The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-07-26 00:00:00

POLITICAL RIOTING.

John Blacker, aged 33, was charged with behav-
ing in a riotous manner, and exciting and encourag-
ing dive's disorderly persons to riot and endanger
the public peace, at Sheffield. on the Ilifs of April;
wail also, with having in Ins possession a loaded pis.
tol, a pike, and other mil-swim! weapons, to endan-
ger the public peace.
Mr. RAINE conducted the prosecution. The
charge was a riot of a most mischievois, mid dan-
gerous kind. Sorry lie was to say that tills was the
second time lie had to prove is charge of this kind
against the man ut time bar; he had hut just left this
castle. where lie had been imprisoned two years for
not, when he headed a most dangerous rabble in
lludJeusfirid, and ut the very time when the alarm-
ing distuibances et Barnsley and oilier ',laces took
!dace, and at a lime when all the autlintities of the
place were at Pomfret attending the Sessions. The
man at the bar had et pistol, which he loaded with
slugs and fired several time.. but without aim.—
The subject evidently had been to take the barracks,
and the cry was " Ilumt and L berry !" The Jury
knew what that clamour fur liberty meant.
Juin) Phipps, watchman at Sheffield, said there
load been upwards of 200 persons assembled. They
n►arcbrd in ►eparate parties through the town.
They were quirt and peaceable. lie heard a pistol
fired several times. lie heard the party that went
down the Haymarket shouting. The people were
shutting their shops. It was lsif-pintt right. Wit-
ness said to Blacker, " If you don't mind, yrsall
get into a hobble *von." litackereeplied, " Touch
we if you da►e."
Joseph Prince. apprentice to so ironmonger iu
the n►arket•place, was Uldered to shut the shop at

hfilf-past seven, lweause a numb-roof 111.11 were
betti 111 l tint to aoseinhle. 11is mower had foe-arms
in his ►hop. Three other irontnottgers shut up at
the same, time. At half-past eight he heard a pistol
fired, just faring King-street. The men all fell
into rank like soldiers. Witness went away and
11*111 110 more.

Henry Girth. apprentice to s draper, heard them
shoutiii, as they went down King.street, and heard
fired. A nuntbcrsaid.'Thatis little Blacker,
the kink.' rhey went towards the Lady's bridge.
Ile heard molly soy. When we have stopped the
we shall do.' Their sinniberr were istereo.ing.
They were repwards of '2OO. He did slot ore
131.icker, or know him.

intin Stevenson; limper. sow about 200 assem-
bled. There win * good deal or alarm. Ile ►hut
half an hoar earlier then initial in consequence. Ile
►aw the Piisoner in company with another. The
Prisoner hail a long pole. with a bayonet at the evil.
The other had a stick, with a sharp instrument iii
the end of it.

11"i!limn Smith said his mother kept a spirit-shop.
While lie Piooll at the door, he saw a pistol fired.
They said it was Jackey Blacker. There wits a
;treat e•nwd. lie followed them. and saw Blacker
loading his pistol from a round paper. Blacker
said to the people, " Go on, my lads."
Barker—" flow malty were with me ?"
Witness—" Five or rex opposite to Jacksoll'it."
I:larker—" He is ►itght, my Lord. hut as to the
words, fur I did not speak any thing."
George Ilamilton, a printer. heard loud shout-
ing about it quarter before nine. 11.. saw Blacker
with a cartridge in his hand, and pulling, the top
off to load his pistol. One divi.iois marched on ;
a few stood with Blacker at Jackson's window. In
Blacker's division. after a pistol was fired. there
was a cry of " Hunt and Liberty !" There was a
great deal of alarm. When they had formed into ■
compact body, there might be 2.00 or 300.
Alattliew Flall, apprentice to a scissor-maker, saw
a great crowd coming up by the road from the
market..ilace to the barracks. Ile heard shooting,
and saw Blacker loading, a pistol. They said they
were going to the barracks.
Thomas .lo4iison. draper, went to the barracks to
cAninniticate II:e proceedings to Colonel Ogilvie,
the comaptiithog officer. The barracks were a mile
from the torso. On warping, he saw, about half-
way. upward► of 300 persons. lie heard. "Be
lirm, my Ws! all in a mind to the barracks." As
lie pawed them, lie heard that expression frequently
repeated.
Blacker, being asked if he had any questions.
said, be had only to say that Johnston had perjured
himself when lie hail been tried before, and that he
now said nut a word of truth,

Mr. Justice PARK made Prime remetrio on chsrrs
against witileaaea and deviovitions,and concluded with
saying, " Siam• take oaths when they ought not."
Illaeker—" Yea, my Lord, or 1 should not have
had two years iu this prism, before."
William Fox, constable, heard the shouting and
the cly of " Hoist and Liberty!" Ile heard them
proposing the West Bar as the gainest road to the
barracks. lie heard them say, when dispersing,
" Remember the 14th."

John Waterfall, constable, was sent off by Mr.
Wonky from Pomfret on the morning of the 12111.
Ile went with several other constables to Blacker's.
Blacker was on his board (tailor's). Witness seized
a pistol, which► was placed over Blacker's head ; it
Was Joa,!erl with slugs, primed and cocked. A
bayonet was found close behind Blacker. A long
;role ton was found, the end of which was exactly
fitted for the bayonet. (All those instruments were
produced.)
George nipples, constable, hail found the long
pole tinder the board, and, on searching Prisoner's,
box, found four cartridges containing slugs.
Thomas simith, constable, drew the pistol, and
hail taken powder and slugs out of it. The Pri-
soiwr said it had been loaded with the same sort of
stuff the day before.
Joshua Johnson said the Prisoner had expressed
himself Aissaterlied that the meeting was put off,
and said he wonid have nothing more to do with
them. On another occasion he said that he would
not scruple to shoot any Magistrate, even Mr. Pat ker,
that attempted to iiiiprelierid him.
The Prisoner said nothing far himself. and called
no witnesses.—Gailiy.
Mr. Um ae. said "he should not have done his
duty if he did nut move that the Prisoner's recog-
nizances should be retreated, for he had found
sureties fur five years.
• Mr. Justice PARK—" Let them be estreated."
His Lordship then described the riot proved against
the Prisoner as the most dangerous lie had ever be-
come acquainted with, either judicially or proles-
sionally. The prosecution had been must mild and
merciful, for die circumstances might have warranted
a different charge. " You appear, Sir, to be ■ per.
POll of the blackest possible heart and disposition.
Your sentence is imprisonment for 30 months. and
recognizance', yourself in 40/. and two sureties in
20/. each, for live years longer. I hope you will
never again set yourself up to be a leader, for which,
if it were virtuous, you are not fit."
Messrs. RAINS and LITTI.EDALE were Counsel,
and the Crown Solicitor attorney for the prosecu-
tion.

NISI PRIUS COURT. TUESDAY, JULY 18.

SMITHSON V. TAYLOR AND OTHERS.

Mr. MAUDE opened the proceeding% by stating,
that in this case Joint Smithson was Plaintiff, and
Win. Taylor, Anthony Mitchinson, Vin. Hobson,
Joseph Whitton', sod Richard ‘Vhincup, were De-
limidowtr.

Mr. BROUGHAM said that the action arose out of
a claim made by the Plaintiff. a joiner, for titling
up a place of public worship, at Leeds, for a sect of
prisons who had seceded from the Methodist con.
nexi ..... Hod bore the mime of Christiun !e ormers.
lie should call witnesses to prove that the Delend-
ants, live its number, along with several other per-
sons, contracted with the Plaintiff to perform the
work out of which his claim arose, and were all pre.
tent at the committee meeting when that contract
was made. Two of them held official situations in
this committee, our of them filling the office of
treasurer and the other of secretary. After the
work war done the bill was sent in, aud some ob.
jection was made to the charges for the wood work,
but that mutter having been submitted to tuba-

tuition. it was adjuded by the arbitrators that the
charge ism, fair and rearms thle.
Mr. Jahn Butterwick. the Chairman of the
Comniitter„ and Thomas Geldard, so I,l4r.erer. de.
posed, that when the contract was owlet with Smith.
Al ti Defendant• were ptuartst, and that
Taylor. titie of the licfemlante, when S
asked who were in be the immysissester., said,
myself, the Treasurer, and the Committee. I think
you know most of us anti you nosy take us all.—
Ts, 'ins they all consented, noel ttignified their al..
prolovion by holding up their hand..
George Thomps 1111 l a work ,1101 rilll/141.11 /IV
Sonetlisosi. and Mr. Benjamin Schole.. woe of :;
arbitrators, were called, mill depo-ed ill .1 clie
charges made by the i'l.tintirf weie rearm... We.
301 r. Rat NE, a- Connie) far the Detendams, chd
not dispute dint Smithson had hero empinyril to do
the work, but lie maintained that three of the De.
feminists were not present whet, the contract was
made, and therefore were not responsible for the
payment, and that the tiessurer will oot elected to
his office till a fortnight or three wet Its after the
%sulk commenced.

la proof of this statement, hr called John
Anderson. sloth-dresser, Thomas Deacon, wpm..
stapler, %Vllham Craii, a member if the
J.k.tple %Vinson, Shit Tim!ll.l• Sii who t:.otielst-
red ire stating, that %V hitram, IVhineirp, slid
Hutchinson were none of them pr.-seta a hen the
contract will, the Defendant* wit Wade.
The Ju LIGE &sift, It Was, clear that the work !mil
beets done, and thea the Charge Wllllreasuotthir, owl
ought to be paid. this Lordnitii then eu 000000 nit tip
the evidence. and the Jury returned st tenlict fist
the Plainta—Damages 201. 154. 7tl. heiiiig I
more illan the amount of the original bill.

The list for the West Ruling contains 123 conies.
of which live are Slreeial Jury causes. The list for
the North and Knit Riding. cutit.iins &4 essiNe,,
home of which are marked fur Special Jurors.