The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-03-07 00:00:00

SATURDAY

This morning, at nine o'clock, the learned Judge took his
eat on the bench; but, before the case was proceeded with,
sis Lordship announced to the bar, that, in consequence of
hhe length to which the assizes were likely to extend, be had
written to London, desiring Mr. Baron Parke, who was
named in the commission with him, to communicate with the
Lord Chancellor as to the propriety of issuing a new com-
mission for Westmoreland, (the assizes for which county
were to commence on Wednesday next,) so as to give him
the whole of next week to finish the business here, if pos-
sible ; and he was enabled to state, that another commission
would be issued for Westmoreland, after the assizes for the
northern counties were concluded. The learned baron bad
also intimated, for the convenience of the bar, that he woul,d
if possible prevent any but undefended cases being taken at
York before Wednesday next.

The Jury applied to his Lordship to adjourn the case at five
o'clock in the attertioon, so as to enable them to return to
their homes to-night, and they would return in time for the
business on Monday morning.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, as it was of very great
importance to the Jury to return to their places of busibess
this evening, he trusted the wishes of the Jury would be com-
plied with.

- His LORDSHIP intimated his intention to comply with the
desire of the Jury.

The evidence was then proceeded with ; the first portion
being a long article from the Northern Star, dated the 20th
of August, in which the Executive address from the Chartists
was containea, in what purported to be a report of the Char-
tist Conference held at Manchester on the 16th of August
last.

James Cartlege was called and sworn ; but after two or
three questions had been put to him, Mr. O'Connor said he
thought it right to inform his lordship, that the witness was
one of the parties included in the indictment.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, he had given directions to
enter a nolle vrosequi so far as the witness was concerned,
and thought it had been done.

On reference to the record, however, it appeared that it
had not, and the Attorney-General then entered a nolle
prosequi.
... .

A long discussion now ensued as to whether the witness
was a competent one; the counsel for the defendants con-
tending that he was not, as he was one of the parties then
under trial, and that it was not in the power of the Attorney -
General, at that stage of the proceedings, to enter a nolle
prosequi.
The learned JUDGE, after deciding that the witness was a
competent one, and that the Attorney-General could, at any
stage of the proceedings, enter a nolle prosequi if he thought
proper, recommended, however, to prevent further discussion,
that a verdict of acquittal should be taken in the case of the
witness, and that he should then be examined.
This course was adopted by the Attorney-General, but
protested against by t he counsel for the defendants, and the
point was reserved by the Judge.
Cartlege was then examined at considerable length, and
deposed to several Chartist meetings being held, at which
several of the defendants were present. He also proved that
the Executive Committee of the National Charter Associa-
tion consisted of James Leach, J. Bairstow, John Campbell,
Peter Murray M'Douall, and Morgan Williams, and that the
Executive address which had already been put in and read in
the previoas part of the trial was written by Dr. M'Douall,
and that the latter corrected the proof-sheet. The witness
spoke to the defendants O'Connor, Hill, Beesley, Harney,
Parks, Oteley, James Leach, John Leach, Railton, D. Mor-
rison, Cooper, of Leicester, R. Ramsden, Hoyle, M`Donall,
J. Campbell. M`Cartney, Norman, Skevington, Brookes,
and Mooney, of Colne, being present at a meeting in Schole-
field's char.', on the 18th, at which a resolution was carried
that the strike should be continued until they obtained the
Charter. At this meeting the defendant M'Arthur was in
the chair, and occasionally Scholefield was present.
In cross-examination by Mr. O'Connor, the witness stated
that he was induced to give evidence in consequence of the
Chartists denouncing him as a traitor, and insulting his wife,
but he was still for the Charter.

The principal witness of the day, who was called by the
Attorney-General in consequence of the defendant O'Connor
agreeing to release Sir James Graham from further attend-
ance, if he was called, was a person named James Wilcocks,
arid he deposed to attending a meeting at Ashton, in the
Chartist meeting-room, at which Pilling was present, and
which took place the Tuesday or Wednesday previous to the
outbreak, at which a placard was agreed to be headed, " The
reckoning day is at hand."
Cross-examined by Mr. O'Connor.—At that time, in con-
sequence of the state of the town and neighbourhood, I was
very uneasy in my mind. I did not attend any meetings of
the Anti Corn-I w League about that time; but I have corn-
p ained that the parties who got the people out of work had
turned upon them. I am a shopkeeper at Ashton, and I
thought the treatment of the working classes was so bad that
I thought it was my duty to make a representation of it to
the Government. It was reported generally, that there were
f• he three reduct on; of wages before Christmas. It was
told to me by a c rtain gentleman who attended the Anti
Corn-law nfw room. My opinion was, that there was a
party in Ashton to bring about a tumult, in order to stop the
Chartists meetings. I was in company with a certain. gen-
,lernan, and he told me there would be three reductions
hefore Christmas, and then the Chartists would be broken
up, and there would only remain two parties, the Anti Corn•
law League and the Tories, and it would then be seen which
was master. Have' heard you address the people of Ashton
twice, and do not think your speeches were likely to lead to
a breach of the peace. I went as far as Birmingham on my
way to London, and there I wrote to Sir James Graham,
and then went away in another direction, instead of going to
London.

Several letters of an inflammatory character, written by
the defendant James Leach, were then put in and read, after
which the court adjourned a few minutes before five o'clock.

YESTERDAY

O❑ this day the reporter for the Northern. Star was
examined, and several other witnesses. _ _ _

Mr. DUNDAs addressed the jury on behalf of the defend
ant Robert Brooke, and Mr. BAINES on behaif of the Rev
J. Schofield. _ _ .

e understand the whole of to-morrow is likely to be
taken up with the several speeches of the defendants ; and it
is likely the summing up of the Judge will occupy the whole
of Wednesday ; so that the case will not probably conclude
before Thursday next.

MARRIAGE OF A CH ILD.—On Wednesday last the daugh-
ter of a comfortable farmer, living in the vicinity of Berne,
was to have been married to a young man to whom she had
been engaged, and everything was arranged for the interest-
ing event. However, the fickle fair one changed her mind,
and on the morning appointed for the wedding, she eloped
with her father's servant boy, who, it appears, had more
favour in her sight. For some time all was consternation
and surprise, but, after a little reflection, the father and the
disappointed bridegroom determined that a wedding there
should be by hook or crook, and it was not long until they
selected the granddaughter of the former, a child under 12
years of age! The only thing now necessary for the con-
summation of the marriage was the presence of his reverence,
but soon that obstacle was removed, and he made his appear-
ance in all due form; his "fist was greased" with a £lO
note, and the little girl became a bride! The bridegroom
gave the grandfather A'so to live with him. and thus termi-
nated an event which has caused feelings of general disgust
amongst the respectable classes in the neighbourhood. We
have since learned .hat the little child bas been sent to a
school at some distal:tee from the locality where this strange
scene occurred.—Tipperary Constitution.