The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-05-24 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE BERMONDSEY RIOT.  On Friday, at the Sessions House, Newington Causeway, before Mr. George Somas, Deputy Chairman, Mr. Thomas Ebenezer Swales and Mr. F. W. Souttar, two well-known local politicians, Bur-1 endered to their recognisances to receive sentence, they having the previous night been found guilty oft an indictment charging them with riotous conduct at the Bermondsey Town Hall on March Bth last, when the Conservative and Unionist Association called a ticket meeting for the purpose of hearing an address from Lord Dudley on the action of the House of Lords with respect to the Employers' Liability Bill.—Mr. Cluer, with whom was Mr. Lawless (instructed by Mr. Philcox), again appealed for the prosecution, and Mr. Horace Avory and Mr. Biron for the defence.—Mr. Lawless said that an Thursday night a previous conviction was proved against the defendant Souttaz for riotous conduct, and an ex-inspector of police, stated that in July, 1880, Swales, with another man, was charged at the Southwark Police-court with having comjnitted wilful damage, and he and his m-defendant were each fined £.3, and ordered to pay 305., the amount of the damage done.—Mr. Lawless, on the part of the prosecution, said there was no desire to press the case unduly, but it was his duty to state that these proceedings had become absolutely necessary because the action of the party to which defendants belonged made it impossible for the Conservatives to hold a meeting to proclaim their Views to the people, and he hoped this conviction would put an end to such a state of affairs. A meeting was to be held on June 14th next, when Lord Dudley would again attend, and he was instructed to say that the prosecutors were determined they would not put up with this kind of :oercion and would take means to obtain a fair nearing for their speakers—Mr. Avory said he was instructed to ask the court to grant a case for the :onsideration of the Court for Crown Cases Reserved, on the ground that so far as Souttar was :oncerned there was no evidence to go to the jury hat he interfered in any way with this meeting.— The Chairman said he could not accede to the x.quest. The questions involved and the evidence were fairly put before the jury, and they had given heir verdict.—Mr. Avory then addressed the court is mitigation of punishment, and called a number A witnesses, including the Rev. C. J. Carlisle, as to defendants' character.—The learned Deputy Chairman, in passing sentence, said that while all due allowance ought to be made for political excitement, giolence could not be allowed to be used with mpunity, or there would be an end to all liberty. 3outtar would pay a fine of £lO, Swaim £5, and mch of them would enter into his own recognisances is £5O, and find two sureties in £25 each to keep the mace for 12 mouths.—Souttar asked for time to may, saying he had "no lordly backers."—The lie:rman .aid he could have a week to pay.  At the opening on Friday of the new premises of he Writers' Club by the Princess Christian, Lovelay Brooke, the lady detective, had the honour of mcsenting to the Princess the published volume of aer experiences.  A Dundee correspondent reports that a shocking nsse cf suicide was discovered at Newport on Frijay. The driver of an early train observed the •emains of a man, who was afterwards identified as 2haries Clark, aged 53 years, lying on the line war East Newport Station. Clark was a publican it Newport, and some time ago his wife left him, raving four .young children. Subsequently his icenr.e was withdrawn, and latterly he had been nit of business.  A destructive fire has occurred in the dry goods district of Philadelphia. Much damage was done, the loss amounting to over 500,000d01. •  A New York telegram says that a severe storm has passed over New Jersey, causing much damage. Seven schooners have been wrecked on the coast.  A Canadian revenue cutter named the Constance, coming upon a smuggling schooner, the Steadfast, on one of the great lakes, fired a shell, which passed After running third to Mr. Haughton's Hombre in through the Steadfast's decks. Her crew, notwith- the De Trafford Handicap, at Manchester races, standing, resisted the boarding officers from the General Owen Williams's Pensioner drooped dead. cruiser, and a fight ensued in which four men were wounded, two of whom are not expected to recover.