Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-10 00:00:00

the liOitinfr rat
)Iu

same year, not CN
Proeeedin

watch rate for the
nnmenda-

_„5 preparatory to laying a
same year. The proceedings also containerla
tion-to appoint superintendent Quick to the detective office
department, in- the place of the late John Sullivan, de-
ceased ; and' al-so- a letter from Messrs. Firings Brothers
'relative to the burning of the Isaac Wright, and'enelosincr.£lo
£5 of which,
Mr. Superinten

bey: eipressed a wish, should he 4...
cant Hewitt, for his most valhable services
,:asion of the late disastrous fire, and:the remainder
.„; distribUted amongst the men under his charge,
according to their &sees.
Mr. Clint, as chairman, of the committee, rose to move
the confirmation of the proeeelings, butt, befOre doing so,
he begged soeciallv to move the_ appointment, of Mr. J.
Whitby and Mr. JThentou as auditors.

marded tO

on the

Mr. Clint next moved the adoption of the- proceedings,
preparatory to layihg a fire rate, not to 'exceed one half-

penny in the pound
This was !also co

1 as was also a

the levying a v

Mr. 41a-dstone

r step for

thiS year,. the rates will be paid out of the p(
instead of by the fundsof this uirporation
Mr. Clint : It was the same last v(

to know that,
ople's pockets,

hear, h

md I
now beg leave to move the confirmation of the whole of the

proceedings of the committee.
Mr. Houghton seconded the motion.
Mr. Steains said,'it might appear strange that he, as a
member of the watch committee, should rise and ask the
chairman of that committee a question. But he must
Weal as an excuse absence from town., He said
he was sorry, in omamon with every ratepayer of the
town, and had read with u'ifeigned regret,. the pro-
ceeding::: that took place the other day before the magis-
trates, as reported in the public papers- (Hear, hear.) The
remarks of Mr. Mansfield, in reference to the police, he did.
not hesitate to say, were unjust, unfounded, and perfectly
unjustifiable. (Hear, hear.) He had reason to believe,
from what he had heard from several magistrates who were
present, that the report of Mr. Mansfield's speeches, as

given in the newspapers,
_were substantially correct

The Mayor : T. hardly think you are in order in referring
to what has taken place in another place.

Mr. Steains : Tlien I will ask the chairman of the com-
mittee, whether or not any notice have been taken of the
remarks of Mr. Mansfle7d, as they appeared in the papers,
as to his charges against the police force.
Mr. Gladstone : At the same time, let :me ask the town-
clerk whether there. is any misconception as to the

power of ennsi

not on /h

I know the records of the proceedings, as are
they
passed. by the committee, are the business before
the council; but in bvp:one times, anything which occurred
of public interest within the period of ten months, were
considered as matters for debate of the following council
meeting. An important matter had taken place, and I
wish to know whether it, not being upon the proceedings,
could be heard and discussed at this meeting ?

The Town-clerk replied, that beyond what was on the
proceedings of the committee, no other matter for discus-
sion could be introduced, although it was perfectly in order
for any..gentleman to ask questions

---
The Mayor : I conceive that Mr. Steans was. out of order.
Mr. John Aikin said he claimed the right to ask a ques—
tion. There had been certain parties taken before the grand
jury who had not been summoned before the magistrates.
This he apprehended was not right—thus to take persons by
surprise, without giving them notice, and take, them before
a jury, when an indictment had been preferred against
them. (Order, order.) He would say it was a great act
of injustice (order), and had received ra great check by the
•• • •

r the supp.

bill of Lord CaMpbell 1,,, r•cssion of vexatious
indictments, which had been supported by the Attorney-
General.

The Mayor : You are making a speech, not asking a
question. (Laughter.)
Mr. J. Aikin said, then he would ask the question, as it
was a most important motion—for he had made enquiries
of the watch committee, of the town-clerk, and others, but
could get no information—by whom were the two policemen
who were set forward as the prosecutors in the Lime-street
cases employed, and by whose authority were -they acting?
(Hear, hear.) Were they acting on the authorityof the watch
committee? If not, on whose authority? Was it on the
authority of the chief constable. (Order, order.) What
I want to know, therefore, if the two men are, not acting
on the authority of the watch committee, are they bound to
appear. If they are not acting on that authority, by whom
are the prosecutions made, is it by the. police themselves,
or is it from mere external influence acting upon them. I
beg to ask by whose authority are those prosecutions made.

The Town-clerk said, in reference to the prosecutions,
it was his duty to conduct all the prosecutions, where the
magistrates committed. There are, however, some cases
which are referred to the finance committee ; but with
reference to the late indictments in Lime-street, I do not.
know, but as Mr. Walters is present,
I will inquire of him,
as the prosecuting attorney.
Mr. Stitt had no hesitation in saying that, if
private
parties found that the decisions of benches of magistrates
were at variance, and did not give them satisfaction, they
had a right, if they pleased, to take their complaints before
a grand jury, for by an indictment was the only way they
could proceed. That course had been taken, and he would
say they had a right to do so if they pleased. -
The Town-clerk : These cases were
Mr. Aikin : The.two policemen were put forward as the

prosecutors.
The Town-clerk : I think not. •
lkCellilnatnslaindo, htice oafd
tbheeenreas4-erdksandwhetherreports that ha&
pe the committee
hadap 1‘
taken
in the newspapers relative to _ the recent meeting.
Forthessuaatl weeklyisfactio meeting of the committee, held on then of the council,he begged to say that,
at the usual
previous day, the question was discussed. They were all
aware that every member of the committee was most.
anxious as to the efficiency of the police force; which had
been complimented by. the Government Inspector; and that
everything. may be fairly brought before them; the farther
consideration of the subject was adjourned until the meeting
next week, when it would be fully inquired into.
The Town-clerk said that he ha*d made the inquiry as to
the late .prosccutions, and he found that the indictments had
not been laid by him at all, but by some private parties
who had served subpcena.s on the policemen, therefore they
were compelled to attend before the grand jury, and
several other parties, including Mr. Radley and others.
Mr. Aikiu But the police were put forward as the
prosecutors.

Mr. C. Turner wished to know who would have to pay
the expenses of these prosecutions.
The Town-clerk The parties who preferred the:

indictments.
Mr. Hodson wished to know by whose authority the
informations were laid before the magistrates
The Town-clerk : They have instructions.
Mr. Hodson : Should not Major Greig

,y the infor

mations ?
Mr Clint : The police have their boks with instructiontr
given. to them, and they act on those instructions. They
act on the hve-laws.
The subject then dropped, and the proceedings of the
committee were duly confrrmed.
nimaran commiTTEE.
The proceedings, resolutions, and reports of the health
committee were read.
and
dwing passed by the council,
reccnome-
Mr. Dover said, before moving the
recommendation, he
would wish to hear the bye-lair read relative to the sanitary
hinelisoeoidveinleiewnti.sheTdhties
mores
being done
the
following
" That Mr. John Jones be appointed ..-:-

Lt suveyor in