The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-08 00:00:00

§o;+. 2;.—The omiiiittee of the 'Town
Council resumed their inquiries this morning, Council-
lor Lucas in the chair, in the absence of Alderman
Sturge.
Charley Thhifipt;Ofi, Chdrfih-§irkiet; eat kted
the bight of the 15th of July, about a quarter
Be-
fore eight, I was passing down Moor-street, in the
direction of the Bull-ring, when saai approaching, in
tilt tit-TO:Ate direction, two of the Birmingham strect-
keepers, with a man between them in custody. When
I first saw them, I was near the Woolnaek, in Moor-
street, and they *tire emiling across the Bull-ring, from
towards Spiceai-street. There were at that time a good
many people scattered over the Bull-ring. The street-
keepers, with their prisoner, having got to the corner of
Moor-street, a number of people from the Bull-ring
rushed upon them, and rescued the prisoner. Whilst
this was taking place, seven or eight of the London
police, whom I had just before seen at the public
office gates, ran past me to assist the street-
keepers. The police commenced beating off the
people with their staves, during which the pri-
soner made his escape. I saw his hat fly off,
a distance from him, and he ran away without it. I
do not know exactly the road he took. The people
did not retaliate upon the police, and the latter were
speedily called back to the office, whilst in the act of
driving away the people, by one of their superiors.
Soon after the rescue, a number of persons came to the
end of Moor-street, daring the London police to come
out. I was then passing up Moor-street. I went up
Carr's-lane, with the intention of going home, but
seeing a good deal of excitement about, I passed down
High-street into the Bull-ring, where a great number
of persons had collected, most of them armed with
sticks. They went up Moor-street to the Public-
(Ace, and shouted for the London police to come out.
I heard a great crash of glass at the Public-office ;
when this took place, the mob ran away towards the
13011-ring, as if afraid of the police. Finding the
police did not conic out, the mob again came into the
Bull-ring, with shouts of defiance against the police.
This was about nine o'clock, and up to that time
no damage whatever had been done in the Bull-ring.
I saw two boys, about the ages of thirteen and fifteen
respectively, separate themselves from the mob, who
were then opposite Bourne's house, and about twenty-
five yards from it, and go to Bourne's house, saying,
" We'll fetch the police out." At the same time
striking the shutters of Bourne's shop with strong sticks.
I believed this was done in the hope that the police,
when they heard that property was being attacked.
would come out, and give the mob an opportunity of en-
countering them, for this seemed to be their object.
Whilst the boys were striking the shutters, several ruf-
fianly looking men left the mob, and with heavy stakes
and pieces of wood began to batter in the shutters ; the
pannels quickly gave way, and a great many boys and
youths entered the shop through the apertures, and
tossed out the stock into the street, which the mob
kicked about. The men continued battering the shop
windows, until they were entirely demolished. 'Whilst
this was going on. parties of two or three left the mob,
and began demolishing other windows up the High-
street, with sticks and missiles. Seeing the mischief
growing to an alarming height, I left the Bull-ring, and
went to the Public Office to seek for the Magistrates.
They had not yet, however, arrived ; and I went up
Carr's-lane, and down High-street, into the Bull-ring,
when I saw Bournes' and Leggett's houses were on fire.
I went again to the Public-office, where I saw Mr
Walker, the Magistrate, in conversation with several
gentlemen, who were urging him to order out the
police. He refused to do so, without the sanction
of another Magistrate, stating that course had been
previously agreed upon. In a few minutes afterwards,
the military came down Moor-street, the police were or-
dered out, and I left and went home.
Hannah Heath, of No. 23, New Church-street,
Hospital-street, examined—l am the wife of William
Heath, brass-founder. On the night of the 15th of
July, between twelve and one o'clock, I and my hus-
band went to bed, leaving my son, who is twenty years
of age, and who resides with us, down stairs, with his
coat and shoes off, and about to follow us to bed. I
had just reached the top of the stairs, when my son
asked me if I did not hear horses' feet, at the same time
opening the back door which opens into a yard. In a
moment, I heard some persons swearing in a tremendous
manner, and using threatening language towards my
son. He immediately came into the house, and shut
the door. I and my husband left our room, with the
candle in my hand, with the intention of coming down
stairs, to see what was the matter. I had only stepped
down one stair, when I met four London policemen
coming up. My husband was behind me, undressed,
except his shirt and trousers and one stocking, and the
police seeing him, exclaimed, Here the -- is," and
ordered him to conic down. He said, "He had done
nothing ; what was he to come for ?" They rushed
past me, and entered the bed-room, where they seized
wiy husband, and dragged him towards the staircase,
beating him with their staves upon the back, shoulders,
arms, and knees. I shouted " Murder,' and of them
threatened to blow my brains out, if I made that
noise. My husband at first objected to go, but find-
ing himself over powered, and dreadfully beaten, I
said to him, " Do go," and he consented, but asked
them to let him dress. The policemen refused, and said
he should go as he was, at the same time dragging him
towards the staircase. They dragged him down stairs,
and along the entry into the street. When they were in
the street, my son came from the back kitchen,
where I afterwards understood he had been, and told the
' policemen, it was not his father whom they saw, but
him. The policemen ordered him back, and threatened
to beat out his brains, if he spoke, and he returned into
the entry. When we got into the street, a party of
dragoons were waiting at the entry end, with Dr.
Booth. Dr. Booth asked why we were up at that
hour ? My husband said, I had been busy, but we
were going to bed, and that my son had opened the
door for his convenience. After some remarks from
Dr. Booth, the police and soldiers went away, leaving
me and my husband in the middle of the street. I had
been very busy that day, and was ironing till twelve
o'clock at night. My husband came home about eleven
o'clock, and did not afterwards leave the house until the
police took him. My son returned home from his
work about eight o'clock, and did not go many yards
from our own door ,afterwards. There was a talk
among the neighbours of the disturbances which had
been going on in the town. There had been no crowd
in our erect that night, and no disturbance of any
kind. Every thing was very quiet when we went to
bed. My husband was much injured by the blows
from the police. He kept his bed several days, and was
not able to go to his work for ten days after, and then
worked in considerable pain. Mr. Raley, surgeon, of
the Old Square, attended him. The police at no time
made any charge whatever against either my husband
or my son.
William Heath—l am the husband of the last wit-
ness. The evidence she has given, so far as lam con-
cerned, is correct. On the afternoon of the 15th of
July, I went on a visit to a friend's, in the Bristol-road.
I left there about nine o'clock, and came down Small-
brook-street, along Edgbaston-street, and up Spiceal-
street, with the intention of going up High-street and
Bull-street home. When I got to the corner of Bull-
street, I saw some houses on fire in the Bull-ring. I
did not stop in the Bull-ring. I was prevented by the
dragoons from going up High-street, and so turned
along Bull-street, and went along Colmore-street and
Queen-street, and up Temple-street. When I got to
the corner of New-street, I met my employer, Mr.
Suffolk, of Ludgate-hill, and his brother. We all
went together up Cannon-street, Cherry-street, and
through the Church-yard, and down Church-street. I
parted with my employer and his brother at the
corner of Great Charles-street, and went straight
home. In my road, up Little Hampton-street, when
near Bond-street, I saw a man, whom I had pre—
viously known, named Havens, bleeding like a Pig,
from the head. He was not far from his own house and
told me he had been cut by a soldier, one of a partY of
dragoons who had just passed up the street. I went
with him to his own house, and I saw his wounds dressed,
after which I went straight home, where I arrived about
eleven o'clock, and did not again leave the house, until
I was dragged into the street by the police, as described
by my wife. I found my son at home when I returned,
and he did not leave the house, except as described by
my wife, just as the police came. When the police
had dragged me into the street, they told Dr. Booth
they had just seen me out. They did not say I had
been doing or saying anything ; and this was all the
charge they made. I denied having been out, and
Dr. Booth said if I could not give an account of myself
he must send me to prison. I persisted I had not been
out, and that my son had only opened the back door for
his convenience. The officer of the dragoons asked me
if I was sure of that ? I said I was ; and Dr. Booth
then requested the police to be quiet, that he might
hear what I had got to say'. I repeated what I had be-
fore said, and explained that the reason why we had
been up so late was because my wife had been busy ;
and Dr. Booth then said, Well, my man, I hope you'll
go to bed sooner in future ;" and they then all left me.
The street and neighbourhood, when I got home, and
up to the time of my being ill used, was perfectly quiet.
I and my son were quite sober. Some of the police ap-
peared intoxicated.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28.
The Committee of the Town Council met this morn-
ing. In the absence of Mr. Alderman Sturge, Mr.
Lucas was called to the chair.
Thomas Maley, of Court 1, St. Martin-street, ex-
amined :—I am now in the employ of Mr. Farmer, up-
holsterer. In July last I was in the employ of Mr.
Simister, of Bull-street, and then resided in Crowder's-
court, Deritend. I used to leave my employ in Bull-
street at half-past eight in the evening, and passed down
High-street and the Bull-ring to my residence. In so
passing I have seen the meetings held by Nelson's
Monument. I used generally to stop on the outside
the meeting to hear what they had to say'. They were
always very quiet. The person who first got
1 up to address them made a practice of commencing
by requiring them to be peaceable, to show