The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-24 00:00:00

INQUIRY INTO THE ALLEGED MISCONDUCT
OF THE POLICE.—(THIS DAY.)
The commissioners took their seats this morning at
half-past 11 o'clock.
The first witness called was Sir Richard Mayne, who
was examined by Mr. Ellice. He stated he was a bar-
rister by profession, and had been Chief Commissioner
of Police for 26 years. He had had experience in every
kind of disturbance that had occurred in the metropolis
during that period. His foundation for the arrange-
ments made on the Ist July was on what occurred on
Sunday, 24th June. That meeting, and the subsequent
ones, had reference to a Sunday Trading Bill, to which
be was opposed. A printed bill was extensively circu•
lated previous to the 24th of June, calling on the public
to meet in Hyde-park and see how the higher classes
observed the Sabbath. From that and other informa-
tion he expected a meeting would take place. He or-
dered one inspector, two sergeants, and thirty men to
be stationed near the Marble-arch, and a few men to be
scattered along by the Serpentine, but not so as to
attract attention, and should any person persist in ad-
dressing the public to remove him as on ordinary occa-
sions. By accident he went into the park about three
o'clock, when he was attracted by the shouting and noise
emanating from near the Serpentine. Ho went there
and heard and saw the people yelling, hooting, beating
their hats with sticks, the effect of which was to frighten
the horses going along the drive. He saw a pair of
horses in a carriage run away. The occupants of the
carriages were in danger. The conduct of the people
produced an impression on his mind that it was highly
discreditable, and of a most shameful character, calculated
not only to cause accident, but lead to a breach of the peace.
One sergeant informed him that the people had said
they would make the people come out of the carriages
or break the windows. He caused a reserve of men to
be sent for. In all 1 superintendant, 6 inspectors, 13
sergeants, and 213 men were in the park and neighbour-
hood in case of a disturbance, and 116 men were in the
park. The effect of the conduct of the people was to
cause equestrians and those in carriages to desist from
riding and driving in the park. The day passed off
without any collision between the people and the
police. A person who was addressing the people
that day was requested by the police to de-
sist, but he declined to do so until he had
consulted two friends. He ultimately desisted ; be-
tween the 24th of June and let of July several printed
bills were posted up in various parts of the metropolis,
callinc, a meeting on the Ist of July, headed, "The Open
Air Fete and Monster Concart," Peaceful Monster
Meeting in Hyde-park every Sunday afternoon, Tyran-
nical Attack on the Liberties of the People," relating to
the Sunday bill, and detailing the proposed penalties for
any infringements of the bill. " Sunday Bill—Lord
Robert Grosvenor says you are not reppectable, &c."
Mr. Mitchell submitted that as these bills did not
refer to any notice of a meeting to be held on a given
day, they ought not to be received as evidence.
Sir Richard Mayne said these were matters which
actuated him with reference to the steps he subsequently
took, believing the placards likely to incite the feelings
of the people.
Mr. Chief Commissioner Wortley thought it material.
Sir Richard Mayne then read a number of other
placards, some of them calling on the people to attend
Lord R. Grosvenor from his residence to church, and to
appear in their Sunday clothes, because Lord R.. Gros-
venor was very particular. (Laughter.) Another was
a Times leader issued as a placard, which he thought so
used tended to excite the people. It did not refer to
the intended meeting.
Mr. Chief Commissioner Wortley said they could not
enter into that. Some papers supported the bill and
others opposed it, consequently it was too wide a field to
enter.

Sir R. Mayne—He desired, on such occasions, the
superintendents to report to hun their opinions, and he
received, on this occasion, reports from all the superm-
tendents, and he accol din on that made arrangements.
Chief Commissioner Wortley said, he thought it would
be sufficient to state the purport of the report in general
terms.

Sir R. Mayne—The report stated that from informa-
tion the superintendents had obtained they had every
reason to believe there would be a large meeting on the
let of July in Hyde-park. He received them on the
Friday previous, and that with the statements
he read in the public papers caused him to
communicate with the Secretary of State, when a notice
thewa Parksiseuedoncatuhteioinsit of july.
ng t hep.eopllt was posted on e against assembling in
Satur-
day afternoon and evening, and on Sunday morning at
all the entrances to the Park. The notice received the
sanction of the legal authorities, and of the Secretary of
State. The notice was read stating the illegality of
such a meeting, and called on well-disposed persons to
abstain from going there.
Chief Commissioner Wortley—When a disturbance is
anticipated, is it not usual to have a royal proclamation?
Sir R. Mayne—No ; he had never known a' Royal
proclamation issued under such circumstances. He
then read the police notice he issued to the body, dated
June 30, 1855. One inspector, 2 sergeants, 20 con-
stables, were to be stationed at half-past 9 at Lord
Robert Grosvenor's residence, and remain until 11
o'clock, and then, if all were right, to return toVine-street
station; petrols, however, to be in the neighbour-
hood of his lordship's house at an earlier hour,
and observe if any persons were likely to as-
semble there or cause a disturbance, and report
immediately to the inspectors if anything occurred. A.
similar precaution was to be observed at 2 o'clock; and
later four superintendents, six inspectors, 24 sergeants,
and 250 men were to be stationed at different places in
Hyde-park, who were instructed to act in accordance
with the printed notice ; and any person addressing, or
attempting to address, the people, shouting, or acting
calculated to create a disturbance or frighten horses, to
dbeescisatu.ti°lnfecni not dteositsitietoebO removed, and, and required to
and, if necessary,
taken into custody and sent to Vine-street Police-sta-
tion. Persons standing at ease or sitting down on the i
grass were to be requested to move about. Reports
were to be forwarded to the Commissioner's office. Su-
perintendent Hughes, in consequence of the absence of
Superintendent May, his senior, had charge of the force
in Hyde-park, and was directed to report to the Com-
missioner every half-hour. Superintendent Hughes
joined the H division in 1830, was promoted sergeant in
1831, inspector in 1836, and superintendent of D division
in 1844. At 2 o'clock he reported all was quiet and but
few persons about ; half-Past 2 o'clock all perfectly quiet,
at present very few persons about and those orderly. 3
o'clock. Since I last reported the number of persons have
increased, and are wending their way to the receiving-
house and waiting about on the grass on the north side
of the Serpentine. All is quiet—no spelkers ; half-past
3 o'clock, there is considerable noise and commotion
near the receiving-house by large numbers of persons
assembling there. A. reserve of fifty men has
been sent for from the garble Arch. 4 o'clock.—Large
numbers of persons are about, and several have been
taken into custody. It has been found necessary to dis-
perse them by force from the railing. No accidents
have yet occurred to horses or carriages. Very few
passed the receiving-house. Half-past 4 o'clock.—The
number of persons do not seem to increase ; occasionally
shouts arise. 12 prisoners have been sent from the re-
ceiving-house. Very few carriages and equestrians pass
the receiving-house. 5 o'clock.—The numbers are not
on the increase near the receiving-house. Six-
teen persons, or more, having been seen sent
away in cabs to Vine-street, has produced
effects. (Laughter.) There is not so much noise as there
was. The numbers in the Park I expect will shortly
greatly diminish, and not require harsh interference.
Half-past 5 o'clock.—The number of persons in the Park
i
much necessity for
the police to actively interfere. 6 o'clock.—The number
of persons in the Park is sensibly diminishing every
quieter iete r than diminishing.
it was.
quarter of an hour: and the police is sufficient for every-