The Express.
London, England, 1852-12-03 00:00:00

SERIOUS DISPUTE AND DISTURBANCE.

BIIMENHEARTirit7;I7.IIY.
An important case, involving a dispute and a
ratlhr serious riot between the servauts of the Shrewsbury
and Chester Railway Company and the Birkenhead Dock
Trustees, as to crossing a portion of the docks by a draw-
bridge, was decided before the magistrates to-day.
The case was before the court last week, and stood ad-
journed until to-day. The facts are as follow :—By one of
the clauses of the Birkenhead Dock Act, it is provided that
if any person shall open or shut any drawbridge without
permission of the dock master, he shall forfeit a sum not
exceeding 201. On the evening of the Bth of November,
the defendants, contrary to the authority of the dock
I muter, forcibly placed the bridge in question across the
gat, and the proceedings were of a very violent character,
involving a not, in the course of which Captain Hooke',
the harbour muter, and others, were injured.
The present informations were against Thomas Henry
Stevens, goods manager of the Shrewsbury and Chester
Railway Company; William Downing, William Shrews.
bury, Michael Parry, and Samuel l'riee. The charge
against them was a violation of the Dock Act, by which a
penalty of 201. had been incurred. There was also a second
charge against the defendants for an assault. Mr. Bramah,
law clerk to the dock trustees, having stated the sue,
called several witnesses, among whom was William Gore,
a pohce officer, who stated that ho had received
orders from the harbour master not to allow any
person to put the bridge across between the two
docks. At six o'clock on the evening of the
Bth of November he saw a number of men collected at
the place, among whom was one of the defendants, Down-
ing.
told Downing that he had received orders from
Captain Hookey to allow no person to pet the bridge menu,'
of do anything without the orders of the dock trust. Down:
iag told him he did not care, the first man that interfered
with h.m he would out his arm off. Witness then went
to Captain Hook. y, the harbour master, and acquainted him
with what was going on. On returning at 8 o'clock, the
bridge was across.
Captain James ilookey, harbour master at Birkenhead,
gave similar evidence. Ile was at the bridge about half-
past 7 o'clock, and saw the defendants, Stevens and Down-
ing. His told them that if they threw the bridge across,
they would do it at their peril. Afterwards saw teem do so,
and Stevens had a lantern, and ordered a train of waggons
to be brought across, which was done. la croseezamina-
tion Captain Hookey said that on the night of the disturb-
ance, helaccused Mr. Stevens of behaving in an extraordi-
nary manner, and calling him a "monkey and a‘litile
impudent puppy."
Several other witnesses spoke to a riot having takenplace
caused by the defendants, during which Captain Hookey
and ythere were assaulted.

M►. Hull, solicitor, who appeared in the interest of the
Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Company, fur the
defendants, then addressed the bench, and endeavoured to
show, by reference to an act of parliament, that the bridge
was not the property of the trustees, but belonged to the
Shrewsbury and Chester Company.
Several witnesses were then called on behalf of the
defendants.

The magistrates, in deciding, gave it u their opinion
that they were satisfied an slitgAl act had been committed
by the defendants, and tined them 101. each.
Mr. Hull. said the company would appeal agaiust the
decision.

Mr. Bnamah then withdrew the BUISILIOI2/ for the emu%
on which Mr. Hull withdrew a counter summons for an
assault on Mr. Stevens by Captain Hookey.

MINES.

TRW/EGET EVENING.
Business in mining shares to-day was not so active
as of late, but prices are firm. The inquiries have
boon chiefly for Tincroft, South Tamar, `Vest Alfred
Consols, Nest Wheal Alfred, East Polgooth, and a
few other shares. Sales have taken place in West
Caradon, at 208, 210; Great Wheal Alfred, 45;
South Tamar, s}. 3 ; West Wheal Alfred, 41, 41 ;
Mendip Hills, 4 ; ELL Polgooth, 355. ; Tincroft, ll},
12 ; East Tamar, 245. ; Arundell United, 3 ; East
Wheal George, 5; Linares, 41; United Mines, 380;
N. Basset, 11 ; West Alfred Cons., 30 ; Balnoon, 71, 71.
A large business was again done in the gold
mining shares, but tie market, after opening with
some briskness, consequent upon the receipt of orders
to purchase from the country, went flatter, and closed
at a general reduction of 2s. 6d. to ss. per share.
Colonial gold receded 7a. 6d. Agua Fria', however,
were better.

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