The Sun.
London, England, 1820-04-06 00:00:00

LANCASTER LENT ASSIZES.

TRIAL OF KNIGHT, DEWHURST, AND OTHERS.

SECOND PAY-MONDAY, APRIL 3.

The Court met this morning between 9 end 1.0
o'clock Hod the names of the Jurors having been

call.. el over,
Mr.-WILLIAMS observed to the Court, that he
feared he had on Salurday spoken with too much
diffidence on the law as to the right of the people
to carry arena in self-defence. He now stated
bro.dly that the people had the right, and it was
only the ill use of them that could constitute a
crime lie feared that it might be looked upon as
an abandonment of ditty, that he had not urged

this meitter more. strongly.
Air. Jpstice BAYIAY—I Cannot, consider that
persons have a right to go armed in that way iii
contemplation of an attack.
The examination of witnesses for the defence
was now pi ()et elid in.
• John Gins, examined by Mr. WILLIAMS-1159
k1t0,,.0 Fletcher from a third. Saw hint tierce or
foot- wt,rlii alter the Mauch,ster meeting, and he
ftett asked the witne*s if 1 e bad his pike ready, fOr
it would soon be wanted.
Mr. Justice,llAvt.Rv—l do not think this
aduti.sible, but I will take a note of it, and wish
you to state tile nature of the evidence.
Mr. WILLIAMS—We propose to show, by this
witness, that Fletcher was itt the habit of inciting
sod soliciting. people to arm themselves ; and,
therefore, those who attended the int cting might
hate been induced to do so at his instivtion, in-
stead of that of the defendants, as charged by the
iodictnlynt.
Alter sonic observations front the prosecutor's
Cnousel,
itihn Cross was called avain—Fletcher told me
the pikes were preparing. I said I did not believe
there was such a - thing. lie told Inc he could
take me to where there ,were plenty.
James Chadwitk was called, as stated by Mr.
Coltman, to prove violent expressions used by
Fletcher against the Government ; but'Mr. Jus-
tice BAYLEY thought it was not admissible evi-

denee. •
Mr. W. Lees, watch-tnaker, was at the place of
meeting before the people arrived. Saw them
come in with music and coloura, not different

trom Orange meetings. Saw Ho arms. The
►meeting was conducted with peace and order.
Heard an alarm after Knight arrived, but it was
s,,on Peaceable. There were no seditious or in-
flammatory expressions use►! by, Knight, but he
exhorted them to peaCe, and rather to accept an
insult than to ()far one. _

Cross-examined by Mr. RAlNs—lle bad the
naslingdon•flag at his house for three or four days,
With toe inscription, " Thou wast covered with
anger, and persecuted us. Thou toast slain, and
berth not pitied its. Cursed be their anger, for it
was fierce ; and their wrath, for it was crud."
11. Haworth was at the Burnley meeting ; went
about one o'clocii, before the large body came in.
They came in civilly. Soy Knight arrive. Went
within about ten yards of the hn3tiut4s ; heard
81,1 at of military, once before Noight came, and
once alter. Did not see any pikes or pistols (11
ei:her occvion. Could hear distinctly all that
was said ; nolting was said about o,erthrnwing.
the Government, or all rising in one day. When
the second alarm was given, Mr. Knight put out
hiss hand, and said, " Be still,; I can see the dan-
ger before you—be peaceable, and .keep good 'or-
der." This was repeatedly said, and he told them
to go home peaceably shortly before he carne
from the hustings. Every thing was peaceable,
ex:•ept when the repott was made of the soldiers.
Cross-examined by Mr. Scrieant Cnoss—lam
a weaver at Ilaslingdon. Did not go with Lees.
There might be about 200, and Only one flag. 1
dithiot belong to them. They might meet at a
room to arrange the meeting• I went across the
country, and got to the place bdore the people
arrived. Did not see figures on the flags.
.Lmes Otmrod Atkinson-1 am a shoemaker:,

I get to the meeting about one o'clock, and steep.
pert until it was over; was near the hustings, and
could hear every word the speakers said. I did
not hear an expression about overthrowing the
Government. There was something said about
their tising in one day to petition the Prince Re-
geet.about a law that was to issue. The speakers
wished the people to he peaceable, and not to give.
any offence to any one. This was given at the
begiuning and at the end of the business.
Cross•examined by Mr. RAINS—I did not re.
membt r what was on the flag, or whether there
was " Order, Love, and Unity." " The King
Bred his Throne shall be established." " From •
Si:'meuth's bloody black coats, and from the Yeo-
manry cavalry at Manchester; friim all oppres-
sors to the poor and needy." I will swear I did
not know or believe there was any thing of the
sort ; I do not koow that there was on others
" Magna Charte," " Henry Hunt, E-q."
vesdoes front Mr. JdAlice BAYLEy—.4 was
there when the alarm of the soldiers was given
before Knight came. It did not induce me to
move away ; I could see a greet part of the peo-
ple, and those who were in front of the bust-
jugs. I did not see any pikes or pistols, or staffs.
.1 never saw a pike in my life; they had sticks like
weiking-sticks ; I thilik if any pikes had been pro-
duced near the hustings, I should have seen them,
and none were produced in nay sight ; I heard a
single report of a pistol as I was going away ; it
appeared to.he at a distance trout the crowd ; .1
did not see the smoke.
Wm, Motogomery—l was at the meeting be-
fore Mr. Knight arrived, and stopped until it was
over. There was a run, and I was carried back
9or 10 yards. When the speaking was going on,
was near enough to hear what was said!. No-
thing said about overthrowing the Government.
The speakers frequently desired them to be quiet,
and to give no offence to any one ; and just before
the meeting broke tip Mr. Kuight desired them to
be peaccaele'aed qtiiet, and in no sense of the
seurd to give offence. There was no riot or of-
fence given to any one.
Cross-examioed—One Patrick Hughes who iteas
Uattged was apprehended at my house : lie was
working for me at My, loons , he concealed hire-
belt in my cellar. Remembers " Annual Parka-