Star.
London, England, 1819-10-01 00:00:00

ceased did require my attendance before the Inquest
commenced.
Mr. Asitwoarit.—l do not attend for any party, '
but to elicit truth, and to guard against the publica-
tion of garbled, imperfect, or contrived statements,
for the purpose of producing a particular effect on
the public mind. You are aware that, as Coroner,
it is your bounden duty to hear evidence in vindica-
tion as well as in accusation. It appears to me, that
sinless such evidence appears against any individual,
in the opinion of the Jury, this case should not go. on
as it does. Unless some such case is made out, it is
a waste of your time, and of that of the Court, to
continue this investigation, the public mind being
kept in a state of ferment. I think, therefore, that
unless there is some charge against some individual
or individuals, y'ou cannot go Into any inquiry into
the legality or illegality of the Meeting. It is only
for you to say whether there is any charge of mur-
der against some individuals, to call for the investi-
gation of those facts of the Meeting. If it appear that
'malice prepense was attributable to some individual,
then inquiry is applicable as to the character of the,
Meeting. I say then, that some charge should be made
out before you determine to protract this inquiry to
such an indefinite period as is now in contemplation.
'Therefore, I say, unless a charge be preferred against
some individual or individuals who can be identified
a; having attacked the deceased, and that such at-
tack was the cause of his death, this inquiry cannot
be prosecuted. I say, that there has not been any
specific evidence that any one gave a wound, which
seas the cause of the death of Lees. It can be shown
that there were other causes, besides his wound, for
the death of Lees. Ido not want to irritate—l do not
desire to excite ferment, or to enter into personal con-
test. There may be an object in this mode of investi-
gation ; but I say, it should not be sought through
Tom. There is another mode—let it be looked to.—
We have all an interest to allay the ferment that pre-
vails-4o put an end to dissentions must be the de-
sire of all good men ; and, therefore, I trust that you
will not allow yourself to become instrumental to
those who seek to keep alive such dissentions. Are
you aware that in consequence of your toleration of
certain individuals here, and deciding it to be an or en
Court—
CORONER—I have not so decided.
Mr. Asiiwottrn.—l beg pardon, Sir; I do not
mean offensive language. I admit it is a Public
Court ; but only to those who are likely to give evi-
dence. But this Court is under your controul as
much as that of the Judges at Derby, where the de-
tkion was to be final. Yet the Judges there
said—
We will deem it a contempt of Court, if any pub-
lication take place until the trials terminate.' These
masons were just ; but your order here was founded
on still stronger reasons ; because persons, who here
may be accused. may be prejudged and prejudiced
by the publication of c.r paste statements ; for surely
the case of the accused should not be brought before
the Public, clothed with the asperities arising from
en-parte publication. Yet will you believe, Sir, that
although it must be long before any evidence in jus-
tification of those to whom ttjame is imputed can be
brought forward, lite evidence for the accusation is
already before the l'ublic ? Every intelligent and
fair man must deprecate such a course as must injure
the cause of justice ; for we know the structure of the
Liman mind, and the influence of first impressions
upon it, especially upon suob minds ; therefore I call
upon you, as you ate competent, to order that no
publication of any part of the evidence shall take
place until the whole shall have been adduced.—
If your miler be broken, let it be so ; hut allow
me to request, in the exercise of your discretion,
that you will issue the order. If there be no legal
means of enforcing your order, let any Gentleman,
or any enlightenel man, ask himself whether such a
publication as I deprecate, be in any degre: fair ?
1 say, that by various Acts, and especially by the Sta-
tute of Philip and Mary, you are authorized to put
down all the evidence on both sides; therefore, you
having full power, it is your duty to take care that
those powers shall not be the engine of injustice; but
I hope you mill make the order to which I refer. I
address you in order to save time; and I call upon.
you to declare, that, until a charge be made out
against some particular individuals, any inquiry into
the character of the Meeting of the 16th August is
ireelevant ; but, if any such charge is made out, a
full invettigation of that Meeting wculd be quite
correct. know not who are retained for the Crown.
I am here on the part of those against whom it is
understood that accusations are to be preferred. I
have as much right to appear here as in any other
Court. I do not appear here under the shelter of
any authority, which would afterwards disown me.
Ido not skulk like an ignisfatuns. I bring you an
authority, -and if any one else has a proper authority,
he has as much right to be here as you; but I main-
tain that no one, without any authority, I mean no
personality, has a tight to address you. I come here
to facilitate justice. You ate competent, to prevent
the investigation from extending thus, perhaps for
months, if not ad ilfinitum, a Gentleman declai ing
that he'had 70 witnesses to examine. Perhaps these
70 may become 700, and thus your time, so valuable
to the Public, may be occupied to an indefinite ex-
tent. But you are competent to say to any Gentle-
man that he must shew that he can lay some evi-
dence before you against some individual or indi-
Vtduals, to fix some stain of the crime upon him or
them, or he should not be allowed to proceed. Consi-
der, Sir, how much the Country is agitated upon the
subject, and how many persons in this neighbourhood
are withdrawn from their proper business to attend
to the proceedings of the Court. Therefore, in every
point of view, it behoves you to decide against the
way in which this inquiry has gone on, and has been
planned to go on, instead of putting some charge in
a tangible shape. Let it be shewn, first, that the
deceased received a wound that was the cause of his
death. You have bad the evidence of a surgeon,
that the wound upon the elbow of John Lees was not
the cause of his death.
The CORONER said that a comment upon evidence
was inadmissible.
Mr. Asiiwolern.—l beg pardon. I only require
that spme evidence should be adduced of the nature
I have described, and that a loose and indefinite in-
vestigation shoulVt be allowed to go on.
Mr. HARMER rise with great deference and
difideace to answer the elocrient speech of the learned