The National Register.
London, England, 1820-04-09 00:00:00

LANCASTER LENT ASSIZES.-Arm

BURNLEY NIEETING.
THE KING V. KNIGHT, nEwitithsr, AND CI'S OTHERS.
The Court met this morning at nine o'clock, soon alter
NIIICh 3iilin Knight, George I)eakin-14, Nathan Broad-
hurst, John Adamson, Wills:tot Fletcher, John gury, John
Asian, and James %Vaile, ere put to the bar, and t in-
(Bement being mad to them, they severally pleaded Not

Guilty.
Mr. Littledale stated tlic nature of the indictment, the
substance of which war, that the prisoners had conspired
to go, and cause others of the liege subjects of the late
King to go, armed to a meeting, for the purpose of hie-
dering and obstructing the Magistrates and Peace Offi-
cers in the execution or their duties.
Richard Fletcher stated, that lie was in company with
a man named Wilson : he saw several of the people with
slaves, and on art iv ing at the grotind they picked out the
dirt flout the holes made to receive the pike-heads. He
saw several persons with pike heads secreted under their
coat-sasses, and meter their breasts. He immediately
left the field to into! the -magistrates, Ile trimmed
soon atter, and heard a cry " tete soldiers are coming,"
vilieteupon a number of people pulled out their pike.
heads, and many of them fixed them in the poles. He
saw sixty persons pelt out their pikes, hut only eight or
ten fix them. He also saw twenty other persons draw
out their pistols; those persons who so comforted them-
selves were near to the hustings. When the attain had
subsided, they replaced their vveapons in their former
concealment. The alarm turned out to be false. Knight
was not at this time at rived. In about half an hour after
this alarm Knight arlived, and was voted to the chair,
when a cap of liberty was placed WI his head, and he
addressed the assembly. He dwelt a good deal on the
corn-laws, and lamented that so many prisons weie
hanged for forgery; after which he read the resolutions,
and they were arproved by the meeting. 'Witness could
'tot recollect the substance of them. While this was going
on, there was a second alarm, that " the soldiers were
coming," when several of the people again pulled out
their pikes and pistols, but this also turned out to be a
false alarm, when they again concealed them. This
alarm caused many people to run, when Knight and the
other people on the hustings called to them to be firm,
and not to rms. After Knight left the chair, Dewlsurst
took it, and proposed a resolution, "that if Parliament
should pass any Gagging Bill, the Reformers should rise
and meet in one day." He said, "if they did not, lie
should call them the greatest slaves upon earth."
Cross-examined by Mr. Coltman.—He stated, that he
the Buprnley meeting.ff He admitted that he had a pistol,
which he had shewn to different persons, and had boasted
that fie was well-armed ; and would not swear that he
had not d—d the Government, and wished the Refor-
mers were as well armed as he was.
Other witnesses were called, who deposed to the same
effect.
Mr. Williams made an able and impressive speech in
favour of the defendants. The Court then adjourned to
Monday.
SECOND DAY.
The Court met this morning between nine and ten
o'clock, and the names of the Jurors having been called
over, the examination of witnesses for the defence was
proceeded in.
John Cross, examined by Mr. Williams.—Has known
Fletcher from a child. Saw him three or four weeks after
the Manchester Meeting,and he then asked him if lie had
his pike ready,for it would soon be wanted.
Mr. Justice Bayley.—l do not think this is admissible,
but I will take a note of it, and wish you to state the na-
ture of the evidence.
Mr. Williams,—We propose to show, by this witness,
that Fletcher was in the habit of inciting and soliciting
the people to arm themselves; and therefore those who
attended the meeting might have been induced to do so at
his instigation, instead of that of the defendants, as
charged by the indictment.
Several other witnesses were called, and Mr. Justice
Bayley, at about four o'clock, began to sum up to the
Jury. After which the July retired, and in about 20
minutes returned with a verdict of Guilty against all the
prisoners, except those two (Wade and Astin) as to whom
the piosecution had been given up.
It was remarked that the verdict was a general one ;
though Mr. Raine, in his reply, had given up the counts
which referred to the charge of conspiracy. It was,
however, understood in Court as not applying to that
charge.
Mr. Justice Bayley was about to pass sentence, when
Knight tequestcd to be allowed to say a few words in
mitigation. His Lordship said lie would give I' and the
other defendants till to-morrow morning to prepare any
affidavits, or any statements for that purpose.
•CHLITTAL OF RICHARD OWEN.
Richard Owen was next put to the bar, charged with
wilful and corrupt perjury, in having sworn at the New
Bailey, in August last, that he saw MI/011100W on the
hustings in company wolt Hunt on the day of the meeting
of the 160. He was given in OW ge to the Jusy ; and
Mr. C. Pearson and the other witnesses on the back of
the indictment being called on, but, taut appearing to give
evidence, the Judge directed an acquittal.—He was of
course discharged.

CIIESIIIRE SPRING 4ISSIRES--1.5w. 5.
-40,-

Bef(,re C. WARREN, E.q. and S. MARSHALL, EA.
his Mlaje►ty's Justices.
'l•he Judges were escorecl into town about 10 o'cloc•k
this morttio4 by the iltgb Sheriff's Guard of Pikemen,
dressed in new clothes purposely fot the occasion. At-
ter attending, divine service at the church of St Mary
on the 11111, they proceeded to Court, and opened the
o.lllllllltolllll.
r..J iist•ce 'Marshall addressed the Grand Jury, after
the u►ual limos of the Court had been gone throligh.-
11e begat' by lamenting the cam litely ermided state of
the calendar, which contained the names of no less than
97 prisoners; and the influx of crane he attributed to

the ennsegoences arising front the system of delusion
which had long been prsctised over the country. Oit an
occasion wltich occurred some time ago, the magistrates
of a neighbouring county (we understood the allusion
to be to Lancashire) executed a painful duty with a
promptitude which does them infinite credit, character.
ised by temper and moderation. llis Lordship paid a
high compliment to the maAistrates and gentlemen of
Cheshire for the patriotion and public spirit they had
evinced in forming corps of yeomanry to meet the exi-
genc.es:nf the times; and slightly adverted to the charges
atrainst M'lmulis and others for shooting at Birch, and
the indictment against Harrison and Sir C. Woksly for
-edition, stating the law as itaffected their respective
Cases.
Several sums were recovered against the hundred, by
persons residing in Macclesfield, for the injury they sus.
iained in their property during the late seditious excesses
in that town.
Jane Ilesketh was convicted of having in her posses-
sion forg.rd Bank of England notes, and sentenced to 14
years transportation.

CHESTER CITY SESSIONS.
There were very few cases of any interest occurred.
W 'Otani Byley, aged 26, a cooper front Ireland, was
indicted for uttering a forged rol. Bank of England note.
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the minor charge of ut-
tering, which subjects him to fourteen years transporta-
tion ; on the capital charge no evidence was offered.—
The Recorder, in passing sentence, said he had done
wisely in pleading guilty ; for, had he been pot upon his
trial and convicted, he should certainly have left him
Mr execution. There was another indictment against
the prisoner, Mr nutting off counterfeit coin; hut
.he
was not arraigned on it.
Charles Cooper, aged 20, tallow-chandler, was in-
dicted for stealing silver tea-spoons, the property of Mr.
Tomlinson, of the Feathers' Inn.
It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner had.
with others, obtruded himself into the house on the day
of the county election, and was turned out, but again
made his appearance; he was again ejected; and after-
wards, on information being given to the waiters by a
person named Jackson, he was seized and searched,
when the property was found on his person. Tagg, an
assistant waiter, was cross-examined by Mr. Hill, when
he gave the following definition of being drunk, which
may be serviceable to the next editor of Johnson's Dic-
tionary :—" 1 am not sure but what the spoons might
have been put into the prisoner's pocket. 1 doh't think
• be was drunk; he might he a little fresh. Ica!! a man
drunk when he can't stand or walk, and when he is
lying dead, without holding at the posts. This is being
drunk."
George Peers, Thomas Leigh, Joseph Richards, and
John Huxley, all publicans, spoke to the prisoner's
character. The Jury found the prisoner Guilty. Ile
was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.
Nancy Buckley, aged 48, a widow, was indicted for
inciting Harriet Roberts, a girl only thirteen years old,
to steal a quantity of riband, lace,_ Eze. the property at
her employers, Wm. and Henry Brown, drapers, &c.
Harriet Roberts examined.—The said she was just
turned thirteen years of age. Had several communica-
tions with the prisoner and her daughter on the subject
of producing different articles from Mr. Brown's shop.
She was first asked by the prisoner to gether a band-box,
but could not say how long ago this was, probably about
three months after she had been in Mr. Brown's service.
She was then asked to get sonic riband, and afterwards
some musli'a, which she gave to the prisoner's daughter,
as also some pink riband, but she was not asked by any
one to give the latter. 1 gave (said the witness) some
black and puce rihand to her daughter, and the prisoner
wore some on her cap and bonnet. She sometimes gave
me two-pence at a time fur giving her the things. I gave
the prisoner some lace, which I said L got front Mr.
Brown's. She said it was very prei.y. The prisoner's
daughter is taller than l am • she is perhaps sixteen or
seventeen years old. 1 was taking home sonic bohbinett
to a lady in the Abbey green, to show her, m hen I called
in Mrs. Buckley's cellar, and, as she liked it very much,
I cut off a yard, and gave it to her daughter, Mrs. Buck-
ley being engaged in ironing. She said nothiw, paten-
lar to me at the time, and 1 cannot recollect what I said.
She gave me no money at that time. All the things
gave her I had stolen. Sometimes the prisoner asked
me to steal the things, and sometimes her daughter. She
I never gave me more than three-pence at a time.
The witness underwent a severe cross-examination by
Mr. Temple, but nothing material was elicited.
Hugh Speed and H. Burgess searched the prisoner's
house, and discovered a variety of articles, which were
identified by Mr. 11. Brown, particularly a piece of lace,
found between the bed and mattress. 'Harriett Roberts
also swore to the articles found in the house as being
the same she had given to the prisoner. 'Flee case was
brought clearly home to the prisoner, and the Jury found
her Guilty.
After a very impressive admonition front the Recorder,
j she was sentenced to two years' 614)61011111ml.

SURREY A SSIZ EL—The following are ordered for
execution to-morrow :—Henry Payne, aged 14, for
sheep stealing and burglary; James Wooledge, 33,
fur the like efli.nce ; and J. Cane, 32, thr a burglary
at Richmond. The case of the latter convict is gn+
gnlar, he having been out on bail, surrcntlercd at the
Assizes, confidently anticipating all acquittal.
It has recently been dis,overvit that turn of me
year's growth, cut small, by band or by means of a
machine, is an admirable substitute fir hay. In
same districts, during the whole of the last Ivintcr,
dairy COWii were fed with it alone, and the quality
of the milk was by this kind of food very much
improved.

COMMITTAL OF NESBET,
TUE sorrobED YMELPETRAToR OF THE MURDERS AT