The Sun.
London, England, 1833-11-05 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION- H 0 USE.
CONSPIRACY BY JOuRNEYMEN.--Yesterday Mr.
Ashurst, the solicitor, appeared before the LORD
MAYOR to charge a journeyman hatter, named Junes
Brown, upon the information of Mr. Southby, a
master hatter, with having violated the law, by in-
timidating, molesting, and obstructing Charles Fishe►
and John Rees, journeymen hatters, by doing whici,
he prevented these journeymen from working for
their employer, the complainant.
The LORD MAYOR—I am very sorry to see a
cage of this kind brought forward. Can it not h«.
sertied el,e where without exposing the unreasonable
and most mischievous conflict between masters and
journeymen ?

_
Mr. Ashurst regretted to say that the conspiracy
of workmen against masters was carried on to
such an alarming height, the workmen persever-
ing in their tyrannical opposition, in conformity with
the Trades' Union, that it was absolutely necessary
to proceed before the magistracy.
The LORD MAYOR (with whom sat Mr. Alder-
man THORP to adjudicate) then proceeded in the
examination, the Justice-roam and the Hall being
crowded with journeymen, who testified their feel-
ing unrestrainedly as the case went on by applaud-
ing what pleased and hissing what displeased them.
The Lord Mayor thought it advisable not to check
the impulse, and certainly the matter came, on that
account, to a speedier conclusion.
Mr. Ashurst stated that the defendant was in
the employment of Mr. Southby, and had a dispute
with that gentleman, who refused to pay six shil-
lings which he (defendant) claimed as due to him.
The question was referred to the Court of
Requests, which was decided in favour of the mas-
ter; but the defendant, with the power of the
Trades' Union at his back, immediately broke up
Mr. Southby's establishment of workmen, and the
master's business was o !course subjected to very
serious injury by such act of oppression. Mr.
Ashurst observed that it must be palpable to every
body that if masters were not relieved from the
dread of an infliction which placed them com-
pletely at the mercy of the journeymen there could
no longer be any security to trade.
The LORD MAYOR—This is a subject which I
perfectly well understand, and I hope, for their own
sakes, that the journeymen will not push it to
decision. I wish to conci►iate all parties, and re-
commend the defendant and those he intimidated to
return to their work.

Defendant—My Lord, I deny the facts stated.
Mr. Southby—They are facts; and the incon-
veniences which I experience from this most cruel
and oppressive conspiracy are inconceivable.
The LORD MAYOR—No doubt; if what you
state can be proved, a master can do nothing in his
own business.

Mr. Flower (of the firm of Alderman Harmer
and Co.) declared that the men would actually be
at work at that moment were it not for the sum-
monses which had been served upon them to attend
to answer the complaint.
Mr. Ashurst said they had no notion of any-
thing of the kind. They acted in obedience to the
Union, which decided that the men employed by
his client should be knocked off. If a resolute
course had not been adopted by Mr. Southby he
would be inevitably subjected to the iron rule of
this tyrannical confederacy.—(Hisse,)
Mr. Flower—The master should not, by ruling
with a rod of iron, provoke such a retaliation.
Mr. LORD MAYOR—Let Mr. Southby be sworn.
Mr. Flower—My Lord, Mr! Southby is the in-
former in this case. Surely you won't swear him.

Mr. Ashurst—No doubt he will be sworn. Thtrc
is no penalty to be shared to operate as a motive to
a partial statement.

The LORD NTAYOR—This is not a Court for
special pleading. I shall hear Mr. Southby's evi-
dence, and decide upon the common sense and
merits of the case, without caring a straw for your
technicalities.

Mr. Southby, sworn, stated that on the sth of
October the defendant came into the premises to
settle, and brought with him four hats, which it
was found were imperfect, and were returned to
him on that account. If the work had been perfect
the defendant would have been entitled to six shil-
lings. On the 7th of October the defendant called
again, and demanded the six shillings, which wit-
ness refused to pay on account of the tinworkmat!-
like manner in which the hats were finished; hut
witness offered him three shillings, considering that
sum quite sufficient.—(Loud hisses.) The defen-
dant then said if he was not paid the six shilling'
he would go into the shop and knock all the men off.

Here Mr. Flower observed the witness to take
out a paper, and appealed to the Lord Mayor foi
his decision whether it was allowable in a person to
read from notes.

The LORD MAYOR—He may refresh hie memory
if he pleases, though, I dare say, it is scarcely ne-
cessary, as he has told the story forty times, no
doubt.—(Loud laughter from the tr9de.)
Witness sent for Ireland, his foreman, to witness
the scene, and told the defendant if he disturbed
the shop a warrant should be procured. Witness
also said that he was ready to meet the defendant
at the Court of Requests, and to abide the decision
of that authority on the question. They went
before the Court of Requests on the 19th of Octo-
ber, witness taking with him the four imperfectly-
finished hats, and a person to give evidence. Tht-
result of the appeal to the Court of Requests was,
that the Commissioners decided in favour of witness,
suggesting at the same time that as witness had
offered three shillings, he might as well give that
sum. He complied, and also gave a shilling to pay
for the summons. He naturally inferred that the
matter would then drop, but he was mistaken. On
the 25th of October his foreman informed him that
the men refused to take any more, and had struck.
Mr. Flower—What was the cause of the dispute ?
Mr. Southby—The cause was the bringing in of the
work in an imperfect state. Perhaps it would be
better not to state the particulars of the imperfection.
Mr. Flower—l wish to know what you mean by
imperfect state ? Mr. Southby—l mean that he
brought the hats in without napping upon the bodies.
Mr. Flower—Might not that have arisen from
accident ? Mr. Southby—Certainly not to so many

as fOur hats; but the fact is I can produce eight. My
apprentice swore before the Commissioner that to
the best of his belief napping had not been put at
all upon the hats.—(Hisses.)
Mr. Flower—ls it the general practice of the
trade to stop payment from the men in the event of
accidental injury ?—(Loud cheers.) Mr. Southby
—I don't know tkat it s.
Mr. Flower—Are not you the 'first master who
ever did so ?—(Cheers.) Mr. Southby—No; Mr.
Hookey has done so; but that lies entirely with the
masters themselves.
_ Mr. Flower—You and Mr. Hookey, then, are
' the only masters who deduct from the wages of the
men in cases of accident?—(Loud cheers and
clapping of hands.) Mr. Southby declared that he
lid not know how many masters acted as he had.
J. Ireland, the foreman to the complainant, stated
that he beard the defendant say that he would
knock the men off if he was not paid the six shil-
Witness also stated that the men refused
to work.
The LORD MAYOR—What has the defendant to
say Defendant—l did not receive the value of
my labour. If the nap was not upon the bodies it
was no fault of mine; it was the fault of the bodies,
which are made in Lancaster, and not by us. I
always endeavour to do my work in a proper man
tier, but we can't work upon bad bodies; and as it
is in boiling water we work we can't discover the
badness of the felt until long after we have corns
menced working at it. When Mr. Southby r
'used to pay me my claim of six shillings, on the
sround of imperfection in the wotk, I told him that
I'd repair it, but he persevered in his refusal.
The LORD MAYOR—Now it is my duty to tell
you that the law is most decidedly against you, and
that this conduct which you have been pursuing
will subject you to very severe punishment. If
your master should act towards you with any kind
of oppression you can at once be redressed by the
Jaw. It remains with the prosecutor to say whether
to will call for judgment ; but I shall interfere with
him for you, if you pledge yourself to return to
work, and nor, under any circumstances, to attempt
the exercise of this tyrannical and unlawful power.
Mr. Ashurst said that some notion might he
''ormed of the spirit by which the body were actii-
oed from the circular sent by the trade to the men
employed by Mr. Southby, namely, " The decision
if the trade respecting James Brown is—his wages
same to six shillings, and the summons to the Court
,f Requests to one; he received through the Court
four shillings; and it is decided by 454 against 27
hat he is entitled to three shillings." Upon the
eceipt of this notification it was expected that the
men would strike immediately.
Mr. Southby—l paid the 3s. to Brown in order
'o stop the terrible inconvenience I was put to by
the cessation of work.
-wax.
The LORD MAYOR—WeII, if those three shillings
ire paid back to you, arid your men all return to
heir work, and promise to enter into no further con-
spiracies, you will withdraw this information ?
Mr. Ashurst said that his client had no objection
to that arrangement. The information should be
.vithdrawn, but if it should be called for again, the
matter should be carried to the extreme.
Mr. Flower said he by all means advised his client
to comply with the suggestion of the Lord Mayor,
and immediately paid the 35., after which tire infor-
mation was withdrawn.
The following are some of the articles of the
trade:-
13. That each member of the Union shall contri-
bute the sum of sixpence per month, in order to
raise a fund to support any man, or body of men,
who may turn out either against a reduction of prices,
the taking of illegal apprentices, or any other ags.
gression on the rights of the trade.
18. Any manufacturer who has not employed six
journeymen for twelve months shall not be entitled
to more than one stranger as an apprentice; but if
such manufacturer has sons of his own he is at full
liberty to take as many of them as he may think
uroper, but such sons not to be out of their time
before the age of twenty-one; and that no mana•
facturer shall be allowed more than two strangers
as apprentices at one time. This means no firm to
have more than two apprentices, although consist-
ing of numerous partners and employing hundreds
of workmen.
22. That any man commencing hat manufae-
rurer who has riot served an apprenticeship to the
trade shall weigh out work for seven years to
journeymen belonging to this Union, after which be
;hall be considered the same as one who has served
his time to the trade.
36. That no man be allowed to find- his own
candles, or to pay walking money or shoprootn,
under a penalty of 10s. 6d.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Peter de Cuse, Joseph Rabele, and James Ber-
trand, two of whom were foreigners, were yesterday
charged with being disorderly, and ringing the bells
at three houses.
Samuel A'CJurt, C 117, stated that at half past
two yesterday morning he had heard the defendants,
together with two or three others, talking and
atighing very loudly. On his arriving facing the
Oriental Club House, he addressed the gentlemen
very civilly, and hoped they would not make so
much noise, as the inhabitants would be disturbed.
l'hey replied that they should stay there as long as
they liked, and do what they liked; and seeing that
they were under the influence of liquor he walked
a few paces away, but in a minute or two after-
wards heard them employed in knocking and ringing
at the houses in Tenterden-street. He again went
lip to them, when they repeated their former ob-
servation, and one put his fist in the constable's
'ace. They were then taken into custody, and &A-
llison, a constable, who came up, was violently as-
saulted by the party.
Mr. CHAMBERS, without receiving the evidence
of the other constables, called upon the defendants
for their defence.
They denied that they were making any noise,
and one said that the constable held him by the
throat until he was black in the face.
Mr. CHAMBERS immediately ordered the defend-
ant who was not charged • with an assault to be
sworn. He then recapitulated his former statement.
Mr. Drew, the Inspector, said that two of the
defendants were very drunk.
This was admitted by the defendant who had
been sworn.
Mr. CHAMBERS said that the constable had no
right to interfere with the gentlemen, and he should
nake the constables find bail. After a moment's
leliberation he said the parties must go down to the
Commissioners. They were, however, to return, as
tie might afterwards, perhaps, hold them to bail.
The parties then went to Scotland-yard, where
•he Commissioners of Police declined interfering,
and sent the case back to the Magistrates.
On a re-hearing of the case it was discovered that
there had been a " mistake," and the gentlemen
were fined ss. each.
Q UEEN-S QUARE.
UNSTAMPED PUBLICATIONS.—SEIZURE OF THE
POLICE GAZETTE.—Yesterday George Hardman,
of No. 6, King's-court, Great Suffo,k-street, South-
vstk, was brought up in custody, charged with
sell-no two unstamped weekly Newspapers called
the Gauntlet and the Reformer.
Henry Serveir, a parochial constable of St Sa-
viour's, Southwark, residing at No. 2, in the Grove,
Guildford-street, Borough, on Sunday morning saw
the defendant selling the above publications in the
New-cut, Lambeth.
James Haugh, of No. 1, Thomas-street, Borough,
proved buying one of each papers.
A whole bundle of the papers w
were all of
to Mr. White, the Magistrate; they
them for waste
them old numbers, about a fortnight old. There
were also a number of unstamped almanacks.
paper.He to the charge, said they
p.o)r man, and did not know that
weTrehoelddeffieurnnidtawnrt,s,iti.nrdepliyie
bought
as a
illegal.
115 here handed
Itte watedoing anything
Mr. WHITE told him that from the number of
nfortunate creatures who had been brought to the
Police offices every person must know that they

were acting illegally, As :t was not proved, how-
ever, that he had been cautioned, tie should, instead
of committing him for three months, send him for
six weeks *r. the House of Correction.

James Reeves, of No. 2, Lambeth-square, New-
cut, was charged by Serveir with selling an un-
stamped publication called the Police Gazette.
The evidence in this else was precisely similar to
'the last, with the addition that the defendant re-
listed being taken into custody, and that he called
srut to the mob to rescue him. He held up some
.of his papers, exclaiming, " Englishmen, English-
men, if you are Englishmen will you let me be
taken for selling unstamped papers ?" A mob of
three or four hundred persons assembled. On the
road to the station-house the defendant struck him;
artother man came up and stopped him, and he was
compelled to strike the man with his staff before he
would let him pass. The mob made a rush upon
them, and about twenty of them were knocked
down over an old woman's apple-stall. He (Ser-
veir)had a quantity of mud thrown at him. Some
of the police came up and the prisoner was secured.
The defendant contended that the selling of the
Police Gazette was perfectly justifiable. He was a
gold-chaser by trade, but could get no employment,
and was compelled to sell different works to support
his wife and family. With regard to striking the
constable it was false, and he had a dozen persons
outside who could prove to the contrary.
Mr. WHITE said he should commit him for the
full period of three months to the House of Cor-
zr.-.ction.

Defendant—l did not behave with violence. I
suppose you will hear my witnesses although I am
a poor man. I have n number of witnesses outside
to contradict the charge of violence.
Mr. WHITE made no reply.
Defendant—l can prove, Sir, that the charge of
violence is a conspiracy against me. That man
(pointing to Serveir) I heard say at the station-
house to his companion, in a low tone of voice,
" Mind, he struck." This, Sir, is false, and I have
witnesses ready to prove that I went quietly to the
station-hcuse.

Mr. WHITE directed that all legal papers should
be delivered up to the defendant, and that the others
should be detained.

Defendant—These fellows have robbed me of
about three pounds worth of property ; my wife
and family must now go to the workhouse; they
have no other means of support ; this is the way
that the poor rates are increased by such tyrannical
proceedings. (To the Magistrate)—l thank you,
Sir, for your merciful kindness. The defendant was
theti removed.