The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-26 00:00:00

COMBINATION OF THE SAWYERS.

MURDER OF JOHN JONES.
(From Gore's Liverpool Advertiser.)
In August last, the sawyers employed by the
shipbuilders in this town, not satisfied with the rate of wages
they have been receiving for the last 7 years, demanded an in-
crease, which their employers not complying with, they (what is
technically calledyturned out, and their conduct since has been
marked by systematic and sanguinary violations of the laws
of their country, and has just terminated in the murder of
an unOffending individual. John Jones, the unfortunate
victim, was a peaceable and inoffensive man, fifty-six years of
age, residing in Clement-street, Vauxhall-road. He occasion-
ally worked as a saw year, but unconnected with the club in this
town, and had been out of work for four months previous to the
29th of January, when he was engaged by Messrs. C. and J.
Smith, Baffin-street. He appears to have been under appre-
hensiOri"of. injury from the other men, for he asked and ob-
tained permission to leave his work early enough to enable him
to reach his home before dark—but unfortunately for himself
he had, on the evening of Monday se'nnight, to attend a meet-
ing of a sick-club in Hood-street, consisting of members of seve-
ral trades, of which he was one of the stewards, and therefore
directed his son, a boy of 15 years old, to meet him there at
seven o'clock with some refreshment. Jones left the house,
perfectly sober, at half-past ten o'clock, accompanied by his
son. When in Vauxhall-road, at the end of Freemasons'-row,
they first observed Henry Griffiths and two other men, who
followed them until they had passed the Bootle Water Works,
when Griffiths aimed a blow with his bludgeon towards Jones,
but it missed him and struck his son slightly on the back
of his head; he then raised his arm again, and struck Jones
a violent blow upon the back of his head. Jones then ex-
claimed, " 0 Lord, what have I done amiss to deserve this
blow !" and reeled to the opposite side of the street, when Grif-
fiths said to his fellow assassins, " Come along, lads, we'll give
him his death-blow now !" and following Jones, struck him
again, as also did the others ; the unfortunate man fell insensi-.
ble, and was never afterwards able to speak. During this time
the boy's screems brought the watchmen and other persons to
the spot, when the wretches took to their heels. Griffiths, how-
ever, • only proceeded a few paces, when he turned back, ex-
claiming, 44 D
—n his soul, I'll give him his death-blow !"
and struck Jones again on the head, and then followed his
companions; but being closely pursued by the watchman and
the boy, he was stopped in Maguire-street, in the act of throw-
ing away his bludgeon, and secured, before he had ran above
100 yards. Two of the bludgeons have been found ; they are
about two feet long and two inches square, made of hard and
heavy wood, and knotted in the handles, so as to be firmly
grasped, and are alogether most deadly weapons. The other
two villains escaped, and are not yet taken, but we trust that
justice will still be dealt out to them—they are both described
as being about live feet six inches in height, and both wore
dark-coloured short coats and light trousers.
Griffiths is by trade a sawyer, and appears to be about 24
years of age. The Coroner's Inquest was held on Thursday
last, before T. Leyland, Esq., when a verdict of " Wilful
Murder" was returned against Griffiths and two other men
unknown. Griffiths will take his trial at the ensuing Lancaster
Assizes.

Jones was immediately carried home and surgical assist-
ance promptly afforded, but all in vain, for hisitull was dread-
fully fractured in three places ; he lingera.t:peechless until
twelve the next day, and then expired, apparently in great
pain. He has left a widow and two children, for whom we are
happy to hear a subscription is raising—the smallest donation
will be gladly received at ours and the other newspaper offices.
We understand the sawyers meet every forenoon, in Morlake-
fields, for the purpose of planning their operations.