The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-18 00:00:00

2 RADES' OU7 RAGES COMMISSION.

i ELEVENTH DAY.

• - -
MANCHESTER, Sept. 17.
After the despatch of our report yesterday Mr.
John Brookes, master brickmaker, Oldham, de-
posed that he had two stacks of hay fired in 1859,
through not employing union men, and that he had
two cows poisoned. In the following year, in May,
he had bricks spoilt and clay needled. Joseph
Rigby, a brickmaker, deposed that he heard Richard
Beasley say he helped to make the shell thrown at
Mr. Greaves, but Beasley, having been sworn and
cautioned, denied all knowledge of the matter.
This morning the Court opened at the usual hour,
when
Richard Beasley was again placed in the witness
box. He had met Thomas Rigby about five years
ago, and slept in the same bed with him at Run-
corn. Slept with him only one night, and the man
was drunk, and behaved more like a lunatic. Never
told him that witness and James Kay made the
shell which was thrown at Greaves, or that he was
the first man that brought needles from Sheffield.
Did not fill the office of auditor to the accounts of
the club at Oldham that he could recollect, but
might have done so on an emergency. A memo-
randum book being handed to him with the words,
"Audited and found correct, James Egan, Richard
Beasley," he said that was his signature, but he had
forgotten. He coald not say what the entry,
" Cash, £20," was for. There might have been 20
men on strike, and £1 each for the week would
account for it, but the book did not say what year
it was in, and though it might have been explained
at the time, his memory did not serve him now.
Mr. Pickering, looking at the book, said he
found the entry was in September, 1862.
The witness said his Honour must allow for the
ignorance of the class he belonged to. If he re-
metnbered what the entry was for he would say
what it was, but he did not know much of book-
keeping.
Mr. Pickering said he thought the books seemed
to have been well kept. People seemed to have a
habit of losing their memory when they got into the
witness box.
Witness said that was not the case. _ _ _

Thomas Rigby, sworn--• Was cautioned, and told
if he made a full confession he would have a certifi-
cate. Witness said he was a member of the Oldham
union six or seven years ago. In 1859 he joined in
the only outrage he had been connected with. He
went with Wm. Birchall, Wm. Smith, and John
Suthers to fire a shed. They put naphtha in a tin,
but it did no execution at all. He was stationed at
the door of the shed with a pistol, and had no doubt
he should have shot any one that came; he had no
doubt, he was so ignorant then. He knew no better.
He remembered sleeping with Richard Beasley at
Runcorn for about a week, and Beasley asking him
if he remembered the affair of old Cobbold. And he
went on to say he was one who made the shell to
throw at Greaves, but it was not done to kill, but to
" fear" him. Never heard the outrages brought be-
fore the council. Remembered Kay bringing £lOO
to Oldham, and it was to support a strike. Had
heard of Kay receiving as much as £25 for an out-
rage, but could not remember what it was for,
though he thought it was for Blocksage's affair at
Ashton. Had heard of Kay being paid for many a
job at Oldham, but it was not that he knew any-
thing about them.
James Wrigley deposed to a strike at his brick
croft in 1857 at Oldham in consequence of his em-
ploying a non-union burner, and to the spoiling of
his bricks and other property subsequently through
employing non-union men. In May, 1858, had both
union and non-union men in his employ. Discharged
his non-union men, and had not been disturbed

since.
Samuel Smith had been burner to the last witness,
but said the damage was done to his property be-
fore the union men were discharged. Knew of no
reason why his property was destroyed but that he
(witness) was a non-union man. He had since then
become a union man. Was fined last week by the
Ashton union a pound for doing another man's work
and charging 4s. instead of 6s. for it. He did it
because the man had done him a good turn.
Charles Renshaw was making bricks by machinery
in 1862 at Heaton Chapel, which was in the Stock-
port district. On J une 19 the roof of the shed and
the end of it were blown away during the night. In
the morning found the remains of two canisters,
which smelt of powder. The damage was £B. Gave
information to the police, but no one was taken,
though they could trace the steps of the six men
coming from and returning towards Gorton, which
is in the Manchester district. Found great difficulties
in carrying on ; bricksetters would not set his bricks,
and contractors of buildings were obliged to return,
though they would have preferred usingthem. Gave
up business in consequence of the annoyance from
the trade.

John Clay Johnson said he had been a wooden
shovel maker 20 years, such as were used by brick-
makers. Had been a member of the Manchester
Brickmakers' Union, but bad not attended much for
the last 17 years. They called him " Shovel Jack."
Never heard of the outrage on last witness. Might
have heard of Renshaw's machine being blown up,
but did not remember it. Had been in custody for
harbouring Burke and Ward, who committed the
murder of Jump. Was tried and sentenced to 18
months' imprisonment. Was in the lockup atAshton,
but never 'sked constable Rogers if he remembered
six men passing him in Hyde-road, and that he
(witness) was the third man. Did not say they had
been blowing up Renshaw's machine. Never said
anything of the kind. Had heard of a machine being
broken up at Cheetham-hill, but had nothing to do
with it. Never said there were eight of them engaged
and they received £2b among them for it. Nothing
of the kind ever came from his lips. The witness,
at the close of his examination, said he craved no
certificate. He had lived 30 years.

Constable Rogers said in 1862 he and another
man apprehended Burke and Ward at Jonnson's
house. Remembered being in Hyde-road the night
Renshaw's machine was destroyed. It was in June,
1862, a week before Jump was shot. Johnson was
taken for harbouring Burke and Ward, and said in
the lockup he had been in several jobs, but this was
the worst. He said he had been engaged in blowing,
up Renshaw's machine and a machine at Cheetham-
hill, and they received £25. He told them they
must not tell the brickmakers or they would buy
more shovels from him, and that if they got to know
they (the police) must say he was not right in his
head. He referred to the Cheetham-hill affair again,
before another constable, either Barlow or Anderson.
Mr. Robt. Wilson is au engineer and acting part-
ner at Nasmyth's at Patricroft. They were using
bricks which were very inferior, and the maker,
whose name was Burton, said they must take them
or have no other. They applied to another brick-
maker, but they supplied bricks that were too small.
They then determined to make bricks themselves,
having excellent clay, and set men to work. Early
in February last two men came from the Union in
Manchester and asked if he would give them the
job. He said he was employing his own men. They
said he had better give them the job or he might be
subject to annoyance. Asked if this was intended
as a threat, and they said no, but he would find
great difficulties, and had better give them the job.
He purchased 200,000 bricks at Swinton, having
engaged bricksetters to lay the bricks. After the
bricks were brought the union men got at the brick-
setters, and they refused to work. Ile got three men
afterwards to set the bricks, but after working for a
time they were told they would be fined, and they
left. He bad since obtained six non-uuion men,
who continued to work steadily. In June he had
500 or 600 bricks spoilt in their own yard, he sup-
posed by union men.

John Twigg had been in the employ of Messrs.
Nasmyth and Co., engineers. Was employed in
taking off the sod for them to get clay for bricks.
Two union men came and asked if he was in the
union. He told them he was not. They offered
him £5 and another job to give it up. He told them
he was set to do it by his master, and could not give
it up. They told him he must take what followed.
Ile offered them a subscription to the union, but
they would not take it.
Robert Ellerton sworn—ls a bricklayer, and was
building some houses in Radnor-street, Manchester,