The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-08 00:00:00

SPECIAL COMMISSION.

ABINGDON, JAN. 6.

Thoms Machrell, Henry Wooldridge, and
Charles Poffley, were placed at the bar, charged
with having broken a threshing-machine, the pro-
perty of Mr. Wm. Spearing, at East Garston, on
the 231 of November.

The prisoners, who were all agricultural labourers,
ire extr,mely decent in appearance. Poffley is a lad
of 19, and cannot read ; Wooldridge is older, but
equally ignorant ; Mackrell, who is described as
being 43 years of age, is able to read and write. The
Tress and demeanour of the prisoners were calculated
to excite an impression in their favour. Peffley is
I well-looking youth, and appeared considerably
iff,cted by the situation in which he stood.
The Jury convicted the three prisoners.
Mr. Justice PARK inquired of the prosecutor
whether he would have any objection to take Poffley
,gain into Lis employment ?
r. Spearing—None at all, my Lord.

Mr. Justice PARK—Poffley, the Court is anxious
to proceed with all possible lenity, and, in con-
sideration of your having received an extremely good
character from your master, and as he has kindly
consented to take you into his service again, we
sentence you (there being no other charge against
you) to a fortnight's imprisonment.
There was an indictment against the prisoners
For the robbery, but Mr. GURNEY declining to press
it, a verdict of acquittal was recorded.

Wooldridge and Poffley having been removed
from the bar, Mackrell was placed at the bar, on a
charge of robbing Mr. John Westbury, on the 23d
if November, at West Shefford.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, but recom-
mended him to mercy, on the ground of the good
i_baracter which he had received in this as well as
in the preceding case.
William Bizzlc, a short stout determined-looking
man, 24 years of age, was charged with having on
the 24th of November, at the parish of Appleford,
assembled with upwards of fifty others, in a riotous
ind tumultuous manner, with hammers and other
weapons, for the purpose of destroying a threshing-
machine, the property of Mr. Thomas Steel.—
Guilty.
Giles Fidler, James radon, George Alleck,
Joseph Wiggins, Thos. Mackrell, Richard Kemster,
old Remy Wooldridge, were charged with having
iroken a threshing-machine, the property of Mr.
Thomas Palmer, at East Garston, on the 23d of
November. The prisoners were also indicted for
robbing the prosecutor of two sovereigns.
The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against all
the prisoners, except Giles Fidler, whom they pro-
nounced
Not Guilty.
The prisoner (against whom PO evidence was
iiffered any more than with respect to his fellows in
the indictment for robbing Mr. Palmer) was then
discharged, crying with delight. Although he had
borne himself with firmness during the whole of the
trial, he was unable to sustain unmoved this unex-
pected turn in his fortunes.
William Sawyer was put to the bar, being in-
dicted for having, with numerous other persons un-
known, unlawfully assembled at Upton, on the 24th
of November, to break the peace. Another count
charged him with having assaulted James Smith.
Mr. Baron BOLLAND charged the Jury, who found
the prisoner Guilty of the riot and assault.
Mr. Justice PARK immediately sentenced the pri-
soner to be imprisoned for two calendar months and
to be kept to hard labour.
William Hammond and Henry Smith were put to
the bar, being indicted for having, with divers others,
conspired to destroy threshing-machines, and other
machines used for agricultural purposes, and for
having, by threats and menaces, extorted money and
provisions from divers persons. Other counts
charged them with riot, and with assaults on various
individuals.

1 he Jury found the prisoners Guilty of the con-
spiracy charged in the indictment.
Russel Strong, William Kinch, Job Whiting, John
Keene, Robert Joys, Joseph King, Thomas Keene,
George Keene, and Joseph Keene, were put to the
bar, being indicted for conspiracy for riot. Other
counts charged them with assaults.
Mr. Justice PARK charged the Jury, who found
all the prisoners Guilty.
Robert Grgn was put to the bar, being indicted
for having assaulted John Mildenhall, with intent
to rob him ; also for having conspired with others
to create a riot, and to maltreat the said John Mil-
denhall. .

Verdict —Guilty of the asmault,Not Guilty of the
riot, and cf the attempt to rob.
William Champion, William Greenaway, David
linkup, and James Champion, were put to the bar,
being indicted for having, on the 22d of November,
at Wallingford,conspired with divers others to break
threshing-machines, w create riots, and disturb the
peace, to the terror of his Majesty's peaceable
subjects.
Mr. Justice PATTESON charged the Jury, who
found all the prisoners Guilty.

Francis Slade and William Sadler were put to the
bar, being indicted for having assembled with divers
others and created riots. Other counts charged
them with common assaults.

Aftcr hearing evidence, Mr. Justice PARK
charged the Jury, who found both prisoners Guilty.
The Court adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow
morning.

SALISBURY, THURSDAY, JAN. 6.

The trials here proceed but slowly, as far as the
number tried is compared with those that remain for

trial.

It is impossible for any person who has witnessed
these trials, and who was present also at those in
Hampshire, not to be struck with the great differ•
ence in the appearance, manner, and character of the
accused in this county, from those of the prisoners
in Hants. In appearance, the men here are for the
greater part much more hardy and athletic—in man-
ner they are much bolder and in character, judging
from the much more frequent instances of personal
viole►;ce, in the mobs which were out " machine-
breaking," here, than were known in Hants, we
would say they are much less restrained in their
moral habits. The prisoners here turn to [the wit-
nesses against them with a bold and confident air;
cross-examine them, and contradict their answers,
with a confidence and a want of common courtesy,
in terms, of which comparatively few instances oc-
curred at the neighbouring county. Bat in both
counties we were struck with one trait—common,
unfortunately, to the great mass of the accused in
each—a very low state of moral intelligence. There
were few of the questions put, or of the defences
made (where the parties were unassisted by Coun-
sel), which did not involve an admission cf the
crime, of which, almost in the same breath, they
were declaring themselves innocent. We have not
had an opportunity of inquiring into the means of
instruction amongst the poorer classes in this county,
and that which we have left, but if we were to
judge from what we have seen on the trials in both,
we should say, that they are extremely limited, or
that those whose duty it is io make them available
to the poor have been grossly remiss in the dis-
charge of that important trust,
We are sorry to add to these remarks, that not-
withstanding the strictness with which punishment
has been awarded in most of the convictions here
(and to those who have watched the progress of the
proceedings it will not appear too !,evere), the crime
of incendiarism is not yet put down in the county.
Accounts reached Court in the early part of this
day, that a fire, supposed to be the act of an
ainne:
diary, took place last night Cheverell, n
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