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Northern Star (1837-1852), 22nd October 1842, Edition 2 of 5, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONS . ( From the 2 Ionir , g Ch . ov . idt )

      STAFFORD , Fhidat , OCT . 14 . ( Before Sir K . TixdhLJ The C'tirt sat U : isrc <; rni : ;;; at nine o ' clock , an 3 immedia--. i > afterwnrds the prisoners who had been convicted of ii j ' deni . iiitTon of the R = -7 . Mr . Aitke . Vs house Were ordL : id to be = *¦ . ueht up and piaced at the bar .

      SZ-NXJE-NCE CPO . N THE PRISONERS . T ' -. ^ sas Jinrr-y , Henry Howard , Win . Eilis , Elijah C ' -v Jihn Cnai : £ " , Jor-tph Grttne , rai-a Win , Fearce Were brought f . r ^ arf . Th ^ Lsarnwi Judge then adi " : re *< Kl them . He said : Pri . ' vE-rs a : the w ? , you have bceii fi-und guilty of riot . . !!¦¦; . am ' , feioi »; ous ; y Atsyoyitig ths hense ef the Ifev v r . Aitsin . A crvue more pernicious and fatal to : r . nsipiiicSr and security of sociai hie can scarcely ikr ! -..- ^ k ;! utd . fh ; > :: i < -rrifci yo u HTp pr . - . ved to have in-£ ¦ .- " .- us .- jit th .- prac . iible JiE » i industriona inhabitants of ..: ficuty s-t ^ -e ^ r . i tsi" thao ttov ? tL ^ it weald ha ^ t b- - 1 - ¦ 3 ctsd > au inT ~ -jng arm ; ' fjr tbey would have r ¦ ! . ¦ - » ¦ . . ¦ j ir .-.- h : ; .. titiL-rs ti . s- kvcS . ard properties of p « . u . : jc Le : uJ n > uuU . Xa ; la— . iiO » evcr , baa nsw reeu ::.- :. 5 iC _ -rT : r » cy . r . E . l jo « must sx . Szi that penalty ¦

      t _ ii : t tiS i- ~ a . -: > 'i to 7 _ ur criaj ^ t . TL" sc rteEi > - of ti _ - ¦ -lu .-t is . ti : u : iou , Tbtiii ; s . "> : array and H . Howard . " »' ¦ --eis .-howij ' - ¦> h : iVe bt-en pn-st :: ; at the BetnuJ & .-. -: -ri ier . o ' . iii ; :. _• if ;)¦ :- hou ^ , an .-i ¦ who » -Hhrr 2 ' - ; > - _ ' ihs i . ' - .-c . i r iVl t - - 2 : iunr 3 ; auu yon , Wiliiaai E : j '' . Ts-iio £ . iii--. nth Bt-t ^ z ^^ -ut at the ceminencfciEeiit , Vr / v i .. ovetf z > t-. a Bj ' . iffact : a o : tbejnrj vobe present ii ar moo Gurisg t :. e cnniiaua&ce of she fiimes , ana W :.- La-. v hi-.-a oi - cf tijo . o who mi ? ht be cousin . re ia be transp ^ ted for twenlyor- ^ . uri Tcac ;\ yi 2 . £ . j - 1 Ci ~ y , Guniifre , and Greene b- - " . ¦ * pjrlt ¦! !"• r -= r . \' -ar-, :-r .-i that 7 « u Willam 5 \ -I ...- bs iinj .--::- - -::-- ; -- ! f-r t ' : X LLomhs 2 iQ kept to iurii li" -: r . l ; i . n-i trlc . J ¦ nt s ^ Trral tittrts , " I ' . i rather

      Jl ' _ : L 3 ^ jg mr -aij : . ihe Ccck at once , my lord . '' J ... -3 hii av . r < . -- : paj-fcr in his hi :. d . and Tvaa proc = r ^ - _^? La mzk = j-jia-j rt .-niarks U » the Court , when he tr . i 'tT . Ttii by " . ' = tao " : ir . . ' ::: ia Ib 5 > , J : ! iu Lovat ; . Grearze , Sa 4 ^ , and Juhn K- r u wtrs thin p :.. ^ j at tht ba r and sentenced . K . ^ n to i-: i c ± : s tra . n ; portauon , aad the other t ' : i .-t to isyclvc moiiLhs LmprisonmtEt and hard

      AlIiCK 0 > " M 3 .. MiSOX ' S HOUSE . " i ! i 2 ir . P it . * :-ut .= n Wureham . Jyha SrHnscoe , T :.- - i . as Siu- v " - - U . Fi -jis : ^ uilieen . Eer Tt Wy-itt J j-h M :-j :: - • ¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦¦ I J hn Jor . e * . Tore jrdicttd f r a r :- - ' i nr . ' 5-s : ' . u -ji-riii ' -iy at St ^ ke-upya-Trc-nt , ca the l : cf Anunst . ¦ - '>" : irrQa . ii = " . 1 > i :: ;; g-in pleidei ijuiity . T ' j ; Solicitoii-Ge :- £ Eal sai-.: the prisonsrs formed p ¦ . ¦ : A s il jb v > no , du-h ; .: u . j day of the 15 th of Ang , a-.:-ct . ed the hnube ef Mr . Mason , su extensive China m- ' -u ' i ^ lurrT , near Fchzgd , aimed with bludgeons , SR" ; - _ ii , iniTe 3 . and pxcfcxi _ s- Tsey forced their way tt -c ^ b tne do- 'rs and windows , and pileu up the Lrok-ji ; iiirniture ia the iniddie of the room , onrt s * t it on £ ¦ - _ . and had it n _ > £ ' -et ; u tbit : ^ n alarm was given that thr ir-izooss were coinini ; , taero was little ooubt but thv . they wouid haye complTted the demolition ef tbe h . u ^ j . Ii was a qu :-s ; i ^ n whtiher they were not guilty of ^ much suil- serious offence , but the crown had ac . v' . '^ l the mi ; atr cjutss of merely indicting tb-2 m for

      Xue Counsel en bi-bair of Simpson and Swincoe i Cu .-A seTersI it : itr . ciits to prvTs that these pris or- trs ¦ fi--rc not taking any p :-rt i : the riot—ore o : thfui , : S - insole , biirs at th = ; tl'iie the sob attacked the house , Hi- varas of six Uii ' ts frjii- : he . place . ' Tt 3 Juryacq-iUud S iTinicoa and Simpson , and found tLi otii ^ rs gui :: y . " : Ihc Lsariicd JrDGE : £ --n addressed theprjso ^ erf :. . ind i Eiid h = hsd nc-T ^ r hczra a ease that was stronger ajv . nst ' arj ptjsoa tban the case ths : had b&en staied by the ¦ wi-Dcssesfor the prosecution . Their conciict , and that , of _ rntrs of i-ba inub , appsaix-d to bs more t ± iat of un- i civrz-d s ^ vaies : they had eone , armed with swords j i ; j ¦ j i ¦ j '

      ani picks ana bln . ' -gtoas , forn'j earthly reason , th ' it in- i g- Mwty could * U 2 gest and destroyed the property of ilr . ' J - ? ..-n , ana it app .-dred to him that , h » d they been ia- ; d ¦ -a in a different way , Pops at least would have ru- very great career ; but it satwed that the C : own ' ¦ H ,. i inclined to proceed -with , the greatest Lnai 3 nity . Tii = prisoners were then sentenced—Pepe to two years' itii-iiruainect aa-. l harn labccr ; Myait to t ~ e ! Te months ' ti-. i ^ ard labonr ; Jiiddieton , Jozies , and Wareaam , six ; m-.:-iijS a ^ d bar ^ i l .. ' Siur ; and Muiligan to tbiea months ' iir p .-lsor . rucat and hr . rd labour , j ? Ttrii of the prlsjiitis tstressed their gratitude to hi . < Lordshio . " " ! i : ! i 1 ; j ,

      CHARGES OF SEDITION . J ) 3 eph Crppur , the tvcll-iv . otm Tur . stallblackkmitb . J ' .. a K-. ciiords , of Haniey . a Ch ' -r ' : st sp-: r . fc-: r , aad . l ^ -aina Cooper , ^ r ho bad beeii preTious ' iy tried and ac- , qu .- . tt-u on a charge of demo !; sb : i ! g the hous ° of Mr . P .-rStr , were tce : i placed at ' -ho bar , and arraigned on s . - .. rie of coj . sriiit . 7 and ezdi-. i-r :. : _"> opersa : d his Counsel was not then present , jind ' hr wished him to be called . T ^ cSoucitoh-GesebaL said be understood that C .- 'i-tr intended to traverse , and fco fc "' i told his c . npjel ( Mr . Lee ) , after- having looked over the comn '¦• . tal and indictment , that he thought it fell -within th- same rule as the case of O'Nsil , -and , therefore , i £ t" - Ti waa any sDElication to traverse on bis behalf , be

      si ? ald cot oppose it He believed that tltat was tie : ri--i = on bis counsel was not prtsent . Ke thought it , V' ju d bs b « tter to call upon the parties Vo plead in the £ r ? t instance . . ' 'i lie Clerk of Arra-grs then read over the indictiLrnt , which charged Cooper . Cippur , acd Richards , j ¦ w ith having , on the 15 : h of Au ^ nst last , at tne parish of Buriienx , unlawfully , tvickadly , and Eeditionsly con- i b . ; rta , ccmtinen , and co : fsfi-rat&d to cacse riots and '¦ ti , nu ; tuoa 3 asseintiaees of the people in breash cf the j p _ > iiic peace , acd to incite , provoke , and proenre sticb ' tumultuous meetings to resist and obstrnct by force and arias the execution of the laws of the realm , and to i a :: u tbem 8 e : vt = j tr tb ran ? , pistols , pikes , bludgeons , a _ ia other unia ~ : ui weapons ; and further , that the i B-i i Cooper , Caprnr , and Richards did . en the 15 th i o : August , at Bar =: em , and at divers other places and

      times , seiition = ly address to ami tpt-ak in the htarin ? i o : urge afSenit ' . apes cf psopie divers false , lit'elious ' , i scandalous , tnd SMitious spsechea , with intent to excite them to discontent with , and hatrtd to , the laws 6 : » he land and the Q-overnmtnt « f the r * alm , ana to » forcible resistance to , and violation of the law . Tie prisoners Es \ eraily pleaded not guilty . Citrk of the Arraigns—Thomas Coopsr , do yon wish to take your trial now , or to put it off to the ntxt a-- > : z ^ s ? 0-. > :. per—I Trish to trsversa . Clerk of the Arraigns—John Richards , < Jo you "wish t . ' bs put upta your triil ndw or to traverss ? Richards—I wish to traverse . * Cif rk of Arraigns—Joseph Csppur , do you wish to b = put on your trial now , or to put it off ? Cappur—I wiib . to ttind my trial now , separate from the others .

      Cxjptr—> iy I , er 3 , I wish to have your advice with i tara to Hiy trial . I furnished the names of two per- ' sjus , one res : dir « Lt Leicester , and the other in Lcnd . n to the maglstr ' -tei ; they are both men of larse r ; - ^ pcrty ; one of them worth several thousand pounds , 6 r > d be was rtfossd on political grounds . I wish to kr ,. j « ia that Usnl ? TbB Chief Justice—I can lay down no rule . If the parties come before me , and swear that they are worth a ce-tain sum after ull their debts are paid , I shall receive them . Coeper—ily L ? rd : When sm I to enter into recogci-E . v ? cs : is it before the visiting jastices ? Tae Chiel Justice—You can either enter into recogr zuices before the Judges here , if you are prepared , before they leava town , which may be the most con- ; Vt-nient course for yen , or before the visiting justices of j the saol after we leave . Ton must stud in the naraes i to Uie Eolicitor of the down , in order that th ? proper ; iro-. rfes bernada " ' i

      G ? op ? r then wrote tie names and addcie-eses of his two sureties on a slip of paper , and handed them in to ilr . > j £ ule . Tne prisoner . Cooper , was then arrainsed npon another indietrntiit for seditious language , and inducing tr . e workmen . 0 c-.-ass from labour ; and ^ -. ^ 3 asked , in tiie usual form , whether he » as guilty or not . Cooper— If I am charged with , inciting persons to casa from labour cntii they obtain the CLar' . er—if that is illegal , and if that be a brtaca cf the peace^—than I sm bennd in feononr to sdniit that I did urge them to go so . &sd tbit I &ui cuUtT . The Solicitob-Se ^ eilal requested that some legal gentkmaa would suvise Cooper . Some parson htre made a coinmiinication to Cooper in & whisper . Cooperfin a 2 cud voics )—ICo , I shall not tell a falsetood .

      Cooper—My Lo : d , on this charge I siy guilty . I did urge the people to cease labour until they obtained the Charter .

      Mr . WaDDIXGTOS . —That is only a part r-f the i hundred ptrsons , came up to the watebbrmse ahoutiDg .

      charce ; there &re tbKa other coants in the indictment . Cooper teen pleaded not guilty , * && expressed his intention to traverse if ke was at liberty to do so . Joseph Cappur was then arraigned on a similar charge of sedition , and pleaded not guilty . He declined to traverse . John Richards was then anainged upon a charge of sedition , and pleaded not i uilty . He said he should traverse till ths mxt as ^ zas . The prisoners were then removed , and Joseph Linney , who had been previously found guilty ef being present at an unlawful assembly before Mr . Baron Parke , was then placed at the bar . The Clerk of Arraigns r * ad the indictsient , which charged him with having used seditious words at a meeting on the 27 th of July , and in another count he WH « hazged * ith having used seditious language at a meeting on the 3 rd of August ~ ZhepziM&ar pleaded not guilty .

      The Clerk of Arraigns—Do you intend to traverse , or wDI 70 a take your trial now ? . I 4 nney—I bel eve I have been already tried upon this fmftffrmcn ^ Jjj t" oth er COUTt .

      Untitled Article

      Clerk of Arraii ? n »~ No ; it is a mistake . Linney—I tind i'i >> eif in a curious predicament . I was tried on an ir-dictment coMainins four counts , one of them for sedition , and was acquitted upon three , and found guilty of attending an unlawful assembly . The Chief Justicb—This is an indictment for uring seditjuus words . The prisoner having pleaded not guilty , and expressed himself ready to take his trial , he was ordered to be removed . The court then adjourned till eight o ' clock on Saturday morning . ( Be / ore Mr . Baron Rolfe . J At the sittine of the Cou : "t this morning , SUnpkins , cne of the parties concerned in the desperate as-auit upon ' . he police constable , was placed at the bar .

      The Learned Judge said— " You are one of the Ken who hare been ccnvicUd of the brntal assault upon the police conitable , and whom I have thongbt it my duty to sentence to transportation for li'e Sincti then I have considered the evidence very attentively , with a vie 7 ? to ascertain if there were aDy circumstances which w . » uld lead me to a mitigation of the sentence . I do not find any such circumstaacts in the cases of the others , but it does n *« t appear that you were guilty of 8 ny £ C ' -n : il violence , alihongh you wers amonjj the party . Your Ciie , nhhough oi . e of great atrocity , is not markt-i by uucii circums ancea of agsrav : ition as the others , an I therefore tee sent ' . nce of the Court is . that you be iuiprisoned and kept to hard labour for eighteen mouths .

      aiOT AND ATTACK O . N THE LONGTON POLICE OFFICE . At the siitinn of the court this morning , Wm . Ashton , TboHiss Ar ; in .-on , John Biiley , Lettice Myatt , E : izi Bradbuj-c Themis Joces , and Daniel Steele , were inciite-. i ur a riot and unlawful assembly at the parish of Ashton , on tbe 15 th August . T . ' -. omis J .-nes pleaded guilty , and threw himself on the mercy of the c .-nrr . Mr . Sergar . t TaLFORD stated the case , and the facts as they LfterT&riis appeared in evidence , may be gathered from Ms observations . The prisoners : vt the bir were indicted for a riot on the 15 : b August , at Longton . ' It aprcared that on that day there were various parties coamittin ? depredations in the different districts cf the Potteries ; and torards the

      middle of the day , th-.-y csme towards Lincton , and c-. miaenced aitackiug the Town Hall . They commenced casting stanes at the windows , and then broke open the door , and got into the Hall and destroy , d the furniture . A fire was kinr . led , and part of the furniture was burned , and the bouks and papers thrown out of the windows . Another part of the mob , of whom the prisoners formed a portion , tracked the po <; cs-: f 5 ce , thresr srones , and fifterwanis r-r <> u « -i : t s ' etige-haniniers . anJ bnrst open the oute . ' 'ioor which wiB of censiderable strength , and had bee :: u : mb fit : under the apprehension that an attack would be made . They rushed in and destroyed the furniture and books , and everything in thi * police-office , and usad

      sainuch force that they did irjury to the fabric of the i ? ui ; d ; cg itself . Whether they intended to puii it down was immaterial to the present i . quiry . Having found the immediate object of their search , which was arrns , they left the psiicc-office , and passed on in the direction of Dr . Vale's . On that occasion , that a grievous riot had been committed there wa 3 no doubt whatever . It was to be regretted that women were to be found conceraed in acts of such violence , but be wcuid show that they calicd out to the mob , encouraged them , and pointed out where the arm 3 were to be . found [ one of the female prisoners had a child in her arms only a few months' old } If they were shown to have taken an active part in the riot , it would ba the duty of the Jury to find them guilty .

      ! ¦ ! | Several witnesses were thenc ; l ! ed and examined to prove the riot , and the part taken in the transaction by the several prisoners . The cases against the several prisoners were tiken separately , and the prisoners were all found guilty , the femaies being strcn ^ Jy recsmmended to mercy . Philip Hewson and Joseph Mellor were indicted for bre . iking into the dwelling house oi Mr . Billings , at Burskm , and stealing therefrom various articles of wearing spparel . It appeared from evidence lb . it , on ths 16 th Aucost , ! a number of persons , with their faces blackened , attacked the dwelling-houEe cf the prc . Eecntor , and tbrt-aUneJ to knock out Mr . Billings' brains if he did uo ; giva them money , ibey behaved in a riotous and brutal manner , and carried off a large quantity of property . In consequence of tho flight Mrs . Billings became seriously 111 , and died in a few days afterwards . The prisoners made no defence , and were found guilty .

      In the course of the day the following prisoners were brought np , andsentenced as foliow * .: —Joseph Wandle . tare = months' imprisonment and hard labour ; Hannah Bwrne , two months' irupruenmbnt and hard hbonr ; Hsnry Hiiiiard and Aiulrew Ciewes , fix months' imprisonment each and h"rd labonr ; "William Hodson , two months' imprisonment and hard 1-ibour ; John Hse-ie , thit&TOontbs ccd hard labour ; Edwin Wilkinson , six months sad hard labour ; Edward Brock and Susannah Jamas , two months rmii hard ' abour ; J 3 mes Skeirett , thr-e mor . tbs and hard labour ; E .: ward Muss , to be fnuscported fcr fifteen years ; S ? .- u ^ i G . bfon , to be transported for t-n years ; Phillip Hewj-ou end Joseph Mil : er , to be transported f . > r fifteen years . Job Keaie was found gnilty of riot at the parish cf Trentbnm , on the loth cf August , and sentenced t 9 be imprisoned for four calendar months to hard iibour .

      Elijah Boon , Ralph Boon , and John Finney , three lads , -were cb : ir ^ ed with a riot at Shelton , on the 16 tb of August . Tcroict— GuiS . y . To be imprisoned two months in the House of Correction , and kept to hard labour . Richard YTLcaey acd Thomas Skerratt were indicted for a riot , and asssulting Trjsmas Machin , a pcl ; ce ofS .- « r , in the txecution of his duty , c-n the 15 . b of Ju ' . y , a : Tunstall . Thomas Machin , police officer of Tnnstall . stated that be went to Pinnox colliery , Tnnitall on the evening of the 15 * . h of Ju ' . y . A mob of several thousands was coliectea . On bi 3 mailing his appe . iraT . ce , a cry was rsisvd . •' Here's a po'icjman ! Here ' s a polxtman ' . " The mcb turrounced him . and subsequently thraw him into a pool of water , saying , him , hfc's ready , go it . " A rail was throTn out to him , and he succeeded in setting out .

      Jo '? . u Ford saw the mob at the Pmnox colliery , and observed tLe prisoner Skerratt lay b' : ! d of the iffi : er by b . is collar , and he was struggling with him . Samuel M-Jchin , brother to Machin the constable , deposed to the attack upon his brother , in which the two prisoners t' -ok part Tee Jmy found the prisoners fmilty of a riot , and the Court sentenced them to imprisonment for six months , with hard labour .

      FATAL B . IOT AT BUE . SLEM . TVilli-m Ganeli , James B ^ l ! , C . Davidson , John Jons , Joseph Wilcox Feame , Samuel Nixon . George Nixon . ar : d Isaac Colclouch weru iheu placed ht the bar , charged with being concerned in the falal riot at Bnrslciu , on the 16 th oi August . It appeared in evidence that the prisoners , all of whom WtK fully identified , formed part oT a formidable niub of seven or tight thou-and pirbjns , who were Eiariy or them armed Tiitb p ; ck 3 , swords , and bludgeons , and committed several acts of outrage at Burs-Itm . Tc « military were ultimately called out , atid the mob attacked them with great fury . Vuileys of stones wore flocg at them , and ^ f ter stve : -j . ' . ineffectual attemptB had betn made to disperss them , the Riot Act was read , and the military then fired . Ganell , one of the prisoners at the bir , was shot through the body , am ! another man severely wounded . The mob was ultimately dispersed .

      After a very protracted itvectication , which did not terminate tiii past ten o ' clock at night , the jury found all the ¦ oriaontrs guiity , and the court acjourned .

      ( Before Mr . Baron Parkt ) BIOT AT BUESLKM . G-eorca Jone 3 , John Harding . James Hill , Jethro Plant . Samuel Tinsley , Thomas Sutton , Samv > . Nc ; . le sepcared for the two Nixons and Sutton ; Mr . Wally for * Hall . ind Plant

      TTiiiiani TVagstas ; ' c- 'n ^ taele night watchman in Burs ; em , examined—At a quarter-past twelve o ' clock on the n ; :. ruing of the 7 th of August all was quiet , and he had prisoners in the lock-up house for vagrancy . Shortly after that hour the mob , consisting of about two

      Tee watefchonse was fastened and leeked up . They commenced knocking at the watchhouse door , and shouted again , having let out the prisoners . George Jones was » . here in foe mob . His hand was raises , saying , " Now , lads , stick to me ; we'll kill every b—y policeman in the town ; we'll have the Market Hall down . " Witness said , " Why , George , do you speak so , there are no police in the town that would hurt you ; go home and keep yourself out of trouble . " The police were injured , and in the morning two bushels of stones were found in the Town HalL Constable Johnston identified John Harding as one of the mob , crying oat , " Now at it , my lads ; " and said to witness , " Yon are here , d n year eyes . " A pistol was fired , The ¦ windews of Mr . RjaU ' a honae were broken , aa were those of the George HoteL This was the first outbreak after the men turned out Rusbton identified the prisoner Hall aa being engaged in the riot Jtttxo Plant was also seen by witness .

      In his cross-examination this witness admitted that he had been seven times convicted . for several offe&eea .

      Untitled Article

      ilr . Serjeant Ludlow immediately rose , and said that , after such an aitmUsioa , he could not think of retaining Rus ' nton as a witness ; and as he was the only wit ess against Hall , he bagged that he might be acquitted . RELEASE OF ARTHUR O ' NEIL . After the last trial had terminated yesterday evening , Mr . BowIinson . the solicitor for Arthur O'Neil , appeared in Court , before Sir N . Tmdal , and tendered Mr . Page and Mr . Trueman , both uf Birmingham , as sureties for his appearance at the n ; xt assizes . No objection was offered on the part of the Crown , previous notice of the bail having beeu given t > Mr . Maule . the Crown solicitor , and the parties having entered i nto their rtoognizinces in the sum of £ 2 uo each , and O Neil himself in the sum of £ 400 , he was ordered to be liberated . He left the Court accompanied by his wife and several friends , and immeiiatciy proceeded by the railway train to Birmingham .

      Untitled Article

      William Ganett and George Nixon , two years' imprisonment aud hard labour . Janu-a Bill , J ihn Jsnes , cud Samuel Wilcox , tifteta months' imprisonment aud hard labour . Charles Davidson and Joseph Wilcox , one year'd imprisonment and hard labour . ' Sa muel Robinson , David Hughes , Thomas Taylor , John Bollington , William Powell , Henry Simpson , Jeremiah Damsoa , Lewis Hack worth , Thomas Lester , and James Ashley , were indicted for a riot and attack upon Fenton Police-office . The casa was stated by Mr . Scrjoant Talfourd , who

      stated that the present was the Ust cass . th .- Ja : y would have to try at the present Special Commission . It would be shown that oh the 15 ih of August , tho prisoners formed part of a large mob , many of them strangers , who had invaded the Potteries from other parts of tue country ; thai in the eouree of their proeresa from one town to another they committed various acta of riot and outrage . They atincked the policeoffice , broken open the doors , and threw out all the furniture , and , after breaking ? t up , burned it on the spot . *

      The case did not terminate until nine o'clock , and the evidence not being sufficient to establish tho charge satisfactorily against the prisoners , they were all acquitted , with the exception of John BUlington and William Powell , whom tho Learned Judge sentenced respectively , the former to ten days and the lattar to one mouths' imprisonment and hard labour . Mr . Baron Pakke left town at four o'elcok immediatelyafter the trials had concluded in his Court ; aud Mr . Baron Rolfe took his departure yesterday morning for the seat of Lord Hatherton . ' ' . Upwards of 300 prisoners have be ; n convicted during the sitting of the commission , ami thu number acquitted was extremely small in proportion , Of those convicted , nearly seventy have been sentenced to transportation for different terms , aud 245 to various periods of imprisonment , from two years to two months .

      ( Before Mr . Baron Parke . ) Joseph Linuey , previously convicted of an unlawful assembly , was again arraigned for sedition . Mr . Sergeant i , u : 11 ow ; imi . "Jr . Godson prosecuted ; Mr . Neale defended the prisoner . Mr . Sergeant Ludiow stated the case , and called the following witnesses ;— ¦ Richard Price—Heard the prisoner address the-mob of colliers at Brockmore on the 27 th of July . He said on that occasion , " Lads , you have got a great burden upon your backs , but if you will join the Chartists , you

      will soon get some of U off . Thousands have joined us in the Potteries , and in Yorkshire and Shropshire ; and if you will be stout and join , I can let them all know in twenty-four , hours , and we can all rise together . Never mind the soldiers ; they cannot be everywhere . There is one man in particular who ia a great oppressor of the poor—that is Sir Robert Peel . If you will be stout this time , we will soon make him lose hia head . Tne Queen and tho little Princesses wear little flowers about their heads , but if you will be stout , we "will soon have them off . "

      Mr . Reuben Plant , coal merchant , heard the prisoner address a mob , on the 3 rd of August He then said , " The masters in my country are calling out for protection , but I bid you stick out and be ruled by me , and you shall have your wages and all you want ; Why are tho masters calling out for protection ? Because they know that the poor are starving , and that a starving people are a rebellious people . " He . tuld the men that bad 2 s . 6 d . a Any not to -go to work till they had 4 s . a day . He said they would put the masters and their protectors in a ship , give them a good shove , and three cheers , and never have them here again ; He said , " We will have the land , cultivate it , and live upon it ourselves . James Griffith and Edward Guest gave similar evidence . Mr . Neale made a most able and eloquent address in favour of the prisoner . Mr . Sergeant Ludlow replied .

      After which , his Lordship summed up , and the jury immediately found the prisoner Guilty . Sentence—Fifteen months' imprisonment for the sedition , and six mouths for the unlawful assembly . Mr . Price was proceeding to address the court relative . to the conduct of John Mayer , the attorney , who obtained £ 2 5 s . from the poor man Taylor , for defending hia daughter , which he neglected to do , when His Lordship said that he would be most happy in punishing Mayer , but at that moment could not see that he could do so , as he had not represented himself as an attorney . His Lordship expressed bis willingness ts aid Mr . Price in so doing at any future time , if he could be rendered amenable to justice . His Lordship then retired , and thus closed his court .

      ( From our own Correspondent . J STAFFORD , Friday Night . Tbe Special Commission terminates to-morrow . The Judges are so resolved upon breaking up the ;; ffiir , that they have ordered their carriages to bo in readiness for to-morrow evening . God knows , it is time for thoin so to do . especially as the characters of the witnesses for the prosucution are so fully developing themselves . Trial after tml they aro proving themselves truly worthy of the j ) b . One of thosa worthy characters has been this day transferred from the witness-box to Stafford goal , to answer for the very crime for which he was swearing against an unfortunate prisoner in the

      dock . , It appeared that the ruffian was actually a ringleader in the attack upon tbu house for which he was endeavouring to prosecute a fellow-being , and to have him transported from his home and family . But Providence interfered and rescued the innocent victim from the wretch ' s fangs . His victim was saved , and the wretch , whe , it appeared , smashed , in the house that was attacked , a costiy chandelier , has been this day sent te take his place in Stafford gaol . Simpson , the innocent man , whom this fellow marked out as the medium for putting £ 50 blood money in his pocket , is now - breathing the free air of heaven , while the wretch is inhaling thu noxious vupours of a dungeon .

      In the Crown Court this day a fellow named Rushten was placed in the witness box . He swore straightforward , and moat satisfactorily , to every question that was put to him . Hia direct evidence was most triumphant for the prosecution . But , alas . ' and fortunately for the prisoner against whom he was swearing , it was admitted by him in his cross-examination , that be bad been convicted upwards of seven times , for different offences . Mr . Serjeant Ludlow , upon this disgracful enpose , immediately applied to have the prisoner , Hall , again&t whom Ruahton the informer appeared , discharged from the dock , an application with which the Learned Judge cheerfully complied , and forthwith ordered the prisoner to bs liberated . Another witness , named Johnson , contradicted himGelf ' over and over again . His evidence went for nothing . A third fellow , also named Johnston , who appeared twenty times before the Jury , ia now completely valueless in the eye of the Court .

      In the trial of the persons charged with the riot in Burslem , in which Heaton was shot , Captain Powjs , a stipendiary magistrate , who ordered the military to fire , said that he did not regret that order , and that he would c ! o so again if a similar causa presented itself . Upon hi 3 cross-examination , he admitted that the firing did not compel the mob to retire , but that they immediately gavo way upon the military charging them with drawn sabres . Upon Ur . Neal asking the stipendiary how fes could reconcile it to himself , as a man f , f feeling , to fire upon the mob without fiist charging tfcem with sabres , this question was answered by the assertion that hn did not regret the act f And this , although human life was lost by his fatal order . This is a gallant fellow to be entrusted with the lives of her Mojehty's liege subjects . But it was only a Chartist that was shot . The luas of life is not , therefore , woith talkinc about .

      MR . "WILLIAM ELLIS . Mr . William Eilis is sentenced to tweuty-on 9 years transportation . This morning he was brought up with the other prisoners convicted at the sams time . He made no address . There had been a strong anticipation that he would speak ; but in our opinion he actod wisely . His counsel took an objection to the indictment , and if funds could be raised there might yet be hopes fer him . His wife was outside the Court ; her state , when she beard the sentence , we must puBB by . For a moment she stood still , grasping the hand of Mr . Roberts ; so she walked on for a few moments ; and thus , at the corner of Vine-street , sha met Sir William Follett He paused for an instant ; they recognised each other . But we cannot continue . The pou that writes these lines is feeble with the work . An application to the High Sheriff has been made by Mr . Allen , requesting that Mis . Ellis and her children may bo permitted an interview with her husband .

      STAFFORD , Sunday Night . The work is d « ne , " Othello's occupation's gone . " AH the bustle—all the excitemeiit—all the anxiety—all the uncertainty—and ail the tumult of the Queen's Royal Commission for trying and sentencing her starving , nsked , houseless , subjects , has sunk down into a sullen calm ; ona hundred and thirty bills have been found by our class legislators against their serfs , upon the ^ eviileucu of wen , many of whom have been proved to be characterless , and to be such as not to be believed upon their 03 tbs ; fifty fellow beings have been thus consigned to exile from their native land , their homes , their families , and their altars , and upwards of one hundred and eighty others are doomed to inhale the pestiferous vapours of a dungeon for terms of three , eight , and fifteen months , and two years , with the horrors of hard labour added to the dreadful infliction

      of imprisonment . Yes , the judges , the jurors , the informers , and the hungry * barpy crew of attomies , who eondueteti the prosecutions , have all left Stafford ; two hundred and thirty wretched beings , whom starvation drove to acts of madness , are consigned by them tc eat within the cold gaol w » Us the bread cf sorrow , moistened by the . salt tears which the reflection of wives deserted , and children reduced to a worse orphanage than that of the grave , force down their attenuated , sorrowed , marked , and fnrrawedcheeks . Good God ! what must be the reflections of the men , if their hearts be not colder than the original elay , \? ho encouraged thoso poor fellows to acts which have consigned them to tears and the dungeon , and their wives and children to misery indescribable ? There is no mincing of the matter . The holiday !! 1 the cessation from work !!! the closing of tbe mills !!! that was the origin of the outbreak

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      —that waa the cause of the shedding of hum < vi bloodthat it was that gave birth to the Special Commissionth : it it is that ha ? handed over to th * merciful fanssa of the gaoler , nearly 300 fathers of families . and which has consigned fifty of them to exile . On ! if the authors of those calamities are the heads of families—if they havo wives and children—if they aro Christians , what must be their feelings when their thoughts turn upon Stafford gaol , and in imagination carry before their view the multitude that they have by their cunniDg ami tueir advice consigned to it ? How they must shudder at

      the curses , loud and deep , which those men and their bereaved families heap upon tbeir heads ? They may seek a narcetic , an oblivion in their wealth and luxury , but conscience will even break through fcucli an artificial opposition , raised against its approaches . NotwiJlistauding all tbeir wealth , ajod all their luxury , the blood spilled suiokes before high heaven , calling for vengeance ; and Stafford gaolechoes and re-echoes in their ears , the sighs and groans of its hapless victims . I will leava those heartless wretches to tbeir reflections , and proceed to my melanoaoly narrative of Saturday ' s proceedings .

      On Saturday , Mr . Thomas Cappur , an old respectable mail , whose appearance in the dock bespoke him to be aunbt but a man desirous to disturb , either society or the constitution , was charged as one of those horrid niaa who excited the working classes to outrage and sedition . ¦' . ' . ' ¦ ' .. Three illiterate men swore to metaphorical langnaca spoken by Mr . Cappur on thu 28 th of last February and on the 24 th of Jims . On their evidence , although it w : ia most satisfactorily proved by respectable witnesses , that he was so much the man of peace , that he was totally incapable of uttering such wonlM , he . was convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonmentin other wortis , to his grave . In vaiu the old man protested before his God that he was totally innocent of the languago imputed to him . He is now iu his cold dungeon .

      Mr . Joseph Linney is the next victim . The readers of tbe Star are aware that he had been convicted of sedition at an early part of tan Commission . I ; would have been supposed that one conviction ought to be sufficient for the vindication of the law , or for the indulgence of vengeance . But , no ! vsngeance must ba glutted , and poor Linney ia again pui upon his trial for a charge , the nature ef which he was completely ignorant of until within a few hours of his being confronted with his accusers and bis Judi ^ e . Three ignorant men , incapable of writing their names - who could

      not read—who could not repeat one moment a sentence read the previous one by Mr . Neale , who defended Linney , swore to metaphorical , allegorical language spoken by Mr . Linney in the months of last July and August- Mr . Reuben Plant , an excellent specimen of those iron masters , who , to say the least of them , «! id nothing to keep these men in pence , enteraii the witness box—this Bpeciuien of iron mastership also swore to language spoken by Mr , Linney in August , although his big mutton head and thick braius did not allow him to remember & sentence re id by Mr . Neale thu previous moment And on such evidence he was a second time

      eonyicted . In vain did Mr . Linney , like Mr . Cappur , protest that hs never used such language . In vain did he plead that he bail been confined six weeks in gaol , although he had offered unexceptionable bail , and thus prevented him preparing his defanca . He was found guilty , and his sentence was passed It would be a gross injustice not to acknowledge tbe powerful and brilliant display made in his favour , by his Counsel . Mr . Neale , but the exertions of the Counsel were but dust before the wind ; a victim whs wanted—the aha . was raised , the high priest was in readiness , and thu immolation had to be perfected . So it was .

      Much wore has to be said about those convictions —; much more has to be said about the witnesses raked up by the Crown—and much more baa to be said of the Juries who convicted . But this much more must be reserved for another time . For tho present I must beg of the readers of the Star to allow me to conclude by presenting them with tbe full and faithful report of that master-pieco of eloquence and argument delivered by Mr . Cooper , upon opening his defence , and without further preface shall introduce it to them . Mr . COOPER , as the public are awaro , defended himself ; and afttr two days' heavy examination of welldrilled witnesses for the prosecution , he thus addressed the jnry : —

      My Lord , and Gentlemen of the Jury—I have never , unless for a very brief period of my existence , lost my confidence in Providence , and although I now stand in very perilous circumstances , I shall not lose my confidence in the merciful intervention of Providence , and the ruler of all hearts . I arn conscious , in my own mind , that I have not been near the scene of the destruction of property , and I also feel conscious that I have never said anything to inflame men ' s minds . Feeling conscious of this , I do not lime any confidence in the protectien of that Eternal Providence which I humbly trust will secure me an acquittal at your hands . GentJeruen , I am proud of my coantry—1 am proud that I an an Englishman , not because tbe liberty I love so well has beeu left for some time without its natural restraints in the land of my birth—not becauss the

      advocates of freedom are Iefc unprotected and oppressed , but I am proud of my country because it has produced men of the highest intellect who have suffered deeply , and with diimity , in the sacred cause of human freedom . I belong to the land that produced the adventurous , the polite , and brave . Raleigh , who , after a life of tho most persevering exertion , w : is immured in a dungeon by the ingratitude cf a faction , and I have visited thut dungeon , and beheld it with the-deepest emotion , when I called to mind that that brave man , when brought to the scuffuld , felt the edge of the axe unmoved , and observed that it was a smart medicine but a sure remedy , and laid his head upon the block . I belong to England , that produced that heroic and sanctified champion of truth—Latimer ; who , when bound to the stake , had strength of mind

      enough to increase the confience of his brother sufferer , the Martyr Ridley , with the words , " Courage my brother ! we shall this day light up a candle that wiii never be extinguished in England . " I belong to a land which ^ ave birth to Algernon Sidney , a man who did not shrink from tho glory of dying in the good old cause . Since I urn an Englishman , I belong to a land which has produced men whose independence no tyranny could crush , whose fortitude no tyranny could subdue . If then I am in tbe post of danger , it is nut for me to shrink , but rather to remember tbe spirit of our forefathers , the martrys of our fatheriand , and attempt at an humble distance to imitate them . And yet , gentlemen , let it not be supposed thut I am wishing to irritute or exusperate tbe minds of tbe jury , or of the learned personage who sits there as my judge . I would

      not ctind hers to irritate or defy the honoured Judge who presides cr the honest jury whose duty it is to weigh and determine upon the evidence that will be laid before them . It is cot for me to irrit&te Ibnt honoured Judge , who is admitted to be one of the most profound lawyers who sits upon the bench . It is not for me in their presence , and that of some of the chivalry and beauty of England to tremble . I cannot unsay my profession—I cannot deny what I have Baid in the public paces cf tbe land . I tell you , my Lord , and gentlemen of the juiy , truiy and unhesitatingly , that I became a democrat from reading the glorious history of Greece . I became attached to the legal enactments of my country , because I believe that iu the legal enactments of our glorious Alfred , and our other Saxon uionarchs—in

      the Magna Charta , and tho Bill of Rights , and in : nl our judicial institutions , tht , re were luminous tracer of the broad and enlightened principles of frcec ' . o-. i ! . With such convictions , wiiat wonder then was it , V-tii about twenty months since , when I first heard the principles of the Peoplb ' s Charter explained , wn . it wonder was it that I begin to profess and adopt tho ^ o principles , the more especially when I learned that thu principles of the Charter were no other than the embodiment of the principles contained in the theory of thu British Constitution . I claim the right to Btate my opinions ; your Lordship kcows that 1 have & ri ^ ht to do so . I have beard , although I have not seen tbe charge which your Lordship aiitirtssed to the first jury empannelled here—I understand you said that the people bad a right to assemble , —that they bad a right

      to discuss politics , and that nue allowance aud breadth and room should be afforded to persons addressing public meetings . I claim then a right to state my opinions , but I do not claim any right to press those opinions to the injury of my follow creatures . I never taught that doctrine in my iife . I was always opposed to it , and with your Lordship ' s leave I wiil detail tbe circumatar . cca of my humble iife . I freely admit being at Hauley on the 15 th of August . I was invited into the Pot ; crtes ; having been there before ; and on that occasion I f-. und the p ^> ple with whomjl was asaociaud , Mr .. Yntes aaii t ; ia rtst of them , zealous for what is calieit the temperance movement . I was niysalf a teetotaller , and . it was likely tbat I shoul ; feel sympathy with spirits like my own . I was anxious to promote tbe spread of information amonsr tbe work

      id ? classes , and as I was then editing a small publication . I beR « n to deal with Mr . Yates , and that was tha origiu of my beiug a commercial traveller . I was dealinj ; in stationery , and it Wa 3 likely that I should feel sorna sympathy for persons like those , whom I coiiid not suaptc * of entertaining any violent designs . On the contrary , whenever I heard these outbreaks spoken of , they were condemned . I naver hsard violence recommended by any Chartist in tbe Potteries . Previously to entering them on tbe 15 th August , I addressed crowds of men at Wednpsbury , at Bilston , and Wolverhampton . I saw no acts of violence there . I have not seen tho public press since I was committed to prison ; I knew not what has since occurred , but instead of addressing 16 . 000 I addressed 30 . 000 men who were not expecting ma and knew nothing of my coming . I

      met 30 , 000 colliers and miners , and £ saw no tendency to violence , every one recommending peace and orderevery man having sworn himself to keep the peace . How then could I apprehend when addressing erowds elsewhere , that any violence was intended . On Friday before the 16 : h of August , I was here in tbe Marketplace , and addressed the crowd . An attempt was made to disturb the meeting , and I said at once I would have no violence ; that I would never be a party to it : and I called upon them to go with me to the common , and they followed me . Such has always been my practice . I bave always endeavoured to keep tho people within the limits of , and always revered , the law . On Saturday I arrived at Hanley , and next day I addressed , three assemblies at the Potteries ; my text on one of these occasions was , —for we Chartists can preach as well as lecture , — " Thou shalt do no murder . " Was that an

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      inducement to commit outrage and violence ? I showed that not only were the wars of the rich and powerful ti violation of that text , but that all violence among the lower orders and working classes was a violation of that precept . I showed that the whole tenour of Christ ' s gospel was to pray for those who persecuted us—that pity , mercy , and love , were the attributes of that guspel , and that the entertaining the spirit of revenge was contrary to tbe whole tenour and spirit of the gospel and of revelation . I was told on Sunday tbat tho colliers wished me to address them the folio wing . < iay at tbe George and Dragon . It -was necessary to defray the expenses of my doming , for Chartist lecturers caunct travel for nothing , and it was arranged that the admittance should be one penny . I was told the colliers on strike wished me to address them at

      eisht o ' clock , ana as I had met large crowds elsewhere , and had seen 30 . 000 stout m * n hold up their bauds when they were a ^ ked to keep tha peace , how could I anticipate that ihe colliers and potters would resort to violence ? I addvesstd the meeting that morning , and ona of the witnesses has stated that I alluded to the iiieBtings . it Wuolverhampton , Bilston , and Wednesbury , and that I said they had suspended labour until tho Charter w . is the law of the land . Now that was not the fact . What they had struck for was to raise the price of labour . On Saturday I was informed tbat news bad arrived at the Potteries from Manchester that they had struck from labour . It was likely that a person with my democratic impressions should approve of such an oVject as to endeavour to gain the Charter by ceasing from labour ; these were

      therefore , imperative reasons why I should address the colliers I had learned that the strike in Lancashire had commenced through tbe interference of the anti-Corn Law League . That was the impression I had formed from reading the public papers , and from the opinion of a person of Parliamentary eminence in i . ondon . Having learned that the casa was put in that forcible way , tbat such degrading wages were offired , as caused the operatives to desist in sullen despair , and give ' up the struggle : having learned this , and tliat they were determined to opposn the anti-Corn Law League , and to resist the demand for a repeal of the Corn Laws , unless it was accompanied by other measures , and that the opsratives of Lancashire had resolved , since their cruel masters had determined to suspend labour to catty the repeal of the Com Law

      that they were determined the anti-Corn Law League should not perpetrate tbeir design , and were resolved to have the Charter by tha strike , it was likely that I who entered into tbe viuw ef tbe Chartists , and was opposed to the anti-Corn Law League , should desira to join with the working men in their endeavour to c irry out the strike , in order that the Charter should become the law of the law of the land . Gentlemen , I did attend the meeting . I said I was selfelected chairman of the meeting ; but I knew that every perRon becoming chairman of a meeting makes himseif responsible for any violence of language or action at the meeting . Was it likely then that I should stand up without being asked to do to if I thought there was anything illegal to ' take place at that meeting' I recommended them to strike for tbe

      Charter .. I said they had a rieht to suspend their labour if jiot properly remunerated , and if not properly represented—that no person could compel them to labour so long as they kept tbe peace—that there should be no violence , no destruction of property ; aud so long as they did not trouble the parish for relief for themselves or tbeir families , that they bad a rieht to suspend labour So far as I know anything of the law , aud it is but little I do know , I believe I was legally entitled to make these remarks . It was likely also that I should put the resolution moved by Henimings , a working man , stating that there ahold be no werk until the Chatter was the law of the land ; it was likely I should < io so . But I positively deny that I recommended any breach of the peace , or any violence . Several witnesses have been examined—Mills , Lewis , and others—who have referred

      to something I said respecting the soldiers . I said there were but ten to each town , and tbat was true ; but they were not right as to the place or period in which I made these observations . In referenca to the Whig Government , it is well known that I did not like them . Humble as [ am , I took part in the last Nottingham election , the result of which severed tho last thread by which the Whigs held office . I went into , . their conduct . I said it was they who had caused the withdrawal of the troop 3 , and that they had committed fearful blunders—that they had misused the publio funds , and diverted them to the purposes of wars , and , as I thought , hiahly improper wars . I don't know whether I said anything of pouring opium down the throats of the Chinese , but I might have said bo , and spoken of the opium war . I mentioned tba number of

      soldiers that were left in the sevsral towns ; but I did not-do so with the object of misleading the people in the idea that they might overcome the soldiers . Such a thing could not be inferred by any one from what I had said ; and , Gentlemen , you will please to remember tbat the witnesses pretty generally heard but isolated parts of my speech , aa , during the . trentar port of the time , they were talking to the people neir them . Several witnesses have stated that I said if but too tenth part of the population came out on a given day tbe Charter would be the law of the land ; but I did nut couple that with any reference to the soldiers . I havu acain and again said tbat the Charter would be the law of the land . I reminded my fellow-countrymen ef the glorious Reformation which had been carried , not by a large majority of tho people being in favour of it , for the

      great mojonty of the country was in favour of Popery ; but because it had been advocated by a few brave and independent minds ;—and I bave said in reference to the Charter , give me but one million of human wills in favonr of it , and it will become the law of the land But , gentlemen , I have always deprecated force . Two witnesses said that I observed there was plonty on tha ground , but they were not the persons to gather itthai it would . be gathered by some one . True , when advising ths people to cease labour , one said , " What , in the midst of tbe harvest ? " and I said there are p ' snty to gather it—let the yeomanry go over and gather it ; and I said that in reference to their being agriculturists . One 01 tlia witnesses says there was a ; reat noue , and that we gave three cheers for the Chatter and three for O'Connor ; but it \ b customary for u » to

      do so at our meetings . Surely gentlemen , Englishmen are not precluded from doing so—what else becomes of the mode in which we mark our loyalty to our Queen , and what becomes of our cheers at elections . There was one peculiar testimony of one witness which I felt at the time was likely to make a serious impress on the minds of the jury , if it was not shown by the testimony of tho witness who came afterwards what wos the true way in which I used the expression " you hr . ve done your work well ; " but that was because they had struck work , and I wished it to be as complete as possible . I am not aware that I was acting illegally in so doing , but I never ustd the words in the manner alleged by tha witness , as in reference to the violence that has taken place . On tho contrary , gentlemen , you will '' observe

      that one of the witnesses heard me say you have done many things to-day which I dUapprove of—you bave destroyed pr perty which you should not have done . I saw druukenness around me ; nay , some drunken persons came up and wanted to shake hands with me , but I rejected it . It was not like ! y I should do thin , having always disapproved of intemperance . Gentlemen of the Jury , you will observe tbat the most intelligent of the" witnesses distinctly connected these exprendions with the strike , and that I never recommended any acts of violence . Other expressions ft-11 from the witnesses to show the peaceable intentions 1 had . 1 said , " allow the soldiers to pass you—they will do youuo harm ; " and I used the words " peaca law , anil ordtr , " frequently . Gentlemen , I shall procted in the broken way I havo been addressing you , becau ? e I am

      inexperienced in these matters . I never stood in a situation like this before , and I trust I shall bo < xcuwi by the Court in my efforts to collect the j-cnttt-red evidence nL-. ainst me . With repard to tho evidence of the litter witr . es . f 3 , who stated that they saw me i ; : the streets at a certain time of the night that is utterly untrue . I do not charge the witnesses with intenti'stml falsehood , but there was a good deal of difficulty in getting them to identify my person ; and one said it was dark , while another said it was not my face but my personal appearance they swore to . The truth of the c-ise is this . After addressing the meeting in the evening , I went to the George and Dragon , and remained there until near twelve . I urged tbe necessity for my departure to several of my friends , Richards , Yat ^ s , and Beddington , and I will call them before you to prove

      this . Ona or two of them went to seek a conveyance , but it could not be found . At last a person from Stoke agreed to go with me to Unp ^ r Hsnlty , until tht ) conveyance could be procured . I P ° - cer . deJ . there , and after remaining a abort time tbe pwrm sent returned to say tbe conv . ymce eould not go with me ; it was then arranged that I should ? o towards Macclesfield to take the coach to Manchester . ' I fill-ill prove that those persons went with me toward * Bursiem . At my examination before Mr . Parker , tne nin ? : ! 8 t ; ate . it ia true I said I wus a comrneici . il tra-Tt-lier , but when Mr . Alcocfc said I tim a Chartist lecturer , I then said , I am Cooper tha Chartist lecturer , a lit ! any questions you ask me I shall readily answer tfcem . Mr . Parker said there was no ground for detaining me , and wo than went on to the Crewo station aud proceeded to Manchester . Tbat is a tru j aceount , Rentlemen , of the way in which I passed that nUht . It may be said why did I not leave tka ¦ Potteries when I heard of violence ? but I did not boar of any acts of

      violence during the day . It was very likely when referring to the strike that I said— " that ' s right , " bat it had no reference to the acts of violence . It may be said why did I not depart ? but the simple fact is this gentlemen , Chartist lecturers are not always rich enough to pay their travelling expenoes . I am poor and was anxious to obtain the small sum recurrring as the Tproceeda of the lectures , and I was also anxious to obtain the small cum of 17 s . 64 , due to me by Mr . Yates . I certainly felt uneasy during tbe day , when I heard of the act * of violence tbat had been committed . Some of you , gentlemen , may have friends and relations among the unfortunate persons whose property was destroyed , and you eould not feel greater pain than I did , for I wept when I keard tbat some peisors had been reduced to indigence who bad been in prosperity a few hours previously . Gentlemen , I beg , therefore , yon will dismiss from your minds any indignation which yon may feel against these acts of violence which bave been detailed to you by the witnesses again and again , because I bad nothing to do with ( Continued in our Seventh page . )

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      CLOSE OP THE STAFFOHD SPECIAL COMMISSION . SATURDAY , jOCToBER 15 . The commission closed at a late hour this evening , after the following cases had been disposed of : — ( Before Chief Justice Tindal . ) Thomas Roberts , who was convicted on a former occasion of having demolished ti ; e house of the Rev . Dr . Vale , was br .-nght np at the sitting of the court this morning , and ssntenmi to transportation for ten years .

      CHARGE OF SEDITION . Jo&sph Cappur , a VtrneniMe-lookiug old man , was then placed at tht ; bar , charged with having addressed various wicktd and seditious addresses to the people , recommending the peop !« to arm themselves , and to resist the constituted autinritite by force . Ths Soucitok-General stat ^ il rhe case . Tha following witnesses ^ ere men called : — William Smallwuod— I live at Newcastle . I aru a grinder . I lived at Smallhnuse in February last . It is a mile and a half from H ; mley . A person naaed Wm . Pepper lived near me . I kuuw the prisoner ; he is a blacksmith , living at N-jw ? tali On the 28 th of Feb I remember seeing a number uf persons in Pepper's bouse . It was or , a Monday ii ! j ; bt . I heard first a hymn , and then Cappur ttood up ntxt the window . I was looking

      through the window from the street . Ha said the words of my text to-night , shall le "To your tents , O Israel . Tbe meaning of that is , to be reaily in your o ^ n houses" He twice cried out , " Are you readyare you sure you are rtiidy ? " Some cried out " Yas , yea . " Hessid Have you uot your guns , your swords , or bayone . 's ? " Some people iau ^ htd at him , and he said " I suppose you thick Cappur i » come with bis physical force again . It is no luugiiir . g matter—we shall have a severe fight , but it bhall ba a short one . What wiil you do when ; oj have got the Charter ? As I am to be one of your leaders , I'll tell you what I should recommend . We shall take the bishops and clergy and hypocritical dt-ssucers , and put them into a

      vessel , and transport them into Afhnger , or something like that , to be assiissinated amongst the Hindoos . " I have seen him twe or three times at that house , and in the open air addressing th' people . I heard him speaking to r » number of women in the same house on another occasion There were men also present . He said , ' If you can't fight you can torch . You see what they have rionu elsewhere b « clamming the people and starving them , and driving thrni to madness . '' He then referred to the firing of several cities and houses , and , as far as I can recollect , be mentioned Nottingham and Bristol . I was at another meeting on Whit-Mouday night . The people of she honse , the Peppers , attacked me for a spy . Tney continued holding tbesa meetings up to Midsummer , when I left the

      neighbourhood . Crofs-fxamined by Mr . Allen—I live by working at my trade . I did not gu aw . iy without paying my rent . I don ' t know that C ; ippur was employed in the collection of the taxes . 1 owed bim money , and he suau me st the Court of Requests . I dont know whether I paid all or not . I went away for safety from the ruffian . ? of Chartists . There were no curtains in the window . I spoke to P ^ pppr about the language , and said it was a . pity he should allow it . I was asked about this in September by a police gentleman from London . [ The depos-itiocs uf the witness were then put in and read . They referred to fires at Moscow and HiiuiHure instead of Nottingham and Bristol . ] I told the magistrates I could not be positive about the towns . Thomas Firth—I r . m a tailor at Newstall . I recollect meetings being frequently held at the market-place .

      Tis ^ y were chiefly working men who attended . On the 24 th June I paw Cippur and EUis at the meeting ; the prisoner Cippnr sot upon a stool to address tho meet-» ' » , and v . M t'it-y «» rd met upon the old score . He supposed the ted costs would be sent among them , but there wi-rp no- , many in England then , as they had been s . iit to murder the innocent Chinesa . Tbat there were oi-ly Sve to each town . They had only to arm themf ^ iye .-i as the noble Chartists of Lancashire undYorksnire had cione . Thjy . had , he said , sufficient strength to put them down and their base tyrants too . He said t ! . e stat « church had its origin in that b—y tyrant ' s reign , Hvnry VIII ., who had his wifo beheaded one day and married a vr—e tbe next . He said those who had no cuns cuuld light a torch . Ellis then followed in a cuarsc strain , and speke about the Queen . There was a large meeting . It was put a atop to by one of the lessees of tbe market . This closed the case for the prosecution .

      Mr . A llen then addressed the jury for the prisoner . After a powerful appeal on bthalf of his client , the ieacued gentleman concluded by trusting that they would cnly find him . guilty of some momentary rashntss ana hastiness of expression , rather than any decprootid and nislignaut purpose of inciting tho people to riot , turnnlt , and sedition . The following witn sses were then examined : — Joseph Harrison—I am a , hat manufacturer of Newstiii , and knew the prisoner . He is aa excellent neighbour n . nd tridesnian . Another witneEs was culled , but did not answer . The Solicitor-General then addressed the jury in reply .

      Tee Chief Justice summed np the evidence . They must first be satisfied that the prisoner uttered these words , and then they were to say whether he used them with the intent and object Jaid in the inuictnitnt , namely , fi , r the purpose of inciting the people to acts of violence and outrage , and to arm themselves and resist tbe law and the authorities by force . Ths Learned Judge having carefully read over the ev ; denC' . > . Cappur said—My Lord , I never used SDch language . I have five -witnesses to prove I never recommended them to arm tutnnaelves . I never uttered such words , so help me God . ' Tbe Chief Justice—You may call any witness you like . The prisoner then called and examined

      Jch : i Nixon—i was chairman of the meeting on the 24 th oi June , 1 know you ( Cappur ) theBe twenty years . I oftea heard you speak . You are a very nncoanecUci speaker . . Your phraseology is not the most pulite , but I never heavd you use any violent language . I heard the people say you were an old fowl , and that your conduct was harmless—( Great laughter . ) Thc-y used to say , " It ' s only oid Cappur . "—( renewed lauchter . ) By the Soliciior-Genebal—I am a speaker at thtse meetings myself . I was Chairman of the meeting on the 24 th of June . William Eilis was not there . Mary Hooley—I have often heard you preach . I never heard yon use any violent language . You BriVtr ric = iaimecdtid the people in my hearing to get ' . orehes . G = orge Morris—I know you ( Cappur ) these twelve yta : s . Have often heard you preach and lesture . Never heard you recommend the people to get guns , and pikes ; annl swords .

      Two or three other witnesses were examined to the same effect . Ths Jury immediately returned a verdict of guilty . The Learned Jl : dge said he was porfectly satisfied with the verdict of the Jury . He never heard words more calculated to incite and inflame the minds of tUo peoplu ; and the outrages and riots and destruction of property which had taken place , might be fairly attributed to the speeches he and others like aim had made . Tho sentence of the Court was , tbat he be imprisoned in the gaol of Stafford for tvro jeriTS . The Chief Justice , addressing the grand jury , said they were discharged from their labours , and the country was much indebted to them for the patience and attention with which they had performed their important duties . The Court then broke up , and the Chief Justice immt .-aUtt . ly afterwards left Stafford in his travelling carriage .

      ( Before Mr . Baron Rolfe ) The trial of the prisoners for tho attack upon the Stoke police station was resumed this morning and terminated at three o ' clock , when the jury returned a verdict of Guiity against Ralph Boon , William Huluie , and Johu Jones , ana acquitted Thomas Staikay and Samuel Robinson , The Learned Judge then sentenced the prisoner Hulme to two years imprisonment , and hard labour ; Jones one year ' s imprisonment and hard labour ; and Boon six months imprisonment and hard labour , The following prisoners who bad been previously tried and found guilty , were then brought up and sentenced by bis lordship : —

      Ehzi Bettany , six months imprisonment and hard labonr ; William Hatton eight months imprisonment and hard labour ; Thomis Kelsall , 15 months imprisonment and bard labour ; Fearn and Isaac Goldough to seven years transportation ; Junes Wakefleld discharged on his own recognizances of £ 15 , to keep the peace for three years . John Plant , James Child , and Thomas Adams , pleaded Guilty to a riot , to enter into recognizances to keep the peace . John Hall and Samuel Sorbett to be imprisoned six months . &eorga Jones and William TT « Trf } ng to be imprisoned fifteen months .

      Untitled Article

      6 THE NORTHERN STAR . ,, _

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 22, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct453/page/6/