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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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THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF MR- O'CONNOR BY THE MYRMIDONS OF THE AKTI-CGRN LAW LEAGUE . Doubtless onr reader * will be anxious to Ieam ss much as possible of the particulars attendant on tliis bratal outage . That -we may nqtl » sccnssd of partial or dishonest statements , we hate procured copies of all the Manchester papers of last Saturday , and proceed to lay before oar readers all thst they eay on the subject . "We bepn -with the League ' s big gun , The Manchester Tiaes , wia gives the following Yerslon of the matter : "PRACTICAL ILLCSXRATIOK 0 * THE PHTSICAL
F 0 E . CE PB . 1 SCIPLE . " The second lecture , on the Bepeal r f the Legislative Union , ' -was fixed for Tuesday evening , and the number or persons preaent was nearly equal to the pre-¦ nous evening ' s meeting .. The lecture -was intended for the Irish Repealers , and there might he 1500 Irish in the boSy-tf the hall ; the remainder there , and the -whole tf the persons in the gallery , to -which the price of admission to double ( i . c twepenee ) , Tere apparently Englishmen . It is reported that a body cf men forced their wsy into the body c f the hall without paying . The plice became densely crowded by half-psst seven , and tha occupants "were evidently if two parties not Tery friendly disposed towards each other , as -was manifested by several displays if feeling which took place on the appearance of ihe friends if either party on the platform . These displays of feeling TtVre
occasionally provoked by several ci the leaders oii ' tha platform , tfce otijeeji Mng apcaiently to _ s&e their illative strength , of vibith a good idea might be formed by the hands and bits raised to accompaBy their hnrcsi ? . The 'belligerents it appears were all Usios Repealers , but part of them , the Irish , were ihe 0 Conaeliite Repealers , and the other portion -were 0 Con&orite Repealers—the Irishmen coming there , as appeared by the draft of a resolution handed to the reporter * , for tie purpose of repudiating O'Connor as a leader , and acknowledging only O'ConnelL The leaders of both parties ssem to fcave been aware what "was to come , and so evenly , balanced did each party appear to be ¦ when judged of by the means "sre have aiicded to above , tiafc their leaders might be heard chuckling ani congratulating each other occasionally on the certainty of triumph .
" We fear , however , that many went there for other purposes than a mere ¦ warfare of -words , and tha possession ef this knowledge by the proprietors of the building is evident from the address if ilr . Higginhottom , who came forward , shortly before eight o ' clcci-, and said— I hsve to beg , in the name of the proprietors of the hall , that , as working men , you will avoid doing any damage to the property of this halL ( Ckeers , and crias of ' We wiiL' } Ton all know that this property -was » iBed by the subscriptions of the working men , ncd I trust they will be the last to Injure that which was jaised by their own hands , and which is the rtsult of their own industry . * t Cheers . )
" There were now frequent manifestations of impatience far the proceedings to be opened ; and we btlicve a man came forward to have proposed a Chairman , but some parties around him prevented the proposition being heard by the great bulk o ' f the meeting , and a working man , named Duffy , who sat on the fcdge of the platform , rose , and having been successful enough to gain a hearing , said— 'My friends , I have only a word to offer . ( Cries of 'Order . ' ; All the friends of order will best keep order by holding thtir tongues . ( Laughter and cheers . ) G-cstlemeu , Mr . 3 ? eargts O'Connor has not yet arrived , and though it is
past eight o ' clock we have no right to attempt to appoint a Chairman till he Is here . ( General cheering . } Wlien be arrives let bis friends propose a Chairman of their own choice—( general cheering );—and I do not know whether any one will support me , but 1 am determined to propose another . ( Partial cheers . ) Xet me beg of you not to encourage or give way to party strife , but listen to argument and reason . Let me beg of you to conduct yourselves peaceably , and , like men , net be afraid to hear what each party has to say : —
" Let ^ aity i&ge rancour cease ; Let the lips urge , but the h § art be peace . " ( Cheers . ) Let the tame come for proposing & chairman , then give to each speaker a full hearing , and determine the ojiestion fairly by a show of hands . ( Applause . ) In order that the reader who has not seen the room of the TTaTT of Science in which the meeting was held may form a just notion of it , "We may mention that it is in shape of so oblong square , is lofty , haying a platform or stage at one end { in some respects like the stage of a theatre without its wings , tcenery , and
machinery ) , and round the other three sides of ' the room is & spacious gallery . The stage , which is about five feet six inches , or six foet above the floor , has gaslights along the front , with side doers , and itare btxes over them , and narrow staircases lead from the stage doors to the boxes above , to a large room below , and to various ante-rooms . The body of the hall , the gallery , and stage were filled with men and youths ( the litter forming perhaps on this occasion nearly one-third of the whole , ) with some few women amongst them . Ihe two stage boxes were occupied entirely by females .
*• Mr O'Connor entered the T ?* n about ten minutes past eight o ' clock , accompanied by the Rsv . James ScholeSeli and some other friends , and was received with loud cheers , which were fallowed by expressions of disapprobation from his countrymen . —Joseph iinsey immediately came forward , and said , ' 1 beg to propose that Mi . Scholefield take the chair . '—Cbr istopherDoyle : 'Isecond the motion . ' —Daffy , who is also a working man , said , ' I propose as an ainendn > ent that Mr . John 2 > oyle take the chair . ' —Another working man seconded the amendment . —Mr . Daffy : ' As the mover of the amendment I claim precedence to call for a show of hands ; ' and , suiting the action to the word , he held up his hand , which was the signal for a forest of others in the body of the Mall—Llnoey ,
without waiting , immediately called f . r a show of hands for Schriefield , and thns the wLole of the hands in the place "were raised at ouce ; and they rrast have been nice discriminators who could distinguish one side from the other—Mauds from foes . It is sufficient to say that both psit " : es claimtd the majority , and without waiting for the vote to be deeid-d more calmly , Mr . O'Connor and his friends a :-temi tsa to get the chair forcibly by putting 31 r . ScbolcfieM into it , the sthsr parties , eqnillj bent upon securing possession got held of it , and t * ae stage "was in a memsnt converted into a scene of the utmost confusion . Sather party appeared unwilling or cntrepared for the cocflict : they appeartd to rush together mars like bulldogs than human beings , and a more frightful scene was fieve ? -witnessed . The chairman ' s desk "^ ras tumbled
orerjathe body cf the hill , together wia the chair which was the subject of contention . The reporters ' table , at which were Esated the representatives tf oniy tffo cf the newspapers—our own reporter , and Mr . Wimam Henry Lerescce , cf She Advcrtiszr—went overboard immediately afterwards ; and all the fu : x : tu-e Was immediately broken up to famish weapinsi f office or ( Lfaice . The reporters , whose affection for neither party was Eufficiert it would appear to engage thtm in the mdtt immedifitsly prepared to leave the room , well jadging that men in the heat of passion , with snch WBapons as they were now providing themselves with , would not be likely to distintu'ihbttwfeen neutrals an £ actual combatants , and the result unforunately proved the correctneet of their anticipations . Our own
reporter got to the sonthero side : door , and made his escape over the backs of some fellows who "were treating up his chair for weapons to fight with . 2 ilr-Lsregche unfortunately eofiezed iimself to be padj&d fuj of the direct line to tbe door , and did not gain a tail seme moments sfifcrwards , when just as he bad reached the outside , a cowardly ruffian struck him oa the back of tha bead with a weapon procured by breaking the banisters of tbe staircs 33 , and inflicted a frightful gash , which bled profnsely ; and he also got a blow on tha forehead , and was severely beaten about the boulders . We are not able to describe the scene immediately Euccaeding ; but out reporter having gained one of the side itige hexes , had again an opportunity oi itnessing the scene below . The fight bad now become
general throughout the halL Great numbers of those whose peacaable disposition , or f ; ars , inclined them to tako no part in it had Itf c the hall , and the three thon-Knd persons at first assembled were reduced to a fe w knadredB ' ; and these were fighting in the most brutal msozer . Some of the combatants must have brought stones in their pockets , and these were hurled with lexrivl violence as their opponents on the stage Hr . Scbolefidd gobitrock by oneot ihem on thementh , acd £ iB lija were Severely bruised and his teeth loosened . ^ Ir- O'Connor , tiur being several times knocked down ora the forms , and strack Trith BtickB-in the melee * 1 » received a blow from a stone on tbe right ttmple , ' ¦ fcieli raised a swelling and drew blood , but ho was not mueh hurt . O'Connor end some cf bis friends soon
got out cf the place by a back door , and the scene ¦» iich succeeded is too dreadful to dilate upon . Perfcsj * the best protf that cas be given cf the ferociouslisas of the combatants may be taken from one instance . One cf the men on the ttage had struck another , and wa 3 stoaping to lift np a second weapon , when Lte antagonist rushed at him witb snch force thit they went headforemost together off the stage , -which we have already said is about fcix fett iagh , and fell npon the floor at a considerable distance from it One cf them we are told , broke one of bis anna in two peaces by the fail , and we can only vonder that either of them should have escaped alive . Tiie contest , which lasted from twenty ' minute to-half
an hour , during which iae hail alternately rtsouniied with the crash of furniture breaking up to furnish » eapons with , with , heavy blowB , and the ebrieks of fiie terrified females in the stage boxes as they witnessed the various success of their friends and relatives , * 2 s of too sanguinary a character to be guzad upon calmly , and the women appropriately drew the crimson eai tains of the boxes to hide the frightful scene frujn Tiew , Tbe combatants left tbe room as they lost or broke their weapons , till the hall became tenantiess , and ths deors were closed against thtm outside by tbe police , who had now arrived in considerable force . We beiieve Utere were no lives lest , but the number of heads broken we should think must have been very great ; and fof-some time afterwards the druggists' shops in Deansgate and the neighbonrkooa * ere crowded with bleeding patients who had gone in search of plaster ? . We bjrce heard of thirty being
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severely hurt , one of whom is in the Infirmary , and the entire number tf wounded matt be mnch greater . " We perceive that in the Guardian it is stated that there was a cry cf Corn Laws mixed np with the cause of the quarrel ; aad O'Connor , taking the hint , is lu « y circulating a report tkat tbe League hired the partita to disturb the meeting . The Tory papers of to-day will doubtless take their cue from the same source , aad be too happy in getting the suggestion from such a quarter . With them and 0 Connoi the League has been the- ' red cat' that did all the misshiei a long time ; and like the red cat cf Joe Miller , though they have killed It nine times ott of the way , wiil yet come back to ' break the china sugar basin . * We can asseit fearlessly , hovever , that no such cries were raised as those mentioned by the Guardian and as to the League , we leave the absurd report t ~> fee
contradicted when it is snfSciently believed to be of importance . There has been a party in existence who have tiisinrbfrd our public meetings for years past—even before the « -xirtenca of the League , and O Connor is beet acquainted with its origin . It is nothing Burprising that these disturbances should have provoked retaliation . Mr . O'Connor ' s partisans disturbed a meeting of his countrymen at Carpenter ' s Hall some months ago ; and , much as we . regrist it , we do net wonder that bad blood should exist , or that the physical f Tree ha counselled should have been turned against himself . His lecture to the Irish Rtpea ' . ers was celiveretl on the following evening to a crowded meeting ; all Irishmen , who -Wtie recogaified as suca , being carefully excluutd , a ; a 350 police , armed with cntiassfcs , btiog Mr . o coanoi ' s boay guard . His third lecture—' on the Cora Laws '—was not delivered , his engagements obliging him to be at Stockport on Thursday . " PROCEEDINGS AT THE BOROUGH COURT , WEDNESDAY . ( Before D . Maude , E > q . ) " Shortly after the proceedings commenced , W . Daffy cime into the court , and said he wished to apply for a sucirnons against Mr . O'Connor for an assault . He Etit-jd that he was one of the parlies who proposed out ) of the chairmen ; on its bciag put to the vote each party claimed to have the majority ; he btard great confusion behind him on the platfurin , and on looking behind £ im he saw Mr . O'Ccniior , who doubled his fists , and exclaimed— 'Came on , my iads , come on . " He ta . cn hit the complainant a blow in the ribs , which ktvccktd him do ^ na £ r « n the plrtti-xm to t ^ e floor of thexoom . ' The £ tirmnons was granted . 'John Saxon , the man takin into custody by the police , was then brought up . Ee was charged with using violence , and attempting to strike Mr . O Connoi with a feim .
: George Buchanan deposed that he eaw the prisoner : during the skirmish breaking np either a chair or table , j aad afterwards throwing it in tha direction where Sir . . O'Connor ¦ was itsnaiug on t ' ae platform . Witness kept ; his eye on him , and afu-rw ; irds ga ? e him in custody to I dia police . j "In cross-examination by Mr . Dicken , solicitor , i who appeared for the prisoner , ke said a chair was ; thrown down , which stemed to be a signal for a general i attack ;¦ stones and brickbats were thrown on the platj form . ' Mr . Scholefield had been proposed to take tho ! chair , and carried , and when about to sit down in it , it | was pulled from him . Five minutes after that things f began te be broktn ; & rush immediately took place , I and some were pushed ofi' the platform . Men bad to
j ut ' end themselves for their lives' sake . What the I prisoner broke -was either a ctair or a table ; he was j not doing it in eelf-defence ; no otie was ntar him at | the time . He and another party were snatching pieces ; of timber . from every one who opposed them , and throwj ing them at the platform . : j ** John Hargreaves proved that he saw the prisoner j with a piece of either a chair or table in his band , but I did net see him throw it . A weapon was not necessary j for his protection . The large room , and also the galj leij , were full of people . i "Mr . O'Connor next stepped into the witness-box ,
j having a large black patch on his forehead . He said : he bad been requested to come down by Sir Charles Shaw , but he knew nothing whatever of the prisoner . " Mr . Scholefield , toe chairman cf the meeting , was j called . He could not identify the prisoner , but was I crcK-examined by Mr Dicken t j the following efiVct : — j I got to the met ting about ten minutes past eight , and [ found the neighbourhood of the chair occupied by perj feet strangers to ine . A man named Dofiy -was addree-•; sing the pwple . Aa soon as Ml . O'Conno * and 1 ej-I peared , they called upon me to take the chair . I had j been appointed chairman for tho evening at the prej yious lecture . There were both cheers and yells , and ; all kinds of noises .
{ " John Harjjreaves first saw the prisoner with a stick ¦ in bis hand , Snctking abent and bitting every one he came ut . He r-f upwards saw him very busy in striking , I and throwing tticks und stones upon the platform . j There was a good deal of confusion and violence in the ; room at the time . The platform was abcul the height ' ef a person ' s head . The first breaking of furniture I begun oa the platform ; chairs and tables were ; broken , and were thrown dovtn into the body of j the halL - It was not all on the platform who were j the aggressors , lut a select pasty , who were there fo : , the purpose .
" Edward Hancock deposed that he distinguished the prisoner from the commencement of the disturbance . He was along wita a body of Irishmen , who rushed into the room by force at an early part of the evening ; aiid at the identical time whtn the signal was given , by an individual jumping from the midd . eof the floor npon the platform , the prisoner caught a chair that was thrown fcy some one from the platform ; heani others broke the chair by clashing it on the ground , and he thtn took one piece , went towards the platform , aad . aimed a blow at the chairman .
" Cross-txaHiiiied—There was an icdiscrimfEate breaking of chairs and tiblei in the room . The irst brt-sch of the peace was caused by a person springing from tha body of tha room from amongst the low Irish repea ' ers—( laughter . ) The next thiDg was the se . ' zing oi the chairman and the cicdi , and tawi coasmt-nced ths attacks of individuals on the platform ; some individual threw a chair from the p ' atform into tho body of tto nve-iLng , and then commenced the indiscriminate violence . " BnfFy was then called by Mr . Dicker on the part of the prisoner . He stated that he went to the meeting
at exactly five minutes to sevtn ; ne "went to a side door , and was told by the woman who opened it thr . t tGty -would have a ' ttrrit'Je stormy night of it . ' H > j j . a : d 66 . and got on tha platform . The disturbance did not r-egiri of an hour . Some f nrniture was first broken oa tbe right-hand side of the platform . He nsver saw prisoner tfatra at aJL Tiiere was a great fcflbrt to force Mr . Scholefitld into the chair , some puihing tha one vray , some another , and in the me !( e the chair was broken lind thrown into the body of the meeting . The disturiaice was entirely caused by Mr . Teargus O'Connor , -who , when witness moved Ihe appointment oi a cbainusii , rose no , doubline his fists , and called
cut" Come on , niy iads—come ca , my lads ; " that was the tignal for a gentral melts , and they were fighiing all through the rooai . The pcoplts were in a Btate of the greatest possible excitement . They ctrtainly made it a 'Hail of Science" on that occasion . — ( Langhter . V " Mr . Maude said it had been clear y proved that the prisoner took part in the disturbance . He roust have known well , so must other parties , that if he chose to remain after the disturbance took place , and was found using any violence , he was liable to punishment A-s it might be supposed that be went there without auy intention cf committing violence , the Ccart wou ^ d not ii . fiict . a severe pnnLshmtmt . He would be required to ' fiud two sureties in £ 10 each , to keep the peace .
" IHE CHAB . GE AGAINST 31 R . O ' COIfXOR . " Mr . O'Connor , who had taken his seat at the table , * sid he understood a summons had been tbat morning taken out against him . 11 it would not trench npon ihe time of the Court , he should wish it to bu thtn i . eard , all the parties being present . —This being agreed ta , ** Mr . DnfFy came forward again , and deposed that , entertaining opinions different from those of Mr . O Connor , he had thought proper to attend tbe meeting , aad propose as a chairman one who was not of Mr . O'C ' a own appointment . They waited an hour before Mr . O'Connor arrived . Various parties called out f jr the appointment of a chairman , but he told tntm it would be improper and injudicious to move the appointment before Mr . O'C . arrived . At thai moment he entered ihe room : some rf his friends proposed one chairman , and the witness another . A show of hands was taken , and witness considered
ts . ey bad tbe majority . He immediately announced that fact , and while ee was doing so Mr . O'Connor stoud np behind him , and waved bis hat over his bead ; taere were cheers and connter-cheers . Seeing that the decision of tbe meeting wa 3 completely against him ihisses and cries of " No , " from tbe Chartists in the gallery , ) and that there was such a diversity of opinion that he would not have it all his own way , be stood up behind witness , ^ u : himself in a fighting attitude , and cried— "Come on my huh?—come on , my Luis i" The consequence was a general movement ( f the whole body . Witness stood en the very edge of the platform ' , which was six or seven feet high . A violent contest immediately commenced behind him : he used his influence to keep quietness , but Mr . O Connor put himself ins fighting attitude , and calied the people np . He retreated a few paces , but on witness turning bis head rcund struck him on the right side , and threw him over the platform into tbe body of meeting . ' - ¦'_ -- , _ .
" Cross-examined by Mr . O'Connor—Mr . Doyle was the chairman I proposed- Did not hear you say if Doyle had the majority he should be the chairman . I Siid jir . Doyle wiil now proceed to take the chair , ' and then there was a rush ; a man naiasd Linney , and a number efpersong connected with yourself , trying to force Mr . Scholefield into the chair ; other parties pushed him out , and in the melee the chair was broken and thrown into tbe crowd . Mr . Scholefleld was not in the chair when I said 2 di . Doyle would proceed to take it . ( A cry of " He was , " from tbe gallery ; and Mr . Maude threatened to have the gallery cleared if these intrnuptions continued } . Did not hear you say— " Now , Mr . Scholefield is in the chair , my lads , suppoit your chairniar . " When you found tbat your own party chairman was not elected yon gave three enters , and said— "Support your chairman , " knowing tbat be was not elected
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chairman . Mr . O 'Connoi—When I was standing in front of the platform did you see missiles flying in the direction I was in ? How con ' td I see misbiles flying when you had knocked me off the platform ? Did not see you get a blow which knocked you down on one of the benches ; did not see you get a blow on your neck , or » n your shoulder , or a blow which cut your hat . Heard . you tell the people to stand their ground . l > id not isee a weapon of any Bort in your hand . Yon struck' me with your fist on the right side , just above the hip . —Mr O'Connor : And I Icnocted you over into the platform , diJ I ?—Witness : Off the platform , that is not English ?—Mr . O'Connor : —I am an Irishman , but I suspect you have been too long in England te be a good IrishmaD . ( Laughter . )—Examination continued : After I was knocked down I took the liberty of going out , and I saw no more of it after . I left at exactly twenty minutes past eight . I saw no missiles thrown , but in going ont saw a chair , or some large article thrown from the platform .
" John Booley . —I saw the last witness standing on the edge of the platform , and after the row commenced saw him get ' a clout' on the right side , which pitched him into tho pit He was bo near tfce edge that any one stumbling against him might have kucck « d him off ; bnt the blow was struck by Mr ; O'Connor , with his fist . —Cross-examined : I was not on the platform , but in the body of the meeting . I had my eyes on the platform ail the time , and did not see a single weapon thrown at it I thought it best to get away when I saw the sort of work that was goinsr on .
" Patrick Murphy . —I was at tha mealing last night . I raw Mi . Daffy there ; he stood near the front of the platform—not more than an inch from it . He was close to the centre . I did not see him struck , nor did I see him fall off the . platform . A contention arose about the chairman . I did not stay many minutes after . —Mr . Maude : I thiDk you were about the wisest person . —Witness : I eaw Mr . O'Connor in the attitude of saying . — ' Come on , my boyB . '—Crotsexamined by Mr . O'Connor : And how long di < i you see me after that ?—Two minutes or so . —Aud yet you did not see Duffy struck ?—No . —That will do j go down . . ¦ ¦ - . " Dufiy was recalled to explain on what part of the platform he stood , there being a discrepancy in the statements of the witnesses . ; He said that he was on the left of the chair . " Mr . O'Connor then
called" The Rev . James Scholefield , who deposed—I came to the Mosley Aims to Mr . O'Connor before the meeting took place . A man came aud said that the parties in the room were very violent , and asked if he would have the police ; but tre declined . When we got to the meeting Duffy -was proposing Doyle as Chairman . A show . of . hands was taken for him ; and I heard Mr . O'Connor say that if he had a majority he should be the Chairman . When the show of hands was taken for me , tne whole of the gallery and at least half of the body of the meeting were in my favour : it was at least ten to one . Duffy then said Mr . Doyle would take the chair j J was in tbe chair at the time . A great disturbance took place at the back of the platform , which I could not see , and my chair was moved . I was seized on the breast by a man in a fustian jacket , who wanted to drag me out of the chair , and another came to hold me in . I laid hold of the gas pillar near tho chair , fearing that it
would be tom down ; and the chair was then dragged don't know wtere . The table was upset , and ftll into the body of tha meeting ; it was Immediately torn to fragments , ar , d thrown back with violence on tbe platform . Mr . O'Connor called out ; Now , lads , defend your Chairman ; ' others caUed to me , Come away , or they'll kill you ! ' Afttr that , Mr . O'Connor went to the front of the platform , and gave threa cheers . He could not have knocked a man eff the platform without my seeing it I saw Daffy there , near the edge of the pi atform , but don't know what became of him . He could not have been thrown off without my seeing him , if my fac 9 had been turned in that direction . After the chair and table were broken up , missiles were flying in all directions . Mr . O'Connor was knocked down upon one of the benches . My opinion is that Duffy was the instigator of the row ; he was addressing the mooting when I entered .
" Charles Thomason : I was at the meeting , and stood jast below where Duffy stood to make hi » speech . I saw him scuffling , and I saw him throw a chair off the platform . I saw Mr . Scholefield In the chair , and then I saw some parties try to put him out ; and Mr . O'Connor put his arm round him to keep him in ., Tbat was before the general disturbance in the body cf the meeting , i saw Mr . O'Connor come to the front and give three cheers ; afterwards he went towards the back of tbe platform , and waa knocked down on a bench . I believe Duffy was knocked off the plai form by the pressure . Had Mr . O'Connor done it , I think I must have seen it I remained twenty minutes , and saw pieces of broken chairs and tables flying about , and two men laying about them with pokers . —Cross-examined : Daffy threw the chair over after the scuffle began ; did not see him take any other nart .
" Mr . Maude said the only question was whether the complainant had been thrust off the platform wilfully or by accidext . ; This was evidently matter of cosiderable doubt ; and no great violence appeared to have been used towards him . It was to be regretted that panics could not meet without coming to personal violence . Now that these . warm feelings had been manifested , he trusted these parties ¦ would not meet in the same room again , as it was quite certain t ' uey would never convince one another . He hoped this would be a Eslitary instance of the occurrence of tuch violence , and that there would not be a repetition of these scenes . It was admitted by the complainant himself , in his evidence , that he was told by the woman at the door that there was likely to be a stormy meeting ; and that being the case , he , as u respectable party , ought immediately to have gone home .- —The case was dismissed .
"Duffy , in reply , to what had been stated by the last "witness about his throwing the chair off the platform , said he would prove tbat to be false . He declared that he had not tsken out the summons with any ill feeling , but for the sake of having a full explanation of the circumstances . " Mr . Maude remarked on the impropriety © f courts of justice being mode the £ > cene vf tcutu&l explanations of this kind . " Mr . O'Connor also disclaimed any ill feeling ; and , in proof of it , offered to . become one of the sureties for the prisoner Eaxon , whose case was before heard ; but it appeared that he had obtained bail . " Mr . Scholefield stated that he had been struck on the month with a stone whilst on the platfoi m .
" Mr . Maude said it was a most brutal thing to throw stones in a crowded meeting : if the parties guilty of truch . conduct -were brought before him , they Would be Very severely dealt with . He expressed a hope that there xrovld not be a repetition of such conduct . " On Mr . O'Connor and his friends leaving the court , they were loudly cheered by the crowd outside .
" ABSURD APPLICATION . " O'Connor again appeared at the Borough Cmrt yesterday , and said he had an importart application t j make , with reference to the di > turbanco of Tuesday night . He said he should be able to prove that a certain association in this torxn met on buaday night , and again on Monday night , and tbat they were in conn ctioa with a political association in this town ; and tbat one association undertook te furnish funds tj tbe other for the purpose of procuring his assassination ! He should be able to prove the hands throngh which the money passed , and the person who had hired tho individual to commit this act . He was able to prove that one person received * twenty-pence' ( 2 ) for hire and a penny for admission ; that another rtceived
half-a-cz-ijwn for hire and a penny for admission . He should also be able to prove that one individual had teeeived £ 5 to knock him off the platform , in order that those below might destroy Liiu . He should also be able to prove that tbj . t individual struck him the first blow on the hat ; that he would be recognteed by f-jut persons as the individual selected for that purpose . As regarded himBelf the matter was not perhaps of great importance!— ( laughter )—but when it became a question if the peace of the country was to be placed at tbe mercy of the brutality and ruffianism of persons who would devote their money to the hiring of assassins to destroy a man , be trusted tbet-toe - magistrates would it once see that it waa nat the individual but the crime itself must be looked tt- It was his
intention to apply to tae Secretary of Stti for an inve . t .-gation of that part of the matter which the magistrates could not take cognisance of . Mr . O Connor then entered into a ludicrous statement of the personal dniiger 8 he had braved that ni&ht—( in a style almost equal to FalslafPe men in buciram , ) and said , the collateral evidence he should be able to bring would go to show that the whole brunt of the attack was aimed at himself . He ha 5 never leit bis sanction to any Violation of the peace —( laughter)—aud under these circumstances he thought he was entitled to the advice of the magistrates . He should
be able to bring this home not to poor simple Irisbmtn , but to persons of education and standing in society ; for the placards issued on Wednesday , inviting the Irishmen to attend again and complete the triumph they bod the night before , where every one paid for by this association . The first thing the law required to be done was that a person should be sent to the printer of this inflammatory placard , with authority to demand the copy from him , acd this would enable him to go £ * r into his case . The matter was one of importance , not to one individual but to all classes of society , and he ¦ was sure the magistrates would assist in the investigation in brinclng the matter fully before the public .
" Mr . Maude doubted if they could make the application to the printer without being put in motion by the Attorney-GeneraL " Mr . O'Connoi contended that under the General S tamp Act the magistrates had ths power . After some further consultation between the magistrates , Mr . Maude requested Mr . O'Connor to commit the subject of his information to writing , and they would see how fat the acfc warranted them in taking the step he wished . " Mr . O'Connor left the court amidst great laughter , —the object of his application being generally understood to be a mere " gag , " for tbe purpose of bringing himself into notoriety , and get a report in the Tory papers prejudicial to ' a certain association , ' who , as he said on Vlonday ^ night , want to throw him overboard There are more ways of insinuating a libel than one , and tLifi is not the least disreputable and cowardly . "
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Such fa the Plague ' s Version . We follow [ At by that of the Manner ' ;^ ua ^^ , : ' \ iii ^ l ^ it ^ - : lta / ii » Iieetk Mercury * -- ' i : ¦ ;\ .,. 7 .. - ¦/¦¦ ' / . ' ^;; : . . - ^ '¦' . ... ' . [ \; .-. ' . '" " THE CHARTISTB AND I 3 RISH BEPEkLERS , "FRACAS AT THE HAI ^ OE SCi ? NCR ; O " In ihe Guardian of . Wednesday , we gave a brief notice of a row that took place in the Han of Science , « n Tuesday ^ night , between the Chartiata and Irish wepeaieM , , afc * meeting convened for the purpose of hearing Mr . Feargaa O'Connor deliver a lecture on : the Repeal of the : Legislative Union .: On this occasion the two parties referred to quaiTolieA in reference to the choice of a chairman . The following cases , arising oat of the disturbance , came ^ btfove 3 > . Maude , Esq ., at the Borough Contfc , on Wednesday : — . ¦ ¦¦ ¦¦ ¦¦ - . . '¦ ' \ : .. . ¦ - ¦ . ¦ ,. -: ; . .: ¦;¦ ' ' ,. ¦" . -. /¦ .
John . Saxton was charged with assaulting Mr ; Feargus O'Connor , on Tuesday night , at the Hall of Science . Mr . Dickens , solicitor ^ defended the prisoner .: Gaorge Buchanan etattid , that ; durfng a ¦ skirmish which took place in the Hailon the evening referrod to , ha saw theprisoner breaking up a chair or a table , witness could not say which ,, and flinging two piecespf it at Mr . O'Connor . Witness watched tho prisoner , and bad him taken into custody . Mr . O'Connor was In great tanger from the missiles thrown at him ; he -was several times knocked dowri on the platform , and TsLtuesa and oth-eis , with mxi 6 h difaculty , gatiiini out of the roomi Oa being brosa-exMnlned ty " skv . Dickens , the witness stated that the . meeting was held for the purpose of . hearing &Ir . O'Connor deliver a lecture . ; MrV'V Scholefleld was elected , -to take the chair , : which , so : dissatisfied a portion of the meeting , that : a row ensuedi" and the prisoasr threw some pieces of timber at Mr . O'Connor .
Another wituesB stated , that he saw the prisoner with a piece of timber in his hand ; but he did not see him making use of it —[ Mr . Feargus O'Connor and Mr . Scholefield then entered the court . The'foriner had a large black patch on his forehead , in coaBc-quencQ of a wouiid which he had received in tbe nffroy j the latter had his lip gxe&tty swel'ed * and his nose aud one of his eyes bore palpable marks of recent violence . ]—Mr . O'Connor , on being sworn , begged to state tbat he knew nothing of the ease bt fare the court He had attended merely at the request of Sir Charles Sha'vr . " Ho ( Mr . O Connor ) did not see the prisoner at the Hall of Science . —Mr . Ssholefleld gave Bjmilar testimony , in ; hia croK-fxamination he stated that a persph named Duffy was addressing the meeting when he ( Mr . SphQlti&eid ) entered the room—A youth , nained John Hargraves , deposed thtt he saw ; the prisoner assaulting Beveral persons with a stick which he had in his hand . He alse threw several sticks and stones on the platform . Edward Hancock corroborated this evidence .- —Williani
Duffy was examined : f-jr the defence . He stated that he obtained admission to the hall at five minuteB past seven o ' clock , by the side door , along with two gentlemen connected with the proas . On entering , the woman that opened the door said . - - * You will have a terrible stormy night of it , gentlemen . " Having paid 6 d . witness obtained a seat on the platform . He could not swear Who first broke the chair ; but he thought It was not broken intentionally . He did not see the prisoner with a stick in his hand . Witness did not see him at al » . The * disturbance was caused by Mr . O'Connorj who , when witness had proposed a chairmau that was approved of by the meeting , said , ' Come on , my lads , ' making at the ianio time a signal for fighting . A general row then commenced .
Mr . O Connor and others vrere fighting on tha .. platfonn , and the place waa made in reality a ' Hall of Science —( laughter . ) The prisoner said he left the room when the row began , and was met by some of the Chartists , who gave him very bad usage because he was ah irishman ; aud then gave him into custody on the present charge . Mr , Maude said ho did not consider the prisoner the wortt of the party ; but it was clear that he was one < f the rioters . It was necessary that he should know that he was answerable for such misconduct ; but , considering all tho circumstances of the case , and that it was the first offence , he ( Mr . Maude ) would riot inflict a heavy punishment on him . The prisoner was called upon to find two sureties in £ 10 each to keep the peace for three months ;
" CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST MB . F . O'CONNOR . "Mr . O'Connor said he understo&d the court had granted a summons against him , for assaulting a person nanaad Duffy ; and be hoped the case would be tlisn brought on , if \ t was not trenching upon the ttnte of the court . —Mr . Maude having consented , f : " William Duffy stated , that on Tuesday eYening he and some Irish Kepealera attended a meeting in the Hall of Science , for the purpose of hearing Mr . O'Connor ' s viewB , and expressing their own , on certain subjects , about which there % as a difference of opinion between them . He had been on the platform about an hour before Mr . Connor entered , during which time various patties had been demanding the appointment of a chairman . He told them that it would be Improper to appoint a chairman , or make a motion to that effect until Mr . O'Connor arrived . When Mr . Connor entered
the room , Borne of his mends proposed the Rev . James Scholefield as . chairman . { The other patty proposed a person named Doyle ; and when the show < f hands was taken , there was a large majority for Doyle . At that time Mr . O'Connor took off hia hat , and waved it three t < mes over witness ' s head , which provoked cheers from the pavty to whioh he belonged , ana counter-cheers from Jthe opposite party . Mr . O'Connor , finding that he csuicl not have itall his own way , put hiiuself in aflghtingiittitude , and shouted Coraoon . niylads . ' In const quence < f this , there was a movement throughout the whole assembly , and a general row comnienced . Witnesa was then standing on tho edge of the platform , which was raised About six or seven feet above the
floor ; and Mr . O'Connor struck him over the hip with his hand , and knocked him down among the people- — The witnesa was cross-examined at great length by Mr , O'Connor , bat nothing additional was tlicited . — John Dooley 'was next examined ; he said Mr , O'Connor struck Duffy above the hip . — -Mr . Maude : Would there not be some difficulty in a rnan so tall as Mr . O'Connor geUiuR his band down solowaa tho hip of the complainant ? Not when he ¦ was so close to him , Duffy was at the end of the platform . —la bis crossexamination , witness fctuted that the disturbance began in the body o' the ineatiug , and afterwards said it commenced on tbe platform . On beinff reminc' -ed of the discrepancy , be said he considered the platform the bady of the meeting . Mr . Maude expressed himself dissatisfied with the evidence of this witness . Patrick
Murphy was next exjniinid lu support of the complaint . : He ttited that Duffy was at the edge cf the platform , nearly opposite tfce centre . Witness saw M r . O'Connor , twt did not see him strike Driffy , —In consequenio of the two last witnesses contradicting each other about the position occupied on the platforin by Duffy , Mr . Maude desired him to state exactly whsre be did stand , and Duffy coufitmed the statement of the latt witness : —Mr . Scholefield w » a tb * n sworn , and : eaid , that h « went ta the Mctsky Arms on Tuesday , to Mr . Fearfins O Connor , a little before the meeting took place . The man who had taken the hall came , and inf jrmed them that a riot wus contemplated , and that it would be well to send ; for the police . Mr . O Connor Baid be would answer for his
countrymun that they would behave themselves prcperiy , and that be did nut like to bring police to a public mctting . When witness and Mr . O'Connor entered the Hall of Science , Daffy wbs in the ; act of addrtssiDg the meeting . When the show of hands for the chairman was taken , the whole of the gallery , and half the body of the meeting , which , if estimated in nambers , would bo about t ^ n to ; one of the par ties present , were in favour of witness taking tho chair . Witness then took the chair , and immediately heard Duffy saying , " Now Doyle will take the chair . " Witness was then seized by a man in a fustian jacket , who tore his shirt Another luau- came to witnesses ' a assiatance . and the cbalr went—he knew not where . The table on which the candles were standing Was flung into
the body of the meeting , and directly broken , into pieces , which were burled back on tho platform . When the attack was made on witness , Mr . O'Connor said , 1 , lads , stand by your chairman ., Mr . O'Connor got his arms round witness , to protect him from the missiles that were flung at him from all . directions . Witness saw Duffy : he was the cause of the entire disturbance . Witness did not ( See Mr . O'Connor Btrifcing him . When Mr . O'Connor was .. retiring from the front of the platform , he was knocked down ; and several persona gathered rcund him , and begged of him to go away , or ho .-wonlrt beltiil . ed . Chariea ; Thomasons deposed , that he saw Duffy throw a chair from the platform , and saw Duffy pushed ofi the platform , but did jH'tsee Mr . O'Connor : strike him . If Mr . O Connor had
i . truck Duffy > witness thought he should have seen bini . —The last witnt 83 wAs cross-exaralhed by Dhffy at B reat length ; after -which Mr . Maude observed , that there was no doubt that the complainant ; was pushed off the platform ; but the question was ; -whether that had been done wiifuliy ' or . not ? Tae parties who went into the room with weapons deserved punishment , and should tu punished if such conduct wera proved against them . It was much . to b <* regretted , that parties could rot iu « eib together to diacuss their differences , without coming into collision . If they could not meet without quarrelling ,, it were much better that the two parties should have separate
places of meeting . He hoped he should hear no more of such : disturbance ? . The coinpiairiant , on entering the Hall , had had his attention called to the fact , tbat a row was contemplated ; and it was surprising that he went in after tbat intiination . It waa hot clear from' the evidence ,- that " the ¦ : pushing complainant off the platform was intentional . The ease -waa then dismissed . —The complainant then stated , that he entertained no ill-feeling towarda Mr . O'Connor ; and the latter said , that to show he was influenced by no bad feeling , he was perfectly willing to become one of S . ixlon ' s sureties . ^ Mr . Maude said he bad n 6 objection , provided there was no further quarrels , to discharge that man ' s recognizince ? .
" SERIOCS CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY . •' Yesterday , Mr . Feargus O'Connor appeared in the Borough Ciuit , before D . Maude , ; EtqVC J . S . Walker , Esq ., and Mr . Alderman Ktrshaw ; and , underthe cover of making an application , ho delivered himself of the following extraordinary statement i- ^ : ' . . " Perhaps yonr worships would allow me to make an application of a public nature . When I was bifore the court , on Wednesday last , it did not occur to me that the greatest public importance was attached to the
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base in which I was then concerned ; but now I appear to discharge a public duty . havlnglearasdmany of the circumfitances Connected -with tha riot , which took place at thei Hati of Science ori Tuesday'nlgfet . I also appear' here for the purpose of taking away much of-tha blame and odidm attaching to my unfortunate countrymen , in consequence of that affair , and att = whing it -to the proper purtfes . t siiali apply ; to tie- court for assistance and advice , when I" Jay ; bttiire them a atatement which ; . I- ' -rfiaU rapport by evidence . The circumstancea to which I wish to . call attention are these : — = It tstyeli known that on ^^ TiiM ^ y nightl wastoaddresB the' peonle of Manchester , on a particular subjtct ; '¦ and I shall be able to prove that a certain assoctation in this town niet oii Sunday night , and also on Menday night ,
and they , ia conjunction with a political asaoclatidn in '; this town ; premeditated " : ' l the ; dlfe ^ hanc 6 which occurred on Tuesday night One association undertook to : farnuh ' funds to tbe other association , for the purpoee of procuring ' nfy aisassination . I shall be able , to prove who were the parties through whose hands the money came , and who the persons were that hired pavtlea to asaasainatei me , 1 Ehall be able to prove , that one indmdual received 20 d for hire , and Id for admission ; and that one indtyidual was hired at the amount of ; . ig 5 ; tp knock mo off the platform , ^ ^ in order tbat those underneath might destroy me . I shan prove , that that individual struck me oa tbehead-Hbe willbe . reci > gnised byjfour jpersbn ^ who saw . hiBidospj . ^ -and " that he was selected by the aasociatioh refeirre'd to for tliaU purpose . of
A ^ great-d ^ al exoitetnent exists relative to : this occurrence , •; and I am happy to eay , for the honour of Engiishanjn , ^ and of all poliiical creedis and persuasions , that there \ mypr was greater disgust manifested on any occasicin , ¦ than' tiiere was towards the conduct ef those parties who created ; the disturbance pn Tuesday ; night Aa the matter regards ^ myself Jnuiviuual ly , 1 want no great Importanco ta Ai be altacned to it ; but , when it coniea to be considered as A ; question involving the peace ofthe ^^ country , it is ^ bf the ' utmost iinportanw . Tho brutality and ruffianism of those persona whocouM devote their money to the baee purpose of biring assassiiiste destroy any man demand inquiry , hoionaco > iunt of theindi-¦ viduai immediately concerned , but on . acoVunfc of . the public at large , whose iiiterest it is to have such crimes
visited with proper punishment . Inaea : ) to apply to the Secretary > f State in refC'reuce to this matter ; and , backed by the law and my own energy and determination , I shall prosecute the irquiry as far aa possible . A ve ? y wealthy association in this town furnished another association wltk funds to effect my assassination on Tuesday night . By cairying on this investigation , I shall bei enabled to put niy ' own character tin a proper footing . Ou the uight of the dhturbance , I had not a switch or a rod , nor any otherjweapon ; ' with me ; nor did I know of any individual haying any thing with him . to defend himself . da the cohtrary , ^^^ jsupposing that we shouid receive such opposition as we had frequently met with before , and that it would all end iaan ebullition of feeling , when asked if the police should be
requeeted to attend , so ignorant waa I cf what was to occur , that I di&sentedfrom the ii ^ troduftion of such a force . I knew also , that , if any of my party went to the meeting arnied , it wonld famish their opponents with a pretext for creating disturbance , and therefore I was opposed to any thing of the kind . From thiity to fifty persoBS were seriously wounded , — perhaps fifteen of them dangerously , —and one old man had several of his ribs broken , having been trampled upon by those hired . ruffians who eante into the meeting iitmied with hatchets , pokers , bludgeons , stonts , &c l myself received six wounds on mj bortyi one on njy forehead , nnd one on the back of my hea ' . l , and waa knocked down several times , I have collateral evidence to ahow , that all the missiles that were thrown
during the affray went immediately over my head , or struck my person , or some one in my immediate vicinity . Kow , if these things have b ^ en done to impede me in that course which I have hitherto so long pursued , legally , honestly , ' and peaceably;—and which I shall Btili continue 16 pursue in the samei manner , for I am opposed to the shedding of one drop of human blood , under any ciiccumstanceB , and I have severoi times received the thanks of the Guardians at Huddersfield for buvlng aaved them from asEaBsinatioQ—I will never lend myself to the violation of the peace- —I neTor will ;—if , I say , these things have bean done to obstruct me in my coursei' the : parties who : did so witk that intention will find that I am not to be intimidated . ITnder these circumstances you will , I have no doubt ,
think me fully eatitled to ; your protection . I ask not your protection tor nijaelf merely , but foi the sake of the peace of the country . I ask . now the advice of the magistrates . It is important that these matters should' go forth to the world in their proper colours ; for if money is to be collected and dUtributed for such vile" purposes , and innamm .. t > ry documents circulated for the purpose of raising the worst passions of a poUtical patty , God only kusws -where such things nay end . Another : thing which I have omitted to nient on :- —On Wednesday , our object was rather to allay angry feelings than to excite them ; but tho other party issued . violent and inflammatory documents , calling on the camo persons , who had so uiiscouductod themselves on Tuesday night , to assemble agaiu on
Wednesday ^ and perpeUate simiiiir ; outrages . Qne o £ the first d uties of this court ' will be , —for I shall be able to bring this ' matter home ,- —net Birapiy to the poor Irishmen who were : hired for the purpose , but to persons of standing in iociety—to peisons of authority , Btanding , and wealth . One of the first things which the law guarantees you the power of doing ia , that you send some one to the individual who printed that last inflammable ¦"• bill , and , as he is obligedtolceep , f > ra certain ' - ' period , ' - all the manuscript -which he pub ; uiUeB > to obtain frouv him tho manuEcrij t from which , thai bill was printed , in order that we may have an opportunity of aEcertaining in whose haudwriting it is . I do not want the hiagittratea t > pass byer thek bouads of duty : but I ! wiah them to make this the caae , not
of Feargus O Connor , but of the country . If ever there was a brutal and violent attack made on peaceable individuals , that on Tuesday night was ohe .-e Having reiterated the aame thing over and over again Mr . Maude asked him , what it was he wanted . Mr . 0 Connor : It Is this , Wat , having so far developed my case , the magistrates willTgusrantee al ; the assistance in their power to bring the entire case to light— -Mr . Maude : Are you prepai-ed -with any information ? Mr . O'Connor : No : I only thought it necessary to puts you in possession of the ¦ fa , fi t « . The evidence of ; vrhat has reached me is yetiiicompfete . — [ Mr . O'Connor again
repeated his former statement about the plot against ; his life , ; nnd said hei did liot wkh to mention names ] My ^ first appjfeatian iai that au : officer be sent to the printer for the manuscript of the bill Which appeared on Wednesday , inviting Irishmen to come to the Hall of Science , and follow up and achieve the victory which they had so well begun on Tuesday ; Sir . Mauciu ; Can you refer to tii' 6 . act undi'r ; which you make tho application ? . Mr . O'Connor : I . cannot now refer 'i : > tho act ; but I am perfectly well aware , as the propriBtor of a newspaper , tbat printers aye obliged t <> keep manuscripts for a certain time . — Mr , Claude : Refer to the act . — : Mr . O'Connor : I think it is in the
stamp act—Mr-Maude : That only gives us jarisdicfcion over printers , on some iiiformition lui ( i . —Mr . O'Connor : That is ft particular act This is the general stamp act . r-2 Ir . Herford : Do , you mean the act changing the itamp duty?—Mr . O'Connor : ; 'Chat only refers to newspapers ; but I come before the couit to Bee whether it gives them jurisdiction beyond the new 8 papers .- ^ -Mr , Maude : My recollection is , that , when the recent act gives us &uy jiuisdiction to impose a penalty ; it . is liecessiiry that the Attoruey-Genoral should lay the information . —Mr . O'Connor : That ia When a penalty ia- sought ; but ! only want to obtain a nianuscript f , 6 r tJie purbose of grottndjng future proceedings upon it . —Mr . Maude : We sliali be quite willing -at all times to receive any information of any conspiracy of this kind ; and , if you lay any infoimutioii
we shall have ; no difficulty of pHttiag the law into execution , so far as it ^ depends on us to do so . If ypu are prepared now with any information , lay it before us .- ^ -Air . O'Connor theu repeated Wa dppLicaUon . — Mr . Maude said the manuscript waa the printer ' a property , and the court had no more right te doiriaud it than they bad to demand the papers of any 6 j , her party . After deliberating some timo with the other magistrates , Mr . Maude said the Act ef I ' cUriiament which amended the act referred to by Mr . O'Connor was not in court ; but the best wayf or Mr . O'CoEnor to act waa to communicate to the court any information he had , and thQn they should see how they were to act—Mr . O'Connor said , he was quite aure th « court would do their duty , when any thing of a specific character was laid before them . Mr . O'Connor then withdrew . . [ " The . infl'imniatory placard referred to by Mr . O'Connor was not produced in court , nor did the Learned Gentleman give the name of the printer . " ] In juxfa-poBition with these we place tlio account given by the \ Manchester and' Salford Advertiser , —a , lriberal Anti-Corn-Iiaw and Repeal paper : —
- . •" . MR , FEAKGUS O'CONNOR IN MANCHESTER . DREADFUL RIOT AT THE SOCIALISIS HALL OF SCIENCE . " The subject announced for the lecture on Tuesday was the repeal of tlie legislative union between Great Britain and Ireland , and the room was quite as crowded as on , ths previous iiight . Thie principal occupants bf ' the crowded galleries \ vcre Chartists . The body of the room was taken up by the repealers , thegrfeatcr part of whom forced tiiemselveg into tho roopi without paying . ' tlie feo demanded for ^ thsir admisBion . The plattorm was also crowded by tho frisndg of ea « h party ; especially we noticed Messrs . Duffyi Fmisigan , and others of the iepealers . On their entrance , they were received with mingled
cheers and hootin ^ s , as were Messrs . Doyle , Liuuey , and ' others of the Chartists , who arrived last . '¦ '• .: '¦ " The meeting ^ was announced to commence ateigh ' t tfolopki and at five ininutee pa ^ t , Mr . M'Avoy rose to move the appointment of a chairman ; but he was desired to sit down , and wait for the business to be commenced regularly by the party who had enga ged the room . Cfreat donfnsion arose , but ac last M'Ayoy g > . t off the chair upon which he had mounted , when Mr . Higgipfebthamy one of the trustees of the hall , rose anCbeggied of the meeting , id the name of the proprietorSi ' and' as working men ; not to do a ^ ny daiuage to"the . hall , or the property it coiitaiaed . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) He need only inform them , that it was eveoted by the working men of Manchester , and he was sure they would be the lasttoinjure
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what they hid themselTOs as a body erected . ( Lpnd and prolonged cheering . ) Mr . Duffy here began to ad j dress the meeting , and was met with loud fries of Order * and "Oiair ^ Htaingled wxtneheers . He ^ aid ^ 1 the friends of ordeir vrpald ehow it by keeping ordeir ^ Mr . Feareus O'Connor had not yet arrived , Miljit : would not be proper to proceed to tne appointinehVof vchairman in his ab ' sfeTYee ; ¦ bnt ai soon ash © came ^ htB friends wouli doubtlesspropos ^ achairmanof Mr . O'GoaDor's choice j ; bnt he ( Mr . DsifFy ) , together '" witfi his friends , would feel ; bound to ptit forward a man of theirowh-choice— {« h ' eer 3 and hisses ) : As itr . Duffyvcondudedv Mr . O'Connor and Mr . Scholcfield entered , and ' were weicomed with almost uiianimous applause . ¦ "
w Mr . John Linney then moved , and Mr . < 3 . Boyle seconded that the Rev . John Scholefleld id take the chair . ' ¦ : y- ^ :- '~; } -- , ¦;¦ ¦ , -::. •' . . ;¦ - ; :- . . ;¦ . - ¦ ¦ . "¦• ¦ ¦ ¦* * Mr . Duffy ^ movedi as an amendment , the appointment of M * . John Doyle , and claimed the right to put his amendment fit ^ t , which was accordingly < ione t aud lost by a large majority ^ two-thirds of tfi" aadience being for Mr . Seholefield , who accordingly took the chair . Scarcely had heseated'himself when a . rush was made from behind , the reporter- ' table upset , thet charrman ' s chair and d »? k 'thrown into tho middleof the room , aud himself knocljeti down and much injuredi fl [ 'he chairman ' s def k ^ hi 8 ciiair , the benches ^ in the middle of the Tdorn , and banisters OH thfi 8 tair 8 I twiBr& iiista » tly broken and apptitd aa
wcapona by such of the parties in that pai t of' the hall as had come unprovided with pokers , bfutit'tons , paviugA-. stones , &o . Many' heavy missiJes were directed ^ against the parties ott the platform ^ and our reporter saw several whose injuries w « redrCac ( ruIto behold—the cheeks , lips , forehead , and ; temples being in manycaseslsid completely open , and streaming with blood . The two doors which lead from the platform , together witii theii : lobbiesi Weto instantly filled by the parties "who had occupied that part of the room . The parties in the body of the room , having by this time nearly cleared it of the few Chartistia who were there , next ; scakd the plaiform i and the persons ihsrre were set upon . Those who could not reach the two doors were
driven againstthecentie of the wall , and assawlted with the weaporis / we have before described ;; while those at the two doors were kept from entering into tho . Itibie ' fj in eon sequence of the pressure : oi trfde , and also from the doors bein ^ closed at the foo t of the stairs , Ifc was whUeattcmpt ' ingtoleave the room l-ybne of these doors tbat our reporter , Air . J . H . Leresche , was assaulted by a man in a ¦ " white fustian jacket and trousers . The first biow cut through the hack of his hat-, ' . ' aud inflicted a wound ou tbe head two vh and an He
inches in ' . ' len ^ half inch wide . immediately turned round to see who it was , when he received another heavy blow on the forehead ; happily the force of it , was * turned aside by holdissi up his hand , which is in consequence at present uwelese . The man then contiaued to belabour his buck and shoulders until , bruised ana faint from loss of blood , he contrived to force a pass : ige through the door , and thus-escaped with his life . The weapon used appeared to bo part of the hand-rail torn from the banisters .- '"¦¦¦ ¦' .: ' ^ ¦ ; .-. ¦ . • ' .. ¦ . ¦ -: ¦ '¦ ' • ¦' . '; -. " . ' . . ' - "V ' -
" Among others wounded in this mersilerss and diabolical otislaughc , besides Mr . O'Connor , who received seven diiFerent vvouiids on various parts of the body , was the Chairman , Mr . Sohuierield , whose- lower lip was cat , as wjbII a 3 tho left side of his nose ; lie also received two wounds ovct tits eye . A person of the name of Railton had his arm broken in two places , and his head severely fracturtd , aa well as receiving several heavy coutusions . on the body . Mr ; Swire , hat manufacturer , of : Thomasetreet , aged ; 67 years , is now lying in a hopeles 3
state , with his ribs literally bruised in , and his face and head bo completely mangled as to present a most shocking spectacle . His . nephew , Edward Swire , had his head laid open . Greenwood is . awfully mangled . Murray , the President of one of the ChartiBt Associations , is also severely Wounded . A lad named Bailey had his face severely broken . 3 Doyte , the Chartist who seconded Mr . Scholftfiold , received some violent bruises on the body and left arm ; and . to these may bo added a frightful ii ^ t of from thirty to fifty who have been more or less seriously injared . ^ . '
, , ;; - : •; : ¦" . ; ' >• " WEDNESDAy . > ; :-: : , ' .: ; : - ' - ' w We need scarcely say that tne proceedings above narfated excited the greatest , iudignatioit s gainst the perpetrafora of these outrages . At aa early hour large placards covered tha walls , announcing that Mr , O'Connor would deliver his lecture on ihe Repoal of the Union to-nign"t , and calling upoa the operatives of Manchester and Salford to be at their pqats . Thevappeal was enthusiastically re ? pp >> ded to . Greatnumoers of the men struck wort at four o ' clock , aad r"paifed to the , Hall of Science , to deiend Mr . , 0 'Gonnor with their lives , if necessary , while the disturbers of tho previous eveniug , who had also mustered in some force , saw th . y were likely to be outTnumbered , and dispersed . Fromfhrce to four thousand persons took possession of tHe
bailding ? hprtly after the opening of the doors , and f ^ reat crowds were ufiable to gain admittance . A Keiitleman from the tfiice of this paper attended ,, but was unable to effect an entrance . We Anders'ana that Colonel Wemyss and Sir Charles Shaw , attended by a number of iaspec ' tore , occupied thesta ^ e box . Outside the "buildingi in Camp I'ield f near ]/ the whole of the police force for the berough were drawn up , with ' . " the horse patrol aud some , cavalry picqnet 8 . Owing ; to ^^ these ^^ precautions , the . mooting passed off quietly . Mr . O'Connor lectured for two honrs and a half , and hia reception vyas most triumphaiit . Everything he said secaiad to carry with it dojible the weight , and be listened to with tionble the interest that it would have corinaanded , but for thei proeaedings of the previous evening , —the usual result of resorts to physical forca sucn as disgraced the cause of Repeal . s ; > :
^ BOROUGH qO URT ^ WfiDSESDAT . 'A matt named Saxon was brought up , on % charge of having taken a prominent pari in the riotous prdoeedinga at 'the Hall of Science ou the evening preceding j and a ! so : with haying struck Mr . Feargus O'Connor with part of a table . He was identifiad by several persons , all of whom agretd as to his violence ; and he wag , consequenrly , obliged to find bail for his appearance at tiic eeseioh ? . Mr . O'Connor , who attended , as he stated , at the request of Sir Charles Shaw , declined to offer any remarka against the prisoner ; 'but , as ho was there , he begged to ask the chairman if he had granted a ;' . warrant against him to a man named Duffy , for an assault .
If so , he abked as a favour that ihe case -iufgnt be tlien gone into , which was accordingly grante' ^ upoii which , Mr . O'Connor , accompanied by the Re ? . Mr . Soholelield , who appeared as evidencs , took uis seat at the reporterij' table , when Duff y n as caUcd upon to state the nature of his charge . It waa to the effect that , on the . preceding evening , he had attonded a lecmre given by Mr . M'Connor at tho Hall ot Sciencet and that he paid his admissidn money to thi ; plati ' orm ; and that , owing to a demur arising as to the right of v ho should be clia : riaan , a most desperate row had etisned . He swore so hw belioi' f'hsc Mr . O'Connor caused the ECene , ana also that from that gemlomaa . ' .-he ¦ had received a blow on the right hip , which forced him from the platform . ¦
• " After a patient invciU £ ia'ion , ihc cli&irman gave it as his opinion that Mr . iiuffy had failed to prove his
uaSO . - . . : ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ . . : ¦ . - . - ¦ ¦ . ¦ . • . ¦ ¦ •• ... - .. - ; : .. • ¦ . . •¦ . ¦¦ • . . "Oa Rlr . O'Connor ' s departure , he was received with hearty cheers by a lar ^ e party of hi * Cfiaitisti foliowcrs who were waiting for'him outekie , and wL © accompanied him towards his inn .
" FRIDAY . " Mr . O'Connor app . arcd boforo the ¦' . Court- ca Friday , lor the purpoae Oi making the ioliu . 7 i . ng applica'Aon . He said : —May- it pieaae youi * VVorsliip , wlitn I appeared beiore you oa Wedntdday last , I was thfcji wiioliy ignorant of the brata ; circumstances coniiectt . d v , ivh the riot of the previou 9 night , and 1 app 5 a , r before you now withthe double object , first , to take tne odiuui of that violence off my own couiitrjmen , who might be supposed to be Jhe perpetralorr , and tu gadJle it npoii perid'iS of wealth and bfatipn ; and , secondly , to discharge a duty , not so much , to niyself , as to tile public at large . This is the nature of my iapplication . It wss announced tbat 011 Tuesday iasc 1 was to a «< Ires 3 the
public in the Hall of Bcieace , upon ths subjactr of the repeal of the Legislative Union j and I shall ba abie _ to prove that a certain Association in this town haviqg large ; l ' ujide at their disposal , furnished the nieans to a pfcraou ronnecied with a certain Jfoiitfcal Association to procure my assassination ; and iiv . tao tnorpugh Eiftinii aad- " inventigatioh' . ; of aii . ths' circutnstniices connected wicii so foul an act , I feel assured that I shall have the ca-operatioji and assistance , not only of the authorities of Manches / er , bat of every m ' an in Maiichester , of every shade of politics . I shall be enabled to prove , that those persons who were hired received , a portion of . ' them , Is . for their work , and Id . for admission ; while another detachment received 2 s . 6 d , and 14 . for adu : iusion .
I shall be enabled to shew the hands from wlieuce tho money cam 6 , auti those through which the blood-gift- pa « sed . I shail aibi > \ e able to prove tbafc a certava individual volunteered , and compounded for a eumof £ 5 , to throw mo ufftae platform among those immediately under it , who ; were armed with hatcfeets , pekers , stoues of immense size , and missiles of various descriptions , and whose ^ especial duty it was then toasaassiuateme ; I ^ shall then ba able to prove beyond a doubt , by the evidence of four respectable witaesses , . that this said , £ 5 ruffian was the first man ; who struck ine a violent blow on
the back of the head , bursting my hat as yon now perceive it . [ Here Mr . O C . exhibited , his hat to tae court , which bore evident testimony to the fact . J And now , in order to prove . my desire , to preserve the peace , I Bolemnly declare triafc I bad not even a switch , or any ^ siugle t \ iin {( tor selij-defence / nor ta my knowledge had a sine , ^ mau conncetsd wita my party ; . And furthor , when appiieitoufor my sanction for the yiitroduotion of-a poUce force , I iatoncd refused , declaring my detevminatiooiio lely upon the love of ju-. tluo of my owu couBtsrymen . But to prove that my assassination was tho objcot , alcV . ough many othera were wouuded , yet every missile throws ( Continued in our eighth page . ) :
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, ¦ ' " ¦ l " ¦ THE / 'llORTH ^ - \ - - ¦ ' -: :: ^^ ' : ' " ~~ — ; - ' . .. ¦ ' - ' ¦ • - - - ' ¦ ;• ' - " - - ' ; .: ¦ - ¦^ - ' . ¦ . - .. " - ¦¦ ¦ -- ¦ - - .. ' .. - . -: , . : . . - ¦ - ¦ •• . - . . ; - ' .. ^) " - ,.: ¦ ¦ ¦ v 7- - . - ¦ : ' . : ¦ . ' : ¦ . ¦ , ; ; , - - ;" . « •; . • . ) : __ _ _ * ^ -
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 19, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct422/page/7/
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