The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-19 00:00:00

THE PROSECUTION OF EX-GOVEROR

EYRE.

BOW-STREET.—THIS Das.

The adjourned summons taken out against
Ex-Governor Eyre for issuing an illegal proclama-
tion in the Island of Jamaica, in Oct., 1865, was
proceeded with this morning.
Lord De Blaquirre, Sir Roderick Murchison, and
Major Anson, members of the Eyre Defence Fund,
were amongst those present to hear the proceed-

ings.
Sir It. Collier and Mr. 11. Paynes appeared for
the prosecution, and Mr. Giffard, (.C., and Mr.
Poland for the defence.

Mr. Lake, one of the witnesses en mined before
the royal commissioners, was this morning asked
some questions by Mr. Giffard. lie said he had
been iu the service of Messrs. Shava and Roscoe,
the solicitors for the prosecution, f)r some time.
He had seen, after he arrived at Worant Bay, a
great number of persons hanged, by of court-
martial. G. W. Gordon was amonp,..t the number.
lie had seen Dr. Bruce often at tau office of his

employers.
In answer to Mr. Vaughan, he sisicl when he ar-
rived at Morant Bay, ou the 13411 Oct., all was

quiet.
Edward Marsh, a seaman on board
the Wolverine on the 13th of October.
He went down with some troops to Morant
Bay, where he remained all night. He then re-
turned to Kingston, and went bac!c to the bay on
the 14th with arms. Governor Eyre came on board
at the bay. We embarked some prisoners at nigh t
from the port, and proceeded with them to Port
Antonio on Sunday, the 15th. Governor Eyre
landed at Port Antonio, but he (the witness)
remained on board until the Monday, when
one man was hung before dinner, and several
after. lie recollected on one occasion seeicg
thirteen banging at one time after that. He saw
Gordon brought on board after he was arrested,
and then he was taken to Morant Bay. He helped
to take him ashore. When they got there he was
handed over to the provost-marshal. He knew Dr.
Bruce, and recollected his being taken on board,
and landed at the same place, but there was nobody
there to receive him. He was too old.

By
duty,

Mr. Giffard—lie was not on shore to do
and did not know where the troops were

again in the evening.
He saw Mr. Eyre leave the
Wolveriney r .
taken to.
B
By Mr. Giffard—He was one of those who towed
Vaughan:—He
na ud gha n
return
the schooner back before she was captured. She
had 100 kegs of gunpowder and a Haytian general
on board. General La Motte, he thought, was the
name of the officer. They were all put on shore at
Port Royal. He also saw an American bark with
white people on board.
By Mr. Vaughan—That was about a week after
they had taken the schooner. The schooner was
armed, and had a crew of nine or ten persons.
Walter Rea said he was in Jamaica in 1865. He
was also a seaman on board the Wolverine, and
went to Morant Bay on the 12th of October. The
Governor arrived the day after. He came into
the tent on the 13th, and read martial law
there from a paper. There were about 100 seamen
and marines there at the time. After he had
finished he told us all he hoped we ehould do our
duty. The next morning he went with a party of
marines and sailors to Essington, which was about
28 miles from Morant Bay. Lieut. Oxley was in
command. \Ve were armed, and each man
had forty rounds of ammunition. Our orders
were to shoot anybody we saw running away
and could not capture. The orders were
obeyed. A man was seen running amongst
some bushes, when 12 men fired and wounded him.
After that Sergt. O'Connor of the Marines ran
down to the beech and shot him with a revolver.
He did not think the man shot was armed; he
offered no resistance, but only tried to escape. An-
other man was playing a flute outside a cottage.
He ran away, when a marine fired at him and
wounded him, and another marine shot him dead,
and he was then thrown into the bush. Another
case somewhat similar occurred, but we were
told that the last man had been seen in the
market Place inciting the people to rebellion. About
fifty prisoners were taken on the road. Guards
were placed at every d )or of the Court-house at
Essington. He (witness) mounted guard over the
prisoners. Lieut. Errington pointed out one of the
men that was condemned to death, and in about
flee minutes after that man was lashed to a tree
and shot. A great uumber.of prisoners were taken
when we returned to Morant Bay, where they were
put in a tent and a black sentry placed over them.
After that we were sent to Stoney Gut. A female
fired a pistol at us after we got there, but she hit
nobody. That was the only resistance we met with
in the village, as the people had all left it. We
pulled down the houses, about 20, and cut down
the cocoa nut trees. A party of the 6th Regiment
after that began to burn the houses, and the
sailors then followed their example. We remained
three days at Stoney Gut, during which time all
the houses were destroyed.
Cross-examined by Mr. Giffard—lt would be im-
possible to catch any person after they had suc-
ceeded in getting into the bush or sugar-cane.
There were 100 black soldiers, a battery of artillery,
and the blue-jackets and marines belonging to the
ship at Morant Bay when we landed. 'f he party
that went to Stoney Gut numbered 100. The
position we went to take was a very im-
portant one ; it commanded the high road
to Kingston. It was thought so important
that double sentries were provided at all points.
It was nearly surrounded by bush, and, owing to
the rain, the difficulty of keeping communication
open was increased. It would be impossible to get
artillery into position at Stoney Gut. We found
a number of female dresses in the houses at Stoney
Gut, but they were clothes far above the station of
the people who would reside at Stoney Gut. Pau
Bogle was still at large at that time.
By Mr. Vaughan—We met with no disturbance
at all after we first landed, either in going to or re-
turning from Stoney Gut.
Frederick Augustus Vining said he was at King-
ston, in Jamaica, in 1865, and recollected the pro-
clamation of martial law. There was no outbreak,
or breach of the peace at the time in the place ;
nothing, in fact, save the excitement such a procla-
mation caused. The courts of law were open, and
remained so during the whole time martial law was
in force. On Sunday, the 21st of October, he
was arrested by an ordinary policeman, without
a warrant, and without any charge being made.
He was locked up, and on asking why he was de-
prived of his liberty he received no reply. On the
22d he was removed from the barracks where he
had been confined, and taken to Uppark Camp.
Dr. Bruce' was placed in the same cell that he
occupied two or three days later on. While in
confinement he was ordered to witness the flogging
of the men. After that he was visited by Mr. Bick-
nell, the police magistrate of Kingston, and on again
asking why he was arrested, the magistrate said he
saw no reason for it, and had he the power he would
order his release, lie afterwards saw Gen.O'Connor,
but he could not tell him the grounds for his arrest.
After he been detained 20 days, he was liberated
without the slightest charge being made against
him. He had nothing to do with the disturbance
at Morant Bay.
By Mr. Giffard—The population he should think
was about 400,000 black and coloured and about
50,000 whites. He had no means of arriving at
any correct information on the subject, but if the
number of whites put down at the last census in
1866 was set down only at 15,000 he was not pre-
pared to question it.
Mr. Vaughan asked hew it was proposed to con-
nect Mr. Eyre with the last witness ?
Sir R. Collier said it would be seen that the last
witness's name was amongst those arrested, and
mentioned in a despatch written by Mr. Eyre to
Mr. Cardwell in 1865, and those whom it was de-
sirable to try by court-martial.
Mr. Alexander Phillips, a. native of Jamaica, said
he was a resident in the island in 1865. His horn::
was about 43 miles from the proclaimed district. He
had nothing to do wittt.the outbreak directly or

Mr. M'LAREN next movod a resolution asserting the
Maim of Scotland to an increase of lo members, but with-
drew it after a short conversation, in the course of which
➢lr. Beresford Hope made some trenchant remarks on the
recent vote. Though the house had sat since November,
more or less, it had done nothing yet but upset the Eng-
lish Reform Act and throw the Irish Church into con-
fusion.

fait
shuj.effAerAff:
.oberrEsfee
its it.o, Ff
"pure
favour of the amendment, and that the Government had
rectly. Was arrested on 24:1 Oct. by Lieut. St. Clair ' their importation into this country, were precisely in the
and a a body of men, but no charge was made same position as English. cattle. The cattle from Spain
Ga Un Sd Ss
amendmentOi 1 Nn
simple."
l.pointed,,
wasA ft
toe outr
some
establishoto
m e theo housebhsee
rovsae
__
PoforEtug,all ddid not enjoy any privilege not possessed by
against him. Lieut. St. Clair told him he was autho-
and
thhoaSldtirt
rised by his Excellency to take him into custody, to that England.
an
INDIAN IRRIGATION•
wtioonosudfroopmtheroPoo.
conversation
andb Mr. Young, Mr. Headlant
search his house, and seize his papers. He had Mr. SMOLLETT asked the Secretary of State for India
see
oo• tooonosTdeerxaptfressitu a hope that Mr.
known Dr. Bruce for a long while. He saw him in whether the offer to purchase the works of the East India
Disraeli would e
of
rating
thaesret. was no-
custody at the same place to which he (witness) Irrigation and Canal Company in Orissa, on account of
thing so elevated in the principle was 'taken, viz., Spanish Town. We were taken Government, had been finally declined; if so, to in-
_ qasudire wohriess,thser
stohheemprsoposafls to
irrigation,
out the Beher.. him in
tehateTcri shieonh.ouTsohlev.oC ht a i rnitnoa ne
Committee
than to the front of the Government House and after
o
;tete.: tohfe
Supply, and
refusing to go on with the bill ongaccountjnosftiiftys
wards-to Morant Bay, where Dr. Bruce was given capital of two millflornrieg
nadn dt hoenf
an additional
tuhr:
werealon,now by raising
madge considerationn of. the bill was fixed for Monday next.
in charge to the provost-marshal. He never saw Dr. upon the sole responsibilty of the speculators, and with-
Bruce after that until the 20th of November, but out any assurance of repayment at a future period from vote for Judicial expenses there
'
it was not until the last week in December the Indian Treasury ?Mr. ovi was a somewhat she-
-11
appointment of B
discussion of the recent
that he was released. lie (witness) was treated S:r S. NORTHCOTE said since the offer of the Govern- office of Clerk of Assize on the Westernotl.lt.to the
with the greatest indignity, and eventually liberated
hmeateld andpurchasetothe s,skead
for meetingbtp ie oftet he eethmarthnoysehraedoo. beenrded Fawcett moved to strike the salary (.£1,000) out, of Mr.the
without auy charge being made against him. Helnotte;iel.neit
(11.!itshernoethicz was negatived without a division.
by the governor-General of Inrdia. terms than
Government' de-was flogged and released. Four sailors were ordered clined to increase the offer, and the matter so remained. that a n • general inquiry should be
Chancellor of the Exchequer undertook
made into the 'salaries and
to inflict the punishment, and he receved 100 lashes The advertising for further capital by the company was duties of all these officers.
with the navy cat. He never knew from that day entirely on their own account, and in no way connected Ten votes iu Class 3 —Law and Justice—were afterwards
to the present why he was flogged. Lieut. Adcock with the Government. agreed to.
was the person who gave the sailors their orders. BOUNDARY BILL. Several bills were forwarded a staus and the house ad-
He was in ill health at the time, and he sufferedOu the motion of Mr. DISIte ELI the orders of the day jourued at a quarter to 1 o'clock.
postponed until after the notices of motion for the
very severely after the punishment. After the
wieirrpof appointing the select committee to which this
flogging had been accomplished, Lieut. Adcock ['bill had been referred.
directed him to kneel down and say, " God bless the Mr. HARDY then move' the appointment of a coin
Queen and every black man." There was no medical mittee to consider the bouudaries of about 30 boroughs,
man present when thepunishment was administered, as laid down by the Boundary Ceminissioners, and to
and after it was over, he received a pass, and left to report what, if any, alterations• should be made therein ;
shift for himself. He was afterwards attacked with and also that all
be referredn to the o
eetititrs presentee
d
relative
to the said boroughs that
fever, and it was only front the circumstance of his the committee have power to receive and for
' amaps, me-
brother finding him by accident that he was enabled morial.i, reports, papers, and records concerning the said
to get home. He was in bed for two weeks with boroughs, and to confer with the Boundary Commis-
severe wounds on his back. He was never tried, sioners and those employed under them iu their in-
neither was ho ever told why he was taken quiries. The committee to sit daily, and to consist of the
into custody. A great many people were
following members :--Mr. 'Walpole, Sir William Stirling-
Maxwell, Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Austin Bruce, and Mr.
flogged at the 'time he was. He was afterwards Kirkman Hodgson.
tried by a special commission in February, and the Mr. BRIGHT wished to know whether the decision of
result was an acquittal. the committee was to ba in any way fettered, or whether
Mr. Vaughan—What were you tried for ? they would have the power to inquire into both the old
Witness—Conspira.ey, as it was said. I was and the new boundaries, and whether they would have the
first summoned as a witness for the Crown, but power to postponethiet consideration of certainboroughs?
li
r.HARDY said was proposed to give the power of
after I had been waiting some time I was told an postponing the consideration of any case.
indictment had been preferred against me, a true A discussion took place with respect to the wording of
bill found, and then I was taken into custody. the motion, when
Dr. Bruce was tried at the same time that 1 Mr. MONK moved the addZiioa of the following words
was, and also acquitted. I saw 49 executions• after the word therein :—" And to call for further evi-
dence if they should think fit ;" but th 3 motion was ulti-
By Mr. Giffard—Nine as well as myself-were in-
avitely withdrawn.
dieted for conspiracy, but all were acquitted. The Dir. Mr.HARDY suggested that the words " and with the
Attorney-General told the jury they were accused members for the boroughs and counties respectively" be
of conspiracy with Gordon and Bogle to set aside added. That he thought would meet the approbation of ,
the Queen's authority, but hoped thejury would not all parties.
mix their names up with those of Gordon and Bogle The suggestion was agreed to, and the words were
because they were not connected with a crime that added.
said h •
Mr. NEWDEGATE as t ero was not a single coun-
would hand their names down to execration,
ty member on the committee, he should move that the
Mr. Giffard—Did not the witnesses say you were committee should consist of seven instead of five.
at the meeting at Vere ? Mr. ROEBUCK said he hoped the Government would 1
Sir R. Collier objected to the question, and the oppose the motion, as it was desirable to get through the
work as soon as possible. Seven member; he thought,
magistrate decided that it should not be put.. .
e for consideration than
would take longer t.im five.
Witness continued—He had brought an action
Mr. HARDY said he could not support such a pro-
against Mr. Eyre, and a fund had been sub-
posal.
scribed to enable him to do so. lie had received The committee was ultimately decided to remain as it
no direct authority of Mr. John Stuart Mill:and was set forth in the motion, and, this having been agreed
Mr. P. Taylor, the prosecutors in this case, to use t,, the bill was referred to it for consideration.
their names to increase the subscriptions to that REPRESENTATION OF THE
D) BILL PEOPLE (SCOT-
fund.. He had not appointed persons to receive
'been and Rcs- On the reading of the order of the day for going into
subscriptions to that fund. Messrs b
committee on the Representation of the People (Scotland)
coe were his solicitors in his action agst Mr. Eyre.
Bill,
Mr. Giffard—Didn't M'Shaen tell you you could Mr. MAXTER moved "That it be an instruction to the
not use the names of Mr. Mill and Mr. Taylor ? committee that, instead of adding to the numbers of the
Witness—No. house, they have power to disfranchise boroughs
in England having, by the census returns of
Mr. Giffard--:-Who did, then ?
1861, less than 5,000 inhabitants." The hon. member
Witness—Well, I don't say I wasn't told so.
said he felt it an imperative duty to make the present mo-
Mr. G'iffard —Well, by whom? tion, and he hoped after what he had to say in support of
Witness—l was told so by Mr. Camerovzow. it had been heard that the house would b 3 induced
Mr. Giffard—Rove long have you been in this to give its assent to the proposition. Since
the year 1710, five years after the Union,
country ? the progress of wealth in Scotland has been very great.
Witness—For some time.
? From that period down to the present the wealth of Er,-
Mr. Giffard—How have you been supported
land had increased 800 per cent., whilst that of Scotland
Witness hesitated a great deal, and then said—
had increased no less than 2,500 per cent. He altogether
I have been supported by the money subscribed for opposed the proposal of increasing the number of members
of that house, and he thought that the way iu which the
me.
Mr. Giffard—And nobody else has given you additional members for Scotland ought to be pro-
cured was by disfranchising some of the smaller pocket
money ? Now take care.
Witness—Well, I draw on Mr. Sheen for what boron hs in England. (Ilear, hear.) He brought the
g
matter forward solely on his own responsibility, and that
I require. I have done so since last year.
as a constitution question was involved in the matter he
Mr. Giffard—Yes, and he paid your expenses hoped the house would agree to his proposition.
from Jamaica to this country ; did he not, Mr. Mr.WHITBREAD supported the proposition of the hon.
Phillips? member for Montrose.
Witness—I don't see that lam bound to answer Sir R. KNIGHTLEY moved, as an amendment to Mr.
Baxter's instruction, that one seat be taken from all the
such questions as poll put to me.
boroughs returning two members having less than 1'2,000
Mr. Giffard —The magistrate is the best judge
inhabitants. He also strongly opposed an increase in the
of that. numbers, and maintained that was wiser to curtail the pri-
Wituess—Well, Mr. Shaen did pay my ex- vita.z.s of corrupt little places like Bridgwater and Barn-
penses. staple than totally to extinguish the representation of any
Sir R. Collier—You are in no way connected singleplace.
with the present prosecution, except to tell what you Sir W. STIRLING MAXWELL supported the instruc-
tion.
know. Mr. CHILDERS showed by an elaborate analysis of
Witness—That's all. the population returns tit it, while Mr. Baxter's motion
Sir It. Collier—You are only interested and took members from counties already over-represented, Sir
moving in your action against Mr. Eyre. R. Knightley's would substract them from parts very in-
Witness—That's all sufficiently represented.
Mr. B. COCHR!iNE (110nit3111 and Lord E. HOWARD
The case was proceeding whenwe went to mess.
, (Arundel) spoke in favour of Sir R. Knightley's alterna-
tive.
-
mess.
Mr. DISRAELI reminded the house that its numbers
had been twice increased within the present century, and
on each occasion a proportionate increase in its legislative
efficiency and influence had followed. Tho house, in his
opinion, was not too large, and it never could maintain its
position as a popular and representative Assembly if its
numbers were to be limited. But he admitted that there
was a strong feeling even among his own friends against
increasing its numbers, and the practical question there-
fore was reduced to this—were the members necessary to
do justice to Scotland to be obtained by Mr. Baxter's or Sir
R. Knightley's plan? He supported the last, reminding
the house that twice last year it had decided not to ex-
tinguish the representation of any place. He urged, how-
ever, above all, a speedy decision, and whatever it might
be, the Government, he added, would use their best efforts
to facilitate the passing of the bill.
Mr. GLADSTONE supported Mr. Baxter's instruction,
as more favourable to the equable diffusion of representa-
tion, and the same line was taken by Mr. 11. Bailiie and
Mr. Yorke, speaking on the Conservative side ; while
Mr. 3leLaren, from the Liberal benches, supported Sir R.
Knightley. Mr. Sinclair Aytouu and the Lord Advocate
endeavoured to make some observations, but were unable
to obtain a hearing from the impatience of the house. On
a divisien, Mr. Baxter's instruction was carried by 217 to

TATTERSALL'S--,E,ast Evening,

.-.-_ ...-.-..11, ...-..- --..

SOMERSETST.I.E.II STARES.
9 to 4 agst Vixen g (taken)
3to 1 agst Ploupjatoy (offered)
5 to 2 agst Lau.y Elizabeth (taken and offered)
13 to 2 agst ilosicrucian (offered—take 7 to 1)
9 to 1 agst, Speculum (taken)
9to 1 ag.st Blue Gown (taken)
10 to 1 r.gst Orion (taken and offered)
10 to 1 agst Paul Jones (offered—take 11 to 1)
100 to 6 agst Suffolk (taken)
25 to 1 agst Green Sleeve (taken)
50 to 1 agst Pace (offered—take 1000 to 15)
1000 to 15 agst St. Ronan (taken and offered)
1000 to 15 agst Tympanum (offered)
1000 to 15 agst Betrayal (offered)
1000 to 8 agst Restitution (offered)
1000 to 3 a.gat Chelsea (offered)
1000 to 2 agst Typhoeus (offered)
2to 1 agst Lady Elizabeth, with a start (offered)
3to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's bt ;offered, take 100
to 30)

PLACE BETTING.
Even Lldy Elizabeth (taken)

2to 1 agst Rosicrucian (taken and offered)
9 to 4 agst Speculum (taken)
3to 1 agst Orion (taken freely)
8 to 1 agst Green Sleeve (taken)
10 to 1 asst St. Ronan (taken)
SCRA.TCHINGS.

Puff and Ackworth out of Somersehire Stakes.
The Returned and Tormentor out of Beaufort Cup.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1868.

MAY.

Bath
Croydon Ist Summer .., 21 Epsom Summer
Newark 2l Paris
JUNE

West Drayton 1 I
Croydon 2d Summer
Manchester 3
Ascot Summer •
9
Beverley, Hull, and 1
East lading lO
Windsor Summer

Newton
Hampton
Newcastle . 23
Bibury Club 23
Stockbridge
Alexandra Park 3O

JULY.

Chelmsford
Worcester Summer ... 2 Wiliam lg
Kingsbury and Hendon 6 Stamford
Radcliffe
I
Carlisle 7 Nottingham July
Newmarket July 7 Chesterfield . 23
I
Ifungerford
Pontefract • 13 Southampton ... 23
Down Royal Corp.... 114 Sudbury and Ealing, .... 23
Reading

Spilsbi ll

Deauville

AUGUST.

1, 1 Bridgewater and. West

Leek
Brighton
Brighton Club 6 1 Scarborough. 24
Lewes Summer
Wolverhampton ll 1 Great Yarmouth 25
Stockton
Plymouth
Windsor August l3 Ipswich 2T

Egnani l7 Lichfield
Hastings
York August
Oxford

SEPTEMBER.

Baden
Warwick September
Abingdon

11
1
33 1

Leicester

Hendon l7
Monmouth ... 17
Manchester

Newmarket let October 22

Doncaster September... 8 Walsall 23
I
Brecon . 14 Edinburgh
Richmond
Hampton Autumn l5 Royal Caledonian Hunt.
Kelso 1:: and Western M . 30

Bedford

Brotnley Autumn
Newmarket 2d October 5
Lanark 8
Chelmsford Autumn
Cheltenham l3
NOV!

Liverpool
Win; ,Ts'oury

Sir G. BOWYER expressed some• doubt whether the
committee on the Scotch Reform Bill could proceed to dis-
franchise English boroughs, but the Speaker assured him
there was no difficulty in the matter.
The house then went into committee on the bill.
Clause 2 was omitted, and on clause 3 there was a long
and, in its results, a most important discussion.
Mr. BOUVERIE moved the omission of that section of
the clause which requires the payment of rates as a qualifi-
cation for a vote. It was opposed by the Government
strenuously, but on a division it was carried by a majority
of 22-118 to 96. On this
Mr. DISRAELI rose and, amid much cheering from the
Ministerial side, moved to report progress, to give the
Government an opportunity of considering the vote just
given, expressing at the -same time a sense of disappoint-
ment that his desire to bring the bill to a satisfactory ter-
mination had not been met with an adequate response.
Mr. BRIGHT, not opposing the motion, reminded Mr.
Disraeli that the large majority of Scotch members wore
decidedly in favour of the amendment, and exhorted him,
having already abandoned one vital principle in the course
of the night, not to insist obstinately on the principle of

rating.
Mr. B. COCHRANE expressed his warm approbation of
Mr. Disraeli's mode of meeting a' factious opposition,' and
declared it never would have been resorted to but for Mr.
Disraeli's accession to office.
Mr. BOUVERIE reminded Mr. Disraeli—whose general
desire to meet the wishes of Scotch members he cordially
recognised—that he had been forewarned of their inten-
tion to insist on this amendment, and pointed out that the
bill introduced an innovation into the Scotch practice.
Mr. LIDDELL cordially approved the course taken by
the Government, and, strengthened by the events of the
evening, he repeated the opinion expressed by him some
ten days ago, that their present position could not be pro-
longed with credit to themselves or advantage to the
country.
Sir 0. RUSSELL also warmly recommended the Go-
vernment to put an end to the present unsatisfactory con-
dition of affairs, but not by resignation. Now that the
house had arrived at the threshold of a dissolution, he
hoped the issue would no longer be shirked, for the coun-
try thoroughly understood that the question in dispute
was not the Irish Church, but a struggle for power.
Sir L. PALK held that the GOVOIIIIIIOIIt had now no
longer a choice between resignation and immediate dis-
solution, but
Mr. GILPIN advised Mr. Disraeli t°
go on and ondea-
vour to pass a good bill, for whichinister
;haenti mn
enjoyed greater
moucreill
advantages than a Liberal m
reyeatid that the §cQtch zuetuber! Imo unanimously