The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-11-19 00:00:00

That was his opinion and he had a right to hold it. He
asked Superintendent Macdonald whether of his own per-
sonal knowledge he knew of his (Mr. P's) ever having
interfered, directly or indirectly, with any orders given to
the police force.
Superintendent Macdonald replied—Not that I am
aware of until this occasion.

Inspector Goudy and James Billinge, clerk to the head
constable, gave similar testimony.
The MAvon asked Mr. Parker whether he would ask
them any questions ?
Mr. PARKER.—No ; I am quite satisfied, for they all
chime in together.
Mr. RUSHTON asked Billinge whe'lier he knew if this
John Allen was a voter in St. Anne's Ward ?
Billinge replied that Allen's house was in Shaw's-brow,
at the corder of Mill-lane.

Mr. PARKER said that Allen was a voter, aad he had
voted the right way.
Mr. RUSUTON.-4 did not ask you a question, Mr.
Parker; I have no r'ght to ask you any questions.
Mr. Commissioner Dowling was next examined. He
said he knew nothing of the matter at the public-house.
lie only knew that Superintendent Jones said Mr. Par-
ker had stated that, if any information was laid, and if
the person was convicted, he would appeal; but he had
had no communication with Mr. Parker upon the subject.
—ln answer to Mr. Rnshton, the Commissioner said he
had directed the officers, in the ordinary discharge of their
duty, to go to the house and request that the colours
might be taken down. This was not in consequence of
any commuication with the magistates, but in his dis-
charge of the duty of head-constable, in consequence of
the report made to him by Superintendent Jones.
Mr. PARKER here rose and said—Allow me to thank
you, gentlemen, for the great courtesy you have shewn
towards me. lam perfectly sati,fied with your evidence.
The MAYOR.—There is a little more yet, I believe,
Mr. Parker.
Mr. PARKER.—I am ready to defend all my conduct,
sir, either public or private; for I have nothing to fear.
Therefore, I shall retire.

Mr. RUSHTON.---4 think you ought not to go away
without understanding that there is a most serious charge
yet to be made. _ _ _

Mr. PARKER.---I am perfectly satisfied, sir. Mr. P.
here withdrew.

Thomas Boothby, collector of town fines, was then
called in. His deposition was read. It was, that on
Thursday, the 31st of, October, he was in the Police-court.
He was sent for out of it; and on going out, he found
Mr. Parker, who asked him if he had got any warrants
out against John Connor; for he wanted him to be taken,
as they were rather short. He (Boothbv) told him they
were in the hands of the officers. Mr. Parker then went
away.

Mr. RusnToN inquired whether this man Connor was
a voter for St. Anne's ward? Boothby replied that he
did not know; but the description of him (in the ward
produced) was correct.

. .
Mr. SANDS asked if Connor had been prevented from
voting ?
Mr. ROSHTON belieled he did not vote.
Mr. HODGSON asked Boothby whether any threat had
been used towards him, or whether this was the only lan-
guage used by Mr. Parker ?

BGOTHBY repeated the testimony just given above, and
added that he had stated all that had passed. There was
not the least promise or threat held out. There was no-
body present but Mr. Parker and himself. This was the
whole oft he conversation, and there was no special induce-
ment or threat of any kind held out to him.
The MAYOR.—Did he ask you if you could get the man
taken ?

Boothby : No, sir.
Mr. flouGsoN.—Was this upon the day of election ?
Boothby : No; the day prior; upon the Thursday
morning..

Mr: HOUGHTON—Did you know of any warrant being
out against this individual—commissioner?

Boothqy—Yes; I knew there were three.
This being all the evidence,
Mr. RusturoN said, he thought it his duty, as one of
the magistrates of the borough, to place upon record the
form of a resolution which ought to pass as an expression
of the opinion of the magistrates upon this matter. It
appeared now, beyond all doubt, that there had been an
unwarrantable interference upon the part of a member of
the Watch Committee with officers in the execution of
their duty in two instances, both applicable to the ward
for which that individual was a candidate at the last elec
tion. He (Mr. Rushton) should not express any opinion
of his own, having already taken the opportunity of so
doing in pretty distinct terms, as to the attempt to have a
voter arrested because they were short in the ward. He
should at once propose what he thought would be right
for the magistrates to hear, namely—
" The magistrates having ascertained that Mr. Parker,
a member of the Council for St. Anne's Ward, and also a
member of the Watch Committee, has upon two occasions
attempted to interfere with the officers of police in dis-
charge of their duty within the ward of St. Anne's, the
magistrates have determined that the following resolution,
passed at a meeting held at the Sessions' House this day,
should be read to the police force by the Commissioner
of Police as early as possible. taking care that every
officer is present, and if not present, that he shall be in-
formed of the resolution :—Resolved that if any individual
whatever shall directly or indirectly interfere with any
superintendent, inspector, or other officer of the police
force in the execution of his duty, every such officer shall
forthw ti communicate the fact of such interference to
the Commissioner of Police, who shall lay the sama im-
mediately before the Worshipful the Mayor; and that
any officer of police who shall be interfered with, and who
shall neglect to communicate the fact of such interference
as aforesaid, shall be dismissed the force." And further,
" That the Commissioner of Police cause a copy of the
minutes of this meeting, and the foregoing resolution to
be entered in the general order book of the police force."
He begged to move the adoption of this resolution.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. WILLIAM BROWN seconded the motion.
Mr. HODGSON said the resolution, as general resolu-
tion, appeared to him to be not at all called for; and he
would state candidly that, in his feeling, the occasion had
been magnified beyond its importance. In fact. it would
not have been noticed but because of political circum-
stances. It had been unadvisedly entered into, and he
thought it would be found that the end to be answered by
it would not be a good one. lie disapproved of inter-
ference with the police upon the part of anybody, but he
remembered at an ejection of members of Parliament,
when a gentleman now present presided as chief magis-
trate, there being one of the most extraordinary placards
(which he had in his possession) being stuck up in
view of the Town-hall, and which was allowed to re-
main, exciting to assassination. (Cries of "Oh, oh.") He
had the placard itself. Mr. Egerton Smith. the printer
of it, denied it was possible that such an abominable thing
could have proceeded from his press, but he afterwards
found that it had, and he expressed his thee regret for it.
It so happened that he (Mr. Hodgson) had a correspond-
ence with the Mayor upon that occasion. Now he thought
it very undesirable rescusitate these kind of questions
unless the object was pressing: and he disapproved of
Mr. Parker's conduct exceedingly, but he disapproved of
bringing him forward as a member of the Watch Com-
mittee. The Watch Committee disdained all rights o'
interference for direction upon the part of individual
members, and he thought, therefore, that after what had
before passed between the Magistrates and the Watch
Committee, it would have been the better part of discre-
tion to have said nothing at all, but to have commended
the officers for performing their duty—a duty which they
had shewn aptitude and forwardness in performing. Mr.
Parker had merely expressed his hope that an information
might not be laid : he did not intimidate, or use threaten-
ing words. (Cries of "Oh, oh.") He (Mr. Hodgson)
was quite aware that he was speaking to gentlemen who
would take their own course after all ; he would, however,
express his opinion without meaning to offend any magis-
trate ; but, at the same time, he would not offend his
own conscience to please any set of men. The reso-
lution, under the circumstances, he thought a work of
supererogation, because the cfficers had shewn them-
selves perfectly free from any influence s e'l as
had been unnecessarily or improperly attempter'. No-
thing of the Fort had to-n carr ed out with any power of
intimidation. Mr. Parker had not attempted to succeed
bbey nibru i
cl
heirtby
was,
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est
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He
elec-
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tet
wouldknewupon one occasion, some time ago, when under the
strongestbody
of
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notknowingle law a
Societies were illegal,
they
thatle
this
o
d
might have
coursemds,Hetdone,eb ee to
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.speared rhetuell
pyebti
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hte avupontdetheiren they
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societies, but on the contrary legal, having no
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wethva.oenurtght the circumstances not strong enough to canienl
time with much warmth. Mr. Hodgson, he said
the course which was proposed to be taken.
professing
.osaf w
adopted,th knowledge, best
lcvhifeelings,atirigae
dpbeurh.triemwe
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bringing this matter forward, forgetting that he had not
brought forward---
Mr. HODGSON said he had charged Mr. Rushton with
nothing of the sort.
Mr. RUSHTON repeated that if he understood English
at all, Mr. Hodgson referred to him. He had said this
matter was a work of supererogation, addressing himself
to him (Mr. Rushton.) Mr. HcdgFon lad addressed him
in what he had said. If he had not addressed him, what
did he mean by alluding to the Orange matter which
had been before disposed of ? Upon that business he
had only one word to say, that wherever and whenever
his conduct might he arraigned for pursuing the course he
did upon that occasion, he was prepared to ci ntend, in the
face of the country if it was necessary, that such a course
was wholesome for the administration of justice, for the
respectability of the force, for the safety, honour
and integrity of that body, andalso for the cha-
racter of the magistracy. As to the insinuation
about this being a work of supererogation, be would
tell Mr. Hodgson, in the face of the magistrates
of Liverpool, that a case more pregnant with evil, more
likely to entail shocking consequences upon the adminis-
tration of justice, he did not know. \\IA was to become
the committee which had the appaintment and dismissal
of it if not only a.randidate for a ward, but a member of
of officers, c led oat an offi er fcm a public court
of justice where he was pursuing his duties, to ask
him to go and art est a voter for a particular . ward as
they were short in that ward. (Hear, hear.) His firmest
endeavours bad been, even since he became police ma-
gistrate in Liverpool, to prevent every. man. connected
with the administration of justice meddling, either for or
against, in any political or local squabble whatever.
(Hear.) Never having given a vote, though entertainit g
strong opinions upon political and local matters, he was
determined never to impair his general efficiency by his
oewrlwnlahibfhitihollnheneer