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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th January 1844, Edition 1 of 1, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1843.
    • trains ini ix iviioiana : Diabolical.—On Saturday morning last, a most diabolical attempt was made to upset one of the
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      Untitled Article

      THE BELLFIBLD FACTORY TYRANTS . THE "HARD CASE" AQA 1 N . % Om readers wH remember the letter of Mr . Hunt , the solidter , who bo nobly took up the ease , and battled in the cause , of poor Taylor , published ia our paper of the 16 th of December . In that letter Mr . Hunt exposed in a masterly manner the tyrannical triokB , and dirty subterfuges , of the parties concerned—millocrats and magistrates , In this infamous case of oppression . The following letter from the same gentleman will commend itself to our readers , as a further and vrelT-deserred eas * tigation of the mean-souled and ' cruel-hearted tyrants "who haTe for ever damned themselves in the estimation of the public by their spitefal oppression and cold-blooded cruelty : — TO MSJtRT HaBSBEAVXS , ESQ-, CLERK TO THE HAGISTIAZES AT HASLISGRKIf .

      Ste , —I am obliged by a copy of yonr report -which vsiad aoQ responded toby the magi » trates at the ersiona atBatfiBgden , on Friday last and -which I reoerved on Saturday !; and I also found that tee Courier { Manchester ) newspaper bad a copy of . the same report inserted in its columns with a comment thereon by Mr . Tomer expressed in a peculiar humour towards myaslf , » nd condemnatory , in a most extraordinary degree , ¦ pon the -whole class of labourers in Mitfdleton . I do hope the reporter is in error rather than it ' should be read and understood that a magistrate should express such a prejudice , and declare from the judgment-Beat that all the wearers of a popular district "were a bod set . The threatened contempt to me and my letter would pass unobserred , bat this wholesale condemnation is unjustifiable .

      Your correspondents in this town may haTe been famished -with correct dates from books ; eorrecter than Taylcr eouldfbe expected to give from memory : yet the little error cf time does not alter the broad principles of complaint , nor ia , it denied that Joseph Taylor did TToii for Messrs . Bennecke and Co ., « r that he wss refused "WBft to perfect bis wori , and left -without a possibility of doing so ; and that for not not performing this impossibility , be was apprehended , arraigned , convicted , and sent to prison . let me assure you , Sir , Individually , —for After the miscalled-for expressions of your Bench , I do not consider it necessary ¦* j carry xay letter beyond yourself ;—that my f ^ formation was obtained , not from Taylor alone

      sot from sereral others , ( xai a bad set , ) who know the frjts and circumstance * , and felt for the poor man in bin trouble ; and neither they nor myself 'wished improperly to engage the sympathy of the Rochdale magisfe-tes , or bad any intentien of interfering -with the discharge of the public duty of the gentlemen at Haslingden . It is allowed on all sides , that the unfortunate man was employed to -weave either Chine , Cbusan , or some wimsical doth ; and tben / taking your report , as it appears , ( denying that the deficiency of -weft is in quantity as there stated , because the cut , or piece , ia perfected within seren yards ; and four banks , or / fire at the utmost , * w £ Q complete the -work , and this , pro-res ihxlf . ) Taylor ' s statement is greatly borne qnt , and abows tbebardship he has , and is suffering .

      It is admitted be himself applied once ; and he can prove be applied often , and travelled for that purpose upwards of lODmHst ; and that lie had sent others for the weft , and offered terms is all reason ]; and that it is true , as Turner stated , that Hudson sold and delivered to him for Taylor , six h * " > T , and prove their re-delivery to him under the false pretence that be was to have others for them : and then the falsity of Hudson ' s tongue and crotchet of his brain , is now to' be called his " precaution . * Sow it can be a '" pre" of any kind , after the ¦ ale and delivery of the article , and how he will justify frimM ^ f , or bis employers , ia the retaking ' of the weft , sad keeping it , and do it honestly , or ' legally , will be tut the future to disclose . And why , let me ask , -was precaution necessary in a matter involving the paltry pice , ( about 7 d each , ) of four or six hanks of -worsted * H y . Because the man did not perform tb » impossibility required "by Mi . ( Manager ) Hudson , ke wa » cut into pxhon for a month .

      This is the first hardship ; and tills is doubled by the » ode in -which be was apprehended and taken to a distance from Ms 'witnesses , and out of the division in Which the pretended offence -was committed , and in the absence of all evidence for him to convict and ommifc him to the gaol at Salford for a month . And to fill np the poor man ' s measure » f grief , tbe codstable entrusted -with the commitment instead : of taking him forthwith to the Sslford prison , or keeping him at HasOngden all night , conveyed him from Haslingden to Newchurch , a distance of four or tve miles , where be -was locked up , and at leisure , or may be to accommodate Mr . Booth the Inspector , be -was taken as directed by the Magistrates' mittimus . The reason assigned for hearing this case at Haslingden , if truly given , was not to accommodate the Inspector ; and if It had been so , -why is his convenience as a public and Well-paid servant to be a paramount coxsideratios 7

      The prisoner and the bulk of proof were on this side the comliy : and justice is no more blind here titan she is in other places . 1 Probably you do sot know the correct motive of the inspector for troubling the gentlemen at H&slingden with Rochdale business ; but I will take leaie to tell you . Several months ago , Booth onsidered it bis duty to bring a person belorethe Justices at Rochdale , charged with baving in bis possession woollen goods sad ™» t »*^« of -which he could give do proptr and lawful account The man defended himself , and con . Tineed the Bench that the charge was unfounded , and

      they dismissed it . Upon which , out of the hearing of the Bench , be ( Booth ) expressed himself . in veryjgross and unmeasured language , and declared hsjwould never bring another case before the Magistratss at Rochdale . His III humour in this instance arose because he could not be both judge and accuser ; and since tben , be has been as good as his -word ; for , to my knowledge , he has feombled the Bench at Haslingden with two cases from this town . If this be his rule of conduct , and if the lEfrirh at Haslingden should , in a nforififlT manner with iheRocfld&le gentlemen , differ with Mr . Inspector , bis next step may be to hare bis cases heard at the county tovn .

      Having learned his motive for not bringing hii complaint * to be beard here as they arise in the -neighbourhood , and seeing tbs -very great injniticft af &x * gyinj £ man fifteen miles from iu home , and -where the impartiality of the Jnitices can't be for a moment impugned I certainly do ask myself aloud , is such a public and paid servant fit for bis situation 1 I beg mort respectfully to differ -with Mr . Tnrner , when be said , « If all Middleton bad been here they tonldnot have altered the decision ; " for ; I natter myaelf if ha bad beard from Joan Turner and the evidence

      of the others , the means-tkat bad been used to obtain "weft and enable the poor man to bring in bis work , and tint it had been refused , and at one time given and again taken away under a false pretence , no conviction and no imprisonment would bavef olio-wed . At all events there would bare been a greater shew , if nothing more , cf justice , if bis evidence bad been in court , as the poor man could net give evidence on bis own behalf and it was not possible for any one to be there for him , from the extraordinary baste made in the apprehension and conviction-

      -The simplicity of the offence charged , even if under the moat aggravated circumstances , may be , and often is , met by a summons and not by a warrant : but in Ur * s case the strong power of a warrant -was bad , assisted by the uncommon power of a bone and cart . Why the cut and piece of cloth * .-wcich had been delivered in previously , and upon -which enquiry had taken place here , and a judgment pronounced upon it wH produced , and bow it could be offered and received in evidence against Taylor upon the tben complaint , is often asked by those -who have read the proceedings .

      The arbitrators appointed by the weaver and xiasters who viewed the piece , found no such boles &J Mr . Turner speaks of ; nor did tbs Bendf hear of any , nor was any sucb complained of , or pointed out ; and therefore there Is only one inference to be drawn from that particular piece l ^ ing taken and shewn at Haslingden . Beviewing the two statements , and allowing much lhatbM been gleaned and put together for the advantage of the Manager , I again repeat Taylor is a persecuted sad oppressed man . This is the view of most who have beard of jthe i _ m ^ ction ; but it is poor satisfaction or consolation for bim , -who must , in a few days ,-come home tainted with the odour of a gaol , not to enjoy a merry Cbristraf and a b » ppy New Tear with his seven « mnU children , but to brood over bis wrongs and bitter reflections .

      I bare te apologise for troubling you at tbJU length ; but as I found myself threatened with contempt , and spoken of as not telling the truth , I have thought proper to make this repetition , and can substantiate all , if necessary , by inert positive and convincing proofs , : I am , Sir , most respectfully , Tour obedient Servant , BlCHABJ * H «> "t . Boehdale . 27 th I > ec ., 1843 . '; We now request the attention of our readers to

      She following report of " progress . " Prom it thej will see that the Rochdale Bench of Magistrates save conducted themselves in a manner directly the « verBe of that of the Haslingden gentry . Our readers too , will see , that the matter is not to drop here ; Mr . SanV having pledged himself to bring actions against Booth , Hudson , and Co . We trust ie-will do so , that justice may be had forrTaylor , and the names of his unjust persecutors and judges be further exposed to the scorn and contempt of ihe public from one end of England to the other .

      B . 0 C TLDA 1 S 7 SITT 8 XS 5 I 0 K 2 . ; Qn Monday last , the Rochdale Sessions Room was crowded to excess . The Mr gistrates on the bench -were Hessrs . Clement Royds , W . Chad wick , Henry Kelaall , George Ash worth , and James Fenton , and the Bev . J . B . Cotton .. The case of Joseph Taylor , weaver , Middleman , whose hud case orimprisonment -we have stated ia our paper of late , against Messrs . Beneckeand ; Co ., calico printers and manufacturers , at Belgeld , ! about a alls from Rochdale , for wages , being called ' on , Mr . Boberts , solicitor for the Manufacturers , said that as the sBKHBonjTras lot wages for work in the loom and sot finished , be could wish the Magistrates to hear tfef flfafr «* peeting the former cuts which had been arbitoatedi and their Worships had ordered payment betmaeiiie BrWtra tora cottid not agree . ThftMagistrates « hservBd that it -would be fcstler for \ M Defendants to let : tooae cntM alone ; they bad ; decided in ttrvBX et the HfSSt& i and should not deviate from what

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      they save done . Mr . Roberta thought bis clients had beea -very much exposed in the newspapers , about taking Joseph Taylor to Haslingden , when the masters knew nothing about it until after his committal . The magistrates observed that it was most ridiculous to take a poor man IT miles from bis borne , where he bad no friends , and commit him at seven or eight o ' clock at night , for not completing the work which the matters prevented him completing , by not allowing him weft or wanted , although be had offered to pay for it , to be stopped out of Ids wages . One of the firm of Messrs . Benecke < fc Co ., stated he had never offered money , and their putter out was afraid to trust himlest it would

      , notie lawful to stop it out of his wages ; and he thought Hudson , their putter-out , or agent , had acted right , though he bad done it without their knowledge , for continued the master , we have four cuts spoiled . Hudson had given the ce *> to Booth , the inspector of worsted , who had taken the warrant out at Haslingden . Mr . Chadwick , magistrate , said that Messrs . Benecke and Xee bad been misled by Hudson and Booth , but the c *» was disgraceful , and the whole country were talking about it . Mr . Hunt , solicitor , who has appeared for Taylor free of expence , said that on the same day that Taylor was taken to Haslingden , and committed a month , the same firm took another man named

      Briggs , of Heywood , for neglecting to take in an old reed not worth three pence . He also told of another man named Turner , from Mlddleton , who wri committed a month the same day by the Haslingden magistrate , and that man bad taken Jn all bis work , but the masters said be had kept two knots of wonted , or was two abort , the -value of which w ? - » la l | d . The magistrates said the manner of taking out warrants at Haslingden , against parties residing in the Rochdale division was no credit either to the parties , or the magistrates granting them ; they were acquainted with the whole afiair , and Taylor had been badly used . Mr . Hunt said be should commence legal procsedings against Booth , the inspector of wonted , and also against other parties connected with the . case . The magistrates asked Messrs . Benecke and Co ., whether they would yet sell or allow Taylor worsted to finish bis work 1 The reply was , we will tell it for money " . The matter here terminated .

      Taylor went to Belfleld the same day , and took a witness with him ; he purchased the worsted or weft to weave six yards , which is all he wanted . He was charged 2 s . Od ., and paid the money . We cannot conclude our present notice of this infamous proceeding , —infamous as far as the Belfield Monsters and their willing tools at Haslingden are concerned , —without expressing our great obligation to the correspondent who has so kindly furnished ns with tie information connected with it . The poor of Middleton have found in him a true

      friend ; for he has given expression to their wrongs , and sought , by a spirited appeal to public feeling and public justice to obtain ledress . This , too , he has done withoat reference to party or political feeling . His non-agreement with the principles or general policy of the NortJiern Star 4 . V& . not prevent him from communicating to ns the particulars of a gross case of cruel and heartless oppression ; for he saw in us a disposition to seek justice for the -wronged , and he honestly responded to it , throwing mere political feeling to the winds .

      from that correspondent vre have the following note , honourable at once to the head and the heart of the writer : — Taylor is not a Chartist He never pretended to join any religious or political party ; and the reason for the committing Magistrate , Mr . Turner , of Haslingden , saying that " the Middleton weavers are a bad set , " Is probably because nearly the whole of them are Chartists ; and if fiat name constitutes them bad , THEM HB is bight . Your informant dots not profess to be a Chartist ; yet he does know that the Middleton weavers are neither dishonest nor bad , but the contrary ; and , so long as he sees poor honest men injured . He will stand up for them , whether Chartist or otherwise .

      The Northern Star. Saturday, January 6, 1843.

      THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , JANUARY 6 , 1843 .

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      THE LEAGUE AND THE CHALLENGE . MR . COBDEN AND MR . O'CONNOR . Wb must crave the attention of all to the letter from Mr . O'Cojwoe , addressed to Mr . Cobden , and inserted in this day ' s Star . Mr . O'Conkob has accepted Mr . Cobdex's challenge . Of coarse the discussion mast now come off . Nothing else can » e expected or looked for . It is hardly possible , we should say , for a "hitch" or a stave off" to interfere . Mr . Cobdbs of course means what he sayg ; and therefore all that now has to be done , is to arrange the preliminaries .

      We shall report progress as soon as anything definitive has been settled upon . The letter has been duly transmitted to Mr . Cojpeh ; and as soon as Vis answer is received , apprising Mr . O'Comtob of his intentions with respect to it , the Committee for Mr . O'CosaoB will be appointed . At last , then , we are to have a public discussion ! Thank God for it I

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      THE COLLIERY BOND . Tn& next best thing to keeping out of a scrape is , when in , to get oat of it ; and as the value of a victory much depends upon the use made of it by the conquerors , we shall , treating the colliers as the victorioms army in their recent struggle against the masters , endeavour to direct their attention firstly , to the proper use to be made of their triumph ; an 4 secondly , to the moans bj which they may in future avoid getting into such scrapes .

      The use then to which they should turn their triumph is not to make so much of it as to give their masters a colourable pretext for the commission of farther acts of injustice ; but rather as a means of convincing them that , while united , they will be able to procure the best and the speediest exposition of the law . They will best evince their regard for justice by still adhering to the conditions upon which they were ready to return to work previously to being prosecuted . The triumph of the law -will not justify them to themselves , nor to th » se who will have the burden of their support , should they take an undne advantage of that feeling and sympathy now so jastly manifested towards them .

      What they must shew is not that they had any desire to violate the equitable portions of the bond ; but that they contended against those portions of the document with which it was morally impossible to comply . They mu 3 t be more than ever confirmed in the belief that a bond , if equally protective of the rights of master and man , would be of mutual advantage to both ; ensuring the master against sudden strikes , and guaranteeing to the men a certain amount of wages with a certainty of employment .

      To effect this desirable object has hitherto presented almost insurmountable difficulties ; the invariable practice being firstly to have the slaves bound , no matter how UDJost the conditions ; and second , to rely upon the summary justice of the district bench as a means of enforcing the most repulsive terms ; not always putting these conditions into full force , but reserving the power of doing so with the assistance of the magistrates as a sure means of compelling their hands to submit to acts of injustice , palatable , because falling short of the full penalty in tae bond awarding the " pound of flesh . "

      We now come to the consideration of those means » y which all future undertakings may not only be rendered mutually advantageous to masters and men , but by which all farther dispute and litigation may be rendered unnecessary . The time of entering into the bond , and the pomp and ceremony by which the transaction is surrounded , together -with the unaccountable change which comes over the masters as if by magic , upon the eve of the renewal of the contract , present so striking an analogy to the case of honourable members whose tennre of office is fast

      running to a close , and a renewal of which is bid for by stroDg expressions of contrition for the past and fervent promises for the future j to speak plain language to plain men , the coal-masters previously to the expiration of the period for which the men are bound , cheat them into a belief that their nature has been changed , just as Membere of Parliament upon the eve of a dissolution would convince their cheated and disappointed constituencies that a renewal of tenure would snake new men of them .

      The bond is generally renewed in March ; and one condition is , that the pit stall be ¦ " laid in , " or allowed to remain idle , for a fortnight ai Christmas time . The masters and their upper servants who have played the tyrants for ten months , make it a practice from that time till the renewal of the bond to behave more kindly , nay BnbBerrientlj to the men . They mix with them and converse with item , booze with . them land dance with them , and &&

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      affect to have learned within this magical latter period that the labours of the men have not been sufficiently requited during the ten mouths they hate been held to the strict letter of the bond . They make them small presents as compensation for the past , and extensive promises as baits for the future . The Colliers are a most honest , simple , confiding , and religious people ; and therefore fall an easy prey to this well-timed piece of artifice . To guard against the evil consequences arising oat of these deceptions , we would propose as a protection for both , that each of the contracting parties should be in possession of a copy of the bond at least one dear fortnight previous to its execution :

      an arrangement which may be earned out as follows : —The masters should serve the solicitor to the Colliers with a copy of the bond , in time to enable him to furnish every working Miner with a printed copy free of expence . By these means the various collieries may transmit nine in every ten of their copies to the remaining collieries of the kingdom , retaining for themselves one copy for every ten Miners , and each colliery being thereby furnished with the terms under which every other colliery worked These arrangements would enable those most interested to deal with the masters upon equal terms , while they would prevent the possibility of either party cheating the other .

      These suggestions are so simple and so easy of enforcement that we sh » u ) d look upon the party refusing to comply with great suspicion . We never have thought that the advocates of Strikes were the friends of the working classes ; while we have frequently experienced the difficulties consequent upon our opposition to those who work upon the pasnions rather than upon the judgment of their hearers . Men after a triumph are apt to become intoxicated with success , forgetting the while that the moment of their senseless

      rejoicing is seiaad upon by the quiet and plodding enemy as the fitting time for completing his stratagems for a new campaign ; and the Blare , awaking from his revel dream , finds himself in stronger trammels than those which he vainly supposed he had rid himself of . From all we can learn , we have come to the pleasing conclusion that the Thomley Colliers , acting under the prudent counsel of their law adviser , have not laid themselves open to any of these charges ; but that they have resolved upon using thoir recent triumph as a means of protecting themselves against future

      surprise . Our advice , then , upon the whole is , that the Thomley Miners return to work npon the conditions stipulated for by their adrooate at the trial ; and , as the many may tyrannise orer the few , we would caution them against allowing the triumph of the law to induce them to contend for conditions which could not be complied with . In every just act of resistance to injustice they shall find us their fearless and uncompromising advocates and

      defenders . Our advice shall be tendered with the view to serve their interest , rather than the desire to catch their ear , or fascinate their prejudice . As long as the Thomley Colliers contend for their rights , and no more , we think we may pledge them the co-operation and support of their brother Miners throughout the Empire ; but , should they descend from the seat : of justice and demand a temporary surrender to a position which equity cannot justify , that support and sympathy will vanish .

      We cannot in conclusion too heartily congratulate the Colliers upon the steady , brave , and prudent resistance they have recently made againBt ihose flagrant acts of oppression under whioh their body hare suffered for many years withoat much complaint or any redress . They are now in the right road . Let them not depart therefrom ! for though their advocates are few , their cause is so just that it must inevitably triumph . With Mr . Roberts in

      the court , Mr . Du . vcoksb in the House , and justice still enthroned upon the judgment Beat , together with oar humble advocacy of their cause , they need apprehend bo danger ; while , Bhould they weaken themselves by the loss of any of this protective force they beeomo more defenceless and assailable than ever . Let Union" be their watchword ; Justice " their motto ; and "No Surrender except to Justice " their determination .

      | QP Since the foregoing was ia type , we have received the pleasing news , that the Thomley men have returned to work , the masters having acceded to every one of the terms which they had previously rejected ; and they have farther given up to the Colliery-mon ten acres of Land for , their own use ! Who will say that w » ought not to seek the Law ' s protection ! Has it been of no benefit in this case !

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      THE BOILKB-Biowiwa-Tjr . REFFUSAL OF THE LEEDS TOWN COUNCIL TO INYESTIGA . TE . Ik a recent number ot the Start we gave an article in relation to the M Boiler-blewiug-ap " affair , which ended with a promise to give a report of the proceedings in the Leeds Town Council , at their adjourned quarterly meeting , on the 1 st day of the present year ; it being generally understood that the matter so deeply implicating the character of that assembly , through the alleged wicked conduct of one of its leading members , was to be brought under discussion on that day .

      In another portion of this sheet we redeem that promise . The reader will find what we then pledged ourselves to—a faithful report of Monday ' s proceedings . To that report we beg to direct his attention ; and when he has gone through it , we would ask him who it » that has evinced a desire to shufle , " and " evade , " and ** sneak out of the matter by a sulky refusal to giro the slightest explanation ot satisfaction !"

      The Leeds Town Counou have refused inquiry The statement affecting the conduct of an important member of that body , and , through him , the character of the whole , was openly made in the face of the assembly ; and every desire , nay even an anxiety , manifested to have the matter fully probed ; no difficulty was presented , or reservation made , or shrouding-up resorted to , by the Councillor who brought the matter before the publio ; but ou the contrary , every facility for a thorough imestigation offered , volunteered ; and yet the Co » ncil dared vox to inquire !! Forsooth , " that body had nothing to do with it' *! The members of it were not interested in maintaining their own character , by instituting inquiries as to the alleged misconduct

      of one of themselves , when occupying one of the most important posts in connection with the Corporation . They did not feel that they were bound ( in common honesty ) to afford the implicated one a fair and full opportunity to vindicate himself from the aspersions cast upon him ; to establish his own innocence , and make manifest the wickedness and worthlessuess of his accuser . They did not feel that this was the only honest course left them , under the extraordinary circumstances connected with the question : but they did feel it NECESSARY to cast around the accused the mantle of protection i They did feel it NECESSARY to shield him from investigation 1 They did feel it NECESSARY Jo stifle inquiry !

      " Nothing to do with it , " forsooth ! Ay , but they made something to do with it . They tried hard , laboured much , to make every thing of it , for the justification of their friend . " Nothing to do with it : " then why did they permit the character of the accuser to be assailed , when they were determined to close the door to all inquiry , and refuse all investigation ! Why was this course pursued by

      those who contended that they had no right to interfere in the matter at all \! Why , O why , was this ! To blunt the edge of the charge . To blacken the man who volunteered the information that he had been applied to to turn his rrea out to unplug the boilers , and , if needful , to blow them up . To get into the press etcparte statements respecting him , denying him the privilege of reply in the place where the etparte statements were made . To xid their friend

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      of the imputations under whioh he laboured , without the trouble and danger of an investigation ! To M oosjie the artful dodge . ' * But the trick will fail . The publie are not to be so easily gulled ; put off . They will reason , and reason correctly too , that innocence would not fear , bat rather court , investigation . They will conolude that if it could be proved that the accuser is a worthless man ; that if he be ss bad as bis protected assailants described him to be , and even worse : the publio will rightfully conclude that if these things eould be proved to be even so , the party interested ia givin g such proof would have been the first to seek for an opportunity ; and not to deal the stab ? with one hand * while the door of investigation was closed with the other !

      One or two things in connection with this matter we must oall especial attention to . First , to the conduct of the implicated Alderman . By the report before referred to , it will be seen , that before he had been named ; at the time when the charge was described as " one made by somebody against somebody else , living somewhere f at this time , Mr . Alderman Bateson rose in hiB place , and put in a disclaimer , denying the accusation brought against HIM ! What fine noses some people have ! How they can smell out what applies only to themselves . : " Thou canal ; not say I did it " was an exclamation uttered by injured innocence long since !

      Again . The moment that the name of the writer of "the letter" of aoousation was announced , Mr . Alderman Batebon was prepared with another letter , from another " somebody , " to prove that Mr . Shith was unworthy of credence ! What excellent timing ! How fortunate to be so ready ; so phhpared ! Not an instant was there lost . Mr . Ho « 3 ow had scarcely sat down , after giving the name of the writer , before Alderman Bateson was on his legs , with the " evidence" against Smitk in his hands . Now , why was this 1 How did it happen ! Why was this " evidence" prepared against Smith ! How was it that the Alderman

      hit so exactly upon the accuser , as to deem it necessary to be prepared to damage his credibility 1 Why , and how , was this ? Smith ' s Dame had not been mentioned . Bateson pretended to be ignorant of the name of " the letter" writer ; he even preteuded to seek for it , and to express much disappointment when he could not get it on his own terms . How was it , that he knew it so exactly , as to have " evidence '' ia hie pocket , "ready cot ana dried / ' wherewith to assail the credibility of the accuser , the instant his name was mentioned ! Good , pure-minded , innocent , injured Mr . Bateson , pray tell ua how this was 1

      A word or two as to Smith . On him the Alderman fell very foul . He made it out that Smith is a Bankrupt ; that his conduct , under that Bankruptcy , has not been that whioh it ought to be ; and that his examination has been adjourned sine die . All this may be true . We do not know that it is ; or that it is not . But this we do know : that for years Bateson and Smith have beencww ciated together I A connection ; an intimate connection ; a connection that hardly oould hav « been more intimate , had a partnership existed between them , has subsisted . Smith may be all that Bateson says he

      is : but Bateson and Smith were together ! They had more than ordinary dealings with one another . It was not one tradesman employing another trades * man in their case ; but a connection of a far more intimate nature . Indeed , as the lawyers full well know , the connection was almost a partnership . , It must be borne in mind , too , that the voluntary Statement made by Smith , was made before the alleged acts under the bankruptcy were said to be committed . And there are circumstances connected

      with that bankruptcy with which the publio are unacquainted : circumstances , which , if known , would not justify , but to some degree palliate Smith's attempt to protect himself from utter stripping . Those ciroumbtaRces are very peculiar , as Mr . Bateson well knows . We farcy , that were a full enquiry made into the facts ; and were those facts judged of on equitable grounds , all the dark spots in connection with that affair would not rest ou Smith ' s character alone .

      To justify the using of this language , we adduce the following case . It has before appeared in the columns of the Northern Star . Indeed , it appeared thereoonly . The facts , strange as they are , did not find their way into any other of the Leeds news papers . It will be found to relate to the bankkruptey to which Bateson ' s " evidence" referred . Here is the account of a trial at York , last March assizes , in whioh both parties , Smith and Bateson , figure ; Bateson in a somewhat anruma manner : —

      Young v . Hutchinsom . —The nominal plaintiff in this case is official assignee of the estate of Messra . Smith and Co ., who became bankrupt a few month * ago ; but the real plaintiff is Mr . Alderman Bateson , of Lejeds , as trade assignee : and the action was for the recovery of money paid by the bankrupt Smith to defendant , in alleged undue preference , shortly before the bankruptcy . The defence wr" that Alderman Bateson was a partner in the concern of Win . Smith and Co ., and therefore could not maintain the action : and in establishment ot this ground of defence , evidence wss adduced showing a continuous exercise of interference

      and control on the part of Alderman Bateson in the affairf of Wm . Smith and Co . during a considerable period of time . Amongst other acts , be had engaged a bookkeeper for the concern , one John Thompson ; and this bookketper became the passive agent , —the victim , we had almost said , —of the most extraordinary proceeding to which we have now to call attention . John Thompson deposed that one day Alderman Bateson got him up to his house , and told him that he wanted him to take an oath that he would keep the affiurs of Wm . Smith and Co . secret Thompson demurred , and nfced the Alderman if he was net already satUfled that

      he did not abase the confidence reposed in him . To which the Alderman replied , that be was satisfied " according to Human reason ; " but that he should be more satisfied if he ( Thompson ) took the bath , That thereupon the youth ( Thompson ) went to the Alderman ' a solicitor , who administered to him the oath ; and that he sworb accordingly . The Learned Counsel for the defendant ( Mr . Wateon ) severely denounced the proceeding as a scandalous trifling with the most awful engagement a man can take upon himself ; and

      appealed to the Jury as to their feeling of the oath which they themselves had taken . Toe Learned Counsel for the plaintiff ( Mr . Knowles ) seriously deprecated it , and put in a feeling apology for the indiscretion of the Solicitor . Tbe Learned Judge ( Baron Parke ) pronounced the act an indictable offence . Tbe verdict wri for tbe plaintiff : the partnership bat ween Alderman Bauson and the bankrupt ( Wm . Smith ) not having b on made out to tbe satisfaction of the Judge and Jury .

      AM may be true that Bateson now says of Smith ; even every word of it : but here is proof that the two have been connected together in a somewhat mysteterious manner . " Birds of a feather will , " &c , as the old adage says : and here is proof of intimacy of an extraordinary kind . The " interference" with the business of Smith & Co . —( pray who was the Co" !) —even to the engaging of a book-keeper for "the concern ; " and the forcing upon him AN OATH to keep tbe affairs of " the concern" secret , is proof of intimacy of more than ordinary oharaoter . And ! mind ; this intimacy was with tbe man who

      Bateson now wants the publio to believe to be utterly unworthy of credence ! Smith ' s conduct under bis bankruptcy may have been as irregular , and as condemnable as it is described to be : but then Bateson ' s conduct respecting the OATH ADMINISTERING is as indefensible ! Remember the ( Dorchester Labourers were transported for only -administering unlawful oaths : and Baron Parks pronounced the administering of the Oath of Secrecy in " Smith & Co ' s . " case to be an indictable offence . Perhapa , after all Smith is as worthy of credence as Alderman Bateson I

      But , ail this apart , the answer attempted to be given by the friends of Alderman Bateson ia the Town Council on Monday last , will not suffice for the publio . The accuser may be a worthless man : prove him to be so . Tne accused may be as innocent as a sucking dove : prove him to be bo , But how I By refusing inquiry ! By stifling investigation ! By proclaiming that " you will have nothing to do witiv it , " while you are attempting to whitewash the Aiderma . v , by blackening his accuser ! Is truth to bo £ stablished by these means ?

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      Can the accusation even be shattered by them Deceive not yourselves . If Bateson is innocent , take the proper ' : means , give him the proper opportunity , to establish it ; and , by such establishment , to make the maliciousness and guilt of his accuser plainly apparent . Institute a full inquiry . " Shuffle" not ; f "evade" not ; "sneak" not . Investigate ; investigate ; investigate : and the publio will then be satisfied ; but not till then . .

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      THE COAL KINGS , AND THE NONEMPLOYMENT-OF-WOMEN-LAW . In the Halifdp Guardian we find an account of proceedings before tbe Huddersfield Magistrates which ended in the conviction of a coal-owner in £ 20 for the employment of four females iu his " coal pit , " contrary to law ; That account we shall presently give , preceding it with a few remarks . At last there are indications that the law against the employment ; of females in Coal-pits is to be enforced . It has' been our task , many times and oft , to direct publio attention to the scandalous manner in which that law is openly violated . We have

      loudly called for ; its administration , in cases that have been distinctly pointed out : the cases of the Duke of Hamilton and the Carron Iron Company for example . Hitherto those calls have been without avail . At all events , we have not heard that the Authorities have directed proceedings to be instituted against the aggressors . That publio duty calls for such proceedings is a question that admits not of doubt . The law is daily , hj > urly , trampled under foot . Those for whose protection

      it was passed , are denied the protection the legislature intended for them . They are still sent to the bottom of the pit , " to " hurry , " almost without clothing , and with the strap and chain round the middle , and between the legs I They are still subjeoted to the unendurable hardships of a collier ' s life ; and all this in contravention of the Act so recently passed ! And why ! Because tkeiriabour is cheaper than that of males ! Because the coal owners who so employ the cheaper labourers are " all for themselves ia this world" I

      One conviction , however , has taken place . Is it to be the last f j Is Mr . W . Mohehouse , of Wooldale , to be fined ; £ 20 for employing four females contrary to law ; and the Duke of Hamilton to be allowed impunity , when more than sixty ate employed in his pits ! Does the offence consist in only being able to employ four!—or does the fact of your being rich , and able to compass the profit of sixty working for you , render the offence blameless ! It would almost seem ¦ o , from the different measures of justice meted out to the different offenders . Complaints were ¦ tade at Falkirk to the magistrates ; and they

      refused to entertain them , because not made by fhe Fiscal . The Fiscal was required to do his duty , and he too refused . True , the complaints referred to the Duke of Hamilton ' s colliery , where sixty females were employed ; and to the works of the Carron Iron Company , where more than one hundred were employed . : But in this case , where four only have beenj employed , the complaint is listened to , and a penalty of twenty pounds impo sed . It would have been well for ' Mr Mooehouss had he been a Dyke and a Lord Lieutenant . Then he would have had no fine to pay . Laws were made , like spiders webs , to catch little flies : the big ones break through .

      On a former occasion we announced that Sir James Graham had been officially made acquainted with tbe fact that in the Falkirk district the law was being constantly broken ; and that the Magistrates and Fiscal had refused to enforce its provisions . Indeed we gave the Memorial itself . Now we are able to give Sir James Gbaham ' s answer . Here it is : Whitehall , 7 tb October , 18 * 3 . "Sib , —I am directed by Secretary Sir Jam 6 » Orabtm to acknowledge the receipt of the Memorial signed by fifty-nine Colliers of the Falkirk District , iu the County of Stirling , complaining that the provisions of the Aet prohibiting the employment of femaieB ( n coal-pits are violated in that district ; and I am to inform you that a communication has been made to the Lord Advocate on the subject .

      " am , Sir , your obedient servant , "H . Manners Swtton . " " A communication has been made to the Lokd Advocate on the subject . " Little use it has been ; or rather had been , at the date of our last news respecting this matter from Falkirk . On tbe 11 th of November last , the females were still employed in the Duke of Hamilton ' s pits at Redding ; and also in the Coal-works belonging to the Carroa Iron Company , as well as by several other parties in the neighbourhood . Little use had the u communication to tho Lord Advocate" then been . If it has produoed any benefioial effect , since m > shall be glad to hear of it ; and trust some of our friends in that district will make ub acquainted with the actual state of affairs there at present .

      One thing is certain , that either the Duke of Hamilton ' s proceedings against law must be stopped , or the £ 20 exacted from Mr . Morehouse must be returned . To allow the one impunity , and to fine the other , will be nothing short of robbery on the latter The following is the case we have alluded to in the course of time remarks . We trust that what has been so well began will be spiritedly and impartially carried out , until all the females are rescued from their living graves , and the owners of coal-pit " capital" taught that men should live and feel for more than " themselves in this world " : —

      " Mr . J . W . Moorhouse , coalpit owner , of Wooldale , was summoned by George Haigh , a constable of Almondbury , for having on the 15 th of November last , employed , or suffered to be employed , in Lidget pit , as' hurriers , ' four girls , named Hannah Moss , aged IS ; Elizabeth i Moss , aged 12 ; Nancy Goldthorp , aged 13 ; and Mary Benior aged 17 years . Haigh said , that on the day above named he went to the "day hole" of the pit and saw four girls come out with coals ; he should not have known them to be females but for their hair , their dress being like that of boys ; he stopped and saw them come out ? times , bringing coals each time . Mr . Fioyd , solicitor .

      appeared for the defendant , and at some length crossexamined the witnea 9 , the answers given being as follows : —He had frequently heard of girls working in Mr . Moorhouse ' s pit ; a girl that lived about a field ' s length from his house worked there . He was never appointed inspector of pits . : He knew Mr . Wbitiey . Knew he worked women . Told him he was doing wrong , and he discharged them . That was iast March . He never warned Mr . Moorhouse . He had no occasion to do so . Had never been at the pit before nor since . He did not go there purposely to fine . He went to seek a man who had left Almondbury and had not paid , his

      assessed taxes . The reason he went to the pit was , he knew Mr . Moorhouse was acting contrary to law . He did not know the penalty . He never had any malice against Mr . Moorhouse . The reason the summons was not taken o ut sooner was , witness applied to Mr . Bradley , the clerk ; he told him it must go to Holmfirth . Went there , but one of the magistrates being a coal-pit owner refused to hear it , and advised witness to bring it here , and witness has been engaged in other business that has prevented him bringing it sooner . Is doing it for the good of the publio . Believes there is no other coal-pit masters that work women in their pits . The girls

      seemed quite alive to their work ; they did not appear at all distressed . Joseph Greenwood , coalgetter , said , he worked one month for Mr . Moorhouse . He worked for him on the 14 th of October . That day Mr . Moorhouse gave them a treat ; all the four girls worked there at that time . He saw Mr . Moorhouse on the coal-pit hill ; heard him Bay to his wife , 'These are the girls that work in the ] pit . ' Declares he should not have know them ; now , they are so dressed up . ; Left a fortnight after that . Lives at Castle-houses , not far from Haigh ' s . He never had much , talk with him about the girls working in the pit . Told

      Haigh the girls were ( working there the Sunday after the treat ; he said it was a shame . Told him there were five girls working there . Saw Mr . Moorhouse on the pit-hill . Never saw him there but that Once The girls were ' barriers' at the time . Witness was ; not turned off ; left because he had got a better job . The poor unfortunate girls were examined , but werel found to be so deplorably ignorant , that they knew not how long they bad worked in the pit ; they knew nothing of the ! month of November ; they had iveu over working six weeks since last Saturday ; : ut they did recollect seeiag Haigh in tha oabini eyw'jrlctfd tfuro tticae diys after that ; they were " urxiera . ' Tai $ being the evidence , Mr . Floyd

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      addressed the Bench for tbe defence , in the course of which he castigated the part taken by Haigh , M being vindictive . The magistrates convicted in the lowest penalty prescribed by Act of Parliament , namely , £ 5 m each cue , making £ 20 , and the expeases . Haigh deserves the thanks of the community for bringing this case to & publio tribunal . — Halifax Guardian .

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      REPEAL versus REPEALERS . REAL CHARACTER OP THE CORN EXCHANGE " PATRIOTS . " The Dublin World , the only honest , because only non-Bobsidized , organ of Repeal in Dublin , in commenting on the accession to the Repeal cause of Mr . Shith O'Brien and others of the higher classes , * draws the following portraiture of the u high and haughty" patriots of the Corn Exchange , who have contrived to live so gloriously during " the Repeal Year ; " and who , now that 1843 is gone and Repeal yet to be gotten , are bawling out for more money to " keep the game alive , " and—fill their pockets At the expence of their dupes : —

      One advantage which will flow from the accession of such parties to the popular cause is the chance , we might almost say certainty , of getting rid of a class of trading patriots who , without ability or principle , have emerged from obscurity , and contrived to live comfortably , if not very honourably , upon national grievances . A gentleman who lately visited the Corn Exchange' expressed to us his astonishment upon beholding the numerical strength of the mercenary staff of that important institution . We have reason , however , to believe , and we shall be extremely happy to be corrected , if in error , that the avowed hired servants of the Corn Exchange ,

      who have every right te be enumerated , are far outnumbered by the privateering " band of patriots who receive no inconsiderable weekly stipend from the Repeal stock purse . It may be stated in justification of these persons that they are profession ^ agitators , skilled in exciting popular passions , and organizing a great political movement . This may all be true , and they may be worth their wages ; we merely contend that the people should know the price their services cost them . We would distinguish the independent volunteer from the well paid auxiliary , compelling the latter as the facetious Sidney Smith wished the repudiating Pennsylvanians to do—to have

      P . P ., or paid patriots , tamboured upon their coats and breeches . How shocked would emch advocates of domestic legislation as Mr . O'Neill , Mr . Smith O'Brien , or Mr . John Reynolds be . if it were insinuated they made a weekly demand for taking the chair , delivering speeches , and attending committee meetings at Burgh Quay f Would they not consider it an unpardonable insult to impute to them the meanness of putting the shillings of a wretched but confiding people into their pocket , while earnestly rowing they were alone actuated by a single-minded devotion to an oppressed and beloved country ! Let patriots labour zealously and gratuitously to

      advance the cause of national regeneration—let the requisite servants be paid ; all we stituplate is , that the nature of their services and the amount of their reward should be communicated to the publio . To come to particulars , We would not permit Stephea Murphy , known in the Aekins Committee of Public Safety as "Doctor Sponge , " to take hia seat in the Finance Chamber and Vote himself . the liberal remuneration of five poundB per week . He , ag a medical man , if we had our way , should return to his profession until be bad grown rich enough to serve Ireland without a fee ; but if he remained as a salaried patriot we could not suffer him to mount false colours . This would be no injustice to the

      disinterested Doctor Murphy , and only fair play to those who subscribe to pay him , as it would inform them upon what economical terms he vends his patriotism . The scenes which occur frequently in the Committee Rooms of the Corn Exchange , we have been assured , baffle description ; where a bevy of cormorants assemble to battle for a share of tbe public spoil . These shrewd fellows , having divided the treasure , afterwards take their places upon the grand stage as the immaculate champions of freedom , prepared like the fashionable rogues in the "School for Scandal , " to exclaim "Oh , oh , " and burst with laHghter at the vices and sordid chicanery of political opponents .

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      THE "ALDERMAN" IN A " CONFLOPTION . " B r the powers , but the hot brick has caused con * fusion in the Ant's nest 2 The wee stinging creatures are running about iu every direction , evidently ill ai ease with themselves . They are sorely disturbed ; and are trying every means to be revenged upon their disturber . Their movements are truly laughable . Emissary here , and emissary there , and emissary in the other place ; and all to 'fish up' matter for retaliation ! Just imagine the Alderman sending a coach to a certain shop of mechanics to convey some of the ' unwashed' to a certain place to" hash up" a story to prove a connection between Mr . Hobson and Mr . W . Smith , the friend and associate of Mr . Aldermaa Bateson in a " concern" which needed

      ILLEGAL OATHS to keep in the secrets ! Just imagine this , and judge of the shifts to which the poor Alderman is reduced ! The honour of anacquaintanceship with Mr . Smith , Mr . Hobson must disclaim , notwithstanding the " Alderman ' s" attempt to "hash" one up for him . That honour Mr . Hobson leaves for the "Alderman" himself , undisputed and undivided . Mr . Hobson never saw Mr . Smith ( to his knowledge ) in his life , except on two occasions ; and those in connection with M the letter . " He never had a line from him , or other communication with him , direct or indirect , except in the month of March last , when a gentleman , at Mr , Hobson ' s instance , waited on

      Mr . Smith , to whom Mr . Smith repeated the allegations of his "letter , " and more ; and arranged to go into ike Lancaster Assize C « urt , and thesk depose to the facts on oath ! These were the only occasions that Mr . Hobson ever had communication , direct or indirect , with Mr . Smith , beyond the sending of & simple message to him in the first instance , to desire him to call at the Star office . Indeed , Mr . Hobson was unaware even of Mr . Smith ' s existence , when "the letter * reached bim ; for he had to place the letter in the hands of Mr . Barker , Reporter to the Star , and desire him to repair to the address named in " the letter" and ascertain whether there was any such person , or any such machine-making establishment .

      One word in the Aldebman ' b" ear . Go to one bf the principals of the machine-making establish * ment to which you have eent your coach ( or the men , and he can tell you of Mr . Hosson ' s ignorance even of the being of Smith , He can tell you , too , of the existence of " the letter" ; for he saw it I He can tell you , too , what queries Mr . Hobson put to him as to Smith , and his standing in the world ; and tell you also of his answers . He can tell you

      all this ; for he it was that Mr . Hobson consulted respecting Smith , after Mr . Barker had ascertained that the name and address given were bona fide . Go to that gentleman , Mr . Alderman , and you will learn mere respecting this affair , and Mr * Hobson ' s " connection" with Smith , or rather noaoonneotion , than you will learn from all the men in the establishment , even if you ride them in coaches for a twelve-month .

      Another word in your ear , Mr . Alderman . MEET THE CHARGE , fairly and fully . Lei it be investigated . Join Mr . Hobson on Wednesday next , and procure the appointment of a Committeee of Inquiry . Do this , Mr . Alderman ; and you will do something to give the publio a favourable opinion of your conduct . You will prove to them that you FEAR not inquiry ! You will show that something like conscious { innocence prompts you to action . But , if you act as-you have acted ; : if you countenance even the actions of your friends ; if you shrink from investigation , and go about hatching little " plots" to divert attention from the great charge ; if you act thus , Mr . Alderman , you will not rid yourself of the suspicion ( to use the softest word ) that must attach to you .

      Trains Ini Ix Iviioiana : Diabolical.—On Saturday Morning Last, A Most Diabolical Attempt Was Made To Upset One Of The

      trains ini ix iviioiana : Diabolical . —On Saturday morning last , a most diabolical attempt was made to upset one of the

      on e orK ana orna .. railway , "i placing a bar of iron across the rails on that line , near to the Castleford Station , Happily it was discovered ( before the train bad arrived . Mechanics' Institution , Wakefield . —On Monday evening last , an interesting paper , on ** The principles of coloization , " written by H . S . Chap « man , Esq ., the chief judge of tbe principal town in New Zealand , and formerly barrister-at-law , attending the West Riding bar , was read by John Hope Shaw , Esq ., the President of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society , to the members and friends of the abovejnstitution . After the paper had beea read a discussion was entered into by the Rev . J . Cameron , ( the chairman ) , Mr . Horn , and Mr * Newinarch .

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      ' ^ JL THE NORTHERN STAR . ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 6, 1844, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1246/page/4/