The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-05 00:00:00

THE RIOT AT GREENWICH.
Yesterday, twenty •two soldiers of the Royal Ar-
tillery and Royal Marine?, were brought before Mr.
Sacker, at the Greenwich Police Court, charged
with creating is riot at Greenwich fair, assaulting
nurn..!rous civilians (whose names at present are un-
-1:;•Iown), and damaging property belonging to Mr.
Nelson Lee, proprietor of Richardson's Travelling
and others.
The court and avenues leading thereto were
crowded to excess by persons anxious to bear the
proceedings, and several military officers sat on the
platform.
Mr. Owens, solicitor, of Woolwich, attended for
the prisoners, whose names are Win. Battersby (pri-
vate), Royal Marines; Henry Taylor, ditto ; James
Kelly, ditto; James Moffatt, ditto; and Jacob Guns-
ton, ditto ; Matthew Cowie, Wm. Lemon, 'Times
O'Brien, Samuel Robinson, Win. Jameson, Evan
Evans, John Watts, Thos. Hart, Patrick M.Loughlin,
James Purcell, Samuel Taylor, George Payne, John
Martin, K. Wilkinson, Edward Griffin, Win. Webb,
and Henry Tapping, all of the Royal Artillery, Wool-
wich division.
At the request of Mr. Owens, all witnesses were
desired to leave the court.
Purace-constable James Comber, 354 R, deposed
that he was on duty in the fair at half-past six on
Wednesday evening, when he saw several civilians
near Richardson's Theatre, assaulted by the military ;
one gentleman had his hat knocked over his eyes,
several other persons were then struck down by the
soldiers, about twenty of whom were then on the
spot. Witness endeavoured to persuade them to de-
sist, upon which they turned upon him. S. Taylor
and Jameson called him a-- peeler, and struck
him. He got away; and an for assistance. On his
return the soldiers had mounted Richardson's show
booth, and, taking the swords used upon the stage
from the actors, beat them therewith. Griffin and
Watts were striking several persons with sticks.
Watts had a sword. The other soldiers were armed
with sticks, canes, and pieces of wood, and Evans was
on the stage, beating several persons with his fists.
All the prisoners came in a crowd together at about
half-past six. The' civilians offered no offecce to
them. The prisoners attacked every one that cane
within reach.
Sergeant Horsfall, 9 R, with a severe wound on
his nose, deposed that he saw the soldiers strike the
performers with sticks, &c., on the platform, as well
as many civilians in front of the booth. The soldiers
had been called cowards for their brutal conclude and
they said they would let them see ; they would clear
the booth—tear the platform up. Watts, the artillery-
man, struck witness, and knocked him down. Griffin,
Jameson, anti Cowie, also struck him. His head,
knees, and hip were injured. Watts and Lemon
struck several civilians. Was struck by two or three
soldiers while standing on the steps of the booth. The
whole body of the military then rushed on to the
stage. There was a general row, and women and
children screaming. IVatts, Jameson, and Cowie
were engaged in breaking the lamps, stage ornaments,
&c. Soon after, powerful assistance arrived, and
several of' the prisoners were taken into custody.
Mr. Nelson Lee corroborated last witness's state-
ment, and said that he appealed to the prisoners, im-
ploring them to desist, and not to destroy his property.
Mrs. Lee, who was in the money-office, with diffi-
culty escaped, as the lamps and oil were tumbling
about the pay-box. The police acted with great for-
bearance end were very kind. A gentleman was
" bonneted" (hat forced over his eyes), and, on his
turning and remonstrating, was assaulted, when six
or seven soldiers rushed forward and a general riot-
ing ensued. Bricks and stones were flying about.
The mob rushed on the plattOrm, and the soldiers
turned on the people indiscriminately. The people
rroaned at the soldiers for their brutal conduct. Mr.
Lee identified Evans, Griffin, Cowie, and 11. Tai for
as most active in the disgraceful proceedings.
Several performers, he said, had been brutally used,
and the damage done to his property exceeded 201.
His large chandelier was taken from Evang, broken
to pi ces.
John Carpenter, sergeant, 38 R, deposed that he
was on duty in plain clOthes at half-past six, about
fifty yards from the show booth. Saw the actors en-
gaged on the platform and the people in front. The
military at this time had begun to tear down the
steps. Witness went up to them and said, " Don't
injure Mr. Lte's property." Battersby and Tapping
told him to get out of the way. Martin was engaged
tearing up the steps; he had two pieces of wood,
and threw the remainder of the steps into the road.
He then ran to an oyster•stall, seized a quantiy of the
oysters and . threw them at persons on the stage.
Several stones were thrown, and a large one struck a
gentleman. Shortly after, the soldies cleared the
stage and made a rush up the street. Cowie jumped
on to the platform and seized a sword and flourished
it, while others made a rush at the orchestra and
assaulted the musicians. Battersby broke a trombone
to pieces, and others destroyed everything that came
in their way, and Watts pulled the chandelier down,
and several of the prisoners pulled a rope round Mr.
Lee, who begged for mercy, and urged them not to
destroy his property. Wilkinson, Griffin, and Webb,
assaulted witness. He followed them from the fair
and apprehended them in the market- place, washing
themselves at the pump. Assisted by other officers,
he removed them to the station-house, and told them
they were all charged with rioting at the fair. Mar-
tin replied, "Yes; I wish I had had a piece of
artillery there, and we would soon have cleared
you away."

- Police-constable Charles May, 29G R, identified
Watts, Jameson, Tapping, and Robinson, and said
that the latter prisoner threw a brick, arid used a
stick on the stage, and that the prisoner Battersby
struck him violently on the shoulder.
William.Mee, a civilian, said that Cowie took a rope
and tried to hang Mr. Lee on the stage, and that Webb
pulled the chandelier down and broke it.
Wm. Simpson, a comedian, said he saw Win.
Lemon insult a gentleman, and another soldier strike
him in the face. Several ladies fainted away and
were taken to the back of the b,,oth.
Police-constable 327 It proved that M‘Loughlin
incited his companions forward to mischief, and led
them on. O'Brien and Purcell pulled him off the
step, and the latter threw stones.
James Chappell, cork-cutter, 13uckstone•street,
Spitalfields, proved that Jameson struck Mr. Nelson
Lee with a stick, and also every one within his reach,
using dreadful language, and threatening to kill them
all. Stones and oysters flew about, striking Mr. N.
Lee and himself'. Two swords were taken from the
performers. The riot commenced by the soldiers
attacking the people. Jameson and Purcell attacked
every one.

Henry Wilkinson deposed that he kept an oyster
stall. Griffin and Robinson took his oysters away,
and threw them at the people on the platform ; his
stall was upset, and fried fish and all destroyed.
Abraham Wooley, of Park-street, Greenwich, saw
Cowie and M'Loughlin acting as ringleaders, and
pulling down the stage ornaments and lamps.
Seven other witnesses were called, but .not sworn,
who said they had witnessed acts of great violence on
the part of O'Brien, Jameson, Watts, Hart, Tapping,
Evans, Cowie, Martin, Lemon, Wilkinson, and Pur-
cell.

There being no evidence against Moffat, Gunston,
and Payne, they were discharged.
Mr. Owens said he considered there was not suffi-
cent evidence to go for trial, and he hoped the magis-
trate would adjudicate himself.

Air. SECKEIi said the case was not within his juris-
diction; he could not deal summarily with it. It must
go to a jury, and he considered the case one of a very
serious complexion. He should remand the prison-
ers until to-morrow, for the depositions to be pre •
pared, and would take bail in .50/. for each of the pri-
soners, to meet the charge at the sessions.
There being no bail in readines, the prisoners were
locked up in the cells at the station-home.

ToRQuAY.—The venerable old parish church at
Tor has been opened, after having undergone a thorough re-
pair and restoration, internally and externally. The seats
are now open. with low backs, of the proper ecclesiastical
character. There is a very handsome new pulpit, and also
a new organ, presented by the much-esteemed lady of the
Rev. Dr. Harris, incumbent of the church, built by Dicker,
of Exeter, which is a fine-toned instrument. The restora-
tions, which are nearly completed, reflect great credit on
the incumbent and wardens. The collection on the re-
opening amounted to 30/. 4s. At St. John's Chapel, during
the solemn season of Lent, the communion-table was covered
with black cloth, and many of the congregation wore
mourning. These symbols of the crucifixion were re-
moved, and on Easter Sunday a different scene presented
itself, the church being beautifully decorated with laurel,
laurestina, ivy, and other evergreens, in flower, formed
into sentences, " Christ is risen from the dead," &T., on
the walls. The fronts of the galleries, the organ loft, and
pulpit were also similarly decorated. There was a new
tablecloth f,,r the Communion service, of white cashmere,
very costly, with an embroidered cross in the centre, in gold
and scarlet, the edges of gold fringe. A mognificent cloth,
for covering the altar table in the new church, has been pro-
vided, of the richest crimson velvet and gold, cushions to
correspond, and the sacred monogram worked in gold. The
chapel was crowded on Good Fritley arid Easter Sunday.
The weather is become much milder, and we have had slight
showers of rain. We hear of miny gav fashionable re-
unions in the town during the Easter and the ensuing week ;
our visitors continue to increase, and preparations are already
making for excursions at sea.— ireste; a Luminary.

GENERAL DOMESTIC SERVANTS' BENEVOLENT
INsmuTtort.--Wednesday afternoon a meeting of the mem-
bers and committee ofmanagement of the above Institution
established in May, 1846, for the purpose of relieving honest
an.l industrious domestic servants of both sex( s, who have
been rendered incap.tble of active duty by unavoidable mis-
fortunes, and the advance of age, granting to them annual
pensions ranging from 151. to 25/. per annum, and t.mporary
assistance ia cases of need, was held at the offices of the In-
stitution, in Sackville-street, Piccadilly, for general business.
The report congratulated the members on the great progress
which had bean already made, the members being upwards
of 4,000, and 500 and 600 honorary members, comprising the
prF cipal of the nobility. Iler -Majesty and Prince Albert
having most graciously consented to become patrons. On
the 25th of March last, the society placed by election four •
pensioners on the funds, each receiving from 15/. to 231. per
annum.