The National Register.
London, England, 1820-04-17 00:00:00

7x2

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CIIESHI3E SPRING ASSIZES.
MONDAY. APRIL 10.
SENTENCE 01 MAGINNIS AND BRUCE.
At the sitting, (If the Court, Jacob Magiunis and
J:t:nei, George Bruce were I.):4ltilit up to receive

. .
Judgment.
OA the prisoners 116,1,4 asked what they had to say I
why sentence of death should not be pronounced upon
them, I\l3.;innis said, my Lord, this man (Bruce) is in-
toicent : 1 am rite mall who shot Birch : butt though I
shot Breit, there is not a man who came against inu• not
swore falsely. Birch hituseh swore falsely, and Pearson
swore fithatiV. 1 repeat, that lam the man who shut
Birch, and I can give your Lordship several reasons for
it ; butt no man knew of toy shooting Birch except

peaceable. At the time the cap of liberty was put on
the flag, Sir Charles turned round, and said something
he did not hear. There was a demur. The cap was
then hoisted.
Thomas Welsh, a clerk to Mr. Harrop, in Manches..
ter was O yards flout the hustings, and heard Harrison
read a letter. He made a few notes in the evening en
his return home: the paper he now held was not the
same. lie had written loose notes, which he had
embodied in this paper, and then destroyed.
Mr. Pearson objected to this paper, as not purporting
to be even a copy of the notes. His memory might
as well he refreshed by any newspaper of the time.
Mr. Park argued the same objection.
Winless, in answer to the Court, said this paper had
been written a month after the meeting.
Mr. Benyon contended that the paper was admissible
to refresh his memory, but declined to press it.
The Chief Justice said, it was the same as if a. note
had been made a month after the occasion.
Mi. Sergeant Marshall thought it dangerous to allow
this paper.
Witness desired to trust entirely to his recollection;
said that Mr. Harrison had read horn a letter that the
Deity had intended man for happiness, and provided a
sufficiency of all good Iloilo to make hint so; but as this
majority of that meeliag was extremely unhappy
and miserable, and rendered so by their rulers, the
intetvions of the Deity had beets frustrated, and
rebellion against government became alnima a duty.
—Sir Charles arrived while Mr. Harrison was reading,
who then ceased. Sir Charles was proposed to the chair,
he thought by Mr. Harrison, He beliesen they shook
hands. Sir Charles thanked them for the honour done
him; he was no orator, bin a determined friend of the
people, and a friend to annual parliaments and universal
suffrage, and if any spies or informers were hearing him,
let them tell their Castlereaghs and Sidinouffis, and the.
others who employed them, that he abhorred and ex.
aerated them and their proceedings. There was much
apolanse. Sir Charles read the resolutions, and put them •
to the meeting.
All the resolutions were agreed to. Sir Charles after-
wards said, that he was a most determined friend of the
people, and should remain so while there was a drop of
blood in his heart; his political career had commenced
in France, and he was one of the first who mounted the
ramparts at the taking of the Bastile in that country,
and he would not shrink from attacking the Basilic, in
this country.
Cross-examined by Mr. Park.—The meeting dispersed
quietly at four o'clock. He was at the meeting quite
undisturbed all the .He would have thought it
troublesome to carry the sticks; they might have thought
otherwise. He felt no alarm. He was sent to watch
the meeting by Mr. Harrop, publisher of a newspaper
in Manchester.
Edward Shawcroft examined by Lloyd.—Was at
Stockport on the ginh July, and at the meeting. As
soon as he arrived on the ground, Collier, a police.
officer, was knocked down. They said he was a spy,
they would do all the rest so. Sir Charles Wolseley said
he began his military career—(he was not sure of "mi-
litary,' but he said some career. lie took notes, but
ave them up to a person in Manchester, who cot.ld net
find them.) Sir Charless said, lie had been at the takiod
of the Bastile in Fr amt.. and he hoped soon to be at
taking the Bastiles it this country.
Cross-ex.miined by Mr. Pearson.—lle was there as.
ssting Ids father, who was clerk to the police. He
thought military, warlike, or martial, was the word
used, or to that effect.
Several other witnessi s were examined, but their eve.
(knee was purely confirmatory of the foregoing. 'l'hc
case for the prosecution having closed, Mr. Pearson ad.
dressed the Jury for more than two hours in Isehall of
Sir Charles Wolseley, after which Mr. Harrison rose in
his own defence ; he began by begging the patient hear-
ing oldie Jury during his address, which he stated would
probably occupy many hours. This patience he drew
largely upon, for he proceeded in a way that was on-
preccdented ;he read and commented 4111 the charge to
the Grand Jury lie read Jeremy Bentham's "Remarks
on the littliettnent against Sir Charles IVolseley• and
Mr. Ilartison"—he alluded to an article in some
Re% iew, which he said was written by Me. Brougham,
and declared that lltuthant had 'noted that the Jury
could not find them guilty without violating their oaths.
lie decliated calling wi•eesse,
Witnesses were tutu caned on the part of Sir Charles
Wolseley.
Jeremiah Garnett was reporter to " Wheeler's Man.
Clio stet Chronicle" at the time of the Stockpot t meeting.
This is called a ministerial paper. Attended to report
the proceedings there. Has no doubt 5,000 persons %WC
present, There was one circumstance which Malawi
trim shout the meeting; a person in the employ of Mr.
Nadirs was knocked down; that was before Sir Chalks
W elsetey came. tie lett no other alarm.
Did you hear the words from Sir Charles Wet" li•y,
"Unite your strength, for in a few weeks the struggle \sal
be made and cuded ?
I did not.
Cross-examined—Now belongs to " The West Hiding
Chronitie ;" that is a ministerial paper.
Robert Thorns% liampson attended the Stockport muct-
ing us a reporter for IVardle's " Manchester Wiser %ei ;''
took notes of what passed from the beginnieg to the end;
was on the hustings ; felt no alarm from what he tow
there wits no alarm in Slackpiiit 41 Sir Charles
d'ulvtley addre.s the ;seople to keep the peace ; he spoi.e
lusher to-Levis He said he had known pollee taccrs
break the peace instead of keeping it, amid desired thrill
to keep the peace. Did out lit ar sir C. W olseleY
that in 4 to NV weeks the struggle would Inc wade mud
ended; though probably would hate heard it if it had
been said.
cros4-examined.—The account its The Maischtster Oh-
scruff was given by withers; remembered Harrison 144. S nil:.
it was as 10011111 to pention the Hotoe of 111111 l :IS 11
master weir to go dowo upon his knees to intreat his In,'
vial
set saint to do that duty for which he was engaged awl
paid. Think* Ilan non said something like--" to petition