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Last week, placards were extensively. posted in the Metropolis, ad-
dressed to the members of Pelitical Unions, and signed by a man named Russell, cai ii tug upon them mm to meet on Montray the 13th, to
adopt preliminary measures necessary for calling together a " national convention." A proclainetion was issued from the Home Score- tummy's 011iee, knit Dot signed by any olie, deelaring that the meet- ing woel-i be illegal. and warning all it from attending
The meeting was fixed for two o'clock ; the place, an open space be- hind Culdhail.iields Prison ; and ',limy persons, regardless of the procla-
mation, were Oil the ground by twelve o'clock. 'lime assembly rapidly
increaserl in numbers ; and by two, three or four thousand persons were
I resent. In the incanwhile, large bodies of the Police vere drawn to tho.neighboin hood from dilicreot parts of time Metropolis ; and stationed
in the riding.school of the London Volunteers, and in several livery- staides in the vicinity. Lord Melbourne, Colonel Rowan, and Alt:
ikleyee, the two Commissioners of Policeewith about a dozen. Magis- trai,..s, were et the White 11 art in Grey's Inn Lame. Two officera...of the First Regiment of Life Guards, in plain doilies, were on the spot, and kept tip a colleted colktniUniciition With thdr rejnient, a-detadt- ment of which was ready to move at a moment's notice. 'I lie coin- mittee for comitte ting the proceedings of the meetieg were consulting
together at the Union public-house, Ilagnigge Wells ; and there was some diseussion as to %Ow should ascend the hustings first. At leligth, a young man, named James Lee, undertook to open the meeting, by proposing a Chairman. A caravan had been engaged as a temporery hustings ; upon which Lee numnted, followed by a man ,named Mee, and several others. Lee waved his het several times, and was cheered
by the multitude. The owner of the caravan, however, didnot like
the appearance of things, and drove it away. 1 he Committee thert jumped off; and Lee was carried to some palings, where be was sup-
ported, till he bad proposed that Alec should take. the chair. This having been seconded, Mee stood up, and commeneed an harangue to the crowd.
He was glad to see before him so many "noble men." They were the real wealth, the producine power of the country—it was not the coronet nor the gashing equipage which made the noble man. He was thankful to the Wing Ministry which had given importance to their meeting; but the question now was, whether they should go on, or adjourn till a more convenient opportunity. He stated that Government had sent persons to takedown what he stud, and he hoped his friends would also take down what he said, in order that there shod& toe uo misrepresentation.. He wus a woriting luau, with i family, and might fall a martyr to their cause; therefore, unless they would give one tenth of their earnings to support his family, he would not cry 44 go on." (" We will, we will I ") „
A large body of the members of the Political Union came up while Mee was speaking, with dolours and banners flying, and took up their position round. the Chairman. The banners were inscribed with such mottoes as the following—" Liberty or Death," with a skull and cross- bones on a black ground and red border ; Holy Alliance of the Work- ing Classes ;" " Equal Rights and Equal Justice." There was also a tricoloured flag, the flag of Republican America, and a pole with the cap of Liberty. At this time, a body of four hundred Policemen marched up to the railings, with their truncheons ready for action. . What follows is from erre of the accounts published in the Times.
" The mob gave a little way ; but Mee the Chairman, and Lee the proposer, never moved until they saw the danger that awaited them ; and then Mee jumped down and effected his escape amongst the crowd. The scene that fol- lowed was truly dreadful. The Police furiously attacked the multitude with their staves, felling every person indiscriminately before them ; even the females did not escape the blows from their batons—men and boys were lying in every direction weltering in their blood, and calling for mercy. The inhabitants, from their windows and balconies, cried " Shame, Shame ! mercy, mercy !" but the officers still continued the attack, which they kept up for several mi- nutes. A large space of ground within our view was strewed with the wounded, besides others who were less injured, who were able to crawl to a surgeon's. • A Policeman, belonging to C division, 95, named Robert Colley, was stabbed to the heart by a man who was carrying a banner, and which he attempted to take horn him. He walked a few paces, and then fell dead. His brother John, who belonged to the same division, was also stabbed, but not mortally. Sergeant Brooks, of the C division, was also wounded • and Redwood, another constable, was stabbed through the thick part of his left arm."
Lee, the proposer of the Chairman, Fursey, supposed to be the man who killed Culley the Policeman, and stabbed the other, were arrested, with about twenty-five more. In a stable to which Fursey had been removed after his arrest, among the straw upon which he bad been standing, a loaded horse-pistol, and a dagger with a sharp point, were found. The point of the dagger fits into the wound from which Culley died. About fifty persons among the crowd were hurt more or less. At four o'clock all was tolerably quiet again.
Another account states, that the Police acted with more calmness and forbearance than the extract given above would lead us to siippose. Before attacking the crowd, they halted in the middle of the street, and then moved forward with their staves in their hands, clearing the way of the mere spectators of the scene, in the direction of the man who was speaking. The mob (this account says) instantly attacked them, ar.d then they began to deal about their blows with great resolution. In Gray's Inn Lane, the mob rallied, and attempted to arm-themselves with some fresh-laid granite stones, but were prevented by the Police. "Serena parties of the Police, however, were assaulted by vollics of stones, as they were marching towards the fields from their different stations. Ode man was wounded on the head by a stone thrown from the top of sr house in Margaret Street, which was covered by people who were execrating the Police. A little boy, it is said, was knocked down and trampledto death in the crowd. The Police, on the whole, according to this accoant, acted with peat forbearance.
On Monday evening, the prisoners were brought up for examination at Bow Street, George Fursey was remanded on the capital charge of stabbing Henry Redwood. and John Brooks, Policemen ; James Lee, for uttering a treasonable address to the crowd ; and seventeen others, for throwing stones at the Police, carrying seditious placards, and otherwise breaking the peace.
Fursey was again brought up for examination on Thursday. The two Policemen swore positively to the fact that he stabbed them with a dagger, which he held in his right hand, while he carried the American flag in his left. Fursey acknowledged that he carried the 119', but denied having had any instrument at all. Ile was finally com- mitted to take his trial.
A Coroner's inquest was held on Wednesday, at the Calthorpe Arms in Gray's Inn Lane, on the body of Robert Culley, the murdered Policeman. Some additional particulars relative to the proceedings on Monday were given in evidence, by Nathaniel Stallwood, of No. 13, Calthorpe Street, who saw every thing that passed, from three o'clock till late in the evening, from the balcony of his house. He said that Lee, who proposed Mee as Chairman, was a mere boy, and that not above a hundred persons held up their hands for Mee when he was pro- posed ; that all the avenues from the vacant piece of ground, where the meeting was held, were blockaded up with large bodies of Police. One body of Police came down Calthorpe Street, and another down Gough Street : both halted within twenty yards of the Chairman. The Goukh Street division then were ordered to draw their staves from their pockets, and began to charge indiscriminately. No Riot Act was read, nor notice to disperse given. The ground was soon covered by people lying upon it in all directions. No resistance was madt by the crowd at any time. The system of knocking everybody down continued for an hour, without any attempt to take any person into custody, which might ha tie been done by any spirited individual with half a dozen Policemen, as no person could by any possibility escape, all the avenues being closed. He desired the Policemen, addressing them from his balcony, to take the people into custody if they had done wrong. He said that they were acting illegally, as neither the Riot Act nor the proclamation had been read, nor any opportunity given to the people to escape. Mr. Thomas, the Superintendent, called him a scoundrel, and said that he encouraged mobs like the present: He demanded Thomas's, name; which he gave him, aril apologized for his rude language, saying he was much exasperated, as one of his men had been murdered. The people began to assemble at nine O'clock in the morning. There were about three hundred persons -present, and about three hundred Policemen came to disperse them. The Policemen struck without the slightest provocation. They car- ried their staves in their hands behind them, and if a person only turned round he received a blow.
• Another witness, Mr. Venables of Lamb's Conduit Street said that the people were particularly quiet ; and he was astonished that the at- - • tar* had been made upon them. Thomas Biker,' the Superintendent of the C division of Police, said
that there was plenty of room for the people to pass on both sides of his division, when be was moving down Calthorpe Street ; and that hundreds passed him. The mob began to throw brickbats and stones at his men before be commenced a general attack upon them. One Of the mob " signalized himself out,"- and made a thrust at him with a dagger, or something of that kind. Sergeant Brooks and an offieer named Redwood were both stabbed, in an attempt to secure a man who carried an American flag. Culley was stabbed in the rear of his division. He had all sorts of sticks and daggers in his possession, taken from the mob. He had been engaged in the wars, but never saw such a set of ruffians before.
Henry Chance Redwood, another Policeman, said that he : was i stabbed n the arm by George Fursey, one of the men in custody, when endeavouring to obtain possession of the American star-spangled ban- ner which he carried. The dagger with which this witness was wounded was then produced. It had four edges, and was about eight
inches in length. •
Another Policeman swore that the mob was armed with bludgeons and sticks.
Mr. Charles Tysoe, a surgeon of Wilmington Square, saw a good deal of the affray. He saw the people running away and the Police following them with uplifted staves, breaking the heads of all those within their reach. He saw no disposition on the part of the. people to commit acts of violence. He thought that there would have been no disturbance if the Police had not been there. He went through Wells Street into Gray's Inn Lane, to avoid the Police ; but he should not have been at all alarmed, if he had not seen them knock down every body who came in their way. He saw no weapons at all in the posses- sion of the people.
The inquest was adjourned to the next day.
On Thursday, Mr. James Michael Austin Courtenay, a reporter connected with the Courier newspaper, was examined. He said that he was upon the ground soon after twelve °Week ; that there was no great assemblage of people then ; and that those who were present seemed to be mere spectators--loiterers gathered about the show-people and ginger-beer stalls. He saw the caravan into which the Committee had entered driven away: some persons said that the Police had carried it off, and there was a good deal of laughing about it. Few persons took much part in the business of the meeting, till the party of the Union arrived with their banners and flags. Altogether, there were be- tween two and three thousand persons present. The vvitneSs went into Mr. Stallwood's house, with three or four other persons connected with the press, for the purpose of having a better view of what was going forward. A division of the Police soon after marched up cid- thorpe Street. When they halted, the crowd opened, and made a clear way to the place occupied by the chairman and the hannermen. Seve- ral other bodies of the Police now advanced from different directions. The body in Calthorpe Street' marched forward, striking those who were nearest to them on the footpath, although 110 kind of interruptihn was offered to them. Every passage was blocked up, to prevent the- escape of the people. The leader of the Calthorpe Street division made a rush at the banners : he was followed by several of his men ; a scuffle ensued, but the banners were almost instantly secured. The Police then turned on both 'sides of the crowd, and struck at men, women, and boys, without distinction: " The crowd were running in every direction ; and those who bad fled down Gough Street came back again as if they could not there effect an escape: In that ditectical I saw several men shtick by the Police, as the latter gave way for them to pass. I saw several Policemen, as the people were running away. stoop down and strike- thew on the legs till they fell. In the very beginning—alinost ut the instant that the banners were seized—I saw three policemen just under me. a little coked the corner, strike one min; who was running away, repeated blows on the head, till he-fell senseless. Each of the three Policemen struck repeated blows. He lay them till I left the balcony ; I did not see him removed." • Many persons wirelying on the ground; -or supporting themselves against the wall, the blood streaming down their clothes. He saw a Policeman striking an elderly woman, respectably dressed, with much violence. -He and Mr. Carpenter ran to the spot and led the woman away. She was so much hurt that she could hardly walk. The beat- ing part of the affair did not occupy twenty minutes. No bricks Or stones were thrown by the people. Two or three Policemen, at twelve o'clock, might have prevented the meeting. The conduct of the Cal- thorpe Street division of Police was brutal beyond description. Mr. James Grant, an occasional reporter for the Morning Advertiser, gave similar evidence as to the brutal conduct of the Police. He saw one of them strike an infirm and inoffensive old man, after the ground was cleared; and two others striking a woman. ThereWould have been no disturbance if the Police had not appeared.
Mr. William Carpenter said that he was editor of the True Sun, and gave evidence to the following effect.
arrived at the place appointed for the meeting at about a quarter before one. I re- mained upon the ground for some time; and understanding that the Committee which called the meeting were at that time sitting, I went to the room where-they were as- sembled; it was at the Union public-house. I went up into the room. I suggested that, under the circumstances, it would be exceedingly impolitic, to say no more, for them to hold the meeting which they had announced for that day. A conversation of some length took place ; but the purport of what I said to them n was—' You propose to supersede the Government, and you can hardly suppose that a meeting for that pur- pose could be allowed : there are Police. und I understand military, at ,band; it will therefore be a struggle of physical strength, and you cannot do any thing more impru- dent than al tempt the meeting.' The Committee assured me that they had no such intention as that of superseding the Government. In Proof of this they showed me a resolution and a declaration of rights, which went upon the broad principle of political and social equality. I gave it as my opinion, that the resolution and declaration in question were not in themselves illegal ; but I said, that . as the meeting had hem n pro- hibited, I thought they had better not assemble. I went again to the Committee-room at a later hour ; and the Chairman told me that they did intend to hold the Meeting, and that if the Police interfered, he (the intended Chairman) would declare the meet- ing dissolved, Ire.; ;rod that they had no intention offering the slightest resistance to the civil authorities; that nothing could be further from their nap& than to commit
or provoke a breach of the peace." .
He confirmed Mr. Courtenay's evidence as to the indiscriminate and ferocious attack made by the Police on unoffending persons. No per- son who attempted to escape was allowed to do so—be was immedi- ately knocked down by the Police. The struggle for the banners &d: not take place till after the assault had been made upon the people. The people were not armed with bludgeons, or any thing of the kind.
Major De Roos was directed to accompany Colonel Rowan to the place of meeting, to be in readiness in ease the military sbopld be Pe quired to assist the. Police. Previously to the mock of -the Police. to, the iluartee • %%here" the::thairitan and bannermea were stationed, he heard Colonel Rowan charge them to be as temperate.ai passible. He age imp■iiiied 'the Police; dressed in plain clothes, to within about sixty Ards of the lamp-post, where the chairman was ,speaking. They ap- peared to meet with considerable obstruction. Some of the people ren down Gough Street, and no attempt was made to stop them. The Police seized..the banners, and overcame all resistance in about five mininee.., Major De Roos then continued as follows- ." I exaelerea the banners, and found among them two lances exactly corresponding with the description of those recommended in a book called " Defensive Instructions for tint IN•ople.' by Colonel Macemni.- [Witness produced the book.] The spikes spoken olds the book are certainly not attached to the banners now on the fable: but a military man,:lotiliing.at the book and at the weapons now in the room, would see at once that thi"principie is the same—it is is lance made to double tip; but there is ' at ' present no offenswe weapon at the top ; still as a military man I would call them lances. A man might carry the blade in his pocket, and aflix it in a moment, At least that which is new before us is the,greattcr tied or a lance; it is now ,deficient in the blade, but I am not confident that the blade was not affixed to it at the time my evidence refers to."
There was a 'disposition" to riot, but no "actual riot, or violence; till
. .
the Police appeared. He saw stones thrown : he saw stones in the air, and does not suppose that the ,stones threw them. The inquest was again adjourned till the next day.
On Friday, a number of persons 3vho had received injury from the attacks of the Police were examined. One man, a stranger in Lon- don, who had not meddled with the proceedings, bet had staid from curiosity in the neighbourhood to see what was going on, was severely beaten while endeavouring to run, away., This person said that the 'meeting appeared to him to be "a, cootemptible, ridiculous affair," until theattack was made by the Police. The crowd seemed to be composed of inoffensive persons. Another witness said, that he saw a 'number of women running away, screaming, from a party of Police who were Chasing them. He was himself knocked down by a blow on the 'head from a Policeman. He was removed, senseless, to a surgeon's shop : his clothes, which be produced, were soaked with blood. Mary Ann Perkins, a girl of fourteen, was standing at the Union public-house, Bagnigge Wells, and saw a man stab 'a Policeman, with something, which -lie took out Of a Walking-stick. The Policeman struck him over the shoulder before he stabbed him : the. Policeman struck him with his staff, and then the man drew his dagger and stabbed him. " The man ran away. Mr. W. II. Goore, of Broad- way, .Worcestershire, a solicitor, saw several persons going to the meeting with flags. In answer to a question he put to some of them, they replied that as the proclamation was , not signed, they
did not think it wile ' When the Police came up Cal- thOrpe 'Street they filled the whole street, so that no one conld pass. He was not mixed up. with the crowd, being, forty yards from them, when, without theleast provo'cation, he was knocked down by the He remonstrated with one of them ;' who said to him, "Damn yeu, Ill knock you to the Devil :if 'You say: another word." • Perhaps forty or fifty Policemen walked over him while on the ground; and he was Much bruised. Another gentleman of respectability was standing against the palisades near him, with his ark' broken by a blow from a Policeman's' bludgeon. The -:meeting was composed principally of a handful -of -boys. Charles Wheeler, who had '.been employed by Mr. Mattin, 'of Galway, to prevent bull-baiting, was struck by the Police, and Was heard to say that be had got the, number of the man who had struck him: three Policemen, who were within hearing, immediately rushed upon him, knocked-Nina-down, ann. beat him dreadfully. . He was carried to a surgeon, to have his wounds dressed. A Policeman said to affother witness, who was 'bleeding from his wounds, "I say,. old fellow, we didn't come mit. fOrnotbing." Much more evidence of the'eame description wisprodueed; and the inquest, was adjourned to Monday.
-It yeas statedin the Tury-room,aftet the adjournment, that ninety-six mote witnesses remained 'to be, examined; and that the Jury intend to summon Lord Melbourne,. Colonel Rowan,' and Mr. Mayne, to give inforthation on the subject. • • • -
The JuiyhaVe throughout the inquiry shown a determination to sift the Whole proceedings thoraughly; with an evident .leaning against the Police. The Coroner wishes thereto confine their examination of the witnesses more closely to the circumstances attending the death of the Policeman ; but the Jury are, not satisfied with this limited range of in, gully. It would be better, perhaps, if they would act more like dispas- sionate judges, and less like partisans in the business.