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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF MR . O'CONNOR BY THE MYRMIDONS OF THE ANTI-CORN LAW LEAGUE . Doubtless onr readers veill be Motions to learn as much as possible of the particulars attendant on this brutal outrage . That we may not be accused tf partia or dishonest statements , "we have procured copies of all the Manchester papers of last Saturday , and proceed to lay before our readers all thst they say on the subject We begin with the League ' s big gun , The Manchester Times , who gives the following version of the matter : " PBACTlCAl JLLrSTBATIOJ . OP THE PHYSICAL
rOB . CE PB 1 KCIPLE . " The second lecture , on the Repeal i f the Legislative Union , * was fixed for Tuesday evening , and the number of persons present was nearly equal to the pre-Tious evening's meeting . The lecture was intended for the Irish Repealers , and there might be 1500 Irish is the body cf the hall ; the lemainDer thrTe , and the whole cf the persons in the gallery , to which the price cf admission was double ( t . e twepenct ) . were apparently Englishmen . It is reported that a body cf men forced their way into the body if the ha ? l without paying . The place became densely crowded by half-past , seven , and the occupants were evicientfy cf fro parties not very f .-iendiy disposed towards each other , as was manifested bj seTeral displays if t ^ elxns whi ch took place on the appearance of the friends if either party on the platform . These displays o : feeling wtre
occasionally provoked by several of ihe leaders on th 3 platform , the object being apparently to see their relative strength , of . which a good ides znieht be formed by the hands and hats raised to accompany their hnrrahs . The belligerents it appears were all "Union Repealers , but part of them , the Irish , were ihc OConiiellite Repealers , and the other portion -were O Com&riie Repealers—the Tml-. TTiBT ) coming thtra , as appeared by the draft of a resolution handed to the reporters , for ti . e purpose of repudiating O'Connor as a leader , and acknowledging only O'ConnelL The leaders of both parties seem to have been aware what was to come , and so evenly balance * did each party appear to be whtn judged of by the means we have alluded to above , that their leaders might be heard chuckling ani congratulating each other occasionally on the certainty of triumph .
" We fear , however , that many went there for ether purposes than a mere warfare of words , and tha pt > EBcESion ef this knowledge by the proprietors of the building is evident from the address tf iir . Higginbottom , who came forward , shortly before eight o'clock , and said— ' I have to beg , in tie name of the proprietors of the "hall , that , as working men , you will avoid doing any damage to the property of this ha . L ( Ckeers , and dies of We wi'l'J Yon all know that this property was raised by the subscriptions of the working men , and . I trust they Trill be th 3 last to injure that which was raised by their own bands , and wfcich is the re suit of their own industry . " ( Cheers . ) ,
' ¦ There were bow frequent manifestations o ? imcataecce far the proceedings to be opened-, and we believe a man came forward to have proposed a Chairman , but some parties around him prevented the proposition being heard by the grsat bnlk of the meeting , and a working man , named Daffy , who sat on the edge of the platform , rose , and having been successful enough to gain a hearing , said— ' My friends , I have only a word to offer , jCries of ' Order . '; All ths friends of order will best keep order by holding their tongues . ( Laughter and cheers . ) Gentlemen , Mr .
Feargus O'Connor has not yet arrived , and though it is past eight o ' clock we have no right to attempt to appoint a Chairman till he is here . ( General cheering ) When he arrives , let his friends propose a Chairman of their own choies—( general cheering );— and I do not know whether any one will support me , but I am determined to propose another . ( Partial cheers . ) Let me beg of you not to encourage or give way to party strife , but listen to argument and reason , let me beg of you to conduct yourselves peaceably , -and , like men , net be afraid to hear what each party has to sav : —
" iJet party rage and rancour cease ; let the lips urge , but the heart be peace . " ( Cheers . ) Let the tim » come for proposing a chairman , then give to each speaker a full hearing , and determine the qaestios fiirly by a show of hands . ( Applause . ) In cider that the reader who has not seen the room of the Hall of Science in which the meeting was held may form a just notion of it , we may mention that is is in shape of an oblong Equare , is lofty , having a platform or stage at one end ( in some respects like the stage of a theatre without its wings , scentry , and
machinery ) , ana round the other three Eides ef the loom is a spacious gallery . The stage , which is abon ' five feet six inches , 6 r six f « et above the floor , has gaslights along the front , with side doors , and stage fc * xes over them , and narrow staircas = a lead from the stage doors to the boxes above , to a large room below , and to Tarions ^ nte-rooms . The body of the hall , the gallery , and stag 9 were filled with men and youths ( the latter forming perhaps on this occasion nearly one-third of the whole , ) with some few women amoegs : them . Ihe two stage boxes were ocenpied entirely by females .
" Mr O'Connor entered the Hall about ten minttas past eight o ' clock , accompanied by the Riv . Jamee Scho ] efiai 3 and some other friends , and was received with loud cheers / wliich were followed by expressions of disapprobation from his countrymen . —Joseph Linney immediately came forward , and said , ' I beg to propose that Mr . Scho ' . efleld take the chair . '—Christopher Doyle : ' I second the motion . '—Daffy , who is also a working man , said , ' I propose as an amendment that Mr . John Doyle take the chair . '—Another working man seconded the amendment . —Mr . Daffy : * As the mover of the amendment I claim precedence to call for a show of hands ; ' and , suiting the action to the word , he held up his hunfl , which was the signal for a forest of others in the body of the Hall . —Iinney ,
Without , waiting , immediately called fcr a show of hands for Scheleneld , and thus the wh'jie of the hands in the place were raised at occe ; and they must have been nice discriminato-S who could distinguish one sitie from the other—friends from foes . It is sufficient to say that both p _ t x 3 claimed the majority , and without waiting for the vote to be decided more calmly , Mi . O'Connor and his ffiends attemjti i to get the chair forcibly by putting Mr . Scholc-SLeld into it , the ether parties , eqn illy bent upon securing possession got hold of it , and tie stage was in a mement converted-into a sceze of the utmost confusion . If either party appeared unwilling or unprepared for the conflict : they appeared to rush together more like bnUdozs than human beings , and a more fiichtful scene was
never fritn € 5 S £ ( i- 1 ii& cfx 3 irzn&n * £ desK "sras tumbled ova in the body i f the hall , together with the chair Which was the su > ject of contention . The reporters ' table , at which were seated the representatives cf only two cf the newspapers—our own reporter , and Mr . ¦ William Henry Iyeresche , cf the Advertiser—wc-nt overboard immediately afterwards ; and all the furcitu-e was hnniedi&teljbroktnupto famish weapons ' , f offense or dtfrnce . The reporters , whose affection to ? neither party was sufficient it would appear to engage thtm in the melee immediately prepared to leave the room , well judging that men in the heat of passion , with such weapons as they were now providing themselves with , would not ba likely to distinguish between neutrals and actual combatants , and the result unf orunately proved
the correctnesi of their anticipations . Our own reporter got to the southern side-door , and made his escape over the backs of some fellows who were breaking -up his chair for weapons to fig Et witb . iir Ltresche unfortunately suffered himself to be puihtd cut of the direct line to the door , and did not gain it till some moments sf -. erwards , when just as he had reached the ontside , a cowardly ruffian struck him on the back of the head -erith a weapon procured by breaking the banisters of the staircase , and inflicted a f rightful gash , which bled " profusely ; and he also got a blow on the forehead , and was severely beaten about the shoulders . We are not able to describe the scene imme diately succeeding ; bnt our reporter having gained one of the side it < ge boxes , had again an opportunity of
witnessing the scene below . The fight bad now become general throughout the halL Great numoers of these , whose peacsabia disposition , or f ; ar 3 , inclined them to ; take no part in it hid ltf : the hall , and the three tbOu-Band persons at fir 3 t assembled were reduced to a few ; hundreds ; and these were fighting in the most brutal ; manner . Same of the combatants must have brought stones in their pockets , End these were hurled witb fearful violence at their ox . ponent 3 en the stage . Mr . ; ScholeSeid got struck by o £ eof them on the month , and . his li ps -were stveTely bruised and his teeth loosened . Mr . O'Connor , tfcsr being several times knocked down ovtr the forms , and struck with sticks in the melts , _ also receiTed a Wow from a Etone on the right temple , I which raised a swelling and drew blood , but he was -.
not mnch hurt . O'Connor atd some cf hie friends £ oon get oai cf the place by a back door , and the scene which succeeded is too dreadful to dilate upon . Per- ; haps the best protf that can be given cf the ferocious- ; DrS 3 cf the combatants may be taken from one ; instance . One cf the men on the- stage bad struck ; another , and was steeping to lift up a second ' weapon , when fcis antagonist rushed at him with such force thtt they went headforemost together off the ' s ta ^ e , -which we have already Eidd is about six feet tzth , and fell upon tie floor at a considerable dis- ; tance from it One of them we are told , broke one cf ! his arms in two places by the fall , and we can only j wonder that either of them should have escaped alive , j The contest , which lasted from twenty minutts to half an hour , during which the hall alternately resounded j
With the crash of furniture breaking up to fnmisii j weapons with , with hfiavy blows , and the shrieks of I the terrified females in the stage boxes a 3 they wit- ! nessed the various success of their friends and relatives , was of too sanguinary a character to be gaz .-d upon calmly , and tie women appropriaWy drew the crimson i cuitains of the boxes to hide the frightful scene frcm j view . The combatants left t ^ e room as i ^ ey lost or ) broke their weapons , till the hall became tenaatless , j and the deors were closed against them ont ? ide by the j police , who had now arrived in considerable fores . We believe there were no lives lest , but the number j of heads broken we should think must have been j very great ; and for some time afterwards the drug- ; gists' shops in Deansgate and the neighbourhood j were crowded with bleeding patients who had gena j in search of plastere . We have heard of thirty being i
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BeveTely hurt , one of whom ia in the Infirmary , and the entire number cf wounded mmt be much greater . " We perceive that in the Guardian it is stated that there was a cry cf Corn Laws mixed op with the cause of tha quarrel ; and O ' Connor , tiking the hint , is Luiy circulating & xeport t&at the League hired the parties to disturb the meeting . The Tory papers of to-day will doubtless take their cue f .-om the same source , and be too happy in getting the suggestion from snch a quarter . With them and O'Connor the League has been the ' red cat' that did all the mischief a long tima ; and like the red cat of Joe Miller , though they have tilled it nine times out of the way , will yet come back to ' break the china sugar basin . ' We can assert fearlessly , however , that no Buch cries were raised as those mentioned by the Guardian ; and as to the League , we leave tha absurd report to be
contradicted when it is sufficiently believed to be of importance . There has been a party in existence who have disturbed our public meetings for years" past—even before the ^ stance of the League , and O'Connor is btset acquainted with its origin . It is nothing surprising that these disturbances should have provoked retaliation . Mr . O'Connor ' s partisans disturbed a meeting cf . his conntrymen at Carpenter's Hall some months ago ; and , much as we regret it , we do not wonder taat bad blood should exist , or that the physical f jrca he counselled should have been turned against himself . His lecture to the Irish Repealers was delivered on the following evening to a crowded meeting ; all Irishmen , who were recognised as such , being carefully excluded , ai , d 350 police , armed with cutlasses , being Mr . O Connor's bony guard . His third lecture—' on the Corn Laws' —was not delivered , his engagements obliging him to be at Stockport on Thursday .
; " PROCEEDINGS AT THE BOROUGH COURT , f WEDNESDAY . ; ' fBefore D . Maude , E * q . ) j " Shortly after the proceedings commenced , W . Duffy ! came fnto the court , and said he wished to apply for a i Eutumons against Mr . O'Connor for an assault . He i-fcited -that be was one of the parties who proposed one of the chairmen ; on itB bang put to the vote each j parly claimed to have the majority ; he heard great ! confusion behind him on the platform , and on looking ; behind him he saw Mr . O'Conuor , who doubled hia I fists , and exclaimed—' Ceme on , my lads , come on . * ' . He then hit the complainant a blow in the ribs , which i knocked him down from the platform to tke floor of j the room-I " Toe summons was granted .
*~ John Saxon , the nun tpkgin into , custody by the police , was then brought up . He was charged with using violence , and attempting to strike Mr . O Connor rt-iih s torra" George Buchanan . deposed that he saw the prisoner during the fikirmish breaking up either a chair or table , and afterwards throwing it in ihe direction where Mr . O'Connor was jt'ntling on the platforni . Witness kept his eje en him , and afterwards gave him in cuitoay to the police . 5 'In cross-examination by Mr . Dicken , solicitor , who apptared fur the prisoner , he said a chair was
throtrn down , which seemed to be a signal for a general atrack ; stones and brickbats were thrown on the platr form . Mr . Scholefield had been proposed to Like ths chair , and carried , and when about to sit down in it , it was pnHed from hin ? . Fire minutes after that tbings began ts be broken ; a rush immediately taok place , and . some were pushed off the platform . Men had to defend themselves for their lives' sake . What the prisoner broke was either a cbair or a table ; he was not- doing it in self-defence ; no one was near him at the time . He and another party were snatching pieces of timber from every one who opposed them , and throwing them at the platform .
" John Hargreaves proved that he saw the prisoner with a piece cf either a chair or table in kis hand , but did not see him throw it . A weapon was not necessary for his protection . The large room , aad also the gallery , we ' re full of people . " Mr . O'Connor next stepped into the witnesi-box , having a large black patch on his forehead . He said he Isad been requested to come down by Sir Cnarles Shaw , tilths knew nothing whatever of the prisoner . " Mi . Scholefield , the chairman cf the meeting , was called . He could not identify the prisoner , but was croBS-EXamined by Mr Dicken t > the following effect : — I got to the uietf . ng about ten minutes past eight , and found the neighbourhood of the chair occupied by perfect Btraageis to me . A man named Duffy was addrersing the p * opla As soon as Mr . O'Connor and I appeared , they called upon me to take the chair . I had been appointed chairman for the evening at the previous lecture . There were both cheers and yells , and all kinds of noises .
" Jchs Hargreaves first saw tho prisoner with a stick in his hand , knocking about and hitang every one he tame it . He rforwards saw him vtry I u » y in striking , atd throwing tticks and stones upon the platform . There was a good deal of confusion and violence in the room at the tima . The platform was abuit the height of a person ' s head . The first breaking of fn .-iinure began on the platform ; chairs and tables were broken , and were thrown down into the body of the halL It was cot all on the platform who were the aggressors , lut a select paity , ^ ho were there for the purpose .
" Edward Hancock deposed that fee distinguished the prisoner frcm the commencement of the disturbance-He was along witk a body of Irishmen , who rushed itto the Tocm bj furce nt an early part of the tvtning ; and at the identical time when the signal was given , by an individual jumping from the midd e of the floor upon the platform , the prisoner caught a chair that was thrown fey some one from the platform ; be and others broke the chair by daihing it on the ground , and he then took one piece , went tovrards the platform , and aimed a blow at the chairman .
" Cross-fcxaEiined—There was an indiscriminate breaking of chairs and tiblea in the room . The first l-re-cb . of the peace waa caused by a person springing from ths body of the room from amongst the low Irish repealers—( laughter . ) The next thing was the seizing of the chairman and the ciiair , and then commenced the attacks of individuals on the platform ; some individual threw a chair from the platform into the body of tho me-. ting , and then commenced the indiscriminate Violence . " Daffy was then called by Mr . D : cken , on the part of the prisoner . He stated that he - \ vtnt to the meeting at exactly five minutes to seven ; he went to a side door , . and was told by the woman who optned it that they would have a ' terrible stormy night of it . ' He
paid 6 d . and got on ths platform . The disturbance did not t-egin of an heur . Some f arniture was first broken on the right-hand side of tbe p ! a ; f jrni . He nsver saw prisoner tatre at aJL Theie was a great effort to force Mr . Scholctitld into the cbaii , mmu pushing Lim one way , bums another , and in the inelte the chair w ^ a broken and thrown into the body of the meeting . The disturbance was entirely caused by Mr . Feargus O'Connor , vrbo , when witness moved tbe appointment of a chairman , rose up , doubling hia fists , and called out" Coine on , my lads—come on , my i&ds ; " that -was the signal for a general melee , and thej were fighting all through the room . The people were in a slate of the greatrsi ; pos-ible excitimtnt . They certainly made it a * Hill of Science" on that occasion . — ( Langhtrr . )
" Mr . jdaude said it had been cle ^ r y proved that the prisontr took part in the disturbance . He must have known well , ao must other parties , that if be chose to remain after the fmturbjHce to ^ k place , and was found using any violence , he was liable to punishment As it might be supposed that he went there without ai ; y intention of committing violence , the IXurt wou d not iLflict a severe peniihraent . He would be required to find two sureties in £ 10 each , to keep the peace .
" THE CHARGE AGJUSST ilH- O ' COMNOE . " Mr . O'ConBor , who had taken his stat at the table , said he unde ; su / od a sunmiofls had been t-iat morning taken out ag&iiist him . If it wouM nut trench upon the time of the Cuurt , he fcboulu wish it to bu thtn Leard , " all the paitits being preseiit . —This being agreed tj , " Mr . Dnfry came forward again , and deposed that , entertaining opinions different from those of Mr . O Connor , he had thought proper to attend the meeting , ami propose as a chairman one , wlio w ; is not of Mr . 0 'C . ' 3 own appointment . They wuited an hour before Mr . O Ccnno .- arrired . Various parties called out f jr the appointment of a chairman , but he tola them it wuuia be improper and injudicious to move the appoit-tmcDt belore Mr . O'C . Brrivtd . At thai moment he ent-. red the rooru : some vf his friends proposed one chairman , and the witness another . A £ ho"i 7 of baiida was taken , and witness considered
tLey iad the majority . He iiiiiiieoiattly announced lb-ii fiicr , and vrliUa ee vas uoing so Mr . O'ConD ^ r stood up behind him , and waved i . ia list over his head ; there "svere cheeis and couniej-clieers . Seeing ttiat tte decision of the mtetin ^ waa completely against hini fhiiSeB and cries of " >* o , '" from the Chartists in tho galiery , ) and icat tSfcre was sucu a diversity of opinion that fee would not Lave it all his own way , he stood up behind witness , j . * oiwaeif in a fighting attitude , and cried— " * Couie on my lads—come on . my feds 1 " The eocsequence wus a general movement cf the whole body . "Witnessst «> oa ou the very edge t f the platform , which was rix or stven feet bigh . A violent contest immediately commenced bthinu him : he used his influence to keep quietness , but Mr . O dnnor put himself in a figeting attitude , and calieu tne people up . He retreated a few paces , but on witness turning his bead rcund struck him on the rigbt side , and threw him ovtr the piatform into the body of
meeting . " . Gross-eraHiined by Mr . O'Connor—Mr . Doyle ¦ waa the chaiiman I proposed- Diu not htar yon say U Doyle had tha majority he should bts the chairman 1 Slid— ' Mr . Dojle will now proceed to take the chair , " and then there was a ruth ; a man uauieu Linney , and a number cf persons conuecttd with > iurself , irying to force Mr . Sch olefield into the chair ; other parties pushed him out , and in iln melee tDe chair was broken and thrown into the crowd , Mr . ScnolerieJd was not in the chair when 1 sakt Mr . Dojla would proceed to take it ( A cry of " He was , " from the giultry ; and Mr . Maude threatened to have the gallery cieared if these l&ttriuptions continued ) . Did not hear yon say—•• Sow , Mr . " Scholefield is in the chair , my laas , suppoit jour chairniit . " When you found that jour own party chairman was not elected you gave three cheers , aud B&id— "Suppoit ycur chairman , " knowing that he waB not elected
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chairman . Mr . O'Connor—When I was standing in front of the platf jrm did you see missiles flying in the direction I was in ? How could I see missiles flying when you had knocked me off the platf jrm ? Did not see you get a blow which knocked yon down on one of the benches ; did not see yon get a blow on your neck , or « n your shoulder , or a blow which cut your hat . Heard ycu tell tbe people to stand their ground . Did not see a weapon of any sort in your hand . Yob struck me with your fist on the right side , just above the hip . —Mr . O'Connor : And I knocked you over into the platform , dM I ?—Witness : Off the platform , that is not English?—Mr . O'Connor : —I am an Irishman , but I suspect you have been too long in England te be a good Irishman . ( Laughter . )—Examination continued : After I was knocked down I took the liberty of going out , and I saw n » more of it after . I left at exactly twenty minutes past eight I saw no missiles thrown , but in going out saw a chair , or some luge article thrown from tbe platform .
" John Booley . —I saw the last witness standing on the edge of tbe pl&tform , and after tbe row commenced saw him get ' a clout' on the right side , which pitched him into tbe pit . He was so near the edge that any one stumbling against him might have knocked him off ; but the blow was struck by Mr . O'Connor , with his fist-—Cross-examined : I was net on the platform , but in the body of the meeting . I had my eyes on the platform all the time , and did not see a single weapon thrown at it . I thought it best to get away when I saw the sort of work that was going oh .
" Patrick Murphy . —I was at the meetinz last night . I saw Mr . Duffy there ; he stood near the front of the platform—not more than an inch from it . He was close to the centre . I did not see him struck , nor did I see him fall off the platform . A contention arose about "the chaiiman . I did not stay many minutes after . —Mr . Maude : I think you were about the wisest person . —Witness ; I saw Mr . O'Connor in the attitude of saying . — ' Ceme on , my boys . '—Crons examined by ,. Mr . O'Connor : And how long did you see me after that?—Two minutes or so . —And yet you did not see Duffy struck ?—No . —That -will do ; go down . " Duffy was re-called to explain on what part of the platform he stood , there being a discrepancy in the atatements of the witnesses . He said that he was on the left of the chair . " Mr . O'Connor then
called" The Rev . James Scholefield , who deposed—I came to the Moeley Arms to Mr . O'Connor before the meeting took place . A man came and said that the parties in the room were very violent , and asked if he would have the police ; but we declined . When we got to the meeting Duffy was proposing Doyle as Chairman . A show of hands was taken for him ; and I heard Mr . O'Connor say that if he had a majority be sbduJd be the Chairman . When the show of bands was taken for me , the whole of the gallery and at least half of the body of the meeting were in my favour : it was at least ten to one . Duffy then said Mr . Dayle would take the chair ; I was in the chair at the time . A great disturbance took place at the back of tbe platform , which I could not see , and my chair was moved . I was se : a : d on the breast by a man in a fustian jscket , who wanted to drag me out of the chair , and another came to hold me in . I laid hold of the gas pillar near the chair , fearing that it
would be torn down ; and the chair was then dragged I don't know wberev The table was upset , and fell into the body of the meeting ; it was immediately torn to fragments , and thrown back with violence on the platform . Mr . O'Connor called out , ' Now , lads , defend yuur Chairman ; ' others called to me , ' Come away , or they'il kill you ! ' After that , Mr . O'Connor went to the front of the platform , and gave three cheers . He could not have knocked a man eff the platform without my seeing it I saw Duffy there , near the edge of tbe platform , but don't know what became of him . He could not have been thrown off without my seeing him , if my face had been turned in that direction . After the chair and table were broken up , missiles were flyiDg in all directions . Mr . O'Connor was knocked down upon one of the benches . My opinion is that Duffy was the instigator of the row ; he was addressing the meeting when I entered .
" Charlta Thomason : I was at the meeting , and stood just below -where Daffy stood to intke bis speech . I saw him scofBinjj , and I saw him throw a chair off the platform . I saw Mr . Scholefield in the chair , and then I saw some parties try to put him out ; and Mr . O'Connor put his arm round him to keep him in . That was before the general disturbance in the body i f the meeting . I saw Mr . O'Connor come to the front and give three cheers ; afterwarda be went towards tbe back of the platform ,-and was knocked down on a bench . I believe Duffy ,-was knocked eff the pla ' fjrm by the pressure . Had Mr . O'Connor done it , I tbink I must have seen it . I remained twenty minutes , and saw pieces of broken chairs and tables flying about , and two men laying about them with pokers . —Cross-examined : Duffy threw the cbair over after . the sccfBebegan ,- did not see him take any other patt .
" Mr . Maude said the only qupstion was whether the complainant bad been thrust off the ¦ pbtfonn wilfully or by accMeLt . This was evidently milter of cosiderab ! e doubt and no great violence appeared to have been used towards him . It was to be regretted that parties could not meet without coining to personal violence . Now that these warm feelings bad been manifested , he trusted these parties would not meet in the same room again , as it was quite certain t'aey would never convince one another . Ho- hoped this wou'd be a spl'tary instance of the occurrence of such violenee , and tbat there would not be a repetition of these scenes It waa admitted by the complainant himself , ia his evidence , that he was told by the woman at the door that there was likely to be a stormy meeting j and that being the case , he , as a respecluble party , ought immediately to have cone home . —Tbe case was dismissed .
" Duffy , in reply to what had been stated by the last witness about his throwing tho chair off the platform , said he would prove that to be false . He declared that he had not taken out the summons with any ill feeling , but for tae sake of having a full explanation of the circumstances . " Mr . ' Maude remarked on tho impropriety ef courts of justice being made the scene < f autual explanations of this kind . " Mr . O'Connor also disclaimed any ill fetling ; and , in proof of it , offered to become one of the sureties for the prisoner Saxon , whose case was before heard ; but it appeared that be had obtained bail . " Mr . Scholtfield ttated that he had been struck on the mouth with a stone whilst on the platfoiin .
" Mr . Maude said it was a most brutal thing to throw stones in a crowded meeting : if the parties guilty of such conduct were brought before him , they would be vtry severely dealt with . He expressed a hope that thtre would not be a repetition of Bucb conduct . "On Mr . O'Connor and bis fricr . ds leaving the court , they vrevo loudly cheered by the crowd outside .
" ABSURD APPLICATION . " O'Connor again appeared at the Uorough C ^ urt yesterday , and said he had an iniporlaLt application to make , with reference to the disturbance of Tuesday night . He said he should be abJe to prove that a certain association in this town met on fc ' uiday night , and again on Monday night , and tbat they were in conm ction with a political association in this town ; and that one association undertook to furnish funds to the other foT the purpose of procuring hia ussnssinati . cn- ! He should be able to prove the bands through -which the jnGney passed , aud the ' person who had hired the individual to commit this r . ct . He w : vs able to prove that one person received * twenty-pcnce '(!) for Lire and a ptTiny for admission ; that another received
half-a-crown for hire and a penny for admission . He should also be able to prove that one individual bad received £ 5 to knock him , off the platform , in order that those below might destroy him . He Gbculd also be able to prove that thst individual suu ' ck hini the first blow on the hat ; that he would , be recognised by four persons as the individual selected f jr that purpose . As regarded himself the matter was not perhaps of great importance I— ( laughter )— 'but when it beeaius a question if the peace of the country was t j be placed at ths mercy of tne brutality and ruffianism of persons vho wvuld devote their money to the hiring of "oss&ssius to destroy a man , he trusted that tbe ina £ ittrates would sit once see that it was nat the individual but tVa crime it-elf must be looked &t . It was his int ^ n-
ti in to apply to the Secretary of St t _ - for an inve . fgation of that part of the ma ( t : r which tha magieiratrs could not take cognisance of . Mr . O'Connor then entered into a ludicrous statement ot the personal dangers he bad braved that nigbt —( ina'Mylt ) almost tqual to "Faistaffs men in buckr-. ini , ) and said , the ci'llaterjl evidence he should be . a ' oJ-j to bring would go to show that t * ne whole brunt of tliu attack was aimed at himself . He hai never lent-, his »; inction to any violation of the prace— ( kuglitar)—aim under tiiese circuiustances ha thought he v ? as tinkled t > the advice of the magistrates . He should
bt aMe to bring this home not to poor , simple Irishmen , but to persons of education and standing in society ; for the placards issued on Wednesday , inviting the Iiisameu to attend again and complete the triumph they hail the night befoie , where every one paid for by this association . The first thing the law required to be done was that a perhoii should be sent to the printer of this inflammatory placard , with authority to demand the copy from him , . a ~ id this would enable him to go far into his case . . The matter was one of importance , not to one individual but to all classes of society , and ho was > ure the magistrates would assist in the investigation in bringing-the matter fully before the public
" Mr . Maude doubted if they could make tho application to the printer without being put in motion by the AUornty-Getieral . ¦ -.-- . " Mr . O'Connor contended that under the General Slanip Ac : the magistrates had the power . " After soiue further consultation between lbs magistrates , Mr . Maude requested Mr . O'Connor t-j edinnnt the suijtct uf his information to -wri'ing , and they would see how far the act warranted them in taking the step he " wished . ' Mr . O Connor left the court amidst great laughter , —the object of his application being generally understood to be a mere ' gag , " for the purpose ' of . 'bringing himself into lwtoritty , and get a report in the Tory papers prejudicial to ' " a certain association , ' who , as he said on Monday night , want to throw him overboard . There a . ru mord ways of insinuating a libel than ouo , and this is not the least disreputable and cowardly . "
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gJSuch is the Plague ' s version . We follow ifc by that of the Manchester Guardian , twin brother to the Leeds Mercury \—~ ¦!' . \ , ¦¦¦¦ ¦'¦ : ¦ ' ¦¦"' . ¦ . ' ¦/¦¦¦" . " : .., ¦' . ¦ "THE CHARTISTS AND IRISH REPEALERS . "FRACAS AT THE HALL OF SCIENCE . . " . In the ' Guardian ' , of Wednesday , we gave a brief notice of a row that took place in the Hall of Science , on Tuesday night , between the Chartists and Irish Rfpealera , at a meeting convened for the purpose of hearing Mr . Feargus O'Connor deliver a lecturs on the Repeal of the Legislative Union . On this occasion the two parties referred to quarrelled in re / erence to the choice of a chairman : The following cases , arising out of the disturbance , came before D . Maude , Esq ., at the Borbugh Court , on Wednesday : — ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . - .. ¦¦ . ; : ' : .. \ - ¦ - ¦'" ::,...
" John Saxton was charged with assaulting Mr . Feargus OConnor , on ' Tuesday night , at the Hall of Science . Mr . Dickens , solicitor , defended the prisoner . Giprge Buchanan stated , that , during a skirmish which took place in the Hall on the evening referred to , he saw the prisoner breaking up a chair or a table , witness could not say Which .,, and flinging two pieces of it at Mr . O'Connor . Witness watched She prisoner , and had him taken into custodj-. Mt O'Connor was in great t anger from the missiles thrown at him ; he was several times knocked down on the platform , and witness and others ,: with much difficulty , got him out of the room . On being cross-examined by Mr . Dickens , _ the witnesa stated that the meeting was held" for the purpose of hearing Mr .
O'Connor deliver a lecture . Air . Schblefleld was elected to take tha chair , which so dissatiBfied a portion of the meeting , that a row ensued , and the prisoner threw some pieces of ' timber ' at Mr . O'Canhof . Another witness stated , that he saw the prisoner with a piece of timber in his hand ; but he did not see him niiiking use of it —[ Mr . Feargus O'Connor and Mr . Scholotield then enteted the court . The former ' had . a large black patch on ; his forehead , in consequence of a wound which he bad received in tke affray ; the latter had hia Jip greatly swelled , and his nose and one of his eyes bore palpable marks of recent violence . J— Mr . O'Connor , on being sworn , begged to state that he knew nothing of theease btifjre the court . He had attended merely at the request of Sir Charles Siaw . He ( Mr .
0 Connor ) did not aee the prisoner at the Hill of Science—Mr . Sjholefield gave similar testimony , I ' o / his crosj-i xamination he stated that a person hanred . Duffy was addressing the meeting when ; he ( Mr . Scholefield j entered the room—A youth , named John Hargraves , deposed thtt he saw the prisoner nssaulting several persons with a Btick which he had in his band . He also threw several sticks and storiea on the platform . Edward Hancock corroborAted this evidence . —William Duffy was examined fur the defence . He stated that he obtained admission to the hall at five minutes past Beven o ' clock , by the side door , along with two gentlemen connected with the press . Ou entering , thel woman that opened ¦ . the door said ' You will have a terrible stormy night of it , gentlemen . ' Having ' .. 'paid 6 J . witnesa obtained a seat on the platform . He could not swsar who first broke the chair ; but he thought it was , not broken intentionally . He did not see the prisoner with a Btick in his hand .
Witness did not eeo him at all . Tbe disturbance was caused by Mr . O'Connor , 'who , when witness had proposed a chairman that was approved of by the meeting , said , ' Come ' on ,, my lads , ' making at the same time a signal for . fighting . A general row then commenced . Mr . O Connor and others w . ere fighting on the platform , and the place was made in reality a Hall of Science ' '— ( laughter . ) The prisoner said he left the room when the row began , and was met by some of the Chartists ^ who gave him very bad usage because he was an Irishman ; and then gave him into custody on the present charge . Mr , Maude said he * did apt consider the prisoner the worst of the party ; but it was clear that he was one ct the riotsrs . It was necessary that he should know that he was answerable for such misconduct ; but , considering all the' circumsUnces of the ease , and that it was the first offence , be ( Mr . Maude ) would not inflict a heavy punishment on him . The prisoner was called upon to find two sureties in £ 10 each to keep thu peace for three months .
"CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST MR . F . O CONNOR . " Mr . O'Connor said he understood the court had granted a summons against him , for assau '; t ng a person named Duffy ; and he hoped the case would ba than brought on , if it was not trenching upon the time of tho ;« ourt— Mr . Maude having consented , " William Duffy stated , that on Tuesday evening he and some Irish Repealers attended a meeting in the Hall of Science , for the purpose of hearing Mr . O'Connor ' s views , and expressing their own , on certain subjects , about which there was a difference of opinion between them . Ho had been oh tho platform about an hour before Mr . Connor entered , during which time various patties had been demanding the appointment of a chairman . Ho told them that it would bo irapioper
to appoint a chairmiiii , or make a motion to that effect until Mr . O'Connor arrived . When Mr . Connor entered the room , some of .. bis ' . friends proposed the Rov . James Scholtfleld as chairman . Tne other party proposed a person named Duyle ; and when the show < f kinds was taken , there was a large majority fur Doyle . At that time Mr . ' O'Connor took off his hat , and waved it three times * over witness ' s ; head * which provoked cheers from the paity to which he belohged , and cojinter-cheers from the opposite party . Mr . O'Connor , finding tbat be cauhl not hiive it all his own way , put him-Belfinafightir . g ^ tiitude . andBhouted'Comeon . my lada : ' Ju consequence if this , there was a movement throughout tho whole assembly , and a general row commenced . Witness was then standing on the edge of the platform , which was raised ibout six or ssvtn feet above the
floor ; and Mr O'Connor struck him over the hip with his hand , and knocked him down among the people . — Tne witness was cross-examined at great length by Mr . OCounor , but nothing additional was elicited . —John Duolej was , next examined ; he said Mr . O'Connor struck Duffy above the hip . —Mr . Maude : Would there not be some difficulty in a man so tall as Mr . O'Coiinor getting bis hand dbWn so low as the hip of tbe complainant ? Not when he was so close to him . Duffy was at the end of the platform . —In his crossexamination , witaeas fctated that the disturbance began in the body of the meeting , and afterwards said it commenced on tbe platform . On being reminded of the discrepancy , he said he considered the platform the lady of the meeting . ' Mr . Maude exuressed himself
dissatisfied with the evidence of l . his witness . Patrick Murphy was next exaiiiined in support of the cariiplaic't . He ttxted that Duffy was at the edge cf the platform , nearly opposite tt'ie' contra . Witness saw Mr . O'Connor , but did not see hiin strike Duffy . —In consequenco of the two last witnessts COUtraOictiD ^ vacti other about the position occupied on the platform b / Duffy , Mr . Miurio dtsired him to state exactly wlwre hn did stand , and Diiffy confirmed the statement of the la ^ t witness—rMr . Scholefleld was then bwotyi , and said , that he went ti the Mosley Arms on Tuesday , to Mr . Fea . VK « s OConnor , a little before the meeting took place . The man who ha ^ taken the hall , came , and .-ir * firmed thtm taatri riot was cottar ..-plated , and that it would bid well to send for tho
police . Mr . O'Connor said he would answer for his countrymen that they would behave themselves prcperly , and that he * Ud not liko to bring police to a public meitiug . t When witiiess and Mr . O'Connor entered the Halt of Sciience , Duffy was in the act of addressing the meeting ; . When the show of hands for the chairman was tivkcn , the whole of the gallery , and half the body of the- meeting , which , if of-timated iu numbers , would bo about ten to one pf the parties present , were in favour of witness taking the chair . Witness then took the chair , and immediately heard Duffy paying , " NowDoyle will take the chair . " Witness was then seized by it man in a fustian jacket , who tore his shirt . * - Anotlitr man came to witnesses ' s assistnnce . and the cbair went—he knew not where . The
taole on which tho candles were standing wusnuug into the , body of the meeting , and oii-ecUy broken into puces , which were hurled back on the platform . When the attack was made on witness , Mr . OConnor said , ' Now , ; lads , stand by your chaicntaii , Mr . O'Connor got bis arms round witness , to protect him froai the missiles tbat were flung at hint from all directions Witness Saw Duffy : ho was the cause of the entire disturbance . Witness dbV not see Mr . OConnor striking him . When Mr . O'Connor was retiring from the "front of the platform , he was knocked down ; and several persons gathered round him , and begged of him ti ) . go away , or he would be killed . Charics Tliomasons . denosed , that he saw Pufty throw a chair from the platform , and s . vvDatt ' y Bushed off the platform , but did
ret see Mr . O'Connor strike , him . If Mr . O Conuot ^ had itruck Duffy , wUness thought ho . f-houlil have seen hiM . —The lust ¦ witnesa was cross-examined , by Daffy at great leiigth ; afttr which Mr . Maude ooserved , that there " was no doubt that the complainant was pusbed off the platiorm ; but tho question was , whether that had been done wilfully or not ? The parties who went into the room with weapons deserved punishment , and should be punishsd ii such conduct were proved against them . It was much to be regretted , that parties could rot meet together to discuss their differences , without coming into collision . If they could not meet without quarrelling ,, it were much be . tterthafc the two parties should have separate
places of meeting .. He hoped he should hear no more of such disturbancfe ? . The comiiliiinant , on entering the Hall , had had his attention cahed to the fact , that a row was contemplated ; and it was surprising that he went in after that intimatijiu . It was not clear frbm ; : * the evidence ; that the pushing complainant off the platform was intentional . The case was then dianjissedr-r-Tb © complainant then stated , that he fentirtnined 'DO ill-feeling towards Mr O'Connor ; and the latter said , that to" show he was icfluenced by no bad feeling , he was jperfectly .. willing -. to- beebme one of Snxton ' s sureties ^— Mr . Maude said he had no objection , provided there was no further quarrels , to discharge that man ' s recognizmcei ? . ¦
" SERIOUS CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY . " Yesterday , Mir . Feargus O'Connor appeared in the Borough Court , before D . Maude , Etq ., C . J .-S . Walker , Esq . ; and Mr . Alderman Ktrahaw , and , under the cover of makiiis an application , he delivered himself of the following txtraordiiitiry statement :- ^ " Perhaps your worships would allow me to make an application of a public nature . When 1 was . before the court , on Wednesday last , it did not occur to me that the greatest public importance was attached to tha
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case in which I was then concerned ; but now I appear to discharge a public duty , having learned many of the circumstances connected with the riot , which took place at the Hall of Science on Tuesday nigkt I also appear here for the purpose of taking away much of tho blame and odium attaching to my unfortunate countrymen , iu consequence of that affair , and attaching it to the proper parties . I Shall apply tp the court for assistance and advice , wben I lay btf ore them a statement which I shall support by evidence . The circumstances to which I wish to call attention ore these ; -r-It is well known that on Taesriay night I was to address the people of Manchester on a particular subject ; arid I shall be able'to prove ^ that a certain association ' . in this town mot on Suuday night , and also on Monday night ,
and they , in conjunction with a political association in this town , premeditated the disturbance Which occurred on Tuesday night . One association undertook to furnish funds to the other association , f jr the purpose of procuring my assasaination . I shall fc » able to prove who were the patties through wltoee hands the money came , and who the persons were that hired parties to assassinate me . I bhall be able to prove , that one individual received 20 d for hire , and Id foradmifieioh ; and that one individual was hired at the amount of £ 5 to knock me off the platform , in order tUat thoso underneath might destroy ine . I shall prove , that that individual struck me on the head—the willberecogniseil by fyur person whd :. sawhi ; a do soj , —and that ha was selected by the association referred to for that purpose .
A great deal of excitement exists relative to-this , occurrence ; and I ani liappy to say , for the honour cf Englishmen , and of all " poiitical creeds and persuasions , thatthere never w ; as greater disgust manifested on any occasion , than there was towards the . conduct >* r those parties who created tlie disturbance on Tuesday night . Aa the matter regards myself individually , I want no great importance tu be attached to " it ; but , wheri it comes to be considered as a question involving the peace of the country , it is of the utmost importance . The brutality and ruffiaHism of those perBons who couH devote their money : to the base purpose of hiring , assasiiiis to dostrbyany man demand inquiry , not on accUnt of the individual immediately concerned , but on accmnt of the public at large , whose interest it is to have such crimes
visited with proper puniabmenU I mea > to apply to the Secretory * f Sate in referoiice to this matter ; and , backed by tho law and my own energy and determination , I ebuiil prosecute the iBquity as far as i ) o *; si , ble . A very Wealthy association in this town furnished another association with funds to effect niy assassination on Tueaday Bight By carrying on this inyestigation , I shall bo enabled to put mjr own character on a proper footing . ¦ On the nigLt of the disturbance , I had riot a switch or a rod , iior any otherjweapon with me ; nor did I know of any individual having anything ^ with him to defend himseJf . On the contrary , supposing that wa should receive such opposition &s we had frequently met with before , and that it would all end in an ebullition of feeling , when asked if the police akouUI be
requeeted to attend , so ignorant * wa 3 1 li what was to occur , that I dissented f ; om the itt . odufjtiou of ssich ' a ' force . 1 knew also , that , if any of my party went to the meeting armed , it would furnish their opponents With a pretext for creating disturbance , and therefore I was opposed to any thing of the kind . From thirty to fifty persons wera seriously wounded , — perhaps fifteen of them dangerously . ^ -and one old man had several of his ribs broken , having been trampled upon by those hired ruffians who came into the meeting armed with hatchets , pokers , bludgeons , stones , & . a : 1 myself received six wounds on my body , one oil my forehead , and one on the back of myhead , and was knocked down several times . 1 have collateral evidence to show , that all the missiles that were thrown
during the affray went immediately over my head , or struck my person , or some one in my immediate vicinity . Now , if these things have'bwa done to impeda me in that course which I haVe : hitherto so long pursued , legally , honestly , and peaceably;—and which I shall still continue ' -to' pursue in the name murmur , for I am opi . o 8 ed to the shedding of one drop of human blood , under any circumstances , and I have several times received the thanks of the Guardians at Huddersfield for having sared theru from astassiautioti—I will never lend myself to the violation of the peace—^ 1 never will j—if , 1 say , these things have been done to obstruct me in my course , the parties who did 8 o witk that intention will find that I am not to be intim'dated . Under these circumstances you will , I have no doubt ,
think me folly entitled to : your protection , I ask nut yotir protection for myself merely , but for the sako of the peace of tlie country . I ask now the adyico of the magistrate ^; It is important that . these matters should go forth to the world in their propar coloura ; for if money is to be collected and diitribnted f * r such vile purposes , and ii . flimm . tjry . Uocuiaciits circulated for the purpose of raising the worst pafisions of a political party , God only knows where such things may end . Another thing which I have omitted to ment on : —Ori Wednesday , our object was rather to allay angry fdeliugs than to excite them ; but , the other party issued Violent and iufliiiimatory documents , calling on the caiie persons , who had so liiisconductB i themselves on Tuesday night , to assemble again ou
Wednesday , and perpetrate similar outrages . One of the first duties of this court will be , —for I sbaii be able to bring tills matter home , — -not simply to the poor Irishmen who were hired for tho purpose , but to persons of standing in society—to peisqns of authority , standing , and wealth . One of the flrsi thiags wiucii tho law guarantees you the power of doin ^ is , that you send some one to the individual who printed that last inflammabio bill , and , as he is obliged to keep , f > a certiiiu period , all the manuEcript which he pub . ishea , to obtain from him ths manuscript from whica that bill was printed , in order that we may have an opportunity of ascertaining in whose handwriting it i 3 . I do not want the magi . 'trates t > pass over their bounds of duty : but I tvish them to make this , tho case ,, not
of Feargus OConnor , but of t ! ie country . If ever there was a brutal and violent attack made oa peaceable individuals , that on Tuesday night was one . — Having reiterated the same thing over arid over again , Mr . Maude asked him what it was he wanted .: Mr . O'Connor : It is this , tbat , haviDg so far developed my c ; ise , the magistrates will feunantee al thVassistance in their power to bring the entire case to light—Nlr . Maudo : Are you prepared with any information ? Mr . O'Connor : No : I only thought it necessary to pub you in possession of tba facts . The evidence of what has reached meis yet inconi 2 > lete . ~ - [ . \ lr . O ' Connor again ropeated his former statement about the plot against hi 3 life , nnd said he did not wish to mention names ] My first apDlicatian is , that an officer be sent to thj
printer for tho manuscript of the bill which appeared on Wednesday , inviting Irishmen to come to the Hall of Science , and follow up and achieve the victory which they had SO well begun on Tuesday . Mr . Maude Can you refer to the act under which you maku th « application ? Mr . O'Connor : I caunot now lefor to the act ; but I am perfectly well aware , an the pro ^ pviiitor of a newspaper , toat printtrs are obliged tc keep manuscripts for a certain time . —Mr . S-Taude : Refer to the act—Mr . O'Connor : 1 think it ia in t-Lc stainp act . —Mr . Maude : That only gives us jurisdiction over * p * rinter 8 , on some information laid : —Mr . O'Connor : That is a particular act . This is the general stamp act . —Mr . Herford : Do you mean the actc ' janging the stainp daty?—Mr . O'Connor : That only
refers to uew * 3 papers ; but I come before the : court to see whether it gives them jurisdiction beyond the newspapers . —^ Mir . Maude : My reoollecticn is , that , when the recent act gives us any jwrisclieiioh to impose a pennity , it is necessary that the Attornfey-Qeriaral should lay the information . —Mr . O ' Couoor : That ia whon a penalty is sought ; but I only want to obtain a manuscript fpr the purpose of grounding fuiuca proceedings upon it—Mr . Maude : We shall bo quite willig at all times to receive any Information cf any conspiracy of this kind ; and , if you lay any irifonmti ' . n wa shall have no difficulty of puttiug th' 3 law into execution , so far as it depends on us t-j dp sr . If you
are prepared now with any information , lay it l . e ' . ore us—Mr . O'Connor than repeated his application . — Mr . Maude said the manuscript was the printer ' s property , and the court had tvo more right to dcmaml it than they bnd to demand the papers of any other party . After deliberating some thue -with the otivwr magistrates , Mr . Maude said the Act ef PiiriiaiJifciit wiivcii amended the act referred to by Mr . O'Connor -was not in court ; but the best way for Mr . O'Connor to act was tj > . communicate to the court any information he had , and then they should see how they were to act—Mr . O'Connor said , he was quite sure th « cuurt would do their duty , when anything of a specific chaiacter was laid before tbenii Mr . O'Connor then withdrew .
[" The infLfuimatory placard referred to by Mr . O'Connor was not produced in court , nor did the Learned Gentleman give the natae of the printer . " ]
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^ hat they had themselyes a body erected . ( Load and prolonged cheering . ) Mr . Duffy herd began to address the meeting , and was met with loud cries of ** Order" and ' Chair , " mingled with cheers . He said all thefriends of order wonW show it by keeping order . Mr ., Feargus O'Connor had not yet arrived , and . it would hot be proper to proceed to the appointment of a chairman in his absence ; bus as soon as he came , hi 3 frieridi would doubtless propose a ahairman of Mr . 0 Counor ' s choice ; but he ( Mr . Duffy ) , ipgother -with , his friends , would feel bound to . put . forward a man of their own ehGice—( cheers and hissea ) : As Mr . Dufiy concluded ; Mr . O'Connor an . d * - Mr . Scholefitld entered ; and were welcomed Witn almost unanimous applause . " ^ - ' . '"¦ ' * VMr . John Liuney then moved , and Mr . C . Doyle seconded : that the Rev . John Scholtfield io take the Chair . ¦ - " - ¦ . - . ' . ¦ ¦ -: ' :: ¦ -.: ¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦ . - ¦ . ¦• ¦ . : ; -. ; . !"; ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ... . /¦¦ : •' ¦ : ¦;•¦ . ¦
' iVlr ' i P , " ^• ¦ » oyed , as an amendment , ihe appointment of Mr , Jobn Doyle , and claimedthe right to put hia amendment firtt , which was accordingly done , and lost by a large majorityi two-thirds of the aHdience being for Mr . Scholefield , who accordingly took th mohair . Scarcely had he seated himself when a rush was made . froai behind , the reporters' table upset , the chairman's chair and desk thrown into the middle of the room , and himself knocked down and much injured . The chairman ' s desk , his chairj the benches in the / inWdle ' o'f ; the" room , and banisters oh the stairs , twere insianily broker , and applied as weapons by such of the parties in that pait of the ball ashad come unprovided with pokers , bludgeons , paving stones , &c . Many heavy missiles were the on the
directed a ^ ainft parties platform , ana our reporter . ' saw several whose injuries were dreadful to behbl < l' — -ihe cheeks ,: lips , forehead , and "temples being mmsiiy cases laid completely open , and streanir ing with blood . The two doors which lead from the platform , tTfgether With their lobbies , were instantly filled by the parties who had occupied that part of the room . The parties in the body of the room , having , by this time nearly cleared it of the few ChariiBts who were there , next scaled the platform , and , t !\ c persons there were set upon . Those who could not reach the two doors were driven against tha centre of the wall , and assaulted with the weapons we have before described ; while those at the two doors were kept from entering into the
tho lobies iu o * n 8 equenco ^ f pressure outnde , and also from the doors being cloved at the foot of the stairs . Io was whi | eatumi . t . iig to leave the room byone Of these dooi's that our reporter , Mi \ J . 11 . Ltresche , was assaulted by a mm in a white fustian jacket and trousers . * The first blow .-ci . it ' through ; the back of his hat , and ji- ' flic ' tcd a Avouhd ou the head two inches in length and half au inch wide . He immediately turned rouud to see who it . was , when ho received another heavy blow on the forehead ; happily the lorco of it was turivsd aside by holding up his hand , which is in oonsequencoat present useless . The man then contiuued to belabour h \ s back and shoulders until , bruised aiut faint fromJ 6 s 3 of blood , he contrived to force a passage through the door
and thus escaped with his life . The Weapon used appeared to be parj of the hand-rsil torn from the banisters . ' - ; V ;' \^' . ' . ' - ¦ . '• ' "Among others wounded in this meriiless and diabolical onslaught , besides Mr . ( J'Connor , who received seven different wounds on various parts of the body , was the Chairoiarij Mr . Scholefield , whose lower lip was cut , as well as the left side of his nose ; he also received two wounds over the eye . A person of the name of Railton had hisarm broken in two places , and his head severely iractured , as well as receiving Eoveral heavy coutusious oa the body . Mr . Swire , hat manufacturer , of
Thomasstreet , aged 67 years , is now lying in , a hopeless state , with his ribs literally bruised in , and his face and head so completely mangled as to present a imost shocking spectacle . His nephew ^ Elward Swire , had his head laid open ; Greenwood is awfully mangled . Murray , the President of one of the Chartist Associations , is also severely wounded . A lad named Bailey had his face severely broken . Doyle , the Chartist Who seconded Mr . Soholefield , received 6 , ome violent bruises on the " body and left arm ; and to these may be added a frightful list-.: of from thirty to fiffy who have been more or less seriously injured .
" WEDNESDAY . " We need scarcely say that tho proceedings above narrated excited the greatest indignation against the perpetrators of those outrages . At an early hour large placards covered the walls , announcing that Mr . O'Connor would deliver Via lecture on the Repeal of tho Union to-night , and c : tiling upon the operatives of Manchester aad Saiford to be at their posts . The appeal was enthusiastically responded to . Great numbers of the men struck Wfirk at four o ' clock , aud r-paired to the Hall of Scieticc , to defend Mr . Q'Conndr with their iivts , if necessary , while the disturbers of the previous evening , who had also mustered in some force , saw thy were likely to be out-numbEred , and dispersed . From three to four thousand persons took possession of the building ihoftiy afier- ' the opening of the doora . aud great
crowdB wefe unable to gam admittance . A gaiitleman from the . office of this paper attended , but was unable yo ¦ .-. effect-.-an- entrance . We . ' .-u'iersvaad that Colonel , Wemyss and Sir Charles S ; iavv , attended by a number of inspsctorsj occupied the sta ^ e box . Outside theVbuiJding , ia Camp FiAd , nearly the whole of the police force for the borough were drawn up , with the horse patrol and some cavalry picqoets ; Oiving to these precautions , the meeting passed off quietly . Mr . O'Connor lectured for two houri and a half , and his reception was most triumphant . Everything he said seemed to carry with it-double tho Weight , and be listened to with double the interest that it would have commanded , but ior the procaedings of tha previous eyeiiing ,- ^ tiie u ^ ual result of resorts to physiaal forca sucii as disgraced the cause of Repeal . .
" 30 UOUGH COURT . —Wednesday . "A man named Saxon was brought up , on a charge of having tanen a prominent part in the riotous procecdiugs at the Hall ; of Science on the evening precedinii ; and aiso with . having struck Mr ; Feargus O'Connor with part of a table . He was identified by several persons , all of whom agreed as to his violence ; and he was , consequeuily , obliged to find bail tor hiai appearance at tne sesaionj . Mr . O'Connor , who attended , as he stated , at the request of Sir Charles Shaw , declined to c-fi ' er any remarks against the prisoner ; but , ' . as he was 'there , he begged to ask the chairman if ho had jjrauted a warrant against him to a man named Duffy , for au assault .
if so , he asked as a favour that the case might oe then gone into , which was accordingly granted , upon which , Mr . O'Connor , accompanied by tho Rev . Mr . SiiholefieldjAvho appeared as evidenc ; . ,, took his seat at the reporters' table , when Duffy yvao . calicd- upon to ttxte the nature of his charge . It was to the effect that , on the preceding evening ^ he had aticuded a iccture given by ' "Mr . O'Connor at the Hili of Siuence , and that ho paid his admission money to ihp platiorm ; and that , owing to a deniuc artbing as to iKe right of vi-iip should be ciiairmail , a most desperate row had eiisued . Hc / . svy ' O ' rb to his ¦' / belief-, thai Mr . ¦ O'Counor caused tho sceue , and . . ' . also . that from thai senvieraan he had received a blow on tho right hip , which forced him from the plat-form .
*^\ f ter a patient iritehti ^ a ' . ioii , the ciiairman gave it as his opinion that Mr . . Duffy had failed to prove his
CiSe . . - ¦ . •¦ ¦ : ; . ' . ¦ - " On Mr . O'Coriiior ' s depa ? ture , ho was received with hearty cheers by a large party of h"i 3 . Chartist followers who were vraitiiig for him outside , and who accoinpanied . him towartis . hisinu .
"FRIDAY . "Mr . O'Connor appeared befcre the Court on Friday , for tho purpose of making tke following applica ' . idn . He said : —Miy it pluaso your Worship , when 1 appeared before you on Wednesday last , I wua then wiwlty ifthorano of iaa brutal circumstances coimccttd -wiih the riot of the preyiou 3 iiSgat , and I avptjar before you uow \ yiiix the double object , first , totzketue odmm of that violence off my own ccuntTymcn , who might be supposed to be ; ho perpetrator . ^ , and to sadcllcs . it upoa persons of wealth and stutipn ; and * secondly , io . disuhar ^ e a o ' uiyj not so much to myself , as to the public a-D large . This is the nature of my appiicatiun .: Is wa 3 announced that on Tuesday last 1 was to aa'dredsthe
public in the Hall of Science , ivjvn the sucij ^ ct ot Jhe repeal of Ihc Legislative Union ; aud L . snall ; be abltj toI ' proyo that a certain Association . in this town , having large funds at their diipesidV funi-shcd the nreans to a psi'Son connecied * . vit | i a cei "' a . ih . Political Association to procuie . uiy "' assassiuitioiv ; and in the thOToii ^ h sifting a" -. a invcsugauDii of ail the . " circusstances cynntcted with so foul au : act , I feel assured that I . shall . ' iiave tho co-operauon aud assistance , not only of tbo authorities of ilHuclicstcr . but of every man in Mauchester , of every ahade of politics . ; I shall bo enabled to prove , thdt those persons who were hired received , a pprcioi * of thcnij Is . for thoit work , and Id . for admitision ; while another detachment received 2 s . 6 d , andvl-i . f . \ r adijission .
I shall be enabled , to . shew ¦ .-. " the- . 'hands : from whence the money canie v and those throu ^ u which the blood-git-t pa = 3 ed . I , ' ahail also te able loprovc that a . cer ¦ , a ; i individual volunteered , and compouuded ior a sum of ^ £ 5 , to throw ^ rne " effth ' o plaioiui among tnOio immediately under . it , who were armed with hatchets , pokers , stones of immense sizo , and missiles of vatious descriptions , and whose especial du 17 it was then to assassinate me ; I shall then be ab ! e to prope beyond a doubt , by tKe ; evidence of i'our respsctable witassses , that / this said £ 5 ruffian was the iirot man who struck me a violent blow on
the back of , the head , bursting my hat as you now perceive it . [ Here Mr . 0 C . exhibited his ha' / to t 3 o " cp ' . Httywh ' i h . bare evident teatimonj t > the tact / J And now , in order to prove ray desiro to preserve the peace , L solemnly declare triat 1 had .. iib > i even a switch or . any single thing for self-defence ^ nor to my kndw'edgo had a single man eonnei ; 6 ed wit a my party .. And .-firrthor , when applied to for my sanction for tha introduction of a ? police force , i at pace refused , ; declaviKg icy determination to rely upon the lovo cf ju-ticc of xny . own-countrymen . But to provo that my assassiimtionwas . theobjcct , although many others wtre wor . nded , yet every missiie thrown ( Continued in oiir eighth page . ) ' . - ;¦ .
Untitled Article
In juxfa-position with these v » e place the account givea by the Manchester and Salfard Advertiser , —a Liberal Anti-Corn-Law and Repeal p ^); er : — " MR . FJSARGUS O'CONNOR IN MANCHESTER . DREADFUL RIOT At THE SOCIALISTS HALL OF SCIENCE . " The subject announced for the lectureon Tuesclny was the repeal of the legislative union between Great
Britain and Ireland , and the room was quite as crowded as on the previous night . The principal occupants of the crowded galleries were Chavtiais . The body of the room was taken up b y the repealers , the greater pare of whom forced themselves iu ^ o the room without paying the fee demanded for tliciv -admission . The platform was also crowded by the friends of each party ; especially we hotio ; d Messrs . Duffy , Finnigaii , aiid others of tte xepiealers . On their entrance , they were received with cheers . and hpotipg ' s , as were Messrs . Doyle , Linn . ey , and Others of the Chartists , who arrived last .
"The meeting was announced to commeriCQ at ci ^ ht o ' clock , and at fire miputes past , Mr . M'Avoy rose to move the appointment of a chairman j but ho was desired to sit down , and wait for the business to be commenced regularly by the party who had eiieag-id the room . Great confusion arO 3 e , but - ' at .. la&t ii JLvoy get eff the chair upon which lie had mouutcd , when Mr . Rigginbotham , one of the ttftstces of the hallj rose and begged of the meetings in the riamoof the proprietor 3 ,-aJid as wprking men , not to do any damage to the ; hall , or the property it contaiijca . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) He need only intorm them , that it was erected by the working men of Manchester , and he was sure they would be the last to injure
Untitled Article
¦ _ THE NOR THfllf STA R . ¦ ¦ : .. : ¦ ' ' ; -.. ¦ S ' - > ¦ : ^ ::- ; . .. . ;; ¦ .- . ¦ .. ¦ ' ¦ ;; : ¦ ¦ d ¦' ¦ : ^ - ^ U :. ^ K " ; : V . > Vv ^ :- ' v : " ^ a "" :- ^^^ v
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 19, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1153/page/7/
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