The Sun. — 1867-07-18 (London, England)

THE SHEFFIELD MURDERERS.  A question has arisen with reference to the state of feeling among the members of the implicated unions, and the demeanour of those members in the Commissioners' Court. In some respects the question is a little one ; in others, it is most important. Perhaps it may be best dealt with by a sober statement of facts. And we may here announce that some of the facts we are about to mention are not generally known. In the early days of the inquiry it was suggested to us by some of the leading gentlemen of the town, that it was not well to suffer so many persons of a very low class to be present in the body of the court. The thing seen was that a considerable number of roughs were in attendance ; the thing suspected was, that the roughs were exercising, and would continue to exercise, an intimidating influence on the witnesses, by the mere fact of their presence. That they did exercise such an influence, is well known to the authorities. On the first occasion of his appearance, Hallam went to the court resolved to abide by the truth as recorded in his written and attested statement to Mr. Fretson, but suddenly altered his mind, to the surprise of the solicitors. He had been got at on the staircase by whisperers intent on defeating the ends of justice, and he turned deadly pale when he looked on the array of well-known faces in the unenclosed part of the court. On the second occasion of Hallam's appearance he was afraid— actually afraid—of being shot in open court, and it was to reassure him that the Chief Constable consented to place himself in such a position as to shield him while he was engaged in giving his evidence. The fear may have been an absurd one, and the result of a high degree of nervous excitement, but it was there. Since that time Hallam has left the country. Why has he loft the country? His leaving is significant. Need we explain its meaning ? Sheffield is safe for Crookes and for Broadhead. The men who have done the deeds that have appalled all England have so little to fear that the mere reporting of their impenitent utterances has been resented as cruel ; but the man who, by confessing the truth, has brought their deeds to light has had, for his own security, to go forth into exile. Hallam knew, what the police also knew, and what many decent working men who were present in the promiscuous crowd knew, that his confession had brought down upon his head curses both loud and deep, and that for the information he had given the Commissioners he was a marked man. We grant that the great bulk of the men of Sheffield are sound at heart in their abhorrence of murder, but there is scarcely a news agent, or a keeper of a public-house, who does not kwnhoow loaf o hmenoh into who thooebitterest imprecations, Broadhead, and imprecations, not against Hallam merely, but against those who have been conspicuous in the work of bringing the Commission to Sheffield. The persons we speak of are of the class, who after Broadhead's confession lingered in front of the Council Hall to try to counterbalance the hooting by clapping of hands and cheers. These were no myths but deplorable realities. During the sittings of the Commission these it was who muttered their dissatisfaction when a witness let out inconvenient truths, and who laughed so often that the Chief Commission had repeatedly in his sternest manner—we rppeal to the gentlemen of Sheffield who were present to say whether we exaggerate—that the business was of most solemn character, and that if there was any more of that levity he would order the court to be cleared. Such a state of things suggests a need for strict surveillance. The snake is scotenea, not killed.—Sheffield Telegraph.