The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-29 00:00:00

THE BRISTOL RIOTS.

FOURTH DAY.

KING'S BENCH.-(THIS DAY.)

THE ICING V. PINNEY, ESQ.

This morning the proceedings in this case were re-
sumed. Lord TENTERDEN was absent, it was supposed
through indisposition.
Benjamin Ralph examined by Mr. WiGHTMAN-Re-
sided in Wellington-place, in the vicinity of Bristol. On
Sunday morning, October 30, soon after 12 o'clock, he
went to the Guildhall, where there was a good many per-
sons inside as well as outside. He went for the purpose
of protecting the city, in conscquence of having received
a notice; but he got no orders from any Magistrate, nor
did he see any one. He then left, but at 1 o'clock returned
to the Guildhall, the door of which was shut. There
were upwards of 200 persons of respectability then wait-
ing. lie did not get in the Guildhall, nor did he get any
directions what to do. He went there again from half-
past 3 to 4 o'clock, and the large door was still closed, and
a great number of respectable tradesmen were waiting.
He got in the Guildhall Chambers, and met Mr. Isaac
Cooke, who was coming away with some other persons.
In a few minutes he saw the Mayor coming out with Mr.
Sanger and Mr. Watson. Witness, and those with him,
received no directions at that time. At about 10 o'c!ock
that night, witness went to the Council-house, in the hall
of which there were about 30 constables. The Chamber-
lain (Mr. Garrett) was there, but no Magistrates.
In an hour afterwards, he saw some yeomanry
cavalry drawn up in front of the Council-house,
in Corn-street ; witness asked if the soldiers were waiting
for orders or for bullets, and they said they were waiting
for orders and for a Magistrate. Witness then went in
the Council-house, and saw one of the corporation officers
and Mr. Garrett ; he inquired for a Magistrate ; Mr. G ir-
rett said there was no Magistrate there, and begged witness
to remain to defend the Council-hour;; witness said he
had promised to defend the hank, but he would be near the
Council-house in case it was attacked. At 12 o'clock he
went to the Council-house again, but found no Magistrate
there. He then proceeded to the Bishop's palace, with
Mr. James Livett ; the palace was burnt down, and the
mob were in the Chapter-house burning the books; a
number of attempts were made to set the Chapter-house on
fire, but witness and some other gentlemen managed to
throw out the fire, and save the Chapter-house. At 1 o'clock
he went again to to the Council-house, but could not find a
Magistrate. He went to other places to look for a Magis-
trate, but could find none. He then went to Queen-
square, the west side of which was on fire. He saw the
house of Mr. Lawes, and the corner house, attacked, but
they were ultimately saved ; the parlour and the upper
part of Mr. Lawes's house were full of per-
sons; witness and others succeeded in turning them
out and saving the house ; the corner house was
set on fire, but witness saved it ; those two houses
were the only two on that side of the square that were
saved. That was about four o'clock. There was a great
number of women in the corner house engaged in plun-
der. At Mr. Lawes's house he saw a man taking wine,
and witness attacked and struck him, took the wine from
him, an I turned him out. If witness a I had 25 good men he
could have saved all the west end of the square.
Cross-examined—At that time the rioters were much
diminished, and consisted chiefly of men and boys. Many
of the rioters had perished in the flames. At one o'clock
the mob was very great; some were ladling about intoxi-
cated. The notice witness had on Sunday was what was
given from the pulpit for all able-bodied men to attend
upon the Magistrates. When he attended at the Guild-
hall lie did not see a Magistrate, but be understood the
Magistrates were in a chamber consulting together. Had
heard that the military had fired, and that it had caused
great disapprobation, a man having been shot. 'Wit-
ness's plan of defence did not embrace the use of the mili-
tary. The Council-house was the depository of the
Corporation deeds, and the Chamberlain was there to
defend it.

The statement of the Mayor of Bristol, dated Nov. 4,
1831, addressed to the Secretary of State, detailing the
conduct of the Magistrates dur ng the riots was then put
in and read. The statement which was made by the Mayor,
of the same date, to Lord Hill, was also put in and read.
Ciptain Codrington examined by the ATTORNEY-GE-
NERAL—LivA at Dodington, about fifteen miles from
Bristol, in October last. On Sunday, the 30th of Octo-
ber, received a note from the Mayor and Corporation of
Bristol, stating that the city was in a lamentable atate,
and requesting the assistance of his troops as quick as pos•
sible. Witness sent out, in consequence of this, in all di-
rections, to cull, ct his men. Also sent Capt. Estcourt to Set-
bury for the assistance of another troop. Collect, d together
shout 50 men. Marched for Bristol about half-past 6 in the
afternoon, and arrived at Bristol about 10. Formed the
troops at the Council-house, and sent word to the
Mayor that he had arrived. Also sent to the Guildhall,
but was informed the Mayor was not there, or any Magis-
trate. Went on the advice of the Chamberlain to Colonel
Brereton, who was not at home at first, but who arrived
in a quarter of an hour. Asked the Colonel where it was
likely to find a Magistrate, to which be replied that he
knew where some Itself, and would go with witness if lie
had a horse. Witness procured the Colonel a horse,
and they went in company to two Magistrates,
but could not find any at home. Witness taco
said his Lieutenant was a Magistrate, and he thought he
might take off his coat and read the Riot Act ; to this the
Colonel replied •'That won't do." Witness said to the Colonel
the mob have collected in Queen-square, and asked him
why lie did not take diem there. He said, " 0 no, that
won't do." Witness said it was no use stopping where
they were, as the mob seemed pretty peaceable; to which
the Colonel replied, if they were left alone they would be
so. The Colonel asked witness if he could depend
on his men, and requested they might not fire ; to
which witness said he could depend on every one
of them, and was certain they would not fire
unless they bad his orders. The Colonel then proposed
going to Fisher's livery-stable to put up their horses. Wit-
ness said "Let us go and join the 14th," to which the Co-
lonel replied, "'They are gone Sir, they are gone, we have
sent them out of town, or there would not have been one
of them left alive. Could not get room fur their horses, and
witness returned back the same way as he had come, to-
gether with his troop. Did ;lot see Colonel Brereton
atter he left Fisher's. Went to the outside of the town to
a place called Down End. Did not stop at the Canoed-
house. He stopped at Down End about two hours,
and receiving no communication, witness returned
home to Doddington, ordering the men to be in
readiness; received another letter from the Mayor
about mid-day on Monday, expressing his regret at not
having seen witness the night before, thanking him for
hi. prompt attention, and requesting his farther assistance.
Cross-examined by Mr. CAMPBELL—Did not send a
Quar er-master to announce his arrival at Bristol. Had
Comm .nthd the troops from the time of their being em-
bcdied Considered it his duty to put himself in commu-
nieatioa with Col. Brereton as commanding-officer, and
to act according to his orders. Witness said to the colonel,
" 1 believe die Riot Act has been read several times ;" to
which he answered, " That has nothing to do with you."
The colonel would not go with witness to Queen-square.
Saw flames in that direction. Recollected a person
coming and asking him for his men before he saw Colonel
Brereton. Saw fire also in the neighbourhood of the
Palace, and afterwards, before he left, saw the Palace burn-
ing—this was about eleven o'clock. When Colonel Brere-
ton said the 14th had gone, witness did not recollect his
saying you had better follow them.
Re-examined by the ATPOBNKY•GUNERAL—Witnesb
would certainly have acted if he bad been required by a
Magistrate, even after he had seen Colonel Brereton.
By Mr. Justice J. PARKE—Colonel Brereton was in
his uniform.

By Mr. Justice TAUNTON—Did not apprise any of the
authorities, civil or military, of his intention to remove his
troops from Bristol, because he could not find any.
Mr. Edward Goss examined by the SOLICITOR-GENE-
RAL—IS a private gentleman, residing at Bristol. Was
at the Council house about 9 in the morning of the 31st
of October. Saw there the Mayor, and Aldermen Daniel,
Fripp, Hillhouse, and Mr. Sheriff Lax. Witness ex-
pressed his pleasure at seeing the 'Mayor there, as there was
a report abroad that he had been out of the city during
the past night, and called upon him as Mayor of Bristol to
adopt such measures as would lead to the preservation of
the city, in a few hours night will come, and if every
precaution is not taken, we are wholly a destroyed city.
Witness suggested that the Mayor should go out with hint
into Queen-square and other places, to show that he was
in the city. The Mayor said they were on most impor-
tant business, and added, "I don't see how I can leave As
to my being absent from the city, that is false, as you see
I am here." Witness said, before he left, would put a question
to hint which he thought of great importance, that. was,
whether he had ascertained the quantity of arms In the
possession of the gun-makers. Tne Mayor's reply
.was,
" 1 have not, would you have th, goodness to ascertain ?"
Witnese said thought it his bounden duty, and after-
wards gave in a list of about 800 guns, in the possession
of various individuals. Witness then said he must have an
order to have them removed to a place of security, as
those in whose possession they were were afraid of
having them taken from them by the mob. One
of the Magistrates said, in the pri settee of the
Mayor, they could give no such order; which wituews