The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-29 00:00:00

THE CHARTIST TRIALS.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.
TRIAL OF CUFFEY, LACY, AND FAY.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. BALLANTINE said—lt was true, Davis came before
them in the guise of a respectable man. It was just possible
that he was no more worthy of belief than Powell.
Owing to the way in which he had been called, no
notice having been given that he was to be put into the
box, the prisoners had had no opportunity of making
any inquiry about him. The same remark was appli-
cable to Tilden, who, it appeared, from his own statement,
got Cuffey appointed-it leader in his stead, as his pre-
tensions were modest.. They found him endeavouring to
entrap poor-Cuffey into all kinds of violent expressions.
No letter or document of any kind was found in the
house of Cuffey or Lacy evincing the slightest scintilla of
conspiracy. It was true a pike handle was found
in the garret of the house in which Cuffey
resided. Was it not remarkable that Tilden
was in the habit of going constantly to Cuffey's,
and that he went there after Cuffey had been taken into
custody. Then they could have no doubt that the tri-
colour produced was made by Powell. The Learned
Counsel, after an address of two hours and a half, con-
cluded by trusting the jury would acquit hie churns.
Mr. PARRY next addressed the jury on behalf of
Fay. He said even the polluted lips of Powell
were not guilty of charging the prisoners with aspersing
the gentlewoman that filled the throne. Now he would
show from witnesses that Powell had used the most in-
decent and disgusting expressions with respect to the
Queen and her Consort. Having complained of the
loss of the privileges taken away by this Act, he put it
to the jury if they could fail to be of opinion that
Davis was not one whit less polluted than Powell.
Heh time.
te tells them he expected only compensation for loss of
that a person would destroy his
get himself to be pointed at and to be
character,
cwr,aas ndit
so
shrunk from by his wife, his children, and his friends,
without gain? He palmed a silly falsehood upon the
jury; and he was sure they would not believe it. The
Attorney-General said,- with a thrill of ecstatic delight,
that Davis was a " shopkeeper." Respectable shopkeep
erg did not condescend to become spies. He agreed with
the Attorney-General that Powell was " a bold bad man,"
but Davis was a sneak. The thief that sneaked into an
area was more despicable than the highway robber.
Where are the ribbons which Powell said were distri-
buted on the 15th ? Not one was found when the pri-
soners were arrested, and the one produced was found
under suspicious circumstanoes. Could they believe the
truth of that, or of any portion of his story? Fay was
taken at his father's shop, and no arms or ammunition
were found upon him. After saying he should prove that
Powell instigated the prisoners and others to act with
violence, the Learned Counsel concluded an able and
elaborate address on behalf of the prisoner Fay.
The jury then retired for a short time.

On their return, ---
James Parris was called and examined by Mr.
HUDDLESTONE—He said ho had been employed as a
carpenter for seven or eight years by Mr. Smith, the
brother-in-law of Powell, a builder. Re had known
Powell eleven years. his character was not good.
From his general character he could not believe him on
his oath. Had heard him speak upon religious subjects
sometimes, but could not recal to his mind what he said.

Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL—WouId
not believe him, because he once came and said Lord J.
Russell had cut his throat—(Laughter)---and on another
occasion that he had seen a person steal a side of pork;
that a Mr. Hudson, a neighbour, was dead. Saw Powell
on Friday. Did not shake hands with him, but told
him he was sorry for what he had done, on account of
his children.

The ATTORNET.GENERAL— Are you a Chartist ?
Witness—No, lam not. I don't know what it is.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—You don't know what
Chartism is? Witness (in a broad Scotch dialect)—
Naa; tell me what it is, and then I will answer you.—
(Roars of laughter.)
By the JUDGE—Never heard him called by his shop-
mates " Lying Tom."
Thomas Osborne, another workman in the employ of
Mr. Smith, deposed that he had known Powell for about
three years and a half. Would not believe him on his
oath, if it was uttered on his dying bed. Remembered
his saying, about two months ago, that there was to be
a Chartist rising. He said so to me alone. He asked
witness and some of the • other men to join it. This
might be about three weeks after the Kennington-com-
mon meeting. He at the same time pointed out &person
who could make him a pike.
Cross-examined—Was not at the Kennington-com-
mon meeting. Was at Bishop Bonner's-fields on the
afternoon of the day the police were attacked. Did not
hear Ernest Jones speak. Attended a meeting at a
public-house is the Birdcage-walk on a Sunday in
April. Told Powell that he had joined the Chartist
movement—that was not true—it was a lie. He would
not believe Powell, because he had found him out in so
many. Heard him say that Lord John Russell had cut
his throat, and he charged him 2cl. for a note which had
been given him (Powell). Often attended meetings of
Chartists after the 10th of April.
Re-examined—Told Powell he had joined the
Chartists because he was afraid of him. He was afraid
to offend him, for ho used to seek revenge on the tools
months after.

Richard Fennell, carpenter, employed by a Mr. Hill—
Has known Powell for the last thirteen or fourteen
years. From what he knew of him would not
believe him on his oath. Had heard him called
" Lying Tom" to his face in Mr. Smith's shop hun-
dreds of time. Had also heard him speak upon reli-
gious and political questions a number of times. Had
heard him say that he would send the Queen, the
foreigner, her family, and Lord John Russell and Sir
George Grey, to hell in no time. Had asked wit-
ness to join the Chartists at Cartwright's about ten
days before the 10th of April. He told him (Powell),
in answer to a question from him, that he was not a
Chartist, and that the Chartists would not get that mea-
sure by the way they were going on. He said they
would get it in a month. Also asked him (witness)
to propose him as a delegate, after he (Powell)
had proposed him " 4 metnber, saying at the
same time that he could thereby get 2/. or 3/. a week,
which would be better than working at old Smith's at
carpentry. Told him (witness) that the Government
was a weak and a --- Government; also said " Look
at the Queen spending her hundreds of thousands a
year in idleness, and here are we obliged to work
at the bench for a bit of bread." He said
if he would come to his house he would show him mate-
rials enough to blow London to hell in halt an hour.
Did not go. Went part of the way, but turned back,
knowing the bad character of the man. Had threatened
him if he did not join the Chartists that he would point
out him and others, and that they would get a ball
through their heads. Had showed him some Socialist
tracts some years age.
Cross-examined—Was dismissed by Mr. Smith, after
some weeks' notice, on account of the badness of trade.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL--Why would you not be-
lieve Powell on his oath? Witness—ls it likely that I
would believe a man when I have heard him swear
times out of number that he would swear anything
if he was paid for It. Had heard him read the Scrip-
tures, and when he came to the name of Christ or the
and say of either, " Let us
the " disciples were the biggest scoun-
drels I ever heard of When he came
burnd isciptlhesa ,tt _ea_rth;,e , part out,
to the name of Judas, he heard him once say, " He
wasdonecapital
it fellow;
forhe got well paid. I would
half." l
a
He used to burn the
leaves he thus tore out. He used these exclamations,
he believed, in the presence of a person named Carr.
have
Re-examined—Carr has several times heard the blas-
phemous language I have sworn to.
By a Juror—lle broke the name of the Saviour from
the leaf several times, and fro= several parts of the
leaf.

.......
By Mr. Baron PLATT—I sometimes read the Scrip-
tures on Sunday, and on the working days read the
newspaper.
Alfred Carr, a carpenter, deposed that he knew
Powell well for many years, and had worked with him
three or lour years, and that he would not believe him
on oath.

Cross-ezamined—As near as I can fix the time I last
worked with Powell was in 1842. It was in the Fe•
bruary. This paper I hold in iny hand is a date I had
made to convince me I was right as to the period I last
worked with him.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL requested the paper might
be handed to him, which was done.
Examination continued—Those dates were made out
by some one in the shop. lam sure it is six years ago
since I worked with Powell. That date of February
refers to a period when Powell was charged with having
attempted the murder of his father. The witness then
went on to corroborate the evidence of the last witness
as to Powell blaspheming, and adding some relating to
the Holy Trinity and the Virgin Mary, of a most gross
and obscene nature. I have also seen him burn partions
of the Genesis. I have known him to destroy the men's
.ex mania ndedtredThtoat_i do
date,
Re
so.
tools. I never destroyed any man's tools. I was a
Chartist in 1838. Although Powell was then on good
terms with me, I know he would have betrayed me if
hecould,
February 9th, 1840, has
only relation to the charge against Powell of attempting
the murder of his father.
By Mr. Baron PLATT—Powell used to take me to
those meetings. I thought ho meant to get mo into
trouble, because he used always to talk of ripping the
policemen's bowels open. I was satisfied that he only
meant to betray me, and that there was no good in it,
and I left before he could lead me into it. lam not a
Chartist, and on the 10th of April was out to preserve
the peace.
James Bennett examined—l know Powell, and first
became acquainted with him four years ago, and used to
mend his boots and shoes. Upon the 3d of April, in the
present year, I met him at the National Hall, Holborn,
and I walked part of the way home with him. On our
road he asked me what I meant to do on the 10th of
April. I said, "Go to the meeting." He then said,
" How do you mean to go?" I asked him what he
meant, and he said, " Do you not mean to go with
arms?" I said I did not, and he said I was ab—
fool if I did not.
Thu rest of his evidence merely went to prove that
Powell used every endeavour to get the witness to arm
himself.

Cross-examined—I never had a gun, pike, sword, or
pistol. I would not join or listen to any argument in
favour of force.
Re-examined—l am a moral force Chartist.
By Mr. Baron PLATT—Orders had been given to the
Chartist body not to go armed to the Kennington-com-
mon meeting. If they had been to the contrary, I should
not have observed them or gone. Before I went to the
meeting with Powell I searched his pockets, to see that
he had nothing in them. That was at Cartwright's.
Ile had spoken about hand-grenades or cartridges, and
had I found anything of the kind upon him, I should have