Star.
London, England, 1829-09-10 00:00:00

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

AFFRAY AT NEwTowN.—On Monday evening, a
disturbance took place in Newtown, under the following circum-
stances : a man of thrtiame of George Higgins bad been attending
a sale of property belonging to Mr. Buckley, in Hargraves-street,
Helm, on Monday afternoon, at which place be bought several
articles, and amongst them a cistern, for which be had given about
51. This he had removed to his own premises in Water-street.
Newtown, which are situate near the canal. He then went into a
public-house along with his brother John Higgins, in order to have
some refreshment. They had not been here long before they
learnt that some Irish weavers, belonging to Mr. Hyde's factory,
bad taken the cistern and thrown it into the water. They imme-
diately went to the spot, and John said he would give a sovereign
to know who had removed the cistern : the rioters replied that he
had nothing to do with it—he was only a constable, and they
would throw him into the river also. A violent scuffle ensued,
andiboth the brothers (one of whom bad armed himself with a
chandler's pole, used for carrying candles) resolutely defended
themselves for some time. They were, however, severely beaten,
and at last effected their escape. In the morning the fellows re-
sumed their outrages, and George Higgins received a very serious
wound on the bead. Information of the disturbance being received
at the Police-office, a number of the officers, accompanied by a
party of Dragoons, hastened to'the spot : the mob had dispersed
previously to their arrival, bat five of the rioters were ultimately
seemed. They were brought up at the New Bailey on Tuesday,
but George Higgins, owing to the injury he had received, was un.
able to appear against them ; they were, therefore, placed in the
dock on Wednesday, and again on Thursday. On the latter day
Higgins attended, and the facts were fully made out against them ;
in consequence, however, of the generous request of Higgins and
bis brother, the magistrates contented themselves with merely
binding the prisoners over to keep the peace for six months ; mac
of them named King (who had been active in the disturbance), in
two sureties at 251. each ; and the rest in two sureties at 201. each.
Mere wantonness seemed to have prompted the outrages cons.
mitted by the prisoners.
RIOTS IN NEWTON-LANK.—On Tuesday consider-
able apprehension was felt in the neighbourhood of Newton-lane,
in consequence of a report, that a somber of men were violently
taking the work from the looms of some weavers in the employ of
Messrs Knight and Co. of Church-street. This firm, it seems.
have recently lowered their prices of weaving, by which the
weavers' earnings were reduced from eight shillings, to about five
and nine pence. Last week the weaver, of Mr. Orrell, High.
street, were informed, that unless the other masters raised their
prices, be should be under the necessity of reducing his. Iu conse-
quence of this a meeting of Mr. Orrell's weavers was held,when it
was resolved that a deputation should wait upon Mr. Knight. and
request him to raise the prices paid to hie weavers; this he refused
to do, and it was then determined to take the work out of the
looms of his weavers, and convey it to his warehouse. Accord.
ingly, on Tuesday a number of men proceeded to the cellar of one
of Mr. Knight's s, named Robert Carr, residing in Cropper-
street, Newtoo.lane, and began to detach the warps from the
beams. Carr, who was apprehensive that the work might be in-
jured by this means, suggested that they should take the beams
likewise. They did so, and were proceeding with them towards
Mr. Knight's warehouse, when they were met by a party of con-
stables at Shudehill, and five of them apprehended. These were
brought up at the New Bailey on Wednesday morning, when Mr.
Shadwell, one of Mr. Knight's partners, attended to prosecute.
The names of several witnesses were called, to substantiate the
charge, but they did not answer. Mr. Shadwell here stared that
the persons he was solicitous of bringing forward, were afraid to
appear against the prisoners, as they had been threatened with
injury both to their persons and property, if they ventured to give
evidence in the case. The Magistrates, however, expressed their
determination to investigate the affair, and ordered summonses to
be served on the witnesses, to attend on Thursday. On that
day, accordingly, Mr. Shadwell again appeared, and Carr and
several other witnesses along with him. The prisoners were a
second time placed in the dock, and the evidence against them
detailed. None of them were identified as the persons who had
gone into Carr's cellar, though the property which had been taken
away was found upon them by the constables. /dr.Stanfield. who
appeared on behalf of the prisoners, admitted the offence, but re-
lated the particulara we have given above, in mitigation of punish-
ment. Mr. Shadwell, who expressed his belief that the prisoners
were bringing the warps and beams to the warehouse, wished to
know if this circumstance could, with justice, be offered in extenu-
ation of an act of outrage. The Magistrates, who seemed to con-
sider that the men had acted from a mistaken idea, and not with
the intention of making away with any of the property, severally
ordered them to bnd two sureties in X 25 each, to answer any
charge which might be preferred against them at the Sessions.—
Mandaesier and Salford Advertiser.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.