The National Register.
London, England, 1816-06-23 00:00:00

SPECIAL COMMISSION.

FLY, June 17.—This slay, at ten o'clock, the inn. Mr.
Justice Abbot, dlr. Justice litirrough, and E. Christian, E.sq.
Chief Justice of the Isle of Ely, arrived in this town, preceded•
by a cavalcade, consisting of the principal inhabitants, anti
immediately repaired to the Court-house, where they (vetted
a Speeiml Commission for the trial of the persons dim gel wait
having riotously assem!Actl, nail committed various felonies at
Littleport and Ely. The Commission having been read, the
Judges proceeded to the Cathedral. where Divine Service
was performed, and a Serino:a preached by the Rev. Sir 11. IL
Dudley.
The Court re-assembled at one o'clock, and the preliminary
business be:ng concluded, and the Grand Jury sworn, Mr.
Justice Abbot addressed them to the foilowing eQect:—

OLNTLENIUN OF TUB GRANO JUR V—YOU have been called
together at this unusual period, and with the present soleniiii-
ties, in consevence of some very daring sets of outrage com-
mitted by various misguided individuals in this town and its
neighbourhood, which must be still fresh in your recollertion.
In contemplating the nature of these atrovitics, it is impossible
to consider without conanendatiou the conductors of those.
prompt and efficacious measures, by which, after it had do-
mineered for several days together, the spirit of tumult and
devastation was finally subdued. The natural progress of
triumphant insurrection is, to increase in fury, and to grow
larger in its demands, until from robbery it proceeds to tho
burning to: houses, and the murder of their inhabitants. Al-
though no offences of this last and highest kind will he laid
before you, yet it appears by the depositions that some crimes
of a very deep die have been committed. Of some of these,
considering the situation of their perpetrators, it may be diffi-
cult to penetrate the motive; and it may be, as often happens
in such cases, that it was hardly kuowit to the offenders them-
selves. 'the pretince for these lawless disturbances seems to
have been the necessity neati advance in the wages of husban-
dry, but the circumstances of some among the offenders does
not correspond with the supposition of such an object. It
had happened, that the hardships necessarily incident to a
state of poverty were aggravated by the peculiarity of the
seasons; and the temper of Multi which was thus produced,
appears to have been inflamed by designing persons into a
settled hostility against the higher orders of society, This
spirit soon manifested itself' in the destruction of property ;
as if labour could be encouraged and wages raised. by the
ruin of those who ore. to employ the one, and to pay the other.
In no country in the world are there so many institutions for
the humane purpose of administering to the WalllS and neces-
sities of the poor—in no country does both public and private
bounty flow in so many streams for the comfort and relief
of the distressed classes of the community. It is to be observed,
too, that the money which was taken from individuals on this
, melancholy occasion, was not applied to the support of the
families of the offenders, but was consumed in slot and in-
toxication, by which the blood was heateal, the understanding
confliseil, and the spirit inflamed to acts of further and more
violent aggre3sion against the persons and property of their
neighbours. The number of persons engaged in the commis-
sion of these °treat:es is so considerable, that it has been
deemed necessary thus suddenly to call you together, iii older
that the innocent may be restored to liberty, without delay,
the guilty brought to punishment, and the peaceable inhabitant
convinced that the laws are effectual for his protection. awl
his vindication. It is the first time that such a proceeding has
been deemed necessary in this place, and I sincerely hope it
Mily be the la-t. I am nut aware dial the task which you are
called ulOll 10 execute, boa ever painful, will be attended
with any extraordinary difficulties. Judging from the de-
pwittions which lie ',Ohre me, the capital felonies which will
be presented to yon, receive themselves into the three
r-
emit crimes of burgtaty, robbery from the person, and sterling
in the dwelling-Masse. It is tit, however, that l %woad here
snake one observation; which is. that there are many offences
committed by large assensolies of trims, in which the guilt is
not confined to the indigo Kral whose hand executes the feloni-
ous act. Ail those who am present at its commission, who

Nfl 23.

favour It w aparobation mid eolcurrence, or who aid
and VIM/Ilia Zt. //V their voice or action, ars involved in the
same legrl culpability. This is u principle dietatod by reasna,
and eitablisheil in law; for, waived the nreseac.: of others,
the aerial perpetrator might nit have Innot mile to aceomplish
the criminal purpose, or might have deterre I front at
tempting it by the exertions of the a 1. With
regard to the part•eolar crime of hut glary, it in tv Ift, proper
for me to remark, that it consists in the-breaking of a liotise at
night with intent to commit sonar felony. What toe nature of
this felony may lie is net material; tier is it twee ssitrv. in order
to constitute burglary, that the fi hosions hot:nitwit should have
Leen carried into effect. The l'ireal11,1:11W(.1 under which the
breaking at night has been effe.•ted, most form the evidence
of the intent for whieli it was 1101/C. Ail who then runt. are
e loudly guilty; and the 91.11111! Ellie sapplira to theist also who
keep watch whilst others enter. Even if the catty sh mid be
made in consequenee of the door being opine I by the owner
himself. under the induelice of artifice or thee its. it Is, in con.
(Pa1p1.,14111 of law, a burglary ; for the law will no: suffer its
re% diem a re.tr ants to he evaded ,v the ,gills an I coatri ram
of a U ,u.i the subject of ro6:),:cy from the person,
it may he important for you to enquire, Iseth•sr the money
raised by a riotous assembly is to be considered, in ilia cases
to wind) emir attention he drawn, is a volinitaev eonsci.
bittiou of the lu livid's:Rs limn wham it was taken, or extorted
by violence, or mulct. reastinable fear. In the consideration,
however, of what amounts to this offence, It is not necessary to
advert either to the time or the plare of its commis•bes,
1/1...11 in a dwelling-house has tit. a capital felony by
many statutes; but it is necessary that the larceny should be
aetst illy committed. Without troublilig yon, however, by re-
citing a series of legislative enactutems on this subject, I
shoul.l a.lvise you retter.illy to return the bil:s as they are
pre ented to yon, and lease any difficulty of legal coon ruction
to that more acenrate inveatigatiosi which it wi I afterwards re-
ceive in this place. Oa the n imre'of orilinars riots and breach
of the politic hose, you a icc require HS instnietion from ate:
hut on every occasion, 33 well as the present, the Court will be
hippy to afford you all the assistaiwe in its power. With
regard to the description of proof which will he laid be-
fore you, there is little to be rem irked, further than there is
reason to believe it will in most eases be satisfactory—the evi-
dence of eye-witnesses upon acts done in open day aril with-
out any disguise, in some instances by fit ighbutir upon neigh-
b mr, so bold an:l daring was the violation of the public peace.
If the evidence of accomplices in these transactions shoold be
offered to yin, you will receive it with caution, mil give ere-
d.t to it only when confirmed oaf sopoortoil by more uireeeep-
tina shit. testimony. I cannot, howeser. co:whole this address
without ealtortiog von to proceed with a e that and tent-
tan.ate, but VI ith a firm and manly detennin lam —on the one
tarn I, net to conclude, from your hid:elution at ;;hilt, too
hastily against the prisoners; mil on the other, that the serious
nature of the charges shall not deter you from presenting them
to the justice of your country. It is of the highest inyortatiee
to the peace and safety, not only of this isle, but of the sur-
rounding comitry, that all who are present on this sidemu in-
quiry, and all who read the account of its proceedings (and
there are few parts of the kingdom in which it will not lie
reach, may be convinced by the awful lesson which may here
be taught, that, whatever wild or chimerical notions may pre-
va:l on the power of an armed multitude, the law ix too strung
far its asailants; oial that however triumphant or destructive
their sway for a few d I's, those who d the law will ulti-
mately be compelled to sulimit either to its justice or its
merry."
The Grand Jury then retired, and the Court adj.ommcd.
The calendar consists of b 2 persons, uine only oi whom are
out on hail ; all the rest are in prison.
TVEIDAY, Jura IR.—This morning, at nine o'clock, the
Court reassembled ; when John and Joseph Easier, It. Jessup,
T. South the younger, J. Walker, M. Benton, It. Hotelier, G.
Crow, I. Harley, Rich. Nicholas, W. Wy cbrow, and W. Jetler-
son, were intbetcd fur having on Wednesday, the 224 of May
last, borglatiuteily broken open and cut( red the dwelling-
house of Rebecca Waddelow, of lattleport, in the Isle of Ely,
shopkeeper. and feloniously stolen and carried assay theta, on.
one hat and five shirts, the property of 11. Martin, of Littleport
aforesaid, farmer, and divers articles of grocery and drapery
goods, together with 31. and three promissory notes, the pro-
perty of the said Rebecca Washielovv.
The Jury having been sworn, Mr. Gurney rose and address
ed them to the following effect :--
tis:sia tem rds os: THE Jun v —I have the painful duty to attend
you on this occasion as the 'Counsel of the Crown against the
prisoners at the bar. You have already heard that the indict-
ment charges them with the crimes of burglary mud robbery.
Burglary consists of the crime of entering a dwelling-house in
the night fur the purpose of committing a felonious act ; and
rubbery is the crime of stealing from the person, by force or
violence, either his own property or any thing which may be
under his protection. If I were to confine myself to a dry de-
tail of circumstances, you would immediately discover the
enormous culpability of the prisoners ; but 1 think it neces-
sary to bring your minds to those transactions which preceded
the attack, in order that you may see what was the object of
the prisoners at Littlepnrt on the night of the 221 of May.
The violence committed at that time had been preceded by
some threats and excesses in another part of the country, under
the pretence of the lowness of wages, and the high price nt
provi-ions. Some pressure, perhaps, arising from the pecu-
liar circumstances of the season, had fallen on the lower classes
of the community ; but it was considerably magnified by
tumultuous assemblies, and great excesses were perpetrated.
The contagion spread ; and before the 22d of Slay there was a
ferment, which broke out in a complete explosion on that day.
A large mob assembled at Littleport, armed with bludgeons,
pitch forks, guns, and other weapons; they possessed them-
selves of treasure, and had every species of organization.
House after house was robbed, and person after person. In
the comae of the night, the mob came to the house of Mrs.
Warldelow. She is an aged woman, upwards of 70 years old,
has spent her life in the practice of every virtue, and is pecu-
liarly known as the friend and benefit, or of the poor. Mr.
Martin, her grandson, resided with her. He is a respectable
farmer, but had become obnoxious to the prisoners frotn his
conduct in the affairs of the parish. Before the mob attacked
the house, Mr. Martin heard they were coining, and retreated
from the front door to the back, whence he effected his
escape. number of the mob exceeded 100, every one
of whom might justly forfeit his life to his country. The Crown,
Lowever. had selected 12 persons, who were more actively em-
ployed than the rest. John Casey with a large club broke the
window; Joseph Easey entered the house ; R. Jessop entice-
soared to break open the back door with un iron weapon ; 51.
were offered to him to desist, but he said no money should
deter him from his object, which was the lite of Mr. Martin ;
'l'. South entered by a hole in the shutter, armed with a cleaver;
J. Walker was a very useful person ; he carried a long pole,
with a piece of printed cloth at the ens!, by way of ensign. M.
Ibniton and It. Butcher were armed with bludgeons, whist/

THE NATIONAL TIEGISTM.

they used in breaking the shuttees. G. Crow roh'oed Mrs.
Catlack of :A. I Haney rirak• part of the furialture and Ni-
eto eus, W)ebraw, and 3.lrerto.l, Were very active in the mob,
partieularly ageing the life .of Martin. Geutlemen, yon
will perceive the this is not a common burglary. In ordinal-%
cases of that nature, the orenpier of the twine wekes in the
morning, and finds his property stolen ; but be has 100 ell spared
that terror which many men would give all their property to
AV•dil. Let not, h -•vt'ver, the atrocity of these circumstances
inflame ou with any resentment agai 'st the offenders, hut
rather inspire you a caution in receiving the evidence
which will he broueht against them. Gentleinen, I shall now
leave their fate in your hands, and I am persuaded that you
will fulfil your duty to God and >our country.
L. Sails, a labourer at Littleport, and servant of Mr. Martin,
was then called, and examined by Mr. Rolland on the pun of
the Crown. On the night of the *jgd of May, about nine or ten
o'clock, the witness saw a snob collected at Littleport. There
were nearly Um p.l'Slllli. R. Jess'sp had an iron crow or poker;
T. South 'had a butcher's cleaver, and Mark Benton a club-
stick. Jessup be gati to break the back door : thee, 55 ere
several round him at the time. Witutess went to hint anti said,
here is ; ‘vltAt tin you want to do mischief for replied,
lie would not stop for money, for Martin he would has e. He
could not break the door, and went away and broke the win-
dow: he broke ell the frame out: there were no simmers.
Witness theft saw four or live get in, but did not see Jessup
enter, nor hear them say any thing as they got in. The mob
made a hallooing, and T. Senth chopped the front door with a
cleaver. He only chopped it twice; young J. Dennis pulled
him assAy. Witness saw four of the prisoners in the house.
[The statement of Mr. Gurney's ST•I3 fully made out by a.
number of witnesses. At length]
H. Mart:sl was examined.—Witness is a firmer at Littleport.
He lives with Mrs. Waddelow, who is his grandmother. Saw
the mob first come out of the public-horse about eight o'cloek.
He left them a little down the town, having first offered ds. a
day increase of wage:, and to sell the flour at 21.6 d. a stone,
or less, Vale Maeistratee should think it ought to he done. He
understood, from what he bad heard, it was for that they were
rioting: he heard such thite;s had been lout in other parts of
the country. It was his grandmother's own house. lie went
to the door with M. in his baud : the mob wore then coming up
the street. They were ton yards from him: he went away
b !fore they carne, in consequence of being alarmed. Did not
see them again that night.
A conference here took place among the Judges; when Mr.
Justice Abbott told the Jury, that there was a mistake in the
framing of this indietment, which would lead to the acquittal
of all the prisoners, a. far as their lives were concerned, in con-
sequence of the description of the property given by the last
witness ; and though it was open for the Counsel for the Crown
to prose ed fur the minor felony, he understood from them that
they would not pleas it, and therefore nil the prisoners must be
acquitted. —The Jury accordingly returned.a verdict of—Not
Guilty.

A. R. Jessop, Joseph Easey, T. South the younger,
M. Be nton, W. Dunn, and F. Torrington, were then indicted
for having, on the night of the of May last, burelationsly
broken open and entered the dwelling-house of J. Dewer, in
the town of l.ittleport, and for having stolen and carried away
therefrom 100 guineas in gold, and divers articles of furniture
and wearing apparel; and with having assaulted and put in
bodily tear the said 3. Dewey, ia his dwelling-house, taking
front his person a I I. Mtnker's caslenote.
Mr. Gurney, having described the case on the part of the
Crown, proceeded to call the following s itnesses :
J. Dewey (101,0•Vd, that he was a retired farmer, residing at
Littleport : that he was 63 years of age, and that his wife was
upwards of i'tt. lie saw the mob on tine 2Yei approach his house
about eight o'clock in the evening. They were armed with
bludgeons' but he saw no guns. Their conduct was extremely
riotous and violent. Cites ill was the first who demanded
money ; and on the mob breaking in, he exclaimed, " Go it !"
Joseph Ease,. and R. Jessup assaulted and knocked down both
hint and his wife, uttering various imprecations. A but eau
WWI broken open, and heafterwards missed from it two bags,
containing itt3 guineas. The drawers were thrown about
the floor, and Dann was seen with a htuvilo of linen, which,
however, he restored to Mrs. Dewey. lie could not say that
he himself saw either Dann or Torrington in the horse.
Martha Dewey, the grand•dattgliter attic last witness, stated
that she was at his house ou the night in question, and saw Tor-
rington in the bruise.

T. Dewey saw a mob proceeding from the house (ICJ. Dewey
about hall-past eight o'clock, and heard one among them
" We have cot the money." It was so dark as to pre-
vent his distinguishing the faces of individuals.
Mr. Justice Burrough observed, that there was no sufficient
evidence to prove that Torrington had been guilty of any of-
fence. The charge of burglary laid in the indictment could
not be sustained, because it did not appear to have been dark
when the breaking was effected ; but by the course of law the
prisoners might he convicted of a capital felony in stealing
front dwelling-house. The evidence not being decisive with
respect to Torrington and Dann, the Jury would probably
deem them entitled to an acquittal ; hut he must leave to their
consideration whether any reasonable doubt could be enter-
tained as to the guilt of the other prisoners.
The Jury, in five minutes, gave a verdict of Guilty against
Clwyd!, Easey, Jessup, South, and Renton; and acquitted
t)ann an:l Tot ringtrm who are detained to take their trial upon
other indictinents.—The Court adjourned at five o'clock.
WEDNESOAY. Jt. 19.—The Court re-assembled at nine
o'clock: when T. Smith, W. Dann, and R. Crabbe were indict-
ed for forcibly entering and feloniously stealing from the house
of R. Speeehly, yeoneau, of Lattleport, sundry articles of wrar-
iug apparel, plate, linen, china, and glasi, his property.
The Jury found all the prisoners Guilty.
3. Warner, J. Stibhard, 1. Harley, J. Newell, and W. Go-
tobed, who is not in custody, were indicted for forcibly enter-
ing the houac of the Rev. J. Vaebell, putting him in bodily
fear, and taking from his person two 11. notes, his property.
Mr. Gurney described this ease to equal, it it did not exceed
in violence and atrocity, the circumstances of those which had
already engaged the consideration of the Jury. Mr. Vaelvll,
with his wife and daughter, were obliged, in order to save
their lives, to escape front their own home at midnight, and
leave their house a scene of pillage and destruction. In the
perpetration of these enormities he should prose the prisoners
to have been eminently active. •
The Rev. J. Vachell deposed, that he first observed the
molt assembling shoot nine o'clock at night, and went out with
a view of persnading them to disperse. They complained of
the lowness of wages, and his endeavours to repress the tumult
were ineffectual. e returned home, considering that his
family were in danger, and ordered the doors to be fastened
About eleven o'clock lie heard a great noise and rapping at his
door. He directed his servant to unlock it, and he asked them
what they wanted. The.r number et this time did not exceed
right or ten, but it soon multiplied till it became a great crowd.
The prisoner Harley said they wanted liftmen and they must

144

have it. He gave them two 11. notes, with which they were
not satisfied; some saying, " two newels will be of no use to
; we mnst have ten." Witness desired, if the 21. were of
no use to them, that they should return them to him, which,
however, they refused to do. He told them that he had not
got 101., when the pressure beeame so violent upon him that
he was obliged to eive way, and the mob entered his house.
Newell was the man who received tlw notes from him.
C. Crabbe proved that Newell was amine the mob who em.
tered the house of Mr. Vaehell, and confirmed all the material
points of his evidence as they affected Harley and Newell,
whom the Jury found guilty ; but acquitted Warner and
Stibletril. •
J. Dennis, F. Hopkins, J. Cammell, J. Jefferson, and R.
Rutter, were put to the bar, and indicted for stealing from the
dwelling himse of It. Edwards, in the city of Ely, the sum of
301. in Baukers' cash notes, the property of the said R. Ed.
ward-.
Mr. Gurney requested the serious attention of the Jury to
this very important ca-c. They could not fail to see that this
clearer ins olved very important and delicate considerations;
nud if the facts upoo which it tested should be made out in
evideucc to their satisfaction, it must become their painful
duty to consign the prisoners to the justice of their country.
Mareal et Itiekwood said her husband was a miler, resident
in the to•.rn of E!v. She saw the inith at her door between
eight and nine ieclirek on the morning of the 43(1. Dennis was
among eight or Mite tither.. who mune into the house. He lied
a gun in iris hand, which she was positive had a leek to it ;
others carried stable-forks and Wittig, ens. They asked for her
husband, who was not at house. Sue told them she did not
know where he eels, and inquired what was their wish. Some.
body replied, they must have aol. or the hou-e and mill would
collie down immediately. She said, " Sty good mat, you shall
have it ; but don't break or destroy any thine." She desired
her son to go to Mr. Edwards's, and get eel, from his bank im-
mediately. Before his return, Denuis said, he voted not quell
the mob the money was not forthcoming, and she then heard
two or three of the, windows crack on the outside. She ex.
claimed, •' tiros shall have the money, fur I see I am going to
ruin." She west up (Irmo' .treet %jib titian to the bank, but'
steeple the mob deunolisltieg her Wii/(11)W,, said she would go no
further, unless they were restrained from doing further mis.
chief. Some then brought them a way, saying, " Come along;
we are ettitte for the money." On her ,v,ty she met Mr. Ed-
wurds, to whom slic coinimmicated her impose. He desired
her to take his atilt, and said, if there were a thousand of them,
they should net have a pettily. She begged bite to let thees
have the money, as it was impossible to pacify them °three ise
when a person whom she del not know, sernek Mr. Edwards
en the head, and the blood followed. Mr. Edwards afterward*
observed, that if the intone must he paid, they were to send
three persons into the home to rereive it; and the three whe
went were, Dennis, Hopkins, and Sanderson, who is not In
custody.
It. 1•`
.dw'ards stated, that he was Chief Constable of Ely, at:4
agent there for Jlessrs• Morilock and Son, bankers, at Cam•
bridge. The trio:, arrived at Edy between five and six o'clock
in the moratine of the :led. Their numbers might :lament to
about 'sue, and they came from Littleport toad. Most of theta
o ere armed either with guns, bludgt ens, or stable-forks. They
brought with them a waggish drawn by two horses, and
'minuted with large fowlers 21111 S, which projected forward
d commanded the street. 'l•itey wet e assembled ill the
market.place, when the younger Rick wood c: me to hint with
the message from his mother, He took his staff, and proceeded
towards the house. Having met them, he asked what antherity
they bad to demand 501. This question was answered by a
general cry of " We will base it," and he was immediately
stritek on the head by sonic person with a bludgeon. Fiaditue
himself likely to he assailed by others, be went back, and the
mob followed him, shouting all the way. Ile placed his back
against the door of his house, resolved at that time they should
not enter, and desired his family to remain within. They drew
round him, and lie received a second blow, when, conceiving
himself to he in imminent danger of his life, he thonght it ne-
ee'ss:u•v to submit, and he desired that three of them would
COOte in amid receive the money for the rest. Dennis exclaimed,
" I'll pm fur Littleport." He considered, however, that Denuie
was of service to hen in preventing the mob from doing him
any iujury, and Ile observed, in general, that he made great
exertions to restrain them. One vete, turbulent person in
particular was repressed by him front the commission of mis-
chief. He heard the prisoner Hopkins say he would take for
Downhaut, amid Sauderson for Ely. They came,into his shop,
when he told them that they had made a very improper de-
mand, and before he gave them the money, he must have their
names. There was a fourth person present, and Dienes men-
tioned the name either of Wilson or Burridge, but not his own.
He then gave to each of the three le 11. notes, and 13.4., and
holding the remaining one shilling in his laud, lie asked who
was to receive that. They said it must be equally divided,
and he accordingly gave them each a groat iu copeer. The
mob then quitted the place peaceably. He gave the money
not only at the express desire of Mrs. Kirkwood, but from tear
for his own person mid property. Ile was agent for Messrs.
Mortloek to whom he was responsible.
The Rev. U. Miller observed the prisoner Js fferson very
active among the rioters at Mr. Edwards's home, and crying
"Go it; Go it." 'file mob, af►t'r receiving the money, at
which the witnesa was present, wont away in differcut threes
thins.

J. N. Rainer is a draper at Ely, and was present at Edwards'
house, and saw him struck by the prisoner Jefferson. Ifis
like% ise saw Cainwell in the crowd. Dennis went in came out
of the Louse peaceably. Dennis and Cammell come to his shop
about 12 o'clock and bought riband, which Dennis paid for,
and v..11.eh each of them put in his hat.
The Rev. Mr. Law, a Magistrate of Fir, saw Jefferson and
Rutter among the mob. He entreated flutter to go home,
which he recnset, to do, and said he might as well be hanged
as starve. They might, it they pleased, bang him up on the
neat thorn-bush.

........
At:try Howe was in the service of the pri.oner Dennis. St.°
recollected the mob coming to her ma-le Y., house oit the toaht
of the 2.2 41, and asking fur bullets. 'they came ai cied three
times, and said Der Ms must go with them. On her cross-ex-
amination, she said her master was in hot when the y raw,
and that he went with them reluctantly. 'they said thy
would shoot him iehe did not go.

. -
J. Martin, publican, of Ely, deposed, that Hopkins and tit e
others came to his house about woe o'clock and divided money
among them.

The prisoner Denni4,,in his defence, gave a recital of the
cireutnatances in the evidence, for the purpose uf that
he had acted ninlrr constraint.

Mr. Iliint submitted, that the capital part of the.eharge
could nut be maintained, as no legal propeity had be en proved
to ve7it in Edward.. The Court reserved the objection, but
considered in the menu tittle that the case ought to be sU
mitted to the Jury.

155

The other prisoners denied that they had concurred with
the mob iu ileitiandine 111011 i v.
Several witnesses then stave the prisoners a good character.
Mr. Justice Abbot rerapitulats d the evisleure to the Jury,
and observed, that if they shouts, he of opinion that Mr. Ed-
%%aide was induced to part %still tile money from the violent-I
actually used towards Into, and from the fear of greater in '
levee, it was not mat. red weenier it was the money of beck-
wouil, or of the hankere, or 01 Edwards; he uses the isiel4lll 111
110-,SESSIOII of the property, and in point of lay% the prisaner,
could not hay it was his property, but that of :moths r. The in-
dietment,however, was so framed us to inert the vase in es ery
view. Dennis, in hie sletimee. had /mid, that he was not a free
mill voluntary agent, but took part vs ialt the umli for fear of
violence; hut it was incumbent 1111 a person to eliiiw most
(Wetly and satistetemeily, not merely that he was in the miteet
foreeti to Min all mileefial aesembly, hut that he rentiiitted in
it only so long as that force taus upon him. 'Lesley voted jntl
fr the evidence, whether the psi,oner had nettle out il e;I:•e
of that nature. Some person, Ilettl ~tiveTt them a good charac
ter; but as lie hail already observed, where facts were clearly
prOVed, character mild not avail.
'rue Jury deliberated for some time, and then returned the
following verdict. leensiis,Jeffers ttttt soot Ito tter Guilty ; Hop-
kins and Cantwell Not Guilty.
TFIIItSDA if, JUNE _9.—William Atkin, Jelin Dennis, Sarah
Holthe, Rickard Jessopp, John Jetteropti, .liarno Layton, John
l'cieke, and John Cooper, were found guilty of riot and rob-
bery its the dwelling-house, of % Cs esper, of tete. joie) Fete..
mail was acquitted.—Four of tlw above prisoners were again
tried with W. Welker and limes Ceinaiell, tot robbing Mr. G.
Stevens, of Ely, miller, and all found guilt), except Jefferson
and Walker.—Aaron Clievell and William lit'italibS the elder,
were arraigned for rubbing Henry l'eneley, of Littleport, Esq.
'fine Jury found Aaron Cheyell guilty, and Win. Ileamiss not
guilty.
FRIDAY, Ju YE 21.-3. leasey. J. Walker, C. Crowe, R. Nicholas,
w, eselexesei, W. Wibon, and R. Butcher, were placed at the bar.
and arraigned for having, on the night of the tad of Nifty List, in the
parish of bitdepurt, feloniously . to en various articles of grocery and
drapery, together with three promissory notes of the wane of one
pound each, from the dwelling-house ut Rebecca Waddelow, and by
causing fear in the said Itebecca Waddelow and others.
'l'o this intlictinesit the prisoners pleaded Not Guilty.
Mr. Gurney. as leading counsel for the proaccution, addressed the
Jury for the purpow of reminding them, that the prisoners were the
same persons who had been put upon their trial on Tuesday. as eharged
with having committed the crime of burglary, and in whose Etyma a
\ et tlict of acquittal had been necessarily given; in consequence of an
error in the frame of the indicuneut, which described the house in ques-
tion to be the property of Rebecca Waddelow; whereas it appeared by
Mr. Martin's evidence, that it was the joint property of her and Mr.
Martin. It was the same case to which he had now to direct their
attention, but presented in a new form, and to prevent any possibility
of mistake, three different counts were introduced, charging it to be
the property of Mr. Martin. of Mrs. Warldsliw„ and the joint property
of both. In the charge as originally framed, other person. 4 were in.
eluded in the offence: but as they had been convicted of otitis capital
crimes. it had been deemed advisable to disembarrass the present pro-
secution as far as they were concerned.
The witnesses were then examined, and the cause occupied a great
portion of the day; but as the evidence varied little from what was
given on the fanner trial, it is unnecessary to lead our readers into a
minute detail of it.
The Jury. after five minutes consideration, found a verdict of guilty
against Eeeey, Walker, Butcher, and Crowe, and acquitted Nicholas,
Wilson, and Jefl'erson.
Henry Benson, a considerable farmer, who was out upon bail. was
then put to the bar, and indicted for exciting and instigating divers
persons to commit riots in the town of Ely. The court ordered him
to find surety, himself in 40OL and two others in 2001. each, to appear
and take Menial at the next assizes.
B. (oopst the elder, and R. Cooper the younger, were also bound
in to appear at the next assizes, and take their trial for
riotous ends rit in the town of Ely.
W. helltail the elder, and W. Beamiu the younger, were convicted
of hping, on Wednesday, the 42cl day of May last, feloniously as-
stoked 8.. Chceacright the younger, of Littleport in the Isle of Ely.
and pot him in bodily fear; and of having taken from his person a
banker's cash note of the value of IL
After this, from to to 30 prisoners were severally put to the bar, and
indicted for having committed various felonies and misdemeanours at
Littleport, on the fed, 23d, and 24th of Mny last. Some of them were
snowed to traverse till the next assizes; and the remainder having sig-
nified their wish to be tried immediately.
Mr. Gurney rose, and addressed the Court as follows t—
o. My Lords—My learned friends and myself have had imposed on
ns a very painful, but at the same time a very important duty—that of
presenting to your consideration those lamentable cases of outrage and
plunder which have occupied your attention for several days past. Of
the prisoners now at the bar. many are charged with inisdemeaneuee,
some of them with larcenies, and two with committing assaults with
intent to rob. In the course of these transactions, there were not fewer
than three hundred persons engaged : about ' sty were committed
for trial ; and in every case that has yet ap the commitment of
a
the magic' -sues has been confirmed by the coding of the grand jury.—
It has been the anxious wish of his Majesty's government not to tall
for judgment in more cases than were necessary ; and we have been in-
vested with a discretion to pause when a sufficient number of cases had
been brought before the Court. We have been anxiously looking to
the limits of this power; and we trust that, in pausing here, we have
wit been inattentive to the public welfare on the one side, or to the
ci tints of humanity on the other. As to the prisoners now at the bar,
we are desirous that every one of them should he enlarged, on giving a
small seearity for their appearance here on a future day; wishing them,
however, to understand, that if they make a proper return to the lenity
of the crown. they will not be called upon to answer for the offences
with which they now stand charged. Enough, we hope, has been done
to teach the inhabitants of this isle thc necessity of obedience to the
laws, sad of r %pea for the peace and property of their neighbours.
They will find, that if unlawful assiemblies shnuld ever again spring up,
it will be as much three interest as it is their duty to associate and put
them down, as patience and indulgence only encourage greater ennies.
I hope. too, enough has been dour to teach those who may be inesuced
to mix with a mob meaning oidy the violation of the peace, the danger
of been,: led on to the commesion of the blackest crimes, which DMA
inevita,,iy bring them to destruction. I have only fa sther to remark,
thee 1 'seise we seen not have to repent the lenity, which the crown
has ludionzed us to show to the misguided men who now stand at the

bar."
Mr—Justice Abbot then addressed the prisoners as fallows
Prisoners st the bar—The ]carnal gentlemen who have nppeared
here on the behrlf of the public, to conduct the prosecution against the
very avincrous offenders who were brought for justice here. have, in the
exercise (if tlieir ditearetion, given you the oppforninity of returning to so
csety, without being subject to take your trial for the bills winch have
been fraud against you, on your own security, and the security of such
friends as you may find, to appear here at a future time; accompanied
with an arownsnee to you, :hat if you shall conduct yourselves quietly,
soberly, and peaceably, you shall never again be called upon. I trust
the very great lenity which tl ey have displayed on this occasion will
have its due iffiest upon your minds; and that, on your return to your
houses, you will not only conduct yonrsclets quietly, but warn your
Mends and n,ightiours to behave in like manner. The propriety of
the ilisaction winch 'tuts ir in exercised will never be calk d m qtr.:Kevin,
unless you abuse the mercy which has been extended to yon. The
court trusts that it will operate on your (,tire livas, and that you will
'mon'', 'on of fresh crimes, than
not be the his restrained from the
you would have been if ycu had Inen brought to some punishment. I
now bulks you to depart. YOU will have your friends hen: to-morrow