The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-18 00:00:00

OBSTRUCTING THE POLICE.

A curious case has been heard at the Manchester County
Court, in which, after it hail occupied the court six hours,
the jury failed to agree on a verdict. It was an action
brought against the police for damages alleged to have
been sustained by the plaintiff in being imprisoned by
them for one hour. The plaintiff had inter-
fered when the police had taken a friend into cus-
tody on a charge of drunkenness and furious driving, upon
which he was himself taken into custody. When the case
came before the magistrates it was discharged, thereupon
arose the action. The judge laid it down that the charge
was that Mr. Heap, the plaintiff, interfered with the
police when they were in discharge of their duty ;
but if the police had Mr. Wagstaffe, his friend,
improperly in custody they were not in the discharge of
their duty. In summing up he said, " unless it had
been made out to the satisfaction of the jury that
Mr. Heap had been guilty of obstruction—that was, that
he hindered or overawed by force the police in the dis-
charge of their duty—the charge against him could not be
sustained and the justification could not be accepted,
therefore they would have to return a verdict for Mr.
Heap. If Mr. Heap had only used remonstrance and
argument, so as to induce the constable not to take Wag-
staffe into custody, that could not be considered an ob-
struction." The jury were, however, unable to settle the
matter.

THE POLITICAL EVICTIONS IN SOUTH

WALES.

The long-promised Conference, protesting against the
late political evictions in South Wales, met on Tuesday at
Aberystwith. The morning meeting was hold at the
Temperance Hall, and was presided over by Mr. E. M.
Richards, M.P., and among those present were Mr.
Morley, M.P., Colonel Cowell Stepney, M.P., Mr. Dillwyn,
31. P., &c. Delegates were in attendance from most
of the counties and towns of South Wales. The
Chairman read a number of letters, chiefly from
members of constituencies in North and South Wales,
who were unable to attend from various causes, and some
of whom declined to attend as not agreeing in the object
of the meeting. Mr. Davis, M.P. for Anglesey, Colonel
Edwardes, M.P. for Haverfordwest, Lord Hyde, Mr.
Parry, M.P., Mr. Hanbury Tracy, and others, expressed
their sympathy with the object of the meeting.
Mr. Owen Stanley, in replying to the circular requesting
his attendance, said,—" I am bound to say that I do
not approve of the object of the meeting." He
thought it best to let the evil cure itself. Evictions and
intimidations were sure, he said, to work their own cure.
Nothing could be more injurious (wrote Mr. Stanley) than
to set landlord and tenant at variance, of which they had
proof in the state of Ireland. Wales had always been
loyal and true ; she had no wrongs to be redressed ("Oh,
oh,") but enjoyed to the full equal laws with England.
(Hisses.) Sir J. Hanmer deprecated the object of the
meeting, which would be holding up Welsh landlords and
tenants as different to others. He added, "It would
not become me to take part in a meeting attributing to
Wales what my part of Wales (Flintshire) is certainly
free from." Sir Thomas Lloyd, M.P. for CavEgan borough,
declined to attend the conference, and thought the move-
ment injudicious. He considered the matter ought
to have been considered closed with the discussion on
Mr. Richards' motion in Parliament. He thought
if the matter was to be pursued the better plan would
be to let it rest until the meeting of Parliament, and then
to move for a committee of inquiry. (Hisses.) He saw
great difficulty in the proposed plan of distributing money
to claimants. Having read these letters, the chairman
went on to state that it was not intended to set
class against class. It was as clear as the sun at noon-day
that there had been evictions for political reasons. A large
number of notices had been given to tenants, and though
many had been subsequently withdrawn, others remained.
It was not intended to give a list of these until all had.
been thoroughly investigated. The proposed plan was to
make these inquiries, and then appoint a committee and
secretary in each county, that assessors should value the
damage clone to tenants, and then to compensate them for
their martyrdom to political principles. Where substantial
injury had been inflicted, substantial pecuniary compensa-
tion it was intended should be awarded.

The following, among other resolutions, wero then sub-
mitted to the meeting by various speakers, and passed :-1.
That this conference con,idcrs it to be a subject of sincere
congratulation, and a strong proof of the development of poli-
tical principles in the principality, that so many electors
should have voted at the last election in accordance with
their convictions, notwithstanding the great pressure to
which they were subjected by landlords and others. 2.
That this conference deeply sympathises with the anxieties
and sufferings of those who have been evicted from their
holdings, or otherwise injured in their circumstances, in
consequence of the conscientious exercise of the franchise
at the last election. 3. That those who have been called
upon to suffer for resisting coercion, attempted to be prac-
tised upon them as respects thefr votes, deserve to be
Lssisted by those who honour political consistency, and to
be compensated as far as possible for the losses they have
undergone. 4. That for the purpose of rendering such as-
sistance as may be necessary, it is recommended that a
fund shall be raised :—(a) By subscriptions and donations.
://) By collections in every chapel throughout the princi-
pality. (c) By a guarantee fund of £20,0000 ; this fund to
be vested in trustees, who were to pay such claims as had
been approved of.

The different ways in which the Conference are esti-
mated are amusing and instructive to note. The Daily
News says " the Conference has been most successful.
Sympathy was expressed with the Welsh evicted
tenants. Three hundred delegates were present in
addition to Mr. Richard, M.P., Colonel Stepney,
M.P., Mr. Samuel Morley, M.P., and Mr. Dillwyn. M.P.
Subscriptions were entered into, and a guarantee of £20,000
was started, with much success."
The Western Mail, on the other hand, observes :—" A
more complete fiasco than the Aberystwith Conference
of Welsh Liberals has proved it would be difficult
to find. With one 'consent, the respectable men of
the party have excused themselves from taking a part in
what it is clear they regard as a very questionable pro-
ceeding. From the programme which has reached us, it
is quite evident that a job of no little magnitude is in a
safe way to be perpetrated, providing the anticipated
£20,000 be raised, of which, however, we entertain some
reasonable doubt."