The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-14 00:00:00

VIE SHEFFIELD
ISSION TRADES' UNION
COMM .

SEVENTH. DAY—THURSDAY.
The Commissioners resumed their sitting this
morning.
The first witness was George, or " Putty," Shaw,
who committed gross perjury on Saturday last by
swsaring that he had not seen the secretary of his
trade (Mr. Broadhead, of the Sawgrinders') that
morning, when it was afterwards proved that he
had an interview with Broadhead.
Mr. Ovs:rend now told him that, after consulting
with his colleagues, and taking advice in London as
to what should be done with him (Shaw), he had
decided to give him another chance, but that in
making a full and clear disclosure of all the circum-
stances within his knowledge connected with this
inquiry lay his only hope of escaping a prosecution
for the very serious crime he had committed. Shaw
nodded assent, and seemed relieved from anxiety.
He then stated that he joined the Sawgrinders'
Union when he was 20 years old, having been ap-
prenticed to a man named Linley, who was after-
wards shot. Linley was an " eutlaw"—i.e., a non-
unionist. Witness was now 28 years old. Several
joined the union about the same time as witness
among others a man named Dennis Clark, also called
Tucker. About a fortnight after this, witness
being in Broadhead's house, Clark came to him and
asked him if he would do a " job"—blow up
"Topsy" (a man named Hellewell, a non-unionist),
who worked at the Tower Wheel. 'Witness said he
would do it, and Clark, after telling witness they
should have £3 for it, went upstairs and came
again with three pint cans full of gunpowder.
Clark said he was going up to see " Old Smeeton "
(a nickname of Broadhead), and when he came
down he said Smeeton had given him the powder.
Witness put the three cans under his smock, and took
them to his mother's house, and hid them between
his bed and the mattress. He and Clark after-
wards sold two cans and a half of the powder to a
man named Simmonite, of Cricket-road, a pigeon-
shooter at Hyde-park, for several shillings, and
spent the money in drink at various public-houses.
-Witness had already strewed the other half can of
powder in Hellewell's trough, mixing it with the
emery, Clark standing by. The emery would con-
ceal the powder. Hellewell would have to stand by
the side of the trough glazing, and as he glazed
sparks would fly off into the trough. Two or three
men—Joey Yellott and Thomas Allan—the witness
remembered, saw him and Clark together. While
the powder was hidden in witness's bed his mother
found it and asked him what he was going to do
with it ; he replied that he was going to harm no-
body. After he and Clark had put the powder into
Hellewell's trough they went to a public-house.
The next morning, Hellewell being at work, the
powder exploded, and the witness spoke of the in-
jury to Hellewell as being simply a blackening of
his face, but he admitted having heard that Helle-
well was kept from his work two or three weeks in
consequence. On the day of the explosion witness
went to Broadhead's, and saw Clark there " draw-
ing his scale." At this point Mr. Overend asked
Mr. Broadhead if he had the scale-book for that
year (1852). Mr. Broadhead said he was afraid
that book was destroyed. Mr. Overend desired Mr.
Broadhead to send for his book 4, and Mr. Broad-
head at once professed his readiness to do so ; but
Mr. Sugg, who represented the interests of the
Trades' Unions, objected that this would be mak-
ing use of the trade books in a serious charge against
Mr. Broadhead, and that they should not be pro-
duced till the "proper time." A sharp interchange
of words took place between Mr. Overend and
Mr. Sugg upoa the subject, Mr. Overend persist-
ing in having the books sent for, saying that the
Court were the judges of what was the proper time.
The books were sent for. The witness then went
on to say that the week after the explosion he
saw Clark, who told him that he had got " three
quid" (E 3) from old Smeetou, and gave him 30s.
About eight weeks ago witness saw Clark in a pub-
lichouse, and Clark said to witness, " If you'll give
the word I can 'lag (transport) old Smeeton." Wit-
ness told Clark to "shut up." Crapper, Woodhead,
and Hallam were present and heard this. On the
Saturday night of that week witness toll this to
Broadhead, at Broadhead's house door, and Broad-
head said "You have done perfectly right." Wit-
ness had heard of Clark boasting, and a week last
Thursday Yellott and Green called him out from
his work and told him it was " hot" for him, for
Clark had got 20 crowns from the commissioners to
give evidence against him and Broadhead. Just
before last Sheffield fair, witness, being on the box,
went to Broadhead's for his scale, and a man named
Martin objected to his having the scale, upon which
a fight took place between them in the committee
room, Martin trying to gouge witness's eye out.
Broadhead afterwards told witness that if he would
come quiet and sober he would no doubt get his
scale, and at the same time Broadhead put into his
hands a paper, which he and others signed, and
which was as follows :
" Sawgrinders' Committee-room, Royal George,
Carver-street, Nov. 27.
" George Shaw being present, William Broad-
head 'states he has heard a report that George Shaw
has been circulating, to the effect that he, Broad-
head, had several years ago employed and paid
Shaw to force his way through the cog-wheel race
at the Castle (or Tower) wheel, Blonk-street, to
commit an outrage with gunpowder upon a person
named Joseph Hellewell. Broadhead, in the pre-
sence of the committee, interrogates Shaw upon it,
on which Shaw declares he has never been employed
for any such purpose. He therefore willingly signs
the following statement :—I hereby declare that I
never at any time was either employed or paid by
William Broadhead to commit any such outrage
as has been described, nor did Broadhead ever
make such an offer to me. " JOSEPH SHAW.
" (Witnesses) James Coldwell, Samuel Baxter,
Matthew Frith, Henry Garfitt, Alexander
Ellis (his mark), W. Broadhead."
The witness said this paper referred to the affair
that he and Clark were concerned in. He had
never said that Broadhead employed him, but he
had said that Clark employed him. He had heard
Clark say that he would have both him and Broad-
head " run in " (taken to the Town-hall) and
" lagged." He had told Broadhead several times
what Clark was saying, and also the part he (wit-
ness) had taken with Clark, and that he was in a
" mess" through it. Broadhead told him that he
had nothing to fear, but made no remark about
Clark, nor did he take any steps with respect to
Clark's statements. The witness would not swear
that he did not say to Hellewell, a few days before
the explosion, in the presence of Mr. Joseph Wil-
son, " if you don't join the union you will have
your head knocked off." He did not know that
Hellewell was fearfully burnt, or that the windows
of the place were blown out. He persistently denied
that when the engine-tenter at the Castle wheel
pointed out to Mr. Wilson, in witness's presence,
bow the person who bad done the deed had got into
the place, he (witness) shook his fist in the engine-
tenter's face and fought with him, and Mr. Wilson
parted them. The reason why he signed the docu•
ment above given was that " they stopped his
scale." Ho confessed that in substance he told a
lie in order to get his scale. Ile had no other reason
for signing the paper. Ile believed Broadhead in-
stigated Clark, and Broadhead had a letter, if he
would produce it, which witness wrote to him after
the occurrence, and which Broadhead read in a trade

meeting.
Mr. Overend—Where is that letter, Mr. Broad

bead ?

Mr. Broadhead—l leave my case in the hands ol
legal adviser, Sir.
Mr. Overend—Do you produce that letter, Mr.
Sagg ?

Mr. Sugg--I do not, Sir.
Mr. Overend—Swear Mr. Broadhead.

Mr. Broadhead was sworn, and he stated, in reply
to Mr. Overend, that he had the letter to which the
witness referred, that it was at his house, and that
it would be necessary for him to go himself to fetch
it. He was accordingly sent, in company with a
policeman, to fetch the letter, and the Court ad-
journed till his return.
In a short time Mr. Broadhead returned with the
letter, which was openly read, and was as follows:
" Sir, Mr. Broadhead,-4 signed your document,

but I have you, because I have the mart who bought
three parts of the powder you thought we blew him
up with. We sold it for 55., and I have another
witness that saw, and saw me put it under my bed'
and went with me to sell it, and no one that has to
do with you. Now, Mr. Broadhead, I have found
you a traitor, and I should like to be one too, so the
public at large will know the honest secretary.
Remember, Mr. 8., that if ever my strings disap-

rear I shall buy a set of tools and I shall be on your
track, if I do not let the public know before that
man that evidence can be (sic) that employs men.

You understand. I shall have to give information
about it, Mr. B. I shall fetch a summons for Mar-
tin to-morrow, and go into business at once, for
pouncing upon me when I came for my bit of a
scale. We will see what we can do with the Royal
George. I will make Royal' like me, poor George,'

for sticking to my trade.
" P. S. Mr. Broadhead, I signed your - be-
cause I thought I was in danger of having my life
taken if I did not sign it on Saturday when I came

for my scale. I went to the Town-hall and told
them what I received on Saturday week. We did
Lot blow him up as you thought. Remember what
an informer can do.
" Long Henry-street, Sheffield-park."
This letter was not signed with any name, but
Broadhead knew where witness lived.

The witness was examined upon the' letter, and
he said that though he had not stated before that
he signed the letter through fear, he was intending
to do so when he said he signed it in order to get

his scale. He signed it for both reasons. It was
false that he went and gave information at the
Town-hall ; he and Crapper went towards the

Town-hall, but re dly did not go there. Martin was

now gone to America. He had threatened witness

that he would take his life, and the witness gave a
long account of how he was tracked at night by
Martin and others, and how he evaded their pursuit.
Mr. Overend reminded the witness that were it
not for the protection that the Statute gave him he
had placed himself in very great peril indeed. The
Court had not heard what the other side had to say.
It might be that witness had said what was entirely
false ; it might be his evidence was perfectly true.
Witness was then again asked whether he had not
told James Thomas that he knew a man who was
ready to blow Hague's place up for £5, and he re-
peatedly denied having said so. The name of
Hallam was mentioned as the man whom he had
said was ready to do it, but he persisted in his
statement that he had not mentioned such a thing
to any one. He was out of work and had no money
when he blew Hellewell's house up. Ile had to
pay £5 to enter the trade.
Mr. Overend here suggested that Mr. Sugg might
wish to cross-examine the witness upon this very
serious charge against Mr. Broadhead, and that in
any course he might propose to adopt the Court
would render him every possible assistance.
Mr. Sugg proposed that the witness should be re-
called on Monday morning, and the Court
acquiesced.
James Hallam, saw-grinder, was next called, and
proved a most unwilling witness. It was with the
utmost difficulty that replies to questions - could be
obtained from him. lie said Broadhead had never
applied to him "to do any jobs." He had asked
Broadhead if he had any work for him to do, and
Broadhead had replied " No." Witness next
spoke of a case of rattening. His father, Samuel
Hallam, and Matthew Broadhead, who worked
with Joseph Taylor's tools, were in arrears, and
witness and another man rattened them. For this
business he received as his share 255. lie knew the
name of the man who assisted him, but he positively
refused to mention it, or to say from whom the
money he received came. Witness next admitted
rattening a man named Dams, who worked at
Marsdeu's, in Bridge-street, and for which they
received ss. Witness was not certain whether he
had ever said that he showed the property rattened
to Broadhead, and that Broadhead gave the ss.
Examined as to the blowing up of Wheatinan and
Smith's premises, where there was a machine which
interfered with the trade, he denied having ever
bought 281 b or any quantity of gunpowder to blow
up their place. He had never received £l5 for
doing " business" at Messrs. ISTheatinan's premises.
He had never placed a quantity of gunpowder at
the bottom of their engine chimney, neither had he
placed a quantity of powder to which was attached
a lighted fuse, and gone and stood on a neighbour-
ing bridge to sec it explode. He had never secreted
a quantity of powder in a quarry at Ball-hill,
Crookes. Witness was next asked if he had not
made some most important admissions in the
presence of Mr. Futson, solicitor, and Mr. Jackson,
the chief-constable. Witness admitted that he had,
but his statement, he said, was wholly false, except
the portion referring to the cases of rattening.
Mr. Overend read the statement, questioning the
witness respecting its truthfulness as he proceeded,
and which was to the following effect. A man
named John Hellewell, who worked at Messrs.
Firth's, rendered himself obnoxious to the Union,
and witness and another man, about whom he would
give no further information more than that his
name was Sam, were engaged " to look after him."
While doing so something occurred in connection
with the works of Messrs. IVheatman, which Broad-
head told witness and Sam required their urgent
attention. As they bad several times failed to get
into Firth's works they directed their attention to
Messrs. Wheatman's, and decided on blowing them
up. Broadhead gave them each a sovereign with
which to purchase gunpowder, and implements
with which to defend themselves in the eventof their
being attacked. Witness purchased at different
shops 281 b. of gunpowder, a strong milk can in
which to put it, and a clothes line with which to
cord it. They secreted it in a quarry at Ball-hill,
Crookes. Sam at this time fell ill, and the carrying
out of the " business" devolved solely upon witness.
He visited Messrs. Wheatman's premises several
nights, but the men were working, and he was un-
able to carry out his purpose. One night he reached,
unobserved, the engine stack, with the intention of
depositing the powder in the bottom and blowing
it down, but the place was too hot, and he with-
drew. He then discovered a drain running from
the river under the premises, and in this he de-
posited the can of powder, lighted the fuse, and
retired to a neighbouring bridge to witness the
explosion. He was disappointed the next morn-
ing to find that the explosion had caused very
little damage. Broadhead agreed to give them 15
sovereigns for the job, and after executing it he
went to Broadhead and received the money. Wit-
ness now most positively swore that the whole story
was a fabrication. Once during the reading of it
he made a most important admission. Mr. Overend
was reading, " It was a very cold bitter night, and
I had to run up and down to keep my feet warm."
Witness exclaimed, " Ah 1 it wur, and all."
Mr. Overend—Oh, you were there then, were
you ?

Witness (confusedly)—l did not say I was there.
Mr. Overend—Then, how do you know it was a
cold night ?
'Witness evaded the questions. Ile was further
interrogated respecting the statement be had made
to Mr. Fretson and Mr. Jackson, and he repeated
that there was no truth in it, and why he made it
he did not know.
Mr. 0 verend—ls it from fear of personal injury
that you do not tell the truth ?
Witness—l would rather not, and cannot answer
your question.
Mr. Overend—You must.
IVitness—l shall not.
Mr. Overend—Will you now give the name you
refused to give me before ?
Witness —I will not tell you. I will not implicate

any one.
Mr. Overend--If you do not we will at once
commit you to prison.
Witness—l would rather go to prison than an-
swer the question.
Mr. Overend pointed out to the witness that he
was liable not only to be indicted for perjury, but,
on his own confession, for the blowing up of Messrs.
Wheatman's premises. The Court entreated him to
save himself from such serious consequences ; but
he positively refused to give the information sought,
and he was ordered to be imprisont•d for six weeks
in the House of Correction at Wakefield for con-
, tempt of court. Dir. Overend told him in the mean-