The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-10 00:00:00

SPECIAL COMMISSION.

STAFFORD, OCT. B.—The trials of the prisoners
implicated in the riots in this district were proceeded
with this morning. Chief Justice Tindal sat in the
Nisi Prins Court, Mr: Baron Parke' in the Crown
Court, and Mr. Baron Rolfe in the Grand Jury room.
(Before Chief Justice TINDAL.)
TRIAL OF ELLIS AND OTHERS FOR ARSON.—During
the trial of these prisoners, Earl Talbot, Lord In-
gestre, and other distinguished persons connected with
the county, were present on the bench. The Soli-
citor-General proceeded to examine the witnesses in
this case, after having concluded his statement of the
case at which our last account terminated. The first
witness called was

George Godwin, who was examined by the SOLI-
TOR-GENERAL—I am a cabinet-maker at Hanley. I
know Wm. Ellis since he was a boy. He lived near
me. I remember the night of the fire, the 15th of
August. I went down to Mr. Aitkens'. I saw Ellis
inside the railings in the front garden. I saw that
his face was blackened. I can positively speak to his
person. I did not observe him doing anything at the
time. The house was then on fire, and the work ap-
peared to be altogether done. I saw Ellis the same
morning heading a body of the people. He was call-
ing forwards, and a great number walking afterwards
with walking-sticks. I did not observe that Ellis
had anything in his hand. I did not see 'him after
that time.
Joseph Burton, examined by Mr. WADDINGTON--
Saw Ellis heading the mob towards Burslem.
John Williams, examined by the Soiacrroa-GENz-
RAL—I came home from Sandbach, in Cheshire, on
the 16th of August. I happened to be at Hanley.
I was at the meeting at the Crown Bank. I got
there at seven o'clock in the morning. I saw the
premises which had been burnt. The fires were burn-
ing at that time. 150 or 200 persons were present.
Some of the boys had sticks. Speeches were made
to the people. 'The prisoner Ellis spoke. I heard him
address the people. He said the watchword at the diffe-
rent meetings,' A fair day's wages for a fair day's work,"
was all stuff. He told the people where the soldiers
were stationed, and said if they did not obtain their
rights before the red-coats came from India and China
they would be thrown back one hundred years. He
said that George Thompson and the Corn-law League
were a set of tyrants, their object being to get the
Corn-laws taken off in order to reduce the poor men's
wages: After' hearing this I left, and proceeded to
Burslem, where the mob came. I heard the Riot
Act read, saw the soldiers fire upon the people, and
one man was killed and several were wounded. ,
Josiah Mills, examined by Mr. WADDINGTON—Mr.
Ridgeway and a Mr. Richards addressed the meeting,
after which Ellis spoke. This witness corroborated
the other witness in reference to the observations of
Ellis at the meeting in question. There was another
meeting the next day at the Crown Bank, at which
Ellis attended and spoke. He used similar inflam-
matory expressions to those already
alluded to.
E.'kerrett examined by the SOLICITOR •GE-
NERAL—Remembers the fires in question at Hanley.
I was at the Crown Bank at the meeting on the morn-
ing of the 16th of August. I saw Ellis there. His
eves and cars appeared as if they had been dirty, and
he looked like a man that had been up all night. The
collar of his shirt was also dirty, and his finger-nails
likewise exhibited the marks of dirt. This witness
also deposed to the expressions previously stated by
other witnesses to have been used by Ellis. He after-
wards saw the crowd go to Burslem and break win-
dows. Heard Ellis, at the second meeting referred to
say, " They have murdered our best men at Burslem,
but we will have blood for blood." I saw a large
number of persons at this last meeting with bludgeons
in their hands. The meeting consisted of about 5,000
persons. The soldiers arrived at Hanley in the even-
ing, and dispersed the meeting. I left on the arrival
of the soldiers.

Cross-examined by Mr. NEALE, but nothing mate-
rial was elicited.

Henry Mitchell and George Gibbs also spoke as to
Ellis running with the crowd.

--Clayton, examined by the
SoLiciTon-GENERAL--
I live at Burslem. I saw the disturbances that took
place there. I saw Colelough (one of the prisoners)

there.
Rhodes, a constable, produced two candlesticks.
Thos. Harris and another boy deposed that they
saw such candlesticks in the possession of the pri-
soner Wood.

yv
The cook to the Rev. Mr. Aitkens proved that the
candlesticks in question were taken from her master's
house on the occasion of the fire which took place
there. Some curtains were also produced, which were
proved to have been taken from the house of the Rev.
Mr. Aitkens.

This closed the case for the prosecution.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said,- that as there was
no evidence against Kelsal, he might be acquitted.
He was acquitted accordingly.
Mr. V. LEE then proceeded to address the Jury on
the part of the prisoners,Roberts, Murray, and
Wood, and had not concluded when our express left.
-(Before Mr. Baron l'Aux.E.)
Samuel Jones, Wm. Gittens, Thos. Byrnes, John
Griffiths, John Morris, Thos. Pitt, Thos. Walker,
Sampson Bates, Wm. Jones, Thos. Hughes, Benjamin
Lordling, John Symons, and Solomon Allen, :were in-
dicted for rioting, and preventing the miners of Mr.
Salter going down the coal-pits belonging to that gen-
tleman, on the 20th of last August, in the parish of
West Bromwich. .
The evidence against the prisoners went to show
that they were all present on the occasion of Mr.
Salter's miners being prevented from going to their
work on the day in question
; and the Jury returned
a verdict of Guilty against all of them. . . -
(Before -Mr. Baron ROLFE.)
::: O. ps
eerageant TALFOURD;--
_
Samuel Crutchley was indicted for assaulting and
at Stoke upon-Trent, on the 15th of August.
police constable,
cutting
jaine
James
hopend s ta.
ebxbai stabbing
rJwadnbi
I am a policeman of Stoke-upon-Trent. Was on the
15th of August at a place called Harts-hill. I knew
there had previously been attacks upon Messrs. Rose's
and Allen's. The prisoner was comin-
g from Mr.
Rose's house. I seized Crutchley by the collar, and
said he should go along with me. -1_
-le refused. Ile
put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small
clasp knife, which was open, and made a cut at me
across the left hand. He gave me three cuts in all. I
haVe never made use of my hand since,. and I fear I
never shall again. I was obliged to let him go. lie
then said, ~ D— you, now 1:11 murder you. He
cut my
made several stabs at me, and jacket through,
in two places. I took from his person a table-cloth, a
piece of bacon, and a handkerchief. The 'prisoner
got away. - •
John' 'ittenshall--I was with
Hope when he took
the prisoner Crutchley into custody, I was• aware
that there-had been attacks made previously upon
Mr, Rose's and Mr. Allen s houses.
.We thought
they had got some of the plate from Mr. Rose's in the
bundles. I seized Boom. I should not have let either
of them go if Crutchley had not used his knife.
James Adains—l was housekeeper td-Mr. Allen, of
Fenton,.'in Aiigust last. I' lost thirty sovereigns of
my own and a handkerchief.—(The handkerchief
taken from Crutchley was here handed to the wit-
ness, and identified by her.) The mob broke into the
house and carried off a great deal of property, and this
handkerchief was at the time in the house.
Mr. Baron RoI,FF. having summed • up, the Jury
found the prisoner Guilty.
The Learned JuDGE, after commenting upon the
enormity of the offence, sentenced the prisoner to
transportation for life.
Henry Standevens, Charles Wright. and William
Handcock, were indicted for a riot- at Stoke-upon-
Trent, on the 16th of August.
Henry Johnson cord--I - act -as a special eon-
Stable during the riots, and was out all night on the