The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-13 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST

hand waving it about over his head. The head of the
hammer mieht weigh about a pound and a half. The
handle was fifteen or sixteen ioches long. He was taking
part with them in everything. O'Hara had a poker; be
seemed to be knocking about in the crowd. I sew him
strike at one man, whom by appearance I suspect was an
Englishman. He was distant about twenty or thirty
yards. rho boys were at the time throwing stones. I
did not at the time see Roger M‘Dernacet or Murphy.
I heard some glass broken when the stones were
thrown; it was in the direcion of the school. The
crowd turned from the school and began to throw stones
again at Dr. Graham's house. They threw at the win-
dows, and whilst throwing they were run down the brow
again. A stick was struck either at the surgery window
or one of the windows of the house. The mob when
run down the brow went to ,vards Carr-green.
The whole body joined then, and returned tewerds the
square. They began to throw stoned at Dr. Graham's
windows again. Again they were driven down the
brow a fourth time. I was carried down the steps
leading to my sister's beck door, and as soon as I could
recover myself I went up the steps again. I then
saw Inspector Walker; he had the prisoner Feeny in
custody. I said to the inspector, " Walker, you have
got one of the ringleaders; you !oust not let him escape."
I assisted in taking him to the p tlice-ofille. I then
went with Inspector Walker in the direetion of Rock-
row. I know the White Hart—it is at the bottom of
Bear-hole brow. I went there with Walker. It was
about a quarter-past eight o'clock. When we get op-
posite the White Hirt we were assailed with stones fro:n
Bear-hole brow. Very many stones were thrown—some
hundred I should think. Tee street was full. It seemed
as if every one took a part. Bear-hole brow is inha-
bited by Irish. Rock-row also is inhabited by Irish. A
man named Walsh lives in the house nearest to Chester-
gate, on the left hand side. After the stones were
thrown, the inspector, myself, and about twenty special
constables charged. Eight or ten of us ran about the
brow. The people then all ran into their houses. We
took the prisoner Roger M`Dermott into custody. I
had seen him previously in Bear-hole brow, throwing
stones at Walker and myself. He was dragged out from
Walsh's house by the collar and thrown on his face in
the street. Some of us constables dragged him out. He
had just run into the house. Ido not recollect seeing
the prisoner Thomas Murphy at any time.
Cross-examined—I was never sworn in as a special
constable, but Mr. Sadler asked me to assist him. Eleven
is the number of the force in Stockport, but at the time
of the riot several of them were at Knutsford. I saw no
constable or magistrate except Inspector Walker in all
the disturbances. I passed through the Hillgate about
half-past five o'clock, as I was going to my sister's, but
there was no crowd of English there. About 30 or 40
of the crowd were boys and 20 were men. I was stand-
ing on my sister's step talking to the man who lived next
door about the rumpus of Monday night, and saying
that nobody was safe in Stockport. I saw two heaters,
three or four pokers, and two soldering irons. I never
saw any placards in Stockport with Down with the
lousy Irish," or " To hell with the Pope," printed on
them or written in chalk on the walls. I have seen, the
words "No Popery." It was a quarter to eight o'clock
when the first stone was thrown at Dr. Graham's
house. Pheency kept shouting, " Come on and
fight." As the Irish ran down the hill, I saw
an Englishman running behind them, and I called to
him to stop or else he would be killed. As he stopped
he was struck by a stone. When I got to the pollee-
office with M`Dermott I stayed to assist the doctor in
attending to the wounded, of whom I should think there
were fifty. I saw the houses of the Irish. Many of
them were sacked. The following morning I went up to
Edgeley Chapel and saw that it was gutted, as well as
the house of Mr. Frith, the priest. About half-past one
I went to the chapel in Park-street, which was in a simi-
lar condition.
Re-examined—After all was over I saw that the win-
dows of St. Peter's School and Dr. Graham's house
were broken. The wounds of the people in the police-
office were chiefly on the back of the head. One of the
constables, named Clark, an Englishman, had a gash in
his face from his eye to his mouth.
Thomas Crirchley examined.—This witness was the
man in the cart who was returning from Manchester
on the 29,h of June, and was obstructed by the mob
of Irish in St. Peter's-square. He proved the facts re-
lating to himself which were stated by the last witness.
John Fan tom examined—l am the manager of Mr.
Whitelegge's cotton factory in Stockport. Oa the 29th
of June last I went ue to the new mill, from which I had
a very good view of St. Peter's-square. Is was between
'even and eight o'clock. The people in the square were
Irish, and they went towards Dr. Graham's house. A
number of English were standing on the opposite
side of the square, by the Temperance Hall. The Irish
threw stones at them, and they retreated towards Duke-
street. I saw some women carrying stones from a grass
plat to the young men who were standing round the wall
of St. Peter's Church and school. I saw a man knocked
down by Dr. Graham's house. I Sall the Irish retreat
down Rack-row, as if for a fresh supply of stones. I saw
no one in pursuit of them. The remainder of his evi-
dence was merely corroborative of Cheethain's.
Betty Thomas examined—l recollect the 29th of June
last. When I went into St. Peter's-square the Irish
were breaking tho windows of a factory next to Mr.
White's shed. I heard them say three times, " Let's
pull the church down." An Irishman ran and said,
" The mob's coming," meaning the English, and the
Irish ran away in different directions.
Mary Horstield examined—l urn the wife of John
Horsfield, and live next to Dr. Graham's house. I saw
the mob come into the square, armed with pokers, stones,
sticks, potato-forks, and sickles. They turned round by
my house into the square, and began throwing stones.
They threw at all who came up opposite my door. I
put up the shutters of my shop and went into the house.
Cross-examined—l can't say how many pokers or
irons there were.
Mrs. Graham examined—A little after five o'clock on
the 29th of June last my husbend left the house. I sat
at the window sewing, and about half past seven I saw
some boys assetnble in Rock-row, but did not think it
serious, as I had often seen them together. They had
sticks and staves in their hands, and seemed to have a
watchword among them. They brandished their sticks
and appeared to have some object. They first threw ate
the school, and then at our house. A very large stone
was flung into the room whore I was sitting, and struck
a chair. Tho servant then closed the shutters as the
mob moved towards the post-office. I sent the servant-
man for his master. Twenty-eight squares of glass wore
broken.
Thomas Pickin examined—l am Dr. Graham's groom.
I was at work in the stable on the 29th of June when I
heard a noise. I looked out and saw women and men
running in all directions. Some were armed with stones,
some with sticks, and I saw one man with a shovel in his
hand, I was sent to High-street to fetch Dr. Graham.
I delivered my message and returned. As I turned into
St. Peter's-square I met the Irish with brick ends. They
did not throw them at me, but stunned me by hammer-
ingaptl
s alt
s t o
ot n them,
me on the head, I had done nothing
Before I was stunned I was cut in two
head, bruised on my right eye, and on my left jaw. I
was kicked as well.
Cross-examined—The young doctor dressed my
wounds, and I attended to the horse the same evening as
soon as I came to myself. For five days a
wI was unable
so
muchto
take anything else besides liquids, my
hurt.
John Roylo examined—l was in St. Peter's-square on
the 29th of July. I saw a number of men kicking Pickin,
and I ran up to his assistance. I saw the prisoner Mar-
phy amongst the mob.
Cross-examined—l am a special constable. I had a
staff, and struck Murphy on the back whilst he was
kicking Pickin. As I was taking him to the police-office
he struck me, and attempted to escape, so I hit him on
the arm.
Charles Garnett corroborated the last witness's evi-
dence with respect to the toss:lilt upon Pickin.
Dr. Graham examined—As I was returning from
visiting a patient in High-street, on the 29th of July,
I saw a crowd of people in the square abusing a man.
I went up, and found it was Pickin. He was bleeding
profusely from two wounds, each about an inch in
length. He complained of great pain in his jaw, and
was unable to open his mouth for several days. After
a little delay, on account of the stones flying, I took
him to my surgery and attended to him. I afterwards
went up into the attic, and saw a regular conflict.
Cross-examined—When I was in High-street, I saw
rather an unusual number of people in the Hillgate,
Whilst I was in the house in High-street, a number of
English people passed up the street towards the square.
About 20 minutes afterwards I was sent for.

Wm. Brown examined—He deposed as to the as-
sault upon Pickle, and said that several stones were
thrown upon him and others from Rock-row.
Cross-examined—l was charged by Mr. Walker to
assist him ; and Mr. Sadler (inspector of police) ap-
pointed me to watch Edgely Chapel all night.
James Swindles identified Roger M‘Dermott as a
man who was throwing stones at Dr. Graham's house
and at the school. M•Dermott caught hold of witness
and said, " Now you English I will give it yon."
Two or three parties came up and released witness from

the prisoner.
Cross-examined—There were about fifty Englishmen.
They were all making a noise. I might have seen two
or three with sticks in their hands. After he laid hold
of me I took hold of him, and struck him across the
fingers with my staff. I had never been a constable be-
fore. As I went out of the court-house I asked for a

staff.
Timothy Bancroft stated that on the night in question
he was knocked down and very much abused by tue Irish

mob in the square.
' Joseph Sadler examined—l am the inspector of police
resident
at Stockport. The police force at Stockport only con-
lists of eleven men. On Tuesday, the 29th of June,
there were seven in Stockport. The remainder were at
' Knutsford and Derby. Mr. Sadler then described the
riot much in the same way as Mr. Cheatham. He stated
outside that after he returned from the square he went to the
Court- house and in consequence of some information ho
gave the military were oalted out. About seven o'clock
the same evening ho had heard from his officers that
procession,
there was a disturbance in the Hillgate. He saw the
procession of Roman Catholic children on the Sundry
previouo, and it was conducted very peacetibly, No
pis
hi es
e,
ea hadnned
y dove.asened
Roman Catholic vestments were
ewnor2nd.
processions of Protestant and Roman Catholic childrena
annually for 15 years. The Protestant children
essistanceof
walked Year. 'there
hada weekbee
no or
badwo beforefeelithefeeling
betweeno ther
the
itshhi s
and
Although
theh
gP Protestants
,otsaunr
proclamationt
fsofro someeis
sma timellto
rb,ee previously,o postedb t
ain
the
I had
ordered s
one
eerwei
twhear edsoevvee,ra3nl
dwaannodtshewri twhiothr oassbeastlrhoeo the court.
was
the
same
Naughton come
the firemen when it is necessary.
William Walker said he appreh d
as that previously
Tuomas Pearson said he saw p • •
out of a home in Rock-row with
gMivaernp.hy. Ilia avidenco
a pike! in his band.