On this page

• Text (2)

  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.

  • 

    Untitled Article

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    -BO 9 & of mind : and bo rare as the march of man ' s intellect is ornrard and forward , so sure yrfjl ifcese principles go on , conquering and to conquer . yea , in thelanguage of the martyredMnlr , "it is . a good cause ; it shall tQfimately prevail ; it shall finally frimapV— Tha conviction that cheered that patriot on the eye of banishnient from hia loyed land , Ib my gansolilien on the threshold of a dungeon . fisnHejnen , lbavB done ; 1 leave my case in your hands ; 1 lave a right to expect at your hands a Terdict or acquittal ; tat if yonr verdict should b ? the opposite of what J iaTB a right to anticipate , 1 trust 1 shall jneet the consequences , of . a verdict of Guilty -with jhii fortitndB "which "will become me as a man , and th&t uBfiincbing consistency of conduct , and unyielding devoSon to principle , -which should erer characferlzs jbe Tooan ~ siho , as 1 hare done , devotes , hia life to the jerrice of his fellow-men , and the jaomotkm of the jpppiness and -welfare of the "wIidIb ^ nrnrn family . MKiii at mind : and bo sure m the Tna-rrh

    Saotel rasKES next addressed the Jury . The defendant commenced by a sarratfve of iua life from his youth upwards * showing the difficulties he ' tad had to straggle against , in consequent of poverty and other adverse - circumstances , ail of Trlieh J » had been utterly unable to rsslsfc , n : > t--snihstanding thaJ ^ ie bad laboured with unwearied industry , and had invariably conducted himself-with Bobriety and integrity . Finding himself unable to better his condition in life , he began , to suspect that there must be something radically defective in the governing system / and , after a careful examination of facts , be arrived at the conclusion that the poverty of ibe people iras caused by a vicious system of represent ation , Tvhich could only he cured by the guSrage being made universal . The defendant iras proceeding in this strain , when

    The Jcdcb interposed , and said—I must call your attention to the charge against you . The observations you have been mating are quite irrelevant . If every defendant is to give ao account of his birth , parentage , and ecncaiion , I am afraid I shall have to m here 1311 next week , A Juryman—1 understood from an observation made by your Lordship , that -we sbonld have laid beforens the evidence asaffectlng each defendant . I -irish to ask your Lordshif "whether it is necessary for us to si here to Tislen lo speeches such as have ken dtHvertd ty the two last speakers , which have nothing vhalmn to do sith the guestion ! The Judge—Ilealiy , Sir , J can give do answer to sny sach question as ihav . It ib one altogether new tome .

    Mr . O'Connor—My Lord , I beg to make an application to yoor Lordship , to have tht question of the jaror inserted upon your notes . The Judge—Certainly not : 1 can take no notice of it whatever . I never had such an application mad ? to me in my life . Mr . M'Oubray—It appears to me , my Lord , that this question will go forth to the world . Tae Judge—I must interrupt you . 2 can ' t hear yon on sny snch matter . The Defendant then resumed his observations , and ¦ ms proceeding to adTocstetae Charter- and

    recommending itsadopnon , when The Jufiga again interposed , saying , that the moment you adopt snch . a line of argument as thi 8 I can ' t hear yon , because I should not be justified in listening to a discussion as to what would be the best Beans of relieving the present distress . Defendant—ThenI abandon that . Tha Judge—There is every disposition to give the utmost attention to anything thai H ?» . g the remotest reference to tie issue , but I cannot allow the public time to be occupied with matter which is wholly irrelevant to this inquiry .

    Tee defendant resumed his address , and denied altogether the charge of conspiracy . Those parties with whom le was said te have conspired , he knew nBthing about them , either personally or in any otierway . Itiebard Ofley next appeared . —He viewed the evidence which bad been offered in rapport of the prosecution as resembling a very beautiful flower , found on ihe banks > of the Dead Sea . It appeared very beautiful to the eye , bnt the moment it was touched by the hand ii crumbled into pieces . So it was with the Attorney General ' s evidence . It appeared to be very specious , bnt when it came to be tested by the application of trnth and common sense it was found to beef no effect . The defendant was

    about to read from a manuscript , which he had in bis possesion . but on the suggestion of some friends who sat n ? ar Mm , be was induced to forego his intention , and to content himself by disclaiming ever having had the intention of conspiring with any portion of his fellow subjects . George Johnson was about to address the Court , when The Attobskt-Geserjx intimated to his Lordship that be did not think there was sufficient evidence against Johnson to indorse him to proceed farther with theeharge . ' - ' " " A verdict of acquittal -was accordingly taken . Defendant—Then 1 have not an opportunity of BayiDg anything more t ( Great laughter . )

    Charles Storer , in his defence , said he had only Tecommended a strike for wages , and he believed lb . fr sole reason why he was prosecuted was , that be had been a strenuous opponent of the Anti-Corn Law League , As a Chartist , ha had & Tight to entertain whatever political opinions he taoaghi proper . He had advocated Chartism , and be should do so again , notwithstanding ihat ia might be incarcertted in a dungeon . If the Jury did Mm justice , WeTer , they must acquit him , for he could ass * conscientiously say , that he had done nothing

    wrong . . _ . - . Barnard M'Cartney , in answer to the charge against him , appealed to the past actions of bis life , all of which , especially during the late disturbances , hid been regulated by a regard for the sacredness of property , and inviolability of j > erson , and the icculo 6 oa upon the minds of the political party with whom be associated , to respect the opinions of those who might happen , to differ with him . In allusion to the evidence which cad been offered by the Attorney-General , the >| f > ftmd » mt then inquired Trfoy tba ^ witnesses ¦ who had giTeo evideflce against Mm before the magistrates had not been pat into the box to state to _ the _ jury what they knew of Mm . If they hid been produced , tbey wonld distincth and unhesitatongly have declared that at the

    tteetiags he had attended , he recommended the people lo protect every blade of grass , and every iqnare of glass ia the country . Was this eonjpraKyl He trcsted they were not aboat lo be plxoed under a military despotism , but that the jary by their Terdiet of acquittal would confirm * sdseal some of those privileges , in the enjoyment ef which th y were on all occasions priding tbemaetres is being superior to all the other nations of fee world . If any attempt was made to arrest the Isgituoate expression of public opinion , tbey would drive the people to desperate remedies , which he trusted wonld never be found to be the result of a "sadict of a British jury , impannelled for the purpose of puinnss legitimate construction upon what

    eonsotuted the liberty of the Bnbject . The defeadsnt denied that any inference could be drawn fc « a . ibe recsoit turn-out favourable to the supposition that tae people intended to conspire together ist the dtstructioa of property , for no Eneh thing lad taken place 4 t » n the contrary , it had been adaitted that from the holding of the Conference up totbe present time , things had Deen tranquiUising Ama to their former peaceful character , Mr . H'Cutney then alluded to the witness Griffin , whom he denounced as a man who bad banished all the Kgber feelings of human nature from bis breast , ¦* 4 o had Violated every principle of honour and £ » tunde , for s -after shaving visited him ( Mr , M'Cartney ) in the prison , sympathised with Mm in Ins confinement , congratulated him on bis release ,

    shook Ma warmly by the hand , on separati ° g from each other , and then tMs rery _ san turned TcnDdjl and furnished the infor-^* 9 on , on the strength of which , he was « Mn arrested . With regard to the charge , the jjfen&ant designated the evidence which had been ^ g - ^ daeed in snpportof it , as filmsy , trifling , and con-^ , B » aft . le , » ndsncii as they could not found a Terdict te ,, - / guilty npoa . Mr . M'Cartney justified Ms attend-R . » ce at the meeting of delegates , which , lie maln * tamed was perfectly Jegal , and with regard to Ms "toe proceedings , he said he should feel it Mb du ^ Jo persevere in the advocacy of the same principle W ^ ssly and boldly , though at the same time , * fitizaately , and be hoped with that respect for ihe "jamon of others which aU men claiming freedom of * J ** &and thoughtought boaestly to accord .

    , Joha Alinson , Tiextprofteeded to address the Jury * ti be wasieiieved from the the necessity of doing The Attorney-General consenting to take a ver-** -Icguitial , the evidence being insufficient to » 8 * Jn the eharg * . ^ - Beesxet , in addressing the Jury , said he J-oaid not occupy much time , as he was conscious Me Jury wonld already be fatigued and wearied * a > ihe incessant attention wMch this case had re-3 au * a « their hands so long a time . He would «? eflj allude to those circnmstaEces of it which ^ 'JKfcnied Mmself , and he trosted they wonld re-^ efroa the Jury thai consideration wiicb might ? w > 1 b them to give an impartial verdict . It was « teed difficult to see in what way the evidence bore * £ * ttst him at all i he should perhaps best have

    con-* Med Ms iuterest by saying nothing , for he really ™^« not conceive that there was any evidence at H ? £ » n £ t him . Nothing nad been brought home rf"H in connection wiih the case ; he had not | ^ identified in or with it . 2 ? o charge had eren f * a preferied asaniEt Lim , for be had never been r ^ ied an charge contained in this indictment , f * had he ever pleaded to it , Guilty or ^ ° * GuDty , never having been required to do f » ru e ' ^^ ^ e * 11 swoni ^ Cariledge that % Wi . Beesky ) was at the Conference , bul no rj « iad been made to bring fcoma this evidence S ^ It had not been shewn that he was the C ^ J Jaeast . There were many Beesleys besides ?«» aad hewas not bound to assist the Government /^ JMaibioBsiii secoring his eoavictioru But ^^ . lewas ^ ware of this , he had no wish to "VI himself « f quirks or qaibblas . He was not the *« tto Bhelter hlmsfclf under Uie false manrle of era-

    Untitled Article

    sjon ? be would assert the truth always without fear of consequences . It had not been proved that he was at the Conference ; but he was not going iooW it ; fhe was at that Conference . He went there at the IS ^ -- ^ should be called , having hke purposes in view , and if haneighbours and friends should again elect Mm he should . gain feel it bis duty to aS . He had It ' t ^ F'f f be . ? ? tb&t ^ « Wir verdict tS . fffw learn it , tha-t tho bare fact of his attenamg that meeting could beeonstrued as a crime : jLjf . was there , he took part in the proceedings of the Conference , and the part he took was in opposition to the strike ; not because be considered the strike to be ucjustifi . able or llleeaL bnt because in hia in ^ mfmt it nnn . i , a ™^ u . .. _ .. .

    uas unpolmo to mix up the Charts movement with w . He thought it calculated to retard that movement , which Mb heart held dearest of all thinga , and hence his opposition to tha proceedings of those who saw no such danger , and who sought therefore touse it as a means of advancing that movement , if he had though ! that the Chartist movement could OB thereby accelerated , he would have upheld the strike , though he migb for so doing have been called conspirator or branded with any other epithet which the Crown lawyers might have thought fit to apply to him . In Ms own district he had laboured to repress violence and to cause life and property to to be respected . He was too poor to bring witnesses to speak to these facts , but he knew them to be withm the knowledge of the Attorney-General , and he might . appeal to him as hie best witness . The Learned Gentleman had sent ont a eommifwinn tn

    enquire into the state of his neighbourhood , and he knew that the commission had been informed that the preservation of peace had been mainly owing to his exertions . The Attorney-General knew this , and it woeld bnt have been candid in him to have told it to the Jnry , and liave saved him ( Beesley ) the trouble of doing so . The only other matter of evidence against him was that « f Superintendent M'Cabe , who deposed to having found in his carpet bag , when taking him into custody upon a former charge , several printed papers , purporting to be passed by the Umference . He had no recollection of these papers he not

    was aware that they were in his carpct-ba * at all , cor had any proof been offered to the Conn or Jury that these were the same papers that were alleged to have been found in bis carpet-bag . But , supposing them to be so—and he had no disposition to be nice about the matter—what then 1 What " * there in the possession of these documents to criminate any man ! He was sorry they had not left , him an edd one , or he would have read it to them . < A laugh . ) Th < 3 Attorney-General procured one of the documents frcm off the Judge ' s bench , and handed it to the defendant .

    Mr . Beesley read it to tie Jury , and then went on to say , that though be had oppoBed that resolution at the ConfereEce . he was prepared to defend it now . He maintained that there was nothing in it to meTii the character which bad been endeavoured to be fastened on these proceedings by the prosecution . The Conference had been sufficiently demonstrated by the learned counsel , who { preceded him , to fee a legal meeting , and the resolution was one which any legal meeting was competent to pass . Mr . Beesley then went on to some other matters , not perhaps quite revelant to the issue , and which we , therefore , omit . He concluded by reminding the Jury that they had an important dnty to perform , aid . that though Borne , or perhaps all of them , might entertain political opinions different from his own , they were not to permit those opinions to pervert

    judgment , and te warp the cause of justice . He | claimed at their hands such verdict as the circum-, stances and the evidence required against him , and : be felt quite confident that that verdict would bew Not guilty" in any case . His principles would remain unaltered , aud his determination to assert -them equally so ; he was a Chartist : and whatever | amount of persecution or imprisonment it might subject Mm to , he should remain a Chartist . Tiieir verdict might eonsign him to adnngeon for a season , bnt the time would pass over ; and when the gates : should be again unbarred to Mm , and he emerged into the free air of heaven , he would be the same S man . Ten thousand prosecutions could neither ¦ hurt nor harm him , for he was determined , while 1 life lasted , to s » und the tocsin of the Charter as the ] death-note of tyranny and faction

    i Chrjstopheb Dotlb , in addres 5 ing the Jury , ! denied that the Chartists were the auihors of the late \ strike , and he referred to the meetings of the antii Corn Law parly for the purpose of showing that the ) language used by those parties , was far more violent i than that employed by the Chartists . He ( Mr . D . ) rhad always stood up for his rights , but he had done so fairly , honestly , and legally . On all occasions , she had recommended the people to obey the law , i even though it was a bad one , so far as their interests

    r were concerned , and during the late strike , he had ! inculcated the game peaceful demeanour , and he j himssjf prefjented violence being fff = red to both ' ptisotfand property . With respect to the Charter , the defendant said that some of its principles had f been advocated by the Duke of Richmond , Charles ; James Fox , and the Marquis of Lansdp wne , [ and it was solely on account of prejudice [" that those principles were not generally ! acted upon now . Mr . Doyle maintained > that it was owing to unjust laws that the

    people were discontented , and he believed that so long as a system continued which allowed one portion of the community to riot in unbounded luxury , while the other portion—the producers of all wealth —were in a stave of destitution , and left to pine for the common necessaries of life , the people never would be contented , and order rould not be preserved in the country . "With respect to the indictment , Mr . Doyle maintained the legality of the Delegate Meeting , and the resolution which had emanated from it , and concluded by saying that he Bbould feel bound , in justice to his own convictions , to continue his advocacy of the Charter in future . Josaxhas Baxbstow defended the legality of ail bis actions , with respect to the meeting of del * gates , which he maintained was merely an assemblage of freebitrn Englishmen , met together to discuss a great principle .

    Wiuuum "WoLFEfDE ? adopted a similar Due of defence , and denied having attended the meeting at Mottram Moor . Jaxss Lkach addressed the Jury at considerable length . He showed most iacontestibly that the late strike was the result of desp rooted discontent on the part of the working classes , occasioned by unjust laws and oppressive taxation , which subjected them to unceasing toil , to the lowest amount of remuneration for their labour , to great physical endurance , and to all tfce misery and privation which such a state of things was calculated to produce . Mr . Leach justified his attendance at the delegate meeting ; and as to the charge of conspiracy , he eheerfuily appealed to those parties by whom be was best known , to say whether he had not on all occa sioris enforced obedience to the law , and an abstinence from every thing approaching to outrage upon either person or property . At the close of Mr . Leach ' s address ,

    Mr . O'Conkob stated to his Lordship that be was the last defendant who had to address the jury , and , therefore , he bad to ask for an adjournment till the following morning . The Learned Judge consented , and the Court roBe at seven o ' clock .

    WEDNESDAY—SEVENTH DAY . Mr Baron Roue took his seat on the bench at nins o ' cloek . Mr . O'CosJtOB then roae , and addressing bis Lordship and the Jury , said , that before he entered into a ^ sonsideration of this case he hoped he might be allowed in the first instance , to add his meed of praise to that which had already been bestowed npon the manner in which this trial had been conducted , from ihe beginning of it up to ihe present moment . The defendants had no riuht to complain—they had no fault tofind ,. and therefore they did not complain . He did not look upon this prosecution as an act of kindness , or as an act of justice , or as -an act of courtesy . He went further—he looked upon it , as

    regarded Mmself , as an act of grace . After the evidence they had heard , if their verdict upon it was one of guilty , it would not convey to the public mind of this country half the criminality wMoh before this trial attached to his character . When the occurrences wMch had been made the snbject of investigation first commenced , the press of all parties teemed with the importance of the case , —that it was one little short of Mgh treason , and that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was the prime mover in the various transactions connected with it . He was well aware that it would be impossible for Mm altogether to remove those prejudices which for years had bsen engendered in their minds . He did not seek to perform any Euch Herculean task , but if they left that box with those

    prejudices against hra character less than when they emered it , then would he have acMeved a greater triumph than even theirverdiet of aeq- « ifcal could give him . They had heard several of the other defendants defend themselves , and speak disrespectfully of their yerdict ^ -he meant disregarding it . He ( Mr . O Connor ) only comparatively disregarded it . If he destroyed their prejudices , and if the law told them that they ought to find him gnilty from the evidence , let it be bo ; but , provided he destroyed their prejudices , again he wonld Bay that he should hail their verdiet as a triumph . Tney were now to come back after tMs long and rambling investigation to sometMng like a consideration of the real which

    Question , and out of the multiplicity of evidence had bsen thrown before the jury , all mixedup together it would be Ms duty , although considerably relieved bv tbe analysis of the evidence which bis Lordship had made , to bring their minds back to the conEidera * ion ot the real charge , if any there existed , against himself and the other defendants . They must naturally suppose that in a prosecution of this kind the At-ornev-General . on behalf of the Crown , wonld ftiSSrSfSw * & » th i - Th ^ muA naturally conclude that he wonld support this smseeutian bj all the eridence wMch he could posably mo-Sum . S Admitted that the opening speech of the Attorney-General was what the opening speech of a

    Untitled Article

    lawyer and a gentleman seeking justioe ought to be . It was a very different speech from those which , under Bimilar circumstances , he had been accustomed _ to hear ; but taking it without any contrast at all it was the speech of a lawyer and a gentleman . He _ aKreed with the Attorney General that investigation was not only necessary but indfspensible . After the state which had been represented to them —after the Btate which had been proved to them that this county was in for a considerable time , the Attorney General would have been jastly charged with a dereliction of duty if he had not made tMs solemn enquiry in a Court of Justice . - But another question followed that , namely , whether the right parties were before them ; and

    that was a question -which he should have to submit to themby-and-by . What waa the naturo of the crime with which the defendants were oharged 1 Did anybody understand it I What was the reason that , m the course of these proceedings , the Jury had been compelled to confess that they were Bome ^ hat puzzled with the meaning of the indictment i What was the reason that Ms Lordship had found it necessary to relieve , if possible , the mist which surrounded it , and to place it in a clearer and more simple manner before the defendants 1 Why , it was becaase the Attorney-General had heaped together bo many different charges as to make it impossible for any defendant to understand to what specific charge he was to apply himself . If this indictment had been

    brought before them in a legitimate form—if rioters had been indicted for a riot , if those who had caused tumultuous and illegal meetings had been indioted for that , if those who had been guilty of a conspiracy had been indicted , for that , then his trouble would have been comparatively light , and the labour both of bis Lordship and the Jury would havebeeD much contracted . This , - however , the Attorney-General had not done ; having ferret : ed throughout tbe country for evidence—having produced that evidence before the magistrates—and having so far substantiated their case as to obtain a committal , and not a single witness by whom it was substantiated having appeared in that Court to reiterate his testimony , another perambulating tour was

    was made to rake up fresh evidence in order to snbstantiate these several charges . What did they want 1 Conspiracy was a fli finable thiDg . The moment that an agreement took place to do an illegal act by legal means , or to do a legal act by illegal meai ; s , that moment the crime was perfect ; it did not require two months to complete the crime , nor was it necessary to prove overt acts to substantiate the charge . In order to prove the charge of conspiracy , not only muse there bo a common design , but there must be a privity of knowledgeand that common design , and all the acts arising out of it , must go in furtherance of it , and one conspirator must go to the extent that tbe others did . These were facts which wonld shortly be laid before them by his

    Lordship , and therefore it was the lees necessary for him to troable tham at any considerable length . But lot them see by whom in the first instance , this case was proved . The Attorney-General , in the opening of his case , Btated that the charge against tbe defendants was that they had conspired together to force a change in the law , by tumult and riot . There might have been some doubt as to the complexion which this prosecution bore up to the acquittal of Wild . There was a desire on tbe part of the crown to avoid evidence relative to tbe strike for labour . He had not for the life of him been able to discover why and wherefore it was that the Attorney-General sought to gloss over the case , and to put & new fac 8 upon it . But when he found the Attorney General consenting to a verdict of acquittal in favour of Wilde , because he did not stand to the Charter , then he discovered

    for the first time that this was a political prosecution . Then he came to . the conclusion that ths Attorney-General had ^ Determined , whatever tbe evidence might be , —nay aot the Attorney-General , for let it not be supposed that he laid this at Ms door , —but those who had been engaged in gettisg ap the evidence which was presented before the magistrates , in the first instance , seemed determined to obtain a conviction , and they now proposed to do this by calling an entirely different class of witnesses , to prove a totally different case of conspiracy . That was an important fact , and one which he hoped the jury would bear in mind . The defendants were charged with a conspiracy on the 17 th of August , On this branch of the case , as he was more immediately connected with it than any other , he thought he might very briefly deal with it . He was charged individually with having excited the continuance of a strike then in existence . F ;« cts

    were stubborn thingB , and thanks to the Attorney-General , —thanks to that ingenuousness which had ever marked his character through life , he had acquitted him ( Mr . O'Connor ) of every charge in tne indictment . Up to the time of the strike , not only bad the Attorney-Goneral acquitted him of any cognizanoe of , or participation in it , but he had gone furtherf and he had borne honourable testimony to the fact , that he had resisted it . But let them see what this conspiracy was ; let them see how it had been carried on , let them see what the documents referred to ty the Attorney-General in his opening speech , were ; let them see what the nature of them was ; whether they were justifiable or not , and whether they were legal or not .

    They had the evidence of tho two principal witnesses for the Crown—men from whom the poor defendan s would not consent to receive a character , because they would have felt themselves degraded and lowered in their own estimation , if they had done so , —it was upon the evidence of these Siamese youths that this charge mainly depended . What had they got oat of them ? Finding the state in which the country was , who ought to have been there to prove it I Ought it to have been left to policemen , —to the garbled reports of men who were sent out as spioe , to take notes ot all that was connected with these transactions ! or should it be the men who were interested in the preservation of the peace ! Above all , where were the authorities ! Where

    was tks Mayor of Manchester t Where was Sir Thomas Potter ! Where was Mr . Maude Where was Colonel Weymss ! Where was Sir Charles Shaw ! Where were all those who saw these transaction ^ and could have spoken to them 1 Why , they were nowhere ! Tbe crown could have produced them . Taey had failed to do so . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) had done bo . The evidence which ought to have been brought to substantiate the case , he bad brought to answer the ca-e . Now what was the charge ? The defendants were charged with a crime , which , if it vrere true , he should Slash to stand up and defend himself against . Tnere was something so appalling to the feelings of every honourable man , in a charge of conspiracy , that the mind

    recoiled from it with „ horror . Conspiracy . ' what was it 1 It was the secret machinations of a bad man to destroy something belonging to a good man . It was the most abominable of all crimes . He never had been a conspirator , and he hoped to God he never should . But what bad they proved by the 3 e Siamese youths ! They had proved that the meeting of delegates was called two months before the strike took place . They had proved from the witness Cartledge that it was an open meeting . They had proved that reporters were admitted : not reporting for the Northern Star alone , but for other papers ; ard they bad proved that no interruption bad

    been offered to the admission of any one . What did Cartledge say ! He admitted that the meeting of delegates was projected before the strike took place . Both be and G * -Jifin admitted that the meeting was called to consider the reorganisation of the Chartist constitution . And they had a right to their constitution , if it was legal . He would not snpport it if it was illegal . Here , then , they had the character of the conspiracy . Here they had men who were known to differ , met to oonspire . Here they had men differing among themselves met to oonspire . But , then , they had combined . Yes , and

    " When bad men oonspire , Rood men combine . " It -was true that the great political party with which he was connected , had combined . Combined ! For what ! For the furtherance of their own principles —Not to conspire . It had been truly said by a vary high authority , that never did good men meet for a good purpose , without being thoroughly well aoquainted with each other ; and never was an instance known of bad men conspiring together for a bad purpose , without being well known to each other , and having entire confidence in each other . Here were men met for the purpose of healing their dissensions , and he had proved that a reporter who was dimiBsed from his service , and who bad , in consequence , some pique against him , was allowed tobe Did

    present at the meeting , at Mb especial request . this show conspiracy 1 After the character of some of the evidence that had been adduced ;—after the fact of the notes of policemen being preferred to their own recollections ; after the fact that those notes had bsen iak « n in running hand in a crowded meeting , —iheir elbows jogged ;—after all thiB he did hope that something more substantial would have been offered on the part of the prosecution . He had hoped that if the notes of a policeman were better than the recollection of a policeman , that the notes of a reporter , taken before he had consented to give evidence , if they had been produced , might have been purged of much that was waged against the defendants . Bat the reporter had not been asked for those notes . Where were they ? In his

    depositions they were—here they were not . If the Attorney-General had been anxions to obtain tbe beat evidence that the case would admit of , why were not these notes read ! If there was anything in them proving the crime of conspiracy , —if there was anything proving a charge against the conspirators , why bad they not been produced ! It wa 3 said that the speeches made at the meeting were to be suppressed . But the notes were not suppressed , and therefore , not having been prodnced , he was justified in concluding that there was nothing in them which conld make against the defendants . Why what was the fact ! A deputation from the trades had reqaested admittance to the inference , in that character but in consequence of hia opposition , their application was refused , though at the same time they w ^ Te told that either they or any other parties

    Untitled Article

    might enter the room and form pan of the audience . What had they heard from Griffin ? He said that he obtained two copies of the address adopted by the delegates , one of which ha seat to the British Statesman . Whyrdidhe not eend his notes to the statesman ! Here they had the conspiracy developed , bo far as he was concerned . The Attorney General had said that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was opposed to the strike . The Jury had only to deal ml i v the 13 ih i 0 ' *• 17 th of August . They must be made perfectly aware of the manner in which axjharge of conspiracy could be got at . It w . > uld be their duty to look at all the magic with whion legal ingenuity had surrounded this charge of conspiracy . Why , he had thoueht from the

    picture wmoh had been drawn by the Attorney-Ueneral tnat he was one of an audience listening to some melo-drawatio performance . He looked for the properties , —he looked for the masks , —he looked for the daggers , —he looked for the blue fire , —he looked for the torches , the bayonets , aud the pistob , by which this conspiracy to upset the Government was to be carried out . Horrible conspirators I Why , « was absolutely true that he had travelled by night , in a train , with three hundred other persons . He then went in a cab by him ^ lf , because nobody happened to be going his way-daughter . ) He left at half-past five o ' clock in the morning , because tuat was the time thejtrain started ( laughter . ) He lett his own house—he cot to the

    Euston-equare station , and as he passed under the tunnels , bethought he heard amidst the rumbling of the whee [ s ,-the echo of the conspirators voice ringing m his ears- ( A laugh . ) He arrived at the scene where the conspiracy was first to be hatohed . He went to bed atsix o ' clock in the morning , aud be never awoke till three o'clock in the afternoon . On going to Noblett ' s hou = e , he eo concealed himself in a cab that all the people came to s 6 e and flock round him —( Laughter ) They knew from the appearance of the cab , and the smell of brimstone , that there was a very coHepirator within it The wheels knocked blue firo out of the stones , and in the midst of the glare might be seen— "Peterloo-Hunt ' s

    Monumentstrike for wages—tumultuous meetings—riots—turnout the hands , and carry the Charter by tumult and violence !'—( laughter ) . He passed down to tho Sherwood Inn because he was sent for . Why ? to ascertain whether he would go to a tea-party , which was to be held in one of the moat public parts of Manchester . A crowd gathered round . He requested them to disperse in order that it might not be said that he had done anything calculated to lead to a breach of the peace . Thus they would pee that his first appearance produced a crowd . What did he do ? He drove to the house of Mr . Soholofield , one of the defendants , whom ho had known for eight year ? . Why did he go there Because he bad not heard that the meeting which

    was announced to be holden that very day , had been put off , and when he reached the house , he found that Mr . Scholefield had completed the good work before him . He had not remained long , before Mr . Soholefield came from the printer ' s with a bill . He was now stripping this indictment of its technicalities . He was , now showing them in what manner they were going to carry on a conspiracy . Mr . Scholefield showed him the bill . He grasped his hand and said , " thank God . " He told Mr . Soholefield that if he had known this , he need not have come at all . But after having been elected two months before for a specific purpose , ho thought that if he had refused to attend , bis motives might have been misconstrued , and , therefore , he was

    determined to appear , and throw his weight , such as it was , into the scale , and to use the best means he was capable of employing , to turn this from a disastrous strike into a peaceful strike for the Charter . Well ; then he was seen no moro till the 17 th of August . In the meantime circumstances had arisen whioh called for their interference as a political party , but they vrere , not to be found guilty of that . If he had too much popularity , let them find him guilty of that . If the party to which he belonged , bad no right to interfere , let them say so ; but let it bo general , — that no other political party m the Btate should interfere . The conspirators met , and they remained in conclave for four hour 9 , conspiring against ihe

    peace of the country . What did they do ? They passed an address , and they passed a resolution . What was the character of that resolution ! Why , it pledged the delegates that they should continue the struggle until the Charter became the law of the land . Struggle ! said tho Attorney-General . Wliat did that mean ! Why , what did an election struggle mean ? What did any political struggle mean ! What did they mean by a struggle on any question in tho House of Commons I Did it mean that parties should catch each other by the throat and strangle each other 1 No . It meant that they were tp unite and stand together . Tnis all-important resolution , —this damning resolution , —this dark-lantern resolution , — what did it refer to I To have the Charter then

    Not a word about it . What t ^ ey meant was to continue the struggle for the Charter—not for the strike—until it became the Uw of the land . But then , said the Attoruey-Geneial— " Tumults and riot are not legal . You have a right to contoDd , if you contend peaceably , but not by tumultuous meetings . " There was no one in that Court moro anxious to have a proper definition ot the law on all matters connected with agitation , and with meetings , and with politics of every description , than he was himself . Nor did he think he could produce to the Jury a higher authority than the Learned Attorney-General himself as to what constituted a tumultuous meeting . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) did not ask them to take the law from

    him . He had attended more public meetings than any man living , or than any man that ever lived before him , and he was never yet charged with committing a single breach of the peace . Ori the contrary , he had often prevented it . The Jury should hear what was the opinion of the Attorney General as to what constituted a tumultuous meeting . In addressing the court at Newport , in an important case , this was the opinion of the Attorney-General on that branch of the law . The Learned Gentleman said " Gentlemen , the law cannot be altered by the conduct of those who are called upon to obey it ; and I make that admission to my Lords upoa the bench , because , in the few remarks that I am about to make upon this part of the case , 1 do not mem to

    say that any change of the law has occurred by reason of the relaxed discipline of socioty that has prevailed for Bame time past . But 1 do moan to say this distinctlyi that from what has actually taken place , from that which has been permitted , perhaps , G ntlemen , in some instances tven sanctioned , a very different estimation is to be held of public meetings , ay , gentlemen , and even of armed meetings , from that whioh might have been formed some twenty or thirty years ago , and that the object and' the intention of the parties may justly receive at the close of the year 1839 , a construction far more favourable than , perhaps , could fairly have been conceded in earlier periods of the history of this country , that you and 1 are familiar with :

    for 1 do not go back to very remote periods . " This was the opinion of the Attorney General , explioitly laid down as to what constituted a tumultuous meeting . Now , the Learned Attorney General was at that time engaged in a proceeding which he might well suppose would go through the length and breadth of the land , and as if to give time to public meetings and strengthen their character , the Learned Gentleman went through tho details of & large public meeting of no fewer than 200 , 000 persons ^ in London , and then addressing the Jury ia the case to which he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had" referred ^ he said , " Gentlemen , under the name of agitation , what has not been done almost in every town and in every

    corner of this kingdom I And if wo pass—ana , gentlemen , 1 shall do this lightly , because 1 do it re luotantly—if we pass for one moment , and take a glance at tho sister kingdom , thero familiarly we hear talk of a petition from 500 , 000 fitting men . Gentlemen , 1 say no more upon this point , but 1 call upon you to remember these transactions when you come to deliver your verdict on the guilt or the innocence of tbe prisoner . And let it be understood that 60 far as' permission , if not aotual encouragement baa been afforded to such proceedings , tbat it would be most unjust to use the same measure that was formerly in use as to the motives of parties . It would not be justice to weigh in the same scales as were formerly used the

    transactions about which you are making inquiry to-day . " The Attorney-General told tho Jury , at Monmouth , that the Reform Bill had altered the character oi the constitution . They had heard of a petition from 500 , 000 men in the Sister Kingdom ; but they were not to look upon that as a tumultuous meeting . True , it was , that the penal code had been relaxed , but the political code had been contemporaneously made more stringent . The Attorney-General charged the defendants with attempting to upset the constitution and to change ihe law , by tumultuous meetings . Let thorn see whether ' , this did not come late and with a bad grace . Let them see if , independently of what they learnt from the acquittal of Wifd , there was any thing more lurking at the bottom of this trial . The Jury had received evidence there , but there were other sources from which they had received it as well . Taoy took the law from the legislature . Were they not bound in

    a transaction of this kind to defer with respect to such high authority as the Lords and Commons ? Let them see what was the opinion entertained there as to the origin of the late occurrences . He would give them some of the best names , and the higheit authority of this or any other country . He would give them the name of the most finished man , taking him all in ail , of which England could now boast . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) differed with him in politics , bnt a man with such a mechanical head , with such combination and power of mind , as Lord Brougham , there was not another , f Mr . O'Connor here alluded to a recent speech of the Noble and Learned Lord , in whioh his Lordship expressed an earnest hope that the proceedings of the anti-Corn League might be elicited at the now pending trials . ] Some persons had sought to make Lord Brougham appear a madman . Would that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) were such an one . Now . let them see whether the

    Untitled Article

    House of Lords and the House of Commons agreed in one thing . But before he dW that , aud to show what misrepresentations issued ! from the press , he would just say that he had the ! unqualified contradictionof the Attorney-General to astatement which had appeared in the newspapers ; that ha was coming down to Lancaster to prosecute the leading offender . Tne Learned Gentleman assured him that he had never uBed those words at all , and that he had been grossly misrepresented . j [ The Reporter was obliged to send off his packet before the whole of his notes of Mr . O'Connor's address users transcribed . \ The remainder will appear in our next ElUim ; and will be insertedin our early Editions next week : so that each reader will have a full report of these important proceedings ] ]

    EVIDENCE FOB DEFENCE . Mr . William Soholefield , examined by Mr . Cobbetc—1 am son of the defendant . 1 reside with my father . On the 16 th of August ! last , Mr . O'Connor came to my father ' s bouse . He slept at our house that night . He was called up at half-past two in the afternoon . We did not expect him . My father went out of tho house very early in ( the morning of that day . He went to get some placards printed . It was very near six o'clock , when jne returned . The placard now produced is one announcing the postponement of a meeting . Mr . lKearnan was the printer . 1 was sent by my father to get the bills . 1 placed some on the walls . : By Mr . O'Connor—1 remember your telling my

    father to go down to the tea party at the Carpenter ' s Hall , and make an apology forlyournot attending , in consequence of the excited state of the town . 1 recollect there was a long conversation in the iamily aa to whether it would ba prudent for you to attend . It was ultimately agreed that my farher should go and make an apology . j By the Attorney-General—I don't know how many persons were in my father ' s chapel on the night of the 16 th of August . I did not go in . I know there were some there , because I heard them passing the surgery window . I went to bed at ion o ' clock . There was a light in the chapel . I cion ' t know any person who was in the ; chapel , except Mr .

    O Connor . 1 don't know who furnished the candles , except it was my brother . He is not here . Mr . O'Connor went into the chapel , when my father went to the Carpenters' Hall , which would be a little after seven o ' clock . 1 can't say how many persons passed the surgery window . There might be adoz , n . When my father returned from Carpenters' Hall , he came into the surgery to me . Ho was not in the chapel during that night . 1 did ] not see the address of tbe Executive Committee before Thursday , the 18-h of August . 1 do not remember any person coming to tell my father that Turner , the printer , had been arrested .

    John Nonhcott—I am servant to Mr . Koarnan , printer , © f No . 5 , Georgleigh- tr ? et , Manchester . In the month of August last , 1 remember my master printing some bills for Mr . Scholetield , the defendant . I took some of them to his house on the morning of the 16 th . He did nop at tbat time give orders for them to be posted , but he appeared extremely anxious to have them out as early as possible , 500 of the bills were printed , whioh were suffioent to post the whole town . ! By the Attorney- General—My master printed the placard now produced— " Run for Gold . " It was printed before that for Mr . Scholefield , 1 think on the Monday . 1 can ' t say who ordered them . By Mr . Cobbett—My master { prints a . i sorts of placards . There may be half a dozen sorts printed in one week . <

    Jokn Brook—I am brother-in-law to Mr . Scholoficld . I am a joinor . On the 16 ch or 17 th of August I was at work at his premises . On the 17 h I frequently went into the surgory ' to receive instructions concerning the work . I was engaged in painting some gates . The chapel is situate between the gates and the house . Mr . Soholefield came down to me several times during the time . ] He came through the chapel , not out of the surgery . By Mr . O'Connor—I remember your coming to

    Mr . Scholefield , at half-past five in the morning of the I 6 tb < You waited till Mr . Scholefield came from tho printers . I know a man . named Griffin . I remember that Mr . Scholefield ! once gave him a job out o / charity . Griffin and I had repeated conversations about you . He said he had lost his situation as reporter , and that he ] would " walk iato yon . " He said he would be revenged upon you . I told him he could not . He replied that he could , and that I should be astonished when I knew how it was done . This was before you came to the house .

    John CocksUotl—1 am a butcher in Manchester . I was in Mr . Scholefield's house on the 17 th August , between ten and eleven in the morning . I went to get a bottle of medicine . I saw Mr . Scholefield . He was iir tbe surgery . He had a low patients that he was gifiag bottles to . Tuere were a number of poor people there who were begging tickets for soup . He gave them some . <; Henry Holland , examined by Mr . O'Connor—I reside at Burnley . I [ am a block-cutter to calicoprinters . I keep a temperance coffee house . I am a tec-tot&ller . Previous to tbe beginning of August last , the factories were working short time . There was great distress and excitement among all classes . Inconsequence of that there was strong apprehension of danger . 1 remember many meetings being held about that time of an iexciting character . 1 communicated with you ; aoout the latter

    eud of July , as to the state of the district . 1 requested you to come down , and to allay the angry feeliug which existed . You came jdowa . I attended the meetings you addressed on j thai occasion at Bnruloy and Colne . They were very numerously at . * tended . That at Burnley was numerously attended Oy all classes in the town . The general tendency of your address at both meetings , inj my hearing was calculated to allay the excitement , and 1 am happy to Bay that it did all&y it . A mill was burnt before you came , and 1 believe a reward was offered for the perpetrator of the crime . You referred most emphatically to the transaction , and told the people that the surest way to impede tho Charter * was to resort to acts of violence . 1 remember a meeting of shopkeepers being held at Blackburn , at whioh all the points of the Charter were adopted . I attended a meeting , at Burnley , and your temperate exposition of the Charter reconciled all classes .

    By the Attorney-General—The meeting at Burnley , was held in a tent erected ) for the purpose . There were from 15 , 000 to 20 , 000 i persons present . To the best of my recollection it was held about the latter end of Juue . 1 was at a meeting hold in the Town Hall , in Colne . 1 c was densely crowded . 1 wont there in consequence of my [ anxiety to allay the excitement which prevailed , aud to hear Mr . O'Connor . Notice was given of the meeting . 1 was not a delegate . 1 Sir Thomas Potter , examined byi Mr . O'Connor—1 am a magistrate residing at Bewley-hil ) , near Manchester . 1 remember the excitement whioh prevailed in Manchester , in August last . 1 conceive the general character of the strike , in the first instance , was for wages . 1 heard that a procession was to have taken place on the 16 th of August last . 1 believe the reason why it was abandoned was , that the raaatsr rates informed Mr . Scholefield , that it

    would not be allowed , and he said he would do everything iu hia power to prevent it . 1 consider that the deportment of the people , at tho time , was peaceable . 1 heard ot the procession on the previous 16 th of August . I never remember a more quiet 16 th of August in Manchester than : the last . About the time of the strike , two men came to me , and said that several manufacturers wire paying lower wages than others , and tbey wished for an equalisation . They wished me to try to procure a meeting between tho men and their masters . A man named Bell made a report to the magistrates , at the Town Hall , that Mr . O'Connor had arrived , but we did not think it necessary to take any precaution in consequence . The impression upon my mind as to the disposition of the people was , that it was peaceable . From my knowledge of Manchester , 1 think the condition of the people was most deplorable , in consequence of tbe high price of provisions , and tbe low rate of wages . i

    By the Attomey-GeDeral—I don't remember what number of special constables were sworn in in August , but I should think 400 or 500 . Tne first week we had 500 troops , and after that we had a considerable reinforcement . We probably got 1 , 500 more . I attended at the Town Hall . The Magistrates attended there day and uight , for full lour weeks . Tne commander of the district was at the York Hotel , which is close by . The special constables attended there , too , day arid night , for at least a mouth . On Tuesday the 29 th of August I saw nothing particular . On Wednesday , there

    appearedjto be a great deal of excitement . I once headed " the troops to the railway , as we had heard there was an intention to destroy tho line . I cau't give ihe date , but 1 think it was semetimo tbe following week . I think there , was a ] general advice given to the millowners by tho Magistrates not to resist the mob . Individually I was not afraid . The hands in the mills appeared to be quite ready to turn out . There was no force required . I can't say why this advice was given . Ob 9 young man came and asked if he could fire upon tne mob , as he had a cannon , and could destroy a great many of them . We told him to do no such thing .

    Mr . George Royle Chappell examined by Mr . O'Connor . 1 am an alderman of Manchester , and have lived theTe more than fifty years . 1 remember my mill being stopped . There was jnot a vestige of damage done , nor a square of glass broken . The mob said they did not wish to damage property , and tbe hands appeared to be quite willing to turn-out as those who went to the mill , were desirous they should turn out . 1 conceive myself , from what 1 saw in the course of the proceedings in Which 1 was personally engaged that the people had struck for wages , and 1 must say that having been in every mob in Manchester , for the last fitty years , 1 | never saw any mob behave themselves better , or more respectably than they did . There baa been a reduction from the year 1836 , up to tbe present time of fifteen per cent ou the raw material ; but tbe reduction in the price o ) manufactured goods in that time has been 50 percent ,

    Untitled Article

    The depression of trade aud the falling off in profits does not enable the manufacturers to give the t > ame rate of wages ; but still 1 chink the destitution which prevailed arose more from those who were unemployed being thrown upon those who wave in employment , than from any absolute insufficiency in the rate of wages paid , supposing the means of employment to have been general , instead of , as was the fact , very partial . I am no member of the Anti-Corn Law League , nor have I subscribed a single sixpence to any political party whatever . 1 went as a dolegate to bir Robert Peel , at the request of a number of my fellowtownsmen , for the purpose oi ? laying a statement of facts before him , and expressing our opinion . The Attorney General—1 must really object to thia evidence . Wo are not here eo discus 3 the existing distress , or the remedy which is to be found tor it

    . . . . The Judge—I think we can't hear statements of this kind ; th « = y are not evidence . Mr . O'Connor—Then I ask uo farther qaeshons . James Kcrahaw , Esq . —I am Mayor of Manchester . I was a magistrate in August last . I have resided in Manchester all my life . I have a great interest in the preservation of the peace . Tbera has usually been a procession in Manchester on tha 16 th of August . I remember tke time about which the magistrates issued a proclamation last year . I understood it was intended to have had a procession ou the last 16 oh of August . The magistrates s ; d

    it should not take place , and those engaged iu getting it up complied with this wish . I am a cauco printer . My works were stopped on Tnursday , the 11 th of August . There was no damage done to tha works . I believe the hands went OHfc willingly . Tho last 16-h of August passed off much more pcac ? aoly than we had anticipated , and , &i compared w ; th ; he previous days , much more peaceably . I thiuk the greatest excitement prevailed on the 9 , h . 10 th , llih , and 12 th . The working classes were suffering great distress . Speaking of them generally , I tbiuk cheir conduct was good . There were some exceptions .

    Mr . O'Connor hera stated that Sir Ralph Peudxebnry had been subi . ee aed as a witness , but tha ' - ho had sent a certificate to say that in consequence of labouring under indisposition , he ooald aoi attend . ¦ [ # .., Mr . Isaac Cleak Pray examined by Mr . O'Connor —la August last , I was the registered proprietor of the Evening Star newspaper , published ia London . I remember the suppression of public meetings in London , in the mouth of Augtefc lssfc , about tho 23 rd . You were Editor of the Evening Star . You would not receive any remuneration : or your services—not a penny . You gave notice that all letters , whether private or not , addressed to you

    ia London , should be opened in your absence . 1 have opened hundreds of letters marked " private . " V our instructions as to what was to appear in the Evening Star , were that we should not admit anything in favour of the strike , or of an extiiting character . I always thought it was your desire to make tha country as peaceable as possible , and I thought you sincere . 1 know Griffin , the correspondent . 1 gave orders for the payment of his salary . 1 considered Griffin ' s matter so inflammatory , that sometimes 1 cut the whole of it out , and sometimes a part . In fa ^ . t 1 thought he was aiming to entrap me as pro * prietor * of the paper . 1 remember reading a letter tram Griffin , in which he asked you for money to take him to America . '

    By the Attorney-General—The Evening Star commenced at the latter end of July last year . 1 presume Mr ; O'Connor lived in London or the neighbourhood . Mr . O'Connor—1 wish your Lordship to ask the witness whether the Evening Star was not principally supported by the operatives , and circulated throughout Lancashire . Judge—Was that so ? Witness—It was . Mr . James Holliday , examined by Mr . O'Connor

    —1 am a manufacturer residing at Oidftam . 1 have known yoa since 1835 . 1 have attended varioi' 9 meetings at which you have addressed the people . The general tendency of those addresses was not calculated to lead to a breach of the peace . 1 have heard you complain tbat you had been much misrepresented , and that consequently much prejudice had been created in consequence . In the speeches whioh 1 have heard you make , 1 have thought that they were distinguished by great zoal and energy , and considerable physical strength .

    By the Attorney-General—1 have bean accustomed to make speeches myself , on various topics . Mr . Titus Brooke , of Dewsbuvy , examined by Mr . O'Connor . —I have known you as a publia man for ton years , and psrsonallv , for six or seven years . The neighbourhood of Oe wsbmy has frequently been ia an unsettled state . I have heard yoa address public meetings , and make exhortations to peace , when there wap a disposition to be turbulent . That has been the fact on all occasions . I never heard you say one word which was calculated to lead to a breach bf the peace . Among the working classes your character is generally admired as a lover of peace . Among the middle classes you are not bo much admired ; but 1 think they are prejudiced . I think , taking the whole of the population , that they would accord to you the character I have given .

    John Far , examaiued by Mr . O ^ Gbnnor—I am your steward in the county of Cork . 1 have lived in your family upwards of thirty years . 1 have lived with your brother . He left me ten pound a-year , in consideration of my character . 1 have frequently seen you stasd in the fidds for awhole day with yonr labourers , 130 in number , conversing with them . From all . that 1 bave known and seen of you , 1 can conscientiously state that you were always for peace . 1 remember the disturbances in the County of Cork , and the violence offered to tha Magistrates and the military . You induced the people to give up their arms , and deposited them in the servants' halt With respect to your tenantry , yon have built atone houses , where formerly mud cabins existed , and you have given the ground rent free . Yon paid a higher rate of wages than any other landlord .

    Mr . O'Connob—My Lord . 1 am merely eliciting this to remove an insinuation which I thought the Attorney-General had thrown out , that I had employed the Northern Star as a medium of agitation , for the purpose of pecuniary gain . The Attorney-General—1 beg to assure Mr . O'Connor that 1 imputed no such , motive . I was far from insinuating any such thing . I would not have the Jury to imagine me capable of doing so . For if the testimony just now given had not been elicited , the Jury could not fail to witness the oreditable deportment of Mr . O'Connor in their presence . Ha had met Mr . O'Connor before . He had mot him at Monmouth on a very important occasion ; and what he there saw would alone have prevented him from even entertaining any disposition to disparage Mr . O'Connor .

    Mr . John Ardill examined by Mr . O'Coanot—I have been your clerk ever since the commencement of the Northern Star . 1 know that large sums have been paid by you to parties who were incarcerated for political offences and to their friends . 1 have frequently wriiten to you to say that 1 could nob honour your drafts they have been so numerous in this way . During the time tha >; you were in York Gaatle , you paid money to the Northern Star office . 1 believe that scarcely ever any party applied to yoa for money , when you did not give them some , or anthorise me to do ao . 1 have attended some meetings at which you have been present . 1 should say

    that your character is far from being an agitator for anything but peace . 1 have heard you denounced many times by working men , for stopping the physical force movement , aud 1 have seen letters to that effect . 1 know you have paid a higher amount of wages than aay other newspaper proprietor ia Leeds . 1 have known men be absent from the office for a considerable time , in consequence of indisposition , and their wages were paid , just the same as if they had been at work . Mr . O'Connor—This , my Lord , 1 urge from no motive of vanity . The evidence is important to me in point of character .

    A person namod Chamberlain , living at Manchester , was called to prove that he had placed a copy of the Address of the Executive Committee on aboard , at the shop door of Mr . Leach , one of the defendants , without his permission . The defendant received an excellent character from a party who had known him for many years . Mr . O'Connor here announced that thi 9 was the whole of the evidence which it was intended to offer on the part of the defendants .

    Untitled Article

    V OLTAIRE'S PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY . The first Volume of this cel « - bra ted Work is now complete , and contains 6 U PageB , double columns , and an elegant Portrait of the Author . This is undoubtedly the cheapest Liberal Book ever offered to the Public . ' Ihe second Volume is progressing ; Part 16 , commencing it , may now be had , and Part 17 will be ready this ensuing wotk .

    ALSO , THE DEVIL'S PULPIT , by the Rev . R . Taylor , complete in 48 Numbers at Twopence each , or may be had in Two Volumes , boards , prioe Nine Shillings . DIEGESIS is now publishing in Penny Numbers , by the same Author . Eight Numbers are now issued . It has been delayed through the Voltaire , bu ; will now be proceeded with rapidly . Also a splondid neat Work , tha MIRROR OF ROMANCE , & Weekly Periodical , iu Penny Numbers , containing Twelve * Engravings of a most interesting nature , and the following Tales , besides being , interspersed with Anecdotes , Poetry , &o . &o * Physiology of Matrimonv , Eight Cuts ; Leone Leone , by George Sand , Four Cats ; Jenni , . or the Unfortunate Courtezan ; &c &c . No . 3 is published ihiB day . :

    Published by W . Dugdale , 16 , HoIywaU-straet , Strand ; of whom may be had show bills for the above works .

    Untitled Article

    — THE NORTHERN STAR 5 Lit ~~ " ' — ¦ ; — -

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 11, 1843, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct472/page/5/