Star.
London, England, 1821-04-09 00:00:00

ASSIZES..

SURREY ASSIZES, KINGSTON, APRIL 4.
THE KING V. LANG AND TWENTY-YOUR OTHERS.
(Before the LOAD CNIRIP BAUM and a Special Jury).
This was an indictment (remove.l by Certiorari
into the Court of King's Bench) on the prosecution
of the Master Hat-manufacturers of the Borough of
Southwark and the neighbourhood, against Journey-
men Hatters, for a Conspiracy and Combination to
a very great eztent, both in London and various
parts of the Kingdom, for an increase of wages, and
arbitrarily to controul and limit their masters as to
the number of apprentices they should take.
After the indictment had been opened by Mr.
ADOLPIIUS, a consultation took place for a few mi-
nutes between the Counsel on both sides and the
Judge, when the Jury were addressed as follows by
Mr. GURNEY:

" Gentlemen of the Jury, I am extremely happy
to inform you, that you will be relieved from a very
long and a very painful inquiry. This indictment
implicated no less than twenty-five persons, twenty-
one of whom have pleaded. It imputed to them,
as you have heard, a combination of a very serious
nature, both to the individuals, the masters of the'
trade, and the community at large. lam happy to
learn that the defendants have come to a proper
sense of their duty :—they are represented by *my
Learned Friends, who I am sure have given them
the most honourable and the most kind advice. We
have received from them this (gel-, that they are
willing immediately to plead guilty, which is evi-
dence of their contrition, that they will put a total
end to that combination which has hitherto existed,
and to the existence of a Committee by which that
combination was carried on ; and they agree to en-
ter into recognizances to keep the peace for three
years, and to appear to receive judgment, but which
they will not receive, if perfect good faith is kept—
they understanding, that if they do not keep good
faith, and put a total end to the combination, it will
be incumbent upon the masters, and entitle them, to
call on the Court to pronounce judgment, which un-
doubtedly would fall very heavy on them, and thete-
fore, Gentlemen, you will, by consent, pronounce a
verdict of Guilty as respecting all the defendants;
but they will not be called upon to receive judgment,
unless this combination should be continued."

Upon which Mr. Commos SEIJEANT, for the de-
fendants, also addressed the Jury, as follows, viz.--
" I dare say, Gentlemen, you will have great sa-
tisfaction to know, that before this indictment was
preferred, the defendants, who had ()trended against
the laws, had returned to their duty : this indictment
was preferred, very properly preferred, to keep them
in that course; and I hope this termination will have
,a due effect, and be productive of advantage to the
etnployers and the employed.",
The LORD CHIEF llairoN then said to Mr. Com-
mon Serjeant—" You have given the best possible
advice."

Mr. COMMON SERJEANT—" I am very happy to
receive your Lordship's approbation."
LORD CHINIP BARON—.." They are very greatly
obliged to you, and also to the prosecutors, who have
acted upon this occasion most honourable and kindly."
Verdict—Gstilty.
Counsel—For the prosecution, Mr. GuitNev, Mr.
CC!WLEY, and Mr. ADOLPHUS; Solicitor, Mr. APMI-
CHAEL, South Sea Chambers : and for the defence,
Mr. COMMON SERJEANT, Mr. HOLLAND, and Mr.
TURTON ; Solicitor, Mr. HARMER, Hatton-garden.