The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-19 00:00:00

rough police, which missed him. It struck one of the
county constabulary. A stone was also- thrown at
Mr. S. Horrocks, the Mayor,. which struck him on the
leg, and wounded him. A number of boys were car-
rying stones, in their caps for the mob, and a woman
had an apron full, which she supplied to the mob. He
(witness) said he considered the military quite justi-
fied in firing in their own defence. Had they not done
so they would, in his opinion, have been greatly in-
jured. •
Inspector Rigby, of the borough police, gave .simi-
lar testimony. .
Captain Woodford, chief constable of the county
constabulary force, was then called and examined at
great length respecting the proceedings of the mob,
and the part taken by the military and police forces
on the occasion. At the head of his force he accom-
panied the Mayor, the borough police, and a detach-
ment of the 72d Highlanders. The military were
commanded •by Cat. Davis, a Brevet-Major. They
proceeded down ishergate, towards Lime-street.
When opposite the Shelley Arms they saw the mob
issuing from Lime-street. The mob opened on each
side of the street, shouting and hooting the military
as they marched along the centre of the street, four
abreast. As it appeared to be the object of the mob
tasurround the military, they were commanded to
halt, and a new formation was ordered by which the
whole breadth of the, street was taken up by them.
The police force (under the command of witness)
then took up a position opposite Winkley-street Cha-
pel. A considerable mob were then in Lime-street
and Winkley-street, to the right, and left of Fisher-
gate. The police then proceeded to clear the streets,
but were resisted, and stones began to be thrown at
them. The military then marched down Lime-
street. Witness went among the crowd, remonstrated
with them on the impropriety of their conduct, and
earnestly requested them to disperse. Witness at-
tempted to take a young man into custody who was
making signals to the mob, when he was knocked
down and kicked. He, however, succeeded in getting
back to his party. On reaching the Corn Exchange,
at the lower end of Lime-street, more. stones were
thrown, 'via some of the military were hit. The.
police frequently repelled the mob to a distance, but
each time the latter returned with additional force,
and a fresh supply of stones. The whole body of mi-
litary and police then returned up Lime-street, fol-
lowed by the mob. On arriving opposite the Savings
Bank, they turned round and faced the mob. They
kept their position about a quarter of an hour, furi-
ously pelted all the time. A large body had then col-
lected behind the troops in Fishergate, and were hem-
ming in the forces on all sides. Witness advanced to
the mob, and informed them of the Mayor's determi-
nation to read the Riot Act. Some of the mob cried
out, " Read• and. be d—d," and pelted witness with
stones. Whilst the Mayor was reading the Riot. Act
the document Was-struck out of his hand.. Witness
again informed the mob that .the Act..-had been
read, but stones were more furiously and more plen-
tifully :brown at the forces from all sides. A subdi-
vision of the military in the rear then faced about, and
orders were given to the front division to fire. About
24 shots were fired altogether. A powerful looking
man, in the middle of the street, was shot down, after
which the mob ceased throwing stones.
Mr. Dixon, surgeon, attended the deceased. He
died on Sunday evening, at nine o'clock, from a
wound in the chest, a ball having passed through his
body.
There was no evidence to show that Barnard
M'Namara had taken any part in the riot. He was a
skipper in the employ of Messrs. Oxendale, and 17
years old. He died on Monday about half-past one,
from a wound in the belly. The deceased said he
was standing looking at the mob, near the Corn Ex-
change, when he received the wound.
The Coroner then explained to the Jury the law
applying to the case under consideration, telling them
it was quite evident that the act of firing was one of
necessity, and their verdict, therefore, ought to be
justifiable homicide.
The Jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict of
" Justifiable Homicide" in both cases.
The town is at present tranquil, but the military
were still in readiness in case of need. Part of the
Yeoinanry yesterday left this town for Blackburn.
PRESTON, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.—We have seen
letters from Preston, dated last night, in one of which
the writer expresses a full confidence in the ability of
the authorities to suppress any attempts at disorder
which might be made by inhabitants of the town, but
they were in daily expectation of a visit by mobs from
the neighbourhood of Wigan, who had succeeded in
turning out all the hands in Chorley and its vicinity.
Every necessary preparation had been made to meet
them, in case they should make an attempt upon
Preston, and, in that case, a fierce conflict was ex-
pected.

BURSLEM.
COLLISION BETWEEN THE MILITARY

AND THE MOB.
TUESDAY NIGHT.--The report that the military
had fired on the mob, which we announced yesterday,
is quite true. In the course of the morning the town
was invaded by a mob of at least 5,000 persons, of the
most determined character, headed by a band of music.
These men were, almost without exception, armed
with bludgeons, stones, large missiles, and the weapons
which they had been able to collect on the tour of
violence which I narrated yesterday. On arriving at
the Chapel Bank, which is opposite the residence of
J. W. Wood, Esq., at the outskirts of the town,

they were met by a detachment of dragoons, to
the number of thirty, headed by the commanding
officer and Magistrates. Confiding in their num-
bers, and elated by the recollection of their
warlike preparations, the rioters made a dead
stand, began to jeer the Magistrates and military.
Perceiving that their taunts produced but little im-
pression, the rioters then assumed a more hostile atti-
tude ; stones and missiles began to fly about ; several

of the military were struck upon their helmets, and
the Magistrates entertained the greatest fear for the
security of the troops and themselves. The total
number of the soldiers, as said before, was only 30.
The number of the rioters was, at least, 5,000, and,
it is said, that several hundreds of them were armed
with pistols, guns, and other deadly weapons. Orders
were given. The soldiers fired three times, at first over
the heads of the insurgents ; the rioters gave way, de-
camped with the utmost possible speed, and carried
away with them a great number of the dead and
wounded, whom they are supposed, in many cases, to
have made away with by throwing down the pits to
prevent their capture by the authorities, and the ex-
posure of the whole of their intended movements. Of
course it is impossible to state the numbers of the
wounded with anything like an approach to cer-
tainty ; suffice to say, that it is variously estimated
at from 30 to 50, of whom, at least 15 are supposed to
have been mortally wounded, and at the present time
either dead or dying, while as many more are lan-
guishing without the means of surgical aid, without
food, and without attendance.
' Since affairs have taken this dreadful and calami-

toiis direction, the authorities, and more especially
the. head constable, S. Allcock, Esq., have been most
exemplary in their attention to the requirements of
the locality. A proclamation has been issued by this
gentleman, requiring all peaceable well-disposed in-
habitants to remain in their houses for fear of conse-
quences that may possibly ensue, and we have reason
to believe that should any future violence be attempted,
there is every preparation to meet it with vigour and
decision.

The' military force has been augmented. Picquets
of the troops are sent to ascertain the state of the
neighbourhood. A constant communication is kept up
between the various towns in the district, special con-
stables, comprising the most intelligent of the inha-
bitants, have been sworn in, and backed by the sol--
diery, assist as sentinels. Every approach to the
town is strictly watched and guarded, and, for the
protection_ of the houses of the neighbouring gentry
several troops of Yeomanry have arrived at Stone
. from Stafford and Lichfield.

Many of the insurgents are Members of religious
societies, and have hitherto been regarded with respect
and confidence by their employers. This observation
is the more applicable_to the new connexion Metho-

dists, the Ranters or Clewsites, andcertain members
of the Baptist and Independent persuasions, and
though it is true that their lecturers recommend obe-
dience to the laws in public, there are certain pas-
sages thrown into their addresses which are capable
of a very different construction. Since I commenced
this letter, the authoritieS have been strengthened by
the arrival of two companies of infantry at Newcastle,
and a park of artillery is expected hourly.
At Lane End, Fenton, and Stoke, things are now
quiet, and it is thought the .rioters intend to make
Leek their rendezvous in this district. The authori-
ties have ascertained that such are their intentions,
and there is every hope that the matter will be settled
by the speedy influx of such a body of troops as.will
render all their efforts at violence thoroughly abortive.
GEORGE INN, BURSLEM, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 17.—
With the presence of the military (a company of the
12th, and part of a troop of the Dragoons), we have
bad the only quiet night of the last week. The fatal
charge on the mob yesterday morning has had a salu-
tary effect, and iiiobatly saved two churches from the
destruction threatened. It was made about half-past
ten, at the entrance of the Leek, or Moorland-road,
opposite. the corner of Mr. Wedgwood's house. The
town was menaced by the advance of two columns of
the mob, one from the Hanley quarter, and the other
from the Leek-road, as stated, many of the latter con-
sisting of men from the town named, all armed with
sticks and bludgeons. The company of the 12th had
not then arrived, and about 36 of the troop of Dra-
goons drew their swords, faced, and advanced on the,
column. The mob came boldly up, menacing
the soldiery with their bludgeons, while some
unarmed men on their flanks commenced throw-
some of which striking the horses
unsteady. The Riot Act had
1 pinnlrad throw-
ing
eve themidtistiye,bon read; aZa 010 aalgtaging ofEor gave