The Sun.
London, England, 1832-03-16 00:00:00

LANCASTER ASSIZES, MARCH l

(RECEIVED THIS MORNING )
TRIAL OF THE WIGAN RIOTERS.

James Benthy, Peter Lancaster and John Parkinson,
stood inlicted for a riot atWigan, in this county, on the 4th
of May, 1831. This ease which excited considerable inte-
rest, was traversed from the last assizes, and the circum-
stances will be fresh in the recollection of many who no-
ticed the particular. of the dreadful riots which took place
when the
olinoust,haot day
James'iniroedislinan 'lKYeaatfle:y. ,tEhesq.,ellcii:P)n.', was pulled
down, and its contents thrown out into the streets, a prey
to a merciless and infuriated mob. At that time Sir Robert
Holt L-igh, a gentleman residing in the neighbourhood of
Wigan, was so dreadfully beaten by the mob, that at one
time his life was despaired of ; hi: brother, Mr. Roger
Leigh, was also very badly used by the populace, and dying
a short time afterwards, hi: death was by many attributed
to the usage he then received.

Sir Robert Holt Leigh, Bart. stared that on the 4th of
May last he was in the Moot-hall of Wigan ;it was the
lvet;an. There was a gallery opposite the bench where
the Mayor sat, which was appropriated for the voters:
who gave in their votes from it. That gallery became
very full and turbulent. There was a great crowd both
inside and outside the hall. There was threatening loigusge
used towards himself anti others, and some persons iri the
gallery lowered down a rope, with a running noose to it
like a halter. He hail reason to apprehend daraor, and
he mentioned it to the Mayor. There were persons sta-
tioned at the windows in the gallery giving signals to ti c
crowd below in the streets, as to who was about proceed-

is g from the Court-house, and he in consequence 'dare not
leave the Court-house at the close of the proceedings, hut
retired into a closet behind a screen in the Hall. Whilst in
that situation a considerable number of persons rushed

into the Hall, tore up the benolieF, and threw them
in the direction where he stood. Finding that the
crowd increased both in and out of doors, the witness
knowing that he must either perish quietly, or meet the
crowd boldly, he came out of his biding place; but had no
sooner done so than he was pressed upon by the crowd,
who threw him with force against an angle of the stair-
case. Ins clothes were then torn of his hack, and he was
'taken up, and thrown headlong into the street, his face
downwards. On the outside there was a crowd of
persons assembled, who received him with blows from
bludgeons, and kicks from wooden shoes or clogs.
Having beaten him severely,•he was dragged by a party
from the threshold of the Court close, through the cban-
neh of the streets, the mob kicking him at the same time.
One kick, and the last that he recollects being inflicted,
broke one of his ribs, and completely paralyzed him. He
was subsequently taken up insensible, and conveyed to the
Buck-i'th% Vine Inn.
Cross-examined hyMr. A onisow. for the prisonerßentley
—Has represented the borough of Wigan in Parliament in

five different Parliaments. Does not recollect at any pre-

vious elections that there was much excitement. It was
the custom at Wigan elections to have music. Never pa-
raded the town with drums and colours at any of the
elections, and was not aware that the candidate whom he
supported did. Believed the candidate who came from
Manchester did do so. Does not reside at Wigan, nor did
not lay at the last Assizi-s that lie did reside there. Had
a house at Wigan which gave him the right to vote at
elections. Has given up that house, and is not now an
elector of Wigan.
The Learned Counsel proceeded to put several other
questions relative to voters, and the Wigan election, when
he was stepped by the Learned JUDGE, who said that the
questions bad nothing to do with the case, and if he (the
Learned Counsel) wished to prejudice the case, he (the
Judge) was stli-e it would have no effect upon either Judge
or Jury.

Cross-examinqtion continued—Came from his own
residence, at Hindley, to the election. Was accompanied
by his brother and Mr. Walaisley. Took a circuitous
route through the fields in order to avoid the mob which
had previously threatened him. Joined Mr. Kearsley and
Mr. \Vat abani at the Eagle and Child in Wigan. Sup-
ported Mr. Kearsley and Mr. Wilbraham in the election.
Many voters were at the inn with them. Did not leave
the inn until the crowd had escorted Mr. Thickness( to
the Moot Hall. Mr. Thicknesse was the popular candi-
date Did not wear a cockade, but many were obliged to
wear cockades of the opposite party to prevent being ill-used.
The Learned JUDGE to the question respecting the
cockade said that it was a very foolish one. What had
the cockades to do with the charge against the prisoners.
He was surprised to hear a man of common sense put
such questions.
Mr. ADDISON replied that he had a view in asking such
questions to chew the excitement.

The Learned JUDGE said, that if be would talk non-
sense, he was compelled to sit there and hear him. Pro-
bably it was the intention of the Learned Counsel to
confuse the case.
Mr. ADDiSON denied the imputation, and said that be
was only discharging a duty to his client.
Mr. Joseph Latham corroborated Sir Robert's state-
ment.

Thrlras Cooper saw the prisoner Parkinson, strike Sir
Robert three or four times with his fists, and said " Now
lads, let's lay on him, down with him, kill him." Knows
the prisoner well.
The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against Parkin-
son and Bentley, and acquitted Lancaster.

DISASTROUS SHIPWRECKS.

MONTROSE.

Never has it been our task to record so great a destruc-
tion of property on this coast, happily unaccompanied with
asy loss of human life, as falls to be noticed this week.
Ti;e s'orni of Tuesday last came upon us without much
warning, and fortunately was of short duration. The
wind, about four, A al., suddenly veered round from north
to south-west, and blew tremendously from the south,
with little interruption, till nearly two, P.M. In this short
space, however, three vessels were driven a,bore behind
the Anna', at the mouth of the harbour, and two of them
almost instantly became wrecks. The first one that shared
this disastrous fate was descried about eight o'clock at,.
tempting to take the river, and proved to be the sloop
Annie, Christie, of Arbroath, with a general cargo from
Aberdeen to that place. The clouds lowering dismally on
the enraged surge, and the rain pelting impetuously at this
moment, she was seen only indistinctly tossing among the
agitated billows, and near to the rocks on the south side of
the Bar ; and the thought, if not the certainty, deer imme-
diate destruction, was present to the minds of the numerous
spectators. Speedily, the life-boat, manned by an enter-
prising crew, was launched for the rescue of the mariners, no
longer able to manage or direct their disabled bark; and,
to the great joy of the sufferers, es well as of those who
witnessed their intrepidity, they succeeded in their bene-
volent undertaking. By this time the second vessel, the
Soph;n, Davidson, of Peterhead, with potatoes, to Hull,
had struck on the Annat, and was in an equally pitiable
plight with the Annie—drifting on a dangerous shore. To
the deliverance of her crew the Elaine enterprising indivi-
duals anon directed their exertions, and were, we are happy
to say, no less successful. The third appeared in the
offing along with the London trader Osnaburgh, Bry-
don, of this port (wbo entered the ricer with apparent
ease), and turned out to be the smack Ann, M'Kay, of
Arbroath, from Glasgow to Arbroath, with a general cargo.
Like the other two, the Ann was driven by the strong
)uth wind upon the Annat, and the tide having Row set in
effongfy from the north, the rescue of her crew was a mat-
ter of far more difficulty than that of the other two. A
fresh set of hands instantly volunteered their services in the
life-boat, and nobly braved the perils and overcame the ob-
stacle, that presented theirsiver, and took off the almost
despairing crew, bnt not without much difficulty. The
master may indeed he said to have been twice saved from
a watery grave; for in attempting to leap into the life-
boat, he was unfortunately plunged into the deep, but, by
the activity of the boat's crew, he was snatched from the
all-devouring chasm. The Annie and Sophia., as we
have already stated, became instantly taital wrecks ; and
we are sorry to learn that only very small insurance was
effected on the latter. The cargoes of both were etrewod
about the coast in the afternoon ; and the little that was
damaged condition. A sum of
saved was in a completely
money in sovereigns and bank notes, belonging to the
master of the Annie, was fortunately recovered. The
cargo of the Ann, also much damaged, was discharged
under very great disadvantages ; and the vessel was yester-
day taken off the beach and brought into the harbour.—
New North Briton.

" MY PARLIAMENTARY DUTIES."—.--
Under this significant head the readers of the Court Journal
are, we understand, to be entertained in the forthcoming number,
with a piquant sketch, developing the mode in which certain of
our Senators contrive to amuse themselves during the season
in London, under the convenient cloak of Parliamentary evo-
cation, and exempt from the observation of their rusticating
famine, Such an rclaircissement may be expected to make
some sensation in town and country.
CRIMPING.—We understand that a fellow,
named Bryant, who lately enlisted into the 90th Regiment of
Foot, out of the M Division of Police, has been taking in the un.
wary by crimping tricks—that is, by enlisting young men, and
then extorting from them swart money. Last night, a young
loan, named Kelly, was charged by a policeman with having de-
ierted from the 90th Regiment of Foot. Bryant, who made
the charge, did not now AIN ear, and Mr. Twy ford at once dis-
charged the mas'