The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-17

! Public meetings were regarded with
great suspicion. and again and again the
| constables We're called out because people
were assembling somewhere.
| On November p. 1875. the Lord Mayor
called the constables together because the
| Spitalields weavers were meeting on
Bethnal Green. As measure of prud-
ence. single constable was sent to make
makes amusing reading.
He informed the Lord Mayor that 5000
people had assembled and that there were
four speakers.
Number One had. spoken about bills
pending in Parliament
Number Two had dealt with the dear
ness OF provisions and the want OF trade
which he said arose from the war.
Number Three denounced Mr.. Pitt and
his numerous pensioners and placemen.
all of whom wanted to crush every poor
man. and especially any one who dared
10 speak of grievances.
Number Four advised the people to go
home quietly, because on that very spot
two Of their comrades had lost their lives
in the cause of liberty.
And this. said the policeman. the crowd
dispersed without disorder. That consta-
bic was quite 4 model reporter.
An interesting set Of volumes included
in the collection are the reports of the
visiting justices of Newgate. beginning in
1914
There is generally a humane spirit about
these justices. they are always looking
Of
clothing In May, 1915, one of them re-
ports that a board had been placed to
keep the men debtors from seeking the
women. 1t kept out the air, and did not
prevent the view. so he ordered it to be
taken down. There are frequent entries
such as this:
"On felons' side found the criminal boys
catechzing"
Found several criminal children learn
ing TO read
But the most interesting records came
in 1S&9. when we find how two Chartists,
Shaw and Beer. kept the whole of New
gate busy attending to them. Such pris-
cners had never been heard of before For
months the visiting Justices almost filed
their pages with Shaw and Beer.
First these two revolutionary persons
applied for pens, ink and paper. OF course
they were told that it was contrary to
regulations.
Then Beer wanted to see his solicitor.
but this was also refused Next, Shaw
applied TO be allowed to write to Mr..
Baron Plett, and this was considered I'M
wise to refuse.
fnu 1ara -
Beer, in spite of the refusal of the pens.
ink and paper had actually written a
book. The volume was ordered to be I'm
pounded. Then Shaw and Beer began
a series OF worrying petitions to the
Court OF Aldermen. Beer tried to get
his journal back. then to get It handed
TO his wife, then to get an undertaking
that he should have IT when set at lib
erty. Shaw then started on a new tack
and agitated for permission TO petition
the House OF Commons. Beer began
propaganda work in the prison and was
so insistent that a prisoner named Simp-
son petetioned to be kept In a separate
part. Then Shaw became i'll, and one of
the more humane magistrates allowed
him to see his wife about his life policy
another magistrate afterwards wrote that
Shaw said he was unwell. but could
rot mention single symptom of the
disease" Then Beer developed conscien-
tious scruples about attending chapel. and
at last things got so bad that the prison
ers practically got their own way. and
We read of committee at which Shaw
and Beer applied for various indulgen-
cies." The justices had got tired of re-
fusing and did not even enter the subject
matter of the applica lions in their min
utes. We even begin to read about Mr."
Shaw,
1t is by such work as that of Shaw and
Beer that our liberties have been built
up. These records Of Newgate are mon
ument to the power of persistent peaceful
agitation. All honor to Shaw and Beer.
[London Daily Mail.
Gun