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THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF MR- O'CONNOR BY THE MYRMIDONS OF THE AKTI-CORN LAW LEAGUE . Doubtless oar readers will be anxious to learn as much M possible of the particulars attendant on this brutal outrage . That -we may not be accused i f partia . or dishonest statements , -we have procured copies of all the Manchester papers of last Saturday , and proceed % o lay before oor readers all that they say on the sn ^ ect . We begin with the League ' s big pun . The Manchester Times , who gives the following version ot tbe matter : " PRACTICAL ILLCSTBATIOS OF THE PHYSICAL
FOSCS PBIXCIPLE . ' The second lecture , on the Repeal < f the Legislative Union , * -was fixed for Tuesday evening , and the number of persons present -was nearly equal to tha pns . "riou s evening ' s meeting . The lecture was intended for the Irish Bepealers , and there might be 1500 Irian ia the bo 3 y cf the hall ; the remainder tb ^ re , and the ¦ wh ole cf tbe persons In the gallery , to which the price cf admission -was double ( i . e twepenc * - ) . * ere apparently Englishmen . It is reported that a body vf men forced tlieii -way into the body cf the hail without paying . The place became densely crowded by half-past 8 eren , and the occupants were evidently if two parties not very f denoly disposed towards each other , as was manifested by several displays if feeling which toofe place on the appearance of the friends if either party on the platform . These displays or feeling wtre
occasionally provoked by severaljaf the leaders on the platform , the object being apparently to see their relative strength , of which a good idea might be formed by the hands and hats raised to accompany their hurrahs . The belligcreLts it appears were all Unio . R-pealers . but part of them , the Irish , were the 0 ConneUite Repealers , and the other portion were 0 Conicorite Repealers—the Irishmen coming there , as appeared by the draft of a resolution handed to the reporters , for tke purpose of repudiating O'Connor as a leader , and acknowledging only O'ConnelL The leaders of both parties seem to have been aware what was to come , and so everJy balanced did each party appear to be when judged of by the means we have alluded to above , that their leaders might be heard chuckling and congratulating each other occasionally on the certainty of triumph .
" We fear , however , that many went there for ether purposes than a mere warfare of words , and the possession ef this knowledge by the proprietors of the building is evident from the address vf Mr . Higginbottom , who came forward , shortly before eight o ' clock , and said—• I have to beg , inihe name of the proprietors of the hall , that , as working men , yon will avoid doing any damage to the property of this haA ( Ckeers , and cries of ' We wilL" ) You all know that this property ¦ was raised by the subscriptions of the working men , and I trust they will be the last to injure that which was raised by their own bands , and which is the result of their own industry . ' ( Cheers . )
*• There were now frequent manifestations of impatience for the proceedings to be opened ; and we believe a re an came forward to have proposed a Chairman , bat some parties around Mm prevented the proposition being heard by the great- bnlk of the meeting , and a "woikiBg man , named Duffy , who sat on the edge of the platform , rose , and having been successful enough to gain a hearing , said— 'My friends , I have only a word to offer . ( Cries of 'Order . '; All the friends of order will best keep order by holding their tongues . ( Langhtar and cheers . ) GeatleHien , Mr .
Feargus O'Connor has not yet arrived , and though it ia past eight o ' clock we have no right to attempt to appoint a Chairman till he is here- ( General cheering ) When he arrives let his friends propose a Chairman of their own choice—( general cheering ) ;—and I do not know whether any one will support me , but am determined to propose another . { Partial cheers . ) Let me beg of you not to encourage or give way to party strife , but listen to argument and reason . Let me beg of you to conduct yourselves peaceably , and , like men , cot be afraid to hear what each party has to say : —
11 Let party rage and rancour cease ; Let the lips urge , but the heart be peace . " iCheers . ) Let the time come for proposing a chairman , then give to each speaker a full hearing , and determine the question fairly by a show of hands . ( Applause . ) In oider that the reader who has not seen the room of the Hall of Science in which the meeting was held may form a just notion of it , we may mention that it is in shape of as oblong square , is lofty , having a platform or stage at one end tin some respects like the stage of a theatre without i ta wings , scenery , and
machinery ) , and round the other three sides ef the room is a spacious gallery . The stage , which is about five feet six inches , or six feet above the floor , has gaslights along the front , with side doors , and stage fecxes over them , and narrow staircases lead from the stage doors to the boxes above , to a large room below , ami to various ante-rooms . The body of the haU , the gallery , and stags were filled with men and youthB ( the latter forming perhaps on this occasion nearly one-third of the wfeole , } with some few women amongst them . Ihe two stage boxes were occupied entirely by females .
" Mr 0 Connor entered the HaU about ten minutes past eight o ' clock , accompanied by the Rev . James SeholeSelel and some other friends , and was received with loud cheers , which were fo ll owed by expressions of disapprobation from his countrymen . —Joseph Lin-Bey immediately came forward , and said , ' I beg to propose that Mr . Scholefield take the chair . '—Christopher Doyle : ' I second the motion . "—Daffy , who is also a working man , said , ' I propose as an amendment that Mr . John Doyle take the chair . *—Another working man seconded the amendment . —Mr . Daffy : . As the mover of the amendment I claim precedence to call for a show of hands ; ' and , suiting the action to the word , he held up his hand , which was the signal for a forest of others in the body of the - HaU . —Linney ,
without waiting , immediately called for a show of hands for Sch » leSeld , and thus the whole of the hands in the place were raised at once ; jtnd they must have been nice difcriminstors who could distinguish one side from the other—friends from foes . It is sufficient to say that both paities claimed the majority , and without waiting for the vote to be decided more calmly , Mr . O'Connor and his f dead * attemttsi to get the chair forcibly by putting Mr . Schokiddintoit , the ether paities , equally bent upon securing possession got hold of it , and thB stage was in a mement converted into a scene of the utmost confusion . Kcitber party appeared unwilling or uni-repared for the conflict : they appeared to rush together more like bulldogs than human beings , and a more fr ightful scene was
never witnessed . The chairman ' s desk was tumbled OTer in the body cf the hall , together with the chair "Which was the subject of contention . The reporters ' table , at which were seated the representative * of only two cf the newspapers—our own reporter , and Mr . "W illiam Henry Leresche , cf the Advertiser—wentove :-board immediately afterwards ; and all the fnnr tu-e " WM immediately broken up to famish weapons cf offence 01 dtf .-nce . The reporters , whose affection for neither party was sumcieEt it would appear to engage thtm in the melee immediat-sly prepared to leave the room , well jud ging that men in the heat of passion , with such weapons as they were now providing themselves with , would not be likely to distinguish bttween neutrals ana actual combatants , and the result nnf jrunately proved
the correctness of their anticipations . Cur own rtporter got to the southern side-door , and made his esape over the backs of some fellows who were breaking up his chair for weapons to fight with . Mr . Lertscie unfortunately suffered himself to be JUihtd cut of the direct line to tbe door , and did not gain it tfll some moments afterwards , when just as he bad reached the outside , a cowardiy ruffian struck him on the baek of the head with a weapon procured by breaking the banisters of the staircase , and inflicted a frightful gash , which bled profusely ; and he also got a blow oa the forehead , and was severely beaten abontttie itlOfll&m . We are not able to describe the scene immediately succeeding ; but our reporter having gained one of the side ttige boxes , had again an opportunity oi
witnessing the scene below . The fight had now become general throug hout the halL Great numbers of those whose peaceable disposition , or f ; ars , inclined them to take no part in it had Itix . the hall , and tbe three tbonsand persons at first assembled were reduced to a few hundreds ; and these were fighting in the most brutal TJisTi ^ er . Some of the combatants must have brought sUmes in their pockets , and these were hurled with fearful -violence at their opponents on the stage- Mr . Sebolefield got struck by oneof them on themouth , and fcis li ps were severely bruised and his teeth loosened . 2 ir- O'Connor , sfter being several times knocked down OTer the forms , and struck with sticks in the Tne / ee , ai soreeeiTed a blow from a stone on the right temple , "wbi eu raised a swelling and drew blood , but he was not much hurt . O'Connor and some of his friends soon got out of the place by a back door , and the Bcene
which succeeded is too dreadful to dilate npon . Perb > Vpg the befit prtx . { that t- ° be given cf the ferociousness of the combatants may be taken from one instance . One cf the men on the stage had struck another , and was stooping to lift up a second ¦ Weapon , when his antagonist rushed at him with such force thit they went headforemost together off the Stage , which we have already said is about six feet high , and fell upon the floor at a considerable distance from it One of them we are told , broke one of tis arms in two places by tho fall , and we can only wonder that either of them should have escaped alive . The contest , which lasted from twenty minutes to half an hour , during which tha ft * n alternately resounded » ith the crash of furniture breaking op to furnish weapons with , with heavy blows , and the shrieks of the terrified females in the Btage boxes as they witnessed the various success of their friends and relatives .
¦* & * of too sanguinary a character te be gazed upon calmly , and the women appropriately drew the crimson cm tains cf the boxes to bide tite firigbtfal scene from view . Ttie combatants left the room as they loBt or fcroke their weapons , till the hall became tenantless > sad the deors were closed against them outside by the police , who bad now arrived in considerable force . We btlieve there were no lives lost , bnt the number of heads broken we should think must have been very great ; and for some time afterwards the druggists' shops in Deansgate and the neighbourhood were crowded with bleeding patients who bad gone ia &arch of plasters . We have beard of thirty being
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severely hurt , one of -whom is in -the Infirmary , ami the entire number if wounded mutt be mucb greater . " We perceive that in the Guar dian It is stated that there was a cry cf Corn Laws mixed up with the cause of the quarrel ; and O'Connor , tiking the hint , is Inty circulating a report tteat the League hired the parties to disturb the meeting . The Tory papers of to-day will doubtless take their cue from the same source , and be too happy in getting the suggestion from such a quarter . With them and O'Connor tbe League has teen the 'red cat' that did all the mischief a long time ; and like the red cat of Joe Miller , though they have killed it nine times out of the way , will yet come back to 'break the china sugar basin . * We can asswi fearlessly , however , that no such cries were raised as those mentioned by the Guardian and as to the League , we leave the absurd report to fee
contradicted when it ia sufficiently believed to be of importance . There has been a party in existence who have disturbed our public meetings for years past—even before the . xirtence of the League , and O'Connor ia beat acquainted Wi t ' a its origin . It is nothing surprising tiiit these disturbances should have provoked retaliation . Mr . O'Connor ' s partisans disturbed a meeting cf his countrymen at Carpenter ' s Hall some months ago ; and , much as we regret it , we dontt wonder that bad blood should exist , or that the physical f jrce he counselled should have been turned against himself . His lecture to the Irish Repealers was delivered on the following evening to a crowded meeting ; all Irishmen , wbo were recognised as such , being carefully excluded , a ; d 350 police , armed with cutlasses , being Mr . O Connor ' s body guard . His third lecture— - 'on the Corn Laws '—was not delivered , his engagements obliging him to be at Stockport on Thursday .
PROCEEDINGS AT THE BOROUGH COURT
WEDNESDAY . ( Before D . Maude , E * q . ) " Shortly after the proceedings commenced , W . Duffy came into the court , aud Bald he wished to apply for a summons against Mr . O'Connor for an assault . He Efctted tint ha was one of the parties who proposed one of the chairmen ; on its being pnt to the vote each party claimed to have the majority ; he heard great confusion behind him on the platform , and on looking behind him he saw Mr . O'Connor , who doubled his fists , and exclaimed— 'Gfeme on , my lads , come on . " He then hit the complainant a blow in the ribs , -which knocked him down from the platform to the floor of the room . Tfce summons was granted . ' John Saxon , the man taken into custody by the police , was then brought up . He was charged with usiDg violence , and attempting to strike Mr . 0 Conner with a form .
•¦ Geo rge Buchanan deposed that he jsaw the prisoner during thB skirmish breaking np either * a chair or table , and afterwards throwing it in the direction where Mr . O'Connor was Ending on the platform . Witness kept his eje on him , and afterwards gave him in custody to the police . in cross-sxamination by Mn Dicken , solicitor , -who appeared for the prisoner , he « aid a chair was thrown down , which seemed to be a signal fora general attack ; Stones and brickbats were thrown on the platform . Mr . Scholefitld had been proposed to tafce tha chair , and carried , and when about to sit down in it , it was pulled from him . Five minutes after that tbings began te be broken ; a rush immediately took place , arid some were pushed off the platform . Men had to
• j defend themselves for their lives' sake . What the prisoner broke was either a cLairora table ; he was I not doing- it in self-defence ; no one was near him at 1 the time . He and another party were snatching pieces j of timber-from every odo who opposed them , and throw-; ing them at the platform . ! •¦ John Hargreaves proved that he saw the prisoner 1 with a piece cf either a chair or table in his hand , but i did not eec him throw it . A weapon was not necessary ! for his protection . The large room , and abo the galj lfciy , "were full of people . "Ml . O'Connor next stepped into the witneM-box ,
| having a large black patch on his forehead . He said ; he had been requested to come down by Sir C&arlea J Shaw , bnt he knew nothing whatever of the prisoner . I " Mr . Scholefield , the chairman of the meeting , was called . He could not identify the prisoner , but was ! cross-Examined by Mr Dicken to the following effect : — | I got to the mett'ng about ten minutes past eight , and I found the neighbourhood of the chair eccupied by per-1 feet strangers to me . A man named Daffy was addrea-J sing the ptople . As soon as Mr . O'Connor and I ap' peared , they called upon me to take the chair . I had j been appointed chairman fer the evening at the pre-| vious lecture . There were both cheers and yells , and ' ail kinds of noises .
* " John Hargreaves first saw the prisoner with a stick in his hand , knocking about and hftting every one he 1 came tt . He tf itrwards saw him very busy in striking , I and throwing tticks and stones npon the platform . I There was a good deal of confusion and violence in the ! room at tbe time . The platform was about the height ) ef a person ' s head . Tee first breaking of furniture j begun on" the platform ; chairs and tables were ; broken , and were thrown do ^ n into the body of ! the halL It was not all on the platform who were > tbe aggressors , lut a select paity , who were there for ! the purpose .
; ' Edward Hancock deposed that he distinguished ) the prisoner from the commencement of ihe disturbance . ¦ He -was along with a body of Irishmen , who rushed ! iDto the room bj force at an early part of the evtning ; I and at the identical time when the signal was given , by j an individual jumping from the midd eof tbe floor npon 1 tbe piatform , the prisoner caught a chair that was j thrown fey some one from the platform ; he and others ; broke the chair by dashing it on the ground , and he ! then took one piece , went towards the platform , and I aimed a blow at the chairman .
" Cross-txamined—There was an indiscriminate breaking cf chairs and tibles in the room . The first breach of the peace was caused by a person springing from the body of the room from amongst the low Irish repealers —( laughttr . ) The next thing was tbe seizing of tbe chairman and the cnair , and then commenced the attacks ot individuals on the platform ; some individual threw a chair from the platform into the body of tho meeting , and then commenced the indiscriminate violence . " Duffy was then called by Mr . Dicken , on the part of the prisoner . He stated that he went to the meeting at exactly five minntes to Beven ; he went to a side door , and was told by tbe woman who opened it that they would have a ' terrible stormy night of it . ' He
pud 6 A and got on the platform . The disturbance did not begin of an hour . Some furniture was first broken on the right-hand side of the pla ' . form . He never Baw prisoner tbere at aJL There was a great tffort to force Mt- Scholefield into the chair , some pushing Mm one way , some another , and in the melCe the chair was broken and thrown into the body of ihe meeting . The disroTbance was entirely caused by Mr . Peargus O'Connor , -who , -when witness moved the appointment of a chairman , rose np , doubling bis fists , and called out" CoHie on , my lads—come on , my teds " tha : was the signal for a general melee , and they were fighting all through the room . The people were in a state of the greatest possible excittment . They ccrtainiy made it a ' Hall of Sdence" on that occasion . — ( . Laughter . )
" Mr . Maude said it bad been clear y proved that the prisoner took part in the disturbance . He must have known well , so must other parties , tnat if he chose to remain after the oitturbaBce took place , and was found using any violence , he , was Liable to puuibhrntnt . As it might be supposed that he went tbere without aDy intention of committing violence , the Court wim d not inflict a severe punithment . He would be required to . find two sureties in j £ io each , to keep the peace .
" THE CHARGE AGAINST 1 IB . 0 " CO «> 'OR . " Mr . O'Connor , who had taken his seat at the table , said he Tinderstood a summons had been tbat morning taken out against him . If it would not trench upun lie time of the Court , he should wish it to be then beard , all the parties being present . —TtHB being agreed to , " Mr . DuWj came forward again , and deposed that , entertaining opinions different from those of Mr . O'Connor , he had thought proper to attend the meeting , and propose as a chairman one who was not of Mr . O'C's own appointment . They waited an hour before Mr . O'Connor arrived . Yarious parties called out for the appointment of a chairman , b \ i * he tola them it would be improper and injudicious to mov « the appoiLtment before Mr . O'C . arrived . At that , moment be enttred the room : some < f his friends proposed one chairman , and the ¦ witneis another . A ihot ? of hands was taken , and ¦ witness considered
ttey had the majority . He immediately announced that fact , - and while fee was doing so Mr . O'Connur stood np behind him , and waved l > u hat over his head ; there were cheers and counter-cheers . Sreing tbat tie decision of the meeting was completely against him ' ( hisses and cries of "No , " from the Chartists in the gallery , ) and that tUere was sucn a oiversity of opinion that Be -would not nave it all bis own way , he Btood up behind witness , \ ns himself in a fi ^ iiting attitude , and cried— ' Come on my lids—come on . my lads ! " The consequence was a general movement cf the whole body . W itness stood on the very edge of the platform , which was six or seven feet high . A violent contest immediately commenced bthind him : be used bis influence to keep quietness , but Mr . 0 Cjnnor put himself in a figating attitude , and called tae peopie np . He retreated a few paces , but on witness turning his head round struck him on the right side , and threw him over the platform into the body of
meeting . " Cross-examined by Mr . O'Connor—Mr . Doyle was the cha irman I proposed . Did not hear you say if Doyle had tbe majority he should be the chairaian . I sa j ( j jjr . Doyle will now proceed to take the chair , ' and then there was a rush ; a man nainect Linney , and a number cf persons connected with j cnrself , trying to force ilr . Scholefield into ttie chair ; other partita pushed him oat , and in ihe iruHee tbe chair -was broken ana thrown into the crowd . Mr . Scbolefield was not in the chair when I said Mr . Doyle would proceed to take it . ( A cry of " He was , "from the gallery ; and Mr . Maude threatened to have the gallery cleared if these intsnnptions continued } . Did not hear you say— " Now , Air . Scholefifcld is in tbe chair , my lads , suppoit > our chairmir . " When you found that your own party chairman was net elected you gave three cheers , and said— "Snppoit your chairman , " knowing that be was not elected
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chairman . Mr . O'Connor—When I « ai standing la front or the platform did you see missiles flying in the direction * I was in 1 How conld I see mlniles flying when you had knocked me off tbe platform ? Did not see you get a blow which knocked yon down on one of the benches ; did not see you get a blow on your seek , or tn your shoulder , or a blow which cut your hat . Heard you tell the people to stand their ground . Did not see a weapon of any sort in your hand . Yob struck me with your fist on the right side , just above the hip . —Mr . O'Connor : And I knocked you over into tbe platform , did I?—Witness : Off the platform , that is not English ?—Mr . O'Connor : —I am an Irishman , but I suspect you have been too long in England te be a good Irishman . ( Laughter . )—Examination continued : After I was knocked down I took tbe liberty of going out , and 1 saw n » more of it after . I left at exactly twenty minutes past eight I saw no missiles thrown , but in going out Baw a chair , or some large article thrown from the platform .
"John Dooley . —I saw the last witness standing on the edge of tbe platform , and after the row commenced saw him get ' a clout' on the right side , which pitched him Into tbe pit . He was bo near tie edge that any one stumbling against him might have knocked him off ; but the blow was struck by Mr . O'Connor , with bis fist —Cross-examined : I was not on the platform , but in the body of the meeting . I had my eyes on tbe platform all the time , and did not see a single weapon thrown at it I thought it best to get away when I saw the sort of wotk that was going on .
" Patrick Murphy . —I was at the meeting last night I aaw Mr . Duffy there ; he stood near the front of the platform—not more than an inch from it He was close to the centre . I did not see him struck , nor did I see him fall off the platform . A contention arose about the chairman . I did not stay many minutes after . —Mr . Maude : I think you were about the wisest peraon . —Witness : I saw Mr . O'Connor in the attitude of saying . — ' Ceme on , my boys . '—Crossexamined by Mr . O'Connor : And how long did yon Bee me after that?—Two minutes or so . —And yet yon did not see Puffy struck ?—No . —That will do ; go down . . " Daffy was re-called to explain on what part of the platform he stood , there being a discrepancy in the statements of tbe witnesses . He said that he was on the left of the chair . Mr . O'Connor tHen
called" The Rev . Jamea Scholefield , who deposed—I came to the Moaley Arms to Mr . O'Connor before the meeting took place . A man came and said that the parties in the room were very violent , and asked if be would have the police ; but we declined . When we got to the meeting Duffy was proposing Doyle as Chairman . A show of handB was taken for him ; and I heard Mr . O'Connor say that if he had a majority he should be the Chairman . When the show of hands was taken for me , the whole of the gallery and at least half of tbe body of the meeting were in my favour : it waa at least ten to one . Duffy then said Mr . Doyle would take the chair ; I was in the chair at the time . A great disturbance took place at tbe back of the platform , which I could not see , and my chair was moved . I was seiasd on the breast by a man in a fustian jacket , who wanted to drag me out of tbe chair , and another came to hold me in . I laid hold of the gas pillar near the chair , fearing that it
would be torn down ; and the chair was then dragged I don't know where . The table was upset , and fell into the body of the meeting ; it was immediately torn to fragments , and thrown back with violence on the platform . Mr . O'Connor catted out , ' Now , lads , defend your Chairman ;* others called to me , Como away , or they ' ll kill you r After that , Mr . O'Connor wen * to the front of the platform , and gave three cheers . He could not have knocked a man off tbe platform without my Beelng it I saw Duffy there , near the edge of the platform , but don't know what became of him . He could not have been thrown off without my seeing him , if my face had been turned in that direction . After the chair and table were broken up , missiles were flying in all directions . Mr . O'Connor was knocked down npon one of the benches . My opinion ifl tbat Duffy was the instigator of the row ; he was addressing the meeting when I entered .
" Cbarlea Thomaaon : I was at the meeting , and stood just below where Duffy stood to m » ke his speech . I saw him scuffling , and I saw him throw a chair off the platform . I saw Mr . Scholefield in tbe chair , and then saw some parties try to put him out ; and Mr . O'Connor put bis arm round him to keep him in . That was before the general disturbance in the body of the meeting . I saw Mr . O'Connor come to the front and give three cheers ; afterwards he went towards the back of vhe platform , and was knocked down on a bench . I believe Duffy was knocked off the platform by the pressure . Had Mr . O'Connor done it , I think I must have seen it I r emained twenty minutes , and saw pieces of broken chairs and tables flying about , and two men laying about them with pokers . —Cross-examined : Duffy threw the chair over after the scuffle began ; did not see him take any other part
"Mr . Maude said the only question was whether the complainant had been thrust off the platform wilfully or by accideit This was evidently matter of cosiderable doubt ; and no great violence appeared to have been used towards him . It was to be regretted that parties could not meet without coming to personal violence . Now that these warm feelinga bad been manif .-sted , he trusted these parties would not meet in the same room again , as it was quite certain they would never convince one another . He hoped this would be a selitary instance of the occurrence of such violence , and that there would not be a repetition of these scenes . It was admitted by the complainant himself , ia his evidence , tbat he was told by the woman at the door that there was likely to be a stormy meeting ; and that being the case , he , as a respectable party , ought immediately to have cone home . —The case was dismissed .
" Duffy , in reply to what had been stated by the last witness about his throwing the chair off the platform , said he would prove that to be false . He declared that he had not taken out the summons with any ill feeling , but for the sake of having a full explanation of the circumstances . " Mr . Maude remarked on the impropriety ef courts of justice being made the tceue cf mutual explanations of this kind . " Mr . O'Connor also disclaimed any ill feeling ; and , in proof of it , offered to become one of the sureties for the prisoner Saxon , whose case was before heard ; but it appeared that be had obtained bail . " Mr . Scholefield stated tbat he had been struck on tbe mouth with a stone whilst on the platfonn .
"Mr . Maude said it was a most brutal thing to throw stones in a crowded meeting : if the parties guilty of such conduct were brought before him , they would be very severely dealt with . He expressed a hope that there would not be a repetition of such conduct . " On Mr . O'Connor and his friends leaving the cour t , they were loudly cheered by the crowd outside .
"ABSURD APPLICATION . " O'Connor again appeared at the Borough Caurt yesterday , and said he had an important application to make , with reference to the disturbance of Tuesday night He said be should be able to prove that a certlin association in this town met on Sunday night , and again on Monday night , and that they were in connection with a political association in this town ; and that one association undertook te furnish funds to the other for the purpose of procuring his assassination ! He should be able to prove the hands through which tbe money passed , and the person who had hired the individual to commit this act He was able to prove that one person received ' twenty-pence' (!) for hire and a penny for admission ; that another received half-acrown for hire and a penny for admission . He should also be able to prove tbat one individual had received £ 5 to knock him off the platform , in order that those below might destroy him . He should also be able to
prove that that individual struck him the first blow on the hat ; that he would be recognised by four persons as the individual selected for that purpose . As regarded-himself tbe matter was not perhaps of great importance . ' — ( laughter)—but when it became a question if the peace of the country was to be placed at the mercy of the brutality and ruffianism of persons who would devote their money to the hiring of assassins to destroy a man , be trusted tkit the magistrates would sA once see that it was not the individual but the crime itself must be looked &t . It was his intention to apply to tbe Secretary of St . te for an investigation of that part of tbe matter which the magistrates could not take cognisance of . Mr . O'Connor then entered into a ludicrous statement of the personal dangers he had braved that night —( in a style almost equal to Falstaffs men in buckram , ) and said , the collateral evidence he should be able to bring would go to show that the whole brunt of the attack was aimed at himself . He bai never lent his
sanction to any violation of the peace —( laughter)—and under these circumstances he thought he was entitled to the advice of the magistrates . He should be able to frring this home not to poor simple Irishmen , but to persons of education and standing in society ; for the placards issued on Wednesday , inviiing the Irishmen to attend again and complete the triumph they had the night before , where every one paid for by this association . The first thing the law required to be done was that a person should be sent to tbe printer of this inflammatory placard , with authority to demand the copy from him , acd this would enable him to go far into his case . The matter was one of importance , not to one individual but to all classes of society , and he was sure tbe magistrates would assist in the investigation in bringing the matter fully before the public . : " Mr . Maude doubted if they could make the application to the printer without being put in motion by the Attorney-GK-neraL
" Mr . O'Connor contended that under the General Srarap Act the magistrates had the power . " After some further consultation between the magistrates , Mr . Maude requested Mr . O'Connor to commit the subject of his information to writing , and they won ! d see bow far tbe aci warranted them in taking the st «? p he wished . " Mr . O € onnor left the court amidst great laughter , —the object of his application being generally understood to be a mere " gag , " for the purpose of bringing himself into notorifcty , and get a report in the Tory papers prejudicial to ' a certain association , ' ¦ who , as he said on Monday night , want to throw him overboard . There are more ways of insinuating a libel than one , and this is not the least disreputable and cowardly . "
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psueh 1 » tbe Piayue ' B version . We follow it by that of the Mamtster Guardian , twin brother to the Leeds Mercury;— . . ¦ •'¦ . :- . ¦• r ¦ - ;;; . ;¦ " ¦ ¦¦ ¦ . ' ¦ :.: ' ¦¦¦'¦ •; ' ¦// '' ¦ . - . "THE CHABTISTS AND IHilSH REPEALERS .
" FRACAS AT tis HALL OF SCIENCE , Uiha Guardian ot Wednesday , w « give a brief notice of ^ a row that toefc place In the HaU of Science ^ on Tuesday night , between the Chartists and Irish Repealers , at a meeting convened for the purpose of hearing Mr . Feargus O'Connor deliver a lecture on the Repeal of the Legislative Union . On this occasion tke two parties referred to quarrelled in reference to the choice of a chairman . Tbe following cases , arising oat of the disturbance , « une before D . Maude , Esq . ; at the Borough Court , on Wednesday : — ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ '¦ ¦'} .: ;' ¦ :... ¦ ¦ :- ¦ ¦ :.. ¦ ¦ ' r
^ John . Saxton was charged with assaulting Mr . Feargus OConnor , on Tuesday night , at the HaU of Science . Mr . Dickens , solicitor , defended the prisoner . Oaorge Buchanan stated , that , during a skirmish which took place in the Hall on the evening referred to , h « saw the prisoner breaking up a chair or a table , witness could not say which , and flinging two pieces of it at Mr . O'Connor . Witness watched the prisoner , and had him taken into custody . Mr , O'Connor was in great t anger from the missiles thrown at him j he was several times knocked down on the platform , and witness and others , with much difiiaulty , got him out of the room . On being cross-examined by Mr . Dickens , the witness stated that the meeting was held for the purpose of hearing Mr :
O'Connor deliver a lecture . Mr . Scholefield ' - was elected to tike the chair , which bo dissatisfied a portion of the meeting , that a row ensued , and the prisoner threw some pieces of timber at Mr . O'Connor . Another witness stated , that he saw the prisoner with a piece of timber in his hand ; but he did not see him making use of it— - [ Mr . Feargus O Connor and Mr . Scholefleld then entered the court The former had a large black patch on his forehead , in consequence of a wound which he had received in tbe affray ; the latter had his lip greatly swelled , and his nose and one of his eyes bore palpable marks of recent violence . ]—Mr . OConnor , on being sworn , begged to state that he knew nothing of the case before the eourt He had attended merely at the request of Sir Charles Shavr . He ( Mr .
O'Connor ) did not see the prisoner at the Hall of Scieuce . —Mr . Sihotefield gave similar testimony . In his cross-examination he stated that a person named Daffy was addressing the meeting when he ( Mr . Scholefield ) entered the room . —A youth , named John Hargraves , deposed thtt he saw the prisoner assaulting several persons with a stick which he had in his band . He also threw several tticks and atones on the platform . Edward Hancock corroborated this evidence : —William Duffy was examined for the defence ;^ He sta ted that he obtained admission to the hall at five minutes past seven o ' clock , by the side door , along with two gentlemen connected ¦ with the press . Ou entering , the woman that opened the ' door said " .- ' You will have a terrible Stormy nif ht of it , gentlemen . ' Having paid 6 d . witness obtained a seat on the platform . He could not swear who first broke the chair ; but he thought it was not broken intentionally . He did hot see the prisoner with a stick in his hand .
Witness did not see him at all . The disturbance was caused by Mr . O'Connor , who , when witness had proposed a chairman that was approved of by the meeting , said , ' Come on , my lads , ' makiDg at the same time a signal for fighting . A general xov then commenced . Mr . OConnor and others were fighting on the platform , and the place was made in reality a « Hall of Science ' —( laughter . ) The prisoner said he left the room when the tow began , and was met by some of the Chartists , who gave him very bad usage because he wasi an Irishman ; and then gave him into custody on the present charge . Mr , Maude said he did not consider the prisoner the worst of the party ; but it was clear that he was one ct the rioters . It was necessary that he should know that he was answerable for such misconduct ; but , considering all : the circumstances of the case , and that It was the first offence , he ( Mr . Maude ) would not inflict a heavy punishment on him . The . prisoner was called upon to find two sureties in £ 10 each to keep the peace for three months .
"CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINSTC ME . F . O'CONNOIl . " Mr . O'Connor said he understood the court had granted a summons against him , for assaulting a person named Duffy ; and he hoped the case would ba then brought on , if it was not trenching upon the time of the court—Mr . Maude having consented , " William Duffy stated , that on Tuesday evening he and some Irish Repealers attended a meeting in the Hall of Science , for the purpose of hearing Mr . O'Connor ' s views , andl expressing their own , on certain subjects , about which there was a difference of opinion between them . He had been on the platform about an hour before Mr . Connor entered , during which time various parties hod been demanding the appointment of a chairman . He told them that it would be improper
to appoint a chairman , or make a motion to that effect until Mr . O'Connor arrived . . When Mr . Connor entered the room , some of his friends proposed the Rev . James Scholefield as chairman . The other party proposed a person named Doyle ; and when the show cf hands was taken , there was a large majority for Doyle . At that time Mr . O'Connor took off his hit , and waved it three times over witness ' s head , which provoked cheers from the paity to which he belonged , and counter-cheers from the opposite party , Mr . O'Connor , finding that he could not have it all his own way , put himself in a flghtiDg attitude , and shouted' Come on * my lads . ' In consequence if this , there was a movement throughout the whole assembly , and a general row commenced . Witness was then standing on the edge of the platform ,
which was raised a bout 'six or seven feet above the floor ; and Mr- O'Connor struck him over the hip with his hand , and knocked him down among the people , — The witness was cross-examined at great length by Mr . O'Connor , but nothing additional was elicited . —John Dooley was next examined ; . he said Mr . O'Connor struck Duffy above the hip . —Mr . Maude : Would ther e not be some difficulty in a man eo tall aa Mr . O'Connor getting bis hand down so low as the hip of the complainant ? Not when he was so close to him . Duffy was at the end of the platform . —In , his crossexamination , witness stated that the disturbance began in the body of the meeting , and afterwards said it commenced on the plfttform . On being remine'ed of the discrepancy , he said be considered the platform the
body of the meeting . Mr . Maude expressed himself dissatisfied with the evidence of this witness . Patrick Murphy was next examined in support of tbo complaint . Heetited that Duffy was at the edge < f the platform , nearly opposite '¦ tte centre . Witness saw Mr . O'Connor , but did not see him strike Duffy . —In consequence of the two last witnesses contradicting each other about the position occupiedion the platform by Duffy , Mr . Maude desired him to state exactly where he did stand , and Duffy confirmed the statement of the Ja * t witness . —Mr . Schojefield yna then sworn , and said , that he went to the Mqsley ^ Arius on Tuesday , to Mr . Feargua 0 Connor , a little before the . meeting took place . The man who bad taken the hali came , and informed them that a riot was coi .
templated , and that it would be well to send for the police . Mr . O Connor said he would answer for his countrymen that they would behave themselves prcperiy , and that he did not like to bring police to a public meiting . When witness and Mr . O'Connor enttred the Hall of Science , Duffy was in the act of addressing the meeting . When the show of hhn'ls for the chairman was takeD , the whole of the gallery , and half the body of the meeting , which , if estimated iu numbers , would be about ten to one of the parties present , were in favour of witness taking tho chair . Witness then took the chair , and immediately heard Duffy gaying , " Now Doyle will take the chair . "' Wifc ness was then seized by a man in a , fustian jacket , who tore his shirt Another man came to witnesses ' s
assistance , and the chair went—lie knew not where . The table on which the candles were standing was flung into the body of the meeting , and directly broken into pieces , which were hurled'back on the platform . When the attack was made on witness , Mr . OConnor said , 'Now , lads , stand by your chairman ., Mr . O'Connor got his arms round witness , to protect him irom the missiles that were flung at him from all directions , Witness . sawDuffy : he was the cause of the entire disturbance . Witness did not see Mr . O Connor striking him . When Mr . O'Connor was retting from the front of the platform , he was knocked down ; and several poisons gathered round him , and begged of him to go away , or he would be killed . Charles Thomasons deposed , that he saw Duffy throw a chair from the
platform , and saw Duffy pushed off the platform , but did rot see Mr . O'Connor strike him . If Mr . 0 Connor had ctruck Duffy , witness thought . -be should have seen him . —The last witness waa cross-examined by Duffy at great length ; after which Mr . Maude observed , that there was no doubt that the complainant was pushed off the platform ; but the question was , whether that had been done wilfully or not ? The parties who went into the room with weapons deserved punishment , and should be punished if Buch conduct were proved against them . It was much to be regretted , that parties could Dot meet together to discuss their differences , without coming into collision . If they could not meet without quarrelling , it were
much better that the two parties should have separate places of meeting . He hoped he should hear no more of such disturbance ? . The complainant , on watering the HaU , bad had bis attention called to the fact , that a row was contemplated ; and it was surprising that he went in after that intimation . It was not clear from the evidence , that the pushing complainant off the platform was . intentional . The case was then dismissed . —The complainant then stated , that he entertained no ill-feeling towards Mr O'Connor ; and tbe latter said , that to show he was influenced by no bad feeling , he was perfectly willing to become one of Snxton ' s sureties . —Mr . Maude said he had iio objection , provided there was no further quarrels , to discharge that man ' s recognizmceSr
«• SERIOUS CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY . " Yesterday , Mr . Feargus O'Connor appeared in the Borough Court , before D . Maude , E > q ., C J . S . Walker , Esq ., and Mr . Alderman Kershaw , and , under the coyer of making an application , he delivered himself of the following extraordinary statement : — ; " Perhaps your Worships would allow me to make an application of a public nature . When 1 -was before the court , on Wednesday last , it did nut occur tome tbat the greatest public importance was attached to the
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ease in which I was then concerned ; but now I appear to discharge a public duty , having Iearutd many of the circumstances connected with the riot , which took place at the Hall of Science on Tuesday nigkfc I also appear here foe the purpose of taking away muoh of the blame and odium attaching to my unfortunate « ountrymen , in cons « qttence of that affair , and attaching it to the proper parties . 1 shall apply to the court for assistance and advice , when . " --I , lay before them a statement which I shall support by evidence . The circum stances to which I wish to call attention are these : — It is Well known that on Tuesday night I wob to address the people of Manchester on a particular subject ; and I shall be able to prove that a certain association in this town met on Sunday night , and also on Monday night .
and they , in conjunction with a political association in this town , premeditated the disturbance which occurred on Tuesday night One association undertook to furnish funds to the other association , for the purpose of procuring my assassination . 1 shall be able to prove who were the parties through whose hands the money came , and wbo the persons were that hired pavtles to assassinate me . I 8 ha \ lbe > able to prove , that one individual received 20 d for hire , and Id for admission ; and that one individual Was hired at the amount of £ 5 to knock me off the platform , in order that those underneath might destroy me . I shall prove , that that individual struck me on thehead —( he willbe recognised by four person who saw him do so ) , —and that he was selected by the association referred to for that purpose .
A great deal of excitement exists relative to this occurrence ; and I am happy to say , for the honour of Englishmen , and of all political creeds and persuasions , that there never was greater disgust manifested on any occasion , than there was towards the conduct « f those parties who created the disturbance on Tuesday night As th& matter regards myself individually , I want no great importance to be attached to it ; but , when it comes to be considered as a question involving the peace of the country , it is of the utmost importance . The brutality and ruffianism of those persons who could devote their money to the base purpose of hiring assassins to destroy any man demand inquiry , not on accsunt of the individual immediately concerned , but on account of the public at large , whose interest it is to have such crimes
visited with proper punishment . I mea x to apply to the Secretary » rstate in reference to this matter ; and , backed by the law and my own energy and determination , I shall prosecute the inquiry as far as possible . A very wealthy association in this town furnished another association with funds to effect ! my assassination on Tuesday night By carrying on this investigation , I shall be enabled to put my own character on a proper footing . On the night of the disturbance , I had not a switch or a rod , nor any other ! weapon with me ; nor did I know of any individual having anything With him to defend blmst if . On the contrary , supposing that we should receive such opposition as we had frequently met with before , and that it would all end in an ebullition of feeling , When asked if the police should be
requested to attend , so ignorant was I ef what was to occur , that I dissented from the introdujtion of such a force . I knew nlBO , that , if any of my patty went to the meeting armed , It would furnish their opponents With a pretext for creating disturbance , and therefore I was opposed to any thing of the kind . From thirty to fifty persons Were seriously Wounded , — perhaps fifteen of them dangerously , —and one old man bad several of hia ribs broken , having been trampled upon by those hired ruffians who eame into the meeting nrmed with hatchets , pokers , bludgeons , stones , &c . I myself received six Wounds oh my body , one on my forehead , and one on the back of my head , and was knocked down several times . I have collateral evidence to show , that all the missiles that Were thrown
during the affray went immediately over my head , or struck my person , or some one in my immediate vicinity . Now ; if thesei things have b-sen done to impede ' me in that course Which I have hitherto so long pursued , legally , honestly , and peaceably;—and which I shall Btill continue to pursue in the same manner , for I am opposed to the shedding of one drop of human blood , under any circumstances , and I have several times received the thanks of the Guardians at Huddersfield for having saved them from assassination—I will never lend myself to the violation of the peace—I never will;—if , I say , theae things have beendone to obstruct me in my course , the parties who did so witk that intention will find that I am not to be intimidated . Under these circumstances you will , I have no doubt ,
think me fully entitled to your protection . I ask not your protection for myself merely , but for the sake of the peace of the country . I ask now the advice of the magistrates . It is important that these matters should go forth to the World in their proper colours ; for if money is to be collected and : dutributed for such vile purposes , and inflamiB > t * ry documents ciroulated for the purpose of raising the worst passions of a political party , God only knews where such things may end . Another thing which I have omitted to ment on : ^—On Wednesday , our object Was rather to allay angry fedhigs than to excite them ; but the other party issued violent and inflammatory documents , calling on the came persona , who had so misconducted themselves on Tuesday night , to assemble again on
Wednesday , and perpetrate similar outrages . One of the first duties of this court will be , —for I shall be able to bring this matter home , —net simply to the poor Irishmen Who were hired for the purpose , but to persona of standing in society—to persona of authority , standing , and wealth . One of the first things which the law guarantees you the power of doing is , that you send some one to the individual Who printed that last inflammable bill , and , as he is obliged to keep , f jr a certain period , all the manuscript which he publishes , to obtain from him the manuscript from which that bill was printed , in order that we may have an opportunity of ascertaining in whose haudwriting it is . I do not want the magistrates t > pass over their bounds ot \ duty . but . " I wish them to make this the case , not
of Feargus O'Connor , but of the country . If ever there was a brutal and violent attack made on peaceable individuals , that on Tuesday night was one . — Haying reiterated the same thing over and over again , Mr . Maude asked him what it was he wanted . Mr . O'Connor : It is this , that , having so far developed my cose , the magiatratea will guarantee al : the assistance in their power to bring the entire case to light-r-Mr . ISlaude : Are you : prepared with any : information ? Mr , O'Connor : ito : I only thought it necessary to put you in possession of the facts . The evidence of what has reached meis yet incomplete . —[ Mr . O'Connor again repeated bis former statement about the plot against his life , and said he did not wish to mention names ] My first application is , that an officer be sent to the
printer for the manuscript of the bill which appeared on Wednesday , inviting Irishmen to come to the Hall of Science , and follow up and achieve the victory which they had so well begun on Tuesday . Mr . Maude : Can you refer to the act under which you make the application ? Mr . O'Connor : I cannot now refer to the act ; but I am perfectly well aware , as the pror prietor of a newspaper , that printers are obliged tf keep manuscripts for a certain time . —Mr . Alaude : Refer to the act , —Mr . O'Connor : I think it is in the stamp act—Mr . Maude : That only gives us jurisdiction over printers , on some information laid . — -Mr . OConnor : That is a particular act . This is the general stamp act . — -Mr . Herford : Do you mean the act changing thestamp duty ? - ^ -Mr . O'Connor : that only
refers to newspapers ; but I come before the court to gee whether it gives them jurisdiction beyond the newspapers . —Mr . Maude : My recollection is , that , when the recent act gives us any jurisdiction to impose a penalty , it is necessary that the Attorney-General should lay the information . —Mr . O'Connor : That is when a penalty is sought ; but I only want to obtain a manuscript for tlie purpose of grounding future proceedings upon it—Mr . Maude : We shall be quite willing at all times to receive any information of any conspiracy of this kind ; and , if you lay any information Wa shall have no difficulty of pntting the law into execution , so far as it depends onus to do sc . If you
are prepared now With-any information , lay it before us — Mr . P'Coniiqr then " repeated his application .- — ¦ Mr * Maude said the ' manuscript was the printer ' s property , and the court had no more rightte demand it than they had to demand the papers of any other party . After deliberating some time with the other magistrates , Mr . Maude said the Act ef Parliament Which amended the act referred to by Mr . O'Connor was not in court ; but the best way for Mr . O'Connor to act was to communicate to the court any information he had , and then they should see how they were to act—Mr . O'Connor said , he was quite sure th « court Would do their duty , when anything of a specific character was laid before them . Mr . O'Connor then withdrew . !
[ "The inflimmatory placard referred to by Mr . O'Connor was not produced in court , nor did the Learned Gentleman give the name of the printer . " ] In juxta-position with these we place the account given by the Manchester and Salford Advertiser , —a , Liberal Anti-Cor , n-La w and Repeal paper : — " MR . FEARGUS OCONNOR IN MANCHESTER . DREADFUL RIOT AT THE SOCIALISTS . HALL OF SCIENCB . " The subject announced for the lecture on Tuesday was the repeal of the legislative union between { Jrjiat Britain and Ireland , and the room was quite as browded aa on ' . ' thei previous night . The principal occupants of the crowded galleries were Chartists . The body of the room was taken up by the repealers , the' greaterpart \ qt ' whom forcedthemselves into the room without paying the fee demanded for their admission . The platform waB also crowded by the
friends of each party ; especially we noticed Messrs . Duffy , Finnigan , and others of the repealers . Qn their entrance , they were received with mingled cheers and hootin ^ s , as were Messrs . Doyle , Linney , and othera of the Chartists , who arrived last . u meeting was announced to commence at ei i ; ht o ' clock , and at five minutes past , Mr . M'AyoyToso to move the appointment of a chairman ; but he was desired to sit down , and wait for the business to be commenced regularly by the party who had engaged the rboni . Great confusion arose , but at last il'AVoy gut off the chair upon which he had mounted , when Mr . Higginbotham , one bf the trustees of the hall , rose and be ^ ed' of the meeting , in the name of the proprietors , and as working men , not to do any damage to the hall , or the property it contained . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) He ^ need only inform > hem , toat it was erected by the working men of Manchester , and he was sure they would be the last te injure
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what they had themselves as a body erected . ( Load and prolonged cheering . ) Mr . Duffy here began to address the meeting , and was met with loud cries of M Order" and . *• Chair , " mingled With cheers . He said all the friends <> f order would ; show it by keeping order . Mr . Feargus O'Connor had not yet arrived , and ^ t would not pe proper to proceed to the appointment of a chairman in his absence ; bat assooriishe csme , his friends wouli doHbtless propose ; a chairman of Mr . O'Connor ' s choice ; but he ( Mr . Duffy ) , together with his friends , would feel bound to put forward a man of their own choice—( cheers and hissea . ) As Mr . Duffy concluded , Mr , O'Connor and Mr . Scholufield entered , and were welcomed with almost unanimousi applause . ,
Mr . John Linney then moved , and Mr . C . Doyle seconded that the JElev . Jehn Soholefield io tak * the chair . V ' ¦ ' ;• •¦ ¦ ' - } ' ; . ¦ ¦ :... ¦ : ' : '¦ - ' . ¦ ¦' . : ' :- . '¦ . ¦ ;•¦; . " " Mr . Duffy moved , as an amendment , the appointment of Mr . John Doyle , and claimed therighc to put his amendmenc firfct , which vu accordingly dbae ^ and lost by a large majority , two-thirds of the asdience being for Mr . Soholefield , who accordingly took th » chair . Scarcely had he seated himself when a rush was made irom behind , the reporters ' table upset , the chairman ' s chair and dc&k thrown into the middle of the room , and himself knocked down and much injured . The chairman ' s degkj his chair , the benches in the middle of the room , and banisters oh th 8 stairs , | were iustantly broken and appiiod as
weapons by Buch of the parties in that part of the hall as had comennprovided wjth pokers , bludgeons , paving 'stone ' s , " etc . Many heavy missiles were directed against the parties on the platform , 'and our reporter saw several whose injuries w # re dreadful to behold—the cheeks , li p ? , forehfad , and temples being in many cases laid completely open , and streaming with bload . The two doors .. which- ' lead from the platform , together with their lobbies , were instantly filled by the parties who had occupied that part of the room . The parties in the' body of tho room , having by this time nearly cleared it of th » few Chartists who were there , next scaled ; the platfoim , and the persons there were set upon * Those who could not reach the two doors were driven against the centre of the wall , and assaulted with the weapons we have before described ; % vhUe those at the two doors were kept from entering into
the lobies . ih ownsequence of the pressure out 4 de , and also from tho doors being closed at the foot of the BtairsMt was while attempting to leave the room by one of these doors that our reporter , Mr . J . H . Leresche , was assaulted by a man in a white fustian jacket and trousers . The first blow cut through the back of his hat , and inflicted a wound on the head two inches in length and half an inch wide . He in ) mediately turned round to see who it was , when he received another heavy blow on the forehead ; happily the force of it was turned aside by holding ap his hand , which is in consequehce at present useless . The man then continued to belabour his back and shoulders until , bruised and faint from loss of blood , he contrived to force a passage through the door , and thus escaped with his life . The Weapon used appeared to be part of the hand-rail torn from the banisters .- - ' -:.- \ - ¦ ' ' , ' ' . : ¦ ¦ . - ' - ¦ ¦ ¦ ' - '' -:::. ,- ' ' ¦ . '¦ '; . " ' ¦
Among , others wounded in this meroiless and diabolical dnslaught , besides Mr . O'Connor , who received seven different wounds on various ' . ^ arts of the body , was : the : Chairman ,. ' Mr . Scholefield , Whose lower lip was cut , as weil as the left aide of his nose ; he also received two wounds over the eye . A person of the name of Railton had his arm broken in two places , and his head severely fractured , as well as receiving saveral heavy contusions on the body . Mr . Swire , hat manufacturer , of Thomasstreet , aged ¦• ' 67 . years , is now lying in a hopelesa
state , withhis ribs literally bruised in , and his face and head so ' completely mangled as to present a most ehooking spectacle . His nephew , Edward Swire , had his head . laid open . Greenwood is awfully mangled . Murray , the President of one of the-Chartist Associations , is also severely wounded . A lad named Bailey had his face severely broken . Di > yle , the Chartist who seconded Mr . Scholofield , received some violent bruises on the body and left arm ; and to these may be added a frightful' Iht of from thirty to fifty who have been more or less seriously injured .
• VWEDNESDAY . u We need scarcely say that the proceedings above narrated excited the greatest indignation kgaihst the perpetrators of these outrages . At an early hour large placards covered the walls , announcing that Mr . O'Connor would deliver his lecture on the Repeal of tha Uuion to-night , and calling upon the operatives of Manchester and Salford to be at their posts . The appeal was enthusiastically responded to . Great numbers of the men struck work at four o ' clock , and repaired to the Hall of Scieuce , to defend Mr ., O'Connor with their -jives . , if necessary , while the disturbers of the previous evening , who had also mastered in some force , saw th ^ y were likely to be out-numbered , and dispersed . From three to four thousand persons took possession of the building shortly after the opening of the doors , and great
crowds were unable to gain admittance . A { i < ntlemari from the office of this paper attended , but was unable to effect an entrance . We H . nders ! and that Colonel Wemyss and Sir Charles Shaw , attended by a number of inspectors ^ occupied ' . the . stage box . Outside the building , in Camp Field , nearly the whole of the police force for the bsrough were drawn up , with the horse patrol and some cavalry picquets . Owing to these precautions , the meeting passed off quietly . Mr . O'Connor lectured for two hours and . a half , and his receptien was most triumphant . Everything he said seemed to carry with it double the weight , and be listened to with double the interest that it would have commanded , but for the proceedings of the previous evening , —the usual result of resorts to physical foroa suon as disgraced the cause of Repeal . - ¦ ¦
"BOROUGH COURT . —Wednesdat . " A man named Saxon was brought up , on a charge of having taken a prominent part ia the riotous proceedings at the Hall of Science on the evening preceding ; and also with having atruck Mr . Feargus O'Connor with part of a table . Ho was identifisd by several persons , all of whom agreed as to his violence ; and he was , consequently , obliged to find bail for his appearance at tlio . session ^ . Mr , O ' Connor , who attended , as he stated , at the request of Sir Charles Shaw , declined to offer any remarks against the prisoner ; but , as he was there , he bc ^ ed to ask the chairman if he had granted a warrant against him to a man named Duffy , for an assault .
If so , he asked as a favour that the case mi ^ ht be then gone iht 6 , which was accordingly granted , upoa which , Mr ; O'Connor , accompanied by the R < : y . Mr . Soholefield , "wlio appeared as evidence , took in a seat at the reporters' table , when Duffy was callod upon to stite the nature of his charge . It was to the effect that , on the preceding evenings he had attended a lecture given by Mr . O'Connor at the Hall of Science , and that he paid his admission money to the piatform j and that , owing to a demur arising as to the right of who should be chairman , a most desperate row had ensued . He swore to his belief that , Air . O'Connor caused the scene , and also that from thafc gentleman he had received a blow on the right hip , which forced him from the platform .
"After a patient investigation , the chairman gave it as his opinion that Mr ; Duffy had failed to prove hi 3
case . . ¦ . -. . - ; :. ; -.: ' . - ..... . - - . - ¦; - . / " On Mr . O'Connor ' s departure , he was received with hearty cheers by a large party of his Ciiartist foUowers who were waiting for him outside , aud who accompanied him towards his inn .
"FRIDAY . " Mr . O'Connor appeared before the Coi . Tt on Friday , for the purpose of making the following application . He said : —May it please your Worship , when 1 appeared before : you on WcdnisBuay last , I was then wholly ignorant oF this brutal circumstances connected with the riot of the previous night , and I appear before you now with the double objecf , first , to take the odium of that violence off my .. own countrymen , who might be supposed to be the perpetrators , and to saddle it upon persona of wealth and station ; and , secondly , to dtscharf , ' o a . duty , not so much to myself , as to the public at iarge . This is i the'nature of my application . It wa 3 announced that on Tuesday last I was to addte ? s the
public in the Hajl of Science , upon the subject of the repeal of the Legislative IJnion ; and I shall be able to prove that a certain Association in this town , having large funds at their disposal , furnished the means to a person connected with a certain Toiitical Association tp procure my assassination ; and in the thorough sifting and investigation of all thi circumstances connected with so foul an act | 1 feel assured that I shall have the co-operation and assistance , riot only of the authorities of Manches ; t ; r , but of every man in Manchester , of erery shade of politics . I shall be enabled to prove , that those per-Bong who were hired received , a- portion of them , Is . for their work , and Id . for admission ; while auothec detachmenfc received 2 s . 6 d . arid Id . for ad ., issioh .
I shall be" enabled to shew the hands from whencei the money oame , and those through which , the blood-gift passed . I shall also I e able to prove that a certain individual volunteered , and compounded for a sum of £ 5 , to throw toe offtde platform among those immediately under itj who were armed with hatchets ; pokers , stones of immense size , and missiles of various descriptions , and whose especial duty it was then to assassinate ine ; I shall then be a ; ble to prove beyond a doobt , by ; the evidence of four respectable witnesses , that this said £ 5 ruffian , was the first man who struck me a violent blow on
the back of the head , bursting my hat as you now perceive it . [ Here Mr . O'C . exhibited his hat to the CourtjWhicn bore evident testimony to » he fact . } And uow , iri order to prove my desire to preserve the peace , I sblenanly declare that I had not even a switch or any siogle thing for seif-defente , nor to my knowledge had a single man connected with my party . And further , when applied to for my sanction for the mtroduction of a police force , I at once refused , declaring my determination to rely upoa the love of justice of my own con » trymeni But to prove that my assassination was the objeot , ahhoagh many others were wounded , yet every missile thrown ( Continued in our eighth page . )
Untitled Article
_ ¦¦ - - _^ ^ THE NORTHERN STAR . ¦ ± ^ : ^ ^ . : ^ . > : : ^ - .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 19, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct746/page/7/
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