The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-13 00:00:00

EMPLOYERS AND WORKMEN.

A special meeting of the Executive Committee of the
Working Men's Association has been held at the Associa-
tion Rooms, Bolt-court, Fleet-street, for the purpose,
among other business, of receiving from Mr. Bass, M.P.,
a statement of his attempt to bring about an arbitration
between the coalmasters and miners of Church Gresly.
Mr. G. Potter occupied the chair. The chairman said he
regretted to have to announce the failure of the attempt
made by Mr. Bass, at the request of the association, to
bring about a settlement of the long-existing dispute
between the coalmasters and their workmen in Church
Gresly, by arbitration. It would be recollected that
the men had consented to refer the whole of
the matters in dispute unconditionally to the arbitration
of Lord Lichfield, but the masters, at a meeting just held,
had positively declined arbitration. lle had that day
received the following note from Mr. Bass :—" My dear
sir, Lord Chesterfield has written to me, on the part of
the associated coalmasters of Church Gresly, a positive
refusal to entertain the question of arbitration with their
workmen.—Yours truly, M. BASS," Mr. Fairbairn then
moved the following resolution :—" That while working
men are showing their desire to amend the rules of their
trades unions, this committee deeply regret to hear that
the coalmasters of Church Gresly district, after having
locked out their men for joining the Miners' Union, have
not only refused to receive any deputation from those
men, but have also positively refused to submit the matters
in dispute to the arbitration of the Earl of Lichfield,
thereby precluding all chalice of an amicable settlement
of the long-protracted and lamentable dispute." Mr.
Carter seconded the resolution, which was agreed to, and
ordered to be transmitted to the Miners' Union and the
Church Gresly coalmasters. The chairman reported that
the arrangements for the conference between a certain
number of large employers of labour in the staple and most
important trades of the country and an equal number of
representative working men, for the purpose of coming to
a mutual agreement for the prevention of strikes and
lock outs, were progressing most satisfactorily. It was
proposed that the number should be twelve or
fifteen on each side. Eight of the largest , -,e-
ployers of labour in the country had already con-
sented to take part in the conference, and replies of a
similar character were daily expected from others who had
been communicated with. The trade councils of Man-
chester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Glasgow
had each been requested to appoint one delegate, and the
iron, coal, cotton, shipbuilding, engineering, and building
trades, and the Amalgamated Conference of Trades had
also been requested to appoint one delegate each. He
hoped the conference would meet within the next fort-
night. The secretary was instructed to prepare a list of
cases to be laid before the Trades Union Commission of
those wholesale firms who, in restraint of trade, have
combined against the retail dealers, as in the case of
Messrs. Platt, of St. Martin's-lane. The committee then
adjourned.

THE TRIAL OF "CAPTAIN" MACKA

The trial of the Fenian Mackay for the murder of
Policeman Casey has occupied two days at the Cork As-
sizes. The prisoner is described as a young man, 27 years
of age, of middle height, and light wiry build, with a very
determined expression of countenance. He was neatly
dressed, and spoke without any American accent, though
claiming to be an American citizen. He did not require a
jury de medietate. The Attorney-General stated the case
for the prosecution. It is unnecessary to recapitulate the
facts, which have been recently published. The account
of the encounter in which Casey lost his life was sub-
stantially the same as the local journals have given.
Geale, who had two constables with him at first, had
his uniform on, and over it a great coat, which was
partly open, so that it could be seen he was an
officer of justice. He addressed Mackay by name,
and said he arrested him for treason. The prisoner
resisted, and was aided by Mannix, Spiller, and Walsh. A
struggle ensued, which lasted fifteen or twenty minutes,
and in the course of it Geale fell, pulling the prisoner
down with him. At this crisis Casey, the deceased, and
four other constables came in, and Geale, supposing that
the party would see the futility of further resistance, was
holding the prisoner with the left hand, while with his
right he was putting back his revolver into his pocket,
when Mackay, seizing the opportunity, stooped down,
drew a revolver from his breast, which he had before been
prevented from doing, and pointed it at Geale, who struck
it down with his own. At that moment it was fired, and
struck Casey in the leg while he was engaged in hand-
cuffing another man. After Casey was shot, the prisoner
exclaimed voluntarily two or three times, " I did not
intend to shoot Casey; I am sorry I shot Casey. I

intended it for Geale."✓ The examination of witnesses for
the Crown occupied the court during the first day of the

At the close of the case for the Crown, Mr. Heron,
(.C., addressed the jury for the prisoner. He contended
that the attempted arrest of Mackay was illegal, as he had
committed no felony, and the police had not the Lord-
Lieutenant's warrant with them. He suggested that the
pistol was discharged by the hand of Genie while endea-
vouring to strike it down, and that if there had been
proper instruments in the infirmary Casey's life might
have been saved.

Witnesses were examined for the defence, who deposes
to expressions of regret and sympathy by Mackay and to
a statement by Casey that the explosion was accidental;
also to an observation by the prisoner to Geale, that he
could have shot him twice. Genie and another were
recalled, and positively contradicted this evidence. Mr,
Waters spoke to the evidence for the prisoner, and Sir C.
O'Loghlen replied for the Crown. 111 r. Justice O'Hagim
charged the jury, who, after a short deliberation, found a
terthotkila gwitY.