The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-26 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEE.
HORSHAM.

The Committee were engaged the whole of yesterday
in receiving rebutting evidence on behalf of the sitting
Member, Mr. Fitzgerald.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
James Maxwell Bryson, aged 38, and described as a
dentist, was then placed at the bar upon an indictment
charging him with uttering seditious and inflammatory
language against the Queen and Government. The
prisoner was undefended.
PPThe ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that in this case
some circumstances, which were extremely difficult of
proof in former eases of this description, would
be elucidated, and matters of a more serious
character would be made known to the
public. It was with extreme regret that
he was obliged to prosecute a person of the prisoner's
description, who, if he had applied himself to the pursuits
of honest industry, instead of placing himself in a posi-
tion dangerous not only to himself but to the public.
would have attained by his intelligence an honest and
respectable position in society. The prisoner was the
secretary of a society called "The South London Life
and Property Protection Society," and from papers
found in his possession he would show that it

was one of a very dangerous character, and
comprehended a council, a committee, a itreasurer,
and a secretary. His Lordship would state to them the
provisions of the statutes against corresponding and
organized societies, and he would merely observe that
nothing was more dangerous to the public peace than
to allow parties who had illegal objects in view to
organize their forces, and have the means of correspond •
ing with different parts of the country for the purpose
of having a simultaneous rising,which even the best efforts
of the Government might not be able to suppress. The
members were divided into tens and hundreds, and there
were centerians appointed. Every member, according to
his own choice, was to arm himself with a musket or
pike of uniform make and size, which were to be sup-
plied by the committee upon the payment of a small in-
stalment. It was to consist of members above the age
of eighteen ; sixpence a week was to be the lowest sub-
scription for a musket and threepence for a pike. When
twenty-five members had paid their subscriptions in full,
all persons who were desirous of arming might join the
society, and it was very kindly resolved that they should
do away with the services of the special constables,
and protect themselves and the rights of property.
The prisoner took an active part in the society, and on
searching his house, a sword, a pike, and some other
articles were found. The Learned Gentleman then pro-
ceeded to state the circumstances which immediately
gave rise to the present prosecution. They were all
aware that excitable meetings were held in different
parts of the metropolis, and that in Ireland a system of
communication was going on, which almost led to open
rebellion. On the 27th of July a false report, which had
been before alluded to, was published in the newspapers,
and on the 28th a meeting was held at the Chartist Hall
in Webber-street, Blackfriars-road, over which the pri-
soner presided as chairman. Now, every person who at-
tended an illegal meeting designedly was responsible for
everything that was said and done. The prisoner made
a speech at the meeting, and though his position and edu-
cation made him more guarded in his language than
some of the other speakers, it was not on that
account less dangerous, taking into account
the excitable audience he was addressing. (The
Attorney-General then read the speech.) The
prisoner, alluding to the dispatch from Ireland, said
that the people of Ireland were in arms, and he trusted
that they would be victorious, adding " God speed them
in their cause." He also told the meeting that Lord
Hardinge had been sent to Ireland, and said that the
oriental slaughterer had tied his red bandanna to his
bloody sword, and would wave it, as he had done before
in the field, as a signal telegraph to his soldiers to cut
down men, women, and children. He (the Attorney-
General) would ask whether the prisoner was justi-
fied in thus stigmatising one of the bravest generals
of the British empire? Lord Hardinge was one of the
bravest and most gallant officers iu the British army,
and had received a distinguished mark of the favour
of his Sovereign, and what was still as dear to him, the
approbation of his fellow-countrymen. The Attorney-
General adverted to other portions of the speech, as well
as to the speeches of other speakers at the meeting,
which were much in the same strain, and concluded by
calling the following evidence:—
Mr. Frederick Bond Hughes—l am a short-hand
writer. On the evening of Friday, 28th July, I was
present at a Chartist:meeting:at the Hall in Webber-
street, Blackfriars-road. I was there about a quarter to
eight. There was then about 200 persons present, but
the number gradually increased to 500. The people
were chiefly mechanics. The prisoner at the bar was
elected to the chair. (The witness then read the speech
which was delivered by the prisoner.) The speech was
received with cheers. Kean made a speech, and his
allusion to Mitchel, the Irish patriot, was received with
loud cheers. (Witness then read the resolution pro-
posed by Kean and the one by Shell, which were alluded
to in the former trial.) When the chairman introduced
Rooney from the Mitchel Club, he made a speech, and
asked the people if they were organized, or if all that
had been done was of no avail. He also asked them why
they did not imitate their Irish brethren, and act like
men. In answer to the question of Rooney, the pri-
soner got up and replied that the Chartists were
organized, but that every one who came into
the hall was not under a ay stem of organization. He
also told Rooney that the Chartists did sympathise with
their Irish brethren, and were ready to co-operate with
them.

In answer to a question by the prisoner the witness
stated that every accommodation was afforded to him
at the meeting, and also that he took a verbatim note of
the speeches. The prisoner did not appear to be elected
to the chair, but seemed to take it as a matter of course.

Mr. Couusel corroborated the evidence of the previous
witness. _ _

John Bywater, police-constable, proved apprehend-
ing the prisoner in Webber-street. He searchedh his
lodgings, and there found a file ground
pike head
tole ad sharp
point, point, which would either do
dagger. He also found a sword,. af(b)roollc, apciard- , anda some
iler's ticket of member-
papers. The card was the p
ship in the Life and Propertym Protection Society.
There was a resolution to the effeet. " that this meeting
gives its cordial support to the patriots of Ireland, and
opposes the tyrannical proceedings of their oppressors.*
Therules and regulations of the society were then read,
as were also some other documents.
The prisoner cross-examined the witness with the
view, he said, of showing that he had no desire to con-
ceal the articles that were produced, but elicited no ma-
terial fact.
Mr. Cope, of the Times, produced a copy of the Times
containing the telegraphic dispatch from Ireland.
The record of the conviction of John Mitchel was also
prcd uced.
This concluded the case for the prosecution.
The prisoner addressed the jury in his own defence.
and complained of the arrangements in the prison, by
which he was prevented consulting any political work,
in order to find out the definition of the word " sedition."
Not even the "Penny Cycloprodia " was allowed to be
brought into the prison, although he expressed a wish
to consult it on the subject.
Mr. Baron PLATT wished to know who it was that
refused to let him have the books ho wanted? Every
prisoner had a right to have every accommodation
afforded him to conduct his defence.
The prisoner said he could assure his Lordship that
what he said was perfectly correct, and if the chaplain
were put into the box his Lordship could question him
on the subject. In the course of his address
the prisoner asked whether it was sedition for a man to
do all he could to get the principles of the Charter
passed into law. He declared it to be quite lawful to
hold arms; and he considered that the South London
Life Protection Society was perfectly legal. A society
with similar rules was established at Nottingham, and
was approved of by the mayor; and in joining the
society with which he was charged with being connected
he did not conceive that he was acting otherwise than
perfectly in accordance with the law.
After a brief reply from the ATTORNEY-GENERAL,
The Learned JUDGE summed up.
The jury retired, and after deliberating for about
twenty minutes, returned a verdict of Guilty.
John Shaw was then brought into the dock. Ho said
he wished to traverse until next session, as ho had so
recently been sent to Newgate that he had no knowledge
of the charge against him. He came there the night
before last, and was placed at the dock for the first time
yesterday morning. Ho had, therefore, not yet had an
Opportunity of consulting his solicitor, and did not know
what line of defence he ought to adopt. He would,
under these circumstances, ask the indulgence of the
court until next session.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the warrant for his
apprehension was issued on the 4th of August, but he
had kept out of the way.
His LORDSHIP ultimately consented to the postpone-
ment of the trial till next session.

John James Bezer applied to have his trial put off till
Monday, which was consented to.
The case of Robert Crow was fixed for to-morrow
(this day).

BANK OF ENGLAND.
(From last night's Gazette.)
An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for
the Week ending on Saturday, the 19th day of August, 1848.
DMUS DEPARTMENT.

brotes inued........ 26,763,615

Government debt • • 11,015,100
Other securities .... '4,984,900
Gold coin and bullion 11,573,455
Silver bullion 890160

£26,763,645

I X 26,763,645
M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier.
148.
EPAZTMEN T.

Dated tha 24th day of August, 1

Government securi-
ties (including Dead

weight Annuity).. 12,462.735
Other securities .. • . 10,862,959
Notes ••••••• • • • • • • • 13,450,310
Gold and silver coin.• (307,902

32,383,906
M. MARSIIALL, Chief Cushier.