The Sun.
London, England, 1819-10-02 00:00:00

was any serious interruption to their passage to
the hustings, if they had allowed the people any
time to make way. I saw the Yeomanry cut at
, the poles-of the banners, but cannot identify any
persons who slid so. I saw no person fling stones
or brick hats I did not kno,v the person of
John Lees. The people I saw lying on the ground
were about half way between the ground which
the cavalry hart quitted and the hustings. Per-
, haps.4o yards from the hustings.
The Coroner ohjecred to the evidence of the
witness as not applying to the cast;.:
Harmer—l did not think; Sir, that there
was any necessi,y tor me to repeat the law. I
now say distinctly; char-all persons present and
aiding and abetting are equally crinkinal7-equally
liable to the consequences of intruding themsr-Ivey
into a peaceable meeting and causing de,rth, with
any indiVidnal who might he identified as the ac-
tual perpetrator of the crime.
Mr. Ashworth-1 dispute this •doctrine, and I
could cite authorities, but I will not fill your al-
' ready crowded Court wish law hooks. I insist,
Sir, that distinct acts against the person of John
Lees must be proved ag:ainst each individual here
to be'acensed, and I reiterate that evidence of
the nature nvw offered does not apply, and before
you receive it that you must have some_ person
identified. I deprecate the mention of the name
of any individual who was no in. some way ac-
cessary to the death of John Lees. My blood
curdles- at the idea of any one being held rip to the
indignation of %he populace. This is a mere wanton
attack, (tom first to last, the motives of which
are to agitate the public mind at a period when
it is desirable that every thing should be honed in
oblivion, and all effervescence subside. There is
another object in view—to set one class against
another, and this to answer particularetunoses.
I hope, Sir, that von will not countenance such
conduct by receiving this evidence, nor any that
does nor charge some person by name or descrip-
tion with inflicting et minds or' bruises on the de-
ceased ; at all events, malice must be shewn on
the part of those whom I tinders'and to be ac-
cused, and for whom I attend here to-day.
Mr. Harmer—l agree, Sir, with the Gentle-
man, that I must skew either that persons named
insist be identified as inflicting the blows,. or, as
present,•aiding and abetting, but I de.ny that any
thing further is required. When the Gentleman
lasserts, that iio tudividual.is implicated in the
death of the unfortunate subject of this en-
qiiiry, who did not actually -commit violence
upon hitn, does be make that assertion as law ?
Will he give such an opinion in writing, or can
he produce a single authority to that effect ?
The -witness has identified one man. It is for
the Jury to decide upon this evidence, When the
Learned Getoleman -first. addressed you, Sir, lie
Stated. himself and his.employers to bp anxious
that truth should he elicited, and the tallest hives-
t igation take place, for the satisfaction or Ore
How dues he prove this •? Strange to say, by
requesting that you should suppress what is most
material. In a case like this, we can only arrive
at the truth by patient research. The. Gentleman
his stated that his blood runs cold in his veins at
the idea. of any individual being. named. He was
on the field like the witness,-and I ash him if his
Vinod then curdled ? Is it, possible that the Learn-
ed Gentleman's sensibility sympathizes only with
the criminal, and is indifferent to the victims of
criminalityl--The generosity,- „let me tell him,
is singular and irreconcilable with justice that
would recommend oblivion to oppression, and re-
fuse relief to the oppressed. Such a feeling is in-
consistent with
~universal humanity, .and peen-,
liarly repugnant to British law.—l repeat that
this is proper evidence, and I am right in insist-
ing upon its going to the Jury. As to Malice pre.
pease, it will be strewn most satisfactorily, and
among 'other means by the fact of the swords
of the Yeomanry, being .sha.rpened some days
previous to the Meeting. The Gentleman who
in the first instance stated himself to attend here

for the town of Manehester, and now processes
himself the advocate of pe.rsons likely to be ac-
cused, has attacked my motives. They are as
proper as his own, whmtever those may be, and I
should ill discharge my ditty were I to act other-
wise than I do.

Coroner—Mr. Harmer, I do not think Mr. Ro-
binson's evidence applicable, because he does nqt
sey that he saw the blow. lie does not say that
he saw him trampled upon.
Mr. Harmer—Sir, it is for the Jury to decide
upon the nature of the evidence.

Mr, Robinson examined by Mr. Harmer—l saw
nothing but when l was upon the field. Previous
to the toil -iris!), coming there l saw no tumult
among the people. If I had I should have gone
home iustautly.
,Eery thing was peaceable, and
the people appeared well disposed.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ashworth--I saw some
flags, one of:them dark coloured ; I perceived no
upon it, for it teas at some distance
from me ; there were some caps of liberty, but
I cannot say lio:v many. I was on the ground
from 30 to 40 miontes hefoi.e the cavalry came to
the field. 'There was a large body of people al-
ready assembled when I first went there. I cannot,

wear that there was no Proclamation, but I
heard of none. There was a shout set up about the
time when Mr. Hunt approached, but I heard none

substvientLy, of any motuent, to the best of my
re-collection. I do not know Whether the Yeo-
manry were two or three abreast or more ; I con-
ceive their advance was 'a charge. When they
had got about halt way to the hustings there was
some confusion.„ The line was not so perfect as
when they started. Ido not think they stopped ;
1 do not know what created the Confusion ; it
stones had been thrown I 'think I should have

seen them; but I certainly did not. Mr. Hunt
was upon the, hustings when the cavalry moved,
• anti Avas"there when they cut'at the banners. I
saw the Yeomanry pursuing men and boys along
Cooper-street after Mr. Hunt bad been taken
from the hustings.
Samuel Davenport of Mancheiter, engraver.
The Coroner was proceeding to question him
in the absence of, the Jury. and before he was
sworn, to which Mr.-Harmer objected.,, ' -
I .did not know John Lees,' but saw violence-
committed which may, probably,Anive been upon.
him. I saw M&. Bitley and the, Trumpeter.
The Coroner stopped the witness.

Witness—.l saw Mr. Bliley and the Trumpeter
cut with their sabres.
Coroner--you shall not go on.
Mr. Harmer--I insist upon the witness's words
going to the Jury, for they ought Co be in pos-
session of such facts.
Coroner—Mr. Harmer, I will tell you, and 1
know it, that you act as a fugle-man to the
witnesses.
Mr. Harmer, in reply to a speech from Mr.
Ashworth-1 wish the evidence of the witness to
go to tie Jory, and merely that. Ido not know
what he has to say, and I wish the Coroner to take
this testimony, as, he has clone that ,of others.
Mr. Ashworth—As I remember to have heard
. said on orse occasion, the Judge will do what the
Judge thinks proper.
Witness continued--t saw one man cat near
the hustings, both on the arm and the head ; I
do not know which arm; I teas 40 yards from
him. Mr. Hunt was speaking on the hnStings at
the time. I did not see Mr. Hunt taken. I saw
them cat at him ; I ant certain he must have re-
ceived a wound from) the manner they cut at him;
lam certain he was wounded. I did not see the
first man after he was wounded—he was wounded
oat the top part of the arm, one wound inside and
the other nit the outside of it ;
.had a rut on the
outside of his head. I couhl not see how he was
dressed. I don't know what beca,ae of him after
he was struck and tell ; I did tint see that his
COO anal hat were cut. There were many him-
dreds of the populace betwixt i
hire and me, with
some cavalry ; 1 saw the man fall. Mr. Wiley,
of the'llanchester Yeomanry, was the person who
cut him. I remained there afterwards abort Et)
minutes. I saw a number hesides tut and toll 'Tan
the ground ; I aas standwg at the time 4 'lows
from the IVindwill ; I don't know whom I
saw cat. 1 saw them cutting a title from the
hustings towards Prier-street. I saw s second
' man ent'at by the Trumpeter, but do nor kaow
whether he was wounded ; I cannot speak to the
dress of this man ; I was about 40 yards from
the hustings, the nearest part, during this time.
I. saw neatly all the Yeomanry Cavalry cutting at
the peon!, On all sides. From tire manner in which
the cavalry behaved, anti cutting so furiously,
am confident that many must have been wounded.
I sa,s, as I before said, one cat twice between the
wrist aid the elbow, afterwards on the shoulder,
and then he fell down. l'here were several
wounded, but I cannot identify them.
Witness examined by. Efarmer—l identify
two per-sons that were cutting. I saw a great
deal of blood-on the•field after the Meeting, near
the hustings. At the time I saw these can I saw
several others of the Yeomanry using their swords,
cutting at die people. Previous to the military
corning in 1 was there about an hour.

Cot imer—li will not allow any further questions
of this sort, until John Lees be identified.

Hormer—lt is not for me or you to decide,
bin the Jiiry, what evidence is necessary.
Coroner-1 will determine what evidence Tall
be allowed or disldlowed.

Mr. Harmer—The evidence to which the Jury
is-entitled, is to refer to the conduct and legality
of the Meeting; because upon that may depend
whether John Lees was or was not murdered.
Mr. Ashworth here interfered, hut. the Coroner
would not allow him to proceed.
Mr. Harmer put a question upon the Riot Act,
hut the Coroner said he would not allow any far-
ther evidence of that nature, until John Lees was
identified. Enough of evidence had been adduced
already as to the reading of the Riot Act, and the
Conduct of the Meeting. . •
Foretnan`said, that the Jury were already fully
satisfied trorn the evidence, that there was no riot
or tumult ; that the Meeting was peaceah:e i and.
that the Riot Act was not read.

Mr. Harrue----Let it be distinctly undet4tood,
that if any evidence be adduced to contradict tt►nt
which has satisfied the minds of the Jnry, I shall be
allowed to offer farther evidence in confirmation.
The Coroner tmented.

Mr. Harmer-1 have now; Sir, to produce
dence of the identity of several Yeomanry, who
were active, for God forbid that l should attempt
to implicate those who were passive: I also pro-:
pose to bring forward Mr. Richardson, the cut.;

ler, who sharpened the swords of the Yeomanry,
in order to skew the anintta with Which- they
acted. I assert, and I am prepared to support
my assertion, that every man proved to have cut
was a principal in thecommissioat of murder.

The C;oroner stated* that he should now adjourn
the Court,—and,

Mr. Denison applied for some summonses.

After an observation from the Coroner, Mr.
Denison stated, that the object in summoning
Seijeant Gregson, was to obtain a Muster Roll of
the Corps, which was told over by him on the
I6[ll August.

Coroner—l shall object to the evidence of any
man who may turn out to be a party in the al-
leged attack upon the people.
Mr. Harmer—l shall adduce many
,witnesses
who pace been wounded on the 16th.
Mr. AShuforib—lt was intended that I 'should
have attended the Inquest from the outset, but I

was preVented by other business ; and 1 now ap-
ply to you, Mr. Coroner, to adjourn till Saturday;
en that day and 'Monday I can attend ; and I be-
lieve the matter will then have an end.

Coroner—!t is extremely inconvenient for me
to attend, but I wish to accowplisb the ends of

justice.
Mr. Harmer expressed his wish that the busi-
ness should proceed without further delay, but at
length acquiesced in the wish of the Coroner and
Mr. Ashworth, and the Court adjourned till Sa-
turday, after the Jury had expressed somedissa-
tisfaction at the adjournment.

We are happy in having it in our power to
state, that the loyal inhabitants of Lancaster and
neighbourhood, aware of the danger which
threatens public morals, from the numerous sedi-
tious and blasphemous publications which are
now actively disseminated throng' bout the coun-
try, have resolved to address the PRINCE REGENT
upon the subject, to express their abhorrence of
.the attempts making to subvert our invaluable
"Constitution• it: Church and State, and their de-
termination to support the Constituted Authori-
ties,.entrtisted with the dispensation of the laws,
for the preservation of public peace.—(Bluchlourn