The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 14, 1867.

at least founded on information as accurate and extensive
as yours—though it may not be so offenaively or die-
courteously expressed as in some of your recent publica-
tions. One system has been tried and failed. Therefore
another is now about to be tried. Should it also fail the
governor has reserved complete powers to terminate the
experiment at a moment's notice. Finally, his excellency
desires me to add that Le does not believe there is any
individual amongst you so reluctant personally, as he is
himself, to introduce • system, the object of which it
is so easy for irresponsible declaimers to misrepre-
sent in general appeals to morality, for which
there will ever be a ready audience, too indulgent
to suspect that the morality advocated is but a lazy as
in the same vice under more revolting and
dangerous conditions. Argument would be useless with
those who can see no ditferenoe between the special and
exceptional circumstanoes of Hong Kong and Heligoland.
What might be an unjustifiable policy in England, or in a
colony Inhabited by • European race with an efficient
police, may be, in the cause order and general security,
an absolute necessity in a small community of 2,015 t
foreigners amongst 130,000 Chinese, whose co-operation in
the suppression of illegal gambling, the source of so much
crime, can only be expected, by giving them an interest
in limiting its practice to a few fixed places under govern-
ment mirveillance.—l have the honour to be, gentlemen,
your most obedient servant,
(Signed) Cgat. C.
Acting Colonial Secretary.

TRADES OUTRAGES COMMISSION.

MANCHESTER, szrr. 13.

Amongst the gentlemen present to-day and pre-
viously were the professors of Owen's College, Principal
Greenwood, Professor Jsck, and Mr. Stanley Jevons, who
occupies the chair of political economy and is Cobden lee-
tuner to the college.
The commissioners took their seats at 11 o'clock.

James Dalton, examined by Mr. Chance—ls a brick-
layer's labourer, and ceased to be a member of the Acci-
dent and Burial Society in February. In July 1863 was in
the employment of Messrs. Cox and Burton, who were
using machine-made bricks. While be carried their brick.
he was not in the trades union. John Rileame from the
union and followed him, and called him a knobstick, and
struck him in the jaw. He said " take your life, you
infernal knobatick." Witness got away as fast as he could.
Was thrown out of work five weeks and then went to Stock-
ton, being driven out of Manchester. Joined the union at
Stockton. Came back in February, and got work with Mr.
John Lawton, the builder. Worked five weeks for him.
Michael Fyland, one of the union men came to him and
called him • knobstick, and threw him, into • lime pit..
The mon he was i,orking with said they would
not work with him. He went to the police
office all over blood and gave information, but
Fyland had never been apprehended. Since that
time Thomas Riley, a union man, had beaten him, and
had been sentenced to one month's impriaonment. Since
then John Murray, Thos. Deiflyn, Michael M'Loughlin,
and John Riley, came and kicked at his howte-c.oor, and
said they would take his life. They beat his little girl
because she could not find him. They kicked at the door,
and smashed it. They came several times while he was
away and twice when be was at home. On one occasion
the superintendent of police sent two police officers to
protect his house all night. John Riley said he would
hare revenge for Thomas Riley's committal. All these
men were union men, and had since been bound over to
keep the peace. Since then he had been kept out of work,
and thrown on the workhouse. He had lately got work
at Hollinwood, but walked from and to Manchester morn.
ing and evening.
Thomas bl'Loughlin, sworn—ls a bricklayer's labourer.
and belongs to the society for the protection of the trade in
Geotreet, Hulme. Had been secretary for three years.
Meetings bad been held in various places. One in St.
Mary's school-room. They had meetings once a fortnight,
and lodge meetings once a month, betides special and an-
nual meetings. There were 800 to 900 members in the
whole club, which was divided into lodges. There were
nine lodges. The object of the general meeting every year
was to discuss the rules and the working of the club. Ifes
person• wee working against the rid it was brought
before a lodge meeting. Supposing a man was • knobatick,
they tried to bring him to reason by moral suasion. At
least he never used anything but his tongue. He never
heard any names tbat be could remember of the men
who beat knobeticks while the gaol was building,
but Thomas Daly, who is now in America.
Mr. Pickering—You can remember no man in this
country, I suppose!
Witness—No. After a caution witness remembered
John Nolan was another. Remembered the last witness
working for Cox aed Burton. His name had been men-
tioned at the lodge, but did not know be bed been beaten.
Heard of Murray and Defilyn being in Agnes-street one
Saturday night, drunk, and shouting near Dalton's house,
and a woman having brought word to the lodge-house,
witness went and took Murray away. He went himself
because he *ought be should have more influence over
Murray than others. Never heard of Dalton's Bale
daughter being beaten till he heard it in court. The
society had p-inted rules. It gave Si. on the death of a
member or his wife, and Se. per week to • member out of
work. A delegate was employed by the society whose duty
it was to go round and see that the men at work were
members of the society. If he found any who were not,
working, he reported them and they were then sent for
and asked to become membiers. If they refused, then the
union men would not work with them. When men left
work in this way they were paid by the society. They
used no means but these against knobstocks, except that
they induced the bricksetters to leave the work also if
they could. The Rev. Canon Toole was trustee, and kept
the banking acoount. One of their delegates was John
Nolan, and they paid him 245. • week. Had heard of
Nolan being engaged in acts of violence. He used vio-
lence to Gough. He struck him. He was not repri-
manded for it at the lodge, and they continued to employ
him. Michael Brennan has been treasurer for two years.
The payments are a pound entrance, and • shilling •
month.
By Mr. Chance--Nevre heard when Dalton left Cox and
Burton. When • man need machine-made bricks their

men would not work with him. That was not a printed
rule, but was binding. John Murray is president of the
committee of the general society. Each lodge had its own
president and secretary.
By Mr. Barstow—He knew of no inconvenience to
labourers from carrying machine-made bricks except that
they were • little heavier. Could give no other reason why
the club would not allow them, nor did he know of any
understanding with the Elu ricnakers' Society about them.
It was • rule made by the general committee.
Mr. Pickering asked witness if he expectedto be believed
when he said he knew of no reason why machine-made
bricks were objected to except their being heavier?
Witness said all he knew was that the Micksetters would
not use them. There might be reasons which he did not
know of. The only minute, of their meetings were taken
on loose sheets of paper.
Thomas Deffira sworn—Had been a member of the
society 12months. Remembered being with Murray in
Agnes-street on • Saturday night. Witness was drunk,
but knew Murray was with him because they had got
0-unk together. He saw Dalton coming drunk through
the street shouting and quarrelling. He was shouting for
any one to ooine out to fight with him. Witness went to
fight him and he ran to his own house. He followed him
to his own house and asked him to come out and fight. He
saw either hie wife or daughter. Murray at that
time was drinking in • beer-house. His youngest
daughter had struck him before that with a
truck, and be hit her a slap on the jaw
with his open hand. Witness lived in the same street.
and was going home quietly but for meeting Dalton. Was
taken before the magistrates a few weeks after. Was
charged with an assault on James Dalton. He was
charged with assault and beating of Dalton. He did not
shout in the streets. He called Dalton • knobstick, but
did not kick at his door. Had been drinking that night
from the time he left his work, at 12 at noon. Got his
wages sometimes • quarter or half an hour after he left
work on the Saturday. After he got his wages he went to
the first public-house he met.
John Murray, a member also of the Brioklayeni' La-
bourers Burial and Accident Society, said he left work on
the Saturday in question at 12, and got drunk. Did not
often get drunk. Is • member of the general committee,
whose duty it is to look after the working of the different
lodges, to pay the delegates, and make the rules. It is
not a rule of the society, but none of their men would
work for a master using machine-made bricks. It might
be • rule, but not a printed rule, and if they found • union
man was working for such a master,wbat they did was to
draw him away. If they saw a non-union man so work-
ing they left him alone. His committee met at the
Shamrock Inn. A rule made by the committee was binding
lon the whole nine lodges. Each lodge had • different
delegate. When Dalton left Manchester be owed 30e. to
the society, and when he came back they decided he could
not be readmitted because he had not • clear card.

Bridget Dalton, wife of James Dalton, previously exa-
mined—Her husband was obliged some time ago to go
away in consequence of being ►non-union man. They had
nine children. He went to Stockton. Had since re-
turned. Remembered her husband being stopped work,
and thrown into a lime pit and being beaten, and the men
being punished. Remembered one Saturday Murray,
Fyland. Deffiyn. Riley, and M'Loughlin coming to the
door. They came and went all afternoon op to belt-put
ten at night. Her husband was at home, but bad to be
hid away. A neighbour west to the police-office, and two
policemen came and remained to protect them. Thomas
Defilyn struck her little girl with hie fist. The child had
done nothing to him. Her husband bad been out of work
till laic week, when he got work some distance away,
because the union men would not allow him to work in
Manchester.

George Bradbury sworn—ls • muter brickmaker at
Cheetham, and in 1864 had a large quantity of bricks de-
stroyed. Is a member of the trade union himself. Did
not know why the damage was done, except that be bad
been adjudged to pay sews. Young for some clay that
had been used before, and would only pay it under pro-
test. He bad let his field to Youngs for 12 months, and
they left some clay which they had not used. His men
and Youngs' men valued it. He bad 20,000 to 30,000
bricks destroyed. He stopped the work, and the union
had gime paid him N. Its. for hie leas. Hia real len