The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-16 00:00:00

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tbridge, and on the 21st or
-common, and Mr. Southey
row, and they were pushing
J‘y was riding so as apparently
Ing away from them. I saw
Coppoek had made hie es-
-hey were conversing toge-
lain said " Served him right if they had

ducked him.-
Cross-examined by Mr. ANnnEws—The rails where I saw
Mr. Haslam were close to Brunswick-walk. He was going in
the direction towards his own house.
Cross-examined by Mr. PLATT—I did not speak to au
person named Shed on this subject after it had occurred.
Joseph Deacon Fetch—l am a solicitor living in Cambridge.
I went down in a fly on the occasion in question with Mr. J.
Foster and Mr. Hickey, to assist Mr. Coppock. On our way
we saw Mr. Haslam and Mr. Southey, apparently talking to-
gether, near Mr. Haslam's residence. Mr. Southey was on
horseback.

W. Edwards—l am a brewer at Cambridge. On the occa-
sion in question I was in Christ's-pieces, near Midsummer..
common. I saw Mr. Haslam. Lowe and the two Smiths
were talking with him. I saw him put his hand in his pocket
and give something to one of them. 3lr. Hunt and Mr. Healy
were with me.

Cross-examined by Mr. ANDREWS—Christ's—pieces is a
public place. I took no part in the last election.
James Healy, a hatter at Cambridge, corroborated the testi-
mony of the last witness.
Francis Brown—l am a cabinet-maker. I went to Mr.
Southey's house, at two, on the 21st of April. He was not at
home. He came home between three and four o'clock. A
police-constable, named Jaggett, Was with trim., Mr. Southey
laughed, and said to Jaggett, "Do you know Coppotk? We bare
been giving him a regular good bonnetting."
Cross-examined by Mr. PLATT—I have not a vote for Cam•
bridge. lam sure he said " We," and not " they."
George Rose—lt is my duty to lock the gate§ of Mid-
summer-common. On the day in question I was at work at
one of the gates. I saw lots of people by the Wick wall. After-
wards I saw Mr. Southey. He told me to go and lock the gate
up, for he expected there was a fly coming to fetch a gentleman
from one of those houses, pointing towards Brunswick-walk.
I locked the gate. That would prevent the fly going up. Mr.
Haslam was about a hundred yards from Southey at the time.
This closed the case for the prosecution.
Mr. PLATT then proceeded to address the jury for the de-
fendant Southey, and contended that it was a suspicious feature
in the case that Smithers had not been called as a witness. It
was perfectly inconceivable that Mr. Coppock should be wish •
out a bruise had he been assaulted in the manner
described. There had been no surgeon examined, not even
the torn coat had been produced, and the whole prosecution
was merely an attempt to put down Mr. Southey, a political
adversary. Mr. Southey had never laid hand upon the plaintiff,
and could the jury gather from the evidence that 1* bad
attempted to encourage the other persons to commit this
assault. On the contrary, it appeared that he was ignorant
even of the person of Mr. Coppock. The witness Haines,
who bad had the best opportunity of witnessing the transaction,
said nothing of the appeal which the witness Tuck had stated
had been made by 111 r. Coppock to Mr. Southey. Then was
it likely that Mr Southey, who never raised a hand towards
Mr. Coppock, would have rode before him to prevent his
escape? Was it not much more likely that the witness was
mistaken ? If Mr. Southey had made use of the expression
attributed to him by Brown, there was an end of the cause, but it
was only changing the pronoun we into they, and the expression
would be a perfectly innocent one. How was it that the
policeman had not been called to whom Mr. Southey
had spoken? Was it because his recollection did
not tally with that of Brown ? How was it that the
damaged hat had not been produced ? The testimony of one
witness was inconsistent with that of another. There was no-
thing to show that Mr. Southey was a party to the assault,
and he submitted that he was entitled to their verdict.
Mr. ANDREWS addressed the jury for the defendant Has
lam, and expressed his regret at the absence of his leader the
Solicitor-General. There was nothing to show that Mr.
Haslam entertained any ill-will towards Mr. Coppock, or that
he had ever seen him prior to the day in question. The ques-
tion which the jury had to decide was, did Mr. Haslam take
part in the assault, or did he hire these persons to do it.
There was nothing to show that such was the case, and Mr.
Haslam was therefore entitled to their verdict.

Mr. WORDSWORTH addressed the jury on behalf of the other
five defendants, and contended that the assault was committed
in a moment of excitement. It had been supposed that Mr.
Coppock had come down to get up evidence to prove bribery,
and it was natural to suppose that there might be some per.
sons who would deem it right to interpose some obstacles be-
tween Mr. Coppeck and his object. The assault had been
committed under a moment of excitement, and Mr. Cop.
pock had sustained no material injury. These five
defendants were all poor men, why should they
have been brought up to London? Why had they not at once
been taken before a magistrate? Why, because it was neces-
sary to join them with Mr. Southey and Mr. Haslam, who
were rich men and able to pay, in order to endeavour to get a
verdict against them. With respect to the defendants Browne
and John Smith, he contended that there was no evidence
whatever against them. There was considerable discrepancy
in the evidence as regarded :Payne. Now, he submitted to
the jury, that with regard to those four defendants, their ver-
dict must be in their favour. He could not but admit that
there was a case against Abraham Smith, but he submitted
that a very small amount of damages would satisfy the justice
of the case. The object was not to do Mr. Coppock any
grievous bodily harm, but to frighten him out of the town,
and so prevent him from getting up evidence to prove bribery.
Lord DENMAN, in summing up, told the jury that there
could be no doubt but that Mr. Coppock -bad been followed,
annoyed, and assaulted, by the two Smiths, Lowe, Payne, and
Browne, in a manner which no decent person could tolerate,
while he was engaged in a lawful occupation ; and therefore
there could be no doubt but that a verdict must go against
them. With regard to Haslam, if it were proved that a per-
son was near the place where a violent assault was committed.._
violent, not perhaps on account of the injury inflicted, but on
account of the angry passions which it excited, and the terror
which it was calculated to create—and that person afterwards
expressed his approval of what had been done, it would be evi-
dence to go to a jury to show that he was cognizant of it.
With regard to the case of Southey, a professional man, if they
considered the case proved against him, then Mr. Southey's offence
was of a very aggraved description. If such conduct could be
tolerated on the part of persons like Mr. Southey—if such
persons were to be permitted to excite the angry pass.ione of
persons of low and vulgar habits, against those who might be
engaged in a duty which might be distasteful to them, who
would be safe? Would counsel who had offended such a per-
son be safe? Would witnesses be safe ? Would judges be
safe ? Would jurymen be safe? If they considered the case
proved against the defendant Southey, it was a very aggravated
case, which called for a considerable amount of damages.
The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff against all the de.
fendant s —Dam ages 2501.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.

- - -
FROM THE MORNING PAPERS •F THIMI DAT.
CITY, TIIIittSDAT EVENING.
TIMES.—The meeting of the Illackwall Railway Share-
holders, held to-day at the London Tavern, was'one of the
most harmonious assemblies that has taken place for years in
the Company. A dividend of 2s. 6d. per share was declared
and it appears that the introductiOn of low fares has in a
great degree benefited the revenue of the passenger traffic.
The extension of the steam-boat connection with the rail-
way seems still to be regarded by the Directors as the source
whence improvement may be expected, and hence they per-
severe in urging upon the Shareholders the propriety of rais-
ing the guarantee fund to support this branch of their re-
ceipts. To carry this motion more generally into effect, a
resolution was passed to-day, calling upon the Shareholders
to subscribe, and the feeling was certainly in favour of put-
ting the means into the hands of the Board, with the view of
trying the experiment; 7,0001. is stated to be the amount
required for this purpose. Favourable mention was made of
the application of the atmospheric principle of traction to the
working of the trains, and at no distant period we shall pro-
bably see it in use. Should the plan be brought into opera-
tion, and found to answer the expectations raised, there is
every prospect of a most material reduction in the present
expenditure of the Company, which, of course, must be in
favour of increased dividends.

SUN.—Stocks leave off firmly, mid there has been a steady,
business done. Consols have realised 97i to .97h. The Ex-
chequer Bills, at 11(1. per diem, are advertised to be paid off,
and new ones, at Ihd., will be issued. Bank and India Stocks
remained firm. The New Three-and-a-Half per Cents.
were 102 h.
The foreign investments have been qUiet, except Peru-
vian, in which speculation has been very active, at an im-
portant rise, viz., 294 to 30h. Colombian have been 12;
to 124. The Greek Bonds, ex the Coupons, have been 134
to 14. Both of these are attracting notice at Amsterdam.
Spanish Five per Cents. closed at 23h, and the Three per
Cents. at 32 to 32A. Portuguese Converted were 45 to 44g.
The additional transactions in Railway Shares have been
these :—Eastern Union were h to 4, Edinburgh and Glasgow
811 to $, Brighton Loan Notes IA, South Western 34,
Norwich and Brandon 2h, Northern and Eastern Scrip 9,
l'aris and Orleans 13h to 4, Paris and Rouen 12il, and West
London Extension 1 premium. Great North of England
have been Bh, Blackwall 10t, to 4, and'Brighton, ex dividend!
6$ discount. London and Westminster Bank Shares were
4s, and Union of Australia 14 premium ; National of Ireland
3$ discount.

Ma. O'CoNNELL.—Yesterday afternoon, on the
occasion of Mr. O'Connell proceeding to the House of Com-
mons, having only reached London a few hours previously by
the Birmingham train, he was recognised by the crowd in
Trafalgar-square. In a few seconds the Honourable and
Learned Gentleman was surrounded by many respectable
persons anxious to shake hands With him. He stood for a few
moments, and said, " I know you respeet..me ; but cause no
confusion, create no disturbance ;" and, lifting his hat, pro-
ceeded to the House of Commons, cheered all the way—at
least 200 persons following him. On Mr. O'Connell's arrival
at the House, he had scarcely reached the chair of the Ser-
geant-at-Arms when such a cheer arose from all the Members
on the Opposition benches as we have not heard except after
a triumphant division. The House on both sides was vary
full; nearly all the Ministers were present. At first the
Tories were inclined to treat the cheer somewhat lightly, but
as the Hon. and Learned Member advanced up the House,
the cheers were again and again renewed, nor did they cease.
till some minutes after the Honourable Gentleman took his
former accustomed seat on the right of the Honourable Mem-
ber for Montrose. Most of the Members on the benches
around him, and of all shades of Liberalism, proceeded to
shake the Honourable Member most cordially by the hand,
and he evidently felt deeply the warmth of personal feeling
and the cordiality of the political welcome.--Chronicle.
THE METALLIC CAPSULE. A very ingenious
method of preserving wine, spirits, and other liquids, how-
ever volatile or effervescent, whether in bottles or other ap-
propriate vessels, and without the use of wax, resin, wire, or
other objectionable or inconvenient materials, is now brought
into practical operation by Messrs. Betts, of Smithfield-bars,
to whom the public already stand so much indebted for their
successful efforts in distilling a pure and healthful spirit from
British produce, as a substitute for French brandy. The in-
vention consists in a metallic capsule, which encloses the
upper surface of the cork, and the neck of the bottle, in the
most perfect manner imaginable; so that whilst nothing can
escape, nothing can pass in to injure the contents; whilst,
being stamped with the name of the firm and a description of
the article—whether used by the patentees or by other par-
tics—the utmost security is afforded against the sale or sub-
stitution of anything spurious or inferior. The metal of
which the capsules are made is incoreodible, and therefore
unaffected by damp, alternations of temperature, or the ex-
tremest change of climate. And to these advantages,
wine
and eco-
nomybeing added, the use of the metallic capsules by
and
and spirit merchants, perfumers, oilmen,
others, must be most extensive.
11 the -proprietors of
REPEAL ASSOCIATION. —A..
Repeal Associa-
tion,
who hadbeen members of the f
newspapers,
proprietors of the Freeman's
The resignations n
Gray Dr.
1:a awildthdprra.l
tkfrionm,ot;t.hapt body.
and Mr. Dufry proprietor
Journal ;
proprietor of the weekly Register;
at the Association on onday.
Mr. Barrett, proprietor.of the Pilot; Mr. Staunton,
of the Nation, were received
HUNG ERFORD AND LAMBETH SITSPENSION-BRIDGE.
—ft was stated yesterday, at the litt4tryearly meeting of the
Company, that the bridge will be conipleted by Midsummer.
It is contemplated to take a halfpenny toll, that amount in-
cluding the right to return.