The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-24 00:00:00

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.

Be t/M imi"—".."—nre Cuter LJUISC7ISCTI.Iti JULY .?1
William Joan, :a Cowper, Henry Crofts, Solis Richard.
lteli
tan, Thomas Lit ;LliFUtiant Llnnt, (.'harks Williamson,
Rivers Morris, Inn .1110eNhor Smith, were indicted for having,
on the 14th June last, ripmusly and tumultuously assembled in
the borongb itLeieeiM4 Itinttary to the peace of our Lord the
King.
They all pleaded Not Guilty.
31r. Sergeant VAUGHAN stated the cue to the Jury. He mid
he had the honour of being Counsel for the Crown, upon an in-
dictment, imputing to the prisoners the offence of being insti-
gators and active participators in a riot, which took place at
Leicester, in the day of nomination for the Candidates to repre-
sent this ancient and respectable borough in Parliament. He
would not disguise the fact that this prosecution was instituted
by the Alagistratea ; but then, they removed the trial to the
County Court, when party zeal or party prejudice could have
much less operation than if the ease were tried in the Borough
Court. The Magistrates were anxious to bury in oblivion all
warmth and all excitement arising out of a protracted election
contest; but, as guardians of the public, peace must be preserved
on all similar occasions. The 12th of June was the day appointed
for the nomination of Candidates ; and we need scarcely say. that
these Gentlemen appeared before the electors on very different
principles. Sir Charles Hastings was supported by the Corpora-
tion, who are Blues; Mr. Otway Cave appeared on the indepen-
dent interest ; and Mr. Evans, on the Whig or popular interest.
The Returning Officers were the Mayor and the High Bailiff, and
their first object was to decide how nearly 6.000 votes could be most
speedily and impartially taken. These Gentlemen called to their aid
the talents of the Learned Recorder of the Borough (Mr. Goulbum)
and had special constables appointed. w:th the full concurrence of
the different candidates. The polling commenced on the 13th
June, and in order to facilitate it, three avenues were formed to-
wards the hustins lined at each side with constables, in order that
voters for each of 'the candidates should have access to the poll.—
This, the Jury would see, was acting impartially towards all ; in-
deed it was proceeding upon that purely English principle of a clear
stage and fair play. . The voters as they approached the hustings
were placed in " pens," and when it was found that two of the
candidates stood on the seine intent, then their votes were all placed
in one pen, while those for the single candidate kept upon the
usual ground. The effect of this junction was to leave Mr. Evans
in a considerable minority, and in order in some degree to counter-
act it, his learned Friend 31r. Denman, a respectable and worthy
man, was induced to unite with Mr. Evans, though not
with any view of being returned to Parliament, but for the
purpose .of enabling Mr. Evans to poll double tallies as
well as the other two Candidates. The supporters of Mr.
Evans exhibited great impatience at the manner to which the Tot-
ing proceeded, sad threatened to pull down the pens If It acre
longer continued. On the Wednesday, at the close of the poll, a
protest was entered at the mode of pooling, and almost at the same
time Give o'clock), attempts were made to demolish the pens. The
constables in Mr. Evans's ictmest were observed to be acting at
... this work of destruction, and it was with great difficulty that the
hustings were preserved hem the ferocious attacks of a tumultuous
and riotous mob, who tore up the stones in the matket-place with
an implement called a cal-peck. At the head of this mob was the
prisoner, Moore, who disarmed all opposition to his lawless pro.
ceedinga, and be advanced to the Exchanged. There the Magi.-
' trates found it necessary torpid the Riot Act, and while engaged is
doing so, they not only eacountered serious difficulties, but the
hustings also were demolished. Fortunately no lives Imre lost,
1 owing to the timely arrival of a military force. Throughout the
whole of the riot, the Magistrates were the principal objects of at.
tack ; and bad it trot Mss fir the activity *lad spirit of the persons
inside the Exchange, there is little doubt that it would have been
pulled down. 'Bimodal sad stones were repeatedly thrown, NAOMI
wounds were inflicted by pikes and atiets, and the mob absolutely

drew %IR in battle array to meet the army. The officer, Mr. Po-
water, immediately told the rioters that the soldiers were loading
with hall-cartridge; and it was only on this announcement that
they yielded, and reluctantly dispersed. One hundred and twenty
persons *ere arrested ; but of that number only lit were brought
to trial, as being the most active instigators of the mob. Justice
required that some notice should be taken of such an outrage ;
and sure he was, that the Jury would fully docredit to the Mogis-
tracy for their conduct in the affair. They sought not to punish—
they had no resentment to grwify—their object was, to set such an
example as would deter others from the commission of similar
offences. His ',earned Friend, no doubt, felt a warm interest on
this Occatlon ; in fact, he formed a main feature in it.
Quorum pars magna fel.
He trusted the Jury would do justice between the parties ; and at
the same time be challenged his Learned Friend to rebut, by re.
spectable testimony, if he could, any part of the stamment which
he had just submitted to their consideration.
As the witnesses were about to be called an, the Lead Chief
Justice suggested. whether it would not be advisable that the pri-
soners should severally plead guilty, and enter into their own re-
collnixtumes of 1001. and to keep the peace tot three years, and not
to be called upon for judgment, unless they committed a similar
breach of the peace. iie put it to Counsel whether or not it would
not be prudent to accede to this proposition.

Mr. Sergeant VACGUAN immediately assented.
Mr. DEW MAN thanked his Lordship for the humane view which
he took of the affair. lle recommended the prisoners to plead
guilty, as they had been advised by the great and hononrable Ma-
gistrate who now presided, and in doing so he considered they would
be adopting the beat possible course. He did not wish to say a word
which could excite prejudice or animosity, and he repeated his ex-
hortation to the prisoners to follow the course so kindly suggested
by the Lord Chief Justice of England.
The prisoners severally pleaded guilty, and entered into their
own recognise sees to keep flea peace.
• The LORD Cutter JUSTICE—Young men, attend to what I
say. Depart this Court in pease, go to your homes, and when you
see there. conduct yourselves like peaceable citisens. Yon ow
much Indebted to the Carperation—but I marmot this as matter of
triumph to either party. This is no party triumph.
After the trial was over, the populace drew Mr. Denman's car-
riage through the town. lie addressed them from the window of
his lodgings, near the Market-place, and exhorted them to be
peaceable, to vote for Mr. Evans, and to adhere to those independ-
ent principles which were the surest basis of England's glory and
her greatness.