The Sun.
London, England, 1830-12-21 00:00:00

countenance. which exhibits great determination, without
the slightest mixture of ferocity. There is, however, a
strong expressien of cunning in his eye. He was dressed
in a carter'. frock, end with that degree of smartness
which generally indicates a rust►c Lnthario. He conversed
fre4,,, with Cooper during the trial, and betrayed no
sense of the danger of his situation. The other prisoners,
with one exception, were all in the dress of agricultural '
labourers, and exhibited no marks of distress in their per-
sonal
appearance. The old man, Fulford, seemed to take
intense interest in all parts of the evidence which affected
hint, and displayed it by leaning prominently over the
bars of the dock whenever his name was mentioned. Webb
was dressed in a smart blue coat with gilt buttons, and
had the appearance of a gentleman's valet out of place.
The dock was quite filled by their presence. They were
ranged is three rows.
After the petty Jury was empanelled, the Clerk of the
Indictments read the indictment. The first count charged
the prisoners with having on the 23d of November last, at
the parish of Fordingbridge, mike fully. riotously, and
tumultuously assembled together, and with having unlaw-
fully, feloniously, and with three demolished and destroyed
certain machinery employed in a sacking-manufactory, the
property of Samuel Thompson and others. The second
antrt charged them with having begun to demolish and
destroy it. There were other four counts, stating the
same accusation in different ways against the prisoners.
The .ATTORNRY..GIENIRAL then rose for the prosecu-
tion. He told the Jury that it appealed from the evidence
which he ehoehl have to lay before then], that all these
prisoner, assembled together on the 23d of November last,
and came from a little distance from the town of Fording-
bridge into it ; that they were under the guidance and
direction of the first prisoner named in the indictment,
James Thomas Cooper; that they ekpressed their inten-
tion of coming into Fordingbridge some time before they
executed it; and that they executed it at last in the
mariner which the Jury would hear from the different
witnesses. The circumstances which he had already tie.
wiled to them would prove that the plan of the prisoners
was deliberately formed. He would also show the Jury
that Mr. Thompson had met with the prisoners on the road
to Fordingbridge, and remonstrated with them on the
subject of the conduct which they avowed themselves deter-
mined to pursue. The first person on the indictment, James
Thomas Cooper, a person of whom be could not give them
any clear account, did not belong to that neighbourhood,
—nor, indeed, to Hampshire. Indeed, he would fairly
own ta them that he could not give them any history of
that prisoner. He would, however, prove to them, that
that man, Cooper, was at the head of this tumultuous as.
eernbly,—that he was on horseback,—that he took upon
himself the management of its proceeding,—and that
when retionstrances were made to him respecting its con-
duct, be admitted himself to have power to controul it.
Cooper was told, when the first attempt was made to de-
bony the machinery belonging to Air. Thompson, that the
injury which he would inflict upon property would be
great,—nay, more, that it would throw no less than 100
persons out of employment. He stated that he cared not
for consequences; and that if 5001. were offered him not
to destroy that machinery, still destroy it he would. The
Jury would also find the prisoner Cooper, after the act of
destruction WAS completed, sharing considerable sums of
money with the persons assembled around him ; and though
some of those persons :night be affected with less moral
guilt than others, in the eye of the law they were all, by
being present, equally guilty. He would prove to the
Jury that the prisoners were armed with bludgeons, axes,
saws, and other instruments, calculated to produce tenor.
Ile would prove that they told Cooper that he was not to
be interfered with—that they bad placed themselves in his
hands,-...that they were convinced that he was the real
gentleman, and that they had unlimited confidence in his
guidance. The Jury would likewise find that these un-
fortunate men had committed acts of violence and outrage,
—that when they were remiss, Cooper had excited them
to greater exertions,—and that lie bad employed the power
which be wielded over them, to lead them to all kinds of
devastation and mischief.
Stephen Witt examined by Mr. Serjeant Wane--I
live at East Mill, Fordingbridge, where I carry on the bu-
siness of a miller. lam in habit of attending Sails-
bury market. In going there on the 23d of November
last I met Joseph Arney on the road, scraping the dirt. I
knew him before that time, and he knew me as an inha•

bitant of Fordingbridge. He told me that if I did not
look sharp the factory would be beat down before I re-
turned from the market. My house adjoins the factory.
After my return home, and about four o'clock in the after-
noon, I observed a large mob coming in all directions to-
wards East Mill. Several of them had bludgeons in their
hands. • I. saw Eldridge and Joseph Amy among them.
They were almost the two first who went to the factory.
'There were about 200 persons in the mob. After they
entered the machinery was destroyed. When I first saw
the factory that day, the windows were all of them nearly
whole; but after the mob visited the factory there were
scarcely any unbroken. The mob were in the mill for 40
minutes. It gave employment to sixty hands or loom I
remained outside of the lactory till the mob came out.
They. then dispersed in different• directions, some going
across the fields an they had come. There was one men of them
on horseback. I have no doubt Janice Thomas Cooper
(looking at that prisoner) is that man. When Cooper
came first, be shook bands with UM I said, " For God's
sake don't destroy this machinery, for it is a good thing
for the parish of Fordingbridge, as it employs so many
poor children." He said that he would not destroy it if I
would give him some money. I asked bow much I should
give him? Ile said, "If I would give hint a sovereign
he' would not do it." I said that I would give him a sove-
reign or more if he would not destroy it. I took a sove-
reign in my band to give it to him, and he went on towards
the door of the factory. There was nothing more said
about money after thut—for he went away whilst I was
talking to him. I don't think that be knew that I offered
hint a sovereign.

Michael Lister Street, examined by Mr. For.LET—I
keep the Greyhound at Fordinglnidge. I remember the
23,1 of November. A mob came to my house at half-past
two that day. There were two came a quarter of an
hour befere the others—John 'Aarond cidentified the pri-.
toner Fo!ford) and his ton; be came to my house with a
piece of breast and cheese in his hand, and said, " Master,
bring me a pot of beer in a minute at your expence."
I did so. He said they had been breaking machines all
that day, and he was then going to East-mill factory to
destroy it. I asked him if they were going to hurt any
of the inhabitants of the town, and he said they were not
going to hurt a hair of the head of any of them, but only
to break the machines. I asked him what he thought
would come after that? Ho said they might put them to
prison if they would. Tho mob came up soon after, to
the number of upwards of 300, and rushed into my house.

I did not see liulford then. The foreman, who called
himself Captain Hunt, came up. (Identified Cooper as
that person, but said he was much altered.) lie ordered
a pound note's worth of beer from the house immediately.
He was on horseback. The mob cane in to my house,
opened the cupboards, and took every eatable in them.
Captain Hunt (Cooper) came to my house after the mill
was destroyed. This was about five or six. Some part
of the mob remained behind after the great number went
away. Those who milled into my house had 3/. or 4/.
worth of beer. The rest went away with Captain Hunt.
lie afterwards came back with a mob, came Into my tap.
room and paid some of the mob some money. Witness
here identified Webb, who called himself captain of my
cellar. I never saw hint (Webb) till I saw him drawing
my beer, Ile drew three buckets full.
John Chub, examined by Mr. Mesststo—l am a yen-
man. I remember the 2sd of November. A man named
Hunt mime to my house, near Fordingbridge, with about
three hundred persons. I know some of them here. (Iden-
tified Joseph Miley, Charles Read, and Cooper.) They
remained at my house for about ten minutes. Cooper de-
manded victual* and drink for his company. I told him I
had not sufficient in soy house for one-fourth of that nom-
her. They dentanded a sovereign, tad I said I would not
give it. Cooper then said, " Silencer to the mob, and
said " If that gentleman does not give us a sovereign, let
us go to work, lads." They left ant at about a quarter
past two. They then went on to the next farm, on the
way to East-mill.
James Pope, examined by Mr. Miseries—l was at
Fordingbridge on the 23il of November lest. I knew
Fulford. (Identified him.) I sate him on that day. I
beend him say to a gentlemen who desired him not to beat
down the factory, " You. shall see the guts of it out in
two hours." There were several others there at the time.
I saw Henry Eldridge. (Identified the prisoner of that
name.) lie was the first man that went into the factory.
I saw u man on horseback at the mill. He called himself
Hunt —(ldentified Cooper.) I saw him on horseback
while the breaking was going on.
Jonah Thompson, examined by the Arrottlerv.Gmtx-
RAL on his affirmation, being a member of the Society of
Friends. My brother is owner of East-mill. It is /Or the
purpose of weaving sacks. 1 went out on the day it was
destroyed. I went before the mob came up. I met a large
mob, and a person on horseback riding at their head..
There were, I think, between three and 600 persons pre-
seat in the mob. I know the person who rude on horse-
back. (Identified Cooper as the man.) 1 said, My
friend, may I ask what you are going to do?" He said,
-14 We are going to the factory to destroy the machinery,"
or words to that effect. I expressed a hope that they would
not do it, and they would be all, sorry for it when they