The Sun.
London, England, 1833-04-09 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WARWICK ASSIZES.
TRIAL OF THE NUNEATON RIOTERS.

It will be recollected that during the late election
for the northern division-of Warwickshire, at which
Sir E. Wilmot and Mr. Dugdale were the success-
ful, and Mr. Dempster Heming the unsuccessful,
candidates, the polling was said to have been inter-
rupted at Nuneaton by the violence of a most out-
rageous mob. The Rev. S. B. Heming, a magis-
trate, residing in the town, and brother of the losing
candidate, was also charged with inciting and abet-
ting the rioters, and during the last term a rule
Nisi, to show cause why a criminal information
should not be filed against him for so doing, was ob-
tained in the Court of King's Bench. Mr. Heming
will show cause early in the next term. In the
interim, however, the supporters of Mr. Dugdale,
against whom the principal violence was directed,
have iastituted prosecutions against some of the
principal rioters.
On Saturday last, at the Warwick Assizes, before
Mr. Justice BOSANQUET, William Betteridge and
Thomas Watts were placed at the bar, charged with
having, on the 21st of December last, at Nuneaton,
together with divers other persons unknown, unlaw-
fully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled to-
gether, and for refusing to disperse themselves, on
proclamation being made in the King's name, com-
manding them so to do, and for felonionsly remaining
•ogether for the space of one hour after such pro-
clamation was made, contrary to the statute, and
against the peace, &c.
Mr. CLARKE, Mr. Sergeant GOULBURN, and Mr.
BALGUY appeared as Counsel for the prosecution.
Mr. CLARKE stated the case to the jury. The
indictment was founded upon a salutary statute, the
Ist George 1., which enacted, that any assemblage
of persons to the number of twelve, who continued
together after the Riot Act had been read and pro-
claimed, should be adjudged guilty of a capital fe-
lony. In December last, the election took place fcr
the Northern Division of Warwickshire, and Nunea-
ton, the scene of the disturbances which would
shortly be detailed to the jury, was one of the poll-
ing places appointed under the Act. On Friday
morning, at nine o'clock, the polling commenced,
when he (the Learned Counsel) should be able to
show that the most violent and successful attempts
were made to prevent Mr. Dugdale's voters going
to the poll. On a voter in that gen•leman's inte-
rest presenting himself, the cry was, " There's a
Dugdale—kill him;" it was alleged that a relation of
one of the candidates—the Rev. T.B. Heming, a ma-
gistrate and a clergyman, was often seen give the mob
signals for attack. The riot and violence rose to
such an extent that the Riot Act was read by Mr.
Inge,a respectable magistrate for the county, and ulti-
mately the military were called in to clear the
streets. He should distinctly prove that the pri-
soners, with others who had since absconded, were
amongst the most active of the rioters; and that
the town, during almost the whole of the day, was
in a state of the most outrageous and disgraceful
disturbance. The Learned Counsel was proceed-
ing to make some strong observations upon the
evidence which would be brought forward on the
part of the prosecution, when he was interrupted
by Mr. Hill, who protested against an " inflArrima-
tory electioneering speech, when the prisoners were
on their trial for a capital offence."
After evidence had been called for the prosecu-
tion, to support the above allegations, and on the
part of the defence to rebut it,

The Learned Judge summed up, leaving for the
consideratiop of the jury whether or not there was
any riotous and tumultuous assembly ; whether it
continued for more than one hour after the reading
of the Riot Act; whether both or either of the pri-
soners were engaged in the riot; and lastly, whe-
ther there was such a reading of the Act as came
within the meaning of the statute. Having concluded,
The jury, without leaving the box, found both
the prisoners Not Guilty
The trial lasted from eleven in the morning until
eleven at night.

Against Betteridge, who is a noted pugilist, and
has been the leader of the fighting mobs at the
several elections at Coventry, Borough of Warwick,
and North Warwickshire, there are five other in-
dictments for common riot and assault. He was to
take his trial yesterday (Monday).

GALWAY ASSIZES, APRIL 3.