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Northern Star (1837-1852), 22nd October 1842, Edition 4 of 5, Page 6

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      Untitled Article

      THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONS ( From the Morning Chronicle . J

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      STAFFORD , FsiDAT , OCT . 1 * . ( Before SirN . TiadaLJ Ths Court sat this morning at nine o ' clock , an * immediately afterwards the prisoners « i » bad been convicted of the demolition of Use Bev . Mr . Aitfcen ' s bouse -were ordered to be brought np and placed at the bar .

      SE 5 TEHCE UPOK TSE FB . IS 0 NE 8 S . Thomas Mcnay , Hen r y Howa r d , Wm . Ellis , Elijah Ciay . J ¦¦ ' - - ! Canlifia , Joseeh Greene , and Wm . Fearne Vt _;_ . brought forward . Tue Lsarued Judge * ben addressed Siem . He said : Prisontis st the bar , ; - ¦¦ ¦ ¦» have bees found guilty of riototuly and ftlonio-asiy destroying the house ef the BeT . Mr . Aitkln . A crime more pernicious and fatal to the happiness and security of sochd life caa scarcely be imagined . The miseries you sre proTed to hava infiicie * upon the peaceable and industrious inhabitants of tn « eonnry « rere greater than these that would hare bees n . flicied b ? an invaaing army , for they would haTe respect * , d the hititatioiis . the lives , and proptrtirs of peaceable indiriffasls . Tha law , howtver , has e » w resumed its supremacy , and you mast suffer that ptnaJty

      which it has awarded to your-ciimes . The sentenc * of the Court is . that you , Thomas Murray and H . Howard , who -were sh-rnn to haTe been present a- the actual firing ana demolishing c * tfee house , and who either applied the torch or fed the fames ; and yon , William Bilk , who although not present at the commencement , were proved ta the Eausiactjon of the jary to be present in the mob duting tiie continuance ot the fiames , and who have -fceen one of those who might be cotisiutred as one of thu mere immediate promoters of the crime by the violent and intemperate speeches you adartssed to theicob—tiat tach of ycu be transported for twentyone years . That yon , Elijih Clay , Cnnliffe , and Greene be transported for ten years , and this yeu Willam Teaiiii hi imprisoned for &ix months and kept to hard labour . - -

      CuninTd cried cut several times , " Iu rcther ycu ' -J targ me cp by the neck at once , my lord . ' E : lis hida"wr : tten paper in bis hand , and was proceedJEg to make some remarks te the Court , w hen he ¦ was removed by the gaoler . James Ibbs , John Lovatt , Georre - Shaw , and John K > den were then placed at the bar and sentenced , Rooen to tan years transportation , and the other thTL-e to twelve months imprisonment and hard labour .

      ATTACK . CS 2 B . MASOS S HOUSE . William ; Pope , Stspiicn W ^ rrham , John Swinscoe , Thomas Simpson , D .-rjnis Mntligen , Herbert Wyatt , Joseph Midolst-n . acd John Jorea , were indicted for a riot and unlawful lisstinKy at Sloke-npon-Trent , on the loth cf August . ¦ Wsrehsm and Mnil-gen pleaded enilty . The Solicitor-General said the prisoners formed ¦ part of z . mob who , daring the day of the loth of Aug .. attacked the h ^ msi er Mr . Mason , an exte ^ ive China jEaim . 'icturer , near Fenton , armed wka bludgeons , swords , knives , and pickaxes . Taey forced their way through the doors and windows , and piled up the broken furniture in tb . 9 middle of the room ,, and set it on fir e , and had it not > . eeu that an alarm was given that the dragoons were csmin ? , there was little doubt but that th * y would haTe completed the demolition ef the house . It was a question whether they were not guilty of a much sore serious offence , but the crown hid adooted the miider course of merely indicting them for a riot

      The Cr-snsel on behalf of Simpson and Swincoe called several wlU-ssses to prove that these prisoners were not takic ? any part in the riot—oce cf them , S winscoe , being at ths time the mob attacked the house , upwards of six miles from the place . The Jsry aoqmted S winscoe and Simpson , and found the others goilty . The Learned Judge then addressed the prisoners , and said he tud m-itr heard a case that was stronger against » ny person than the cisa that had been stated by the ¦ witnesses fcr the prosecution . Their conduct , and that of others of tfce mob , atmsared to be more that of

      uncivila > i Siva ^ es ; they had gone , armed with swords and picks and b . ' udgeoas , for no earthly reason , that ingenuity could tuigeit and destroyed the property of Mr . Maion , and it appeared to him that , had they been indicted in a different way , Pope at least would have run vsry great dancer ; bat it showed that the Crown was inclined to proofed with the greatest humanity . The prisoners were then sentenced—Pepe to two years ' imprisonment and hard labour ; Myatt to twelve months and bard labour ; Miacilrton , Jones , and Wsxeham , six months a--d bard Iribcur ; and Mulligan to three months imprisonment and hard labour .

      Ssve : al of ths prisoners expressed their gratitude to his Lordship .

      CHABGES OF SEDITION . J oseph Cappu r , the well-kr . own Tnnstall blacksmith , Jobn Richards , of Hanky , a Chartist speaker , and Thoinas Cooper , ¦ who had been previously tried and acquitted on a charge of demolishing the hcu « 9 of Mr . Parker , wer e then p laeed at the bar , and arrai gn e d on a ctarce of conspiracy and eeditien . Cooper said his Counsel was not then present , and hi 'wished him to be called . The Solicitoh GzxeBaL said he understood that Cooper imetGfci to traverse , and he had told hia counsel ( Mr . Lee ) , after having looked over the committal a ^ d indictment , th-it he thought it fell within the same rule as the case of O'Neil , and , therefore , if Ihere was any application to traverse on hi 3 behalf , he should net oppose it . He believed that that was the reason his counsel was not present . He thought it would bs better to call upon the parties to plead in the £ « t instance .

      The Cierk of Arrsigns then read over the indictment , which charged Cooper , Cippur , and Richards , with having , on the 15 : b of August last , at the parish cf Burslem , unlawfully , wickedly , an& seditiously conspired , co m bined , and confederated to cause riots and tumultu-. sns assemblages of the people-in breath of the public peace , and to incite , provoke , and procure such tumultuous meetings to resist and obstruct by force and arms ths execution of the laws of tbe realm , and to arm themselves with guns , pistols , pikes ; bludgeons , and ether unlawful weapons ; and further , that the

      said Cooper , Csppw , and Richards did , « n the 15 th of August , at Burslem , and at divers other places and times , seditionsly address to and speak in the hearing of large assemblages of people divers filse , litellous , scandaions , and seditious speeches , with intent to excite them to discontent with , and hatwd to , the la w s ef the land and the Government ef the realm , and to a forcible resistance to , and violation of the law . The . prisoners severally pleaded not guilty . Clerk of the Arraigns—Thomas Cooper , do you w is h to take your trij now , or to put it off to the next aasizis- ?

      Cooper—I wish to traverse . Clerk of the Arraigns—Jobs Richards , do yon w ish to be pnt . upcn your trial now or to traverse ? Richards—I wish to traTerse . Clerk of Arraigns—Joseph Cappur , do you wish to be put on yoor trial now , or t o p u t i t off ? Cappur—1 wish to stand my trial now , Eef arats frcm the others . C-oper—My Lord , I wish to hare your advice with Tesxrd to my trial . I furnished the names of two persons , one residing at Leicester , and the other in Lccdrn to the magistrates ; they are both men of large property ; one of them worth several thonsand pnnnds , and he was refassd on political grounds . I wish to know is that legal ? The Chief Justice—T can lay down no rule . If the parties come before me . and swear that they are worth a car tain sum af Ur all their debts are paid , I shall receive them .

      Cooper—My Lord ; When am I to enter into recognizinces ; is it before ths visiting justices ? The C&lei . Jcstics—Ton can either eater into recog aizincas before the . Jadges here , If you ara prepared , before they leave totrn , which may be the most con-Tenient course for you , or before the Tisiting justices of the gaol efter we leave . Ton murt Bend ia the names to the solicitor of the Crown , in order that the proper inquiries be made . Cooper tfcen wrote the names and adddenea of his two raxetiss on a slip of japer , and handed than in to Mr . Maule . The prisoner , Coope r , 'was then arraigned npon anothfr indictment for seditious language , and inducing the workmen ; o cease from labour ; and was asked , in the usual form , whether he ¦ was guilty or not

      Cooper— If I am chsrgea with inciting persons to cease from labour until they obtain the Charter—if that is illegal , and if that be a breach cf the peace—then I am bound in koaour to admit that I did urge them to do eo , and that I am guilty . The SOLlciTOB-eEKBRAL requested that some legal gentleman trould advise Cooper . Some person here made a comsumication to Cooper in a whisper . Cooper ( in a load voice )—Ifo , I shall not tell a falsehood . Cooper—My Lord , on this ckarge I « ay guilty . I did arge the people to cease labour until they obtained the Charter . Mr . WxDDiKGTOS- —Thxt is only a part of the charge ; there are three other counts in the indictment Cooper then pleaded noi gzilty , and expressed his intention to traverse it he wss * i liberty to do so .

      Joseph Cappur vu then arraigned on a gimllar charge of addition , and pleaded flc * guilty . He declined to $ ravuzs . joha Rkfeard * m then arrainged npon a ehatge of mditaoa , sad pleaded sot guilty . Be aid lie ahonld traVene till fce next asafrat . ' The prisoner -werethen removed , jmd Joseph Linney , who had been previously found guilty ef being present « fc as unlawful assembly before Mr . Baroa Patke , va » then placed at the bar . The Clezk cf ArrsipM read the indictment , whici charged him with having used seditious words at a meeting on the STth ot Jttly . u > 3 in another count be was charged with having assd seditious languags sta meeting on the 3 rd of August The prisoner pleaded not gaflty ;

      The Clerk ot Arraign *—Do yon intend to traTerse , or win you tata your trial now T Limey—I beEeTe I have been already triad upon this indictment to anotliei court

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      Clerk of Arraigns—No ; it U a mistake . Linney I find , myself in a curious predicament . I was tried on an indictment containing four counts , one of them for sedition , and was acquitted upon three , and found guilty of attending an unlawfol assembly . Too Chief Jusiicb—This is an indictment for uting seditious words . The prisoner baying pleaded not guilty , and expressed himself ready to take his trial , he was ordered to be removed . The const then adjourned till eight o ' clock on Saturday morning . ( Be / ore Mr . Baron Rslfe . J At the sitting of the Court this moTcing , Simpki n s , one of the parties concerned in the desperate assault upon the police constable , was placed at the

      The Learned Jdoge said— " Ton are one of the men wco have been convicted of ttie brutal assault upon the police constable , and whom I have thought it my duty to sentence to transportation for life . Since then I have considered the evidence very attentively , with a riew to ascertain ff there were any circumstances which wculd lead me to a mitigation of the sentence . I do not find any such circumstances in the cases cf tbe others , bnt it does net appear that you wero guilty of any sctual violence , although you were among the party Yoar csse ; although one of great atrocity , is not marked by such circumsancts of aggravation as the others , and therefore tbe sentsnee of the Court is that you bs imprisoned and kept to hard labour for eighteen months .

      KIOT AND ATTACK ON THE LONGION POLICE OFFICE . At the sittiBg of tbe court this morning , Wm . Acbton , Thomas Anderson , John Biiley , Lettice Myatt , E'Jzi Brudburn , Thomas Jones , and Daniel Steele , were indieted for a riot and nnJawfnl assembly at the parish of Ashton , on tbe 15 th Acgusr . Tbom ? j Junes pleaded guilty , and threw himself on t be m ercy of tbe c o u rt Mr . Sergeant Talfokd stated tbe case , and the facts ai they afterwards appeared in evidence , may be gathered from his observations . The prisoners at tha bsr were indicted for a riot on the 15 tb August , at Longton . It spgeared that on that day there were various parties committing depredations in the different districts of the Potteries ; and towards the middle of tbe day , they came towards Loncton , and commenced attacking the Town Hall . They at

      OMninenced casting ht ^ nes -windows , and then broke open the door , and got into the Hall and destroyed the fnrniture . A fire was kindled , and part of the furniture was burned , and the books and papers thrown out of the windows . Another part of the mob , of whom the prisoners formed a portion , attacked the poIioe-cfSss , thre ^ stones , aDd afterwards brought sledge-hammers , and burst open the oute . door , which was of considerable streDgth , and had been made fast under the apprehension that an attack would be made . They rushed in and destroyed the furniture and books , and everything in the police-office , an 4 nssd so much force that they did irjnry to the fabric of the building itself . Whether they int ended to pull it down was immaterial to tbe present inquiry . Having found the imtnedi-. te ohj = ct of their seaich , which was arms , they left the pelics-offioe , and passed on in the direction of i ) r . Vale ' s . Oa that occasion , that a grievous riot hart besn committed there was no doubt whatever . It

      was to he regretted that women were to be found concerned in acrs of such violence , but be wou . d show that they called ont to the rneb , encou ra g e d them , and pointed out where the arms were to be / ound [ one of tie female prisoners had a child in her arms only a few months' old ] If they « ere shown to have taken an active part in the riot , it would be the duty of the Jury to find them guilty . Several witnesses were then called and examined to prove the riot , and the part taken in the transaction by the several prisoners . The cases against the several prisoners were token separately , and tha prisoners were all found guilty , the females being strongly reeemmended to mercy . Philip Hewsm snd Joseph Meilor were indicted for breaking into the dwelling house oi Mr . Billings , Et Bursltm , and stealing thertfrom various articles of wearing apparel .

      It appeared frcm evidence that , on ths 16 th AuCTst , a number of persons , with their faces blackened , attacked the dwelling-bocso of the prosecutor , and threatened to knock out Mr . Billings' brains if he did not give them money , f be 7 bthaved in a riotous and brutal manner , and carried off a Isree quantity of property . In conrequencs cf the flight Mrs . Billings became seriously ill , am' died in a few days afterwards-The prisoners made no defence , end were found guilty . In the course of tfce diy the folio-ring prisoners were b r ough t up , and sentenced as follows : —Joseph TVandle ,

      tare ^ months' imprisonmer . t and hard labour ; Hannah Boon e , two months' imprisenment and hard labour ; Henry Hilliard and Andrevr Clewes , six months' imprisonment each and hard labour ; William Hodson , two months' imprisonment and hard labour ; John H e ele , three months and ha-d labour ; Edwin \ Tilkin . son , six months and hard labour ; Edward Brock and Susannah James , two months and hard labour ; James 8 kerrett , three months and hard labour ; E ' . iward Mos ? , to be transported for cfreen rears ; Samuel Gibson , to be transported for ten years ; Phillip Hewson and Joseph Mil . ' er , to be transported for fifteen yenrs .

      Job Ifeale was found guilty of riot at tbe parish cf Trentbam , on the 15 th of August , find sentenced t 9 be imprisoned for fonr calendar months to hard labour . Elijah Bxrn , Ralph Boon , ar . d Jobn Finney , three lads , were charged with a riot at Shelton , on the lGtb of August Ver . iict—Gailly . To be imprisoned two months in ths Brnse cf Correction , and kept to hard labour . Richard Wballey and Thomas Skerratt were indicted for a riot , asd asssult'n ^ Talmas Macbin , a police officer , in the execution cf his duty , on the 15 ' . h of July , at TunstslL

      T ho m as Mach m , police officer of Tunstall , stated that he went to Picnox colliery , Tnnstall , on tbe evening of the 15 th of July . A mob of several thousands was collected . On his making his appsro-ance , a cry vras raissd , " Here ' s a policeman ! Herd ' s a policeman !" The mob surronnded him . and subsequently thraw him into a pool of water , savins , " him , he ' s ready , go it" A rail was thrown out to him , and he succeeded in getting ont Jokn Ford saw tbe mob at the Pinnox colliery , and observed the prisoner Skerratt lay hold of the officer by bis collar , and he was struggling with him . Samuel Machin . brother to M . ichin the constable , deposed to the attsek upon hia brother , in which the two prisoners took part . The Jury found the prisoners guilty of a riot , and the Court sentenced them to imprisonment for six montns , with hard labonr .

      FATAL BIOT AT BUKSLEM . William G ^ nell , J . uiie 3 Bill , C Davidson , John Jones , Joseph Wilcox Fcame , Saraael Jfixon , George Nixon , and Isaac Cjlcloaah were then placed at the bar , charged with being concerned in tbe fatal riot at Burslem , on the 16 th of August . It appeared in evidence that the prisoners , all of whom were fully identified , formed part of a formidable mob of seven or eight thousand persons , w ho were many of them armed with picks , swords , and bludgeons , and committed several acts of outrage at Burslem . The military were ultimaitiy called out , and tbe mob attacked them with great fury . Volleys of stones were flang at them , and after seve . ai ineffectual attempts had been made to disperse them , the Blot Act Wia read , and the military then tired . Ginell , one of the prisoners at the bar , was shot through the body , and ar . other man severely wounded . The mob was ultimatsly di&perEcd .

      Af : er a ve : y protracted ltvestigation , which did not terminate till past ten o ' clock at ni ^ ht , the jury found ail the prisoners guilty , aiid the court arjouriied .

      ( Before Mr . Baron Parks . ) HIOT AT BUBSLEH . Geo r ge Jo n es , John Harding . Jame 3 Hill , Je t bro Plant , S 3 muel Tinsley , Thomas Sntton , Samuel Nixon . George Nixon , Pfceebs Newton , Benton " Vrrnon , and Samuel Colcicnch were this morning indicted for a riot and nnla ^ fnl assembly in the parish of Bnrslem , on the 7 th of August . Mr . Sergeant Lcdlotv said that the Crown took a merciful view of Picebe Nekton ' s c ase , and would not prosecute her . She was liberated accordingly .

      Mr . Srrgeant Ludlow stated the case . It appeared that on the night of the 6 th a large mob entered the town , who broke open the watch and lock-up hoasa amidst shouts . Then they broke the ¦ windows and shutters Of private houses , amorgst others those of Mr . RyallB and Mrs Bonlow , and th ? n attacked the Town Hall , breaking to pieces a hestifnlly-illuminated clock . Mr . Nsale appeared for tbe two Nixons and Sutton ; Mr . Wally for Hall and PJant William Wagstsfr , constable and night -watchman in Burslem , examined—At a quarter-past twelve o ' clock on the morning of the 7 th of August all was quiet , and he had prisoners in the loek-nD house for ragrancy

      Shortly after that hour the mob , consisting of about two hundred persons , came np to tbe watcbhouse shouting . The watchhonse was fastened and lacked up . They commenced knocking at the watchhonse door , and fihooted Bgsfn , having let ost the prisoners : George Jones was there in the mob . His band was raised , saying , " Now , lads , stick to me ; well kill eTery b—y policesan in the town ; well have the Market Hall down . " ¦ Witness said , Why , Georye , do yon speak so , there are no police in the town that would hurt you ; go home and keep yourself ont 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 ol the mob , crying ont , " Now at it , my lads ; " and said to witness , " Yon are here , d- —n yrar eyes . " A pistol was fired . The windows of Mr . Brail ' s house wen broken , as were those of tbe George Hotel . This was the first outbreak after tbe men turned oat . Rnshton identified the prisoner Hall as being engaged in the riot . Jethro Plant was also seen by

      witness . In his cross-examination this witness admitted that he had been seres times convicted . for seTeral offence *

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      ? It . Strjeant Ludlow immediately rose , and said tb ' it , after snob an admission , he could not think of * staining Rusbton as a witness ; and as he was the Only wit-ess against Hall , he begged that he might be acquitted . ' -. ¦ : ¦ ' ^ RELEASE OF AB T O ' NEIL . After the last trial had terminated yesterday evening , Mr . Bowlinson , the solicitor for Arthur O'Xeil , appeared id Court , before Sir N . Tindal , and tendered Mr . Page and Sir . Traeman , both of Birmingham , as sureties for his appearance at tbe next assizes . No objection was offered on the part of the Crown , previous notice of the ball having been given to Mr . Maule , the Crown solicitor , and the parties having entered into their recognizances in the sum of £ 200 each , and O Neil himself in thesum of £ 400 , he was ordered to be liberated . He left the Court accompanied by his wife and several friends , and immellately proceeded by the railway train to Birmingham .

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      WilUam Oanett and George Nixon , two years' imprisonment and hard labour . James Ball , John Jones , and Samuel Wiloox , fifteen months' imprisonment aid hard labour . Charles Davidwn ' and Joseph Wilcox , one yeat ' d imprisonment and hard labour . Samuel Robinson , David Hughes , Thomas Taylor , John Bailingtoa , William Powell , Henry Simpson , Jeremiah DamgoB , Lewis Hackworth , Thomas Lester , and James Ashley , were indicted for a riot and attack upon Fenton Police-office . : The case was stated by Mr . Serjeant Talfourd , who

      stated that the present was the last case the Jury would have to try at the present Special Commission . It would be shown that on the 15 ch of August , the prisoners formed part of a large mob , many of them strangers , who had invaded tbe Potteries from other parts of the country that in the course of their progress frem one town to another they committed various acts of riot and outrage . They attacked the policeoffice , broken open the doors , and threw out all the furniture , and , after breaking it up , burned it on the Bpot .

      The case did not terminate until nine o ' clock , and the evidence not being aufikientto establish the charge satisfactorily against the prisoners , they were all acquitted , with the exception of John Billington and William Powell , whom the Learned Judge sentenced respectively , the former to ten days and the latter to one months' imprisonment and hard labour . Mr . Baron Parke left town at four o ' clock immediately after the triais bad concluded in his Court ; and Mr . Baron Rolfe took his departure yesterday morning for the 8 eat of Lord Hatherton . Upwards of 300 prisoners have been convicted during tbe sitting of the commission , and the number acquitted was extremely small in proportion . Of those convicted , nearly seventy have been sentenced to transportation for different terms , and 245 to-variou : ) periods of imprisonmen t , from two years to two months .

      ( Before Mr . Baron Parke . J Joseph Linney , previously convicted of an unlawful assembly , was again arraigned for sedition . Mr . Sergeant Lutilow and Mr . Godson prosecuted ; Mr . Neale defended the prisoner . Mr . Ssrgeant Ludlow sut . d the case , and called the following witnesses ; — Richard Price—Heard the prisoner address the mob of oolliers at Brockinore on the 27 tU cf J ' uly . Ho said on that occasion , "Lads , you have gos a great burden npon your backs , but if you will join the Chartists , you

      wiil soon get some of it off . Thousands have joined us in the Potteries , and iu Yorkshire and Shropshire ; and if you will be stout and join , I can Jet them all know in twenty-four , ho u rs , and we can all rise together . Never mind the soldiers ; they cannot ba everywhere . There i 8 eno man in particular who is a great oppressor of the poor—that is Sir Robert Peel . If you will be stout this time , we will soon make him lose his head . The Queen and the little Princesses wear little flowers about their heads , but if you will be stout , we will soon have them off . "

      Mr . Reuben Pianfc , 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 bo ruled by me , arid you shall have your wages and all you want . Why are the masters calling out for protection ? Because they know that the poor ara Btarving , and that a starving people ara a rebellious people . " He told the men that bad 2 s . 6 d . a day not to go to work till they had 4 s . a day . He said they would put the masters arid 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 Edwaid Guest gave similar evidence . Mr . Neale made a most able and eloquent address in favour of the prisoner . Mr . Serceant Ludlow replied .

      Afcer which , his Lordship summed up , and the jury immediately found the prisoner Guilty . Sentence—Fiiteen months' imprisonment for the sedition , and six months for the unlawful assembly . Mr . Price was proceeding to address the court relative to the conduct of John Mayer , the attorney , who obtained £ 2 6 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 M * yer , but at that moment could not see that he could do so , as he hnd not represented himself as an attorney . His Lordship expressed his ¦ willingness te aid Mr . Price in so doing at any future time , if h e could be rendered amenable to justice His Lordship then retired , and thus closed his court .

      ( From our own Correspondent . ) STAFFORD , Fuiday Night . The Special Commission terminates to-morrow . The Judges are so resolved upon breaking up the r . fftir , t hat they have ordered their carriages to be in readiness for to-morrow evening . God knows , it is time for them so to do , especially as the characters of the witnesses for tbe prosecution are so fully developing themselves . Trial after trinl they are proving themselves truly worthy of the job . Oae of those ' worthy characters has been this day transferred from the wit ' aers-boz to Stafford goal , to answer for the very crimo for which he was swearing against an unfortunate prisoner in the

      dock . It appeared that the ruffian was actually a ringleader in tbe attnek upon the housa for which be 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 , acd the wre t ch , whe , i t appeared , s m as h ed , in the house that was attacked , a costly chandelier , has been this day sent fc 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 the noxious vapours of a dungeon .

      In the Crown Court this day a fellow named Rushten was placed in the witness bJS . He swore straightforward , and most satisfactorily , to every question that wa 3 put to him . His direst evidence was most triumphant for the prosecution . But , alas ! and fortunately for tbe prisoner against whom he was swearing , it was admitted by him in his cross-examination , that he bad been convicted upwards of seven times , for different offences . Mr . Serjeant Ludlow , upon this disgracful empose ; immediately applied to have the prisoner , Hall , ag-aimt whom , Rusbton the iufonuer appeared , discharged from the dock , an application with which the Learned Judge cheerfully complied , and forthwith ordered the prisoner to . be liberated . Another witness , named Johnson , contradicted himself over and over again . His evidence went for nothing . A third fellow , also named Johnston , who appealed twenty times before the Jury , is now completely valueless in the eye of tbe Court .

      In the trial of the persons charged with the riot in Bur&lem , ia which , Heatoa was shot . Captain fowls , a stipendiary magistrate , who ordered the military te fire , eaid that he did not regret that order , and that he would do so again if a similar cause presented itself . Upon his cross-examination , he admitted that the firing did not compel . the mob to retire , but that they immediately gave wuy upon the military charging tfeem with drawn sabres . Upon Mr . Neal asking the stipendiary how fea could reconcile it to himself , as . a man ef feeling , to fire upon , the mob without first charging them with sabres , this question was answered by the assertion that he did not regret the act I And this , although human , life was lost by his fatal order . This is a gallant fellow . to be entrusted with the lives of her Maj e s t y ' s liege subjects . But it was only a Chartist that was shot . The losa of life is not , therefore , wortb talk ing about . .

      1 IR . WILLIAM ELLIS . Mr . William Eilis is sentenced to twenty-one years transportation ; This morning he was brought up with the other prisoners convicted at the same time . He made no address . There had been a strong antlcipation that he would speak ; but in our opinion he acted 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 , wh en she heard the sentence , we must pass by . Fora moment she Btood still , graeping the hand of Mr . Roberts ; eo sbe walked on for a few moments , and thus , a t the corner of Vine-street , she met Sir William Follett . He paused for an instant ; they recognised each ether . But we cannot continue . The pen that writes these lines ia feeble witb the work .

      An application to the High Sheriff has been made by Mr . Allen , requesting that Mrs . Ellis and her children may be permitted an interview with her husband . STAFF O RD , Sunday Night . The work is dene , " Othello ' s occupation ' s gone . " AH the bustle—all the excitement—all the anxiety—all the uncertainty '—and all the tumult of the Queen ' s Royal Commission for trying and sentencing herstarvin ; , n aked , housele s s , ' subjects , has sunk down into a sullen calm ; one hundred and thirty bills have been found by our class legislators against their serfs , upon the evidence of men , many of whom have been proved to bs characterless , and to be such as not to be believed upon their oaths ; fifty fallow beings have been thus consigned to exile from tneir native land , their homes ; their families , and their altars , and upwards cf one hundred and -eightyethers ore doomed to inhale the pestiferous 'vapours of a dungeon for terms of threer

      eight , and fifteen months , and two years , with the horrors of bard labour added to the dreadful infliction of imprisonment . Yes , the judges , the jurors , the informers , and tbe-hongry , harpy crew of attomies , who conducted tbe prosecutions , have all left Stafford ; two hundred and thirty wretched beings , whom starvation drove te acts of madness , ore consigned by them to eat within tbe cold gaol walls the bread of sorrow , moistened by tbe salt tears which tbe reflection of wives deserted , and children teAtuseA to a vrotsd orphanage than that of the grave , force down then-attenuated . sorrowed , marked , and farrowed cheeks . Good God ! what must be the reflections of th 9 men , if their hearts be not colder than the original day , who encouraged these poor fellows to acts which hare consigned them to tears and the dungeon , and their wives and children to misery indescribable ? There is no mincing of tbe Matter . Tbs holiday 1 !» the cessation from work !! I ths closing of the mill * I /) ( bat was tbe origin of the outbreak

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      that was the cause of the shedding of human bloodrthat It waa that gave birta to the Special Commissionthat It ta that has banded over to the merciful fangs of the gaoler , nearly 300 fathers of families , and which has consigned fifty of them to exile . Oh ! if the authors of thoso calamities are the heads of families—if they have wives and children—if they are Christians , what must be their feelings when their thoughts turn upon Stafford gaol , and iri imagination carry before their view the multitude that they hara by their cunning and ' their advice consigned to it ? How taay must shudder at

      the carses , loud and deep , which those men and their bereaved families heap upon their heads ? They may seek a narcetic , an oblivion in their wealth and luxury , but conscience will even break through such an artificial opposition , raised against its approsches . Notwithstanding all their wealth , and all their luxury , the blood spilled smokes before high heaven , calling for vengeance ; and Stafford gaol echoes and re-echoes . in their ears , the sighs and groans of its hapless victims . I will leave those heartless wretshes to their reflections , and proceed to my melancholy narrative of Saturday ' s proceedings . .

      On Saturday , Mr . Thomas Cappur , an old respectable man , whoBe appearance in the dock bespoke him to be aught but a man desirous to disturb , either society or the constitution , was charged as one of those horrid men who excited the working classes to outrage and sedition . Three illiterate men swore to metap hori c al la n g ua ge spoken by Mr . Cappur on the 28 th of last February and on the 24 th of June . Oa their evidence , although it was- ' . most satisfactorily proved by respectable witnesses , that he waa so much tha man of peace , that he was totally incapable of uttering such words , he was convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonmentin other words , to his grave . In vain the old man protested before his Gad that he was totally innocent of tbe language imputed to him . He is now in his cold dungeon .

      Mr . Joseph Linney is the next victim . The readers of the Star are aware that he had been convicted of sedition at an early part of the Commission . It would have been supposed that one conviction ought to be sufficient for the vindication of the law , or f ^ r the indulgence of vengeance . But , no ! vengeance must be glutted , and poof Linney ia again put upon his trial for a chavjje , the nature of which he was completely ignorant of until within a few hours of his being confronted with bis accusers and his Judge . Three ignorant men , incapable of writing their names—who could not read—who could not repeat one moment a sentence read the piavious one by Mr . Neale , who defended Linney , swore to metaphorical , allegorical language Bpokeu by Mr . Linney in the months of last July and Aueuit . Mr . Ruuben Plant , an excellent specimen of thosuiron masters , who , to say the lea&t of them , did

      nothing to keep these men in peace , entered the witness box—thia specimen of iron mastership also swore to language spoken by Mr , Llnueyin August , although his big mutton head and thick brains did not allow him to remember a sentence re » d by Mr . Neale the previous moment ; . And on such evidence he wo 3 a second time eonvictod . In vain did Mr . Linney , like Mr . Cappur , protest that hs never used such langu ^ w . In vsin did he plead that he had been confined six weeks in gaol , although he had offered unexceptionable bail , and thus prevented him preparing his defence . He was found guilty , and bis sentence was passed . It would be a gross injustice art to acknowledgs the powerful and brilliant display made in his- favour , by his Counsel . Mr . Neale , but the exertions of the Counsel w « re but dust before the wind j a victim was wanted—the alia , was r ais e d , the high priest was in readiness , and tho immolation had to be perfected . So it wss .

      Much more has to be said about those convictionsmuch more has to be said about the witnesses raked up by the Crown—and much more has 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 conolude by presenting them with the full and faithful report of that master-piece 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 ate aware , defended himself ; and after two days' heavy eximinaticm of wulldrilled witnesses for the prosecution , he thus addressed tbe jnry : —

      My Lord , and Gentlemen of the Jury—I have never , unless for a very brief pariud of my existence , lost my confidence in Providence , and although I now stand iu very perilous circumstances , I shaU not lose my confidence in the rueraiful intervention of Providence , and the ruler of all hearts . I am 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 influne men ' s minds . Fe&ling conscious of thia , I do not lose any confidence in the protection of that Eternal Provideuce which I humbly twit ¦ will secure me an acquittal at your bauds . Gentlsroen , I ara pvoud of my country—I am proud that I ani an Englishman , not because the liberty I iove so well has been left for some time without its uatur . il restraints in the land of my birth—not because the

      advocates of freedom are left , unprotected and oppressed , but I am proud of my country because it has produced men of tho highest intellect who have suffered deeply , and with dignity , in the sacred cause of human freedom . I belong to the land that produced the advunturous , the polite , and bravo Raleigh , who , after a life of tho most persevering exertion , was immurocl in a dungeon by the ingratitude of a faction , and 1 have visited that dungeon , and beheld it with tbe deepest emotion , when 1 called to tnind that that brave man , when brought to the scaffold , felt the edge of the axe unmoved , and observed that it was a smart medicine but a sure remedy , and laid hia head upon the block . I belong-to England , that produced that heroic and sanctified champion of truth—Latimer ; who , when bound to the stoke , had strength of mind

      tmougb to increase the confienca of his brother sufferer , the Martyr Ridley , with the words , " Courage my brother ! we shall this daylight up a candle that will never bo extinguished in England . " I belong to a Land which Rave birth to Algernon Sidney , a m an w ho did uot shrink from the glory of dying in the good old cause . Since I am 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 the post of danger , it is not forme to shrink , but rather to remember ths spirit of our forefathers , the martvys of our fathf-rland , and attempt at an hnmble distance to imitate them . And yet , gentlemen , let it not be supposed that I am wishing to irritate or exasperate the minds of the jury , or of the learned personage who aits there as ray judge . I would

      not stand hero to irritate or defy Vhe 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 not for me to irritate that 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 Bald in the public p aces of the land . I tsil you , my Lord , and gentlemen of the jury , truly 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 in the legal enactments of our glorious Alfred , and our other Saxon mouarebs—in

      the Magn a Cha rt s , and the Bill of Rights , and in all our judicial institutions , there v > ero luminous traces of tbe broad and enlightened principles of freedom . With such convictions , what wonder then was it , that about twenty months since , when I first heard tbe principles of the People ' s Chatter explained , what wonder was It that I began to profess and adopt those principles , the more especially when I learned that the principles of the Charter were no other thnn the embodiment of the principles oontained in the theory of the British Constitution . I claim the right to state my op inions ; your Lordship knows that I have a ri ^ t to do so . I have heard , although I have not seen tho charge which your Lordship addressed to the first jury empannelled here—I understand j ou said that the people bad a right to assemble , —that ttuy had a right

      to diacuBa politics , and that due allowance and 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 fellow creatures . I never taught that doctrine in my life . I was always opposed to it , and with your Lordship ' s leave I will detail the circumstances of my humble life . I freely admit being at Hanley on tie 15 th of August I was invited into t he Po t teries , having been there before ; and on that occasion I found the people with whorajl was associated , Mr . Yates and the rest of them , jealous for what is called the temperance movement . I was myself a teetotaller , and it was likely tbat I should feel sympathy with spirits like my own , I was anxious to promote the spread of information among the

      working classes , and as I waa then editing a small publication , I began to deal ' with'Mr . Tates , and tbat was the origin of ray being a commercial traveller . I was dealing in stationery , and it was likely that I should feel some sympathy for persons like those , whom I could not suspect of entertaining any violent designs . On the contrary , whenever I beard these outbreaks spoken of , they Were condemned . I never heard violence recommended by any Chartist in the Potteries . Previously to entering them on the 16 th August , I addressed crowds of men at Wednesbury , at Bilston , and Wolverhsmpton . I saw no acts of violence there . I have not s « en the public press since I was committed to prison ; I knew not-what has sinee occurred , but instead of a ddr e ssi n g 15 , 000 I addressed 30 , 000 men who were not expecting me * and knew : nothing of my coming . I

      met 30 , 000 colllert and miners , and I saw no tendency to violence , « tery ! one recommending peace and orderevery man . having sworn himself to keep the peace How then could I apprebefld when addressing erowds elsewhere ; that any violence was intended . On Friday before the Ifith of August , I was here in the Marketplace , and addressed the crowd . ' -An attempt was made to disturb the neetisg , and I said at once I would have no violence ; ' that I would never be a party to it : and I called opon them to go with me to the common , and they followed me . Such has always been my practice , I have always 1 endeavoured to beep the 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 abalt do no murder . " Waa tbat an

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

      eight o ' clock , and as I had met large crowds xlsewhere , and bad seen 30 , 000 stout men hold np their hands when they were asked to keep tb 9 peace , how could I anticipate that the colliers and potters would resort to violence ? I addressed the meeting that morning , and one of the witnesses baa stated that I alluded to tho meetings at Woolverhampton , Bilston , and Wednesbury , and that I said they had suspended labour until the Charter was the law of the land . Now thai was not the fact . What they had struck for was to raise the price of labour . On Saturday I wa 3 informed that 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 object as to endeavour . to gain the Charter by ceasing from labonr ; these were .

      therefore , imperative reasons why I should address the colliers . I had learned that the strike in Lancashire had commenced through the interference of the anti-Corn Law Ltagne . That was the impression I had formed from reading the publlo papers , acd from ( as opinion of a persqp of Parliamentary eminence iu Lon . don . Having learned that tbe case was put in that forcible-way , tha % ench degrading waaes were offered , as caused the operatives to desist in sullen despair , and give up the struggle : having learned this , and tbat they were determined to oppose the anti-Cora Law Lsayuc , and to resist the demand for a repeal of the Corn Liws , unless it was accompanied by other measures , and that the operatives of Lancashire had resolved , since their cruel masters bad determined to suspend labour to carry the zepeai of the Corn Law .

      that they were determined the anti-Cern Law Lesguo should not perpetrate tbeir design , and vrero resolved to have the Charter by the strike , it was likely that I who entered into tha view ef the Chartists , and was opposed to the anti-Oova Law League , should desire to join with tho working men in their endeavour to carry out the strike , in order that ths Charter should become the law of the iaw of tha land . Gentlemen , I rtid attend the meeting . I said I was selfelected chairman of the meeting ; but I knew that every person becoming chairman of a meeting makes himself responsible for any violence of language or action at the hieeting . Was it likely then tint 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 the

      Charter . I . said they bad a richt to suspend their iawsjr if not properly remunerr . tod , and if not properly represented— that no person could compel them to l . vlour so long- as tbty kept the peace—tbat there should be no violence , no destruction of property ; and so long as they did not trouble tho parish for relief for thomaelves or their families , tbat they had a ripht to suspend nbour So far as I know anything of the law , and it ia but little I do know , I belitve I was legally entitled to make these remarks . It wss likely also that I sheuhi pat the resolution moved by Heinmiogs , a working man , stating that there ahold be no werk uutil the Charter v ? as tbs law of the land ; it was likely I should do so . But I positively dtny tbat I recommended any breach of tbe peac e , or ; my 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 that was true ; but they were not right as to the place or peried in which I made these observations . In reference to ttv . ) Whig Government , it is well known that 1 did not like them . Humble as I am , I to > k p ? . rt in the last Nottingham election , the result of which severed the last thrs : ; d by which the Whigs held office . I went inte their conduct . I said it was they who had caused the withdrawal of the troopa . and that they had comtnittsd fearful blunders—that they had misused the public funclti , and inverted them to the purposes of wars , and , as I thought , highly improper wars . I don't know whether I Baid anything of pouring opium down the throats of tbe Chinese , but I might have said so , and spoken of the opium war . I mentioned the number of

      soldiers that were left in the several towns ; but I did not do so with the orj : ct of misleading the people fn the idea that they might overcome tbe soldiers . Such a thing could not be inferred by anyone from what I had said ; r . nd , Gentlemen , you will please to remember tbat the witnesses pretty generally heard but isolated parts of my speech , as . during the greater part of the time , they were talking to the people near them . Several witnesses hava stated that I said if but tbe tenth part of the population came ont on a given day the Charter would bo the law of the land ; but I did not couple that with any referencs to the soldiers . I bavu afvn and again said that the Charter would be the law o' the land . I reminded my fellow-countrymen ef tho glorious Reformation which had been carried , not by a large majority of the people being in favour of it , for the

      great mijonty of the country was in favour of Popery ; but because It had been advocated by a few brave and independent miniifl ;—and I have said In rofer ^ nce to the-Charter , give me but one million of human ¦ wills in favour of it , and it will become the law of the land Bat , gentlemen . I have always deprecated fores . Two witnesses said th'A I observed there was plenty c : i tho ground , but they were not the persans to gather itthai it would be gathered by some one . True , when advising the people to ceuse labour , one said , " What , in the midst of the harvest ? " and I said there are plenty to gather it—let the yeomanry go over and gather it ; and I said that in reference to their being agriculturists . One of the witnesses says there was a greafc noise , and tbat we gave three cheers for the Chatter and three for 9 'Cor . nor ; but it ia ciutomary for us to

      do bo at our meetings . Surely gentlemen , Eng lishmen are not precludud from doing bo—what else becomes of the mode in which we raark 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 timo waa 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 was the true way in which I used the expression " you have done your work well ; " but thut was because they hud struck work , a n d I w ish e d it to be as complete as possible . I am not aware tbat I was acting illegally in bo doing , but I never used the words in tbe manner alle ^ i d by the witness , as in reference to the violence that has taken place . On the contrary , gentlemen , you will obBerro

      that one of the witnesses heaid me say you Inve done many things to-day ¦ which I disapprove of—you have destroyed pr perty which you should not have done . I saw drunkenness 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 this , having always disapproved of intemperance . Gentlemen of tbe Jury , yon will observe that tbe most intelligent of the witnesses distinctly connected these expressions with tbe strike , and that I never recommended any acts of violence . Other expressions fell from tha witnesses to show the peaceable intentions I had . I Baid , " allow the soldiers to piss you—they will do you no harm ; " and Iiised the words " peace l ; iw , and order , ' * frequently . Gentlemen , I shall proceed in the broken way I hava been addressing you , because I am

      inexperienced in tht-86 matters . I never stood Jn a situation like this before , and I trust I shall be excused by the Court in my efforts to collect the scattered evidence against me . With regard to the evidence of the letter w itneses , who stated that thi-y saw me in the streets at a certain time of the night that is utterly untrue . I do not charge the witnesses with intentional falsebood , but there was a good deal of difficulty in getting them to identify my person ; and one cn . id it was dark , while another said it was not my face but my personal appearance they swore to . The truth of the case is this . After addressing the meeting iu the evening , I went to the George and Dragon , and remained there until near twelve I urged the necessity tor my departure to several of my friends , Richards , Yates , and Beddington , and I will call them before you to prove

      this . One 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 Upper Hanley until the conveyance could be procured . 1 proceeded there , and after remaining a short time the person sent returned to say the conveyance eould not go with me ; it was then arranged that I should go towards . Macclesfleld to take the coach to Manchester . I shall prove that those persons went with me towards Burslem . At my examination before Mr . Parker , the magistrate , it is true I said I was a commercial traveller , but when Mr . Alcock said I was a Cb « tist lecturer , I t he n said , I am Cooper the Chartist lecturer , and any questions you ask me I shall readily answer them , Mt . Parker said there was no ground for detaining me , and we than went on to theCrewe station and proceeded to Manchester . That is a true acaount , gentlemen , of the way in which I passed tbat ni ? ht It may be Baid why did I not leave the PotUries when I beard of violence ? but I did not hear of any acts of

      . violence during the day . It was very likely when referring to the strike that I said— " that * right , " but 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 expesces . I am poor and was anxious to obtain the small sum reeurrring as the proceeds . of the lectures , and I was also anxious to obtain the small sum of 17 s . 6 d , due to me by Mr . Yate « . I certainly felt uneasy during the day , when I heard of the acts of violence that had bees committed . Some of you , gentlemen , may have friends and relations among the unfortunate persons whoa » property was destroyed , and you could not feel greater pain than I did , fer I wept when I heard that some persons had been rednced to indigence who had been hi prosperity a few hours previously . Gentlemen , I beg , therefore , you will dismiss from your minds any indignation which you may feel against these acts of violence which have been detailed to you by the witnesses 8 gain and again , because I had nothing te do with ( Continutd in our Seventh page . )

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      6 THE NORTHERN STARr \_^__^ ^

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      CLOSE OP THE STAFFORD 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 Robert s , who was convicted on a formei occasion of having demolished the honse of the Bev . Dr . Vale , was brought up at the sitting of the courl thia morning , and sentenced to transportation for tea years .

      CHARGE OP SEDITION . Joseph Cappur , a venerable-looking old man , was then placed at the bar , chaiged with having addressed various wicked am ! seditious addresses to the people , recommending the people to arm themselves , and to resist the constituted authorities by force . The SouciTOfi-GBNERAL stated the case . TUB following witnesses were then called : — William Smallwood—I live at Newcastle . I am a grinder . I lived at Smallhouse in February last . It is a mile and a half from Hanley . A person named Wm . Pepper lived ccar me . I know the prisoner ; he is a blicksmith , living at Newstall . On the 2 S : hofFeb I remember seeing a number of persons in Pepper ' s house . It was on a Monday night . I heard first a hymn , and then Cappur stood up next the window . I wa 3 looking

      through tho window from the Btreet He said the words cf my text to-night shall I e " To your tents , O Israel . The meanlD ? cf that is , to be ready in your own houses" He tivicicriod out , " Are you readyare you sure you are ready ? " Some cried out ' Yas , yes . " He said . Have you got your guna , yonr swords , or b . iyoneis ? " Some psople laughed at him , and he said " I suppose you think Cappur ia come with his physical forca again . It is no laughiDg matter—we shall have a severe fight , but it shall be a short one . What will you do when you have got the Charter ? Ab I am to be one of your leaders , I'll tell j ott what I should recommend . We shall take the bishops and clergy ami hypocritical dissenters , and put them into a vessel , and transport them into Amuaer , or something

      like that , to be assassinated amongst the Hindoos . " I have seen him twe or threa times at that house , and in the open air addressing the people . I heard him speaking to a nnmbur of women in the same house on another occision . There were men also present . He said , " If you can't fight you can torch . Ycu see what they have dene elsewnere by clamming the people and starving them , and driving them to madness . " He then referred to the firing of several cities and houses , and , as far as I can recollect , ha mentioned Nottingham and Bristol . I was at another meeting on Whit-Monday night . The people of the house , the Peppers , attacked me for a spy . They continued holding teese meetings up to Midsummer , when I left the neighbourhood .

      Cross-examined by Mr . Allen—I live by working at my trade . I did not go away without paying my rent . I don ' t know that Cappur was employed iu the collection of tha taxes . I owed him money , and he eaed me Bt the Court of Requests . I don't know whether I paid all or not . I went away for safety from tho ruffians of Chartists . Thera were no curtains in the window . I Bpok 8 to Pepper 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 depositions of She witness were then put iu and read . They referred to fires at Moscow and Hamburg instead of Nottingham and Bristol ] I told the magistrates I could not be positive about the towns .

      Thomas Firth—I am a tailor at NewstalL I recollect meetings being frequently held at themarket-placo . Taey were chiefly working men who attended . On the 24 th June I saw Cappur and Eilis at the meeting ; the prisoner Cappur got upon a stool to address the meeting , and said they were met upon tha old score . He supposed the red coats would be sent among them , but there were noi many in England then , as they had been sent to munier the innocent Chinese . That there were only five to each town . They had only to arm themselves as the noble Chartists of Lancashire and Yorkshire had done . Thoy had , he s a id , sufficient strength to put them down and their base tyrants too . He said tie Etate charch hid its origin in tbat b—y tyrant's reign , Henry Yill ., who had his wife beheaded one day and married a w—s the next . He said those who had no guns could light a torch . Ellis then followed iu a coarse strain , and spoke about the Qacen . There was a large meeting . It waa put a stop to by one of the lessees of the market .

      Tiiia closed the case for the prosecution . Ivir . A llen then addnssed the jury for the prisoner . After a powerful appeal on brhalf of his client , the learijtd gentleman concluded by trusting tbat they would oniy find him guilty of Borne momentary rashness and haatiness of expression , rather than any deeprusKd and malignant purpose of inciting the people to riot , tumult , and sedition . The fallowing witn sses were then examined : — Joseph Harrison—I am a hat manufacturer of Newstaij , aad kcew the prisoner . Ho is an excellent neighbour and tradesman . Another witnees was called , but did not answer . The Solicitor-General then addressed the jury in reply .

      The Chief Justice summed up the evidence . They must fijit be satisfied that the prisoner uttered these words , and then they were to say whether he used them with the intent and object laid in the indictment , namely , fcr the purpose of inciting the people to acts of violence and outrage , and to arm themselves and resist the law and the authorities by force . The Learned Judge having carefully read over the evidence . Csppur said—My Lord , I never used such language . I have fivo witnesses to prove I never recommended them to arm themselves . I never uttered such words , so ktlp me God ! The Chief Justice—You may call any witness you like . The prisoner then called and examined

      John Nsxon—I was chairman of the meeting on the 24 th of June . I know you ( Cappur ) these twenty years . I often heard you speak . You are a very unconnected speaker . Your phraseology is not the most polite , but I never heard you use any violent language . I heard the peopl e say y ou we r e a n o ld foal , and that your conduct waa harmless—( Great laughter . ) They used to say , " It ' s only old Gappur . " — ( renewed laughter . ) By the Soliciioe-Genesal— I a m a speake r at these meetings myself . I was Chairman of the meeting on the 24 th of June . William Ellis was not there . Mary Hooley—I have often heard you preach . I never heard you use any violent language . You never recammended the people in mj hearing to get torches . George Morris—I know you ( Cappur ) these twelve years . Have often heard you preach and lecture . Never heard you recommend the people to get guns , and pikes , and swords .

      Two or threa other witnesses ware examined to the Enme effect The Jury immediately returned a verdict of guilty . The Learned Judge said he was perfectly satisfied with the verdict of the Jury . He never heard words more calculated to incite and inflame the minus of tbe people ; and the outrages and riots and destruction of property which had taken place , might be fairly attributed to the speeches he and others like him had made . The sentence of the Court was , that he be imprisoned in the gaol of Stafford for two years . The Chief Justice , addressing the grand jnry , s aid they were discharged from their labours , and tho country was much indebted to them fGr the patience and attention with which they had performed their important duties . The Court then broke up , and the Chief Justice immediately afterwards left Stafford in bis travelling carriage .

      ( Before Mr . Baron Rolfe ) The trial of the prisoners for tbe attack npon the Stoke police station was resumed this morning and terminated at three o ' clock , when the jury returned a ver diet of Guilty against Ralph Boon , William Holme , and John Jones , and acquitted Thomas Starkey and Samuel Robinson , . The Learned Judge then sentenced the prisonei Hulne to two yean imprisonment , and hard labour ; Jones one year ' s imprisonment and hard labonr ; and Boon six monttis imprisonment and hard labour , . -. .. The following prisoners who had been previously tried and ( bund guilty , were then brought ap and sentenced by his lordship : — :

      Blara Bettany , six months imprisonment and bard labour ; William Haltoneight monthslmprisonmentan d hard labour ; Thomas Kels&ll , IS montha imprisonment and hard labour ; Fearn and Isaac Coldongh to seven years transportation ; James WakeSeid discharged on hisown' ^ eeogmanoes of £ 15 , to keep the peace for thrseyeaw . - ' ¦ John Plant , J a m e s Child , and Thomas Adams , pleaded Guilty to a riot , to enter into reeognlzmces to keep the peace . John Hall and Samuel Sortjett to be imprisoned six months . - George Jones and WQUam Htrdinr to be imprisoned fifteen months .

  • 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-ncseproduct776/page/6/