The Sun.
London, England, 1823-08-21 00:00:00

eoletrin oathlthough complaining of the comhination of the I
men), as I believe,—at all events, if not by an oath, they bound
themselves by their signatures to forfeit a penalty of three
•hundred pound" (which I have been told has been in
.some instanter paid by masters not agreeing). This worked
upon my mind; it perplexed and confused me. I knew not
white to do to' obtain justice • I prayed- the Almighty some-
times on my kneesy before I lay down on my bed. Some-
times in the bed itself (for, my Lord, it. is my habit to
pray one way or the other every night) to guide me how
ought to • act in this perplexity. I never injured any
man. I had no disposition io murder or harm any person,
having no inclination to be unjust but with the- thought, I
cottlliscareely sleep an hour, I awoke before five o'clock the
next morning. The thing stuck in my mind. It is false to say
that I said I would ihoothim ; my words were, that I might
shoot him. I believed that Mader' who treated their work-
men thus ought to suffer something. These were my thoughts
in April, 1831, at the time of the turn.out.. I then worked with
Mr. Kay ; I was also a Member and one of the Committee of the
Preston Union. We met at the Green Man, and at one of these
meetings (hut remember I was not present), Walton, the con-
.stahle, suddenly came in upon the
.people, and seized their
hook% witlonit producing any warrant or authority whatsoever ;
on my way to tile meeting When he did so, and I met
hole *of the amen running away I cried out, " you cowards,
:whet are yen about, to suffer any man to treat thus, return, and
eorapel lum•eo give back your books; for what purpose do you
thus fly ?" They went back, caught Walker by the throat ; a
*calk arose, awl one man had his coat turn from his back ; the
rotatable had.thrown the books out of the window, but his throat
was let loose.upen a itositive pledge of getting the books back.
The were sent back on the following day. This occurrence took
piece in June, th2l. Soon after that Mr. hay sent for him; I
• made " thou pretendest to be a friend of the poor, but thou art
ttietr bitter enemy;" I hoped I was not, and inquired why he
sent for one-e-there the prisoner adverted to a charge made
aping him for spoiling his work, which he denied I—and that
was that he was discharged from the factory. (Tim prisoner
than detelleed how he moved about for work at different places,
Warrington arid Manchester, &c. till time end of the year 111•22.1
Having been attacked with illness I returned home from Am-
: (tenter last spring ; I certainly did bid for pistols at an auc-
tiun-roonnlmt why I did se, I cannot tell. ' Had I the money,
would hive bought them, athough if I. really wanted
the money' l. could 'have got' it. The • ill-treatment of the
'man by thq. masters still prevailed in my mind, I could
not yet quit of it; I could not work as I did before t I
.otten spoiled my work. The thought took hold of me,
I 'was thinking of it while I worked, and that was the
:reason why I could not work as well, as I did before, for spin.
oring.requirea constant close attention. \Vhat ~occaseion had I
fio pistols? I never fired one in my life. I have fired a gun.
wanted to. punish or revenge both the masters who personally
did the injury; but murder, or intention to murder, never
entered my 'mind. I have. not told my stronger reason for
:wishing to punish them. Well, to it shortly ; the three men
.1 told. you of were tried at Preston Sessions, and punished
with imprisonment for two months in the House of Correc-
tion, where one of them is yet ; and though very poor, they
Were condemned to pay the costs of the la* prosecution ; that
was from twenty to one hundred and fifty pounds. It was '
my firm resolve to do nothing like a coward. Whatever I
should itoei determined to do in the face of day, and before
• the eye; °Ceche world. As the cause of the misery lat
length resolved to attack Mr. Ilorrocks, butchow to do it was
the subject of my consideration. I at first Was inclined to
strike him with a stick ; then I was disposed to slap him with
my fist ; bar then, thought I, I !thrill only be brought before
the Sessions at Preston, where of jtistiee I shrill get no part,
ireeause he is a rich master and lam a poor workman. It was
this reflection that induced me to attack him with some weapon
that shonid-cut him, but not destroy life. By doing so I knew
dell that. I should' be tried for my life ; but then, thought I,
that trial will take place before the country, at Lancaster,
where a bearing will be allowed me, to shew to the , world the
oppression, mad the pereecutiop, and the injustice of these
mows, and to ascertain whether the Government under
which we live will permit to these masters every sort of com-
bination, at the time when if the workmen start at a single
meeting, the masters aro 'permitted to treat them at their
own will and pleasure. The prisoner here entered into a de-
scription of the particular sufferings attending the imprison-
•inent of the men lie mentioned, and of the conduct of a
Gentleman .named Deckhouse, who wanted, he said, to
inveigle into the prison, to catch him into a stratagem that
failed, because the Magistrates refused to go to the prison
to examine the men, but sent for them at time Dull Inn. I--
This treatment of hit • fellow.worktnen enraged him very
much, and I felt it .called and claimed revenge in some
way for the calamity so inflicted on my fellow.ercaturee.
There WAS no justice, 1 eaw,plaitity, for the poor man, though
it had been often told to us, that the law of this country was
e4ttrtl to the poor and to the rich. 'With that impression firmly
meted in my mind, I took omit the cleaver, not Intending to
kin but to cut; went to church • with the expectation of
mooting Mr. Miller with Alto Corporation ; l did not think.
to meet Mr.. ilorrockfs, fur 1 way informed that he was
confined to his bed, and so ill, indeed, as to have made his wilt.
C• felt the cleaver, and found it watt not sharp.' Lapproved of
its being so, because it would bruiee or cut, but not, kill. It
wss my intention to do him bodily harm. !laving leftehe
• Church because Mr. Miller was not there. on the Church.
terrace I saw Mr. Horrocks ; I advanced before him, anti con-
ceived he was the man, I followed after him, though with no
determined purpotte. tis very correct, that I well what
I'have done, but I did net at the time know what 1' meant
to do. I did not mean to hit him on the head, but on the
shoulder; on the head, 'however, he was hit, though it was ;
not my intention. Mr. Horrocks lint told you what I did ;
I do not deny .it; but now it is for you .to say to the
world whether or not you think I am guilty of murder, or that
was influeoced in the way laid down in that Indictment. I
shall trouble you; my Lord and Gentlemen, no farther, but only
to thank you for the'attentive and kind attention you have given
to me. .
The prisoner' Mir recoveringhiti thoughte, said unexpectedly
,
'fife* seconds—Verdun me, my. Lord, can I see that cleaver,
want 'to feel if it is now sharper than when' I had it?
tit general instinctive expression of non-cOmpliance was ma-
nifested in the murmurs' of every part eftheCourt. Those who
were in the itnitiediate vicinity df the Dock threw their eyes
upon thesprisoner, and each twist closely Watched his slightest .
movement.]
Mr. Justice IIAYLEY, -holding • up the cleaver In his hand,
sold, " Prisoner, cao you not ace the cleaver ? You have ii
right to be satisfied in your own way of the fact you are desir-
ourt to luicertain, arid
,you shall be so satisfied ; hut the constable
tit Is aaAelly in the same state as when you had it."
he prisoner repeated his apology fur troubling his Lord-
reeip, but he really could not ascertain the edge of it at that
ilimtnee. : • •
Mr. Justice nestetio.—Then let it be shdwn to -him; the
primmer can see it without having it in his hand.
The Solicitor for the prosecution held it firmly in both hands
*ad brought it down to the dock. The prisoner merely looked
the edge, but put no band upon it. He then said, Really
it tikes me Pia it is 'sharper now than when I had it; perhaps,
however, stn wrong." .- -
Mr. ,Jowne, the prisonerse Counsel, intimated to the Court,
that he was prepared to establish by evidence the state of the
prisoner's %Wind. The first was the 'prisoner's mother. The
eirisoter will be 23 years of age next Alarch. Since his child.
hood lie wax subject to head-aches; and singing in his ears.
lie hurl a fever a few years ago, and after thit'his head became
worse. A &lances was the result, under which he has since
lehoured. fete Always complained of a violent pain at the back
•of his-head, and on those occasions he said lie never knew what
he said-or did. Since last May he was very ill and very un-
settled. There was a house of recovery at Preston, for fevers.
lie asked witness if she could get him in, for he would be there
talon erne of, for he was in such a state with his head, that he
lid not know .what he. either said or did.. That lie repeated
frequently, but particulerly on the day before Imo did the deed,
The witness stated a variety of other acts, which chewed the
unsetlicil ewe of his mind. On time Suntluy morning that he
a(tentied Mr. Her-rocks, he said he wonted his shirt to go to
the prisoner exclaimed, with his eyes fixed on
mother, whom ha had beenetering at for some time, " 'What
this, mother, why do you 41Wear thus falsely ?"1
Mr. Justice 11A LE Y tom him lie must not interrupt his mo.
titer's eviderree, Ile knew elle was his own witness.
Prisoner—My witness, ins Lord she is no sushi thing. I de-
mand truth, and also:sweera falsely. Ido sot say she swears
>Weedy with purpose, but•srli she indoing so.
Mr. Justice Devoe:sr Vow own Counsel lute celled hor in
your 'behalf—trot to the direction of your Counsel.
The Prisoner—lf that be the way to proceed, my Counsel is
not true to inc—l don't want him.
Stop a moment Prisoner, attend to me.
Prisoner—l shall stop, if lam allowed to cross.examine her,
Mr. Justice BAYLEY—Prisoner, you cannot be allowed, to
M/s-examine your own witnesses. 1)o you wish to object to
what the ()Aerofoil of your Counsel suggests.
Prisoner—l only want troth and justice; X don't care what,
my Counsel may suggest if it be contrary to these.
The eon RT—Your Counsel will do nothing but what is pro-
w ; if you object, however, to your mother's testimony, it is
Ty duty to tell you.that you haven right to make. hat objec.
Consider calmly ; is it your desire that your mother
shOulil be stopped ? If it be, I shall have to strike out all she
Itis maid (some of which is meant to make in yoir favour), as if
it never Was spoken. •
Prisoner—Then, my Lord, it is my wish that it be all struck
AS, bectorie it is untrue, and I must contradict her. Myfather
,wt dorm alto. Time poor woman talks .of infinity finding at

proudly); Witty Awls notin her vines ; my father told me
so yesterday in the gaol.
From the COVItT —Do you desire that her examination shall
be continual?
Prisoner—l thought I understood from your Lordship that
I was entitled to examine all the witnesses after the Counsel
had examined them. With that persuasion I listened to her,
thinking I would be allowed to cross-examine her. I tilt but
j little acquainted with the laws of England, anti if I am wrong
I err through ignorance and not intention.
Mr. Justice BAY Ler —When I observed to you that to which
you have alluded, I meant it to apply to your right to cross-
examine all the witnesses for the prosecution. I cannot, you
know, allow you to do what the law-does not permit-me to al;
low another person.
The prisoner became more tranquil, and replied, I really
beg pardon, my Lord ; but my mother went on in such a way
that I could not but interrupt her. Be.pleased to allow me to
cross-examine her. •
From the Co u rt'r —lndeed I cannot : consult your Counsel
he will direct you properly.
The Prisoner—My Counsel, pointing to the table, is there.
I cannot go to him, I suppose—will he come to me?
Mr.'JONES said, that he could mention to the solicitor, or
a gentleman near him, his wishes, who would communicate.
with him The prisoner in a how voice addressed some inco.-
herent domestic story to the gentlemen near him. At length
the trial proceeded. The mother's testimony detailed the fits
of raving and wildness to which he was subjected.
In her cross-examination by Dr. Wat. STaititte, it came
out that Dr. St. Clare, who was examined that day, had trite a
week for the fortnight before the 27th of July given her
medicine for his head.
The prisoner denied that he had any ditotere in the hack of
his heath ; be had now and then a noise in MS ears, the effect
of two long walking journies.
The father, Thomas Riding, was then Prodocisl.
Justice BAYLIE. asked the prisoner if he had any ob-
jection to the examination of his father?`
Prisoner—No; for I believe itir4 my Lord, to be in his
SCIVCS.
The father confirmed the mbther's statement as to the attacks
in the head, to which the prisoner was subject. He was con-
vinced that from the Ist May to the 27th of July., the day of
the misfortune, he hadotot one night's sleep. They feared the
Saturday before thathe would have destroyed himself' or some
of the family. Ilia mother watched him closely that day, for
witness had but one leg, having lost the other on board his 31a-
jetty's shin the'Snake.
Dr. St. Clare was here recalled, and asked by the Conn whe-
ther the prisoner had ever applied to him for'any remedy for
any disorder ? Witness recollected his applying to him on the
22t1 of July last, he then complained of head-ache and deafness,
as well as ear-ache. The beitil=nehe he described as very
violent. His pulse on the first occasion was rather quick:
when he called a *mind time at the Dispensary, witness did
not feel it. The. day of the assault, after it happened, his
pulse be then felt, and it was above 90. He had not particu-
larly studied derangement of Mind. Front his feeling the
pulse but on two occasions, he could not form any opinion of
the probable state of his mind. Frequently tt great deal Of
cunning is practised by deranged persons. It was quite con.
sistent with considerable derangement to he conscious of know.
ing when they were doing wrong or right. When be saw the
prisoner at the I'll agistrate's, his mind was in a atate„of consi-
derable excitement; lie manifested complete apathy of every
moral feeling, and that apathy, as far as he could speak front
So short an observation, was real and not assumed. Cates of
delirium were distinct front cases of delusion. Witness thought
the manner of the prisoner at time Dispensary, on the 22d of
July, rather strange.
Walton, the Constable, was called again. lie recollected,
that when the prisoner was apprehended lie had two Bleats
shirts on.
Mr. Justice 11.s.YLrY rose to charge the Jury. The case
deserved not only very extraordinary attention on the part of the
Jury, but an extraordinary exertion of .sound discrimination.
It would. be for the Jury to say whether or not they believed
the prisoner, when be committed the act, was in such a state of
mind as to he able to distinguish at the tune the right from the
wrong, or that he had a moral perception of the tendency of his
own actions.
The Jury at 9 o'clock retired, and after .20 Minutes' consi-
deration, returned with a verdict of Gouty, but that the pri-
soner at the time was not of sound mind to know what he was
about.
Mr. Justice BAYILF!Y then said, that by a wholesome Act of
Parliament, for the safety of the King's *objects, a person in
the condition .of the prisoner must be detained in custody at the
pleasure of his Majesty, to prevent his dolor further Mischief.
The prisoner appeared Balm, and returned thanks in a very
distinct manner to the Judge and Jury, for their patient at-
tention during his trial.