The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-07 00:00:00

present at the meeting in the Bull-ring on the 4th of July. The
custom of assembling to hear newspapers read he believed origi-
nated with the leading members of the Political Union, and the
people since thought they had a right to follow the example of those
in power. Did not remember any meeting then in the Bull-ring
that obstructed business. Heard the Mayor say on the 4th of July
" Men do your duty." He said something else, but what it was he
did not know.

Mr. Lovett—Did not you understand from these words that it
was an order for the police to knock about the people ?

Mr. Ilitc objected to the question.
Mr. Lovett—lt was, I would submit, the impression on his mind.
Mr. flacoxrr objeeted to the question, although he was sorry to
interrupt Mr. Lovett in his examination. .

Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE—You may ask to whom they were ad-
dressed.

Witness—l understood them to be addressed to the police in the
rear. They instantly began to maltreat the people in this form
(raising his hand). There had been no breach of the peace what-
ever before that attack upon the people. I saw several persons
injured.

Did the police perform their duty in a " very humane" manner ?
—They knocked the people about indiscriminately, in a very brutal
manner. I saw no sabres with them, and did not hear the Riot

Act read, nor any caution or warning to the people to disperse, I
then went to the shop where I had left my wife, lower down in
the Bull-ring. I saw from the shop the principal space where the
meeting was held had been closed. I saw many persons wounded.
Cross-examined by Mr. BALIUT.—The meetings during the Re.
form Sill were at Newhill-hill, clear of the town. I have been to
America and returned last September twelve months. I did not
take my wife with me. I was away upwards of live years. I never
travelled as a hawker. I have been in this Court before. In this
part and in the dock, charged with forging a hawker's license. I
don't know what the Jury thought, but I laboured under a convic-
tion, and was a prisoner eighteen months. I then went to Ame-
rica, and left my wife and children to take care of themselves. I
was not at the meeting in the Bullring on the 3d, but I have
attended them at odd times. I was only a few minutes there on
the 4th. I did not hear the man who was reading address the
people. I don't know who he was.
_ .

John Wallace Wilson—l was in the Bull-ring on the evening of
the 4th July. I heard no warning given to the people. I heard
one of them turn round and say to the police; " There they are,"
and lost the remainder of the sentence. The police commenced
immediately to beat the people. I saw not one stone thrown pre-
viously to the commencement of the.attack. I heard no groaning.
The police beat and knocked the people down at almost every blow.
I saw a few women standing about. I saw a policeman strike one
woman and knock her down. There was no resistance to the police
at first. I have resided in Birmingham nearly three years.

Cross-examined by Mr. WIDDINGTON—I came from Galloway,
in Scotland. lam a carpenter and joiner. I don't call myself a
Chartist, but a Radical.—(A laugh.) I have spoken at one meet-
ing in the Bull-ring in the month of May. It was not a speech, it
was only reading a paragraph from a paper. I never did so since
the proclamation by the Magistrates. I swear there was no hissing
or groaning when the Mayor and Dr. Booth made their appearanee.
There was no hissing or groaning till the police came up. I saw
no stones thrown at the police. I saw them afterwards thrown
down at Digbeth, where I assisted in saving two policemen's lives.
Tho:nas Farringdon described the attack made on the people by
the police in nearly the same terms as the last witness.

James Rough stated that, on the evening of the 4th o! July
the people were met for the purpose of reading the newspaper. I
saw no riot or disorder. I heard no warning given to the people to
disperse, but the police commenced beating the people with their
staves. I saw no stones thrown, nor any groaning before the attack.
There were women and children in the crowd, and the police made
an indiscriminate attack upon them. I saw a great many blows
given.

Cross-examined by Mr. WADDINGTON—After the attack was
made, some people did return the blows. We were driven from
the spot in all directions at first, and then some returned and at-
tacked the police. Ido not know what they had in their hands, if
they had any thing. I saw stones flying about, but I don't know
who were throwing them, whether the police or the people. The
police and the people were mixed indiscriminately. I saw nobody
using a stick I saw one policeman knocked down, but I don't know
what he was knocked down with.

William Gardner thought a flagrant and unjust outrage had been
committed on the people assembled at a public meeting. The people
had been in the habit of meeting there whenever there was any po-
litical excitement.

Cross-examined by Mr. Barony—i saw Mr, Lovett that day at
the Golden Lion. I had sought an interview previously with the
Mayor, in company with two others. I had confidence in Mr. Lo-
vett's judgment, and wished to consult him.
Mr. Lovett wished to ask the witness what was his construction
of the meaning of the second resolution ? Was it that he thought it
meant—(lnterrupted by Mr. Balguy).
Witness—lt had a tendency to induce the people to collect funds
for the purpose of obtaining legal advice as to what had taken place
on the night of the 4th.

Joseph Corbett—l remember being at Mr. Watson's, Summer.
row, on the 10th May. Defendant was present. A conversation
took place as to the best mode of uniting the conflicting parties in
Birmingham.

Mr. Justice LITTLEnaLE—What is the object of this conver.

sation ?

Mr. Lovett—l wish to show that I was not one of those who
would recommend violence of any kind.
Witness—There was a good deal of unpleasantness at that time,
as to theintroduction of physical force for the purpose of obtaining
our rights. I was also anxious to see Mr. Lovett, believing bim to
be an ornament to my order—the working classes. He denounced
all violence whatever, and the document he drew up has received
7,000 signatures.

Cross.examine,l by Mr. BALour—Pray what do you mean by Mr.
Lovett being an ornament to your order? What order?—The
working classes.

I suspcet you are mistaken. Mr. Lovett is not a working man ?
always understood him to be so.
Mr. BALGUY—He is not, I understand.
Mr. Lovett—l am, I have served two apprenticeships.

Mr. BALGUr—I really beg your pardon. I meant to compliment
you upon the skill and talent you have displayed in conducting
your defence to-day, and had no idea you were one of the indus-

:rious classes.

This closed the case for the defendant.

Mr. B.LGUY, in absenca of the Attorney-General, said it de.
volved on him to reply.

[ We regret want of space prevents us from giving his speech.]
Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE having read the indictment, and the
evidence on both sides, observed that the question for the Jury to
decide was, whether in their opinion the placard, for the publication
of which the defendant stood indicted, was published by him ; and
secondly, whether it was of a libellous and seditious character ?
They were the sole judges of the intent, and they would have to
say whether its tendency was to excite discontent and public
tumults, and whether such was the defendant's intention, and if so
they would find the defendant guilty.

The Jury, after conferring for tt;o or three minutes together, re.
:urned a verdict of Guilty.

The prisoner was then removed to the interior of the prison