The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-19 00:00:00

The Court opened at the usual hour this morning.
Mr. Pickering said, before proceeding with the
evidence, he wished to say that their attention had
been called, and he was glad to say properly called,
to the question as to what cases they considered
should come within the meaning of the word " inti-
midation" in the Act of Parliament under which
they were acting ; and, as it was desirable that ao
misapprehension should exist on the subject, he
would state what they (the Commissioners) consi-
dered to be the meaning of the word and the sort of
cases they thought would fall within the scope of
their inquiry under that particular head. The
words of the Act were that they were to inquire
into " any acts of intimidation, outrage, or wrong
alleged to have been promoted, encouraged, or con-
nived at by trades unions or associations," and as to
the cause of such acts and the complicity therein of
such trades unions. Now, looking at the word inti-
midation there in connection with the words to
which it was joined in the Act of Parliament, they
thought that any threats, whether actual or implied,
of any violence or injury to the person or property,
whether these threats were accompanied with actual
violence or injury or not, did not come within the
meaning of that expression, and they should feel it
their duty to inquire into any case of that nature
that might be brought before them.
Mrs. Sarah Potter sworn—ls the wife of William
Potter, roller coverer of Eccles. He is in the
union. Remembered the affair at Ashworth's. Mrs.
Mosedale came into her house in 1865, and said
there was something to do with Ashworth's men,
and they were going to kill Mr. Ashworth. She
said some men were coming to their house about
it. Did not know if it was before or after the
attack on Parks. Mr. Mosedale came to her house
last Saturday but one, and asked to see her sum-
mons to this court, and took it away till Thursday.
He asked her to go with him to 'torney Roberts,
but she did not go.

John Mosedale sworn—ls a brickmaker and a
member of the Brickmakers' Society in Salford.
Lives at Eccles. Went to Mrs. Potter's house last
Saturday week. What he went for was to tell her
to tell all she knew. Went because he had a right
to go—to see the furniture.

Mr. Barstow cautioned the witness not to answer
impertinently.
The witness said he had as much right to speak
in that court as the Commissioners.

The witness had again to be cautioned that he
must not give impertinent answers, or he would be
guilty of contempt of court. He said he went to get
to see the summons. lle never heard in the club of
any intention to commit violence on Mr. Ashworth.
Had never been a delegate. The first he heard of
the injury to Parks was from the newspapers. N ever
heard of the intention to attack him before it oc-
curred. On the night of attack there was a person
came to his house named Wm. Snathe. No one else.
The only reason he went to see Mrs. Potter's sum-
mons was that he was drunk. He wanted to see
whether she was summoned on the same day that he
was. Had no reason to fear she would say some-
thing about him. He defied any one in England to
say anything about him. Never went to any one to
see their summonses. (He was ordered to stand
down, without expenses.)

John Collins, sworn—ls a member of the Man-
chester Brickmakers' Union. Knows Thomas Ash-
worth, son of John Ashworth. Was not present at
any meeting the dispute with him was brought be-
fore. Heard of a resolution passed that no member
should visit Ashworth's beerhouse. Could not say
if it was after the attack on Parks. He was fined
£1 himself for going to Ashworth's beerhouse, being
then ignorant of the resolution.
George Traunter, of Cheethani, is a member of
the Master Brickmakers' Association. It was formed
for protection against a number of speculative
builders, or "jerrymen," who went and got bricks
from different makers, and when they had got all
the credit they could cleared themselves from liabi-
lity at Lancaster, in the Insolvent Court. Was a
member of the Operative Brickmakers' Union. The
masters who worked themselves were obliged to be
members. The union dictated what they should be
paid for labour. There was an understanding among
masters that they should all sell at a given price. He
believed that the employment of machinery would
increase the number of men employed, but doubted
if it would not decrease their wages. lie thought
there was a great difference between working up
clay by machinery, and working up cotton. He be-
lieved the brickmaking machines had all failed, be-
cause all the companies had gone down. Believed
that hand-made bricks were the best as a rule, ex-
cept from Platt's machine, which was the best he had
seen. Mr. Ashworth made bricks by machine, and
John Mulholland and George Mannering, operative
unionists, came to witness and asked him to induce
Mr. Ashworth to stop his machine. They said they
did not come officially, but they had no doubt if he
left off the fine of £5O would be taken off, and by-
gones be bygones. James Kay was employed by the
Masters' Association not to draw the men off, but to
inform them of defaulters among the builders.
Questioned if machine bricks could be made cheaper
than others, he said hand-made bricks were better
than those made by machine for some classes of work,
though machine bricks were cheaper as to labour,
but including break downs and wear and tear of
machinery they would be as dear. There would he
more hands employed at machines, but at less wages.
The handmakers paid 12s. or 14s. a day for opera-
tives, where mackinernakers gave 4s. only. There
would be less skill for the machines, except for the
engineers and mechanics. Masters were not obliged
to be members of the operatives' union. They would
be entitled to £lO funeral money if they subscribed,
but, said the witness seriously, he would have to die
for it. (Great laughter, in which witness joined.)
JohnLomas, clogger, said in 1863 he was building
two houses with hand-made bricks up to April, and
made a contract with Mr. Walkden for machine
bricks in consequence of the high price of the hand
bricks. Kly came to tell him he must desist, and
send back the bricks, but he refused unless they re-
fundal him 275. Kay said they would forgive him
for what he had done so far if he would send back
the bricks, and if he did not he would shift his head
off. Supposed he meant he would shoot him. On the
9th of May he found that his house had been set on
fire by exploding four canisters weighing 121 b each.
The floors and window panes were lifted, and he
sustained damage to the amount of £6O.

George Goodier, sworn—ls a self-acting spinner
114 the employ of Mr. Agnew. On May 22, 1854,
was watchman in Mr. Armitage's mill, and was
attacked by three brickmakers with sticks and bricks
about a quarter to half past 12 at night. They struck
him with sticks and bricks, and threw bricks at the
dog. They drew witness down the brow, and then
it vast many men came from the canal. He should
M 7 20 to 80 men, as well as he could tell, but be was