The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-01-19 00:00:00

Somerottsbire.

TAN Bit Wren. ELECTION Rleres.—The Recorder for
Bristol, Mr. Serjeaut Kinglake, last week tried the
CIAIOI arising out of the election outrages in that city.
The court was densely crowded, and considerable interest
was manifested in the proceedings. William Theodore
Pitt Watkins, • solicitor, and John Cunningham and
George Lawrenee, were indicted fm- having been engaged
in • riot, and for damaging the property of William
Wilberforce Jose, and others, William Winniatt, Mary
Ann bavid, Robert Jobe*, and others, at Bristol. on
the 17th of November last. The indictment contained
various counts, In which the charge was differently
stated, and there were counts for a riot, for wilful and
unlawful assemblage, and for a fray. The defendant;
all pleaded not guilty. Mt. Ribton, of the Home
Circuit, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Rioslake siooducted the
prosecution.—Mr. Serjesat Itsßoutine (of the Home
Circuit), Mr. Montagu Williams (of the Oxford Circuit),
mid Mr. J. F. Norris defended Mr. Watkins; the other
defendants conducted their own cases.—Mr. Ribtoo, in
stating the woe, said that the 17th November being the
polling day at Bristol, there was great anxiety manifested
to induce voters to poll early. In the course of the day,
at somewhere between 11 and 12 o'clock, a riotous m
collected in the ueighbourhoo i of College-riven, and
afterwards did considerable damage, attacking among
other places the Conservative eommittee.rootn. Mr.
Watkins was, it was said, present on horssbeck, and
incited the rioters. On Wednesday the trial of Watkins
and Cunningham was concluded. After the jury had
been locked up for an hour Or SO, a rumour was current
that ten of the jurymen bad made up their minds for an
acquittal, and the other two were standing one. Just
before seven o'clock the Recorder directed they should
tome into court. Accordingly they filed from the grand
jury room into the gallery immediately cocuected with
It, evidently hoping they were speedily going to be
released. The Recorder (addressing the foreman): I
only want • simple answer to the question I shall put
to you; is there any chance of your teaming to en
agreement soon?—The Foremen: No, my lord.—The
Recorder: Theo you mast retire and consider • little
longer—(laughter). —A Juryman: There is one—
The Recorder: I went no explanation.—The Clerk of
the Peace: Gentlemen, retire to your room again.—Tbe
Foreman: There is DO chance Of our agreeing tor a
month, my lord—(lattgliter).—Mr.Collins: Say we
adjourn till this day montb.—The Recorder: Shall I
lock you up for that time I—A Jurymen: I want some
supper—(loud laughter).—Mr. Peeks observed they bed
• very good luncheon.—The Recorder: You must eon.
eider again if you can agree, and I shall adjourn the
court to my lodgings, at the Queen's hotel, and if you
have not made up your minds by ten o'clock, the Clerk
of the Peace will put you in the way of coming there,
and I will hear what you have to say then.—Mr. Collins:
It will be more satisfactory if one counsel on each side
same up.—Jost as the counsel and other parties in.
Wrested In the ace were leaving the court, the Foreman
said: We can agree. —The Recorder, who evidently did
not (*tee the remark, end thought the foreman said
they could not agree, observed that the law was very
etrict in the discharge of juries without obtaining a
verdict, and that though be might not have them locked
up
what was called all night, yet it might be said from
three to seven was not enough for them to be locked op,
and at ten they might come to him at his hotel and
intimate whether they had decided,—The Foreman:
We have agreed.—Mr. Wedliam then called over their
names, and they answered to therm—Cunningham, who
was not in court, was directed to be fetched before the
verdict was taken, and in the few moments consequent
on his an-icing in the dock the greatest suspense prevailed.
The seems was worthy the pencil of Solomon as the
different parties in the court scanned the features of the
jurymen with the most intense eagerness in order to
try and discover in the expression of their countenances
, whether the "Waiting for the verdict" would be the
forerunner of an "acquittal." Mr. Watkins himself
seemed one of the least affected in the hall, as he leaned
with his beck against the jury box and looked steadily
at the anxious groupe around. Coneinghain at length
appeared, and order was called.—Mr. Wadhas, amidst
the most breathless quiet, inquired: Have you agreed
on your verdict; do you find William Theodore Pitt
Watkins guilty or not guilty I—The Foremen : Not
guilty.—lmmediately the verdict was given • sheer,
long and loud, burst from the occupants of the court,
and in vain did the officials attempt to repress it.—Mr.
Wadham : Do you find John Cunningham guilty or not
guilty —The Foreman: We have not decided Oma—
n. Recorder said he could not take the verdict till they
bad considered this. —The Foreman: We will decide
that in two minntes—(loud Isughtert—ln lees than two
minutes the jury announced that they had decided, and
when they again gave a verdict of not guilty the applause
in the wart became terrific. Such a burst of cheering
we never recollect having heard in any evert of j units,
and again and again sere the plaudit.' renewed. It was
quite in rain for Mr. Superintendent Handrook, Mr.
Wadharn, and the constables on duty to row "Silence;"
and, indeed, we doubt if any ODO present really objected
to the outbreak. The Recorder, as he sat beck in his
seat, Gould not repress a smile, and the friends of the
discharged defendants congregated round them to con.
gratudete thetn on the triumphal result. No sooner did
the news of the acquittal spread to Broad-street than
1, tad hurrahs resounded from the large crowds collected
• around the mein and side entrances to the Guildhall,
the human mass, that spread from one side of the
street to the other, shouted vehemently. Cunningham's
friends escorted him down Broad-street with sheers,
and for some time the exeited porthole remained
applauding in the vicinity of the Guildhall. We under.
stand that the shouting could be heard for • great
distance, and quite startled the occupants of the ('-cm.
mercial.roonis. The trial of Francis Roue, a chemist's
assistant, and seven other., for having taken part in
tTkheeep lit heecord peLteer
the riots at the late Bristol election, was concluded on
Thursday. Witnesses were called for all the defendants,
exempt Roue, whose came was too clear to be assailer'
The jury, after being locked up for about five hours:
returned a verdict of guilty against Roue end five other..
Robutuerso, recommendedandbottan him mercy,
over o
them to
twelve months, and the others were required to gpfnodr
enter
into their recognisanoes to come up for judgment wh
called upon. The Recorder explained that hen
had
imposed a fine in the hope that it would have the
of allaying any irritation which might have wig* f effect
the late note. William Spray, • beerho kee n rem
then indicted for rioting at the election. la WS.
guilty to the last two counts in the indiettneri which
were minor ones' and the prosecution offered n
id evidence
on the others. As in the last case, the defe dent was
ordered to
or enter into hie own recognisanne WSW up
t judgment when called upon.