The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-30 00:00:00

Ztitrb 9z/baton

THE CHARTIST TRIALS.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
CONTINUATION OF THE TRIAL OF CUFFEY,

LACY, AND FAY.

Mr. Baron Platt and Mr. Justice Williams took their
seats on the bench at ten o'clock.
Mr. Baron PLATT then proceeded to sum up the evi-
dence and to direct the jury. When an Act of the Legis-
lature changed the name of a crime in the nature of its
punishment, it was their duty to see that it was carried
out wisely and properly, and to bring to the considera-
tion of the entire case minds wholly unbiassed by any
prejudice. If they believed from the evidence that the
prisoners intended to subvert the constitution as by law
established, they must find them guilty of the heinous
offence imputed to them. The Learned Baron then
read the evidence adduced during the trial,
commenting upon portions as he went along.
The task occupied, as may be imagined, a
considerable time. With respect to the part played by
Powell, he said it was not unlikely that he was a silent
member of the conspiracy; he took upon himself a task,
to sustain which, it was obvious, that he was obliged to
act as a member, both in word and deed, in order to
blind the other members. Their own experience in life
must tell them that this was the course which a man
would naturally adopt under such circumstances. He
did not ask them to look at that person's evidence with-
out distrust; but if his story was corroborated by other
and independent testimony, so as to leave no doubt that
it was not only probable, but strictly true, it would be-
come their painful province to find the prisoners guilty.
He did not think the Government to blame for availing
themselves of his testimony, and he did not think the
prisoners could complain of it. It did not follow because
a person was in the habit of lying among his shopmates
that his testimony was unworthy of belief when given on
oath in a court of justice—the more especially since he
had no object to gain by coming there to deceive them.
This led him to call the attention of the jury to the way
in which one :of the witnesses—one of Powell's shop-
mates—gave his testimony. He gave his evidence with
much flippancy, and repeated the blasphemous expres-
sions said to be used by Powell with a smiling face,
whereas no person of well regulated mind could repeat
such imprecations except with a feeling of shame and
disgust. The Learned Baroti concluded reading the evi-
dence at half-past three. There was one portion of the evi-
dence upon which he had not heard any discredit thrown.
He meant the evidence showing that the streets at the
proposed meeting places and the coffee-houses were
crowded on the evening of the 10th. If they
had any reasonable doubt, of course they would give the
benefit of it to the prisoners; but, on the other hand, if
they thought them guilty, he was satisfied they would
not hesitate to discharge that duty—a duty important
alike to themselves and to their country. The Learned
Judge concluded his address at a few minutes to four.
Cuffey here intimated that the statement made in the
course of the examination that he had a son was incor
rect. He never had a son.

The jury then retired, and at ten minutes to five o'clock
returned a verdict of Guilty against the three prisoners.