On this page
-
Text (5)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
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
kPPREHKNSIOX AKD EXAMINATION OF MR . GEORGE WHITE . ( From ike Birmingham Journal ) On FrWay morning , about ten o ' clock . Inspector William Hall proceeded with a -warrant to the Eox , in Hurst-stMet , where he met Mr . White coming ont of the door . He informed him that he had a ¦ warrant against him ; -open which some ¦ words ensued , and a scuffle took place , and after some sl ight resistance , Mr . White surrendered , and was taken to the prison in Moor-street . In the coarse of an hour after , tha Mayor , Dr . Nelson , Dr . B-xrth , Dr . Dsvis : Richard Spooner , T . Beilby , T . Bolton , J . Sehotefield , and H . Luckcock , E ^ qrs-, the Rev . R . Bedford , Commissioner Burgess , Colotei Thorn , and tha magistrates' clerks , came into court , -which was densely crowded by the middle and Working classes .
The prisoner was placed in the dock ; upon which Mr . Grin proceeded witii the examination of witnesses . The first person called was Eberuz'i Pollock , who deposeil as follows : —I lire in Lord-street- On fcbe 22 nd instant , I iras at a meeting in Sammer-lane . I went , on joy return froth it , into the Britannia Inn , and on gong int . ) the front room , I found a party consisting of iiteen or twenty there . George White and JcLn Fussell rushed up into the room . O'Neill had been a ^ dr-ssslnjj tke people below , ad White began to spsak to them from the window . He , told them that they had be * n miilel by O'Neill and Stu : gt ' i party—that they ba-1 teen met by an armed foree . and dispersed , but that he wou'd call a mcetiag on the f /' owin ? nikjht , and he would hold his meeting by fore * - and they fchculd corns prepared . They said , " Have : = m in ttsir J 3 c £ ets . " They cheered him , and he asfei ! th-m , if they would do &s he did ?—and they Cbeercrd b ' ra aciin .
P .-U r . c' —Will yon oblige me with a little paper ? ; Mr . H ~ -: f = rn supplied him with paper , upon which I he comi ^ r-nccn vikicg notes . The witness , on resnmiag , said the prisonertold them be wv- hold a meeting , and all the police Bhould not ¦ prevrr . " . * -: n . j Prls > t-Xow . mind what you say . j Witu-ss—He tc- 'd thea to come prepared to meet the ; police . He ask ? d them , wcu ' . d they coma ?—and they , said " * Vs ¦ " ¦ iii . " I Pm-. - _ r- DM I say anything ibout daggers ? i ilr . ^ oner — "Do sot interrupt—because yen shall have eiccj ^ j-rfxtuairy of asking any question you think preptrr Prv :. ;—I ani only JDst trying to help him out .
Witv .-i—Tb * landlord rushed into the room , to turn ii . rn oat of his bouse ; upsn which some of the P---7 rii !? -. i for pen , ink . and pap ^ r , and a table , to form a comniittee . The laadlord w < . u ' : d net £ v ; ihiut anything , and ordered them ont of his hons-. ' . Cz (/ -e--: \ * n ' & A by the prisoner—Now , my good chnp , - * •'¦¦ y ^ u fit your living ?—Witness— By hard Work Pri ;> : ^ r—How dos s it hippen you were employed in this ca ~ . : Wiiuc- ?— I ~ as not employed . Pri - ' -. a — Di . 1 70 U take down what was said in writing ? Pri- : ir :- —Car . you Tpport a sentence after , a man correc'ly , ^ -- 'hc-ii taking it dowa ? Or are you quite su * -:- rhit , n fire minutes after I rerett this sentence I am now spenkiag , you will remember it ? WitEc ^ n-viv no answer .
Pri £ n > : r— D-u I a . lTise the people to use force \ TVi '^^ -Yciu did . Y i > utol d teem to come prrpared Pri ^> r . cT—V-fr ^ t tride are you ?—and how did you come t- < ir . \ i .- ibis statement ! ' Wit ; . . - «¦ —1 a : u a gua-batre ! filer : and I voluntarily reads th-- .- .: -merit . I am not employed . Pri-.-cr—Y ' . - . are the finest spy I ever knsw . Wi .- ^ s—Ttcrs w ? . s a man in the room who was drtiSi ; : i b - -: ' . Q' -kor . and he said that they had brought tbrea 11 f . jt j uri & \ coViiers in , but they were deceived by O'Ne-. i :.:-d . v . ar ^ e . Fnsse i ] also spoke .
Pri « .. r . v- - — ri :-r i ^ C : is , Fussell never spoke st all ; and this fci : > v 5- co : n ? . s to produce his evidence , by trumpsr a lie . -iyjeod feilow . ( turning to the witness , yr-u vill TH-rer be vrorth your wages as a Bpy . Wba * pi - ¦ : ¦ : " rui-cii'i speech did you hear ?—Witness : I g : g :: ot tic -j sr ; y psrt of it . 3 Ir Gt . - u — I w : i ; tie tiut part of his evidence out P .-u . n-r—>• ¦¦ . you will not ; because this . miycome into a > . ^ . -t ¦ f ; -: stioc ;; and it will shew what credit ha is f ? j .- 'r . D : i ?> iu ito witces 3 ) see any person heave np the witi . n-v . Witness—I did not ; but I distinctly beard the "a- : aof 7 thrown up . Prisj .: er—Tia ; shtws what a smart fellow you are . Have you .. ny reii ^ i , n , and what re ligion are you of ? Witness— . ' rro " -ss to b » a Baptist . Prisoner— F ipl 3 n ' vh-. t yen mean by a Baptist , because I do no : tc ' i ? :, in my conscience , you know what an oath ib .
Dr . S > . " >* — It i' not necessary that he should explain tny pariifu-sr i ; .. e"ri n <* . Mr . « > : . . itr—T ur oaly question ou ; ht to be , * h eth ; r U hid ^^ in the truth of the Bible—that is snfBsU- * . t ; oiiV . ^ fy him to tike an oath . PiL ^ ncr— H -. ve j ju any political principles ? "Wa- . s ^ - N _ > . 1 V ^ Te not . Priv ; r . r— 0 > - : n belieTe the present government a good en- ' r 3 r-i-i . r . e ? ¦ J 4 t . ^ p- ^^ i- ' .-T— 'i 7 ..-. 1 QTit-stioii is immaleriaL He is not bonnd t" - _• . ; = r- r ¦ t . PrL < = - - . a- r--H , = ^ 75 he has no political principles , and I belit ? - h ' u ; ri-tT ^ i nl ones either . Mr . Tj y- ' .-r , printsr exinsmed—I live In Steelhouselane . On th ? r ? bt of the 24 th of August . I was at tbeCLut .-i y . ' : > : ; -h ais , whta I saw Mr . White ; he bande " : rrr t .. c ; :. y of 2 placard , now produced , and asked ice : rrls- him fi'ty of them , and get them pos cd . I Y : n ;¦ . .
Mr . uru ; — .-1 . 3 VJ j-- > u any question to ask the witness ? Prisoner— > T ¦; h- ; is coi a Tolonteer witness in this matter Slich : ' Dti ; - r- •;• ¦ i- ^ er'eant , eximired—On Mondsy , tbr j . ' .. h tv . n , ) was present at a meeting of persona in C ' ur 7 ..: ; -= vot' ; there wtre a good many persona prescrt 1 ! : e p'isoner at the bar was there , and \ ras addre'ii : ; tie i .-rple . He eJled npon them to be imiteQ , ar- ; it luJ f . -. -t together . Tae people cf the liortb wtf ? 01 . t . r-l were determined not to go to
¦ work - ^ p . ; n un = -. _» y ect thtif rigbts , and why not the pe-i-i of f 5-&u : ihani do the s ^ me ? If they ironli v u : r > = uj . u = i t ^ ey w-Tuld s ^ cn let QiDvemment « ee the ' - they " wert ;'• ttrmined to have their rights . He thea -: -Kt ••> " . ¦ -:: ng tbst was to beheld on ihe TneE ^ r " rk iA : y * i-z . They would let the people of Burn « ¦ - « i .: si-o : ca . t they still htd soniethiDg in Birai i- ^' . - > . - .. to be- i-: gntenecl at . They would walk in pr < . c--M .. n tlii .-v ^ tbe town . Tbat is ail I can reesEec- Ks a iT- . > ei them to stand fa ? t to each . other , a : J hs ci : ; - _ c" u ^ on them repeatedly to go for nothiua i " j * tilin ; h- i / naner .
Dr . McftD—D . 'i >• " n-jt say , before > Ir . Gem began to take dt-wn v ar -J ^ pcsitic-n , that White « aid the colliers hut i - .-u-k . r » r U «; Chuter , and why not go With t&' -ir . ¦ Witness—V : s : Lr s . \ id If tbey would stick to him , they wt ,-i' 1 L' ^ vc tu- Cliarter . Pri . t . i : t—I * , is - ; : rfyctition and waste of time . Witness—Ke * .: o : > M them to conduct themselves in a q- j" -: in \ \ -: ¦ - it .- mvnner , for all the authorities waiited wr . s M •¦ oc-. " . t'ty of bludgeoning them , and cuttin ? thtKi up i . ' ¦ .. - tbem go off the ground . Aa ¦¦¦
soon a-i b = -xz . ¦¦ . . - that a procession would take place , I ~ : ? ii in ^ -i : = ^ g He t old them to marshal themsfcives Etiti i& :, - ; : - a procession through the town , after a b . vj ..= r «•; .: „ , -b * y had got , I then left the ground , s 3 m . > rui a&v : : . Te information to ilr . Burgess . I did n-. 't s i tL ^ } T-. t- u-iT in that procession . I went to the r »"" . " ; > : Cir- ^ gan Street , in company of Mr . Snperiir .- ^ iT - ; :- . \ -t .-. the- pr-. > cession was then going along , rj :-1 I - " . -v : ¦ ¦ - : •; -9 of it . Ttere were npwards of one th . uiiin ^ j >_ r 5 > :.- at tha first meeting . They Were V ' -rv , ¦ : ' •_ - ¦ ¦ -
Pru . ' ; . r—Will , my ?> od fellow , you have risen ninety t _ r oe . - . t . ; : i UjT r--: imatio 3 ; I only wish you had been v j ' mrr . er 1 -. n :: ! place of that volunteer witness w \ ' ¦¦ . v . ; ?^ r _ - ;^ . K * d . Now , tell me how ljng ia it fii . ' ..-tf : ¦ " . ' . :. a- :- . ^ ^ made a Berjcant ? Wit- r ^ --i . i =: A ; r Pri-ii ' -r—i . j ; , ~ -. jw a p"vn named William Martin . Wir-s - . - . Pri K . ~ ' .:- l 1 v- : ot a sergeant , when he was in Birmii-r .. ; M- ' .
Witii < . •¦ -- > " > , i ¦ ¦«• -= ^ . -t . Tne . y . z—V « j i .- » Tv- b = cn a companion of both me and Mi . ' .. .. .- - ;¦; " iiT . often walked about with us , linked -i . -.-ii- « r-.--:. \ ) : ¦ - ¦;* you not ? Witi ^ -- \ - =-Prise - . — . ' . - ; .. i S . - . ' .- s did you wear then ? Will , -i— ¦ Cj ' jU . T ^ C : "" . brS . ' " Pris- ' .... r : — ' ' - " ¦' -.-rr y-. u th ? n in the police ? Wiu-- ^ . - - —Y ' - Piiso - -ia—137 ¦ n b :- - e icjtructions did you attend our Hieetir-ii ic rUin clc . ' . b- ~ s ?
Wr ^^ t 5 — --. < -jr-.-. n : ray officer . PriivLt : !—ii-j jc-j orders from that offloer to ininflate you ? = ;; f invo v-zr company ? Mr . A 3 ;; rL : cs—Y . u i .: a not bound lo answer that question . PriscBsr—I bnvs a tigU to Mktie question , because I want u > show itut the spy system is in this country , ¦ nd thf . t no man's life is safe . Mr . Spcosa—You care a right to sak the question , and if the witness refu ^ a to answer , it will appear on the depoatioc& Prisoner—Were you not directed by your officer to in * rinnnta TOUTSclf into OUT COmpSHJ ? Witness—I v » ill not answer that question ; Prisoner—At \ hat time yon represented yoimelf as being kept in business by a relation , to learn the gunftn >«>;? Tip trade ?
Witness—1 told you I was a gun-finisher , bat I did act tell yon I w * a k = pt by my frienda , PriKmer—Wb 3 t is yonr real trade ? Witnest—A plasterer and slates . Prisoner—Haw long U it since you worked at that business , ana where * Witness—Two jt ' -ir -ago . at Handsworth . Prisoner—You w-.-- police clothes , I suppose , when ytm were m&de ecrj ^ s ^ t ? Witneis—Not aiis-ays . Prisoner—What time waa it whan you used to walk linked arm-in-.-jTO , rvith meand Martin ? Waa it until yc « were raide a serjeant ?
Untitled Article
Witness—I was in their company about twebre months before I was made ser je&nt Prisoner—Why Martin was in Lancaster gaol then . You say jou wore your own clothes then 1 Witness— Yes . Prisoner—I think I saw a cloak upon you at that time . Is that a dress usually worn by plasterers ? Witness—Plasterers may wear cloaks as well as other persons . Pr'soner—Who was it supplied you with the cloak to disguise yourself ? Witness—My own money .
Prisoner—I only wish to show that the spy system was carried on . Now , witness , I believe you have attended our meetings at Duddeston Bow very frequently ; and I ask you what was the general character of them ? Witness—They were quiet and peaceable . Prisoner—In that part of your evidence where you refer to the coliiers' strike , I ask you , did I use any violent language , or give the people advice to be violent ? Witness—N o .
Prisoner—Now , I have shown , by a BOrt of negative evidence , that I did not advise violent measures j and I wish now to show , by dirtct evidence , which I think I can get out , that I advised tbe psople to the contrary . I ask b / . m , therefore , does he not remember me telling the people that the intended meeting of Tuesday was designed for the purpose of taking tbe unbiassed opinion cf vhe people of Birmirgham with respect to tbe present state of the country ; and did I not also advise that no man should vote against his conscientious belief , as by taking a show of hands the people were often led into error , when they did not mean to carry out what they held np their hands for ? Witness—I do cot recollect that you said so . You might have said so , but I do not recollect it
Prisoner—Did I not particularly warn the people at every meeting you attended , to be peaceable and not to break the law , lest they Bhould get themselves into the fanes of the authorities ? Witness—Ton did , Prisoner—D"d you not hear me say that the people of England coald get all their rights by strictly peaceable means ? Witness—I cannot recollect that you did bo . Prisont r—In all the meetings you attended it it a wonder that yeu did not hear this said at any one of thtm ? Witness—I did not . Prisoner—An allusion has been made to the colliers . Did you understand me to allude to violent measures , when I talked of their ttrike ? Witness—I cannot tell your ideas . Prisoner—Do you know what was the avowed object of the Hitrting on Tuesday night ?
Witness—1 heard it was to memorialise the Queen ; but I ctar-iot say . 1 do not kuow the real oljtct for which t ^ e meeting was called . Prisoner—Have you not heard me state , that I considered it to 03 tha duty of every Chartist to act as a peace offi ^ r at all pnblii meetings , for that I believed the emissaries of the Government would endeavour to create a disturbance , in order to fix the odium upon the Chartist body , and thereby afford 3 prelext for imprisoning them ? Witness—Part of that I have beard yon Bay . I have heard yc-u say . it wsb tfce « uty » f every Chirtisfc to act as p » ace officer at tv > ry public meeting : that the emissaries of the Gov . rnment would try to create a disturbance and lead the people into error , that is ail .
Prisoner—Were you present at the last meeting we held at Duddeston-row , on Friday evening ? Witness—Yes . Prisou&r—rl then spoke of the groundless fears of the shopkeepers ? Witness—I don ' t recollect it Prisoner—Did yen hear me state that they might niEks tbemstlves perfectly easy , for it was not our inteniicn to injure the hair of any man ' s head ? Witness—I don't recollect what took place-Prisoner—Did you hear me say that there was no < a ? thiy necessity for keeping up sucn a body of police force to preserve tbe peace of tbe town ? Wi : ness—I have often heard you say so—but cannot recollect having h- ard you say so that night . Prisoner—Did I not often say , if the magistrates bad common stnso , thty would dismiss the ferce , and rely on Ibe j < ood sense of the inhabitants ? Witness—I do not recollect that yon did .
Prisoner—Hsve you not oft ^ n heard me pledge myself , for myself , and in behalf cf tbe Chartist body , to assist the magistrates at all times , for the protection of life and property ? Witness—I never , that I can recollect , heard you say any such thing . Prisoner—Have you forgotten that you stated something like tbat in your former evidence ? Did you not S 3 y I advised the Chartists to act as special eonstebles ? Witness—Not as you have ju « t expressed yourself ? Prisoner—Had not tie words I used the same effect ? Witness—I never heard you say the words you have now used .
Prisoner—Did you hear me state that Mr . Burgess and his force could , be dispensed with , altogether , and that tbey wgre a complete nuisance to the town of Birmingnam—( laughter , —that nearly all the disturbances were created by them—that I would undertake to stat « that the Chartists alone woald preserve the peace of this town , and save the inhabitants the enormous rates that are now dragged from tht m ? Witness—I have heard you say the police could be dispensed with , and that they wtre a nuisance . Prisoner—You are the most honest policeman I ever met with in my life .
George Phiiip Tandy , police-constable , examined—I have been a little more than twelvemonths in tbe force . On Monday evening , the loth instant , I was at a meeting on a piece of waste ground in Curzjn-street . I went there at pasi aeven o ' clock . There were some few people assembled tbere at that time . I ramsinsd nntiJ near nine o ' clock . Persons continued to assemble . I should think there were one thousand persons there . Mr . White was then addressing the persons standing round . I heard White say , that he hoped , at the close of the meeting , they would form a procession , and march through tbe town , and continue to do so every evening . He said they woald shew the people in Birmingham ; that there was spirit and strength left at the time they were sending the military to other parts of the country . I shall not swear to any more . The streets in that part of the town were in an
excited state , by tbe people being all up in arms . I mean by up in aims , that the people were coming ont of their houses . I do not mean that the people bad any arms in their hands . Tbe people in tbe neighbourhood were in expectation of something taking place . During the continuance of these proceedings I should think the ordinary business of some of the inhabitants could not , bfc carried oa , and they were calculated to create a' . snn in the minds of the people . When the meeting broke ap , they walked in procession . I should say there were two thousand persons ; tbey were five or six abreast . There wa 3 an inscription upon the banner , but I can't say what it was . I can't say I know who was in tbe leading file . I should say the effect of such a procession passing through the streets would b 6 to terrify the people . I only saw the proeession in Cutz ^ n-street and Duddleston-row .
Prisoner—You have stated tbat these processions were calculated to cause alarm : were you alarmed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—Did you ever see a procession before ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Why was that procession calculated to create alarm ? Witness—By marching through the streets at tbat hour . Prisoner—You stated it waa getting du 3 k , and now you say it was night , in order to give tffecfc Did you ever see a procession going to lay the foundation stone of a church ? Witness—Yes . Prisoner—Were you alarmed at them . ' Witness—No . Prisoner—Then if you saw one thousand gentlemen going from Dee ' s Hotel for that purpose , you would not
be alarmed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—If you had heard they were Chartists , would yon have been alarmed ? Witness—No . Prisoner—If you Baw one thousand rich men walking through the town , should you have been alaraed ? Witness— No . Prisoner—Then if you saw one thousand poor men walking , you would be alarmed ? Witness—The psor are generally ill behaved . ( Hissing . ) Prisoner—What would you say if you met one thou-Band bricklayers' labourers , after a hard day ' s work , should you think their appearance calculated to create alarm ? Witness—I should ascertain the cause of their procession .
Prisoner—But if they never said anything ? Has any hopkeepw complained to you in Cardigan-street of the terror ? Witness—Yes . PrisonM—Who are they ? Mr . Spooner— He is not bound to tell the names . Prisoner . —Was there any confusion at the meeting ? Witness—Some pebbles were thrown . Prisoner—Did the procession do any harm ? Witness—No . Prisoner . —What do you mean by being op in arms ? Witness—I mean coming out of their houses , Prisoner—Yob beat Dr . Johnson hollow . With regard to tbe speech ; will yo » , Mr , Gem , read the splrtt of one part of it ? Mr . Gem did so , and the prisoner said—Now , witness will you repeat tbat over again t Mr . Spooner—He ii not obliged to repeat it
Prisoner—It is a parcel of jumbled up nonsense , such aa I never used ; although some parsons may think me simple , I never used such words . Now Mr . Spooner , just look at them ; they are quite nonsense . Witness—Your object was to frighten the people ) and 10 to gain your Charter . Prisoner—Were you to court while Daly waa gMng bis evidence ?
Untitled Article
Witness—No . Prisoner—What clothes bad you on that night ? Witness —Plain clethes that night Prisoner—For what object were you disguised ? Witness—I am not obliged to answer that question . Prisonar—Are you aware that there are a large number of policemen kept in diagulse in Birmingham ? Witness—I am not aware of It Mr . Griffiths—You are not obliged to answer that question . Prisoner—You have no right to say what questions he will answer . Mr . Spooner—He has ; and it is for us to decide . Prisoner—C&n you write T Witness—Yes . Prisoner^—Why did you not write down that sentence ?
Witness—My memory was sufficient to recollect what yeu said that night Prisoner—Can you recalled the last sentence I spoke just now ? Mr . Spooner Bald it was not necessary he ahould recollect it Prisoner—Yes , but it is , I thl :. k ; he mwht have taken all the wotda delivered over a column of a speech and dove-tailed them together . Mr . Spooner—He could recollect those prominent words—spirit , military , and such like , all clearly calculated to show the tendency of the address . Prisoner—I wish to know if I may have some refreshment I have asked Mr . Redfern ; and he says I cannot I ban not had any breakfast , and I do not think I ought to be kept starving here .
Mr . Spooner said , he did not see any objection to his having refreshment , but he did not think there was any fund for the purpose . If he sent for it himself , he might have it Prisoner—Yes . of course . Mr . Joseph Johnson , merchant ' s clerk , Garrison Lane , was the next witness examined . He said—I saw the prisoner nx a placard on a wall on the 19 th inst , about half-past three o ' clock , at the side of the Green Man , Moor-street There wera fiva or Bix persoas present . I read it , and left it there . On the following day I saw a similar bill . Prisoner—How long have you been merchant's clerk ? Witness—Two years . Prisoner—What induced you to give evidence ? Witness—I told a policeman , named Wheeler , because it was exciting tbe people .
Prisoner—I only want to show that this man has been fished up by the police . Sarah Mann , of L ' . chfield Street , examined—My husband is a shoemaker . On the night of the 15 th of August , I was at Daildeston Row , a little after seven o'cloek . The ground was very full—seven or eight hundred were there . Mr . White was thsre , addressing the people about the Queen ' s proclamation . He told them one had been p » t out at the time of the Bull Ring concern , but that waa of no avail . He said the people hi the North were all out for prices , and they had conse to a determination they would not go in until
they had gained the Charter . He hoped the Birmingham people would join them ; in a fortnight they would be compelled to do so . He said they wou ' . d be walking about B'rmingham streets clamming , and they wou ! d be forced to do so . There was a policeman in t ' ue crowd , a :: d tbey threatened to st ^ ne him , and some of them s ? . id he was a spy , and otht-rs said stene him . Tbe prisoner said the system of Government most be done away with , or we should continue in the distressed state we were then in . He said if they would take his advice their wives would wear a silk gown before the summit was over .
Mr . Griffiths—What waa the effect of these meetings ? Witness—I don't know . P . isuner—I protest against this prompting . The last two witnessfcB came up , told their tale , and said nothing against me . Then came ths prompter—did you hear tbat ? I object to such proceeding . The Mayor—You can object to any question . J !' . G . iffiihB—You Uft the n \ betingb ? Witness—Yes , I left it oa account of my daughter , when I hiard the conversatian about the atones ,. The proceedings of tbat evening would create alarm amongst timid people . Last night I followed the people through Cardigun-street , to a long distance for about thr .-e miles , and there they held a meeting . Mr . Fussell spoke , and an alarm was raised tbat the police wera
coniing , and they dispersed . When th » . < y found the police W 6 re not coming they returned , White spoke . ' He said he was ashamed ct Birmingham men running away at the cry of pjlicu . There were men enough there to drive away all the police they could bring . He said the next meeting he would call would be a meeting of women . He said the women in the north were holding tbe horses' reins while the men were gaining the victory . He said tbey were getting on well . He said the authorities of the town wera putting them down ; but he would put them at defiance , and would lead tbem to . Manchester , or he would bald bis meetings . He spoke of the proceedings throughout the country , and said he was Borry that two or three of their men had got hurt , as be thought in the coure of a little
time they woull be wanted . Ha advised them to go home peaceably autl quietly , and go to bed , telling them bo should not hold any other meeting until Monday next . The people wished to know what time the meeting would be held , and ha said he would placard the town . Oae or two carried swords ovtr tneir shoulders , and others had sticks , and tbey nwrche-J ¦ s ? ht ; n Mr . White told them . One man uii £ ixewtd Boin ^ thiog bright out of a stick , and put it over his shoulder . On leaving the p'ace of meeting , Mr . WLite wanted to go down the read , but some- one Baid six policemen Lad gone down that road , and others said if ho > vou ) fl go into the town with thum they wou' . d guard him at the peril of their lives . White and Fussell came back with the procession , the same way as tbey went .
Cross-examined by the Prisoner—I cannot sweir that it was a swoni , bnt it was a bright instrument ; it was pu " il-tl out . I was not in the precession . I was on Uis f jotputh . I will swear I saw you in the body comiog back . Same came before you and some came behind you witii etavea over their shoulders . I heard you adviss them to give three groans for Mr . Muntz and the magistrate's , ami three che # rs for the Charter . You toltl the people your object was not to get them hurt , but to btiut tit them . [ There were two or three more questions and answers to aud by this witness , which our reporter loot auring a momentary absence from the court ] H ' -r testimony closed the ease against tbe prisoner , upon which Jlr . Spooner asked him if he wished to say anything .
Mr . White then Baid , in a bold firm tone , that he was not aware that there was uny definite charge aaainat him . He should like to know what was the charge to be brought against him , out of the mass of contradictory stuff which bad been sworn to by the witnesses . If he had thought that it was intended to brins : any ch : » rRe against him for sticking up a placard , he mi ^ ht havo been prepared . Nobody charged him with violent inUntions , except the first witness , who stated that which be knew nothing about There was no other witnfss produced who couid say he had advised the people to any other than peaceable conduct ; and if a man was to be sent to gaol for giving peaceable advice , he knew not whit sort of advice ought to be given . His idea was , tbat be had acted as a man ought to
act ; and he could nut but thiiik , tbat in arresting him there bad been some motive over and above tbe protection of the public peace . His actions had not tended to enria'ujrr property . He had only expressed his GpiuiMn publicly and fearlessly ; and , as a man , wherever he might ba , he should always insist upon bis rifiht to express hia opinions . He would aak , had he not a right to hold his opinions as well as a Tory or Whig ? But some men wore so foolish , that they imagined if a mau did not square his ideas according to theirs he ought to be put down . But the fact was , every man knew tb ^ t he bad a right to express his opinions openly and fearlessly . He would ask the magistrates whether they v . ouhl not rather that a man spoke his opinions openly and fearlessly in a public
meeting , than conceal them , and act privately upon them ? Wlwu a man went to a public meeting and stttod bis opinions , he could be met by those whodis ? entel from him ; and if wrong , there was an opportunity afforded of putting him right . He might remark , that tbat was hot the first time he had been dragged about for the honest profession of his principles . He h " - < bocm ruined both in health and substance ; Vut all ihe prost-. cutions which they could ii . fiict would never prevent him from advocating his principles . He wishtd to sfcati- distinctly , that to every individual with whom he wan acquainted he had always given tbe advice not to injur * any man . He wished most heartily to see every power of the Government invested in tbe people , because he beliuved thit was the only way by
which happiness could be established . Men were naturally so slavish that , whether Tories , Whigs , or Chartists , th « y would make laws subservient to their own interests . The only way , thereforo , to establish happiness , was to allow the whole people to govern themselves . They knew tbat thousands of poor people were now dying fcr want of the necessaries of life . The Anti-Corn Law League had driven them out ; and when they had driven them out to starve , the Chartists took up their cause , and then these gentleman called upon tbe Government to hunt them to death . Would any man tell him that he bad not a right to express his opinions on the state of the country ? No man would attempt to deny his right to do so . He cosld assure them tbat if they wanted to create excitement , and make a disturbance in the town , they would hunt the Chartists about , and in so doing they would , perhaps , cause more uneasiness then they were aware of . Mr .
Hall came to him that morning , and knocked him down , as If he was a fellow that had murdered somebody . ( Cries of " Shame * ' from the working men . ) They had their feelings as men , and their opinions M men ; and they were determined to stand by them nmtil they were known to be unjust Let tbam b * met by argument , and not by bludgeons . They aJUfht make hypocrites by persecution ; but they could not make men sincere . He denied that the Chartista had any wish to destroy property . Why should they destroy property who produced it ? But tbey had bexto told tbat they had no right to meet because there bad been a disturbance in Nottingham . What bad Nottingham to do with Birmingham ? There was no disturbance in Birmingham ; and disturbancea In another place ought not to interfere with hie right In oonotasion he would Bay ; whether he was sent to prison or not , he sb * uld consider he bad done no wrong . He knew Vtaj
Untitled Article
had prejudices , and he wished they would lay them aside . If they seut him to gaol , they would increase the hatred of the people against them , and they would cause him to come out with tenfold more determination and hatred against the present system . If they sent him home to bis family , men would begin to think that they were acting with justice . As fathers of families , he would leave it to them to say whether he ought to go to prison or not The question for them to consider was , not whether White was a Chartist , bat whether he had injured tha people ; whether he had committed any crime against eoclety ; and whether he had not a right to walk the streets , and meet in public to declare his sentiments . Tha prisoner was frequently applauded by his friends during the delivery of his address .
The Magistrates then retired , and after deliberating for about three quarters of an hour , they returned into Court at a quarter to bix o'clock , when the Mayor stated that the magistrates , after carefully considering the case , were of opinion that the prisoner bad acted illegally . Ho wished it distinctly to be understood that it was not the right of meeting which the magistrates denied , but it was the peculiar circumstances of the caao , the mode of calling , and the manner of conducting such meetings , tbat rendered them illegal . The prisoner was then ordered to be committed to the next borough sessions upon three separate off-.-nces ; one for issuing placards , inciting the people unlawfully to meet , and another was for attending an unlawful psseiublage to disturb the public peace .
The prisoner asked if he would be admitted to bail , and was answered in the affirmative ; but was told that he must give forty-eight hours' notice . The biil required was himself in £ 2 IO for each offence , and two sureties in £ 100 each . Tha prisoner said the decision was a piece of monstrous tyranny ; they might call it what they pleased . He had his bail thun riady . Mr . Spooner said , that thoy would have a right to consider the nature of . the bail . If , for instance , he offered aa bail persons who were implicated wfrh him in illegal proceedings , he , for one , would most certainly object t-j such bail . Inspector Hall wished to observe , with respect to what the prisoner had said about his knocking him down , that he bad no intention whatever to treat him with any violence , but tbat he had offered some resistance , and used strong language to him .
The prisoner was than removed from the deck , en-• ouraged by the applause of his friends , and was immediately after conveyed , under a strong escort of the third dragoons to Warwick gaol . There was a large crowd in Moor Street and che Bull Ring , who cheered as he passed along . As every thing about Whito must now be interestiug , we give in addition to the above from the Birmingham Journal the following letter from himself : — - Warwick County Gaol , August 29 th , 1842 .
Dear Mr . Hill , —You will perhaps have received Birmingham reports forwarded by me Inst week , which would show you the state ef the town up to that time . Previous to writing them , I understand that a warrant was issued for my apprehension on some charge connected with tho meetings which I attended , and on Friday morning I was taken into custody whilst having a look at the Times paper in Hurst-atreet . I was escorted to the Public-Ofliise by a number of policemen , and in a Bhort time was brought bufore the magistrates . The evidence EgaiDst me waB of a moat palty description . The main part being furnished by two spies in pay of the police .
1 cross-examined the parties at great length , and exposed a most infamous system of espionage which exists in Birmingham . The examiuatlon iasted for five hours , after which tho magistrates , ( eleven in number , ) retired for nearly an hour , and returned with the Mayor at their bead , who informed me that they had rcoolred to prefer two indictments against me—one for inflimmatory language , made use of in the borough of Birmingham bt two public meetings , and another for language mods use of at a village called Loz . 'lls , out of the borough , but in the county of Warwick , for whieh I would be tried at Warwick . I then applied for bail , and wua informed that it would be granted ut-. der the following conditions : —Myself in £ 200 , and two sureties ir » £ 100 each , to give forty-eight hours notice . Several very respectable persons came forward in the morning and immediately ^ entered their names as bail without any solicitation on my part This was well understood by tbe magistrates , and the forty-eight hours ahuffle ) was thereupon invented .
I was then removed from tbe bar to tho prison which is under the Court , much the same as at Leeds , but was not there ten minutes before I was ordered out , and matched through about twe hunired policemen armed with cutlasses . After passing the raw lobsters , I was brought to a carriage and pair , which was drawn np in Moon-strett for my rtception , and Burroundert by a troop of dragoons . An immense concourse of people were present in Moor-street , and the Bullring , who cheered loudly as the carriage drove towards the Warwick-road . We arrived here at ten o ' clock ou Friday night , and I wim immediately conveyed to my cell . I have had a yard to myself since I have been here and a day-room , and am allowed to purchase one ahilliiig ' u worth of food daily ; of course not having the prison diet at the name time .
Tho charge ia the old story , violent placards , exciting language , and sedition , 1 am to be tried for one part of it at Birmingham sessions , but if I cannot remove my trial from tha sessions there is no earthly chance of escape , for the magistrates who preside , bate me most cordially . I am , yours truly , George White . Rev . Mr . Hill .
Untitled Article
Hanley , in the Potteries , about ten at night After being allowed some coffee at an inn , I was committed to the care ef the keeper of the lock-up—an ironbrewed , tall man , who put a heavy pair of fetters on my legs . In this uneasy condition , I threw myself on my cloak , which I laid upon a rude kind of bed they had brought , and stretched upon a bench . I could not sleep ; for , in addition to the soreness of my ancles , from the weight of tbe fetters , there was a lire in tha little place , and the door was closed after two persons had been smoking . I asked , once , to have the fetters taken off ; but the iron-browed man had laid him down to snore , and be would not take them off to watch orer me . Diylight , to my joy , brought one « f the kind officer * who had j juraoyed with me , and he immediately gave orders that the galling fetters should be taken off .
Tae amiable wife of Jeremiah Yates , the Chartist , ( 0 how my dear little wife will bless her !) came and brought me some breakfast , and the Star . I washed , changed my linen , and felt refreshed .. At twelve at noon ( Saturday , August 27 th . ) I was , once more handcuffed , this time to another poor culprit , —a rebel , I suppose , like myself , —was placed again in the double gig or oar , and conveyed from Hanley to Newcastk-under-Lyme , in the style ef a state-prisoner , guarded by sixteen of the 34 th regiment of foot , with fixed bayoneta . As we went slowly , every body was edified with a sight of the rebel Chartist
Well ; arrived at tho ancient borough of Newcastle ( the town was enfranchised by the second Henry ) , I wa 9 conducted up Btaira to the Town Hail , where Captain Mainwariog and other magistrates were on the bench . The warrant wa 3 then read , stating that on the 15 th of August ( OConnor ' B birth-day , and the day before the anniversary of Psterloo , ) I " unlawfully and wickedly did incite , stir up , persuade , and induce , a great number of the liege subjects of our Lady the Queen , with force and arms , unlawfully , riotously , and tumultously , to assemble together at the said parish of Stoke-uponrTrent , ( Hanley is in that parish ) , in order to make a great noise , riet , tumult , and disturbance ,
in open violation of the laws , goud order , and government of this realm , to the evil and pernicious example ot others , aad against the peace of our Lady the Qusen . " The witnesses against nia were seven . I do not wish to say that any of the men spoke wilful untruths . Two 8 wore to seeing me in the street atHmley , during the nfght of Monday , asseverating that they krew hie . by my cap , < 5 tc . The men , however , laboured under a decejptio visits , for I was not out of the Geor ^ o' and Dragon Inn ( after closing our out-door meeting at dusk ) until midnight , and I then bad on a hat and great coat , and was conducted up to Upper Hauley , and from thence to Burslum , &s .
Other poor men swore that I had actually Baid , " I have heard of your day ' s work , and I approve ot it ; " and this , too , in reference to violence and destruction of property . In vain I protested my innocence of Bach a crime : a supercilious smiJe dwelt on the faces of several around me . I did not shrink from admitting at . once that I was at the meetings , and addressed the people , aye , and that I approved of the stiike for the Charter , —for I will never Bnrmk from the truth , let it cost me what it may . The chivf magistrate , —to hi 3 honour be it spoken , —told me I was endangering my own casa , although now and then ha was a little keen in questioning the witnesses in suoh a way as to open an answer very adverse to me . I protested goutly again this , and was heard . I was committed for the Ass ' z . 'S , to be held here , it is said , very soon , by Special Commission . This was no more than I expected : aud I must a « ain bear testimony to the handsome conduct of Captain Mainwairing , the tnagistratu , who told Mr . Cottaull ,
inte who 38 custody I was committed , to use me well . The Captain is an elderly country gentleman , residing at Whitmore Hall , in the neighbourhood . Ho is , I believe , of Whig politics ; and in person is not much uniika Pj ^ et , of Leicester , but is not quite so-tall . I am also informed that he was a midshipman at ths Nile , under the gallant Nelson , and has seen considerable service . Ha certainly conducted my examination in a way that did him credit Now and then he showed an uu legal-like sort of eagerness to get at the trnth ^ without seeming to remember that his questions wou ' . d prejudice the prisoner . But when I respectfully urged the impropriety of this , and mentioned my experience in the hearing of evidence , as an old reporter , &c , the Captain yielded . I should say , that Ciptain Mainwaring , although evidently a little prejudiced against me ( and no wonder , remembering how the papers of the factious aim to slaughter us ) , is an honest man and a gentleman , in the real sense of the word .
I had a comfortable reception and a comfortable bed at Mr . Cotterill ' s , the chief policeman at Newcastle . S . vw a few Hanley friends there , by Captain Mainwiring ' s permission , on Sunday morning ; and at twelve at noon was placed in an open chaise , and proceeded ( at a " devil ef a rate , " as their officer himself said ) accompsnied by fifteen of the Queen ' s Bays , or 2 nd Dragoon Guards , to the Whitmore station- This guarding with drawn sabres and splendid braso helni&ta , made uto fed I was considered a captive of distinctisn , more especially when I rtfl .-ct'Jd that Jny poor weak body was offered bail , itself in £ 500 bond , and two sureties in £ 250 each . At the station , ( manacled once more on one wrist ) I got into tbe railway with Mr . Cotterill , the troops returning . Oa arriving at Stafford , and finding it was beyond the dinner hour , I waa allowed some refreshment , at the Greyhound Inn , aud
was then speedily handed over to my present keepers . The surgeon was polite in his examination—the turnkeys are all civil and respectful , but remarkably , strict and punctual in their determination to enforce order ; and the Governor I saw only en passiug fey his drawing room door , but be seemed to be a very gentlemanly and kind-looking man . Of course , I have slept on the prisoner ' s proverbially " hard bed . " Aye , and it is a hard bed , indeed ! But then . I slept 00 it with aa anstained conscience as to the crime for which I am committed . My meals are supplied at my own cost—( or rather at the cost of my most dearly beloved wife , and of Jth' oaa who are kiud enough to help hert—by Mr . Pepiow , an intelligent Cftartist of . this place My sleeping cell is above several stairs ; it is but about eight feet long , and five wide ; bnt never mind that . I will bear it with the cheerfulness of . a man and a patriot
At a , quarter te six , the bell rings for us to rise : we are in our walking-yard and day-roem till ayening ; and at six we again are locked up ia our sleeping-cells ; The gaol is so crowded that four men , two a-bed , have to sleep in some of the cells , and this cannot be avoided . There are about sixty men in the day-ward , in which I am placed , and they are poor lads from the Potteries . The charges against many of them , I trust , will not be proven , or it will go hard with them . I have taken the office of " chaplain , " aa they call it , to our ward , and read the form of prayer , morn log and evening . The piayers are really Sno ones , aud I feel a high pleasure hi fiiliug this ( ffice . Now , I might complain , if I were querulous—for who does not know that there is in a prison , much to a man of my habits and disposition , especially , which is irksome ? But no : lam & Chartist and an Englishman , and will neither disgrace < niy political creed , nor the brave spirits of my forefathers .
Your b , a prisoner , but on unchanged aud honest Chartist , ¦ Thosus Coopeb .. To this we add the following , which though intended as a private letter , gives so strong a charactenstic picture of tbe mind , habits , and disposition of this suffering patriot , that we venture its publication : — - Stafford , County Gael , Tuesday , Aug . 30 , 1842 . My Dear Hill , —Last night my writing papsr was taken from ina , and I was told that , in future , I was only to have one sheet at a time , and I was to ask for it when I wanted it , delivering iu the sheet already
written upon ! I fait galied at this , but said notaing awry . This morning I have been delayed for half-anhour between giving in and receiving a sheet of paper r true , tbe turnkeys could not help this , for their hands were over full from the coming in of visitors and tha calling out of prisoners to sea them , for a few minutes each , —and the perpetual unlocking and relockicg of doors occasions them much exertion . 1 hope I shall not be further annoyed in this manner , as I hava not given one cross word to a single human being since I left my own home , and I would not like to feel the spirit of resistance kindled within ma I will bear this peia ' . cuVion / with , the equanimity of , a man and a philosopher—if possible .
I happen to have a few resources within me for " whiling away" the hours of my solitariness . You will-recollect me once telling you , my dear Hill , tbat I committed the first three booka of Paradise Lost , and the whole of Hamlet to memory , when about two and twenty years of age , These , and other delightful treasures of the " imruettal mind" cannot be stolen from me , —no , thank Heaven , nor ever annihilated till my poor frame itself is rendered lifeless . Last night when closed up in my sleeping ceil , I contrived , by resorting to this inward wealth to buy some hours of extatic enjoyment , even within the grated prison . I first repeated the opening half-book of Milton , —( in a very low under tone , of course , —for prisoners are not allowed to speak al « ud;)—and then glided from the majesty of " Paradise Lost '; to the witching wildness
of " jCcrutobel , "— -repeating as much as I could call to mind of that singularly beautiful and mysterious poam of the singular Coleridge . After running over a few sweetly plaintive pieces of Wordsworth—I whanged my enjoyment for music , —and partly in a low vocal strain , and partly in a mock-whistle , called up to my imagination as fully aa I was able , the choruses in the Dettlngen , Te Deum , the gay pastoral music of Acis and Galatea , and ended my reminiscence , for the nonce , of the magnifldent H&ndel , by imitating the instrumental and vocal pomp of "From the Censor , '' the grand double chorus in the superb oratorio of Solomon . I could tasily fancy myself in old Lincoln , and imagine , as in past years , I beard the enthusiastic and skilful voices of tke choral society ( an old subject on which I expended some years of energy ) pealing forth "Live for ever , mighty Solomon . "
These may be triflas to talk of , my dtar Hill , but $ om » , at least , may feel a little pleasure in learning that one victim of the " powers that be , " Jean contrive to turn the hours of lonely confinement into moments of } oj , I am , my dear Bill , Youra , and my brave Brigade's , Faithfully , Thomas Coofeb .
Untitled Article
EXAMINATION AND COMMITTAL OF CNEIL , THE CHARTIST PREACHER . Dudley , Monday Night The re-examination of O'Neil , apprehended fei sedi . tlon at Craley , was appointed to take place in the Town-ball this morning , and , as might be expected , led to a large assembly of the people . The prisoner was brought into the court about eleven o ' clock . He was loudly cheered as he passed along the streets from the prison to the Courthouse . Among the magistrates present were Lord Lyttelton tha Lord-Lieutenant of the couoty , Mr . T . Badger , the Rev . W . H . Cartwright , and Mr . C H . Mollineux . Mr J . Y . Hunt , th 9 Hon . Colonel Clive , and Captain Bennett , were also in court , but did not take pact in the proceedings . . The prosecution was conducted by Mr . Bourne , and Mr . C Twamley appeared on the part of the pri . soner . John Collins also assisted ia the defence of the prisoner .
Among the auditory in court were several females , members of ONeii ' s congregation , who wept bitterly during tha proceedings . O'Neii and Blanchfi ^ ld were charged with being implicated in the same offence , and upon being placed at tae bar refused to take off their hats . They were immediately removed from their heads by order of the magistrates . Tue charge , as read by Mr . Bourne , was to the fallowing effect : — " Bsing , together with divers other evil-dispesed persons , unlawfnlly assembled together , on Friday last , to th 9 disturbance of the publi p peace , notwithstand . ing the proclamation of her Majesty , lately issued , forbidding all such meetings . "
The confusion and tumult at this period was so great , that Mr . C . Mollineux proceeded to read the Riot Act out of the Court-house window , and immediately after the Dragoons proceeded to clear the streets around the hall . O'Neil and Blanchficld appeared much amused with the proceeding . Mr . J . J . Diansfield , accountant of the British iron Company ' s works , was called , and spoke to the attendance of the two prisoners at a meeting held at the Fiveways , in the parish of Rowley , on Friday last , and described th 9 language U 3 ed by the prisoner O'Neil on that occasion . In speaking of the House of Commons he inquired of what was it composed ? Of lawyers—Did they care for the people ? Of cut-throat gentleinen- * I Bvari the piid military—Did they care for the people ? Of foxhunting gentry—Did they care for the people ? He said , I have declared , and do declare , that I owe no
allegiance to the Government . It is an usurped Government I am a Christian ana a man of peace . Ha went on to say , " I will not pay taxes . I have not drunk any intoxicating liquors for two > ears , nor have I drunk tea , coffoe , or any exciseable articles for many months . " He told the meeting that there " was once a king of France who attempted to lay a poll-tax . A poll-tax was a tax upon every head . A countryman of mine resisted this tax , and killed the collector . His name waa Wat Tyler ; and from that time to the present no Government has ever dared to impose a tax upon each individual . " Witness considered the mseticg calculated to create a great terror in the neighbour hood . There was not much shouting until the military arrived . O'Neil had then left tho field . Before he left he stated that a meeting would tike place at half-past two , at Old-bill , which he intended to address . I did not notice the prisoner Blancbfield there .
The colliers in the neighbourhood of the place where the meeting was he ' . d are now but of work in conse quence of intimidation , and the' second meeting was to be held near some of our pita where the men were at work . The country in that neighbourhood is in a state of greit excitement . The country being so excited , I think the meetings calculated to create terror . : Thomas Llawellin's evidence spoke to the character of the meeting held at the Five-ways , Old-hill , and identified O'Ntil and Bianchfield as the two partiet most conspicuous in the proceedings . .
Charles Small . —I om a mine agent , and live nea Corngreaves . I attended the meeting on Friday at tha Five-ways . When I went , there might be 200 person ! present . I afterwards eaw the multitude of collien move into a field near Corngreaves-works . A person came up riding through the crowd ; O'Neil was that person . The mob increased in number to between 300 and 400 , or it might be more- The two prisanea and two other porsona were elevated above the rest The chairman waa a person named Forrest He addressed the meeting for a few minutes , but I could not hear what he said . O'Neil then got up . He commenced by observing that by trade he was a letter-prea printer , and had little more time than themselves to
inquire into things . He found by inquiry that trade was reviving—that the day before iron had risen £ l a ton , and was that a time for masters to reduce men ' s w ^ ges ? Tbe next witness could hear was " a rotten and corrupt House of Commons , and that Sir Robert Peel was a robber . " He referred to the income-tax , which wculdbe 7 d . in the pound ; and said , the masters , to meet it , were reducing wages Cd . a day , which would be a very profitable thing . He said he was a Christiu , and b-Jlonged to a Christian society , and would not pay taxes , and tbat the law had no command ef him , and that he would not obay the law . Tha witness here confirmed the evidence of Mr . Dransfleld , as to O'Neil * reference to the conduct of Wat Tyler and the killing of the collector . O'N « il then told them about &
cmmng monkey , who sat by the fire while some chesnnti wera roasting . He durst not put in bis own paws , bat put ic the cat ' s to pull them oat He then put a show of bands to Bee if they would stand the reduction ot wages . There wero many hands help up , and one I noticed was the hand of a man who had not worked for the I < i 3 t six years . There have been many meetings is the day and night in the neighbourhood , which haTe put the inhabitants in great fear . Ths man who I saw put up his hands and who has not worked for six years , is a m&Tried man with a family . I do not know bow he has supported himself . The meeting of Friday was calculated to create great alarm . Many of the collien had sticks . After O'Neil had done , Blanchfield , tha little tailor , addressed the meeting , and I went away .
Cr ^ ss-examlned by Mr . Twamlet . —I expected the persons who attended the meeting would visit me and my men , who were at work , about half a mile distant Just as the meeting broke up , the soldiers arriTed . There was some little shouting , bat not roach . Am soon as the sermon was over , the soldiers came up . By Mr . BoUbne . —The tendency of O'Neil ' s Bpeeeb was to induce the people not to pay taxes , and to disobey the law . : By O'Neil—I was afraid of the consequences of the meeting , because of the threats ; I bad heard of the colliers being forced out of the pits ; but I never heard of these threats , until you gentlemen came preaching abeut the country .
Isaiah NorthaU deposed that he lived at Craley-heaUi , and attended on Wednesday evening , the 2-ith of August , and saw Blanchfield there . I heard him say , that they had had a meeting at Westbromwlcb , » d tho colliers had all agreed not to go to work until they had got 4 s . for eight hours . He gave notice of the meeting at the Five-ways on Friday morning , and said O'Neil would be present , and also a meeting on the ground on which he stood the same day . Tbat was the case against the prisoners . Mr . Twamley said , be presumed there was no mcmaity for him to make many observations , as there w no charge against his clients . The workmen had now » clear right to combine for the . purpose of supporting the present rate of wage ? . This could not be denied . There was a dispute between the masters and the n ®> and , in the present cose , the latter had held a pea * able and perfectly legal meeting for the assertion « what they considered their rights . He did nat da /
that illegal meetings hn' * been held in various parts' * the country , but it was most extraordinary that , w " one exception , the witnesses for the prosecution had all declared that they had no apprehenii * of danger . Ha contended , then , that his elia * had only attended a perfectly legal meeting , **• which , throughout , waa conducted In a pea **" manner . With regard to the prisoner Blanchfield . & questionably there was not the slightest evidenw tj affi : ct him in a criminatory manner ; and tbe war *" against him must be dismissed . With respect to 0 'S « " < he felt that ths case against him rested upon the t * timony of Mr . Dransfleld , which had been given w * fair , clear , and impartial manner . He ( Mr . TwsbW confessed that some isolated expressions attributed « Mr . ONeil did not meet with his ( Mr . TwamiflF approbation , bat nevertheless their general scops WJ bearing would be justified by a large minority " . reformers . .
Lord Lyttleton said , the magistratz-s were » opinion that Mr . Twamley need not address himself tbe points to which he referred . They should , W ^ be happy to hear him upon the point whether 0 ^ was or waa not guilty of an offence in attending meeting after the publication of the Qaeen ' s prftw mation . ^ l . Mr . Twamley would do so . Ho contended tw " Queen ' s proclamation did not make alaw .. •" " , only effect was to give notice of an existing ta *» w notifying . 'to the public tbat the authorities J ^ ^ apply its provisions rigidly . The proclamation J « J law where it found it , but it prevented the PuW 1 Vuj # being taken by surprise . This meeting was pn »* £ called , and held in the face of day , for a legal porP " * and conducted in a peaceable manner
. . ., « . Mr . Bourne said , Mr . Twamley ' s observatlcDJ ^ piled merely to a case of riot The nature ^ . V ^ racterof the meeting in terrorem poputi , at '* "JrLft prisoners attended after the proclamation of ^ Jv ^ , in bis opinion rendered it illegal- Ha apprebende ^ magistrates would deem it their duty to conunnj ^ Mr . CilDECOTS—The attendance at tbe meews question after tbe Queen's proclamation wa * stateable offence , but one at common law . « . The Magirtrates , after being absent for an bo ** } turned and committed both prisoners to take ^ t , 0 at Stafford . They would , however , take tvu " . himself in £ 800 , and two sureties of £ 100 etcai ° ^ chard in £ 100 , and two sureties in £ 50 each . Th * prisoners were then removtd .
Untitled Article
Letters peom Alexandria of the 7 th ^ f ^ Lnsei that the Nile oontinued to rise very h ?™ ' *' * : ? W el »« grot anxiety for the erops . A boara u ' g ^ physicians had been appointed to devise > •» w Kainfct the plague in Lower Egypt . xn ^ of cases in Alexandria did not exceed t * o v a day .
Untitled Article
ARREST OF COOPER . From the Leicester Chronicle . About nine o ' clock yesterday morning , Mr . Cottrill , Superintendent of the Newcastle-undor-Lyne polioa , and Mr . Rhodes , Superintendent of tho Hanley police , arrived iu this town with a warrant for tho apprehension of Cooper , for- having incited a mob to acts of violence at Hanley and elsewhere , on the 15 th inst . ( Monday ) They immediately sent up to the station-house for the superintendent or ono of the swgeaLts of police , on which sergeant Wright went down to them at the Stag and Pheasant , when he was told wkat their business was , aud askaa if they had such a man in Leicester Wright described Cooper ' s appearance and manner , when they immediately said that he waa the man they were after . The Staffordshire officers then followed Sergeant Wright to the magistrates , who , having heard their statements , backed the warrant , which sergeant Wright and policeman Smith proceeded to execute .
Smith remained on the Coal-hill , while Wright went down Church-gate , and seeing that Cooper w&s in his shop , crossed over as if to look at some papers . Cooper Baw him looking in ut the window , and culled out to hfm , waving his band— " Go away , sergeant Wright ! go away ! You sha ' n't see any of them , " Sic , and move ! awuy the papers he supposed Wright was looking at After a minute or so , Wright beckoneX Smith down to him , and thoy entered Cooper ' s shop , and told him they had a warrant against him . Cooper turned tohiswifo and said , "My dear ! they lave cciiie for mo at last—it ia no more than I expected . I ' m done for . " Aa they were leaving the shop he turned to the crowd outside ( some forty or fifty ) and said , "My lads 1 I'm going—they have coino to fetch mo ; but its all in the -cause of truth . " Aud when going towards the station-house , he told Wright he was to mind and never abuse the Chartists or himself ( Cooper)—the Chartists had a good cause and he was to lot thtm alone . He was removed to the
railway about half-past one , in the custody of the Staffordshire officers , in an omnibus , a guard of police accompanying it ; a large number of his " beloved brigade " of bhaksperean Chartists , who had beard of what was going on—men , boys , and girls , the greater part of whom were very active in the late disturbances—also followed as close as they could : —the women were very angry , aud decidedly the moat noisy of the lot . The officers and their prisoner left by the twenty minutes to two down-train . To the above statement of tha Leicester Chronicle , we give the following as received personally from Mr . Cooper : — Stafford County Gaol , Monday evening , August 29 th , 1842 .
My dear Hill , —You will expect some account from me . The warrant for ny apprehension was served upon me at my own house , 11 , Church Gate , Leicester , last Friday morning , the 26 th of August , > y Wright and F . Smith , two of the Leicester " bluebottles . " The men were quite civil to me , and conducted me ( handcuffed to one of them ) along tke publio street to the lock-up . ^ My beloved little wife parted with me like a heroine . God bless her , and support her ! She is worthy , indeed , to be the wife of the ' Shaksperean General . " The squad of the Whigling papers came on the espial to the lock-up , to see how the democrat would conduct himself . I gave them to know that I smelt what they were about , although the Chronicle hypocrite warned me to beware of poor BotterlU , a reporter to the Tory press .
After waiting some time , and seeing a few of my brigade , I was ushered into the august presence of the Leicester borough authorities i and by them finally committed into the hands of the Potteries' officers , who had brought the warrant for me . An omnibus was brought to the door of the Police-office , and , amidst a guard , and a crowd of my own beloved lads , I bad to step into It ( handcuffed again ) , and to be driven off , at a Tattling rate . Crewds ran along the streets , and I gave my hand , perhaps for the last time , to many a brave and faithful-hearted , though poor and despised Cbstist , who had cleaved tome through months of evil report and good report Again , they crowded the bridge above the railway station , and once more I beckoned them "farewell . "
The two officers who had me in custody were kind to a degree which will cause me to respect tbem while I have breath . They constantly said , "Yon conduct yourself like a gentleman , and it is not in our place to injure you . " fc From Derby we travelled in a kind of double gig , ¦ topping at Uttouter to take tea , and arrived at
Untitled Article
£ THE NORTHERN S ? T A R .
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 3, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct904/page/6/
-