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

E i'SO-31.

On Tuesday the horses were out early. Potter
cantered and sent Felice a good two-mile gallop,
the mare going well. Foster cantered Nannie and
Albion, and Sherwood did the mile twice with Sea
Serpent, Brown Jug, and Thorndyke. Nightingail
did steady work with Owen Roe, Merry Andrew,
Pero, colt by Thormanby out of Rogerthorpe's
dam, Busybody, &c. Others were taking quiet
exercise with the yearlings. Hughes took his team
to Leatherhead, where the Brewer, Planet, and
Treachery gelding were doing good work for the
Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire.—Sportsman.

Bank of England Iteturus.—This Evening.

An Account, pursuant to ti
cap. 32, for the week ending'

he Act 7th and Eth Victoria,
Wednesday, ►Sept. 18, 1867.

liiSCIS DE]

'ARTMENT.

Notes issued .....£38,329,665 GoYernint. Debt £11,015,100
Other Securities 3,961,9U3
Gold Coin and
Bullion
Silver Bullion

£38,329,663

IRADES' OU7RAGES COM.IIISSION.

TWELFTH DAY.

MANCHESTER, Sept. 18.

After our report was despatched yesterday, Win.
Parks, dyer (the man beaten by brickmakers, as is
supposed in mistake for Mr. Ashworth's son), was
examined. He said he was attacked by three men
on a dark night in August, 1865, near Mr. Ash-
worth's house. He was struck on the top of the
head, and remained insensible nine days, and was
off his work 13 weeks. He was cut about the face
and had one eye cut, which still pained him.
The following is the warning letter mentioned
sent to Mr. Ashworth, as mentioned in his evidence
yesterday :

" Friday Morning, Aug. 5, 1865.

" Dear Sir,—l think it my duty to inform you
that at at a meeting of operative brickmakers, held
in this hall yesterday, there was a committee ap-
pointed to consider the best means of shooting or
otherwise putting an end to your existence. In
writing this I put myself quite as much in danger
as !yourself if it came to the knowledge of this
society of ruffians ; so beg you will not let my
trouble be thrown away, but put yourself on your
guard at once. Now, considering I have done my
duty, I beg to subscribe myself

" A WELL-WISHER.

'1 If you value these communications please ad-
vertise the receipt of it in to-morrow's Guardian,
in the following words :—' Received, Well-wisher's
letter.' " J. A."

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 Do
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 'tome), 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. He 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 injuryto Parks was from the newspapers. Never
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 Cheetham, 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. He 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 mackinemakers 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.)
John Lomas, 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. Kay came to tell him he must desist and
send back the bricks, but he refused unless they re-
funded 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 lie 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
in 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
a vast many men came from the canal. He should
say 20 to 30 men, as well as he eouldtell, but he was

bleeding badly. They then started of throwingdown
walls of bricks. The walls were 100 yards long and
10ft. high. Two men held him while the others threw
down the bricks. They were machine-made bricks.
As they left he was struck across the back with
something, and he felt the effects now. They said,
" Kill the beggar," and knocked him against the
cabin door. He was in the doctor's hands afterwards
six weeks, and could not work for 16 weeks. They
killed the dog. Mr. Armitage was building a new
mill, and they were using machine-made bricks.

John Warburton said he was the contractor for
Mr. Benjamin Armitage's new mill when the walls
of the new weaving shed were knocked down, several
hundred yards long. Should say it would take 20
or 30 men. Had never been threatened before this.
He went on afterwards and rebuilt the walls with
machine made bricks. He left the job when half
finished because of the clerk of the works, who said
the work was not good enough. Was sure that he
was never threatened, and never heard that his men
were. Never said so. Was to be paid by the yard,
but had never been paid yet. The work had never
been measured. Had been in partnership with his
brother, but had dissolved partnership. Had to stop
work once because of the supply of bricks being
stopped. James Kay had him fined £5 for using
machine-made bricks before they would let him have
hand-made bricks. Paid the fine.

By Mr. Barstow—Could not say which were the
cheapest. Did not know whether he was stopped
on behalf of the masters' Union or the men's. James
Kay stopped him.
James Tinsley, sworn—ls an excavator at Pendle-
ton. Remembered the attack on Armitage's watch-
man. Remembered on the Sunday after an ex-
cavator named Smith telling him he killed the dog.
Smith told him Robert Rigby and a man called
Larry were there.

Mr. Benjamin Armitage said he was a cotton
manufacturer at Pendleton, and contracted with
Warburton to build a new mill. Remembered 300
or 400 yards of the walls being thrown down in
May, 1864. Knew a mill had been built before by
machine bricks, and did not anticipate any objection
so much to himself using them as against the makers.
Had to employ carters to cart the bricks, who were
often molested. Had to employ two men armed all
the time to watch, and it cost him £lOO. He was
armed himself. Was never threatened personally,
but understood there was danger. Constantly
saw hand-made brickmakers sneaking about the
premises, but they never would face him. Altogether
the damage to the walls and other losses incidental
to the interference was from £3OO to £4OO. Any
man that was honest would say machine bricks were
better, heavier, and cheaper than the hand-made.
They could be set better, and could be made all the
year round. Determined to finish his mill with
machine bricks and did. Warburton did his work
in a workmanlike manner, and he was sorry he
parted with him.

John Clifford sworn—ls a labourer. In 1864 was
a master brickmaker at Stalybridge, employing nine
men, two women, and two boys. At Whitsuntide
between Friday and Saturday had 7,000 bricks
spoilt because he employed non-Union men. Two
Union men came before that, and said he was
paying too little. They wished him to employ
a gang of their men, but he would not. In Novem-
ber his shed was destroyed by fire, and a valuable
dog was killed. They also spoilt about 2,000 bricks.
Could not form any notion of the number of men
who did it. At the latter end of the same Novem-
ber a bottle was thrown into the room where he
and his wife and four children slept at two minutes
to twelve in the night. The bottle struck a chair
at the window and rebounded into the street, and
there exploded. Another bottle was found buried
in some ashes at Cock Brook, near his place, next
day. It was filled with powder, and had a fuse.
After that employed a watchman. Remained there
till August. Was called " knobstick," and dared
not go through Ashton after dark. Gave up his yard
because he thought it was better than to lose his
life. He was ruined in his business, and was now
a labourer.

The Court adjourned at half-past three o'clock,
in consequence of the absence of a witness for whom
it had waited nearly 20 minutes.