Star.
London, England, 1821-10-22 00:00:00

WESTMLVSTER SESSIONS, OCTOBER '2O.

CHARGE OF RIOTING AT HONEY AND
FRANCIS'S FUNERAL.
Mr. WALFORD addressed the Chairman, and said,
that he had yesterday applied to the Court to have
the recognizances of two men, named John Fly and
William Griffiths, estreated, they not having appeared,
as they were bound to do by their recognizances, en-
tered into on the 28th August last, to answer a charge
of riot at Knigbtshridge on the 26th of that month,
and fur which a bill of indictment had been found
against them. He now understood that one of the
parties was forthcoming, and he should therefore
content himself with applying to have the recogni-
zances of the other (John Fly) estreated. The pro-
secutors were ready to go to trial on the indictment
against Griffiths, who was now in Court.
William Griffiths was then put to the Bar and
pleaded Not Guilty to the indictment, for riotously
assembling at Knightsbridge on the 26th August last.
Mr. WALFORD, in stating the case against him,
entreated the Jury to discharge from their minds al-
together the previous accounts which they had heard
of certain tumultuous transactions which had oc-
curred at Knightsbridge during the funeral of two
men named Honey and Francis, who had been killed
on the day of the late Queen's funeral. He said it
was their duty alone to collect the facts from the
evidence which would be laid before them, and
not in any degree to suffer their minds to receive
any bias from previous statements. A considerable
assemblage of the humbler classes of the people
had met on the evening of the 28th, at the fune-
ral in question, at Knightsbridge, in front of the bar-
racks of the regiment of Life Guards, against whom
a good deal of irritation was said at that time to have
been excited in the minds of the populace. The ,
rioters kept hooting and insulting the soldiers from
without, and also throwing stones in a violent and-
dangerous manner over the barrack walli. At length
the constables who were stationed within the barracks
were directed, after the Riot Act had been read, to
go forth among the mob, and shew them that
warning had been given, by placards and whatever
other means they could, to induce them to desist and
retire home. While so doing, the prisoner was ob-
served to be particularly active; he was seen and
heard hooting, and the constables would prove, that
while they were endeavouring to clear the road, he
called out to the people—" Stand, you cowards,
stand!" For so doing they took him Into custody,
and he was now to stand his trial for his part in the
riot of that day. The Learned Counsel then laid
down the law of the case as applicable to riots, and
pointed out that any man waiting on the spot, and
particularly if he be found exciting rioters to prolong
tumult. after due notice of the Riot Act, had incurred
the penalties of the law.
The first witness was George Edward Diane, who
said he was Headhorough of St. Mary's, Isling,ton.
He bad been summoned by the High Constable of
Westminster to assist in keeping the peace at KnightsH
bridge and the vicinity on the 26th of August last.
He went there accordingly, and was at some time of
are day outside the barracks, and afterwards inside
the walls. Mr. Conant, the Magistrate, was inside,
and a large group of constables. A considerable
snob was outside, making a great noise; they were
hallooing and hooting very much, using abusive lan-
guage to the soldiers, and flinging stones at the bar-
rack windows and over the wall. They remained
snaking this noise and throwing stones into the bar-
racks, and Mr. Conant read the Riot Act. Witness,
.together with a number of others, was directed to go
out, and apprise the mob that the Riot Act had been
read ; and that, if they did not disperse, the military
would be called out. Some dispersed when the pla-
card stating that the Riot Act had been read was
held up by witness; but others seemed inclined to stop,
and witness, with others, endeavoured to disperse
dam with their staves. He perfectly well recollected
seeing the prisoner among those who would not de-
part—Crlie dtlendant—" Yes, and you know you
&true% me a violent blow with your staff."]—Witness
admitted that he might have struck the defendant,
for he pushed with his staff at all who remained.--
While so engaged, he heard the defendant call out
&mud, you cowards; stand r he believed the wor4

'so spoken were addressed to the mob; but the defen-
dant, when taken into the barracks, said that he
meant them for the constables. He refused to go
hoini when required, saying that he was at home ;
and that he lived at his mother's, near whose door
he was standing.
Mr. BARRY.—And was not that right? Did he
not live at his mother's, at whose steps he was stand-
ing?—Witness replied, he did not know. That was
what he said at the time.
The CHAIRMAN.—Did he make any resistance at
the time?—Witness—No,
CHAIRMAN —Was your inducement to apprehend
him the use of those worth by him, or his improper
conduct otherwise?—Witness—Princi pally the words.
Mr. BARRY slid he should not occupy the time of
the Court by asking this witness any further questions.
William Creagh, quite a youth, a jeweller, said he
was a special constable stationed at the barracks. He
saw the people riotous and !twang; the prisoner was
hooting. Witness ordered hint to go on; he said he
would not, as he was near his own house, and called
out, " Stand, cowards, stand!" He went on very
quietly when taken, nor did he make any resistance.
He said he lived close by, at his mother's, and did not
mean the expressions he used for the mob.
Mr. WALFORD said that was his case.

Mr. Benny said, that he was Counsel for the pri-
soner ; but that really he saw nothing in the case to
render it necessary for him to address the Jury.
There was no proof of the prisoner being riotous: he
had denied at the time the application to the mob of
the expressions he had used: he Made no resistance;
and was actually carried away a prisoner because he
would not quit his mother's door, where he lived.
The Jury interrupted Mr. BARRY almost at the in-
stant he rose, and said he need not take any trouble,
as they were quite satisfied upon the matter.
The prisoner was immediately Acquitted.
MILITARY INSUBORDINATION IN THE ME-