The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-11-15 00:00:00

THE NEWPORT RIOTS.

(From the Morning Herald of Wednesday.)
e.,
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONSPIRACY.—NEW-
TORT, MONDAY NIGHT, TWELVE -O'CLOCK.—The town this
morning presents quite a formidable appearance, as, in addi-
tion to the troop of the 10th hussars, which came here ori the
day following the outbreak, and the eight companies of the
45th infantry by packet yesterday, two field pieces -and 50
horse artillerymen, commanded by Captain Broomfield, who
have come by forced marches, from Woolwich, arrived here
yesterday, after the departure of my letter. The magistrates,
in consequence of its having been intimated to then/ that
there are still large quantities of arms in the town, have issued
the following notice.:—

" NOTICE.

„
” All Persons vvho-have arms or other offensive weapons in
their:possession are ordered to send in immediately a list
thereof to the superintendent of police, Edward Hopkins, at
the Westgate Inn, and to deliver up all arms of which they
may haveimproperly possessed themselves, as in case arms,
for which a good account cannot be given, shall be found on
search being made Tor the same, the parties having such un:
lawful possession will be prosecuted.
"By order of the Mayor."

Mr. Maule, the solicitor to the treasury, is arrived, and
was present during the examinations to-day.
I send you herewith the examinations of others of the con-
spirators, both in this town and at Pontypool. You will per-
ceive, by the evidence of William Watkins and Morgan
James, that the plot was a most extensive one, embracing
within its view the destruction of all the institutions of the
country. Presuming the statements of the infatuated leaders
of the movement to have been based upon fact, we have rea-
son to be thankful to Providence for the premature outbreak,
and consequent failure of a conspiracy so pregnant with
danger to everything which Englishmen have been taught to
reverence and love.
The court sat at 10 o'clock. Present, the Mayor, Thos.
Hawkins, Esq., the Rev. James Coles, Octavius Morgan,
and George Hall, Esq, Mr. Maule, solicitor to the treasury,
were also present, and R. J. Blewitt, Esq., M.P., and Sir
Charles Morgan, Bart., entered the room at .a later part of
the day. -
Previously to the commencement of the examination a
woman, who gave her -name Ferraday, and who stated that
she resided at Blackwood, made an application to the court.
She stated that her husband, was amongst the men who were
killed in the attack upon the Westgate Hotel, and her object
•in applying to the magistrates was to obtain a restoration of
the little property which he had upon his person at the time
he was shot.
The Rev. S. Coles said he must refer her to Mr. Phelps
with respect to the property, but at the same time, however
painful it tni4ht be to her feelings, he felt it to be his duty to
state, that from •all that had come to the knowledge of the
magistrates they were satisfied that had it not been for the
women the men would not have done one half of that which
,they did. The worneh, he was :sorry to say, had urged on
their husbands in their career of violence; had they restrained
and advised them they might in all probability have kept them
at home, instead of their having been hurried unprepared
into the presence of an Almighty. God.
The poor woman said she hoped she should not he refused
her application, as she did not know what was to become of
her and her children.
Mr. Coles.—l am sorry for you, and only regret that a due
_regard for his wife and family did not prevent your husband
from joining in so lawless and wicked a combination.
The first prisoner placed at the bar was a lad apparently
about 18 years old, named Charles Groves ; he was charged
with having been apprehended under suspicious circum-
stances,
and was stated to be the secretary to the Juvenile
Chartists SoCiety.
Mr. George Oliver was then sworn, and stated that he was
a printer and stationer, carrying on business in Newport.
knew the prisoner, who was a painter's apprentice, and had
worked for him in that capacity. Witness had several times
had conversations with the prisoner about the chartists. The
prisoner when he worked for witness used to leave his work
some times earlier than he wished him to do. This was in
the summer during the long days. Witness on saving he
wondered what such a lad as the prisoner should know of
chartism, was answered by the prisoner that he knew very
well what grievances they were, and they were all determined
to have the charter,and if they could not get it one way they
would another. hen witness asked him to work over time,
and offered him any money to do so, he replied " No, not if
you were to give me £5." •
Mr. Stephen Rogers, a special constable, proved the ap-
prehension of the prisoner.
This being all the evidence, the magiAtrates discharged the
prisoner upon his giving security in the sum of £5O, to
appear at the assizes and answer any charge preferred against
him.

Thomas Aurelius was charged with aiding in the escape of
a traitor named Wright Betty.
Morgan James (who had, been in custody and was dis-
charged) was then sworn, and said—l know the prisoner.
Some time ago I 'enrolled myself as a chartist at Newport,
and attended their public meetings. Remember attending a
meeting at Blackwood on Whit Monday. I know the per-.
sons of John Frost, and Jones, the watchmaker, very well.
They were both present at the meeting, and both addressed
the people assembled there.on the subject of the charter.
I afterwards saw them at another public meeting at Duke's
Town, above Sirhowy, and they addressed that also on the
same subject. They urged the people to persevere till they
got it. . (The witness here gave his testimony as to the pro-
ceedings of the chartists, and the violent language adopted
by the speakers Frost and Jones.) There were a good many
thousands at the meeting at Duke's Town, and they had
come from various points, from Tredegar, Blackwood, Sir-
howy, Pontypool, Merthyr, Elber Vale, and different places,
all over the hills. I saw them marching from the different
directions. On that day there was an almost total secession
from work all over the hills. Heard -Frost and Jones
tell the men to be ready and lend their hands when
they were called upon. The men, in reply to that said,
"We will, we will," and clapped their hands. I cannot
say whether 1 heard FroSt or Junes say so, but I have heard
some of them tell the men to arm themselves, and that it
was lawful to have arms. After I had got home, I came up
to NeWport: I saw Jenkin Morgan at Newport. He is
a cowman, and lives:ql.t Pillgwenlly. • I have met him at
chartist lodges, and believe he is a chartist. He said there
would be no work done on the hills. On Sunday night,
the 3d of November, about eleven o'clock, I saw him
again.
.He came. to my house at that time, and said
he was captain of ten men, and he told me that I was his
man. He also said that Frost was on the hills, and was
coming down with thousands of men to attack. the soldiers.
He said he was coming do,An that night. He-then said they
were coming down at two o'clock,, and that the charter
would be the law of the-town of Newport on Monday morn-
ing, and that it would be the law of the land before daylight.
He told me that I should be in danger if t did not join them;
but if I- joined I should he in no danger, because Frost's
men would attack the soldiers. Upon that I went with him
and several other men to the outskirts of the town. He told
me that there was powder at Crossfield's warehouse, and- I
said it used to be kept at Pill. We found no powder there.
He also told me that there were to be risings through the
whole kingdom on the same night, and the same hour, and
that the charter would be the law of :the land. There was a
secret, or bye-word, by which one chartist was to know
another that night in the dark. Supposing a chartist met
another that night in the dark, he was to say." Beans;" and
if the person whom he spoke to was a chartist he was to
reply " Well ;" if not, he was to be treated as not being a
chartist.- If the chartists who attacked the soldiers had taken
this town, there was to have been a signal given to the char-
tists outside of the town. I did not hear the -firing on Mon-
day morning when the Westgate was attacked. At a little
before ten o'clock that morning I was at the. Court y bella
weighing-machine. I saw Frost there. He was round the
back part of the machine. He had about sixty men with
him. I know the prisoner. He was not one of the men that
were out with- me that night. He was not there as far as 1
know. Never saw him for two months before the chartists
came down. .

By Mr. Coles—The chairman of the meeting, at Duke's
Town, was named—(The witness here hesitated, and
several cried .out " Dr. Price.") The witness then said he
had very long hair, and a long black beard. I believe his
name vas Price. Many of them said, " There is Dr. Price
in the chair." He wore a cap. The meeting took place at
the time they were talking about keeping the sacred month.
Mrs. Sarah Edwards—l am the wife of Mr. Edwards, who
,keeps the Greyhound public-house, at Pontl Raef. There
was a room in the house used for a chartist lodge. There
used to be a great many members come there when Edwards
came. I saw Frost at the lodge once. I saw Vincent there
I think twice. Saw Jones, the watchmaker, there, and Ed-
wards, the man naw in prison. Jones had been at her house
several times, knd had attended the chartist lodge. Jones
told me that the chartists were going to Newport to show
their strength to the Newport people. Never saw Dr. Price
at the lodge. We were afraid to say to the colliers that we
were not chartists. I don't understand much about them.
I never subscribed, and don't know that my husband did.
have never seen the prisoner at the lodge, that I know of.
This having closed the, evidence,
Mr. Coles said, addressing the prisoner, you are discharged,
as there is no .evidence now before us to bring the offence
home to you. I now hope and trust that you will return to
your work like alicinest man, and not suffer yourself again to
be led away. by a set of scoundrels, whose only object is the
prosecution of their own selfish ends.
The prisoner then thanked their worships, and left the
court.

Solomon Britton was charged with high treason.
Evidence was then entered into strongly implicating the
prisoner.

The prisoner was then given the usual caution against eli-
minating, hirntelf, and was asked it he wished to say any-
thing. .

The prisoner then entered into a very long statement, and
endeavoured to establish an alibi ; and with this object in
view he called as witnesses a man named,Thomas Morgan,
a miner, and his (the prisoner's) mother • together with Sa-
muel Morgan, 'who having been' detected by the chairman
speakingtu the prisonerowas ordered into custody, and was
brought up: to give evidence by an officer.
This having clOsed'the evidence, the magistrates consulted,
and the •prrsoner was fully eommitted to take his trial for
high treason and sedition..
The court broke up at nine o'clock.

PoNTyr,OOL,,,.M9.NnAY.—At Pontypool to-day 14 of the
rioters iVere exaMiad before the lord lieutenant, Charles H.
T. LeighoEsq:.,Mr;,Sergeant Taddy, and Mr. Needham.
John Charles was .charged with riot and conspiracy, and
Was ftilly committed for trial.
• Thomas Keyes (who was stated to be an extensive manu-
facturer of chartist pikes), together with Amy Meredith and
and-James Meredith, Were charged with conspiracy and riot,
and also with.burglarionsly entering and stealing from the
house of John Jones. .

Mary Jones, of Abbersychan, wife of the complainant, who
appeared to be labouring under severe indisposition, caused by
the state of terror into .which she had been thrown, deposed
that about the middle of Sunday night, she heard a knocking
at the door, which shortly afterwards was thrown open. She
then went into her room, and saw it full of armed men.
Keyes was there, and had a large stick in his hand. A man
then presented a gun at witness's husband'shead, and swore
he would shoot him. We begged for our lives, but the man
swore he would kill us on the spot. Some time afterwards
they. went away, taking her husband with them. After they
had gone, witness had taken away a kitchen poker and other
things. The female prisoner was there, and cried out when
they .were going to take witness's husband, " Bring him along
or else finish him:". The prisoner, Jamss Meredith. was
present, and, aided in the search.
A man, named Wilks, confirmed the testimony of the last
witness. .

The prisoners were committed for trial, as were George
Tomkins, John Britton, Thomas Davis, Charles Bucknall,
Henry Harris, Isaac Davis, William Howard, David Wit-
Hammi s, Thomasffences Bolton, and Frederick Turner, charged with
•
silar o.

•
(From the Times of yesterday.)
The following is an extract from a letter from a gentleman
of high respectability :
"ABERSYCH Am, Nov. 11.—What appears most surprising
to me is, that the evil genius of Chartism appears to have
entirely changed the Welch character—ivhich formerly was
remarkable for benificence and kindness—into a state of bar-
barism : as for instance, if a poor miner, who was not enrolled,
.met with•an accident under ground, from the falling off a tram,
which has perhaps broken his leg, men in the same pit, who
were chartists, have been known to pass him by, looking him
in the face with their candles, and leaving him in his misery,
unremoved, with the exclamation of Oh, let him lie, he is
not enrolled, he is not one of us.' Another distinguishing
feature, portraying the evil genius of chartism, is, that in all
former outbreaks in Wales, the rioters have studiously avoided
the destruction of property, and that even during the reign cf

Swing' in England, 'the men of the hills' were loud in their
exclamations against the folly and wickedness of those who,
to use their own words, ' destroyed the victuals.' "
This is an astounding change, which can no otherwise be
accounted for than by the fact of the demagogues having, by
their wicked and designing arts, entirely changed the na-
tional character ; for the assertion which has been made use
of, that the people were led to such acts by distress, is dis-
posed of in an instant by the fact that the men of Wales, and
more particularly the colliers, iron-workers, and dockmen,
who joined in this insurrection, receive higher wages than
the men of any other part of the kingdom, as the following
details will fully prove :
The men employed in the collieries, taking bad and good
together, average £5 10s. each for four weeks' labour, and a
good workman earns £8 during that period, by working nine
hours a-day.
In the Newport docks the following is an official detail of
the earnings of the men, and the number of days which they
have been paid for in one week during the last summer
:
Smiths.—From 3s. 3d. to 4s. per day ; from 9 to 101 days
per week.

Carpenters.—From 3s. 6d. to ss. per day ; 6 to 11 days.
Labourers.—From 2s. 6d. to 4s. per day ; from 6 to 10
days; at times 11i days.
Masons.—From 3s. 6d. to ss. per day.
Added to which, the truck system is abolished throughout
Wales, all the wages being paid in money.
The following list of the prisoners, whose cases have been
already disposed of, has been kindly furnished us :