The Sun. — 1852-12-31 (London, England)

ORANGE RIOTINGS IN GREENOCK.  • We regret to find that a series of systematic assaults, arising out of religious differences, have been again prevailing on Saturday and Sunday evenings for some weeks back, and with such organisation as, in all cases, to enable the real offenders to escape. We are informed it is now the practice for the young members of the Orange body to assemble at street corners, and when any unfortunate Irishman who does not belong to that politico-religious party passes, he is savagely attacked and maltreated. The plan adopted is to have some boys along with the skirmishers, and whenever the object of their passes, the boys make a run at him, which as a matter. of course at once collects a crowd, and before the victim can get disentangled from the mass, unseen or unknown hands have completed the work—the poor creatures been frequently disfigured very much, as may be conceived from a specimen of a skull cracker taken from the person of one of them on Sunday night, which was composed of strands of rope plaited and twined round a mass of iron or lead, the opposite end forming a loop for the hand, and the whole constituting a most formidable and murderous weapon. Some lads accused of being concerned in the assaults were brought up yesterday before Bailie Spiers, and on being found guilty, one was sent to gaol for a period of thirty days, and three were fined in twenty shillings each. This may act as 'a warning to others ; we hope it will ; but if, as we have heard it said, the fines inflicted at the police court are contributed for by the members of the society, and made up in that way, such a punishment, it must be evident, is a mockery of justice. Since the above was in type, we have this further unpleasant and threatening intelligence to record—Last night " St. Patrick's band" held a concert in the Mechanics' Hall, St. Michaelstreet, for the purpose of raising funds to pay their musical instruments. About the hour of meeting an illassorted group of boys and youths gathered in the neighbourhood of the hall, for the purpose of annoying parties going to the concert, by hootingand jostling, and cries of " Down with the Pope." At intervals the heavy showers of rain helped to keep the motley band in check; but about nine o'clock the crowd assembled at the foot of Ann-street, and came along Tobago-street in the direction of the hall. The police, a body of whom were stationed at the institution, hearing the noise, came devil' the street, and'drove the mob back to the foot of Ann, street, and partially dispersed it, but as the officers retired they were assailed with groans and missiles. Captain Mann gathered all the force at hand, and charged the crowd, which was again passing along Tobago-street, and one of the' policemen got himself seriously hurt in the face in the melee, being knocked down with a stone. The mob rallied again at the foot of Sir Michael-street, and kept the officers in constant employment for some hours. The shop of Mr. Mays, pawnbroker, was attacked by one of the bands that were scattered up and down, and he, it is said, threatened to use a pistol for his protection, which had the result of enraging them still further, and in a few moments his windows were broken in, his shop ransacked, and his goods thrown about and destroyed. In the course of the evening several men got themselves cut and hurt, one having three teeth knocked out by a stone.—Greenock Advertiser.