Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 10th September 1842, Edition 2 of 4, Page 7, Untitled Article

Page 7
Page 7
7 of 8

On this page

  • Text (6)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      The English are said to be a people who think for themselves . ' Were this really the case , would they be so easily and so often deluded by misrepresentation and factious calumny ? In truth they are as credulous as they are generous , —they delight in being duped by the marrellous , and in aggravating their own false impressions , especially if extraordinary false . Ring the alarm bell —cry ouf'The Church is in danger , "and instead of coolly considering the case , as becomes a nation of philosophers , ihey immediately exaggerate their groundless fears till a contagious panic is produced ; and , as nothing is more cruel than cowardice , woe to the innocent objects of their dread ! Whether it be a state of security that causes this sensitiveness to alarm , as sileuce makes sound be better heard ; or , whether it arises from a love of indulging prejudices against supposed enemies , we will not determine ; but certain it is , this trait in onr national character is a very difgraceful one , and never was it more shamefully exemplified than on occasion of the buzbear misnamed the Popish plot !

      At the period of the Reformation which might be more properly termed the Deformation of religion in England , the popular mind or wind , veered against the Catholic doctrines , and many believers in them suffered for their fidelity . The tide turned under the auspices of Queen Mary , and the cruelty of the Protestants was too readily retaliated by the exasperated Catholics . It was not a divine , but a diabolical spirit that prompted these outrages which , as long as human nature remains sensible to pain , must be abhorred by human beingB . The Protestant faith again ascended with Elizibeth ,

      who was more sanguinary than her sister had been , because the enmity of the parties had progressively increased . Not only were the Catholic priests persecuted , bat their very religion was rendered penaL The terrible public spectacles in these reigns of rigour agitited the memories of men unto the third and fourth generation , and some weak-minded persons are still susceptible of the fear that shook their forefather ' s minds ; but a better acquaintance with the Catholic doctrines and with their believers would dispel those unjuEt prejudices , and unite Catholics and Protestants in mutual charity .

      Conscious of the popular prejudice against Catholics , many politicians have taken advantage of it to increase their power . None did this more effectually than the Earl of Shafteabury in the reign of Charles the Second . Shaftesbury hated the Doke of York , on account of his religion , and still more on account of his influence over his royal brother . In the hope of lessening that influence ( Which counteracted his own ) and of excluding the Duke from the succession to the throne , Shaftesbury encouraged an infamous fellow , named Titua Oates , to publish a narrative of his discovery of an intended Popish plot against the King , the Government , and the Protestant religion ; aided by several singular coincidences , this forgery was remarkably successful—it greatly inflamed the people against the Catholics , many of whom were brought to a mock trial aud put to

      death . But this pretended plot recoiled upon the beads of the inventors who ultimately met the retributive fate which they so richly deserved . Sinee then , there has been no Popish plot in England , nor will there ever be another ; for though some of onr present politicians would fain revive the once popular prejudices of Protestants against Papists , as they are called , the peopla will no longer listen to them—they will no longer Buffer them-Belves to » e made the tools either of political or of religious faction , the most hateful of all ; the people are now disposed to view the Catholics candidly and charitably . They now turn upon those who would urge them against their unoffending brethren , and resent the imposition practiced on themselves by atoning the injury which it has led them to inflict upon the victims of their misguided zeaL

      Aiaong the many good men who fell a sacrifice to the Protestant plot ( for such in reality it was ) Nicholas Postdate was not the least deserving a crown of martyrdom . He was above eighty years old , and lived in a little cell in the midst of a wide moor . I have visited that cell , for it still stands where it stood . It is one of the poorest huts of the pool—a hovel like that which King Lear housed is from the storm—a mere cattlesued in appearance—its little chimney alone denoting it to be a human habitation . There are two or three old ashen trees ( probably planted by the old priest ) that be _ d their blasted forms and point with their bare branches , like the shrivelled witches on the heath , as if to indicate the spot to the bye-way traveller . Looking towards the North , the West , and the South , a black

      and bleak moor everywhere presents iU desolate aspect ; but , on the East , a long tract ef cultivated land stretches itself like a promontory , before whose brow a small seabay is visible . Vessels diminished in the distance to the size of sea-birds , seem stationary as they skim with white wings across . After the eye has wandered like a dove , seeking in vain for a green oasis to rest on , it dwells with pleasure on the fitlds , the woods , the park of JInlgrave , with its castle crowning the ridge that bounds the horizon , and looking over land and sea with the pride of its lordly owners who distinguished themselves on both—all but the present degenerate scion of that house who was rewarded for his Eervile adhtrence to th , e late Whig Government by the title of a Marquis —a good name for a cur .

      I stooped to enter the lowly hut , where pride must be put off with the hat It consists of two small apartments , one emphatically styled "the house , " in which the domestic duties are done ; the other a place for rest ; both are on the ground , which is paved with uneven stones . The thatched roof is just overhead ; the latticed windows are very narrow and deeply indented in the clumsy walls . There is a hearth for a peat fire . Yet piety * * welt peacefully In this humble abode , and the sunbeam that shed & ray of glory within was a heavenly halo round its head . I was shewn the spot where once " the garden smiled ; " but no garden flowers remained ; a few daffadils had lo : ; g survived the rest , but the mistaken reverence of some visitors bad led them to transplant those perennial relics into their own gardens .

      No sounds , no sights now denoted that a reverend bermithad passed his patriarchal days in this lonely cell ; and yet there was a time when he was seen and heard by all the rustics around , all of whom had received bis blessing . Many pious persons , wko clung closer to their religion because it was proscribed by the rulers of this world , oft came in secret pilgrimage to this cell , and revered the good father all the more because be was content to rerder himself obnoxious to persecution for their sakes . Not a shadow of his person—not an echo of his voicenothing remains to tell of these things ; but they have not passed away : tradition has treasured them up , and they were the treasures which the holy father laid up for himself in heaven , when , leaving the poor hut that was his earthly abode , he should enter an habitation of glory . Let us go back to the time when the good father lived —let us enter his solitary hut ; let us do more : let us identify ourselves with him ; we shall find tk « change all the better .

      " Here am I , then , in a poor cot , which , poor as it is , affords me a shelter from the weather , and a palace could do no more . It is my home , more endeared to me than yon castle to its lord , who , were he benighted in this moor , would also acknowledge my sheltering ¦ bed to be dear to him . The moors are bleak , but they supply me with fuel ; and I have a litUe garden that exercises my body after my mental exeseiaea , and yields ma simple food . I have bat few neighbours , and those far between ; bat their society is mor « desirabla on that account I should be lost in a large town , but

      here I know everybody , even & » I am known . They are my spiritual children , adopted by me , for I fo * nd them orphans and outcast *; bofc , Toy God ' s grace , they will be heirs of hi * salvation . I look a * the sheep on the moor as their emblems , and I feel myself to be their shepherd , whose tima is spent in going among : them , comforting , adv / ising , and encouraging them , both in their eartbJj and beavesly eareer . Tls true I am old ; but as the valr £ of this worl 4 lessens the value of the next increases , and ibere I look for the reward of my self-desial heif „ and of my disinterested eervicea to others . "

      Thus might th , e good man commune with his own thought * wbaa t iQ had so other comany but that blessed band . He had made a vow of poverty , and bis path , of Iffe , though . * _ , iowiy and lone , was a glorious path , for it led towar & heaven . The alms which he receiTed he goe ^ r j qjobs poor penitents , who bad con-

      Untitled Article

      fessed to him . that poverty had caused them to sin . He imposed a heavy penance upon the guilty , but made it light by doing the greater portion of it himself ; and he was rewarded by witnessing the compunction of the sinner , who felt remorse on seeing the innocent old man a voluntary sufferer for his sake . He encouraged the diffident by confessing to them his own sins . Those disagreeable duties which others shrank fromjlolng , he did for them , and sometimes seemed to go along with the sinner in his ways , that he might insensibly lead him off into the path of righteousness . His crucifix was a better peace-maker than the constable's staff . The humanity of the man overcame the prejudices against the priest , even in triumphant and intolerant protertant minds ; and he made Btrangers first friends and then Christians . Bad men he treated as though tbey were good—those who had reviled him as though they had praised him—and those who had injured him as though they had beneflitted him .

      This was his method of reclaimirig ^ tbem , and it generally succeeded . He regarded the persecutions against his church as judgments sent for the amendment of her children—that they might bettor consider their waysand he conducted himself with a more perfect resignation , because he was under the ban of the law . Being the victim of prejudice , he felt the value of candour and was particular iu practicing it How happy the man who coald smile in the midst of misfortune —who raw God ' s favour in his chastenings—who was proof against every earthly evil . A long course of religious expsrience had made him already a saint—he was truly a Jesuit , one of the society of Jesus , abjuring the world for the sake of heaven , and imitating the example of his great master as closely as a mere mortal can imitate what is divine .

      Father Postgate was born sear Edgton , in & cottage called Kirk-house , which is now literally a cattle-shed . His parents had suffered persecution for their religious opinions , bat that did not deter them from Bending their son to be educated in the Catholic College , at Douay . After completing his studies , he came over to England , and laboured many years as a missionary in bis native parish and county . Is those days the Catholics bad no Chapels—their reli&ious rites were nolemnised in private dwellings . The priests wera either domesticated in some family mansion or hermitages , and went about doing good among the neighbouring poor . Of this latter class was Father Nicholas , and such was bis benevolent zeal , that some Bay he made above a thousand converts . However that may be , the majority of the people in that district are Catholics to this day .

      One of the laws enacted in the reign of " good Queen Bess ! " doomed to death all English Catholic priests who should be convicted of performing the rites of their religion . This severe law had not been enforced since the accession of Charles II ., who was an indulgent king and a secret convert . The Catholics bad , in consequence , begun to exercise their worship rather openly ; and , therefore , the persecution that suddenly commenced under the auspices of the devil and Dr . Oates , was like drawing a sword that had long been sheathed , and was thought too rusted for use . Nicholas Postgate was warned of the revival ef this obsolete law ; and though he cared not for himself , yet , for the sake of his friends , he removed at their entreaty from his abode on the moor into a cottage in the village of Littlebeck , at the bottom of a neighbouring dale called Iburn Dale .

      Excisemen have ofteb considered themselves as particularly called upon to favour the prosecutions set on foot by Government A person of this description , named Reaves , at that time stationed in Whitby , hearing that a reward of , £ 20 had been proclaimed for the apprehension of any Catholic priest , this hireling immediately sought out Father Postgate , as though he were a contraband article . The old priest did sot take much pains to preserve a life that must soon end by the course of nature—indeed he did not pretermit his pastoral duties , and was actually apprehended while performing them . It would Kern that the statute law in this in .

      stance was resolved to aid the Gospel , by compelling the poor Papist priests to perform their acts of charity in secret Out upon laws that never conform with Christianity except to frustrate its spirit ! Our old priest was taken to York , and tried—for what ? Not surely for visiting the sick , clothing the naked , feeding the hungry , and comforting the brokenhearted . ' No , these are not crimes ; but a colourable pretext was needed , and , accordingly , high treason was imputed to him . He , an old man , who had lived the life of a holy hermit , was indicted for conspiring the death of the King ; for endeavouring to subvert the Government ; and for attempting to destroy all Protestants ! This , it may be said , was a mere form ; but it is not a form devoid of power . An ignorant

      countryman , on hearing such dreadful charges solemnly alleged in a court of justice , would conceive horrible ideas of the prisoner ; bnt no : one glance at his saintly aspect would dispel them all : in his tranquil demeanour he would read a silent refutation of the guilty charge . It is the usual practice for the accused to prove his innocence by the aid of counsel or witnesses ; but in cases of treason this rule is reversed ; and for no other apparent reason than that the charge is of the greatest magnitude . Prejudice is thus created against the prisoner , which , with the other extraordinary disadvantages under which he labours , it is generally found impossible for | him to remove . Does not the law in these cases put on a Gorgon ' s mask to deceive , to frighten , and to mock justice ?

      Never did Innocence more truly plead not guilty , than in the person of Father Nicholas , and never was plea less available . The lawyers maintained their wellearned reputation . Sanctioned by the law , tbey put away eterj sentiment of jastice , and indulged the natural social inhumanity of man to man , heightened as it was by their seal for the crown , for the law , and for their own credit as clever lawyers . They knew the popular prejudices against Catholics ; and took care to inflame them in the minds of the Jury — calling on them as true Protestants to preserve themselves and their religion by exterminating all papists and traitors . The Judge , like a scarletted huntsman , cheered on the pack , and their feeble prey was run down by acclamation . He stood like a victim bound to the : iltar , and never lost his composure but once , while hearing the evidence of one of his own converts—one to whom his charitable hand had often been extended , but who now witnessed against him ! His lips then quivered for a

      moment and his eyes shed tears ; for who can withstand the force of ingratitude ? His simple statement in his own defence did but vex his persecutors the more for its truth ; for tbey were brnt upon bis destruction , and by outrageous clamour they silenced a witness who had spoken in his behalf . AH the evidence of his guilt was , that he had baptized a child in the Catholic faith—its mother swore to the truth ef this . Surely the zsal of Protestants against Catholics is not a Christian , but an unchristian z-al . The Protestant cause is more indebted to prejudice and ignorance than to its intrinsic merits —to a prejudice which none but the ignorant can entertain . I am not a Catholic , neither am I a protestant , except so far as this , I protest against the illiberal usage experienced by Catholics , who have proved themselves as good citizens , though tried by much severer tests . " Persecution has taught them mercy . " They Might now , in their turn , reform the State-religion of England . But

      " A plague o'both their heuses ;" It is best to belong to neither—every man should be his own priest—let reason ba his teacher , and conscience his spiritual gui- ^ e . Whilst there remained a hope of his acquittal , for what human being could be thought so fiendish as to condemn him ? the old father felt a desire for justification ; but no sooner was all hope denied him by the verfiict of the jury , than he resigned himself to his fate . It seemed a voice calliDg him from earth , and he thanked God !

      The lawyers left the court and went to celebrate their victory over a bottle of wine , while the poar prisoner was conducted back to his cell—not that on the moor which had been so long sanctified by his abode . He was visited by the woman whose testimony had been most material against him—she came with remorseless tears to beg his pardon—he blessed her , and gave her money to bear her expenses home—money that had been given him to provide himself comforts with , in this his hour of need . In due time , the holy anchorite was laid upon a sledge and ilrawn to the gallows . With handB clasped and eyes lifted to heaven , the saint invoked blessings on the people , who crowded to ask them , and to bid him farewell , as he was thus departing on his upward journey home . He felt the vanity of their lives nore than of his own ; for he had all his life been learning to die , and his death showed him perfect in the lesson .

      Many woald have died with him , could they have been assured that they would live again with him . Ho kissed the gallows , for it was bis cross- of martyrdom . He turned to the populace , and disowned the bloody maxims imputed to his order , and begged the Bheriff to assure the king that he had never , in all bis life , wished him any ill , and that he prayed for him with bis latest breath . After he had huag for about two minutes , the ropo was cut , and bis-body was hurried away to a fire kindled at a little distance for the purpose of burning his bowels . The keen knife of the hancman brought him > ack to « onsciousneBS i but , just Sod ' . what to see ? hiB own bowels throws into the fire ! What did he do ? He forgave tha wretch witk hiB expiring sigh ! HysUrioa patent

      Thus was added ene more name to the Catholic book of martyrs—a record more bloody than that of the Protestants—thus occurred another instance of the persecuting spirit of all state wligions . Toe rosary of Fattier Nicholas is still shows as a . relic in the Catholic chapel at Whitby . Instead of receiving tha blood-money , Beeves received odium , which env . « nomed the stings of his conscience . He thought h » saw the old priest constantly looking at hinTwfth * erehe benignity , which was to him the bitterest rejtoach . He could not rest , night nor day . As if the purposes of retribution should be strictly fulfilled , ha went to the very place where he had apprehended his victim , and drowned himself in a pool formed by the concussion of a mountain cataract that forces out a basin where it falls , and is called the Devil ' s Dump—a pool that has since been fatal to sevand anglers . The continual hiss of the waters seep . s to sound bis reproachful knell ; but few who vtatt the spot know of tha wxeUh who perished there ilahi&dew&ix .

      Untitled Article

      Cross-examined on behalf of the prisoners—I am a weaver . The deeaased and myself both worked in the same shop , for my uncle , Thomas Austin . I do not think the prisoners were drunk . The deceased had not given me any thing to go with him . I did sot hear him say he woald get a champion to meet the Briggs ' s . I did not hear him say he expected to meet the Briggs ' s . I did not hear him mention the name ot Brings at all ; I am sure he did not offer to fight Briggs—he did not challenge him in any way . I never had any quarrel with the Bziggs ' s , or with Gay . I have not been mixed up in any way with them . I have been charged with an offence , bat they were not witnesses against me . I was not convicted of the offence with which I was charged . The deceased was a quiet man ; bat when he got beer he was jovial .

      Mr . T . P . Teale—I am a eaigeon in Leeds . I have examined the deceased since death . Externally there were bruises and scratches in the following situations : —In front of the left hip , on the left elbow , beneath the right arm pit , on the right eye and temple , the hack of the neck , and en the back of the knuckles and fingers of both hands . These marks indicated severe contusions . In most of these places the skin was off . The jugular veins were mueh distended with blood , and the skin at the back , neck , throat , and face discoloured , not from violence , but from transudatioh of blood . On dividing the scalp , and opening the skull , black Mood was copiously discharged . The veins of the brain were gorged with black blood , and blood was estTavssv \ ted in the pia mater in several situations . The base of theakall was extensively fractured in various directions , the principal lines of fracture extending through the left temporal bone and sphenoid bone . No recent disease

      was observed in the chest or belly . The stomach contained a considerable quantity of solid food ; I should think the deceased had not been in liquor at the time . The cause of death was the injury to the brain . The brain had undergone severe concussion . The extravasation may have resulted at the time of the injury to the skull . The injury thus given to the brain was the cause of death , from violence . Had a man been knocked violently from behind , I should think the injury on the right temple might have been caused by coming in contact with the ground . The other marks on the body have been caused by a succession of injuries ; the wound under the right arm was somewhat singular , and coold pot have been produced by a fall ; the marks were all rece » t . It is possible for the man to have run fifty or sixty yards after the injuries described had been produced ; he has evidently lived some time after { he injuries had been inflicted . ' T

      By a Juror—The marks under the arm I thick would not be so likely to be caused by a kick , as by a grasp or 8 CUffl 9 . Reuben Lee . —I am a cloth maker , at Armley . I knew the deceased , and also know the prisoners ; I was in Stoney Top Lane , Armley Hill Top , about half-past two on Sunday morning ; I heard a great noise , and heard Thomas Austin shout "They are killing Jack Myers , " Ha was running when he came to me , aud I went with him to Butler ' s house ; we called Batlcr up , and we three went together to the lane where we found the deceased ; he was laid on the road , with his head on one side . Thomas Rogerson , the constable came up when we got to the deceased . I assisted Batler and Austin to take the deceased home ; we never let him fall . I did not see any thing of any ; of the prisoners at all . We found his hat about twenty yards from the body . Myers lived at Batter ' s , but slept with me , and I was sitting up for him .

      Thomas Rogerson . —I am one of the constables of Armley . I was at Winder ' s putlic-house , on Saturday night ; I went there about a quarter before one o ' clock . I did not go when the other two constables did ; I - agreed to meet them there ; they were there when I went in ; the prisoners were also there ; they were sober ; they left about a quarter-past one ; Thomas Hay wood was with them ; I staid at Winder ' s till nearly two . I had not seen the deceased until he was pointed out to me by Thomas Austin ; the persons in the lane were Thomas Austin , John Batler , aud Reuben Lee ; the deceased was laid on the road on his back , with' his head turned a little

      on one side . H ? had no hat on ; he was alive but insensible ; I felt his pulse beat ; I thought he was dead drunk ; I tried to rouse him but could make nothing of him . I went to apprehend the prisoners the same morning in consequence of information I received from Austin ; I found Thomas Briggs at his father ' s house ; the ^ prisoner came Qowa in his shirt ; and James * Briggs came down after him ; 'he was also undressed ; I took 'them both into custody ; I told them the charge on which I wanted them , they gave themselves up quietly . I saw no more ot the prisoners after leaving Winder * , until I went to apprehend them . The deceased was a very quiet man , but when he got a little drink he was rather

      noisy . Samuel Stecke . —I am a cloth weaver at Moor-side , Armley . I did not know the deceased , nor . do I know the prisoners , On Sunday morning , about two o ' cloek , I had occasion to get up . and go out of dopra , being unwelL I heard a great noise , which I judged to be at the end of the yard where I lived . I went there in a few minutes , and found all quiet , the noise appearing to have moved further up the lane ; I heard seme persons say in the place from which the notse proceeded , " D—n him , where is he ? " Who the parties were I do not know .

      Reuben Lee recalled—When we had got the deceased home I raa off for a doctor , and when I got past Briggs ' B father's house I saw Thomas and James going towards home ; they were walking fastish ; I shouted to tbe father of the deceased , who was behind me , " see , they ' re here , " and they then got over a gate , and went along a back way ; they ran across the field in an opposite direction to their house . I saw no more of them . I have never had a quarrel with tho Briggs ' s ; I have nover been on bad terms with them . Thomas Wheatley—I am a constable at Armley ; I

      apprehended Guy on Sunday morning , about three o ' clock , on the road in front of this house . It would be between nine and ten yards from the place where the deceased was found . Guy and the two Briggs's left Winder's house together , a little fcefore one o ' clock ., I told him what I wanted him for , and he said , " Oh , very well , I am ready to go " with you . " He was sober . This being the whole of the evidence , the , prisoners were respectively cautioned by the Coroner , ' and then asked if they Wished to make any statement They conferred with their solicitor , and then

      Thomas Briggs said—I left Winder's after one o clock on Sunday morning . We walked forwards , four of us , in company , till we came to . tbe new road which leads off to Armley . When we got " there , there were nine or ten men knelt down praying ; it was a mock prayer . We stood on the causeway five or ten minutes ; they began to break Up ; there were five or six men went up the branch road ' . towards . ; Armley ; twe of them were Thomas Austin and John Myers ; Austin and Myers had baen of the number of men who were knelt down . When they bad parted and got up the road , I heard John Myers swearing , and saying what he w * ould do to Jossy Briggs ' sons ; that he would pay them all ; he was talking very loudly . We then turned up to go towards home ; Thomas Hay wood was with us part of

      tha time when I heard what Myers said . 1 I should have said that I knew a number of the men who were knelt down to be very bad characters . After leaving Hay wood , we met with them again at the jojning of the roads ; they were first about s ? x yardsj , they went first till they came to Theaker Lane Top . They were talking so loud that waj * MmJjji ; t * p * r -them , ; we passed by them at 'Thetilter' I » 4 ijttp | &d . d ^ rattf ^ they two came walking quickly past' Us ; theYo- -wbtq some men stripped to fight at Cowcroft atile ; they Btopped there , and we went forwards . They cama sharp np to us again wheu we got to the Moorside ; when tbey came up , John Myers said "Thy father ( or Brigga ) had £ i > to pay , and we'll make him pay again , ' He said "It was for calling his brother a rogue . " 1

      said it was true . Thomas Austin begun then of saying I was a rogue , and he would prove me one ; he told me it was I and one of Austin ' a unclea who stole Matthew Moss ' s weft , some two or three years ago . We then went forward until we got to Middleton ' s , when Myers said he had made us pay once , and he could make us pay again . He qnavered his hands about before me , and told me if I struck he would make me pay , and pay me , too , or words to that tSect . We walked straight forwards up th » middle road , etiil making the same noise , and calling one another until we case near to Mr . Ledger ' s bouse . Thos . Austin tben came off the causeway , and begun of saying what he would do . Him and me then sparrad a bit , and I attempted to strike at him ; he slipped down and I missed him ; ho then ran

      away , and said he vtwuld go and fetch some mote ; I looked back behind tben , and saw my brother rising from the ground . Jaaies Guy wished him to come forwards ; they came up-to me then ; my brother had been on his back , and we dashed his coat ; , we wont forwards home directly . I ought to have stated that I was ten or twelve yards before my brother when I saw him rising from the ground . Wheawe got to the Hill-top Lane end , Guy and us parted ; we went down Heightlane , and said we would watch the potatoes , but instead of doing that we \ 7 entup our own field to « ur own home . We went round the house , and . knecked at tbe back door ; thej let . us in , and we weni ' to bed direatly . That ia all I havo to say aboat it > James Briges and Jamea&uy said nothing . '

      The Corener then proceaded to sum uy the case . to the Jury , whose dtuty it was now to determine the cause which had produced' the death of John Myers ; and with respaet to thatcause , ha thought th » eviflanc 9 of Mr . Teale went to place it beyond a doubt , that death had bean caused by ' violence . Their aext inquiry was to aacex&tio * whether the violence had bean accidental or other ? * tae « and he thought there was no doubt that the vs&teaee £ » d not been accidentally brought about , but ftiat it h&d be « n Iniicted by some persons , by who 0 x it wouid be for them to determine . The law , a-i . bearing , on the ease , ¦ was that ii two < or more ' persons Bidden !* hapipen tertraarrel , and one

      of th em ieceiv « 4 such injuries - as to cause , death , the offers would , be manslaughter j but if time elapsed sufficient for U » reason to cool , and for . tha person to hr . ve time toxefleet . what he was dqing , and be then ( xeliber&telv eommltted any injuries to . another so as to cause his death , then the offence would assume a more serious aspect , and it wonld became murder ; to constitute this latter offence it was not necessary that any ^ premeditation should exist ; for the law said that If the 1 quarrel was sudderi , if a person bad time to reflect , and death ensued , the person inflicting th ^ injuries causing" death wonld bo , guilty of murder . The I Coroner then west entirelyithrough the evidence ,

      Untitled Article

      pointing out . as he went alon ? , such parts of the statement of the principal witness as was supported by other testimony , and making such comments as tha nature of the evidence seemed to require , and put it to them to say whether in this case they conld go beyond tbe crime of manslaughter ; but if they had no doubts they had no alternative , ( however painful tha dnty , than to return a verdict of wilful murder . The Jary retired at four o ' clock , and after an absence of little better than half an hour , returned and pronounced a verdict of " Manslaughter" against all the three prisoners ; adding that in their opinion the crime was of a very aggravated nature . -

      Untitled Article

      TALES WRITTEN EXPRESSLY F&R THE " NORTHERN STAR . " BY CHARTIPS . NICHOLAS POSTGATE , THE OLD CATHOLIC PRIEST . ; " Sharp biting statues , That long have Iain in dusty archives hid , He doth unmuzzle . " I was born in the church of England , and bred in all its 8 * lf-interested prejudices against the Church of Romt ; but having lately read several sound expositions

      of Catholic doctrines , I have conceived a respect for the priests of that persuasion , both as men and as Christians , and am as preportionably disgusted at the misrepresentations that have been imposed upon me by protestant preachers . In the wish , therefore , to atone according to my poor ability , for the wrong that I have unwittingly done to the Catholic Church by prejudices which , however , muBt have more injured myself , I have written the following tale , founded « n historical and traditional factja , which occurred in the neighbourhood of my native place . I would dedicate it to any true Chartist Catholic minister , and beg him to lay it upon the altar of his forgiveness , as a simple , but sincere offering of contrition .

      Untitled Article

      WATKINS' LEGACY TO THE CHARTISTSIKT » ODCCTOBT LBCTUBE TO CHAETISH . KO . TI . —PABI II , Of all the points of the Charter the (< No Property Qoalificatfon" point if tbe most important , for it is to property or class legislation that the griefs of England are owing . Our laprided laws have been enacted by salf-interestsd parties in tha wont spirit of favouritismthey have caused that reverenoe for property which s hould always be reserved for merit A worthless man with tbe insignia of wealth , is sore to meet with consideration and respect , while a mas of worth in the garb of poverty , is scorned and spurned even by tbe unworthy . And not only do our class-made lawt operate to exatt the worthless rich and to debase the worthy poor , but tbey absolutely treat poverty as vice w& property as virtue . Tbey feed the pride of the

      rich and encourage them to use their superior advantages , not to help but to further oppress the disadvantageous poor . Rich men without the poor man ' s plea , necessity—commit untempted crimes and yet find the l » w a cobweb ; tbe poerare always wronged , suspected , and hardly dealt with . Prevented by Isw fron obtaining a livelihood , they are next punished by law for not obtaining it . Just like the Israelites from whom the same quantity of work was expected after straw had been withheld aa before—as if the doom of misfortune was not miserable enough of itself , but it must be increased by additional hardship and insult Pharaoh ' s heart was not more bard than are the hearts of our lords and bishops , who though they provoke God's judgments on tbe land , take care to keep themselves exempt Wkat chance is tb « re of softening them to mercy—of bringing them to reason ? Nothing but- fear can operate on their mean minds .

      Considering that Government can rob us of foreign respect and of domestic tranquillity that—it can cause the very breaking np of society by convulsive distressthat it is not only tbe arbiter of a nation ' s prosperity in peace or war , but also of itt character and of the spirit and manners of the people—considering these things , « h «) i we not consider it to be of vital importance to as all that we have a good Government—that the laws which are to regulate our customs and habits be good ? The aborigines of this island lived according to naturethe Roman * civilized them and then the Saxons conquered them—both Saxons and Danes colonizsd Britain , yet there was room enough for the NormaDS , who introduced the feudal system , and mdao feut two classes in society—Iotqs and va » sa \ B . Yew arts were then known

      » ve these of agriculture and war : but foreign settlers came who brought witi them trade and manufactures , » nd from them a middle class sprung np which gradnally brought its influence to bear on Government These were the burgesses , who at first were called into Parliament merely to vote supplies , but finding their own importance they soon refused to do this until their interests as traders and their rights as men were considered , The Lords having weakened themselves by continual wars and pageants , and being moreover weakened by a jealous monarchy which had ef ten been made to feel their power , the Cemmons led by Cromwell , were enabled to get the upper hand , and after expatriating the chief nobility they executed King Charles amid the tears of a pitying populace .

      John Lilburne , tbe oracle of the people in the time of the Commonwealth , strove is vain to bring the Trotector within the rule of reason , the pal © of patriotism . The necessary consequence was a reaction in favour of monarchy . Charles II . was called in by the glad acclaim of the very voices which had followed his father to the block with execrations . In his dissolute and disgraceful reign it is disgusting to find that those whs , in his father ' s time bad manfully fought against bigotry and tyranny ; were rednced to plotting and scheming , by which their lives wera placed in the hands of spies ; and thus basely fell a Russell and a Sidney .

      Religious and civil liberty , like two birds , had lived tegether . Religious liberty brcke loose first , and was soon followed by civil liberty ; but the latter was again caught and confined , and the former now hovers o ' er the cage of its mate tempting it to renewed freedom , and unwilling to take flight without it Strange , that a nation religiously free can endure a civil yeke ! Yet the Reformation » f Henry YIIL did but allow of Protestant freedem . It was reserved to the Revolution of William IIL to free Protestant Dissenters , and' this was done more out of fear of the Catholics than out of love to religious freedom . The Plantagenets were despotic monarehs , who seized property and took life arbitrarily . But more cunning were the Tudors ,

      " Who worked their wantonness in form of law . " The Stuarts were not more tyrannical than their predecessors had been , but the nation had grown less "Willing to submit \ o tyranny , and tbe Stuart was ultimately compelled to abdicate , while the Prince of Orange , chitfly because he was a Protestant , was called to nil the vacant throne . The Hanoverian line succeeded , under whose selfish sway the nation has rapidly dwindled from a giant nobleness to dwarfish littleness . There was formerly some excuse for the submission of

      the people to their kings , for there was semtthing manly , nay heroic , in the character and conduct of some of our former kings—but monarehs now have little power in England—ministers rule all . Harley , Walpole , Chatham , Pitt , Castlereagb , Peel , and Wellington , have all swayed more or less the destinies of Great Britain and with , perhaps , the singlt exception of Chatham , who was hated by tha king because the people loved him , have all tended , by their pernicious counsels , to accelerate the decline and fall of the English empire .

      Now those who have the management of our public sJEain , that is of our private efiiirs—for the well-being of our private again entirely depends upon the right management of the affairs of the public—those in whose bands onr Interests , our happiness , onr temporal , and eternal concerns are placed—who have the very virtues in their keeping—Bh&uld not they be men venerable for years and piety—men who had approved themselves through life the friends of all mankind—beneficient , faithfol min ? Yes ; but if there be any such the people are forbid to choose them—the people are forbid any choice at all—property is the only qualification allowed ; it is the one thing needful in voters and candidateswhat wonder that its base influences , whether by bribes or bails , determines all

      electionsgives them all a false bias—and that , consequently , Parliament is filled by those who , having bribed their electors , are themselves ready to be bribed by ministers ? Bnt base as our present elective franchise is , it is wisdom , compared with the hereditary principle : for whereas the one ensures a House of knaves , the other ensures a House of feols . The educatioii of our aristocrats is such as totally to unfit them for senators , or even to play the psrt of men . What wonder that under such a legislature industry starves , patriotism is sc&ffed , and vice and folly are rampant ? The solemn sanction of law , the awful force of sovereign power , is given to acts which forbid the common offices

      of humanity—which subvert every principle of justice . Were the tables turned—were the aristocracy to fall into distress , and the people to rise to prosperitythe nation might become " great , glorious , and free ;" lor when Prance had rid herself of her ancient noblesse acd priests , the conquered almost the whole of Europe When England , in the time of the Commonwealth , h 3 d , in like manner , vomited her aristocracy into the lap of France , ehe grew bo great that tke name of an Englishman was synonymous to that of a Roman , and America is now the foremost country in the world , chifcfiy because the is the freest . What are our lords and bishops but weeds , warts , flies that tease the noble animal whose blood tbey suck . '

      Now , it is very evident that the people want power to expel the vermin that corrupt the state , and to choose proper men ; tbe People ' s Charter will give them this power . All the scund and intelligent part of the population see tke remedy , and sia resolved to obtain it They have united in a National Association , for the purpose of bettering Vhemselres , and of saving the com . try—of obtaining juitice by means of truth . The Association is censtructed thus : —Every man who takes a right view of 'he cause , aid is wishful to lead his co-operation to effect it , applies to the Secretary of the Branch Society in bis locality , to have his name enrolled j and takes oat a card of membership . He attends the weekly meeting of the Society , subscribing one penny , and taking part , if be chooses , in the debates or business

      last is going on . The accredited organs of the Association are the Evening Star , a daily paper edited by yeargus O'Connor , and the Northern Star , a weekly paper edited by Mr . Hill—the former published in London , the latter in Leeds . The talents and capabilities of every member have a free field for exercise , and are scon had in requisition as lecturers , councillors , ¦ committee-men , &c &c Every member has a vote . The funds of the Association are applied to defray the local and general expences attendant upon it , and the surplus is voted to such other uses as th © members thint most conducive to the interests and honour of the cause , defensive Gr charitable . A General Council is nominated by tbe members of the Association , out ef which a Special Ceuneil , consisting of five , is elected to serve as an Executive , with salaries ; all other ofilcers are volunteers . The duty of tfee Executive , which is chosen annually , is to watch over the general interests

      of the Association—to direct its movements , sni so on ; bnt they are subject to the censorship of the press , and their chief utility is as lecturers . The Association is strictly legal , and secresy is prohibited . Perhaps the nost needful advice at present is that every locality should attend first to itself—to the spread of Chartist principles in its own neighbourhood by addresses , by tracts , and by ever / other method of increasing its own members that may be thought best adspted to that purpose . Its surplus funds will be most usefully applied when applied to this . See how many each branch can bring into the field ; and let the number be great before any attempt is made te bring the whole together for any great design . There has hitherto beeja too much time and mosey sacrificed in premature national efforts : grand demonstrations are exciting and attraefcfre ; but they are also exhausting when got up without z&sifire means .

      " In great attempts tis glorious e'en to fail ;" fat snre ] y it is much more gTorious to succeed . Let us ™» e no rash and ill-levied troops—no hasty and incon- " *^ erate mustering—bnt 1 st them be numerous and welldisdplined , —let us make sure . Hreu in Chartism ifcese are parties . A small minority ot the Chartiats ar& what a * y be termed middle-class

      Untitled Article

      Chartists ; but the great majority are working-class Chartists . The Chartists can < o very well without the co-operation of the middle classes—society can de well without a middle class . We have seen what Chartism and what the Charter is—we have likewise seen what the Chartists are . They are men associated to obtain the Charter , comprising chiefly the great bulk of non-electors . . No one can deny the justice of the Charter , though some doubt its practicability , and ethers donbt the possibility of oblalning it Let those who doubt lessen or remove their doubts by joining in the cause . Who are sot Chartists J The ignorant , the apathetic , the prejudiced , the prond , the malignant , the vain , the self-interested , the duped , tha diverted . We will proceed to show who they are who ought more particularly to be Chartists . ( To be concluded in our next . )

      Untitled Article

      TO THE CHARTISTS OF SHEFFIELD . Bbotheb Democrats , —Permit mo to offer to yon a few remarks relative to our present position , and the dnty we owe the cause of freedom at the present crisis . The " strike" manufactured by the " Leaguers" is producing , and will produce , a fearful amount of suffering . - I can afford to smile zt the abuse heaped upon me by knaves and fools , having the satisfaction of knowing , that while I have saved yon from sharing the , suffering , I have kept you in a position to extend the hand of help to your unfortunate brethren .

      The events of each succeeding day confirm the sound policy of the step taken by you in the question of the " strike . " I am free to acknowledge that had there bees a prospect of making the strike general—carried out voluntarily—I would have joined in it heart and soul ; ¦ bat no sane man could come to any other conclusion than that the great mass ef the Sheffield Trade ? were , decidedly hostile to any such scheme . Had the meeting in ParaiUse-square decided in favour of a peneral cessation from labour , I feel convinced that only a few would have earried out such decision , at tho best a few hundreds ; these finding themselves not supported by the voluntary turn-out of their townsmen , would have proceeded forcibly to eject from tbeir employment the opponents of the strike .. this would not have been tbe easy task it has been eleeVhtre ; it is tbo conviction

      of all with whom I bave discoursed ^ on the subject , that a collision with the authorities .-would have been tho immediate consequence , for , though onr Magistrates bave been exceedingly eby in provoking excitement , and have wisely dona nothing to ^ irritate the public mind , yet no 3 oubt cab . exist that wlietHer the Chartists had their machinery arranged , or . npt , Ike Sheffield magistrates tod theirs ! Policemen ' s . ' : truncheons and soldiers bayonets would have be ^ afbVought into play against the unarmed people ; some wcunded , more imprisoned , tee voluntary turn-outs , intimidated and coerced , ' the men who . had been forced out would have returned to their employment—while those whe had pledged themselves " never to return to labour until the Charter was law , " would havo bten derided for their 8 hoit-si « htedness and laughed at fox their folly .

      And upon me would have rested the onus of recommending the strike , the curses of women and children would have been beaped upon my ht-art as tbo ' author of their calamities ; the men who thoughtlessly or knavish ly charged me with a dereliction of duty , in not urging upon them to strike ( in the teeth of the impossibility of any good resulting from it ) would have been the first to blame me for the bitter consequences of their own indiscretion . . ~ ¦¦" -.,... On the other hand , the press of the Whig and Tory factions would have at o&ce ; denounced me aa the author of all the mischief . The We 0 y £ bwiic ! e of August 20 th , predicted that Julian Harnoy aq " d the O'Connorite Chartists , would puBh their fortunes a la Lana * shire It may be wellto observe that the Greenacre Journal of last Saturday , repeats the old lie of Holberry ' s plot to

      burn the town . No one k . opws better ^ than George Henry Ward , that the ad" sailed plot was concocted , not by poor Holberry and his oss 66 ia £ es , but by certain parties who affected to bless God for their providential escape frow tbe horrible scheme of which they themselves were the authors ; tnd that instead ef being the author andsHrectorl poor Holber / y . was . but the victim , of the plot ; but this sn # er—tajs lie comts . well from the Hon . Member for Sheffield , who , yhile poor Holberry was yet living refused , though reputedly appealed to , to do anything to save from a dungeon death the martyred patriot whoso ashes mouldering in the tomb he thus dareB to insult ; it is certainly very heroic for the living ass to kick at the dead lion ; cut if Holberry is no more , there are not wanting juen to do justice to his name and memory . ^ It maj be , Mr . Ward , "Wo meet « gain at PhilippLV ,

      Chartists , mark tbe'following . i The Greenacre Jou .-nal , after telling ita readers that " the GjvemcMujt is strong agaii' . tt' Turn-outism , ' Chartism , and Incendiarism , because the common sense of thegountfy ia > -witn them "which beiDg translated into / Vcomnion . ^ snsB , " means that the Government is etroag b ^ causjisjyjported by th © middle-cfasa , goes on to ' , tbrea ^ u . the Gtnsernment with the fearful consequences which are ^ A , result from any aV . empt the Gov ^ nmztt . m&y JmakaM-Q * 'puV lioviu tho practical juen—the " extensWn ' jwqinerise" gentry , and very significantly adds , ; tm ^' . Ciiejpibread men can handle a musket as well as dear » bii » ad men , and .

      have the advantage of being ffeeinajoiity ^' .. A precious sc 3 undrel thia to prate about the " OXJonnorite Chartists , " tho " anarchists , " inc ., setting himself up as the moral regenerator of his country ! Don't forget the musket argument , for depend upon it , it is the unintentional warning that the Leaguers mean to try ttjeir hands at another game shortly , in which the working men shall again be the victims , while these muskeb devils will , as in the present strike , take precious good care to avoid the suffering , and using popular turbulence to further their own cursed ends , will , if the movement fails , again join the Government in prosecuting their victims . '< '> ..... ¦ ¦ .

      The Sheffield Independent , of August 20 , told its readers that the . " real Chartists" , had tbat week preserved the peace of the town , while only one of the individuals thus described was a { so-called } real Chartist , the most active man . ; -fepon -the occasion alluded to inr preserving the ' peace-flf the town , was a member of tha-Coancil of the O'Conngfite Chartists ; but ho matter , it suited t&e curpoae ' of ' the Independent to describe the peace-preservers SB real Chartists , and had the strike taken place it , " would ' equally well have suited " , the . Whig scribe to have Btlgmatizad- the OConnorites as the peace breakers ; ¦; .

      Look at the . conduot of theaV real knaves ; they had not tbe manliness either to advocate or oppoao tha strike , but while playing the part of skulking cowards themselves they sent their emissaries among the Ignorant to excite an ill-feeling against me , and wind up by the followins ; piece of villany published in the shape of a reporjt in their fit and worthy organ , the Stalesvian , of last Saturday : — " A public meeting was called on Monday last to take into consideration the propriety and practicability cf a general cessation from labour . Mr . Hatney inc . vud a resolution that it was net desirable , andt-waa seconded by Mr . Parkes . This caused a misunderstanding between Mr . Harney and tho people , and' so' enraged - wera they Ijustly or unjustly we e&nnot tell ) aVnofc Defhg called out by him , that he has beferi in gieat'pgMobal' danger , was compelled to close his shop , and npcrt , 8 aj 3 , to hava the police to guard both him and it . "

      Yott men of Sheffield know that tha ¦ above ia a tissue of lies ¦ from beginning to end ; but no mattor , the author calculated that his lies might go down else where , if not in Sheffield . Mark how the anonymouB slanderer , tries to evade responsibility ; " report saya , "is tho mode ' 'pjft&lef jfentSg' bia cal ^ mie ^ H ^ -. is a reporter -with a vengeance ; ' v ' .., Brother Democrats , these- are the base hypocrites who disturb your mee'tings . with their treacherous appeals , for •¦ " union "— these are the plotters that prowling on the out-skirts of your assemblages , test fy their desire for " union" by their unceasing calumnies against mm they dare nop , fwp ^ -this " gang , " with hearts of gall and tongues of venom , ' self-styling . themselves . " real Chartists , " are indeed the " Teal" foes of democracy , and the deadly enemies of all who honestly advocate your cause .

      What is our duty > Oat first duty is to see that tbe Association is saved from foundering on the rocks off treachery , on which the storm raise : ! by our deadly enemies , the " Leaguers , " has wea nigh driven us ; it ia my calm conviction that the " strike" was a hellish , plot invented by oar worst and bitterest foes to datnn Chartism and destroy our organizilion . H I am not muca mistaken iafiuences are even new at work to base upon our ho ? cd-for downfall the triumph of anotheir party . Let aa disappoint , our avowed enemies , and pretended bat false * friends . . ' ^ Ye who hava nob shared the struggle , shaU we be apathatic in raising the rallying cry 2 : If we baveworked well before , let ub work doubly well n < m ; let the labours of eadi aud all be characteaz 3 d by iudamjtable energy , and unflinching devotion to the cacse— " th » good old cause , " and when agaia our ' eo-opesflUon ia demanded by our countrymen , we may then be in a position to render it , ¦ and not be compelled to bsld back , as we have recently done , throuai a consciousness of car weakness .

      Secondly , our . duty la , and the task most be set about Immediately . ) to do all tj » t in , ou * power lies , to save from the cruelties of the law ouae unfortunate brothers betrayed into ita meshsa . Remember khat a Cooper is numbered among tbd victims , of tyranny , and what , though dastards in Sitmeld have saised the howl of " Tory tool" against him—wretchea that . dared noi facet the iateepld patriot they calumniated ^ what , though disappointed , furious renegades have shouted " bully , w ith the view of depriving nini of the sympathy of the people , that be-oighb th » more Easily fall a prey to ha enemies . You know bis worth , you can admire his talents ^ andxiisJy estimate his patriotUm—prove you do so to suDBortiag him in the hour of danger . White ,

      a victim of the cursed spy . ' sjstenl , is another man every way worthy of the support of all trua democrats . Xeach , SKimngton , Richards , Jones , O'Niel , and hundreds of our unfortunato ^ rotiiers -lpok to you for help and aid . Rally , then , to .. tbe , rescue , to save ( if possible ) from chains and bondage oar ; , noble . brothers , sufferers in the cause of freedom and of truth / . '» ¦ The false step which others hayd , indiscreetly taken you have avoided , escaping auffjri ? g ; yeurs 3 lvee , Shovr that you have hearts to sympathigftjytth your suffering brethren . Subscriptions for the ; Jflfe »^« and must be raised throughout the land .- j ^ ft ^ JSfN pep * s do ita duty i ' . . ¦ - •¦ - , : " ^ kA&sZL ^\ . X FaltMul ^<* Hr »^ . ,, ¦< \ Bhrfaduf -Aiiguittt , i ^ V / S " ;/ ji-, '' . "' ; ' - L ' / ' ¦'• '' ¦ ¦ ' •*? - > - -A-i > - ' - - ¦ •¦ ¦¦ - ¦ ^

      Untitled Article

      ALLEGED MURDER AT ARMLEY NEAR LEEDS . ¦' On Tuesday forenoon . an inquest via held at the house of Mr . John Rich * ^ dspn , the Traveller ' s Inn , at Armley Hill Top , befo . re John Blackburn , Esq ., coroner , and a respectable « urv "ew of the body of JohnMyera , a young nn ^ n twenty-four years of age , who was killed on Sundas ' morning last . Three men , all of Armley , named Ti / 10 mas Br W > James Brigga , ( brothers , ) and James t uv » were taken into custody on suspicion of having ki . lied tQe man ; and Mr . Booth , Bolicitor , of Leeds , attei lded to watch the proceedings on their behalf . The body of the unfortunate man presented a shocking h pectacle . As tho whole circumstances « f the ct have caused the greatest excitement in the neigh . *> ourhood , we give the evidence of the various wL tnesses who were examined at the Inquest * they deposed as follows : — ... - -.

      John Batler—I reside in Armley Hill LautN « nd am a clothier ; I have known the deceased some y »« rs ; I am his brother-in-law ; he was a spinner ; " he was twenty-four years old last April . I left Armley ' with him on Saturday night last ; we had been at L . *» ds . The deceased lived with me , but did not sleep at our house ; we were both sober when we left home ; we did not call at any public house on the road ; we wei / t to a public house near the Central Market , and had nSfv ? . ° f ala ameD ft i five of us ; there we met with ha father , his step-motfier , and one of his brothers , at Leeds . After leaving the Central Market , we all five came together , till we got to Sam Winder ' sthe Rose

      , and Crown Inn , Armley ; the deceased was sober at that time ; the deceased stopped at Winder ' s ; we all went home ; this was about eleven o ' clock ; I was called up about three o ' clock on Sunday morning by Thomas Hurst , and in consequence of what he said , I went with him to Armley lane . I found the deceased laid in the road opposite to Wainman ' s field , about three yards from the wall ; he was not sensible ; his hat was « ffhe was laid on his back , with hia head a little on one side ; Thomas Kogerson came up at the time ; we shouted to the deceased , bnt he gave no answer ; it was not very light , but we could distinguish that it was him ; we got him up , and took him home as soon as

      we could . Thomas Austin and It suben Lee assisted me ; the place where wo found him was about 500 yards from his own houso ; he was dead when we got him home ; he bled from the mouth ; I am sure he was sober when 1 left him at Armley ; he had not fallen at all then ; nor did he fall after we had taken him up . By a Juror . —We carried him with his feet downwards , and bis head on our shoulders . On behalf of the prisoners . —His clothes were dirty with being laid on the road ; they were not torn ; it was a dry nlgbt He had on a pair of blaok treusers , a black waistcoat , and his blue smock . I did not see that there was a stone h . ap about where he was laid , nor did I see any loose stones on the road .

      Samuel Winder . —I keep the Roeo and Crown Inn , at Armley ; I knew the deceased ; he came to my house alone about eleven o ' clock on Saturday night ; he was sober ; he went into the tap room , which was nearly filled with company ; he had two pints of ale ; there was no quarrel between him and any of the others ; he left about twelve o ' clock ; the constables , Wheatley , Tarippleton , and Rogerson , came in at twelve and requested the company to go home ; the deceased was one of the last who left the tap room ; he went right away ; I do not think he drank more than one pint of ale himself : he asked Joseph Lassey , Lassey ' s brother , and Williamson Briggs , to drink with him ; Myers was perfectly sober ; I did not see which way he went , nor did I see any more of him . By a Juror—He Beemed in good health .

      On behalf the prisoner—The persons in custody , James Biiggs , Thomas Briggs , and James Guy were in the bar all the time that the deceased was in tbe tap-room ; they were drinking in the bar ; the prisoners did not know tbat Myers was in tha house ; they could not see from the bar into the tap-room . By the Foreman—The prisoners might have been out and have seen tbs deceased ; but as far as my knowledge goes , they never did . By the Coroner—The deceased , when he was leaving the bouse , said , "There ' s Briggses in the bar , and if I go in I shall grieve them . " Williamson Briggs was about two yards off when he said this , but I do not know whether be heard him or not . I said to the deceased , Thou ' s none going there to-night" He

      did not offer to go in , bnt went out directly . I did not know what the observation of the deceased meant . I never Baw the deceased and the prisoners together in my life . The prisoners and the constables were in the bar when the deceased went out . The constables asked the Briggses to stay a few minutes , and they would all go together up the hilL I do not think the deceased had seen the prisoners in the bar ; he might have heard them talking . He had an oppporlunity of doing so . I did not communicate to the prisoner what the deceased had said , nor did I tell any of them tbat he had been there :

      nobody else iu my hearing communicated anything of it . The deceased had been quite peaceful during the time he had been in my house ; as also were the prisoners . They had had no previous quarrel in my house . : The prisoners stopped at mj house till near one o ' clock ; the constables sat in the same room with the prisoners until that time . The only other person in the bar with them was Thomas Hay wood , of Atmley ; the constables had nothing to drink ; the prisoners and Hay wood had a bottle of porter . Haywood was in company with the prisoners when they went away . The constables followed directly after them . I saw nothing of either the prisoners or the deceased after they left my house .

      By a Juror . —There was a possibility of the prisoners having heard tbe remaTk made by the deceased . The Briggs ' s were both sober . I did not hear the name of of the deceased mentioned during the evening . I never saw the prisoners drunk . Thomas Austin—I am a cloth weaver at Armley . I knew the deceased ; I was in his company on Saturday night last ; I first saw him about twelve o ' clock , at George Hoyle ' s , the Nelson Hotel ; this is about two hundred yards from the Rose and Crown ; he came in by himself ; he and I , and two or three others , had a pint of ale after he came in ; the landlord then gave up filling . The names of the men who drank of the ale were Charles Armitage , Edward Hoyle , myself , and the deceased . We stopped there about half an haar , and then tha deceased Went home with me and had some

      supper ; we had beer to drink ; the deceased stopped there probably an heur ; I did not hear him say any thing about Briggs or Guy . It would be between one and two o'clock , on Sunday morning , when the deceased left my house . When he left my house he asked me to go with him , and to have something to eat and drink at bis house ; he was sober . I went with him ; there were several persons at the bottom of the branch road , some without their bats ; they were kneeled and sat down , and were reckoning to pray ; we stopped with them a few minutes ; the three prisoners were there also , standing watching the men who were pretending to pray . Thomas Haywood was also there , and offered one of the men something to ga and pray in an open grave in the church yard . The

      man , whose name is John Briggs , said he would , and me and tbe deceased then went away to his house . We left the prisoners with the other men . We went up the branch road towards deceased ' s house ; when we got to the top of the branch road , Char . ' es Armitage came up , and walked with deceased and myself te near the New Inn , where he left us and went home . We then went on , and saw nobody any mote till we got to the Cowcroft fitile , leading to Wortley ; when we got there , we found Benjamin Briggs , John Witton , and Joseph Witton ; the latter had his shirt eff to fight We stopped there a minute or two ; the prisoners passed us aa we were standing by the side of Benjamin Briggs and the two Wiltons ; I saw nobody with them . The deceased aud myself then went on , the prisoners

      being a few yards before us . After we had got a short distance , the deceased said he bad left all bis money at my house , and tbat wheu ha wanted more he could get it by going to Thomas Austin , who he said would let him have any money ha wanted . To this remark Thontaa Biigga , the prisoner , said , " What , that man who employs all tbe thieves ? " We then passed the prisoners , and the deceased said , " . Thieves , ye ' ve called my father a thief before , and you bad three pounds to pay for it" We then walked on as fast as we could , the deceased and tbe two Brigg& ' s batching all the way ; I did not hear Guy speak at all ; I joined in the conversation ; when wt ) got to Waioman ' s new houses , we beard the prisoners talkiDg ; we were then twenty yards before them ,

      and could not fcell what they said ; when we were about half way between Wainman ' s new houses-and Ledger ' s house , th& prisoner , Thomas Briggs , ran up to My era all at once , and struck him with his fbt at the back of his head , saying , "D n thee ; " and , turning to me , said , " thee and alL" I ran away directly and ran up to their house ; it might then be about two o ' clock , but 1 cannot tell exactly . I am sure it was Thomas Briggs who struck ; it was not so dark but what I could see . James Briggs and Guy were both there , a short distance behind ; they were running towards us ; I did not eee whether deceased fell or not ; that was the only blow I saw struck ; when I ran away I said , " I would go for Jacky Battle , " meaning the witness John Batler ,

      to which ' Thomas Briggs said , " Damn thee , fetch Jacky Batter , I will thrash you all . " I ran on screaming as hard as I could , and got to John Bauer ' s house ; I had previously met with Reuben Lee ; Batler got up , and I went first towards the place where I had left the deceased ; we found him laid on his back about three yards from tbe wall of a field . He was alive when we got there ; Thomas Rogerson , constable of Armley , came up ; we had not touched the body when he came np . I told the constable Rogerson who bad done it Myself , Batley , and Reuben Lee , carried the deceased home j we canted him very gently ; ft surgeon was sent for directly , but he was dead when he got there ; the

      I deceased never spoke at all . When the fralching was going on Myers fratched as well as them ; both parties used abusive language . They had some old grievances , and they were hatching about them . I am quite sure i therewere nobody but the thiee prisoners in company / I together when the blow was struck ; Thomas Haywor , d ! bad left them at the branch road . There was no ch ^ llenglng to fight ; this was the first blow struck . The Tylace where the deceased was found laid , was about 60 or 60 yards from the place where I had seen the blow' struck by Brtgga . Between the time of the quarrel' ^ Dg j ^ a the blow being stresi would fee about sere ? or ^ j ^ minutes .

      Untitled Article

      r THE NORTHERN STAR , f

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 10, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct447/page/7/