The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-19 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 19, 1867.

money in dissipation. Six months ago he had a legacy of
3001., which he squ.uidered in a few months. After he
had spent it all he came to her and asked for some more
money, and she refused to have anything to do with him.
He then deliberately broke a pane of glass worth N. He
had several times threatened to kill her unless she gave
him money. She did not wish hiss harshly dealt with.
Prisoner said he had nothing to say, but threw himself
on the merciful consideration of the court.
Mr. Mansfield fined him W. or three months' hard
labour.

TRADES' OUTRAGI 3 COMMISSION.
-e-

MANCHESTER, Sul'. 18.

The following is the warning letter set ationed sent to
Mr. Ashworth as mentioned in his evidence yesterday:
"Friday Morning, Aug. 5, '6s.—Dear Sir,—l think it
my duty to inform you that at a meeting of operative
brickmakers, held in this hall yesterday, there was • com-
mittee appointed to consider the best means of shooting or
otherwise putting an end to your existence. In writing
this I put myself quite as much in danger as yourself if
it came to the knowledge of this society of ruffians ; so,
beg you will not let my trouble be thrown away, but put
yourself on your guard at once. Now, considering I have
done my duty, I beg to subscribe mTeeff—
.

"A WELL WISHER.
" If you value these communications, please advertise
on receipt of it in to-morrow's Guardian in the following
words—' Received Well-wiaher's letter.—J. A.' "
The court opened at the usual hour this morning.
Mr. Pickering eaid—Beforeproceeding with the evidence
he wished to say that their attention bad been called, and
he was glad to say properly called, to the question as to
what cases they considered should come within the mean-
ing of the word " intimidation" in the act of parliament
under which they were acting ; and as it was desirable
that no misapprehension should exist on the subject, he
would state what they (the commissioners) considered to
be the meaning of the word, and the sort of cases they
thought would fall within the scope of their inquiry under
that particular head. The words of the act were that
they were to inquire into " any acts of intimidation, out-
rage, or wrong alleged to have been promoted, encouraged,
or connived at by trades' unions or associations," and as
to the cause of such acts and the complicity therein of
such trades' unions. Now, looking at the word intimi-
dation there in connexion with the words to which it was
joined in the act of parliament, they thought that any
threats, whether actual or implied, of any violence or
injury to the person or property, whether these threats were
accompanied with actual violence or injury or not, did
come within the meaning of that expression, and they
should feel it their duty to inquire into any cue of that
nature which might be brought before them.

Mrs. Sir di Potter, sworn—ls the wife of William Potter,
roller cover sr, of Eccles. He is in the union. Remembered
the affair at Ashworth's. Mrs. Mosedale came into her
house in lie .5, and said there was something to do with
Ashworth's men, and they were going. to kill Mr. Ash-
worth. She said some men were coming to their house
about it. Did nut know if it was before or after the
attack on Parka. Mr. Moeedale came to her house last
Saturday hut one, and asked to see her summons to this
court, and took it away till Thursday. He asked her to
go with him to 'Turney Roberts, but she did not go.
John Moacdale, sworn—ls a brick burner and a member
of the brickmakers' society in Salford. Lives at Eccles.
Went to Mrs. Potter's house last Saturday week. What
he went for was to tell her to tell all she knew. He had
a right to go. (The witness had to Sc cautioned that he
must not give impertinent answers or be guilty of con-
temptof court.) He said he went to get to see the summons.
He never heard in the club of any intention to commit
violence on Alr. Ashworth. Had never been a delegate.
The first he beard of the injury to Parks was fi Qin the
newspaper. Never heard of the intention to attack
him beture it occurred. On the night of the attack
a,person came to his house of the name of William Spathe.
o one else. The only reason he went to see Mrs. Potter's
summons was that he was drunk. He wanted to see
whether she was summoned for the same day that he was.
Had no reason to fear she would say something about him.
He defied any one in England to say anything about him
Never went to any one to see their summands. (Ho was
ordered to stand down without expensee.)
John Collins sworn—ls a member of the Manchester
Brickinakers' Union. Knows Thomas Ashworth, son of
John Ashworth. Was not present at any meeting the
dispute with him was brought before. Heard of a resolu-
tion passed that no member should visit Ashworth's beer-
house. Could not say if it was after the attack on Parks.
He was fined a pound himself for going to Ashworth's
beerhouse, being then ignorant of the resolution.
George Craunter, of Cheetluon, is a member of the Master
Brickmakers' Association. It was formed for protection
against a number of speculative builders or " Jerry-
men," who went and got bricks from different makers, and
when they had got all the credit they could, clewed them-
selves from liability at Lancaster (in the Insolvent Court).
Was a member of the Operative Brickmakers' Union. The
master. who worked themselves were obliged to be mem-
bers. The union dictated what they should be paid for
labour. There was an understanding among the n.as.
ten that they should all sell at a given price. He
believed that the employment of machinery would increase
the number of men employed, but doubted if it would not
decrease their wages. lie thought there was a great diffe-
rence between working up clay by machinery and working
up cotton. Ho believed the brickmaking machines had all
failed, because all the companies had gone down. Be-
lieved that band-made bricks were the best as a rule, ex-
cept from Platt's machine' which was the best he had seen.
Mr. Ashworth mails bricks by machine, and John Mabel-
land and George hlannering, operative unionists, came to
witness and asked him to induce Mr. Ashworth to stop
his machine. They said they did not come officially, but
they had no doubt if he left off the tine of 501. would be
taken off, and bygones be bygones. James Kay was em-
ployed by the masters' association, not to draw the
men off, but to inform them of defaulters among
the builders. Qtaetieued if muhine bricks could
be made cheaper than others. Hand-made bricks
were better than those made by machines for some classes
of work. Thought machine bricks were cheaper as to
labour, but including break-downs and wear-and-tear of
machinery, they would be es dear. There would be more
bands employed at machines, but at less wages. They
(hanilmakers) paid 198. or 14s. per day fur operatives,
where machine-makers gave only. There would be lees
skill for the machines, except for the engineers and me-
chanics. Masters were not obliged to be members of the
operatives' union. They would be entitled to 101. funeral
stoney if they subscribed; but (said the witness seriously)
he would have to die for it. (Great laughter, in which
witness joined.)
John Lomas, clogger, said, in 180, he was building up
two houses with hand-made bricks up to April, and made
a contract with Mr. Walkdcn for machine bricks, in con-
sequence
of the high price of the hand-bricks. Kay came
to tell Lim he must desist and send back the bricks, but
he refused unless they refunded him 271. Kay said they
would forgive him for what he had done so far, if he would
send back the bricks, and if he did not he would shift his
head off. Supposed he meant he would shoot him. On
the 9th May, found that his house hail been set on fire
by exploding four canisters, weighing 12165. each. The
floors and window frames were lifted, and be sustained
damage to the amount of 601.
George Goodier sworn—ls a self-acting spinner in the
employ of Agnew. On 22nd May, 185-1 was watchman
in Mr. Armitage's mill, and was attacked' by three brick-
makers with stick' and bricks about quarter to half past
19 at night. They struck hint with sticks and bricks and
threw bricks It the dog. They drew witness down the
brow and then is vast ninny men came from the canal.
He should say 90 to 30 men, as well as he could tell, but
he was bleeding badly. They then started off throwing
down walls of bricks. The walls were 100 yards
long and 10 feet high. Two men held him while the others
threw down the bricks. They were machine-mail, bricks.
As they left he was struck across the back with something,
and he felt the effects now. They said, "Kill the
beggar," and knocked him against the cabin door. He was
in the doctor's hands afterwards six weeks, and could not
work for sixteen weeks, He had never recovered, and had
ever since been unfit for work. They killed the dog. Mr.
Armitage was building a new mill, and they were using
machine-made bricks.
John Warburton said he was the contractor for Mr.
Benjamin Armitige's new mill, when the walls of the new
weaving shed were knocked down several hundred yards
long. Should say it would take twenty or thirty men.
Had never been threatened before this. Lie went on after-
wards and rebuilt the walls with machiceonade bricks. He
left the job when half•finished because of the clerk of the
works, who said the work was not good enough. Was sure that
he was never threatened, and never heard that his men
were. Never said so. Was to be paid by the yard, bat
had never been paid yet. The work bad never been mea-
sured. Had been in partnership with his brother, but had
dissolved partnership. Had to stop work once because of
the supply of bricks being stopped. James Kay had him
fined 51. for using machine-made bricks before they would
let him have band-made bricks. Paid the fine.

--- -
By Mr. Barstow-Could not say which were the cheapest.
Did not know whether he was stopped on behalf of the
masters' union, or the men's. James Kay Mopped him.
James Tinsley sworn-Is an • excavator at Pendletoo.
Remembered the attack on Artuitsge's watchman. Re-
membered on the Sunday after an excavator named Smith
telling Lim be killed the dog. Smith told bin' Robert
Rigby and a man called I.any were there.
Mr. Benjamin Armitage said he was a cotton manufac-
turer at Pendleton, and contracted with Warburton to
build a new mill. Remembered ME or 400 yards of the
walls being thrown down in May, 154. Knew a mill bad
been built before of machine bricks, and did not anticipate
any objection so much to himself using them as against
the makers. Had to employ carters to cart the bricks.
Had to employ two men armed all the time, and it coat
him 1001. He was armed bin self. \Vas never threatened
directly, but understood there was danger. Constantly
saw band-made brickmakers sneaking about the premises,
but they never would face him. Altogether the damage
to the walls and other loam" incidental to the interference
was from 31.101. to 4001. Any WAD that was honest would
say that machine tricks were better, heavier, and cheaper
than the hand-made. They could be set better, sad could
be made all the year round. Determined to finish his mill
with machine bricks: amt! did. Warburton did his work in
a workmanlike manner, and was sorry be parted with him.
John Clifford sworn-Is a labourer. It likti was a
master brickmaker at Stalybridge, employing nine men,
two women, and two boys. At Whitsuntide, between
Friday and Saturday, bad 7,000 bricks spoiled because he
employed non-union men. Two union men came before
that and said he was paying too little. They wished him
to employ • gang of their men, but be would not. In
November his shed was destroyed by fire. and a valued dog
was killed. They also spoiled about' ,000 bricks. Could
not form any notion of the number of men who did it. At
the latter end of the same November, a bottle was thrown
into the room where he and his wife and four children
slept, at two minutes to twelve in the night. The bottle
struck a chair at the window and rebounded into the street
and there exploded. Another bottle was found buried in

some ashes at Cock Brook, near his place, next day. It
was tilled with powder, and had a fuse. Aft. r tlist
employed a watchman. Remained there till August.
Was called " Knol.Aick," and dared not go thratsA
Ashton after dark. Gave up his yard because be thottelt
it was batter than to lona his lila He was ruined in his
bmdnesa and was now a labourer.
The court adjourned at half-past three o'clock in conse-
quence of the absence of a witness for whom it had waik,i
nearly twenty minutes.