The Sun.
London, England, 1819-09-06 00:00:00

rrr),v!

'flare r.liOit be LOO people there at that

time.
Boland Cmht, one of the corporate Ma-
gistrates its Macclesfield, said, he remembered the
numerous meeting at Manchester on Monday the
16th Aug. On the Tuesday evening there were
only six men of the 3lst regiment in Macclesfield.
They were stationed in the Town-hall, to take
care of the bageaee. lie did not know of what
the baggage consisted ; he (lid 'not see any arms.
On Tuesday eseoing, ahaar eight o'clock, a great
many propior assembled together. 'rimy did not
then appear disposed to riot, lie thought they
were assembled merely to lean) news from Man-
chester. They had d the so on the Monday even-
ing, and aft erwArd4 dispersed very quietly. On
the Tue“av evening, the first disposition to riot
which lie saw seas their crying out " Cobbler,"
opposite Mr. Wilson's house. He did not see
the defendant among them at all. As soon as he
heard them call " Cobbler," he thought, as a
Magistrate, that it was proper to read the Itiot
Art. There Were about 300 or 400 people
opposite the house when they called " Cobbler."
'f tiny had been collected abort half an hour
before the Mot Act was read. When the
Act had been read, the Magisti ales deemed it ex-
pedient to get as many Horsemen as they could ;
tier got some horses, and sallied forth immedi-
ately upon the mob. The witness himself got
pretty ofi. They threw stones at the Mayor,
at the witness, and at others: ilr about an hoot
and a half after they dispersed the mob. The
rioters broke the windows' of Mr. Grimsditch,
the Attorney ; of Mr. Barnet, a Special Constable;
of the hotel-keeper; of the Witness;' of the
Mayor ; of the News-room, sod of a great many
Others, about 30 or 40 al' ogether. The peace-
able inhabitants were very much alarmed ; he did
not hear any words used except " Cobbler;"
but there were other expressions.
William Hail, a silk-manufacturer at Maccles-
field, said, he gave his assistance on the 17th to
the Magistrates, by order of the Mayor. lie saw
the defendant in Mill-sneer about ten o'clock, and
took him into custody. Ile was then about 700
or SOO yat ds from the house of Wilson ; the mob
were then dispersing,.
Mr. Gould re-called. —The defendant was
brought before him as a Magistrate. The de-
fendant said, that some person had pot a cockade
in his hat in a drunken frolic. There was writ-
ten in his hat, " Hunt and Liberty." Witness
did not see the hat, but said to the prisoner that
lie had heard of it.
Nr. Hall re-called,—The defendant was shout-
ing, and witness took hint into custody, as he ap-
peared to be taking part with the rest. Winless
was at the Town-hall with the soldiers; the in-
habitants were much alarmed.
Cross-examined.—The prisoner was making a
noise like a drunken man. The mob consisted
principally of manufacturers, but there were some
weavers and others amongst them. - •
The examination of the defendant was then put
in and read. Mr. Gould, the Magistrate, said,
that no threats had been used to induce the de-
fendant to sign it. It was ac follows Sa-
muel (lantern says, he had Hunt and Liberty'
written on his hat, but did not shout. May wrote
the words on his hat. Joseph Wilshaw was with
him when he went into Cope's. Wilshaw is a
silk-weaver." This was the whole of it.
Mr. Hall re-called.—These was at that time
no local dispute between the masters and men in
Macclesfield, respecting wages.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that this was the
case for the prosecution.
Mr. JONES then arose and addressed the Jury
for the defendant. The Learned Gentleman rested
the defence chiefly on the drunkenness of the pri-
soner, and on his business as a wood-cutter, which
not being subject to fluctuations of prices like that
of the Weavers, gave him no reason for joining
its their tumults. Ile also called as witnesses a
Mr. Orme and Mr. Corbisplay, with whom the
prisoner had worked, to prove that be had hitherto
borne a decent and loyal character.
The CHIEF JUSTICH then summed up the case
to the Jury. He said,—
That this was an indictment for a misdemeanour, and it
charged the defendant with a riot. The legal meaning of the
word riot was a disturbance of the public peace, by three
persons or more assembling together, of their own authority,
to assist each other in some enterprise of a private nature,
and afterwards conducting themselves in a tumultuous mati-
The first witness in this case was Nr. Naylor, who said,
that the defendant was among the crowd, hissing and shout-
ing ; so that he was not in the assembly by ally of those acci-
dents which the Learned Counsel for the defence had sug-
gested. He was among them, calling Mr. Wilson " Cob-
bler," by which it was evident that he was taking an active
part in the disturbance. He encouraged the boys to thrum
stones, saying, " Now, lads, go it." Stones were then thrown.
A great part of the defence of the Learned Counsel was that the
defendant was a drunken person; but drunkenness was no ex-
cuse in law. If a drunken man killed anotheravouldit be allow-
ed or tolerated that be should set up that as as answer ? A man
iii that situation was answerable royal] he did. The defendant
said, that they had injured him. Who was meant by the word
gentlemen had no explanation in the course of the trial, but
the Learned Counsel had said something upon it. The Learned
Counsel had contended with great ability, which on all occa-
sions he displayed, that the defendant might have been in the
crowd by accident. Port what wai his motive for being there
Ile disclosed it when be said " The gentlemen have injured
sire;" and then he added, that the mob were under his eon-
troul, and it was clear that all which the others did was by his
instigation. When they were going to break the lamp, the
witness saw birn reconnoitring. The Learned Counsel asked,
Low could a man tell that ? Certainly, he might tell it very
well, from observing the conduct of, the party. The defend-
ant saw the door broken, and the casements forced in ; and yet,
though he said he could lead off the mob, he took no steps to do
it, but joined in their proceedings. This took place after the
military were drawn away to another quarter, and, no doubt,
the attack was made under that knowledge. Fortunately fur
the preservation of Macclesfield, the Gentlemen of that town
assembled, and saved it front destructiun. As to the memo-
randum made by Naylor, if it had contained any thing contra-
dictory of his evidence. to-day, t he Jary would i.are had heard it
from the Learned Counsel. Mr. Jones here said, " I did not
zidithe paper." Then the Learned COorssel must have believed
what the witness said. This case was proved by that witness,
and by time that followed hiut. The next witness said, that
sit men only were left to plural the baggage. 'the first word
he heard ins the croad aas " Cobbler," opposite the house of

ner.

'Wilson, a word used in hastiiily 'to Wilson; and the firs
witness deposed, that he heard the defendant call unt " Cob-
bler." It was of no consequence whether he broke the win-
dows, aied forced the door; he was with the mob, and was
answerable in law. Then there 'Were two witnesses, clearly
proving the interference of the defendant, and his taking
part with the rest in the riot and disturbance, not op-
posed by evidence on the other side : it was only said,
that be: was drank. The law of England admitted of
no such defence. Suppose they had all been drunk, and
had burnt Macclesfield to the ground, and killed all the inha-
bitants, would the Learned Counsel have them excused on that
account ? All the witnesses confirmed tine evidence of Naylor,
that the defendant was taking an active pint; and the Jury
must not find a verdict of acquittal, even if they thought he
was intoxicated, unless they discredited the evidence which
the Counsel fur the prosecution had adduced. In Iris Lord-
ship's opinion there could not he a clearer case, but he left it
to the Jury to pronounce their judgment upon it.

The Jury, in the course of five minutes, re-
mined a verdict of Guilty.
Ralph Wright, aged 24, a silk-weaver of Mac-
cle,field, was then indicted upon a similar charge.
Mr. EvANs, his Counsel, said, that lie would
admit the evidence of Mr. Gould, as adduced in
the former rase, and any thing which related to
the general kind and qualify of the riot ; he
merely required evidence as to the presence and
behaviour of the defend3nt.

Witnesses were then called, who deposed that
the defendant was among the clowd. and Ow he
encouraged them, by calling out, "That's right;
the.t's your sort; God speed the plough ;" but he
had nothing in his hand, and did not comtnit any
Violence,

Mr. Samuel Stone, of r%tacclesfield, attorney for
the prosecution, said, that the defendant had
lately returned from the army, and that he had,
never observed any thing improper in his conduct
before.

Thomas Wright, the defendant's father, said,
that hi son had been in the Artillery; that lie
was at the battle of Waterloo, and afterwards
received a medal for his services —(The defend-
ant wore the medal in Court.)—lie continued in
the army till about a year, Ile was a sober good
lad, very respectful to his parents, and was as
good a lad as ever was known,

The ATTORNEY•GENERAL said, the only pies-
tions for the consideration of the Jury were, was
the defendant present with the mob, and was he
acting: with them ? This was clearly proved by
Alr. Naylor; and unless the Jury disbelieved his
evidence, there could be no doubt as to the
guilt of the defendant.
The CPIEF JUSTICE summed up, and said, that
this case was made out as clearly as the former.
Whatever the character of the defendant might
have been before, and at, and after the battle of
Waterloo, it could not be taken into considera-
tion by the Jury; but it might weigh in the
amount of the sentence to be passed upon him,
if the Jury should find that he bad acted with
the mob.

The Jury immediately returned a verdict of—
Guilty.
James Parr, aged 36, a clock-maker at Wigan,
who was indicted at the last Assizes for the county
of Chester, and a true hill found against him for
sedition and misdemeanour, to which he did not
appear and plead, was now placed at the bar and
arraigned.
The ATTORNEY•GRNER AL said, that from cer-
tain circumstances which had occurred, he did not
wish to prosecute this case any further at present.
lie would, therefore, consent that the detendant
should be discharged on his own recognizance,
in the sum of 100/. to appear when called upon.
Mr. JoNes, Counsel for the defendant, signifier',
his assent.

The defendant then entered into the recogni
zance, and was discharged.

JOSEPH HARRISON.

We stated in our last report, that a true bill
had been found against Harrison, and that he in-
tended to traverse till next Assize : he was to-day
brought up to plead to the indictment, when he
requested to bawl: a copy of it. The Court said
it was not usual to grant a copy till the plea was
recorded. The indictment was then read, and the
defendant pleaded—Not Guilty. He then renew-
ed his application for a copy of the indictment,
which the Court granted. He obset ved, that he
should wish to be tried during the present Session.
The ATTORNEY-GENEBAL—He bad understood
that the defendant intended traversing till Spring;
in consequence of which, the wit tessea for the
prosecution had returned home ; directions, how-
ever, should be given for their re-attendance on
Monday. The Court said it might be more con-
venient to the parties to fix it for Tuesday.
Harrison said, he Should be ready on that day,
and pledged himself then to go to trial.