The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-18 00:00:00

EXAMINATION OF CHARTIST
PRISONERS.

BOW-STREET—This morning, J. Ritchie, A. Abel,
IV. Gurney, J. Sh, 'peed, J. Snowball, J. Richardson, G.
Greenslade, H. Small, E. :Wedding, IV. Barn, and P.
Martin, were brought up foe examination. Mr. Clarkson
stated that the prisonen were found, on Wednesday evening
list, at the Orange public-house, Orangiestreet, Red Lion-
slum, under circumstances which fully ratified their appro.
hension He was isfriid they bed formed, with other bodies,
an organised plan to carry out their purpose by force of arms.
In the room where the prisoners were apprehended was
found some combustible bine, and on Ritchie's person were
found two knives. The object was that they were to form
different sections, to meet at the same hour; and he was
sorry to say that there was little doubt that they intended to
set lire to various parts of the metropolis. Another party of
balled alienist% mid also been discovered at a public house
In Webber-street, Blitckfriar's-read, in whose designs the
prisoners might have some partelpation.
Pearce,asuperintendentof the metropolitan pollee, deposed
that, in ematiuence of information received, he proceeded to
theOnsgeTne, Orange-street, Red Lioromplare, where he
found the prisoners, whom he took into custody with the ea-
slater co of other officers. Under a buten in the room he
found three mushiest:ibis. hails (prodatud). They were put
under that portion of the bench where Ritchie was sitting. The
halls were metered with tow, and enteltstrineily of turpentine.
Ho did not know the exact °banister of the balls, but was
satisfied that they were combustible. He found two knives
on the person of Ritchie, whom hat and clothes smelt
strongly of turpentine. Ritchie told witness, since he was
at the station, that hated 1 del, returned from France.
Cross-examined by Mr. Macesmara, who appeared for the
prisoners : The prisoners were all sitting down when witness
entered the room, which he had no diffioulty in doing, the
door not being locked. The prisoners were talking to one
another in a low tone.
lierjeant Thompson, of the metropolitan police, deposed
that he accompanied the last witness on the evening in ques-
tion. In the room where the prisoners were sesemtleo. he
picked up the paper which he produced. Greenslade said
" That paper belongs to me." The paper contained the fol-
lowing words
This is to certlry that G. Greenslade and W. Burn is duly elected
tmgressnt the Thomas Paine Brigade as delegates, to • delegate
to be held at the Orange, Orangegirset.—W. Boman,
Secretary.
He searched Ritchie's house, No. 2, Crass-court, Russell-
street., Drury-lane, where he found 127 ball cartridges, of
d,tf rent rises, 4 bullets, some bullet-moulds, 3of what ap-
peared to him combustible balls ; they seemed to be full
of gunpowder, and were covered with pitched brown paper,
with a sort of fusee run through the centre ; also a powder-
horn, with powder in it, a bottle of powder, a bayonet, a
ladle for melting lead, a piece of lead, a quantity of tow, and
about SO percussion caps, some shot, and a paper containing
these words, " This is to certify that J. Ritchie and J. Manhy
have been elected as delegates for this locality." He also
found some chartist books, and a piece of ribbon (produced)
which was plaited in red, blue, and white.
Policeman 136 F deposed to the fact that the prisoner
Ritchie resided at this address stated.
In the absence of a material witness, Mr. Cbtritipn then
proceeded with smother ctn.
C Taylor, C. Cocks, IV. Pool, C. Gibbs, T. Herbert, W.
IVinspere, T Irons, J. Prowten, H. Conway, A. Harding,
J. J. Norton, S. Herby, and S. Morgan, were then charged
with being found at a public house in Webber-street, under
similar circumstances.
Mr. Cil/AROU said lie would not anticipate the evidence
which he meant to produce, but would in this, es in the
other case, ask tor a remand, in order that that evidence
might he completed.
A. Ruts, suoerintendent of the L division, dei osed to cap-
turing the prisoners at the Angel public house, Webber-
street, Blackfriars road, on Wednesday last, at nine o'clock
in the evening. He went armed, and accompanied !,y other
officers, He thought that there was another man there at
the time, who had escaped. The prisoners were sitting in
groups, tithing. Witness went into the room with a drawn
cutlets and a pistol, cod, with the assistance of his followers,
seized the prisoners. The weapons produced (consisting nt
a number of pikes, cutlasses, cartridges, and other weapons)
were found in the room.
Several policeman of the F division deposed to searching
the prisoners. A card (produced) belonging to the National
Charter Association was found on Cox. Nothing was
found upon Ilerbert but a handkerchief, containing 7.5 ball
cartridg' a. Winspere wore a breast-plate (produced), made of
all iron, concealed between his waistcoat and shirt ; and under
the seat where he sat was found a weapon (also produced),
which might answer the purpose of a dagger or pike head.
Prowten had a pike-head (produced) concealed under his
clothes, and • dagger in his trousers pocket. In his jacket
pocket he hart a screw wrench, used for the purpose et
fastening and unfastening the nuts upon the top of the
pike-head. Conway carried two pike-heads under
his coat. Some papers (produced) were also found
•upon him. Tney consisted of some car& of the Chartist
Association, and ale a special constable's warrant, with the
r ame of Spokes struck one, and that of Conway substituted.
At the reaideuce of Morgan, 17, Bond-street, Bonsugh-riad,
a sword and a piece of wood, loaded at the end with lead,
were found ; and, in addition to some papers, a card, balong-
ing • o the "South London Life and Property Protection
SCI iety," with the word " Pike" endorsed on it.
There being no other witnesses present in this case the
learned annul then proceeded with the former one.
Thomas Cowell deposed that he resided at Gloucester'
road, Horton Old Town, sad was by business a carpenter.
He had been a member of the Chartist Associstioo, and a
delegate of the Cripplegste locatil. That society wan held
at Mr. Cartwright's, Red Cross-street. Since his elec-
tion amonth ago he 11,d attended the meetings
held at that place. On last Tuesday evening
he attended a meeting of delegates at the Lord
Denman beenhop, Ot. Suffolk-street, blackfriars'-road, at a
r,uarter past 7 o'clock in the evening. There were about 40
delegates present. Ritchie and Gurney were there, but he
believed not sny of the other primness. A proposition was
made by one of the persons present, that the sub-committee
should retire to a neighbouring coffee-shop, in the same
street, there to consult and come to certain decisions.
There was nothing said of the nature of those decisions.
from what fell from the mover of the proposition, he believed
he had lately arrived from the north, having been taking a.
tour round. He said he had been watched for two or three
hours by three or four policeman, and that a boy came to
him when he was going out of the street door and told him
so. He said, that the people of Manchester, Birmingham,
, and witness thought Liverpool also, were up and doing, or
I would be doing that night. The person in question was Mr.
I gmy.
Mr. Clarkson here cautioned the witness not to mention
the name of any person not present.
The witness proceeded Five persons, including the
mover of the resolution, then retired, and fot.r of
them returned preeenty, the pessae.. in Tani= Laing
absent. One co the four then took the chair,