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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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STAFFORDSHIRE ASSIZES . ( Gonim . 'ued from our SLrih Page . ) addressed them ; he said , " We must have the Charvgi though . I suppose we shall have the red-coated gBtry tostopaaj bnt tiers are not manv o ? them In gnzisaH—ikey hsre been sent to mnrder tba poor Chinese . They hire not more thin five to each town . " He then b ^ an to ridicule the Church , the blshpps , and jjjg clergy , and told the people te ana themselves jhose whs could not afford to feuy ' srma , be said , could j i ] east assist with the torch . Ellis "was close by ( jipj-nr at thia time . When Cappur concluded , he jad , " Here ' s my friend Ellis , who will tell yon more ^ v > cmi jitbanlean . " "William Ellis then proceeded , to ^^ ess the mob . He -said they most get arms , and that they -wanted atrong nerves to use their arms . He ¦^^ VH » ^ T ^^^ l ^* . C * M 1 L . ' I f 1 Tt 1 ^ 1 k r ^ ttV ^ mf *
also said , if they conld not get the Charter , they must lay vasts and desolation through the land . He spoke Cl ibe ^^ jsl ^ ^ and said that they had saddled jhe cmmtiy with a pauper -who would have his # 21 000 a year the same as the rest of them ; be said gat this « onutry eocia 1 J 0 tbij well without him , » M ^ jssl tbty had brought Mm to beget « wther lace of young -psopen , "who -would all be saddled npon the -jonntry- He spoke in a degrading and disresp * ctful jjsjiner of the Qaeen ; I forget the precise "words . - The people applauded at Jntsrvals . The meeting lasted an lour altogether . One of the lessees of the market , Mr . Johnson , disturbed them , and cleared the Marketplace . 131 iBand Cappnr -walked away together , Capthb- carrrin ? ths stool on which they stood . ¦^ xMBined by the defendant 1 know
Cross ^ Cappur—• gie 3 ay because I had a store moved out of my shop on that day . The stool yon stood on was a three-legged stooL The arms ^ you spoke of "were destructive arms . I am ecewred in a law suit against Mr . Beanison in COBseqMBce of abuse I got for giving evidence against too si il * spec * commission . I never knew anything igsuist yen but your politics . GKsa-iixamined by the defendant Cooper—I never jsb j-ray "with the box belonging to the tailors' clnb at Chea-ile ; I formed the clnb , and waa its secretary for three wA&b . I was never a bully for a prostitute . in London or anywhere else . I am not influenced here by sny feelings of rerenge ; I came here reluctantly , owing to the annoyance I haTe received an g the insults 3 have as 2 y experienced from the Chartists for coming here . 3 have beea insulted in various ways in the public stieets . I bsva been hurt in my business and character
1 ) T the CharSsts . I nsed to employ six or eight men , but I h » Te only hid lately work « nongh for myself . I lave often heard Cippor spe » S ; 13 m certain that on the occaaoB I haTe already referred to he spoke of arms and the torch . He also alluded to pifca In ridiculing the church and the bishops , he Baiu thatUe church fcnd its cn ? in ^ nth that Woody tyrant Henry TilL "who fcadbis wife beheaded one day , and married a whore the ntxt , and the bisheps and parsons of the present 6 ay foSawed in his steps as far as they could . I spent do money in wine or riot while 1 was at Stafford before , and I never was drunk there . I expect , wheH the trials are over , what the county allows , and no more . That ¦ win not half remunerate me for the loss of time and loss of business to which I haTe been subjected . ' I do not come here for gin .- I do not co » e h # re lor gain . 1 da not expect Jo receive any part of the £ 50 reward which has been offered .
3 dr . Charles Davenport , examined by Mr . T . S . Richards—I am a surgeon residing at Tunstall . I remenibgr towards the end of June last , a meeting held on a Friday , in the Market-place . I went to it afeont eight o'clock . I knew a person named Cappur before that tifiiB . I saw him ttere . Ellis was there , also . Cappsr was speakiBg when I went . He continued for prohabJT not more than a mrnate ei two afterwards . Cippur introduced HBb to ihB meeiJag by saying be mrterstood he was ^ Socialist , bat whether he was or not , he belleTrdhlm to be an honest man . I remained then
abottt two minutes . I went away , and when I returned EUis was speaking . I beHeTe Cappnr was then there . When I returned to the meeting Ellis was relating an anecdot * of a boy begging of a parson . The parsoa asked the hoy whether he could pray , and the b-yj said he could sot . The parson then began to instruct him by requesting the boy to repeat after him iLe Lord ' s prayer . The parson "began with ** Our Tripf ? , which art in BeaTenJ" Than Gib boy , - ? e * y prcperly , as Ellis stated , asked the parson how bis fether could be th& boy's father . The clergyinan ihea
informed tHe boy that they had a father in heaven . 5 ie boj tiien asked ths clergyman if their Heavenly lather vss not an unjust and cruel father , for haTing fed him -the clergyman so well , and for haying starred him sthe boyj so much ? Ellis made some disrespectful and disloyal remarks upon the Queen and Royal family . He then said that the time was not far off when the somid secse and intelligence of the people would do * way with such a fiction as religion , and also the laws , which were made for the protection of a set of potbrlliBd parsons and pot-bellied Tories . I then left the Ejeetinein
dutgost-Cappnr expressed & wlBh tkat Mt DiYesport would gireMm acharactet . Mr . I > 3 Tenport said he wished to put Csppnr on his guard with respect to that question . His Lordship asked Cappur whether he wished the -question to be put , obserring that it must be as to his being " a good subject and a loyal man , " because the present charge against him was for conspiring against She la-wa . Cappur burst into tears , and expressed a wish that the qusstion should be asked . In reply to question , Mr . DaTenport said he had known Cappur twenty years . His lordship then asked Mr . DaTenport whether Cappur had borne the character of a peaceable and loysl subject ? Kr . 2 > 3 Teaport—2 f ot a Joyal snlyect , my Lord . Ht . Justice Erakine—Has he borne the character o ! a p- 'aceable man ?
Witness—1 should say , unconnected with his news ra the established religion of the land , and unconnected " with loyalty , that he was a peaceable man . His Lordship—Not likely to incite persons to the ejrrL'jment « f Tiolence ? ¦ pfitee ss—I csnnoliay that , my Lord . Cooper then proceeded to cross-examine the witness Viih respect to his haying said that Cappur was sot a Ipjalman . His Lordship intimated thai he thought Cooper onght to abstain from asking questions of that sort , for fear he should injure Cappur hy doing so .
C-Joper , hsweTer , continued his ooss-exsmination on Sas point ; and 3 n reply to his questions Mr . DaTenport said—2 call a man loyal who supports the monarchy of la country , and also its laws and religion . Mr . Csppur bas spoken is my hearing against the Constitution cf Sing , Lords , and Commons . I hare heard him say thrt the House of Commons was corrupt , and that the People were not represented tj the House of Commons . I consider that untrue . Cooper—Then it is perfectly tm « that the Honse of Commons is -upright , that the peoplB sre represented filers , that erery member is immaculate , and distiiifsisbed for honesty ? Sergeant Talfourd objected to the -question , as one which it was impossible for the witness to be abla to answer . Mb L * rdibip decided that the witness was not bound to answer the question .
Cross-examination continued—1 hare heard ten persons say so in my life ; I haTe beard Cappur say that the law was tyrannical and oppressire , made to oppress the poor , and to ssrre the interests of the rich . My lesson for saying that Cappnr was a peaceable man une > cn » eted with his Tiews on the established religion of tbe iaud 1 b , that I haTe heard him say that he was tat sa adrocate for monarchy , and that he was an demy t » the established religion of tbe land . C °° per—Are there not Dissenters is your town ? Witness—I think there are . Do they not oppose tbe established religion of the and ?—I beliere some of them do not I sfcink there » e Knag who grre their snpport to the established »^ ra of flu isEd . 1 thiEi 1 know some Weyleyans Are the Westeyai * Dhsenters ?—I suppose they are « k f * ed saoBgsi Dissenters .
» r ? T ? 22 ° * that ^ say themselTee that they are T . ntTv * 13 ' 011 ^ o ^ that Wesl ey himself said he was notvl >^ eEi& ? -q do . ^ nat do yon mem by Dissenters?—Those who ^ H *** asTerigjoii of the land . ef i £ ST peacable sen ?—Tea , 1 beBeTe Borne l ^ 7 fL 7 m tilat CsPP" & aot a peaceable bid , j ^ T . ^ ° PP ° eed tbe established religion ?—1 said , _ -EBfieted with his Tiews on the established religion Jir ' i 3 nd aaa loyalty ; 1 do not consider Mm a peacer ~ , mssmnch as I flo know tlat lie haaiiwated
B ^^ Lv ,. Oi 5 > ose both ffie ^¦ w * of Ms country aod slso ito ?***** ^^ M of the land . 1 haTe heard him ^^ multitaGes in ftose terms ; I haTe heard him ^^»^ the bishops as panpers and robbers ; I haTe ^ toaabttBe the whole body of the clergy , and the t > a £ r + r ^ Church . The Dissenters , 3 belieTe , cemil I = * T ttls ^^^ on of church rates is a robbery ; ^¦ wa to speak these whom I bare heart say so , I ™ iay they are not peaceable men ; but I would ' « 7 * 5 tths general body of them axe not peaceable HsTfcT * , ; ! . 0 * 0 " * 11 * ° ^ y tfc * 1 Cappur i « Botabe-Kwi JfnsSam ^; I neTer heard Cappur swear ; I f £ ™ i hasid distinctly what Ellis and Capper said , ~ - « mgn m yrhearine its not-rprv mwwi - ^ t » m m »« Bnd .
hi W * ^ last BPecial commission ^ I expert to " heal . ^ ^ Penees , but aza perfecUy indiferent « thT ^ i ? ? a ** ^ Otj 1 didnotirfuse-aje money VxitetnT comni 8 ^ oa ; I am no more indifferent to a tttlr * 0 < rther People ; I think I was allowed either « t ^ . 01 a sniBes a 5 aT 5 J recerred probably eleren * n » D ^/ nineasMd ffly nnleage ; this formed no intioe ^™ 1 to me to come , j » J left a rery extensiTe pracfcalUi . t ^ afls <* a » n in a ^ Ery delicate state of tevaittt BCTerljeardspeak of £ sv baing offered as i ^ m&t \ Z ™ ** « rideoc »; I reaS orei theeridence bsTej i ?* d * ed I «> uld giro yesterday morning ; I * aTEd in . en ^ re ? y ra my memory ; ths copy has not ^ oa Tanu , examined . byMr . Godson—I am what is > ™« pottert firemaa . " Sines January , 1842 , 1 haTe * orl 6 rt * ^ T " Wmiani Bidgway . Before that time I bow-nB 01 ^* 8 and Co -si } on i twenty years . I have ^^ fii ehards e = htegn years . I xeooHect Cunliffe ^^ me to a meeting at Ute end of July last . It was W& ^ , Jion - Hasley- I got lo tbe meeting « b ex and » sTen o ' clock ; 24 r . Bichards com-
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menced speaking when I was there ; EUis was there ; I saw G * orge Mart there ; Richards referred to the Queen ' s begging letters- Hesaid , "All who are in the sound of my Yoleehave heard tell of the Qneen's begging letter . She showa b . « BympaUiy'VMy mnch ; J > ut , as for my part , I would Bay , if the gallows Or th » guillotine stood before me , to hell with her and her sympathy . " A cry was thenmade to adjourn , and the chairman then rapped the table very seTerely , and said , " Unless yon go for tbe Charter , and nothing less than the Charter , J shall resist being chairman . " Richards
made answer " that if tha black-faced men would stick to them , they would setlla their wages . " There were a good many ooIHers in the room ; tbe crowd cried out again to adjonm , as the room web in & manner suffoca-Sng . &ud Richards said he would say before they did adjourn "Down-with the police , and to hell with the Queen . " They then adjourned , and Richards said he knew where hit old post would be ; he should mount the Swan horse-block . I did not go to the adjourned meeting , as 1 was disgusted ; I haTe sees Richard * and Cappui at other meeting ! as I passed along .
Cross-examlned . by the defendant Richards . —I believe fee meeting was called for the { occasion of youi settling the colliers turn-out altogether . The meeting was not called by a placard to my knowledge . My knowledge is put where your ' s is , I expect . You adTisei the colliers to stick to you ; I know & person named Than mer , a German . He wonld giTe me- a character for Teradty and propriety . Upon my oath , I aeTer ran away with any of Mb clocks without paying for them ; I never attended any GhartiBt meetings before or since I attended the Special Comissioii in a case of arson to giTe eridence against William Johnson ; I picked two men out in tbe prison , but I only appeared against
one . Your speech was not in the subjunctive mood ; there was no " if" about it You did not say « if the Qaeen neither can nor will protect tier people , away with bei . " It is quite the reverse ; 1 uerer heard you of Lite years impress upon tbe people tbe necessity ef peaceful and orderly agitation ; I heard you say bo eighteen years ago . You were then a shoemaker , and perhaps you might haTe been a " round" preacher . At the meeting hi July there were people in the room smoking their pipes , and the chairman rapped the table -and said , " Put out your pipes . " " Ay , " yon Bald , ** put out your pipes , or else you'll put out my pipe . " I nerer "was a member of the Methodist connexion .
Cross-examined by the defendant Csoper—I haTe been very ill since Ntmmber , and I have had a shilling a day from the parish where I live . I neTer told Mr . William or Jokn Ridgway that I was comiBg to giTe eTidence ; Mr . SteTenson first asked me to come here } the ends of justice might be served if you were imprisoned for two or three years ; it might Ttfonn J 0 U a bit ; I must les . Te it fco tbe gentlemen here ; I dare say some of the gentlemen hew will tell yoa how long yon are to stop in prison ; if it were left to me , yon might stop there for fourteen years . 3 beard Richards say , " If the Queen show her sympathy in this manner , if the gallows or the guillotine stood before me , I would say , to hell with her and her sympathy ; bnt we mnst show ours . " I am quite sure hesaid " to helL" The cry of " adjourn" came soon after , and they all went to the Old Horse Block . George Mart never spoke in the
meeting after the cry of " adjourn ;* there wasa cry of " adjourn" before ths chairman rapped the table , and one after ; I had not heard much about the Charter before ; I would not haTe run my head into it ; I paid pretty decent attention to what was said , but some of it might have escaped me . By " the black-faced men " I understood the colliers ; there might haTe been 40 or 60 colliers there ; a great number weie potters ^ the colliers had their pit dresses on ; perhaps there were half-a-dozen that cried " adjonrn . '' I dont fenow what was said about the police bafore Richards cried oat * ' the police ; " I have known Richards about eighteen years : I had heard him preach , and used formerly to think him a respectable man ; my opinion altered before I heard him speak at the meeting ; I haTe often seen him in a cart , or on horseback , bnt neTer attended much to what be said till I heard him at the 8 ea
Lion . 2 do not like the Chartists' doings ; they were the cause of the barracks being built and the soldiers coming ; we should have no need of them else . For what 1 know yon might have been the malicious , unprincipled instigator of the disturbances and burning people ' s houses . Re-examined—Cunliffa asked me to go to the meeting ; I do not know if he was a Chartist ; be was afterwards convicted of Arson . MaryFradley—I Uto at Hanley ; my husband is a watchman there . I was at Yates ' a teetotal shop on the
last Sunday in July ; there were many colliers and potters there . I saw Richards there ^ be was talking to the people when I came in . He said , bow many flocked I to the race course to tee them red ragged devilB ; had ' he a son that listed for a soldier , he would break either leg or arm before they should serve as such . He said , neTer mind ball cartridge when the fray begins , | blood for blood , and then we shall gain em point , and ! the Charter win fee tbe law of the land . He then 1 said he had some letters to write , and wished them ¦ good night
Cross-examined by the defendant Richards—1 know nothing about you , or whether you haTe a son in the army or no . I never said that 1 thought you bad said nothing wrong . I repeated your words to my husband . Mr . Suvenson sent me a subjcena . I saw yon on Monday -when toe disturbances were , talking to three eoUJers near to ten o ' clock . Ton were between Jeremiah Yates ' s and the Royal Oak . I did not hear what y .-u Esid , but your hand wm going as if you were saying something serious . Every man was armed with a biz stick . It was just when the windows of tbe policeoffice were broken ; 1 am on good terms with my husband ; I never said he would be the death of me ; he has been too good a husband for that In the conrse of ths cross-examination , Richards said he was very sorry to say that from the turn which tbe evidence had taken , he should be compelled te rebut it with counter evidence .
- Cross-examined by Cooper—I got the snbpoeia about the nth of March ; I was here at the Special Commission ; I had 5 s . a day during the time I was here ; I did not spend much of it in Stafford . I went to my znotbert bouse ; I neTer heard of £ 50 being offered aa s reward for giving evidence-Re-examined by "Mr . Alexander—Jerry Yates ' s house is about two hundred yards from the Royal Oak ; ay husband is here . Richard Forrester , examined by Mr . Sergeant Talfonrd—I am clerk to Lord Grahville , at Shelton , and nephew to his agent . On Tuesday , the 9 th of August , there waa a meeting at tbe Crown Bank . I went there about four in the afternoon . There were 300 cr 400 persons there . I had seen some people coming in
proeessjen from Burslem , about dinner time , between twelve and one o ' clock . On the platform 3 aaw . Cappur and Richards . I found Cappur addressing the meeting . Richards was near enough to hear what Cappur said . He was next but one or two to him . There had been a disturbance a * Bnrslem on the previous Saturday evening- Cippur said he had seen that morning . a gentleman who came from Boralem , and he asked him ( Cappur ) what he thought of the proceedings of tee Saturday night before . Cappur said he did not answer him , but asked hhn what he thonght of tbe Duke of Wellington ' s conduct on the continent , when he posted his army on each side of tae Rhone , and decoyed the enemy betwixt his lines , and fired upon them . He said the gentleman , said those were military tactics , and Cappnr , addressing the crowd , said , " Yes , my friendB ,
we must have military tactics , or we shall never get the Charter . " Cappur then said , that he bad worked an erglne when he was a yoniur man ; that he wentaway and left a lad with it . and that the lad , to make it draw more coals , weighted the steam clack , that is , the valve , and when he came to it again , it was actually trembling on the seating ( what the boiler stands on ) , and he was afraid to take tbe weight off . So it was , he said , with public opinion . He said pnblie opinion was so over burdened or oppressed with taxation , that it was like unto his boiler , and would one day burst with a terrible explosion , and it would then be over with such humbug Ministers as Sir James Graham and Sir Robert PeaL He proposed a resolution , something about throwing property into . one common fnad . This address was cheered .
Cross-examined by the defendant Cappur—I believe there were printed circulars sent about tfee neighbourhood for a meeting , but I do not know what the purpose of the meeting was ; I do not know whether that ¦ meeting was called the Paupers' Meeting . I have heard you speak three or four times in the Potteries . Cappnr—Did I not say that ( be poor being driren to desperation might meet with the same fate as the boiler , and ' that I wished to join with my friends to preTent . it ? Witness—You said it would burst Dont yon think that Whigs and Tories have got me to speak for them at elections to keep th « m in good humour ? I don't know . Djn't you think I generally kept them in good humour ?
Yes , I think they were in tolerable good humour when you were speaking . Cross-examined by the defendant Cooper—My nncle knew I was eoming here ; wo haTe never tslfeed abont my coming ; 1 dare Bay he knows on what errand I am come here ; Mr . Ward , of Burslem , an attorney , first asked me to come ; I was at the last Special Commission of Assize here ; Cappur said he had some houses in High-street , and Chell-street , ani Piccadilly , in Tunstall , and he would be glad to throw those houses into tbe common fun * , if others would agree to do the same . He did not propose that the plan should be effected by force . Cooper also endeavoured to shake the testimony o ! this witness by insara&tioni against his general conduct The Court was adjourned at twenty minutes past seven till nine tbe following morning .
WEDKESDiT , MjlRCH 22 . Michael Holt , examined by Mr . Sergeant Talfonrd . — I am a potter , rending at Iiongton ; I was in my house , which is abont a quarter of a mOe distant from Di . Yale's , Longton parsonage , on Sunday , tte 14 th of August . About three o'clock In the afternoon I saw a procession headed by -the defendant Cooper pass my house ; the procession , which then consisted of forty or fifty persons moved to a waste piece of land , near the Wheat Sheaf ; I followed them ; they were singing something as they went along , to a hymn tune , the concluding words o £ which were and " Rescue Prosfc , Williams , and Jones . " After tbe sincing was concluded , Cooper addressed the crowd "which consisted at GuBiiHiaof probably two ei three hundred persons ,
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and continued to increase . Longton church was right before him , and divine service was bei « g performed in it at tbe t ! m « . He commenced his discourse by observing that those religious people would wonder what he ba < J to say . He leTerred to the church , and said he had as much right to preach Chartism and politics on a 8 nnday , as a minister had to preach the gospel . He went on to say that Sunday was not the Sabbath-day , but it was well to have a rest day , that they might walk in tbe . fieldB and smell the flowers . He quoted from the New Testament the passage which fltated that when our Lord passed through tbe corn fields with bis disciples on tbe Sabbath-day , the diflcfplet began to plnefa the ears of coin and to eat He ( Cooper ) did not say that they had done wrong—it wa » a case of
npces-Bity . Cooper made sonse reference to tbe Jewish sabbath , and to the commandment whieh said " thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath-day , " and remarked that if anyone lived in a strietly Jewish family they would see the knives and forks put on the table at irix o ' clock on Friday night , where they would tem&in until the same hour on Saturday night . He said in coming from Leicester he had met 30 , 080 people at Wednt-sbury , and had advised them not to go to work nntil they had got a fair day ' s wages for a fair day ' s work . Ho afterwards heard him say , " Now is the timefor the Charter , and the Charter we will have ; the L » rd has given us a plentiful harvest , and it is not right that people should starve ; " and he might be allowed to say what s member of Parliament had be « n stated to haTe said
in the Honse of Commons , that where the people conld find food they must take it He then went oh to say that every one must know that John Wesley was a good man , and lived upon £ 28 a-year that be might have more to give to the poor , and drew a comparison between Wesley ' s conduct , and the clergymen of the present day . Cooper next alluded to the Church service , and said that Father , Son . and Holy Ghost , being spoken of as three persons , and yet one God , was mere humbug . He heard him remark that the military were very few , and that there was nothing to fear , as there was not ten soldiers for eyerj town in England . He next drew a comparison between the rich man and the poor . He said the rich fared sumptuously every day , and hardly knew -what carriage to lie down in ; and he enquired what is the poor man ' s comfort ? A distressed wife and starving children . He then said that he must conclude his remarks , as he should have to lecture at
Hanley , at six o ' clock . Before the meeting dispersed , there was something sung , tbe chorus of which was " Spread the Charter through the land- " Cooper gave the words out [ The defendant here took out a " Chartist hymn book , " and read tbe hymn to which the words had reference- } The meeting was concluded by prayer , after which Cooper said tUat if any one Hfeed to sign for the Charter they bad now an opportunity , as a person was present who would take their names down . The meeting took place within five or six hundred yards of D » . Yak '" s house , who is the rector of Longton parish . He saw the Doctor ' s house the next day towards evening . The mob , after attacking the Town Ball and the Police Office , went to the rev . ge-itleman ' s . There was not a single artiele of furniture left whole in the house ; the windows were all broken , and the house set on fire . He saw many -of the mob lying on the premises in a very drunken state .
Cross- * xamined by Cappur—Witness was a Dissenter , and belonged to the New Connexion . He had heard him preach , but never took much notice of bis doctrines . The last time he heard him was at Longton , in February , 1841 ; it w&b at a Chartist meeting , but he did not know whether the subject was on religion . He never knew any one take much notice of what he said . Cross-examined by Richards—I did not see yon at longton on the 14 th or 15 th of August . I have frequently seen you in old Z ion Chapel , Longton . Cooper next proceeded to cross-examine tbe witness at very considerable length , occupying the court about three hours and a half . The following are some of the answers : —
I swear I saw you at the hsad of the procession on the Sunday afternoon . It was not the old hundredth psalm tune you were singing , neither were the words " all people that on earth do dwell , " those used on the occasion . I recollect hearing you speak of stopping tha weavers at Leicester . You said that Sunday was not the Sabbath day ; but I do not rtcoUect whether yon said all the Doctors of D ' . vinity in the kingdom could not proTe that Sunday wm the Sabbath day . Did not hear you say that Christ and his Apostles made no allusion to what we call Sunday . I recotlect your quoting our Lord ' s words about the duty of drawing an ox or a sheep out of the pit on the Sabbaih day , but do not recollect whether you said you considered it was right to draw the people out of their miseries on the Sabbath
day . You said it was well to have a rest day , but rio not recollect that you said it was well both as a civil and moral regulation . I heard yon say that you should have no objection to two or three Sundays in tbe week . Do not recollect hearing rou relate an anecdote of a person who professed such a reverence for the Sunday that he would not put a clean shirt on an that day j do not recollect your saying that all the precepts of Chris * tianity tended to joy and cheerfulness , and not to gloom . [ From the cross-examination which then followed , the defendant made it appear that he had inculcated upon tbe meeting that as God ' s nature was essentially love , he bad not created man to make him miserable for ever , and therefore he denied , the eternity of punishment as incompatible with the goodness of God . J
1 recollect hearing yon say that the eolliers at Wednesbury were ou strike foi wages ; thattbey were to have 4 s . per day , but now it was proposed to reduce them to 2 a . 6 d . per day , or words to that effect ; do not recollect your saying that you were much impressed when you baw 30 . 000 persons holding up their black hands like so many shoulders of mutton ; I heard you say that they were perfectly quiet , but do not recollect you saying , when a resolution was put to maintain peace , law , aod order , " they all held up their hands . Did not hear you say anything of tbe Corn Laws : I heard yoa say that the Lord had given us a plentiful harvest , and it was sot right that we should starve ; you ridieoled tbe fioctrine of the Trinity , and said it was mere humbug , when alluding to the church
Berviee : do not recollect hearing you say that the word " trinity" was not in the old or new testament , and that it was a barbarous word , and not invented until many years after tbe appearance of Christ and his apostles . I do not recollect your saying many things you have asked me ; I recollect your saying that you bad been a Deist two years , and that by reading " Paley ' e Evidences" you had become a believer in Christianity ; that John Wesley was a good man , and a practical follower of Christ , who , like him , bad been engaged in good works ; you made allusion to clergymen of the Church of England , and said " I suppose your rector is a very good man . " When you said those words there was nothing in your manner to shew that you said them with a sneer or to ridicnle him ; I beliere Dr . Vale to bear the character Of . & man Who is cbaritab e to the poor ; I did not hear you say
that there were several goed men in the Church of England , and that yon were under deep obligation to one clergyman of that church . Heard you say that the Irame-knitters got 7 s . per week , and that they had te pay the rich manufacturer 3 s ot it for rent , dec . ; did not hear yon say that you knew scores of men in Leicester who n « ver tasted flash meat for tbe twelvemonth round ; did not hear you relate an instance of a man who came intoyonr 8 b » p , saying with an oath " I wish they would hang me , as I have been living upon potatoes for several days , and this morning I have eaten a raw potatoe to appease hunger . " Do not recollect your relating so anecdote of a Right R « V . Father in God riding in his splendid equipage , with bis attendants , in London , once meeting with a ragged Irishman , who solicited alms , when he passed him by unnoticed . The meeting was concluded by singing ; some of the words
were" God save John Frost , " and " Spread the Charter through the land , " Let Britons bold and brave join heait and hand . " I did not see or hear of your being at Dr . Vale's on the 15 th of August Mr . Benjamin Boothroyd examined by Mr . Richards—I am a surgeon residing at Shelton , and remember the 15 th of August I went to the Crown Bank , Hanley , between seven and eight o ' clock on the morning of that day . There was a meeting being held at tbe time , and tbe defendant Cooper was addressing the crowd . He said he had been addressing a meeting at Wednesbury , at which 15 , 000 colliers were present , when it was determined to cease work until the
Charter became the law of the land , and then added , " I am not come here to advise you to do anything , but to tell you what is doing elsewhere ; although when you ha-oe heard what is doing elsewhere it is very probable yon will determine to do the eame thing among yourselves . " He Baid that delegates had been dispatched from that meeting to various parts of the country to instruct tbe people . Waat else they were insttneted to say he must not state , for they must know where to stop . He then remarked that the greatest good bad resulted from these missions , so far as he had heard , and that work had ceased * at Bedwortb , in Warwickshire ; Bedford , in Shropshire ; and the counties of Northumberland and Durham , and would soon cease elsewhere . He read a letter confirming the truth of
what he bad said , but suppressed the writer's name , adding , ?• we must know where to stop . " Tbe defendant then spoke of the low rate of wages , and referred to Scettand , where he said it was well known that miners were only earning 2 s . Jd . per day . He said that the Charter was the only tiling which could secure them " a fair day ' s wages for a fair day ' s work . " He then stated that it was the opinion of some tkat winter was 5 better time for colliers to strike than summer , as coala were more in demand , and they would be more likely to obtain their object when snow waa on the ground ; bat he was of a different opinion . He said , "it waa mote pleasant t » be
idle in tbe summer than in the Winter ; and , in the second place . It is more comfortable when you consider that the fields an now full of food for the sustenance of man . You may ask bow are you to live during the suspension of labour ? Why , bow do they live elsewhere ? They do live , but perhaps not very well , and yet almost aa well as the poor working people . You must not forget you have tbe fields full of food , but I dont tell yoa to steal it- I do not say I WDUld steal it myself , and therefore would cot advise you to do what 1 was not willing to do myself ; but there it is , and thiB iB not a world in which people should starve . " He introduced a dialogue between a miner and a ming-owaer , in which the mine * owner waa
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represented as begging of the mirier to go to his work , adding that it would soon come to that if they would stand firm . He then alluded to the unfair character of the legislation io the kingdom , and the law between debtor and creditor . He alluded to the Leicester Court ef Requests . He said ifc was no uncommon thing for a houseuolder ' B goods to be sold for a debt which another had contracted . I heard him say you have recently got a Court of Requests , amongst yourselves , and a great blessing I suppose you will find It to be . I did not notice any particular effect which the speech had npon the audience . T&e damage to the Court of R ^ uests was dona about three houra after the conclusion of the meeting .
Cross-examined by Cooper . —I saw you in tbe Hanley lock-ups when you werebrongbt from Leicester with fetters round your legs , when one of tbe persons in the place remarked , that they ought to have been round your ntcfe instead of round your legs * to which you replied that you hoped it was not an Englishman who had said it , as it displayed but little of an Englishman * spirit I bad no regular conversation with you . You said yoa were much deceived in the Charttets of Hanley , many ot whom you knew to be teetotallers , if they had anything to do with the mob . I do not recollect hearing you say that you had expressed your regret , both to Mr . Rhodes and Mr . Cottrill , at what bad taken place , and that it Was quite contrary to your wish or will . I aid not think your speech calculated to excite the people to commit the violence they did , but I have not said that I aaw nothing in Cooper ' s speech to excite either fear or terror , or anything alarming , aud I was surprised to see him come back . I wasnot surprised to
see you come back , when I saw you associating with the men who were the first and foremost in the work of outrage ; I particularly allude to Jeremiah Yates , who waB convicted at the Special Commission for turning out the workpeople ; I do not know of my own knowledge that Jeremiah Yatea was the first and foremost in the outrage , but I know that he was convicted . Most people conclude that when a man is convicted on clear evidence he is guilty . I don't know what you mean by the term Ridgway man . " I am a little man , aud an apothecary , and so far a " little apothecary . " I don't know what you mean by tbe term " Ridgway tail ; " I have not been engaged with Mr . Stevenson , or his clerk , in getting up a second charge of arson against you ; I know Weaver-street , In Hnnley ; I never went with Mr . Stevenson , or biB clerk , to a woman , and showed her a bag of money to come and give evidence ; I did not hear you say that Mr . Cobden , or any other member , had stated in the House of Commons to S r Robert
Peel that the 60 , 000 starving people of Stoekporfc could not be put Jown by tae military , foi they would be justified in taking food where they could find it . There was a meeting held on Tuesday afternoon , at which Mr . John Ridgway and others attended ; the meeting waa called by the Chief Bailiff , to persuade the people to refrain from such acts of violence aa had been committed ; this meeting was afterwards broken up by the military coming into the town . I heard you distinctly make allusion to the Court of Requests in the town . I have myself said that class-legislation , te a certain extent , was unfair . Cross-examined by Richards—I have an Indistinct recollection oft seeing yoa at one of the meetings on Tuesday , but do not recollect bearing you speak . CroBs-examined by Cappur—I couW not recollect a doz > a words you have said at any time ; did not see you when you were so foolish as to mount the triumphal car when Ricardo was chaired at Longton .
Re-examined by Mr . RiohaTdB—It was about tbre . 3 hours after I had beard the defendant , Cooper , allude to the Court of Requests , that that building was attacked by the mob . Josiah Mills , examined by Mr . Godson—I am a china cilder , residing at Upper Hanley ; I was present at a meeting held at tbe Crown-bank , Hanley , on the 15 th ot August ; I was not there at the commencement ; the defendants , Richards and Cooper , were there ; the crowd consisted of about 1 , 000 persons ; after Richards had dose speaking , the defendant Cooper said he considered himself -tho self-elected chairman of tlio meeting , and called upon a person named George Hammings , to move a resolution , which stated , "Come all ye that are heavy laden , and we will give you rest . We hereby
agree to stand by the resolution at the Manchester meeting ; that is , to stand and cease labour until the Charter becomes the law of the land . " After the resolution waa moved and seconded , Cooper came forward to put the resolution . The defendant Cooper remarked " that it would be an easy matter to get the Charter , for if outy one-tenth part of the population came out on a certain day , we shall have tho Charter and nothing can stop us . " He said there were on ! y ten soldiers to every large town in the kingdom . The defendant remarked , some said that winter was the most favourable time to stand , but he considered the present the most favourable time ; , as there was plenty of food on the ground , adding , I den't tell you to Steal it ; I would
not steal it > myself ; bnt I leave you to put your own construction upon it" There were many persona sitting on the ground , who had thick cudgels in their hands . At the conclusion of the meeting , there was shouting for two or three minutes , and many of the crowd moved to the colleries of Lord Graaville and stopped three engines . They then returned , and part went to Messrs . Motley ' s manufactory and turned out the workmen , and tha other to the Hanley police-office , and broke the windows , threw out the books and destroyed them , and flung out the constables' staffs . I was at the meeting on the Crown-bank la the evening ; I saw Cooper with a number of other persons coming across the Marketplace ; they were singing
" Spread the Chatter through the Land , && Cooper addressed the meeting , which waa commenced by ^ singing . I recollect some of the words , which were" The Lion of Freedom is loosed from hia den—We w ill rally around him again and again . " Cooper said be waa sorry to see so many drunk around him . They ought to abstain from drink and go about their work in an orderly and peaceable manner , or else they would be detected . He said " he bad beard many reports of what had been doing during the day , but it was not for bim to say whether they were true or not , for he had bean at the Royal Oak , and Jeremiah Yates ' s , and the George and Dragon during the day . " I beard of the burnings aud riots during Monday , and went home but sat up all night , beifig afraid to go to bed . I went aqain to the Crown Bank , Hanley , on
Tuesday morning . William Ellis and the defendant Richards were there . Eiiia was addressing the meeting ; and in allusion to the soldiers said there were not above three soldiers to every town , village , and hamlet in the kingdom , and that the Weekly Dispatch had let the " cat out of the bag , " with respect to where the militaiy lay . A meeting of the authorities was held in the afternoon , which was attended by niatiy of the respectable inhabitants . The meeting was called to dissuade from further acte of violence , and to get the people together to protect property . There was a counter resolution put to the meeting , which was carried . Richards and Ellis spoke . EUis , in allusion to the uieB which hud taken place in the neighbourhood , enquired whether the Reform Bill was carried without fires ? Where tbere no fires at Bristol ? Or were there no fires at Nottingham before tbe passing of the Reform Bill ? r
Cross-examined by Cooper . —I am a Corn Law B . & pealsr . You were preaching on Sunday evening on the Crown Bank , from the 6 th commandment , " Thou shalt do no murder . " When the Bervice waa concluded , yon gave out that there would be a collection , which was accordingly made . The collection was made in hats . You s iid in reference to your text , it was impossible to obey that commandment whilst the laws were constituted as they were ; but that command could be obeyed when we got tbe Charter . In speaking of the Charter you said all must become Chartists—indeed we will make you Chartists . I did not give evidence of all that 1 have now said at the Special Commission v . ben you were tried for arson . I have stated nothing but the truth I swear you had a walking stick in your band
when you said yon were self-elected chairman . Did not hear you say that it was union which brought about the Reform Bill ; did not hear you say that many of the great events in history have been brought about by a few intelligent minds . Did not recollect tLat you spoke of the people taking food where they could find it , for tbemaulves and their families , that you said Mr . Cobdvn , or any other member in the House of Commons bad said so . The men with cudgels in their hands sat on the ground quietly whtn the speaking waa going forward . I am not in the habit of remembering things which sever took place ; 1 had not a magnifying glass to magnify walking sticks into cudgels ; I did not Bee you tuke part in any ef the outrages ; 1 heard you reprove the men f « r drunkenness , and tell them to go about their work in a peaceable and orderly manner . 1
understand by " work , " the same work of destruction they had been engaged in during tbe day . Did not recollect yonr saying , " my lads , yon have done your work well to-day in turning out the hands ; go on as you have begun , and yon will get tbe Charter . * ' Did not hear you say you were sorry if some things yeu had heard were true ; did not hear you say " 1 am sorry you . have destroyed property , and you ought not to have done bo , as that will ruin the cause , and you will not get the Charter . " The defendant cross-examined the ¦ witness at some length a * to whether he ba 4 had any conversation with bis employer , Mr . W . Ridgway , as to the circulation of the Corn Law Circulars and the Anti-Bread Tax Circulars in the manufactories , the proceedings ef the Anti-Corn Law League in tbe district , and other matters .
Tbe Court adjourned at nalf-past eight o ' clock , only three witnesses having been examined during tbe day .
Thursday , Mabch 28 . James Wilding examined . —I am a China Painter and live at Hanley . On the morning of the 16 th of August I attended a meeting at the Crown Bank , after it bad eonunencedV It was after nine when I went there . Mr . Cooper was addressing the people . I remained there till the meeting separated . The people went down Brunswick-street or Piccadilly on the left from the Crown Bank iu a direction for Earl Gran * ville ' s colliery . After the meeting , I was near tbe Police Office and saw the mob demolish the windows aud hrenfe into the Police Office . Books , papers , and staves were thrown out of the office . The mob proceeded to Mr . Gibba ' s house , who is the collector of rates . The same kind of work went on there aa at the Police Office . Books aud papers were thrown out by the mob . The mob proceeded down High ,, 3 treP , ' t , Shelton , to the Court
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of Rtquesta . I followed them and saw the same kind of destruction of property as at tha other places . I afterwards went to tho Poltoe Office at Stoke , where 1 saw destruction of property and a fire . The fire was made in front of the Police Office in the street . I afterwards went to Mr . Allen ' s , at Fenton , and saw that great destruction of property bad tafcso place . At the morning meeting it was stated publicly there would be a meeting in the evening . | Between six and seven in tbe evening . I saw Mr . Cooper at the meeting on the Crown Bank , I have no positive recollection who else was there . I bad seen Mr . Richirde and others come down the Market-place with Cooper in the direction of tbe Crown Bank and found a great many people assembled . I heard Mr . Coopar , address the meeting . He
complained of many of his friends being drunk . He said that they would betray themselves , they would be detected , they vould be Bold , what other things they bad done be approved of . j There were some persons standing ax a distance and he told them to come forward to hear what he had to Bay , be said he supposed they were Tories . He ssudj be did not advise them to commit acts of violence , he did not tell them to do so , but from his manner I ( understood that he meant them to do it He used gestures and shakes of the head . Thia was after he had said he approved of what they had done . Either at the morning or evening meeting he said there were not ten soldiers to each town . Before the meeting jbroke up another meeting was announced publicly for the following morning ; Cooper was present when it was announced .
Cross-examined by Cooper—I should wish to see a regulation in the Corn Laws ; I am a Corn Law repealer ; I don't know any man called " Dirty Neck ;" I aiu not the man ; I have had my clothes six or seven months ; my hit is a new one ; l bad it in exchange for some china ; the china was my own ; I bought the china ; 1 got the money by regular buying and selling ; I can't tell how I got every particular shilling ; I bought and sold what I produced , and I had some wages for my work ; I did not work much , I had not much to do ; I cannot tell you how much I have been employed during the last six months ; many have not been employed ; you put a stop to that in August last Cjoper—Don't you know that your character throughout the Potteries is that of a filthy and idle man ? j Serjeant Talfourd—Really , my Lord , it is not surprising that witnesses lose their temper .
Cooper—My Lard , I think that the appearance of the witness in the box is sufficient Mr . Justice Erskine—The man ' s appearance is before the Jury ; yoa can maKe your comments upon it when it comes to your turn . ; Cross-examination resumed—I have takes tbe benefit of the Insolvent Act , unfortunately . The witness was cross-examined as to his owing money to a lodger , which he denioi ; and also as to his being acquainted with a man named Johnson , who was a witness at the Special Commission . Cooper asked if he had not heard that that man was turned out of Court by ene of her Majesty ' s Judges , and his evidence refused . Mr . Justice Erskine said be could not hear anything of what her Majesty ' s Judge did without knowing his reason for doing it . I
The witness was next asked whether he knew a widow named Margaret Mutnford , and that she had two houses . He replied that he knew her , but ^ as not aw ^ re that she had two bouses which belocg ^ d "to her . Coojw—Did you ever defraW her out of auy money f Mr . V . R Richards—I object to that Co « per My Lord , is that an improper question ? The Judge—The witness may decline to aaswet it . Cooper—Did you ever defraud her of any houses ? Witness—1 shall not answer it Cooper—Da you decline to ; answer that because it is a family affair ? Witnuas—1 decline to answer it Cooper—Do you owe a great deal of money for a poor man * Sergeant Talfourd—My Lord , for tbe sake of the public time , I think te right to object to that qaestion formally . Witnesses are not ) beund to disclose their private affairs . The Judge—I think the question may be put .
Cooper—I must say , in answer to Sergeant Talfourd's remark , that I am not acting with a desire to consume the public time . Judge—The Learned Counsel does not say you are : but he says that the effect of what you are Baying is to consume the public tuna ¦ Coopar , to witness—D > you © we a great deal of money for a poor man ? Witness—I ) don ' t know that 1 do . Have you ever been in a lock-tip in your life ? Oh , I'll tell you all about that if you { like . At the Newcastle election , in 1831 , Mr . Wedgawood , Mr . Miller , and Mr . Edmund Peel , were candidates , and the potters were very * anxious to bring to their man , Mr . Wedgwood , and they neemed vexed at it the same as men do get vexed when they are losing . A disturbance took
place , and I was goiDg down the streets , not doing anything , when two Newcastle men said here is a potter ; they put me into the workhouse , locked me up for half an bout , and then discharged me . The witness was examined at some length as to his having belonged to the Potters' Unions for an advance of wages . The teamed Judge told Cooper that if bis object by that cross-examination was to shew ; a justification for workmen combining to raise their wages , he might save himself the trouble of continuing an examination of the witness ou that point ; as he ( Mr . Justice Erskine ) should tell the Jury that there was nothing illegal in workmen combining together [ for that purpose by fair he had
and Je ^ ul means . Cooper replied another object in view . His chief intent was to shew that the oppressions used by the manufacturers generally , who were Corn Law Repealers , to i throw their men out of work had caused the late riots . ! Their ( the defendants ) object was to clear themselves of the charge of conspiracy by shewing thia : and ! they should feel them-Bwlves slaughtered if they did not make this justification . In the conrse of further cross-examination . Cooper asked his Lordship whether it ( was consistent with the rules of justice for one witness , who bad been examined , to take notes of the subsequent ! evidence as he saw the witness Mills was doing ? :
His Lordship replied that it was quite consistent , and that there was nothing to prevent it . Cooper—There is a atrong Impression , warranted by a perfect knowledge , that there is a juggle , if this man is allowed to mata notes and go out and show them to other witnesses . j The Judge—Bnt It is not proved that he has done so . Cooper made some remark in reference to tbe irght of the defendants to have ; an impartial trial . The Jud , e—I am sure no case was ever heard with more patience than the present ' Cooper—I am sure , my Lord , ! I am sensible of your kindness . You have been kind- beyond a degree , and and more than I could have expected . It is only our peculiar circumstances that induces us to act in tbe way we have .
Cross » examination resumed—I never said I wonld bang you if I could . I have said that I was sorry I had to come against you . I dou't go about saying that you ought to be transported because you oppose Corn Law repeal ; I never said you ought te be transported at all . I cannot recollect ever having said that you caused my poverty by opposing free trade . I have said that your influence , and others connected with you , has disturbed peaceable meetings when they have met for a different object than that of promoting the Charter . For instance , there was a meeting called at Hanley , on the christening of the Prince of Wales to taise a subscription to give a dinner to the aged and tbe poor , but tbe Chartists interfered and would not allow it ; they would allow no meeting but what had the Charter in view . I believe I have said that the Chartists opposing free trade had done an injury to business .
Tbe witness was further cross-examined by Cooper as to the part which be bad taken in previous flections for Stoka-upon-Trent , aud as to the words which witness had represented Cooper to have used with respect to gathering the harvest Cooper's object appeared to be to show that he had said to the people " What ! you will say strike for the Charter when the harvest wants gathering ? l > and that he then replied that it was the province of the yeomanry—the { farmers- —to go home and gather tho harvest Tbe witness repeated that he
understood Cooper to mean that the people must go and gather what was then on the ground at harvest time . Witness added that he believed he used both the w jrds " plenty on tbe ground ' and " harvest . " He ( witness ) bad not used the w » rd harvest in his evidence at the Special Commission ; but he bad jnot now used it from reading in the papers that other : witnesses bad done so . Cooper put a number of other questions to the witness , which he repeated several times , and to one of them the Witness answered I'll not charge my memory . "
Cooper applied to his Lordship to take that answer down ; but ] His Lordship declined to do so , having taken a similar answer previously . ; Cooper then said—Then I shall feel it my duty to make a memorial upon it HiB Lordship—Very well : y 4 > u may make it The cross-examination was , resumed ; and Cooper asked a number of questions with the view of shewing that tbe witness had either encouraged the riots or had expressed approbation at particular outrages . This the witness most positively denied , i
Iu the course of some subsequent cross-examination . Cooper put several questions with [ the' view of shewing that the magistrates wbo had committed him at Newcastle allowed leading questions to-be put to the witnesses by tbe solicitor for tbe prosseution . The wibaess Blade some answer to one of tbe questions which Cooper wished bla Lordship to } take down , bat his Lordship declined to do bo . Upon this Cooper again said that he should feel it hia duty to present a memorial on tbe subject His Lordship . —I care not , in ( the slightest degree , what memorial yon may present I shall take thenotea
of what I think is material in the case ; bat I desire , Sir . that you will nut dare to threaten me with any memorial , or I shall feel it my duty to vindicate the authority of the Court by inflicting upon yoa seme punishment . ) Cooper , with much earnestness , assured his Lordship that when he said he should present a memorial he meant that he Bbould present one against the magistrates for allowing leading questions te be put to the witnesses , and that he had had no intention to offend his Lordship . He conld assure his Lordship that be bad misunderstood bis ^ ( Cooper ' s ) meaning . His Lordship ' s conduct bad beenlfcind to him beyond , measure . ;
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Hi 9 I / ordabip intimated that If Cooper ' s remarks applied to a nremerial against the magistrates , he ( Mr . Justice Erskine ) bad nothing to do with that . Cooper . —1 suppose there could be such a measure as hringing an action against the magistrates ? His Lordship" —You must take advice from some other person on that qaestion : but 1 cannot allow yoa to examine this witness with a view either to a memorial or an action against the magistrates . 1 cannot allow evidence to be given excepting With reference tO the Question before tha jury .
The cross-examination of this witness was ultimately closed about three o ' clock , having occupied five hours and a half-Mr . William Palmer , examined by Sergeant Talfourd —I live at Hanley , and am the lessee of the Hanley Water Works . On the morning of the 15 th of August i sa-w a mob of people goin ? towards Lord Granviile ' 3 pits ; 1 afterwards heard of tbe damage done to the police office ; between ten and eleven o ' clock 1 went to the Royal Oak , and related what 1 had seen and beard to the landlord ; the landlord called the defendant Cooper from a par'our in his house ; the defendant Richards was in the parlour at the time ; at the request of the landlord Cooper came out of the parlour , and ho requested me to state what 1 had seen ; 1 toM him that several bailiffs had been turned out of a house by tbe mob , where they had possession of the goods for T 6 nt ; and also that some shoemakers and stone-masons , and also the workmen at the large manufactory of Messrs .
Morley ana Co ., had been compelled to leave their work ; 1 also told him that 1 had heard they had broken . into the police < race , torn up the books aud thrown out the constables * staves . Cooper , on hearing the relation , remarked . «• That ' s right , that ' s right , that's the way to do it . " 1 certainly left Cooper , . and , 1 believe , Richard's at tbe Royal Oak . There was a meeting at the Crown Bank in the evening ; 1 went there after tbe meeting had commenced ; Cooper waa speaking ; be said , addressing the crowd , " you have done your work wall to-day , but 1 am sorry to see so many of you drunk ; yeu must not take drink , for so sure as you do so , you will be sold or done . " He alluded to there being very few soldiers ia the country owing to the 4 raiD of them for the wars in China and tbe East . Defendant said he understood there was a desire to arrest him , but he would so manage hia addresB &s that they should not be a ' jle to do so ; 1 did not see the defendants Richards or Cappur at ths meeting .
Cross-examined by Cooper—1 am a Corn Law repealer ; 1 can positively swear that i made the reJatien of the breaking into the police office , turning oat the workmen , &c whilst you were in the room at tbe R > J& 1 Oak y I recollect your denying before the magistrates that you were in the room ; 1 do not know whether you said " that right , that's right , that's the way to do it , " with reference to the turning Gut of the workmen , or to the destruction of the property that had taken place 1 understood you to say that they would be defeated in obtaining the Charter if they got drunk . You advised the crowd , in case of . the soldiers being brought out , not to molest or taunt them , but to allow them to pass , and they would harm no one . 1 several times heard you exhort them to observe " peace , law , and order . "
Mr . James Moxon , examined by Mr . R . V . Richards — 1 am an attorney livirjg at Skelton . 1 recollect a meev ' ng being held on the Crown Bank , Hanley , on Tuesday , the 16 th of August 1 saw the defendant Richards at the meeting ; he was elevated on a platform . Mr . John Ridgway having previously addressed th « meeting , the defendant Richards got up to Bpeak . He said Mr . Ridgway bad been t 3 lfeing a good deal a >> out fiscal regulations , but did not know what he meant , and added , " but 1 will tell you some time , lads . " " 1 wonder what Bobby Peel thinks about us ; 1 should say be did not feel quite so easy now , as he has not got it quite s « much his owu way as he thought of having . 1 should not wonder if ho wonld not be srlad to change situations with a poor old cobler . They
find their half measures won't do for us now , but we both must aud will have the Chatter . " The defendant then went on to say , that talking of half measures very much reminded him of a tale he heard the other day , and aa he was fond of keeping them in good humour , he would relate it . This gentleman happened to have a very Valuable dog , which bad a disease in the tail . He consulted the proper authorities , aud found it would be necessary to have the dog's tail cut off . He accordingly directed bis servant to do it . The first nU'ht he cut one joint off , and the dog howled much , being in great pain ; the next night the servant cut off another joint , and the dog howled still louder ; the third night he cut off another joint , when the dog howled so tremendously , that he quite disturbed the master in the parlour . When the master came out to m . ike enquiry about the disturbance , the servant said he had been cutting the dog"s tail off ; but he thought it would be so cruel to cut it off all at once , that he
had done it at three times . Now we must have the tail off all at ones ; we wont be cheated and gulled any longer with their half measures ; you have nothing else to do but stick to what you are at , and the day ' s yonr own . Where are the soldiers now ? They have not got ten soldiers for every large town in the kingdom . Stick to what yon are at , and the day is your own . Kicharda then said , before patting , let me give you a word of advice , above all things avoid drunkenness , " be sober and' vigilant . " Will you drink their poisonous stuff to injure yourselves ? Defendant said a young friend of mine , as worthy a lad as ever lived , would b © lodged in Stafford gaol this morning , at a quarter or half-past five , for nothing more than being caught drunk at Dr . Vale ' s . " I again repeat it , " said be , " will you take their poisojoous stuff ? If you do you will defeat yourselves ; ' only stick to what you are at , and tbe day ' a your own . " Witness bad beard the rumour that Dr . Yale ' s house had been on fire .
Cross-examined by Richards—I only heard the latter part of what Mr . John Ridgway said . The part which I bestd was an admonition to tbe people to be quiet , and n ; ot fcalce any violent measures such as they were doing , as the way in which they were proceeding was not the way to gain their point . He also advised them to go home and . be peaceable . I do not recollect that you said that the property and income tax would be a perpetual blister upon the small trader .. Do not recollect that you ' said , in referring t » tbe tariff , that Sir Robert Peel bad benefited one class at the txpenco of another . I believe you might have made usa of some
of the expressions , bat not of the whole of those you have put to me . Heard you advise the people to go on aa they had done , and the day was their own . I inferred from that you intended them to follow out the same , line of outrage as they had just done . I have heard you speak at other meetings . From your speeches you mai . ifest a Btrong wish to get the Charter . 1 did not remain until the close of the meeting . I heard William Ellis apea ? r after you . 1 am positive that I heard you say that a young friend of your ' s had been taken into custody and lodged in gaol for being drunk at Dr . Vale's . [ Richards denied that be knew any such an individual . ]
Cross-examined by C > oper—I am not a Com Law repealer ; cannot say that I have been at any of their meetings . Am not on Mr . Ridgway'a or Mr . Mason ' s side . I could not swear that the anecdote abont the dog's tail bad a reference to tbe substance of the speech . I thought some of tbe expressions nsed by Richards had a reference to the riots , rather than to the obtaining of the Charter . I am sure he used tbe words " stick to what you are at" several times . I am sure that what I have said about the soldiers was what . Richards Btated . Did not hear Mr . Riugway say that their desire for the Charter was unreasonable . Did not bear Mr . Ridgway say he was opposed ta the Charter . Mr . Ridgway advised them to be peaceable , and Richards cautioned them to abstain from drink . Re-examined by Mr . Richards—Tbe faces of many of the men at the meeting appeared as if blackened by smoke ; they were swarthy and dirty , as if they had been up all night .
In reply to questions put by the Judge , at the request of Cooper , witness aaid the faces of the men did not appear as if purposely blackened . John Williams examined by Mr . Godson—I am 2 grocer residing at Sandbach , in Cheshire , which is about twelve miles' from Hanley ; I went to Hanley on business on the 16 th of August , and got there about halfpaat seven in the morning ; I saw Mr . Parker ' s and Mr . A . itkea ' 8 houaea ; [ went to the Crown Bank and heard Ellis addressing a meeting ; Ellis said it appeared to be tbe watchword at the different meetings to have " a &ir day ' a wages for a day ' s work ; " hut his watchword was " political rights to the working classes ; " fas until they obtained those rights they must not expect . " a fair day ' s wages . " He went on to say
that there was but ene soldier for every hundred persons in th # kingdom , and that if they did not get their rights beforo the red-coats came baek from India and China , they would be thrown back a hundred years . He said , that George Thompson and the anti-Corn Law / League-were a set of humbugs ami despotic tyrants : they wanted a repeal of tha Carn Laws tbat they might reduce the poor man ' s wages ; he said the bishops wera rolling in splendour and living on the fat of the land , whilst the poor were starving , He iEIUb ) went on to © bBsrve that be bad not had the opportunity of hearing the first pact of Mr . John Riagway ' s speech , but he had read bis speeches delivered both in the Potteries and London , and from what he had heard he was a worse Whig new than be was twenty years ago , and advised tbe meeting to take no notice of what be bad
said . I left the meeting , and soon afterwards it broke up , and a crowd overtook me on the road to Buislem , which bad come in tho direction from the Crown Bank ; I pot to Burslem before tbe crowd ; there was a dragoon at tha door of the George Inn , when some persons biau&ahed their B&kka and cudgels , and ran at him ; he repeated into tbe house , and endeavoured to close the door ; some persons afterwards entered into the ins , and the crowd outside broke the windows ; atones were thrown at some of tbe soldiers ; I beard the Riot Act read ; there wasa conflict between the military and the people , and one man was shot ; the crowd from Hanley and the crowd from Leek had previously met together ; . the crowd consisted of abont four or five thousand persons ; I saw about thirty Boldiers in the town .
CroBB-esamined by Cooper—When William Elite was speaking of the tedrcoats , I did not hear , hint advise the crowd fco Bgbfc with the soldiers . I beard tbe conclndicg part of Mr . John Ridgwaj ' s speech * £ a which he Bald he sympathised with the working classes , bnt be advised them not to be led on to then own destruction . I am not a Corn Law Repeater , neither , a CouwrvatWe ; or a Radical , es a Chartist . ( Continued in our Eighth P> < j
Untitled Article
THE NORTHERN ST A R . f ' ' ¦ ¦ i ¦ ¦ ¦ —m . . ¦ ¦¦ . ¦ .,, , i . ¦ i . ¦ . i ^~ - ^_^ - ^_ . ^_— ——_ . _ I .. M i ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ I"I"M h ¦ ' ' ¦ . •—^^^^^^^^ mm M „ , m ^^^*^^* . ^^^ m ^^ m ^*^^^ m ^^^ 0
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 1, 1843, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct928/page/7/
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