The Sun.
London, England, 1833-07-05 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 5, 1833.

assault. There never was a charge against him respect-
ing his apprentice. Never had an apprentice. Was
°nee, in 1819 or 1820, hied at the Middlesex Ses-
sions, with his two men, for assaulting a boy, and was
convicted, he paid 10/. to the prosecutor, and there it
'tided. The boy was pulled off his horse by two of his
men, and airy wore indicted. He was brought up as ar
architect, but he employed himself in spending his private
fortune in a building sp•eulation until he accumulated
between 40,000/. and 50,000/. He did not know of the
proposed meeting until he saw a proclamation ; he consi-
dered it not a proclamatio❑ because it was not signed,
and he considered it was to he disregarded. It cautioned
persons froth holding an illegal meeting nn the following (1.. y.
It stated the object of the meeting to he "to adopt prepara-
tory measures for holding a National Convention, as the only
means of obtaining and securing the rights of the peoplt,"
and it stated that such a meeting would be illegal, and
warned all classes against attending it.
Mr. PHILLIPS having objected to parole evidence of
the contents of the proclamation, the Solicitor-General
put in a espy of it which was read.
Cross-examination continued—A copy of that procla-
mation was posted o❑ the wall of Coldhat'a•fields meeting
on the 13th May, and which witness thought ought to be
disregarded, as, though it was signed "by the Secretary
of State," it did not specify what Secretary of State. He
had not give❑ it a thought as to whether he considered
such a meeting legal or illegal. He saw flags ; one had a
death's bead and cross bones. All the same flags, and more
too, were at a former meeting at the same place, which was
attended by Mr. O'Connell, and passed off quietly. On the
flag having the death's head and cross bones, was the
motto " Liberty or death." The police attacked the
people as soon as the Illagscame up. He saw the American
flag unfurled, but did not see the person who held it wave
it; could ❑ot tell the person of the man who carried it.
There was a caravan there half an hour before the
police came; the chairman at first got into the
caravan, and the driver, finding they would ❑ot
pay him, drove him about thirty feet up Calthorpe-
street, when the boy Lee and the chairman, Mee,
jumped out, and went and ascended the railing. Lee, as
he thought, in an impertinent manner, proposed Mee as
chairman. Witness did not intend to take any part in
the proceedings, for he despised the meeting. Witness was
in his own balcony. He heard the chairman request the
meeting to preserve peace, for that it was important
to their• cause that they should peaceably conduct their
proceedings ; and that he was much obliged to the Whig
Government for advertising their meeting, as it gave
them an importance which they did before not possess. He
the❑ halted, and asked the people if they were pre-
pared to sacrifice one-tenth of their earnings to sup-
port his wife and family,—if not, he requested them
not to tell him to go on. And at this time the
police made their appearance, the flags having just before
come up. The lag with the death's-head and cross bones,
and the other three flags were within three or four feet of
the chairman. The police tried to seize the flags. He
saw one flag-staff had a spear bead. He did not see the
American gag taken by Redwood, nor could he recognise
the prisoner; had not seen Brook or Redwood on that
day; two divisions of police came down Calthorpe-street ;
the last one, the E division, with Mr. Thomas at their
head, was the one witness addressed.

Re-examined—The incursion by the police en the pee!,
ple took place before the American flag was seised. Was
made a Magistrate under the present Whig Government.
Was always a reformer, and continued so, but was turned
out by the present Government. At the former meeting
there was no riot and no police. The American flag produced
seemed to have seen much service. Could not tell whether
it was used at Birmingham when the present Ministry
was in power.

Mr. i'HlLurs—They may have it again, perhaps, on
a similar occasion.

Witness—All Calthorpe-street (but six houses) and
Gough-street belonged to witness. His property there
was worth upwards of 60,0001. Never saw the prisoner
before this morning. He had seen proclamations before,
but they were either signed by a Secretary of State, by
name, or headed by the " King in Council." If witnees
could have had but half a dozen policeman he could have
cleared the ground.

James Michael Austin Courtenay was on the 13th of
May a reporter to the Courier newspaper. He went to
Coldhath-fields to attend the meeting for that paper. He
arrived there before twelve o'clock, when there
was a small collection of persons there, but not
more than he had often seen there on a Monday.
There was no disposition then, or at any part of
that day, to riot on the part of the people. He
saw the chairman and another person get into a van
about half-past two o'clock. Then there were about
2,000 people about the spot, among whom were a great
number of women, and boys and girls. The feeling of
the multitude was that of ridicule, and when the van
drew off there was a shout of laughter. Imme-
diately after Mee commenced to address the crowd,
witness got admission to Mr. Stallwood's balcony, which
commanded a view of all the place. The witness then
detad the proceedings of the meeting as stated by Mr.
Stall wood. When the bannete came up, the banner men
were loudly cheered. He did not observe the person by
whom the American flag was carried. He had not been
hardly a second in Mr. Stallwood's balcony when the
police drew up, and halted at about one third of
the length of Calthorpe.street, and in his own
view, there were three other bodies advancing in different
directions, so as completely to block up all the avenues,
and the four bodies completely enclosed the people. When
the police came up Calthorpe-street, the people fronting
the chairman separated, so at: to make a clear way up to
the hustings. That body of police, having halted for half
a minute, proceeded to march, and the end men of each rank
thrust and struck all persons who were standing quietly on
the flags. As soon as they began to march, they began
to beat, and the people cried out " Shame." The people
made no attack, nor offered any obstruction to the police;
before the police got to the end of Cdthorpe-street, they
attacked a great number of persons. He saw the Cal.
thorpe-street party run after people who were running
away, and strike them and knack them down by blows
on the head. Those were perfectly innocent, and were
endeavouring to get away. The people never attempted
to obstruct the police. People who were running away
were followed by the police in Calthorpe-street, and struck
across the shins and other parts of the body until they
dropped. The people, hemmed in as they were, had no
means of escape until the police, in breaking their own
line, afforded them the means. Saw one policeman fol
low a man, and strike him repeated severe blows on the
bare bead until he fell. Other policemen he saw striking
at the people, who were before maimed and lying on the
ground. The police rushed upon the chairman to seize
him. He then observed two girls violently pushed by the
staves of the police, who were standing quietly on Mr.
Stallwood's steps, and other persons standing there were
violently assaulted by the police. At the time the rush
was made at the chairman, a rush was made by the po-
lice to secure the banners, which they accomplished. He
saw a man running away struck by three policemen ;
upon remonstrating with the police, he was called by an
odious name, and threatened to be served in the same way
himself. Until the police made the attack, the people
were most quiet and orderly.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL objected to examining this
witness as to the attack by the police on the people.

This objection was over-ruled.
Mr. Courtenay then deposed, that after the banner had
been taken, the treatment of the people was frightful in
the extreme. He saw two wome❑ knocked down by the
police, and much abused. He saw some persons who had
their arms broken in the affray, and their heads much
injured.
Cross-examined by the SOLICITOR-GxNERAL---Sawl
liipte the meeting, several persons who had their arms
broken on the day of the meeting. The people, as they
proceeded with the banners, cheered, but they did not
wave them. He could not say who carried the banner
which was seized. He considered that he saw three ranks
of the police in Calthorpe.street, and that there were, he
would not hesitate to say, twenty or thirty abreast in each
rank.—(Several persons were put forward by the Solicitor
General, but Mr. Courtenay could not recognise them.)
Had seen Fursey three or four times within the last few
weeks, having called on him.
Re-examined by Mr. CLARKSON-Never knew that
there was such a person as Fursey in the world, until
after this affair took place. The acts of violence were
certainly those of individual policemen, but it was irnpoo-
sible to distinguish one from another—they were a% in
brutality, alike.
Re-examined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL-From the
manner in which Calthorpe-street was described, a police-
man or two might have been stabbed in it without his

seeing the proceeding ; but if they had banners, he thought
he must have seen them.
The Rev. James Piercy examined by Mr. PHILLIPS
Is Minister of Dunhill. fields. Was passing on the 13th
of May last from Bagnigge Wells to Wilson-street, Gray's
Inn-road, in no way connected with the meeting, which.
composed of many hundreds, was perfectly peaceable.
The witness then described the rush by the police. .fhe
people attempted to escape, but were prevented by she
police, wl o were in ambush, and rushing out of every
avenue, prevented the possibility of escape. He saw many
people knocked down ; and one in particular, who was,
in fact, "deluged in blood." He saw some of the people
us up Margaret-street, pursued by the police, who struck
them, men, women, an I children, violently and indiscri-
minately in his presence.
Cross-examined by Mr. AnoLrturs—Sa,r, the people
bearing the banners, and did not hear any cheering.
John Hudson, eramined by Mr. Psuct.trs—ls s hair
(:,eseer, living in little Guildford-street, Russell-square.
Was at the meatiag at Coldhath-fields ahout four o'clock.
Went to the meeting out of curiosity, in consequence of
having seen the government Proclamation. Saw the van
dr,ve up. The witness having described the commence-
ment of the affair, said, that the police marched from
Ca!thorpe-street in military order, in a close body,
pressing the people into a more compact space. One of
the inspectors, a stout man, then gave his men the word,
pointing at the same time towards the banner, " Seize
those men ;" the police thereon rushed into the crowd,
cutting away in all directions; during which scene he
heard another inspector cry out, " Go it, my lads."
Witness was knocked down, and endeavoured to make his
escape by G ough-street, but found it blocked up, on
which he ran towards Caltborpe-street, where there were
❑umbers of people also endeavouring to escape, and
amongst them a labourer, whose head was cut open, and
whose blood trickled down on him (witness) ; in another
spot, where witness succeeded in escaping, he saw a po-
liceman knock an old m:n down with his staff, and cut
his head open. He also saw him knock down a boy in a
similar manner, and he afterwards saw the policema❑
taken to a doctor's shop with his hand in a sling ; he saw
a man with a banner, and eight or ten policemen striking
at him, on which the people in the balconies cried out
" Shame, shame." An old woman who was standing with
witness also cried out " Shame," and added, " Oh, ye
scoundrels, they have wives and children, and do not
murder them ;" on which one of the policemen came
up and struel; and cut the old woman, and another of
them struck witness, After some further confusion, be
heard that a " policemen was stabbed," and he could swear
that that man, whom he saw borne between two men,
was the same man who bad knocked the old man and the
I- ay down. Witness, on having recognised him, said,
" Thank God, you have got it ! for you richly deserved
it." Witness subsequently dressed the heads of three per-
sons who had been severely wounded ; and amongst them
an old man, whose brain he thought he could see.
Brooks, one of the men who was stabbed, was bete
celled by the SOLICITOR GENERAL, but not having been
in Court, Redwood was ordered to stand up, and the
witness said that he had every reason to believe that he
(Redwood) was the man. . .

Brcoks, who was also stabbed, was then put into the
box, and the witness stated that "he did not know that
he had seen hi, all in the affray."
Examination of witness continued by the SOLICITOR-
GENERAL—Went to the meeting for information ; but
could not say what the terms national convention meant.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL inquired of the witness,
whether, if the meeting had been one to put down King,
Lords, and Commons, he would have considered it a
proper meeting? but the question having been objected
to by Mr. Purturs, was overruled.

Examination continued—Witness did not consider the
meeting an ill gal one. He saw the prisoner at the bar
struggling with eight or ten policemen, at the end of
Calthorpe.street. The prisoner held a banner, and the
police were striking him, and trying to take a banner,
which he held in his hand, from him. The struggle,
perhaps, lasted for two minutes between the police, who
were increasing, and Fursey, who still held the banner,
and was frequently entangled, hands and feet, with some
of those who attacked him. They at last got the banner
from him, and, about four or five minutes after, saw the
man who was stabbed. He did not see him struggling
with Furseyobut saw him within a short distance of him.
Witness kept sight of Fursey until the banner was taken
from him, after which he did not see him. Re saw ten
or a down policemen, who appeared so much affected with
liquor, that they were barely able to walk, which they
effected in a sort of " tripping" manner. Others of them
he observed rather partially drunk ; and Redwood ap-
peared to him to be affected in the same partially drunk
state.

Re-examined by Mr. Parturs—Saw at least a dozen
persons knocked down in Calthorpe-street by the police-
men. Redwood's manner was outrageously violent; and,
when witness last had sight of him, he was cutting right
and left at the people. Witness had nothing whatever to
do with the business of the meeting.
John Smee, an oilman, examined by Mr. CLARKSON—
Deposed that be resides in North-place, Gray's Inn-lane,
and that he went into the Calthorpe Arms on the day of
the meeting to get his family's beer, and saw 'numbers of
the police there eating and drinking. He saw the police
afterwards march from Dawson's stables towards the
people, with their staves grasped firmly in their hands,
and headed by Baker, their inspector, who held his staff
in a similar manner, and led the men on encouraging
them to knock the people down. He afterwards saw
nearly a down people knocked down by the police op•
posite his own door, and saw two or three of the police
pursue a man, and, unable to come up with him, saw
them throw their staves after him. Afterwards witness
allowed five or six women and a child refuge in his 'hop.
Mr. William Carpenter. examined by Mr. PHILLIP►--
Lives at Penlington-place, Lambeth, and is one 5I the
editors of an evening paper. The witness corroborated
Mr. Courtenay's evidence. He saw three or four gen-
tlemen subseinently who had stood up in a sort of al-
cove, struck by several policemen, although they had
done nothing more than remonstrate with the police.
be also saw an old woman knocked down on the
ground. Did not, throughout the whole of the pro-
ceedings, see any stones thrown, nor any thing in the
whole demeanour of the people to provoke the attack of
the police.
Cross-:,xarnined by Mr. WEIGHTMAN—Heard that the
meeting was to call together a national convention. Saw
the people have banners; and observed a struggle at the
end of Calthorpe street, between the police and a man for
a banner. He did not see the banner taker ; and a
policeman in the struggle :night have been stabbed without
his seeing the event. He did not bear that a man was
stabbed until he returned to the office.

Re-examined by Mr. Pniwrs---Saw ten or a dozen
police:nen struggling with the nian for a banner ; and
say., the man who held it grasp it firmly with both his
hands.

Mr. William Robinson, a surgical instrument maker,
deposed to the indiscriminate attack made by the police on
the persons assembled. He said he himself was knocked
down, and severely cut near the eye, which bled pro-
fusely. The witness here exhibited the mark of the
wound he received. When knocked down (he continued),
six or eight policemen fell on him, and beat him most
unmercifully; which rendered him unable to work for a
fortnight afterwards. The witness considered they would
have used him worse, but that they saw a boy pass, whom
they followed, which favoured witness's escape. On his
way home, he met Charles Wheeler, to whom he spoke ;
on which a
policeman who was present struck Wheeler,
and knocked hitn down.
Cross-examined by Mr. ADOLPHUS The people
neither shouted nor cheered. The flags which they bore
were furled when they reached the caravan. When the
flag bearers came up, a great addition to the numbers of
the meeting accompanied them. It was nearly night
when he (witness) heard that a policeman had been
stabbed.

Reexamined by Mr. CLARKSON—He saw nothing i n
the conduct of the people to warrant the attack on them
by the police.
William Foster, professor of music, deposed to the
violence of the police.
A nunsber of other witnesses for the defence having
been called, and the case baying been brought to a close,
Mr. CLAREsort proceeded to call the witnesses to
character, a great number of whom (all respectable trades-
men) were in attendance, and deposed, during the various
periods that they had known the prisoner, that they had
always remarked him as a man of a most mild and humane
d e•position.

Redwood, the policeman, was then re-called by the
SoLicuoit-GlazotiaAL...He deposed that be was not in