The Sun.
London, England, 1830-12-30 00:00:00

WZDNVIMAT, Dvc. 29.

John Cobb, William 'bare, Thomas Hoare, Henry
Bone, John Newland, Wiliam Bicknell, JOhn Trim•
miss , Benjamin Smith, and Robert _Rennet, were put
to the bar, charged with having, with divers others,
riotously assembled at Selborne, on the 2211 of November,
and there, by threats and violence, compelled the Rev.
William Cobbs,ld, the rector of that parish, to sign a paper
agreeing to reduce his tithes to SW This was a case
arising out of the proceedings of the mob which met at
Se%erns and attacked the workhouse at that place, the
particulars of which have already appeared in our report
of this commission. Most of the prisoners now arraigned
were tried for beginning to pull down the workhouse at
tielbonte, and acquitted. The most unfortunate feature in
the toe was, that though it was for the most part a mob
of peasants, there were Many farmers present, not present
as if forced to join, hut voluntarily looking oa. None of
them, it appeared, offered to interfere for the prosecutor.
The Bev. Mr. Cobhold examined, gave nearly the same'
account of the mob as be did on the Se!borne trial. The
mob. na its way to the workhouse, stopped at his house.
He came out to them and asked what they wanted. Some
of them said, that the' ferment had agreed to raise their
wages, and they (the mob) had undertaken to get a reduc-
tion of tithes. There were many farmers present—about
ten. They took no part in the business but looked on.
One of the mob said, that 800/. a-year was quite enough
for witness, and another said, " Yes, IL a-week is finite
enough." They proposed that he should agree to reduce
his tithes to that sum. Some of the farmers said that he
bad better cement to this proposition, or that they (the
mob) would pull his house down. Witness's bailiff went
into the house and wrote an agreement to the effect stated,
and brought it out. Witnsse signed it. A copy war
given to the mob, and the otiginel given to the farmers.
All the farmers who were there signed it. The mob were
very determined. They were armed with sticks. When
they got the paper, they then naked for money or beer, end
said they would have bi, worth. One of the farmer* said
it would be better to give them ass order on the public.
how for 2/. worth of beer, and charge it in the poor-book.
His slid give an order. The mob got a pint of beer each
man, and the hill came to :3/. 17*.
The hailiffof the last witness, who was present and drew
op the agreement, corroborated his testimony.
The Rev. Mr. Cobbold was asked the value of his tithes,
and he replied that it was more than doable 3001.
Mr. Edward Fitt, a farmer, ►eas called to speak to the
character of Bennet. Ile was servant to witness, and was
a quiet, honest man.
Mr. Baron Vauctitan—l hope you are not one of those
farmers who were present inciting the tool, to make the
demand on the eleigy►uan? Witness—My Lord, I was
present at Mr. Cobbolsre when the mob was them
Mr. Baron VA UGHAN....Sir, you ought to be ashamed
of your conduct, You who, from your station, should
know better, first incite these poor men to cosnn►it a very
serious offence, and then you appear here to give one of
them a chanter.

In answer to a question from the ArroaN Gnny..ll. AL,
witness said that he was one of the fermate who signed the
agreement as a witness.
Mr. ISaron VAMMAX—Then, Sir, I must tell yon, that
you may consider yourself very lucky that you are not
standing in that dock, charged with this offence. 1 think
you merit it as much, or more than any of those poor men
who now stand before me. It is really disgraceful to see
such a transaction as this by men in your condition.
It wee here stated, that this witness had afterwards dis-
tinguished himself by his activity in preventing the mob
from doing mischief.
Mr. Heron VAUGHAN said, that that was some re-
deeming of his conduct on this occasion, but it was well
for him, and the other farmers who were present at that
*netting, and who signed the agreement, that they had not
been indicted for their conduct. Those farmers who, to
their disgrace, had entered into this sort of understanding
with the labourers—" We will undertake to raise
your
wages, but you must undertake to obtain a reduction of
the tithes"—had as little right to take that course as they
had to urge the same mob to go and take the money
from the clergyman's pocket.
The learned Judge then proceeded to point out the
evidence as it eirtifigi each of the prisoners ; and the Jury,
after consulting together for a short time, returned a
verdict Michel; John Cobb, William Hoare, Thomas
Hoare, Henry Bone, J. Newland, John Trimming, and
Benjamin Smith, Guilty; and William Mandl, and
Robert Bennett, Not Guilty.
Mr. Baron VAtlnitAX had them called up for judg
meat. The sentence of the Court was, that John Cobh
and Thomas and William Hoare, be severally imprisoned
and kept to hard labour in the House of Correction for
the space of two years ; that Henry Bone and John Trim-
suing should he imprisoned and kept to hard labour for the
spares of 12 months. The mei+ of Newland and Robert
Bennett had circumstances of extenuation in them, in con-
sideration of which the Court would give theta a miti-
gated punishretent—namely, that they ahouldhe imprisoned
and kept to hard labour for the space of six months.
The prisoners were then removed from the bar.
Robert Mason (who has been tried several times on
other charges and acquitted) was put to the bar, charged
with having, on the Nth of November, along with several
others, eseembled toned the house of the Rev, James
Jolliffe, at Barton Swey, and by threats anti aiolenee Ob-
tained from hint the sum of 55., his property.
Preen the evidence of Mr. Jolliffe end another witness,
it appeared that the prisoner was one of a mob which as-
sembled round his house otud demanded money or drink.
They insisted on having some, and after refusing at first,
witness gave them hs. Gese of than said, " You have it,
and we want it. We have hien living upon potatoes long'
enough, and we must new loaVe eromeehing better." Mr.
/albite said that he was only a curare, and could not give
them muds. They. inSistid Upon having something
Prisoner had a large 0410111 a bend. '
Prisoper (to the witness).....Mr, jouff,,, I ask you, did

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you know me to be guilty of one dishonot act in my life ?
Whom—Never.

Prisoner—Or of any breach of the peace ? Witness—
Never.

In answer to other questions witness said that he lad
known the prisoner for ten or twelve years. He always
bore the character of an honest man. He used to attend
one of the diuretics, of which witness was curate, as a
musician. The pathway by which the mob came went
past his door.
The prisoner •.in hi. defence said that the mob had passed
his doer, and lie was forced to go. _ _ .

The Jury, after consulting together for a short time, re-
turned a verdict of Guilty, but strongly recommended him
to mercy in consequence of his previous good character.
Prisoner is a gardener. We ought to mention that it
came out on the trial that the prisoner, on the same day,
along with another mob, went to the house of Mr. Cour-
tenay, demanding money and in search of machinery ; one
of them a that they would not allow corn to be cut
with scythes, it should be reaped with hooks.
Wm. Skelton, Joseph Mabey. IVoz. Rogers, Wm.
Rose, Henry Cooke, Edward Doling, and John Hard•
ing, were iudicted for destroying a threshing-machine, the
property of - Lintott, of Warren's Farm, near Dads-
ley, on the night of the 22d of November.
It appeared that a mob went on the night in question
to Mr. Lintott's farm and destroyed his threshing-machine,
but there was not sufficient evidence to bring the matter
home to the prisoners, and they were acquitter].
John Whitebread was charged with breaking a thresh-
ing-machine, the property of Joseph Wakeford.
The Jury found the prisoner guilty, and the Court sen-
tenced him to transportation for seven years.
Joseph HA William Webb, and Arthur Fielder,
were severally put to the bar charged with capital felony
(robbery), but convictions having been already obtained
against them for minor offences, the prisoners were ac-
quitted of these charges.
Mr. Baron VattonaN observed that the prisoners owed
probably their lives to the great lenity thus shown to them
by the chief law officer of the Crown.
John Goold, Williarn Astridye, and Thomas Bennet,
were next put to the bar charged with robbery,
They entered into a recognizance of 40!. eaeh to appeir
next assizes, the Court intimating that if they conducted
themselies well in the meantime, it might be all the better
for them at the next assizes.

John Ilb ody, William Burbidge, and John Delacour,
were put to the bar charged with a riot. They pleaded
guilty, and were bound over to appear for judgment next
assizes, if called upon.
Win. Maher, John Payne, Thomas Hussey, and
Charles. Frame, were tried for robbing Mrs. Povey.

The Jet), acquitted the whole of the prisoners.
Thomas Hussey and John Payne were again put to
the bar, charged with destroying a threshing-machine.
No evidence was offered by the Crown Counsel, and on
this charge they were also acquitted.
William Adams, aged 35, William Barnes, 42;John
Hoare, 19, James Fussell, 20, William Boyes, 24, John
—, anti Nicholas Freemantle, 30, were indicted
for having on the 234 of November last, at the parish of
Owelebury, feloniously made an assault on one Moses St.tn-
brook, and put him in bodily fear, and feloniously stolen
from his person one note of the firm of Knapp and Co., of
the value of Si., the monies of the said Moses Stanbrook.
The prisoners pleaded " Not Guilty."
Smoker, who had been with the mob during all their
proceedings, was pressed early in the morning, and se-
companied them whilst they traversed the country. Ile
went with them from Farmer Young's field, where he was
pressed, to Mr. Lowndes; from Mr. Lowndes to Farmer
Smith's ; from Farmer Smi'te's to Mrs. Long. at Mar-
well ; from Mrs. Long's to Mr. Debbenall's; from thence
to rtosehill, and thence to Owslebury-downs.: John

. . .
Boyes joined them at Farmer Smith's. Hoare and Fussell
were with the mob all the time. The prisoner then de-
tailed at considerable length, the part which each of the
prisoners had taken in the transaction. At Owalebury-
downs, to which the niob went after they had finished their
exactions, he saw all the prisoners present except Barnes.
On his cross•examination he was questionert by Barnes
for the purpose of showing that he was prettied at Young's
field. The witness edmi,t,7ll that Barnes was at work
there with him ; but whether Barnes was pressed or not
he could not say, as he was out in the field, and did not
see him pressed.
Cross-examined for John Boyes—he deposed as fol-
lows :-1 know John Boyce ; he is a farmer. He was
on the Downs with us when the money was divided. I
can't say whether he saw it divided or sot. I think that
be must have seen it, for the men were drawn up in line
four deep, and were ranked off by scores to receive their
respective shares. I did not see John Boycs de any thing
more thin take a paper to the gentlemen and farmers
whom we visited.

Re.extunined—When money was forced from the far-
mere by the mob, I think Juba Boyce must have seen it.
Moses Stanbrook was then recalled to complete a part
of Ilia evidence, on which he could not he examined, when
first calVd, in consequence of the necessary document not
tieing in Court. Ile deposed, that the first person who
came to his house was John Reyes. He came into the
house, and said to witness, " will you sign that paper ?"
The witness signed it. The witness identified the paper.
Jshn Boyce then went away, and witness saw no more
of him.

The pap:T identified by tie last witness was then put
in and read. It was as follows :—" We, the undersigned
are willing to give 2e. per day for able-bodied married
men, and 9e. per week for single men, on consideration of
our tents and tithes being abated in proportion." Then
followed the signatures. Nine persons had signed it be-
fore the prosecutor.
To show the guilty presence of several of the prisoners
in the mob, several witseeses were called.

Tl,e prisoners were then called upon for their defence.

Adams said—" I was at work when I was called away
by the mob. 1 took with me the axe which I had at
work, for I was a cutting wood. There were 100 men
or more in that mob ; and as they were breaking a ma-
chine, I was there with them. Mr. Diggles, the farmer,
was the man who gave all the orders where we were to go
to get the money."
Mr. Justice PARIM—He'9 not included in the indict-
ment, it he? _ .