Star. — London, England, 1819-10-01 00:00:00

~~ . If 113 k UI . ceased did require my attendance before the Inquest commenced. Mr. Asitwoarit.—l do not attend for any party, ' but to elicit truth, and to guard against the publica tion of garbled, imperfect, or contrived statements, for the purpose of producing a particular effect on the public mind. You are aware that, as Coroner, it is your bounden duty to hear evidence in vindica tion as well as in accusation. It appears to me, that sinless such evidence appears against any individual, in the opinion of the Jury, this case should not go . on as it does. Unless some such case is made out, it is a waste of your time, and of that of the Court, to continue this investigation, the public mind being kept in a state of ferment. I think, therefore, that unless there is some charge against some individual or individuals, y'ou cannot go Into any inquiry into the legality or illegality of the Meeting. It is only for you to say whether there is any charge of mur der against some individuals, to call for the investi gation of those facts of the Meeting. If it appear that 'malice prepense was attributable to some individual, then inquiry is applicable as to the character of the, Meeting. I say then, that some charge should be made out before you determine to protract this inquiry to such an indefinite period as is now in contemplation. 'Therefore, I say, unless a charge be preferred against some individual or individuals who can be identified a; having attacked the deceased, and that such at tack was the cause of his death, this inquiry cannot be prosecuted. I say, that there has not been any specific evidence that any one gave a wound, which seas the cause of the death of Lees. It can be shown that there were other causes, besides his wound, for the death of Lees. Ido not want to irritate—l do not desire to excite ferment, or to enter into personal con test. There may be an object in this mode of investi gation ; but I say, it should not be sought through Tom. There is another mode—let it be looked to.— We have all an interest to allay the ferment that pre vails-4o put an end to dissentions must be the de sire of all good men ; and, therefore, I trust that you will not allow yourself to become instrumental to those who seek to keep alive such dissentions. Are you aware that in consequence of your toleration of certain individuals here, and deciding it to be an or en Court— CORONER—I have not so decided. Mr. Asiiwottrn.—l beg pardon, Sir; I do not mean offensive language. I admit it is a Public Court ; but only to those who are likely to give evi dence. But this Court is under your controul as much as that of the Judges at Derby, where the de tkion was to be final. Yet the Judges there said— We will deem it a contempt of Court, if any pub lication take place until the trials terminate.' These masons were just ; but your order here was founded on still stronger reasons ; because persons, who here may be accused. may be prejudged and prejudiced by the publication of c.r paste statements ; for surely the case of the accused should not be brought before the Public, clothed with the asperities arising from en-parte publication. Yet will you believe, Sir, that although it must be long before any evidence in jus tification of those to whom ttjame is imputed can be brought forward, lite evidence for the accusation is already before the l'ublic ? Every intelligent and fair man must deprecate such a course as must injure the cause of justice ; for we know the structure of the Liman mind, and the influence of first impressions upon it, especially upon suob minds ; therefore I call upon you, as you ate competent, to order that no publication of any part of the evidence shall take place until the whole shall have been adduced.— If your miler be broken, let it be so ; hut allow me to request, in the exercise of your discretion, that you will issue the order. If there be no legal means of enforcing your order, let any Gentleman, or any enlightenel man, ask himself whether such a publication as I deprecate, be in any degre: fair ? 1 say, that by various Acts, and especially by the Sta tute of Philip and Mary, you are authorized to put down all the evidence on both sides; therefore, you having full power, it is your duty to take care that those powers shall not be the engine of injustice; but I hope you mill make the order to which I refer. I address you in order to save time; and I call upon. you to declare, that, until a charge be made out against some particular individuals, any inquiry into the character of the Meeting of the 16th August is ireelevant ; but, if any such charge is made out, a full invettigation of that Meeting wculd be quite correct. know not who are retained for the Crown. I am here on the part of those against whom it is understood that accusations are to be preferred. I have as much right to appear here as in any other Court. I do not appear here under the shelter of any authority, which would afterwards disown me. Ido not skulk like an ignisfatuns. I bring you an authority, - and if any one else has a proper authority, he has as much right to be here as you; but I main tain that no one, without any authority, I mean no personality, has a tight to address you. I come here to facilitate justice. You ate competent, to prevent the investigation from extending thus, perhaps for months, if not ad ilfinitum, a Gentleman declai ing that he'had 70 witnesses to examine. Perhaps these 70 may become 700, and thus your time, so valuable to the Public, may be occupied to an indefinite ex tent. But you are competent to say to any Gentle man that he must shew that he can lay some evi dence before you against some individual or indi- Vtduals, to fix some stain of the crime upon him or them, or he should not be allowed to proceed. Consi der, Sir, how much the Country is agitated upon the subject, and how many persons in this neighbourhood are withdrawn from their proper business to attend to the proceedings of the Court. Therefore, in every point of view, it behoves you to decide against the way in which this inquiry has gone on, and has been planned to go on, instead of putting some charge in a tangible shape. Let it be shewn, first, that the deceased received a wound that was the cause of his death. You have bad the evidence of a surgeon, that the wound upon the elbow of John Lees was not the cause of his death. The CORONER said that a comment upon evidence was inadmissible. Mr. Asiiwolern.—l beg pardon. I only require that spme evidence should be adduced of the nature I have described, and that a loose and indefinite in vestigation shoulVt be allowed to go on. Mr. HARMER rise with great deference and difideace to answer the elocrient speech of the learned Gentleman, who first told you he was employed by the town of Manchester, and afterwards by the party who, it was understood, were implicated in the al leged offence. Will the Gentleman write down what he states as law ? The Gentleman expressed his desire for a full investigation. Neither you nor I know who and how many may be impugned by the ' evidence. I can undertake to say, that several per sons will be charged by name with being concerned in the murder of John Lees, for I hold that every one in the corps by which Lees was wounded, was as guilty as the man who actually struck the blow.— Mr. Ashworth has spoken of the time of the Jury, but I am sure that Gentlemen would deem no time,mis spent in inquiring into the cause of those atrocious deeds. He also spoke of your time; but I under stand that you yourself once held an Inquest that Listed five weeks. Can that, or any other case you ever heard of, be as important as the present ? The Gentleman stated, that he had a right to priaduce evidence in defence of the accused. I admit that; but I undertake to prove that the Manchester Yeo manry, by a wanton attack upon the people, were the cause of the death of John Lees and several others. I maintain that every one present aiding . and abet ting at that attack, which terminated in murder, were alike guilty. CORONER—In consequence of the appeal of Mr. Ashworth, I must say, without animadverting upon the evidence generally, that no identity has been proved— all the evidence applying to the character and conduct of the Meeting. But we have no evidence to shew the persons who made the attack upon John Lees. Mr. HARMER—I have shewn that his death took place immediately after the attack of the Yeomanry; and I will identify many of these Cavalry with se veral persons who were present aiding and abetting. The CORONER stated the order he had issued on the first day of the Inquest, to prevent note-taking, and as that order has been violated, lie said—l would prevent note-taking if 1 thought myself competent ! Mr. ASHWORTH—I ple.!gc myself, that you are so competent, after a consultation with two or three of the first lawyers in the country. CORONER.—I recollect that Mr. was employed by The Times. The Reporter of The Times.—l sent the notes in company with your injunction; 1 sent the notes as I did, from duty, but leaving it to their discretion to publish. But after what has taken place to-day, if you will allow me to take notes, I shall not send my notes to the office until the Inquest shall have termi nated.—The Chief Baron, at Derby, said only that it, would be better not to send the notes to London. We are not all idiots. CORONER.—Iiad you not time enough to prepare your notes for the Press, as you could have so much matter published within twelve hours? Mr. Asuwouru repeated his opinion, that it was competent to him to prevent notes. CORONER.—I further understand (to the Times Reporter) that your notes were sent by express. Reporter.—lt was not se; as the notes were sent by the Liverpool mail from Knutsford. CORONER (to the Times Reporter).—Ton were culpable in sending your notes with such haste ; I will prevent you or any one from your Paper from note-taking. Reporter.—l will pledge myself not to send the notes in future. Conotent.—l cannot beliave your pledge. Mr. Asti WORTH called for an extension of the ie. junction not to publish until after a farther trial, if any such arose out of the Inquest. .CORONER.--•-1 have issued that order already. Now, as to the other parts of the Learned Gentleman's ad dress, I will call for evidence immediately concern ing the death of John Lees, and to point out or idea. tify those who are accused of inflicting the wound . upon Lees. Mr. 1 - lAnmtn.—Several persons have been already identified in evidence. The CORONER expressed a desire that Mr. Harmer should say by what authority he was sent here, as that question had been put to Mr. Ashworth. Mr. 11ARNIER—I was desired by the mother to attend at the time the Jury saw the body. Now, allow me to ask again, by whom Mr. _lsbuortla was called upon to attend? Mr. Asnwowrit made no reply; but the Coroner produced a letter from Jonathan Andrew, a Con stable of Manchester, requesting Mr. Ashworth to attend. _ _ The Coroner here ordered the Reporter of The 'Times to cease note-taking : Reporter asked fur a written order. Coroner refused. Reporter—lf you commit me, that would be proof of your order. CostoNet—l restrain Too, Sir.—(To be continued.) MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. Yesterday being fixed for all the parties held to bail to appear and vacate their recognizance', the News-venders presented themselves in the morning at the Sessions-house. Thomas Dolby, late of Wardour-street, now of the Strand, was the first name called. The charge against hint was, for selling the con cluding number of Sherwin 's Register. The usual fee of 2s. Bd. was demanded for entering the discussion of the recognixances. Dolby—l shall pay no fees. lam here, as required, to have my recognizances discharged ; here are my bail, discharge them. I am innocent ; no bill was even preferred against me ; and if there are fees to be paid, let Mr. Birnie pay them, as the penalty of his error. Mr. Iticiwins, Deputy Clerk of the Peace—l know nothing further than that you are here in discharge of your recogni zance. ; and unless you pay the customary fees, I certainly shall nos discharge them. _ _ _ Christopher Harris, of Broad-court ; Robert Shorter, of Wych-street ; William Watling, of the Strand; and James Sainsbury, of Pulteney-court, also charged before Magistrates for selling Nos. 1 and 2 of the Republican r Jtihn Hockley, for holding the Manchester placard at the Crown and Anchor doork , and Wedderburn, the " political preacher," of Hopkins- cou rt" Chapel, were next called, and all appeared. Indictments were preferred against the two latter only, and ignored. They seve rally refused payment of any fees, and demanded that their re cognizance, should be discharged. Mr. Ricisaaos—l repeat, I shall discharge none, except the fees are first paid ; you must take the consequences of your refusal. 1)1r. Carlile's name was called, and he appeared. lie said he was also bail for several of the individuals present. He refused payment of fees, and demanded to know on what Act of Par liament they were enforced. He also asked the Clerk's name. Mr. Rictimine—l am known here, and act on the custom. None of the recognizance. are discharged, although you have all appeared here, and will not be, without all fees being first paid. You know your answer, and do not interrupt me. The parties and their bail still crowded round the table, de. minding their discharges; and Mr. Ricuaaos being unable to proceed with the other business, took kis parchments, books, jnd money, and retired. The other party Aid thc leaving the Hall crowded with other* who (Mended on - TRPOoL mtErtria itat clay assembled to express th e i r sentinie ety l ie LIF . ...---0 therefore hoped and trusted, that no thi ng from the lips of any ihdividual which "ad ten 7 w ou ld OUTRAGESSAT MAIICII2-4TEL , 44 For, my worthy f r i end , , - 'is. was held at Clayton - Wednesday last, a M eetin g of the Inhabitants of produce collision of opinion —.( Loud ch„,.,"t Li v erpool and its •ricinity , That which combines us is mow , And let not a meaner action rend us ; at Manchester on tie consideration the proceeding s ;What's amiss, may it be gently heard!' for his own part, he did not come bef and of agreeing to a Petition to A in u th gu a s t r t l o a w st n , , for the purpose of taking into ()re A m accuse the Magistrates of Manchester of a Fte ,,,, 1 , lected that a Requisition was, some time ago, pre - tated violation of the law, nor to charge the armed and unoffending fellow-citizens , notto i r , sensed to the Mayor, to convene a Meeting of the manry Cavalry with wantonly butcherin g 1 1.6„ .. t° ' s th lq6u e tha P reo rince Regent on the subject. It will be recol- against his Majesty's Ministers for comprorrisini; , Req up u o i n sit m io r ist r s e , however, were determined to take the senst of their it approbation of actions, t om whose nv:r ' :Z honour and dignity of the Throne by niixing- p ; k ' c lll o h ns a i b d i e t r a a n t t i s o , n, K n 'l o liC d h ou t b h t : t ref G u e se n d d . e T m h a e n lished a notice, calling upon the Inhabitants to huiaan nature turned away with ablearcnce4' . \ , meet on Wednesday , The Chair, it was announ fellow.townsmen on the subject, and therefore pub left to others, who were better able to di;ir, -; ced, would be taken at twelve o'clock ; but long be- came before them to conjure the Prince ltez eo ; fore that time, a considerab le crowd was collected his wisdom , to institute an inquiry into the-,i; „ round a temporary hustings, which was erected in ful outrages which had filled his subjects with 1 that part of the Square fronting the house of Mr. ror and dismay, from one end of his dominions tc Worthington, at *hich the Committee were assem- other—( Loud cheering). lie would exhort hid e bled. At half-past twelve, the Right Hon. the Earl Highness, as he valued the institutions of his to of Sarrox, accompanied by Colonel WILLIAMS, Mr. and the peace and welfare of his people, to GRENFELL, jun. (the son of the Member of Parlia- justice to he adeninistered with an even hand, ment) the Rev. Mr. SHEPHERIA, Mr. Bomar, Mr. where the offence was, there to let the great ;tufa SANDARS, and several other Gentlemen, ascended the It was the compact between the Sovereign at hustings, ant was received with loud and continued Sekect, that protection and subjection should applause. As soon as this subsisted, Fran in hand ; and that compact could net Mr. Boom came forward, and observed, that, be- broken, by either party without producing the not fore they could enter upon the business of the day, 'fearful results—results which it was the duty rierc :7 it would be requisite that they should elect a Chair- good King and every good subject equally to der: e. man for the Meeting . He was happy to have it in cafe. He then observed, that he should i l l -,iisch• his power to propose for their acceptance a man who his feelings, if he did not declare, that by the I was known to every individual among them. —a events a breach had been made on the weeks of , bleman, who was the tried friend and the firm sup- Constitution, which it was the duty of every man to porter of the Rights and Liberties of the People— repair ; it was a duty which would well become!' (Loud cheers).—He begged leave to nominate the Baron, the Knight, the Esquire, aye, and the pi oneers Earl of Sefton, and to move that he should take the and all. - Though lie used military figures, he ab. Chair—( Vociferous applause). horred military weapons—(Cheers). He would , ' This motion having been seconded and carried, nothing—he would exhibit nothing, but the awf u l the Earl of SEFTON rose to address the assembly, and frown of an immense multitude, like the preset, was hailed by the enthusiastic greeting of every in- assembled to assert their rights, and to dem, dividual who composed it. He began his speech by strict adherence to the laws—to those laws which. observing., that, in taking the Chair, to which he had alike the arbiter of the King and People; he would been called in so very flattering a manner, it became exhibit nothiag which should not render it:c Is 1 his duty to draw the attention of the Meeting to the fond of power, and awe knaves into honesty. (Cho:-:. immediate object for which they were that day as- He would willingly speak of the Constituted Ar;.l., sembled ; and in order to do it in the clearest man- rities of his country with all the respect which ner possible, he then read to them the Requisition due to them ; and if at any time, on any eccasic on which it had been convened. It was unnecessary doubts should exist as to the criminality of their 1:. for him to say a word regarding the respectability of tentions, lie would give them the benefit of tin:: those who had signed it, as they were well-known to doubt—((:beers). lie would give them his supr `all present. He should, however, observe, that they f ar , , what was power, if it was to be put into had sent it to the Mayor, in order that they might ance or be derided on suspicion? For his own pi,. have his sancticn to their procZedings : if they had he was frank to confess, that in his opinion the L. obtained it, he should have derived great satisfaction gistrates of Manchester did not instruct the Yee from attending a Meeting so called ; but as they had manry to inflict summary vengeance upon the mr not obtained it, those Gentlemen who were of opi- titude ; on the contrary, he believed that all nion that the town of Liverpool, from its vicinity to atrocities which were perpetrated, proceeded' the scene of grievance, ought to express its senti- the wild notions of justice which those Gc.— ments upon that grievince, found themselves corn- entertained, and for which they would probably hare pelled to pursue their present line of conduct, as no to answer at the Bar of their offended Country. .1: other course was left open to them. The terms of the same time, he could not forget, that, by , the Requisition were distinct and clear ; and he had previous and subsequent conduct, by their attem no doubt but that he should receive their support and to screen the accused, by obstructing inquiry, they assistance, when he expressed a wish that they should had acted contrary to law, and had justly forfeit, confine themselves to the subject mentioned in it.-- the confidence cf the Public. Bet he (IN most feT• He felt that that subject was the only one which tainly hope, that the Prince Regent would not , ought to be considered—(hear) —it was interesting dismiss them from all places of trust and profit, but enough to require .their sole investigation—(hear)— also from his Councils, as a preliminary act of atone and the introduction of any other topic, however ment to his offended people. The winter would nu vital and interesting it might be, either in his own pass away, without bringing to light events of ' opinion, or the opinion of others, would only serve poreance : past events had created great dir to diminish the effect which all of them wished the and nothing but inquiry would allay the rising fc Present Meeting to produce—(Cheers, an d san t e cries ment. After stating, that, without a firm cr.:, of " No, no").—The eyes of the whole country were among the friends ot liberty, the country would s!::: fixed upon them ; their proceedings were viewed with either under anarchy or a military despotism, he anxiety by every party in the State : t h e degree of concluded his speech by proposing, that the Meeting it might differ in the different parties, but it existed should adopt an Address to the Prince Regent. in them all. By one party they were looked to as The Rev. W. SHEPHERD, on coming torward to an important part of an indignant population, which second the motion, asked permission to conpatalatc had been roused into activity by t he belief of gross his friends and fellow countrymen on the numbers outrages having been committed upon the People ; and respectability of the assemblage which the by another they were looked to as men ready to mons of the Requisitionists had brought to; ...,.. star.d forth, with the rest of their countrythen, and He saw around him friends of freedom, of every ( 1 - demand redress for the injury which had been in- ferent shade and description : this was as it s hould flicted : at the same time they were watched by a be; this was as he expected it would be (Loud cheera; third party, who hoped that their present proceedings for the point at issue was not one of minor importance: would afford it another opportunity of reviling, ca- was not whether this system of policy was good, and lumniating, insulting, and, perhaps, personally at- that better; but whether Englishmen had, or had tacking the pecple—(Loud cheers).—He was con- not, a right to meet to discuss political questions a: vinced, that whilst they made the cause of either of all?--(Cheers.) The point at issue was not any I I : f the two former parties their own, they would disap- the ordina r y topi cs on w hi c h pu bli c opinion w as ca point the hopes and wishes of the other party, by the vided; but was, whether the people of England had regularity and order and decorum of the proceedings a right to state their grievances, and to con•ider the of that day—(Cries en We will, we will.")—He means of remedying them ? He was certain that he would not detain them any longer, except to require was speaking the sentiments of the whole country that a fair and patient hearing should be given to when he declared, that the people had a right so to every person desirous of addressing them, if that per- deliberate, and when he further declared, that who' son confined himself to the subject ache Requisition; ever interrupted them in the exercise of that right, he had nothing more to ask of them, except their in- was guilty of high treason agains • t the Constitution— dulgence, of which lie knew that he should stand in (Loud cheering). Upon this ground he would r est ample need, as he had never been previously placed his foot : here was a sentiment in which all were in a situation similar to the one which he at present united. He begged and implored them to attend to . , occupied—(Long and loud cheering). what he was now going to say, as the g ood result° , Mr. JOSEPH SANDARS congratulated his fellow- their meetin g depended upon it. They were net i townsmen on the appearance of a man of Lord Sef- assembled round the graves of their sleughten` ton's character and importance at their present Meet- countrymen ; and he could wish evil to befit! t)te maa ing. He hailed it as an auspicious omen, that the who, deviating, either for private emolument or Pt " Aristocracy of the country were at last rousing them- v at e ambi t i on , f rom t h e b us i ness o f the day, shou ld selves from that apathy in which they had been so bring disturbance among them, and break in upa long and so disgracefully plutiged—( Cheers). In the - hallowedsolemnity of the occasion- 1 ( this time of peril and danger, when the liberties of They were now met to consider the propriety of i't England were trembling in the balance, suc h an dressing his Royal Highness the Prince Ite;ent, a" omen would add nerves to the timid, hope to the of implor' 1 • t o in s t i tutea full and sul mg him distressed, and confidence to all—( Loud cheers).— quiry into the melancholy events of the Dial °I The example of the Noble Earl would not be lost Afigust. In d • were evi ncing their 16yalty so otng, t hey I,i upon the country ; it could not fail to be productive to their Prince, and that attention and re,peet to of the most salutary consequences, and would tend character whi ch was due to the character ot the S 6• , more than any other thing to bring t oget h er an d to vere i gn o f a f ree peop l e ( c h eers ) ; f o r they welt p'.i.4 unite in one common cause all ranks and classes of ting him in the way to escape from those ill-adri.eA UP the comtnunity —(C heers). If property were, as it who had surreptitio us ly obtained his approb. iLion had been denominated, natu r al d om i n i on , t h en t h ose d ee d s o f bl oo d an d mur d er , w hi c h, if proper!; ' l ' who possessed it were the natural leaders of the presented to him, would have called forth his l'i* 0 WS people—( Hear, hear ) —and it was a happy circum- most detestation.—[A voice front the crowds • I , •e t!re stancelin the constitution of society, that the higher hunibugg,ed!"] He would shortly iecapitii .. the scale of gradation ascended, the more necessary circumstances which had taken place. On t! - - e l ' -':-.3 t) was it to take care that all should be right below— of A 11 3 nd:este: . ugust, a number of men met at .. . , ~ i 3, (Wear, hear). They were now met together to peti- deliberate on the necessity of a Reform m 13 . ' • ‘ eiC tlY tion his Royal Highness the Prince Regent to insti- ment : their object in such a Meeting was - • .: tute a full, fair, and efficient inquiry into the late legal: indeed, it would be wasting time to enter i ) e proceedings at Manchester ; and if there were any any arguments to prove its legality : for surely :: thing calculated to make all ranks and all classes people had a right u pon their grievances to meet grievances unite for one common purpose, the preservation of and he trusted that, whilst a true Englishman all, surely it was the calamity on which they were iu the countr y they woulJ e x e r cise Lll4 tight, u'v • foi .d f,4 d u ind t4 ,1d d e to the eta to Mee etw i. duct eof ei t to p -ter er ina, 5, is .;p tati( t a - 7 41 L ion it, }i t or b : 'l /(14 . fled di ho t . . a is totli/ the is I{ ll 4 .. ce I tomb ; ; lat di tt i t it td, a r k ate hIL / ash and the s he ',lt'd go inF net Et at t :he m 0 ... 1 ;side of evtly re o depre. s— ischarge ' the lat e oul ks of o the man to inn tome the pioneers the] he ab. rat t 'mild we ecr :he awfil . y Ptetems Tr, lemaad a St; Lich an th he sentild • C it:c Is less 01 • r ehich w..s occasion, f their it. Itch t of that ail support; into ;they- .d own par, is a a the IL- a t the l'eo- or 1 the mai- it all the -sc tided from ientlemen oc ably hare oc ;atty. At ag , by their 151 attempts . ay airy, titer ld y forfeite'd most ter- in not only r. lrofit, but it t of atote hi - would no !nts of ira- disconter.t, rising fee. s irm urn is kculd sot ism, le Meeting b • orwara to e numbers 1 h the SOM . 11 together. : every clit- s it should 1, iud cheasi; mportance; good , and .4 ad, or had nestions at • no t any of i ion was di• • had ie n t hate>le country • r ight so to that who- that right, ist i tu tion— wou ld rest ai l !id 'l e d the ; h all %sae o attend to )d result a were new lxu Mete! Eil the man sent rat Pr"' hey, should in upas • rietv of ad- tee,ent, and solemn iu he liith °f heir ls.:yalty ,pcs. • t to his r of the Sc• r woe p;i:• robittion to sroperly re• nth his I ;t* 1 ,4 41 a's t t!re P' • In tl:e ncilestert ) in P•irdis^ ,vas strict?y a enter ilto surely :!:e g rievAnces s hinAn t isht, 'AO