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

~~~~~~

PRICE sd.

Samuel Barber-1 live at Cambridge, (1124
on the 21st V'
r April I saw a mob on Midsummer-common, ,d
Mr. Southey
riding among them. There was a row, and they acre pushing
M -ntly
Mr. Coppock about. Mr. Southey was riding so as aly.mare „w
to prevent Mr. Coppock from getting away from them.
e. Mr. Haslam by the rails after Mr. Coppock had made his S'
cape. Mr. Haslam and Mr. Southey were conversing toge-
ther, and Mr. Haslam said " Served him right if they had
ducked him."
Cross-examined by Mr. ANnnEws—The rails where I saw
Mr. Haslain were close to Brunswick-walk. He was going
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 ticking to-
gether, near Mr. Haslam's residence. Mr. Southey was on
horseback.

W. Edwards—l am a brewer at Cambridge. On the ecra,-
sion in question I was in Christ's-pieces, near Midsummer--
common. I saw Mr. Haslam. Lowe and the two Smiths'
were talking rsith him. I saw him put his hand in his pocket
and give Something to cne of them. Mr. 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.
.lames 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. lie came home between three and four o'clock. A
police-constable, named Jaggett, was with me. Mr. Southey
laughed, and said to Jaggett, "Do you know Coppock? We have
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 gates 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 bi ick 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 fl y going up. Mr-
Hasfam 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 with
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 he had
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 had had the best opportunity of witnessing the transacticru,
said nothing of the appeal whien the witness Tuck had stated
had been made by Mr. 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, Inuit
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. A Nntsews 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 takse
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. Coppock 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, bat 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 su 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, arid assaulted, by the two Smiths, Lowe, Payne, arid
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 passions 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
ease, which called for a considerabte amount of damages.
The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff against all the de•
fendarit s —Damages 250/.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
CITY, THURSDAY EVENING.
TIMES.—The meeting of the Blackwall 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; 7,000/. 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, and there has been a steady
business done. Consols have realised 973 to 971. The Ex-
chequer Bills, at 1/d. per diem, are advertised to be paid off,
and new ones, at 1 d., 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., 29A to 30-1,-. Colombian have been 1.211
to 12a. The Greek Bonds, ex the Coupons, have been 13i
to 14. Both of these are attracting notice at Amsterdam.
Spanish Five per Cents. closed at 23k, and the Throe per
Cents. at 32 to 32A. Portuguese Converted were 45 to 444.
The additional transactions in Railway Shares have been
these :—Eastern Union were to 4-, Edinburgh and Glasgow
81 to :4, Brighton Loan Notes lA, South Western 364,
Norwich and Brandon 21, Northern and Eastern Scrip 9,
Paris and Orleans 13 to Paris and Rouen 123, and West
London Extension I premium. Great North of England
have been 81, Blackwall 104 to and'Brighton, ex dividend!
64 discount. London and Westminsterßank Shares were
44, and Union of Australia 14 premium; National of Ireland
34 discount.

MR. 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 NN it h him. He stood for a few
moments, and said, " I know you respect 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 very
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-
lwr 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
must 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 7
ties—the utmost security- is afforded against the sale or sub- f
stitution of anything spurious or inferior. The 'metal of
which the capsules are made is incorrodible, and therefore :4
unaffected by damp, alternations of temperature, or the ex-
tremest change of climate. And to these advantages, eco-
nomy being added, the use of the metallic capsules bi-vs, "in
a'
and spirit merchants, perfumers, oilmen, confectioners,
nd
others, must be most extensive.
REPEAL ASSOCIATION.—AII t, he
Repeal Associa-
tion, of the
newspapers, who had been members
dv.
The resignations of
have withdrawn from tha,trob;
rietors of the Freeman's
Dr. Gray and Dr. Atkinson.proprietor of the Pilot; Mr. Staunton,
Journal; Mr. Barrett, tr • and Mr. proprietors of
Duffy-, proprietor
of (lie Weekly Regis e ,
• ..•
proprietorof the Nation, were received at the Association on Monday.
HUNGERFOBD AND LAMBETH SUSPENSION-BRIDGE. -
—lt was s
fated yesterday, at the half-yearly meeting of the
cempanv, that the bridge will be completed by Midsummer.
It is contemplated to take a halfpenny toll, that amount in-
cluding the right to return.