The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-14 00:00:00

THE RECENT RIOT IN BELFAST.

The Northern, Whig, of yesterday, contains,
amongst others, the following statements, taken from the
lips of some of the persons who were injured at the hands
of the local police iu the disturbance which took place in
Belfast on Friday last. In every case, the person making
the statement has been austral to say nothing which he is
not prepared to verify on oath before the conductors of an
investigation :
William Johnston, painter, of 30, Lagan-street, a young
man, was not more lan half an hour home from Stewarta-
town when he was asked by another young man to take a
walk through High-street before be would go home. In an
instant a rush of constables owe up, wielding batons, and
clearing all before them. He was knocked down, his nose
was broken, and he was rendered senselese. He neither
dyed squib nor rocket that night, nor had he any intention
at doing so. He was proceeding home. Has been attended
to by Dr. Cribben and Dr. Corry.
Samuel Hamilton. tailor, 20, Stauntoo•strest. was coming
down Charch.lane, when he was attacked by a mob of con-
stables. He got a severe cut on the head with a baton.
Was on his way to his cousin's hose in Berry-street when
attacked. Was not in a mob at all. Saw a crowd rushing
towards him, which afterwards turned out to be constables.
Knew nothing more about it as he was knocked down and left
there. Some party took him to Dr. Cony's, who attended
to him.

John Dobbs, grocer, 34, Stanfield-street (who bears the
reputation of being a quiet and most inoffensive man), was
going up High-street, looking after one of his children.
He was knocked down with • policeman's truncheon—com-
pletely felled to the ground. His skull was laid open, and
the blood flowed down his shirt and vest. After falling, he
was swirl struck violently with a baton. He was left on
the ground senseless, and bleeding profusely. The party
who Wedged him rushed out of au entry. lie was injur-
log nobody, sod had neither squibs nor anything else in his
pocket. There were no stones thrown in his eight. The
°mutable who knocked him down was a big man, and the
one who gave him the second blow was a low-set man. Re-
members nothing more. Dr. Corry attended him. Severe
fracture of the skull.

Tau ORDER OP THE SERAPHIM.—The Order of
the Seraphim, which the Emperor wore at the review, is
the most ancient and venerated of all the Swedish. It is
said to have been founded by King Magnus I, in the 12th
century • but its primitive constitution has undergone
several Modifications, the but of which took place in 1748, in
the reign of Frederick I. The King is the Chief and Grand-
Muter of the Order, but bas no power to abolish it. The
princes of the royal family of Sweden are members by
right of birth. The knights form only one class, and their
number is fixed at 23 Swedes and eight foreigners, excluaive
of sovereigns and their heirs-apparent. No Swede can be
admitted to the Order of the Seraphim if he is not already
a knight either of the Sword or of the Polar Star ; but ow
being received into the Order of the Seraphim he becomes
a commander in the order to which he previously belonged.

THE BETTING! IN BRIDE-LANN

At the Guildhall police-court, yesterday, Thos,
Newsome, Philip Powter, Charles Wales, Alfred Scarratt,
Joha Valentine and Stanley, were summoned before Sir
James Duke, at the instance of the City Solicitor and of the
City Police, for obstructing one of the highways of the
City of London—viz., Bride-lane—and thereby creating a
nuiaance. The latter two, Valentine and Stanley, did not
answer.
Mr. Metcalfe appeared for the defendants.
. .

Mr. Sleigh said he appeared there that day, instructed by
the City Solicitor, to charge the defendants with obstruct.
tog one of the highways in the City, thereby ins.
peding one of the public thoroughfares, and therefore
causing a nuisance. The defendants, in company
with many others, were in the habit of assem-
bling in Bride-lane for the purposo of betting on horse
lacing, but the proceedings were not instituted against them
for carrying on their occupation as betting men, because
this was • free country, and any one had the right to do
whatever he pleased providing he did not break the law.
The obstruction would have been the same bad the de-
fondants assembled for the purpose of disseminating useful
information on polities, temperance, or religion, there-
fore the profession of the defendants would not act ea
a prejudice against them on the present occasion.
The learned geutlumen then cited several cases as pre.
cedeeta, and amongst them one by Lord Tenterdeu,
who decided that any person collecting together
a crowd of persons, to the annoyance of his neigh-
bour, was guilty of creating a nuisance. Another instance
of • prosecution for obstructing the highway was that of a
person named Carlyle, in Fleetatreet, in which a conviction
took place. He was not instructed to use harsh lan-
guage because the gentlemen summoned chose to engage
in the speculation of hone-raring ; they had • perfect right
to enter into any profession they pleased. He would have
rejected any instructions to use language prejudicial to the
defendant., as persons of respectability ; but the point he
had to submit was that the defendants, by causing a great
number of persons to assemble in Bride-lane, did create a
nuisance. He therefore on the present occasion proposed to
call for the binding over of the defendants to meet the
charge at the sessions.
Constable Trim, 20, said—On the 6th of May last I was
appointed to do duty with another constable (Hooper) in
Bride-lane. I had done duty there for eight months pre-
vious. I know the whole of the defendants. I first saw
Scarratt in tiride-lane on the 4th of July. On the 6th of
May, at noon, I saw Newcome, Powter, and Wales, in
Bride-lane. There were a great many persons round each
of them. They were all separated from each other. The
lane was occupied from about ten yard' from Fleet-street
to the bottom by the defendants and persons around them.
I have seen as many as twenty persons round each defendant
at • time. I have seen as many as 400 persons in the lane,
and I should think there was that number present on the
day I have mentioned. The defendants were standing there
with them betting. Bete were very often made by parties
around them.

Mr. Metcalfe—You heard them
Witness—Yee.

Examination continued—They moved on when I told
them, but the crowd followed them. They did not stand
still in opposition to what I said. As the defendants moved
the crowd followed, but they did not leave the lane. When
they made their entries in their books I saw them do so
sometimes standing and sometimes walking.
Mr. Sleigh—Was the public thoroughfare obstructed'
Witness—lt was.
Mr. Sleigh—So much so as to be difficult for passengers
who passed through
Witness—Yes. Very much near the steps at the back
of the church. The defendants usually remained in the
lane from twelve to two. On Tuesday, the 7th of May, I
saw Newoome, Pewter, and Wales in the lane. There
were others in the lane on that day. I should think on
that occasion there were about 500 persons present. The
defendant, were making beta and talking to people. From
about a quarter to one till half-past the crowd is the
greatest, so as to make it very difficult for passengers to
peas through at all. On Wednesday, the Bth of May, from
about 12 o'clock till 20 minutes past one, there were between
400 and 500 people there as beton& and also ou the 9th and
10th of May. Scarratt had not been there " making a
book" until the 4th of July, and was with the other de.
fendants then daily acting as before.
Mr. Metcalfe objected to Mr. Sleigh going into the new
case in which Scarratt was concerned.
After a discussion the Alderman decided that the evidence
should proceed, and the witness identified the fourdefendants
as having been in the lane on several days between the 4th
and 12th of July. On the Bth of July the lane was com-
pletely crammed up. People could not get along the pave-
meat. 1 have been on duty in the lane up to the present
time. and speaking generally I have seen the whole of the
defendants there. They were engaged making bets. The
lane is exceedingly narrow. There is not room for more
than one carnage to pass through. I have had many tend
frequent complaints made to me by the inhabitants of the
place of the obstruction caused by the crowd.
By ?dr. Metcalfe—Mr. Hawke', the builder, has complained
two or three times a week. He lives near the bend. Mr.
Thomas, the clergyman of St. Bride's (the Rev. Mr. Mar-
shall), Mr. Jewell, the hot-presser, and Mr. Anderton have
also made frequent complaint. I bought the book in
which I made the entries about the lane fur that purpose. I
was sent there by my inspector upon special duty. I have
known the bookmakers when they get too many persons
round them run away for a few minutes to get rid of the
crowd. Inspector Mitchell MIA not the person who sent
me to the lane. I have reported all 1 saw to an attorney.
1 don't know why the summons was not taken out before.
Between 12 and 2 I should think 20 persons, independent
of betting men, go down the lane. There are 27 houses in
the street. I have but very seldom seen the defendants on
the pavement. Generally they walk in the road.
By Mr. Sleigh—l have seen persons I know not to be
betting men incommoded in passing through the lane.
Mr. James Anderton—l am one of the Common Council
of Farringdon Without. I have often had occasion to go
through Bride-lane, and I should pass through it much
more frequently if it were not for the betting nem. I
always found the lane in a stab that was a disgrace to the
City of London.
Mr. Metcalfe—This is a summons for obstructing the
footway, not for betting, so you will please confine your
remarks to that point.
By Mr. Sleigh—The lane is quite impassable for females.
These o • were instituted by resolution of the
vestry of it. Bride's. I have frequently made complaints
to the police about the state of the lane.
Mr. Sleigh—Can you recognise any of the defendants as
those frequenting the place'
Mr. Amlerton—No ; they are no friends of mine.
(laughter.)
By Mr. Metcalfe—l consider it a disgrace to the City to
allow the lane to remain in such a crowded state. I don't
live is the parish, or you may depend I would not have
allowed the evil to go on so long.
The Rev. C. Marshall—l am vicar of the p •h of St.
Bride. 1 have bad frequent occasion. lately of passing
through the lane. I have always found the lane apples.
sant to pass through, owing to the number of persons pre-
sent. I mean unpleasant because it is not pleasant to be
jostled. I mean by " jostled" to be pealed first on one
shoulder and then on the other—not being able to walk
straight. This has happened hundreds of times. I have
complained of the obstruction frequently to the police. I
have often asked the policeman to make way for me down
the lane—the passage being blocked up. I am unacquainted
with matters of betting, but I have seen many ',emus
there with books in their hands. On the sth May I should
think I passed through the lane five or six times. TLe paro-
chial schools are 311 Bride-lane. About 210 children
attend the schools. The building is very near what is
called the bend. The children leave at 12 and return at
two daily. I have frequently seen the men opposite the
school door.

By Mr. Metcalfe—no occasional duty of the church
generally occupies us until 1 o'olock daily. There are
prayers daily in the church, and they conclude about 32.
Them is not what is called full service daily.
Mr. Robert Hawke", buillsr of Bride-lane said—Sine
the 6th of May, excepting Sunday, the place has becu very
much crowded. The crowd begins to become inconvenient
in the aiming of the year. la the winter nobody coma
them. Luring the racing season the lane is crowded by
persons betting on horse races, receiving and paying money,
making entries in their books, and talking about homes.
Mr. Metcake—l suppose Kettledrum would be one of the
hones talked about.

Witness—l saw some of the defendants present on the
occasions I have referred to.

Mr. Metcalfe—Yea, paying money.
Mr. Sleigh—l did not say they did not. No doubt they
are all honourable men.

Exaniination continued-1 have had to complain to the
police of the crowded state of the lane. I have seen per-
sons compelled to struggle through the crowd in order to
get to their residences. I have measured the lane, and
computing two pereons to the striate yard, I have seen, I
should think, between 600 and 00 poisons there in one day
daring the present month.

_ .
By Mr. Meteslfe—l have seen ladies with crinolines there
struggling to get through the lane. I have seen what are
called " lista" posted in the window of the Sunday Times
office. I don't think those lista attract the people: 1 have
seen people leave the lane, go and look at those lists, and
then return to the lane and recommence betting.
Mr. Sleigh said he had a number of other witneeses, but
he thought be had made out a case quite strong enough to
justify their being sent to a higher tribunal for trial.

Mr. Metcalfe said no doubt a great deal of evidence had
been offered concerning the crowded state of Bride-lane,
but so far as regarded the defendants very little in fact had
been said.

The Alderman said the evidence of the police-constable
wu conclueive.

Mr. tUeigh—That ts. all the evidence I shall call.
Mr. Metcalfe—Then am I to understand that you have
given all the evidence you intend to offer against the defen-
dants ! It is important that they should know what they
have to meet.

Mr. Sleigh—l shall only produce corroborative evidence.
Mr. Metcalfe—Well, that is what I should like to bear.
The Alderman said he thought the evidence of the police.
man important, as he spoke to all tho defendants.
The case was then adjourned till thin afternoon, at three,
for the production of corroborative evidence.
The defendants were then liberated on giving their per.
sonal promise to attend again thin afternoon.
The court during the proceedings was crowded to excess.