New-York tribune., 1873-01-24
EMANCIPATION IN THE WEST INDIES.
PUBLIC MEETINGS IN BIRMINGHAM AND MADRID
QUESTION OF INDEMNITY.

QUESTION OF INDEMNlI1'
LONDON, Thursday, Jan. %, 1873.
A pulIc meeting was held at Birmingham,
last night the Mayor presiding which speeches were
made and resolutions passed condemning the sayerade
in Africa, Polynesia, and Cuba resolution was also
adopted urging Her Majestys Government to support
the American Government in the demand 1t makes on
Spain for The abolition of Slavery in the Antilles
MADRID, Thursday, Jan. %, 1873.
great apti-slayery meeting was held in the Royal
Theaer to-day under the auspices OF the Abotloh 30
ciety the Tertulla and the Progressl5ta Clubs Inc
theater was crowded from floor to dome. Brilliant
speeches were made, and the enthusiasm was intense
The Committee OF the C0rtes on the Abolition OF
Slavery in Porto Rico estimate that the indemnity TO DC
paid by the state saveOwners in that island ior
their property. will amount to 100000 reals.
LABOR PROBLEMS IN GREAT BRITAIN.
TIE LATE STRIKE OF MISUNDERSTANDING
OF THIRTEEN OF THE IMPRISONED LABOR
INSTRUMENTATION IN FAVOR OF THE
LABORERs. - -.
LONDON, Thursday, jan %, lS73
Thirteen gas-stokers have been discharged
from prison at Maidstone the terms for which they were
sentenced having EXPIRED Their release has been made
the occasion OF several meetings OF wOrkngmen to ex-
press sympathy with the victims OF what's denounced
as q tyranhical abuse OF the law.
The largest aud most important OF these meetings was
held al nottingham last night. The lion. AuberOn ei
bert member OF Parliament for that city made power
u address In which be characterized the sentencing OF
the stokers 10 imprisonment as sansatiohdl sl"nhs
OF the law TO please the few.
HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH GAs-sToKERs STRIKE.
The troubles with the British gas-stokers,
which have probably attained so much Importance as TO
require the consideration OF Parliament when II as
scmles arose I'm the early part OF last December For
tbe regulation Of alleged gricyances,a Strike at
short notice OF the gasstOkers in and around the my OF
London was ordered by the Amalgamateu society
OF Clsmen. AS consequence, the supply OF
gas was soon exhausted, and in London great
annoyance was experienced. strong feeling was thus
excited IN the public against the strikers which eneour
aged ihe companies to institute criminal proceedings
against the men, and a large number were cohNcteu
and sentenced to various terms OF Imprisonment Tie
proceedings against five gasstoker IN London attracted
particular attention from the severity OF the sentence
pronounced against them These proceedings are OF the
same general character those OF the other convicted
men and history OF their will contribute to an
understanding OF the merits OF the controversy when
has arisen between various gas companies ana TIC
laborers.
one Of the Society named Diily, employed ny the
London Gaslght and Coke Company having refused 10
work with non-s6ciety men, was discharged ny the
superIntepdcnt Tns was made test case by the
Society and on the 2d OF they demanded his
reinstatement and, unsatisfactory answer having
been returned by the superintendent they lmmedaey
refused to work. Warrants then taken out against
five OF the men who had been most prominent III the
strike including Oily, and they were put upon then
trial 10 answer charge OF conspiracy T1e case COM
ing ND before Mr. Justice Brett in the General Criminal
Court difficulty experienced In proving the fact OF
the strike upon which the charge OF conspiracy was
based On the part OF the defendants 1t was nam
tanned that there was criminal participant on, OF H.
entlon OF the men render them Responsible on INC
counts of the Indictment. Down to 1871 the common
law was the only way Of dealing with combinations win
worlnen There was n statute which said that men
might combine together 10 secure an advance Oh wages
ana they might even conspiro as 1t were IN dOhs II
tney might have thought they were doing What they
were lentimately entitled to do.
The Justice in summing the case, spoke OF te con-
duct of the men with asperly. IN uehihg con
spracv he said the jury must first ask, Was ther an
agreement or combination between the men 10 lorce 'he
superntenden or the Company contrary 10 thel VIII Dy
an improper threat or improper m0esiatiOhf Iiere
would be improper molestatiOn II there was anyshins
done TO cause annoyance III the way OF uIusuaple
interference which would have tine effect OF annoying or
interfering with the minds OF ordinary persons carrying
ON such A business as that OF gas company, II iho
men agreed 10 interfere with their employers Dusness
Dy breaking their contracts they were
then agreeing to do what would bring them WITHIN tue
denuon ef conspiracy. The jury promptly brought ia
o verdict OF guilty, aud the justice seh'ch'cu '"0 Pm"
10 IL mouths nprisoimeh'