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Wiu- ^— Y ^ ~ Ptizc- -n—lij ¦ nb :--e instructions did you attend our Hieetir-iffiE r !» : a i- ] o ' . b ~ o ?
APPREHENSION AND EXAMINATION OF M . R . GEORGE WHITE . ( From the Birmingham Journal ) On Frtfay morning , about ten o ' clock . Inspector William Hall proceeded with & -warrant to the Fox , in Hurst-stMet , -where he met Mr . White framing ont of the door . He informed him that he had a warrant against him ; upon -winch some -words ensued , and a scuffle took place , and aftsr sonis sjight resistance , Mr . White surrendered , and was taken to the prison in Moor-street . In the coarse oF an hour after , tha Mayor , Dr . Melson , Dr . Bxrth , Dr . D » vis : Richard . Spooner , T . Beilby , T . Bolton , J . Seholefield , and H . Luckcock , Eiqre ., the R * v . R- Bedford , Commissioner BurgesB , Colot-ji Thorn , and the magistrates' clerks , came into court , -which was densely crowded by the middle and Working classes . The prisoner was placed in the dock ; upon ¦ whi ch Mr . Grin proceeded with the examination of ¦
witnesses . The first person called "sras Ebentzsr Pollock , -who deposed as follows : —I lire in Lord-street . On fcbe 22 nd instant , I iras at a meeting In Sammer-lane . I went , on jdj return frorn it , into the Britannia Inn , and on gong int . ) the frost room , I found , a party consisting < jf ii teen or twenty there . George White and JcLn Fusaell rushed up into the room . O'Neill had been a " 4 dr- ; B 3 lnjj tke people bfclow , ad White began to spsak to them from the -window . He , told them that they had befn milled by ONeiU and Stu : gt ' i party—that they bad been met by an armed foree . and dispersed , but that he wou'd call a meeting on the f / 'owir !^ nis ; ht , and he -would hold his meeting by fcrc ^ and they tbculd come prepared . They said , " Have : = m in ttsir J 3 c £ ets . " They cheered him , and he asfctl tfc-m , if they would do &s he did ?—and they cbeer-d Vra ariia .
P .-U - c' —Will you oblige me -with a little paper ? ; Mr . H ~ - : frra supplied him with paper , upon -which i be comiU' / iifca vikicg notes . Tae witness , on resumiag , said the prisonertold them he wv- hold a meeting , and all the police Bhould not ¦ prever . " . * -: n . ; Pro- - ri—Sow . mind what you ssy . ; Witu-ss—He tc- 'd them to came prepare * to meet the ; police . He a * k ? d them , -wcn ! d they coma ?—and they j said " ¦ ' . '» wi ;; . " I Prij-. - , r- D : J I say anything iboufc daggers ? j ilr . sooner—Do sot interrupt—because yen shall ] have c" > ci . -j ^> j'pL'ituai-y of askin g any question yon thi ^ k prepay Pr « . n . f-1 am only JDst trying to help him out .
WiVv .- ;—Th * landlord rusted into the room , to tnm ii _ m oat of his bouse ; up : n which some of the P---7 ' ¦ iil'A for pen , ink . and pap *? r , and a table . tJ form a committee . The landlord wmld net g T 3 iLeji anything , and ordered them out of his hons--. Cro ^ -r :- ; .-r . in . i by the prisoner—Now , nay good chnp , -T ¦ - . ¦ j-.-u g ; t your living ?—Witness— By hard Work Pri ;> -r ^ r—Ho ^ do : s it happen yon were employed in this ca ~ -. ? Wi-. ui--- ?— I ~ as not employed . Pri —_ r —D :.. 1 you take down -what was said in writins ? Wi :.. ci- — No . Pn- : ir :- —Car . ron Tpport a sentence after , a man corref ' . y . ^ -- 'hc-ii taking it dowa ? Or are you quite ij * - ; rtit , n £ yj rcLnntes aftsr I repaid this sentence I zm now spenkiag , you will remesiber it ? WilEci- - nvviv no answer .
Pris n . ; r—D--. 1 I s 4 f . s « the people to nse force ! VtVh * . ¦ ^ —You did . lVdicld them to come prrpared Pri ^ ir . cT—' , Vn : t trifle are you ?—and how did you come ! ¦¦ u"i .- iHs statement ? Wit ; .- « - —1 a : u a gna-hatrel filer : and I voluntarily ica ^ s th-.- o" : ' -merit . I am not employed . Pri-.-c . r—Y ' .: are the finest spy I evar knsw . Wi .- ^*—Tiers w ? . s a man in the room who was dreiSi .-: ] . *• : ¦ . Q- -kor . znd he Eiidtitat they iisd brought three 01 f .-ur " .. uu- 'i ed colliers in , but they -were deceivtd by O'Ne'i : i :-d .-. ar ^ e . Fnssei ] also spoke .
Pri « .. r . v-- — I ' .--. i « C : is , Fussell Eexer spoke at all ; sod this fci ' .-iw co ; n ? . s to produce his evidence , by trump sr a he . -iygeod feilow . ( turning to the wit-Efss , yr-u vill ni-rar be -worth your wages as a Bpy . WGa * pv .::: ' Fuiscii'a speech did you hear ?—\ Vitaess : I die :: o : t . c ~ * i a ^ y part of it . 3 Ir . Gcl : —I w : i ; tie tiut part of his eridence out Pris . n ^ r—>' ¦ : . 7-iu will not ; because this . miy come into a * . ™ jrt ¦ f . : stice ; and it will shew what credit be is » j ;* r . Dii ?> iu ito witces 3 ) see any person heave up the ¦ will . !; - -. * / Witness—I did not ; but I uLstincOy heard the a- : cof 7 thrown nn .
Prisj .: er—Tia ; shtws what a smart fellow yon are . Have you ...-y reiijp > n , and what religion are you of ? Witness— . ' rro ' -ss to b » a Baptist . Prisoner— F . \ p \ xn 'vh-. t yen mean by a Baptist , because I do no : k- " : ? :, la my conscience , you know what an oath ib . I > r . Epi ! — r . i ^ not necesary that ha should explain * fly pariifu-sr ¦ i ^ -c " rint < . Mr . *•? : uti-T ur only question ou ; ht to be , whether " bs bi : v : ?^ in the truth of the Bible—that is BufBsU-t t ; ^ iiv ^ fy him to tike an oath . PiL ^ ncr— = . ? e ; ju any political principles ? "WiL-. s :- N _ > . Ih ^ ve not Pri ' .: r . r—o > -: n believe the present government a good ciir ¦ r s r-a-i . r . e ? Mr . ^ p-iOi- f .-r— 'i r ..-. t Question is immateriaL He is not bona . 1 In - _ ¦ ? JT- r ¦ t . Pri 5 . n- r--H-j = ^ 75 he has no political principles , and I belit ? - h-i ; jit Tn'iril ones eithw .
Mr . J ^ y ' ' ^ , rrinrar eximmed—I live In Steelhouselane . < ji the " s ^ bt of the 24 th of August . I was at tbeCLat .. i i .. lJ :: r : uia , "wheu I saw Mr . White ; he bandei rrr ?_ : cc :. y of s placard , now produced , and aske-3 as : ¦ rrls- him fi'ty of them , and get them pos t ed . I-V . uV .. Jlr . u-iui —Fisvj j-.-vu any question to ask the witness ? Priacaer— >'¦ = ; h- is cot a volunteer -witness in this matte ? ilicV : ¦ ' D % ;; - r .. ] , - ^ -ser"eant , eximked—On Mondsy , the s :. . h msi . 1 was present tit a meeting of persons in Cur 7 ..:-.-= Vot' : there wtre a good many persona prescrt 1 ! : e p'isoner at the bar was there , and was addre * ii : z i * Le i-rple . He called npon them to be tt
¦ mteo , ar- ; i : luJ f .-.-t together . Tae people cf the liorth -w -rf ? oi . t .- ¦ : ¦¦' : were determined not to go to work - « p . in \ in ; ii . _» - ; sot thtif rights , and why not the pe-i-i- of _ o-: &u : iham do the s : an& ? If they wonli v . u : bz . uj . u = i t ' ey w-iuld S 3 « n let Government « ee that they wert ; '• ttrmined to have thei * rights . He thr-a -: -Kt ••> " .- ; : ng tbit was to beheld on Ihe Tnes ^ jT - - rk iA : y * t'Z . They would let the people of B ' . rrn , « ¦ .. t .: -to : ca . t they still htd sonietbiDg in Biraii- ^ ' .- > .-.. id be- i-ig ' ntened at . They would walk ia prtc ^ -s . i .. n tli » ¦ . ' ¦ •»* : the town . That is ail I can reeDllecv K « a' -r-. Nti them to stand fa ? t to each ^> ther , i : J hr ci ;; - . ¦; * - oon them repeatedly to go for nothics l " c * than iht ' ^ Lia-ner .
Dr . Mc > jd—D . 'i >¦ ; : n-jt say , before > Ir . Gem began to take di-wn ;• ¦ ar U < -pcsiticn , that White said the colliers bvi i-. ? u . v r . > r th « j Charter , and why not go With t £ i-ir . : Witness— "ics ; Lr sxlA If they would stick to him , they w . ^ ' j ' i Live tL-C-iarter . Pri . « -. « fr—I * , is - ; : r ^ yctition and waste of time-Witi . css—He s ..: o : > M them to conduct themselves in a qu' -T iu i v -- 'i- - - - manner , for all the authorities Wittd » t . j ' . n ¦¦ oc- - " . t'ty of bludgeoning them , and cutting thtfci u ; i . ' . them go off the ground . Aa
soon a-i be m . - \ that a procession would take place , I Uii : ci ' -- ;¦ !? He told them to marshal themsfcives etui id ? ,- ; : ^ 3 procession through the town , after a . v u . vj .. ir ¦«• :..- ¦ . -. h ^ y had got , I then left the ground , as . i -, irU : run : : . ? e information to ilr . Burgess I did n-. si s i tL ^ jT-. t- u-iT in that procession . I went to the r *" -: " ' ; vf Ci :-l ^ gan Street , in company of Mr . Superir . - .-::, ! -: ; :- . \ -k .-. the-precession was then going along , sj : i I -:=. -v : ¦ ¦ - v < -9 of it . Tfcere were npwards of one th :-: iiin ^ p-.-rf " ..- at tha first meeting . They Were v . ; - } ;• : ' •_ - ¦ ¦ -
Pru . ' ; . r —\ " \ ill , m . ?> od fellow , you have risen ninety t . r or t . ; n x ^ y r--: imatio 3 ; I only wish you had been i ? >' u : r .:-. er _ " -. n ¦ :: i place of tliat volunteer witness w .- . v-: ?^ r _ - ;^ . K » d . Now , teD me how ljng is it si :, ju y .-. : si . - ...-. ^ made a Serjeant ? Wifr = ; --i . 1 : ' . A ; : i , Pri-u ' rr—i . j ¦ , ; :-. jw a man named William ilartui . Wit--s - . . . . Pri R . ~ ' - - - l a * ., c : ot a sergeant ^ when he was in Birmiir .-. M ' . Witii ^ - - .-- > i , ; ^ -= 3 . t . Piie- , : > : —VvJ i . i-. v- brcn a companion of both ma and Mi . ' -.... . ^ - ; hiT . often walked about with us , linked ^ .. -. 1 .-, ; --: - ; . ' , ; :-. » i JcU not ? Witi ^ - \ . ; . Prist . - , — . . - ; .. ! . ¦ ¦ ' . -. " . 3 did you wear then ? Will . - ;— Cj ' ju .: ^ c ;"" . h ? s . ¦ " Pris-:.-: — ¦ . ' . rr y-. u thin in the police ?
Wu : ' t' —i : y -jr-.-. n : my officer . Prisf ^ ci—ii-j jcm orders from that offloer to in-Binaate youTaii : iavo t-cr company ? Mr . . t ;» ijil : c!— 'V . u u ; e not bound to answer that questio- ' . Prisoner—I hivi a rigLt to Mkthe quesUon , because I want u > show it ^ i the spy system ia in this country , Mod thf . t no man ' s life is safe . Mr . Spooner—You hare a right to ask the question , and if the witness refu < e 3 to answer , it will appear on the depoation& Pr isoner—Were you not directed by jour offiee * to inrinnnta yourself into our company ? Witness—I vtill not answer that question ; Prisoner—At \ hat &n « yon represented vounelf u beinf kept in business by a relation , to learn the gunfnimhino trade ?
WitafiBa—I told you I was a gun-finisher , b » t I did BOt tell you I ww kept by my friends . Pri » oser—Wb 3 t is yonr real trade ? Witnesi—A . plMterer snd slate * . Priaoner—Haw long U it since 70 a worked at that business , ana -where ? Witness—Two jt-ar ugo . at Handsworth . Priaoner—You wr .-- police clothes , I reppoae , when you were inide ecr ;* s : jt ? Witneis—Not ilwajs . Prisoner—What time was it whan you used to walk linked arm-is-. inn , T > i : L maand Martin ? Wa » it untU yo « wee raider ssrjeaDt ?
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Witness—I was in their company about twelve months before I was made Serjeant . Prisoner—Why Martin was in Lancaster gaol then . You say jou wore your own clothes then ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—I think I saw a cloak upon yon at that time . Is that a dress usually worn by plasterers ? Witness—Plasterers may wear cloaks as well as other persons . Prsoner—Who was it supplied yon with the cloak to disguise yourself ? Witness—My own money .
Priaoner—I only wish to Bhow that the spy system xra « carried on . Now , witness , I believe you have attended our meetings at T > uddeston Row very frequently ; and I ask you what was the general character of them ? Witness—They were quiet and peaceable . Prisoner—In that part of your evidence where you refer to the colliers' strike , I ask you , did I use any violent language , or give the people advice to be violent ? Witness—No .
Prisoner—Now , I have shown , by a Bort of negative evidence , that I did not advise violent measures ; and I wish now to show , by dirtct evidence , which I think I can get out , that I advised the psople to the contrary . I <' isk b ; rn , therefore , does he not remember me telling the people that the intended meeting of Tuesday was designed for the purpose of taking the unbiassed opinion cf the people of Birmingham with reapeat to the present state of the country ; and did I not also advise that no man should vote against his conscientious belief , as by taking a show of hands the people were often led into error , when they did not mean to carry out what they held up their hands for ? Witness—I do cot recollect that you said bo . You might have said so , but I do not recollect it
Prisoner—Did I not particularly warn the people at every meeting yon attended , to be peaceable and not to break the law , lest they Bhould get themselves into the fangs of the authorities ? Witness— Tou did , Prisoner—D \ i you not hear me say that the people of England could get all their rights by strictly peaceable means ? Witiies . = —T cannot recollect that you did so . Prisont r—In all the meetings you attended it it a wonder that yeu did not hear this said at any one of them ? Witness—I did not . Prisoner—An allusion has been made to the colliers . Did yon understand me to allude to violent measures , when I talked of their strike ? Witness—I cannot tell your ideas . Prisoner—Do you know what was the avowed object of the Hit-sting on Tuesday night ?
Witness—I heard it was to memorialise the Queen ; but I ctji-jot say . 1 do not kuow the r * al oljtct for ¦ which t ^ e meeting was called . Prisoner—Have you not heard me state , that I considered it to oa tha duty of every Chartist to act as a peace offi ^ r at all pnblii meetings , for that I believed the emissaries of the Government would endeavour to CTeate a disturbance , in order to fix the odium upon the Chartist body , and thereby afford a prelext for imprisoning them ? Witness—Part of t ' aat I have beard yon say . I have heard yc-u say . it wsb tee nuty » f evtry Chirtisfc to act as p » ace officer at ev > ry public meeting : that the emissaries of the Grov . rnment would try to create a disturbance and lead the people into error , that is all .
Prisoner—Were you present at the last meeting we held at Duddeston-row , on Friday evening ? Witness—Yes . Prisou&r—I then spoke of the groundless fears of the shopkeepers ? Witness—I don ' t recollect it Prisoner—Did yen hear me state that they might niEks themstlves perfectly easy , for it was not our intent'cn to injure the hair of any man ' s head ? Witness—I don't recollect what took place . Prisoner—Did you hear me say that there waa no ( arthiy necessity for keeping up sucn a body of police force to preserve the peace of the town ? Witness—I have often heard you say so—but cannot recollect having h- ard you say so that night . Prisoner—Did I not often say , if the magistrates bad common stnso , thty would dismiss the ferce , and rely on the jiood sense of the inhabitants ? Witness—I do not recollect that you did .
Prisoner—Hsve you not oftin heard me pledge myself , for myself , and in behalf uf the Chartist body , to assist the magistrates at all times , for the protection of life and property ? Witness—I never , that I can recollect , heard you say any such thing . Prisoner—Have you forgotten that you stated something like that in your former evidence ? Did you not say I advised the Chartists to act as special constables ? Witness—Not as you have ju « t expressed yourself ? Prisoner—Had not tl-e words I used the same effect ? Witness—I never heard you say the words you have now used .
Prisoner—Did you hear me state that Mr . Burgess and his force conld be dispensed with altogether , and that they wgre a complete nuisance to the town of Birmingnam— ( laughter , —that nearly all the disturbances were created by them—that I wonld undertake to stat « that the Chartists alone woald preserve the peace of this town , and save the inhabitants the enormous rates that are now dragged from thi m ? Witness—I have heard you say the police could be dispensed with , and that they wtre a nelsance . Prisoner—Yon are the most honest policeman I ever met with in my life .
George Philip Tandy , police-constable , examined—I have been a little more than twelvemonths in tbe force . On Monday evening , the loth instant , I was at % meeting on a piece of waste ground in Curzjn-street 1 went there at pasi seven o ' clock . There were some few people assembled there at that time . I remained nntil near nine o'clock . Persons continued to assemble . I should think there were one thousand persons there . Mr . White was then addressing the persons standing round . I heard White say , that he hoped , at the close of the meeting , they would form a procession , and march through tbe town , and continue to do so ev < jry evening . He said they woald shew the people in Birmingham ; that there was spirit and strength left at the time they were sending the military to other parts of the country . I shall not swear to any more . The streets in that part of the town were in an
excited state , by the people being all up m arms . I mean by Hp in arms , that the people were coming ont of their houses , I do not mean that the people bad any arms in their hands . The people in tbe neighbourhood were in expectation of something taking place . During the continuance of these proceedings I should think the ordinary business of some of the inhabitants could not bo carried oa , and they were calculated to create a ' . anu in the minds of the people . When the meeting broke ap , they walked in procession . I should say there were two thousand persons ; they were five or six abreast . There wa 3 an inscription upon the banner , but I can't say what it was . I can't say I know who waa in the leading file . I should say the effect of such a procession passing through the streets would be to terrify the people . I only saw the proeession in Cuizon-stteet and Duddleston-row .
Prisoner—You have stated that these processions were calculated to cause alarm : were you alarmed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—Did you ever see a procession before ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Why was that procession calculated to create alarm ? Witness—By marching through the streets at that hour . Prisoner—You stated it waa getting du 3 k , and now you say it was night , in order to give tffecV Did you ever see a procession going to lay the foundation stone of a church ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Were you alarmed at them . ' Witness—No .
Prisoner—Then 11 yon saw one thousand gentlemen going from Dee ' s Hotel for that purpose , you would not be alarmed ? Witness—No . Priaoner—If you had heard they were Chartists , would you have been alarmed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—If you Baw one thousand rich men walking through the town , should you have been alarmed ? Witness— No . Prisoner—Then if you saw one thousand poor men walking , you would be alarmed ? Witness—The peor are generally ill behaved . ( Hissing . ) Prisoner—What would you say if you met one thousand bricklijers' labourers , after a hard day ' s work , should you think their appearance calculated to create alarm ? Witness—I should ascertain the cause of their
procession . Prisoner—But if they never said anything ? Has any « hopkeep « r complained to you in Cardigan-street of the terror ? Witness—Yes . Prisonw—Who are they ? Mr . Spooner—He is not bound to tell the names . Priaoner . —Was there any confusion at the meeting ? Witness—Some pebbles were thrown .
Priaoner—Did the procmion do any harm ? Witness—No . Prisoner . —What do you mean by being op in arms ? Witness—I mean coming out of their houses , Prisoner— Yob beat Dr . Johnson hollow . With regard to the speech ; will yoa , Mr , ( Jam , read the « pirU of one part of it ? Mr , Gem did so , and the priaoner said—Now , witness will you repeat that over again T Mr . Spoaner—He ii not obliged to repeat it
Prisoner—It is a parcel of jumbled op nonsense , such aa I never used ; although some p « nons may think me simple ,. I never used such words . Now Mr . Spooner , just look at them ; they are quite nonsense . Witness—Your object was to frighten the people ) and 10 to gain your Charter . Prisoner—Were you in court while Daly waa giting hii evidence ? ^*
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Witness—No . Prisoner—What clothes had yon on that night ? Witness —Plain clothes that night Prisoner—For what object were yon disguised ? Witness—I am not obliged to answer that question . Prisoner—Are you aware that there are a large numer of policemen kept in disguise in Birmingham ? Witness—I am not aware of it Mr . Griffiths—You are not obliged to answer that uestion . Prisoner—You have no right to Bay what questions e -will answer .
Mr . Spooner—He has ; and it is for us to decide . Prisoner—Can you write ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Why did you not write down that sentence ? Witness—My memory was sufficient to recollect what yeu said that night . Prisoner—Can you recollect the last sentence I spoke just now ? Mr . Spooner said it was not necessary he should recollect it Prisoner—Yes , but it is , I thl :. k ; he mwht have taken all the words delivered over a column of a speech and dove-tailed them together . Mr . Spooner—He could recollect those prominent words—spirit , military , and such tike , all clearly calculated to show the tendency of the address .
Prisoner—I wish to know if I may have some refreshment . I hava asked Mr . Redfern ; and he saya I cannot I haw not had any breakfast , and I do not think I ought to be kept starving here . Mr . Spooner said , he did not ' see any objection to his having refreshment , but he did not think there was any fund for the purpose . If he sent for it himself , he might have it Prisoner—Yes . of course . Mr . Joseph Johnson , merchant ' s clerk , Garrison Lane , was the next witness examined . He said—I saw the prisoner nx a placard on a wall on the 19 th inst , about half-past three o'clock , at the side of the Green Man , Moor-street There wera fiva or Bix persons present . I read it , and left it there . Oa the following day I saw a similar bill . Prisoner—How long have you been merchant's clerk ?
Witness—Two years . Prisoner—What induced you to give evidence ? Witness—I told a policeman , named Wheeler , because it was exciting the people . Prisoner—I only wont to show that this man has been fished up by the police . Sarah Mann , of Lichfield Street , examined—My hnsband is a shoemaker . On the night of the 15 th of August , I was at DadJestoa Ryw , a little after seven o ' cloek . The ground was very full—seven or eight hundred were there . Mr . White was thsre , addressing the people about the Queen ' s proclamation . He told them one had bteu p » t oat at the time of the Bull Ring concern , but that waa of no avail . Ke said the people hi the North were all out for prices , and they had conse to a determination they would not go in until they had gained the Charter . He hoped the Birmingham people would join them ; in a fortnight they would
be compelled to do so . He said th ° y would be walking about B ' rmingham streets clamming , and they would be forced to do so . There was a policeman in tbe crowd , a :: d they threatened to ttine him , and some of them s ? . id he was a spy , and others said stene him . Tbe prisoner said the system of Government must be done away with , or we should continue in the distressed state we were then in . He said if they would take his advice their -wives -would wear a silk gown before the summer was over . Mr . Griffiths—What waa the effect of these meetings ? Witness—I don't know . P . isucer— I protest against this prompting . The last two witnessts c&nie up , told tbeir tale , and eaid nothing against me . Tfcen came tha prompter—did you hear that ? I object to such proceeding . The Mayor—You can object to any question . M ' . Griffiths—You It ft the meeting ?
Witness—Yes , I left it on account of my daughter , when I hiard tbe conversatian about the stones ,. The proceedings of that evening would create alarm amongst timid people . Last night I followed the people through Cardigan-street , to a long distance for about thr-. -e miles , and tkere they hehl a meeting . Mr . Futaell spoke , and an alarm was raised that the police wera coming , and they dispersed . When they found the police were not coming they returned , White spoke . ' He said he was ashamed ut Birmingham men running away at the cry of pjlicu . There were men enough there to drive away all the police they coiad bring . He said the next meeting he would call would be a meeting of women . He said the women in the north were holding tbe horses' reins while the men were gaining the victory . He said they were getting on well . He said the authorities of the town wera putting them down ; but he would put them at defiance , and would lead them to Manchester , or he would bald his meetings .
He spoke of tbe proceedings throughout the country , and said b « was Borry that two or three of their men had gut hurt , aa he thought in the coure of a little time they woul 1 be wanted . Ha advised them to go home peaceably anil quietly , and go to bed , telling them ho should not hold any other meeting nntil Monday next . The people wished to know what time the meeting would be held , and ha said he V 7 utiid placard the town . Oae or two carried swords ovtr tneir shoulders , and others had sticlcs , and they m : » rche-J shen Mr . White told them . One man unscrewed Boin ^ thiog bright out of a stick , and put it over his shoulder . On leaving the place of meeting , Mr . WUte wanted to go down the read , but some one Baid tiix policemen Lad gone down that road , and others said if ho 'vould go into the town with thum they wou ' . d guard him at the peril of their lives . White and Fnssell came back with the procession , the same way as they went .
Cross-examined by the Prisoner—I cannot swear that it was a s * or-i , bat it was a bright instrument ; it was puil ? d out . I was not in the precession . I was on the f jotputh . I will swear I saw you in the body coming back . Some came before you and some came behind you witii ttaTea over their shouldera . I heard you advise them to give three groans for Mr . Muntz and the ma ^ UtraiC'S , ami three che « rs for the Charter . You toltt the people your object was not to get them hurt , but to beut tit tnem . [ There were two or tbree moire questions and answers to aud by ibis witness , which our reporter loot auring a momentary absence from the court ] Hlt testimony closed the case against tbe prisoner , upon which Jlr . Spooner asked him if he wished to say anything .
Mr . White than Baid , In a bold firm tone , that he was not aware that there was uny definite charge asainat him . He should like to know what was the charge to be brought against him , out of the mass of contradictory stuff which bad been sworn to by the witnesses . If be had thought that it was intended to brin ? any charge against him for sticking up a placard , he mi ^ bt have been prepared . Nobody charged him with violent inUntions , except the first witness , Who stated that -which be knew nothing about There was no other witness produced who couid say he had advised the people to any other than peaceable conduct ; and if a ? nan was to be sent to gaol for giving peaceable advice , he knew not whs ! sort of advice ought to be given . His idea was , that be had acted as a man ought to
act ; and be could nut but thiiik , that in Arresting him there had been some motive over and above tbe protection of the public peace . His actions had not tended to enria ^ t-r property . He had only expressed his opinion publicly and fearlessly ; and , as a man , wherever ho might ba , he should always insist upon bis r ight to express bia opinions . He -would aak , had he not a right to hold his opinions as well as a Tory or Whig ? But some men were so foolish , that they imagined if a mau did not square bis ideas according to theirs he ou ^ ht to be put down . But the fact was ; every man knew that he had a right to express his opinions openly and fearlessly . He would ask the magistrates whether they would not rather that a man spoke his opinions openly and fearlessly in a public
meeting , than conceal them , and act privately upon them ? When a man went to a public meeting and stated his opinions , he could be met by those who din ? entci from him j and if wrong , there was an opportunity afforded of putting him right . He might renutk , that that was hot the first time he had been dragged about for the honest profession of his principles . He £ n < beca ruined both in health and sab-Btance ; l-ut all ihe prosecutions which they could ir . flict wonld never prevent him from advocating his principles . He wishtd to state distinctly , that to every individual with whom no wan acquainted he had always given the advice not to injurs any man . He wished most heartily to see every power of the Government invested in the people , because he believed thit was the only way by
which happiness could be established . Men were naturally so slavigb that , whether Tories , Whigs , or Chartists , th » y would make laws subservient to their own interests . The only way , thereforo , to establish happiness , was to allow the whole people to govern themselves . They knew that thousands of poor people were now dying fcr want of the necessaries of life . The Anti-Carn Lsw League bad driven them outs and when they had driven them out to starve , the Chartists took up their cause , and then these gentleman called upon the Government to hunt them to death . Would any man tell him that he had not a right to express his opinions on the state of the country ? No man would attempt to deny his right to do so . Ha could assure them that if they wanted to create excitement , and make a disturbance in the town , they would hunt the Chartists about , and in so doing they wonld , perhaps , cause more uneasiness then they were aware of . Mr
Hall eam » to him that morning , and knocked him down , as If he was a fellow that had murdered somebody . ( Cries of " Shame * ' from the working men . ) They had their feelings as men , and their opinions as men ; and they were determined to stand by them nmtil they were known to be unjust Let tbamjp met by argument , and not by bludgeons . They Iiipbt make bypocritei by persecution ; but they could Hot make men sincere . He denied that the Chartist * had any wish to destroy property . Why should they destroy property who produced it ? But they had beflfe told that they had no right to meet because there bad been a disturbance in Nottingham . What had Nottingham to do with Birmingham ? There was no disturbance in Birmingham ; and disturbances In another place ought not to iuterfere with hie right In oonotaaioo he would say ; whether he was tent to prison or not , he sh # uld consider he had done no wrong . H « knew they
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had prejudices , aad he wished they would lay them aside . If they a ' eu't him to gaol , they would increase the hatred of the people against them , and they would cause him to come out with tenfold more determination and hatred againBt the present system . If they sent him home to his family , men would begin to think that they were acting with justice . As fathers of families , he would leave it to them to s&y whether he ought to go to prison or not The question for them to consider was , not whether White was a Chartist , but whether he had iDJured tha people ; whether he had committed any crime against eoclety ; and whether he had not a right to walk the atreets , and meet in public to declare his scntimenta . Tha prisoner was frequently applauded by his friends during the delivery of his address .
The Magistrates theu retired , and after deliberating for about three quarters of an hour , they returned into Court at a quarter to six o ' clock , when the Mayor stated that the magistrates , after carefully considering the case , were of opinion that the prisoner had acted illegally . He wished it distinctly to be understood that it was not the right of meeting which the magistrates denied , but it waa the peculiar circumstances of the case , the mode of calling , aad the manner of conducting such meetings , that rendered them illegal . The prisoner was then ordered to be committed to the next borough sessions upon three separate offences ; one for issuing placards , inciting the people unlawfully to meet , and another was for attending an unlawful PBsemblage to disturb the public peace .
The prisoner asked if he would be admitted to bail , and was answered jn the affirmative ; but was told that he must give forty-ei ^ ht hours * notice . The biil required was himself in £ 210 for each offence , and two sureties in £ 100 each . Tha prisoner said the decision was a piece of monstrous tyranny ; they might call it what they pleased . He had his bail thon riady . Mr . Spooner said , that they would have a right to consider the nature of . the bail . If , for instance , he offered as bail persons who were implicated with him in illegal proceedings , he , for one , would most certainly object t-j such bail . Inspector Hull wished to observe , with respect to what the prisoner had said about his knocking him down , that he bad no intention whatever to treat him with any violence , but that he had offered some resistance , and used strong languaga to him .
The prisoner was than removed from the deck , en-• ouraged by the applause of his friends , and was immediately after conveyed , under a strong eucort of the third dragoons to Warwick gaol . There waa a large crowd in . Moor Street and the Bull Ring , who sheeted as he passed along . As every thing about Whito must now be interestiug , we # ivo in addition to the above from the Birnrinyhnm Journal the following letter from himself : — - Warwick County Gaol , August 29 th , 1842 .
Dear Mr . Hill , —You will perhaps hava received Birmingham reports forwarded by me Inst week , which would show you the state ef the town up to that time . Previous to writing them , I understand that a warrant was issued for my apprehension on some charge connected with the meetings which I attended , and on Friday morning I was taken into custody whilst having a look at tbe Times paper in Hurat-atreet . I was escorted to the Public-Ofliue by a number of policemen * and in a Bhort time was brought before the magistrates . The evidence against me was of a moat palty description . The main part being furnished by two spies in pay of the police .
1 ctoBs-tXtttirinud the parties at great length , and Exposed a most infamous system of espionage which exists in Birmingham . The examiuation iasted for five hours , after which tho magistrates , ( eleven in number , ) retired for nearly an hour , and returned with the Mayor at their bead , who informed me that they had r ^ olred to prefer two indictments ngainst me—one for iufl iinmatory language , made use of in the borough of Birmingham at two public meetings , and another for language muds use of at a village called Loz . 'lls , out of the borough , but in the county of Warwick , for whieh I wouH be tried at Warwick . I then applied for bail , and wus informed that it would be granted under the following conditions : —Myself in £ 2 iiO , and two sureties ir » £ 100 each , to give forty-eight hours notice . Several very respectable persons came forward in the morning and immediately ^ entered their names as bail without nny solicitation on my part This was well understood by tbe magistrates , and the forty-eight hours shuffle was thereupon invented .
I was then removed from tbe bar to the prison which is under the Court , much the same aa at Leeds , but was not there ten minutes before I was ordered out , and marched through about twe hunired policemen armed with cutlasses . After passing the raw lobsters , I was brought to a carriage and pair , which was drawn up in Moon-street for my reception , and surrounded by a troop of dragoons . An immense concuurse of people were present in Moor-street , and the Bullring , who cheered loudly as the carriage drove towards the Warwick-road . We arrived here at ten o'clock on Friday night , and I wim immediately conveyed to my cell . I have had a yard to myself since I have been here and a day-room , and am allowed to purchase one nhilliiig ' u worth of food daily ; of course not having the prison diet at the name time .
The charge ia the old story , violent placards , exciting language , ami sedition , 1 am to be tried for one part of it at Birmingham sessions , bat if I cannot remove my trial from tha sessions there is no earthly chance of escape , for the magistrates who preside , bate me most cordially . I am , yours truly , George White . Rev . Mr . Hill .
ARREST OF COOPER . From the Leicester Chronicle . About nine o ' clock yesterday morning , Mr . Cottrill , Superintendent of the Newcastle-undor-Lyne polioa , and Mr . Rhodes , Superintendent of the Hanley police , arrived iu this town with a warrant for tho apprehension of Cooper , foi » having incited a mob to acts of violence at Hanley and elsewhere , on the 15 th inst . ( Monday ) They immediately sent up to the station-house for the superintendent or ono of the sergeants of police , on which sergeant Wright went down to them at the Stag and Pheasant , when he was told wkat their business was , and askea if they had such a man in Leicester Wright described Cooper ' s appearance and manner , when they immediately said that he was the man they
were after . The Staffordshire officers then followed Sergeant Wright to the magistrates , who , having heard their statements , backed the warrant , which sergeant Wright and policeman Smith proceeded to execute . Smith remained on the Coal-hill , while Wright went down Church-gate , and seeing that Cooper w&s in his shop , crossed over as if to look at some papers . Cooper saw him looking in ut the window , and called out to hfm , waving his band— " Go away , sergeant Wright ! go away ! You sha'n't see any of them , " Sic , and move ! awuy the papers he supposed Wright was looking at After a minute or « o , Wright beckone 1 Smith down to him , and they entered Cooper ' s shop , and told him they had a warrant against him . Cooper turned to his wife and said , "My dear ! they luve cmue fur mo at last—it is no more than I expected . I'm done for . " As they were leaving the shop he
turned to tbe crowd outside ( some forty or fifty ) and said , " My lacia 1 I ' m going—they have come to fetch me ; but its all in the -cause of truth . " Aad when going towards the station-house , he told Wright he was to mind and never abuse the Chartista or himself ( Cooper)—the Chartists had a good cauae and he was to lot them alone . He was removed to the railway about half-past one , in the custody of the Stiff jrdehire officers , in an omnibus , a guard of police accompanying it ; a large number of his " beloved brigade " of SLtaksperean Chartists , who had heard of what vras going on—men , boys , and girls , the greater part of whom were very active in the late disturbances—bIso followed as close as they could : —the women were very angry , and decidedly the moat noisy of the lot . The officers and their prisoner left by the twenty minutes to two down-train .
To the above statement of tho Leicester Chronicle , we give the following as received personally from Mr . Cooper : — Stafford County Gaol , Monday evening , ¦ August 29 th , . 1842 . MY DEAR Hill , —You will expect some account from me . The warrant for ny apprehension was served upon me at my own house , 11 , Church Gate , Leicester , last Friday morning , the 26 th of August , by Wright and F . Smith , two of the Leicester " bluebottles . " The men were quite civil to me , and conducted me ( handcuffed to one of them ) along tke public street to the lock-up . "' . ?'"' ¦ ¦ My beloved little wife parted with me like a heroine . God bless her , and support her ! She is worthy , indeed , to be the wife of the ' Shaksperean General . "
The equad of the Whigling papers came on the espial to the lock-up , te see how the democrat would conduct himself . I gave them to know that I smelt what the ; were about , although the Chronicle hypocrite warned me to beware of poor BotteriU , a reporter to the Tory press . After waiting some time , and seeing a few of my brigade , I waa ushered into tht august presence of the Leicester borough authorities I and by them finally committed into the hands of tbe Potteries' officers , who
had brought the warrant for ma An omnibus was brought to tbe door of the Police-office , and , amidst a guard , and a crowd of my own belov « d lads , I had to step into it ( handcuffed again ) , and to be driven off , at a rattling rate . Crowds ran along the streets , and I gave my hand , perhaps for the last time , to many a brave and faithful-hearted , though poor and despised Chartist , who had cl « av « d tome through months of evil report and good report Again , they crowded the bridge above the railway station , and once more I beckoned them " farewelL "
The two officers who had me in custody were kind to a degree which will cause me to respect them while I have breath . They comstantly said , "You conduct yourself like a gentleman , and it is not in our place to injure you . " fc From Derby we travelled in » kind of double gig , topping at Uttouter to tak « tea , and arrived at
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Hanley , in the Potteries , about ten at night After being allowed some coffee at an inn , I was committed to the care 6 f the keeper of the lock-up—an ironbra wed , tall man , who put a heavy pair of fetters on my legs . In this uneasy condition , I threw myself on my cloak , which I laid upon a rude bind of bed they had brought , and stretched upon a bench . I could not sleep ; for , in addition to the soreness of my ancles , from the weight of tbe fetters , there was a lire fa tha little place , and the door waa closed after two persons had been smoking . I asked , once , to have the fetters taken off ; but the iron-browed man had laid him down to snore , and be would not take them off to watch over me . Dijligfct , to my joy , brought oae « f the kind oflScera who had j jurnoyed with me , and he immediately gave orders that the galling fetters should be taken off .
Tae amiable wife of Jeremiah Yates , the Chartist , ( 0 how my dear little wife will bless her !) came and brought me some breakfast , and the Star . I washed , changed my linen , and felt ' refreshed .. At twelve at noon ( Saturday , August 27 th . ) I was , once more handcuffed , this time to another poor culprit , —a rebel , I suppose , like myself , —was placed again in the double gig or oar , and conveyed from Hanley to Newcftstk-under-Lyme , in the style ef a state-prisoner , guarded by sixteen of tbe 34 th regiment of foot , with fixed bayonets . Aa we went slowly , every body was edified with a sight of the rebel Cnartiat
Well ; arrived at tho ancient borough of Newcastle ( the town was enfranchised by the second Heflry ) , I was conducted up stairs to the Town Hall , where Captain Mainwariag and other magistrates were on the bench . The warrant wa 3 then read , stating that on the 15 th of August ( O'Connor ' s birth-day , and the day before the anniversary of Paterloo , ) I " unlawfully and wickedly did incite , stir up , persuade , and induce , a great number of the liege subjects of our Lady the Queen , with force and arms , unlawfully , riotously , and tumultously , to assemble together at the said parish of Stoke-upourTrent , ( Hanley is in that parish ) , in order to make a great noise , riet , tumult , and disturbance ,
in open violation of the laws , goud order , and government of this realm , to tbe evil and pernicious example of others , and against the peace of our Lady the Quren . " The witnesses against ma were seven . I do not wish to say that any of tbe men spoke wilful untruths . Two 8 wore to seeing me in the street atHmley , during the nfght of Monday , asseverating that they krew me . by my cap , &c . The men , howeter , laboured under a deceplio visits , for I was not out of the Gaor ^ o- and Dragon Inn ( after closing our out-door meeting at dusk ) until midnight , and I then bad on a hat and great coat , and to conducted up to Upper Hauley , and from thence to Bimslcm , &s .
Otherpoormen swore that I had actually said , " I have heard of your day ' a work , and I approve ot it ;"' acd this , too , in reference to violence and destruction of property . In vain I protested my innocence of such a crime : a supurcilious smile dwelt on the faces of several around me . I did not shrink from admitting at . once that I was at the meetings , and addressed the people , aye , and that I approved of the strike for the Charter , —for I will never Bnrmk frum the truth , let it cost me what it may . The chivf magistrate , —to his honour be it spoken , —told ma I was endangering my own cass , although now and then ha was a little keen in questioning the witnesses in such a way as to open an answer very adverse to me . I protested goutly again this , and was heard . I was committed for the Ass ' z . 'S , to be held here , it ia said , very soon , by Special Commission . This was no more than I expected : and I must a « ain bear testimony to the hant ' . aome conduct of Captain Mainwaixing , tbe magistratu , who told Mr . Cottariil ,
inte who 38 custody I was committed , to use me well . The Captain is an elderly country gentleman , residing at Whitmore Hall , in the neighbourhood . Ho \ 3 , I believe , of Whig politics ; and in person ia not much uniika Pjteet , of Leicester , but is not quite so tall . I am also informed that he was a midshipman at the Nile , under the gallant Nelson , and has seen considerable service . He certainly conducted uiy examination in a way that did him credit Now and then he showed an uu-legal-like sort of eagerness to get at the troth ^ without seeming to remember that bis questions would prejudice the prisoner . But when I respectfully urged the impropriety of this , and mentioned my experience in the hearing of evidence , as an old reporter , &c , tho Captain yielded . I should say , that Captain Mainwaring , although evidently a little prejudiced against me ( and no wonder , remembering how the papers of the factious aim to slaughter us ) , is an honest man and a gentleman , in the real sense of the word . '
I had a comfortable reception and a comfortable bed at Mr . Cotterill's , the chief policeman at Newcastle . Saw a few Hanley friends there , by Captain Mainwariug ' a permission , on . Sunday morning ; and ¦ at twelve at noon was placed in an open chaise , and proceeded ( at a " devil ef a rate , " as their officer himself said 1 &cconip 3 nied by fifteen of the Queen's Bays , or 2 nd Dragoon Guards , to the Whitmore station- This guarding with drawn sabres and splendid brasa helruetu , made mo feel I waa considered a captive of distinction , more especially when I rtfljctod that Jny poor weak body was offered bail , itself in £ 500 bond , and two sureties in £ 250 each . At tbe station , ( manacled once
more on one wrist ) I got into the railway witb Mr . Cotterill , the troops returning . Oa arriving at Staff jrd , and finding it w ; is beyond the dinner hour , I waa allowed some refreshment , at th 8 Greyhound Inn , aud was then speedily handed over to my present keepers . The surgeon was polite in his examination—the turnkeys are all civil and respectful , but remarkably , strict and punctual in their determination to enforce order ; and the Governor I saw only en paesiug fey his drawing room door , but be seemed to be a very gentlemanly and kind-looking man . Of course , I have slept on the prisoner ' s proverbially " hard bed . " Aye , and it is a hard bed , indeed ! But theu 1 slept 00 it with aa nnstained conscience r . s to the crime for which I am
committed . My meals are supplied at my own cost—( or rather at the cost of roy most dearly beloved wife , and of jth ' osa who are kiud enough to help her )—by Mr . Paplow , an intelligent Cftartist of . this place My sleeping cell is above several stairs ; it is but about eiffbt feet long , and five wide ; bnt never mind that . I will bear it with the cheerfulness of a mau and a patriot At a quarter te six , the bell rings for us to rise : vre are in our walking-yard and day-roem till evening ;
and at six we again are locked up ia our sleeping-cells : The gaol ia so crowded that four men , two a-bed , have to sleep in some of tbe cells , and this cannot be avoided . There are about sixty men in the day-ward , in which I am placed , and they are poor lads from the Potteries . Tbe charges against many of them , I trust , will not be proven , or it will go hard with them . I have taken the * office of " chaplain , " a 9 they call it , to our ward , and read the form of prayer , morning and evening . The piavers are really Sue ones , and I feel a high pleasure hi fliliug thta < ffice .
Now , I might complain , if I were querulous—for who does not know that there is in a prison , much to a man of my habita and disposition , especially , which is irksome ? But no : I am & Chartist and an Englishman , and will neither disgrace my political creed , nor the brave spirits of my forefathers . Your s , a prisoner , but an unchanged and honest Chartist , Thosus Coopeb . To this we add the following , which though intended as a private letter , gives so strong a characteristic picture of the mind , habite , and disposition of this guttering patriot , that we venture its publication : — - Stafford , County Gael , Tuesday , Aug . 30 , 1842 .
My Dear Hill , —Last night my writing papsr was taken from ins , and I was told that , in future , I was only to have one sheet at a time , and I -was to ask for it when I wanted it , delivering iu the sheet already written upon ! I feit galied at this , but said nbtaing awry . This morning I have been delayed forhaU-anhour between giving in and receiving a sheet of paper r true , the turnkeys could not help this , for their hands were over full from the coming in of visitors and tho calling out of prisoners to sea them , for a few minutes each , —and the perpetual unlocking and relockirg of doors occasions them much exertion . I hope I shall not be further annoyed in this manner , as I hava not given one cross word to a single human being since I left my own home , nnd I would not like to feel the spirit of resistance kindled within ma I will bear this persecution with the equanimity of a man and a philosopher—if possible .
I happen to have a few resources within me for ¦ whiling away" the hours of my solitariness . You will-recollect me once telling you , my denr Hill , that I committed the nrat three booka of Paradise Lost , and the whole of Hamlet to memory , when about two and twenty years of age , These , and other delightful treasures of the " immerui mind" cannot be stolen from me , —no , thank Heaven , nor ever annihilated till my poor frame itself is rendered lifeless . Last night when closed up in niy sheping ceil , I contrived , by resorting to this inward wealth to buy some hours of extatic enjoyment , even within the grated prison . I first repeated the opening half-book of Milton , —( in a very lovr under Voue , « f course , —for prisoners are not allowed to speak aloud;)—and then glided from the majesty of " Paradise Lost '; to the witching wildness
of " . . Cbrifltobel , "—repeating as much as I could call to mind of that singularly beautiful and mysterious poam of the singular Coleridge . After running over a few sweetly plaintive pieces of Wordsworth—I « ban « ed my enjoyment for music , —and partly in a low vocal strain , and partly in a mock-whistle , called up to my imagination as fully aa I was able , the choruses In tha Dettingen , Te Deum , the gay pastoral music of Acia and Galatea , and ended my reminiscence , for the nonce , of the magnifldent Handel , by imitating the instrumen tal and vocal pomp of "From the Censor , '' the grand double chorus in the superb oratorio of Solomon . I could tasily fancy myself in old Lincoln , and imagine , aa in past years , I heard the enthusiastic and skilful voices of tke choral society ( an old subject on which I expended some years of energy ) pealing forth " Live for ever , mighty Solomon . "
These may be triflas to talk of , my dear Hill , but ww , at least , may feel a little pleasure in learning that one victim of the " powers that be , " Jean contrive to turn the hours of lonely confinement into momenta of joy , I am , my dear Hill , Toon , and my brave Brigade's , Faithfully , Thomas Coofeb .
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EXAMINATION AND COMMITTAL OF O"NEIL , THE CHARTIST PBEACHER . Dudley , Monday Night The re-examination of O'Neil , apprehended for sedi tion at Craley , was appointed to take place in the Town-hall this morning , and , as might be expected , led to a Urge assembly of the people . The prisoner was brought into the court about eleven o ' clock . He was loudly cheered as he passed along the streets from tbe prison to the Courtrhoosa . Among the magistrates present were Lord Lyttelton , the Lord-Lieutenant of the county . Mr . T . Badger , the Rev . W . H . Cittwright , and Mr . C . H . Mollinenx . Mr J . Y . Hunt , th 9 Hon . Colonel Clive , and Captain Bennett , were also in court , but did not take part in the proceedings . ; The prosecution was conducted by Mr . Bourne , and Mr . C . Twamley appeared on the part of the prisoner . John Collins also assisted in the defence of the prisoner .
Among the auditory in court were several females , members of ONeii ' s congregation , who wept bitterly during the proceedings . O'Neil and Blancfcfl ^ ld were charged with being implicated in tb . 8 same offence , and upon being placed at the bar refused to take off their hats . They were immediately removed from their heads by order of the magistrates . Tue charge , as read by Mr . Bourne , was to the fallowing effect : — " Being , together with divers other evil-diapesed persons , unlawfnlly assembled together , on Friday last , to th . 9 disturbance of the publio peace , notwithstanding the proclamation of her Majesty , lately issued , forbidding all such meetings . "
The confusion and tumult at tnia period was so great , that Mr . C Mollineux proceeded to read the Riot Act out of the Court-house window , and immediately after the Dragoons proceeded to clear the streets around the ball . O'Neil and BlanehfUld appeared much amused with the proceeding . Mr . J . J . Diansfield , accountant of the British iron Company ' s works , was called , and spoke to the attendance of the two prisoners at a meeting held at the Fiveways , in the parish of Rowley , on Friday last , and described tb . 9 language U 3 ed by the prisoner O'Neil on that occasion . In speaking of the House of Commons be inquired of what was it composed ? Of lawyers—Did they care for the people ? Of cut-throat gentlemen—I Bvari the piid military—Did they care for the people ? Of fox-hunting gentry—Did they care for the people ? He said , I have declared , and do declare , that I owe no
allegiance to the Government . It is an usurped Government . I am a Christian and a man of peace . He went on to say , " I will not pay taxes . I have not drunk any intoxicating liquors for two years , nor have I drunk tea , coffee , or any exciseable articles for many months . " He told the meeting that there " was once a king of France who attempted to lay a poll-tax . A poll-tax was a tax upon evuiy head . A countryman of mine resiated this tax , and killed the collector . His name waa Wat Tyler ; and from that time to the present no Government has ever dared to impose a tax upon each individual . " Witness considered the mseticg calculated to create a great terror in the neighbourhood . There was not much shouting until the military arrived . O'Neil had then left the field . Before he left he stated that a meeting would tike place at half-past two , at Old-hill , which he intended to address . I did not notice the prisoner Blancbfield there .
The colliers in the neighbourhood of the place where the meeting was he'd are uo ^ v out of work in eonsequence of intimidation , and the second meeting was to be held near some of our pits where the men were at work . The country in that neighbourhood is in a state of gre . it excitement . The country being so excited , I think the meetings calculated to create terror . : Thomas Llawellin ' a evidence spoke to the character of the meeting held at the Five-ways . Old-hill , and identified ONtil and BianchSeld as the two partiet most conspicuous in the proceedings . ¦
Caarles Small . —I am a mine agent , and live neai Corngreaves . I attended the meeting on Friday at tha Five-ways . When I went , there might be 200 personi present . I afterwards Baw the multitude of collien move into a field near Corngreaves-works . A person came up riding through the crowd ; O'Neil was that person . The mob increased in number to betweea 300 and 400 , or it might be more- The two priaanen and two other persons were elevated above the rest The chairman was a person named Forrest . He addressed the meeting for a few minutes , but I could not hear what he said . ONeil then got up . He comnitfnced by observing that by trade he was a letter-pres printer , and had little more time than themselves to inquire into things . He found by inquiry that trade
was reviving—that the day before iron had risen £ 1 a ton , and was that a time for masters to reduce men ' s wages' The next witness could he 3 r was "» rotten and corrupt Hou ^ e of Commons , and that Sir Robert Feel was a robber . " He referred to the income-tax , which would be 7 d . in the pound ; and said , the masters , to meet it , were reducing wages Cd . a day , which would be a very profitable thing . He said he was a Christiu , end belonged to a Christian society , and would not pay taxes , and that the law bad no command ef him , and that he would not obay the law . Tha witness here confirmed the evidence of Mr . DransSeld , as to O'Neil * reference to the conduct of Wat Tyler and the killing of the collector . O'Neil then told them about a
canning monkey , who sat by the fire while some chesnuta wera roasting . He durst not pat in his own paws , bat pat ic the cat ' s to pull them out . He then put a shov of bands to see if they would stand the reduction ot wages . There wero many hands help up , and one I noticed -was the hand of a man who had not worked foi the l& 3 t sis years . There have been many meeting ! in the day and night in the neighbourhood , which haye put the inhabitants in great fear . The man who I saw put up hia hands and who has not worked for six yean , is a m&Tried man with a family . I do not know how he has supported himself . The meeting of Friday wu calculated to create great alarm . Many of the collien had sticks . After O'Neil had done , Blanchfield , tha little tailor , addressed the meeting , and I went away .
Crrtss-exammed by Mr . Twamlet . —I expected the persons who attended the meeting would visit me and my men , who were at work , about half a mile distant Just as the meeting broke up , the soldiers arrired There was some little shouting , bat not roach . Ai soon as the sermon waa over , the soldiers came up , B 7 Mr . BoIjbne . —The tendency of O'Neil ' s speech was to induce the people not to pay taxes , and todifobey the law . By 0 "Neil- ~ I was afraid of the consequences of the meeting , because of the threats ; I bad heard of the colliers being forcod out of the pits ; but I never heard of these threats , until you gentlemen came preaching abeut the country .
Isaiah NorthaU deposed that he lived at Craley-htttb , and attended on Wednesday evening , the 2-ith of August , and saw Blanchfield there . I heard him ny , that they had had a meeting at Westbromwicb , wi tho colliers had all agreed not to go to work nntil they had got 4 s . for eight hours . He gave notice of the meeting at the Five-ways on Friday morning , and aid O'Neil would be present , and also a meeting onthe ground on which he stood the same day . Tbat was the case against the prisoners . Mr . Twamley said , he presumed there was no mcmaity for him to make many observations , as then w no charge againBt his clients . The workmen bad no »» clear right to combine for the . purpose of supporting the present rate of wage ? . This could not be denied . There was a dispute between the masters and the B 3 > i and , in the present caae , the latter had held a pewfr able and perfectly legal meeting for the assertion of what they considered their rights . He did not ieaj
that illegal meetings hn-i been held in various p aitt * the country , but it was most extraordinary that , *™ one exception , tha witnesses for the prosecution had all declared that they had no apprehension of danger . He contended , then , that his ctiaf had only attended a perfectly legal meeting , «» which , throughout , was conducted in a peaces " manner . With regard to the prisoner Blanchfleld , «»• questionably there was not the slightest evidentf w affect him in a criminatory manner ; and the wan » J » against him must te dismissed . With respect to 0 S « " < he felt that the case against him rested upon the t * timony of Mr . Dransfleld , which had been given to * fair , clear , and impartial manner . He ( Mr . TwasW confessed tbat some isolated expressions attributed » Mr . ONeil d ( d not meet with his ( Mr . Twami ep approbation , but nevertheless their general scopa wo bearing would be justified by a large minority * reformers
. Lord Ltttleton said , the magistrates wert « opinion that Mr . Twamley need not address himself » tbo points to which he referred . They should , ho ffe «' ' be happy to hear him upon the point whether OSwas or was not guilty of an offence in attending meeting aftsr the publication of the Queen ' s P r ( SU " mation . ^ Mr . Twamley wcnld do so . Ho contended tfc" Queen ' s proclamation did not make aiaw .. -K » only effect was to give notice of an existing la * jJ * notifying . ' to the public that the authorities J ^ " ? ^ epply ita provisions rigidly . Tbe proclamation le » law where it found it , but it prevented the P ttWe J « j « being taken by surprise . This meeting was pnW " called , and held in the face of day , for a legal po ^** and conducted in a peaceable manner . . ... Mr . BOURNE said . Mr . Twmnlev ' s observation « f
plied merely to a case of riot . The nature ^ Vjp racterof the meeting in terrorempopuli , oX , ^ o ^ prisoners attended after the proclamation of the U M in his opinion rendered It fflegaL He apprebef * T magistrates would deem it their duty to comion tp ^ Mr . Caidecots—The attendance at the me 6 " ** , question after tbe QaeenV proclamation *** stateable offence , but ome at common law . ^ The Magirtrates , after being absent forao b ^ turned and committed both prisoners to take « " %# at Stafford . They would , however , take *• " gjp . himself in £ 800 , and two sureties of £ 100 eacn ; *^ chard in £ 100 , and two sureties ia £ 50 each . The prisoners were thea removtd .
Untitled Article
Lettebs peok Alexandria of the 7 th ^ J ^ jos ed that the Nile continued to rise Teryglowift »» u twe iT 8 great anxiety tot the wops . A board "' jar * physicians had been appointed to devise > » jjef Kaintt the plague in Lower Egypt . W ^ of eases in Alexandria did not exceed two v » a day .
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G THE NORTHERN S ? T A R . . , ¦ - . - . - . . " ¦ , ¦ ^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 3, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1177/page/6/
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