The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-13 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM,-(MONDAY).

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
TWELVE O'CLOCK, P.M.
Of the three men placed upon their trial, all who heard
or read the evidence against them would at once come to
the conclusion, that if any were to suffer the prisoner
Howell ought to be the victim. The evidence against
Roberts, who is a man of unblemished character, as also
against the prisoner Jones rests but on slight foundation.
And it is monstrous to think of sacrificing the lives of at
least two men, for the folly or madness committed in a
moment of excitement. But it can be clearly proved that
Roberts was, as he stated on his trial, totally innocent of
any participation in the offence for which he has been con-
demned to die, that, as he himself declared on his
trial, he never took part in the transactions charged
against him, and that he would have been able to estab-
lish an alibi in his favour, had he had the means of bring-
ing witnesses to Warwick in his behalf. As for Howell, the
evidence of whose guilt seemed conclusive, still stronger
proofs of his entire innocence of any participation in the
riots and incendiarism of the night of the 15th, have been
brought to light, and will be, by the time this reaches you,
in the hands of the Secretary of State. On his trial
he had not a single witness to speak in his favour, but at
the same time he strongly protested his innocence.
Of the different persons, who swore to Howe! as being the
ringleader of the mob, and one who was rendered more re-
markable by using a crutch, and having only one leg, only one
of these spoke of the features of the prisoner, all the others
having no doubt satisfied themselves as to his identity with
the person whom they had seen leading on the mob. A
strong colour was given to this presumption of guilt, from
Howell having been taken next morning in a state of in-
toxication, with a dangerous weapon in his possession.
There is not the slightest doubt that the ringleader of the
mob was a man with one leg, of somewhat the same age as
the prisoner, but stouter built. He was seen brandishing
a thick stick, or bludgeon, and calling out to the people,
"Come on my lads." Hundreds of persons saw
this remarkable leader of the rioters, who was
described next morning and during the night as "the man
with the wooden leg," and one of the witnesses who ap-
peared before the Magistrates on the examination that took
place at the Public Office, described the ringleader as
having " a wooden leg." Howell, as I before said, has
not yet got even a wooden substitute for the loss of his
limb, and having been observed on the morning succeeding
the disturbrnces in a stale of intoxication, and with a dan-
gerous weapon in his possession, he was at once laid hold
of as being the leader of the mob. The exertions,
however, which have been made within the last
few days by a few benevolent gentlemen in the town,
have succeeded in discovering a chain of evidence almost
irresistible as regards the guiltlessness of the unhappy
man. This evidence I shall not now go over ; I shall pro-
bably he able to forward it to you in detail, for your paper
of to-morrow morning.
Petitions are still in course of signature in favour of the
unfortunate men, as circumstances unravel themselves
tending to prove their innocence, a painful degree of in-
terest seems to be excited. This evening the inhabitants
of St. Thomas's Ward met, when a memorial to the Queen
was agreed to, praying that the Royal prerogative of
mercy might be extended in the case of the unfortunate
men. The other wards of the borough will meet in the
course of the week, and the current of the public feeling
and sympathy has never been more unequivocally evinced
than in the case of the prisoners now lying under sentence
of death at Warwick.
The town is perfectly tranquil, and there is every pro-
bability that it will continue so.

CHARTIST MOVEMENTS AT

NOTTINGHAM.

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
NOTTINGHAM, MONDAY, SIX O'CLOCK P.M.

The sacred three days' holiday commenced here this day,
under auspices not the most favourable to those who had
espoused it. Yesterday (Sunday) a number of the Char-
tists proceeded to Church to hear Divine service, and in the
afternoon and evening were addressed by Mr. Woodhouse,
the Nottingham Delegate to the National Convention, in
the Forest. During this forenoon large parties of them
paraded the streets, and about two o'clock crowds of people
had collected in tho Marhot-placep ccemingly alscorbccl ;1
earnest conversation. At half-past two, the Magistrates,
who h.ul been citti.xer P.li,e-offiCe most of the day,
issued a bill prohibiting the meeting. Three o'clock came
and no appearance of any speakers, and then forming them-
selves into a procession of fours and fives, linked arm in
arm, they proceeded to the Forest, about a mile from the
town. Here from 6,000 to 10,000 persons assembled, and
one of them, named Barber, having told them that they
had met to discuss their rights and wrongs, a hymn was
sung and prayer offered, and then Mr. Woodhouse pro-
ceeded to address the meeting. He had proceeded but a
short time when a cry was raised that the Magistrates
were coming, and immediately a rush was made to get
away by great numbers. Just on the outside, riding down
the hill, came Thomas Nixon, Esq., a County Magistrate,
with Mr. Satchell, the Magistrates' Clerk, and immediately
cries of silence were raised by several, which were followed
by a most tremendous yell, and waving of hats, clapping
of hands, and other noises to frighten the horses
which were very high spirited. Mr. Nixon rang-
ing up against the crowd was surrounded directly,
and taking a card out of his pocket he proceeded
to read the Riot Act, and disperse the meeting ; but the
yells again commenced, and the horses reared and plunged
dreadfully. Mr. Nixon, however, stood his ground firmly,
and again tried to read aloud, but a shower of stones
obliged him to proceed to a little distance. He again re-
turned, but being struck with !parry large stones, as well
as Mr. Rugely, he wheeled his horse round, and galloped
off to the barracks to fetch the military. An immediate
adjournment took place till the next day, but hundreds
stared to see the upshot. In ten minutes afterwards the
Mayor of Nottingham, and other Magistrates came upon the
ground. Ten minutes more elapsed, and a report was
spread that the Dragoons were coming; it proved correct,
for almost directly Sir Charles Napier and Sir Charles
O'Donnell, the two Generals of the district, the former
with Aides-de-Camp, and accompanied by Sir Maxwell
Wallace, the Colonel of the sth Dragoons, Captain Sulli.
van, of the Rifles, and Mr. Nixon and Mr. Satchell,
appeared and joined the town Magistrates. About a hun.
dred yards behind them were formed two troops of Dra-
goons, and two companies of Riflemen, ready to act. The
people, however, quickly dispersed, and the military re-
turned to their barracks. Two men, named Thomas
Wright and James Shiel were apprehended for throwing
stones at the Mayor, and escorted to the Nottingham Po-
lice Office by the Riflemen, where the Magistrates were
sitting. The Magistrates remanded them till twelve
o'clock the next day. Wright was taken to the county
gaol, and will be brought up on Wednesday.
Eight o'clock.—The people are standing in the streets
in earnest conversation. A troop of dragoons has just
gone through the town parading. Great alarm prevails,
and threats are held out against many persons.

THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY.)

CITY FISH MARKET.

There were good supplies to-day of all kinds of Fish, and
prices were steady. Turbot, ss. to 10s., 153. and 18s. Good
Salmon might have been bought at Is. per lb. ; Christchurch,
2s. 6d. Soles, 6d. to 3s. per pair. Lobsters, 9d. to 2s. 6d. each,
and much cheaper. Cod, Is. to ss. and 7s. each. Whiting,
3d. to 6d. each, and Haddock, 6d. to Is. each.