The Sun.
London, England, 1830-12-22 00:00:00

SPECIAL COMMISSION.

WINCHESTER, TUESDAY, DEC. 21.

The business of the Commission was resumed this morn-
ing. Mr. Baron VAUGHAN and Mr. Justice ALDICRSON
presided in the Court, where all die Judges sat yesterday.
The Duke of Wellington took his scat on the bench at the
same time with the Judges. •

James Thomas Cooper, agtd 33 ; john fulford,
50; Charles Reid, 34 ; Aaron Deadman, 22 ; J. Phil-
pot, aged 22 ; George Philpnt, aged 16 ; C. Shepherd, 35;
John Kircher, 35 ; and William Newman, 22, were
put to the bar, charged with having, on the 23t1 of
November, at Fordingbridge, in this county, riotously and
tumultuously assembled, and feloniously destroyed certain
machinery, the property of William Shepherd. There
were other counts fur beginning to demolish and destroy,
and also counts for beginning to destroy the building.
They all pleaded Not Guilty.

It will be recollected that the three first prisoners were
capitally convicted yesterd4y ; the two last prisoners on
this list were tried yesterday, but were acquitted.
The appearance of Cooper to-day was much less firm
and confident than yesterday, but he was still quite cool
and collected. The conduct of the other prisoners was
mild and at'entive to what was going on.

The ATTORNEY•GENERAL observed, that it would ap-
peer that this violent mob seemed to have been assembled
for the purpose of destroying machinery wherever they
could find it. After pointing out the ruinous effects of
this determination to rich proprietors as well as to poor
workmen, the Learned Gentleman called the attention of
the jury to the evidence which would be offered as to the
guilt of one of the prisoners (James Thomas Cooper), who
it would be proved, did not belong to this county, but
who, when he came into it, was found, either by his own
appointment, or the choice of others (it could not he
proved which) at the head of a desperate assembly of per-
sons who seemed associated for the worst of purposes. It
would appear that the account which this prisoner gave of
himself was untrue. negated that he had come from 20
miles above London, as he termed it, and that those who
were with him were men of Kent, the most desperate that
were out. This man no doubt calculated to excite many
unthinking persons to join him, and to induce the evil-die-
petted to act with greater confidence under his orders. As
to this man, he thought there could not lie a doubt that he
had taken a most active part in the direction of those violent
outrages. With respect to the other prisoners, evidence
would be offered to show the part each of them took. On
the subject of the number committed, he must observe that
such was the great press of business on very many of the
magistrates, and such the state of excitement in the coun-
try, that commitments were made out for several, on the
fact of their having been found with the mob. It would
be for the jury to say, how far the evidence would be suffi-
cient to prove a guilty participation in the proceedings of
those riotous mobs. A selection for prosecution had been
made of those who were considered most guilty.
After evidence had he en adduced, the Jury found
James Thomas Cooper, A. lleadmin, George Philpot,
Charles Read, and William Newman, Guilty ; and Kim-
her, Fulford, John Philpot, and Charles Shepherd, Not
Guilty.
CharlesShtpherd (who bad been just acquitted on the
last trial), Geo. Webb, John Weeks, John Newman,
John Slade, and Henry Eldridge, who was convicted
yesterday, were indicted for feloniously and by threats,
demanding money from Eyre Coote, Esq., of Westpark-
house, in this county, with intent to steal it. There were
other counts in the indictment, for demanding it by force,
and also for an assault, with intent to rob, on the night of
the 23d of November.
The ATTORNEY.GENERAL stated the case.
James Woodrow, gainekeeper to Mr. Coete, on the
night in question was in the village of Rockburn. There
were iron gates to the lodge. He bad seen a fire in or
near the village before he came down, and on his way down
he heard a violent noise like that of hammering at the
gates. When he came down they were broken. He heard
several persons coining in, and he and those with him hid
under the wall of the lodge. He heard several voices say,
"We will go up to Westpark." One of the persons (of
those who had come up from the village) cried out,
" Will, come oe." Witness went up and told Mr. Coote
what had happened, and Mr. Coote and his servants, to the
number of about ten, ranged themselves is line under the
portico. We heard the mob coming very close to the por-
tico; they seemed to be a body of 40 or more. They were
hallooing and shouting,and one of them said, "Keep up your
irons." Could not say whether it was 'Token by one or more,
but it was loud enough for all those present to hear at
the time. I saw, directly after (continued the witness),
the body of men coining up to the portico. One of them
appeared to ate to take the lead,..and advanced before the
rest. It appeared to me that he was about to catch or
strike at some person in the portico. I jumped on him,
and seized him. That man is the prisoner, Charles Shep-
herd. I could not say whether he had any thing in his
hand. There was then a scuffle between them and Mr.
Coote's party. Nine of the snob were takes, arid laid
down on the ground, for we were afraid that others would
come up. The prisoner, John Slade, was one of those
taken. I remember him, for he said to me, when on the
ground, " 1 8611 mind you." I understood by that he
meant to do me some harm. I cannot speak with certainty
to any other of the prisoners.
Other evidence was brought forward, after which
Mr. Baron VAUGHAN stated the chief points, and the
Jury found all the prisoners guilty.
They were immediately called up for judgment (with
the exception of Henry Eldridge, already convicted of a
capital felony), and his Lordship sentenced the five pri-
soners to transportation for life.

The prisoners heard the sentence in sullen silence.
_ .

Jolrn
.Kinaber (who was tried end acquitted yesterday)
was put to the bar, charged with extorting the sum of
2s. 6d. from Jane Perry, her property. The prisoner
was acquitted._

John .Kimber wits again put to the bar along with J.
T. Cooper, T. Fa!ford, J. Phi!pots, C. Read, and Al.
Deadman, charged with extorting, by threats and vio-
lence, the sum of 1/. 31. 6d. front Thomas Hicks, on the
23d of November.

This case arose also out of the Fordingbridge riots. The
prisoners came along with the mob that destroyed Mr.
Shepherd's machinery. The prisoner Cooper came up to
witness, and said we must have the money. Witness
asked how much, and he said two sovereigns, but three
will be better. Witness said, if they must have it they
must, and he counted out the auto named. lie gave it
because he was in bodily fear. The other prisoners took
no part in the transaction.
The Jury found Cooper guilty, and acquitted the others.
William Webb and William Arney (who were tried
and acquitted yesterday), were put to the bar charged with
breaking and destroying a thrashinpmechine, the pro.
perty of Joaiah Gerard..—Guilty.
Mr. Baron VAVORA)e said the sentence of the Court
was, that each Of 'the prisonere should be transported for
the term of seven years. The prisoner Webb was then given
in charge, on two successive indictments for robbery, on
neither of which the Crown offered any evidence, and ou
these he was acquitted.
liimber (who had been acquitted before, on the
ground then stated, and against whom a fresh bill of in-
dictment bad been sent up to the Jury and found, for est..
torting by threats, money, the property of 'John Perry).._
was again put to the bar.

Jane Perry proved that the prisoner and another man,
clme to her husband's house at twelve at night on the 23(1
of November, and said if she did not give them money they
would bring 500 men in. She gave them half-a-crown.
She was afraid, for her husband WAS from home.
Prisoner said he was innocent, but the Jury found him
There was another indictment, fur a similar
offence, against'him. Prisoner is a labouring man, 80
years old.

Mr. Justice JAMES PARKE rat this morning in the Nisi
Prius Court. He took his seat on the bench at nine
o'clock, but in consequence of the absence of several wit-
invitees necessary to substantiate the various indictments, he
was not able to proceed to business until 25 minutes after
ten o'clock.

joseph Mason, aged 81 ; Robert Mason, aged 24
Thomas Berriman, aged 52 ; Joseph Carter, aged 45
James Pearce, aged 40 ; William Wichworth, aged 48
Thomas Baverstoch, aged 19; and haac Hill, the
younger, aged g 6 ; were indicted fur having, on the 19th
of November last, at the parish of East Stratten, feloni-
ously made an assault on one Francis Callender, and put
him in bodily fear, and feloniously stolen from his person
ten pieces of current gold coin of this realm, called sore.
reigns, the ninnies of the said Francis Calendar. The
prisoners pleaded not guilty.
Francis Callender—l am steward to Sir T. Daring, and
live at East Stratton, which is about a quarter of toile
from Sir T. Baring's house. About twelve o'clock in
the morning of the 19th of November, 1 remember about
800 or 900 persons cowing to my house. I did not see
from what direction they came. I first saw them coming
from the road to my house, which is about 8 or I() rods
distant from it. I went out to them, and found them
breaking a thrashing-machine and a bean-mill. After the
machinery was broken, they went to my house. I went
'with them. Whilst I was with them, a demand for 61.
was Made on me by Berryman. Carter was standing by
him, The rest of the mob were stunting around:
I refused in the first instance to give them 61., and',