Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-07-11 00:00:00

points -

parliaments, paid members, no property qualification, and
electoral districts. The Conservative government had given
them one of the points of the charter—no property qualifica-
tion—and five yet remained as matters for discussion. Mr.
Jones became a strong advocate of these points, and used,
perhaps, rather strong language in reference to what he
believed were the rights of the persons who advocated the
Charter. Mr. Reynolds, the defendant, was an ultra-
Chartist, and had also used strong language in advocating
the Charter. Mr. Jones, in 1848, was prosecuted for
delivering a speech in Bonner's-fields. He was tried before
Sir John Jervis, and sentenced to two years imprisonment
under the silent system. The personal scurrility Mr. Jones
did not complain of, but when he was charged with fraud
by the defendant, he felt himself bound to come into a court
of justice and challenge inquiry. It would appear
that after Mr. Jones was discharged, he thought that the
best way to obtain the Charter was by obtaining an union
with the working classes. He thought the Chartists had
gone too far in advocating their rights, and therefore it was
he proposed the union of the Chartists and the middle classes ;
but that, it appeared, gave great offence. to the defendant,
who is an ultra-Chartist, and on the sth of September, 1858,
the attacks complained of commenced, and they continued
down to January, 1859. At theperiod referred to (Septem-
ber, 1858) Mr. Jones offered himself to the constituents of
Greenwich, on the contemplated retirement of Mr. Town-
send. On that occasion he advocated the union of the Char-
tists and middle classes, and then it was that these attacks
commenced, in which the plaintiff was charged with having
sold the People's Paper, and ' defrauded those to
whom 'it belonged. They also charged him with
baying sold himself to the Manchester Liberal party. The
libels, which were numerous, and also very voluminous,
were put in and read. They charged him with having sold
the People's Paper and himself to the Manchester Liberal
party, and with obtaining money from his dupes and exist-
ing upon the gullibility of those whom he had got into his
power. The alleged libels appeared to be replies to articles
in the People's Paper, and were couched in strong language.
They also spoke of plaintiff's want of success, and his having
being compelled to have recourse to the begging box.
They charged him with being a mendicant clap-trap speaker,
having recourse to the meanest shifts and the most audacious
means to keep the People's Paper going. He was never at
a loss for fresh excuses for sending round the begging box,
and that his profession as a barrister had never gained.him
a crust of bread. He was not only a contemptible but dan-
gerous person, determined to live on the peoplo who obtained
their bread by the sweat of their brow. He was the most
shameless of mendicants and inveterate of beggars. Not-
withstanding his statements that the People's Paper belonged ,
to them, and that the profits should go to the advancement
of the cause, and therebY had induced the working classes
to subscribe towards its support, the plaintiff had sold it
without their knowledge, and pocketed the money. They
spoke of the plaintiff's representation that he had been a
guest at the palace, and other matters connected with his
political conduct of a condemnatory character. An article
referred to his frothy vanity and boast that he was a relative
of the Plantagenets, and had been an honoured guest at the
Queen's table.

Mr. Ernest Jones, examined by Mr. Karslake, deposed—
I was educated abroad, and came to England when I was
nineteen years of age, when I entered and was called to the
bar in 1844. In the course of 1845 I first espoused the
Chartist cause, and became acquainted with the leaders. I
became joint editor of the Northern Slar, and also the
Labourer, with Feargus O'Connor. In 1848 I resignedmy
situation, from which I was obtaining from £250 to £3OO,
to become unpaid delegate of the Chartist Assembly of 1848.
In that year made a speech in 133nner's-fields, for which I
was arrested, tried, and underwent two year's imprisonment
on the silent system. After I was released I took an interest
in the Chartist movement. The -Vorthern Star had then
dropped. In 1850 I brought out a publication called the
Notes of the People, a weekly twopenny publication. It
was supported by them unanimously at first, and afterwards
made their' official organ by votes at the district

somation

I suggested the .establishment of a paper for exclusively
advocating the Charter.. In every large town,there are
districts or localities where committees' are 'elected to
represent the Chartists of the districts or localities, and
these are in communication with those of. the metropolis..
About this time I suggested the establishment of an organ
for the body► and issued a circular aceordingly. I suggested
the body should support me with subscriptions or a loan and
I undertook that in the event of the net profits of such
paper exceeding £2 weekly, half the sum of such excess to
be paid weekly to the treasurer for the time being of the
National Conservative Association, and the other half to me.
All
,the loans. of which payment had been demanded had
been repaid. As soon as subscriptions began to:flow in I
caused a committee to be formed from the localities to audit
the accounts weekly. They did so; and issued general audits
at different periods, which were published in detail in the
paper by me. The committee varied from thirty to seventy
members, and a 'certain number formed a finance com-
mittee. In July, 1852, I purchased the necessary type. I
went at this time to contest Halifax, when there was a
systematic attempt made to get the paper out of my hands.
On my return there was a committee of inquiry ap-
pointed, and they passed a vote of confidence in me. I
brought out the paper, and it continued till the 26th of June,
Subscriptfons were paid towards the paper from time to time.
The paper never paid, and there was a fund of £lOB subscribed
at one time ; and four or five under £lOO subscribed for in
the country, but not at my request, but at the instance of

the People's Paper committee and friends in the country. I
appealed several times for assistance in my own name at the
request of the committee. Every farthing subscribed was
acknowleged weekly as it came in. Every farthing of it
was applied to the People's Paper. It was carried on NN ith
varied success, sometimes very considerable, and at others
the contrary. About the last three years, I have brought
out other papers, and for the last six weeks I had the People's
Paper I had the London News. I contributed to other pub-
lications at the time. The proceeds of the People's Paper, and
all the subscriptions, &c.. went into Mr. hi•Gowan's hands.
The promoter and the committee had coaisance of every-
thing that was going on Constantly there was a weekly
debt in connection with the Peoples Paper, and I was the
responsible person, and found money for bringing it out, in

addition to the receipts, subscriptions, and donations.
Immediately before the sale of the People's Paper, I was
from £1,200 to £1,300 out of pocket. I had taken nothing
About two-thirds of that amount are for

intiff for 40s damages,