On this page
-
Text (2)
-
6 THB NORTHERN STAR. December 23, 1848.
-
LIVERPOOL ASSIZES. (Batons Mr Bsron AtDi...
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
6 Thb Northern Star. December 23, 1848.
6 THB NORTHERN STAR . December 23 , 1848 .
Liverpool Assizes. (Batons Mr Bsron Atdi...
LIVERPOOL ASSIZES . ( Batons Mr Bsron AtDias M . ) Fsidat , Die 15 . WOKOBBHt OF BRIGHT , THS _W _f _^ S _^^ _JjSi J Joseph Radcliffe ( 31 ) and J _^^^^ PfJ weiwere charged witb having , on tho 14 th of August , at _iAslAshtoamTder-Lyne . wilfully murdered James IBriBri _* ht , a _poUoioiBcer , by shooting him . with a S spistoL Thelatter prisoner was charged with taru _preprint , -Ming , -i « aWm , and in one of he _leoBoonts of the indictment both were charged with the mciactual shooting . . ... _ -, _» J Tne Attorney General , with whom was Mr _KnKnowles , Mr Crompton , Mr Matthews , and Mr WrWelsby , appeared fer tha prosecution , and Mr PttPttUock a d Mr _Orena for tho prisoners .
' 1 The Attorney General opened the ewe . When he _rrearerainded thejury ofthe serious nature of the _shasharge—a charge of wilful murder , affecting the lives nf of one or both of the prisoners at the bar—he coold aotrotsuppesebutthey would come to a > decision unpreju-Hicliced by anything they had heard before entering _j & shs box . Il was of the highest importance , that when _iiaancl : _ctsea _wew submitted to a jary . they should not _jiejedeteneibj a feeling of _comoassion froa doing is hs hat might be considered a piinful dnty . While , _siBnewarer , he gave snob a caution tothe jury as to the ilislisoharge of their duty tothe public the _sameconsiilederations would induce him to state the cue as iiiraimply as possible , —to confine himself merely to a _iianarr & tive of the transaction , and not to introduce
_iinjnytbing which might militate against , or affect _ithiheir _decisien . He believed be should be in a con-; 3 _iflition to prove that for some time before the H \ h of lArAugnst , of the present year , meetings took place wbrhioh resulted in organisation of a formidable _chairaraeter . What van the precise object of those meetlinings , or the peculiar _desiga of _Bucii aa organisation , _iworauld ba ehown by the eridenoe . The result was . iihihaion the 14 th of August simultaneous risings took _iplslace in the neighbourhood of Ashton , and between _ielelsTen and twelTe o ' clock on the night of that day a _ilaiuge body of persons assembled in Catherine Street , _luiroud with pikes , guns , and other weapons of _ileiefence . From there they _proceeded down B mtiuck _iSStreet and Old Street to Stamford Street , aud on
ipapassingdown the latter street , a police-officer , mmed ISSmith , was standing at the corner of Moss Street . S Some one of tha mob _pieiented at his head s pistol , _iwkluYa missed fire , and they then passed on towards BBrook Street . On arriving there , some one called oiont that Bright was comint ? , and a person earned SiSigley ( not in custody ) was seen to pus down tbe _ststreet . Soen after Sigley returned , and followed BBright , who was brought up in a corner . A pistol wwas then presented at him which missed fire . The _rnmobthen went on down Bentinck S'reet to where itit crosses Old Street , and at that place Bright was _tswized by three or moro _per-on _* . and taken partly Idovm the street . Some altercation _thr n took place ion _cansequeaoe of his having stated thst he knew
; bie _persona assaulting him , whereupon hs was rtrtrnck with a pike violently on the tbigb , and while rtrtaggering from the effects of the blow , was shot with II gun or a pistol and fell dead inthe street . The _iquestions the jury would have to determine were iiiwo—as to the murder of Bright there oould be no _Idoubi ; it would not be disputed . Then came the _linestaon , who wera tha gnilty parties f It a person mrent out in an illegal combination armed for the _ronrposa of resisting all opposition by force , legally sill personi present with that object were responsible " cor the acta of all . And if the Jury should ba of " ¦ Opinion on the result of tbe investigation that Bright 1 * u shot nnder the circumstances he had mentioned , Erby one of that body so assembled on the Uth of
_iAugust . and waa ahot aa the result of a general _combbiDrfioB ofthe body formed for the purpose of resist-Eisg all opposition by foroe , then there could be no Houbt _, both legally and morally , that every one of She persona present on that occasion was gnilty of the ¦ crime of murder . He did not conceive he should have _discharged his duly if he had not sho tra the liability oof persons so _illegally assembled together . Bnt tthongh they might be of opinion tbat all the persons eso assembled were gnilty of the act of ene . there was tone question for consideration which wonld place the matter within much narrower limits , and that was whether iho act charged in tbe indictment was the ¦ pontaseous act of some one at the moment , and not She result of previous arrangement * . They would
End that , the great bod ; having gone down Bentinck Street , three or fonr remained behind , and , a ? would appear from the evidence , itwasoneof those whefirst presented the pistol at the person of Bright when it 'missed ire . Some of those persons were , as would bs seen from the evidence , Sigley , Radcliff * . and Conttantine ; they took forcible possession of Bright in the street , and afterwards , when he ssid he knew thea , struck him witb a pike . _Radcliffe had himaelf made snch an admission , and it was be who bad used the deadly weapoa whieh was the oause of death . After that took place the mob went down Stamford Street , and to several other places , after Which they dispersed . _Radcliffe went to a house in Ashton , changed his clothes and otherwise disguised
himself . He was subsequently apprehended on the 22 nd of _Asgustin disguise , and under an assumed name , on _bsard the American packet-ship Ocean Monaroh , that ill-fated vessel of which they mnst all bave a most vivid recollection . He was concealed onboard , and wben questioned denied all knowledge of or participation in the acta which had been committed in Ashton on the 14 th of August . He _after"trards expressed his regret tbat ba bad shot Bright , and admitted that he had stabbed hia with a pike . Constantine was taken soma time afterwards . The Attorney General concluded by saying , that after the brief outline be bad given of the case h 9 shonld ? Erect the attention of the jury to the details which weuld be submitted in evidence . The following witnesses were thea called : —
_Ssmuel Smitb sworn . Said he was a polioe officer St A 3 _hton-nnder-Lyne . Oa the 14 tb of August last , about eleven or twelve o ' clock at night , he was at noise , when his attention was attracted in consequence of the trampling of feet in the street . He went out , and when be got to the corner of Bentinck-Btreet , a man named Sigley levelled a gun at witness and Baid , ' Go away fnrathe corner , or I will blow your b—— brains out . ' A man named Milligan knocked 'the gun down and told him to have more sense . He then bade witness go away or join the tanks , and take an active part in the proceedings that were going on . There were about one hundred
ranged in angle lines , a number of them with pikes , and one of them had a gnn . He then went away and returned in a sbert time to Mobs Street , where ihe Chartist room is situate , when he beard the report of a gun or a pistol , snd the shriek of a woman . Immediately afterwaris a man named Jehn Warren csme np the street and said they had _shothim , showing his hand , whioh was cut and bad blood noon it . The report of the pistol and the screams of the WEmas came from the direction of Old Street , in whioh direction the mob had gone . [ A plan of tfae itreets in which the mob assembled was produoed . and the witness pointed eat the relative positions of ibe rioters . 1
In cross-examination by Mr Pollock , the witness aaid ,-he was positive as to the time when the gun went of ; aa the old church chimed a quarter to twelve a little before he heard it . Jobn Warren said , he was a batter , and lived at Ashton . On the night of the 14 th ef An gust he was in Bentinck Street abont a quarter to _twelve , wben be saw a number of meg marching , perhaps about fif ' . j or a handred . They were two deep and had pikes . Followed them to Old Street , and when he got throe be _met Bright , the police officer . Bright aaid ' There , ' bnt did not do anything . Witness Basted on and left Bright ; when near Stamford Street he forced round and again uw Bright and some men ia front of him ; his hat was off and lying
in the street . Bright said 'Lads , what bave I done fo you ? what have I to do with yoa V Witness went behind him and a shout was then made , when the Crowd fled down Stamford Street Except a few perions tbere was noonenear Bright . _Laoked down Stamford Street and saw a man running , and a crowd after him . Heard two shots fired at that time from the "Bob , which was then in Stamford Street Witness eonsidered they were snooting at the man who was " running . He then west baok on his way home , and law Bright where he hid left him . Three men were Ken standing at the earner of Bentinck Street and Stamford Street . One of them stepped ont with a pike and stabbed at Bright with it . Witness got
hold cf the pike blade and begged of tbs man not to do anything . The man drew it back and then made another stab , which appeared to be at bim ( witness ) , and his hand wai mnch cat by laying hold of it . Witness turned round to goaway and went into Stamford Street . AfUr getting abont a yard and a half in advance of Bright , heard a shot , and saw Bright fall . Saw the flub , and the hand of the person who fired . It was one of the two er three men standing with Bright , bat not ths nun who had used the pike . Went Into Stamford Street but ths crowd waa gone , tod ba then went home . Was bo mneb irigbtened -that he did not know how he got heme or whem -he Warn on the way .
Ia _crosseTamination by Mr Polloek he said he was abont fonr yards from the man who fired , and Bright Was in the itwet at the time . It was a cloudy , doll aught , and there had been rain . Did not see any lamps lighted . By tie attorney General . — -Bright fell an his face after he was shot . He did not make any resistance . Bettj Wad cal ] ed .-lired in Bentinck Street , Ashton , next door to the Chartist room . On the Might of be 14 th of August wu at home abent half * # art eleven o ' olock . and heard a noise , when she went ¦ p stairs and opened the window , and saw a number
« men coming dowa Bentinck Street towards Old Street , having pikes oa their shoulders . After they _rpased her door saw Bright on the flags , three or fonr ¦ rards behind the mob . Heard a rattle of pikes and a garter among them , and tben lost si ht of Bright , _l _^ _oUy _afterwards heard the report ofa gnn and taw _T _& _gyb _* _. Thought there were two _wporta , one a treat deal loader than the other . There was very ¦ noa Bcreaming from women jtut after the flash . T & s _aampMyaUdi-pe-ri _^ _. _-uidtwomenranfemthe _" dfaw »™ _OW Street They seemed _contcaed , as though not knowing which way to ran , and got
Liverpool Assizes. (Batons Mr Bsron Atdi...
o * er ths gates into the yard ef the Chartist room . The men jumped thence over another wall into wit nest ' s yard , and then went towards Cavendish Street . The first that got over the wall hsd ii _^ bt coloured clothes on and a short jacket , like a fustian jacket ; the other had dark clothes on . James Grey stated , that he kept the Red Lion Ina , Stamford Street . On the night ofthe 14 th of August he saw men with pikes , as stated by preceding witnesses - , and heard a gun fired in Bentinok Street . Two men were seen running with a gun , and he went down to the comer of Old Street , where be lest sight of them . Looking round , he saw something lying in Bentinok Streetandon examination
, , _. foand it was Bright , the polioe officer . He was lying on his face , with his body on the kerbstone near to Slater * . He _waj quite dead . The body was taken to witness ' s house . The body was bloody , and he appeared to have been ahot in the breast . Jane Slater , wife to Mr Slater , butcher , of AshtOH . —Their house was at tha corner of Bentinok Street and Stamford Street . On the night ofthe 22 nd of August beard a noise as of a crowd of people in the street , and looked through the windo w . Heard some one jn tbe crowd say , ' Make ready ! ' and the report ef a gun followed . Saw something in the street , and aEcertainedtbat . it was the body of Bright whioh was removed by one ofthe preceding witnesses .
Mr Pollock alluded te several persons being examined before the magistrates and not produced before the conrt , when The Attorney Ganeral said , he was not bound to call all the evidenoe which had been taken ai various times darine the progress ofthe riote . Thomas W . Sister corroborated the evidence of the previous witness as to the mob , _** nd added , that he saw a man in the crowd , with a pike on his shoulder , say , 'Make ready , ' and _immediately afterwards heard aloud report The same man went along to Stamford Street , and cried out to the men , 'Join join ! ' Witness afterwards saw the body ot Bright lying in the street . Henry Taylor , a _poliee-ftrneer _, deposed that he saw the _msb on the night i » question , and some of them , after saying , * That ' s the b—— , at him ! ' rushed up' < n him , bnt he got away from them .
James Marland , whitesmith and broker . —Lived in Bentinck Street , lie waa lookug through his bed . room window on tbe night of the riot , and heard some men challenge Bright with something whioh he denied One of the men then took hold of him . The man who had hold of him then fell back , and presented a pike towards Bright , which would catch him in tbe lower part ofthe body . The man bad on a surtout oo & t of a dark colour . Directly afterwards heard the report of a gnn , and saw the fire from ths muzzle . Bright _inatantly fell . Heard two reports of guns previously iu Stamford Street . The man stood in a bevelled direction , about fifteen yards irom witness ' s window , when he fired the gnn , and when Bright fell the people ran away . In cross-examination by Mr Pollock the witness said he gave information to the magistrates about a week after Bright's death .
T , Robinson , a resident in Bentinck Street , Ashton . —Saw the crowd through his window ; some of them had pikes and daggers , and one man had a gnn , which he fired oil , and immediately afterwards a man , subsequently fonnd to be Bright , fell into the channel . Heard a report of a pistol a few minntes before . Edward Taylor , a mechanic deposed thathe was standing io the street when _Bright waa shot . He saw a person ran a pike into Bright first , and then a gun was fired , after which he fell down . Cross-examined by Mr Pollook . —Saw Thomas Latimer there , aud Parker . By the Attorney General . —Neither Latimer nor any of tho persona around me fired the Bhot .
Thoma * Litimer deposed that he was a weaver st Ashton . On tha Uth of _AogUBt went to Mr Hodgson ' s , on the Mossley Road , and stayed about an hour . Went afterwards to _Lord's , where he stayed till about nine . Saw Lord and Parker , and left the _honse abont nine with Parker . Then went to his _father ' s house . Tbere ware several persona there , but neither ofthe prisoners . In half an hour went out with Parker and met Jobn Lodden , when tbey went to tha Odd Fellows , where they arrived at a quarter to 6 leven . There met Wrigley . Saw Constantine there and Sigley , with several others . Stott and Milligan were there . Went back t » Lord ' s and _aaain to tbe Odd Fellows . Witness , Parker , and Wrigley tben went to Bentinck Street , and saw a
party of men coming , armed with pikes and guns . Bright was ooming to the corner of Old Street , and made a step there . The body of the men were just coming up . Constantine , Sigley , and Radcliffe oame up to him from the body of the men , and took bold of him , saying he must go with them . They took bim down _Brntinck _Streat aboat twenty yard ? , and witness then heard a report of firearms from the direction of Stamford Street . In a few moments Rad _* _cliffe ran at Bright with a pike , and Bright said , 'Spare my life . ' Another man then ran at him with a pike , bnt did not know who it was . Radcliffe had a hat and dark velvet jacket and trousers . Radoliffe pulled a pistol ont and then fired at Bright . Constantine aud Sigley then went into the crowd .
Bright was facing them when he was shot , and appeared to fall upon his baok , but witness did not go up to him . Sigley had a gun , and wore a surtout coat and black trousers . Some of tbe men shouted that tbey moat retreat after tha gun waa fired off . and they then went off . Witness was a Chartist , but he never bad much to do with them . On the night ofthe Uth of August saw Radoliffeand Sigley drilling men _atDukstfield Brow , and tbey said they would fetch cannon from Hindley Park . Before the riot Seddon gave witness a pop-bottle with a fusee at f he top and said be mart keep it till he wanted it . The same night saw a gentleman in the street and Sig ' ey levelled hia gun at him , but did not fire . Cross-examined . — He was not a Chartist , but
he knew Mine of them . In answer to a _question , he i said he 'supposed his brother was a Chartist ,-be * cause hia brother carried a gen . ' ( This answer was received witb . a lond shout of laughter , whioh was suppressed by bis lordship , who . _Miuested the persons wbo bad so acted to _considcir ' that they were in a Christian country , and there wero two persons at the bar whose live 3 were in jeopardy . ) _Witcess _. on his cross-examination , said he did not know the nse of a _fnsee . He went after ihe murder was committed , along with Radcliffe , Constantino , and others , in order , aa he said , that be might see the finish of what was going on . He was at Lord ' s , but did not tell Lord to get ap and do his duty or he would'blow np the b Caatle about him and hiB lodgers . ' Was standing between Radcliffe and Bright wben tha shot was firei , but not in a direct line . Hit brother John was not near Bright at the
time he was shot . Never eaid to bis brother John about tbe time Bright was shet , ' B—t him , shoot him . ' Witness was apprehended about thi ee weeks after Bright ' s death , bnt ho was in Ashton all the time , living at home . Never saw John Latimer , hie br .-ther _, till tha day before be waa _sporehended . Parker , and Wrigley , and himself were all taken np and put into one cell , where they were kept a fort * night ; tbey were charged with being present at the murder . Made hia first statement about the murder on the d _» y after he was taken up to Mr Lcrd , Mr Hall , and Mr Newtoa , and wss twice bifore tke magistrates . Had conversation wben ia paol about the murder , and somebody said they ought to tell . He ( . witness ) replied that be thought so too , and he would _te'l , as he knew all about it . He had only seen Mr N-iwton , the chief constable ef Ashton , sinoe he was io K'rkdale _, and be came tbere with a little bo > k , and took down what he said .
By the Attorney General—Told his father and bis sister about the murder the day after it happened _, n 8 father was apprehended . Mrs Wild _re-ealled . —Heard two discharges , bat the second was the loudest . _--William _Mscklin deposed , that he lived at Ashton , aid before the Uth of Angnst was a member of a body catted the _Natiosal Goard , to which he paid lid . pBr week . On the night of tho murder was at the Odd Fellows' Arms , where he saw Sigley , Stott , Flanagan , and others . Constantine came there , and gave hira a bottle of slugs from underneath his jacket . He told him it _^ was loaded with powder and sings . Said he must go to the market , and he wonld send two men with him ; one was to go to tbe
barracks , the other to _Rswortby coalpit . Witness went to tbe market-place , and arrived in Bentinok Street about half-past eleven o ' _clock , where he saw the mob armed . Milligan and Sigley were there , and bath had guns . Kenworthy had a gun , and Stott a pike . There was a man there named Smith , and Sigley levelled his gnu at him , Baying ii he did not join them , be would blow his brains ont . Milligan gave a direotion for ' _quiok maroh , ' and the mob went down the street , with Milligan and Sigley at the head- Radcliffe was there and had a pistol and a pike . Radcliffe was the leader of the National Goard , whioh was divided into sections . Milligan was the leader of all . When crossing Cotton Street , which is in Bentinok Street , a man called out tbat
Bright was coming , npon whiob Sigley shouldered his goo , and said , ' Is he , by God V acd went down Brook S'reet . He then came back , and Bright came op , Radcliffe also came up and levelled his pistol at him , at the distance of about ten yards , but the pistol missed fire . Bright than w alked on along Bentinck Street , and Sigley oame np to him in Old Street . Latimer , Parker , and another a * _sn then came from towards the Odd _Fellons' Ansa , and the prisoner Constantine got hold of Bright on one side and Sigley on tbe other . Constantine said to Bright , ' Yon must ga along witb ns , as you are _anr
prisoner ; ' when Bright replied , 'Very well , lads , I will go with . yon . Don't kill me ; I never did anybody any hart . ' Constantine said , "We'll show yoa what well do with yon before we bave done with you . ' The crowd wu ; then marching on , After that Radcliffe said , 'Bring him on , bring him on ;' and they dragged Bright ap to the end of the mob , towards Stamford Street , where they stopped him . The mob then marohed into Stamford Street , Saw six men round him—Constantine ! Sigley , Ken * worthy , aad Stott . The otber two men bid pikes _. Saw Radoliffe eome frem the direction of Stamford Street with his pistol pointed towards Bright , and , whan about four or five yards off tbe mob set up a
Liverpool Assizes. (Batons Mr Bsron Atdi...
shout . Witness ran to Stamford Street and met Milligan , who said there had been another police * nan , but ho was too sharp for them , Heard an * port of firearms in Bentinck Street , and ran back , when he saw _leren men coming from Bright , who was then lying In tbe street on his belly , apparently dead . Witness asked who shot him , and Sigley said he was not shot , he was only drunk . The seven men then rushed into tbe crowd . Witness knew all the men exoept two . They were Radoliffe , ConBtantine , Sigley , Stott , and Kenworthy . Constantine had an axe in his hand .
In cross-examination by Mr Pollock , the witness admitted that he had been apprehended as one of the parties implicated inthe murder . Bright was pulled and knocked about for a-long time , near the plaoe where his body was found . Had some conversation with _M'D-mal * , abint the murder , and told bim that Sigley and Milligan bad , aocordingto report , gone to America ,. but never told him tbe man who shot Bright had sailed for America . M'Douall said he wished to Gad they had shot Newton instead of Bright . John Warren recalled : Bright must have turned round when he fell . There was no second sbot .
James Wrigley ( another accomplice ) : la a joiner . Was atthe Odd Fellows' Arms , when Milligan came in . He had a oase fastened os a bolt beneath his jacket , and , produoing it , said those who wanted arms must break _Garside ' s ironmonger ' s shop open . When Bright was taken prisoner by Constantine ono walked at each side of him , and one behind . When Constantine and Sigley had got up with Bright , to tbe main party , tbey left loose of bim , and went on the fl _< gs _aear Slater ' e-comer , Bright was left standing in the street ; he made Home remarks , and Baid he knew some of thcai . _ A man from the main body on this ran at him with a pike . Bright was trying to turn it aside , and while he was staggering a shot was fired . Saw the flisb . It came irom Slater ' s Corner , from one side of the b . dy . Bright fell then . Do not know Rad : liffe , Do not now see the man who made a thrust at Bright with his pike . After this some one shouted a retreat , and the party went towards Dukinfield .
On Mr Pollook rising to cose- * xamine tfae witness he applied to the _learned judge to _prohibit the publication of ths proceedings until the whole case waa concluded ; or , at aU events , he hoped moans would be taken to prevent the details being made known to the witnesses who had not been examined at the rising ofthe court . His lordship said it would be very muoh better that it should not be published until the whole case was complete . He , however , could only recommend it , he had no power to enforce it . The Attorney General eaid he had no doubt he Bhould be able to close the case for tbe prosecution that evening , whioh would obviate the objection of his learned friend .
The learned Judge said it was desirable to dose the oase for the prosecution in one day , and to accomplish that ha was quite willing to ait until twelve o ' clook , William Parker , ( another accomplice , ) eaid Constantine , Radcliffe , and Wrigley made a prisoner of Bright . They made towards Slater ' s Corner , and when half way left hold of him . Bright said , ' I know some of you , ' when Radoliffd turned round and hit him with a pike . Bright said , * My good fellow , what hare I done to you V Then seme one tired a shot . Bright had _stopped and laid bold of the pike . Bright had his face towards Stamford Street when the shot was fired . The flash appeared to come from Stamford Street . Bid not see who fired the shot-Had heard a shot about a minute before in Old Street . When Bright fell he heard . ' _some women scream who stood at the aide . After Bright fell some one cried out to retreat . ConBlantine had no arms that I saw .
Cross-examined by Mr Pollock : There was no one but me , Wrigley , and Parker , at Gray ' s Corner . The women wbo screamed were two or three yards from Bright . Did not see Radoliffe again till the body got to Dukinfield . Did not aee Constantine after . John Latimer bad told me thai , every town in England would ba up that night , and threatened that if I did not join I would be shot . Soon after the murder , Thomas _Latimer _tsld me that it was Radcliffe who had shot Bright . Riohard Winterbottom , is the brother to William Winterbottom , and lived at Dakinfield . Early in the morning after the murder he was knocked up by hia brother , Radcliffe , Latimer , and Sigley . They
were all armed except Sigley , and . Radcliffe had a pistol in bis _passession . Next morning , at breakfast , heard Radoliffe say it was a bad job Bright waB sho .. His brother asked if they might be allowed to stay there . Sigloy and _Ridoliffe remained nntil nine o ' clock at night on the 10 th . His brother . ' and Latimer went away the same night . Radoliffe went away ia a jaokct oelongicg to the brother of witness . Sigley went away also in _disguis * . The ; had all bill-cartridge except Radcliffe , who had powder and ball separate . They gave it to witness , and he threw it away in the garden . There were fifty or sixty . When Radcliffe waa leaving the house , witness asked him if he knew who it was ahot
Bright ? He replied— That ' s best known to myself . ' Joseph Armitage deposed , that a man of the name of William Winterbottom was amongst them . Winterbottom had a velveteen jacket ob , and witness Eaw him on three different daya rubbing and scrubbing Ms jacket at a window . Witness knew the jacket . Winterbottom was taken about tbe 6 th of September . The prisoner Radoliffe , waa taken on the 19 * b of September . Both prisoners were put into one cell . Heard Radcliffe tell Constantine , ' I never ehot him , bnt I stabbed him . '
Cross examined by Mr Pollook . —I was at tbe time in the lebby of the cells . I bad been walking there foran hoar . They must have beard mo ; and I sometimes stood between two of the cells for tho purpose of listening . I then went up to Mr Newton . £ 150 reward was offered for the apprehension of the murderer of Bright . I never gave a statement , upon oath , relating to this until to-day . _Inspector Maiden proved the apprehension of Radoliffe on board the Ocean Moaaich . He was _ooncsaled in the hold amongst some timber , covered with hay , timber , and some lumps oi coal . It was dark at the time , but tha offioer deteoted him by the bright naila in his Bhots . When asked his name he said' Jones . '
A police officer proved the apprehension of the prisoner Constantino at Chowbent . He also proved , that oa a day prior to the Uth of August , a party of a dozen , Radoliffe being one , wbo were obstructing the footway opposite the Chartist room , were ordered off by the deceased , Bright , Jehn Lord , a cotton spinner , proved Litimer and Parker had called at his honse on the _U'h of AnguBt He refused to go ont with tbem . Latimer had said , all England would be up by eleven o ' olock that night .
Drs Lees and _Camptil inspected the dead body of Bright at a postmortem examination , with another * re &*»\ man . _Ineia visa a wound outside near tbe right nipple . The wound passed downwards , and the ball bad passed out at the same side behind ; The edges of the wound were driven in wards from the chest . The shot might have _passid from the chest out at the baok . Tho wound might have been received by the _deceased while stooping . There was also a wound _, apparently from a pike , through the thigh . The wound in the ohest would produce instant death . The wound wbb produced from a hard substance , and tbe bare of the gun muBt have bean an inch diameter .
Cross-examined —A button was wanting on the ooat said to be deoeased _s . It waB the right button , and from the part over the loins . The button waa knocked off by the ball ( as witness thought ) , and was indented by the ball or other hard missile . The Attorney General said , he would , if required , bring witnesses to speak to the button , and to the finding of it , Mr Pollock wished to recal a witness , but hia lordship considered that that witness was an
accomplice , and Mr Pollock relinquished his request . Mr Pollook recalled Ann _Taylsr . She said Bhe found the button of a policeman ' s coat in a room in her house , just after ahe heard a ahot fired as from a gnn . She produoed the button , and it was indented inside ( or appeared to be so ) , as if driven up by a ball from a gun . There was something curious * , however , about the disfigurement of the ball , whioh the Attorney General himself admitted to be somewhat remarkable . This olosed the case for the prosecution .
Saturdat , Dig , 16 . On tbe opening ef tbe Court , Mr Pollock addressed the jury for the prisoners . He observed that some advantage had been gained by the delay of the case frem the preceding night , and he had , upon a consideration of the case , oome to the conclusion to offer no evidenoe on behalf of the prisoners , bnt leave the matter as it _atoed on the part of the prosecution for the consideration of the jury . He should - be able to show them that it was not a case in whioh the jury could , beyond reasonable doubt , oome to the _ooncluaion tbat either one or both ofthe prisoners were gnilty of the charge brought azainst them . Ona of the greatest difficulties he had to contend with wa « _, that the murder charged by the Crown was alleged to have been committed by the prisoners , who were assembled wiih
others in pursuance of that which he was not there to deny might have been an unlawful purpose of s *> me kind . It could not be denied that , by some person on the night io question , the deoeased met with & moat ornel death ; bnt he would undertake to show that such death wu not caused by either of the prisonera . There was no previous concert as to v ' _nienoe intended to ba oommitted upon the unf 6 r _* tunate deoeased , or the force of which he was amem . ber ; and , although there might hive been a oocoert and combination , it was merely one of those displays of physical force so often exhibited , wbioh might do muoh mischief and could do no good . The men were not out to do violence to any one they might meet with on that occasion , and he would ba able to show that the death of the deceased was not _caused by a wound inflicted by either of the prisoaert , but that
Liverpool Assizes. (Batons Mr Bsron Atdi...
it wu tbe aot of some other persona . The learned connsel tben remarked upon tbe evidenoe giren by Maoklin , Parker , Latimer and Wrigley , whose testimony ought to be received with _suspioion , u they were , to a certain extant , accomplices . Those wit * nesies oaly agreed in one point—that the shot was fired from the direotion of Old Street , and that Bright was facing towards Stamford Street , and that his death must be attributed to one of the body of mea who cama in that direotion . It would appear , however , from the evidence of other and more respectable witnesses , that from fae position in which Bright was standing with relation to Radcliffe , the
shot whioh killed him , must have been fired by some person who was nearer Old Street than Bright was at thai time . The place wbere the shot was found was also favourable to tbat viow of the case ; besides , tbe wound was said to have been _' inflioted by a gun , while Latimer said Radcliffe fired at him with a pistol . There was'no evidence to _ittpHoite Constantine in the transaction , as it was not shown that he was at any time during the proceedings in possession of any weapon whatever . He had undoubtedly made a prisoner of Bright , but that might be merely to proteot himself from the violenoe of Sigley , or eome other of the persons who wera there at the time .
His Lordship , on _referring to his notes , said , it was a question whether there was any evidence against Constantine at all . Mr Pollock then proceeded to remark on the evidence of the aocomplioes , which ought to be received with caution , as tbey would naturally be inclined to exculpate themselves even at the expense of others . He _conoluded , by oallieg attention to the evidence as it affected Sigley . It was he whs bad taken a most active and decided part throughout tbe whole transaction , and itwas to bim the evidenoe pointed more directly than it did to Radoliffd , as being tbe person who had committed the aot charged _agaiist the prisoners .
_Afteracorsultation with his brother counsel , Mr Pollock said , that atthe request of the prisoner Radcliffe he should call a witness to prove that lie was not the person who piked Bright at the time ho was so wounded and before he was shot . Jamea Matley was tben called . —He said , he was a blaokamith at Ashton . On the night of the 14 th of August was at Grundy's Concert-room , Stamford Street , and left at a quarter past eleven o ' clook . Went down Stamford Street and to the corner of Bentinck Street , where he joined two men , Martin Haigh , snd Taylor , a policeman . Some persons oame down Bentinck Street , and Taylor went away . While standing there a party came down Stamford Street , and Taylor went to them , when one of the men cried out , ' Here's a policeman—fire . ' One of the men levelled his gun , but it did nst go off . Another Baid , 'Fire , fire— . sharp , sharp . ' Taj lor ran down Stamford Street , and tbe meb after him and after
that a few more people oame down Bentinok Street . In the middle of Stamford Street s » w __ a man picking up bis bat , and . " found aftewards it was a police officer . Want nearer and saw it was Bright . He Eaid to the . people , he did not know what harm he had done that they should abuse him in that manner . One said , ' Go into some hou-e , ' and Bright said , ' No , that is not my duty . We are the men put to keep the peace of the country . ' There was a man near him with a pike , and he said , ' You d b ; — , ' and ran tha piko into him . That man was not Radoliffe . He had on a dark coloured coat , and dark whiskers , bushy at the bottom . Bright laid hold of the pike with one band , and was turning Toutd , wben tbe Bbot _struok him , and be fell immediately . . Saw the persons go away and leave Bright . While ho waa there he did not _ses Radoliffe at all , though he _kaew him well
Cross _examined by the Attorney General . —Heard two reports of firearms , besides one which missed fire . Did not know that Radoliffe was a captain of tho National _GuStd , or that Constantine was , Witness waB a member of Stephen ' s band . Did not see a man who got his hand cut with the pike . Could not say which way the report eame from ; bnt it waa too loud to be that of a pistol . Re-examined .-Did not sea Radoliffe there that night . Martin Haigh , a batter at Ashton , deposed to being with the witness Matley on the night ef tbe murder . Ha was in the street where the mob was , and saw Taylor , but did not see Bright . Heard two shots fired , aad saw a Sash , and shortly afterwards heard of a police officer being shot . _Witness was
_knocked down by the butt end ofa gun . The Attorney _Gsnsral replied . He contended , from the general tenor of the evidence , that it was clear the prisoners were present on the night in question ; and though there might be no previous general organisation to murder the deceased , the leaders might have come to suoh a determination . The shot which killed Bright oame from the higher part of Bentinck Street , Bright standing below it ; and it was a mistake to suppose that be was at the time faoing-Stamford Street . He then went over the evidenoe , and reconciled what he oonoeived to be some apparent discrepancies , observing , that tbe case was complete , at least as to the guilt of Radcliffe .
The learned Judge then summed up the evidence , explaining the law of the oaso as it affected the prisoners at the bar . The question was not who shot or who did not "host , but whether Radcliff * was aiding and assisting the raan who did shoot by bis presence ? If ihey were _satiefhd that the shot was fired by Radoliffe , or any other person , aud that Radoliffe was aiding and assisting in the commission of tho _nfhnce , he was guilty , and bs was Constantine , and others who were aiding and assisting . And if the act was committed by a _ttiird party , and not by either of the prisoners , then they were guilty participators in the aot of that third party . Constantine had very properly been withdrawn from the case , and it was not shown tbe aot was committed by him , or that he had any participation in it . Ic was dear that the people
were out for soma oommon purpose , but whether to kill all persons who Bhould oppose them was not clear , if it were shown that aU those _personB had a common purpose of killing the police who were out , then would they be all euilty who participated in that common purpose . There was another question for the consideration of thejury . They must see how far the evidence against Radcliffe satisfied them that he was the man who Bhot Bright himaelf ; and if not satisfied that he did the deed , the question would be , whether he did any acts showing that be had a common purpose with tbe man who did shoot him . His lordship then reviewed the evidence at great length , calling the attention of thejury to these points whioh moat materially affected the prisoners at the bar .
Thejury then retired , anl , after an absence from omrfc of about an hour , returned , and breathless silence immediately prevailed . The Clerk asked , in the usual form , was Joseph Radoliffe guilty of the oharge ? The Foreman . —Guilty ; but we strongly recommend bim to meroy , as Bright , the policeman , did not { aU by hit hand-. Mr Baron Aldenon then put on the black cap , and passed sentence upon the prisoner in terms somewhat to tho following _fff-ct - . —Joseph Radcliffe , you have been found guilty , 1 cannot but think , on very clear evidenoe , of tbe crime of wiliul murder . Thejury bave recommended your case te the merciful consideration of the Crown . I shall transmit that to the proper quarter . In the meanwhile it ia my painlul duty to tell you what yonr fate will
probably be . You have been found guilty of an i fiance against a totally unoffending man . Yours was not the band that fired the Bhot ( of that I am perfeotly sati-fied ) that killed the deceased ; but then you fired a pistol , and , though it did not hit the person at whom it was aimed , you had before attaoked himcruelly attaoked him—with a pike , all which circumstances show { me thst , in the passion and violence of the moment , you were not mindful to remember your duty to God and your duty to man . And so it will always ba when men like yu enter upon a course of tbis description . Yeu place yourself at tbe * head of a body of individuals armed against the law and tbe constitution of tho country . Being the captain , it behoves you , you
think , to show that you have spirit above your compeers ; and eo , whenever anything violent is to be done , the leaders , fortunately , are _. _seleoted to do it . So it has always happened—so it will always happen . Men in suoh positions cease to remember their duty to God , and their duty , also , to their neighbours . Tours is a fearful instance of the consequences of violent political agitation upen the lower orders of society—an instance whioh , I fear , will require severe punishment . You will bave , at all events , a much longer time than you allowed to that unhappy man Bright to prepare for a change . You sent bim to his aocount without being prepared . We will hope his lamp was burning , and that you have to answer morely for his deatb , not for the loss of a soul
eternal . We will hope that , but we cannotbe assured ef it . We cannot know what the consequences of that dreadful aot of yours were towards that unhappy man . You , yourself , will have a longer time to prepare ; you will bave the means which the humanity of tbe law and the constitution will award to you . I beseech of you to amend , to forget not that now you are on verge of eternity , only a few short " . hours will pass till your life be forfeited . After | _aeveral exhortations , his lordship said , —I will Bend the kind recommendation of the jury to the Grown . It rests with them . 1 havo nothing further to do with it , as soen as I tall you what the sentence of the law is . It is not m ? sentenoe ; it is that of the law . and I
am merely its instrument to declare it . The sentence that the law affixes to your crime is—that you be taken to the plaoe whence you came , thence to the plate of execution , and be there hanged by the neck till you are dead , and that your body be buried in the preoinots of the prison in whioh you stall be confined after ye-ur conviction . This is the sentence of tho law . I have now discharged my dnty . May God Almighty—may the Holy blessed Saviour , _thatmost worthy judge of all—suffer you not to be kept from him . May the Lord hava meroy on yoiirsoal ! His Lordship ' s sentence wu painfull y interrupted by the sobbing and weeping of a woman in cou . rt . iiid _tobathenrwonet'rj wifo , _^• a « i *» i «
Liverpool Assizes. (Batons Mr Bsron Atdi...
The prisoner himself betrayed no emotion what ever , and , after addressing a few words to his solid tor , wu removed from tha deck .
IHB _OOSSPIRAOt AT ASHTON . Pending the delivery of the verdict in the lait case , theeighteen Chartists , charged with conspiring to obstruct the laws by _tnmaltnous assemblages , & o ., at _Ashton-under-Lyne , most of whom had been ont on bail , were placed in the deck . The Attorney General stated thatthe Crown had determined to proceed against only eight of the prisoners for felony under the late Government Seourity Aot ; the others , on entering into the proper recognisances , might bs discharged .
Two or three of the prisonera wera bound over in their own recognisances in £ 100 , and two sureties in £ 50 each , to keep the peace for two years , and to appear and plead to the cbarge whenever they might be called upon ; the othen ( in more indigent circumstances ) were allowed to depart on the diminished security of their own recognisances in £ 50 , and two sureties in £ 25 eaoh . The parties , before their discharge , were cautioned to find the neoessary sureties , and go with them before a local magistrate within a week . Shortly after six o ' clock the court adjourned . Monday . Dso . 18 —( BeforeMr Baron Alderson )
TRIAL OF THE ASIiTON CHARTISTS . Joseph Constantine , 20 ; Thomas Kenworthy , 29 ; Jonathan Walker , 20 ; JameB Stott , 24 ; JohnN . _Sefton , 44 ; and Thomas _Tassiker , 34 , were indicted for having , en the lst of AugUBt Ja _* t , at Ashton , feloniously assembled with others to levy war against the Qaeen , in order to compel her to change her measures and counsels . They were further charged with conspiriBg to levy rebellion and insurrection ; and also with drilling and training themselves and others to the use of arms , for the purpose of opposing the forces of her Majesty . * Tbo Attorney General , witb whom were Messrs Knowles and Welsby , appeared for tbe prosecu . tion , aud the prisoners were defended by Mr Pollock and Mr Atkinson .
Previeus to the oase being proceeded witb , Mr Pollock applied for the postponement of the trial , on the ground that the prisoners bad been included in an indictment for murder , in which two persons had been tried , and one convicted ; tbat subsequently a bill for felony had been found by the grand jury , of which the prisoners had no knowledge , and were , consequently , not ina position to defend themselves . Besides , ths prisoners would go to trial under a great disadvantage , inconsequence of some of tbem being included in a trial for murder which had recently been disposed ef at the assizes . ¦ The Atterney General said , he did net propose to proceed against the same parties for murder . He oould not eonsent to the application . His lordship deoided that ,, as the crown did not consent , he could not grant the application for postponement , though he bad a desire to assist the
prisoners . At the suggestion of the Attorney General , the prisoner Sefton was withdrawn from tbe case , and the oharges against the other prisonera were then proceeded witb , Tbe Attorney General opened the caBe , and in doing se expressed a hope tbat the jury would dismiss from their minds any ciroumBtanoea jgironected witb the painfnl inquiry which had occupied their attention on the Friday and Saturday previously . He considered he had only _donehis-duty in resisting the application of his learned friend , as it was highly desirable that the publio mind should be set at rest on these painful subjects , which had recently agitated the _osmmunity . The fire prisoners were indicted
for that which , until recently , was high treason , but waB now felony , and it would bs shown tbat they had become members of unlawful , secret , and _dangerous societies , the principal objects of wbich were to procure guns , pikes , and amunition , and employ the same against all who opposed them in their designs . Tbe rising in numbers with arms was levying war , and if the jury thought those parties intended by force to obtain the Charter , then that would ba an alteration of tbe measures of the government , and the persons bo _tiffending would become amenable to thelaw . If they endeavoured to obtain the repeal of the Union by force , that would likewise bring them under the operation of the act . Till recently such offences would have come within the scope of
high treason , but as the law relating to political rffdnoeswaa _considered defective , an alteration had been made , by whioh such a * those charged against the prisoners were classed with ordinary felonies , and dealt with accordingly , th ) punishment varying from transportation for life down to imprisonment for two years . It was now almost a matter sf _histoty that sometime before the month of August , many persona associated themselves together aud organised the oountry to obtain the Charter by force , and he ( the Attorney General ) regretted that many of those designing persons who had ( ed their dup es to destruction had not been brought to trial . Tbe organisation had got to a considerable head in the town of Ashton before the 14 th of August ; the
town was divided into districts , and tbo prisoners appointed to the command of several of the socalled divisions , eo that at any time these parties might have the town under their control , and effect a general rising . The 14 th was the day agreed upon for suoh rising in that _neighbourhood , including the districts of Hyde , Dukenfield _, &* . Constantine organised two bodies of men—one to meet at the _Mossley Road , to obstruct the military , and the other to be employed in watching the various avenues to tha town . Such rising did take place , which led to the murder of the police-officer Bright , the _circutsRtances of whioh have already been alluded to in another oaso . All tbe prisoners were there , as be Bhould be able to prove by evidence / and all took part in
the rioton tbat _scoasion . No doubt all who were out that night with arms were guilty of the felony oharged in the indictment ; but , as r-garded their criminality , and the prominent part they had taken aB leaders , a selection was necessary , and it was for that purpose tht , prisoners alone bad boen charged , They were all present , taking an aotive part at the time when Bright waa murdered , and were amongst those men who surrounded him when the pike was used , and the pistol fired ; added to which , the pri sonar Tassiker was Been with his hands smeared with blood , saying , he oould not go home till he had washed himself . The Attorney General concluded by direoting the jury to confine their attention to the evidence , and dismiss altogether from their minds the result of the previous investigation ,
The following witnesses were then oalled ;—Jjhn Latimer deposed that he was a member of the Chartist club , called the National Guard ; he was in the sixth division , and held the rank of a oaptain , Constantine and Milligan were tbe principal leaders , and Sigley was a captain . There were four _lieutenant with twenty-five men under them . There was acounoil , and Constantine was the general secretary , Walker was one of the National Guard . They met at the Chartist room in Bentinck Street , where _Millij-an drilled them . He ( Milligan ) said he had been ia the army . They used to assemble and read newspapers—namely , the Londoh Tsugbaph . the Nohthbrn Star , and the _LivsrpcolMbrcury . Witness had _aeea bullets made at Stott ' _s , and ball
cartridges were made at BoneiaV , in Dukenfield . where Constantine and Stott frequently attended . The cartridges were mado in ginger-beer bottles , and they oalled tbem hand grenades . There was a committee , called the ' Ammunition Committee , ' and a quantity of gunpowder was purchased at a Jerry shop . On the Uth of August , it was agreed tbat the _oanuon should be brought from Hindley ' s park , and they got horses to convey thera . It was intended to plant them on the Mossley Road , and put two on eaoh side near tbe barracks . lie ( witness ) was direoted to take up a position on the Mossley Road , and when he saw the soldiers he must retreat and give them a volley with the _osnnon . Twenty-five men were to be plaoed tbere , and the other divisions were
to form barricades with bales of cotton to be obtained from Pickford ' _s warehouse . They were to take the magistrates into custody , and oatoh tbe police if they resisted , and run them through . Milligan said that all the towns in England would be up . Cn the night of the 14 th of August witness and others assembled at the Odd Fellows' Arms , so that they might make the neoessary arrangements . Some of the National Guard did not arrive , ai they said they could not find tbeir officers . Some of them had pikes and guns , and witness bad a gun and a piko . On arriving at Mossley Road they saw men with trencheonB , and de mandsd that they should give them up ; themen did
so , and the men were taken into the possession of one j % leaders . Witness heard tbe police coming , and finding his comrades gone , he fled across the news . The witness , on being asked , defined the points of the Charter , and said the obieot of the on _ganisation was to obtain it . He had _bsen told he waB aliool for working , and consequently left his work _, when they assembled at the Chartist room they read the newspapers ; after which they practised themselves in drilling , and went through various matooavres to enable them to rescue the oountry . They bad a courier togivo tbem information at tbe time of the _risins , but he failed in his duty , and oould not be found .
William _Broabert deposed tbat be was oae of the National Guard , and had fifty men under his oonv maud , He identified the prisoners as having taken an aotive part in the organisation and the subsequent riots . On oross examination the witness admitted that he hat * written a let _' _ir to the Duke of WelW _^ _V _^ _S how 8 7 ' * ° in » ae _wtad kingdom might be blown up in ten minutes . He reoeiTed an answer to it . but did not explain it . contents . Other witnesses , were called , whose evidenoe want to confirm tho previous statement , that _AiSlS were most aotive and _p _^ _tT _^ _TC
Tho counsel for the prisoners then said , he wonld not farther occupy tha time of the court , as he oould not resist the evidence produced . The defendants had consented ta withdraw the plea of ' not guilty / and plead guilty . * His Lordship then passed sentenea on the prison . _VKt , observing that though they had pleaded guilty any benefit they would derive f _« o * a it must com from the Crown ; _all hehad , to da WM to _AdffllBla .
Liverpool Assizes. (Batons Mr Bsron Atdi...
the law , and he would ill discharge bis duty if be did not pass a severe sentence . No one oould tell what the result of the proceedings at Ashton might hava been if tbe rioters had got possession of the town ; or how muoh _blsodsbed would bavo taken place . The prisoners had been present when the unfortunate man Bright was shot , and there could be no doubt from what had come out in evidence during the trial for murder , that Tassiker was tbe person who used ths Dike on that _occasion . They must all , except
Sefton , receive the same sentence , and tbat was transportation for life . Sefton , who had not been _sh 9 _wn to have any _connexion with the murder , must be distinguished from the other prisoners ; he must bo transported for ten years . The following prisonera , wbo had pleaded * guilty ' to a charge of conspiracy at Ashton , wero thea brought uo to reoeive _nentence : —William Winterbottom , Edward Qanop , William Healey , William Bolton , JameB Harrop , _Caarles _Jesson , and James Tetlow .
His Lordship , addressing them , said , tbat the prisoners bad been guilty of agitating to bring about the Charter , which would give them univeml _suf , frage , and other things . He should rather that they would turn their attention to universal temperance , universal virtue , and other matters whioh they nr ' gbfc charge with the aid of the Government , Let tbem improve themselves and _became good and virtuous _citizen" , and , tbey _roiglU depend upon it , tbey would riso in the scale of sooiety and also to political power . Tbey must be well assured tbat all these _advantages must come Yrom themselves if they attended to the suggestions ho had thrown out , and that was the only way they coold succeeod in ' effect * ing any good .
Winterbottom wa 3 sentenced to one year ' s _imprisonment ; Harrop and Tetlow , Bix months ; Jesson , four _msnths ; Uealy and James Harrop ( who had been recommended to merciful consideration * by the Attorney-G _? neral ) , three months ; _B- > lton , four months , and _Thomaa Hunt , who had pleaded « guilty , ' four months . All the prisoners to enter into recognisances for their good behaviour at the close of tbeir term of imprisonment .
TBUL OP THE _WINCHESTER _CHARTIkTJ . William _Gr-tcon , William Chadwick , Edward Clarke Cropper , John Weat , _Georpe White , John Nixon , Thomas Rankin , Michael M Donough , David Donovan , and Janes Leach , were indicted for a seditious conspiracy at Manchester , on the lst of April , aud otber daya . The Attorney General , Mr Knowles , Q . C ., Mr Crompton , Mr _Welsby , Mr Monck , and Mr Joseph Pollock were counsel for the crown ; Mr James defended Michael M"Donough ; Mr Tindal Atkinson defended Wiiliam Grocott and Rankin . The other defendants were undefended .
The AttorEey General in opening the case eaid , tbat be had hoped that the defendants would hare pleaded guilty , so that be should not have been obliged to open a _cate of the serious charaoter . of the one undsr consideration , for be had to disclose a conspiracy , the organisation of which was so formidable that ( hose who were tbo objects of it ( bad they been aware of it ) would have baen struok with terror and alarm . In April last a system of organisation commenced in Manobester of a moat formidable character , and eucb as to strike terror into the minds of the inhabitants , had they been at the _tirae folly aware of the misohief that was going on . Cellars hadbeen hired witb the preiumed object of selling or storing provisions , which cellars were filled with
trams , and _de-perate persons were _seleoted aa the instruments of designing men to fire those cellars , in order that the object which the conspirators sought to ebtain might be the more readily accomplished . Between April and June last , tho country being in a _at 3 te of great exoitement , Borne persons , imbued with a spirit of _oommunum which had baen agitated by the French people during the revolution , advocated a division ot property , forgetting that , even if suoh a _measure were adopted , a short time must inevitably bring things back to their original position . The agitation was carried on to a great extent in Manchester , and various meetings were held , at which speeches were delivered and sentiments uttered by the prisoners at the bar and others _calculated to
mislead their ignorant dupes , and result in the most serious _conEequeace * to society . On the 3 rd of April , the prisoners Nixon aad Chadwick attended a meeting _, when the former said he * eaw no resource but to fight for their liberty in order to put down their tyrannical governors ; f _« the time waa come when they must not speak but work , as the laughing govemment _. ' _as they termed it , * must be put down . The Attorney General _, explained that the allusion waB to the _laiighing whioh took place on the presentation of the Chartist petition , * bat it was net the government that laughed , the laugh was at the petition itself , owing to the number of disgusting names introduced to make up the numerical number of tha signatures , and the petition was
_ultimately withdrawn by Mr Feargus O'Connor . On the 4 th of April another meeting was held at New Cross , at which Rankin and Cropper were present . _Rankin said that day week would give them the Charter , or they must fight for it , and Cropper intimated tbat they should bo prepared for tbe great _struggle and fi fat for their liborty , as he had no doubt they would be wanted for that day week . ' _WouM they fii * ht ?\ _Sacral in tha meeting called out _Yis . ' Cropper asked if they had arm 3 and ammunition ? and they replied , Ye ? , and we aro ready now . ' At a meetin ? on tbe 5 th ef April , Rankin in the chair , Grocott intimated tbat they must be prepared , and he hoped they would get pikes . At another meeting Rankin told his hearers they must strike
on Tuesday , or never ; and a few days afterwards Nixon , in addressing a meeting of 1 , 000 persons , said he was armed , and he did not care who knew it . Fifty or sixty persons then held up pikes and aaid they would use them . Nixon added , that all the soldiers they had would be required to quell Ireland , and they must be up and doing in England . He called upon them to be firm , and determined to have their rights . The government must be opposed ; and , as regarded the throne , he would take the first cut at her Majesty . ' At a meeting held on the 16 th of April Rankin said ,. « To _arms-to arms —we must be slaves or free ! The people must be victorious if they stood well ; he would be in tha front rank , and he hoped the people wonld be brave , even if they died on the field . ' At the
aame meeting a man named Nuttall deprecated the ilea of petitioning , and added that when he _petitioned _againit Should be ' with a long steel pea , that would imprint a red mark . ' There wore other speeches of an equally inflimmatory character delivered at meetings where the prisonera were shown to have taken an aotive part . They had also put themselves forward on various occasions during the riots which took plaoe in the summer of the present year . Richard Beswick , chief superintendent of police at Manchester : In April last was aware of Chartist meetings . They created considerable alarm , The military wera in temporary barracks . On the 9 th of April attended a meeting in Williamson Square . _Thare were two meetings . Rankin , Cropper , and Macdonough spoke very violently . Cropper advised the people to arm . The Mayor of Salford was there , and _peODle oried out that he was a spy , and followed
mm . f none meetings were held almost every day ill the 3 Iai of M » y . On that day it was announced that a meeting would hke plaoe , and a proclamation was issued by the magistrates , forbidding the meeting . Special constables were sworn in . On that day a deputation oame to the magistrates , Clarke , Crop _, per , and Donovan formed it . I went to the Oldham toll-bar . A large number of persons were going to-Zf 1 „ i ? ffi _% w ed Lear > ( P ° lioe _^ cer ) was at £ 222 " ' . _* _-IMl ? BMa - _I ° rderei * the bar to i Ah . nl Jt * i and ., for _^ _^ aoro » the road . _, About twelve o ' clock Cropper and Donovan came to I r ? n ™ J « _"ttoi * stated that the procession must i _pws to Manchester . I said they should not . Thev 1 _iou
_« _-u , naa _oetter consider , as bloodshed may - Whi _^ _l . _i W _f _JfJ » Mer w » carried in front . _K _™ i , rt ' . tollb « . _D _^ ovan and _Croppersaidl u 7 *? ° l _«*<> P »• and the procession halted A L ter' £ ! " _^ _ta _^ _MW - Ha JcLl _* r ? ) _jvse - ' " «« _** * « bead . They r _Thiftj . _^ bere WM also s _™ with a bayonet , _i . Those _wthout arms we permitted to pass ; The wh > - _tlSSV _? _^ _" _^ ta were shut , and So _» had locked their doors and left their houses . Thee _tt . m ! nd _i ! p t ? diMy magistrate cam * mil _ » _Diu iaKen
_ . „ _mu-u-r , ues were up anil barricades attempted to be made . Ofl the 2 olh h July , there were 2 , 000 or 3 . 000 men near the work-siuse . Defendant Leaoh was there . A militsryry person walked in the eentre of the square whioh they sy formed . The people _Bhouted , and caps ware _thrownm in the air , A voice said , ' Salford division fallin . V They formed and marched off four deep . John _Cookson _, Manchester policeman , attendededl meetings in plain olothes , on the 3 rd April , at Ste- ; e ™ _phensoa Square . " _Speschet were made . Johnhni Nixon made a violent speeoh . On the 4 th April , aUttonded another meeting at Stephenson S quare . DeOe " fendant Thomas Rankin and Clark Cropper spokejee _,, and wished the people to ba _nreoared for tha »» nfcn < i
that _SJv weak t ? lrt _^ J would be wanted before _*^ home _SaTfaM . In -5 ° ? . clus «»» - - * « d »' uod them to go gci mS _ _X . _S £ _u- 0 il thG 5 { l * » " Mothaiw , _KhSmS _^ L *? , kmwM * atfta _«*•***• _» H « - _wmdaErftt-iST ' _J ! _^ P _^ P _*** _" . ! ; the _contentiosioii _! 53 ft ? fl £ fi to lW n ° _^ , _? ouw of _Coamomon . hive _teJJLj _»? W or ? B 9 PttDHo' Md _«» f _wmtartfr the 5 H- r L d' _5 * ha * ' 1 ° oarta _hii been _engagesge-Tho _nanil . _^ a _^ _ * 7 i __[ W ! k fot «•* _m _^ _W the niff hTJ ? Jf ¦ _W of « " >•* _P-toMBi & S _woni M gut , buuttuleventa thev must _ nreDawawe _pVeVLW- _^ . _«^ o « B ? SSS _fE f Jj n » _dJ « t "wived aletter from Mr _Leaceaw trade . ? _nte ; * * _? _^ l * 6 eliB 8 or all ti t ! aaS _^»? _8 t 0 W _" L !!! _fe h _^ M » e to thTnnanimomo , ! « P «« wi » wobU | q _wtttt _Uteo _tlio , Ho hoMd . th tbi
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 23, 1848, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_23121848/page/6/
-