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    AjjeusT % 1851. . THE NORTHERN STAR, 5

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    as ners supposingWy«L to leatfeWeir* the...

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  • 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.

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    Monies Received For The Wbekewdiwo Tuurs...

    P ^ - ~^' IMPORTANT : TJ & uuiB . * . CPTRACY AMOSG Tfi--PLATE WORKERS gOSSPIB ^ ^ o ^ yeRHAMPTON . xT « IViuJ tfwrt . Before 2 fr . Justice Erie . * STAFFORD ,. Monday . / j ^ rtrc D uffield , Thomas Woodnorth , and John f " three journeymen tinmen , were indicted for Gs 0 mirni 2 by molestation to induce Mr . Edward " ? ir t ' m-ware manufacturer , of Wolverhampton , Iter his mode of conducting his business , for t ° gpiring by threats and intimidation to induce his c 0 ° jfmen to leave his employ , for conspiring by * Mle means to induce his worKmen to break their ^ tracts and leave his employ , and by intoxication d other unlawful means to effect the same pur-^ There were twenty counts in the indictment , ^ in" the charge in different ways . The case had Si removed by certiori into the Court of Queen ' s H gj £ n - , and twelve special jurymen now answered l 0 their names . Sergeant Allen , Mr . Huddleston , and Mr . Keetle , ap peared for the prosecution ; and Mr . Seating , ^ Skinner , and Mr . Vanghan were for the

    defence . from the opening speech of the learned sergeant , jf appeared that the prosecutor , Mr . Edward Perry , jsa tin-p late worker at Wolverhampton , and some time ! a the early part of last year , Mr . Perry received a note from the secretary of a society in London , denominated the Xation & l Association of United Trades , intimating that in a short time a . jeptation would wait npon him , requesting him to accede to a list of prices to be uniformly paid to he workmen ; the interview accordingly took p lace ; the prosecntor refused to accede to this demand , alleging that his men had never expressed dissatisfaction . The consequence of this was * ( aceordins to the statement of the learned counsel )

    that a regularlv organised conspiracy was got up , the prosecutor ' s manufactory was beset by persons who made every attempt to persuade away his workmen , —they were made , drunk , sent away , and fands provided for their maintenance ; a secret committee was formed , of which the defendants , in the employ of Mr . Walton , of the Old Hall , were the active agents ; gradually the workmen in the employ of the prosecutor were " spirited off , " and to such an extent did the system succeed , that Mr . Itrry lost sixty men between July and AovemDer . This entailed a serious loss npon him ; he was unable to execute his orders ; he was obliged to send to France and Germany for workmen , who almost as soon as they arrived were seduced away . After

    awhile , the men returned to Mr . Perry " penitent , miserable , starving ; " and in consideration of all these circumstances , the prosecutor proceeded by this indictment against the defendants for having interfered with and molested his men ; for having in terfered with the prosecntor himself ; and endeavoured to coerce him into changes in the mode of conducting his Business ; and with various other illegal acts , therehy constituting a conspiracy . Mr . E . Pbbht , the prosecutor , said , he had been thirty years a japan and tin-plate manufacturer , at Wolverhampton ; in the month of April , 1 S 50 , he had ahout 200 persons in his employ ; they had plenty of work . Some of them were earning £ 1 , others £ 2 , and good men as much as £ 3 per week .

    Up to that tune there had been no complaints on the subject of the prices paid to them . On the 3 rd of April he received a letter from the National Association of United Trades , it was dated , 259 , Tottenham-court-road , " and stated that a deputation would wait npon him to consult with huu on the subject of a book of prices to be adopted as a general scale by tin-plate workers , and expressed a sincere desire that some arrangement of a satisfactory character might he come to . The letter further stated that the deputation would wait npon Mm in the character of mediators , without any intention to visit him in an offensive spirit of dictation . This was signed' « William Peel , Secretary . " On the 8 th of April , three persons named Green ,

    Rowlands , and JPeel , waited upon him . The latter said , " I am the secretary of the National Association of United Trades , London . We are presided over by Mr . T . S . Duneombe , M . P ., and the object of the society is the protection of JSational Industry . asked Peel if he was the writer of the letter which he had received . He said that he was ; ^ d Green then said , "lam a delegate of the Nation Association . We are here . to endeavour to terminate the nnh-. ppy differences - which have so long existed in your manufactory . " He ( Prosecntor ) rep lied that be was not aware of any differences Existing . Upon which he replied , * fouwiu soon be made aware of that . The tin-plate workers want . uniform rate oi prices through the town of

    Wolverhampton . " Green then called his attention to a manuscript hook of prices which had . been left at the manufactory for his inspection , hut he Said that he had left it in London , and had not perused it . One of the deputation then told him that the Association had large funds at command , that their resources lay all about the country , and had the power to array the whale of the operatives of Engki > d against any master they choose . He felt alarmed at this , and told them that he would con ^ aoer of it . Between that time and June Peel and Green called on him several times . He had a food deal of work , and had contracts for service for about fifty men . Amongst these was a man named Orchard . In July he saw the delegates

    again , and told them that he would have nothing to do with them ; that hewonld allow no third parties to interfere in his . business . Peel then said that he was sorry things must take their course . After this time beneficed men perambulating about his manufactory . Daffield and two other defendants Woodnorth and Grant . were amongst them ; there was also a man named Rowland . He saw them speaking to his men inside the gates of the manufactory : presently the men began to he dissatisfied . One day he saw a hoy go across the yard with a bundle of clothes . He ( prosecutor ) went down to the gates , and saw him give them to Duffield . These clothes belonged to a man in his employ who tasthen absent without leave , and who never

    returned . Themen then began to hold shop meetings more frequently . Gradually the workmen left the place , until , in the month of December , there was only twenty left . He caused to be posted in Wolterhampion a bill , setting forth that he was in ? ant of men , and in a short time another placard * as posted , not only in Wolverhampton hut in Birmingham , announcing that he paid from twenty-Ire to thirty , per cent , under the prices of the town . He went to Paris and engaged ' six Frencham ; they stayed only six weeks at his manufactory . Soon after they came he noticed the defendant Duffield take one of them into a publickrn & e—the Garrick ' s Head . He fetched him out , kt they only stayed a short time with him .

    Orchard , the man he bad spoken of as being under sa agreement , also left in November without notice . Mostof the men left in that month . Men came to tte manufactory and were engaged and never relumed , so completely was the place beset . His loss in consequence of this must have been from two to three thousand pounds . He noticed persons appearing to be workmen when they approached Ms premises spoken to by the defendants ; and i * noticed that some workmen who were engaged , snd who were to come on the day following , did not come . Cross-examined by Mr . Ekathtg . —In times past ibook of prices had been agreed to . In 1825 he shared his book , and it was agreed to . The book

    nenlated the trade of Wolverhampton for a short & ne . After some time a change in the mode of tonnfactore took place ; machinery was introfaced . This began five or ten years afterwards . —• 2 j the Court : Stamps , presses , and the steamagine were introduced , and that made a material Eduction in the workman ' s labour . Thus in the siiicle of footbaths one master paid for stamping , * Mle another paid for the labour of the workman * lo did it by hand . By Mr . Reatho . —Among the greater number of Manufacturers no book was observed until 1825 . 5 st aware the majority were regulated by a book = ' prices previous to 1825 . Should say for the last Mve or fifteen rears no reenlation of that sort

    Si been observed . Before 1 S 50 there was no comlant ; was not aware of any dissatisfaction with wees . The book was sent in March . Was not ^ ar of any dissatisfaction about giving less than < l » masters . Never did give less . Never *•" " it alleged that he gave less . In 1842 had ; wok , and had gone by that up to the present 5 - Paid by that since , hut the trade was subject f ? reat changes . 2 fot heard lately of any strike ; J * e * as a general strike in 1822 . Did not know ^ in 1350 there was a strike against himself and i * or four others in Wolverhampton . Knew ^ j ihey refused to be dictated to . Messrs . ^ a oii and Shoolbred succumbed . 2 fot tell whe-** ftey employed more men than the rest of the ^ nfactnrers ia the town put together . He had t ; ^ tered into an agreement with four other £% * to resist the men out of a common purse . ?} $ not propose that it should be done . He did

    R epose that whoever submitted to be dictated ; j « iild incur a penalty of £ 500—nor five hun-* r " Mllings . Was at a meeting of masters in the v 5 & of April , and did not propose they should i ^ toto a bond ; never did any thing of the sort { . ^ er intended . He called the meeting at the sJmI ? " * <* the chair . It was for the purpose ' ^ "S with the other members of the trade . i . somas attended . Mr . Walton and Messrs . ' . ' tw were there . He stated no views . He ^ "" "keany proposition , nor did any one else . ?; - ; ** " proposed to discbarge certain men . He V ™ Nuffield , and Mr . Walton said he was a lj ifi ™ * nan He said he was a rough fellow , ^ he vere in his ( Perry ' s ) employ he would * i V - « im _ He would swear he did not ask Mr . 1 . ^ 10 discharge him . He did not say it would ^ "" y rood thing if the manufacturers could ] } j ° ** hom they should discharge . He knew h ivl a <* Deet ^ the same employment twentyt s ; Woodnorth had , he believed , beeni

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    twenty-nine years , but hecould notrecollect the time just now . Gaunt had been a good number of years n the same employment . The meeting was merely conversational . Mr . Walton said he would not be dictated to , and that with reference to the workmen , not to the meeting ; that was the way he understood it . A variety of ways had been used to bring him to the way of acting the men required . — Mr . Keating : " Did not the mayor and other magistrates Eive a decision or an opinion in favour of the men % "—Witness : He claimed protection from the mayor for his men , himself , and his property . He ( the mayor ) proposed a meeting of the men . He attended that meeting , and objected to the presence of the delegates as improper ; but the mayor per * mitted them to speak against his ( Mr . Perry ' s ) will .

    He objected , to the interference of the mayor , or delegates , or other persons , in his business . Mr . Underbill was there , but not as his solicitor . He stated to the mayor that he wanted protection for his workmen , himself , and hia property . He did not make wages a question of discussion . It was incidentally introduced . Ho might say he paid higher wages on an average than the rest . If an average of the six houses was struck he thought he piid ten per cent , higher . Walton and Shoolbred might pay higher on some articles , hut on . 1 hundred pounds' worth of work the difference might be ten shil ings in their favour . On some articles ho paid higher , on some lower . He could not say he paid higher on the articles least commonly made ;

    he thought it was otherwise , that he paid higher on the articles most commonly made . —Mr . Keating : " How , then , is it , if you pay higher on the articles most commonly made , that the average is 10 s . less than the others ? " The witness : Some articles are higher and some are lower ; there is a great difference in the mode of making them . Let me explain : it would enlig hten tbe ideas of the Court . The price per dozen of No . 1 cullender was 5 s ., 03 . 6 d ., and 6 s . But he did not pay that price now . He did not know what Walton and Shoolbred paid . He believed they did not make them the same way . Mr . Perry then gave a long explanation of the mode of making a cullender from which it appeared that in 1842 they were made all by hand , in separate p ieces , and t he workmen had to planish them , join the separate pieces , punch the holes , wire the rim , and put on the rim and foot . of the body

    Owing to the adoption roachmery was stamped in one piece , and boys punched the holes . l * ow thev were made without the tin-plate worker at all , except with regard to four rivets and the foot rim . Where 12 s . or Us . had been paid , only one shilling was now paid , and some of the work was done by girls . A hoy could handle them . But Some of the 12 s . or li s . went to other workmen . — His Lordship observed that the result was , that when an article was partly made by machinery , which had been made by hand , a corresponding deduction was made for the work so performed . —By Mr . Keating : Peel and Green called on the 8 th of April . When he met the parties the book was discussed ; he met them perhaps a dozen times altogether . He finally rejected it on the 4 th of July . He thought he was before the mayor in October , 1850 . —His Lordship thought it would not be assumed that the witness assented to the decision or

    opinion . —Mr . Keating said the mayor aud magistrates after hearing the parties retired , and the witness waited until they had given their opinion , or decision , or judgment . —His Lordship : It was no decision or judgment . —Mr . Keating said the opinion or decision was in writing , and he wanted to show it . —His Lordship thought that nothing could he more clear than that the opinion of one tribunal could not be admitted by another tribunal , which had to form an independent opinion of its own . Mr . Keating : What did the Mayor say ?—His Lordship : My opinion is against you , but nevertheless I will admit it . You understand that . —Witness resumed : He asked for protection , and the Mayor said he should have it . He did not recollect all he

    said . He went into a long tale , and spoke a good deal of nonsense as he ( witness ) thought . He did not think the Mayor understood the matter . —Mr . Keating : What was the purport ? . Was he not understood to say that they thought you-ought to nay the same wages as Walton and Shoolbred ?—He did . not say that in terms . He said if my agreements were the same , and if the question was what were the wages of the town ,- then as the quantum meruit their rates would apply . He did not understand him to say he was to pay the same rate as Walton and Shoolbred . He understood him to say—If a certain thing was so—which was not so—then the same rate of wages ought to be paid . Some very loose statements were made as to wages . He remembered a proposal made to him by Winters , Green , and Samuel Griffiths , that the matter should he left to the three mayors—the two late mayors and the present mayor . He asked

    them if they saw the pinnacles of the Collegiate church . They said they did , and he told them that when they saw those p innacles in the earth and the foundations in the air he would agree with them . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Griffiths was a town councillor , and they endeavoured to bribe him over by saying they would return him ; but he would not agree on these terms . He ( witness ) bad been a town councillor . After ' July there were many shop meetings on his premises ; they had existed before 1850 . The Swan beershop was near his manufactory , and that and the Garrick's Head were frequented by tinmen . Heard it stated that some of the Frenchmen complained of misrepresentations made to them in Prance . And some of those engaged at his brother ' s went before the magistrates to get their engagements cancelled . Hia left about three weeks after . He got workmen from Germany by means of an agent . He made advances to some of the workmen who came . —He-examined . —Three of

    the manufacturers employed steam power ; three did not . When the labour was less tbe payment was less ; but still the workmen got more . The book of 1625 was the last general price book . He had his book of 1842 modified through the introduction of machinery . He called the meeting at the Swan Hotel almost immediately after he received Peel ' s letter- Mr . Walton said he would not be dictated to ; Mr . Fearneoinbe said he would not be dictated to ; his ( Mr . Perry ' s ) brother said he would not be dictated to , and he said he would not be dictated to . When he went before the magistrates forty or fifty of his workmen had left . Hose a J ! M'Naghte . v , foreman to the prosecutor corroborated his statements as to the men leaving

    his master ' s employ . The man , Rowlands , spoken of by the preceding witness , was secretary of tbe Wolverhampton Association . Witness had himself attended meetings when the necessity of having a book of prices was advocated , and , on one occasion , formed part of a deputation to the prosecutor , to endeavour to obtain his sanction to it . When Green , Peel , and Rowlands gave it to Mr . Ferry , be said he would consider of it . He had been made Mr . Perry ' s foreman since ; he went in the beginning of 1850 ; he was a journeyman , and was discharged , and went to Mr . Sboolbred ' s ; he then went back again . AU members of the Tin-plate Workers ' Society were members of the National Association , if they valued their own peace .

    Samuel Shale stated that he attended a meeting of the workmen at Mr . Walton's , the Old Hall . Could not say whether Gaunt and Woodnorth were present . Duffield was present , and be said something about his doing no good as secretary to the association , as matters then stood . It was proposed that Duffield should be paid . Something was said ahout a secret committee ; it was to be Woodnorth , Gaunt , and Pitt—not Duffield . It was carried that they were to have 4 s . 6 d . a day . Duffield had not done much work before , and soon afterwards Gaunt and Woodnorth left . There was a subscription soon afterwards , and he paid 4 s . —they

    all paid 4 s . one week . The money went to the trade . He subscribed 4 s . two weeks , he thought . It was paid to one of the men at the hall . He knew Orchard , and soon afterwards saw Duffield and Woodnorth at the Star . Duffield said he had a letter for him ( Orchard ) about a situation in Ireland . Duffield and Woodnorth went out first , and Orchard followed . He had seen Duffield , Woodnorth , and Gaunt , with Green and Rowlands together , after the meeting at the Old Hall . He never saw Peel with them all together ; he saw Peel once with Duffield at the Bed Cow . Green was not present at the meeting at the Old Hall . recollected

    Dchcas M'Naughton re-called . —He a meeting of the tin-plate trade in October last . He saw Peel and Green there , but neither Duffield , Woodnorth , nor Gaunt . Mr . Keating objected to this evidence , and his Lordship decided that the connexion of the defen . dants with this meeting was not enough shown to allow it to be received . *• Thomas "Harper was in the service of Mr . Edward Perry at tbe commencement of last year . On the lath of October last he saw Gaunt and Woodnorth at the Garrick . Afterwards went to the railway station . A man named Pitt gave him his ticketbe was a workman at Sboolbred ' s . They had seen him at the Garrick . He wouldn't ewear that he saw the latter talking to Woodnorth . Alfred Pitt asked him to strike and he consented . He and three Other workmen went to Shrewsbury and stayed a

    day and a night . He did not pay anything . Rext day they went to Liverpool . He paid his fare . The money was afterwards sent to him at Liverpool , by a man named Thos . Jackson , whom he did not know . He was told to address to a person of that name at the Old Hall , Wolverhampton . They were at Liverpool a week . There he went by the name of James Logan . He did so because he was a hired servant , and had broken bis contract . There were three other fellow-workmen with him . They afterwards went to Preston , having heard that Mr . Perry was coming down . He didn ' t know who first told him that Mr . Perry-was coming . He didn ' t think it was Duffield . They stayed at Preston three weeks Jackson continued to remit . to them . He never repaid him , because he didn't know who the man Jackson was . Afterwards went to Stourbridge , Kidderminster , and Bridgnorth , where he got work , and had nothing to do with the society Iter -Cro ss-examined : Be was contented with the

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    rate of wages he was getting , but was willing to strike to make the rest better ; he was now in Mr . Perry ' s employ . He had not been examined until last Tuesday , when he was examined by Mr . George Wynn , who was , he believed , a relation of Mr . Perry ' s ; he took his examination in writing . Edwabd Thompson , one of Mr . Perry ' s articled workmen , saw Duffield and Woodnorth at the Star on the loth of October last ; they afterward s went to the Garrick ' s head , and from there to a publichouse called the Swift Packet Station . Duffield , Woodnorth . and Alfred Pitt went with them . He

    ( witness ) did not pay for any drink at either places , and don't know who did . Afterwards went to Liverpool . Duffield and others came there . —Crossexamined : He was not willing to go away . Harper first broached the matter to him ; he had been at work up to ten o clock in the day when Harper came to him ; they first had liquor at Cope s and Harper paid . When he first saw Harper he haa not had any ; he did nob say he was willing or not willing ; he went : he was in liquor . He was still with Mr . Perry . He was examined the day after he came back by Mr . Perry and Mr . Wynn , and had been examined at the public office . last

    Thomas Jonbs gave similar testimony to the witness , with tho addition that at the time he was out on strike he received 12 s . 6 d . a week from Thomas Jackson , who was the porter at Mr . Walton ' s at the Old Hall . Witness struck unwillingly , but was drunk at the time he did so . . Frascis Orchard , also in tho service or Mr . Perry , swore to the fact of the defendant DutheW having offered him 12 s . a week to strike , at the same time telling him that he might get every bone in his skin broken if he did not go ; ultimately witness consented , and he was sent out of the town . Duffield , the defendant , had again threatened him previousl y , and told him he had a situation for him in Ireland ; "Woodnorth was close by at the time . These two defendants afterwards saw him off by the

    railwav , having previously given him a good deal of drink ; Woodnorth giving him £ 1 2 s . 4 d . before he started . Duffield gave him a letter to a person at Cork , setting forth that there was a situation ready for him there . On arriving at that place , the situation offered to him was at 9 s . a week . Witness refused to bave it , saying that he could get more than that per day in Wolverhampton . Was subsequently seized with illness , and afterwards worked his way back to Wolverhampton . Applied to Mr . Perry , who agreed to take him back again . —In cross-examination it came out that the witness had been convicted of bigamy . He continued

    in work at Perry ' s ; he had been in trouble , and that through this very job ; it was nothing but spite , they knew it well enough before , and got a man from Liverpool to do their dirty work ; he was tried for bigamy and got three months . Wuxiam Wessell , Thomas Bbition , James Smith , and "William Aston , workmen in the employ of Mr . Perry , deposed that they were advised to leave their work and go to Birmingham by the defendants , and that when at Birmingham , railway tickets were given them to go to London . They did not know who paid their railway fare , or their expenses in London , where they remained for three or four weeks .

    A clerk in the post-office at Wolverhampton swore that during the time the men were on strike Duffield and Woodnorth obtained post office orders weekly in tbe name of Thomas Jackson . Mr . Keating addressed the jury in a most eloquent speech , and contended that the charge of intimidation had not been proven . The circumstances were spread over tbe acts of the defendants , and the acts of other persons . Ifc was a wide net . And when they found only one person a witness to these threats , it did justify them in looking closely into the testimony of that witness ; they must look to his evidence , to his character , to his antecedents . Who was that witness , it was Orchard . Try Frederick Orchard by that test . What were his feelings ? He had been convicted , as he believed , through the agency of the defendants , of a gross and grievous offence . Although he had not violated the law of property , he stood before them a

    convicted felon , and he appeared attributing his righteous conviction to the defendants . He said they had a spite . against him . What were his words ? He said Duffield told him he had better go , or he would have his bones broke , He bad been before the magistrates , he had been examined before Mr . Perry and Mr . Wynn , and he had ' never made that statement until this day . But he said Duffield used a threat as he was going to the station , and this he explained by saying he had not then made up his mind to go . Now liars ought to have good memories . He had just before told them that Duffield had said to him , while at cards , that if they were not quick they would be too late for the train . Why—had he not made up his mind to go before be set out from the public house ? It would be an insult to the jury to ask them to believe bis evidence , and take out his evidence there was not any evidence whatever of threats or intimidation .

    The learned Judge then summed up . The bearing of his lordship ' s summing lip was adverse to ' the defendants , except on the counts ' charging threats and intimidation . The Jury , after about ten minutes consideration , returned a verdict of Guilty on the first , third , and fourth counts , which charged the defendants with obstructing the prosecntor in carrying on his business , with having by petsnasion and divers subtle methods , tbe use of intoxicating drinks and other unlawful means , induced persons to leave Mr . Perry —and finally , with general interference and obstruction , On the second count , which charged the more serious offence of intimidation and conspiracy , the verdict was Not Guilty .

    TUESDAY . THE QUEEN V . ROWLANDS , PEEL , GREEN , WISTBH 8 , PUT , PRATT , BUFFIKLO , WOODNOBTH , AND GAUNT . This was an indictment instituted by Messrs . Richard and George Henry Perry , tin-plate manufacturers , of Wolverhampton , against the defendants , several of whom are members of the National Association of United Trades , for a conspiracy . The indictment had been found against the defendants at the last Assizes , hut had since been removed by certiorari into the Court of Queen ' s Bench , and had been sent down for trial on the civil side at these Assizes . The counsel for the prosecution were Mr . Sergeant Allen , Mr . Huddleston , and Mr . Kettle;—for the defence , Mr . Parry , of the Old Bailey ( who had come down on a special retainer ) , Mr . Whnteley , Q . C ., Mr . Keating , Q . C ., Mr . Skinner , Mr . Macnamara , Mr . Vaugban , and Mr . Lawrence .

    Sergeant Allen , for tbe prosecution , opened the case , and stated that on the 2 nd of April Messrs . Perry received a letter stating that delegates from London would wait upon them in order to arrange matters between them and their workmen . He then detailed at length tbe cause of the dispute , its progress , and unhappy results . He dwelt especially upon the interference of the delegates of the National Trades Association , and then called Mr . G . H . Perry , who , after some details respecting the length of time and amount of business

    transacted by himself , stated that—Green called upon me in December , about the dismissal of Preston , stating that he was a member of the National Workmen ' s Association , he stated that the whole of the workmen co-operated with them . He said he had called to know the reason of Preston ' s discharge—told him we did not require his services ; he asked me if it was not because he had gone to the club ; if it was . he said they should take all the men out and should stop the supplies , and another man should call . I asked him what had to do with

    it , and told him to mind his own business . He mentioned Feel , in April . Did not see any of tbe parties charged till after ; received another letter on the 2 nd of April , 1850 , and his brother received one similar , which was read , stating that a deputation would wait upon him . Mr . Green afterwards called about the 13 th of April , and said , he wished them to adopt the book of prices , which he submitted to him . He then entered into detail , similar to that given by his brother , and stated that shortly afterwards the men began to hold shop meetings , and all but one of those not under written engagements , left his employ . There were about fourteen or fifteen under written engagements , some of them had been with them twelve or fourteen years , but only under contracts

    for four or five years . He saw Green and Peel occasionally conversing with some of the men . He also saw Green , Woodnorth , and Gaunt along with Duffield , push the gates of his factory open . He had seen all the parties he had named conversing with his workmen . Soon after , all the workmen left , and were leaving at that time . There were three persons , mmed Hodson , Evans , and Griffiths , who were under contract . These men left without his consent , and afterwards returned . In consequence of their leaving he went over to Paris , and engaged a number of men , paying their debts there and passage to England . He went to tbe Garrick ' s Head some time afterwards , and found one of the Frenchmen along with Duffield and Woodnorth ; Duffield said to him , Follow me , he cannot do anything to you , " and he did so . The eight Frenchmen remained till Christmas . They left without his consent , or even giving notice . He

    went to Paris again , and got eleven more , who left in the same abrupt manner ; he lost about £ 50 by them . They had about fifty apprentices at tbe time ; at the end of February , Wolsley , Law , S . Griffiths , J . Black , J . Griffiths , and Barlow , his six best apprentices , left without any notice . At the end of October his tin-plate workers were reduced in number from thirty to three . —Cross-examined : There was formerly a book of prices in their fchop , hut he never was aware it was acted upon . There was continually alterations being made in it . It had been discontinued in their manufactory for nine years . He was not aware that there were meetings respecting a new book ; be reeived the new books in April . He dismissed Preston becausehe found he had been collecting materials for making the book ; because he was taking down the prices received by each workman , as it would enable other manufacturers to oppos e them ; but he did not know for

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    what purpose he did it . There might have been shop meetings in his manufactory in 1849 , but he was no * cognisant of them . There had been , as long as he could remember , a trade society in the ll !^ ^ submitted to him was similar to ?« w 5 ST lted m t 0 himby "is workmen , as the book of prices . He mi ght have said he should like ^ pn Hmf ™ , !" - T t hey had frequent conversations respecting a price-bo ok , but he never meant to C ™ shouW be a S el" » al book of prices . Jw ^ , M !? cn 88 about a D 00 k . » t "ot whether Lmed d £ nf . T 0 r not ( The * ltn <** ^ re Seemed disinclined to meet the question , and beat lodged that they did meet respecting a nrice-book . l auiuiuea

    jie mat there was a proposition made at T ^„ meet , ngs tbat th 0 masters should mutually discharge any workman obnoxious to the masters , out be did not recollect that any bond was maJ ft 1 tl mt -l , 8 P » between masters a m I j J * 2 ? * k . There were some preliminar \ Ill afc i meetin g by his > brother , to strike out any one disagreeable . There was nothing said about Nuffield , but another clause said that it was not for a nse , but assimilation of wages , and his br ! fe . T ld that " carrots were better than cudgels - { laughter ) -or , in other words , " said the counsel , "leading is better than driving . " Ibeir prices , m some respects are lower and higher than tne others . —cross-examined by MrKeating

    . ( A question here arose whether separate counsel naa a rignt to cross-examine , and precedents being cited , it was decided they had . ) There was a partial StriKe about prices in 1839 . He was not aware that anything was said about the average lowness of wages in 1849 . In April , 1850 , there was a meeting called by his brother , at the Swan Hotel . There wassomethingsaid by his brother about Mr . Walton requiring Duffield to be discharged , who had been in his service twenty-ninc years . He had some faint recollection of his brother offering to discharge a list of obnoxious workmen , j f m > Walton would comply . ( The witness gave his evidence very reluctantly at this part of the proceedings . ) The meeting mado no impression upon his mind ,

    and he could not recollect what took place ; the meeting lasted , he supposed , about half an hour , being the time in which he usually drunk a bottle of wine . Ho had a manuscript of proposed prices sent to him . He met Green and Peel . about prices , the latter person he met in May . He believed he had met him two or three times , but not after the month of May . Did not remember the date of the meeting convened by his brother , sometime in May , when a delegate attended from each shop , They met , if possible , to make a book of prices ; and they were quite sincere in their wish , and the prices of several articles were agreed to . Mr . Green and Mr . Peel attended the meeting . Could not say they took any part in it ; it might have lasted two

    hours . Did not request thorn to be present at that or any other meeting . Mr . Peel at > ked them to be present at their Conference . His brother asked Green and Peel to sign the preliminaris , and he believes he saw them sign it . At that meeting the men were anxious to have the average wages of the four highest houses in the kingdom . Tho list was to be made upon that of Messrs . Walton and Shoolbred . The Star was about 100 yards from their manufactory , and was tbe constant resort Of the tinmen , and he had often seen Green . Winters , and Peel there . He had heard that Green and Winters lodged there . The agreements with their men were complained of as one sided , being very old ones . There was never any objection to price ,

    but respecting the notice , they having to give them six mouths , and they the men only one month's notice . He made the required alteration . fifteen or sixteen months ago . ( On counsel examining it , it was found to be November , 1850 ) . He believed the new agreements were printed before the indictment waspreferred by his brother . The men usually receive an amount on being bound , and consequently become their debtors . One of the men he brou ght from Paris summoned him for . bringing him over by misrepresentation , He did hot tell the commis ; sioner that they could earn 6 s . a day , nor did he tell them that there was any strike or dispute . He

    asked what amount they could get , and he replied they could earn from 25 s . to 50 s . a week . There was nothing said about an association . He saw Green and Winters when he went before the mayor to settle the dispute . His brother Edward did not act for himself , but they have often acted in concert . George Wynn had not been engaged on their behalf to his knowledge , but he believed he had examined some of the men ; but be had not acted under his direction , nor had he written anything ; but he had heard that he had written something , although he had never paid him . His Lordship considered this matter irrelevant .

    Cross-examined by Mr , KEATING .. —Have heard that Duffield lives in a part of the town , and that hia way lies past his manufactory . He thought it was in July or August when Duffield pushed open the fate ; he was crossing the yard at the time ; Dufeld only looked in ; it was about mid-day . —Reexamined by Mr . Sergeant Allen : He knew at the time of the meetings being held an assimilation of prices was impossible . All tho manufacturers use stamps or presses more or less . The reason he attended the meeting was to endeavour to engage some men , so as to be able to complete some orders . -

    Mr . E Pkbrv , examined . —Received a letter on the 2 nd of April . Mr . Peel having called upon him said , that if another strike took place , and they were under the management of the association , the shops would no longer be supplied , as they had a large sum at their disposal , and could array almost all the operatives of the country against any employer they chose . He also said that they had the entire confidence of the Wolverhampton tin-plate workers reposed in them . The defendants were in the habit of going to the Swan beer-house almost daily during the strike , and he was sure he had seen Green there once . Witness . here alluded to a hand-bill exposed in the window Of the Swan Inn , which was then in the window , when Peel went in and out . Mr . Sergeant Allen tendered the document in evidence .

    Mr . Parry objected on behalf of Peel and Winters . The court , after some discussion , declared tbat the document was admissible , but its reading was postponed . Cross-examined by Mr . WnATBLEV , Q . C . —At the meeting he did not meet for the purposeof making a book of prices , but for amusing time . Recollect saying that carrots ware better than cudgels . He never shook hands with any of the delegates . He drew up and signed some of the preliminaries . Rowland signed them on a subsequent occasion , but could not say whether he objected at the time , as his memory was defective on the subject . He had no honest intention of carrying out the agreement although he signed it , agreeing about the prices of

    half-a-dozen articles . Did not propose that any one should be discharged , nor offer to discharge any . — Cross-examined by Mr . Parry : He read the handbill in the window of the Star Inn . He saw Peel go in and out of the Star twice at least in July . Was positive onthis point . He also saw Green in , drawing down the window blind , but not more than once . He did not communicate to either his brother or any other master that his object was to amuse the men . He had been subpoenaed to produce the preliminary resolutions , but did not do so , nor did ho know what became of them . It was impossible ; did not recollect reading them to Mr . Robinson , the Mayor ; he might or might not have bad them at the time . He might bave said he would send an answer as to the book of prices . He thought that he did not call the meeting , but presided . He got the delegates to sign , and had they been acted up to the thing would have ended , although he was only amusing them . Ho has

    spoken of the delusive trick to his friends in town . He told them he would be bound by no hook of prices , but he was a party to the agreement , although he was deceiving them ; he told one of them , and in July he threw off tbe mask of deceit . He received'Green ^ and Winters , and treated them with courtesy ^ They might have seen him the same evening , but he did not remember . He did not remember saying , "If a settlement is obtained it will not be owing to the men , they must thank you for your judicious conduct . " Would not swear that they did or did not call upon him . He had no animosity to Duffield , but believed Duffield had some towards him . Never produced any list of obnoxious men at the meeting . Had not offered to Charles Haynes to give him £ 60 if he could procure the conviction of Duffield , but Duffield sent him a note to that effect , but he never answered It .

    Examined by Mr . Srinker . —Did not ask Walton to discharge Duffield , and he would discharge M'Naughton in return . His brother , Mr . Shoolbred , Walton , Wbrustans , and Fearncombe , were present with himselfat tbe meeting . Fearncombe was the person he had told he intended deceiving tho men , and he broke up the meeting . Mr . G . Wynn had his sanction , knowledge , and permission to examine the men , but he did not pay him , as be was his nephew . He employed Arthur Wynn as bis interpreter in France . The handbill was then read by the clerk .

    Mr . Alfred Wvnn , examined by Mr . Settle . — Was an attesting witness to tbe contracts signed by tbe French workmen , and he explained to them at the time that they would be liable to punishment if they broke the contract . Mr . A . Colby , examined by Mr . Kettle . —Was clerk to Perry and Son ; was present when Green called respecting Preston ' s discharge , He lieaid Green use the language described by Mr . G . Perry . Duncan M'Naughton , examined by Mr . Kettle . — Was in the service of Mr . Perry ; remembered a meeting at the Wolverhampton th ' eatre in October last ; Green and Peel were there ; Messrs . Winters , Rowlands , and Peel spoke at the meeting , giving an account of their interviews with the masters , and said that the negotiations had failed ; and Peel recommended bim to join ; the Trades' Association . Could not remember that Peel said anything about any sums of money per week , or anything about ulterior measures , but Green said , that having used

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    all their means they should be obliged to resort to ulterior measures but did not intimate what thov were . He said that the tin-plate workers had drawn up a book of prices , which was presented to the masters , and that they would have that price and should be enabled to give them I 2 s . 6 . 1 . a week till they got it . —Cross-examined by Mr . Whateley : Saw a great many respectable persons at the meeting . —Re-examined by Mr . "Parry : Mr . Griffith was in the chair ; if he was a tinman he was a master , He took no part in making the book of prices . He was a member of the Tinman's Association once for about two years . Did not know there was any particular rivalry between the masters . The price book took about six months in its agitation and formation .

    Mr . W . Mantle was then called and examined by Mr . Huddlestone . —He was present at the meeting in the theatre , and remembered Green addressing tho meeting . Green asked for a subscription to carry out the objects of the association . Ho hoard of no other mention of money , except tho £ 100 the book of prices had cost , The next part Of his evidence corroborated that of the last witness . Samubl Shbil , examined by Mr . Huddlestone . — Was present at a meetinsr at the Old Hall . Dnffifild .

    Pitt , and Pratt were there . He had seen Duffield , woodnorth , and Gaunt in companv with Green and ltowiands after that meeting , and Peel in company with Duffield . —Cross-examined by Mr . Parry : Saw Green m company with Duffield at the Swan . This was subsequentl y to the Old Hall meeting . Shopmeetings are very common amongst the workmen , and the one referred to was one . He was one of the delegates at the meeting , and he was discharged afcerwards . -Cro 9 s . examined by Mr . Keating : Had never said he wished to transport Duffield , but iTtheeff 3 ^ Whether he bad nofc said something

    John Omtchabi > , one of Mr . Perry ' s workmen , examined by Mr . Kettle .-Was at the Dolphin on the . Sud ot December : Duffield came in and asked him why he was not like the rest . He replied that he was not such a fool as to go and be clammed ( starved ) to death . —Cross-examined by Mr . Kaatmg : Had been imprisoned three times for neglect of work . ° William Ho » qson examined by Mr . Huddlestone . —Was in Bloomsbury Tavern one evening in October ; Woodnorth came in and had a quart of ale , which draught he left bim to finish . He then came hack and told him to go to the Swan , and they induced him there to leave his employi Him * self , Pratt , and Evans went to tho Shrewsbury station ; Pratt obtained a ticket , and he started to Shrewsbury . ' He was in liquor at the time . Pratt paid for both liquor and ticket . On arriving ,

    he and Pratt went into a public house , where they found Griffiths . They remained all ni ght , and in the morning Pratt told bim they must go to Boschurch ; they went , and from there to Wrighton , and then to Oswestry , and they stayed at the Horse Shoe . They were there about a week , Pratt paying for everything . Woodnorth came afterwards , and gave them os . 6 d . each , and took Pratt away . He had no idea of going to Oswestry when he started . They were told to write to " Thomas Jackson , to be left for Woodnorth , " when in want of money . He afterwards removed to Codsall , where Woodnorth met him . and finally returned to Wolverhampton , when Duffield told him he was a fool both to his wife and family . Received four or five post office orders whilst he was away . they came from Woodnorth . and were sent in his '

    name . . Mary Lee was called and ' examined by Sergeat Allen , in corroboration of part of Hodgson ' s evidence . Llewklwii Bushell , examined by Mr . Allen . — Was in tbe employ of Messrs . Perry ; knew all the defendants , hut Winters ; had spoken to Green many times , he said that the Wolverhampton people were a complete set of curs , and if they had only such hearts as the six apprentices who bad absconded they would have gained the day . Green also said he had sent the Frenchmen off at a cost of £ 52 or £ 54 . Remembered Woodnorth mentioning the theatre meeting , and said he had been down to Hodson . Remembered the apprentices going , saw

    them at the Garrick ' s Head previously , and saw them leave to go off . Woodnorth said he had sent the apprentices off ; he winked his eye to him , and Woodnorth winked his eye to some one else : he asked Woodnorth where they were gone , but could gain no more information than a reply from Woodnorth " that they wove all right . " Remembered Green saying , at another time , the apprentices could do them a great service , if they would . — Cross-examined : Was a tin-plate worker , and came from Worcester . Complained of Mr . Perry at the time . Mr . Perry entrapped him into a written agreement . He did not now consider he was deceived . Said he was a Methodist , and would go to Mr . Hartley , and complain to him as he was a Methodist , and he did so . Did not aak to get him relieved from the articles . He had made himself busy for the apprentices , as he bad a respect for

    them . Green pulled some money out of bis pocket one day , and asked him if he would go . Had been taken by Mr . Perry as being the man who took the apprentices . He did it after a quarrel with him . Left work for one day . Mr . Perry summoned him , and he was fined 16 s . 6 d . Mr . Perry paid the fine , and deducted it from his wages . Mr . Robinson sent for him , and he for the future determined to have nothing more to do with them . Mr . Perry merely made the charge against' him for the purpose of frightening him . Had determined to remain with Mr . Perry , who had at different times advanced £ 1 , and he might be indebted to that person in the sum of 20 s . or 30 s . He had never , to hia recollection , endeavoured to induce the apprentices to neglect their work . —Sergeant Allen asked him if he bad ever been hanged or transported . ( Loud laughter . )

    Thomas Griffiths , examined by Mr . Huddlestone . —Went with Gaunt and Woodnorth to tbe Star , and had several "beg" jugs of ale with them . He then detailed the mode adopted to induce him to leave his employ similar to the others . They induced him to go to Loudon , On his return he was imprisoned at the instigation of Mr . Perry for neglect of work . —Cross-examined by Mr . Keating : On his return from Shrewsbury , he met some of the defendants in Temple-street , who took him to the Cross Keys . He afterwards stated that this did not occur till three weeks afterwards . Never told any one the evidence he was to give . The counsel asked him how it was that there was three or four pages of evidence of his ?—Mr . Sergeant Allen replied that he had three or four pages of matter , but he was afraid it was not evidence , ( Laughter . )

    RicuAnn Shbtxakd , examined by Mr . Huddlestone . —Had been employed by Messrs . Perry , and then discharged , and was out of employ for thirteen weeks , and he received about 12 s . 6 d . a week from Green and Rowlands . Generally received the money at the Star . —Cross-examined : Was not a hired servant , but a freeman . Edwabd Robinson , examined by Mr . Huddlestono , gave similar evidence to the preceding witness : During the strike received the same amount as the last from the same parties . Chablbb Bablow , examined by Mr . Huddlestone . — Was formerly apprenticed to Mr . G , Perry . First

    met with Duffield , Woodnorth , and Gaunt on Saturday evening . They gave him and tho other apprentices money to go to the Swan . They went and had had some drink ; Woodnorth told them that they were to go to the Garrick on the following Monday afternoon . They went , and had plenty of drink , as much as they pleased , without payment . Gaunt , Woodnorth , and Duffield , told them so ; they staid drinking till six o ' clock ; they then went to the Coach and Horses and had some more drink . He was induced by them to go to London . John Gbjpfiths , examined by Mr . Huddlestone , gave corroborated evidence to that of the former witness ; went at the same time as Barlow , by' the

    same conveyance . ¦ John Williams , examined by Mr . Huddlestone ; Was a police-officer ; went to London after the apprentices ; they were in a garret altogether . Remembers whilst they were in custody Woodnorth called to ask about them . George Briscoe , examined by Mr . Huddlestone . — Was foreman to Mr . Perry ; at the time the apprentices left , he noticed damage done to the tools , and the patterns were missing . EnwABn Bailey , examined by Mr . Huddlestone . —

    Remembered being at lillBWorth station ; saw one ot the Frenchmen going off ; Green was with bim . EnwAnn Moselby , examined by Mr . Huddlestone . —Was at the Garrick ' s Head one evening ; Woodnorth said that every Frenchman should go , cost what it would . Cross-enamined by Mr . Keating . —Recollected this evidence since tbat of yesterday ; had spoken to Mr . Wynn about it , arid he reminded him of it ; he had said the same at Wolverhampton , but could not swear to it ; Mr . Wynn reminded him of it that morning .

    Several other witnesses were examined to the same effect , and also for tbe purpose of showing that the agreements were read over and explained to the Frenchmen before tley were required to sign them . On cross-examination by Mr . Parry , it was elicited that it had not been explained to them . They were liable to imprisonment , under the law of this country , if they broke tbese contracts , and that , as foreigners , they could not be expected to be acquainted with tbat fact . This closed the case for the prosecution .

    Mr , Wmati 5 Ibt , Q . C ., then addressed the jury for the defendants Rowlands , Pratt , and Pitt . Before proceeding , however , he asked the judge if he considered there was any evidence inculpating Pitt , and upon his lordship intimating his opinion that it was exceedingly slight , while it appeared , at tbe same time , that another person named Pitt had been mixed up with the proceedings , Mr , Sergeant Allen consented to the withdrawal of his namel ' rom the indictment . —The learned counsel , in his speech , characterised by great force and clearness , explained the law as applicable lo his clients , who , he

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    contended , were legally justified in tho course they had taken , and intimated , that should the decision be adverse to them in that court , the matter would not be suffered to rest there , but would he submitted to the judges in tho court above . The court then adjourned , shortly after eight

    n 4 ,. WEDNESDAY . On taking his seat this morning , the Judge intimated the view he was disposed to take of the position Ot the defendants , according to the cvidi'nce boforehim Green he should associate with Dufheld , Woodnorth , Gaunt , and Pratt , for inducing hired men and apprentices to leave their employment . The evidence against Peel was of a peculiar nature , and would have to he separately considered ; and that against Winters aud Rowland showed them to have been actively co-operating with him in persuading others to leave their employment . From what had been stated by the learned ' counsel iMr .

    Whately ) , he understood that the question of law ¦ would be raised in the court above , whether persons have a right to persuade other working men either to leave their work , or to refuse to work for any particular master—and though he had a very strong opinion as to what was the law on that point , it was not necessar y for him to state h there , but he would merely ear , that if there was any offence against reel and " Winters , it would bo on the ninth count , as to persuasion . The question was whether that was an offence or not , by the law . If it was not , they would then go free—if it was they would bo liable to such punishment as the offence demanded .

    Mr . J . H . Parky , ( who . was specially retained ) , then rose to address the jury for Messrs . Peel , Green , and Winters . He said he addressed them , on behalf of three working men—who had always been working men—who were very anxious to serve their class , bad lived among and laboured for them , and who were , therefore , very far removed from gentlemen of the class composing that jury . It might have been supposed by those who instructed his learned friends for the prosecution , that by summoning a special jury of merchants and gentlemen , the defendants had been delivered over hound hand and fool-., and had no chance of a fair hearing orof afair trial , but ho did not believe that of English gentlemen . He believed no class of men , when new

    facts were brought before them , wore more anxiousj to . do justice than that class to which they belonged . There were some gentlemen summoned to that jury who had sat on the first—ami ho had ventured to suggest to these gentlemen that they should retire ; they had not thought proper to do so , and he only hoped now that they would dismiss from their minds what they had heard on the former case , and come to a conclusion solely on the evidence before them . At the outset , he wished to clear away a great deal of misapprehension as to the law regarding working men ' s combinations , and would call their attention to the law under the correction of his lordship . Before the year 1820 work * ing men dared not combine together—dared not

    meet together , publicly or privately , for the purpose of saying they would not work for less than a certain rate of wages—say 80 s . a week . But masters were enabled to combine together , and did combine together , for the purpose of saying '' We won ' t give working men more than a certain rate of wages "—say 20 s . ; and be would put it to them , could anything be more unjust or . more calculated to make the working classes of this country believe that there was one law for the poor man and another law for the rich man ? He strongly desired to impress on their minds that this was an error , an injustice in every sense of the word , a principle of class legislation , calculated to set class against class , and to do mischief to the masters as well aa

    tho men . As his learned friend ,. Mr . Whateley , had stated to them , we all combine . The jury knew that the iron masters of that county combined to fix prices , aud imposed penalties on those of their order who broke the agreement . Merchants and manufacturers combined , under certain circumstances , to fix their arrangements , and inflicted penalties on their own order for breaking them . The members of the bar combined and enforced their determination by penalties upon offending members of the profession . Why should tin-plate workers not do so ? Be knew of no reason . The jury were not there to try bankers , or iron masters , or merchants , or tin-plate workers , but they were trying her Majesty ' s subjects ; and they were not to be tried by

    any class prejudice , but by the law and the principle that these men were justified in doing what other classes of men do . De hoped tbat they would well consider that fact . As he bad said before , prior to 1826 , working men were prohibited from combining ; but in that year , an act was passedcommonly called Mr . Hume ' s Act—by wbich every statute upon that subject , from the time of Edward III ., filling three folio pages in the enumeration , was repealed . The 4 th clause of that act ( which the learned counsel quoted ) expressly gave to work " ing men the power of meeting to determine the rate of wages at which they would work , and the hours during which they would work , and expressly declared that the persons so meeting for the

    purposes aforesaid , or entering into agreements for such purposes , shall not be prosecuted , « ' any law or state notwithstanding . " He submitted that clause should be literally construed ; that under it working men may meet once , twice , or a thousand times in public or in private , to discuss their interests , and to agree as to tho terms on which they will sell their labour ; and if , in the course of these discussions , warmth of language or excitement were apparent , it was only what took place at the meetings _ of other classes ; and it would be folly for them to sit there coolly to criticise every stray expression made use of at such meetings . He went further and said , on behalf of the defendants , that if men had a right to meet and discuss their interests and

    enteflfto agreements they had also . a right to persuade any working man , or any body of working men , to adopt that agreement ; and that parties doing so would not be guilty of any offence whatsoever . That was the ground upon which he took his stand . On these things they were very much bound by precedent , and be would not presume to declare the law simply as a member of the bar . He would quote to them the evidence of an eminent judge who had administered justice in that very town with universal satisfaction to all parties —he meant the late Chief Justice Tindal—and who , in trying some colliers , had said that the first observation which arose was , that if the working men of the various collieries had assembled peaceably

    together for the purpose of fixing a rate 01 wages , and entered into an agreement for the purpose of obtaining such rate , they would have dene more than the law justified , but that tho law was equal , and allowed the masters the same right of meeting and combining to say they would not give more than a certain rate of wages . He would apply that principle of law to this case afterwards , but , in tbe mean time , he would observe that great parade bad been made about Mr . Perry ' s losses in this struggle . By the learned counsel ( Mr . Huddlestone ) , thatflUefi " tion bad been objected to , but , in the mean time , his lordship bad been given the trouble of writing it down and erasing , after the effect intended to be produced on the minds of the jury had been

    obtained . He would say that it was impossible that any strike could take place , without their being a loss in consequence . There never was a strike in which there was not loss both to masters and men . Mr . Perry ' s loss was a mere insignificant trifle compared to what had been lost by other masters in other struggles , and , whether large or small , did not in the slightest degree affect the right of the working men recognised by the law . In a similar case tried at Liverpool before Mr . Baron Rolfe—now . Lord Cranworth—that learned and eminent judge in summing up said—" Th * employers of labour may meet and say we will not give more than such and such a rate of wages . The working men may also meet and say w ' e will not

    work f ° r 'ess than such and such a rate of wages ,. and may also agree to form a fund to support each other , until the masters agreed to their terms . " What did that mean but that 12 s . 6 d . a week , of which the jury had heard so much in this case aa being paid to the men ? How was it possible for individual working men , receiving 20 a . or 30 b . a week , to enter upon a struggle with large capitalists unless they had this power . It was utterly impossible for poor , and toiling working men to succeed in their struggles with mean and griping masters who wished to reduce wages and to oppress their workmen , as had been done in the case of these miserable . tinmen . Such a mean and griping master of this power did not exist who would be

    able to compel submission to his own terms , or drive tbe men from the town in search of employment elsewhere . His argument was , that the men bad a right to combine , and , if so , to persuade others to combine with them to obtain their objects . He set aside all tbat had been said about intimidation and violence . He did not defend such means , but he asked them to listen to what Mr . Raron Rolfe said on this point : — " Now it is doubtless lawful for persons to agree among themselves not to work , and they are not guilty of any illegal conduct'in peaceablyattempting to persuade or induce Others' * If such conduct was legal and peaceable , it was of course no offence against tbe law ; and it was upon that ground that he appeared to defend Mprw «

    reel , winters , and Green . If other persons had been guilty of violence and intimidation , or if it wa 8 an ofience to / induce hired men and appren-^! ul ° A v- ave th rem , toy *» ent-on which points his lordship would explain to them the law-let such persons be punished ; but aa far iiadine freemen were concerned-even ot opinion that persuading persons employment was a great evilact on their own opinions , according to the law . He mitted to them what was pwn mind , by which he wishe be tried , and he had ventured t 0 ( Continued in our

    Ajjeust % 1851. . The Northern Star, 5

    AjjeusT % 1851 . . THE NORTHERN STAR , 5

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• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 2, 1851, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_02081851/page/5/