Star.
London, England, 1829-06-16 00:00:00

THE SPITALFIELDS RIOTS.

Benjamin Forecast, William Paul, James Hall, Edw.
Alderman, and Rowland Basing, wete indicted for
riotously sissembling in Bethnal-green, and assaulting
Edward Hugglestone and others, police officers.
Mr. ALLEY, for the prosecution, stated that the case
was one of considerable importance, and arose out of
the misconduct of those misguided men—the Spiral-
fields weavers. The Learned Counsel detailed the par-
ticulars 4.f the case at considerable length, and after-
wards called the following witnesses :
John Boyd, one of the foremen of Messrs. Moore
and Co. extensive silk manufacturers, who employ up-
wards of two hundred •weavers, stated, that in conse-
quence of the losses they had sustained by the cutting
of their silk in the loom, they directed the witness, on
the Tith sf May, to go to the house of a weaver named
Wilkie, to bring away whatever silk was then in his pos-
session, vihezber worked or not. Witness went there
accompanied by another person, named Bancroft, and
two officers. Wilkie's wife admitted them willingly, and
assisted them in taking down the silk. They brought
it away, and had got about one hundred yards from the
house, when a mob of persons cohtmenced pelting them
with stones. Several hundred persons were collected
together.and pelted witnessand the officers with stones.
They got into the Salmon and Ball public house for
'refuge, and remained there a short time. When they
left the house again, the throwing of stones was re•
newed with increased violence. Witaess's hat was
knocked off, and his head was much bruised by the
stones. Some of the officers were very seriously hart.
He could not identity either of the prisoners as the per.
sons who threw the stones.
William Bancroft confi►med his evidence.

Edward Hugglestone, one of the Bow-street patrol,
stated that when the two last witnesses came out of
Wilkie's house the mob commenced pelting them with
stones; they took refuge in the Salmon and Ball, the
landlord of which at length requested them to leave,
fearing he would get his windows broken; they lett
accordingly, and were again Felted by the mob; the'
pribbner Hall was at the head of them, and witness saw
him throw stones repeatedly ; witness old him to desist,
to which he replied, " Om* weaver now ;" the ()Meets
were at length campellea to use their staves; witness's

bead was severely cat after be drew his Staffs and he
was reduced to such a state that he was confined to his
bed for a fortnight ;the prisoners were taken into custody
with considerable difficulty ; the riot listed upwards of
an hour.
James Ledger, and several other officers, were ex-
amined, who identified the whole ef the prisoners as
having taken an active part in the skit.
Mr. BODKIN cross-examined each of them, but elicited
nothing material, and afterwards addressed the Jury in
as ingenious speech on behalf of the prisoners.
Mr. ALUM, in reply, observed, he was Riad to find
no attempt had been made on the part of the prisoners
to contradict the statement made by the officers. As
far as regarded Basing, he would not press the ca.e,
he not having been present at the commencement of
the riot.
The CHAIRUAN summed np the evidence, and the
Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against all the prisoners,
but recommended Basing to the mercy of the Court.
The COURT sentenced Hall in be imprisoned six months
in the Home of Correction ; Forecast, Pant, and Alder-
man, for four months; and Ba.ing for 14 days.

811AIN ATTORNEY.
Jaws Knight, a young man, was indicted for having
fraudulently obtained the sum of 501. from Chas. Locke.
by falsely representing himself an attorney.—The pro-
secutor was a baker in Allen-street, Clerkenwell. In
September last he was confined in Whitecrnss•street
Prison, and was introduced to the prisonrr byVaughan,
of blood-money notoriety, both of whom were also
confined in the same prison. In November lie employed
the prisoner to defend an action which had been brought
against him, and be on various occasions gave the poi-
soner the above sum, upon the 'understanding that the
proceedings were being carried on in a regular manner.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sen-
tenced to seven years' transportation.