The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-01-01 00:00:00

ARREST AND EXAMINATION OF STEPHENS
THE AGITATOR.

(From the Manchester Courier of taturday last.)
On 'Wednesday evening, information was received in
town that, in consequence of instructions issued from the
office df the Secretary of State, a warrant for the apprehee-
slots of the Rev. J. R. Stephens, was executed by T. W. B.
Sanderson, Esq., of Leigh, and John Keuworthy, Esq., of
Manchester, for certain seditious speeches delivered by him
on the 13th of November last, at two public meetings held
in the town of Leigh.
It will be remembered that about three weeks ago Sir
Frederick Roe visited Leigh and the neighbourhood, in
consequence of information that had been sent to the govern-
ment, of the dangerous nature of the proceedings of Stephens
and his coadjutors, and the state of alarm into which the in-
habitants had been thrown by the menacing attitude assumed
by the populace. It was then clearlyeaseerteined, that the
manufacture of pikes and other offensive,weapons, was pro-
ceeding in the various smithies and workshops of the district
to a most alarming extent, and that the people were arming
themselves in order to some serious infraction of the laws.
Sir Frederick took exact note of all these proceedings, as
well as of the tone and tenonr of the speeches delivered by
Stephens;" and it is thought that, in order at once to check a
career which could end only in bloodshed, and in a general
disorganization of society, the government determined to set
up a public caution and example, by immediately arresting
one of the principal ringleaders. '
Accordingly, in the early part of this week, Messrs. God-
dard and Shackle, two Bow-street officers, were, sent down
to execute a warrant which they had instructions to obtain
from two of the acting magistrates of the district. This
power, as we have stated, was obtained from Messrs. San-
derson and Kenworthy, and on Thursday, Joseph Rayner
Stephens, otherwise the Rev. J. IL. Stephens, was arrested
by the two officers, in company with Mr. Owen, the deputy-
constable of Ashton-under-Lyme, whilst on his way from
Ashton to Manchester. He was brought by the officers to
this town, and conveyed onwards in a chaise to the Bridge-
water Hotel, Worsley, where it was understood the exami-
nation would take place. The party arrived there-about six
o'clock, arid immediately afterwards a troop of the 3d Dra-
goon Guards, under the command of MajorCanipbell arrived,
in order to protect the magistrates in the execution of their
duty. 'Word was sent to Lord Francis Egerton that the
prisoner was in custody at the ion, and his lore; 'gip promptly
attended to render any assistance to his brother magistrates
. that might be required,, but, it was found thatllr. Sanderson
had gone to Bolton, and after coneutting•for some time
with Col. Wernyss, who had arrived from Manchester in the
meantime, it was decided that the hearing of the case should
take place on*the following day, at the New Bailey Court.
Stephens was, therefore, conducted back again to the chaise,
and was escorted by the detachment of dragoons to the New
Bailey, where he was placed in custody of the jaoler between
twelve and one o'clock that night. Yesterday, at half
after two o'clock; Stephens was placed at the bar of
the new court, which was crowded to excess, by persons
anxious to obtain a sight of a man who has laboured to ren-
der himself at once notoriously mischievous. On the bench
we observed Major Watkins, John Kenworthy, Esq., and
Thomas Potter, Esq. .There were also present 'tros. l'vans,
Esq., boroughreeve ; George Wood, Esq.; Thus Townend,
Esq., &c. After waiting for sprite time, Major Watkins an-
nounced that, as Mr. Sanderson had not arrived, they should
not then proceed with the examination, but that as soon as
he made his appearance they should go on with the case. A
delay of some duration again ensued, and at length the chair-
man, John Kenworthy, Esq., announced that the court. stood
adjourned until half after three. Mr. Law then made appli-
cation to the bench to be permitted an interview with Mr.
Stephens, as his legal adviser, which was granted.
At four o'clock the court was re-opened, and the examina-
tion of witnesses proceeded with ; the only two magistrates
on the bench were John Kenworthy, Esq., (in the chair) and
J. B. Smith, Esq. Mr. Duck appeared as council for the
prosecution, and Stephens conducted his own defence iu
cross-examination.
Mr James Johnson, linen•draper, of Leigh, examined by
Mr. Duck.-1 live at Pennington. I was present at the
meeting in Leigh on the 13th November last. I sat at the
third story window of a house in the market-place known as
the sign of the Fox. I should think there were front 2000
to 3000 persons at the meeting. There were two meetings, one
in the morning and the other in the evening : the one to
which I allude, and at which I was present, wes that in the
morning. The people began to assemble about nine o'clock,
and kept on tilt the arrival of Mr. Stephens, when the chair
was taken ; I think that was about twelve 'o'clock ; I cannot
say how long it was before the meeting dispersed. 1 left it
after Mr. Stephens' speech, which lasted two hours and forty-
five minutes by my watch. I was twenty or thirty yards off
Mr. Stephens. There was a stage erected on a cart. The
.speakers faced me. At times I could hear distinctly, but at
others Stephens turned from me and then I did not hear.
him. For the first half-hour thought I never heard a man
speak fairer thin Stephens, but after he began to mention
the poor law, and the factories, and then my own neighbours
who are the guardians, I thought he brae through all bounds.
He mentioned Mr. Pownall and Mr. Jackson. Mr. Pownali
is the clerk of the board olguardians, and Mr. Jackson is a
guardian. I cannot exactly tell the court what Mr. Stephens
said, but I recollect that he quoted scripture, and said that
to destroy a poor-law guardian would be doing God a ser-
vice. Ido not exactly know whether it was before or after
that he mentioned Mr. Pownall and Mr. Jackson. 1 heard
him mention the clergymen also. He mentioned Mr. Top-
ping, the vicar, and Mr Jackson, the curate. Ido not re-
collect exactly. what subject he was handling, it was such a
long address; but he pointed to the church, and mentioned
that Mrs. Topping had been ill for two months, and had per-
suaded Mr. Topping not to act as aguardian again, fur which
he (Mr. S.) thanked her, He mentioned the name of Mr.
Jones, cotton spinner and manufacturer. Mr. Jones has
two factories. He is not a pour-law guardian. When he in-
troduced his name he was speaking about the deplorable con-
dition of the factory people, and was condemning factory
practices. He went on at some lengls, advising the people
to arm themselves; •He told the meeting to have: guns and
pikes ready over their chimney. pieces. He said they must
have them in readiness. and that if they would appeint him
their commander, he would come over to.thein. He did not
say for what purpose, hut that he would tell them what to do
when healid come over. Ile then alluded to a lad in Mr.
Jones's mill that Mr. Jones had struck or beaten ; and when
the ',rand attack was to be, they were to go with a torch in
oneliend auu a isee ..„...e.
of left language, he was alluding to Mr. Jones's mill at the
'time. He talked about tarring Mr. Jones and rolling him in
feathers. He advised them to kill him first, and then roll
him in tar and feathers, to make a fine bird of him, and send
him as a present to the poor law guardians. There were pis-
tols fired off, and I saw pikes—one was stuck through a loaf
and a red herring. The pistols were fired snore than once.
There were so many fired off that Mr. Stephens was annoyed
at them, and said they must be quiet with those crackers—
he could crack bard enough himself. I saw above twenty
pistols in different persons' hands which were fired off occa-
sionally. I saw no other Weapons but pistols and pikes. My
house is 300 or 400 yards from the place. The people were
much alarmed by it, and lam so now in this court. I have
been threatened by the admirers of Mr. Stephens. Ido not
know what time the meeting broke ap. I left when Mr. S.
bad concluded, owing to the cold. I was not at the other
meeting in the, vening. Tnere have been repeated meetings
since on a Monday night. They are such as create alarm ;
the people are very•much alarmed about them.
Mr. Duck: I have no more questions to put to this witness.
Mr. Law : I think it necessary to state that when I asked
to see the prisoner it was to ask whether he approved of my
appearing bere on his behalf. He does not disapprove of it
any further than he is desirous of conducting his own case.
I have thought i,t due to the court to state this, that they might
not think that I troubled them unnecessarily in asking to see
him.
The Chairman (to the prisoner:) Have you any questions
to put to this' witness?
Mr. Stephens: Certainly—with your permission.
The Prisoner here cross-examined the witness at con-
siderable length, but did not elicit much evidence of import-
ance.
William Coward examined.—He had attended the meeting
on the 13th of Nov. When he arrived at the meeting, the
prisoner was speaking something about the condescension of
our Lord. •He (prisoner) afterwards quoted a passages which
ran " Vengeance is mine," and said that vengeance belonged
to Grid, and that oppressors would have it repaid to them.
He then said. that God would raise up those men and fire
their hearts to burn those houses and perhaps that veneraole
building (pointing to the church) which had been raised by
our ancestors. Ile also spoke of soldiers and officers, and
said that all was right. Whether prisoner said anything
about burning of mills or not, he could not say.. He spoke of
the poor law guardians and ridiculed Mr. Pownall, wbo (he
said) had been raised from a shoe or trash, and bad now be-
come a poor law guardian. He also spoke of Mr. Jackson
being a Wesleyan Methodist, and said if John Wesley were
alive he would spurn such a diabolical being from his pre-
sence, and that Mr. Yates would die on a dunghill for being
a collector under the poor law. The prisoner declared that
if he lived in Leigh he would go with half a dozen, or a
dozen, or two dozen, and take Mr. —, one of the guard-
ians, and would bring him out, but would not bust him,
would take off his coat, waistcoat, and shirt, get a barrel of
tar and tar him right well over. He (prisoner) added be
would therm get a pillow of feathers and would feather him,
and after he ha I done that would say, "Go to roost thou
devil"—and that if he had wings and could fly the people
would wonder what kind of a bird he was. He (witness)
then left the meeting. There were 2009 persons present at
-least, at the night meeting. Saw several persons with pistols
which they kept firing, and when the flints were done they
let them off with torches. Alto saw one er two pikes at the
meeting, and many a hundred about Leigh since. The night
meeting was calculated to alarm the inhabitants of Leigh
generally. As his examination was finished, he wished to
say a word or two. It was with feelings of regret that he
appeared in that court against Mr. Stephens, and he could
assure him he bore him no ill will; but he thought it his duty
to appear and give evidence in the ease.- The Court might
imagine the state of consternation in which the inhabitants
'were, when he told them that he knew of three smiths that
were busy making pikes—they were some of them made of
steel, about thirteen inches long, with a screw IS fix them on
a stock. Many persons had been intimidated. .He knew
of one man who had gone into a shop to buy a loaf with a
pike in his hand, and who said " I shall fetch the next loaf
with a pike.
Cross-examined by the prisoner.--4 have heard the evi-
dence of Johnson. I cannot corroborate it"allogether. There
"are not many points in it, but-in tnost 1 can bearhint out: I
was at the morning meeting for half an hOur. I heard Mr.
John Son say just now that-your speech occupied 'two hears
and forty five minutes. Don't know how long you had been
speaking when I arrived, but you were 'speaking two hours
and a half, for you began about twelve o'clock and you hail
not finished at half-pest two. I think I was there half an hour
but I did not look at my*watch. When I arrived' you were
speaking about the "Condescension of our Lord. You-com-
mented Ina very reverenff'strain_;tiot Withrevitys but as such
a subject ought to be treated.' You quoted a passage, " ven•
geance is mine." Yoti said thatveogeance belonged to God,
and that oppressors would have it repaid to them. Speaking
of the poor laws, You said to this meeting, " God will raise
up these men, and fire their hearts to burn down those houses,
and perhaps that venerable building also," pointing to the
church.
.You went on from the scripture quotation to the
poor laws. I remember nothing between. There were no
conditions: I could not tell why the buildings were to be
burnt down. I took no notes—l-wrote nothing down of what
I heard you say. You desired the people to take their chil-
dren away from the Sunday schools, to give up their seats in
the church and chapels, and to save their pence to buy pis-
tols. I have no pistols. You ridiculed Mr. Squarebridge.
You asked him on the stage whether he would turn you out
of conference again. I made my deposition upon the case
about a week or a fortnight after the 13th November.-1 did
not go of my own accord. I was sent for by the magistrates,
and until then I had not thought about it. About a fortnight
ago I was threatened with " half a yard of pike,"—that is,
since I was sent for by the magistrates. I was half an hour
at the night meeting. When I got there you were talking
about officers and soldiers, and said, "all is right betwixt
them and nee." When I first got to the night meeting, you
were talking about the poor law guardians. You were ridi-
culing, the guardians. You said clothing about factories at
the night meeting. Don't know whether you mentioned any
thing about fire at the night meeting.—To the best of my
knowledge you did not say any thing about firing the facto-
ries, either at the morning or night meeting. Did not hear
you mention the name of any mill owner. Mr. Pownall's
name was mentioned. Can't call him a mill owner, his is
only a building to warp and wind in. You said that be was
raised from a shoe or trash.—Mr. Jackson is not a collector
under the poor law, but Mr. Yates is. I heard you say he would
die on a dunghill. I also heard you say, if you lived in Leigh you
would go with half a dozen or a dozen, and tar and feather one
of the poor law guardians, and sent him as a present to the com-
missioners. I have seen many hundred pikes in Leigh and
Bedford ; I have seen theni them in open day,
without any concealment. I have also seen them hanging
up over chimney pieces, all ready for action. Two or three

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