The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-17 00:00:00

STATE OF THE MANUFACTURING

DISTRICTS.

THE RIOT AND MURDER AT ASHTON.
The examination of the prisoners taken at Ashton,
on suspicion of being implicated in the cold-blooded and
murderous outbreak of confederates and chartists, during
Monday night, has resulted in the committal of three of their
number for trial at the assizes.
The prisoners, T 2 in number, underwent an examination
on Tuesday night Infer. the nentiitrates. James White-
head was charged with being found near the place where
Bright, the murdered policeman, was found; hut there was
no evidence to implicate him, and he was discharged. James
Mawdesky and Michael Morris were charged with standing
sentinel near to Messrs. Kenworthy's pits, Moseley-road, and
with having, along with some 30 or 40 other men, obstructed
the road, aed prevented Thomas; Haigh and another person
from going home. They had also threatened to shoot them.
Near to where Morris was taken, von after the outbreak, a
pike eight felt in length was found. On thei evidence the
prisoners were remanded. Jonathan Braithwsite and six
others, who had been taken on suspicion merely from lidog
found in the streets, were discharged. John Latimer and
William Eden, found in the possession: of pike-heade, were
remanded.
Thos. Lees, James West, Wm. Healy, and Wm. Penny
were next examined.—John Bradshaw, a police-constable,
said : I was despatched on horseback for the military about
a quarter-past 11 o'clock last night. I saw a man with a
large bludgeon standing opposite the Swan Inn. When he
saw me, he gave a thrill whistle. I rode at him, and he
shrieked. I rode up to near tha Kennely coal-pits, and saw
a great number of men armed, with their pikes and guns in
a defensive position. I returned, as I could not get by them.
and when 1 got back I beard that Bright was shot. I went
again, about 1 o'cls. k, in company with the chief-constable
and the other constables, and found the road barncaded.—
The Rev. 11. B. /upland said: On hearing the bells at
Ashton, between 12 and 1 o'clock, I left my house on
Chapel-hill, and came down towards Ashton. I saw nothing
till Igot down the hill, opposite to Mr. Walshaw's house,
when I came suddenly upon a large number of men—per-
haps about 40—armed mostly with pikes; one or two had
hammers of a peculiar description, very weighty ; they were
ranged across the road, opposite Mr. Medley's gate. I ap-
proached them, and four risen placed their pikes towards my
breast and told me I should go no further. There was a cry
from behind of, "Is he a constable ?" I told them I was
not a constable, but that I was alarmed by the fire bell, and
had come out to see the fire. I proceeded back up the hill,
and when I had got about a stone's-throw I heard a great
talking, and several persons running atter me. I got up to
the Old General public-house, when three or four men over-
took me, and there were others following behind. The fore-
most, a good-looking well-spoken young man, armed with a
very long pike, came to me and said, " Who are you ? "—I
said, "My good man, it's a strange question; who are
you ? " He drew himself up and replied, "A man."—
I said, "So am I, my good fellow; I hope you intend
no violence."—The man said, " None, if you come quietly
with us."—l remonstrated with them, and told them if they
were wise men they would throw away those foolish things,
and not break the peace. One of them behind, armed with
a hammer, replied, "it's too late; we have done that
already."—l said, "Do not make bad worse, but go home
to your families." One man then said, " Let him go," and
accordingly they did so.—ln reply to Mr. Harrop, Mr. Asp-
land said he thought lie should know two of the men again.
—Police inspector George Dalgleish said he saw the prisoner
West and another man follow him up Stamford-street the
previous evening about half-past nine, whilst on duty.
Thefollowed him from Bentinck-street to the corner
of Warrington-street, after which he saw them no
more.—Policeman George Brown said: I was on duty
last night and saw the prisoner West come up Stam-
ford-street, near tho Ncw Connexion Chapel, le
lost sight of him in Cotton-street, between nine
ten o'clock. He went in the direction of the chartist room.
—lnspector Maiden said, I apprehended the prisoner in his
house this morning, where I found a pike-staff with the
top broken off, besides two chartist concert tickets. I saw
him at the chartist room on the 28th May last, when there
were about 70 present, reading the newspapers. Rules for
the " national guard" were read. They mentioned divisions,
and fines for non-attendance to duty. I searched Healy and
found upon him 41 slugs, 9 caps, and a quantity of pistol
wads, from two to three canoes of fine gunpowder, a shot-
bag, a steel, a piece of paper which had been shot
through, and a pike head.—Mr. P. Ogden, a special con-
stable, said, I took the loaded pistol from the prisoner
Healy. lie was apprehended in the middle of the Arms
Brow about four o'clock this morning. lie said he came
from Newton ; the prisoners Penny and Lees were along
with him.—Stephen Andrew said he assisted in apprehend-
ing Penny.—Mr. Newton said he bad searched Penny, who
had stated he was a smith from Hyde, and found two gun
caps, a watch, and some money. He also searched Lees,
who said he was a spinner at Mr. Thoroley'a, Godly,
end found upon him two boxes of lucifer matches.
West said he could call witnesses to prove that he was at
home and in after ten o'clock at night.—Henry Hilton said
he saw the prisoner in his own house at half-pest ten. Healy
strongly denied having shot through the paper.—Mr
Aspland being recalled, said he heard a great deal of firing
between two and three o'clock.—The prisoners Healey,
Penny, and Lees were committed for trial, and West was re-
manded. The three others in custody underwent examina-
tion, but the evidence did not reach them, and they were
discharged.
ARRESTS AT MANCHESTER.
At MANCHESTER the magistrates, no doubt impelled to
more decisive measures by the sanguinary outbreak at Ash-
ton, took sups on Tuesday night, by a combined movement of
the police and military, to seize the chartist and confederate
leaders in their various clubs, and were successful in laying
hold of some of the more notorious. They had been watched
very closely on Monday night, as was stated in the Daily
News of yesterday, b
ases they separated without c
all
the It was rtained, however, that all
the clubs were assembled that night, and that
some of them held their conferences in the dark, and with
arms in their possession, keeping a strict watch upon the
movements of the police. It was rumoured that having been
intimidated by the pollee that Wen, they intended to meet