The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-25 00:00:00

THE CASE OF MICHAEL BARRETT.

The decision in the case of the convict Barrett
and the announcement that the execution would
take place to-morrow have caused groups of idlers
to amemble in front of Newgate during the morning.
The delay consequent on the investigation in reference to
the alleged alibi seems to have occasioned much curiosity,
and now that the last punishment of the lawis to be carried
out, the authorities me employing every means to guard
against the pressure of the crowd. Immediately in front
of the " debtor,' door," from whence the procession
emerge', the barriers are being placed closer to each other,
than is usual on such occasions ; and stretching from
Newgate-street to Ledgate-hill the bars will be so ar-
ranged an to divide the people in several sections. The
touting for seats was observed in several cases this
morning ; and in more than one instance it was said the
places were all " reserved."

Yesterday afternoon the Governor of Nowgate
received a communication from the Home Secretary to the
effect that the inquiries he had instituted in the ease of
the convict Michael Barrett, now under sentence of death
for the murders arising out of theClerkenwell explosion, had
not tended to shake the evidence on which the conviction
pecceeded, and therefore that the law must take its course.
otu muniention,eteveyedby a special messenger, was re.
eeivedatNewgate about sseelock, and shortly afterwards Mr.
Jonas, the Governer, went to the cell of the doomed man and
revealed the intelligence to him. Barrett received it with
composure, and resigns himself to his fate. He has never
been unduly buoyed up by the efforts made on his behalf
to reverse the sentence, and therefore the ultimate decision
did not appear to occasion him surprise. He has rather
used the long interval of suspense the better to prepare
himself for the worst.

The execution will take effect to morrow (Tuesday) in
front of the gaol of Newgate, and will in all probability be
the last that will be conducted in public, there or in any
other part of the kingdom. Barrett having been convicted
and sentenced before the new act was passed for the pri-
vate execution of prisoners, it does not apply in his case.
Since his sentence the convi-t has been attended almost
daily by a priest of ►is own religious persuasion, the key.
James Hussay, attached to the Homan catholic chapel in
Moorfields, who had a long interview with him yesterday.
Be has all along conducted himself in a becoming manner.

FRAC'AS AT THE CITY MEETING ON THE
IRISH CHURCH QUASTION.

SIANBION-HOUSE.-(THD3 DAY.)

Mr. MackeHass Walbrook, the secretary to the
South London Protestant Institute, attended this morning
before Alderman Sir It. Carden, at the Mansion-house. to
answer a charge of assaulting Mr. Henry Potter, a seeds-
man, carrying on business in Farringdon-street.
The case created a good deal of interest, as the assault in
question was alleged to have been committed in conse-
quence of the complainant having endeavoured to propose
an amendment to one of the resolutions brought forward
at the meeting at the Cannon-street Hotel, last Monday,
to oppose the scheme of Mr. Gladstone for the disestabliah-
meat of the Protestant Church in Ireland.
_ _

Mr. ()ramrod, the banister, appeared for the de-
fendant.

The complainant stated that on Monday afternoon last
he went to the meeting referred to, and he observed by
the placards that it was a public meeting, but he mistook
the word "laymen for liverymen," and he went in the
last-mentioned capacity. He was asked by a policeman
at the door for a card of admission, but he said he had not
got one. He, however, banded him his private card, and
was admitted. When be got into the room, a
resolution was agreed to that a petition should
be presented to parliament against the proposed
measure, and when this had been done, Alderman Sir W.
Rose was about to propose a resolution of thanks to the
Lord Mayor. Witness asked permission to be allowed to
speak to this resolution, but Sir W. Rose refused to allow
him to do so, and he was suddenly seized and forced out
of the rooni and down the staircase with great violence.
His clothes were torn, his shirt-front was torn out, and
be was a good deal hurt. He resisted as well as he
could, but he was unable to do so effectually, and when he
got to the bottom of the staircase he applied to the police,
and seized hold of the defendant, and told the constable
not to let him go until he had given his name and
address.

---
Sir It. Carden asked the witness whether be was aware
that the meeting was a meeting of laymen in support of
the Irish church!
The witness said that he was aware of that fact, but he
did not attend the meeting in order to support the object
for which it was convened.
In cross.examination Mr. Potter said that he twice asked
the permission of Sir W. Rose to address the meeting, but
he refused, and declared the meeting at an end, and im-
mediately after this he was seized and forced out of the
room.

A City polioe-constable was then examined, and he to
now extent confirmed the evidence of the complainant,
but he expressed his opinion that Mr. Potter had as tight
• bold of the defendant as the latter hadof him. _

Mr. Stokes, a silk manufacturer, was examined as •
witness, and he said that the attack made upon Mr.
Potter was • very violent one, and the moment he at-
tempted to address the meeting he said that a gentleman,
who he believed was • clergyman from his appearance,
struck him a violent blow in the chest. He did not know
that this person was a clergyman, but be judged so from
his dress.

' Sir It. Carden observed that other people besides clergy-
men dressed themselves in a particular manner. He, him
self, for instance, wore a white neckcloth. (A laugh.)
The witness said that he saw Sir Robert on the plat-
, form, and he knew he was not a clergyman. He behaved
' himself too decorously. (Laughter.)
Sir R. Carden assured the witness that he did not take
what he had said as a compliment. (Renewed laughter.)
In cross-examination the witness said that he was op-
posed to the object of the meeting, and intended to have
I moved an amendment, but when he found it was a packed
meeting be declined to take any part in it.
Alderman Sir W. Rose, who said that be attended in
consequence of an intimation he had received that he
should be summoned on behalf of the complainant, was
then sworn, and he stated that from what he observed
one or two persons had come to the meeting for
the express purpose of disturbing the proceedings
but in consequenoe of the unanimity that pre-
vailed complainant was prevented from doing anything
to carry out his object until the proceedings had con-
cluded. He then insisted upon his right to address the
meeting, and he told him, as courteously as be could,
that he was out of time. Alter this he persisted, and
witness asked the meeting to support him, and the com-
plainant was removed as quietly as wu possible under the
circumstances. (Laughter.)
This was the case for the complainant.
Sir R. Carden said that without reference to the ques-
tion whether the parties were justified in ejecting the
complainant, there was no evidence that any assault had
been committed by the defendant personally. The sum-
mons would, therefore, be dismissed.

C RESTER CATIIIIDIAL. —A meeting, convened by
the High Sheriff of Cheshire, will be held at Shire Hall,
Chester, on Wednesday, the 3rd of June, to consider the
question of raising funds for the restoration of the
cathedral. The project is now iu a very satisfac-
tory state of progress. The total sum required for
the satisfactory restoration of the building is
5.5,5007., of which 25,000/. is required for abso-
lutely necessary repairs, 7,000/. for desirable repairs, and
20,000/. for improvements. There is now no fund at the
disposal of the Dean and Chapter which can be devoted to
this project. The Ecclesiastical Commisaieners have pro-
mised 100001. on condition that the work is effectively
done, and large subscriptions have been promised by the
leading gentry of the district. It is very desirable that
the Dean and Chapter should be placed at once in a posi-
tion to proced with the work.—Lirerpoal Albion.