The Sun. — 1850-11-05 (London, England)

THE. ALLEGED WRECKERS.  LOWESTOFT, 1110NDAY AFTER] 300 N.—This being the day appointed for the heerf.ng of the charges against-the boatmen of this coas'e for impeding the rescue of the Leman, Captain Peety, from Archangel for London, from off the Newcc rnbe Sands, and nesaulting the crew of the Low estoft, steamer which had put off to her assistance, tl le Assembly-room of the Queen's Head, where the magistrates pursued the investigation, was densely crowded by merchants, mariners, and others of this port. The following are the main facts of the case. Eighteen defendants were charged : On the morning of the 18th of October, the Leman struck on the Newcombe Sand, and three men came off from the beach and tendered their services ia getting the vessel off. The Lowest oft steam-tug then came off, and eventually she was engeged by the master, Mr. Petty, to assist in getting the brig off for fifty pounds. By this period owner boats had come off, and their services being positively refused, they became indignant at the course punned by the harbour authorities in sending out the tug.. The defendants, it would appear, waited upon the deputy harbour master, and desired the tug to be withdrawn. Such being refused, however, murderous threats were held out to the captain. They said that they (the tug) were taking the bread out cf their :mouth, that somebody had better be sent out to read the Riot Act, for that they (the wreckers) in tended to muster. Other bottle., (in all six) came near the brig, and on the tug endeavouring to tow the 'erig off, they unhooked the towing hawsers by their boat hooks, and after resorting to every stratagem, they commence pelting the captain, Mr. Cooper, and others of the crew of the tug with stones. They succeeded in thwarting the exertions of those in the tug. The master was hit on the side with este ne, which rendered him insensible ; he was taken as'aore apparently fur dead, and now continues ill. The deck of the steamer was strewed with stones, which the men had brought offpurposely forthe attack, and it being seen that they were determined, if possible, to keep her away, she returned to the harbour, leaving the brig on the sands. The fellows again pressed their service?, but were as positively declined, wheat the Coast-guard officers arrived, and order being somewhat restored, another tug, the Pursuit, came off and got the vessel off into the roadstead. The Chairman (the Ray. Mr. Love), after consulting with the bench, expressed his regret at the occurrence. Had the injuries to the captain of the steamer terminated fatally, they might have all been placed in a very serious position. The Beneh were inclined to believe that they might have been acting under an erroneous impression, and on consideration of that circumstance they reduced the penalties on each of the defendants to 101., or two months imprisonment. Mr. Ballantine then said that all the company required was to show the men were acting illegally, and as that object had been attained, he would be content with their putting in their recognizance to keep the peace. The Bench acquiesced, and the defendants being. called in and pleading guilty, they were bound over in the way recommended.