The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-03-21 00:00:00

DREADFUL RIOTING.

ATTACK ON THE c.tritoLio enApv,.
SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED.
(Front the Rochdale Ohsercee.)

Tho town was in great commotion on Tues-
day night after the fact becT.nie generally known
that Mr. Murphy had been locked up. Popular
opinhm was loud in its dennciation of the autho-
rities, who were alluded to in very uncompli-
mentary terms, as having •‘ again interfered to
proven free discussion, and to take away the
right of public meeting." Large crowds of peo-
ple a a alibied in various places, an espeei LI
gathering taking p!ace ou Cronkeyshaw, where
th nisands w.oit thiuking to at .end Merohy's
camp, not knowing he had been taketi into cus-
tody. From here they returned right through
the heart of Mount Pleasant, the principal resi-
dence of the Irish population, and calling at the
lockup:4, gave cheers for Murphy, and grons for
the police. They were not seriously molested
by the Irish, who could see that they were in
great force. A cordon of police Wilti drawn across
Union-street at each side of the police station,
one guarding the entrance front Yorkshire.
street, anti the other turning the crowd from
Cronkcysliaw down Eestgate-street into Cheet-
ham-street. A great portion of them then
marched through the towu no to Anu-street, and
here the principal rioting took place, in an attack
upon St. John's Catholic Chapel and the Rev.
bather Duwling's house. The Catholics were in
force at their respective chapels, but fortunately
for Mr. Moriarty, though St. Patrick's Chapel
is very near the scene of Murphy's incarcera-
tion, no attempt was made to disturb the peace
of that edifice. From Acid eight o'clock the
bell of St. John's was lout ringing far a long
thee almost incessantly, aud ill a moat frantic
manner. As a consequence there were doubt-
less many more persons congregated round
about than would otherwise have been the ease.
The school-room was lit up. and the Catholics,
armed to the teeth with all kinds of weapons,
wore determined to defend their chapel. An
assault with stones was shortly made upon it,
but the English were soon beaten back. The
Irish had one chief object in view, and were
prepared desperately to defend their places of
worship, and this being the rallying point their
forces were much more concentrated than those
of the Euglish, who made runniug assaults from
the divers streets abutting upon Ann-street and
Milkstoue-road, but being without leaders their
retreats were speedy. It is very lucky for Mr.
Dowling that they were not organised, because
the feeling that the Irish have had much to do
in causing the authorities to interfere seems to
prevail, and the English are very much exaspe-
rated at them. In these riots the Irish are said
to have fired off many pistol or revolver shots.
As to who fired them we cannot say, whether
Protestants or Catholics, because of the general
confusion prevailing, but that several were dis-
charged we had personal knowledge. At nine
o'clock the police arrived upon the SCONEI, and
made seceral charges through tile streets to
drive the crowds away ; but Dio truth is they
SIC so unpopular hi those disturbances through
having had to side with the Irish as against the
English that for the present their moral power
is greatly lessened, and it requires afreer use of
their batons to disperse the mob than has been
found necessary on previous occasions. As fast
as they cleared the htreets in one direstion, they
was pursued and pelted with showers of stones
I in the rear and flanks, but ultimately a second
detachment arriving, and a considerable move
having been effected, they were halted in the
wooden shed opposite the chapel. The skit-
tuishes continued up to eleven o'clock, at short
intervals, and even when we went to press the
streets were still noisy ill that neighbourhood.
St. John's Chapel and Mr. Dowling's house have
seemly a whole window left, so completely have
they been riddled with stones.
When the English had been somewhat dis-
tanced, after the arrival of the police, the Irish
seem to have contemplated a little retaliation,
for a knot of them made an attack with a shower
of stones upon Ann-street (Church of England)
School, which is opposite Mr. Dowling's front
door. Whether by accident or for the purpose
of using the materials as missiles or not, we
could not ascertain at the thee, but a portion of
the yard wall behind the beerhouse at the corner
of Milk-street, and in Ann Street, was knocked
down, and the bricks were pretty freely shied by
strong arms at the parties attacking the Catho-
lic Chapel.
The damage done to the property in the neigh-
bourhood is immense, the doors and windows
of the surrounding houses having been broken
iudiscrimately.
Several persons received serious injuries,
amongst whole are John Bell, sou of Mr. Bell,
tee lininajer of the gas works, who received a
fearful gash on the back of the head, and a blow
on the right temple ; Mr. Inspector Cragg, also
' received a severe butt in the body hi one of the
charges made by the police ; and Thomas Con-
nolly received a dreadful blow in the mouth from
a large piece of brick.
Tho Mayor and Watch Committee sat at the
police Mlle° for some time, but as the streets
grew more quiet, they retired. At the time of
our going to press no apprehension of rioters
had taken place.

On Wednesday; William Murphy was charged
at the Rochdale Police Court with causing to
assemble, on the 14th just, in the streets of
Rochdale, large numbers of riotous and dis-
orderly persons. Mr. Mellor, the TOWII Clerk,
prosecuted; and Mr. Torr, of Manchester, de-
fended. During the hearing of the case the
Court was crowded, and HOMO two or three thou-
sand were assembled outside to hear the result
of the trial. After hearing the information
read, Mr. Torr enquired if the Town Clerk seri.
ously pressed the charge. If he did he should
be obliged to ask for a remand, as he had only
been apprehended the night before.
Mr. Heap, the Chairman, remarked that the
Magi,trates Lad no desire to &tido freedom of
speech, tilt was separated trout the combative
'lemma. But in the present cue It was their
duty to carry out the advice given by the Judge
at the Assisi Court, on Saturday last. They
believed that the placards issued by the prisoner
generated riots, and acting upon sworn informa-
tion the prisoner had been apprehended.—Mr.
Torr said he thought a summons might have
called his client to Court without lodging him
in gaol.—After the case had been argued on
both sides, Mr. Murphy wee bound Over to keep