The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-16 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE

NORTH WALES CIRCUIT.—Cuesma, Au 0.13.

chow. favor.- Banns Ma Juror, Cuovrros.
THE StOCILIPOUT Riot.

When I closed my last despatch Mr. Huddlestone was
addressing the jury on behalf of the wiseacre.
Mr. Muddlnnen, minumeased by wing that in accord-
'ace with the pledge he gave the previous day at the corn-
Weatement of these proceedings, and, in imitation of the
eery judicious and proper muse pursued by his learned
friend (Mr. Webby), he should strictly abstain ftom the
nee el say topics calculated to billow, or prejudice, or
Monet of the jury from the rush question they
itad to try. They haft , reality bat one unject io view,
and that was to twining whether any and which of the pri-
soners were guilty of the offence for which they were
charged, for it was idle to deny that • serious riot
bad taken place on the night in question. They
knew too well their duty to their clients, to the
tenet, and to the jury, to waste their tinny by idly
discussing facts which must be admitted so as to weaken
their attention from what it should plainly be directed to.
And here he (the learned counsel) could sot refrain ca-
pressing his deep regret, and in doing so he was also en-
pressing the regret of most of the defendents, that attacks
moot iseneemly and must coviardly had been perpetrated
upon large bodies of her Majesty's subjects. At the mime
time It was right to observe, and he did n shrink from the
obser•ation, that had the Pr 401 of the town not been ne-
sailed by the inhabitants of Ruck-row assembling in • loge
body for the purpose of insulting or attacking all whopeenial
them, there would not have been any of those deplorable
events which all must regret. Ile could nut help thinking
that Mr. Frith, at an early part of the evening, saw the
glaring fully that some of his own sect had committed, be-
cause the jury would recollect that he stated, when the news
of time attack upon St. Peter's School wu brought
to him, he expressed his regret and his fear
that it would provoke retaliation upon the Kuban
catholic,. lie (Mr. Huddleetune) could not help feel-
ing that what peered through the rev, gentleman's mind
at the moment was only the consequence of all that disas-
trous conduct that occurred upon that evening. It would
not Is• doubted that • very serious riot took place on the
night in aueetimi, but it was abundantly clear that it first
began in St. Feter's-square, and with reg ird to that be
thought it was clear that with regard to time the witness
Eskrigge must be mistaken, for between hell-past seven
and a quarter to eight there were continued disturbances in
that square, end the windows of both St. Peter's School
and Mr. Graham's house were broken. There was one
most remarkable feature in the occurrences of that night.
The principal witnesses against the defendants were wo-
men, some Irish, some English, who appeared to have fol-
lowed the mob from place to place, end yet it was most
singular that not out of them from the beginning to the
end ventured to may that the slightest insult or ill-usage
was offered to them. No one could deny that a serious
eatrage war committed on bath Homan catholic
chapels, and he was not there to deny that
those who took part in thine outrages were
guilty of riot. But the question the jury had to decide
was, were the ten prisoners, or any, and which of them,
guilty of that offence : The learned council then proceeded
to notice the counts in the indictment.
The Foreman of the jury inquired how many there
were ?
Mr. Iluddlestone replied that there were twelve.
The Judge—We do not intend to trouble ourselves with
the counts now.
Mr. Ituddlestone—No, my lord, we may take it gener-
ally that they are all charged with riot. The learned
counsel then proceeded to observe that his anxiety was to
place the case against each prisoner separately and distinctly
before the jury, so that they might be able to see how it
applied to each, and be able to try them as if each was •
separate care. It was certainly not a little singular that
after the magistrates hail committed ten of the Irish they
el ould proceed to commit precisely :he same number of
English by way of set off The jury, however, would not
come to the conclusion that because soma of the
Irish had been convicted, therefore the English
must be. It would be an insult to their naderstanding to
suppose so for one irnment The learned counsel then pro-
ceeded to detail the nature of the evidence he should ad-
duce on behalf of the prisoners. With regard to most of
them, be should call witnesses to prove that the witnesses on
behalf of the prosecution were mistaken; but, with regard
to the witness Con-oral', he felt satisfied when the jury had
heard the evidence he should adduce they would be of
opi-
su that he was guilty of the grosseduntruth. In conclu-
sion, the learned gentleman said that whilst ell must de-
plore that those disturbances had taken place—whilst ell
must regret that such outrages should have occurred that
night, he felt sure the jury would feel it to be their duty to
vindicate the law, not by punishing persons who might be
charged but those who were proved to be guilty, and by
showing the innocent that they should not be S&Cf180114.
The court then adjourned.
Arocer 14. .

This morning the ju fft! sat at 9 o'clock. when Mr. lind-
en...tone proc.edrd to call the witnewei for the defence. Toe
first witmeaes called were those us behalf of Edwards and
B:ater. . .

James Lane, a joiner, swore that on the 29th of June,
about half-past 8 in the evening, ho was between St. Peter's
church and the temperance hotel, when 200 Irishmen came
down Ruck row, one of whom knocked Edwards, who was
with him, down with a stone. Edwards fell " dateless"
and was carried if bleeding.
John Roberta, an overlouker, corroborated the last wit-
ness as to the assault upon Edwards, who was carried away
senseless into a person's name.' Barton's where witness saw
hint as late as half-past ten o'clock. He was then unable
to bold his hoed up.
Nancy Roberts (wife of John Roberts), gave similar
evidence.
_ . _

Catherine Barton deposed that Edwards was brought to
her boast on the night of the disturbance, about half-poet
S o'clock, blecuinz and unable to stand. lie remained
there until 11 o'clock, and while he wan there weirs came '
that the Roman catholic chapel atlEdgeley had been broken '
into. He left at • quarter past It.
James &tweeds swore that the prisoner Edwards, who '
was his brother, reviled horse at half past 11.
This was the end of the alibi as to Edwards, the witness
for the crown having sworn to seeing Edwards at the dis-
turbance at the Edgeley chapel at half-past nine.
Joseph COMOTSTII (brother to Win. Covenant, who had
sworn to seeing Sister at the Edgeley chapel at half-past
nine,) was called to prove that William had been drinking
with him at the Borough Tavern and the Old Admiral on
the night of the disturbance, but failed to do so.
Elisabeth Rushton deposed that she saw William ,Cor-
eoraas in the street on the 29th of Jan, In his shirt sleeves,
smoking a pipe (which Comma had denied). This was
at II at night.
Mary Wardle swore she had sees Wm. Coretweas in his
shirt sleeves, smokiag a pipe, ma the night la rpsesties.
Mrs. 11111 was there. Witness said she had beta to lan at
the row at Edgeley. Mrs. Hill said she had sot. Wm.
Corcoran said he had not, and he would he d—d if he
would go, for he was afraid. At a later period of the even-
ing she sew Wm. Corcoran again, sad he Um said he had
been nc further than from the op of the stint to the
bottom. This conversation took plan in Car green.
Joseph (Ilene, who worked at the man mill as William
Corcerane, deposed that oa the moraine after the riot Won.
Comma had told him he wan never out of the bone the
previous night and het not seen the row.
William Wood &pined that he had seen William Cot-
ton= a few days after the row, and the latter then said to
him I must go against then men or the priest will give
me sin months, though I was never out of the house thee
night."
Thomas Foshrooke, who served as a special esnetable on
the root of the 29th tit June, deposed to having seen Slater
at the Courthouse at half-past eight, with a staff, foreleg
also as a special constable. He saw him again at a quarter
to ten, and be was one of a patty of special constables who
went out ender witness's control to patrol the streets.
About eleven &cloth S ater left him at the top of the Hill-
gate, awl said "Well, now Tom I'll go home.'
Mr. Welsby here intimated that, with the oneurreaso et
hi. learned friends, after the evidence of Mr. Pm
who was a person in a responsible position Ia the St=
Stockpert, be would withdraw Slater's case tram the ear
adoration of the jury.
The Judge said the ease of Edwards dslandled sal*
apse the evidence of Corcoran, and if he were sailarksa
with respect to Slater, he might also be saisnitem rte
Edward..
Mr. Welsby said he should feel it his duty Is pto the
lasi, so to Edwards' guilt.
The defence of Birch and Williamson was Asa coat-
meowed.

Henry Dowe was called to prove that elms bridle=
thrown out of Idyl D iode's window ((who gild tiny b d
sot), and who professed to identify Birth as ass of the
rioters.
Charles Maynard, who, on the night of the disturbance
was misting at the Robin Hood public-bouse, in the Hill.
gate, swore that Birch went there at 9 o'clock, and did not
loam till 14. (This was the period when Birch was alleged
to have been with the riutere)
The neat defence was that of Thomas Walker.
William Wareh im deposed that he lived tine, to the
primmer 'fhoissa Walker, who he saw emus from his work,
and go up an entry to has own house. He remained in the
home a few minutes and then Joined wittier, and they
wort torether into the town. They wire velure* from
etch other for about ten initiates at half past 8, and then
met main went into mitiorm's home and ramainad there
till II o'clock, when be was fetched into his own bowie by
bus seat, with whom he lodged. Thos. Powell was with
them all the time.
Thos. Powell, a carter, confirmed the testimony of the
last witness ,o to Thomas Walker having been with him
from about quarter-past 7 till past 11, on the night of the
disturbance, during which time that primmer took no part
in any disturbance, or went near Mdgeley Chapel.
John Hoyle, an old soldier, also gave substantially the
OM* evidence.

The neat witnesses were called to prove as alibi ao behalf
of the prisiner Preston
Jame, Spencer deposed that ea the sight of the &garb-
awes he went to the court-home, whom he am the pri-
mmer Nevins and WWI /Nihau. They Gosh resolved a
ooaetable . staff, and went out under the waive etleopeeter
Walker. Th. y all went to Heer•hole Brow, sad returned
with 11015 e prisoneei to the esort-house. About tea o'clock
witness, Hudson, and Prestos (still actin as menial con-
stables) went with Use soasharatos sod Use astlltsry to
Rock-row when the Net Let was nod, end after that
we. done the, were tell the yew woe over sad they might
go home. They west to Ibitielonesy-heldgo, where airy
sieggad • short Limp, mil dos hews MA thin eel vest
tome II•p•kill. whose k•
b••• Heiser the hem mposhl meta l& (if Se last
whams, ismellinasi whim as t• the it •
the smr6howee le Or jams Pm," Odleaw I

(mut. visits to Beer-hole Brow end Rock-row' anti their
parting with him by Brinksway.hridge about II o'ellek.
The next elms of w:taesses were cal% it on behalf of
Mark Olean.
John Pr....10n, who ar;ed as a special con,table on the
night of the 111,turbanctr, &nosed that Ole Ave held the
stair of a special ton.table, and that they were together in
Ruck-row Car-green, and lloward-street ; and that he and
Oleave being with him) did their best to p
the Area king of some goods of the Irish in some cellars in
Brook street. During the time they were on duty they
never went near Edgeley Chapel. They were together from
half-past nine till eleven in the morning.
The defence of the primmer Walker was then com-
menced.

.7;;7' ... • - • .
"imam vainein, examined—l saw William Walker on
the night of the disturbance. I remember a brother of his
coining to knock him up at ten o'clock on the 29th of June.
Ile never came out of the hots a aPer I saw him go in at
siz o'clock until ten o'clock. Some persons then came
sad said there was a destruction of property at Edgeley,
mid he went with them.
William Lee went to Stanton's house oa the evening of
die disturbances, after the row at Edgeley, to warn him to
be quiet and keep in hi. house. This was after ten o'clock.
The first time lie went was about half an hour before, and
be then told him to put out the light in his house. Wit•
nem told Stanton that there were disturbance a at Edgeley.
Mrs. 1... e, mother of the last witness, confirmed his state-
ment as it regarded Stanton.
The nest &fence taken was that of the prisoner I'd.
Charles iiirkley, esamined-1 know George Pell. and
tittember his coming to me on the night of the disturb-
ewe. He came at nine o'clock and stayed until half past
Myren.
Crow-examined—lle had been making a coat for me,
and remained drinking with me. He had five glasses of
ale. He was not drunk. Ile was very quiet, hot might
have been a little sprung (a Cheshire term fur slight inebri*
Mims).
Mr. Rigby—l am the master of the prisoner Pell. I have
known him for five or six years as a quiet, useful, indus-
trious man.
This closed the case fbr the defence, and
In reply, Mr. Washy said, it is now my duty to address
le you some observations in reply. on behalf of the prose-
elution, and a more distasteful task can hardly be assigned
to anybody, because. from the nature of the defence set up
eis behalf of several prisoner,, my duty as prosecuting ,
oeussel is to dissect a mass of evidence which has been laid
bolero you for the purpose of showing that some of the
wanness for the crown hay, been guilty of' grievous tins.
tali. nod that others have been guilty of perjury. The
'Meet was to lead you to the conclusion that
these persons were either not engaged in the trans-
actions of that night, or from the conflicting evi-
dence that you may not be certain of them. While
it is my duty to perform this painful task, I can
assure you that the only desire that I arid my learned
friends have is that you should be p soused of all the
truth. We have no desire to press more hardly upon one
of theas men than the evidence will fairly warrant. If
them nine of them with respect to whom you entertain a
resatwaide doubt. of course it will be your duty and plea-
suns.finil siificatio• to us all,tofind that they have been
deUsmai gem guilt of a very. serious character. The
aitsre of the transactions, which took place in
lin the 29th of June, cannot be disputed by
egaThwho as beard these trials, and that
........k_
Iller teem date of a ehmeeliel and scandalous character.
The limed swami tree ineeeeded to explain some ob-
swaths' width be was mid as have made with mpeet to
the condom of the wands' of Stockport. He was not
at all aware that h. had issalaated the tootisirstro of that
benegb. His desire bat Is.. to apply what he considered
• vest dereliction of duty generally to the authorities, for
he quite concurred with the witness, Mr. Ec.rigge, that
the employment of policeotenstables in sufficient number te
protect the peace of Stockpwt rested not in the hands of
the justices, but in the Town C until, who bad the
administration of the borough funds. It would seem
that a most false and pernicious economy bad
bees pursued by the members of that council,
at • time when the peace of the town had already been in
some dairies disturbed. It was left in such a condition
that on Monday, June 2S, there were but three police'.
men in Stockport, and on Tuesday only six or seven. The
preservation of the peace of the town was left in a great
measure to maga corners, who, fur aught that was known,
might be a part and parcel of the rioters themselves. Some
remotion was also due to the magistrates, who he had
thought had lost time, in making a circuitous route to the
seem of the disturbance. They were quite justified in
ding en by the fact that the streets through which they
pm* wore thickly populated by a clam of people, who, it
was pobabla had either been or were going to Edgeley
011spel sali U,s other soma of the disturbances. Witi
lbw obseriatiena be preceded to the consideration of the
Mims whisk bad bees adduced for the purpose of en-
amelling tbe&lessers from the charge against them. lie.
tit simpssi to be set up in favour of
Ihs lasmi osmsol contended that it was ion
Asa Its Melee that s mars cut upon the lip would man
lilimbean insensibility. He lime analysed the alibis In
ham of the other prisoners, and concluded by saying that
ha Mt anvismil that such an intelligent jury se be saw
beam lim,
_seiteent of whom he perceived bid boss=
mirk maid Morn a verdict without being as all
hp mianian or religious prejudices.
Alt a quarter past four o'clock his lordship began his
Anne to the jury, and did not conclude until seven o'clock.
11. lordship said the simple question the jury had to try
woo whether the prisoners or any of them were guilty of the
offence of riot. It was not disputed that riots of a meet
serious and disgraceful nature had taken place, and it WIN
unquestionable that those who took part in them, and men
found guilty, must.ke subject to very severe punka:lMM.
His lordship then went over the whole of the evidential'
it affected each prisoner, and at the ossissist of each gave
the jury an opportunity of considering isosh ors separately.
With respect to the prisoners Slater, 16/4/148, Prestos.
and Thomas Walker, the jury at ones possums* mils
of Not Guilty, and with rcspect to the otberepaiganedgiale
decision to the conclusion of the summing up.
After the whole of the evidence bad been read
ever, his lordship merely observed that the jury, as
Ineterisaide men and as men of business, would consider
ilbeibie di se any of the prisoners were guilty, without any
milleresee es to whether they were English or Irish, pro-
testant or Roman catholic. _

The jury then retired, and after being out of court a
quarter of en hour, Aequieted Birch, Williamson, and Wm.
Walker; and found Pell, Buttery, and Gleans Guilty.
During the absence of the jury his lordship inquired
front Mr Wehby what he meant to do with the other in-
dictments ?
all?. Welsby—l hardly know at present.
The Judge—You are aware that under a recent statute
you cannot try for felony after a misdemeanor.
Mr. S'elsby—l think your lordship will find that that act
of parliament does not apply to this ease.
Mr. Iluddlestone asked for a verdict to be taken upon
he other indictment..
Mr. Welsby declined to accede to this.
The Judge—Very well, then, we will begin on Monday
and go on.