The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-03 00:00:00

TIIE SUNDAY RIOT IN HYDE-PARK.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET POLICE COURT.
A dense mob assembled before the police-court at an
early hour to hear the result of the complaints against
70 persons taken into custody on Sunday in Hyde-park
for various felonies, for throwing stones, and disorderly
conduct. When Mr. Hardwick, the sitting magistrate,
made his appearance in the street, for the purpose of
taking his seat on the bench, the mob began, some to
cheer and some to hoot ; several persons cried out "Act
with justice," and one person flung a stone, which, how-
ever, missed the magistrate and struck a person near
him. Mr. Hardwick having entered the court was in
the act of passing one of the windows, when a stone
was flung from the street, which broke a pane of glass,
hut did no further damage. Mr. Hardwick, who took
these attacks with unruffled temper, intimated to the in-
spector that if the persons outside persisted in their dis-
orderly conduct he would procure the assistance of suffi-
cient civil force and cause the street and avenues of the
court V, be cleared.

A pause of three hours took place, in consequence of
a doubt which existed as to the Home-office allowing the
charges to be heard at this court, a power being vested
in the Home-office of removing charges to Bow-street,
to be heard there. This power has been several times
exercised with reference to cases arising within the
jurisdiction of this court, and always with great incon-
venience to all parties—prosecutors, witnesses, and pri-
soners. In one instance—the murder of Lord William
Russell—the removal of the case to 8,,w-street had
nearly led to the defeat of justice, as important evidence
was rurnished to this Court which only by something
like an accident reached Bow-street in sufficient time to
insure the conviction of the murderer.
About one o'clock Mr. Ballantine entered the court,
and, addressing the magistrate, said—Sir, I humbly beg
to ask you, as there are a number of persons in custody,
to older the Police Inspector to bring them into court,
that we may hear what the charges are.
Mr. Hardwick—l am prepared to go on with the busi-
ness, which now rests with the police, I believe.
Mr. Ballantine —They are here in custody. and again
I ask that they may at once he brought into court ; un-
less, indeed, the inspector does not wish them to be
brought before an impartial tribunal.
Inspector Lester—l have no wish in the matter ;I am
merely waiting for orders.
Mr. Hardwick—The inspector can have nothing to do
with this delay ; he is only acting under the orders of his
superior officers.
Mr. Ballantine—At present I appear for two of the
accused, but most probably I shall appear for all the
others.

Another delay of more than an hour took place, in
which time the number of prisoners was considerably
augmented in consequence of the conduct of the mob
outside, and the necessity for police interference.
At last Mr. Hardwick informed the professional gen-
tlemen that the charges were to be heard at the court,
and would be proceeded with as soon as the Crown
counsel appeared.

At 3 o'clock Mr. Herring, who appeared for one of the
defendants, applied to have the case heard. His client
had been taken into custody at three o'clock yesterday,
had been kept in custody ever since, and was now in a
crowded room below almost suffocated with the heat.
His client's case was one of great hardship, as he was an
apprentice, and his character was at stoke as well as
future prospects. He attributed no fault to the magis-
trate, but he must blame those in authority who were
the cause of this unjustifiable delay.
Mr. Ballantine—l must say that I never in the whole
course of my life witnessed anything so scandalous as
the conduct of Government from the beginning to the
end of this business. The disturbance that occurred
yesterday, it is well known, was occasioned by the bad
management of those in authority, and, after the per-
sons who were apprehended have been in custody so
many hours, I really think they have a right to know
why they are detained. You hear, Sir, that a respect-
able lad is in custody, and yet there is not a soul present
to tell you on what ground or to explain any charge

-Mr. Hardwick—No doubt this delay is extremely in-
convenient to us all. The prisoners may be detained
until a late hour before their cases are determined ; they
are in the custody of the police, and until the sheets are
before me I cannot hear evidence.
Mr. Ballantine—Either they are before you, or they
are not. I want that tested. The persons accused are
at this court.

Mr. Hardwick— They are in the custody of the police,
but I can have no cognisance of the fact until they are
brought in the regular way before me, and the inspector
proceeds to charge A, B, C, or D with as offence.
Mr. Herring—l do not wish to cast the slightest re-

rRJCE 4D. STAMPED SD.

flection on the Court. I
want only to know why my
client is incarcerate.j.
Mr. Dallantine--We wi'l not get into a dißcusQion
about stone•throwinn• ; the question involved in these
prccaedings is of infinitely iu,,re importance. Depend
upon i that Vie griss neglect which Government hsve
shown t ,wards these subject.; of the Queen, whom they
have ventured to order into custody, will not tail to be
notic, d.

At this stage of the proceedings two persons were
placed at the bar, charg, I with aisaulting the police in
tl.e front of the court. The prisoners gave the names
of William Flowers and George Heckling.
Police•constables C 190, and C 197, deposed to the
effect that they saw both prisoners throw stones at the
police. One constable had his face cut.

The prisoners denied the charge. "
Mr. Lewis cross-examined the police, but failed in
shaking their evidence.
Mr. Hardwick inflicted a fine of 40s. on each.
The father of Flowers made an appeal to the Court on
behalf of hi 4 son, who had been marked out by thepolice
because he WA4 known to be the scu of a publican.
Mr. Hardwick could not refuse to convict on the evi-
dence on oath of a'policeman.
Mr. Herring again protested at the dela.
Mr. Hardwick eaid the business of the Court would
close at 5 o'clock. If any 'onelad any complaint to make
against the police, he must .resort to the proper autho-
rities.

Mr. Ballantine woulo. ask the magistrate to call upon
the police to bring up the prisoners. There were about 90
persons in custody ; it was how half-past 3 o'clock, and
no one was there to prefer any charge. Anything more
insolent towards you, air, or the public was never before
heard of. Gaverument must know of the number of oases
in custody, mil yet no one comes forward to offer an ex-
planation or an apology for the bad
.condnct , that has
been exLiblted. It is, however, a matter of satisfaction
to know _that the amount of insolence shown by the
police to your orders, eir, 13 equally ready to be shown
towards yourself.
There was another pause during which the mob out-
side were occasionally disposed to be noisy and riotous,
but a smart shower taking placethey dispersed.
About a quarter to 5 o'clock Superintendent O'Brien,
of the C division, and other superintendents entered the
court, and in reply to a qneation Mr.O'Brien said he had
not been to the court before that day.
The first case was against Edward Copas, a youth
about LS years old.

Superintendent Hughe?, D division, was called and
examined.---Was in Hyde Park at a quarter before 2
o'clock on Sunday, near the south side of the Serpentine.
A large mob had assembled. By 3 o'clock there were
from 40,000 to 50,000 persons present, and they lined
both sides of the road. Could not say whether the de-
fendant at the bar was among the mob. Whenever a
carriaife or a person on horseback passel there was great
tumult, shouting, hooting, and cries of " Go to church,"
" Who bought you that horse ?" Had 250 constables
under him. His orders were to disperse the crowd as
soon as any disturbance arose. The police were also to
keep back the mob from the rails. Some stones were
thrown at the constables. One or two struck witness,
but not so as to hurt him. Shortly after 4 o'clock
several persons were taken into custody and conveyed
to the statism-house in cab 4. Was aware that hand-
bills had been extensively circulated and posted
up in the park by order of the commissioners. One
of the handblls was posted at Albert-gate. On several
occasions he had spoken to the assembled persons to
induce them to go away quietly. No one paid any at-
tention to him—neither the well-dressed nor the evil-dis-
posed. The latter class of persons impeded the police
as much as possible.
Mr. Clarkson who, with Mr. Reynolds, the Treasury
solicitor, were in attendance (as unders;;ood) on the part
of the Crown, asked the superintendent if the assembly
in Hyde-park, was of such a character as to prove a
terror to those who did not form part of such assembly ?
Superintendent Hughes—l should say it was. The
mob were swaying about and making much disturbance.
Later in the day an application was made for a body of
constables, as the mob were throwing stones at the sol-
diers in the barracks. When it was getting dark he con-
sulted with his brother officers as to the best means of
getting the people quietly out of the park, and formed
100 constables in a line, and paraded them towards the
throng, and by that means the park was tolerably well
cleared.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ballantine—Were many
people injured le—Yee.
How many ?-4 did not see how many.
Was there a child half crushed ?—I heard so.
Did not several people sustain ',serious wounds from
the police heard some persons were injured.
Don't you know that several were wounded ?—Yes.
Did you not see the police use their truncheons
gave orders to the constables to use their truncheons.
They obeyed you, and struck right and left at the
people, did they not ?—Not right and left.
Vioieetly ?—Not violently, in my opinion.
What were the people doing at this time ?—They had
assembled at the north side of the Serpentine.
Was that the whole offence ?—No ; they were hooting
and shouting.
Then the crime the people were committing was hoot-
ing and shouting?—They were also using language cal-
culated to produce a breach of the peace.
Was there any carriages in the park ?—Very few.
There were no other expressions used by the people
than those you have told us of until after the police used
their truncheons ?—There had been stone-throwing. I
was struck on the shoulder with a stone.

How long have you had the defendants in custody ?
—Since yesterday afternoon, I believe.
Why were not the cases brought on earlier ?—We
were waiting for orders, and we had no orders until half-
past 4 o'clock.
Cross-examined by Mr. Clarkson--Under his orders
the police used their truncheons. The people obstructed
the footpath and carriage-road and would not disperse.
Had been ordered by Sir R. Mayne to disperse any
rioters; if they assembled. Found the mob obstinate and
riotous, and told the constables to use their staves. Had
appealed to the people repeatedly to go away---told them
five or six times it would be wise if they went away be-
fore telling the constables to use their truncheons. Was
on horseback anti rode among the people, making ob-
servations of the state of things between Apsley-house
and the receiving-house. Saw two vehicles run away
with by the horses in consequence of the noise and
hooting. There were rings of persons in several parts
of the park, as if some persons were addressing the peo-
ple, but could net hear what was said. Considered that
the conduct of the mob was calculated to excite terror,
and that the mob was a tumultuous assembly.
Thomas Potter, D 84, was in plain clothes. Heard
bad expressions from the mob, such as "The will
have their work to do to-day." Saw several carriages
stopped. Saw hats rattled against the horses, which
caused them to take fright. Saw bushels of stones
thrown. Saw persons take up stones and put them in
their handkerchiefs and pockets. Saw the prisoner pick
up a stone and throw it at a police-constable. Kept his
eyes on the prisoner until he met a constable in uniform,
and then he laid hold of the prisoner, and helped to con-
vey him to the receiving-house.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ballantine—Several of the
constables had got marks to show from being struck by
stones. The police did not interfere before stones were
thrown.

Mr. Ballantine, for the defence, said, he thought it
right, first, to state under what circumstances he ap-
peared for the defendants at the bar. He bad been in-
structed to attend for the accused parties by Messrs.
Travers and Smith, most respectable persons, who had,
though not acquainted with the defendants, from cer-
tain circumstances that had come to their knowledge,
arrived at the opinion that the present charge ought to
be watched, and that persons in the condition of the de-
fendants ought not to be left entirely unprotected. He
had not been instructed by those who wished to see a
continuance of rioting or a breach of the peace commit-
ted, but by persons who held a strong opinion that, un-
less a change took place in contemplated interferences
with the people's comforts, great and serious evils would
occur and dangers arise of far more serious moment than
those of knocking off policemen's bats. These gentle-
men felt it to be their duty, as loyal subjects of the
Queen, to call the attention of the magistrates to those
proposed changes which had driven the people to ex-
cesses, which would go on increasing unless common
sense were allowed to rule in place, as at present, of
prejudice, bigotry, and folly. It was impossible to treat
this as a slight question. With reference to the bills
before Parliament, be would not express any judgment.
He firmly believed, however, that the cause of the riot,
on Sunday, was that feeling entertained by every Eng-
lishman, however temperate the way in which he de-
veloped it, that he would not have his fair pleasures in-
terfered with, his immunities crushed, or be prevented
from meeting openly in a rational manner, by an Act of
Parliament. Further, that if interfered with by
authority, it was a matter cf the last importance
that power should .be placed in discreet hands, who
would prefer to teach and instruct rather than to drive
—a course which must end in a way that all would
regret. The silly manner in which an obnoxious mea-
sure had been brought into the House of Commons
made the people justly anxious, in a quiet way, to
show that their comforts must not be abruptly inter-
fered with ; that they felt they were not fairly represented
in the House of Commons ; and that their interests
were not to be sacrificed and recklessly destroyed by any
the silly person or party. They went to Hyde Partktwoicthomnomvitina.
dictive feelings, but in good humour ; nio
crime, but to teach a useful.ltetslesosnentilnyc;
in short, hoping to drive a head
of the author of this most ridiculous measure. Had this
proceeding been taken kindly and in good humour the
day would have passed over peaceably, and not have
ended, as it did, in quarrelling, in blasphemy, and with
80 or 90 people incarcerated in cells, and several persons
wounded. And yet, with these serious matters before
them, nobody appeared to know anything, there was no
one to bring a charge, and the court had just had a speci-
men of the ignorance and indifference of people in autho-
rity, and their utter unfitness for having authority in-
trusted to them. If such qualities were exhibited in the
House of Parliament, could it be wondered at if out-
breaks were sometimes seen ? Anything more disgraceful
than what bad occurred that day could not be imagined.
All sorts of tricks and traps had been resorted to in or-
der to get the cases to Bow-street, as if an independent