The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-12-17 00:00:00

THE.NEWPORT RIOTS.-SPECIAL COMMISSION.

MolvmouTft, Wednesday Night.
The grand jury were occupied during the whole of this
forenoon in hearing the evidence against the prisoners
charged with high treason, and it was not until avery late
hour that they had come to the determination that the
evidence was sufficient to require them to send the indictment
before a petty jury.
Aboutfour o'clock the judges took their seats on the bench,
and Lord Granville Somerset, accompanied by his brother
grand jurors, made presentments to the court, by which it
appeared that they had found true bills against the following
persons for high treason :
John Frost, late of Newport, in the county of Monmouth,
draper ; Charles Waters, late of the same place, labourer ;
Jobn Lovell, late of the same place, labourer ; Richard Ben-
field, late of the same place, labourer; John Rees, late of
the same place, labourer ; George Turner, otherwise George
Cole, late of the same place, labourer ; Zephaniah Williams.
late of the same place, labourer; Edward Edwards, late of
the same place, labourer; Jenkin Morgan, late of the same
place, labourer; Solomon Britton, late of the same place,
labourer; William Jones, of the same place, labourer; James
Aust, of the same place, labourer; James Rees, late of the
same place, labourer ; David Jones, late of the same place,
labourer.

The grand jury also returned true bills against Amy, the
wife of James Meredith, and Thomas Key, for burglary ;
and a true bill against George Grove, for burglary ; and. a
true bill against William Williams, for burglary.
Lord Granville Somerset then said that the grand jury had
no more bills.

Chief Justice Tindal then said, Gentlemen of the grand
jury, for the present there is no further occasion for your
services ; but you will be so obliging as to attend here on
Tuesday, the 31st, at ten o'clock in the morning.
Lord G. Somerset.—The 31st of this month, my lord?
Chief Justice Tindal.—Yes ; this court will be adjourned
till that time.

Mr. Bellamy, the officer of the court, then inquired if
there was any gentleman present who was concerned for
either of the prisoners who stood indicted.
Mr. Matthews, of Pontypool, said that he attended on the
part of Thomas Keys.

Chief Justice Thidal.—ls that in the first bill
Mr. Matthews.—No my lord • it is one of those in the
second, and I wish to have an order to see hint.

Chief Juice Tindal.—Yes, you shall have an order
.to
see him at all times—at all seasonable times.

The prisoners were here brought into court. Charles
Waters was the first of them who entered the court. 'He
appeared to regard the proceedings as being of by no means
a serious nature, and frequently, whilst i.) the dock, he was
observed to laugh .and converse cheerfully, indeed in a tone
of levity, with some of his fellow-prisoners. John Frost
appeared. very much dejected. Lovell seemed to have reco-
vered from the effects of his.wounds. Zephaniah Williams
had much improved in appearance since his examination be,
fore the magistrates. The other prisoners seemed sensibly
to feel the awful situation in which they stood. The pri-
soners were brought down under a strong escort of lancers,
and the avenues: were lined with infantry with drawn.bayo-
.nets. On being placed in the dock their manacles and chains
were'strtick off: •_k , • • -

_ .
Chief Justice Tindal then addressed the prisoners in the
'following terms :—" Prisoners, you hare been called into
court for the purpose of being informed that the grand jury
of this county have found a bill for high treason again: each
of you ; and also for the purpose of being informed that there
will be' a copy of the indictment
_and a copy of the panel of
the jury by whom you are to be tried delivered to you in due
time. In the meantime I wish to know if any of you desire
to have-counsel or solicitors assigned to you for your defence.
For the present, if you are not prepared to have any particu-
lar person to be appointed, as your counsel or solicitor, and
if any application be made before the time of your trial, at-
tention will be paid to it, and an order will be made accord-
ingly. In the meantime your trial will not take place until
the 31st of the present month of December, until which time
this court is adjourned.
Baron Parke—ls there any prisoner who now wishes to
have counsel appointed, or who would apply to have an or-
der to have a list of the jury ?
No reply was made.
Mr. Wiglifman said he had to apply on the part of the
crown for an order to the high sheriff, to deliver in a list of
the jury by whom it was intended to try the prisoners.
Chief Justice Tindal—Be it so.

Mr. Owen.—l appear as solicitor for one of the prisoners
who were charged in the first bill. I apply in order that
yoUr lordships may be pleased to order that the money which
has been taken from them may be given up to them. •
Chief Justice Tindal.—What is your name?
Mr. Owen mentioned his name and that his application
.was made on behalf of Zephaniah Williams.
Chief Justice. Tindal (to the prisoner.)—Do you wish Mr.
Owen to act as youe solicitor?
The prisoner.—Yes.
Chief Justice Tindal.---What are the circumstances about
the money you apply for ?
Mr. Owen.--I believe £lO2 was taken from the prisoner
when he was apprehended.
Mr. Thos. J. Phillips.—Yes, my lord, I hold it as the
clerk of the magistrates.
Mr. Owen.—May I beg to ask, my lord, if I undersand
rightly that counsel will be assigned to any of the prisoners
at any time between this and the assizes ?
Chief Justice Tindal.—Yes ; if you make any communi-
cation to Mr. Bellamy, who is the clerk of this court, it shall
be attended to.

Mr. Bellamy.—Orders shall be transmitted for the admis-
sion of attorneys and counsel, and access will be given at the
prOper hours.
Mr. Owen.—My lord, will the court allow me to have a
copy of the deposition ?
Mr. Wightman.—The prisoners may have copies of the
depositions on applying and paying for them.
Chief Justice Tindal, after consulting with his brother on
the bench, said, "On looking at the act of parliament, we
have decided that on application to the officer of the court,
you shall have copies of them on the terms mentioned in the
act."

Frost.—My lord, I beg that Mr. Owen, as well as Mr,
Geacb, may be named as solicitors for me.

Chief Jtistice Tindal.—l do not think that we can grant
that application, unless they were partners, but we will con-
sult-the act of parliament. After referring to the act, and
consulting his colleagues, his lordship said, we cannot allow
such an appointment ; the act only allows of one attorney.
Frost said—Aly lord, I beg leave to apply for copies of the
depositions in my case, and also copies of some papers which
were found in my house. There were—

Chief Justice Tindal.—Oh, we cannot order you copies of
that. We have no authority to order copies of those papers.
Jenkin Morgan (another prisOner)—l beg to apply, my
lord, for the depositions in my case.

James Jones said—l also beg to make the same application
Zephaniah Williams said—l beg leave to apply for the de.
positions in my case. . .

James Aust., —I beg to apply for the depositions against
me.

Edmund Edwards.—l also beg to apply.
John Lovell.—l beg leave to apply for the depositions
against me.
George Turner.—l also wish to have the depositions
against me.
Mr. T. J. Phillips.—My lord, one of the prisoners, John
Rees, happens to be a Welshman, and he wishes me to apply,
for he has no counsel or solicitor, to have them named by the
court.

Chief Justice Tindal.—We must hear that at another
time.

The Court inquired if the prisoners required copies of al
the depositions, or only those which referred to themselves
The prisoners said they wished to have only those which re•
ferred to each.

Chief Justice Tindal.—Let the prisoners now be taken to
the place from whence they came.
The prisoners were then removed, and immediately, under
an escort of lancers, conveyed back to gaol. There was a
large crowd in the street to witne3 s their departure.