The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-09-09 00:00:00

RIOTERS.

The trials ethe persons charged with being con-
cerned in the riots which took place iu the neigl-
bolirbood of Manchester, to the great terror of the
whole county, and the alarm of the country iu ge-
neral, commenced this day,

After the Prisoners were arraigned, Serjeant
Cocsteht, as Attorney-General for this county,
addressed the Jury at considerable length. Tho
particulars of the numerous riots wnich took
place he detailed, all of which were on a particular
day, viz. the 306 of last May. How it had been
so managed that the commotion!' in all ram; of
this extensive comity had brizken out ou the same
day, he had not been able to discover. They acre
supposed to have arisen in consequence of a lint
being thrown out of Parliament, which was intend-
ed to regulate the prices of wages; which he did
not wonder at, as he did not consider it practicable
or possible, as they must be regulated by the times
and circumstances. The men had no doubt borne
difficulty, and se had all ranks of in a, which were
not possible to be avoided, iu consequence of the
hardships of the tinter, occasioned by the cuuflict
we were engaged in with an inveterate foe. The
misguided me i who had °treaded the laws of the
country. hod attacked the property and neat who
had• horde extreme hardslir.- foot' the prie•sure of
the,times, and it was by the maaisiecturers hat the
Priianers and their elaispailants ;pet their living.—
His Majesty's tservauts had taken the c mto
their most serious considerat.osi ; a,td, OU arCOl.l4
of the particular circumstances, and the •irs tit-
willies, they lied determined tha:the p "etutto4
sf Id be SS lenient as their I .a would
nave been affected. It was aht e wish o• 'li,
ilht-
jeaty to have any prosecutions, if vossible. Ant those
alto*. duty it was to advise him had b etiglit for-
ward the cases of the. Priso in presr.at a recur-
rence of similar alarming OirenCe-,
Julia Barlow, Thomas+ Lowe, James Crabtree,
James lakes, Janes •Schufield, and William .ssiith,
were indicted for iwriug, on the lit day o:
riotously assembled, together with a great number
11 of other persons, between the boors of eleven and
twelve ts'elml at night, about the dwelling-house
of Thomas Ashton, of Hear", 11.•ar Manchester; and
with having then and there violently insisted u,:on
his signing * paper of prime, for the a.lvance of
wages to the weavers, and with haviog dragged and
abused him so me to endanger his life. They were
likewise charged with having stolen his pocket-book,
containing from 61. to lot, iu ITank notes.

Thomas Ashton deposed, that he was a manufac-
turer. at Heap ; that he paid his 'nen wages similar
to other manufacturers ; about eleven o'clock mi
Wednesday night, the Ist of June. he was alarmed
when he was in bed, by a neighbour, . who told him
that a mob► was approaching his bowie front an ad-
joining village; in consetinente of which he got up•
with all possible speed, went down stairs, and met
them at his gate; they asked hint to sign a paper, the
obrct of which was to agree to a considerable ad-
vance in thtir wages. Ile told them he thought
that a very improper time to come about that or
any other business ; he should not sign it ; and de-
sire 1 them to go almost their business ; they refitted
to disperse, and were extremely noisy sad trouble.
a ; ire then told them, if they had any thaw
more to ray, to send half a dosen inter his house
and he woald talk with them. Accordingly the
prisoner Barlow, with live others, (sane. into his
house ; Barlow produced a list of advance:l prsres ;
for souse works it proposed en advance from 7 t to
g 0 percent. and it was urged as au inducement for
bins to sign it, that he being a principal maaufac.
turvr in that neighbourhood, the others had said
they would sign it if he del. He replied, that the
situation of trade was such that it would not
of it; he and several other manufacturers had
agreed that rnornaig to advance to per ct.it. aawl
he would make it its, or would give as much 36
any other manufacturer ; with this the deieAates
*Plwnired sati.licd, anti It ft kis house, mid r•turned
to those on the outside ; however, those on the out-
side anpeared dissatisfied, and said lie must sign it;
he then went nut to remonstrate with them on the

impropriety of their conduct <rver.rl voices ex-
claimed " Drag him not ; Mr. Kby (who is a
considerable manufacturer at as adjoining village)
will sign it if you will, and yob shall go to him."
They then dragged him by the collar into the street,
where he was knocked downlusd dragged a short
distance on his back.. %Viten he got up he was

.- - -
pelted with' stones and bricks for about three quar-
ters of a mile ; from their violent conduct, be was
fearful that hit life was in d.inger, and he signed
their paper upon his knee in the public road. Af-
ter tins they were not satisned-roeveral voices ealledl
to the mob to abuse him, when he lost the Repo(
his coat and his pocket-book, which contained se-
veral Bank Notes.
Thomas flolroyd confirmed the above, and said
that several women in the mob called out to kill
his roaster, and he was thrown into a quick-set
hedge, because he was known to be the servant of
the prosecutor.
William Collinge, who resides near the prosecu-
tor, said lie got up and observed the conduct of
the mob ; they amounted to between 2 an 13o°.
When the prosecutor asked six of them to come
into his house, he, observing Barlow, and knowing
hia to he a very quiet and peaceable snail, ropiest-
ed him to make one to go in. While they were
in the house, those on the outside became impa-
tient for their return, and some of them endea-
voured to break open the gates and window-shut.
tees. Some voices called out to kill the prosecu-
tor if he did not sign their list. Wien the prose-
cutor wad knocked down, several of them got neat)
him. MI the Prisoners were among the crowd, he
knew them well, but gave them a most encylkost
character for industry, sobriety, and peaceable con-
duct.
Mr. Witt.' 4,M9 made a most able and ingenious
defence for the Prisoners, and on his cross-examins-
Con of the Presto-0(w, he acknowledged the wages
were not shove half us much us they u-rd to be.
The Junae, 11l slimming up the defence, ob-
served, with reinsert to Barlow, it appeared that
the Prosecutor had invited come delegate* into his
house, and that Barlow had been regnested to make
one, and conducted himself very peaceably, and
had not been seen among the mob erred.; and ap-

[►earr.l to advice au acquittal. Jur‘, how-
-1 ever, acynitted the wink of thePtisaaersa supposed

,1r(llt

• .
from the impteletslsl t eirr4l3them,the,
• to
and none the fifileiters Intvi been prrived to.
have done any pardeufer'act,!'
Mr. PAac, who conducted the meet ens!, made
a most elopient Iret!til to the Jury upon the law
and the circouritaores respecting the case ; he lin-
piveed strongly irphii their minds. that-all persons
round in a rioter* ossonibly, although they did not
the least act, were liable for ail the consequences ;
if murder ensued, they ninst answer for it with
their lives. If riotous assrptidies were to be tole-
rated, there was an end of .sik getter, if 'men were
to be suffered to take the lair mto4theit own hands,
ter country was lost. Heniald no ouku could la-
ment more than he did theueiitse of the present
prosecutions, or the hardailit4 *Ville case of the
weavers; yft subordination mast ha: kept Bp, and
they must not seek for * redress of witivaucei by
not and outrage; he spin asserted that it was not
tke ohject of His Majesty's Government to press for
vindictive punishments, but to prevent similar oc-
curmnienh

Jokes Shaphertl, jului RAAles, Aseph Sutcliffe,
and John nonier,• were indkted for -haring, with
divers persons u,iknnwn, riotously assembled at
Rochdale, aad burnt the prison, on the Id day of
Jour.

Mr. Peal, is opening this case, observed, that
there was no merit in the Prisoners in escaping a
capital offence ; no person residing in the prison, so
as to snake it• a dwelling-house. Circumstances
hod lately *now colds Initieledge, and those en-
trusted with the management of these trials for the
Crowd, respecting John Turner; they having it
f';* s undoubted authority, that he had not gone
among the mob with any improper motive, and had
remained in company with nine of them from mere ,
idle curiosity, and. as he was not a weaver, they had
agreed to admit him its evidence.
Jrlin Kershaw. au iuhabitaot of Rochdale, de-
posed, that ist noon, oat the Ist day of June, the
Vora was earretnely agitated by the entrant* of •
most alanuteg mob, to the number of about two
hundred, watch increased in the course of the day
to Admit one thoteeiud. Soon after they entered
the Loon, one of them mounted on a huge atones
mei harangue i the tooth ; I e• could not hear what
he said, but it appeared to please the mob in gee
nerd, as they *limited and..tietazad several times.
Dr. Drake mind Mr. Eittwisley the Magisteates,who
in gneral conducted tite Weimer of that part of
the country, and who reside near there, came into
11. e towu, and isdilreseed the mob in the most
mill and persuasive language, to endeatour to pre-
nil oa them to disperse., 'l'hey behaved very ci-
villy mid respeetfully to the Magistrates, but re-
fused, to Wipers.. The Magiiitrates in consequence,
went to the house where they usually trindiact their
business, and swore is the witness and shoot itoo
others, Slietial Constables.. Tworthirds. of them
were, in the course ofoft e, and night, maimed
or bruised b, stones lien% t trowu at them, and
other amoiaice exereisArtliseards them,. Tfiftrioters
catered the peaceable weavers hti forendy
took away their shuttles. The siA4tiiiii Constables
secceetkil iii securing some shuttles front the riot-
ers, and deposited them in the prison foiettafefi,
and they took five of six of the rioters beforell*
Magistrates. ilmiever, us they were conveying to:
the pillion, they were rescued. The windows of
the room wheas the Might:lnes were sitting. were
broken with large stones, with intent to wirtitiththe
manufacturers of the town and neighbourhitod„
who had all resorted to the room where the Magis-
trate: were, for safety. and nut intended to
the Magistra,e. Tito Illsiistrstettitssilikived
the town till seven &clock. At their l'eti ntlwit the
Prisoners Mild ethers of the moblialTed elf their
hate to them, and behaiwilvery nom ctfully. Soon,
after the Magistrates wsow -T pe. they behaved in a
"very outrageous outrageous mannel." hey attacked the ph:
son, it, consequence one hiirobti 9f shuttles being
,deposed in it for safetre•the doors of which had
been wippaeed to be impenetrible, and set it on
fire, which was understood to be impossible, so
much of it being none. They, however, cot.trived
to demolish it so much, that it is now merely rote-
ous walls. After they had set that on fire, they
said they would gu to the New the residence of
Mr. James !Loyd*, one of the riacipal manufac-
turers, if he did not give theur tome money.
John Shaw, • hat-maistifactutier, one of the apes
ctrl Constables, confirmed the *bon, as did
Thomas Wood, smother of the special Constables.
He saw the Polyester Shepherd, shout 11, o'clock.
with snout fifty others, going towards Mr. Royds's
warehouses; Shepherd bad, he thought, a 'candle in
his haisl, but would not he positive; 1w remonstrat-
ed won) them on the impropriety of their conduct,
and advised them to separate ; they said they would
not, except Mr. Royds would give theta some
money, or they would go and burn his house, as
they had done the prison. He said he would go to
Mr. Royals, mid get some money, winch he accord-
ingly aid ; and Mr. Rorie gave him, for theme a
guinea and a heir. heino all the gold he had ; they
were not satisfied with this, it not being a chilling
a-piece ; they, however. bad got a 11. note from
some other person, and he appeased them as well
as he could; a difficulty arose as to dividing it : he
agreed to go with thetia, and get change ; they had
net gone far, before he was knocked down into a
ditch ; on his getting up, a man promised tei pro-
tect him ; they proceeded on to endeavour to get
change, but the whole neighbourhood hearing them,
fastened up the houses; he went by himself, said
got change; they told him if he did not return. they
would buns his house down ; he got change, and
distributed it, and gave the Prismier, Shepherd, a
; the Prisoners Rhodes and Sutcliffe were
there. but he refused giving them abillinge,''not
having seen them in the mob. Oa his being asked
if he had seen them do any thing ? he replied in the
negative; nor did ha believe they were in the
mob.

John Whitehead. who resides about g miles from
Rochdale, said the Prisoners called at his house at
4 o'clock, the following morning, much intoxicated ;
said they got moue• at Rochdale. and wanted him
to help them to spend it ; told him how things were
gam; on there; said the prison was on fire rthe
wltikl Nil them they would all be banged ; Shep-
herd said his hands luid set it on fire. and *hewed a
piece of lead, which he said was part of it.
Mary Sutcliffe, the landlady of Teth Smithey.
said the Prisoners called at her house. early on the
following morning; Shepherd said he had assisted
to burs the pion, and if Mr. Roy& did act give

if :r

him what he i7anted, he would serve hid !Muse hi
the some .tininner that night.
Turner, who was admitted an evidence; conflrme
'ed the above, and said, he was standing with Shep-
herd, opposite the prison, alien it aAS on tire, when
he observed ;Ivry tnan put the tire out, he woad
endanger his Iris. Shepherd told brim he got 51.
from hlr. goyd.; they went to Mr. Deardon's for
induey, *here a guinea ales thrown ont t• them ; at
woe time, Shepherd asked if any ishni would p
with him, to set Charles Trot's manufactory on
tire)
There being ebosiderable doubts as to Rhodes
and Sutcliffe, Mr. Park, in the most candid and
liberafinsither, acknowledged it, end said, kern the
discretionary power vested in him, on the part of
the Crown, he should ;Ore up the prosecution
against there.
The Jury fbund Shepherd drafty.
The Counsel for the poo4ecution were, the At.
torney-General, and Messrs. Park, Scarlet, Yatea,
Ifolroyd, Cron, and Richardson. Counsel fur the
Prisoners, Mr. Williams.

On Saturday morning, at five o'clock, Mr. Ani
gua was liberated from the Castle.

POLICE:

tegstrios-litOcis-adEST. th•
SITSPICION OF FORtriEltY
lorl Kennel, formerly known in Boad-street, was charred
by Mr. Eliot, YfG.oreciawrch-street, with hmring uttered
and passed • bill of Exchange fur sot. perpet ling to be of
the Sionthamplon and Hampshire bank.
Mr: Flint staled he had taken the ball in coarse of Mite,
.froin a re/medial& shopkeeper in Cheapside. It was sunk:eyed
by several persons, and excepted by Messrs. Harrison :suit
Cu. and made payable at Lawrraire-Poultney-latie. lilien
the Bill because 4lac anal was presented fur payment, 110 !itch
persons were to be Assad ,• anal, upon farther inquiry, it was
ascertained that some of the parties were in prison, and
other* lately liberated from gaol. It Also appeased, that the
sautes of several isdarrers were written by oue sod the same
person. Tire Bill was drawn ia favour of Buyer, bat am
person answering the description was to ha &mod.
The Prisoner, in his defence, acknowledged bating passed
this Bill, and that be received It from Mr. Payer, to whom
be gave value for it. He said be also knew the other parties,
but did not know where any of theta were to be Mood ; but
be was willing to pay the amount of the 13111, w hick, Mr. Flint
consented to, on condition it was pant berme the Lori*
Mayor. The Prisoner drew a draft upon Until and Co.
awaken. Strand, for the amount, winch was honoured.
Tito e.Olll M A Vote. discharged him, with a canton to be-
ware of Tireless* bills, what oralssr the drawer er tw
Grew sett to be istrid.