The Express.
London, England, 1868-09-07 00:00:00

JI EIOUN I RMlzi MANCUE,QTR.

Murphy, Ili:. notorious lecturer against Roman
stl.olienni, his all ..atly succeeded in defeating the pre•
cal.!iin, taken by the 'Manchester magistrates for the pro-
:.naliru of thu peace. On Saturday afternoon one of the
fi.o-t IDII+ riots took 'lie:• in the south-western suburbs
of the city whi•li has been known for years. arising out of
shis having a religions or political character. and led te
the arrest of over thirty of the combatants. It will be
remembered that early in the week Murphy was arrested
on arriving in the town to lecture upon a warrant granted
on infinniation sworn before the magistrates that if ho
was allowed to lecture a serious breach of the peace was
apprehended. Ile was taken before the magistrates and
held to bail, two clergymen becoming sureties for his good
behaviour. Upon these, and his own recognisance for
2DO/., he was liberated from Bell Vire (the city) gaol on
Thursday. Ile was no sooner at liberty than hetookateps
to defeat the intention of the magistrate.. Knowing how
sensitive the public mind is to any attempt
at fettering the liberty of speech during an election
he issued an address to the electors of Manchester, offering
himself as a candidate at the next election on protestant
principles. After this he issued another placard calling
an open air meeting, in Chorlton-road, of electors on
Saturday afternoon. As the present parliament has not
yet been dissolved, how far the magistrates may be dis-
posed to hold this as only a colonrable pretext for die-
tut bing the peace remains to be seen. They didnot
attempt to prevent the meeting, but they did take such
steps as were deemed necessary to arrest tumult should
any arise. On the meeting ground on Saturday afternoon
there was a dense crowd of people assembled by about four
o'clock, and soon afterwards a waggon containing a number
of Murphy's friends was drawn udothe midst of them.
These persons were received with great cheering by a
large proportion of the crowd. A Mr. Leathern was voted to
the chair, and addressed the meeting. Mr. Tears then
moved a resolution to the effect that the conduct of the
magistratee in arresting Murphy was unconstitutional,
and calling upon the Home Secretary to institute an in-
quiry into their conduct. Whilst this speaker was address-
ing the meeting there came up Choriton-road a formidable
phalanx of Irishmen who joined the meeting, and pro-
ceeded to distribute themselves around the outer edge of
the gathering. Almost immediately after their arrival a
collision ensued. Both parties appeared to be provided
for such a contingency, and sticks and stones were freely
used. The combatants fought with fierce determination
for a considerable time. A number of detective police-
men in plain clothes had mingled in the meeting, but as
there were from 5,000 to 6,000 persons present they could
do little to stop the riot, though what they did attempt was
vigorously done. Before this scene of lawless violence
and tumult had lasted long, however, a large body of city
police, which bad been held in reserve, was marched upon
the ground, and proceeded to make a number of arrests.
By that time the commotion had spimd along C.horlton-
read and Stratford New-road, and a tolerably free fight
was extending itself into the rather populous outskirts of
the city ; an fears began to be entertained of a more
!serious, issue than had been contemplated even by the
magistrates. The police, however, acted vigorously, and
with good effect. Up to this time Murphy had not
arrived; but soon after five o'cloek he made his
appearance on the waggon, and was vociferously
cheered by the meeting, amongst whom were a great
number of Orangemen. Re addressed the assembly, and
his address was of a character to have produced great
exasperation had it not been for the presence of such a
arge and restraining body of police. The Irish were
still mainly on the outer borders of the meeting, and fre-
quently shook their fists when Murphy made any allusion
to their religion that was particularly objectionable,
manifesting a disposition to renew the combat that had
been arrested partly by the police and partly out of a
feeling excited by his arrival on the ground. When
Murphy had concluded, a vote of confidence in him, and
adopting him as a fit and proper person to represent the
protestant interest in parliament, was paseed. Three
cheers were then given for the crown, and three cheers for
William Prince of Orange, followed by three groans for
Popery. The National Anthem was sung at the close,
and Murphy was then carried shoulder high out
of the reach of danger. At the eorner of Moss-
lane he was put into a cab, and driven off
rapidly. A great number of broken heads were the
result of the fight, and a good deal of blood flowed, but we
hear, on good authority, of no one being mortally injured,
though popular report speaks of one ease of death. No
knowledge of any such case had readied the police up te
yeAerdny at noon. several policemen were toughly used,
and received contusions. Thirty-ono uersons are in cus-
tody altogether, and are chiefly Irishmen. Mr. Clarke,
magistrate, and Captain Palm were oij the ground. and
about 100 policemen of the I) div.sion of the city, under
the et tumoral of Superintendent Booking. About 20 of
the county constabulary, under Superintendent Bent, also
mere present, and rendereil good service in arresting vio-
lence in the streets. A man named Sweeney. and another
named Nolan. two of the ringleaders of the Irish, were
among the.* ane,ted.:cud also a man who fired a pistol at
a body of police whilst they were marching dAill Chester-
' ouil. The glut, had happily nois=ed taking effect. The
pigol is said to have been :litliklidelitaa.itely, and the MA?,
IA as Urre-ted itnioutliately a fns- a- ht was attempting,
to escape by running.
Yesterday- afternoon :1 party of lf;slimen made an at-
tempt to renew the vi knee of the previous d.iy, by
attacking groups of people in Chorlton-road. The polite
prevented any renewal or the fighting. and took . !even
persons into custody.

OUT TELMJIZAIII.

MANCHESTER, Moznamt MOIININO.

All is quiet this morning, but the Irish popula-
tion is in a state of feveri..ll excitement, and further
violence is expected.
Nearly forty pri,oner; are under examination this
morning before the magistrate. and the intense interest
in their fate will probably prevent any renewal of the
outbreak for the present.