The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-17 00:00:00

TRADES OUTRAGES COMMISSION.

MANCHESTER, SEPT. 16.

The proceedings opened at the umual hour, but
there was an unusually numerous attendance at the open-
ing of the court, and it afterwards became crowded.
Some few ladies were present to-day, but not nearly so
large a proportion as attend during the assizes.
It has been stated that Key, the Manchester delegate,
who organised the outrages at Reddish, on being informed
that the court intended to send for him to be put under
examination, made his way to Liverpool somewhat hastily,
and embarked for America. There is reason to believe
this is not true, but that he had taken advice to be miss-
ing long before.
There is some reason to expect the cornniiasioners will
complete their inquiry this week. They have several very
bad cases to take yet of outrages in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of Pdanche,ter. Some bad cases of intimidation
have been offered, which they decline to hear, ha% ing de-
cided, as far as possible, to confine their inquiries to cases
only of actual outrage.
Samuel Adshead, master builder at Ardwick, was called
to give evidence, but it appearing that what he had to say
referred to matters 12 years ago, the commissioners de-
cided he could not be examined.

William Alfred Atkins sworn—Was • machine brick-
maker in February, 1862, in Chetwood.lane. On • Sunday
morning in that month he found the roof of the engine-
house blown off. They had been threatened repeatedly by
the Manchester union men, but they had reason to sup-
pose it was done at the instigation of the master hand-
larickmakers. A Mrs. Wolgar had told bun before she
had heard a master say he wished the machines at —.
They had continually break-downs from the bard sub-
stances put among the machinery. They employed
non-union men, and they were beaten several times—once
in the morning, as they came to work. • letter had been
sent with the drawing of a coffin. This system continued
over three years after 1862, till his capital was done, and he
gave up business. They would not let people buy machine
bricks. A delegate was employed by the masters and men
to who used machine bricks, and supposing houses to
be partly built and having to be sold, the purchaser would
not afterwards be allowed to have bricks to finish them
from master hand-made brickmakers. The witness said
the men sometimes emptied the water from his boiler to
produce a blow-up.
Charles Hadfield said he had been • machine brickmaker
till last year. Began in Ifffil. Employed non-union men.
Was constantly threatened by union men as they passed
the yard. Their ewn men, supposed to have been bribed,
let the water from the boiler, and the machines had nuts
and screws put in them twelve or thirteen times, casing
breakages and delays. Messrs. Elliott and Dickson in
1863 had six houses pushed down because building with
machine bricks. About fifty to sixty brMkmakers went
in the night, and were met by the police. The brick-
layers preferred machine bricks, but in consequence of
the strike at the assize courts they took the side of the
brickmakers and society men refused to lay them.
Had been threatened several times. Wood a burner, li
from Durham, in 1863 had a combustible bottle with
slugs in thrown in at his bedroom window, but it was laid
bold of, with the fuse still burning, and thrown out
again before it exploded. (The witness spoke sec as to be
heard only very partially.) Gave up business through
these outrages.
Thomas Walkden said he had been employed four or
five years ago to cast machine bricks, and had been stopped
many a time and many • time again. They were union
men, to be sure, and they threatened him, and said they
would have his life. Once they set his haystack on fire.
This was in the back end of the summer, at six in the
evening, and a man dressed like a brickmaker was seen in
the yard. James Kay, the delegate, made him pay
afine.
He paid him 51. fine one time, and another 54 afterwards.
(Produced Kay's stamped receipt for 5/.) It was for casting
machine-made bricks. Had to leave off, and was out of
work eight or nine months when the machines were
stopped. They stopped because the brickmakers would no
longer lay their bricks. Paid the fines to be allowed to
work again. Had to go to the Crown and Cushion eight
or nine times before it was settled. They put him out the
third time, but his master told him to go and keep teasing
them till they agreed to his fine, that he might go on work-
Jot Maim
John Holt, master brickmaker at Royton, near Oldham,
said he complained of a man named Buckley not doing his
work properly, sod he gave up work. Then his other men
struck. He afterwards employed non-union men, and his
sheds were set on fire, and all his barrows, shovels, boards,
and other materials. They put some thousands of needles
in his clay, but the men worked the clay. Two men got
needles in their hands. One of them has a stiff finger in
consequence now. They tread the needles into the clay
and spread needles over the mats. This was in 1859.
Could not suppose it was done by any but union men. On
the night when the place was fired he found William Burns
there, the man whom he had turned away. Burns did not
give a hand to put out the fire, and all he did was to laugh.
John Hay, private in the 99th Regiment, said he re-
membered being in Mr. Holt's employ, and saw the fire in
1859. Knew Thomas Jackson, • union man, use a threat
towards Mr. Holt. Saw Burns at the fire, and that be aid
not help to put it out.
John Smethurst said, in 1859 he was a colliery pro-
prietor and brickmaster at Royton. He employed union
men at the time, because the union rules were so much in
favour of the men and left the masters so little controL
The muters had a meeting with the men and asked them
to alter the rules, but they would not. Could not re.
member the names of the men present. In June, 18.19,
had about 7,000 bricks trampled upon. There were three
different footmarks on the bricks. After that kept •
watchman, and bad to pay him to protect his premises.
The masters bad many meetings with the unionists at
Oldham over altering their rules. In May, 1860, had
about :1,000 bricks damaged, having no watchman at the
time. He stillcontinued to employ non-union men, but
he gave up business in 1862 in consequence of the annoy-
ances, and that it was unsafe at nights.
William Connell sworn— Is a temperer at Oldham, and
is • member of the union. Was secretary in 185.1 and
1854. There is • president, treasurer, secretary, and a
council of nine, each elected for three months.
William Burns is present secretary, George Heywood, pre-
sident, and John Lord, treasurer. They paid for funerals,
sickness and expenses of turnouts. The turnouts cost a
good deal, because they had lately been rather heavy. In
case of a turn-out • delegate or two were sent and tried to
persuade the masters. Did not remember they did any-
thing else. (A laugh.) Had heard of bricks being spoiled
and sheds being fired, but knew nothing of them—" oh
no." (Laughter.) Did not know that that was one of the
ways of persuading. Did not hear of any talk about such
things at meetings of the club. Witness now corrected
himself, and said he was secretary in 1864 (not in 1854).
He had not seen the cash-book housed for • long time. Had
seen • book in the hands of the present secretary a few
weeks ago. Could not tell whether any other officer than
the secretary had power to draw money. The treasurer
sometimes paid away money, and he put it down as
" cash "in the book. It was the duty of the president to
pay money to turnouts. He did not know of a
minute-book. The council had • book in which they en-
tered their proceedings. Could not tell when lie last
saw the council book, but it was a length of time. There
was a ledger, • cash book, and council book. Iternenibered
in 1864 the council coming to • resolution to subscribe for
the defence of the men who were accused of the murder of
Jump. Benison and Barlow were the delegates who came
and explained what they wanted. They agreed to sub-
scribe 101. or 121., but he did not know how the secretary
entered it. Remembered Graves's place being blown up.
Heard of a shell being thrown into his house. Had no '
idea what it was for. Heard it talked of at the Volunteer,
where the club met. He was secretary at the time. but
entered no money as " cash " for that affair. Did not
know James Kay except by sight. They had a turn out,
and Kay brought them 1001. That turn out cast an im-
mesa sum of money. They got money from Ashton, Stock-
port, Wigan, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester. They sent
delegate to those places. Could not recollect the year.
The turn out was for an advance of wages, and
lasted many • mouth. The books would show
what money was obtained and paid. Could not say
that any of it was entered as " expenses " or
" cash." Heard of bricks spoiled, but never paid any
cash for it. Was four years secretary at the forniatiou
of the club and nine months afterwards. Filled one cash
book each two years. They burnt the books when full.
He burnt his first book when it was full. The other
was not full when he went out of office. Had not heard
of any order for a general burning. When fines were
levied they were entered by the secretary. They were
levied by the council, but if complained of they could be
brought before • quarterly meeting. Men were fined for
working under wages. The largest fines were ss. or 10s.
Such fines would be paid to the secretary and entered by
him. Did not think there were very many such fines.
Never heard of men being fined 5/. If men did not pay
they would be turned out of the club. Remembered the
i outrage upon Holt, tut did not recollect that anything
was paid for it. Reiuembered some bricks being spoiled
belonging to Smethurst in 1859. Holt's and Greaves's
and Sniethurst's places wero in their union.
These outrages were talked about as public things.
(During this witness's evidence a working man, supposed
to be • brickmaker, bawkd out to him to "speak up,"
end was immediately removed from the court by order of
Mr. l'ickering, the chief commissioner.) Would swear
that when Kay gave the 1001. there were turnouts. Asked
what they were, witness said there was a turn out in the
Ashton-road, employing 15 men. There was a company
also to make bricks by machines at that time which threw
out nine men. They paid the men 12s. • week in lieu of
wages. Would swear they sent round delegates to collect
money for these. Would swear he never heard of money
being paid fur anything but turnouts. Any balance would
go to the general fund. The books burned would have
shown how the money was obtained and expended.
William Bourne sworn—Was the present secretary of
the Oldham Union, and was elected two months ago. Had
been a member 12 or 14 years. Attended the chief meet-
ings once a fortnight. Any person had not a right to call
• general meeting. There were four districts in the Old-
ham Union, and the district men could call general meet-
ings. The cash book and contribution book were
one. They bad a ledger, but it was taken away last
Thursday night. It contained: the names of the mem-
bers. When be was called down by the police-sergeant to I
receive • summons to attend this meeting he left the
ledger, and when he went back it had gone. Did not
think it would ever be likely to come back. (A laugh.) It
had only names in, nothing of any harm, and there was no