The National Register.
London, England, 1820-11-06 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

•ANCIIESTER QUARTER SESSIONS. Ocr. 31
- •

lAILITART WIWI* AT OLDWAII IN APRIL. •
This day, at norm, the trial of Wild and Buckley, for
ass:wise upon the soldiery, traversed Iran tha last Ses-
sions, tense nn before Mr. llay, the Chairman, and a
full tenth of Islogistrates. A areatest degree of ite er
rst
to 11.2 at,pearrl to be cached than was ever reline maid-
rested en any similar occasion. TheCoert in every part
was crovri!eil to execs*.
For toe ernseention five soldiers appeared, who de-
posed, that the dereadants, tie...ether with others, %red
• an•l coevicteil 1.,e last sessions, attacked C.can e
IJ
beat them nit the i'av ;011owing the Knees hirthelay,
without provecation,.arter singing a very violent song,
in which the solc:iers were styled «bloody bine:terse," •
and giving, a toast of a very sedition. character. The
Case Owed upon this point, whether the soldiers or the
towns-people struck t;;e first blow, or gave the first !)ra-
vocation ? The soldiers swore posi..ively, that after ailing
the seditious toast, the man who ciralik it threw some
ale out of the same glass in one of their faces, and that
the towns-people then attacked the
On cons-exami:!.nhai, though the soldiers adhered to
tl!e material facts which they were called to prove, they
contradicted themselves grossly as to n:iror points, which
they had not so well considered. One soldier swore,
that the man drank one glass, n hen he gave a toast, and
filled another to throw at them. Another swore, that it
was the same glass, out of which he only leaving
enough to throw on their faces.
For the defence five witnesses were called, who de-
posed to facts directly the reverse of those proved for the
proseention.—They. swore distinctly, that the soldiers
called for the offensive songtheinselves, and when it was
begitii they threw the glass of ale into fire singer's face,
• attacked and heat him,ancl drageed him out of the house;•
li
that afterwards they attacked all the othersowns-people;
that one of than caused the poker to be heated red, and
brandished it about in the roans, to the great terror and
alatall of the people; that they were cut by the swords
and side-arms of the soldiers; and that the deputy eon.,
stable of the town was beaten away by their party.--;
These facts were clearly proved.
Mr. Coltman, who conducted the prosecution, replied
at some length in vindication of his case, and the Chair-
man summed up, remarking from time on the improba-
bilities which he saw in the defence now set •up.
The Jury, after deliberating twenty minutes, returned
a verdict of Guilty against the defendants on one of the
six counts of the indictment, viz. a common assault. Ott
the other counts, viz. an unlawful assemblage, alai. ag-
gravated assault, &c. they acquitted them.
The Court, in passing sentence, declared, that the •
Jury had found just such a verdict as they wished, and
said, as they could see no difference between these de-
fendants and those convicted last sessions, they Should
give the same sentence, allowing for the three mouths
• imprisonment which the defendants had already suffers&
The sentence, therefore, was, that both the defendants
tae imprisoned for one year and nine months, after which
they are to find bail for two years for their good belia-
viour.—The ease lasted nine hours.