Star. — London, England, 1819-09-27 00:00:00

voc iio7o, 'SEPTEMBER '23. - • • (From The Vases). . r,,, eyen i 6 g a person of the name of Ryder was it i r : ej be f or e t he Magistrates by one of the Con -41, ch.trzed with calling out 44 Hunt and Li -- r e ,, ,,, ,u a spot where the report of a pistol was ler! hav e b e en heard! The Constable who took 0 .01 t ' •Ahe " itraer 5 . 11.., that had not seen the pistol," nor : i h e charge the prisoner with - .any offence but c . :. c i ;,,ining with others in the cry of " Hunt ~ 7 1, ,,,„t y r me prisoner declared he had never il' l .., Hunt," &c. However , that Ryder might xi: . ; e his impr is onment for nothing, Mr. Murray— .lir.3l!trr.ty who was beaten and ill-used by some 1 '" iLoi c ,ls, at the White Moss, on the 15 th of $,. ,, 5 t, the day p r evious to the fatal Meeting—came r od and affirmed, that lie could wear positively ,t i . s aner being one of those who then attacked i.,..v iot her person also said, that be could identify 1` " a' being guilty of the assault upon Murray.— T:.i.7l,oner again protested his innocence : he de -0.!,i ;hat he did not know where the White Moss vs a nd could bring his master to prove that he was - nu: of the house on the 15 t h of Au g ust. As rr . v ,..,,, L:owcver, and his friend, had made so un ji::.! an accusation, Ryder was remanded. SEPTEMBER 24. _ . • ni3riong, onus, Ryder, whose case we com p:.icited to you yesterday, was again brought up. Th e Migistrate, Mr. ETHIMSTONE, desired him to c." 3 wimesses. 13 prisoner called Elizabeth Swalley, at whose he said he lodged, and who could prove that he 1 1. at home on the 15th of August. rx Magistrate desircd Mr. Murray to come for ad, and to state whether he was satisfied, as he had o w yesterday, that the prisoner was one of the per. , a s*ho attacked him. Mr. Moray said, that he had examined the man Try anotively after he left the Court yesterday, and iihno-ht that he was too high for the man who had gix teal him. The Magistrate then ordered that the prisoner 40old be discharged. Ryder, before he left the nxi, complained very much of the injustice that had kelt dere to him, and declared that he would take porr steps to have legal satisfaction. He had been refined for two days, on a charge that could not be rino:ted, and he was determined to seek redress. paced Kaye and James Saville were brought up. A person said that he went to the White Moss on Igh of August last, to see what was passing, and tint he heard Kaye give the word, " Right about," Ir. Two or three score then came up, and among tits Kaye, who struck him. Other persons deposed to the same effect against Lie and Saville; but none of them could identify sntie, who was accordingly discharged. Kaye, being called on for his defence, said, that 'adici not strike the complainant, but did not deny let he was present at the Meeting. He was not ware that he had committed a breach. of the peace. Mr. ETHELSTONE--I believe that you are a down light blackguard Reformer. Some of you Reformers men to be hanged ! and some of you are sere to be hanged—the rope is already round your necks! de law has been a great deal too lenient with you! (Addressing the Clerk)--I will have no bail for this lady crew, unless they have some money. Bail was then offered, and particularly examined kr the Nlagistrate, who objected to him; but final* id, that if be could prove to. morrow that he was tocient, he would be accepted. The Bail declared nix he should have no difficuty in doing this, as he vs well known to several persons that were in the habit of attending the Court. The nest case was that of a Mr. Wilson, a respec- *salesman, who appeared in Court with the dress al manners of a Gentleman, and complained that UM Gower, a Special Constable, had this morn .7la:tailed him, and without the least provocation cocked him down. To support this charge, he called Mr. Johnson, t 1,9 is als o a res p ecta bl e salesman, who fay con bad his statement. Ire Constable said, he did not strike Mr. Wilson ti he was collared by him ; but called no witness. He was ordered to find bail, himself in 401. and two sureties in 201. each, to answer for the assault at the twos. A complaint was then made on the behalf of a F:son of the name of Barrett. The charge was, that hail been ill used and violently beaten by two Like ( hlicers, named Primiett and Collier, in a Pr•b;ie-hou•e called the Grapes, on Friday night last. —Bare:t himself was unable to attend, and a letter a surgeon, stating that there were cer tolii‘iJ ks about him, which probably had been educed , hy blows. The defence was, that the man I li very druid, and that when they had taken him of th e house, he s lipt out o f their arms, and fell the ravenient, which occasioned the bruises. :natal witnesses swore positively to the ill-usage t:lizrett by the beadles ; but a host of officers de that the bruises had not been occasioned by s:,.:elice on the pint of the beadles. ltevet end Magistrate considered the weightofl kite in favour of the officers, and dismissed the i:-:1. T'^i • • ''''lung at eleven o'clock, Mr. Max; tbe ts c r a v ttended at the George and Dragon. Pt tc :Ad an Inquest on the body of neei balton, wh o di e d on W e d nes d a y l as t. 31:. ' 11 A aNi tit, who arrived fast night from London, *s". "I.' , was not professionally engaged in this case, ?'red to be admitted ; the Officer told him that he . 411 0 r to go in. At l as t M r. H ARMZR got u p s t a irs, ' d c;!iled for MOIIOI4 who said, he certainly should +lis•w him to enter. Mr. HARMER observed, " , 4 Public Court, and if you mean to exclude me, You tat use as much ti , 7 , -e as will be necessary to put me "'thou[ disturb: • the Court." Mr. Mitwa then ":3" lou wish to make an assault of this? But I "ot pu: my hand upon you. The Jury are not ! t . 'worn, and therefore this is a private room. We sent fur opinions to London on this sulsject "Len the Jury are sworn, if you come ups I shall ' 4 ' 11 4 w hat is to be done." Soon afterwards the Jury le sw 6 rn, and w h en t h ey came d own sta i rs to in ,.rtect th e bod y , M r. HARMER entered the room with, t in ' Mr. MILNE then stated, that it would be pro ,Ltlopen the body, and for tharand other reasons, C o. it was not necessary for him to explain to Mr. 'EN , Le should adjourn the Inquest till this ... t 1 ADJOVI?NED INQUEST AT OLDHAM. SATURDAY EVENINO—SEVEN O'CLOCK. I am now sitting in the Court of the Coroner, Mr. FERRAND, who is holding an Inquest upon the body of John Lees. This place is eight miles from Man chester. I arrived here at ten o'clock this morning. At eleven, the Court was opened. You will have seen, by my last communication, that great doubts were entertained, whether the Coroner would suffer the Court to be open to the Public. lam glad to inform Tau, that the conduct of Mr. FERRAND has been such, up, to this moment, as to entitle him to great praise. As soon as he took his seat, he desired the Jury to answer to their names. He then asked them whether they had all had a view of the body of the deceased ? They answered in the affirmative.— He then swore the Foreman, Mr. John Jackson, and; after him, the rest of the Jury. The Coroner then addressed them as follows :—" Gentlemen, I mean to proceed in this case in the same manner as I have been accustomed to take other Inquests, notwith standing the extraordinary proceedings that have oc cul red during my absence. I shall not deviate from my usual practice on this occasion. Mr. Constable, have you any witnesses for the prosecution ?" The constable said, he had. The Coroner then turned towards the spectators, and spoke in these words Gentlemen, I wish it to be distinctly un derstood, that if any person in this room wishes to take notes of the proceedings in this case, he is at perfect liberty to do so. But I beg to observe, that if the verdict of this Jury should be such as to render it necessary that further proceedings should • take place before an Assize or Session, then those notes are not to he published till after that Assize or Ses sion has taken place. lam sorry to say, that a gross misrepresentation has appeared in some of the Pa pers, of what occurred under the former proceedings in this case ; but I can assure you, that that state ment did not proceed either from myself or my, Clerk. It is my wi►.sh and intention, and it is equally my duty, that I should proceed with the utmost im partiality, without reference to any persons or opi nions whatever. lam sitting here to administer jus tice ; and I will do so to the utmost of my power." The first witness, Robert Lees, the father of the deceased, was then called and examined. The next witness was Mrs. Hannah Lees, the wife of the for mer, and the mother-in-law of the deceased. Eliza beth Ireland, who laid out the body, was then sworn. Mr. Earnshaw, a surgeon, was the next person called; but he said that he belonged to the Society of Friends, and he refused to take an oath. In conse quence, his testimony could not be received. Mr. William Basnett, a medical Gentleman, who, at the request of Mr. Harmer, examined the body the day after the death, was the next witness. Mr. John Cox, a surgeon, was then called ; his examination lasted a long time. James Clegg, a spinner, who worked in the same factory with the deceased, was the next witness. Then came Thomas Whittaker, a cotton spinner, who lived with Robert Lees, to whom his mother was married. These are the names of the witnesses up to this moment. About four o'clock Mr. HARMER asked the Coroner to have the good ness to say at what hour he meant to adjourn the Court ? Mr. FERRAND said, that he wished to get through the inquu y as soon as possible, and, there tote, he had no intention at present of proposing. an adjoutnment. It will be impossible, however, to finish the business to-night ; it must last, at least, another whole day. I have taken the evidence verbatim, and I now transmit ;t to you up to this hour. I should mention, I perhap ~ !hat the Court has been extremely crowded ' all day. Mr. HARMER and Mr. DENISON, the Soli citors, Sir CHARLES WOLSELEY, Mr. WOOLER, and Mr. MOORHOUSE, are here. Several questions have been put to the witnesses by the Jury, and by Mr. ' HARMER. The public anxiety is very great. As I passed along from Manchester to Oldham, this morning, the whole inhabitants of the villages between these places, men, women, and children, came out of their houses, and looked into my chaise, to see who I was. This I understood was the case with every chaise that followed. When I arrived at i Oldham, I found a great crowd round the Angel, where the Inquest was to be held. Shortly after wards, the following printed bill was posted at the front of the house : • " CAUTION. " The Public, and particularly the Friends of Reform, are requested to abstain from over-crowding this town to-day, or from exhibiting Flags, huazaing, shouting, or making any noisy expression either of approbation or disapprobation, on this so lemn and melancholy occasion, lest such foolish corLact should be the cause of again adjourning the Coroner's Inquest. " The friends of order and decency, it is hoped, will comply with the above request." (Signed by)—" Joint Haws, ROMS ASMWORTII, -Virnrsow, AsattiassWaioxiv, GrosaxTnosu.s, and two others:* A Captain's guard, of the 31st regiment, marched from Manchester to Oldham this morning, and one of the men was placed at the door of the Angel, as was a private of the 7th Dragoon Guards, one troop of which is stationed at Oldham. Up to this mo ment the utmost order has been observed, and I have no reason whatever to apprehend that any dis turbance will arise. There is a deep and settled me lancholy on every countenance; and the immense assemblage now before the house are waiting pa tiently for the result of the inquiry. I have not time to add more, as the express is waiting to take my notes. A Gentleman is kind enough to continue the evidence while I am writing this. The further proceedings shall be transmitted to you without a moment's delay. I subjoin the evidence already adduced: EVIDENCE ON THE INQUEST. The first witness was Robert Lees, the father of the deceased. He deposed as follows :—My son, John Lees, lived with me on the 16th of August last. He left the house about eight or nine o'clock in the morning. I did not hear him say where he was going. He was as hearty then as ever he was since he was born. I saw him next between eight and nine on the following morning. He was standing on the top of ,the lauding in my factory. I desired him to move. I saw his shirt all blood ; he was without coat or waistcoat. I told him that if he would not work he must go to the Overseer, for I would not support him. Ile never spoke, and I said no more. He made an attempt to move, but he could not. One of the men, Yorke, saw him too. This was on Tues day morning. I saw him .again the Sunday but one following, that was the 29th of August. After he was washed and cleaned, I told him that if he would walk out I would give him Its. I did not take any means to know what was amiss with him ; I did not expect but that he would get better: my mistress can tell you a great deal better than I about him. Mt. HARMER observed, that Mr. Earnshaw was the medical man who attended him. N . Witness continued—l observed blood on his arm on the Tuesday morning. I did not go to any ,Doc tor to assist him: he went for the Doctor of his own accord, not by my direction ; he went to Mr. Earn shaw. He kept growing worse every day, till the time of his death. I did not interfere any more than I have told you. CORONER—Why were you so apparently indifferent to his situation ? Witness—l expected he would get better till the day but one before he died. He died on Tuesday morning about half-past one—l began to think on the Sunday that he would not get better ; I called in no further assistance or help for him , I cannot tell when the Doctor began to attend him at my house: my mistress can tell that ; I know that he did attend him :on the Monday he grew worse he kept his bed from Saturday night till he died on Tuesday morning. I had no conversation with him, by which it appeared that he was aware of his ap proaching death. I cannot exactly state what the cause of his death was. I did not see any wounds or bruises. I did not examine him, but other people did; I can only State my opinion as to the cause.of his death: I am generally at home overlooking the factory : he led a sober life ; he might get something now and then on Saturday nights after his work ; but he was generally as regular as any man in this town. I have a daughter, Sarah Lees, and two sons, James and Benjamin. My wife's name is Hannah. They dwelt with me during the whole of my son's illness. CORONER—Have the Gentlemen of the Jury any question to put to this witness ? Juryman—Your carelessness arose from the atten tion which your wife and family would pay to him ? Witness—Yes ; I knew he would be as well looked after as if I was present all the time. CORONER—Have you, Gentlemen, who are at tending here for some purpose, any question to put to this witness? Mr. H A RAIER—I thank you, Sir, I have none to put. CORONER—If there are any witnesses here, I think they had better withdraw, on whichever part they are attending. Mr. HARMER thanked the Coroner. It would be highly proper. All the witnesses were then ordered to withdraw, except Mr. Basnett and Mr. Earnshaw. Mr. Mellor, the Constable of Oldham, said "There is one of our witnesses here." This witness was then ordered to withdraw. Mrs. Hannah Lees, the mother-in-law of the de ceased, was then sworn. She was in deep mourning, and appeared very melancholy.—" My son, John Lees, slept at my house on the Sunday night of the 15th of August. I did not see him on the Monday morning. I supposed he was at work at the factory when I got up. I saw him on Monday night a little before it was dark. He was standing at the gate. I desired him to come in and get his arm dressed. Some person told me, before I saw him, that his arm was cut. He came in, got something warm, and went to bed. He had tea and toast. I did not see him again that night. I did not go into his room. I did not expect any thing serious. My own son, Thomas, told me that John had got a foul cut. I saw him again the next day in the forenoon. He had his breakfast in bed. I can't tell when he got up. I saw him about eleven o'clock down stairs. I did not see any wound. I did not inquire, nor did I see any thing but his arm. I desired him to go to some Doc tor. He went directly. I saw him when he came back. I asked him whether he had got his wound dressed ? He said he had. This was on Tuesday. On the following days, during the week, he laid in bed till two, or past two, before he got up. After he got up, he sometimes walked out for a bit of fresh air; he was quite poorly. He did not complain of any I:articular place, but said he was poorly. He used to throw up what he ate. I did not see him throw it up, but I saw him go out of the door, and when he came back, he said , - he had thrown up his food ; he threw up every thing. On Wednesday, in the second week, he began to grow worse. He regu larly applied to the Doctor till the Wednesday. After that day. Mr. Earnshaw came to the house. He came on Thursday. I had not much conversation with the Doctor. I asked him what was to be done ? He ordered him to take medicines three times a day. On Saturday, in the second week, and some time, I think, before, I saw the wound on his right elbow; it was in a healing state when I saw it ; it was nearly two inches long ; it opened a little about the breadth of my little finger. I don't remember seeing it again; I was not very fond of looking at it ; it was very foul, though in a healing state. H complained much of a pain in the other shoulder. He grew worse ; I was obliged to raise him up to drink; this was nearly a week before he died. The first time I lifted him up, about a week before his death, he complained that hid left - shoulder was worse than his cut arm, and made faces. I did not examine it. He said, it had no cut upon it, but he was much afraid of kavtng it disturbed. He said, he felt a violent pain. He com plained of his left foot too. He said, he thought it was swelled. I examined it, and saw a great many purple spots on it. It was swelled up the leg, and in flamed. He did not say what was the cause of it. He said very little after the accident. He was quite low spirited. I asked him if I should send for any other Doctor? He said, no. On the next day the Doctor came. I was present when it was examined. I put a poultice on it. Ile regularly complained of his left side, and gradually lost the use of it. lie lost the sight of his left eye. I attended him daily from the time he began to grow worse till he died. On the Wednesday but one before he died, there was a great alteration in him for the worse. He was taken with a severe coldness. He was then in bed. He found himself ill early in the morning. He died on the Tuesday but one after, about one in the morning. He was relieved from the coldness, , ularl , down stairs till Sunday, the 29th, went to the Doctor to get his then very poorly. On the 514 nesday, and so on, my two stairs for company ; he did not su weak he could nut corn( ' cept on one octasion. Ile was 'down On gaturdat before he died, and had four or six lec.chea put on bit. temple. He was carried up on Saturday nlglit, Oct never came down'again. I asked him whether he thought he should get better ? He said, he did not know. I asked him if .he did not get snort: set-ions crush among the crowd ? He said, he was never among rile crowd, hut among the horses. This con• versation was on Saturday. On Sunday and Mon day he said very little; he could say no, v, ith diffi culty. I examined his clothes, and found cuts in theft His shirt was cut in many places, and his coat seat cut over his shoulder. I can't exactly say when saw this. I did not at first think there was any thing serious. On his left shoulder, his cow; and waistcoat were cut through. The length of the cut, in one place, was an inch and a half. I did not examine his shirt on the shoulder. Betty Ireland washed his shirt. I cannot say whether any other part of his clothes was cut. The top of the crown of his hat was 0ff..,...t believe it was a good hat before he went. I did not particularly examine it to see whether it was cut ;. but I saw the top was out. He was'not often out of the house in the first week ;he walked out sometimes. On the Sunday but one before he died, I heard him say he would take a walk towards Middleton ; he asked me for a shilliag. On his return, he never said that he had been there. He went out about five o'clock. I did not see him any more that night. He often passed up stairs without my seeing him. I don't know what time he went to bed that night. I saw him at eight o'clock the next morning ; he came down stairs. I did not ask him whether he had been to Middleton ? nor did I hear him say whether he had been there or not. I did not see any difference in his appearance. He made no complaint. I did not examine him, but told him to get his breakfast.' I never saw any sign of intoxication in him : he was quite humble and low. I never saw that he appeared to have tasted liquor. He refused liquor in the house frequently when I asked him : but he once drank a little wine and water with some women: He was not unwell before he went to Manchester ; he was at healthy as any man in the factory. He was a very regular worker. Some one in the house said, that he sometimes complained of a pain in his breast.—. He seen,ed to me very healthy and sprightly. He never complained to me of his breast. He corn. plained to some one, I suppose to some of the fac tory, about his breast, but he never made any cons, plaint in our house. I can swear that I never heard him complain of his breast within a week of the time he went to Manchester. I never remember his taking physic before the 16th of August. l don't recollect any thing of the kind." CORONER.—I have heard that you said to Mr. Chaddick, that you did not wish for an Inquest, as the pain in his breast had occasioned his death. Mr. Chaddick is here. Witness.--I did not say to Mr. Chaddick that the pain in his breast occasioned his death. I did not want any disturbance about the matter : as he had lived so long, I did not think there would be any oc casion for an Inquest. CORONER.—Did you give that as a reason—the pain in his breast ? Witness.—l wished him to be buried without any disturbance : I dare say I did mention to Mr. Chad.. dick, that I heard he had a pain in his breast. Juryman.—Mr. Coroner, ought not Mr. Chaddick to leave the room ? Cononea.—No, I think not ; he knows what he is to be examined to as well as I do. CORONER. —Did you assign. the pain in his breast as the cause why no Inquest was necessary? Witness.—l wished to put it off without any ado. CORONER.—Did you assign that as a reason, or p a part of the reason ? Witness.—No, not exactly ; I was no judge. I did not know that he had a pain in his breast. My hus band ordered me to send a man to Mr. Chaddick, to know whether there should be an Inquest ? Mr. Chaddick sent the man to the Doctor, to get a line from his hand. CORONER.—Who was present when Mr. Chaddick came ?—Witness--Mr. Chaddick can best tell. I can believe what Mr. Chaddick says. CORONER.—Who went for the Doctor? Witness.—l sent a man. He brought a line, and I told him to take it to Mr. Chaddick. CoaoNEß.—When was it that Mr. Chaddick said, he wished you had not let him know any thing about it? Witness.—l don't know whether it was when he brought Mr. Cox to inspect the body, or before. CORONER.—Was any other part of your family at Manchester with your son ?—Witness.—No. CORONER.—Do you know who was with him? Witness.—Mr. Chaddick perhaps can tell ; he sent for one man who was with him. Dr. Cox examined the body on the day it was buried, the 9th of Sep tember. No other Surgeon had examined it previ ously. The last time I saw the wound before his death, it seemed to be mending ; it was drawing to a close, so that he could use his arm a little. CORONER.—Have any of you, Jury, any questions to put ? Juryman.—Have you ever heard John Lees say how be came by the cut on his clothes or his elbow? Witness.—No: he said very little. Juryman.-When you told Mr. Chaddick you thought there was no occasion for an Inquest, did you say so because you believed he died of the pain, at his breast ? Witness.—No. He had been sometimes irregular in taking his meat, but I did not think any thiag particular ailed him. Mr. HARMER.—Did any medical men come to in spect the body with the Jury? Did Mr. Earnshavr and Mr. Bassent see the.body ? Witness.—l saw some Gentlemen, but did not know they were medical men. I saw the Gentlemen nulling the body over, which distressed me very much, and I went away. I was very much frightened and affected. Betty Ireland and James ( laid out the body. He appeared in good health and spi rits before he went to Manchester. I cion't remeM ber his casting up any thing before that accident. I did not see the least appearance of intoxication iQ him frcm the 16th of August till he died. He once filc a litth Ind water, which was pressed upon ii ih . I ~, • e ~ .„ , ; , , , ...., ~ , ~. ~.,., , it . ,1 , ; !, 1 / 4 ., 1 J ,1 i. , i . , i• 1 • ~ 4 .• ~ • .., 1 7 I , inning. He died on the did not see tiie least appearance of intoxication a" one in the morning. He him from the 16th of August till he died. He once 1 ~ • less, and came regularly took a little wine and water, which was pressed upon • t , , 29th. On that day, he him, as he was told it would do him good. . , i is arm dressed. He was Betty Ireland was t hen called.-1 am a married i Monday, Tuesday, Wed- woman. (She was then sworn.) I kne w J ohn Lees, .. ~. o sons carried him down the son of 'Robert Lees. I have known him ever since ' , I, not like to be alone. He he was about fourteen years of age. I did not ice 1 . I me down by himself, ex. him -till. he died. I neyer saw such acorpse in all I • _ I i i • . .. .. . - . ... .. , , 1 i I S' IN i I B ■