The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-16 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION':
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hard a roise on that night, mod went into the istrect. 1
I saw a large concourse of people with banners, flags,- a tid.
ensigns. They were going in procession. The sides of.
the road snd the foot-paths were quite crowded, as well a... 1
the middle of the street. I stood upon the footpath, ix
front of my out-houses, till the whole of the precession had
passed--that was more than half an hour. There were
not less than from 10,000 to 15,000 persons passed my
house that night. I went afterwards to the place where
the hustings were erected. The banners were in a circle
round the field. On one of them was inscribed " Tyrants.
believe and tremble ;" that was in the centre of the hust—
ings. Another was, " Liberty or Death." Another was,.
" Universal Suffrage and Vote by Ballot." I was .two or
three yards from the platform, but rather behind. S mite-
times could hear the speaker and sometimes not. I saw
a great many torches. I heard a great many fire-,arms
'discharged. There was both shouting and cheering very-
frequently. I observed Mr. Stephens on the platfor m.
I heard part of his speech. I heard him tell the bo vs
around, the piecers, who are from 13 to 18 years old;
how the boys at Staleybridge had procured arms. That
they had formed companies, some more and some less ;
that they subscribed their pennies and twopences, and
each had a pistol given him, as far as the money would
purchase them. He also said there were several Societies,
end mentioned the Foresters', who were willing to subscribe

the money they had collected for the sick towards the
purchase of fire-arms. I heard him ask them whether
they were ready ? One pistol was then fired. He said
that was poor readiness, and then many pistols were fired
in all directions. I could not hear what he said after that,
as there was cheering and shouting immediately. During
his speech also, there was great cheering and shouting,
so that very often I could net hear it all. I remained
till half- past eleven, and they were still speaking. I was
rather alarmed when the procession passed. My barn
fronts the highway, and I was afra,cl the sparks from the
torches wouli set it on fire. My wife and sisters were
very much alarmed.
Cross-examined by Mr. Stephens—l did not hear the
whole of your speech. I left you speaking at the meeting.
You had been about fifteen or twenty minutes speaking
when I left. What you were, than speaking of was in-
structing the boys in our neighbourhood how to procure
fire-arms. I heard nothing of the reason why they should
pro tire arms. I took no notes, neither at the time nor
since. I felt alarm lest the barn should take fire from the
torch sparks When the pistols were firing I felt alarm,
and left the place. I have been a cotton manufacturer all
my life time. The piecers, at least at my mill, are all
over thirteen years old. I have heard nothing of your
making complaints of the treatment of persons in my mill.
I have heard nothing of the treatment of a person named
Wiiliam Key ; I have had two or three females from
Suffolk in my employment, but I heard no complaints of
their t e itment in my mill.
Edward Hibbert, examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL,
—ls a manufacturer at Hyde. Resides at Godley, about
three-quarters of a mile from the place where the hustings
were erected on Wednesday the 14th of November last.
Saw the procession. Witness was on the top of Cheap-
side, near the Sportman's Arms, about a quarter of a mile
from the hustings. The procession passed by him. They
had several banners. One was " Ashton demands Uni.
versa' Suffrage, or Universal Vengeance." Witness went
to the hustings, and saw Stephens on the platform. Heard
him speak and was near enough to hear what he said. He
said he was sorry he had detained them so long, and that
he had beers either at Bolton or Bury. Witness did not.
emember which ; that he had been at a meeting there,
and the people were all prepared ; and he asked that m'aet-
in, it' they were prepared. They said they, were. He
said, " Show me then, and let me see?" On that
there was a discharge of thirty or forty fire-
arms. He said he had had conversation with two
officers, and lie could assure the meeting fros is that con-
versation. that if they rose, the soldiers would not molest
them. He said, " We. have now met long enough—
something must be done." There was much sconfusion
when the fire-arms were discharged, and much occasional
shouting, which prevented witness from hearing. Stephens
also said, " We have got the emancipation of the black
slaves, and now we must try to get the emancipation of the
white slaves." The crowd cheered Stephens. Witness.
remained till S ephens coacluded, and went to the Sports.
man's Arms Inn. When the meeting broke op, some
people passed by there. When witness fiat saw the people,
they had torches with them. Heard the discharge of
pistols ; odd ones, at different times, and then thirty
or forty. Witness was alarmed. It appeared to him to
be a meeting to alarm any one.
Cross-examined by Mr. Stephens—Was perfectly sober
that night. Had some drink; can't speak tog the quantity.
Was there the whole of defendant's speech. It lasted
about twenty-five minutes. Recollects distinctly what he
has stated. Stephens also said he would lea d then: on,
and would lose every drop of blood in his boAy in -their
cause. Defendant said he would lead them om ifj there
was a rising. Don't know to what. Witness took no
notes till he was questioned by Joseph Hibbert, the
minute before witness was taken before the Magistrate,
about a month after the meeting. He then made up his
mind what was said. Joseph Hibbert is witness's brother,
and is a partner with Chorlton and Hibbert, who condacted
the present prosecution, and is clerk to the High Bench of
Magistrates. ( Witness fenced this question for some
time.) Don't know from what office at Hyde the letter
proceeded which has so much alarmed the Mayor, Corpo-
ration, and inhabitants of Chester. Has never beard de.
fendant complain of the factory of witness particularly..
Has with others. Only heard defendant mention the
name of his factory once.
Re-examined—Witness was not in the slightest degree
intoxicated when he went to the meeting. Might have
been a little elevated, but was quite sober • he could
walk straight—( A laugh)--and remember whatl be had
seen and heard.
Samuel Ashton, examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
—I am a manufacturer at Godley, near Hyde. I live with
my family at Godley. That is about 300 yards from where
the meeting was held on the 14th of November. I saw a
small portion of the procession within about 300 yards of
my house. I saw flags, torchlights, and transparent lan.
terns with them ; they were shouting. I was then at my
father's (Thomas Ashton) house in Hyde. They were
going towards the hustings in Floweryiield. I was a
little alarmed, and so were the family and friends who hap-
pened to be there. I remained in the house.
Cross-examined by Mr. STEruatss.—l was sober on
the evening in question. I never was drunk in my life ;
I had had nothing to drink that night. I was not at the
meeting that night. Mr. Ashton, the Magistrate, is my
father. Mr. Chorlton was the person who requested me
to give evidence ; I believe Mr. Hibbert is Mr. Chorlton's
partner. Both of them asked me to give evidence about
three weeks ago ; until then I 'had no idea of lodging any
information. I saw very little of the meeting. lam in
the habit of reading the public papers, arid recollect the
burning of a factory in Ashton in December last ; I did
not see any account of the firing being attributed to you.
I don't take the Guardian, and did not see the statements
in that paper. lam not in the firm, but superintend
the mill of my father. I have heard that you complained
of the practices in my father's mill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that was the case OR the
part of the Crown.
The Rev. Mr. Stephens then rose and addressed the
Jury at great length. The Rev. Gentleman had not con-
cluded when our Express came away.

RESPITE OF THE MEN CON-
DEMNED AT WARWICK.

We have great satisfaction in learning that a
respite has been granted in the case of Howell,
Jones, and Roberts, under sentenc,•e of execution at
Warwick, and that her Majesty has been graciously
pleased to show mercy ; their lives, therefore, will
be spared.

SEIZURE OF ARMS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Geeing in your Paper of yesterday my name
mentioned in connection with a notice in your Second
Edition of that day, " Seizure of Arms," I beg to inform
you the muskets in question were ordered out of my pos-
session (being the manufacturer), by a general order to
deliver up all arms, dated the 16th day of July last, being
the day subsequent to the disgraceful proceedings which
took place in this town, signed by William Scholefield,
Esq., the Mayor, on behalf of the Magistrates, and were
forwarded by Shipton and Co. to Ellesmere Port, there to
my orders, of which duo notice was given to the
Mayor and Magistrates.
I will feel obliged by your inserting this letter in the
next edition of your Paper, and am, Sir, your much
obliged servant,
Birmingham, Aug. 15. JOHN SCOTT.