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Northern Star (1837-1852), 1st April 1843, Edition 3 of 5, Page 7

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      STAFFOBDSHffiE ASSIZES . { Continued from our Sixth Page . J jddiessed them ; he said , " We must have the Charter , thonxh I suppose we BhaU have the red-coated gentry tostopus ; but there are not many of them in England—they hare been sent to murder the poor Chinese , They have not more than five to « seh town . " 23 > then began to ridicule the Church , the tnahops , and Hie clergy , and told the people t © arm themselves . Those wh » could not afford to bny ' arms , he said , could at least assist -with the torch . Ellis 'was close by Cappnr at this time . "When Cappur concluded , be said , - Here ' s my friend Ellis , -who win tell yon more about it than I can . " Wiffiam Bills then proceeded to address thB mob . He said taey must set arms , tnd

      that they -wanted strong nerves to nse their arms . Be also said , if they conld not get the Charter , they nrast lay wast * and desolation through the land . He spoke of the Royal Family , and . said that theyhaa saddled Xhh country -with a pauper -who wonld have his - £ 21 , ODD a year the same as the rest of them ; be said tjjst this country could do very well irithoni him , and ihat they aad brought him to beget another race of young paupers , who vrould all be saddled npon the country . He spoke in & degrading and disrespectful manner of the Queen ; I forget thfi precise -words . Tht people applauded at intervals . The meeting lasted an lionx altogether . One of tb . e lessees of tbB market , Mr . Johnson , distnrbed them , end cleared the Marketplace . Ellis and Cappur walked away together , Capxmr carrying the Etool on -which they stood .

      Gross-esimined by the defendant Cappur—I know the day because I had a stove moved out of my shop on that day . The stooi yon stood on was a three-legged stool . The ami yon spoke of -were destructive arm& . I am engaged in a law suit against Mr . Bennison in consequence of abuse I got for giving evidence against you at the special commission . I never knew anything against you . but your politics . CroawrXamiEed by the defendant Cooper—1 never ian away -with the box belonging to the tiilors' dab at Cbeadle ; 3 formed the club , and was its secretary , for three -wetks . I waa never a bully for a prostitute in Xiondon or aaywhere else . I am not icflnen&-d here By any feelings of revenge ; I came here reluctantly , owing to the annoyance I have received and the insults I have daily experienced from the Chartists for coming here . 3 have been insulted in various Trays in the pnblic streets . I hava been hurt in my business and character

      by the Chartists . I used to employ six or eight men , Imi I fc « ve ouiy hid lately -work enough for myself- I have often bejrd Csppur speak ; 1 am certain thai on ¦ Jhe occasion 1 have already referred to he spoke of arms and the torch . He also alluded to pikes . In ridiculing tee cbnrch and the bishops , he said that the chnrch bad its origin -with that bloody tyrant Henry VIIL who had his wife beheaded one day , and married a whore the n ^ ct , and the biahaps and v&reonB of the present day followed in his steps as far as they could . I spent no money in wine or riot while I "was at Stafford before , and I never was drunk there . I expect , "when the trials are over , what the county allows , and no more . That yrSi not half remunerate me for the loss of time and loss of business to -which 1 have been subjected . I do not corns here for gin . I do not come here for gain . I flo not expect to receive any part of the £ 50 reward which has been offered .

      2 Jr . Charies Davenport , examined by Mr . T . B . Bichards—I am a sargeon residing at Tanstall J remember towards the end of June last , a meeting held on s Friday , in the -Market-place . I went to it about eight o ' clock . 1 knew a person named Cappur before that time . I saw him there . Ellis was there also . Cappur was speaking -when I went . He continued for probably not more than a minute er two afterwards . Cappnr introduced Ellis to the meeting by saying he undersuwd he -was aSocialist , but whether he was or not , lie believed him to be an honest man . I remained there about two minutes . 2 went away , and - when I returned JBUU -was speaking . I believe Cappur wag then there . When I returned to the meeting E : Bb was

      jtlating an anecdote of a boy begging of a parson . The parson asked the boy whether he could pray , and the boy said he could not The parson then began to instruct him by requesting the boy to repeat after him the lord * prayer . The parson began with " Our Pathtr , which art in Heaven . " Then the boy , very properly , as Ellii stated , asked the parson how his father could be the boy ' s father . The clergyman then informed the boy that they had a rather in heaven . The boy then asked the clergyman if their Heavenly Pather was not an unjust and cruel father , for having fed him ftbscJergymsn so -well , and for na- ? ing starred rn-m ( the boy ) so mnch ? Ellis made some disrespectful and disloyal remarks upon the . Queen and Royal family . Hb then saifi that the time -was not faT eff when * the

      sound penss and intelligence of the people 'would do away with such a fiction as religion , and also the laws , "which were made for the protection of a set of potbellied parsons and pot-bellied Tories . I then left toe meetinz in diBgust-Capptrr expressed a wish tkat Mr . Davenport would give him a character . Mr . Davenport said he ¦ wished to put Geppur on his guard -s * ith respect to that question . His Lordship asked Cappur whether be 'wished the < jnestion to be put , observing that it must be as to his befog " -a good subject and a loyal man , " because the present charge against rnm -was for conspiring against the laws . Cappur bnrst into tears , and expressed a -wish that the question should be asked . In reply to question , Mi Davenport said be ted fcno-wn Cappnrrwenty years .

      Hi * lordship then asked Mr . Davenport whether Cappur had bornB the character of a peaceable and loyal subject ? lix . Davenport—Jfot a loyal subject , my Lord . Ht Justice Erskine—Has he borne the character of S peaceable man ? Witness—i should Bay , unconnected "with his views on tbs established religion of the-lanS , and unconnected " with loyalty , th 3 t he -was a peaceable mac His Lordship—Not likely io incite persons to the employment sf violence ? "Witness—3 cannot say that , my Lord , Cooper then proceeded to cross-examise the witness "With respect to ^ " « having « aid that Cappnr was nc % a loyal man . His iflidBhip intimated thsths thought Cooper ought to abstain from asking questions of that aort , for fear be shonid injare Cappnr by doing so .

      Cooper , h-wever , continued his cross-examination on this point ; and in reply to his questions 3 ir . Davenport said—1 call a man loyal who supports the monarchy of his country , and also its laWB and TeUjJCHL Ml . C&p ~ par has spoken in my hearing against the Constitution of King , Lords , and Commons . 3 have heard him say that the House of Commons was corrupt , and that the people wrre ne * represented by the House of Commons . I Consider that untrue . Cooper—Then it is perfectly true that the Honsa of Commons is npright , that the people are represented there , that every member is iinm . acnls . te , aau distiaguiilifc-Q for honesty ? Servant Talfonrd objected to the -qnestion , as one -which u was impossible for the witness to be able to ¦ answtr . Bis 1-rdibip decided that the witness -was not bound - Jo aiiirs-er the question .

      CrorS-txamiMtion eoEtjuned—I have beard ten persons eayso in my life ; I have heard Cappnr say that the law was tyrannical and oppressive , made to oppress the poor , and to serve the interests of the -rich . My ressoa for saying that Gippur "was a ijeaceable thiti nE-• connscted with Ms views on the established religion of the Hirf is , that i have heard him say that he " was Dot an advocate for monarchy , and that he ¦ was an aiacy t-j the established religion of the land . Corps ?—^ ye there not Dissenters is your town ? ¦ K"tae ? 53— 1 think there aia 3 > i thsy not oppose the established religion of the sst - —1 believe some of them do not I think there are a-mf who give their rapport to the establisasd rclir :-3 - f sfce laud . 2 think I knotr some Weyleyans "Wtu < 5 oso . -&r . T -hr We > leyans Dissenters ?—I suppose they are G * as-d ^ njonzit 7 > issentEra .

      2 > -si joa know that they say themselves that they are sot -DL-tulers ?—That I can ' t say . Ba : < io ^ t yon know that Wesley himself said he -was sot a Disinter?—1 do . "B " iat do yon mean by Dissenters ?— Those who epp ^ the religion of the iand . Art those men peaceable aea ?—Tes , U . believe EOIBB of tiicin are . And yet you ay that Csppnr is not a peaceable man , becanse he oppassd the established leligion ?—I said , ncc-nnected w-. m his views on ttie established religion of the Iin < 3 and loyalty ; 1 do not consider him a peaceable man inasmuch as 3 do know that he hasincited people to oppose both the laws of his c&untry and also the established religion of the land . I have lieard him addre-s multitudes in those terms ; I have heard him < lesisrsie the bishops as paupers and robbers ; I have heard h : m abuse the whole body of the clergy , and the Established Chirre *! . The IDisseniers , I believe ,

      csmpisia that the exaction ol church rates ts a robbery ; if I am lo speak of these -whom I have heard say so , I should say they are not peaceable men ; but I -would ] not say that the general body of them are not peaceable men ; 1 do not mean to Bay that Cappm ianota'be- ) licvei n Christianity ; I never heard Cappur swear ; 11 beE&T , t : I heard distinctly -what Eili » and Capper said , ' alttoiigh my hearing its not very good ; I -sra * in attend- ' ance fasre at the last speoal commisaon ; 3 expect lo * be paid my expencss , bul am perfectly indifferent ' ¦ whether I am paid or not ; I did not refuse the money ' i ; i ! f » I

      at the special commission ; 3 am no more indifferent to money than other people ; I think 3 was allowed either : a pound or a guinea a day ; I received probably eleven i <» twelve guineas and my mileage ; this formed no in- dnceiirBt to me to come , as I left a very extensive prac- ; tiee in the bands of a son in a very delicate state of ' tealih ; 1 never heard speak ot £ 50 being offered aa a . K-warQ for givirg evidence ; 3 lead over the evidence whicti 1 tad stated 3 conld give yesterday morning ; 3 nave rtli&d entirely 02 my memory ; the copy h * B not ervfci jse at all

      Jamts Tims , exsmined by " Mi . Godson—1 am what is tai to 3 j : o : u .- ' i ,-uE 3 ii Since January , 1 > 42 , I have " * £ ¦;! -ri for 1 L .. W-. iiiam SidgTray . Before that time I * or £ ,-i f ,, T Eicfc 3 and Co . aboat twenty ytira . 1 b ^ vs * £ - ¦* --= i s ei ^ 2 reea years . 1 r-. c- ^ ket Ctrr S- ; fc * .--. -.- - .:. , . -tisgsttietii . 'K'f Juij ) % -z . 1 : -ms ^ - - - - i . itia , Ha ^ -T i . * -: ~ - ^ .- " . cs l" - . . Si-Ffcu „ ¦ , - ¦ . k - .. ¦

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      menced speaking -whso I was there ; EBia-was there ; I saw Gsorgft Mast there Richards referred to the Queen ' s begging letters . He said , " All who are in the sound of my voice have heard tell of the Queen ' -s begging lstter . She shows her sympathy very much ; but , as for my part . 3 would say , if the gallowa or the guQlotine stood btfore me , to hell vpith her and her sympathy . " ¦ & ¦ cry -was then made to adjourn , and the chairman then rapped the table very severely , and said , " Unless you go for the Charter , and nothing less than the Charter , 3 shall resist being chairman . " Richards

      made answer " tbat if the black-faced men -would stick to them , they would settle their wages . " There -were a good many colliers in the room ; the crowd-Cried Out again to adj- ^ nrn , as the room was in a manner suffocating , and Richards said he would say before they did adjonrn " Down with the police , and to hell "with the Queen . " They then adjonrned , and Richards said he knew where his old post would be ; ho should mount the Swan horse-block . 3 did not go to the adjourned ¦ meeting , as 1 was disgusted ; 3 haTe seen Richards and Csppar at other meeting ; as I passed along .

      Cross-examined by the defendant Richards . —I believe the meeting was called for the ' occasion of your settling the colliers turn-out altogether . The meeting-was not called by a placard to my knowledge . My knowledge is put -wfcere your ' s is , 3 expect . You advised the colliers to stick to you ; I tno-w a person named Than met , a { xfirman . He wonld give me a character for veracity and propriety . "Upon my oath , 3 sever ran away with any of his clocks without paying for them ; I never attended any Chartist meetings before or Bince ; 3 attended the Special Comissinn in a case of arson to give evidence against William Johnson ; 3 picked two men oat in the prison , but I only appeared against

      ona Yenr speech -was not 20 the subjunctive mood ; there was no " if" about it . You did not say " if the Queen neither can nor will protect her people , away ¦ with her . " 3 t is quke the reverse ; I never heard yon of late years impress upon the people the necessity rf peaceful and orderly agitation ; 3 heard you say so eighteen years ago . You were then a shoemaker , and perhapB yon might have been a " round" preacher . At the meeting in Jnly there -were people in the room smoking their pipes , and the chairman rapped the table and said , " Put out youT pipes . " " Ay , " you said , " put out yonr pipes , or else youil put out my pipe . " I never was a member of the Methodist connexion .

      Cross-examined by the defendant Ceoper—I have been very , ill since Ksvember , and 3 have had a shilling a day from the parish where 3 live . 3 never told Mr . "William or Joan Ridgway that 1 -was coming togive evidence ; Hr . Stevenson first aBked me to coma here ; the ends of justice might be served if you were imprisoned for two or three years ; it might rsform yon a bit ; 1 must leave it to the gentlemen here ; I dare say some of tt « gentlemen here will tell you how long you are to stop in prison , if it -were left to me , you might stop there for fourteen years . 1 heard Richards Eay , " If the Queen show her sympathy in this manner , if the gallows or the guillotine stood before me , 1 would say , to hell with her and her sympathy ; but we must show ours . " I am quite sura he said " to bell / ' The ciy of

      " adjourn" came soon after , and they all "went to the Old Horse Block . George Mart never spoke in tbs meeting after the cry of " adjonrn ;*• there was a cry of " adjonrn" bsfere the chairman rapped the table , and ens after ; 3 had not heard much about the Charter before ; I would not have run my head into it ; 1 paid pretty decent attention to what was said , but some of it might have escaped me . By " the black-faced men " 1 understood ibe colliers ; there might have been 40 or 60 colliers there ; a great number were potters ; the colliers had their pit dresses on ; perhaps there were Lalf-a-dezan that cried " adjonrn . '' 1 don't know what

      was said about the police before Richards cried out " the police ; " I have known Richards about eighteen years : I had heard him preach , and used formerly to think him a respectable man ; my opinion altered before I heard him speak at the meeting ; I have often seen Mm in a cart , or on horseback , but never attended much to what he said till I heard him at the Sea Lion . I do not like the Chartists' doings ; they were the cause of the barracks being built and the soldiers coming ; we should have no need of them else . For ¦ what I know you . might haTe been the malicious , unprincipled instigator of the disturbances and burning people ' s houses .

      Rs-examined—Cunliffe asked me to go to the meeting ; 1 do not know if ha was a Chartist ; he was afterwards convicted of arson . iiary P ' radley—I live at Hanley ; ay husband is a watchman there . I was at Yatea's teetotal shop on the last Sunday in July ; there were many colliers and potttra there . I saw Richards there ; the was talking to the people when 3 came in . He said , bow many flocked to the race course to sea them red ragged devils ; had he a £ on that listed for a soldier , he would break either leg or arm before they should serve as such . He said , never mind ball cartridge when the fray bejjins , blood for blood , and tceu we shall gain our point , and the Charter will fee the law of the land . He then said he had some letters to write , and wished them good night .

      Cross-examined by the defendant Richards—I know nothins about you , or whether you have a son in the army or no . 3 never said that I thought you had said nothing wrong . I repeated your words to my husband . Mr . Stevenson sent me a subpoena . 3 saw yon on Monday when the disturbances were , talking to three colliers near to ten o ' clock- Ton were between Jeremiah Yates ' s and the Royal O ^ k . 3 did not hear what yc-n said , but your hand was going as if you were saying something serious . Every man was armed with s big stick . It -waa just -when the windows of the police office were broken ; 1 am on good terms with my husband ; 3 never said he wonld be the death of me ; be has been too good a husband for that In the course of the cross-examination , Richards said be was very sorry to say that from the turn ¦ which the evidence had taken , he should be compelled x » rebut it 'with counter evidence .

      . Cross , examined by Cooper—1 got the snbpcena about the 11 th of March ; 3 was here at the Special Commission ; 3 had 5 s . a day during the time I was here ; 3 did notr * pend much of it in Stafford . I went to my mother's house ; 1 never heard of £ 50 being offered as a reward for giving evidence-Re-ex&mined by Mi . Alexaodei—Jerry Yates's hon * e is about two hundred yards from the Royal Oak ; my husband is here . . Richard Forrester , examined by Mr . Sergeant Talfourd—1 am eleik to Iiord Granville , at Saelton , and nephew to his agent . On Tuesday , the 9 th of August , there -was a meeting at the Crown Bank . I went there about four in the afternoon . There Were 300 01 400

      persons there . I had seen some people coming in procession from Burslem , about dinner time , between twelve and one o'clock ^ On the platform I saw Cappur and Richards . I found Cappur addressing the meeting . Richards was near enough to hear what Cappur said . He -was next but one or two to him . There had been a disturbance at Burslem on the previous Saturday evening . Cappur said he had seen that morning a gentleman whu came from Burslem , and he asked him ( Cappur ; what he thought « f the proceedings of the Saturday night before . Cappnr aaid he did not answer him , but asked him what he thought of the Duke of Wellington ' s conduct on the continent , * when he posted > iiB army on each side of the Rhone , and dscoyed the enemy betwixl his lines , and fired upon them . He said the gentleman said those -were military tactics , and

      Cappur , addressing the crowd , said , " Yes , my friends , we must have military tactics , or we shall never get tbs Charter . ** Cappur then said , that he had ¦ worked an crg ice when be waB a youtig man : that he -sreataway and left a lad wiih it . and that the lad , to make it draw more coals , weighted the steam clack , that is , the valve , and when he came to it again , it was actually trembling on the seating ( what the boiler stands on ) , and he was afraid to take the -weight off . So it was , he said , with pnblic opinion . He said pnblic . opinion was so over burdened or oppressed with taxation , that it was like unto his boiler , and would one tlay burst with a terrible explosion , and it would then be over with such humbug Ministers as Sir James Grauam and Sir Robert PeeL He proposed a resolution , something about throwing property into one common fund . This address was

      cheered-Cross-examined by the defendant Cappur—I believe thta-e "were printed circulars sent about tBe neighbourhood for a meeting , but I do not know -what the purpose of the meeting was ; I do not know whether that meeting "was called the Supers * Meeting . 1 have hears yon speak three or four times in the Potteries . Cappnr—Did 1 not say that the poor being driven to desperation might meet with the same fate as the boiler , and that 3 wished to join with mj friends to prevent . it ? ¦ Witness—Yon said it would burst Dan't yon think that Whigs and Tories have f ot me to speak for them at electiens to keep th « m in good humour ? I dont know . Don't yon think I generally kept them in good humour ?

      ! ¦ Yes , I think they -were in tolerable good humour when you ¦ were speaking . t * OE 5 . examinisd by the defendant Cooper—My uncle knew I was coming here ; we have never talked about my coming ; 1 dare say he knows on what , errand 3 am come here ; Mr . Ward , of BurBlem , an attorney , first asked me to come ; 1 was at the lart Special Com-\ mlMion vf As-qzs here ; Cappnr said he had some houses in High-Btreet , and CheU-street , ani Piccadilly , in Tunstall , and he would be glad to throw those honsea into the common funit , if others wonld agree to do the same . He did not propose that the plan should be effected by force . Cooper also endeavoured to shake the testimony of this witness by insinuations against bia general con' duct . : The Court was adjourned at twenty minutes past i seven till nine the following morning .

      WEDSJSSDiT , MaKCH 22 . Michael Holt , examined by Mr . Sergeant Talfouxd- 3 am a patter , residing at Longton ; 1 was in my house , which is about a quarter of a mile distant from Dr . Ya ! e * s , Longton parsonage , on Sunday , the 14 th of August About three o ' clock in the afternoon 1 saw & procession headed by the defendant Cooper pass my tense-, the procession , which then consistel of forty or fifty persons moved to a waste piece of land , near the wteat Sheaf ; I followed them ; theyvrere singing something as tbey went along , to a hymn tune , thi-~ se ' re-. ling vt > rcs of which **> . re and " R-scue F : u » t V' - " -i—^ an i Jones . " ' Alvrr * tr fdr . itTi ^ : ^ as c * - r ^ •?¦ - --r •<>* : ¦ re ? -. ' ' - ¦ . - ¦ ¦ - - ' ' ¦ ¦¦' . =- .- - .

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      and continued to increase . Longton churen vras tight bef ore him , and dlviDe service was being performed in it at the time . He commenced his discourse by observing that thosa religious people would wonder what be bad to say . He referred to the church , and said he had as much right to preach Chartism and politics on a Sunday , as a minister bad to preach the gospel . He went on to say that Sunday was not the Sabbath-day , hut it was well to ihave a rest day , that they might walk in the fields and smell the flowers . He quoted from the New Testament the passage which Htated that when our Lord passed through the corn fields -with his disciples on the Sabbath-day , the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat . He { Cooper ) did not say that they had done wrong—it was a case of

      necessity . Cooper made some reference to the Jewish sabbath , and to the commandment which said " thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath-day , "and remarked that i ? anyjone lived in a strictly Jewish family they would see the knives and forks pat on the table at eix o ' clock on Friday night , Traere they would , remain until the same hour ob Saturday Bigot . He said in coming from Leicester he had met 30 , 060 people at Wedncsbury , and had advised them not to go to work until they had got a feir day ' s wages for a fair day ' s work . He afterwards beard him say , " Now is the time for the Charter , and the Charter we vsUl nave ; the Lwrd haa given us a plentiful harvest , and it is not right that people snonld starve ; " and he might be allowed to Bay what a member of Parliament had been stated to have said

      in the Honse of Commons , that where the people could find food they must take it- He then went on to say that every one mnst know that John Wesley was a good man . and lived npon £ 28 a-year that be might have more io give to the poor , and drew a comparison between Wesley ' s conduct , and the clergymen of the present day . Cooper next aliuded to the Church service , and said that Father , Son , and Holy Ghost , being spoken of as thTee persons , and yet one God , was mere humbug . He heard him remark that the military were very few , and that there was nothing to fear , 03 there was not ten soldiers for every town in England . He next drew a comparison between the rich man and the poor . He said the rich fared sumptuously every day , and hardly knew what carriage to lie down in ; and he enquired what is the poor man ' s comfort ? A distressed wife and starving children . He then said that he must conclude his remarks , as he should have to lecture at

      Hanley , at six o ' clock . Before the meeting dispersed , there -was something sung , the chorus of which was " Spread the Charter through the land . " Cooper gave the words out . [ The defendant here took out a " Chartist hymn book , " and read the hymn to which the words had reference . } The meeting was concluded by prayer , after which Cooper said that if any ono liked to sign for the Charter they had now an opportunity , as a person was present who would take their names down . The meeting took place within five or six hundred yards of Dr . Yale ' s house , who la the rector of Longton parish . He saw the Doctor ' s house the next day towards evening . The mob , after attacking the Town Hall and the Police Office , went to' the rev . gentleman ' s . There waa not a single article of furniture left whole in the houso ; the windows wtre all broken , and the bouse set on fire . He caw many of the mob lying on the premises in a very drunken state .

      Cross-examined by Cappnr—Witness waa a Dissenter , snd belonged to the New Connexion . He had heard him preach , but never took much notice of his doctrines . The last time he heard him was at Longton , in February . 1841 ; it was at a Chartist meeting , but he did not know whether the subject was on religion . He never knew any one take much notice of what he said . Cross-examined by Richards—I did not see you at Longton on the 14 th or 15 th of August . I have frequently seen you in old Zion Chapel , Longton . Cooper next proceeded to cross-examine the witness at very considerable length , occupying tlie Court about three hours and a half . The following are some of the answers : —

      I swear 3 saw you at the tuad of the procession on the Sunday afternoon . It was not the old hundredth psalm tune you were singing , neither were the words " all people that on earth do dwell , " those used On the occasion . I recollect hewing you speak of stopping tha weavers at Leicester . You said that Sunday was not the Sabbath day ; but I do not recollect whether you said all the Doctors of Divinity in the kingdom could not prove that Sunday was the Sabbath day . Did not hear you say that Christ and his Apostles made no allusion to ¦ what we call Sunday . I recollect your quoting our Lord ' s words about the dnty of drawing an ox or a Bheep out of the pit on tha Sabbalh day , but do not recollect whether yon said you considered it was right Jo draw the people out of their miseries on the Sabbath

      day . You said it was well to have a rest day , but do not recollect that you said it was well both as a civil and moral regulation . I heard 50 U say that you thouU have no objection to two or three Sundays in the wtek . Do not recollect healing you relate an anecdote of a person who professed such a reverence for the Sunday that he would not put a clean shirt on » n that day ; do not recollect your Baying that all the precepts of Chris * tianity tended to joy and cheerfulness , and not to gloom . [ From the cross-examination which then followed , the defendant made it appear that he had inculcated upon the meeting that as God ' s nature was essentially love , he had not created man to make him miserable for ever , and therefore he denied the eternity of punishment as incompatible with the goodness of God . J

      2 recollect hearing yon sbj that the colliers at Wedneabnry -were < jn strike for wages ; that they were to have is . per day , bot now it was proposed to reduce them to 2 s . 6 d . per day , or words to that effect ; do not recollect yonr saying that you were much impressed when you taw 30 , 000 persons holding up their black hands like so many shoulders of mutton ; 3 heard you say that they were perfectly quiet , but do not recollect you saying , when a resolution was put to maintain peace , law , and order , " they all held up their hands . Did not hear you say anything of the Corn Laws : I heard you say that the Lord had given us a plentiful harvest , and $ was not right that we should starve ; you ridiculed the doctrine of the Trinity , and Baid it was mere humbug , when alluding to the church

      service : do not recollect bearing you say that the word •• trinity" was not In the old or new testament , and that it -was a barbarous word , and not invented until many years after the appearance of Christ and his apostles . I do not recollect your saying many things you have asked me ; I recollect your saying that you had been a Dsist two years , and that by reading " P-iley's Evidences" you had become a believer in Christianity ; that John Wesley was a BOOd man , and a practical follower of Christ , who , like him , had been engaged in good works ; you made allusion to clergymen of the Chotch of England , and Baid " I Buppose your rector is a very good man . " When you said those words there was nothing in your manner to shew that you said them with a sneer 01 to ridicule him ; 1 believe Dr . Yale to bear tee character of a man who is charitab e to the poor ; I did not hear you say

      that there were several go&d men in the Church of England , and that yon were under deep obligation to one clergyman of that church . Heard you say that the frame-knitters got 7 a . per week , and that they had to pay the rich manufacturer 3 s . of it for rent , &c . ; did not hear you say that you knew scores of men in Leicester who nuver tasted flas-h meat for the t srelvemonth round ; did not hear yeu relate an instance of a man who came into your shep , saying with an oath " 1 wish they would hang me , as I have been living npon potatoes for several days , and this morning I have eaten a raw potatoe to appease hunger . " Do not recollect your relating an anecdote of a Right Kev . Father in God riding in bis splendid equipage , with his attendants , in London , once meeting with a ragged Irishman , who solicited alms , when he passed him by unnoticed . The meeting was concluded byBinging ; some of the words

      were" God save John Frost , " and " Spread the Charter through the land , " Let Britons bold and brave join heart and hand . " I did not see or hear of your being at Dr . Vale ' s on the 15 th of August . Sir . Benjamin Boothroyd examined by Mr . Richards—I am a Burgeon residing at Shelto 1 , and remember the 15 th of August . 1 went to the Crown Bank , Hanley , between seven and eight o ' clock on the morning of that day . There was a meeting being held at the time , and the defendant Cooper was addressing the crowd . He said he had been addressing a meeting at Wednesbnry , at which 15 , 000 cUHers were present , when it was determined to cease work until the Charter became the law of the land , and then added ,

      " I am not come here to advise you to do anything , but to tell you what is doing elsewhere ; although when you ha ^ e heard what is doing elsewhere it iB very probable you will determine to do the fame thing among yourselves . " He said that delegates had been dispatched from that meeting to various parts of the country to instruct the people . What etee they were instructed to Bay he must not state , for they must know where to stop . He then remarked that the greatGBt gOOil had resulted from these missions , bo far as he had beard , and that work had ceased at Bedwoith , in Warwickshire ; Bedford , in Shropshire ; and the counties of Northumberland and Durham , and would soon cease elsewhere . He read a letter confirming the truth of what he had said , but suppressed the writer's name , adding , " we must know where to stop . " The defendant then spoke of the low rate of wages , and referred to Scotland , where he said it was -well known that minera were only earning 2 s . lcL per day . He said

      that the Charter was the only thing which could secure them " a fair day ' s wages for a fair day ' s work . " He then stated that it was the opinion of somB that winter was a better time for colliers to strike than snmmer , as coals were more in demand , and they would be more likely to obtain their object when snow was on the ground ; bat he was of a different opinion . He said , it was more pleasant to be idle in the summer than in the winter ; aiid , in the second place , it is more comfortable when you consider that the fields are now full of food for the sustenance of man . You may ask bow are you to live during the suspension of labour ? Why , how do they live elsewhere ? They do live , but perhaps not very well , and yet almost as well as the poor working people . You must not forget you have the fields full of food , but I don't tell you to steal it . \ do not Bay I would steal it mysdf , and therefore would not advise you to do-Kin 1 was r . ct wihujj : U « iu Kiy ^ if ; but Xhr- » - ; t ! - ¦< ! t- ? s U n < -f a t , t :, J hi- ^ hi . S t -o ^ Ao a- - ' " " ^< - ¦¦ T J i ¦ : . . ! ., ¦¦ r , f , _ J j

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      tep » 8 ente < i as begging of the miner to go to his work , adding that it would soon come to that if they would stand firm . He then alluded to the unfair character of the legislation in the kingdom , and the law between debtor and creditor . He alluded to the Leicester Court ef Requests . He said it was no uncommon thing for a householder ' s goods to be Bold for a oebt which another had contracted . I heard him say you have recently got a Court of Requests amongst yourselves , and a great blessing I suppose you will find it to be . I did not notice any particular effect which the speech had npon the audience . The damage to the Court Of Requests was done about three hours after the conclusion of the meeting .

      Cross-examined by Cooper . —I saw you in the Hanley lock-ups when you were brought from Leicester with fetters round your legs , when one of the persons in the place remarked , that they ought to have been round your neck instead of round your : legs , to which you replied that you hoped ft was not an Englishman who had said it , as it displayed but little of an Englishman ' s spirit I had no regular conversation with you . You said you were much deceived in the Chartists of Hanley , many of whom you knew to be teetotallers , if they had anything to do with the mob . I do not recollect hearing you s »> that you had expressed your regret , both to Mr . Rhodes and Mr . Cottriil , at what had taken place , and that it was quite contrary to your wish or will . 1 did not think your speech calculated to excite the people to commit the violence they did , bat I have not said that I saw nothing in Cooper ' s speech to excite either fear or terror , or anything alarming , and I -was

      surprised to see him comt bacfe . I was not surprised to see you come back , when I saw you associating with the men who were the first and foremost in the work of outrage ; I particularly allude to Jeremiah Yates , who was convicted at the Special Commission for turning out the workpeople ; I do not know of my own knowledge that Jeremiah Yotea was the first and foremost in the outrage , but I know that he was convicted . Most people conclude that when a man is convicted on clear evidence he is guilty . I don't know what you mean by the term •• Ridgway man . " I am a little man , and an apothecary , and so far a " little apothecary . " I don ' t know what you moan by the term " Ridgway tail ; " I have not been engaged with Mr . Stevenson , or his clerk , in getting up a second charge of arson against you ; I know Weaver-street , in Hanley ; I never went with Mr . Stevenson , or his clerk , to a woman , and showed her a bag of money to come and give evidence ; I did not hear you say that Mr . Cobden , or any other member , had stated in the Hou ^ o of Commons to S r Hubert

      Peel that the 60 , 000 starving people of Stoekpurt could not be put dpwn by the military , for they would be justified in taking food where they could find it . Thbre was a meeting held on Tuesday afternoon , at which Mr . John Ridgway and others attended ; the meeting was called by the Chief Bailiff , to persuade the people to refrain from such actB of violence as had been committed ; this meeting was afterwards broken up by the military coming into the town . I heard you uistinctly make allusion to the Court of Requests in the town . I bave myself said that class-legislation , te a certain extent , was unfair . Cross-examined by Richards—I have an Indistinct recollection of seeing you at one of the meetings on Tuesday , but do not recollect hearing you speak . Cross-examined by Cappur—I could not recollect a dozen words you have said at any time ; did not see yeu when you were so foolish as to mount the triumphal car when Ricardo was chaired at Longton .

      Re-examined by Mr . Richards—It was about tbrea hours after I had heard the defendant , Cooper , allude to the Court of Requests , that that building was attacked by the mob . Josiah Mills , examined by Mr . Godson—I am a china ffilder , residing at Upper Hanley ; I was present at a meeting held at the Crown-bank , Hiiuley , on the 15 th of August ; I was not there at the commencement ; the defendants , Richards and Cooper , were there ; the crowd consisted of about 1 , 000 persons j after Richards had done speaking , the defendant Cooper said he considered himself the self-elected chairman of th « j meeting , iind called upon a person named George Hemmings , to mova a resolution , which stated , "Come all ye that are heavy laden , and we will give you Teat . We hereby

      agree to etand by the resolution at the Manchester meeting ; that is , to stand and cease labour uutil the Charter becomes the law of the land" After the resolution was moved and seconded , Canper came forward to put the resolution . Tha defendant Cuoper remarked " that it would be an easy mutter to get the Charter , for if only one-tenth part of the population came out on a certain day , we shall hava the Charter and nothing can stop us . " He said there wero only ten soldiers to every largo town in the kingdom . The defendant reroaiked , some said that winter waB the most favourable time to stand , but he considered the present the most favourable time , as there was plenty of food on the ground , adding , I don't tell you to steal it ; I would

      not steal it mjuelf ; but I leave you to put your own construction upon it" There were many persona Bitting on the ground , who bad thick cudgels in their hands . At the conclusion of the meeting , there was shouting for two or three minutes , and many of the crowd moved to the collcries of Lord Granville and stopped three engines . They then returned , and part wi-nt to Messrs . Morley ' 8 manufactory and turned out the workmen , and the other to the Haniey police-office , and broke the windows , threw out the books and destroyed them , and flung out the constables' staffs . I was at the meeting on the Crown-bank in the evening ; I saw Cooper with a number of other poraonB coming across the Marketplace ; they wero singing

      " Spread the Charter through the Land , &c Cooper addressed the meeting , which waa commenced by pinging . I recollect some of the words , which were" The Lion of Freedom is loosed from his den—We will rally around him again and again . " Cooper said he was sorry to see so many drunk around him . They ought to abstain from drink and go about their work in an orderly and peaceable manner , or else they would be detected . * He said ' he had heard many reports of what had been doing during the day , but it woo not for him to say whether they were true or not , for he had been at the Royal Oak , and Jeremiah Yates'a , and the Gaorge and Dragon during the day . " I heard of the burnings and riots during Monday , and went home but sat up all night , being afraid to go to bed . I went again to the Crown Biuk , Hanley , on

      Tuesday morning . William Ellis and tha defendant Richards were there . Ellis was addressing the meeting ; and in allusion to the soldiers said there Were not above three soldiers to every town , village , and hamlet in the kingdom , and that the Weekly Dispatch bad let the " cat out of the bag , " with respect to where the military lay . A meeting of the authorities was held in the afternoon , which was attended by many of the respectable inhabitants . The meeting was called to dissuade from further acts of violence , ami to got the people together to protect property ; There waa a counter resolution put to the meeting , which was carried . Richards and Ellis spoke . Ellis , in allusion to the fires which had taken place in the iieighhou hood , enquired whether the Reform Bill was carried Without fires ? Where there no tires at Bristol ? Or were there no fires at Nottingham before the passing of the Reform Bill ?

      Cross-examined by Cooper . —I am a Corn Law Repealer . You were preaching on Sunday evoniDg on the Crown Bank , from the 6 th commandment , " Thou abalt do no murder . " When the service was concluded , you gava out that there would be a collection , which was accordingly raada The collection was ma < ie in hats . You said in reference to your text , it was impossible to obey that commandment whilst tlw juws were constituted as they were ; but that command could be obeyed when we got the Charter . In speaking of the Charter you said all must become Chartists—indeed we wiil make yon Chartists . I did not give evidence of all that I have now said at the Special Commission ben you were tried for arson . I have stated nothing but the truth I swear you had a waking stick in your band

      when you eaid you were self-elected chairman . Did not hear you say that it was union which brought about the Reform Bill ; did not bear you say that many of the great events in history have been brought about by a few intelligent minds . Did not reooiiect that you spoke of the people taking food whore they conld find it , f > r themselves and their families , ihtt you said Air . Cobd-. n , or any other member in the House of Commons bad said so . The men with cudgels in their hands sat on the ground quietly when the speaking waa going 1 or ward . I am not in the habit of remembering things which never took piace ; I had not a magnifying glass to magnify walking sticks into cudgels ; I did not see you tuke part in any ef the outrages ; 1 heard you reprove the men fer drunkenness , and tell them to go about their work in a peaceable and orderly manner . 1

      understand by " work , " the same work of destruction they had been engaged in during the day . Did not recollect your saying , my lads , you have done your work well to-day in turning out the bands ; go on as you have begun , and you will get the Charter . " Did not hear you say yon were sorry if some things y « u had heard were trna ; did not hear you say " 1 am sorry yon have destroyed property , and you ought not to have done so , as that wiil ruin the cause , and you will not get ; the Chatter . " The defendant cross-fcxamined the witness at some length aa to whether he bad bad any conversation with hia employer , Mr . W . 'Ridgway , as to the circulation of the Corn Law Circulars and the Anti-Bread Tax Circulars in the manufactories , the proceedings ef the Anti-Corn Law League in the district , and other matters . The Court adjourned at half-past eight o ' clock , only three witnesses having been examined during the day . Thursday , Mahch 23 . James Wilding examined , —I am a Ghina Painter and live at Hanley . On the morning of the 16 th of August I attended a meeting at the Crown Bank , after it had commenced . It was after nine when I went there . Mr . Cooper was addressing the people . I remained there till the meeting separated . Tne people went down Brunswick-street or Piccadilly on the left from the Crown Bank in a direction for Earl Grau-Tilie ' s colliery . After the meeting . I was near the Police Office and saw tha nub demolish the windows and break into the Police Office . Bunks , papers , and stamen ¦ were thrown out nf-tb' - < fll- -. ' . The sr . obprui tf iifcii '>*> Mr . ( i Ms ' ' ' : < v > - ¦ , •«[ : " '<* t ? : 1 coi ) t . ch' :- nf Mtes . T ^ e fciiu- * kirn ' . ' ¦ it . •' : 'i' - 'it 1 ' ;>* " .- ¦ ' ' r < r \ i ! ie 1 ¦•*• .. K .. $ > - ¦ j . . . ¦ - ¦ ...

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      of Requests . I followed jthem and saw the Bame kind of destruction of property as at the other places . I afterwards went to the Police Office at Stoke , where I saw destruction of propeitty and a fire . The fire was made in front of the Police Office in the street . I afterwards went to Mr . Allen ' s , at Fenton , and saw that great destruction of property had taken place . At tho morning meeting it waa stated publicly there would be a meeting in the evening . ) Between six and seven in the evening , I saw Mr . Cooper at the meeting on the Crown Bank . I have no positive recollection who else was there . I bad seen Mr . Richards and others come down the Market-place with Cooper in the direction of the Crown Bank and found a great many people assembled . I heard Mr . Cooper address the meeting . He

      complained of many of his friends being drunk . He aaid that they would betray themselves , they would be detected , they would be sold , what other things they had done he approved of . ! There were some persons standing at a distance and ; he told them to come forward to hear what he had ! to Bay , he said he supposed they were Tories . He said be did not advise them to commit acts of violence , he did not tell them to do so , but from bis manner I | understood that he meant them to do it He used gestures and shakes of tbs bead . This was after be had said he approved of what they had done . Either at the morning or evening meeting he said there were not ten soldiers to each town . Before the meeting broke up another meeting waa announced publicly for the following mowing ; Cooper was present when it was announced .

      Cross-examined by Cooper—I should wish to Bee a regulation in the Corn Laws ; I am a C » rn Law repea ' . er ; I don't know any man called "Dirty Neck ;" I am not the mau ; I have had my clothes six or seven months ; my Int is a newjone ; 1 had it in exchange for some china ; the china iwas my own ; I bought the china ; 1 got the money byjregular buying and selling ; I can't tell how I got every particular shilling ; I bought and sold what I produced , and I had some wages for my work ; I did not work mnch , I had not much to do ; I cannot tell yoa how mnch I have been employed during the last six months ; many have not been employed ; you put ; a stop to that in August last Cooper—Don't you know that your character throughout the Potteries ia that of a filthy and idle man ? Serjeant Talfourd—Really , my Lord , it is not surprising that witnesses lose their temper .

      Cooper—My L < srd , I think that the appearance of the witness in the box is sufficient Mr . Justice Erskine—The man ' s appearance is before the Jury ; you can make your comments upon it when it eomes to your turn . Ci oss-examination resumed—I have taken tho benefit of the Insolvent Act , unfortunately . The witness was cross-examined as to his owing money to a lodger , which hn denied ; and also as to his being acquainted with a man named Johnson , who was a witness at tha Special Commission . Cooper asked if he had not heard that that man was turned oat of Court by one of her Majesty ' s Judges , and his evidence refused . Mr . Justice Erskine said he could not hear anything of ¦ what her Majesty ' s Judge did without knowing his reasqq for doing it . '¦

      The witness was next asked whether he knew a widow named Margaret Mumford , a-ad that she had two houseB . He replied that he knew her , but waB not aw-ire that she had two houses which belocgad to hor . Cooper—Did you ever defraud her out of any money ? Mr . V . R Richards—I o jejst to that Copper—My Lord , is that an improper question ? The Judge—The witness may decline to answer it Cooper—Did yon ever defraud her of any houses ? Witness—I shall not answer it Cooper—Do you decline to answer that because it is a family affair ? Witnuss—I decline to answer it Cooper—Do you owe a great deal of money for a poor man ?

      Sergeant Talfourd—My Lord , for the sake of the public time , I think it right to object to that question formally . Witnesses are not bound to diaclosa their private affairs . The Judge—I think the question may be put . Cooper—I must say , in answer to Sergeant Talfourd ' s remark , that I am not acting with a desire to consume the pnblic time . Judge -Tha Learned Counsel does not say you are : but he saya that the effect of what yoa are saying is to consume the public tima

      Cooper , to witness—Do you : owe a great deal of money for a poor man 1 Witness—I don ' t know that I do . Have you ever been in a lock-up in your life ? Oh , I'll tell you all about that if you like . At the Newcastle electtou-, in 1831 , Mr . Wedgewood , Mr . Miller , and Mr , Edmund P « sel , were candidates , and the potters were very anxious to bring in their man , Mr . Wedg-¦ woort , as a they seemed vexed at it the same as men do get vexed when they are losing . A disturbance took place , and I was going down the streets , not doing anything , when two Newcastle men said here isa potter ; they put me into the workhouse , locked me up for half an hour , and then discharged me . The witness was examined at some length as to hia having belonged to the Potters' Unions fur an advance of wages . The Laarned Judge told Cooper that if his object by that cross-examination was to shew a justification for

      workmen combining to ruisfl their wagea , he might save himself the trouble of continuing an examination of the witness on that point ; us be ( Mr . Justice Erskine ) should tell the Jury that there was nothing illegal in workmen combining together for that purpose by fair and le ^ ul means . Cooper replied that he had another object in view . His chief intent was to shew that the oppressions used by the manufacturers generally , who were Corn Law Repealers , toj throw their men oafe of work bad caused the late riots ; Their ( the defendants ) object was to dear themselves of tbe charge of conspiracy by shewing this : and they should feel themselves slaughtered if they did not make this justification . In the course of further cross-examination , Cooper asked bia Lordship whether it was consistent with the rules of justice for one witness , who had been examined , to take notes of the subsequent evidence as he saw the witness Mills was doing ?

      His Lordsnip replied that it was quite consistent , and that there was nothing to prevent it . Cooper—There is a strong impression , warranted by a pKifect knowledge , that there' ia a juggle , if this man is allowed to make notes and go out and show them to other witnesses . The Judge—But it is not proved that be has done go . Cooper made some remark in reference to tbe iraht of the defendants to have au impartial trial . The Juit e—1 am sure no case was ever heard with more patience than tbe present ; Cooper—I am sure , my Lord ; I am sensible of you :-kindness . Yua have been feind beyend a degree , and and more than ! could have expected . It is only our peculiar circumstances that induces us to act in the way we have . '

      Cross' ^ xamination resumed—I never said I would bang you if I could . I have said that I was sorry I had to come against you . I don't go about saying that you ought to be transported because you oppose Corn Law repeal ; I never said you ought to be transported at all . 1 cannot recollect ever ' baying said that you caused my poverty by opposing free trade . I have said that , your influence , and others connected with you , has disturbed peaceable meetings -when they bave met for a different object th . m that of promoting the Charter . For instance , there was a meeting called at Hanley , on the christening of the Prince of Wales to raise a BUiiBcription to give a dinner to the aged and tbe poor , but the Chartists iutorfwtd and would not allow it ; they would allow no meeting but what had tbe Charter in view . I believe I have said that the Chartists opposing free trade had done an injury to business .

      The witness waa further cross-examined 6 y Cooper as to the part which he had taken in previous elections for Stoke-upon-Trent , and as to tho ; words which witness had represented Cooper to hava used with respect to gathering the harvest Cooper ' s ohjec ' t , appeared to be to show that he had said to thoipsople " What ! you will say strike for the Charter when the harvest wants gathering ? " and that he then replied that it waa the provinca of tlio yeomanry—the-farmers—to go home and gather the harvest The witness repeated that he

      understood Cooper to mean that the people must go and gather wtmt was then on the ground at harvest time . Witness added that he believed he uaart both tbe woriia " plenty on tha ground ' and " harvest . " He ( witness * had not used the ward harvest in his evidence at the Sp cial Commission ; but he had : not now nse <* '' from reatiiiigin the papers that ottiet witnesses had done so . Cooper put a number of other questions to the witness , which he lepeated several times , and to one of them the witness answered ' . ' I'll not charge my memory . '' ;

      Cooper applied to his Lordship to take that answer down ; but ; H ys Lordship declined to do so , having taken a similar answer previously . Cooper then said—Then I shall feel it my duty to make a memorial upon it K is Lordship—Very well : you imay make it The cross-examination was resumed ; and Cooper asked a number of questions with the view of shewing that the witness had either encouraged the riots or bad expressed approbation at particular outrages . This the witness moat positively denied . ;

      in tbe course of aotue subsequent cross-examination , Cooper put several questions with ! the view of shewing that the magistrates who had committed him at Newcastle allowed leading questions to be put to the witnesses by the solicitor for the prosecution . The witness made some answer to one of the questions which Cooper wished his Lordship to take down , but his Lordship declined to do so . Upon this Cooper again said that he should feel it his duty to present a memorial on the subject ! His Lordship . —I care not , in the slightest degree , what memorial you may present I BhaU take the notes of what I think is material in the case , bat I desire , Sir , that you will nut dare to threaten me with any memorial , or I shall feel it my duty to vindicate the authority of the Court by inflicting upon you . some punishment .

      Cou ^ r , with much earnestness , assured hi'j Lordship that -rebtn be eaid he should present a meaijrial ha meant that he should present ono against the magistrate ¦ : ¦ ¦> •{ aViov-ing leading questions to be put to tho ¦ witt ) . ¦ s . an . ' . t ' at h « l-a 4 had no inten * ou to ' ¦ # ¦¦ ' ' I- " !" " " : ' H « c-ld teaw hi . 1 Lr ' -v-. '• ¦¦> " ; • • •• " ¦ ' ' its r- ¦ - , ,. •„ ,

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      H-8 Lordship intimated that if Cooper ' s remarks applied to a memorial against the magistrates , ha ( Mt . Justice Erskine ) had nothing to do with that . Cooper . —1 suppose there could be such a measure as bringing an action against the magistrates ? * His Lordship—You must take a < lvice from some other person on that question : but 1 cannot allow you to examine this witness with a view either to a memorial or an action against the magistrates . 1 cannot allow evidence to be given excepting with reference to tho question before the jury . ' The cross-examination of this witness was ultimately closed about three o ' eiocfe , having occupied Bra hoars and a half .

      Mr . William Palmar , examined by Sergeant Talfourd <—l live at Hanley . an 4 am the lessee of th-3 Hmley Water Works . On the ipotoing of the 15 ' . h of August 1 saw a mob of people going towards Lord Gfranville ' a pita : 1 afterwards beard of the damage done to tha police office ; between ten and eleven o'clock 1 went to the Royal Oak , and related what 1 had seen and heurd to the landlord ; the landlord called tha defendant Cooper from a par > our in hia honse ; the dtfendant Richards was in the parlour at the time ; at the request of the landlord Cooper came out of the parlour , and he requested me to state what 1 bad Bftn ; 1 told him that several bailiffs had been turned oat of ft house by the niob , where they had possession of the soorts for rent ; and also that some shoemakers and . stone-masons , and also the workmen at the large manufactory of Uessrs . Morley and Co .. h : id been compelled to leave Vheir work ; 1 also told bun that 1 had heard tb ^ y ha < l broken

      into the police office , torn np the books and thrown out the constables' staves . Cooper , on hearing the relation , remarked , " That ' s right , that ' s ri » ht ; that ' s the way to do it" 1 certainly left ; Coopar , and . 1 believe , Richard's at the Royal Oak . There was a meeting at the Crown Bank in the evening ; 1 went there after the meeting had commenced ; Cooper was speaking ; be said , addressing the crorvd , ** you bave done your work wetl to-day , but 1 am sorry to see SO many of you drunk ; ysu must not take driiili , for so sure as you do so , you will be sold or done . " He > alluded to there being very few soldiers in the conntr 7 owing to the drain of them for the wars in China and the Ea « t . Defendant eaid he understood there was a desire to arrest him , but he wouid so niautge hia address as that they should not be able to do so ; 1 did not see the defendants Richards ur Cappur at tha meet ns [ .

      Cross-examined by Cooper—l am a Corn Law repealer ; 1 can positively swear thai 1 made the rtlatipn of the breaking into the police office , turning out tha workmen , &c . whilst you were in the room at tbe li < yal Oak ; I recollect your denying before tbe magistrates that you were in the room ; 1 do not know whether yoa said " that right , that ' s right , that's ibe way to do it , " with reference to tbe tnrninz eut of the workmen , or to the destruction of the property that had tafcen place . 1 understood you to say that they would be defeated ia obtaining the Charter if they got dru :. k . Ton advised the crowd , ia case of the soldiers being brought out , not to molest or taunt them , but to allow them to pass , and they would harm no one . 1 several times heard you exhort them to observe " peace . law , and order . "

      Air . James Moxon , examined by Mr . R . V . Richards —1 am an attorney living at Skclton . 1 recollect a meet > ng being held ou the Crown Bank , Hanley , on Tuesday , the 16 th of August 1 saw the dbfendant Richards at tbe meeting ; he was elevated on a platform . Mr . John Ridgway bavin ? previously addressed the meeting , the defendant Richards got up to speak . He Baid Mr . Ridgway had bean talking a good deal about fiscal regulations , but did not know what ho meant , and added , " but 1 will tell yon some time , lada . " " 1 wonder what Bjbby Peel thiu&s about us j 1 should say he did not feel quite so easy now , a 3 ha has not got it quite su much bis own tray as he thought of having . 1 should not wonder if ho would not be vlad to change situations with a poor old cooler . They

      find their half measures won't do for ns now , but we both must and will have tbe Charter . " The defendant then went on to say , that talking of half measures very much reminded him of a tale he heard the other day , and as he was fond of keeping them in good humour , he woold relate it . This gentleman happened to bave a very valuable dog , which had a disease in the taiL He consulted the proper authorities , and found it Would be necessary to have the dog ' s tail cut off . He accordingly directed bis servant to do it . The first niabt be cut one joint off , and the dog howled much , being in great pain ; the next night tbe servant cat oS another joint , and the dog howled still loader ; the third night he cut off another joint , when the dog howled so tremendously , that he quite distnrbed the master in the parlour . When the master came out to make enquiry about the disturbance , the Sbrvant said he had buen cutting the dog ' a tail off ; but ne thought it would be eo cruel to cut it off all at once , that ha

      had done it at three times . Now we must have the tail off all at once ; we wont be cheated and gulled any longer with their half measures ; you have nothing else to do but stick to what you are at , and the day'B your own . Where are the soWiera now ? They bave not got ten Boldiers for every large town in the kingdom . Stick to what you are at , and tbe day is your own . Richards then said , before parting , let me give yoa a word of advice , above all things avoid drunkenness , * ' be sober and vigilant . " Will you drink their poisonous stuff to injure yourselves ? Defendant said a young friend of mine , ft 8 worthy a lad as ever lived , would be lodged in Stafford gaol this morning , at a quarter or half past five , ' for nothing more than being canoht drunk at Dr . Vale ' s . " I again repeat it , " said he , " will you take their poisonous stuff ? If you do you will defeat yourselves ; only stick to what you are at , and the day ' a your own . " Witness had heard the rumour that Dr . Vala's house had been on fire .

      Cross-examined by Richards—I only heard the latter part of what Mr . John Ridgway said . The part which I heard was an admonition to tho people to be quiet , and not take any violent measures such as they were doing , as the way in which they were proceeding was not tbe way to gain their point . He also a < 1 vised them to go home and be peaceable . I do not recollect that yon Baid that the property and income tax would be a perpetual bliater upon the small trader . D > not recollect that ; you said , in referring to the tariff , that S ? r Robert Peel had benefited one clasa at the txpecce of another . I believe you might bave made ass of some

      of the expressions , but not of the whole of those yoa have put to me . H > -ard you advise the people to go on as tbey had doue , and the day was tbeir own . I inferred from that you intended them to follow out the same line of outrage aathey had just done . I have heard you speak at other meetings . From your epesches you mai . ifest a strong wish to get the Caarter . 1 did not remain until the close of the meeting . I heard William Ellis speak after you . 1 am positive that 1 heard you say that a young friend of year ' s had beea taken into custody and lodged in gaol for being drunk at Dr . Vale ' s . [ Richards denied that be knew any such an individual ]

      Cross-examined by Cooper—I am not a Corn Law repealer ; " cannot say that I h » ve been at any of their meetings . Am not on Mr . Ridgway ' s ot Mr . Mason's side . I could not swear that the anecdote about the dog'a tail had a reference to the substr . nce of th « speech . I thongbt some of the expressions used by Richards had a reference to the riots , rather than to the obtaining of the Charter . I am sure he used the words " stick to what you are at" several times . I am sure that what I have said about the soldiers was -what Richards stated . Did not hear Mr . Ridgway say that their desire for the Charter wa 8 unreasonable . Did not heat Mr . Ridgway say he was opposed tn the Charter . Mr . Ridgway advised them to ba peaceable , and Richards cautioned them to abstain from drink . Re examined by Mr . Richards—Tbe faces of many of the men at the meeting appeared as if blackened by smoke ; they were swarthy and dirty , as if they had been up all night .

      In reply to questions put by the Jntfge , at the request of Cooper , witness said the faces of the men did not appear as if purposely blackened . John Williams examined by Mr . Godson—I am a grocer residing at Sand bach , in Cheshire , which is about twelve miles from Hanley ; I went to Hanley on business on the 16 th of August , and got there about halfpast seven in the morning ; I saw Mr . Paper ' s and Mr . Aitken ' e houses ; I went to the Crown Bank and heard Ellis addressing a meetinc ;; Et , li 8 eaid it appeared to be the watchword at the different meetings to have " a fair day's wages for a daj ' a work ; " but his watchword was " political righta to the working classes ; " for until they obtained tbcae righta they must not expect " a fair day ' s wage 3 " He went on to eay

      that there was but ene soldier for every hundred persons in the kingdom , and tha * if they did aot get their rights before the red-coats came back f .- ^ m India andl China , they would be thrown back a hundred years-He Bald that George Thompson and the anti-Carn Law League were a set of humbugs and rteapotic tyrants : they wanted a repeal of the Ctern Laws that they might reduce the poor man ' s wagea ; he said the bishops were rolling in splendour and living on the fat of the land , whilst the poor were Btarving , He ( Ellis ) went on to observe that he had not ha . d the opportunity of hearing tbe first part of Mr . John Ridgway ' s speech , but ha had read his speeches delivered both in tbe Potteries and London , and from what be bad heard he waa a worse Whig new than he was twenty years BgO , and advised tha meeting to take no notice 0 ! what he had said . I left tbe meeting , and soon afterwards it broke up , and a crowd overtook me on the road to Burslem ,

      which had come in the direction from the Crown Bank ; I got to . BurBlem before the crowd ; there was a dragoon at the door of the George Inn , when some persona brandished their sticks and cudgels , and ran at him ; he retreated into tbe house , and endeavoured to dose the door ; some persons afterwards entered into the inn , and the crowd outside broke the windows ? stones were thrown at . Bome ot the soldiers ; X heard the Riot Act read ; there was a conflict between the military and tbe people , and one maD was shot ; the crowd from Hanley and the crowd from Leek had previously met together ; the crowd consisted of about fonr or flva thousand persons ; I saw about thirty soldiers ia tha Ctc 83-6 xamined by Coopei ?—™ t ^ P yyTOroP * cnia was speaking of the red-coata , 1 T § ain& JWU him advise the crowd to fight ^ ttJroN&SW |* W 5 sAJ& ^ the concluding part of Mr . « V « a ^ ro ^ a ^^ i 1 ' which he said ho ssrapatC * jW W ^^^^^ * 8 c- ! S !»? 3 \> t ^ e < W . *> : < i then ^ ftjyii'bBaEt' | ai » thEB wii ¦« . . fr . " > n . J &m !* J % nS © QKOrai «** ..- ¦ rv -.-. - v .-, orM ^^ t \\ r-W ^ tM «—¦ - > gH fe ^ vrddvasMMti

      Untitled Article

      THE NORTHERN STAR : , *

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 1, 1843, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct644/page/7/