobject in view 1 relieve thi » country from a stain , a charge an imputation of the blackest and deepest dye—1 give an assurance that the alarm which has spread from county to county , all over England , isaot well fonnded , that no person need be afraid of a-repetition of the lawless violence which prevailed 00 the 3 d and 4 > th of November , and that should even » uch an assembly again meet , it will not be for purposes of treason ,, or for any of thoie objects which create alarm and terror as being inconsistent with the publk safety . Now , gentlemen , before I proceed to consider the evidence of my learned friend ,. I must make a few observations as to the time when we are now assembled and considering this important

      question . I mean to make no reflections upon those who now guided the Councils of her Majesty ... I have no instructions ,, and I have no inclination to utter one word of bitterness or asperity against indiridnalii from whom personally I entirely differt on many political subject )); . Above all , I should regret if anything jrfu $ h might fall from , me wera calculated tojiYeperdonwp&iato any absent party . Batitis iM ^ ossible to cpoaider the 1 character of . these tran-8 aouti& 8 without adverting shortly ,, hastily , aii' ^ lightly to the transactions which have occurred within the last seven or eight yeavs . Some years ago , gentlemen , meetings , such as- the evidence tells us took place at the Welsh Oak at Pontypool , and at that other place where Zephaniah Williams assembled those under him—gome Years bko

      meetings of this description would haw * baen deemed of themselves almost without anything more , indiev tiong of treasonable designs . Gentlemen , th * law cannot be altered by the conduct of those who are called upon to obey it , » nd I make that admiasiou to my lords ca the bench , because , in the few remarks I shall have to make on this part of the case , 1 da not mean to say that any change of the law has ascurred by the nilaxed discipline of society within some years , btvt 1 do mean to say distinctly , from what has actuall y taken place , that when yoa have permitted , pet haps , in gome instances even sanctioned , a very different estimation to be held of public meetings , aye , aud even of armed meeting * ,, from that wh \ uh " might have occurred twenty or thirty years agc > the object and intentions of a party ma ; receive , at the close of the year 1839 , a construction farmor& favourabl e , and justly favourable , than , perhaps , might fairly have been awarded to it in the earlier periods of the

      history of this country , widi which you ,, gentlemen , and 1 are familiar . 1 do not go back te anvvery remote period . Gentlemen , we bate lived to see thousands , 1 believe 1 should net be wrong if 1 said hundreds of thousands of men coll jcted for the purpose of . exhibiting their number « , and of showing their strength . Aye , and we have lived to see these numbers displayed , and tint at rength exhibited , for the purpose of interfering ¦ with a change of the ttystem of government . A'ccord ' . ng to the strict letter of tbe law as laid down by my learned friend the o-her day , the one or two hundred thousand persons who assembled at \ V hite Conduit Honse , 1 think it was , a few years ay _ o , nnd marched in mililary array , a certain number . j n eavh rank , and the rauka following each othr , like tin armed force , who marched thus to the offr : 0 of ths Home Secretary , and presented a petir " lOn complaining of their grievances , aad praying for 8 n alteration of the constitution , according ' - the strict letter of the law , those men were gnilty of hig h treason ; there can be

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      no doubt that Htras are not flpcessary . accord- ' ing to the coHstrnctiun of the flftiftte j to the lefj * ing of war . Yet . 1 am < ure such is thfl general information which pervaies all ranks of socisty fiow ; such , is the livel y attention which every one ^ ys topublic , affair . * , that 1 cannot be addressing tKelv& gentlemen of your station in life , without , perhaps , every one of you being aware that when that e # . traordicary event took place , when tie leaderu o 5 that assemblage wore admitted to a personal commpnication with an under Secretary of State , when a gigantic petition corresponding with that vast army of men ww unfolded in an inner chamber of the seat 01 Government , and when they were discharge , ! cannot say without a reprimand : f » r T B *« a ... . __ * " — *

      believe taey were told that their proceeding ' s were \ inlawfill , end , if I mistake not , they Wfr < » allowed tc deposit the bnrden of their petition in the chumbei "s of Government , but were told that comm * in that' fashion , it was more like treason or public tunu'lt t to which no attention ought to be paid Bat in ¦ ' notice was taken of the matter , and those 10 O , 00 V or 200 , 000 men returned that ni « ht to their peaceful ' homes , after having marched through the public » U "pets until all London was alarmed at the sight of jo powerful an army—for r-all y such I may call it—1 bV'iieve this was after the pnsiing of the Reform Bill , but at the period of the Reform agitation , which commenced so early as the introduction of the first biil , in February or March , 1831 . 1 think

      at that period , Vi various parts of the kingdom , per . sons assembled i . " » numbers , to show their strength , aad to exhibit b ) what preponderating and overpowering numbers the expectation of reform wa » entertained , and its lioctriues were to be enforced ; and in one of thi moa t populous parts of the kingdam ( I mean Birming'ham ) persons assembled and talked ef marching fc > London and encampingnot as-an army—oalno ,- gentlemen , but as a body of petitioners come to represent their grievvancea ; . they were to cjrae from Birmingham and encamp in tho neig ^ uurhood of London .. of course not to overawe the Ifouscof Lordij ; nothing ot the kmd ; but in order tin * those persons in London , and especially in tho Legislature who wcr * opposed to' Retorin , might beware how larjjc a body ot men-formidable and fearftl-if

      unarmsdirresis-,. - time it armed—werom the neighbourhood and ready - to bear a part ia the agitation- oPthedayt With ' that body , possessing bo much 3 < wer and strength , I believo some members of tho government were in actual communication . That ia matter of history 5 : and there is no moro doubt of whaVhas been pasaingwithin the last seven or eight ycarothan there is wehave to-day the happiness of living ander a tfracioui Sovereign , and'have the prospoct of much happinewand prosperity in living under her mild and benoficentrule . Under the namo of aviation what lias * not been done in every town and corner , of the kingdom ? If wo pass—and I shall do it lightl y , because I do it reluotantly—if wo pass for a ' moment , and take a glance at the sister country , how familiarly do we hear of petitions from 500 , 01 ) 0 people ? 1 shall

      say no more on that subject ; but I call upon you , gentlemen , to remember theso transactions whon you comoto delivor your verdict upon this charge of high treason ,. andiek it be understood , that without altering the law ,, ii has been bo far practically relaxed by tho permission ,, if not actual encouragement ,. afforded to such proceedings , that it would-bemost unjust to uss tho same raeasuro which was formerly in use .. As to tho motives of parties , it would not be just to weigh in tho same scales , ia which it would formerly have been weighed , ths transaction into which you aro making enquiry . Gentlemen , I shall now proceed to call your attention to the manner in which my learned friend has made out his case ., liefore I do that , I may , however be allowed tosay that my course , in order to

      001 am me ODjec ; i < have in view , will be merel y . on this part of the case to comment upon the testimony which lias been actually given , aud to add to thost comments a remark-or two on the evidenco which I shall be in a condition to offer . Gentlemen , I have no eloquence to lay . before you—I havo nothing to offer but remarks—of the value of which you are to judge—upon the case as it has been and as it will beproved . At tho same tims , do not understand me to disclaim any appeal to-your feelings or position . Tho- ; feelings and the sentiments and the habits of- ' me * have far moro iufluenco upon their general conduct than the calm evidence of reason . Na-y , oven their passions frequently come in aud exercise an important sometimes an uncontrollable sway . For you to be

      addressed aa sitting thore calmly to hear and coldly to decide upon moro reason and CTidenno , does appear to me not in accordance with tho duty I have t » discharge . When you come to decide upo » human oonduct , you . must be prepared to judge and to feel as jurorsj and also to judge aud t » feel as mon ; and the ^ m aa who onters that box - without being ready to sympathise with his fellowmen , and to enter into all the feelings and sentiments , and even passions , which aetuate him , is but half furnished for the important duty ha has to discharge . Gentlemen ^ . my friGud ' B case has , I think , been very skilfully raarsnalledl He is an experienced ! and an able general , and I think he has mado the mest of the forces which ha had to bring into tha

      field .. Hiacase is tsSa—and the evidence , as you all remember , from the manner ia which it wan arranged ,. I have no doufefc , oa .-purpose by the officers of the Crown , presents a clearer viaw of it than if the witnesses had been callod indieeriaunatel y to give evidence upon different , parts of the case . My learned . friend began b y pwving whal occurred on the fatal morning of the 4 ibNovembor ... He then traced tha prisoners through ihb various-places passed iu , what he called , the nigh * march . He then traced Zephaniah Williams from .. Nanty . glo r and then William Jones from Pontypool , and he shewed them all to be marehing upon the town- of N&wport . Eaoh of those narratives © lithe collecting and marching , of ;' those persons my learned friend interspersed with

      certain declarations ,- to whieh I . shall presently call your mo 9 t especial attentiovfor , Gentlemen , without these expres- ; k > ns—without these declarations , his case would be . absolutely , iurthisg—I mean , Gentlemen , as acaae of high , treason . Don't . for a moment imagine-that I ' csnsider there is no crime in assembling & . number of araed persons ,. and marching them fswany pujppM ; but this case would be nothing witlSout tho declaration of my friend . Gentlemea , my- friend then proceeded toprovo ,. by the landlord of 4 ho Goach and Horses , at Blackwood , I : behove , that a number of persons . had assembled tbere on Eiida / j T the 1 st November ; that thore wer ^ about thirty o d&ere with whom ha ¦ was not acquainted , and that Mt .. Frost , thepriaoner ,

      William Jones »» nd Zephauiah Williams , wercthree amongst them ; . and ho coucludsd his case with ; Mr . Thomas Joira Phillips ' s evidence respecting the apprehension of . Mr . Frost himself . Gentlemen , it is quite impossible to deny—ao-y , it is part of my case , that pessona did inarch down , andlthat they intonded to be in Newport at or about the same time ; that Hume of thoni , woro armed ; but , gentlemen , I otniithat I very much doabt that the arming - was by any means so sxtensra as it has been spoken " of , for tho number cf ' weap . ons . which were , picked up after tb& people jetreatedi and were dispersed , appears to Je very inconsiderable , and I do not know if all thatwere picked up have been produced here . It would , appear that they have been , if lam

      tojudge of tbe inclination to creato eit ' ect by- the display of tieso which . wore bsought here . But , from the number of weapons produced in eourt . as those ¦ picked up , it ia claor that , the arming was by no - means so extensive as it has been described . In . point o ? fact , however , they marched into , Newport , and had a conflict with , the special constables , but whethar there was- a conflict with tho military hi , the 83 nse which , doubtless ono of tka gentlen ^ meant by the inquiries made by him , although ; . Captain Gray did not return a satisfactory answer , " I c&a give it to . him . It cannot be denlad ygontlemea , that the constabulary force was attacked—thsfc one-of tho military was wounded (( aidar circumstances which you . will see presentl y ) , and , toug&tlnexpression of one of fte witnesses for the Crown .

      £ the momej&the mob saw one p « aoa fall , they all mm oreqK flireotioa , " and in a , few mimitwthatown of Newport was almost as cleai of Chartists as . « : had beenai an early hour ia the morning ; at six or seven o ' clock , when not a single Chartist had entered it . Gentlemen ,, all thi& is not to be denied , but it gses to Bhow what th « - object of those people was , ami that is tha question—what was their object ! Inow , for tho purpose of twinging one view before yon as to what their ol ^ ct probably was , I shall take the hborty of prea ^ uting to you tho evidence of a few of the witnesses for the Crown , who stated what that object way , and who professed to have colleeted it from the general body , oy from their leaders . Gentlemen , 1 shall take tho first person who . gave any information as to their object-a witness of the name of Waters .

      Iho Solicitor- ' aeneral : He is the second substantial witness , my lords . Sir 1 \ 1 ' ollock-No , not Waters ; 1 shall take Thomas Bevan Oliver , who is the seventh witness , commonciug with Simmouds an the first ; for ho was first called on undoubtedly who spoke to the charge , as Mr . Maule was merely examined as to the list of witnesses . Thomas Bevan Oliver , who was a special con-ntablo at the Westgate , says , "They turned round and camo up to the door of the inn , and called out , ' surrender yourselves our prisoners . "' Now , undoubtedly , if that be taken to be literally true , it ¦ has tho aspect as if some of the matters contained in the declarations of other tvitnesKcs were the roal ,

      genaine objects of their going to Newport . But it is very odd that this should ouly bo addroeBod to the special constables . At that time the shutters of the windows had not beon opened , aud 1 am satisfied that it was not known to tho people that tho soldiers were thoro , notwithstanding tho evidence of tho two bojs to the contrary , or if it were known , the shutters were shut and barricadocd , and the soldiers were placed altogether beyond their sijiht , and I am surprised as to whom the words , " Surrender yourselves ouv prisoners , " could bo addressed . Gentlemen , 1 bolicvo you arc already informed from the cross-examination of some of the witnesses as to the fact tlm sovei'al prisoners—twelve , i beliuvohad boen taken . Some of thitae wore iu the sol « ( Conlinvri in our eighth page . )

      Untitled Article

      -- — .- THE ! NORTHERN S ! fAR ; ? — '** ' ~ ' ^^^ " ~^^^^^^^^^**^—^¦^ MM ^^ Mh J ^~~^ t—™~—~————M » -i ^*~ fc < ¦ - ¦ ¦ V ~"~ ~ ¦ ¦ ti

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 11, 1840, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/king-y1kbzq92ze2666/page/7/