The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-03-29 00:00:00

7REI.A.v P.

I
._.

ANTRIM ASSIZIES.

9CARSICIPRIMBIJS, WRIDAY, MARCY 17.

At nine o'clock the Hon. Baron AM•CLELLsND
opened the Crown Court, and shortly after ad.
dressed the Grand Jury. The calendar, his Lord.
ship observed, contained the mimes of • great num-
ber or persons, but the crimes were not characterized
by soy striking feutu►ea of enormity, or ruck as
would impose on the Grand Jury etry extraordi-
nary duty in investigating the esidence necessary
fur fiudigog the bills, or dismissing them from trial.
There was one species of dreams, however, which
his Lordship thought it his duty to bring before
the notice of the Grand Jury at this time lie meant
illicit distillation, than which no crime was produc-
tive of worse consequences to the conntry in which
if wee permitted to he practised. -clime within his
Lordship's infcrnsation as a Baron of the Exchequer,
that there was he the first place a great loss to the
revenue by their illicit disinflation ; for, until lately,
one-fourth of the lucent of Ireland arose from the
duty on spirit*.

ssaftelt 19.
Before the Hon. Baron MICLiLLAND.
RIIII9ONMEN.
Henry Magal, Edward IN' Lister, Bernard
Murray, John M'Aulay, John Hamill, and
Likll, were indicted for appearing as ribbonmen,
with mail others, armed, in Ballymena, on 29th
Jane, and also tor • riot and assaulting Soho Boyd
on the mine day.
David Ware—Lives in Ballyscullen ; on the
-morning of the 29th June saw about six or eight
people at Ballyscullen ; none of the persons be saw
that slay are in Court.
James Fullarton—RecollectsCreigbilly fair day
on the 29th Jane ; saw a large party, between
three alai five hundred, walking in procession,
rank aged file, with music; thinks and is sure John
M•Aulay• is the one who played the fife; the party
had swords end bludgeons ; they had an affray
with a Ballymena toms, and in the after part of the
day heard them say, " Come, let us go and clear
iiallytnena ;" saw them go that way, but did not
llhimself; took one of the men litigants., Henry
sgill, in the town of Ahoghill, in • waste-house;
he was at Creigbilly with the party; it was after
the main body had dispersed that a party said, " let
is go and clear Ballymena."
Patrick Davison—Was at the fair of Crsigbilly
on the 29th Jane; saw John M•Aulay with a party
of men giving them music; they were walking
with *woods and staves; supposes there were three
or four hundred ; did not hear any of the party say
what they were; a party of them went to Bally-
mena ; rosiness did nut p with them ; they wore
no particular dress.
William Croker—Was at Ballykennedy on the
evening of the 29th June; was met by a body of
upwards of thirty, who had swords, some spear-
staves. some sticks, and some bayonets; saw Ed-
ward M•Lister at the head, with a stick or a sword,
scud Bernard Murray in the middle of the party,
hut he hid nothing in his hand; witness had on a
red coal, and they shoved him, and paid, " to hell
with his teat." Thomas Moore was a little dis-
tance before witness; Murray said to the party,
that witness and Moore were two orangemen ; the
heads of the party were for saving them, and said,
you have killed two men in the town, would you
kill two more ? They then said they wished they
had killed one hundred of the sort. While the rest
were saving witness, a little fellow pulled some in-.
stroment lite a pike herd out of his pocket, and
wade es •itab at witness, but did not hit him.
Cross-examined.—Was not at the fair, and does
e;ot know what passed at it ; the party cried out
they were the Catholic Boys, and neither Orange.
man or Presbyterian dent oppose them; they were
I,serzieing, but there was no other declaration.
William Hall, was at Craigbilly. in June last ;
saw a party 4.f men, the people called them Bib-
honmen. wetting with swords and staves; saw a
nian riding on a horse with a white frather in his
i,nr, who void he was a Ribboutuati ; did not hear
I. ,m give any orders; a party 'of mete came into
Ballymena, and best John Boyd, opposite the
ahstnbles; knew none of the party, either in the
fair, or in the town of Ballymena.
• (.ions-examined.—Saw John Boyd come out with
a pair of tongs in his apron, and a spade shaft no-
di4 his-arm ; when he weld forward he threw away
the tongs; did nut hear bits say he would fight
ever a.Papist among them ; he came out of his own
st,op.; the party ran at him; did not hear them say
soy thing on either side.
Jervis Ware—Was at Ballymena on the evening
of the 29th June last; saw John Boyd there ; saw
'the Prisoner Hamill there, and M`Lister and Lino;
. Hamill struck Boyd with a stick; they were en-
gaged when witneas saw that. and saw raw blow
gi OH but by Hamill ; there was a consideruble body
of people; they:came from Craighilly fair ; heard
a fife ptsyiiig ; saw Boyd afterwards, lie was very
week:had received severe wounds on the head.
Cross. examined.— Received some blows himself

from behind ; the traversers were before; one Brady
was with witness; the people behind were besting
iirady.;, don't know what men they were; witness
ran to the traversers for assistance, and they re•
turned to assist ; Brady and witness stood still ; did
nut see who struck first; the treverstis were walk.
rog on quietly, when witness ran for them to assist
Brady, as they were neighbow's children.
JAhis Boyd—Lives in lial!yn►ena; is a smith ;
remembers the fair day of Craighilly ; has good
reason to remember it ; slid Hut go there ; had a
reason for not going; was aorking in his non ►hop
on the evening of that day ; left it between five and
sat u'. lock,' as his wife went up to the fair; was
coming down to his own house with • pair of wogs
aid • spade shaft, when Bernard Murray cried,'
yosider's Boyd ; then gave a loud huzza ; witness
throw down the tongs. and then John Ilamill
Week him with * stick: when witness said he
cupid beat any five of them, if they would stand
hack. Some one thurst a spear stick in witness's
nose, and Hen►y Miigill desired the crowd to stand
aside and be would do his job, and then struck
witness with boa stone, add broke three of his 'ibis,
rod snuck him with another on the shoulder; and a
1114/1 then struck witness with a loaded whip, said
tiactu►ed his ikull : be had 14 cuts in the head,
avid was stabbed with a spear in the arm.
Cross•examined—Wits going to return the tongs
le bus lather, from whom tie borrowed them, sad

'to leavellie rp.,de-shaft ; was gettinghis.tva bririre
hr went out ; was !tenants; nails for John Itainey's
horse; saw Ho crowd; did outlay he would ight
any Papist ; saw none of the BaHantines struck ;
raw tie struck before Hamill struck 'ileitis.;
did out Pee K n tic that day at all.
Hugh NPArility—Was in Ballymena the pBth of
Jour last; knows John Boyd; saw him at the
earlier of the shambles, coming from his stop, with
a spade-shaft under (rue arm, and a pair of tongs
in the other; the party were coming in ot the same
time, and Is. and them esti 4M—they were the fib-
bo 1111 l eat, and Wished fur the face of an Orangernau ;
heard a one at the corroser call out, hem was
Boyd, rod turned up to meet him ; he dropped the
tongs, and witness lifted thesis ; Boyd then received
a blow of a stuck, and called out—ye cowardly
rascals 1,1110(1 of', Nod I'll night any one of you
fair ; knows mow of the party; endeavoured to pull
Boyd away, alter he was knocked down, but his
hair was ono short ; the party saw Boyd whets they
turned round.
Cross-croatined—Ballantines are not friends of
witurses ; was about half an hour in the street be.
fore lie saw Boyd ; saw no fightiog; did riot go for-
ward to see the fun; when the peopk agent towards
Boyd, he threw away the tongs and spade shaft ;
saw Kilpatrit k after he was cut, but did not see the
Ballaritiorre balk.

A lexander Walker—Remembers Craigbilly fair-
day; was in Ballymena that day; saw several par-
ties scattered about ; there was a good number or
the purly that beat John Boyd; saw Michael
strike him with a sword. and M•Lister strike him
with • staff; thry brat him down in a very short
time.

Cross-exantiseed.—Was not there any time; came
down slier the snob; saw them heat Hugh Kilpa-
trick. as he towed lo y; was not at the bra gof
Kilpatrick's business; ran after the mob when Kil-
patrick was brat.
Here the evidence for the prosecution closed.
DEFENCE. _

Patrick Brady.—ltToteunbers the fsir-day of
Craigbilly; wire struck while walking with Jervis
Wrir ; Weir was struck also, and ran forward fur
help ; witness was touch beat, and was relieved by
those who c.me to his assistance; does not know
who beat witness ; went off as soon as he could get
out of the town.

Cross-examlited.—Wat. in the fair that day ; had
something between a staff and a rod its his hand ;
had some company ; saw a fifer playing in Craig-
billy ; don't know who played; had no acquaint-
sure with M'Aulay ; did not see Boyd beat ; went
home the Galgorns road.
Bernard Canovan.—Remembers the fair dry ;
was in Ballymena that evening ; there was a crowd
before witness. and opposite Mr. Aickets's ; six or
.even men ran by witness. Saw M`Lister cut and
bleeding, when Ise came into the town; saw a spade
shaft in Boyd's Iwuds, and a pair of tongs; and he
bantered any five or &ix of the rascals to come for-
ward, and he would heat them. Joins Hamill
went up and Boyd struck- at him with the tongs
hrst ; the crowd chased in, and witness could see uu
more of it.

Cross examined.—lles►d a fife in Craigbilly ;
saw no great number of arnis ; supposes there
were about thirty people in the town ; knows none
of them ; did not hear them call themselves by any
name.

Hugh filiConnell.— Remembers the evening of
Craigbilly fair ; saw William Ba'tontine, and his
sons, James and John, strike Weir and Brady ;
saw Boyd shortly after that affair; be had a pair of
tongs, and ti piece of cleft ; heard him cry,
" Come on, buys;" raw him knock down our
man, and then went home as fast as he could.
Daniel 111•llherrau—Ssw Boyd the evening of
Craigbilly fair, with two sticks and a pair of tongs;
saw Mtn about tree tat trs bt lure in the street, used
he had boiling in his hands. Believes lee heard
him say he could beat any one of them ; he threw
away the two sticks, and kept the tools; they came
up and esigaged, but du nut know who struck first.
Cross-examined.—Bo)ll was about two perches
from the crowd ; ww him throw away the sticks;
after they kit him * woman lifted him, and he was
all over with blued.

Charles Molloy—Remembers that evening; NM
Boyd with a pair of twigs, a rake, and a spade.
shalt, and Jack and Btlly Ballatitine along with
him ; Boyd said, 66 Boys, we will have to fight
now, and here's weapons for you ;" and then cried
out, "You pack of cowardly rowels, I could beat
the hest of you ;" then three or four of them came
back, and Boyd struck one of them with the tongs,
and knocked hiot down.

Cross-examined .—W us standing in Mr. Young's
house ; Lloyd struck first ; knows he gut abuse
after.

The Learned Judge, in his charge to the Jury
(which he delivered with even niure than his accus-
tomed energy and eloquence, mill during the delivery
of which he appeared much affected), recapitulated
the evidence with his usual accuracy and attention ;
and during which he took occasion to animadvert
vety severely on the disgraceful acid bbolllllllble
fends which agitate the country ether tlw pretenCe
of a difference in religious op ; and though
the Legislature had made a trifling sliffirence in
wale politica/ points. there was not the slightest dis-
tinction in religious ones. The Protestant, Catho-
lic, sod Presbyterian. were all equal iu the eye of
the law ; and whether the Proiestant, under the
name of an Orangeman. ur the Catholic, as a Rib.
bo 1111 l an. committed a breach of the peace, ur at-
tempted to irritate his neighbour by any allusion to
leis religion, the heavy band of the law should be
dealt in equal measure to each ; and his Lordship
further stated, that armed bodies of any description,
with or without insignia, no matter by what name
they chose to designate theinsielvess, calm abused any
individual of any other party, ou account of is dif-
ference in their religious opinions. were completely
out of the pale of ilie 14w, sod certainly came under
the provisions of the White Boy Act. His Lord-
ship also took a religions view of the distinction of
parties, both proleming themselves to be disciples
of Jesus Chri.t, when. by their conduct towards
each other, they showed the 111seleell completely des.
titute of every iiiii ciple winch rmnauatrd from the
Divine Being. who gave 11.ialDr lo the religion they
all professes) ; and all those who acted upon such
principles were derying their Saviour in tact, and
were of all others the v oral mrinies of the country.
His Lordship concluded his charge, by stating to
the Jury, URI, is hta uptown, there waiaufklei.t

• .
Evidence Were lh4m to p •to both iodielmeoli;'
but. after the exisiseive recapitulation, he did trot
think it necessary to trouble diem wily further ; and
the Jury intsordistely returned • verdict of Utility
upon both indictment*.
His tordohip titres passed sentence on the Pri-
soners—to be each imprisoned twelve months. and
to he'flogged through Ballymena on the first dity
of the ensuing Quarter Sessions.

John Boyd, who was an evidence on the tibove
trial, was, on Saturday evening attacked its Car-
rickfergus, by a number of sniscremint, who Mal-
treated him in a most barbarous suainier. ►Monday
sliert►otn►. Boyd was celled into "Court, and the
Grand Jury being also there, Baron llPClelland
examined him respecting the injuries he received,
and the loss he sustained by the attack which was
made on him on the Seth of June list. His
Lordship then observed, that he could not bring
the recruit attack which had been made on Boyd
under the cognizance of the Grand 'Jury of the
county of Antrim, as it had token place in the
comity of the town of Carrickfergus ; but the
Legislature, when they 4.tiosell the White Boy
Act, hail put it in their poser to make adequate
compensat to the person who had thus been iu-
jured iii person or property ; and to present the
same upon the barony, parish, or townland, as they
might think right Ind proper for the punishment
of those concerned in the illegal outrage; end at
least to allow to such injured individuals the
amount of property destroyed, or, if personally
injured, an annual sum equal to the daily Isbour of
the injured individual. The Gaud Jury, in pur-
suance of his Lordship's directions, on their re-
aring fium the Court, called the unfortunate man,
Boyd, into their room, to make such inquiries as
might enable them to Turn► • judgment respecting
his case, and allowed him, we usiderstenti, the
suns of fun► hundred pounds.—(lrishmun.)

DUBLIN, MARCH 14.

We hear, if outrages continue. that Government
are determined to have an encampment of troops
in the matt central part of the County Clare. It is
said that Sir Edward Paget and Col. Thorntou'a
departure from town is connected with necessary
arrangements for this object.
cLONYYL, MARCIA IL

Benjamin Begwrll, Erq. Colonel of the Tippe-
rary militia, has bees. appointed to the collection of
this' diatrict. in the room of the lade excellent Col.
lector, Mr. Jeplsms. _ _ _

ATBLONB, N ARCO 10.

Lieut.-General Sir Edward Paget arrived here
yesterday, suit is, we understand, invested with the
supreme command of the Western District.
Several large detachments from the 93d and 42d
Highlanders have. within these few days. marched
into this place. where they are to do duty until
further orders.

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