The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-25
THE LONDON SOCIALISTS.
THE HEARING OF THEIR CASES
CONTINUED.
Complaint Entered Against the Ed
itOrs and PrOprietOrs Of"Punch"
Foreign Miscellany.

LONDON, February 24.-The hearing
in the case of Burns, Hyndman,
Champion and Williams, the Socialist
leaders, who are accused by the au-
thorities OF having melted the recent
riots at Trafalgar Square and Hyde
Park, was resumed to-day. The SEES
sion was devoted principally TO hear
ing the testimony OF newspaper re-
porters as TO the exact language used
by the defendants in their inhamma-
tory speeches. Mr.. Hyndman, before
the proceedings were formally opened,
entered complaint against the editor
and the proprietors OF Puck, and asked
for their arrest. He alleged that they
had attempted TO excite the public
against the defendants and prejudice
their trial by publishing a picture Of
"Mr. Punch" in the act of publicly
hanging them, in this way suggesting
TO the people form of vengeance TO
inhict upon the defendants. The
magistrate declined Mr.. Hyndman's
request, saying he had no power to
interfere on the grounds specified.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, President
OF the Local Government Board, and
Mr.. Jesse Callings, Member Of Parlia-
ment, and author of the "threc acres
and COW" amendment on which the
Conservative Ministry were defeated,
were present during the latter stages
of the hearing
The magistrate, after the reporters
had concluded their testimony, an
nounced that he intended to commit
all the prisoners for trial. Mr.. Will
iams's counsel upon this arose and
contended that his client was outside
the indictment" and could not, there
fore, be included in the order
for trial The lawyer argued
that the words used by his
client were not so strong rs language
in almost daily use in the press.
Pointing to Mr.. Chamberlain, counsel
said: "When the right honorable
member for Birmingham has en-
ployed in the House Of Commons even
stronger language than that imputed
TO my client, he has been applauded." y
This panic and prosecution, counsel
declared, are intended to shield Mr..
Childers, the Home Secretary, and the
police, who are answerable for the
whole trouble.
Hyndman, who defended himself,
denied that there was any case against
either himself or his companions.
He said "lf | am to be condemned
on my speeches, then Mr.. Chamber
lain should stand in the dock with
me-" Hyndman also contended that
the whole blame rested on the police,
who could and should have prevented
the rioting.
Mr.. Chamberlain consented to be
sworn as a witness. When he had
taken the oath Champion asked him
what were the governments inten-
tons with regard to relieving the dis
tress among the unemployed, and
whether he himself favored revolution
in the land laws of England, The
magistrate refused TO allow the ques-
tons, as put, to be answered
by the witness. Champion explained
that he merely desired TO examine
Mr.. Chamberlain as an expert. The
magistrate asked "What in? Revo-
luton" To this Champion re-
piled: "No; in political agitation. Z"
The magistrate again refused to per-
NIT such an examination of the wit
ness, and, MS the defendants desired to
subject him to no other, he was al.
lowed to retire.
Mr.. Gladstone's private secretary
was the next witness, but nothing of
Importance was elected from him.
The prisoners were remanded until
Saturday, when they will be COM
mitted for trial for misdemeanor.