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THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF MR . O'CONNOR BY THE MYRMIDONS OF THE AlsTI-COBN LAW LEAGUE . Doubtless onr readers "will be anxious to learn as much as possible of tiis particulars attendant on this brutal ootrwre . Teat we may not be accused i f partia or dishonest statements , "we have procured copies of all -the Manchester papers of last Saturday , and proceed to lay before our readers all ihst they say on the subject . We begin vrith the League ' s big gun , The Manchester Times , who gives the following version of the matter : " PBACTICii ILLrsTBATIOS OF THE PHTSICAL ^^^— ^ h ^ - m ^^ iflVH ^ . ^ A •¦ ^ P « . ^ 4 fh ^^ b . _ ^_ ^ m ~ - ^^ . *^ ^ ^ ^ _ ^^^ ^ >>^ ^ ^
PtmCE PB 1 NCIPLE . " The Becond lecture , on the Repeal 11 the Legislative Union , ' -was fixed for Tnesday evening , and the number of persons present was rtarly tqual to the previous evening ' s meeting . The lecture -was intended for the Irish Repealers , and there might be 1500 Irish is the body cf the hall ; the remainoer thrTe , and the -whole tf the persons in the gallery , to -which the price cf admission was double ( t . e tw&penct ) . were apparently Englishmen . It is reported that a body cf men forced their -way into the body if the ha ? l without paying . The place became densely crowded by half-past seven , and the occupants were evident ! y cf tvro parties not very f .-iendiy disposed towards each other , as was manifested by several displays cf fueling which took place on the appearance of the friends if either party on the platform . These displays o : feeling wtre
occasionally provoked by several of the leaders on th 3 platform , the ot > jecl being apparently to sse theii relative strength , of . which a good idea might be formed by the hands and hsts raised to accompany their hnrrab * The belligerents it appears were all Union Repealers , but part of them , the Irish , were the OConnellile Repealers , and the otber portion -were O Coimorile Repealers—the Irishmen coming thfers , as appeared by the draft of a Resolution handed to the reporters , for ti . e purpose of repudiating O'Connor as a leader , and acknowledging only OConnell . The leaders of both parties seem to have been aware "what was to corce , and so evenly balance * did each party appear to be ¦ wtttn judged of by the means we have alluded to above , that their leaders might be heard chuckling an . 2 congratulating each other occasionally on the certainty of triumph .
" We fear , however , that many went there for ether purpose * than a mere warfare of words , and the possession ef this knowledge by the proprietors of the baildisg is evident from the address cf Mr . Higginbottom , who came forward , shortly before eight o ' clock , and said— ' I have to beg , in the name of the proprietors of the hall , that , as working men , you will avoid doing any damage to the property of this ha . L ( Ckeers , and cries of ' We wi'l' ) Yon all know that this property was raised by the Euoscriptians of the working men , and I trust they will be the last to injure that whiGh "was raised by their own hands , and wfcich is the remit of their own industry . * ( Cheers . )
There were now frequent manifestations of impatience f « r the proceedings to be opened ; and we believe a man came forward to have proposed a Chairman , but some parties around him prevented the" proposition being heard by the great bnlk of the meeting , and a working man , named Daffy , who sat on the edge of the platform , rose , and having been successful enough to gain a bearing , said— 'My friends , I have only a word to offer . ( Cries of Order . '? All the friends of order will best keep order by holding their tongues , ( laughter and cheers . ) Gentlemen , Mr .
Feargus O'Connor has not yet arrived , and thongh it is past eight o'clock we have no right to attempt to appoint a Chairman till he is here . ( General cheering ) When he arrives , let his friends propose a Chairman of their own choiea—( general cheering );_— and I do not know whether any one wiJl support me , but I am determined to propose another . ( Partial cheers . Let me beg of you not to encourage or give way to party strife , but listen to argument and reason , let me beg of you to conduct yourselves peaceably , -and , like men , not be afraid to hear what each party has to sav : —
" l > et party rage and rancour cease ; let the lips urge , but the heart be peace . " ( Cheers . ) Let the tims come for proposing & chairman , then give to each speaker a full hearing , and determine the question fairly by a show of hands . ( Applause . ) In cider that the reader who has not seen the room of the Hall of Science in which the meeting was held may form a just notion of it , we may mention thi-t it is in shape of an oblong square , is lofty , having a platform or stage at one end ( in some respects Tike the stage of a theatre without its wings , scentry , and
machinery ) , and round the other three Eides ef the loom is a spacious gallery . The stage , which is about five ftet six inches , br six f « et above the floor , has gaslights along the front , with side doors , and stage fctxes over them , and narrow staircases lead from the stage doors to tte boxes above , to a large room below , and to various ^ nte-rooms . The body of the hall , the gallery , and stag 9 were filled with men and youths ( the latter forming perhaps on this occasion nearly one-third of the whole , ) with some few women amongst them . Ihe two stage boxes were occupied entirely by females .
"Mr O'Connor entered the Hall about ten minrtas past eight o ' clock , accompanied by the Biv . Jamee Scholefield and some other friends , and was received with loud cheers , " winch were folio-wed by expressions of disapprobation from his countrymen . —Joseph Linuey immediately came forward , and said , ' I beg to propose that Mr . Scbo ' . efield take the chair . ' —Chris topher Doyle : ' I second the motion . '—Daffy , who is also a working man , said , * I propese as an amendment that Mr . John Doyle take the chair- *—Another working man seconded the amendment . —Mr . Daffy : As the mover of the amendment I claim precedence to call for a show of hands ;* and , suiting the action to the word , he held up his hand , which was the signal for a forest of others in the body of the Hal ) . —Iinney ,
withoni waiting , immediately called fcr a show of hands for Scholefield , and thus the wh'jle of the hands in the place were raised at occe ; and they must have been nice discriminatois who could distinguish one sitJe from the other—friends from foes . It is sufficient to say that both paitxs claimed the majority , and without waiting for the vote to be decided more calmly , Mr . O'Connor and his friends attemjts ; to get the chair forcibly by putting Mr . Scholc £ e ! d into it , the ether parties , equally bent upon securing possession got hold of it , and the stage was in a mcnicnt converted into a scere of the utmost confusion . If titter party appeared unwilling or unprepared for the coEfliet : they appeared to rush together . more like bulldogs than human beings , and a more fiightful scene was
never ¦ witnessed . Tie chairman ' s desk "eras tumbled over in the body it the hall , together with the chair Which was the au > ject of contention . The reporters ' table , at which were seated the representatives of only two cf the newspapers—our own reporter , and Mr . William Henry I / eresche , cf the Advertiser—went overboard immediately afterwards ; and all iSs fnrritrr-e was knmediatelybrokenupto famish weapons ' , f offense or difrnce . The reporters , whose affection fo ? neither party wa 3 sufficient it would appear to engage them in the melee immediately prepared to leave the room , well judging that men in the heat of passion , with £ uch weapons as they were now providing themselves with , Wculd not be likely to distingaLsh between neutrals and actual combatants , and the result nnf jrnnately proved
the correctness of their anticipations . Out own reporter got to the southern side-door , and made his escape over the backs of some fellows who were breaking -up his chair for weapons to figEt with . Mr . Lerescke unfortunately suffered iimself to be puihtd cut of the direct line to the door , and did not gain it till some moments sf -. erwards , when just as he had reached the outside , a cowardly ruffian struck him on the back of the head -erith a weapon procured by breaking the banisters of the staircase , and inflicted a frightful gash , which bled " profusely ; and he also got a blow on the forehead , and was severely beaten about the should ? rs . We are not able to describe the scene immediately succeeding ; but our reporter having gained one of the side it : ge boxes , had again an opportunity of
¦ witnessing the scene below . The fight bad now become general throughout the balL Great numbers of these i whose Deacaabie disposition , or f ; ars , inclined thera So : take no part in it hid ltfj the hall , and the three thousand peraoa 3 at fit 3 t assembled were reduced to a few ; hundreds ; and these were fighting in the most brutal ; manner . Same of the comtaiants must have brought stones in their pockets , and these were hurled with , fearful violence at their opponents en the stage . Mr . ; SchokSeid got struck by oseof them on the mouth , and : his lips were severely bruised and his tc-eth loosened . Mr . O'Connor , ifttr being several times knocked down ovtr the forms , and struck with sticks in the melii , _ also TeceiTed a Wow from a Etone on tite right temple ,: which raised a swellirg and drew blood , bat he was ; Eot much hurt . O'Connor and some cf his friends soon ; get oui of the place by a back door , and the scene , which sncceedfcd is too dreadful to dilate upon . Per-
haps thebtst protf that caa be given cf the ferocious- ; Drs 3 cf the combatants may be taken from one instance . One cf the men on the- stage had struck arothcr , and was steeping to lift up a second j "Weapon , when his antagonist rushed at him with such ; force thit they went headforemost together off the ; stage , -which we have already Esid is about six feet tith , and fell upon the floor at a considerable ols-, tauce from it One of them we ate told , broke one cf ' his arms in two places by the fall , and we can onlyj "Wonder thai either of them should have escaped alive . ; The contest , which lasted from twenty minutes to half ] an hour , during which the hall alternately resounded j With the crash of furniture breaking tap to fnrnisii j ¦ weapons with , with heavy blows , and . the shrieks of j the terrified females in the stage boses a 3 they wit- j nessed the various success of their friends and relatives , ;
was of too sanguinary a character to be gaz .-d upon j calmly , and tie women approjriat-jly drew the crimson cniteins of the boxss to hide the frightful scene frcm ; Tiew . The combatants left tbe room as t ^ ey lost or broke their -weapons , till the hall became tenzntless , j and the dvors were closed against them oat ? ide by the -j poliee , who had now arrived in coniiderable force , j We believe there were no lives lest , but the number j of heads broken we should think must have been j very great ; and for some time afterwards the drug- ; gists' shops in Deansgate and the neighbourtcod j were crowded with bleeding patients who had genai in search , of plastere . We have heard of thirty being
i I poit ycur chairman , " knowing that he was not elected
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Beverely hurt , one of whom is in the Infirmary and the entire number cf wounded mutt be much greater . " We perceive that in the Guardian it is stated that there was a cry cf Corn Laws mixed up with the cause of th 8 quarrel ; and O'Connor , tiking the hint , is Luiy circulating & report tfcat the League hired the patties to disturb the meeting . The Tory papers of to-day will doubtless take their cue f .-om the same Bource , and be too happy in getting the suggestion from such a quarter . With them and O'Connor the League has been the ' red cat" that did all the mischief a long tima ; and like the red cat of Joe Miller , though they have killed it nine times out of the way , will ytt come back to ' break the china sugar basin . ' We can assert fearlessly , however , that no Buch cries were raised as those mentioned by the Guardian and as to the League , we leave tha absurd report to be
contra-* dicted when it is sufficiently believed to be of importance . There has been a party in existence who have disturbed our public meetings for years" past—even j before the ^ stence of the League , and O'Connor is btsst acquainted With its origin . It is nothing surprising that these disturbances should have provoked retaliation . Mr . O'Connor ' s partisans disturbed a meeti ing cf his countrymen at Carpenter ' s Hall some months 1 ago ; and , much a 3 we regret it , we do not wonder taat i bad blood should exiEt , or that the physical f jrce he j counselled should have been turned against himself . I His lecture to the Irish Repealers was delivered on the ; following evening to a crowded meeting ; all Irishmen , j who were recognised as such , being carefully excluded , ! a :. d 350 police , armed with cutlasses , being Jlr . O Con-J nor ' s bony guard . His third lecture—' on the Corn i Laws '—was not delivered , bis engagements obliging I him to be at Stockport on Thursday .
; " PROCEEDINGS AT THE BOROUGH COURT , f . WEDNESDAY . fBefore D . Maude , E * q . ) i " Shortly after the proceedings commenced , W . Duffy ! came into the court , aad said he wished to apply for a i Euaimons against Mr . O'Connor for an assault . He ; i-fcited -that he was one of the parties who proposed one i of the chairmen ; on its bc-iDg put to the vote each party claimed to have the majority ; he heard great ! confusion behind him on the platform , and on looking j behind him he saw Mr . O'Conuor , who doubled his I fists , and exclaimed— 'Ceme on , my lads , come on . ' 'He then hit the complainant a blow in the ribs , which i knocked him down from the platform to tke floor of ! the room .
I " Toe summons was granted , j ¦*¦ John Saxon , the nun taken into , custody by the i police , was then brought up . He was charged with j usiDg violence , and attempting to strike Mr . O Connor ! with a form . | " George Buchanan . deposed that he saw the prisoner "during the skirmish breaking up either a cbair or table , and afterwards throwing it in the direction where Mr . j . O'Connor -was s-t * ndingon the platform . Witness kept his eje en him , and afterwards gave fowi in cuitody to the tolice .
I'In cross-examination by Mr . Dicken , solicitor , who appeared fi > r the prisoner , fee said a chair was thro"srn down , which seemed to be a signal for a general
atiack ; stones and brickbats were thrown on the platr form . Mr . Scholefield had been proposed to take the chair , and carried , and when about to sit down in it , it was pulled from hitr . Five minutes after that things began te be broken ; a rush immediately took place , and . some were pushed off the platform . Men had to defend themselves for their lives' saka What the prisoner broke was either a chair or a table ; he was not- doing it in self-defence ; no one was near him at the time . He and another party were snatching pieces of timber from every one who opposed them , and
throwing them at the platform . " John Hargreaves proved that he saw the prisoner : -with a piece cf either a chair or table in his hand , but : did not see him throw it . A weapon was not necessary : for his protection . The large room , aad also the gal'; lery , were full of people . i " Mr . O'Connor next stepped into the witnesi-box , i having a large black patch on his forehead . He said he tad been requested to come down by Sir Charles ' , Shaw , tu ^ he knew nothing whatever of the prisoner . " Mr . Scholefield , the chairman cf the meeting , was ' : called . He could not identify the prisoner , but was
croe-Examined by Mr Dicken t > the following effect : — 1 got to the mett ' ng about ten minutes past eight , arid found the neighbourhood of the chair occupied by perfect ttrangers to me . A man named Duffy was addrersing the p » ople . As soon as Mr . O'Connor and I appeared , they called upon me to take the chair . I had bet-n appointed chairman fer the evening at the previous lecture . There were both cheers and y 6 lls , and all kinds of noises . " John Hargresves first saw the prisoner with a stick
in his hand , knocking about and hitong every one he i caae it . He iforwards saw him very luty in striking , ; aid throwing tticks and stones upon tee platform . j There nasa good deal of confusion and violence in the ! room at the tima . The platform was abuit the height I of a person ' s head . The first breaking of fn .-iii ; ure j begun on the platform ; chairs and tables were . broken , and were thrown down into the body of I the halL It was cot all on the platform who Trere . the aggressors , lut a select paity , who were there for : the purpose .
Edward Hancock deposed that fee distinguished the prisantr from the ccnimencement of the disturbance . He was along wite a body of Irishmen , who rushed into the rocm bj force at an early part of the evening ; and at the identical time when the signal was given , by an individual jumping from the midd e of the floor upon the platform , the prisoner caught a chair that was thrown fey some one from the platform ; he and others broke the chair by dashing it en the ground , and he then took one piece , went towards the platform , and aimed a blow at the chairman .
"Cross-examined—There was an indiscriminate breaking cf chairs and tables in the room . The first { . Teach of the peace was caused by a person springing from ths body of the room from amongst the low Irish repealers—( laughter . 1 The next thing was the seizing of the chairman and the cnair , and then commenced the atiacks of individuals on the platform ; some individual threw a chair from the platform into the body of tho me-. ting , and then commenced the indiscriminate violence . " B . iff y was then called by Mr . Dicken , on the part of the prisoner . He stated that he -ivt-nt to the meeting at tsattly five minutes to seven ; he went to a side door , and was told by the woman -who opened it that they would have a ' terrible stormy night of it . ' He
paid 6 d . and got on the platform . The disturbance did not iegin of anheur . Some farniture was first broken on ths right-hand side of the pla ' . f irm . He never saw prisuner thtre at- aJL Tbeie was a gzeat tifort to force Mr , Scboltneld into the chair , somu pushing kim one way , fionia another , and in the me ! £ e the chair w ^ s broken and thrown into the body of the liKeting . The disturbance was entirely caused by Mr . Feargus O'Connor , trio , when witness moved the appointment of a chairmaa , rose up , doubling his fists , and called out" Come on , my lads—come on , my lads ; " that was the signal-for a general melee , and the ? were fighting all through the room . Tne people were in a slate of the greater possible excittmtut . They ctrtaimy made- it a ' Hill of Science" on that occasion . — ' Laughter . )
" . Mr . jdaude said it had been cle ^ r y proved that the prisoner took part in the disturbance . He must have known well , so must other parties , that if he chose to remain after the a ^ turb-iBce took place , and was found using any violence , he was liable to punishment As it might be supposed that he went there without auy inttniion of committicg violence , the CVurt wou d not iLfiict a severe punishment . He would be required to find two sureties in £ 10 each , to keep the peace .
" THE CHARGE AGA 1 SST ME . 0 COnXOE . " Mr . O'Conisor , who had taken his stat at the table , said he ucdeistood a iumiuoaa had been taat morning taken out agaiiist him . If it would not trench upon the time of the Court , he fchoula wish it to be thtn Leard , ' all the parties bting preseiit . —This being agreed ti , " Mr . Duffy came forward again , and deposed that , entertaining opinions different from those of Mr . 0 Connor , he had thought proper to attend the meeting ' , am ! propose as a cbairmaa one , wIjo was not of Mr . O'C . 's own appointment- They wuited an hour beforu Mr . O Ccnnui arrived . Various parties called out f jr the appointment of a chairman , but , he tola them it woula be improper and injudicious to movt-. the appou-tnient beiore Mr . O'C . arrived . At that EiomfcBi he ent-. rea tee rooni : some if his friends proposed one chairman , and tha witness another . A £ bo- ! 7 of haiida was taken , and witness considered
tLev tad xh « majority . He iuiuieoiattly announced ; hiE inc ., and wlnia fee was tioing so Air . O'Connor stood ttp " Detund him , and wuved i . ia nat over his head ; there "svere cheeis and counte » -clieera . Seeing tuat tte decision of the meeting was completely aaainst hini ( hisses and cries of •¦ No , " from the Chartists in thagaljery , ) and tnat tiere was sucu a diversity of opinion that ke would not Lave it all his own way , he stood up behind witness , j . u niuiseif in a fighting attitude , and cried— ¦* Conio on iuy lads—come on , my feds I" The consequence wiis a general movement of the whole body . Witnessst <> oa ou tuu very edge < f the " platform , which was six or seven feet bigtu A violent contest immediately commenced bthind him : he used his influence to keep quietness , but Mr . 0 C-jnnor put himself in a figating atiitude , ai-. d calieu tne people up . He retreated a few paces , but on witness turning his head round struck him on the right side , and threw him over the piatform into the body of meeting .
" - C ross-examined by Mr . O'Connor—Mr . Doyle -was the chaiiman I proposed . Did not htar yon say ii Doyle had tha majority he should bt > the chairman I Slid— ' Mr . Dojle will now proceed to take the chair , ' and then there was a rush ; a man named Linney , and a number cf persons conuecttd with jcurself , trying to force Mr . Scholefield into tlie chair-, other parties pushed him out , and in ih ? melee ttto chair was broken and thrown into the crowd . Mr . Scboleaeld was not in the chair when 1 said Mr . Dojla would proceed to take it ( A cry of "He was , "from thegiulrry ; and Mr . Maude threatened to have the gallery cieared if these lrittriuotions continued ] . Did not hear you say— "Now , Air " Scholefield is in the chair , my laas , support jour chairniir . " Wiien yon found that jour own party chairman was not elected ion gave three cneers , aud as-id— "Sup-
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cbairman . Mr . O'Connor—When I was standing in front of the platform did you see missiles flying in the direction I was in ? How could I see missiles flying when you had knocked me off the platform ? Did not see you get a blow which knocked you dowa on one of the benches ; did not see you get a blow on your neck , or « u your shoulder , or a blow which cut your hat Heard yen tell the people to stand their ground . Did not see a weapon of any sort in your hand . Yob struck me with your fist on the right side , just above the hip . —Mr . O'Connor : And I knocked you over into the platform , dM I ?—Witness : Off the platform , that is not English ?— Mr . O'Connor : —I am an Irishman , but I suspect you have been too long in England te be a good Irishman . ( Laughter . )—Examination continued : After I was knocked down I took the liberty of going out , and I saw n » more of it after . I left at exactly twenty minutes past eight . I saw no missiles thrown , but in going out saw a chair , or some luge article thrown from the platform .
" John Booley . —I saw the last witness standing on the edge of the pl&tform , and after the row commenced saw him get ' a clout' on the right side , which pitched him into the pit . He was so near the edge that any one stumbling against him might have knocked him off ; but the blow was struck by Mr . O'Connor , with his fiat —Cross-examined : I was net on the platform , but in the body of the meeting . I had my eyes on the platform all the tim « , and did not Bee a single weapon thrown at it I thought it best to get away when I saw the sort of wotk that was going on .
" Patrick Murphy . —I was at the rneetinar last night . I saw Mr . Duffy there ; he stood near the front of the platform—not more than an inch from it . He was close to the centre . I did not see him struck , nor did I see him fall off the platform . A contention arose about "the chaiiman . T did not stay many minutes after . —Mr . Maude : I think you were about the -wisest person . —Witness ; I saw Mr . O'Connor in the attitude of saying . — ' Ceme on , my boys . '—Cronsexamined by . Mr . O'Connor : And how long did you see me after that ?—Two minutes or so . —And yet you did not see Daffy struck ?—No . —Tiiat -will do ; go down . " Duffy was re-called to explain on what part of the platform he stood , there being a discrepancy in the statements of the witnesses . He said that he was on the left of the chair . " Mr . O'Connor then
called" The Rev . Jamea Scholefield , who deposed—I came to the Moeley Arms to Mr . O'Connor before the meeting took place . A man came and said that the parties in the room were very violent , and asked if he would have the police ; but we declined . When we got to the meeting Duffy was proposing Doyle as Chairman . A show of hands was taken for him ; and I heard Mr . O'Connor say that if he bad a majority he should be the Chairman . When the show of bands -was taken for me , the whole of the gallery and at least half of the body of the meeting were in my favour : it was at least ten to one . Duffy then said Mr . Dayle would take the chair ; I was in the chair at the time . A great disturbance took place at the back of the platform , which I could not see , and my chair was movod . I was se- " a ; d on the breasfc by a man in a fustian jscket , who Wanted to drag me out of the chair , and another came to hold me in . I laid hold of tho gas pillar near the chair , fearing that it
would be torn down ; and the chair was then dragged I don't know wheres , The table was upset , and fell into the body of the meeting ; it was immediately torn to fragments , and thrown back with violence on the platform . Mr . O'Connor called out , ' Now , lads , defend your Chairman ,- ' others called to me , ' Come away , or they'il kill you ! ' After that , Mr . O'Connor went to the front of the platform , and gave three cheers . He could not have knocked a man eff the platform without my seeing it I saw Duffy there , near the edge of the platform , but don't know what became of him . He could not have been thrown off without my seeing him , if my face had been turned in that direction . After the chair and table were broken up , missiles were flyiug in all directions . Mr . O'Connor was knocked down upon one of the benches . My opinion is that Duffy was the instigator of the row ; he was addressing the meeting when I entered .
" Charlta Thomason : I was at the meeting , and stood just below -where Daffy stood to make Ilia speech . I saw him scafninj ? , and I saw him throw a chair off the platform . I saw Mr . Scholefield in the chair , and then I saw some parties try to put him out ; and Mr . O'Connor put his arm round him to keep bini in . That was before the general disturbance in the body cf the meetr ing . I saw Mr . O'Connor come to tie front and give three cheers ; afterwards he went towards the back of the platform , and was knocked down on a bench . I believe Duffy-was knocked iff the pla ' - fjrni by the pressure . Had Mr . O'Connor done it , I think I must have seen it I remained twenty minutes , aud saw pieces of broken chairs and tables flying about , and two men laying about them with pokers . —Cross-examined : Duffy threw the chair over after . the sccfSebegan ; did not see him take any other part
" Mr . Maude sa ; d the only question was whether the complainant had been thrust off the ph form wilfully or by acchfeLt . This was evidently milter of cosiderab ! e doubt ; and no great violence appeared to have been used towards him . It was to be regretted that parties conld not meet without coming to personal violence . Now that these warm feelings bad been manifjsttd , he trusted these parties would not meet in the same room again , as it was quite certain faey would never convince one another . Ho-hoped this wou'd be a spliUry instance of the occurrence of such violence , and tbat there would not bo a repetition of these scenes It was sdmitted by the complainant himself , ia his evidence , that he was told by the woman at the door that there was likely to be a stormy meeting ; and that being the case , he , as a respectable party , ought immediately to have gone home . —The case was dismissed .
" Duffy , m reply to what had been stated by the last witness about his throwing tho chair off the platform , said he would prove that to be false . He declared that he bad not taken out the summons with any ill feeling , but for the sake of having a full explanation of the circumstances . " Mr . ' Maude remarked on tho impropriety ef courts of justice being made the icene cf mutual explanations of this kind . " Mr . O'Connor also disclaimed any ill fetling ; and , in proof of it , offered to become one of the sureties for the prisoner Saxon , whose case was before heard ; but it appeared that be had obtained bail . " Mr . Scholefield stated that he had been struck on the mouth with a stone whilst on the platfoiui .
" Mr . Maude said it was a most brutal thing to throw stones in a crowded meeting : if the parties guilty of such conduct were brought before him , they would be very severely dealt with . He expressed a hope that thtre -would not be a repetition of such conduct " On Mr . O'Connor and his frlcr . ds leaving the court , they wero loudly cheered by the crowd outside .
"ABSURD APPLICATION . " O'Connor again appeared at the ' Borough Caurt yesterday , and said he had an imporlai-t application t- > make , with referenca to the disturbance of Tuosday night He said he should be-able to prove that a certiiu association in this town met on . Suiday night , and again on Monday night , and that they wero in connection with a political association in this town ; and that one association uadertook to furnish funds to'the other for the purpose of procuring his assassination- ! He should be able to piove the hands through -which the mGney passed , aud the person who bad hired the individual to commit this r . ct . He was able to prove that one person received « twentj-pcnce '( J ) for hire and a
penny for admission ; that another received half-acrown for hire and a penny for admission . He should also be able to prove that one individual had received £ 5 to knock him off the platform , in order tbat those iie ' ow might destroy him . He cfcculd also be able to prove that thot individual stiuck hini the first blow on the hat ; that he wouM be recognised by foiir persons as the individual selected for that purpose . As regarded himself the matter was not perhaps of groat importance!— ( laughter )— but "when it ' became a question if the peace of the conntry was t j be placed afc tna mt-Tcy of the brutality and ruffianism of persons who wuuld devote their money to the hiiiug of assassins to destroy a man , he trusted that the inagittrates would &t once see that it was nat the individual I ) Ut
tv > crime it-elf must fee looked at- It was his n : t ^ nti in to apply to the Secretary of St t _ - for siu . inv& . fgafion of that part of the matt : r which the magiEirutes could not take cognisance of . Mr . O'Connor then entered into a ludicrous statement of the personal dangers he had braved that night —( in a ttjle almost equal to FaistafPs men in buckrum , ) and said " , the collateral evidence he should te aU-j to bring would go to show that the whole hunt of ilia attack ¦» us aimed at himself . He hai never lerit his Kiinction to aoy violation of the pr-ace —( iaugLtar)—aiio under tuese circumstances ho thought he v ? as entitled to the advice of the magistratta . He should
be aMe to bring tats home not to poor , simple- Irishmen , but to persons of education and standing in society ; for the placards issued on Wednesday , inviting the Iiishmen to attend again and complete the triumph they bad the night befoie , where every one paid for by this association . The first taiag the law required to be done was that a peri-on ehould be sent to the printer of this inflammatory placard , with authority to demand the copy from him , a id this would enable him to go fir into his case . . The matter was one of importance , not to one individual but to all classes of society , and ho was Mire the magistrates would assist in the invebtigat " : on in bringing-the matter fully before the public
" 2 > 1 t . Maude doubted if they could make the application to the printer without being put in motion by the Attornty-GetitraL - " Mr . O'Connor contended that under the General Stamp Ac : the magistrates had the power . " After some further consultation between the magistrates , Mr . Maude requested Mr . O'Connor tj commit the suijtct uf his information to -wii ' ing , and they wouJdsee how far the act warranted them in taking the step he wuhtd . " Mr . 0 Connor left the court amidst great laughter , —the object of his application being generally understood to Dtj a mere " gag , " for the purpose of bringing himself into notoriety , and get a report in the Tory papers prejudicial to ' " a certain association , ' who , as he said on Monday night , want-to throw him overboard . There arts more ways of insinuating a libel than ouo , and this is not the least disreputable and cowardly . "
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g ? Such ia the Plague ' s veraion- We follow' it by that of the Manchester Guardian , twin brother to the Leeds Mercury ;— : \ \_ . ¦¦¦; . ';¦ ; '¦¦ *' ¦ .: - . /> /" : , , ' - . ' . ¦ ¦ "THE CHARTISTS ^ AND IRISH REPEALERS . "FRACAS AT THE HALL OF SCIENCE ^ "In the Guardian of Wednesday , we gave a brief notice of a row that toot place in the Hall of Science , on Tuesday night , between the Chartists and Irish Kepeslera , at a meeting convened for the purpose of hearing Mr . Feargus O'Connor deliver a lccturs on the Repeal of the Legislative Union . On this occasion the two parties referred to quarrelled in reference to the choice of a chairman : The following cases , arising out of the disturbance , came before D . Maude , Esq ., at the Bordugh Court , on Wednesday : — ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . -: ¦• . ¦ . _ ' - . ¦' ¦ ¦' : ' , . : •/¦' " . ¦ '• ¦ \ -,. . .
«• John Saxton was charged with assaulting Mr . Feargus OConnor , onVldeaday njght , at the Hall of Science . Mr . Dickens , solicitor , defended the prisoner . Giorge Buchanan stated , that , during a skirmish which took place in the Pall on the evening referred to , he saw the prisoner breaking up a chair or a table , witness could not say which ,, and flinging two pieces of it at Mr . O'Connor . Witness patched She prisoner , and had him taken into custody . Mr : O'Connor was in great c anger from the missiles thrown at him ; he was several times knocked down on the platform ; and witness and others ,: with much difficult ^ , got him out of the room . On being croas-exomined by Mr . Dickens , _ . the witnesa stated that the meeting was held for the purpose of hearing Mr .
O'Connor deliver a lecture , Mr . Scholefleld was elected to take tha chair , which so" dissatisfied a portion of the meeting ^ that a row ensued , and the prisoner threw some pieces of timber at Mr . O'Connor . Another witue&s stated , that he saw the prisoner with a piece of timber in his hand ; but he did not seei him nuking use of it —[ Mr . Feargus -O'Connor" , and Mr . Scholotield then entered the court . The former " had a Urge black patch on his forehead , in consequence of a wound ' which" he-had received in tbe affray ; the latter had his lip greatly swelled , and his nose and one of hla eyes bore palpable marks of recent violence . J—Mr O'Connor , on being sworn , begged to state that he knew nothing of the ease btifjre the court . He had attended merely at the request of Sir Charles Shaw . He' ( Mr .
O'Connor ) did not aee the prisoner at the Hill of Science—Mr . Sjholefleld gave similar testimony . In his crosE-i xaniination he stated that a person nanivd Duffy was addressing the meeting when ; he ( Mr . Scholefleld ) entered the room . —A youth , named John Hargraves , deposed thtt he saw the prisoner assaulting several persona with a Btick which he had in his hand . He alse threw several sticks and stones on the platform . Edward Hancock cofrpborftted tbia evidence . —William ' Duffy was examined fur the defence . He stated that he obtained admission to the hall at five minutes past seven o ' clock , by the side door , along with two gentlemen connected with the press . On entering , the woman that opened / the door said You will have a terrible stormy night of it > gentlemen . ' Having paid 6 d . witness obtained a seat on the platform . Ho could net swaar who first broke tha chair ; but he thought it was not brpkeh inteutionally . He did not see the prisoner with a Btick in his hand .
Witness did not sets him at all . The disturbance was caused by Mr . O'Connor , who , when witness had proposed a chairman that was approved of by the meeting , said , Come on , my lads , ' making at the same time a signal for fighting . A general row then commenced . Mr . O Connor and others were fighting on tha platform , and the place was made in reality a ¦' Hall-of Science ' — ( laughter . ) The prisoner said he left the room when the row began , and was met by some of the Chartists > who gave him very bad usage because he was an Irishman ; and then gave him into custody o : i the present charge . Mr , Maude aaiti ha did not consider the prisoner the worst of the party ; but it was clear that he was one cf the rioisrs . It was necessary that he should know that he was answerable for such misconduct ; but , considering all tho circumstances of the oa 8 e , and that it was the first offence , he ( Mr . Maude ) would not inflict a heavy punishment on him . The prisoner was called upon to find two sureties in £ 10 each to keep thu peace for three months .
" CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST MB , F . O CONNOR . " Mr . O'Connor said he understood the court had granted a summons against him , for : assau ! t ng a person named Duffy ; and he hoped the case would ba than brought on , if it was not trenching upon the time of tho -court—Mr- Maude having consented , " William Duffy stated , that on Tuesday evening he and some Irish Kspealers st : ended a meoting in the Hall of Science , for thopurpose of hea , ring Mr . O'Cprinor ' s views , and expressing their own , on certain subjects , about which there wa ^ a difference of opinion between them . Ho had been on tho platform about an hour before Mr . Connor entered , during -which time various patties had been demanding the appointment of a chairman . Ho told them that it would bo improper
to appoint a cbairmau , or make a motion to that effect until Mr . O'Connor arrived . When Mr . Connor entered the room , some of his friends proposed the Rov . James Scholtfifcld as chairman ^ Tiie other party proposed a pt-rson named Duyle ; and when the show < f kinds was taken , tht < re was a large majority for Dtiyle . At that time Mr . ' O'Connor took off his hit , and waved it three t me 3 over -witness ' s ; head , which provoked cheers from the pai ty to which he belonged , and counter-cheers from the opposite party . Mr . O'Connor , finding thathe cuuhl not h ; ive it all his own way , put himself in afightii ; g ; . ttitude , and shouted 'Come on , my lads . " Iu consequence if this , there was a movement throughout the whole assembly , and a general row commenced . Witness was then standing on the edge of the platform ,
which was raised ibout six or sovtm feet above the floor ; and Mr O'Connor struck him over the hip with his hand , and knocked him down among the people . — Tne witness -was cross-examined at greiit length by Mr OCounor . but nothing additional was elicited . —John Dooley was next examined ; he said Mr . O'Connor struck Duffy above the hip . —Mr . Maude : Would there not be some difficulty in a roan so tall as Mr . O'Connor getting his hand down so low as the hip of the complainant ? Not when he was so close to him . Duffy was at the end of the platform . —In his crossexamination , witaess fctiteil that the diuturbnnce began ia the body of tho meeting , and afterwards said it commenced on the platform . On being reminded of the discrepancy , be said he considered the platform the
bady of the meeting . Mr . Maude expressed himself dissatisfied with the evidence of this witness . Patrick Murphy was next ex : > i : iined in support of the cariiplaint . He tttted tint Duffy was at the edge if the platform , nearly opposite ttie centre . Witnesa saw Mr . O'Connor , but did not aee hiin strike Duffy . —In consequenco of the two last witnesses contrailicting t acb other about the position occupied on the platform by Duffy , Mr . Mau'io dtsired him to state exactly whtra ho did stand , and Diiffy confirmed the statement of the . 'lait witness . —^ Mr . Scholefleld w ^ s then sworn , and said , that he went t ) the Mosley Arms ou Tuesday , to Mr . FeavKiis OConnor , a httle before the meeting took place . The man who ha « l taken the hall . came , and infmned them t ' uat a riot was coLtarr .-
plated , and that it would be well , ¦ to send for tho police . Mr . O'Cjjnnor Said he Would answer for his countrymen that they would behave theniBelves prcperly , and that he did not liko to bring police to a public meitiug . i Wflpn witriess and Mr . O'Connor entered the Hail of Science , Duffy wss in the act of nddrrssing the meetiivc ; . When the show of hnmis for the chairman was taken , the whole of the gallery , and half the body of the meeting , \? hkh , if ( js-tlmateil in numbers , would bo about ten to one cf the parties present , -were in favour of -witness taking the chair . Witness then took the chair , and immediately heard Duffy i-ayiiig , " Now Djylo will take the chair . " Witness was then seized by a man in a fustian jacket , who tore his shirt . Another man came to witnesses'e
assistance , and the chair went—he knew not where . The table on which tho cundles were standing , was fluug into the body of the meeting , and dirt'ctiy broken into pieces , which wero hurled back on the piatforiin When the attack was made ou witness , Mr . OConnor said , Now , ; lads , stand by your chairman , Mr . O'Connor got bis arma round witness , to protect him from the missiles that were flung at him from all directions Witutsa saw Duffy : ho was the cause of the .-entire 'disturbance . Witnesa ( Htl not see Mr . O Connor striking him . When Mr . O'Connor was T < . -t : nng from the f 'but of the platform , he was knocked down ; and several persons gathered round him , ami begged of him ta go away , or he ¦ woulri bekiiloc ! . Charics Thomasons . deposeil , that he saw Duffy throw a chair .- ¦ from the
platform , and 8 . v . vDutty pushed off tho platform , but did I ' xt see Mr . O'Connor " strike him . If Mr . 0 Conuorhad fctruck Duffy , witness : tliought ho . should have seen hiai . —Tlie last -witness was cross-exaniined by Daffy at great '• 'length ';¦' after which Mr . " ; Ma ' uil ' e observed , that there -was no doubt that the cohiplainant was pushed off the platform ; but tho ¦ question was , -whether that had been done wilfully or not ? The parties who " went into the room -with weapons deserved punishment , and should be punished ii such / conduct were proved uguinst them . It was much to be regretted , that parties could rot meet together to discuss their differences , without coniing ihta collision . If they could not meet without quarrelling ,, it were
much batter that the two parties should have separate places of meeting .. He hoped he shoul « i hear no more of euch disturbanefcf . The compiiiinant , on entering , the Hall , had had his attention catted to the fact , that a row was contemplated ; and it was surprising that he went in after that iutimatinu . It was not clear from the evidencej that the pushing : complainant off the platform was intentional . The case waa then di 8 nn 8 sed . r-r-The complainant then stated , that he fcnttrtnined ono ill-feeling towaids Mr O'Connor ; and the latter said , that t * show he was irifluenced by no bad feeling , be was perfectly . willing to become one of Saxton ' s sureties , — : Mr . Maude said he had no objection , provided there was no further quarrels , to discharge tbat man ' s recognizmcep . ¦
" SERIOUS CHARGE OP CONSPIRACY . " Yesterday , Mir . Feargus O'Conntir appeai-ed in the Borough Court , before D . Maude , Etq ., C . J .-S . Walker , Esq ., anclMr . Alderman Ki'rshaw , and , under the cover of making an application , he delivered : himself of the followiug extraordinary statement :- ^ ¦'• ¦ ¦¦ " Perhap 3 your -wbi'ships would allow me to make an application of a public nature . When ! was before the court , on Wednosday last , it did not occur to me that the greatest public impovtance was attached to tha
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caise in which I was then concerned ; but no tr I appear to discharge a public duty , having learn ; d many of the drcumstancea connected with the riot , which took place at the Hall of Science on Tuesday nigkt I also appear here for the purpose of taking away much of tho blame and odium attaching to my UDfortunate CQuntrymen , iu consequence of that affair ) and attaching it to the proper parties . I ihall apply tp tha court for assistance and advice , wben I lay before them a statement which I Bhall support by evidence . The circumstances to which I wish to call attention are these :-r-It is well known that on Tuesday night ! was to address the people of Majichester on a particular subject ; and I shall be able to proyethat acertain association ' . in this town met on Suuday night , and also on Monday night ,
and they , in conjunction with a political association in this town , presaeditated the , dlsturbancQ Which occurred on Tuesday night .. Oae , association undertook to furniah funds to the other association , f jr the purpose of procuring my assassination . I shall bo able to prove who were the patties through wUose hands the money came , . and ; who the . persons were that hired pa . ties to assassinate me . 1 bhall be able to prove , that one individual received 20 d for hire , and Id for admiebioh ; and that one individual was hired at tho amount of £ 5 to knock roe off the platform , in order tUat those underneath might destroy liie . I shall prove , that that individual struck me on the head—( hs will bo recognised by fjur person whd :. saw hi ; a do so } , —and that ha was sekcted by the association referred to for that purpose .
A great deal of excitement exifits relative to-thisoucurreDce ; and I am happy to say , for the honour of Englishmen , and of all " political creeds and persuasions , that there never was greater disgust manifested on any occasion , thari there was towards the conduct « f those patties who created the disturbance on Tuesday night . As the matter regards myself individually , I want no great importance tu Be attached to " it ; but , wiien it comes to be considered as a question involving the peace of the country , it is of the utmost impbrtaace . The brutality and ruffianism of those persons who couH devote their money , to the base purpose of hiring , aesasiins to destroy any man demand inquiry , not on acc . unt of the individual immediately concerned , but on account of- the public at large , whose interest it is to have such crimes
visited with proper puniahmenW I mea > to apply to the Secretary * f Sate in reference -to ' -. this matter ; and , backed by the law and my own energy and determination , I skill prosecute the inquity as far as possible . A very wealthy association in this town furnished another association witli funds to effect my assassination on Tuesday night By csrryihg on this investigation , I shall be enabled to put mjr own character on a proper footing . " On the nigLt of the di&turbauce , I had liot a . switch or a rod , iior an / otheriweapenwith me ; nor did I know of any individual having anything with him to defend hiniseJf . On the contrary , supposing that wo should receive such opposition us we had frequently met with before , and that it would all end in an ebullition of feeling , when asked if the police ekouUI be
requested to attend , so ignorant wa 3 I if what waa to occur , that I dissented f ; om the iut . odu ? tiou of such a force . I knew also , that , if any of my party went to the meeting armed , it -would farnish their opponents with a pretext for creatiDg disturbance , and tiierefore I was opposed to any thing of the kind . From thirty to fifty persons were seriously wounded , — perhaps fifteen of them dangerously . ^ -and one old nian had several of his ribs broken , having been trampled upon by those hired ruffians who came into the meeting armed with hatchets , pokers , bludgeons , atones , &u . i myself received six wounds on my body , one oil my forehead , and one on the back of my head , and was knocked down several times . I have collateral evidence to show , that all the missiles that were thrown
during the affray went immediately over my head , or stiUck my . person , or souie one in my immediate vicinitj * . Now , if these things have bson done to irnpeda me in that course which I have : hitherto so long pursued , legally , honestly . and peaceably;—and which I shall still continue to pursue in the name manner , for I am Qpi ' vosed to the shedding of one drop of human blood , under any circumstances , and f have several times received the thanks of the Guardians at Huddersfield for baving saved them from astassinutiou—l will never lend myself to the violation of the peace—^ 1 never will;—if , 1 say ,: these things have been done to obstruct me in my course , the parties who did bo with : that intention will find that I am not to be intimidated . Under these circumstances you will , I have ho doubt ,
think me fully entitled to your protection , I ask -nut your protection for myself merely , but for the sako of tho peace of the country . I ask now the advice of the magistratee ; It is important that these matters should go forth to the world in their propar coloura ; for if money is to be collected and diitrionteU ftv such vile purposes , and ii . flunm . tjry . Uocuinciits circulated for the purpose of raising the worst passions of a , political party , God only knews where such things may end . Another thing which I have omitted to luent on : —Oh Wednesday , oar object was rather to allay angry fdeliugs than to excite them ; but , the other party issued violent and iuniiumatory clcauuuiits , calling on the came persons , - \ vbo had so uiisconauetaj themselves on Tuesday nigUt , to assemble again ou Wednesday , and perpetrate bimilar outrages . One o ( the first duties of this court will be , —for I sbail be
able to bring this matter home , — -not simply to the poor Irishmen who were hired for tbo purpose ,: ' , but to persona of standing in society 1 — -to pei sons of authority , standing , and wealth . Oue of the first , things -which tho law guarantees you the power of doin ^ is , that you send some one to the individual who pr . rited that lost inflammabio bill , and , as he is obliged to keep , f > a certiiiu period , all the manuscript which he pub . ishes , to obtain from him th « mauuscript from , whica that bill was printed , in order that we may have an opportunity of ascertainirig in whose handwriting it is . i do not want the magistrates t > pass over their bounds of dtvty : but I -wish them to make this tho case , not of Feargus OConnor , but of the country . If ever there was a brutal and violent attack made on peaceable individuals , that on Tuesday night was one . — Having reiterated the same thing over and over again , Mr . Maude asked him what it was he wanted .:- Mr .
O'Connor : It is this , that , having so far developed my case , the magistrates will feunantee al the aasistanco in their power to bring the entire case to light—> lr . Maude : Are you prepared ¦ with any inCormation ? Mr . O'Connor : No : I only thougbt it necessary to pufc yuu in possession of tba facts . The evidence of what has reached me is yet incomplete . — [ . \ ir . OConnor again repeated his former statement about the ploV against hJ 3 life , nnd said he did not wish to mention names J My first applicatian is , that an officer be sent to thj printer for the manuscript of the bill which appeared on Wednesday , inviting Iriahmeii to come to the Hall of Science , and follow up and achieve the yiotory which they had so well begun on Tuesday . Mr . Maude : Can yon refer to the act under which you luakB the
application ? : Mr . O'Connor : I caunot now refer to the act ; but I am perfectly well aware , as the proprietor of a newspaper , toat printers are obliged tv kt ; ep manuscripts for a certain , time .-r-Mr . Maude : Refer to tho act—Mr . O'Connor : I thinJj it ia in t-Le stamp act—Mr . Maude : That only gives U 9 jarisdiction over "printers , on some information laui—Mr . O'Connor : That ia a particular act . This is the general stamp act . —Mr . Heiford : Do you mean the act cijanging the stamp duty?—Mr . O'Connor : Thatonly refers to newspapers ; but I come before the : court to see ¦ whether it gives them jurisdictic-n bfyond _ the newspapers . —^ Mir . . Maude : My recollection is , that , when the recent ilefc gives us any jiiriscliction to inipose a penalty , it is necessity that the Attornfey-Qeharal should lay the information . —Mr . O'Connor : That ia ¦ who n a penalty is sought ; but I on \ y "want to obtain a manuscript fpr t ' ae purpose of groundiiig fuiura
proceedings upon it—Mr . Maude : We tliall bo quite willig at all times to receive ; ray information cf any conspiracy of this kind ; and , if you lay any iriform :-: ti ' . n wa shall have no difficulty of putiiug tb > 3 law into execution , so far as it depends on ua tj do sr . If you are prepared now with any . information ,. lay it . 'before us—Mr . O'Connor then rt-peated his application . — Mr . Maude said the manuscript was the printer ' s property , and the court had no more right to demand it than they had to demand the papers of any ¦ other party . After deliberating some time ' .-with ' - the--other ' magistrates , Mr . Maude said the Act ef -Piirliauitut which amended the act referred to by Mr . O'Connor -was not in court ; but the best way for Mi . O'Connor to act tt . is ta communicate to the court any information he h . i (! , and then they should see how they were to act .- —Mr . O'Connor said , he was quite sure tb > cuutt would do their ciuty , when anything of a specific character was laid hfefore tben ^ Mr . O'Connor then withdrew .
' [" -. The . . . inflammatory . ' placard referred to by Mr . O'Connor -was not produced in court , nor did the Learned Gentleman give the name of the printer . " ] In juxfa-position with- these we place the account givea by the Manchester and Sal ford Advertiser , —a Liberal Anti-Corii-Law and llepeal pu ); er : — " MB . FEARGUS O'CONNOR IS MAN CHESTER DREA . DFUL RIOT AT THE SOCIALISTS HALL"O ? SCIENCE . " The subjectannonncedfor the lecture on Tuesday was the repeal of the legislative union between Great
Britain and Ireland , and the room , was quite as crowded as on the previous night . The principal occupants of the crowded galleries were Ghavtiais . The body of the room was taken up by the repealers , the greater part of whom forced themselves i * uo the room without paying the fee demanded for their admissioru The platibrm was also crowded by the friands of each party ; especially we noticed Mcs&r 3 . Duffy , Finnigan , and others of the repealers . On their entrance , they were received with niin ^ Ud cheers and hooiings , as were Messrs . Doyle , Linn . ey , and others of the Chartists , who arrived last .
" The meetiBK was announced to commerico -a't eight o'clock , and at five ' niimi'tes past , Mr . M'Avoy roseto move the appointment of a chairman j but ho was desired to sit do \ yn , and wait for tho business to be c ^ inmenccd regularly byvthe party who had e ' neagcii the room . Great confusion aro 3 e , but at last 'M- 'A . Vpy get off the chair upon which lie had mouuteci , when Mr . rliggiDbotham , ono of the tntstees of the hally rose and begged of the meeting j in the riamo of the proprietors , -and ias working men , not to do any damage to the hall , or the property it contaiiico . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) He need only intorin them , ihat it was erected by the working moh of Manehostcr , and he was sure they would be the last to injure
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nrhat they btidthemeelyea as a body erected . ( Load and prolonged cheering . ) Mr . Duffy ^ here began to address the meeting , and was met with loud cries of •* Order" and V Chair , " roingled with cheers . He ' saidail the friends of order wbnld show it by keeping order . Mr ., Feargus O'Connor had not yet arrived , and . it would not be proper to proceed to the appointment of a chairman in his absence ; bus as soon as he came , hip frieridY wouli doabt ! esspropo 3 e aahairman of Mr . O'Connor ' s choice j but ha ( Mr . Duffy ) , together with his friends , would feel bound to put forward a man of their own ehoice—( cheers and hisses ) : As Mr . Duffy conclndedi Mr . O'Connor and Mr . Scholefitld entered , and were welcomed Witn almost nnanimpus applaMSc .
'Mr . John Linney . then moved , and Mr . C . Doylo secondedithat the Rev . John Scholtfieldio take the chair . ¦ - ' - ¦ ¦ : . / - ¦ : [} . ¦ ¦ : '¦ - ¦ ' ¦ '• ' ¦' . - ' - . ¦; . - . - . : - ; : ; - - . ; . - - . '¦' " ¦ - ¦ . - ;' " :- '¦ ¦ : :. '¦ " ¦ " " lVlr i * ' llBE ^^ t ? ov ed ' ' »? a n ^ ^ amendment , the appointment of Mr . John Doyle , and claimed . the right to put his amendment firit , which was accordingly done , and lost by a large majority ; two-thirds . of theaadience being for Mr . Scholefield , who accordingly took tb ? ohair . Scarcely had he seated himself when a rush was made from ' ... behind ,, the reportero' table upset , the chairman's chair and desk thrown into the middle of the room , and himself knocked dowa aud much injured . The chairman's desk , his chair j the benches in the middle of tlie room ^ and banisters on the stairs , Iwerei ' . isiantly broker , and appUed as
weapons by such of the parties in that paj t of the hall ashad come unprovided with pokers , bludgeons , paving stones , &c . Many heavy missiles were directed agaips-t the parties on the platform , and our reporter saw several whose injuries were dreadful to behdid—the cheeks ,: iipp , f > reri ( ad , and temples being iii many cases laid completely open , and sfcreamr ing with blood . The two doors which lead from the platform , together with their lobbie ? , were in-Btantly filled by the parties who had occupied tbat part of the room . The parties in the body of the room , havingj by this time nearly cleared it of the few CharuBts who were thire , next scaled the platform , and , the persons there were set upon . ¦ J hose who , could ' not reach the two : doors were driven againstthg centre of the wall , and assaulted with the weapons we have before described ; while those atthe two doors were kept from entering into
the Iobies iu 6 * n 8 equenc 8 of the pressure out ride , and also from the doors being closc-d at the foot of the stairs . Is was whileatttmtt . iig toleave the roombyone of these doors that our reporter , Mi \ J . 11 . Ltresche , was assaulted by a min in a white fustian jacket and trousers . * The first blo \ v cut through the backof his hat , and i 7 , flieted a wound on the head two inches in length and half au inch wide . He immediately turned rouud to see who it . was , when he received a , uother hiaavy blow on the forehead ; happily the forco of it was turned aside by hplding up His hand , which is in cohsequenco at present useless . The man then contiuued to belabour h \ $ back and shoulders until , bruised arid faint from loss of blood , he contrived to force a passage through the door , and thus escaped with his life . The Weapon used appeared to be pare of the hand-rail torn from the banisters .
" Among others wounded in this merjiless and diabolical . on 3 laught , besides Mr . O'Connor , who received ' seven different wounda on various parts of the body , was the Chairmanj Mr . Scholefield , whose lower lip was cut , as well as the left Bide of his nose ; he also received two wounds over the eye . A : person of the name of Railton had his aria broken in two places , and his head severely fractured , . as well a ? reeeiving Eoveral heavy contusions on the body . Mr . Swire , hat ---manufacturer , of Thomasstreet , aged 67 years , is now lying in a hopeless
State , wiih his ribs literally bruised in , and his £ ace and head so completely mangled as to present a most shocking spectacle . His nephew , Ejward Swire , had his head laid open ; Greenwood is awfully mangled . Murray , the President . " . of- ' one of the Chartist Associations , is also severely wounded . A lad named Bailey had his face severely broken . Doyle , the Chartist who seconded Mr . Soholefield , received Etome violent bruises on tho Tacdy and left arm ; and to these may be added a frightful Tut of . from . thirty ; to fifty who have been more or lesa seriously injured .
" WEDNE 5 DAY . •" . We need scarcely say that tho proceedings above narrated excited the greatest indignation against the perpetrators of thoae outrages . At an early hour large placards covered the walls , announcing that Mr . O'Connor would deliver liia lecture on the Repeal of tho Union to-night , and'calling upon the operatives of Manchester and Salfu ' rd to be at their posts . The appeal was-: '' enthusiastically responded to . Great numbers of tho men struck work at four o ' clock , aud r-paired to the Hall of . Science ; to defend Mr . O'Connor with their jivts , if necessary , while the diattirbefs of the previous evening , who had also mustertd in some force , saw thy were likely to be out-numbEred , and dispersed . From three tofcur thousand persoj 2 s took posse .-sion of the building thofiiy ; after the opening of the dooi 3 , and great
crowds were unable to gain admittance . A geiitleman from the offioe of this paper aitcnded , but was unable yo effect an entrance . We 'U'iersvand that Colonel , AVeniyss and ^ Sir Charles S'lavv , attended by a number of inspectors j occupied the stage box . Outside they building , in Camp Fjbld , nearly the whole of the police force for the borough were drawn up , with the horse patrol and some cavalry picq i'ets . Owing to these precautions , the meeting passed off quietly . Mr . O'Connor lectured for . two hou ' ri and a half , and his recepiieV was most , triumphant . Everything he said seemed to ; carry with it dbubto tho weight , and be listened to with double the .. interest that it would have commanded , but for the proceedings of tha previous eyeiiingj- ^ the usual result of resorts to physiaal forca such as disgraced the cause of Repeal . ,
"BOROUGH COURT . —WtD . VESDAY . "A man named Saxon was byought up , on a charge of having taten a prominent part in the riotous proceedings at the Hall ; of Science on the evening precedinij ; and aAso with Laving struck Mr ; Feargus O'Connor with part of a table . He wa 3 identified by several persons , all of whom agreed as to his violence ; and , he was , consequently , obliged to find bail tor his kppearance at tne sesaion * . Mr . O'Connor , who attended , as he stated ; at the request of Sir Charles Shaw , declined to tfer any remarks against the prisoner ; but , as he was there , he begged to ask the chairman if he had granted a warrant Jigaiust him to a man named Duffy , for an assault .
If so , he a&ked as a favour that the case might oe then gone into , which v ? S 3 accordingly gransed , upon which , Mr . O'Connor , accompanied by tho Rev . Mr . Scholefield j who appeared as evjdehcv ,, / -tdok his seat at the reporters' table , when Diiffy vynscaiiod upon to ttite tne nature of his charge , it was to the effect that , on the preceding evening , he hadaUcuded a lecture ' given by Jlr . O'Connor at tha Hill of Science , and that ho paid ; his admission money to the platibrm ; and that , owing to a , denjur aribing as to the right of wlio should be chairman , a most desperate row had ; ensued . He swore to hia belief tfaar , Mr . O'Connor caused tho scene , aud . . also that f ; orri that genviernah he had received a blow oh tho right hip , which forced him from the i > : at ! orra .
¦' ¦ ' ^ Vf ' ter ' ap . atieht-. iri . veit'i ^ a ' T .-iouj'th . e-cliairnian ' gaveit ay his opinion that Mr . Duffy had tailed to prove his
case . ' . - ¦ ¦•¦ ¦•;; : . . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' . " On Mr . O'Connor ' s depa ? ture , ho was received svith hearty cheers by a large party of hi 3 Chartist followers who were waiting for him outside , and who accompanied . him towartis . hisinu .
"FJIIDAY . " Mr . O'Connor appeared before the Court on Friday , for tho purpose of making tiieibllowiBg application . He said : —Miy ic please your Worship , when 1 appeared before you on Wednesday last , I was then wholly ignorant of tha brutal circumstances connccttd with the riot of the previous night , and I appear before you now \ yith t ' . ve double object , first , to take tu& odtum of ; that . ' . violence off my own ccuutrynien , who might be supposed to be i ho perpetrators , and io sadclic it upon ptrsons of wealth and station ; andj secondly , io . discharge a ( iniy ' i- ' not so much to myself , as to the public at . lurge . This is the nature of my application . Is wa 3 announced that on Tuesday last i was to address . the
public in ' the Hall of Science , uiwii the . sachet of the repeal of ; hc Legislative 'Union ; and I . anall ; be able to prove that a certain A . ssocia , tion in this town , having large funds ' ' at their disprsaiViuriiishcd the means to a parson connected . yita ' . a cer . vu . in Political Association to procureiEy iassassiiiati'jii ; and in tne thorough sifthij 5 a -ii investigau < . 'ii of all tho . " circuinstiihced cyniitCLed with , so foul au act , I feel assured that I . shaH . ' ii . ave tho co-operawn aud assistance , not only of tho authoritiea of Msuchtstcr . but of every man in Mauchester , of every shade . / . ' of politics . I shali bo enabled toprove , that-those persons who were hired received , a pprtioi * of themj la . for-their work , and Id . for admission ; while another detachment received 2 s ; 6 tl , and 1-J . f . > r ad ^ iisioh .
I shall be enabled . to . shew the hand 3 : from whence the money came , and those throu ^ u which the blood-gift pa = 3 ed . I shall also te able toprovo that a ; cer ; a ; i individual volunteered , and compounded for a aviso , of £ o to throw me eff-t no pla : fcraiamong those immediately under ; it , who were armed with hatchets , pokers , stonea of immfcnse sizo , and missiles of various descriptions , and whose especial duty it Tvas then to aBsassihate me ; I shall then be a ; b ! e to pro ^ e beyond a doubt , by the . evidencfj of four respsctabVe witassses , that ; : this sain £ 5 ruffian was the flrot man who struck me a violent blow on
the back of , thehead , bursiiog my hat as you now perceive it . [ Here Mr . 6 C . exhibited his haVto tho courts which bore evident testimony t . vt'he factvj And now , in order to prove my desiro to preserve the ' ' peace-, I solemnly declare tiat 1 had . . . noj even a svvitch or . any singJe thing for self-defent e > nor to my khow ' cdgo had a single man eonneV . Sad with my party . And furthe-r , when applied to for my sanction for tha >) i trodijction of a- police fores , I at once refused , feclavmginy determination to rely upf > n the love cf jii-ticc of my . own-country men . Jiut to provo that my assassination wastheobject , although many others were wor . uded , yet every missiie thrown ( CoiiiiiLiiedin oiir eighth page . ) . ;
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 19, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct882/page/7/
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