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33 SH XJOIJBT OF JUSTICIARY . ^ P ^ AL <> F THE COTTON SPINNERS ~ 2 Wkdhetoat , Jaktia * y 3 . ; : ~ "TMr day fiie po *^ ojied trial of Thomas Hunter , «? «* crJB ^ ckett , Jli ^ a-iM Nefll » . Jame « Gibfi / , and ^ 2 KOT ^ M * L ( ran , rotton-spjimerej for illegal * com-^ SaaiLtttra ^ asnvdlt , ^ fire-raising , andmurder , was = * g » m *| i roB | li forward . The indictment on- this »~? roeisioh Was in the form of criminal letters , con'J 8 « iHingfeVif any additional charges . It sat forth , " 3 &at sneral years ago , the precise time unknown , a . ^ eat number ^ f cotton spinners formed themselves _ EB 4 »;»« oniHnatioQfor the purpose of keepingup the / jprke of wages and more effectually to attain their - -a ^ ect , they administered to each other , a secret "_ 2 ™^' 'lferaig tbe . member * to execute every ' task " *" « : « » e majority might impose- ; " and the said
^ swciauoDtjeaMTed from feme to time to strike work , * " 2 ? 4 ?** theae occasions they appointed certain- of sikrar number to be a guard committee , to watch the - « tton bqHIs where work was struck , and by means - ^ menatts ,-molestation , and threats , to deter others ~ ^ wb * orkingTB said mills—of which several specific -xsrtanrSs were brought forward ; and , that the per-^ gfrat ara of gaid enmw might escape justice , ' they Jjsecared law-agents , or other persons , to become ^ easiisaerg in thebadl-bondrequired to be executed " ^ fet-berappearaaee of ^ he accused to stand trial s and jfcce in their hands the amount in money of the . ^ esaltgr to be paid in forfeiture by the flight and "S ^ gjiat ion of = tne accused . Another charge was , r ^ isi they had conspired to write threatening letters
: -5 *« ie masters « nq managers , M'XeDl being speri--3 Lcaily charged with writing one of these letters , = xbs 1 also with having forcibly invaded the dwelhng-&eases of the workmen , and assaulting them , tor ise purpose of deterring them from taking work . Jbsa that , in order to carry this object into effect , £ &ej appointed a secret select committee , filenames ¦*« £ wMch were kept secret , from the general meia-Ses . and . are -unknown to the prosecctoT . And . ^ &aX the prisoners were all members of tlie said - -association in January , 1 S 37 , and were so at the < £ stes of the crimes libelled ; and that , some time in 2 S 37 , Thomas Hunter was chosen president of tiie 3 *» id Association , Peter Hackett , treasurer , Richard -J 58 * NeIll , secretary , and James Gibb , assistant secrc--: ^ btj ^ and William . M'Lean was appointed a ineni-¦ 3 » er « f the guard committee . The indictment then ** Sit oa to relate the specific facts , beginning with - -sie strike of work in the month of April 1 S 37 * wheu
5 ^ bc trial was formerly brought forward . It charged X&CBXias Hcnfec , the president , wiia having proposed ¦ ^ se secret committee , and the other prisoners wirh . ¦^ sdn g been present at the meeting , and concurring sa tap appointment of said committee . The charge ^ sumier was to the effect that , on the 22 d Juiv , wlSJZ , the secret committee , and the four prisoners ^ 2 x parties , did instigate -M'Lean to assassinate a « Soa spinner , by . shooting ; him with s . pistol , fur ^ Sse-som of 1 " 2 Q ; and accordingly , on the same night , - iFLesa proceeded armed with a pistol , an 1 in s Orde-street of Anderstou , Glasgow , discharged the . ^ astol at the parson of John Smith , residing in a ¦ aoffimssit called Honlusworth ' s Barracks , in Cheap-^¦ de ef Anderston ; and the said shot took effect on d&eiMssan of the said John Smith , and one of the JiraSrts penetrated his back , and niortaliy wounded jr . £ Ei , in consequence of which he died . The letters ^ t 3 w » proceeded to charge the . crime against all the i-srk-aners .
TLere were thirty-three documents and instrasseeaxs labelled to be produced on the trial ; and E ? ii * el 7-one witnesses summoned on the } . -art of the ^ io's-ii , and fifty-eight iu eicnlpatiuu . " TLe indictment having been Tend over , the pri-- * 3 ek «! s severally pleajeu ;> fct Guilty . Wl Duncan AfNeill on' tha ' part of the prli -eeaairs took several objections to tais ponJeroas int £ sstHir"nt , particularly tj the -doubl « > t ^ tuig yi tiie -cjaarpe of znurder . After a reply from the'Soliciturr ^ euieni ,, a . counier reply trnru Mr . Robensdu , uiid * SiEe disc 5 ission uraoiiij tliejnuke ? , "
* he isecoiid charze of Eiurdrr wa- ; witWrawn , « £ ci cnaseiit of tiif Pri » . « eontor ; nmi me inJictintnt , ^*^ 1 j this exception , was hi-ld n-levnnt . U'ke foll « vdng Jury was then iiapanuelled : — Jnhn Grahain , farmer , Whitburn . Sudtli Ferguson , aikaifTcer , James' Square . - -Johu Eggo . merdi . tuw Chiirlot . e Street , L ^^ th . Mrmy Lediard , Vievrtield Cottage , county oi E ( hnbnrgh . William Smith , agent , ilorton Street , Leith . - Xieorge Bavne , m :-rchaut . Dnu !> ar . ' : fl e&rse OxFey , barter , Canongate . Ilohert ilartin , growr , East Colder . -Joan Clark , grocer , Czsvs Street , ^ uoert White , meal dealer , Bath ^ ate . Thnmas Sujvuiioon , brush maker , South College Street
Aleiander Stoddart , farmer , Insliiton Mains . David Rid- > ath , confectioner , Xicolson Street . . Matthew Krier , baker , St . Patrick Square . Wflliam Barton , wright , Colin ton . "Tbere were seventeen jnrymen challenged on the gsart of the pr isoners . Tie I ^ ord Justice Clerk « rid , from the great im-, ^« t ancc of this case , it was equally for the interest ~* &zhtt prisoners and ui the public tnatnopart of the - « i& : ace should be published till the verdict of the ~^ &F « "as given . If aay parry published the evidence Aeinre that time , the tourt would kuo-, v howto deal vxitiitbem . A * rd-Moncrieff said this snegestion was the more iftceessdJT , as tbe prisoners might have witnesses - a £ > GUi evidence would fully explain away the import * £ ihe evi i ? nce for tbe prosecution ; aan , therefore , 3 hca o-jfht to be jKven 10 the public together . ^ iiejbliowim wituesses were thea examine il :
¦^« orge Salmon : ! , Esq . Proenrntor Fiscal , was ^ aas ? B . t when the prisoners emitted their declaration .--: ^ Seiag- s hpwi ! two dedaradous , identifies them as r 5 » ek- and voluntarily emitted by Hunter , two by j& £ * r Ilacket , taree ' by M'Neill , " two by Gibb . and ir « bx M 'LsasL . ^ iTa ^ ter Moir , Esq . Sheriff Suosdiut <> of Lanark , « T = "' -crated the furiner witness . Visit-i John 5 » s ^ i ! ibeforehe died , iu the Intirmarr , on Sunday -32 fitf Jalr , and t » ik aurpoatiou-fromhim . ldea " - sr £ « the deposition . The man was quite collected , ipsitfretiy distinct iu Li-s answers ; the deposidon was octxraiely taken do-. vn . Sjthe Coort—Smith was perfectly avrarexhat Le < 9 ** r dfdlZ . Tit Connsel lor tje prisoners admitted that the ^ zxjrilcs produced were those referred to hi the de classii ^ iii .
-Mr . Sahnond caHed . —Wzs present when taepri-^ vzxr-u with the exception of . M'Lean . were sppre-^ f -i-ded . They ¦ vrer . ' apprehpudej in ihe house of ^ i . Jioui Snjilii , liiacklay Close ,. G « iJ ! owgate Street , ? = £ : : l ?^ o ^ - . Mr . . Siierill Alison , Mr . > "isa , C-jpt . iliH-^ er-ii t he police , and a number of poiir ^ oilier * , were jt- ^ ut . There were ic the cio ^ e a number of ^« jile , seeuiiagly Ci-tton spinners , vrhtzi we went Xiti tiherin " , with Captaiu Mliier ani ilr . ^\ L = h , zs . d iwen before wimess ; ani when he went in , ' ¦ ' ¦**¦ ii- - 'eria uDd Captain Miller" ub-I gone . up a -tziiH wooden stair , tndvhen vviuiessgot up , theV ' « t- ^ i us . a loss u > iiud u \« : room- They at iast dis--. ts ^^ Ta . i a room ; V iinks he was the tirst tiiat en-*« i s : id the prisoner Hunter was sitting on a * fi « i . 2 " at the eud of a- table : his back was to the ¦
• & « ue : of Hie r ' ooin . \ Yifci = * s askeu . if he-was the J ^ r ^ e -rjj , and he said Yes . Uackett - « us uear the fips « - ei of the table , ar . d to a side ; thinks . Gibb was jij- ^ i asleep on somethinsr like a s ^ fa , at" leaf : he -iiipeirad to be asleep . ArNeill w . is not iu that :-- w * : in , if he remeiiibers right ; but . he was got . in jOx ^ adjuiiuiig room in the same house , where his "sszfe dso was . Witness savr him brt .-aj ; ht into the - ^ Bc-: a , l > at uid not see Lim apprshi ^ iuel ; his wife ¦ cras stnn-iin ^ at the door , " liiere uairhi be as or ¦ 3 e « s persons in the room besides ; they were all ra&eii i 2 to custi > dy . A search was made of that -TMtui , and al ; o of a large rjom th :-y called the ComiSEslree lloom . So ^ ie money was futznd on Ilnckett ' s gaozflii : Mr . Kish . £ > und " it , but witness saw it thiaki ! was £ 11 and
^ pzxpn ^ it a shULug . Hemen--tsaiicid that the £ 19 belonged to ths Association , but ?^ ie ihiliing was his own . The money conssted- of «« iBe bank notes . Took a note of the Eioiiey in his - ? £ ^ r 4 i 3 ok , and has an extract of that bow ; part . was cr Jiate and part in silver , but he claimed only one of - £ se -ehiilings as his own . The money was afterwards * r 2 aiKied on the part of the Associanoa . Witness -ddDks it was one Join Trotter wi > o gut it . Found jtmotf- papers ou the table of the small rjo : a . -There trat > - also a / bojk lying o ^ en before Hackett , and « iisawotoess took it up , he said it was his . We -asessto the large or Committee Room , where there ^ Eaf ac iron safe standi ng on a frame ; it was locked ; - \ Peicx Hackett gave us the kev . There were some
fytKbis xa . lt ^ and a wooden Iock 6 ist place in the frame , ¦^ a ^ ich required three keys to open it . We got one J 3 & ? &axL Peter Hackett , and on asking who had the --ftiUrj lie said he did not know who had them . It -SE 3 E forced open at that raae , and we fouud in it a - ^ cci of minute , with a large red seal appended in-« ZKad < r f agnatureB . " There -was also onft book in jgrasSkdlar , of small aze ; there were two or three iatc&s . Fouitd some Urge books , but cannot speak - ^ aeciaSly -where they were found . All these things mmw / fitn i . igntify . { l"he witness id £ iitiiied tuem = 3 s ^ JKidingly . } A paper being handed to witness , he y = si £ i £ was given to him by Mr . xsish , as having been 'Sjsssxd . at a subsequent period . - ' . ( Witness here said he
• sz&Egiit he hod luade a mistake as to _ the name of -S& * *™\ r wh i had got the money—Ins name was ^ Kazfcer , not Trotter . ) Found some printed papers 9 « ae > of the drawers of the desk . ' There were jsnss cojpies fc ' . n one . Being shown a placard , he : a £ caii 8 eait as oue . As Fiscal of the comity , iuforssb&Sbo . ' teasjpx ^ o . to him of an outrage on a house -j ^ aacjaed as a edging by one Donochy , in July last . afejgatAe , yf jrmaaon about noon of the 1 st July , ¦ are . ilie dayitjiippened ; went immediately to the -Maaj- ^ J ^ grecognosced in the neighbouriiood ; or-. ^ esel *« ean 3 rfer ^ cnBeiaence for Riddle , M'Manus , iaaiM CoSe or C ^ bea , becdei other Three that wit-3 BB »« aae ^ ood hid gone off with theiru Did not i III ¦ i H •* - " '" - npp fcfcgnnTny them . Imported the j fm / f ^ vnjyiytm JBtt . .. tjffie £ r «« ra agent . Th ? Rd three
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. i-i Him him -mi i —»» nii^—e—gM pewo&s were ^ indicte ^ to stahd' trial at ihe next Circtutof { aasgor # . ^ Being shown ^ n ifadictiaent , he identified it . ' Being nhown a eeafence of ontkwry apainrt these persons , he ioentified it » Has since receivflfd- infonnationa against these persons . Cah-EDtrecoTlect . the . predse date , but it is within a mo n ^ . In cduseqnencepf flieinformation , he sent ^> Ma nchester , apprehended Riddle , and he is now w Glasgowjail ; he is indicted for the same offence . Being shown a tin canister , witness identified it as being that : which he received from Mr . James Wood , cotton * -spinner , in Bridgeton ; received it in consequence of a reported outrage . Witness went to th « ajMirtb inquire , and Mr , Wood handed him the canister . The date was about the 14 th July : As
soon as he got to Glasgow , he" went to every tinsmith in Glasgow to seeif they had sold * nch n thing , and John Ferguson , tinsmith , in StockwelJ-sfcreet , on the same ni ght , identified it as having been made by him- . Being shown a document , he identified . it as ahetition and complaint made by him against David Keddle , and contains the . procedure in Court on that occasin . The charge against thu accused is one under what is called Hume ' s act , or the combination act , authorising a summary conviction before the . Sheriff , for molesdng workmen ; Keddiewas found guilty * . Mr . Gemmel attended as agent on his bahalf ; he is sitting here to-day . After the prisoner was founl guihy , Mr . Gemmel proposed that sentence should be delayed ; and he would nse his influence . I thiak he said .
Mr . M'NeilL—Are we in a condition to go into shntpust now . —Over-rnled . m W-itueis weut on—Mr . Gemmel said he would use hisinflaeuce to prevent such disturbances in future . He said he Would use his influence with the committee to put an end to the molestation of the workmen , Sentence was delayed in consequence ; at one time it was adjourned for a week , and latterly for two or three months . The statement was addressed to the Sberiif . Is . certain that a change took place after this—jaw it himself—particularly at the Adelphi Factory ; the numbers who snrrouiided it bud greatly dirainished . | There was a cessation of disturbance . Knows ama . ii named John Sheriff ; he is shopman to Mr . MvDonpal in the Arcade .
Had occasion to inquire of him shout selling pistol bullets . Got for him two bullets . It was shortly af . er Smith had been shot on the 22 d July ; mid j gave the bullets to the medical gentleman who were io examine Smith ' body . WjW present when Ssaith ' s cieposidou -was mado in the Inlirmary . Smith was sensible at the dme . He deLucnitely ; vnd correctly uuswered the <| Ui'stioES . The doctors brought back the bullets , " - with a flattened one , wai-jh they said they took out of the man's body . Ileutifiedthe H .-itteued bullet . The bullets he got from Sheriff were precisely like those now shown . Anthony Xish , me . ssei . j : er-at-anns . —Proved the second seclnration of M'Leau . Accompanied the Sheriff and Fiscal when they went to appreheu < i the
^ nst'n ^ rs m Blackboy Close , Gallowg- ^ te . Found lour there . —All « 3 xceptM i Lean . Searched them or saw them searched . Found . , £ 19 on Hackett . Found books and papers in the room . There ira a sate in llie a-ijoiniug ri > om . Ihey suid the safe was theirs . Got the key , witness believes , from Hackett Mid iirand : * . box iniine containniji three locks . Got the key of one lock from Hackett , ' who ra ' . d he did not know who had the others . Witness broke it open . [ Here witness idendiiedthe various ardcles . j Il « EomU ; rs being desired to search for a person aamed Tiiomas Riddle , accusi-d of invading" a dw- eillng-hoaae . Received dirccdous from Mr . Salu ^ jud th « Fiscal . Was r . n » uccessful ; and alsj - . or-MrManuo aad il ^ Coflie , equally uusnccessful .-Alexander Cunningham . Fotsud certain document ; , which he ivleutilied . Thev were letters and
parts of letters . - . The Lord Advocate said , before exam-hung the next v . itncss . he wished to state , " that they Lad experienced die greatest pos .-ible dimculty in procuring the persons to give evidence in this mattiT ; and he had given to the witness abo ; : t to be examined , and to the others , an -assurance of tiie fullest protertior wldch . the law cr . ujd give , b-. im before and alter trial—an assr . rniice whinh he vvisUe . i the Court no » v to re ^ ewr . W « . wijhed also to pnt it to the . counsel on the opposite aAe whether thev would , nnder these drcumstanci-s , examine tlieaii
in inisin ! ibv $ % s to any thing th . it had been done iu thft precognitioii , by putting questions whick iru ' ^ ht deeply affect tbe personal snf . ty of these witnesses " ; or whether they would not rest satisfied with " tln .-knowledge that the matter hr . d been conducted brnn indiviJu : u of the lfaniiTig ni : d -experience of Mr . Sher iff Ah ^ rn , whose nama l ; e considered a guarair tee that nuthiugimprojter had been done or attempted in the matle : ' . lie uiu not wish to conceal any thing ; hi- learned frieutls nndit do as they liked ; but he left ic to their discretion whut course to follow .
Mr . D . M'XeS said , if ik- Lord Alv ,-tate wov . Td state what conrse had beeii a ^ rfted , they wtre quite wiliing to tike it upon his statement . The Lord Advocate said , as far as lie was concerned , all he did was to give them the assurance o : protection . Mr . llobertson . —D , that was quite proper . Jame * Moat was the next witness i \ d ] eJ ; but before he was sworn , Mr . Anderson , ou behalf of the panuels , objected to his aduiis--. ibiiity , on the groiuiu tliat a reward oi £ 100 , in a- " . ' ' , itioii to a reward of A' 5 lK ! bv the SheriC
of La : iarksliire , had bran offered by Lord Johii Rnssell ' ou the part of the Crotvn , ' -fW such iufiirmation and evidence as might leal \> the discovery and eonvictija oi the murderer or murderers - « f the inan Smiih . Aa-undue bins- ' was tliu . ' ? < t 1 vpu to the jvitaefs to render his evidence * u ch as wo"id eiitiUe Mm to the reward oiiered . He submitter that the objection to Moat '» evidence iu these Circiinisiuiices wasu . gojJ one . lie added , ths . t m point oi iaet , a new .--pupi .-r cciitioversy ]> . ; id been carried ou betweeii ct-nuiu of the " witnesses v . - iih rei .: iri to their respective cLiims to receive the re-. vriru ofier ^ a .
TLe Solid !; ir-GeiK-nil sr . ji ! , he was much at a lo < s to conceive -irliy his learned friends should objvffto Moa * uS fiiJt-iii-e - ^ to ' r . if-the objection held < .-oudiu regard t . > " i-. ue wiraess iu the trial , "' it isn .-r r ^ uailv . apply tn the whi < 1 * witiu'sses—not les » to T \ ir . SaTiabnd an- ! xl-. v- other two vdtnesse > who hnU a-lreaJv ueen examined , than to those now to be ex-j ; ni ; ie . i . —If- ^ pplicaJjle at all , it mi ^ ht be pmper to sir . te the objecuou when tlw witnesses came to be c . \; Uci : jed upoa t . ie tmu \ ier-, bui it came odd enough , beiore Moat had o ] M _ -uedh ; j mouth . .- ¦ Mr . P . Rubertsun admitted toat the objection was premature if Z > lo ? . t was not t- j be exa-urhied : u < to thein . ir . ler ; Lut he ( 2 \ Ir . R . ) -- understood "that" ihe Cfo \ rii Counsel hnd said thev were to do ^
lTie Solicitor-General hud never said a -wor-1 cbontthat ; but there was . no doubt he meant to examine Moat " about a variety of tHuirs , nznl rd ^ Lt c ; . iae iiea ' r u > rLe ^ uri-r also " . The Li-araed Gentleman then pror-.-eJed to qnote- a passage from Alison on Criminal-Law , cliovring that it ' was not a < £ .. O ' I ol'jectioji to a wltLess that he . had Ij ^ ii ofiered a reward for iis evidence by statute or by tbe public authorities , though it iiiigllt uai-ct his cr \ MibilUy . He showed that the same principle was recognised ia the Eusiish Courts ; aiidartiued . U-. il il a contrary priuciiile wore to ]*> adi £ aeJ , i : woull shut the door from aii- reward Jver Lciug ' oiL-reil i-. > a witness .
_ li : e Li ^ rd Advocate sail , that instead of aiiT witness haviu ^ tom e forvvard to give ; endcuce in consequence of tbe offer of a reward , it -was ;; remarkable feature of this case that r . o persrn had come forward to claim the reward , und he !; eii ^ veo the idea of a reward lr-id never entered-into their iniiids ; on the contrary-, they were most reluctant witnesses , aud required the strongest assurances oj protecticu "before they would give evidence at ;; 11 As to the newspaper controversy o : i the . respective alaims of ¦ sritijes ? i-s to the rewnrd , he could oulv «> v he had never heard of it . " *
. Mr . Robertson , after remarking iLat as yet there was no . prouf before the Cmui-- - as to ihe reluctance of witnesses to l > e examined , proceeded to beg the Court to look at the circciustauces in which the reward was offered iu the present case . it was not a reward oifered by the . statute iavr of the- laud . It was not from a * third party without the knowledge of the Crown . " The peculiarity of this-case . was , that it was not a reward offered for tha d-scoverv oi iLe iiinr . i *> r . jrj nnv-. ' ila .-, »¦ ,. „ madiscovery oi i ^ e niurdererspayable oy
cu-_ , . viction . It was » promise ol ' . a reward tu perso .: ^ . so give ~ s \\ ch iul , ^ ma"du . i and evidence us woui . i ieu / . ; to the ciscovery and conviction of the muruere- or xnurderers . " The witness , tiitivfore , assuming that he knows of the existence of the rer . -urd at the time he jsgmughisevideuce , must feel that he isreceivuiT tue reward payable upon the convicri .. ii of theprisoMers " . If it were said tuat the vritiiess had never heard of the reward , that might then be tue subject oi investigation . ¦
Their Lordships on the beach then consulted together for _ aiVw moments ; after which they severally stated their opinions at length against " the" objection — the sum oi which was , that the admissibility of witnesses uuder such circumstances was fully consuited by the law of Scotland ; aad that if it were otherwise , the consequence would inevitably fo llow , that whenever Government offered a reward for information respecting any atrocious deed , a step which was absolutely necessary for the ends of public justice , file-very act of o ffering the reward would destrov every chance of the crime being detected . It would be different if the reward were offered directly and secretly , and for the purpose of bribin ? to tell an uutrath , but it was offered publicly and for the truth . But . tliouga tae circumstance . * of a reward being offered , as in this case , could not affect the admissi bility of the witnesses , itmight affect their credibility . jFhe ' Ldrd Justice Clerk then repelled tie objection , and the Court vrucetsued to examine .
Jam ?* Moat ; preliminary to which , Lord Moncrieff renewed the- assurance already given . by the lioi'd Advocate , of the full protection of the law . He then proceeded to state that he is a cotton sphiu er ; has been so for more than tw ' euty years ; belongs to the Association of cotton spinuers ; wm iniaatea more than nvo years ago . Bv being initiated , io
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means tha ^ Tie was taken to ajjublio-honse , and there swomjtp ; tbnpeal ihe proceedings of tiiftAisQciation nnd ;{ b stand bj'thes resolutions of ^^ tfte jnajority Thsitpath y he believes , tas ' ance then continued to be » dminigtered to new member !} . Witness has never ceased to be t > : ¦ member i of the Association since he entered , except for three years , during which time he paidmoney-into the Associations . The time he first , ceased to pay was in 1820 , and he joined it again iu 1830 ; was not re-sworn ou entering at that time ; . Witness has seen others sworn since he first became a member , but does not reineuiber haying seen any sworn / since 1830 . He knows , however , that it is the rule of the Association to swear m
members on first entering . Witness was . a member of the supply committee at one tbae , perhaps about 1822 or 1823 ; was also a member of the supply committee which was appointed during tbe l ; ist strike . In ordinary circumstances , and where there is no strike , there is only one committee—the finance , for managing for general purpostg ; but when particular circumstances arise , special committees are aj > pointed . A general strike took place at the end of 1826 , at which time a supply committee was apt pointed . The supply committee was different feom the finance committee . As far as his knowledge leads , he would say that the object ' : of that committee was to collect supplies from the members , and in short to take the chief management of the
concerns of the Association ; Witness does tibt recollect of a guard committee being appointed in 1824 , or before 1837 . There was a secret committee in _ existence , he thinks : in 1824 . the secret committee was appointed out of the district com ' - mittees . __ There were three districts in which the various ' . works are situated ; four men were sent from each district , and out of the twelve seat from the three districts , three men were chosen as a secret committee . They were nominated by the president or director of the whole committee . The names ' of the secret committee were not revealed to the twde generally ; they were known only to tho . se who were present at the time of their election . There was uo particular form of election . The
president just said , You are the director ; you the treasurer ; and you the Clerk . " Witness never saw a secret committee appointed afterwards , but heard a new method of election proposed in 1 S 3 /; he heard it proposed ou the last lij ^ ht he was witfe the supply committee . The mode ' proposed was , as he understood , that the delegates representing each work should bring in a name of an individual belonging to his work with him , and these name * being all put into a hat , three names should be drawn out , and then those whose names were so orawn should be appointed secre : committee-men . Witness recollects one Caruie being burned with vitriol ; he . does not recollect the particular year , but thinks it was about 1822 or 182 ^ . It was after that action whs
mine . that witness ' was ' . a-member of the nuance committee . lie was , however , a meniber vvitluu " a . year after that -was done . He recollects , when a number of . the prisouws and iudividnals composing . the . whole committee were sitting together , that order % vere given to U'll the \ individual who through this action ^ ottumunt from th .- associado : ! , tliat he got it for God ' s sake . What witness understood by that- was , that he received it , but not because he deserved it in tV . e opinion of that committee , who were opposed to the action . The general rule ^ was to give' . i : ? s . a week of aliment for twelve mouths , and tliose iiiuividiuils received that ' . That allowance was given to . individuals ; .-who- tiitl certain scnices . There were two individuals '
receiving aliment who were active iu accelerating the interests of thu trade \ but the ¦ u . h ' uvout ' . was always given for services of some kiud or anotlier . iu cases when a partial strike took place in a particu-! ur work , aud vvhoii the master refused to Qiuplyy those who struck , they were put upon aliment ;; unmarried men ' -received 10 s . and married men l-2 s . a week , to' thu be-t of his recollection . Patrick Milne , and a lad of the name of Mardoiiald ,. ami another of the name of Keini , received aliment at that tiuie . The ground upon ' , which these men received aliment w : is , that . they were connected with the burning of ihe young man with vitriol . Whether their being o ! T work was another reason , he could not < av ; but it was current in the committee , that
they got it because , of their " -connection with the burning . Witness was a member of the ¦ ' supply committee in 1837- The last strike cpniineiice't in the beginning of April in that year . The suppl v committee , was the nrst / committee appointed , and iu that committee the 'finance committee merged . V > itness was not then in-very good health , " . ' an if he was also reluctant that this strike should take place . He , therefore did not attend very fren-uently , and did not see the various committees" appointed . Vri tness knows , however , that tue re was a guard committee appointed , the chief de&igu of which '' to manage the guards placed ovei the ditVereut mills . Thenameof one of the . members of the cuard committee , he remembers , is John Trotrer . The dutvxiftLe
guards placed over the different mills , he would say , from his knowledge of the invariable practice-which prevailed was . ifoccasion offered , torea . on v . itii individuals who took workat reduced wages , andifnacv > si . < an-, to threaten , iBtimiuate , and offer violence to them . It was the duty of the guard committee to sve that these guards did their duty . Members of the association were i'ubjecled to Hues if they did not accept the offices to which thry were appointed . Among those who \ vere at this time members of the finance committee , which . merged in -the supply conmuttee . were Anffus Campbell ; lliohavd M'Neiil ( one of the pannels . J James Muuro , Rui . erl ( Jn ? enliiil . John i \ l ' Coliie , a man of the name . of SydserJ , TJ ; onias Hunter , ( oiw of the prisouers . ) Jamas . C-Jibb' ( oms of . the pr isoners . ) John" Uunyan , and Peter
Ilacket ( one of the prisoners . ) Witness was here shown a aheet of paper , bearing to be a .. uii : > ute \ A the appointiiient and names of a .. sunjj ' y committee , signed '" ilichard J \ I'Ni * i'l , Secretary / ' and dated OiasiTow , 12 th April , Jts 37 , and liavnt ^ alargi ! seal affixed thereto . W ituessdi / esuotkuow . theh ; ui ( lwjiting on this fiocinnc-ut , and cannot .-uy . whetuer . it i : > M OCeilVs owa s : ci ; a . ure . or not . as hi ; is not acquainted v . ith M'Xeili's haud-writiui :.. Thunms Hunter was ¦ president oi" the supply committee while witness -vas oiKiuei-ie-i with it . Beiiig asked what , 'iatie . s tiackeit performed in tlm cpmmUtyp , witness answered , t ; it k -might almyst sav lluckett uiii every tiling , and that ha acted in * ail capacities at rimes . M'Neiil was secreta ' rv . ai-. i- ( . 'ibb
nseiskint secrtiUiry . Tho cash was genera iy kept by Hackett and John Uuijyan alternately . . \\ uhum Iv ^ Lean ( tlv .- prisoner ) was al « o n " inember of the a--cl : iation , but did not , so iUr us witness kno-. v ^ , t . ike auy active part in its yruc .-pfiiiijrs . The secret coairuittee v . as appointed after -the LTUiri . coiiiinittee , and about six or seven weeks iiftirr the strike ji ; A-,: nl last . Witm .-- ; recollects ; : public Tiiei'lii :: ; of ( Vjeratives lifing hell iu ( Pjiis-£ j \ v Grei'i ? in June last ; it was o :: th :. ' . nighl the secre : co : i ! : r . kt ^ was ap > ointe i . 1 \ k- pv-.-pose of riie i ! iet-i : i = ^ *> u the ( -i reeu , accordiatr co tlw . pl :: oara nf . i ' . nt' it , was to procure " iiiHiiedi"te ; it : < : pcr ,-i ! " : ie' ; t relief to the ojierative ^ f ; er . era !! y . U it ; : ws t . ' : u » ^ . = ; went at the ini'etinp'i 1 . ) t '; e evenot
ins : it was ; . me ^ tiii ? of * - .. » ~ 'pri HiJ . iin ' . w ... n , ! . t vug ; . t was :. ine ^ tiu ? . v : ect de-e » at =-s , . ' and- it t ..-jk y \ uc- ? in'Wii ' li . im SiaithV , in thu . Ulack Boy Cluso , in the GaUowgatv . There : nif : ht be about li'Viy tieiegates present . Tliai meetuig was called by or- corninittee . ' JJelerates Were ' called from every _ s ' . ii » p . It was _ at thai , meeting the secret CiCinmuee was appoin ' ed . The prisoner ,- , . lames ( M ' . i-j , was in the cliTiir . The provosiil of the secret t-uunnjtiea was introduced Uv the pnsyni'r , lhinnii ? Hunter , as v . itii-.-ss iradersioo , ! bv Ins iaiiL'ua-.-e ; he ineaus by that , that ¦ 'liunt .-r ' S Ja ' nj ; uai . 'e -vas ambiguous , and vl \;\ t witness Would imir . raiiy call sophistn ,- ; but ' -w hness understood Iinnter ' s object to be to-jret a more einek'ut mode of ? :-. ini-u " ths object of the association . Hunter
did not' speak out openly What tlvtt niu . ie was WiLch _ he wanted , nor did he state puiut ^ vUv what ihy ouject was he had in view , though itv \ vas ¦ generally Understiiod by those- wlio had ! . eeu anv tirue members . Hunter did nof even mention , word secret committee ; it was John D ; ivis who moved for a secret ¦ committee . " The motion was seconded ; but he does not recollect by whom . It -was ca . TJed nearly uuaiihnously . A " man of the nauie ui M'Gowan objected to it , and said he considered it disgraceful . Witness himself also opposed it , on the ground that it , would raise Iresli suopieions -. icnunst the men in the minds ui the ma . s ' vrs , Jiiul illume tuera lucre dviennined in opjiosintf the men
• u « i : i-e ' . vr " . i-rom wiiiiess s kuowliMge of the afl ' airs of the association , and what he had heanl in the meetings , ha would say . that the chief design of the secret committee was to destroy . life and property . — (( ireat sensat ion in the Court . ) That was ' j / roumi upon which'witness refused to go into the m-oiutions ; and he used several anrutnents tr > -show that they could not possibly alter the present position of their allairs by such conduct , Witness never attended any committee meeting after that . James . M'Xeish .-attempted to answer one of witness ' s arguments , which , was , that his knowledge of natural rights was such , that if any deed of violence were done , the thinking part of the community would be against them . M'Xeish said he did not understand witness ' s argument , and said he did not believe it to be true . Witness did not argue upon the gr-juud of the injustice of violent measures , but
npon their inexpediency ; and the reason of this was , that they would nbt have Ustened to him for a mo ment , but would have laughed at him if he had done so . Witness liad some / ebnversation with Richard M'Neill that night VueQ going home . M ' ltnes ' s repeated his arguments , and M'Neill alluded to the bad conduct ; of Mr . Arthur , the manager of the Adelphi Mill , and said it would jostify any pleasure that might be resorted to by the association . Witness does not reinembir if M'Neill nientiohsd what measures would be resorted to . M'Neill also said . tliat night , that Mr . Xeili Thomson , proprietor of ' . the Auslphi Jvlill , had left the country for fear 6 f what . might be done by the spinners . The AdeVibi had at that time struck * work . M'Neill siad"he considered that the appointment of tua secret . committee would be eilicacioufi in caiiiing tha" object of the As-
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¦ n ^ HII ^ HittH ^ H ^^ MMlmiSk ^ UiH ^ Mbii V- -..: i / yM' -, '" - . ' - u . 'r-i- i ^ T ^ T ^^^^^^ rtr ^ frr sociatjoainmtimiaating One vui ^ k ^ M 40 ^ m compel other ; r ^ a §^ w : io- leave > t ^^^ fei ^ . ^ force ^ hemmtovtheir terms ; Witness haf ' ft ^ dther convursatfon * $ h JVI'Neillwi Aatsubjec ^^ ftigLdbes not irecollect aay . nibre > that p # sed at that " iirae . Witness saw G ^ bbseyierai weeks . after the secret com | nittee was appointed . ' Gibb ' said that it had been : reported that he ^ ( witness ) had left the supply bucatise he cpusidered that the strike would ; be •' rib go . " Witness repeated that it would be ^ no go ;'' and addedvthat the ; trade : kne ^ w very well his ^ utimen'te ' re 0 Stfding ; .. 'a .. 8 ^ jrei ' . con ) iiu'ttee ^ aijid that he vrould never have any tliiiig to do v ^ ith ; the Association so long ai a secret coinmiftee was in exists eiice . Gibb said nothing had been done yet . Wit > from the of ibb
ness said it ^ as wan t fimds ; G admitted that it was , and snid that , seeing the way in which ; the Association had been tised by the masters , ' although opposed to -the plan of a ' . secret-c 6 m- ; ipittee , at . oiie ' 'tinie ' . h ^ self ,-heV'yQuidv . noV ('' 'o ' ecom . e ' one of them ., Oibb d | d not say he was one . Peteir Hackett wasin England- ' . at the time of tho jippoiutr inent of the secret cQaimiUeoV ' -. Of the prisoners ^ Thomas Hunter and Peter Hackett were among the oldest members 6 f the asssociatioii ; M'Xeill had only been for a few years a , member ^ and 1 Gibb pight _ or nine years . Witness knows that there is a certificivte cnlk'd a " five- line ' sometimes givento members " , bf the Association . When a member removes from one mill to another , a line , signed .-by
threei belougiug to the . niill which he is lea \ ing , is sent in to the committee , saying whether he-is free of debt or not . Witness was liQre shown a certificate , bearing to be in fiwour of Wilh ' atn M'Leabi and to be : dated ^ Committee Rooms , July 11 , 1837 ;" nndi to be signed u Thomas Hunter ^'' James Gibb , " 'I Peter Haokett , " and " Richar d M'Neill , " and . having the Htarap of the trade affixed to it . That was not an ordinary free- lilies The certificate in his hand bears that Mr , M'Leati . . had always done his . duty , aiid that ' . the subscribers . feconiinended him to all " their friends . This is . a line . from the Associatipu itselfl the ' . ' . ' ordinary ^ free lines were not . stamped . ; Witness was next shown alarge accovuVtbook or ledger , which he said was the book in
wliicihthe instahhehts and debts of members were set dowhJ There is one eiitry showing that VV . M'Lean is 7 * . 9 d . in debt . The datcj of that is November , 1835 > There is another eiitry , dated January , 183 . U , shovviug that he wiis then KSs . " . 9 d .- ' in debt . Ikider date February lCj it is also stated that lie had loft the works where hu had con ' tracted the debt . Witness vvas next shown a paper book , containing minutes ' or meinpmndiUns , ana Other eutrie . ' , v begimrivtg * 17 th May , 183 / j and ending June 16 , lS ^ r , froni ; which he read a minute -of a general meeting of the Assoeiatibny which he . 'believes to be iu . Gihb's handwriting , bearing that it vvas unanimously resolved that the nuines of all the nobs should be printed , and copies . sent to all the mills in Scotlam ! , Hnirkind , and -ireiuud ; anil that a persecuting coinmiitee .. should be . iippoiiited to -persecute- 'tueiu
to the .. utHHisti Yv-ituess supposes tbii . t the pr ispnei ^ : 'Hii ' utw , - ' ; Gi-bb ,. ' -Hu'Gket ^ / -aud ; M * 'N'eillj-fp . r . med : the secret <•<> htmitle . e , aiat that it \ v : is iii that capacity they had jriven Xl'Lean the certificate ' formerly real ! . Witness W : ! . s now shown another book , in whicl he s-jid tlje daily expense of the supply conntiitiee was set'down .- '¦•• ames Munro often kept that book y but it was ui-t always kept by the , siinit ! hand . Witness rend an entry , bearing to be expenses for iiobs , i tli ) . Jt had .-no date . Froin witness ' s knowledge . of the eiitries in that book , ; he considers tliat the money here referred to h : td been spent eitlier iii reasoning with nobs , and- treating ; them with drink , or in paying some ont- to mjiUrosit them . Witness was next shovyii sonjeschedules , which he . said contniiied the fortniehtlyincoinu : and expenditure of the ' Aj . so-; eiation . ; fie vvas alsirshown .-m aliment book , which he s ' . vid was kept bV ivichnrd M'Neill . .- '
Cross-cxiiniined—Last -ineeHiiig witness atttMidpd was the night the secte . t committee was appointt'c } . Was present at the-nreytvng , ohiUe ( ire ' en , when Dr . Taylor addressed the'operatives . From that meeting witness went . to . the supply comuiittee . Went about eijjht o ' clock in the . evoniJ'g ,, a . na walked home with . M'Neill before twelve o ' clock at night . To the , best of his recollection , it was a . Monday night . John Da-vies proposed Hiu secret committee , w-hicli was agr ' eeii tn by all but-a very few .-. Does not fecoYlect M'Go , w ::-ii ' s * Krsf name . ¦ ' He Vas' in Mr / JJogle ' s work . Is not a clear distiiict speaker— -has some difficulty in his articulation ; .. The meeting , was held in the committee room . ; It is the large ; room , 'and is a kitchen-rather—is used as such by the -people
There is a desk in -tliir ; centre > with several sides . Then' was a person named Ross there—understood him to work with Mr . Soinemlle at thy Ilussey mill . Knows-that Nelon was tried and acquitted for the throwing of vitriol . Could not say that J \ I'Donald was a witness on the trial . There was n M'Donald a member of the supply . cominitfce , but he ft . not the same M'Doiuvld that had alinient for the vitriol affair . ' . Could not say where he ^ was working at tlu ; time of Curnio ' s a ^' aiV , but thinks he . ' , was - \ yprkiug . at Air * Huiitphrey ' s work . Has been a considerable time confuted both in ( ilasgow and here . Murdoch h : \ sbeen bore , and in ( jlnsgoyr along with-me , and Robert Christie and Tliorburn since we came to Edinbm-gli . Thi ! y were . nil in thi > suirie room .
]> y the Court—Was kept in Jail for ; protection , an : l understood the other witnetises were there for the sarin- reason . At thi .-. ; stage of tho proceedings ,: the Court , ' with concurrence of all parlies , adjourned alwut half-past seven till next nay at hnlf-past nine in the moming .
iHUiispAV , Januaky 4 . James' Murdoch , cotton spinner . —The Court renewed to this witness ; the assurance of protection , lie- entered the Association of cotton spinner , ' , at Glasgow iu 1 ^ 1 G . Had b een in the spinning business previous- to that time in Linwood , jn ; Renfrewshire . Came to , Glasgow in 181 U . W ni induced to inter the Association , because he could . riot have remained in . . Sr . Mussey ' s work unless lie had done - ¦ o . Means that there was an Association ibrinin ? at the time ;; and was told'that he must joiriv . aud pay as the others did , else thev would do dilthoy could
to get him out of tho work—he would not be allowed to ke- 'p his whe « ls . VV'oiild .-be put out pi ' the w-prk by tlie ' incij-using their iiillnenre with"tho mastersiellinsr'clashes ,. or the liko ^ -in short , making his life uneoinfurtsiliie . } i y clashes , means reports or false stories . T ) ic Association Was not geiieral .-through all the mills ut that time , but witness had a . good brother hi liussey ' s Mill , . whichiruluce'd him t 6 preier it to any other . lie joined the Association . On entering , fiii oath , was put to him . Does iiOt remoljiber- the . v ; : ' w ! j ; tut it was divided into t \ vo branches - — . first ,-an" oath oi" secrecy . Means by that to keep secret'his ' takii ';' ir the oath . After : tlie administrator
of the oath had explanied the beneht of taking : it , then the other mrt was tdken to abide by the majority in all - « 'ivse . s . of the trade . . Was to keep that and : ui < l the pioi : eedinga of tbo body secret . There , was a Hihle . i ; seJ iu administering ' . the oath . It was put inidor the risdit oxter during the time the path was taken .. . There \ y ;; s ' a word used- ^ it was Ashdod . it i « in i ]] p . iu th chapter of / Isaiah , and the' 1 st verse . There-weiv signs used—witness ynid little attention to them , but their use ' . vas for each to be known to the other members of the . Association . There , hils l : eena changn luade on the word and oath since that time . To tlie best of his recollection , it was in 1822 . 'J'he new |\ vord ' was . Arniageddon . That is in itev . x \ i . lb ' . Both ' ¦¦ . words' were administered . together .
l'h ' chm . icu in oath wns . a great Uenl to the- vvoise ^ - ' mor ' e vkioijs in its nature . , It introduced something With respect , to the ' punishment or itbhorrenco of nobs . Dues-not recollect any thing , inore . Uiiderstand . s by nobs , a man that goes in to Avork at a reduction of wages duriug a strike . A person may alsi | nob by revealing the names of the secret ' coinV mittee—heis considered the greatest nob . Speaking to any one who ieveals ' the secret comiftittee is also considered \ iiobbing . It is betvreen nine and ten years since ' witness , was last present at the adihinistriitibn of an oathi and he considers the oath he then heard ; administered was worse than either of the others . This last oathwas \ vprse , because there .-w-Jis ' something with respect to ' . masters . iii it , tliat wns not 1
in eitlier ot Ihe others , ;¦' . A secret coiivinittee . wus tirst appoitited , according ; to . witnvss ' . s recollection , in 1818 . There was a tuctqry started iuBrpomwood , anH the proprietor filled it with women ,-instead of liien , ^ indthe . objeci of the 1 secret committee was to get the vvomeu . | jl 4 it out of it . Mr . Dunlop wiis propriv'tor of this milt . The ' secret couvrnittee hud a power exclusive ol the general body . ; It consisted pi three meinbers , they ' we ' re' appointed by taking a luan ' s name out of each shop in the trade belonging to the . Association . '" : Means each factory . ; < 3 ne of the district Or iinivuee committee went round with a hat , and lilted these names from earh delegate , [ and put them in ; his pocket , Tfen the secret select committee was cotisidkredtobeon . It was left to the
finance . coinniittve to take three of their- own number , or out of the names in the hat , so that it should not be known to the trade wlio the three were . When thus appointed , the . secret cominittee had the whole power of the vyhole money belonging to the Associatioui The ( trade expected the secret committee , would put these women but of Broomwobd shop . The / irst attempt'made yras to set fire to it .. ; KtioWs it from the public papers , and ^ from ; the vscjhedule money paid for it . These achedules were handed through the trade . ; every ; fortnight to show the outlay and income . Tliin money was called colliery . It was a phrase pertectlly well loiown in the trade . Understands it meant attempting to bufh ; : For some years , it was a word generally Tised for purposes of that sort . The secret committee did iiot succeed
in their attempt to get the women out of the naill at that tinie . There were ' seyeral' -bthnr acts of violence doue under that secret coxninittee . Two men Were sent to-America at the expense of the tradev that witness consideredhad committed an act of violence . It was a womim ' s : house that was entered in the niomirig in Galton , in Pollock's Land , . and / herlifij was tiiken . Her name vras Macphersori , a widowv aad she b . nd ada-Qghtetin Mr . Do-niop'a mill . The mothers life wai .- { taken , as he considered , in mistake for the daughter . Could not cotnictly say what year this was , it might be 1820 or lt > 2 l . The twei men
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sent te America were Patpn Dunlop and Barney M'Kenay . c They had . been inemberaof the Association .: ; Knows they , were sent at the expense of the Association , and , saW their names in the schedule , and the moneyipaid . "• . ¦ ¦ for emigration to them . Could notsayexacUy what sitim ^ was ^ paid to them . ' - ^ p 0 n ' e /; knew ' -tf ; fljeyV . \ rere : in ^ the :-c 6 ricera /^ wi ^ o ; w Macpherton's , burit was generally ; -beHieved ' -i in the trade , arid witness never heard any other reason assignecl for advancing money to thein to emigrate . There was a xiian shot at and wOnnded , named M'Quarrie , before Graham was shot at . Tiiat was in the year 1820 . There were three different payments made oh ' account ; of M ^ Qnarrie ' s shooting . The payments were . made to Andrew Dunaeh .
Owen Gallaghan , and Stephen Campbell . They were paid for shooting M'Quarrie , who was a nob . Since that time O'CaTlaghan was transported for shooting at John Orr , in Paisley , Stephen Campbell remains still in Ban ' s , Bridgetoh . In the schedules " the money was entered as strike collieries so much , and several things Were put together . This Ban was proprietor of a mill that struck work at the : time .. Does hot recollect ^ the sum . There were no names in the schedule . Witniess . / was ; - an eye-wiU ness to the shooting . Saw the thing done , arid then saw this , mentioned iii the books . Has reason . to believe they were paid for it , because Campbell told him so . It was Campbell who shot M ^ Qtiarrie . Thomas Lochray and James
Eskdals were present also along with me . Dunagh aucl O'Callaglian were with Campbell , arid Henry M'Coiiuell . This was in the Green of Glas ^ goW . Met Lochray in the fore street at Bridgeton , who told him there was to be an attack made on the nobs at the scaling of Ban ' s mill . We went down to thfe Greeii to see ; the works scale . Scaling means dismissing for tlie day . There - \ vere a good many spinners gathered together , standing in a hollow near an ' entrance to the street , that leads to Ban ' s ihill . Stopped there for a little time till the work stopped , and the nobs came down the street .:: There were two brothers , named Carr , took along by the Green Dyke , going to the town ; arid M 'Quarrie entered the windles near the Monument . Dunagh walked 2 Or 3 steps across the : Green after the Carrs .
and fired a pistij . It didnot take ' effect . M'Quarrie came along the Serpentine . Walk ; Stephen Campbell fired a pistol at M'Quarrie . The shot wotmded M'Quarrie , but he did not fall . — -Did not expect this when he . went to the Green . Expected that some sort of disturbance would take place of a dift ' erent nature .: Had no reason to believe it was expected by those who were with him , There was no trial about this matter . It was in the . afternoon , in the summer season , iii clear sunshine . MfQuiirrie re-covered of Ins wound ; Witness , gave no iiifprmatiou of this ' mattery because he was afraidof sinnlar coiisequonces . Carripbt'U was a irivMiiber of the Association . There might have been auinvestigatiori into the shooting o ( M'Quarrio—there was 4 ' 30 U of reward offered for information of these- and several assaults .: . :
An objection was here taken by tliewpris ' one ' r ' s counsel to a question proposed to ba put to the witness , . whetiier Campboll told him he lnvdCgot nioney for this transaction , on the ground " that Campbell might . have been brought himself to prove whether h « had ; got the nmney or . ho . The Loril Advocate , in reply , saitl tliis w ; is the best evidence that could- be * got , as thev could not bind ¦ . 'Campbell to . crimiiintehiinself . The " Lord Justice Cleik thought it would lie a . 'departure , from the ruies of evidence to allow the question to be pnt . Witness recallod-T-Ile ' meuibe . r . s' the shootitig of one John Graham . About thvt : time \ va : s . ; a inekiber ol the secret committee of the Association . At that time , we acted . openly . This \ ras after " } he shooting of Graham , A dispute took placeiii the trade about
the , shooting of Oraham , aud they appointed ^ a conimittei ! to act o | ienly to the trade only , so as all the trade tnight know who was in the trade , that the like ; shooting might not take place again . Knows that one John Kean was tried for shooting , and was t ransported for life , and publicly whipped at Glasgow . Knows , as a ineinber of that cornunttee , that paymente were made . A referee of five men -w ' iis jippointed to investigate a claim made : 1 ) y one Daniel Orr . Wiuiess \ vus onrt of these referees . — -His elaiin was , that he was hived in a house at Burrowiield Toll , ' along : \ viih Kean , Latieriy , and another man , to shoot Grahum . He dcinanded £ 20 . from the committee of the Association for this . The referees ordered him to produce wituesses to prove , tiiat he
had beenhired . He produced one Thomas Patterson . Cannot say wjiat pilice Patterson held at the time . Th .- rel ' cives were : satisfied . with the evidence , and awarded . Oxr the sum . Knows that pajirients wen ; made to ive ; in ' s wife after her husband's trial . She received 12 s . a . week for eiditeen months out of the funds of the Association . Knows that payments were also made to ' Laflerty ' s wife—she received the same sum for the same period . Lafferty was sent"to America niter he came out of Bridewell . He got eighteen months' impri » 6 ninent there . Came to know these thiugs as a member . of-the committee . Allows that the expenses of K . eau s tr ial werepnici l > y . ti < c Association . Graham was shot in lS 2 u or early in 1826 . Reiiiembers a meetiugofthe .
Asssociatioii beiiig' held in a hall , after Kean ' s trial ; the purpose ( if the meeting was to deny the charge that they had evar any concern in things of tin ' s nature , sach as the shooting of Giahavn , —There were several speeches made ; and , witness thinks-two . reporters ' attended "from the newspapers ; the speeches ; were reported in the newspapers . Thomas Patterson spoke a good deal on that occasion , denying that tlie . As ' speiiitit ) ii ha . d . any thiiig to do with the charge- It-is the same Thoinas Patterson that gave evidence about Orr . , This meeting was before Orr ' s elaiin . Hemembers a person nanied M'Did . He was not tried tliiit vyitness knows of . Knows a payment was made to him of £ 4 . 10 " s . for maltreating n wiiman named Margaret Banks . . . It ' was in JS 2 ;"> or J ^ fa " . Banks
was inaitreated because she vvas' a nob ; Witness remained a member of the select coinmittee for two months , as the comiaittee was chano- - , ed at that time . There was no . change made in the appointment of the conmiittee at . that time ; has not been a member , of the cominittee of late . . Knows something of the sliowti . ngr at . the house of a maw uamed Brown . One Walker was accused of that , arid tried for it ; it was in . 182 /; Walker was a riiemoe . r of the Association , iteniembers a talk among the . . members , of the Association about the 'defence ; of Walker . Was present at the conversation . It -Was a shop ineeting — the shop belonging ¦ ¦ to Mr . Hussey . This was before Walker ' s trial . It was proposed at the ineeting to t to ¦
gepersons sWB . ar , ; that William ; Brown had hired persons himself to do it . They did not know tlien that Walker would plead guifty . When this proposal was made , witness knew that it was false . Knows that Walker was tried , pleaded guilty , and _ was transported . ItMnembers the case of Curnie , a spinner . He h « iiI ' . ' aii eye burnt put of liis head with vitriol . ; ' He had been aiiob , but was iiot : ni that time . Does not recollect the year . There was a trial on the matter . Peter .. Mettpii was tried aii'l acquitted . Saw schedules of aliment being paid to one Mjicdoriald , at that time . There were four men , Macdoriald being one , brought ou aliment for the burning of Carnie . The aliinent was paid to them for being impeached with that action . Macdcnald was not
tried lor it . He received iilimerit because he . fled ou account of that business to a place they call Catriue , in Ayrshire . Knows the prisoners at tho bar . . Hunter has hewn a . iuwnber of the Association about 18 years ; Hackett since , 1823 or 1824 ; M'Kahabout nine years ; Gibbabouj twelve ; and M'Leari about ten or twelve to witness ' s kiiowi . ledge . There was a strike iu April last . Witness was not . working at the time . Applied for , aliment after the strike , luidhad occasion to see the members of the supply committee . Hunter Was director -uresid . eufc ' pf the cpuimittee ; could not . say whether Hackett was tre : wurer or clerk ; could riot say what office M'Neill filled ; , but he was a member of cQinmttee ; Gibb was also a member , but could not say vyliatpince he tilled . M'Leflii was not a " member" of committee to his k nowledge . Has seen
M ' Lean .-it the cornmittee-rooins calling on Hackett , Witness attended no meetings of the Association after . the strike iii ApriL Went to the committe 0-rooins to see if they would allovv ; him aliment as others were doing . Did riot receive aliment at thistimein the toonth of July last . Had received none before that time . Applied in July / but did nut get any till Atfgust * Does not know that there was a new committee apppiiited iu Augusts being m confinement at that time . There is a nracticS in the Association of giving free lines to members who are clea ^ of debt . They are got from the shop they ywork in ^ signed by three men iii tlie work , members of the Asspciation ,, who must likewise be clear of debt . Thq oilice-bearers have no authority
to give a cerDficate—it must come from the work they work in . Being shown a document , he pays thatvit- is . signed ; by the four j > risouersj Htinter Hackett , M > Neill , and Gihb . Does not know the handwriting . It is iiot in the usual style of free lines ; : Considered from it , that M'Lean and the tour men had been conjunct in something or other , that he needed to leave the country for it—witness never saw such aline given in any other way ; The secret cominittee have the power of granting such hnes--they have an absolute power . They have such power , though the members . it is granted to may be in debt . Being shown ** ' the debt-book , " he- observes the name of William McLeanbe >
, longing to the shop "No . 19 . '' It appears front the book , that M'Leari was in dept 13 s . 9 d .. pn ^ the , 2 d January 1836 . If a member had paid his . debt , it Wonld have be ^ » n taken outof the book . Being shown a Bible , witness tnrned-ap the chapter in Revelations where the word" Armageddon 'is to be seen ; The page is spiled , as if timmbed by frequent use ; ns was also the pog 0 iu Isaiah , where the word i ' Ashdod > ' is to "be fomidi i roia the titfe page thpi Bible Was printed , va theyear 183 a . Bmrig shown some documents , he iduntir ¦ fied thJBin as schedules , similar to those he spoke of in the early part of his examiiiatibn . Being shown
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aiMmoraridnm , - he read ati eflfry ^ *« eipenroi % ith nobs , ¦ £ 19 >" ThereianVHatev The entry may he explained variotw waya ^ It-might have , buen- ^ vea to one man for maltreating-a iiob , or it might have been given to severaifor the same fhifi ^ There is no other-way of explaining it ; it might-ppsaibly lava been fot expense of drinking wjith them , and trying to persuj | , de . . . thftnt . Saw the guards on & « mills , but Wasi not much among theri at the last strike ;^^ Soirie inills had more guards , and some less ; they walked up and tfown past the " gate ; they were meinbers of the association . ' Saw ; a great deal above the Adelphi Mill , in ttutchiriisoh-tdwo Was not much over tha Glasgo \ y side ; did not see the guards there . This wfis an ^ er the strike in April last . * Knew several members . ' off : the : associatiori who acted as guards , Andrew DavidHott and John
Morrison . Has seen Walter Mprason acting as a master of guards . Does . riot recollect ; any more Never saw M'Lean acting as ia ; guard .. Saw Walter Morrison come up to see it . the guard * were ill on and doing ¦ theu-. duty ; has seen him give orders to the guards , from which witness concluded he was a member of the guard-conxmittee Remembers the day when John Smith was shot . Saw M'Lean on that day * down by tlie Brdomielaw . Tliis was on the fore part of the day . v James JVl'Doriald arid James or John Keith were with him . Saw Keith and McDonald again iii t ; hei evening , between _ six and seven , it * the foot of Cobourg-iarie , in Lauriston , on the opposite side of the wat « r They were just parting When witness $ aw : them
and heard thein agree to . meet again that same eyenirig , but could not say positively at what hour ; did riot hear them riiention where they would meet . M'Lsan had on a pair 6 t * light trowsers rand a long coat , of a dark greeii colour , as witness thinks ; be wore a common round black hat . They were walking ' - ' 6 n the ; quay of the Bropmielaw . . ' . Crbss- ^ xamiried .- ^ -Two people were present with witness when he saw M'Quarrie shot . Could hot say exactly where either of them now are ; they were both at Johnston when witness last heard of them . Lochray had"dropped the spinning . Lochray went homo to Bridgeton afterithe shot ^ and Esdale and witues !* kept a piece behind M * Quarrie , foUbwiug him on the Green . Lochray was standing : at
witness 8 left side when Campbell fired . He was able to see the shot fired ; and witness saw ; both shots . There were two shots iired ; the party had three pistols , that is , O'Gallaghfiii , Campbell , and Duriugh . O'Callaghan did riot fire the shot at the time ; h « discharged it in the air as we Were walking towards IluthersgleE . Does nat know where the Can's are Sow . The last niet-ting of the Associat ion witness attended was about :-nine or ten years ago . It is about the « ariie time since he attended a . " . general delegate meeting . About the saihe time since he attended a committee meeting of any kind . It is nirie ^ or ten years ago since he last saw ail path administered . ; It was in John Ewing's , Hi ^ 'h-street , Glasgow . Does riot know , of his own
knowledge , that a secret committee hati existed for thu last lime years ; he knows it Only-froui hearing . -Was never longer ¦ . thaii . twb inonths . at a . time ' lueiabpr of a coinmittee , and ; -that on two diiierent . occasions . The first time was " in 1817 , " the second time in 1826 , as witness thiukd . Has been a ( jelegate in the . association , and ' ¦ was' Kecretary in ls ! 2 {) or . l 827 y . being the same time that , hs " . ; was on tlie comriiittee . It was the secret comiriittee ; that acted- openly . In 1817 , all the committees wera secret , tlie coiribinatiori laws being in existence . Their navies were known to the trade , and there WUg no harm , in talking of them among the . trade . ¦ Witness , held no oilice iii 1819 , except as . a inembur of the finance committee ; ken t no books ; connected
With-the association at that time . Did . not coma into oilice again till 1820 . Had no thing to do with tha books from 1 S 17 till 1820 * . Kno . \ vs ; : that several ke ]> t them . during that period , but witness had no occision to exatniue them ; Iii 1 S 26 , Witness was secreriiry to : the association , and kept the debt book , and th » book of iiicpine and expenditure , for two months . . . . After witness weut out of office , he had notliiiig , to do with keeping . the . books ^ Could riot swear that any . part of the •' debt-book" is ' in . 'hit handwriting . The book being handed to him , he says it goes back to 1832 . He knows nothing about that bO 0 k ,: _ aud ; never saw it till it was shown him for this inquiry . The book he kept was similar " to thatbut ; not so larger : Got : the am ' onni
, of debt from each shop from the delegate . He brought it generally on a piece of paper ; but ydU ness lias seen it come in vorbally . \ Vhcn Le made an entry of debt , he trusted to the accuracy of the delegate ; and if the delegate was wrong , the book was ' Wrong . Did iiot see any guard committee ap ^ - pointed at last strike . Applied for , aliment last a fortnight previous to ' . . the shooting of Smith . Applied 6 n the groiind : that his family had been thrown idle by . the strike . Was hiir . selt" lyirig badly at the tiine of the strike . It is four years since he was last ehgag « d as . a spinner . He was entitled to aliment , » s his family was ' . thrown idle .: Others got it on that grouu ! in the general strike of 1834 . Was refused
it ln . July . Cannot say Why he was refused it . It was sent ; him in Aug-tfst when he was in prison Witness applied to ' 1 homas Hunter ; with his card first , and he told him to apply to the oflicer . Henry Dnnn was : the man who communicated the refusal , lias been in gaol the most of the time since , v . ith Moat and others . Has been in . gaol before , in Paisley , in 1832 or 1833 , he thinks . He was imprisoned for killirig a hare . He left cotton spinning because taken badly with " rheumatism . He was not complaining of rheumatism when he and unotlferm . an griped the hare ; the _ workwas ; stopped at that time . The hare was killed ; he cannot telt how . Was never in gaol at any other time ; John •" erenson was the other man in the hare busiriRss .
isweats the hare was riot -shot . Witness knows a nisn namedM'Coffle ; cannot swear he was a member of the" secret committee .: Saw a certificate like thiic shown him about M'Lean at thu time he was Baember of the committee in 1826 , but none , since . It a man , were going to England , he would get a cftrtifi . cHte-pf . that kind signed by the riien of the shop . Unte granted siich n certificate ; at least signed it aloiig . With" the other meinbers of the open select cojumittee , in favour of a man with a fictitious name , who had written for it from America . Witness always considered it was for Peter Durilop , but cannot swear . Does not remember what was tlie
fictitious name in favour of which it was granted . Never saw any other certificato of that nature . Its use is to show that you are a gbqd man , belonging to the Association . Witness thought it would fee of no use ii \ America till he saw that application ; They are usually gnmted to persons going to Eng < - land of Ireland , signed by persons in the shop ; ff a mail is going a \ vay clear of debt , he can demand it ., ? Knbws that Thomas Lochray has a son of the same-ntime . It was the father he mentioned before . Thinks Orr is still about Glnsgow , but could not say what ; mill he . is in . Heard of Pattersori last about AnrJiiistou . Thfriks he was not about Mr . Houldsworth ' s . - ' . : . '¦'¦ ¦>¦¦ ¦' . ¦ . ' ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦¦ ¦ . : ; .: ; . ' ¦ -a :.: ' ' ' - ¦ ¦'¦ :
By the ; Conrt . —He -first got half-a-crpwn as alu men t , . arid then five shillings , and then two shillings That is all witife >* knows of . Cannot tell if the family-has got more since . His daughter brought the -niOTiey . The appointment of the ; open select committee was made after the trial bOiean for shpotiug Graham . It was a shop certificate given to a man going to England or Ireland , not a coriimittee certificate . ;¦ ' .. ; ; : ' - '¦ ¦ Re-examined .---The , open committee lasted only six miinths , and then the . open committee- Was on jpgaiiV . '; , There was riever-a select . open committee again , ¦ ¦ ajs'iar as witness knew . A member durst not inquire who werJinembers of the secret committee , for it'was . a danger to do so ; and ^ if ^ ; aa inquiry was made ,, oi if any one named therii , they -w-orild be nobbed . ; He considered himself imprispned in August-la ^ t'for protection , not for any offence .
Heifry Cowan , cotton spinner , examined by the Solicitor-Generals—Is an operative spinner since 1814 . Was connected with mills in Renfrewshire for spine time ^ -came to Lanarkshire iri 1818 . Joinedthe Association at the time . Did nottake an bath in Renfrewshire : ; ' when half of it " wjis administered , -he drew the hanukerchief off his eyes and would not proceed farther with . it . Never took an oath in Lanarkshire . Got quit ^^^ pf the oath ^ y paying .-t'l to the trade . Told them he w *> & clear man in ; Renfrewshire ^ and was a 4 mit ^ sociation , . they ; believing that ht > I ' . had been sworn iri Renfrewshire . Sometimes they paid as high as £ 5-to be made a . member . Was once-asked to : beaded ' legatefebut did riot serve . Paid hatf-a-crown of iin&
for riot servin ' gV ; Recollects the last strike in 1837 . VV as in Huss ^ y ' s mill at that time . All the handsthere struck , and witness went With the test ; but agairist his will . ; Was forced but along with the rest . After-the strike the Supply Committee , was first apr pointed .- A Guard Committee was then appointed . Jp o ^ s .. " hp . t--ks' 6 w 'to pointed , because he had seen men pointed out « s membera of Committee , arid believedrthey w ' ete so . Hnssey ' s nail sent delegates tp theAsaociatiori 6 b two occasions . John Adams ? was sent about the iniddle of May , ; and stopt a fortnight . TThe- guards were on shortly after , dr about that time . Adams resigned , arid said he w . o ^ M go 'bact wy more . Another vras appointed in his iHace . tie-Was one 1
M'Graw . 1 he object of sendirigdelegates Was td appoint a Select Commi ttee out of theiriraniber . That was ' known at Hnssey ' g work .-There was a delegate s , ent from each mill , ^ from whicfe ¦ 'to choose the Select Committee , i Orders cam& to the mill Ironx the Supply C 6 ni » uttee tp choose ; a deleeate . A _ mari came from the eommittee to a shop meeting with the order , and mentioned ^ the purpose for wh ^< . aelegates weire to be choseB . It w&abbut the middle of May when they w ^ e firsk issked to choose a , delegate ; . Adains was asked what toot ? -9 ? amon § r % delegates , but ^^ he ftaid" he couW not tellthem , ^^ as it was wished / to lie keptsfecret . Ssaid he would be dataned before h& wotiiag ^ " tic k to such a place . M Gr 1 awobntinned to jfet as delegate , It was very well kripwniri the trade what was ^ nieant h y a Secret ; of Select Committee . ( Toiecmtinuedinournext ^ Hfiiier ^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 20, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct989/page/6/
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