The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-14 00:00:00

RASES' OUTRAGES COMMISSION.

EIGHTII DAY.
111ANCIIESTEn, Friday.
The Commissioners took their seats at 11 o'clock

Among the gentlemen present to-day and previ-
ously were the Professors of Owen College—Prin-
cipal Greenwood, Professor Jack, and Mr. Stanley
Jevons, who occupies the chair of Political Economy,
and is Cobden Lecturer to the College.
James Dalton, examined by Mr. Chance—ls a
bricklayers' labourer, and ceased to be a member of
the Accident and Burial Society in February. In
July, 18G3, was in the employment of Messrs. Cox
and Burton, who were using machine-made bricks.
While he carried their bricks he was not in the
Trades' Union. John Riley came from the Union
and followed him. Called him a knobstick, and
struck him on the jaw. He said, " I'll take your
life, you infernal knobstick." Witnes got away
as fast as he could. Was thrown out of work five
weeks, and then went to Stockton, being driven out
of Manchester. Joined the Union at Stockton. Came
back in February, and got work with Mr. John
Lawton, the builder. Worked five weeks for him.
Michael Fyland, one of the Union men, came to him
and called him a " knobstick," and threw him into
a lime-pit. The men he was working with said they
would not work with him. He went to the police -
office all over blood and gave information, but
Fyland had never been apprehended. Since that
time Thomas Riley, a Union man, had beaten him,
and had been sentenced to one month's imprison-
ment. Since then John Murray, Thomas Defllyn,
Michael M'Loughlin, and John Riley came and
kicked at his house door and said they would take
his life. They beat his little girl because she could
not find him. They kicked at the door and smashed
it. They came several times while he was away, and
twice when he was at home. On one occasion the
superintendent of police sent two police-officers to
protect his house all night. John Riley said he
would have revenge for Thomas Riley's committal.
All these men were Union men, and bad since been
bound over to keep the peace. Since then he had been
kept out of work and thrown on the workhouse. He
had lately got work at Hollinwood, but walked from
and to Manchester morning and evening.
Thomas M‘Loughlin sworn—ls a bricklayers'
labourer, and belongs to the society for the protec-
tion of the trade in George-street, Huline. Had been
secretary for three years. Meetings had been held
in various places. One in St. Mary's School-room.
They had meetings once a fortnight, and lodge meet-
ings once a mouth,' besides special meetings and
annual meetings. There were 800 to 900 members
in the whole club, which was divided into lodges.
There were nine lodges. The object of the general
meeting every year was to discuss the rules and the
working of the club. If a person was working
against the rules, it was brought before a lodge
meeting. Supposing a man was a knobstick, they
tried to bring him to reason by moral suasion. He
never beard any names that he could remember of
the men who beat knobsticks while the gaol was
building but Thomas Daly, who is now in America,
Mr. Pickering—You can remember no man in
this country, I suppose ?—No. After a caution wit-
ness remembered John Nolan was another. Remem-
bered the last witness working for Cox and Barton.
His name had been mentioned at the lodge, but he
did not know he had been beaten. Heard of Murray
and Dail vn being in Agnes-street one Saturday
night drunk, and shouting near Dalton's house, and
a woman having brought word to the lodge house
witness went and took Murray away. He went him-
self because he thought he should have more influ-
ence over Murray than others. Never heard of Dal-
ton's little daughter being beaten till he heard it in
court. The society had printed rules. It gave £5 on
the death of a member or his wife, and Bs. per week
to a member out of work. A delegate was employed
by tue society, whose duty it was to go round and
see that the men at work were members of the society.
If he found any who were not working he reported
them, and they were then sent for and asked to be-
come members. If they refused, then the Union
men would not work with them. When men left
work in this way they were paid by the society. They
used no means but these against knobsticks, except
that they induced the bricksetters to leave the
work also if they could. The Rev. Canon Toole was
trustee, and kept the banking account. One of their
delegates was John Nolan, and they paid him 245.
a week. Had heard of Nolan being engaged in acts
of violence. He used violence to Gough. Ile struck
him. He was not reprimanded for it at the lodge,
and they continued to employ him. Michael
Brennan has been treasurer for two years. The
payments are entrance and is. a month.
By Mr. Chance—Never heard when Dalton left
Cox and Barton. When a man used machine-made
bricks their men would not work with them. That
was not a printed rule, but was binding. John
Murray is president of the Committee of the Ge-
neral Society. Each body had its own president
and secretary.

By Mr. Barstow—lle knew of no inconvenience
to labourers from carrying machine-made bricks,
except that they were a little heavier. Could give
no other reason why the club would not allow them,
nor did he know of any understanding with the
Brickmakers' Society about them. It was a rule
made by the general committee.

Mr. Pickering asked witness if he expected to be
believed when he said he knew of no reason why
machine bricks were objected to, except their being
heavier.

Witness said all he knew was that the bricksetters
would not use them. There might be reasons which
he did not know of. the only minutes of their
meetings were taken on loose sheets of paper.
Thomas Defllyn sworn—Had been a member of
the society 12 months. Remembered being with
Murray in Agnes-street, on a Saturday night.
Witness was drunk, but knew Murray was with
him because they had got drunk together. He saw
Dalton coming drunk through the street shouting
and quarrelling. He was shouting for any one to
come out to fight with him. Witness went to fight
him and he ran to his own house. He followed him
to his own house and asked him to come out and
fight. He saw either his wife or daughter. Mur-
ray at that time was drinking in a beerhouse.
His youngest daughter had struck him before
that with a brick, and he hit her a slap on the
jaw with his open hand. Witness lived in the same
street and was going home quietly but for meeting
Dalton. Was taken before the magistrates a few
weeks after. Was charged with an assault on Jas.
Dalton. He was charged with the assault and beat-
ing of Dalton. He did not shout in the streets.
He called Dalton a knobstick, but did not kick at
his door. He had been drinking that night from
the time he left his work at 12 at noon. Got his
wages sometimes a quarter or half an hour after he
left work on the Saturday. After he got his wages
he went to the first publichouse he met.
John Murray, a member also of the Bricklayers
Labourers' Burial and Accident Society, said he left
work on the Saturday in question at 12, and got
drunk. Did not often get drunk. Is a member of
the General Committee, whose duty it is to look
after the working of the different lodges, to pay the
delegates, and make the rules. It is not a rule of
the society, but none of their men would work for a
master using machine-made bricks. It might be a
rule, but not a printed rule, and if they found a
union man was working for such a master what they
did was to draw him away. If they saw a non-
union man so working they left him alone. His
committee sat at the Shamrock Inn. A rule made
by the committee was binding on the whole nine
lodges. Each lodge had a different delegate. When
Dalton left Manchester he owed 30s. to the society,
and when he came back they decided he could not
be readmitted because he had not a clear card.

Bridget Dalton, wife of James Dalton, previously
examined, said her husband was obliged, some time
ago, to go away in consequence of being a non-
union man. They had nine children. He went to
Stockton. Had since returned. Remembered her
husband being stopped work and thrown into a
lime pit and being beaten, and the men being
punished. Remembered, one Saturday, Murray,
Fyland, Detllyu, Riley, and M'Loughlin coming to
the door. They came and went all the afternoon
up to half-past 10 at night. Her husband was at
home, but bad to be hid away. A neighbour