The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-06-04 00:00:00

RIOTS ON FRIDAY.

On Friday last, a succession of riots, between some of the
shipwrights and their adherents and the Irish labourers,
similar to those of the preceding night, which we noticed in
our last publication, took place in several of the streets lead-
ing westward from St. James-street to the docks. Happily,
however, no loss of life took place, and, so far as we can
learn, no further destruction of windows or dther property.
Several of our contemporaries have chosen to magnify the
inglorious affray, and have given lengthened details, as long
and serious as if they were describing a national struggle
equal to that of. Vittoria or Waterloo. The simple facts are
sufficient. Some reports having gone abroad after the affray
of Thursday evening—first (to rouse the Irish), that the
carpenters were going to pull down St. Patrick's Chapel;
and secondly, that 3,000 Irishmen, from a railway near Du-
blin, were coming to extirpate the carpenters,—both parties
became exasperated against each other, and in the afternoon
gathered towards the former scene of action. The police,
however, mustered strongly, and acted energetically. They
routed the Irish, who at one point came up about 500 strong,
armed with sticks, and a few with spades ; and afterwards
disarmed a large body of the carpenters, who had left their
work with adzes, axes, pieces of iron, &c. in their hands,
which were lodged in one of the stations. Several skirmishes
took place throughout the evening, but the police, towards
dark, succeeded, after much fatigue and exertion, in disper-
sing the riotously disposed, and by eleven o'clock all was
restored to quietness. We are bound in fairness to state,
that, so far as we can learn, there were faults on both sides,
and that on the part of the carpenters the apprentices prin-
cipally were concerned. On both sides the parties were mis-
led by the rumours before noticed, and the sensible portion
of both are now, we feel assured, sorry for what occurred.
The examinations before the magistrates, of the prisoners
taken in the affray of Friday, will supply all further requisite
information on this subject.

EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONERS.
On Saturday the following persons, apprehended as
having been concerned in the riots above described, were
brought up to the bar of the police-office :—James Gerard,
Joseph M`Kenna, John Hickey, Patrick Skulley, William
Gallagher, John Cowan, John Gallagher, Barney Wood,
Mary Maxwell, and Mary Burke.
Hugh Hornby, Esq., the Mayor, presided. The following
Magistrates were on the bench :—William Brown, Esq.,
Robert Ellison Harvey, Esq., Francis Heywood, Esq.,
Charles Birch, Esq., and Richard Houghton, Esq. The
Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk were also present.
Mary Maxwell was accused by Mr. Lythgoe, formerly
a keeper of one of the lock-up houses, but now the landlord
of a tavern in Newhall-street. He stated that, on the pre-
ceding day, a great mob of people came to his door, shouting
and threatening. They smashed his windows with bricks,
and did considerable damage to his property. He went to
the door to remonstrate with them, when he saw the pri-
soner with a half brick in her hand. He was immediately
knocked down, and left for dead. There was no evidence
that the prisoner had committed any act of violence. Mr.
Lythgoe intimated that he could bring evidence of her acti-
vity. She was discharged, and Mr. Lythgoe was told that
he might have a summons against her, when he would have
an opportunity of bringing forward his evidence.
Mrs. Fagan, publican, of Sparling-street, accused Mary
Burke. It appeared that it was at her house that the dis-
turbance of Friday last commenced. It was stated that a
coach, with several carpenters' apprentices, drove up to the
door, and that a number of women attacked them, throwing
stones after them into the house, whereby several of the
windows were broken. The prisoner was identified as being
of the party by three several witnesses. She also called
three witnesses to show that her conduct, while in Sparling-
street, was exceedingly quiet. The balance of evidence,
however, was against her, and she was fined 10s. and costs.
In default of payment she was ordered to be committed for
eleven days.

The remainder of the prisoners were all brought forward
n a body. _ _

Mr. Dowling stated that, about two o'clock, on Friday
last, he was informed that there was a riot at the docks. He
nroceeded to the east-side of the Salthouse-dock, when he
lon id that the riot had been between a body of carpenters
On one side, and a body of Irishmen on the other. The
pa ties had separated, and were at some distance from each
other. He went and addressed the carpenters, and they
told him they would go if he would give protection to a
house in Sparling-street, which was the house of Mrs. Fa-
gan. He immediately proceeded thither, and made such ar-
rangements for the protection of the inslividuals inside the
house, who were principally shipwrights' apprentices, as he
thought necessary. Soon after this, he heard a considerable
noise, and, in proceeding in the direction from whence it
came, he met Mr. Whitty, in Wapping. There was a great
commotion amongst the people, and many rumours of mis-
chief. About four o'clock, he was passing along Park-lane,
with a very small body of policemen, when he encountered a
mob of about 400 men, armed with staves, pikes and blud-
geons. He passed them, and met Inspector Highton with a
body of men. With those he returned. The mob presented
a close front, but he attacked them with his men and disper-
them. There was considerable rioting after this in many
parts of the town, and, notwithstanding the exertions of the
police, all the streets continued, during some time, in a state
of disturbance. He (Mr. Dowling) was not able to identify
any other prisoners.
Mr. Whitty stated, that having heard, on the preceding
day, of the rioting at Salthouse Dock, he requested Mr.
Dowling to proceed thither, as he was himself exceedingly
unwell, in consequence of previous exertion. A few minutes
after, when he was in the Town-clerk's office, word was
brought to him, that the riots were becoming more alarming,
and that his presence was required. The men were just be-
ginning to gather at the station, and he took twenty of them,
six of whom were armed with cutlasses. He gave the latter
orders not to draw their weapons on any account, unless
they received his commands to do so. He proceeded with
Inspector George Tyrrel to Trentham-street, where he found
a great number of persons. Some of them were carpenters.
many of them were much cut and bruised. The people were
fleeing in all directions. The carpenters were armed with
adzes, axes, and other weapons. They told him, that they
would at once put up their weapons, if he would give them
his protection. To this he readily agreed; and having re-
ceived a reinforcement of men, he directed the carpenters to
fall in behind them. The carpenters gave three cheers for
the police, and all proceeded together to Fagan's house in
Sparling-street, where he locked up the carpenters, and di-
rected the armed men, whom he left in guard at front, not to
allow any nue_ to_nam .in_or_out.., At the bottom of Green-
taint. They were armed with boarding-pikes and other in-
struments. He ordered the few armed men who were with
him to draw. They rushed upon the men, who tumbled
over each other, and one or two prisoners were taken. The
rest were soon dispersed. As they fled, they threw down
pikes adzes, and hatchets, with which they had been armed.
At this juncture Inspector Quick, with one hundred men, all
of whom were armed with cutlasses, came up. He (Mr.
Whitty) rushed, forward, and commanded them not to draw,
under any circumstances whatever, without his orders,
There was throughout, and for a considerable time after.
great commotion in the streets. He (Mr. Whitty) believed
the whole disturbance originated in foolish and exaggerated
reports which were circulated amongst both parties. Amongst
the Irishmen it was told and believed, that the carpenters
were going to pull down St. Patrick's chapel, which caused
the Irish to assemble from all quarters for the protection of
the place of worship which they conceived was about to be
destroyed. On the other hand, it was reported, amongst the
carpenters, that three thousand Irishmen, who had been em-
ployed upon some railroad near Dublin, had come over to
England, and having joined the Irishmen on this side the
water, were about to attack the carpenters and destroy them.
Nothing could be more grossly untrue than these reports.
Inspector Highton gave testimony similar to the above.
Police-officer No. 86, who took John Gallaher into cus-
tody, stated, that he saw him throwing bricks through the
window of his house at the people. It was afterwards shewn,
that the windows of the prisoners house were all broken by
the mob, and that he was, probably, only throwing out the
missiles that had been thrown in. He was, therefore, dis-
charged.
Police-officer 505 accused M`Kenna. He stated, that he
saw him in the mob, behaving very violently. He saw him
strike a man, and afterwards run into an entry. He pursued
him, and took him into custody. Police-officer Gabriel cor-
roborated the above testimony. The prisoner was ordered to
pay a fine of 10s. and costs, or be committed for eleven days.
Police-officer 18 stated, that he saw the prisoner Hickey
behaving very outrageously in the mob, in Greenland-street.
He saw him push through the crowd and throw a brick. He
was also hurraing and instigating the mob. The prisoner was
ordered to find bail for his appearance, to answer the charge,
at the sessions, himself in £3O and two sureties in £l5 each.
Police-officer 427 identified Patrick Skulley as a man whom
he had apprehended for throwing bricks from the window of
his room. He went up and found him under the bed. The
window was too high for the bricks to have been thrown in,
and he had no doubt they were placed there for ammunition.
The prisoner was ordered to find bail for his appearance at
the sessions, himself in £2O, and two sureties in £lO each.
Inspector Poole identified William Gallaher as an indivi-
dual who was one of the mob in Greenland-street. He was
armed with a bludgeon, and was exceedingly violent. He
(Poole) succeeded in apprehending him. This prisoner was
also held to bail in like sums to the last.
James Gerard, a carpenter, was identified by Mr. Highton
as one of the mob of carpenters who behaved with more vio-
lence than the rest. He was held to bail in the same amount
as the last prisoner.
Jno. Cowan was defended by Mr Davenport. Mr. Super-
intendant Charles Tyrrell stated, that he took the prisoner
into custody with a loaded pistol in his possession. The pri-
soner declared, in the face of the mob, that he would shoot
the first man that approached him. Upon this Superinten-
dant Tyrrell thought proper to disarm and apprehend him.
It turned out, that the property of the prisoner had suffered
severely ; that he was standing at his own door ; that he had
procured summonses against the parties who had damaged
his goods ; and that his motive was merely to protect his
goods and chattels. The mayor reprimanded him for using
so dangerous a weapon, and discharged him.
Barney Wood, who was proved to have been active amongst
the rioters, was held to bail, himself in £2O, and two sure-
ties in £lO each.
The MAYOR, before he pronounced the decision to which
the magistrates had come, said, it appeared, that there had
been much misrepresentation on both sides, which nothing
but gross ignorance and want of thought could have in-
duced the parties to believe. As such conduct, however,
would not be allowed in this community, and as no
statements could palliate the offences which had been proved,
the parties might expect to be punished with the utmost se-
verity.

POSTOFFICE REGULATION s .—H aving received complaints
from several towns in the north—especially from the town of
Warrington—setting forth that although the Morning Herald
and the other London morning papers arrived at the postoffice
in that town on the evening of the day of publication, they
were not delivered until the following morning—not even
" at the window" upon demand ;—the postmaster alleging
that no person was entitled to demand it before the regular
delivery unless upon payment of rent for "a box" within
the office. We felt it our duty to represent this state of
things to the authorities at the General Postoffice, and it is
due to them to announce that they have very promptly at-
tended to it. We have authority to state that an arrangement
has been made by which an evening delivery of newspapers
will be effected at Warrington after the 20th of next month ;
and directions have been given to the postmaster that in the
mean time newspapers may be delivered at the window on
the arrival of the mail at half-past seven o'clock.—Morn-
ing Herald.
BEATING A LADY INTO LOVE.-At Chelmsford petty
sessions on Tuesday, a young labourer, named Henry Bunu,
was charged with endeavouring, by certain blows, bruises, and
fisty cuffs, to make a lady named Jane Quailer, fall violently
and desperately in love with him. It appeared that Mister
Henry had, for the last twelve months, been pouring a flood
of rustic eloquence into the ear of Miss Jane. But it was all
labour lost—Jane's heart remained as hard as a Norfolk dum-
pling, and Mr. llunn had meditated upon suicide in all its
forms and phases ; when a friend suggested a trial of the beef-
steak principle—beating till she was tender. Accordingly he
proceeded to her house at Woodham Ferris, on Sunday last,
and put the advice into immediate praetice ; but the more he
beat the harder Jane grew, and neither the application of fists,
knees, or hob nailed shoes, could induce her to turn a yielding
glance on the swain, and gently whisper, " Dear Henry, I
cannot resist such strong arguments—l'm yours." No ; in-
stead of taking him to her own arms—she consigned him tb
those of the constable. Henry now pleaded his passion in
justification of the blows, but this not being admitted by the
bench, he was fined 5s and costs, which he paid, and left
the court, casting " looks that burn" at the witching face
that had filched his heart and emptied his leathern purse
of 158 6d.