Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-25
TRIAL OF THE SOCIALISTS.
Hyndmnn Requests That the EditOr OF
Punch be Arrested.


LONDON, Feb. 2i.-The hearing in the
case of Burns, Hyndman, Champion and
Williams, accused by the authorities OF
having melted the recent riots, was re-
sumed to-day. The session was devoted
principally TO the hearing OF the testimony
OF newspaper reporters as TO the exact
language used by the defendants In their
inhammatory speeches. Hyndmau before
the proceedings formally opened en-
tered complaint against the
editor aud prOprietors Of Punch,
and asked for their arrest. He alleged
that they had attempted TO excite the
public against the defendants and preiu-
dice their trial by publishing picture OF
''MrPunch" in the act ofpublicly hanging
them, in this way suggesting 70 the peo-
pie the form OF vengeance to infilet upon
the defendants. The magistrate declined
Hyndman's request, saying he had no
power to interfere on the grounds speci-
fed.
MIR. CHAMBERLAIN PRESENT.
Joseph Cham berlain, President OF the
Local Government Board, aud Jesse Col
linRs, s,member of Parliament and author OF
the three acres and a COW" amendment
on which the Conservative Ministry were
defeated, were present during the later
stages Of the hearing. The Magistrate,
after the reporters had concluded their
testimony. announced that he intended 70
commit all the prisoners for trial. Will
liams' counsel, upon this, arose aud con-
tended that his client was "outside In
diotment" and could not, therefore, be in.
cluded In the order for trial.
THE WORDS DECLARED MILD.
The lawyer argued that the words used
- nj an ~ a q 81 N
guage In almost daily use in the press.
Pointing TO Mr.. Cham mberlain, the counsel
said: "When the right honorable member
for Birmingham has employed in the
House of Commons even stronger Ian
guage than that imputed TO my client he
has been applauded." This panic and
prosecution the counsel declared are in
tended TO shield Mr.. Childers, Home Sec
retary, and the police, who are answer
able for the whole trouble.
HYNDMAN's HARANGUE.
Hyndman, who defended himself, de-
MED that there was any case against
either himself or his companions. He
said: eff | am to be condemned on my
speeches. then Mr.. Chamberlain should
stand in the dock alongside me-" Hynd-
man also cOntended that the whole blame
rested on the police, who could and should
have prevented the riOting.
Mr.. Chamberlain consented 10 be sworn
as a witness. When he had taken bis
oath Champion asked him what were the
governments intentions with regard Ia
relieving the distress among the unem.
| ployed, and whether he himself favored q
revolution in the land laws OF England.
THE QUESTION RULED OUT.
The Magistrate refused TO allow the
questions as put to be answered by the
witness.
Champion explained that he desired
merely TO examine Mr.. Chamberlain as
an expert.
The Magistrate asked: "What in, revo-
lutiOnY'
To this Champion replied: "No, in pollt-
ical agitation"
The Magistrate again refused to permit
such an examination of the witness, and
as the defendants desired to subjsct him
to no other be was allowed to retire.
Premier Gladstone's private secretary
was the next witness, but nothing of i'm
pOrtance WAS elected from him.