The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-10-07 00:00:00

COUNTY COURT.--TUESDAY.

THREAT TO ASSASSINATE THE JUDGE.
It having been rumoured that a number of other
parties implicated in the affair would be brought be-
fore Mr. Ramshay this morning, the court-room was
crowded at an early hour with a respectable auditory.
To the disappointment, however, of most of those present,
the parties referred to were not to appear until the fol-
lowingmorning.

His HONOUR took his seat at ten minutes past ten
o'clock, and on doing so referred to the disturbances and
interruptions which took place in the court on Monday. in
consequence of those disgraceful proceedings. he had given
orders to enforce due respect to the court. He was deter-
mined to try whether the court was to be respectably con-
ducted, or whether the filthy comments and vile slanders
which had been propagated—misleading ignorant minds,
and bringing the court into disrepute—were to be conti-
nued. It was proper that this question should be at once
decided, and he was determined to try to the utmost whe-
ther law or slander was to prevail. He held in his hand
a painful proof of the persecution to which he was sub-
jected, in the shape of a letter he had received that
morning, threatening him with assassination on that very
day. but he would tell the dirty slanderer, if present,
that he feared him not.
The following is a copy of the letter :

_
" "Crown-street, Monday Evening.
Srit,—Call yourself a Judge! I say you are a drunken
blackguard, you will receive this on Tuesday morning—pre-
pare yourself for another world—you have not many hours to
live. I have just time to save this post from this quarter to
inform you I am busy making preparations for your destruc-
tion to-morrow,—you are a damn'd rascal.—yours,
(Signed) "JOHN COULTER.

"Ramshay."!

The usual business was then proceeded with.
A summons was served, the same day, upon each of
the detective officers who were charged with assaulting
the bailiffs on Saturday. The summons was couched in
the following terms:—
"In the County Court of Lancashire, holden in Liverpool.
" To —, policeman.
" You are hereby required personally to be, and appear
before me, Wm. Ramshay, Esq., Judge of the County Court
of Lancashire, holden in Liverpool, on Wednesday, the Ist of
October next, at the hour of nine o'clock, forenoon, to
answer a charge of assaulting the officers of the court, in the
execution of their duty, on Saturday, the 27th day of Septem-
ber instant. Herein fail not. Given under the seal of the
court on the 29th day of September, 1651.:

"BY THE COURT."

WEDNESDAY.
The court was opened this morning at twenty-five
minutes past nine o'clock. The Judge, on taking his
seat, complained of the receipt of many anonymous
letters, which only inspired him with the most utter con-
tempt for the writers, and a determination to enforce the
law against all who may insult the court.
TRIAL OF MR. JOHN WHITTY AND THE

POLICE OFFICERS.
The first case called on for trial was that in which a
summons had been issued against Mr. John Whitty,
charging him with assaulting the officers of the court, in
the Journal-office, on the evening of Saturday last, whilst
they were endeavouring to capture his father. Some half-
dozen police-officers were also summoned, and were in
attendance. The court was very crowded. Sir G. Stephen,
instructed by Mr. Lowndes, appeared for Mr. Whitty,
and Mr. Dowling on behalf of the police. During a short
delay which took place before Mr. Whitty came into
court, Mr. Dowling said he appeared not so much as an
advocate for the police-officers, but rather to watch the
proceedings; because he was as anxious as his honour
that every member of the police force should carry out
the law as it ought to be carried out; and if they had
done anything wrong he should be one of the first to take
notice of it. Mr. Whitty having taken his place in the de.
fendant's box, Roger Charnlev, the first witness called,
was examined by the judge. Charnley detailed the cir-
cumstances which took place in the office of Mr. Whitty,
his evidence being mainly the same as that given on Mon-
day. The defendant gave him and the other officers in
charge of the police, telling the latter that they (the
county court bailiffs) had no business there, that they
wanted to take his father, but that they had no warrant.
The defendant said the witness seized him by the collar,
in a rough way, to put him out of the place, and that
some other parties seized him also with the same design.
Sir George Stephen cross-examined Charnley, eliciting
that he was appointed bailiff by Mr. Stone; that he had
no appointment in writing in his own custody, though
Mr. Stone might have one; that he rested his order to
bring Mr. Whitty before the court unon the verbal di-
rection of the judge : that as a police-officer (he had for-
merly been in the force) he (Charnley) never went to a
private house to take a party into custody without a war-
rant; but that the commonest policeman in the town
had the power of taking up any one in the streets,
whom they considered disorderly, from the highest
to the lowest. This power they frequently exercised
without any warrant. If a disorderly person went into a
house they must get a summons. Ile never did such a
thing as follow a disorderly person into a house. He
would follow a disorderly person into a public-house, but
not into his own house. He would not fetch him out if
the door was open or ajar. Hartley, the other bailiff, was
then examined, his evidence being a corroboration of the
preceding. Joyce. too, was examined, as was John Sum-
ner, the examiner of the court, the latter giving similar
evidence as to the pulling down of the alleged offensive
placard as that given by him in the case of Mr. Whitty,
senior, His honour put many questions to the witness as
to whether he (the judge) had not-asserted that the dignity
of the bench bad been reflected upon by the appearance of
such placards, and whether the public were not, in conse-
quence, likely to form a derogatory opinion of him ? Wit-
ness replied, such was the fact, that no man of common
comprehension could doubt that such was the effect to be
conveyed.

Sir G. STEPHEN objected to this evidence on the grounds
-vhatever mizht be the opinion of the witness, the

question of IV
made aeainat

that opinion. It was his honour's opinion, and that opiniot,
alone, which could determine the question. Whether as
to this placard, or any similar placard or document what-
In complained as being libellous or offensive
:1 ,ninion of the witness was quite foreign
1, in.
the Judge gave rein to his feelings, and

ever of vvr-
to the env

to the whole e

anaressed the crowded audien-Ce, which filled every part of
the court. The conclusions of all his sentences were inau-
dible, and in ccany parts of his address, when overcome by

emotion, he could not be beard. His remarks throughout
were characterised by strong determination, and when this
was the more powerfully developed he was the more indis-
tinctly heard. He proceeded to say that certainly he was
a gentleman, and a man of honour and education. He was
brought up in courts of law, living in them ; he had come
to devote his body and soul to the faithful administration
of his duties, and was he to be wronged and insulted, and
worried and tormented to the death.
After the examination of some other witnesses, the
Judge went through the evidence against the defendant,
who, he admitted, was in a painful position ; but he de-
nied that he was bound to follow his father, right or
wrong. He then proceeded, at length, to give the rea-
sons why the legislature had given such large powers to
the judges of the county courts; and observed that, in the
next session of parliament, he should feel it his duty to
ask the legislature to give the judges still more extensive
powers ; and he would state a fact that had lately come
under his notice, without reference to the threat of assas-
sination and anonymous letters which had been received
by him lately. He had been grossly insulted at his own
lodgings, by a man who had been committed to Lancaster
Castle for six months, for seeking to rob a widow and
orphan—the widow and orphan of a man of family, of
talents, of education, who had met his death by visiting—
in the discharge of his honourable, meritorious, and
Christianlike duties—the abodes of misery, of disease,
and of death. That poor man caught the disease which
produced death before he had the means of keeping his
family independent of his exertions ; and because he
(the learned judge) happened to lodge at the house of
that lady, who had been compelled, for the sake of an
honourable subsistence for herself and son, to let off
portion of her house, he had been subjected to the insults
cf the man who had tried to rob her. With regard to Mr.
Whitty, the elder, he had been challenged to take that man,
and he had now lodged him in Lancaster Castle, to undergo
the punishment to which he had been sentenced. With
regard to the defendant, the son, he could not agree with
Sir George Stephen, that he was bound, at all risk, to
commit an assault upon the officers ; and he must be
taught that he could not do this with impunity ; and that
he, like all others, must not be guilty of an offence against
the court. And, besides this, other people must be taught
that they must not insult the officers of the court. If he
had oniy caught that reporter who had used insulting lan-
guage to one of the officers, if he could only have caught
him, he should have made him responsible for what he
had said. His honour declared his fixed resolve to send
any man who might publish any more libels upon him to
Lancaster Castle. With regard to not having issued a
warrant, it was entirely a matter of discretion, in his opi-
nion ; but he might probably ask the judgment of others
on that matter ; yet, had he thought the scribbling of a
few lines on a piece of paper would have protected the
bailiffs from the violence they suffered, he would certainly
have written them. He would not have all this hallooing
and howling in the town for nothing, and he must pre-
serve the dienity of the court. He imposed a fine against
Mr. John Whitty of £2 for insulting Hartley, and £2 for
the same offence against Charnley, or be imprisoned for
seven days in Lancaster. He also sentenced him to pay
£2 each, as a penalty, for obstructing them in the execu-
tion of their duty. There was no imprisonment added to
the latter penalty, because he looked upon it as a debt
recoverable by action, and, if not then paid, the defendant
would be liable to eighty days' imprisonment. If an action
was brought by Joyce, the oamages might or might not be
laid at £5O ; and he did not know that he should, if he tried
the case, be justified in cutting the damages down.
The defendant not paying the fine, it was ordered that
the warrant be not enforced that night, as he had been
in eourt all day

Sir GEORGE STEPHEN said the defendant would be
ready at one o'clock the following day.

The JUDGE hoped there would be no more of the inde-
cent exhibitions of Tuesday, or otherwise he must take
measures to have the man removed when the public
would not be present.
__

The case against the five police-officers, after an expla-
nation by Mr. Dowling, was withdrawn.

CP
Wm. Brown, Esq.,P M.P., T. Booth, Esq., R. E.
Harvey, Esq., and several other magistrates, as well as
members of the Council, were noticed in court.

LIBERATION OF MR. BROWN,

Mr. Brown, who was sentenced to sevenda;s;-imprison-
ment on Monday, was sent off the same night to Lancaster.
On arriving at the county town the bailiff discovered that
he had lost the warrant ! A fresh warrant was written for,
but as none arrived, the bailiff and his prisoner returned
to Liverpool on Tuesday evening. At the station at
Lancaster they met Mr. Whitty, , who bad just arrived.
Mr. Brown was brought up at the County Court on Wed-
nesday, when he was locked up all day in an upper room.
About seven o'clock in the evening he was ushered into
the presence of the judge, and, having expressed his regret
at what he had done, was released on payment of a fine of
ss. On Thursday Mr. Brown went on 'Change, and re-
ceived £5 7sn the amount of shilling subscriptions raised
for him amongst the merchants.

MR. WHITTY'S RELEASE AND ARRIVAL IN

LIVERPOOL

A committee of gentlemen Laving been organised on
Thursday, Mr. Whitty's fines, amounting in all to £33,
and those of his son, were paid under protest. and an order
for release having been procured from the judge, Mr. John
Whitty immediately took the train to Lancaster. It soon
became known that the editor of the Journal would re-
turn about ten o'clock the same evening, and long before
that a vast crowd of persons assembled in front of the
station in Lime-street, to greet Mr. Whitty when he
should appear. Several hundreds of gentlemen had been
admitted inside the station, and when it was intimated
that the train was in the tunnel, they formed in two long
lines upon the platform, it being intended that Mr.
Whitty should pass through, and that as he passed the
assembled gentlemen should form in procession and
accompany him to his house. The excitement, however,
was so great that all previous arrangements were broken
through, and when Mr. Whitty appeared his friends
crowded upon him tumultuously on every side. When
the gate leading into Lime-street was opened, the thou-
sands who were assembled outside then joined in the
enthusiasm. It was in vain to attempt to recede or ad-
vance, in consequence of the pressure of the crowd, and
at length Mr. Whitty took off his hat, and, partial silence
having been obtained, he said—

" Gentlemen, I thank you for this cordial reception.
(Cheers.) It is as unexpected as it is gratifying. (Loud
cheers.) I never knew till Monday last (although I
shrewdly suspected it) that I was an ugly man. (Laugh-
ter and cheers.) I never knew until Monday last that I
had so many friends. (Cheers.) The judge of the
county court was pleased to say that my friends were a
mob. (Hisses.) The man who said so was no judge of
the people of Liverpool. (Loud cheers.) I cannot
look upon this demonstration as a mark of personal
respect alone. It is a testimony in favour of the princi-
ples which I profess, but on which an attack has been
made. (Cheers.) There can be no doubt, gentlemen,
that the events of the last few days will result in the
removal from Liverpool of the man who has thus raised
popular indignation. Personally I have no feelings on
the subject at present. I look upon the broad question
as it affects me and you. When Mr. Ramshay comes
down from that bench, which assuredly he will do, then
he and I will be on an equality, and he will not commit
me any more. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I wish you
all good night." (Loud cheers.)
Another attempt was made to proceed, but it was in
vain. At last Mr. Jeffery said, " Gentlemen, as you re-
spect our friend, Mr. Whitty, and love order, you will
make way." An opening was then made in the crowd,
but it was soon closed. At last a spare car was reached,
Mr. Whitty and two or three friends jumped in, and
drove off. A band of music, which was engaged for the
occasion, and the greatest portion of the crowd proceeded
in procession along Lime-street, towards the Adelphi,
and made some unmistakeable demonstrations opposite
the County Court. One portion of the crowd, the more
vulgar and noisy, went to the lodgings of Mr. Ramshay
and groaned opposite the house. Another portion went
in the London-road direction. The excitement did not
subside until a very late hour.

MR. RAMSHAY AND THE REPORTERS.—At the close
of the business of the County Court, on Friday, the judge
called attention to the reports of proceedings in his court
which had appeared in the newspapers, and complained
that they were neither sufficiently full nor accurate. The
only reporter present challenged his honour to disprove
the verity of any paragraph or notice of his proceedings
he had ever written ; and said he felt convinced there was
no truly recognised reporter of any paper in Liverpool
who dare to offer the proprietor an account he was not
prepared by his notes to prove as accurate. The judge,
thereupon, declared that ho intended no insult to the
individual ; and after some conversation, in which the
judge and the reporter passed reciprocal compliments, his
honour expressed himself satisfied with the explanation.
PROPOSED ILLUMINATION OF THE COURT.—On Fri-
day, before the judge had entered the court, a gentleman
came forward to the table and announced that he had at-
tended in consequence of a letter which he had received
from the judge, upon the subject of illuminating the court
on the occasion of the royal visit. The following is a copy
of the letter :

"County Court, Liverpool, 2d Oct. 1851.
"The judge of the County Court presents his complements to
Mr. Coleman, and will be glad to be informed of his terms for
illuminating public buildings. The judge is desirous of having
the Court House illuminated on the occasion of her Majesty's

a tender of Mr. Coleman's charges, or a personal interview
with that gentleman in the Court House at half-past ten o'clock
to-morrow morning."

Mr. Coleman hin;Self it was who came forward, but he
was informed that the letter had not been written by his
honour, but was, in fact, a hoax. He shortly afterwards
left the court.

ADJOURNMENT OF THE COURT.—The County Court
was formally adjourned from Friday evening till ten
o'clock on Saturday morning, but Mr. Ramshay was not
present, and no business was transacted, the whole of the
cases having been disposed of on Friday. The court
opened again at ten o'clock on yesterday morning, but
again adjourned for ordinary business until the 27th inst.
Mr. Richard Lowndes has published a letter, addressed
to Mr. Ramshay, contradicting thti statement that his
father's death was connected in any way with articles in
the newspapers or public criticism upon his condnet

Lowndes., in the course of his letter,sa.;

" To say that
n remotely, bi - inducing melan-