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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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STAFFORDSHIRE ASSIZES . { Continued from our Sixth Pege . J ^ j esMd them ; he md , "We must have the Charter , ifcoBj h I suppose -re shall have the red-coated -saliy tostopus ; bat there are sat many of them in Bng &n *—they hare been sent to murder the poor Chines * . They hare not more than five to each town . " ¦ a * , then began to ridicule the Church , the bishops , and tbe clergy , and told the people te ana themselves . Utose vb « could sot afford to buy ^ arms , be said , coald jt least assist with the torch . Ellis was close by ftppur at this time . When Cappnr concluded , be ^ d , " Here's my friend Ellis , -who win tell 70 U more jjxmS it than 1 can . " William Ellis then proceeded to ¦ oftrsss the . mob . He said tisy must get asms , and to their
y ^ t they granted strong nerves use arms . He tfso said , if they could not get the Charter , they nmst jgy wast * and desolation ^ brongh the land . He spoie a the Royal PamDy , and said that they bad saddled g ) e cnnntry with a pauper -who -would have his / 21 , © 00 ayeartbesameas the rest of them ; he said gut this country could do -very -well -without Mm , and gist they bad brought him to beget another race of young paupers , -who would all be saddled upon the joontry . He spots in a degrading and disrespectful msnnfcr of the Qneen ; I forget the precise "words . The people applauded at intervals . Tha meeting lasted an boor altogether . One of the lessees of the market , Mr . Johi ^ on , disturbed them , and cleared the Marketplace . Ellis and Cappnr -walked sway together , Cappar carrying the stool on-which they stood .
Cross-examined by the defendant Cappur—I know the day ^ because I had a « stovB moved out of my shop od ttsst day . The stool you stood on -was & three-legged s £ ooL Tbe arms - yon spoke of "were dertructn e anas . I am engaged in a law suit against Mr . Bennison in « onseqaenee of abuse I got for giving evidence against yon at die special commission . I Beyer knew anything against ' you but jour politics . Cross-examined by ihe defendant Cooper—I never ran a-way -with the box belonging to the tailors * elnb at Cheadle ; 2 formed the club , and -was its secretary for three weeks . I was ncrer a bully for a prostitute la Xandan ox anywhere else . I am not influenced here by any feelings of revenge ; I came cere reluctantly , owing to the annoyance I hare received and the insults I hare daily experienced from the Chartists for coming here . I hare been insulted in various ways in fiie public streets . 2 have been hurt in my business and character
J > 7 the Chartists . 3 used to employ six or eight men , but 1 hive only bad lalaly "work enongh lax myseli I have often beard Cappor speak ; 1 am certain that on She occasloa I have already referred to Be spoke of arms and the torch . He also alluded to pikes . In ridiculing the church and the bishops , he said that the church tiad its origin with that bloody tyrant Henry TUL who haabis -wife beheaded one day , and married a -whore the next , and the buheps and parsons of the present day followed in his steps as far as they could . I spent 00 money in wine or riot while I was at Stafford before , and I never was drunk there . 2 expect , whoa the trials are over , -what the county allows , and no more . Tb » t will Dot half remunerate me for the loss of time and loss of business to -which 2 have been subjected . 2 do not come here for gin . 2 do not cone here lor sain . 1 do not expert to r * celve any part of the £ 50 reward which has been offered .
3 Ir- Charles Davenport , examined ~ bj Mr . Y . B . BJchards—1 am a surgeon residing at TunstalL 1 remember towards the end of June last , a meeting held on a Friday , in the Market-place . 2 -went to it about eght o ' clock . 2 knew a person named Cappnr before that tine- I saw him there . "KM * was there also . Cappar was speaiiBg -when 2 went . He continued f 01 probably sot more tinm a minute er two afterwards Cappur introduced Ellis to the meeting by saying be snderstood be was aSocialist , but -whether he was or not , be believed him to be an honest man . 2 remained there about two minutes . 2 -went away , and -when 2 retained Ellis was speiirag . I believe Cappur was then there . When 2 returned to the meeting Ellis was relating an anecdote of a boy begging of a panoa , ? ne parson asked fhA boy whether he coold pray , and -the boy said he could not . The parson then began to
instruct him by requesting the boy to repeat after him the Lord ' s prayer . The paraon begin with " On Taiher ^ which art in Heaven . " Them the boy , yery properly , as "RHS » stated , asked the parson bow bis father could be the boy ' s father . The clergyman then informed the boy that they bad a father in heaven . The boy then asked the clergyman if ttfflir Heavenly Pather vss not an unjust and cruel father , fox having fad him { the clergyman so -well , and for having starved tsim ; the boy ) so much ? Ellis made some disrespectful * mi disloyal remarks upon the Queen and Boyal iamily He then said that the time was not far off when the sound sense and intelligence of the people would do away with such a fiction as religion , and also the laws , which were made far tbe protection of a set of potbellied parsons and pot-bellied Tories . 2 then left the meeting in disgust
Cappur expressed a wish tkat Mr . Davenport would give him a character . Hi . Davenport said he wished to put Csppur on bis guard with respect to that question . His JLordship asked Cappur whether he wished the ¦ question to be -put , obserriog tost it must be as to his being " a good « nij ^ ct and a loyal man , " because the present charge against him waa for conspiring against the lavs . Cappur burst into tears , and expressed a wish that the question should be asked . In reply to question , Mr , Davenport said he bad known Cappur twenty years . His lordship then asked Mr . Davenport wb . etb . er Csppm cad borne the character of a peaceable and loyal subject ? 24 r-Davenport— -2 fot a loyal aobjsct , my lord , i ! r _ Jnatiee Brskine—Has be boms the character of
a peaceable man ? " Witness—4 lihmrtfl gay , -unconnected with Ms view * os the established religion of the land , and unconnected with loyalty , that he was a peaceable man . His Lordship—Net likely to incite persons to the Employment ef violence ? Witness—2 cannot say that , my Iiord . Cooper tftpn proceeded to rrr > mr ( - "" T" *" the witness Trim respect to feu having said tb&t Cappnr was not a 29 7 * 2 man . His Lordship intimated that he thought Cooper ought to abstain from asking questions of that sort , for fear be should injure Cappur by doing bo .
Cooper , hswevei , continued his cross-examination on ibis point ; and in reply to his questions Mr . Davenport said—1 call a man loyal who supports the monarchy of his country , and also its laws and religion . Mr . Cappur has spoken in my hearing against the Constitution of King , Lords , and Commons . I have heard him say that the House of Commons yraa corrupt , and that the people were not represented by the House of Commons . i consider that untrue . Cooper—Then it is perfectly true that the House of Commons Js upright , that the people are represented there , that every member is immaculate , and distinguished for honesty ? Sergsant Talfourd objected to the question , as one which it was impossible for the witness to be able to answer . Bis lordship deeded that the witness was not fcound to answer the Question .
Crefes-f-TaTnipation continn&d—2 have heard ten persons say so in my iife ; 1 j ^ e teard Cappur say that the law was tyrannical and oppressive , made to oppress the poor , and to serve the interests of the rich . My reason for saying that Cappur was a peaceable man unconnected with bis views on the established religion of the lsnd is , that 2 have heard Mm say that h » was not an advocate for monarchy , sad that be was an «>™ y te the established religion of the land . Cooper—Are there not Dissenters iB your town ? Witness—2 th \ ^\ there are . Dd they not oppose the established religion of the laDd ?—l believe some of them do not 2 shink there = re soafi who g « e itfcb support to the established ration ( £ the land , i think 1 know some Weyleyans who do so . ire the Wedejans Dieentera ?—2 suppose they are "as **! amongst DissenUra .
&nrt you know that they say themselves that they are Mt Dissenters ? -Tbat 1 cant say . £ nt doa « j yon know that Wesley himself-aaid he was cot a Dissenter 7—1 do . ^ hat do you mean by Dissenters ?—Those who « PPos * the religion of the land . ^ i re those men peaceable men ?—Yes , * l believe some 01 them are . ' Ana yet you say that Cappur la not a peaceable man because he opposed the established religion 3—1 « aid , unconnected with Ms view * on the established religion o ! the land and loyalty ; 2 do not consider Win a peaceable man inasmuch as 2 do know that he has incited people to oppose both the laws of bis country and also the established religion of the land . I have heard Mm »< aaxesa Dnltftndes in those terms ; I have heard Mm Aamgnate the bishops as paupen xni robbers ; 2 have heard him abase the whole body of the clergy , and the Silabllsbed Church . The Dissenters , 2 believe , eem >
Pain that the exaction of church rates is a robbery-, if I am to speak of these whom I have beard say bo , 1 should say they an not peaceable men ? but 2 would set say that tie general body of them are not peaceable ioen j l _ do not mean to ay that Cappur is not a behever in Christianity ; 2 never heard Cappur swear ; 1 beliere 1 heard distinctly what Ellis and Capper said , although , my hearing ito not tery good ; I was in attend-* & « here at the last special commission ; 2 expeetto bs ptid my expenoes , but am perfectly indifferent " hetherl am paid or not ; I did bo * refusefi » money
« the special commission j 2 am no more indifferent to awfcy than otherpeqplej I think I waajaHoweaeither * pwnjd ors guinea a day ; IieceiTefl protebly eleven <* t ** ive guineas and my mileage > 1 Mb formed no injBce&tE&itometo come , as 2 left a very extensive prac-£ » athe hands of a son in a very delicate state of ^ kh ; 2 never heard ipeak of £ 50 Jbeing offered as a ***» dio ? giving evidence ; I read over the evidence 7 ™* ! had stated 2 could give yesterday morning ; 2 toTerelied entirely on my memory ; the -copy has not * sr « l me a . % aQ .
JiniM lams , examicedijy 3 fr . Godson—2 amwhatis ~ - « a potter ' s fireman . Bince January , 18 i 2 , 1 have »* ked for Ur . William Bidgwaj . - Before that time 2 7 » k 6 d for Hicks and Go . about twenty jeara . 2 have f ~ ° * a Richards agftteai years . 2 recollect Cunliffe r * %% ae to a meeting at the end of Jnly last , it was x * r * ^ e Sa Lion , Hanley . I got to the meeting Wta aaa nrtSn o ' clock : Mt . KIcfcards cem-
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menced speaking when I wai there ; EUUwas thBte ; I saw George Mart there ; Bichards referred to the Queen ' a begging letters . He laid , •"• All who are in the sound of my voice have heard tell of toe Queen ' s begging letter . She shows hw sympathy very much , ; bat , as for my part . 2 would say , if the gallows or the guillotine stood before me , to hell with her and her sympathy . " A cry was then made toadjonrn , and the chairman then rapped the table very severely , and said , " Unless you go for the Charter , and nothing less tV " the Charter , 2 Bhall resist being chairman . " Richards
made answer " that if the black-faced men wonld stick to them , they would settle their wages . " There were a good many colliers in the room ; the crowd cried out again to adjourn , as the room was In a manner suffocating , and Richards Bud be would say before they did adjourn "Dawn with the police , and to hell with the Queen . " They then adjourned , and Richards said be knew where his old post would be ; he should mount the Swan horse-block . 2 did not go to the adjourned meeting , as 1 was disgusted ; 1 have seen Richards and Cappui at other meetings as I passed along .
Cro 3 s-examined , by the defendant Richards . —1 believe the meeting was called for the ( occasion of your settling the colliers turn-out altogether . The meeting was not called by a placard to my knowledge . IIy knowledge is -put where your ' s is , 2 expect . You advised the colliers to stick to you ; 2 know a person named Than met , a German . He would give me a character for veracity and propriety . Upon my oath , 2 aever ran away with any of his clocks without paying fer them ; 1 sever attended any Chartist meetings before or since ; 2 attended the Special Comission in a case of arson to give evidence against William Johnson ; I picked two men out in the prison , bntl only appeared against
one . Your speech was not in the subjunctive meod ; there was no " if" about it Ton did not say " if the Queen neither can nor wOl protect her people , away with her . " 2 t is quite the reverse ; 2 never beard you of late years impress upon the people the necessity « f peaceful and orderly agitation ; 2 heard yon say so eighteen years ago . You were then a Bhoemaker , and perhaps yon might have been a " round" preacher . At the meeting In Jnly there -were people in the room smoking their pipeB , and the rhMrmnn zapped the table and said , " Put out your pipes . ** " Ay , " you said , " put out your pipes , or else you'll put out my pipe . " 2 never was a member of the Methodist connexion .
Cross-examined by the defendant Cooper—1 have been very ill since Nevember , and 1 have bad a shilling a day from the parish where 2 live . 2 never told Mr . ¦ William or Join Kidgway that 1 virascoiniBg to give evidence ; Mr . Stevenson first asked me to come here ; the ends of justice might be served if you were imprisoned for two or three years ; it might reform you a bit ; 1 must leave it to the gentlemen here ; 2 dare say some of th » gentlemen hers will tall you how long yon are to stop in prison ; if it were left to me , you might stop there for fourteen years 2 heard Richards fay , " If the Queen show her sympathy in this manner , if the gallows or the guillotine stood before me , 2 would say , to hell with her and hex sympathy ; but we must show ours . " 2 am quite sure he said " tohelL * ' The cry of
" adjourn" came soon after , and they all went to the Old Horse Slock . George Mart never spoke in the meeting after the cry of " adjourn ; " there was a cry of " adjourn" before the chairman rapped the table , and one after ; 2 bad not heard much about the Charter before ; 2 would not have run my bead into it ; 1 paid pretty decent attention to what was said , but Berne of it might have escaped ma . By " the black-fuced men " I understood the colliers ; there might have been 40 or 60 colliers there ; a great number weie potters ; the colliers had their pit dresses on ; perhaps there wen half-a-doEsn that cried " adjourn . '' 2 don ' t know what
was said about the police before Richards cried out " the police ; " 2 have known Richards about eighteen years : 1 had heard him preach , and used formerly to think him a respectable man ; my opinion altered before I beard him speak at the meeting ; 1 have often Been him in a cart , 01 on horseback , but never attended much to what he said till 2 heard him at the Sea loom . 1 do not like the Chartists' doings ; they were the cause of the barracks being built and the soldiers coming ; we should have no need of them else . For what 2 know you might have been the malicious , unprincipled instigator of the disturbances and burning people ' s houses .
Re-examined—Cunliffe asked me to go to the meeting ; 1 do not know if he was a Chartist ; be waa afterwards convicted of arson . Mary Fradley—2 live at Hanley ; my husband IB a watchman there . 2 was at Yates ' s teetotal shop on the last Sunday in July ; there were many colliers and potters there . 2 saw Richards there ; $ he was talking to the people when 1 came in . He said , bow many flocked to the race course to see them red ragged devils ; had he a son that listed for a soldier , he would break either leg or arm before they Bhould serve as such . He said , never mind ball cartridge when the fray begins , blood for blood , and then we shall gain our point , and the Charter wQl fee the law of the land . He then said he had some letters to write , and wished them goodnight .
Cross-examined by the defendant Richards—1 know nothins about you , or whether you have a son hi the army or SO . 2 sever -said that 1 thought 70 a bad said nothing wrong . 1 repeated your words to my husband . Mi . Stevenson tent me a subpoena . 2 saw you on Monday when the disturbances were , talking to three colliers near to ten o ' clock . Ton were between Jeremiah Yates ' s and the Royal Oak . 2 did not hear what yon said , bnt your band was going as if yon were aajing something serious . Every man was armed with a big stick . It was just when the windows of the policeoffice were broken ; 1 am on good terms with my husband ; 2 never said be would be the death of me ; he has been too good a husband for that . In the course of the cross-examination , Richards said be waa very sorry to aay that from the turn which the evidence bad taken , he should be compelled te rebut it witheountex evidence .
Cross-examined by Cooper—2 got the subpoeoa about the 21 th of March ; 2 was here at the Special Commission ; 2 had 5 a a day during the time 1 was here ; 2 did not spend much of it in Stafford . I went to my mother ' s house ; 2 never heard of £ 50 being offered as a re-ward for giving evidence ^ 2 ie-examliied by ilr . Alexander—Jerry Yates ' s bonu is about two hundred yards from the Royal Oak ; my husband is here . Richard Forrester , examined by Mr . Sergeant Talfourd—2 am clerk to 2 x > rd Granville , at Shelton , and nephew to his agent On Tuesday , the 9 th of August , there waa a meeting at the Crown Bank . 2 went there about four in the afternoon . There were 300 or 400 persons there . 2 had seen some people coming in
procession from Burslem , about dinner time , between twelve and one o ' clock . On the platform I -saw . Cappur and Richards . I found Cappur addressing the meeting . Richards ' was near enough te bear what Cappur said . He was next but one or two to him . There had been a disturbance at Burslem on the previous Saturday evening . Cappnr snid be had seen that morning a gentleman who came from Burslem , and he asked him { Cappur ) what he thought of the proceedings of tae Saturday night before . Cappur said he did not answer him , bnt asked Him what he thought of the Duke of Wellington ' s conduct on the continent , when he posted his army on each side of the Rhone , and decoyed the enemy betwixt bis lines , and fired upon them . Be said the gentleman said those were military tactics , and Cappur , addressing the crowd , said , Yes , my friends ,
we must have military tactics , or we shall never get the Chatter . " Cappur then said , that be had worked an engine when he was a young man ; that be wentawsy and left a lad with it , and that the lad , to make it draw more coals , weighted the steam clack , that is , the valve , and when be came to it again , it was actually trembling on the seating ( what the boiler stands on ) , and he was afraid to take the weight off . So it was , he said , with public opinion . He said public opinion was so over burdened or oppressed with taxation , that it wag . like unto his boiler , and wonld one day burst with a terrible explosion , and it would then be over with such humbug Ministers as Sir James Graham and Sir Robert PeeL He proposed a resolution , something about throwing property into one common fund . This address was cheered .
Cross-examined by the defendant Cappnr—1 beheve there were printed circulars sent about tae neighbourhood for a meeting , but I do not know what the purpose of the meeting was ; 1 do not know whether that meeting was called the Paupers' Meeting . 2 have heard you speak ttoee or / oar times in the Potteries . Cappur—Did I not Bay that tha poor being driven to desperation might meet with the same fate as the boiler , and that 2 wished to join with my friends to prevent . it ? Witness—You said it would burst Dost yon think that Whigs and Tories have got me to speak for them at elections to keep them in good hum jut ? 1 dontknow . T > on-t yon think 2 generally kept them in good hnmoar ? Yes , 1 think they were in tolerable good humour when yon were speaking .
Cross-examined by the defendant Cooper—My nncle knew 2 waa coming here ; we have never talked about my coming ; 2 dare say he knows on what errand 2 am come here ; Mr . Ward , of Burslem , an attorney , first asked me to come ; 2 was at the last Special Commission of Aas » 9 here ; Cappur said be had * ome houses in High-street , and Chell-street , an J Piccadilly , in Tun-Btall , and he wonld be glad to throw those house * into the common fund , if others would agree to do the same He did not propose that the plan should be effected by force . Cooper also endeavoured to shake the testimony of this witness "by insinuations against his general conduct The Court was adjourned at twenty miKttea past seven till sine the following moraing .
Wbdsssdat , Mxbch 22 . Michael Holt , examined by Mr . Sergeant Talfoovd , — 2 am a potter , residing at Iiongton ; 2 was in my house , which 1 b about a quarter of a mile distant from Dr Tale ' s , Longton parsonage , on Sunday , tarj 14 th of A-ngnsU About three o ' clock in the afternoon 2 saw a procession beaded by the defendant Cooper pass my house ; ihe procession , which then consisted of forty or fifty persons moved to a waste piece trf land , near the "Wheat Sheaf ; 2 followed them ; they were singing something as they went along , to a hymn tune , the concluding words of which were and " Rascue Frost , Williams , and Jones . " After the singing was concluded , Cooper addressed toe crowd which consisted at this tiaie of probably tiPO or three hundred persona ,
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and continued to increase . Long-ton charch was right before him , and divine service was beiag performed in it at the time . He commenced his discourse by observing that those religious people would wonder what he bad to say . He referred to the church , and said he had as much right to preach Chartism and politics on a Sunday , as a minister had to preach the gospel . He went on to say that Sunday was not the Sabbath-day , Bnt it was well to have & rest day , that they might walk in the fields and smell the flowers . He quoted from the New Testament the passage which stated that when our Lord passed through the corn fields with his disciples on the Sabbath-day , the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat He ( Cooper ) did not say that thes had done wrong—it was a case of
necessity . Cooper made some reference to the Jewish sabbath , and to the commandment whieh said " thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath-day , " and remarked that if anyjone lived in a strietiy Jewish family they would see the knives and forks put on the table at six o ' clock on Friday night , where they wonld remain nntil the same hour on Saturday night . He said in coming from Leieester he had met 30 , 000 people at Wednesbury , and bad advised them not to go to work until they had got a fair day ' s wages for a / air day's work . He afterwards heard him say , " Now is the time for the Charter , and the Charter we will have ; the Lerd has given us a plentiful harvest , and it is not right that people should Btarve ; " and he might be allowed to Bay what a member of Parliament had bean stated to have said
in the House of Commons , that where the people could find food they must take it He then went on to say that every one must knotr that John Wesley -was a good man , and lived , upon £ 28 a-yaar that he might have more to give to the poor , and drew a comparison between Wesley ' b conduct , and the clergymen of the present day . Cooper next alluded to the Church service , and said that Father , Son , and Holy Ghost , being spoken of as three persons , and yet one God , was mere bambug . He heard him remark that the military were Tery few , and that there was nothing to fear , as there was cot ten soldiers for every town in England . He next drew a comparison between the rich man and the poor . He said the rich fared sumptuously every day , and hardly knew what carriage to lie down in ; and be enquired what is the poor man ' s comfort 7 A distressed wife and starving children . He then said that he must conclude his remarks , as he should have to lecture at
Hanley , at six o ' clock . Before the meeting dispersed , there was something stag , the chorus of which was « ' Spread the Charter through the land- " Cooper gave the words out . [ The defendant here took out a " Chartist hymn book , " and read the hymn to which the words had reference . ] The meeting was concluded by prayer , after which Cooper said that if any one liked to sign for the Charter they had now an opportunity , as a p ^ r-* on was present who would take their names down . The meeting took place within five or six hundred yards of Dr . Vale ' s house , who is the rector of Longton parish . He saw the Doctor ' s house the next day towards evening . The mob , after attacking the Town Hall and the Police Office , went to the rev . gentleman ' s . There was not a single article of furniture left whole in the bouse ; the windows were all broken , and the house set on fire . He saw many of the mob lying on the premises in a very dronken state .
CrosB- » xamined by Cappnr—witness was a Dissenter , and belonged to the New Connexion . He had heard him preach , bat never took much notice of his doctrines . The last time be beard him was at Longton , in February , 1841 ; it was at a Chartist meeting , bnt be did not know whether the subject waa on religion . He never knew any one take much notice of what be said . Cross-examined by Richards—I did not see yon at Longton on the 24 th or 15 th of August 2 have frequently seen you in old Zion Chapel , Longton . Cooper next proceeded to cross-examine the witness at very considerable length , occupying the court about three hours and a half . The following are some of the answers : —
l swear I saw you at the bsad of tb-Q procession on the Sunday afternoon . It was not the old hundredth psalm tone yon were singing , neither were the words " all people that on earth do dwell , " those used on the occasion . I recollect bearing you speak of stopping the weavers at Leicester . You said that Sunday was not the Sabbath day ; bat I do not recollect whether you said all the Doctors of Divinity in the kingdom could not prove that Sunday was the Sabbath day . Did not bear JOU Say that Christ and bis Apostles made no allusion to what we call Sunday . 1 recollect your quoting our Lord ' s words about the duty of drawing an ox or a sheep out of the pit on the Sabbath day , bat do not recollect whether you said you considered it was right to draw the people out of their miseries on the Sabbath
day . You aaid it was well to have a rest day , but do not recollect that yon said it was well both as a civil and moral regulation . 1 beard yon say that you should have no objection to two or three Sundays in the week . Do not recollect hearing ron relate an anecdote ot a person who professed such a reverence for the Snnday that he would not put a clean shirt on » n that day ; do not recollect your saying that all the precepts of Christianity tended to joy and cheerfulness , and not to gloom . { From the cross-examination which then followed , the defendant made it appear that be bad inculcated npon the meeting that as God ' s nature was essentially love , he had not created man to make him miserable for ever , and therefore he denied tot eternity of punishment as incompatible with the goodness of God . j
1 recollect hearing you say that the colliers at Wednesbury were on strike for wagei ; that they were to have 4 s . per day , bnt now it was proposed to redBce them to 2 s . 6 d . per day , or words to that effect ; do not recollect your saying thai you were much impressed when you uv 30 , 000 persons holding up their black hands like so many shoulders of mutton ; 2 heard you say that they were perfectly quiet , bnt do not recollect yon saying , when a resolution was put to maintain *• peace , law , and order , " they all held up their hands . Did not hear yoa say anything of the Com Laws : 1 heard you Eay that the Lord had given us a plentiful harvest , and it was not right that we should starve ; you ridiculed the doctrine of the Trinity , and said it was mere humfeug , when alluding to the church aervice : do not recollect hearing yon say that the word " trinity" Was not in the old : or new testament , and that it was a barbarous word , and not invented until many years after the appearance of Christ and his
apostles . 1 do not recollect your saying many things you have asked me ; 2 recollect your saying that you had been a Deist two years , and that by reading " Paley ' s Evidences" you had become a believer in Christianity ; that John Wesley was a cood man , and a practical follower of Christ , who , like him , bad been engaged in good works ; you made allusion to clergymen of the Charch of England , and said " I suppose your rector is a very good man . ' When yon said those words there wai nothing in your manner to shew that you said them with a Bneer 01 to ridicule him ; 1 believe Dr . Yale to bear the character of a man who is charltab e to the poor ; 1 did not hear you say that there were several goed men in the Church of England , and that you were under deep obligation to ona clergyman of that church . Heard you say that the frame-knitters got 7 s . per week , and that they had te pay the rich manufacturer 3 a . of it for rent , &e . ; did not hear yoa say that you knew scores of men in Leicester who never tasted flash meat for the twelvemonth
round ; did not hear y « u relate an instance of a man who came into your sh » p , saying with an oath " I wish they would hang me , as 2 have been living upon potatoes fer several days , and this morning 1 have eaten a raw potatoe to appease hunger . " Do not recollect your relating an anecdote of a Right Rev . Father in God riding in his splendid equipage , with his attendants , in London , once meetiDg with a ragged Irishman , who solicited alms , when be passed him by unnoticed . The meeting was concluded by singing ; some of the words were—*• Q-od save John Frost , " and " Spread the Charter throngh the land , ' 1 st Britons bold and brave join heart and hand . " 1 did not see or bear of your being at Dr . Vale ' s on the 15 th of August
Mr . Benjamin Boothroyd examined by Mr . Richards—1 am a surgeon residing at Sheltoo , and remember the 15 th of August 2 went to the Crown Bank , Hanley , between seven and eight o ' clock on the morcing ot that day . There was a meeting being held at the t ime , and the defendant Cooper was addressing the crowd . He said he had been addressing a meeting at Wednesbury , at which 15 , 000 colliera wore present , when it was determined to cease work until the Charter became the law of the land , and then added , " 2 am not come here to advise you to do anything , bat to tell yoa what is doing elsewhere ; although when yoa have heard what is doing elsewhere it is very probable yoa will determine to do the same thing among yourselves . " He said that delegates bad been , dispatched
from that meeting to various parts of the country to instruct the people . What else they weie instructed to say he mast not state , for they most know where to stop . He then remarked that the greatest good had resulted from these missions , so far as he had heard , and that work bad ceased at Bedworth , in Warwickshire ; Bedford , in Shropshire ; and the counties of Northumberland and Durham , and would soon cease elsewhere : He read a letter confirming the truth of what he bad said , bat suppressed the writer's name , adding , " we must know where to stop . " The defendant then spoke of the low rate of wages , and referred to Scotland , where he said it waa well known that miners were only earning 2 s . Id . per day . He said that the Charter was the only thing which could Becnre them a fair day ' s wages for a fair days work . " He then stated that It was the opinion of w > me tbat Winter was & better time lor
colliers to strike than summer , as coals wen mote in demand , and tbey wonld be more likely to obtain their object when snow was on the ground ; but he was of a different opinion . He said , "it waa more pleasant te be idle in the summer than in the winter ; and , in the second place , it is more comfortable when yon consider that the fields are now full of food for the sustenance of man . Ton may ask bow are you to live during the suspension of labour ? Why , how do they live elsewhere ? They a 0 live , but perhaps not very well , and yet almoBfc as well as the poor working people . You must not forget yon have the fields full of food , but 2 don't tell you to steal it 1 do not say I wonld steal it . myself , and therefore would not advise yen to do what 1 was not willing to do myself ; but there it i » , BDd this ib not a world in which people should Starve . " He introduced a dialogue between a miner , and a mine-owner , in wbich the Dline-Off net waa
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represented as begging of the miner to go to bis work , adding that it would soon come to that if they would stand firm . He then alluded to th « unfair character of the legislation is the kingdom , and the law between debtor and creditor . He alluded to the Leicester Court « f Requests . He Baid it was no uncommon thing for a householder's goods to be sold for a debt which another had « ontr » cted . 16 ^^ hjm g ^ y you have recently got a Court of Requests amongst yourselves , and a great blessing I Buppose you will find it to be . I did not notice any particular effect which the speech had upon the audience . The damage to the Court pf Requests was done about three hours after the conclusion of the meeting .
Cross-examined b ? Cooper . —I saw you in the Hanley lock-ups when you were brought from Leicester with fetters round your legs , when one of the persons in the place remarked , that they ought to have been round your ntcfe instead of round your legs , to which you replied that you hoped it was not an Englishman who had said it , as it displayed bat little of an Englishman ' s spirit 1 had no tegular conversation -with you . You said you were much deceived In the Chartists of Hanley , many of whom you knew to be teetotallers , if they had anything to do with the mob . 1 do not recollect hearing you say that you had expressed your regret , both to Mr . Rhodes and Mr . CottriU , at what had taken place , and that it was quite contrary to your wish or wilL I did n » t think your speech calculated to excite
the people to commit the violence they did , but 1 have not said that I saw nothing in Cooper's speech to exolte either fear or terror , or anything alarming , and 1 was surprised to see him come back . I was not surprised to see yoa come back , when I saw you associating with the men who were the first and foremost in the work of outrage ; I particularly allude to Jeremiah Yatea , who was convicted at the Special Commission for turning out the workpeople ; I do not know of my own knowledge that Jeremiah Yates was the first and foremout in the outrage , but I know that he wa « convicted . Most people conclude that when a man is convicted on clear evidence he is guilty . I don't know -what you mean by the t « rm Ridgway man . " I am a little man , and an apothecary , and 00 far a " little apotheca * y . " I don ' t know what you mean by the term " Ridgway tail ; " I have not been engaged with Mr . Stevenson , or his clerk , in getting up a second charge of arson against yon ; 2 know Weaver-street , in Hanley ; I never went with
Mr . Stevenson , or his clerk , to a woman , ajid showed her a bag of money to' coma and give evidence ; I did not hear you say that Mr . Cobden , or any other member , bud stated in the House of Commons to 8 r Robert Peel that the 60 , 000 starving people of Stoekport could not be put down by the military , for they would be justified in taking food where they could find It There was a meeting held on Tuesday afternoon , at which Mr . John Ridgway and others attended ; the meeting was called by the Chief Bailiff , to persuade the people to refrain from such acts of violence as had been committed ; thlB meeting was afterwards broken up by the military coming into the town . 1 heard you distinctly make allusion to the Court of Requests in the town . 1 have myself said tbat class-legislation , te a certain extent , was unfair . Cross-examined by Richards—I bavo an Indistinct recollection of seeing you at one of the meetings on Tuesday , but do not recollect kearing you speak .
Cross-examined by Cappur—I could not recollect a dozen words you have said at any time ; did not see you when you were so foolish as to mount the triumphal car when Ricardo was chaired at Longton . Re-examined by Mr . Richards—It was about threa hours after 1 had heard the defendant , Cooper , allude to the Court of Requests , that that building was attacked by the mob . Joslah Mills , examined by Mr . Godson—I am a china gilder , residing at Upper Hanley ; I was present at a meeting held at the Crown-bank , Hanley , on the 15 th of August ; I was not there at the commencement ; the defendants , Richards and Cooper , were there ; the crowd consisted of about 1 , 000 persons ; after Richards had done speaking , the defendant Cooper Baid he
considered himself the self-elected chairman of the meeting , and called upon a person named George Hammings , to move a resolution ) wbich stated , "Come all ye that are heavy laden , and we will give you rest We hereby agree to stand by the resolution at the Manchester meeting ; that Is , to stand and cease labour until the Charter becomes the law ot the land . " After the resolution was moved and seconded , Cooper came forward to put the resolution . The defendant Cooper remarked " tbat it would be an -easy matter to get the Chatter , for if only one-tenth part of the population came out on ascertain day , we shall have the Charter and nothing can stop us . " He said there were only ten soldiers to every large town in the kingdom . The defendant remarked , some said that winter was the most favourable time to stand , but he considered the present the most
favourable time , as there was plenty of food on the ground , adding , " I don't tell you to steal it ; I would not steal it myself ; but I leave you to put your own construction upon it" There were many persons sitting on the ground , who bad thick cudgels in their hands . At the conclusion of the meeting , there was shouting for two or three minutes , and many of tha crowd moved to the collertes of Iiord Qranviile and . Stopped three esglaea . They then returned , and part went to Messrs . Morley ' s manufactory and turned out the workmen , and tha other to the H&nkey police-office , and broke the windows , threw out the books and destroyed them , and flung out the constables' staffs . 1 was at the meeting on the Crown-bank in the evening ; 1 saw Cooper with a number of other persons coming across the Marketplace ; tbey were singing
" Spread the Charter through the Land , &c Cooper addressed the meeting , which was commenced by i singfcg . I recollect some of the words , which were" The Lion of Freedom is loosed from his den—We will rally around bim again and again . " Cooper Baid be was sorry to see so many drunk around him . They ought to abstain from drink and go about tkeir work in an orderly and peaceable manner , or else they would be detected . He said * ' he had beard many reports Of What bad been doing daring the day , bat it was not for him to say whether they weie true or not , fot he bad been at the Royal Oak , and Jeremiah Yates ' s , and the George and Dragon during the day . " I beard of the burnings and riots during Monday , and went home but sat up ail night , being afraid to go to bed . 1 went again to the Crown Bank , Hanley , on
Tuesday morning . William Ellis and the defendant RichardB were there . Ellis was addressing the meeting ; and in allusion to the soldiers said there were not above three soldiers to every town , village , and hamlet in the kingdom , and that the Wukly Dispatch bad let the » cat out of the bag , " with respect to where the military lay . A meeting of the authorities was held in the afternoon , which was attended by many of the respectable inhabitants . The meeting was called to dissuade from farther acts of violence , and to get the people together to protect property . There was a counter resolution put to the meeting , which was carried . Richards and Ellis spoke . Ellis , in allusion to the fires Which had taken place in the neighbourhood , enquired whether the Reform Bill was carried without fires ? Where there no urea at Bristol ? Or were there no fires at Nottingham before the passing of the Reform
Bill ? Cross-examined by Cooper . —I am a Corn Law Repealer . You were preaching on Sunday evening on the Crown Bank , from the 6 th commandment , * ' Thou shalt do no murder . " When the service was concluded , you gave out that there would be a collection , which was accordingly made . The collection waa made iu hats . You said in reference to your text , it was impossible to obey that commandment whilst the laws were constituted as they were ; but that command could be obeyed when we got the Charter . In speaking of the Charter yoa said all most become Chartists—indeed W 6 Will make yon Chartists . I did not give evidence of all that 1 have cow said at the Special Commission vhen you were tried for arson . 1 have stated nothing but the
truth 1 swear you had a walking stick in your band when you said you were self-elected chairman . Did not hear you say that it was union which brought about the Reform Bill ; did not hear you say that many ef the great events in history have been brought about by a tew intelligent minds . Did not recollect that you spoke of the people taking food where they could find it , fer themselves and their families , that you said Mr . Cobden , or any other member in the House of Commons had said so . The men with cudgels in their bands sat on the ground quietly when the speaking was going forward . I am not in the habit of remembering things which never took place ; 1 bad not a magnifying glass to magnify walking sticks into cudgels ; 1 did not see you take part in any ef the outrages ; 1 heard you reprove the men far drunkenness , and tell them to go bout their work in and
a a peaceable orderly manner . 1 underBtwd by work , " itbe same work of destruction tbey had been engaged in during the day . Did not recollect your saying , " my lads , you have done your work well to-day in turning out the hands ; go on as you have begun , and you will get the Charter . " Did not bear you say you were sorry if some things yen had heard were true ; did not hear you eay " 1 am sorry yon have destroyed property , and you ought not to have done so , as tbat will rain the cause , and you will not get the Charter . " The defendant cross-examined the witness at some length as to whether he bad had any conversation with his employer , Mr . W . Ridgway , as to the circulation of the Corn law Ciroulmrs and the Anti-Bread Tarn Circulars in the manufactories , the proceedings ef the Anti-Corn Law League in the district , and other matters .
The Court adjourned at half-past eight O ' clock , only three witnesses having been examined doting the day .
THOiSDAY , March 23 . James Wilding examined . —I am a China Painter and live at Hanley . On the morning of the 16 th of August I attended a meeting at the Crown Bank , after it had commenced . It was after nine when 1 went there . Mr . Cooper was ; addressing the people . I remained there till tha meeting separated . The people went down Brunswick-street or Piccadilly on the left from the Crown Bank in a direction for Earl Granville ' s colliery . After the meeting , I was near the Police Office and saw the mob demolish the windows and break into the Police Office . Booka , papers , and staves were thrown out of the office . The mob proceeded to Mr . Gibbs's house , who is the collector of rates . The same kind of work went on there as at the Police Office . Boots and papers were thrown out by the mob . Tb . 8 mob proceeded divrulH ^ h-btreet , Stwttw , to . the , Court
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of Request * . I followed them aad saw the same kind of destruction of property as at the other placeB . I afterwards went to the Police Office at Stoke , where I saw destruction of property and a I fire . The fire was made in front of the Police Office in the street 1 afterwards went to Mr . Allen ' s , at Fenton , and saw that great destruction of property bad takan place . At the morning meeting it was stated publicly there would be a meeting in the evening . Between six aad seven in the evening , I saw Mr . Cooper at { the meeting on the Crown Bank . 2 bave no positive recollection who else was there . 1 bad seen Mr . Richards and others come down the Market-place with Cooper in the direction of the Crown Bank and found a great many people assembled . I heard Mr . Coop « r address ! the meeting . He
complained of many of his friends being drunk . He said that they would betray themselves , they would be detected , they would be sold , what other things they had done he approved of . There were some persons standing at a distance and he told them to come forward to bear what be had to say , he said he supposed they were Tories . He said be did not advise them to commit aots of violence , he did not ! tell them to do so , but from his manner 1 understood that he meant them to do it He used gestures land shakes of the head . This was after he had said he approved of what tbey bad done . Either at the morning or evening meeting he said there were not ten soldiers to each town . Before the meeting broke up another meeting was announced publicly for the following morning ; Cooper was present when it was announced .
Cross-examined by Cooper—I Bhould wish to see a regulation In the Corn Laws ; I am a Corn L-iw repealer ; [ don't know any man called " Dirty Neck ;" I am not the man ; I have bad my clothes six or seven months ; my b ^ t is a new one ; 1 fead it in exchange for Boras china ; the china was my own ; 1 bought the china ; 1 got tbe money by regular buying and selling ; I can't tell bow 1 got every particular shilling ; I bought and sold what I produced , and I had some wages for my work ; 1 did not work much . 2 had kot much to do ¦ . I cannot t&H you how much I bave been employed during the last six months ; many bave not been employed ; you put a stop to that In August last Cooper—Don't you know that your character throughout the Potteries is that of I a filthy and idle man ? Serjeant Talfourd—Really , my Lord , it is not surprising that witnesses lose their temper . ;
Cooper—My Lard , I think tbat the appearance of the witness in the boxis sufficient Mr . Justice Erskine—The man ' s appearance is before the Jury ; you can make your comments upon it when it comes to your tarn . Cross-examination resumed—I have takea the benefit of the Insolvent Act , unfortunately . | The witness wa » cross-examined as to his owing money to a lodger , which he denied ; and also aa to his beingjacquaiuted with a man named Johnson , whe was a witness at the Special Commission . Cooper asked if be bad not heard that that man was turned « ut of Court by ene of her Majesty ' s Judges , and his evidence refused . Mr . Justice Erakine said be could not hear anything of what her Majesty ' s Judge did without knowing his reason for doing iC ' The witness was next asked whether he knew a
widow named Margaret Mumford , and that she had two houses . He replied that he knew ! her , but was not aware tbat she had two houses which belonged to bur . Cooper—Did you ever defraud her out of any money ? Mr . V . R . Richards—1 object to that Copper—My Lord , is that an improper question ? Tbe Judge—The witness may decline to answer it Cooper—Did you ever defraud her of any bouses I Witness—I shall not answer it Cooper—Do you decline to answer that because it ia a family affair ? : Witness—I decline to answer it Cooper—Do you owe a great deal of money for a poor man * Sergeant Talfourd—My Lord , for the sake of tbe public time , I think it right to object to that que&tton formally . Witnesses are not beund to disclose their private affairs . > Tbe Judge—I think tbe question may be put .
Cooper—I must say , In answer to Sergeant Talfouid's remark , that I am not acting with a desire to consume the public time . Judge—Toe Learned Counsel does not say you are : bat be says tbat tbe effect of what you are saying is to consume tbe public time . ; Cooper , to witness—Do you owe a great deal of money for a poor man ? Wituesa—I don ' t know that 1 do . Have you ever been in a lock-up in your life ? Oh , I'll tell you all about tbat if you like . At the Newcastle election , in 1831 , Mr . Wedge wood , [ Mr . Miller , and Mr . Edmund Peel , were candidates , and tbe potters were very anxious to bring in their man , Mr . Wedgwood , and they seemed vexed at it the same as men do get vexed when they are losing . A i disturbance took
place , and I was goiDg down the streets , not doing anything , when two Newcastle men said here is a potter ; they put me into the workhouse , locked me up for half an hour , and then discharged me . Tbe witness was examined at some length as to bis having belonged to the Potters' Unions for an advance of wages . Tbe Learned Judge told Cooper that if his object by that cross-examination was to shew a justification for workmen combining to raise their wages , be might save himself the trouble of continuing an examination of the witness on tbat point ; ns he i Mr . Justice Erskine ) should tell the Jury that there was nothing illegal in workmen combining together for that purpose by fair
and legal means . Cooper replied that he bad another object in view . His chief intent was to shew that the oppressions used by the manufacturers generally , who were Corn Law Repealers , to throw their men out of work had caused tbe late riots . Their ( tbe defendants ) object was to clear themselves of the charge of conspiracy by shewing this : and they should feel themselves slaughtered if they did not make this justification . In the course of further cross-examination , Cooper aaked his Lordship whether it was consistent with the rules of justice for one witness , who had been examined , to take notes of the subsequent evidence as he saw the witness Mills was doing ?
Hia Lordship replied tbat it was quite consistent , and that there was nothing to prevent it . Cooper—There is a strong impression , warranted by a perfect knowledge , that there is a juggle , if this man is allowed to make notes and go out and show them to other witnesses . The Judge—But it is not proved tbat he has done so . Cooper made some remark in reference to the irght of tbe defendants to have an impartial trial . The Judre—I am sure no case was i ever heard with more patience than the present Cooper—I am sure , my Lord , 1 am ! sensible of your kindness . You bave been kind beyond a degree , and and more than 1 could have expeoted . It is only our peculiar circumstances that induces us to act in tbe way we bave .
Cross-examination resumed—I never aaid I would hang you if I could . I have said that I was Borry I had to come against you . I don't go about saying that you ought to be transported because you oppose Corn Law repeal ; I never said yon ought te be transported at all . I cannot recollect ever having said that you caused my poverty by opposing free trade . 1 bave said tbat youT influence , and others connected with you , has disturbed peaceable meetings when they have met for a different object than tbat of promoting the Charter . For instance , there was a meeting called at Hanley , on the christening of the Prince of Wales to raise a subscription to give a dinner to the aged and tbe poor , but the Chartists interfered and would not allow it ; they would allow no meeting bat what had the Charier in view . 2 believe 2 have said that the Chartists opposing free trade had done an injury to business .
The witness was further cross-examined by Cooper as to the part which he had taken in previous elections for Stoke-upon-Trent , and aa to tha words which witness bad represented Cooper to have used ; with respect to gathering the harvest Cooper ' s object appeared to be to show tbat he had said to the people " What ! you will say strike for the Charter when the harvest wants gathering ? " and that he than replied that it was the province of the yeomanry—tbe farmers—to go home and gather the harvest . Ihe witness repeated that he
understood Cooper to mean that the ] people must go and gather what was then , on the ground at harvest time . Witness added that he believed be used both the wjrds ' plenty on the ground' * and *• harvest . ' * He ( witness ) bad not used the wsrd harvest in hia jevlde&ee at tbe Special Commission ; bat he bad not now used it from reading iu the papers that other witnesses bad done so . Cooper put a Bomber of other questions to the witness , which he repeated several times , and to one of them the witness answered " I'll not charge my memory . " ¦
Cooper applied to his Lordship to take that answer down ; but His Lordship declined to do so , having taken a similar answer previously . i Cooper thea said—Then I shall feel it my duty to make a memorial upon it His Lordship—Very W 6 ll : you may rnake it The cross-examination was resumed ; and Coopex asked a number of questions with the view of Bhewiog tbat tbe witness had either encouraged the riots or bad expressed approbation at particular outragaa . Thistju witness most positively denied . i
In the course of aome subsequent cross-examination , Cooper put several questions with tbe view of shewing that the magistrates who bad committed him at Newcastle allowed leading questions to bs put to tha witnesses by the solicitor for tbe prosecution . The witness made some answer to one of the question * -which Cooper wished bis Lordship to take' down , but his Lordship declined to da so . Upon this ] Cooper again said that be should feel It his duty to present a memorial on the subject . | Hia Lordship . —I care sot , in the slightest degree , what memorial yoa may present I shall take the notes of what I think ia material in the ease ; bat t desire , Sir . that yoa will nut dare to threaten me with any memorial , or I shall feel it my duty to vindicate the authority of tbe Court by inflicting upon von a « mo punishment ]
Cooper , with much earnestness , assured bis Lordship that when he said he should present a memorial he meant that be should present one Bgainst the magistrates for allowing leading questions te be put to the witnesses , and tbat hfj had bad no intention to offend his Lordship . He could assure his Lordship that be had misunderstood bis ( Cooper's ) meaning . His Lord Blip ' s con-duct had been kind to him beyopd . measure , i
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His Lordship intimated tfcut if Cooper ' s remarks applied to a memorial againBfr the magistrates , be ( Mr . Justice Erskioej bad nothing to do with that . Cooper , —1 suppose there codd be such a measure aa bringing an action against the magistrates ? Hia Lordship —You must tabe advice from some other person on tbat question : bnt 1 cannot allow yoa to examine tbis witness with a view either to a memorial or an action against the magistrates . 1 cannot allow evidence to be givf < n excepting with reference to the question before the jury .
The cross-examination of this witness was ultimately closed about three o ' clock , having occupied fire hours and a half . . Mr . William Palmer , examined by Sergeant Talfourd — I live at Hsnley , an 4 am the leases of the Hmtey Water Works . Od tbe morning of tbe 15 ^ of August 1 saw a mob of people going towards Lord Granville ' a pits : I afterwards heard of the damage done to the police office ; between ten and eleven o'clock 1 went to the Royal Oak , and related what 1 had seen and heard to the landlord ; the landlord called tha defendant Cooper from a parlour in his house ; the defendant Richards was in the parlour at tha time ; at tbe request of the landlord Cooper came out of tbe parlour , and he requested me to state what 1 hod seen ; 1 told him that several bailiffs had been turned out of a house by the mob . where they had poss « ssion of the goods for rent ; and also tbat some shoemakers and stone-masons , and also the workmen at the large manufactory of Messrs .
Morley and Co ., bnd bsen compelled to leave their work v 1 also MA bim that 1 had heard they had broken into the poliee iffl ^ e , torn up the books and throwa out the constables' staves . Cooper , on hearing the relation , remarked , That ' s right , that ' s risht ; that ' s the way to do it" 1 certainly left Cooper , and , 1 believe , rticbard's at the Royal Oak . There was a meeting at the Crown Bank in the evening ; 1 went there after the meeting bad commenced ; Cooper was speaking ; he said , addressing the crowd , " you have doae your irork ¦ well to-day , bnt h sea sorry to see ao many of you drunk ; yen nraat not take drink , for so sure as yon do so , you will be sold or done . " Ha alluded to there being very few soldiers in the country owing to tbe drain of them for tha wars in China and tbe Bast Defendant said he understood there was a desire to arrest him , bnt he would so manage hia address as that tbey should not be able to do so % l did not see the defendants Richards or Cappur at the meeting .
Cross-examined by Cooper—1 am a Corn Law repealer ; 1 can positively swear that I > made the relatien of tbe breaking into the police office , turning out tbe workmen , dec . whilst you were in the > oom attheB ^ yal Oak ; I recollect your denying before the magistrates that you were in the room ; 1 do not know whether you aaid " that right , that's right , that's the way to do it , " with reference to tbe turning eut of the workmen , or to the destruction of the property that bad taken place . 1 understood you to say that tbey would be defeated in obtaining tbe Charter if tbey got dra k . You advised the crowd , in case of the soldiers being brought out , not to molest or taunt them , bat to allow them to pass , and they would harm no one . h several times heard you exhort them to obaene " peace , law , aud order . "
Mr . James Moxon , examined by Mr . R . V . Richards —1 am an attorney living at Skelton . 1 recollect a meet'ng being held on the Crown Bank , Hanley , on Tuesday , the 16 th of August . 1 saw the defendant Bichards at the meeting ; he was elevated on a platform . Mr . John Kidgway having previously addressed the meeting , the defendant BicharJs got up to speak . He said Mr . Ridgway had been talking a good deal aVout fiscal regulations , but did not know what he meant , and added , " but 1 ) will tell you some time , lads . " " 1 wonder what Bobby Peel thinks about us ; 1 should say be did not feel quite ao easy now , as ha has not got it quite »» much his own way as he thought of having . 1 should not wonder if ha would not be glad to change situations with a poor old CObler . They
find their half measures won't do for as now , but we both must and will have the Charter . " The defendant then went on to say , that , talking of half measures very much reminded him of a tale be heard tbe other day , and as he was fond of keeping them in good humour , be would relate it . This gentleman happened to have a very valuable dog , which had a disease in the taiL He consulted the proper authorities , and found ifc would be necessary to have the dog ' s tail cut off . He accordingly directed hia servant to do it . The first nkht he cut one joint off , and the dog howled much , being in great pain ; Ishe nest night the servant cut off another joint , and the dog howled still louder ; tha third night be cub off another joint , when the dog bowled bo tremendously , that he quits disturbed tho master in tbe parlour . When the master came out to make enquiry about the disturbance , the servant said be had been cutting the dog ' s tail off ; but he thought it wonld be so cruel to cut it off all at once , that-he
had done it at three times . Now we must have tbe tail off all at once ; we wont be cheated and gulled any longer with their balf measures ; you have nothing else to do but stick to what you are at , and the day's your own . Where are the soldiers now ? They have not got ten soldiers for every large town in tbe kingdom . Stick to what you are at , and tbe day is your own . Richards then said , before parting , let me give you a word of advice , above all things avoid drunkenness , " be sober and vigilant . " Will you drink their poisonous Bluff to injure yourselves ? Defendant said a young friend of mine , as worthy a lad as ever lived , would be lodged in Stafford gaol this morning , at a quarter or half-past five , for nothing more than being caught drunk at Dr . Vale ' s . " I again repeat it , " said be , " will you tak » their poisonous Btuff ? If you do you will defeat yourselves ; only stick to what you are at , and the day ' s your own . " , Witness had heard the rumour that Dr . Vale ' s house had been on fire ,
Cross-examined by Richards—I only beard the latter ? part of what Mr . John Ridgway said . The part which I beard was an admonition to the people to be quiet , and not take any violent measures such as tbey were doing , as the way in which they were proceeding was not the way to gain their point He also advised them to go home and be peaceable . I do not recollect that yoa said that the property and income tax would be a perpetual blister upon the small trader . Do not recollect that you sai » l , in referring t « tbe tariff , tbat Sfr Robert Peel had benefited one class at the txpence of another . 1 believe you might have made use of somtt
of tbe expressions , but not of tbe whole of those yoa have put to me . Heard yon advise the people to go on as they , had done , and the day was their own . I inferred from that you intended them to follow out the same line of outrage aa they had just done . I baVB heard you speak at other meetings . From your speeches you manifest a strong wish to get the C&artsr . 1 did not remain until the close of the meeting . I beard William Ellis speafc after you . 1 am positive that 1 heard you say that a young friend of your ' s had been takea into custody and lodged in gaol for being drunk at Dr . Vale ' s . [ Richards denied that be knew any such an individual . ]
Cross-examined by Cooper—I am not a Corn Law repealer ; cannot say that I have been at any of their meetings . Am not on Mr . Ridgway ' s or Mr . Mason ' s side . I could not swear that tbe anecdote about the dog ' s tail had a reference to the substance of the speech . I thought some of the expressions used by Richards had a reference to the riots , rather than to the obtaining of the Charter . 1 am sure he used the words '" stick to what you are at" sevaral times . 2 am sure tbat what 1 have said about tho soldiers was what Richards stated . Did not hear Mr . Ridgway say tbat their desire for the Charter was . unreasonable . Did not bear Mr . Ridgway say he was opposed ft the Charter . Mr . Ridgway advised them to be peaceable , and Richards cautioned them to abstain from drink . Re-examined by Mr . Richards—The faces of many of the men at tha- meeting appeared as if blackened by smoke ; they were swarthy and dirty , as if t&ey bad been up all nigii ( .
In reply to questions put by the Judge , at the request of Cooper , witness said the faces 0 % the men did not appear as if purposely blackened . John Williama examined by Mi . Godson—I am a grocer residing at S&ndbacb , in Cheshire , which is about twelve milea from Hanley ; I went to Hanley on business on the ISth of August , and got there about halfpast seven ia the morning ; I saw Mr . Parker ' s and Mr . Aitken ' s . houses ; I went to . the Crown Bank and heard Ellis , addressing a meetiag ; Ellis said It appeared to , aa the watchword at the different meetings to have "• & fair day ' s wages for a day ' s work ; " but hia watchword was " political rights to the working classes ,- " ior nntil tbey obtained tnoBe riebtstbey murt not expect " a fair day's wages . " He went onto say that there was but ene soldier for every hundred persona in > the kingdom , and that if they did not get their
rights . before the red-coata came back from India and China , they would be thrown back a hundred years . He said that Ctoorge Thompson and the anti-Corn Law Loagne were a set of humbugs and despotic tyrants : they wanted a repeal of the Cera Laws that they might zedtus tbe poor man ' * wages ; he said the bishops wera soiling in splendour aad living on the "fat of tbe land , whilst tha poor wera starving , He ( Ellis ) went on to ebterve that be had not had the opportunity of bearing the first part cS Mr . Jobn-Ridgwas's speech , but ha bM read bis speeches delivered both in the Potteries and London , and from what he hod heard he was a worse Whig nsw than he was twenty years ago , and advised the moating to tak « no notice of what be bad aaid . 1 lefttb * meeting , and soon after wards it broke up , and a crowd overtook me on , the road to Bnrslem , which had come in the direction from tbe Crown Bonk :
I got to Baralem before the crowd ; there was a dragoon at tile door of the Georges Inn , when some persons brandished their sticks and cudgels , ' and ran at him ; he retreated into tbe boose , and endeavoured to cloat the door ; some persona afterwards entered into tha inn and the crowd outside broke the windows ; stones were thrown at some of the soldiers '; I heard the Riot Act read ; there waa a conflict between tbe military and tbe people , and one man was shot } the crowd from Hanley and tbe wowd from Leek had previously met together ; the crowd consisted of about four or five thousand persons ; I saw about thirty soldiers in the town .
Cross-examined by Coopar—When William Ellla was speaking of the red- * oats , I did not hear him advise the crowd to fight with the soldiers . I beard the concluding part of Mr . John Ridgwav'a speech , ia which he said be sympathised with the -working classes , but ha advised them not to be led on to their own destruc ' iion . I am not a Corn Jam Repealer , neither , tt Conservative , ox a Radical , e * a CnaxtisW ' ( Continued in our Eig hlh Page . )
Untitled Article
THE NORTHERN STAB ; ?
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 1, 1843, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1206/page/7/
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