The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-19 00:00:00

uc4c.fw.:, r,ot,

TUE C.

1 ~ii ISTS.

EXAMINATION AT BOW-STREET.

The numerous bodies of Chartists apprehended in London
Wednesday evening last by the metropolitan police were
brought up for examination at the police-court in Bow-
street yesterday morning (Friday), at eleven o'clock.
Mr. Hall was the presiding magistrate, the ordinary
charges, summonses, &c., being disposed of by Mr. Henry
in an adjoining room.

The court continued very crowded throughout the pro-
eeedings, which occupied the whole of the day. A strong
force of police, armed with cutlasses, were on duty in and
about the precincts of the court ; but no desire to attempt a
disturbance was anywhere manifested.
Mr. Clarkson attended to conduct the prosecution, and the
pus • oners were defended, apparently without their knowledge,
by Mr. Macnamara, a solicitor in Lincoln's Inn-fields, who
complained to the Court, once or twice, of his having been
denied access to his clients at the police-station unless in the
presence of an insepctor.
The first eleven placed at the:bar were Joseph Ritchie,
Alfred Abel, William Gurney, John Sheppard, James
Snowball, James Richardson, George Greensledge, Henry
Small, Edward Scudding, William Byrne, and Philip Mar-
tin. They were chiefly journeymen shoemakers or brick-
layers, and, with one or two exceptions, seemed little dis-
posed to treat the matter with that levity which marked the
conduct of the prisoners in the earlier stages of the late
Chartist prosecutions.
Mr. Clarkson opened the proceedings by briefly detailing
the leading particulars of the disclosures of Wednesday
evening, from which it was impossible to doubt that an in-
surrection in London was seriously contemplated, and that
measures fraught with danger to the public peace and private
property were in active preparation. It was intended, by
force of arms, to violate the laws of this country and set the
Government at defiance; and, however absurd such a thing
might seem, it was clear from the words, deeds, and
designs of these men that a general rise in hostility to the
constituted authorities had been determined upon. Hap-
. pily, however, for the respectable portion of society, just in
proportion to the baseness and wickedness of a cause were
its objects the more likely to be frustrated by the act of one
or more of the men themselves, who may have combined for
its promotion. That was a protection which the public
might always calculate upon, and nearly always possessed
at such times and under such circumstances as those to
Which the present proceedings had relation.
The Learned Counsel then examined the- following wit-
nesses
Nicholas Pearce, superintendent of the F division—On
Wednesday evening -last, about six o'clock, I went to the
Orange Tree public-house, Orange-street, Red Lion-square,
accompanied by a number of officers, and found the whole of
the prisoners there in a room on the first floor front. We
took them all into custody, and found under the chairs and
benches which they had been occupying a number of com-
bustible balls covered with tow saturated with turpentine.
I took two large clasp-knives from Ritchie, whose hat and
clothes smelt strongly of turpentine. He refused to give his
address, but afterwards, told me, at the station-house, that
' he had only recently returned from France.
Cross-examined—The door of the room was not locked.
We had no difficulty in getting in. The men were in con-
versation with each other.
Sergeant Thompson of the F division, who accompanied
the last witness, picked up a paper in the room purporting
to be a certificate of the appointment of Greensledge and
Byrne as Chartist delegates of the " Thomas Ptsine" branch.
Having afterwards learned where Ritchie lived, witness went
to the house, No. 2, Cross-court, Russell-court, Drury-lane,
and found in the kitchen, occupied by him, 117 ball-car-
tridges, four bullet-moulds, four loose bullets, three combus-
tible balls (covered with pitch, and having a fusee running
into the centre of them), some powder-horns and a quart
bottle, all containing powder, a bayonet, a ladle for melting
lead, fifty percussion caps, a quantity of small shot, several
pieces of lead, two pamphlets on the Charter, and other
papers.
Police-constable F 136 proved that Ritchie had lived in
the kitchen in question, which was formerly occupied by
himself (witness).
Constable 18 G, on searching the lodgings of the prisoner
Scudding, at No. 31, Cock-lane, Smithfield, found in his box
a card of the "London Life Protection Society," upon which
the name of the prisoner was written, as being entitled to
" one musket."
Thirteen other prisoners were now placed at the bar, as the
remainder of the evidence chiefly affected them, although
involving several of the party found at the Orange-tree pub-
lic- house.
They were—Charles Taylor, George Cox, William Poole,
Cnarles Wicks, Thomas Herbert. Thomas lons, James Brow-
ton, Hugh'Conway, Alexander Hardy, Samuel Hardy, James
John Norton, William Winspere, and Samuel Morgan. They
were of much the same class as the first lot of prisoners,
although, upon the whole, an inferior body of men.
Superintendent Rutt, of the L division said, that upon in-
formation lie proceeded with a body of men on the same
evening (Wednesday) to the Angel public-house, in Webber-
street, Blackfriars-road. 'they found the whole of the pri-
soners (with one who managed to escape in the confusion)
in a back room—the tap. Witness had a cutlass in one hand,
and a loaded pistol in the other, and threatened to shoot or
cut down any one who offered resistance. The officers then
began to search the prisoners, while witness kept strict watch
on their movements, especially as he had seen weapons in
the breasts of one or two of the party. All the weapons
produced were found in their possession ,
Cross-examined—No
,resistance. on--the part of the pri-
soners was attempted. Ile saw that Conway had a pike
under his waistcoat.
Constable L 124 searched George Cox, and found his
membership card, and another, both produced.
Constable L 21 searched Winspere, who had his body en-
cased in the shield-plate produced (apparently part of a
coal-skuttle), wearing it under his clothing, and tightly
,strapped round him. Witness also took the pike-head pro-
- duced from the same prisoner.
Constable L 6 searched Thomas Herbert. Nothing par-
ticular was found upon him, but he took 75 ball-cartridges,
wrapped in a handkerchief, from under the seas where he
was sitting, between lons and Winspere.
Constable L 112 searched James Browton, and found the
sword produced between his shirt and trousers, and a dagger
in his left-hand pocket. The guard to the handle of the
sword was in his hat. A small screw-wrench was taken from
his jacket pocket.
Constable L 106 searched Hugh Conway, and found upon
him two large pike-heads, which had been concealed under
his coat. He also found upon him some Chartist cards, and
a special constable's warrant, which had been originally
made out in the name of William Sparks, but the name had
been erased, and that of " Hugh Conway " inserted there
instead.
Inspector Rogers, of the L division, searched the lodgings
in which Samuel Morgan lived, in Bond-street, Borough-
road. He found there an old sword, a loadel cudgel, two
Chartist cards, and an order of the South London Life Pro-
tection Society, entitling the holder to " one piker also a
pamphlet on the Charter.
Inspector ArnOld found a sword at the house occupied by
Poole, in Northampton-place, East- lane. It hung from the
wall of a room in which his children were sleeping on the
floor. •

Constable L 184 searched Samuel Morgan, finding a pike-
head in his coat-pocket, and 15 ball-cartridges in a piece of
rag.

Inspector Carter took a sword from the urinal adjoining
the room, having previously seen it placed there by one of
the prisoners.
Thomas Powell examined—l am a carpenter, and live at
23, Gloucester-row, Gloucester-street, lloxton. I have been
a member of the Chartist Association, and was elected a
delegate of the Cripplegate district branch, which held its
meetings at Mr. Cartwright's, in Cripplegate. I continued
to attend the meetings after my election. On Tuesday
evening last I went to the Lord Denman beer-shop, in Web-
her-street, to a meeting of delegates, of whom there were
about forty present. The prisoner Ritchie was one of them.
Gurney was also present ; but I do not identify any of the
other prisoners at the bar as being there also. It was pro-
posed at this meeting by one of the speakers that a deputa-
tion should retire to a neighbouring coffee-house in the same
street, to consult together and come to certain decisions, and
afterwards to communicate the result to the meeting. This
speaker said he bad just arrived from the north, after taking
a tour round to the principal towns. Ile told us that he
had been watched by a policeman for the last four hours.
He had been told so by a boy, as he was leaving bis house.
He said that the people of Manchester and Liverpool, and (I
think) of Birmingham, were up and doing, or would be
doing, that very night. About five of the delegates then re-
tired, and returned again in three-quarters of an hour, but
•I • the speaker alluded to did not come back with them. A man
then stood up and acted as chairman. His name was Mul-
N. Ibis. Ritchie and Gurney were still present. The chairman
said, " Gentlemen, you are all aware that the sub-committee
having retired,and come to certain resolutions and decisions,
have appointed me to give you certain instructions, which
they have agreed upon. You all understand very well what
we have met here for. Now, gentlemen, I have one clues-
. t ion to ask you ; and you understand there is to be no
flinching—yon must speak out honestly and boldly whe-
ther you mean to come forward as men or not. To-
morrow night the blow must be struck. I wish to put this
question plainly to you—whether you intend and are pre-
pared to come out, every one of you, to a man ?" Here
some one remarked that there was no time to lots, and he
had better put it round the- room " Yes" " No," whether
they would come out or not ; upon which the chairman did
put it to the delegates, each separately, including my-
self. He asked the person next to me first, and he said
" Yes." Then he asked me, and I said " Yes," also.—(A
laugh. ) And the same question was put to every one pre-
sent. There were only two who said " No." Ritchie and
Gurney both gave their assent. The chairman then gave
directions that on Wednesday night, Mt eight o'clock, every
delegate was to assemble the members of his locality, at their
place of meeting, all armed and ready. Some one of the de-
legates asked how they were to come with their arms without
being detected. The chairman said, " Come in the best way
you can." Some delegates inquired bow was it possible to
conceal their pikes? The chairman said, the further direc-
tions I have to give to you are these—" We shall take up four
positions." One of the delegates, Mr. Brewster, was to bead
the body at Clerkenwell-green ; another, Mr. Payne, was to
take the Tower Hamlets; and Mr. Mullins and Mr. Bassett
were to take the Broadway, Westminster, and the Seven
Dials districts.
The Learned Counsel here applied for warrants for the ap-
Prehension of the four leaders mentioned by the witness.
_ aLaxamination continued—The chairman said, that every
mpast would be expected to be at his post at twenty minutes
nine o'clock to a second. Arrangements were then made,
m pursuance of a previous understanding, as to what should'
be done by theptleifent assemblages, under the command of
their leaders. Each
good and true,upon
whomdelegate pe3r,esceonnti
could
was to bringfor d
ofionugr
amneyn.,
thine. and everything, and Ritchie was appointed the super-
intendent of that
Orange Tree
was proposed that they should
meet at the
afternoon,
public-house, precisely at five
o'clock, on Wednesday
they were to tire houses, erTl". It was understocal that
Premises, or anything.
RitcliA wasi Present at the OrainwaY'rree at a previous meet-
ing when this course was decided upon and the diuctions
easfeteiercltteiAcbliyie
given out. On the Tuesday eveninu
ap-
ptedleader of the band of men tog h,
ttveasdele
gates, some one went round the room to ascertain
person present the number of firm men he could insure
from each
and the
number of forty-five was promised. Brewster
guninakers' shops must be seized if they could
asialid that the
requisite
supply of arms elsewhere. ' his was said is the
to a question put to him by one of the delegates, 131 reply,;
is called a warden, and, according to the Chartist Brewster -er organiza-
tion, each warden has the command of 100 men in his dis-
trict. I was asked how many men I would bring to fellow
Ritchie, and I replied that I was sure of one, and would ask
two. Gurney said to me, " Oh, nonsense, you can get five
or six if you like. I can, and shall." Gurney was not
district representative, but he told me that he attended at
the Orange Tree, not for the purpose of acting himself, but
to show the confidential men whom he had secured what
course to take under Ritchie's directions. He told me this
• at-the police station, where I was admitted to see him after
he was in custody. At ,the meeting on Tuesday another of
the prisoners, Poole, produced some tai-colour wristbands,
similar to the one produced (found on one of the other pri-
soners), These were distributed among the delegates only,