Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-06-15 00:00:00

THE FIGHT AT ISLING TON OLD
MA RKE7.

ing, George Ilerry, the Scripture-reaclei,
who was remanded on a charge of striking a man and acting
disorderly on Sunday, at the Islington Old Market, was
again brought up, before Mr. Mansfield. Mr. Block
- defendant. Officer 288 was the corn-
had a numbep-of witnesses
f they should

appear
platnat

1 fo-r t

requested tha

this was done. The officer was then
ye the same evidence as he did on
Monday, and which appeared in our paper of yesterday.
He said, the time that Berry struck the man was five
minutes to four o'clock, but he did not arrest him until
about half-past five, as he had to go to the station with
the other prisoners, and then had to return to the crowd
where Berry was, and then he arrested him. Mr. Black :
Had you two other persons charged here yesterday ? Yes.
What became of them ? They were fined 40s each for
fighting and creating a -riot. Had you any other
persons. brought up ? Yes ; two for being disorderly.
What‘beeame of them? The magistrates discharged them.
Did you summon another person for using abusive and
What was the result of that ?
Mr. Mansfield said he
a to the public that, although a great
re brought up by the police for being
drunk and -disorderly, yet it was no fault of the officers if
the magistrate discharged some of them. For instance, if
the prisoners were not old offenders, and if they went quietly
with the officers after being arrested, and if there were
mitigating circumstance in the cases, he generally discharged
such persons, because he considered .a night's imprisonment
in bridewell sufficient punishment, and that explained why
such persons were discharged, without any fault of the
officers. Mr. Black was, then proceeding to address the
court, when the officer was asked what time he saw Berry
strike the man, and he said at five minutes to four o'clock,
and that was before the fight with Clancy and Walsh, and
he had to take them to the station, and when he came back
he arrested Berry. Mr. Black then proceeded, and said his
client had instrueted him to deny the ,charge in the most
positive manner. He was a quiet and respectable man, and
tatterly denied having struck any one, and he was very much
,surprised when taken into custody by the officer An such a
..charge. His client held a position as a " Scripture
Reader," and his character was at stake; because if he
were found guilty of this offence, he would lose his situation.
Be would call witnesses to show that the defendant did not
act ,e.s described ; and hoped his Worship would :discharge
him from so serious an imputation. He called William
Yonng,,a cooper, who lives at 48, Dale-street, and who said
he was foreman at Mr. Macfie's. He was at the Old
Markets.on Sunday, from five to half-past five, and all was
quiet then ; saw the policeman take the prisoner into
custody, kut did not see any disturbance at that time., nor
no texcifewent amongst the crowd. Robert Browning, boot- 1
maker' corroborated the above. It was about, half-past five
when he came there ; saw the prisoner taken away, and
followed him to the bridewell, where he 'heard a charge of
assauLt and Tiot made against the defendant ; was along with
other persons at the station, when an inspector came out
and said, "Pat these fellows out of this," and they were
put away, and that's all witness knew about it. Mr.
Bluck Did ,yo.o see Berry do anything to any one ? No,
not at that time. It was after five o'clock. John Leonard,
a shoe-maker, 'in Great Richmond-street, was examined,
and said he came there on Sunday evening, from half-past
four to five. Some persons were discussing something
about some religions points,
Approach too near. and he had no great desire to
them. Saw an inspector and two police-
men go from London,,voad to the crowd, and the inspector
Laid, " You must disperse out of this." There was no
excitement at that time.; Berry did not do anything at the
time. 'William Bell.
i ashoe-maker, was there from half-
past five to six o'cloc.s, 4" saw Berry taken up. Did not
see him strike any one. There was no riot or excitement at
that time. John Pendleton. a file-cutter, was there about
half-pant five o'clock, and saw rtwo or three groups of people
about the place, and they wore talking; but
saw
riot or disturbance at that time. Mr. Mansfield (to office
s nor
288)
288) : When did you see Berry strike the
man &t*
;
On speak
Officer :ht five minutes to four o'clock. Not one of
these'
witnesses wear to that time, as they only
from five .to six o'clock. Berry ; ,wases in St.
Church at row o'clock, and I now can bring witnesses
to prove it. Inspector 'Chomp on ;,Vere you not
charged here before/ for a similar offence ? Mr. Bluck
not relative to
Don't answer.that question;. it is. this case.
Mr. Mansfield : If You ask time. to bring witnesses to prove
1,1 will further adjourn
you were in the church at the time,
at the same time,
the case to allow you to do so. _
entertain the strongest opinion on the impropriety of those
meetings being lipid. \V how with indecent
had two eases of persons
brought up from such meetings, charged
assaults, and others brought up for
at present I will not spy the case till
riots aud assaults, but
more, but 4(tiourn
Wednesday, in order to AIiQW the defendao to bring up
his •• •
witnesses

obicena laag
The mazistra

I the case

wishect it to
number of oe: