Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

14 articles on this Page

Advertising

FRIDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE, OCT.…

'"TiSES. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE,I

IRELAND.

[No title]

- FAIRS TO BE HELD IN NOVEMBER.

SPECIAL COMMISSION.

News
Cite
Share

SPECIAL COMMISSION. SENTENCES OFTHE PRISONERS (Continued Irom our jour th page.) CAHDIFF, MONDAY. The Court was opened at nine o'clock this morning, and im- mediately afterwards David Jones aud John Hugh were placed in the dock. Anindictment was then read, charging them with having unlawfully, riotously, and tumultously assemblell, with divers others, to the number of 50, and feloniously begun to demolish and pull down a certain house in the parish of Llaudilotalybont, the properly of William Lewis and others. The prisoners first pleaded Not guilty," but after a short conversation between their counsel and Mr. H. Williams, their attorney, Ihey withdrew their plea, and pleaded" Guilty." The Attorney-General then said, the prisoners having pleaded Guilty," he did not mean to press in aggravation of pu- nishment. 1\lr. 1\1. D. Hill rose and said their JOl1lships t:. neard the prisoners at the bar plead Guilty. Afier the long trial which hadtakenpiace, and had occupied the time of the court on Friday and Saturday; after the verdict which had been given by the jury. who had paid the greatest possible attention to the case submitted to them. from beginning to end after this ver- dict, which he had no reason to suppose was unsatisfactory to their lordships, he thought it would be the opinion of their lordships that the prisoners had not been ill-advised in pleading guilty. Their lordships, in executing the law, in wisdom and humanity, would never consider it an imputation upon any man, though guilty, that he had demanded a trial. In so doing he had demanded his right, The demand for a trial was no new offence, nor any aggravation of the former one. But when prisoners, on mature consideration, and not acting without the advice of their friends and relatives, thought it right to submit themselves to tjie law without such a trial, perhaps it would Dot be considered presumptuous in him in venturing to call their. lordships' attention to this fact, as showing their contrite spirit, and doing all in their power to atone for the offence of which they hid been guilty. Perhaps their lordships would think that this example of guilty and fallen men would not be with. out its use in showing that they no longer stood up in defiance of the law, but, waiving their right, submitted themselves to the punishment which must be inflicted on them. He could tell their lordships that one of the motives, and the principal motive, weighing on the minds of those men, was one which he was sure their lordships would not receive with indifference, much lesa contempt: it was their desire to be of such service as they could be to their associate, against whom a verdict of Guilty had been returned. In respect to that unhappy person, he might be allowed to call their lordships' attention to the cha- racter which he had received, as showing the station and res- pectability frow jtvhich he had now fallen. The same remark applied to those who now stood at the bar, and could be verified by witnesses if the Attorney-General required it. They all be- longed to respectable families. A few months ago they might have held up their heads with the proudest in the land, because they were innoceot-because they were then acting according to what was right, and walking within the bounds of the law. From that state their lordships saw into what an abyss they had fallen. They were now felons—they were stigmatised by the name the most reproachful known to the taw their property was forfeited—and more than that, wiih regard to two of them, they had received already some punishment, which it was not to be presumed would be without its weight with the Court, for from that no human power had the means of relieving them. The prisoner John Hughes had been wounded in the perpetration of the offence which had been the subject of their lordships' examination. That WOllnd had produced a permanent maiming and disability in the arm. A medical man had already stated to the Attorney-General that, in his judgment, the prisonei would never again have the use of that limb. With regard to another Plisoner, slugs had been lodged in his body which the medical men were not yet abje to extract. Their lordships would, he was sure, be glad to have motives for exercising that mercy, the feeling towards which was at that moment working in their minds therefore it was he node no apology for taking these facts before them. Here he should sit down, and not tiouble their lordships further, but he felt il due to himself to say, that m certain observations which he made to the Jury on Saturday he spoke in ignorance of the circumstances which, if he had known at the time, would very much have qualified those observations. When he sat down, his learned friend handed him a new5paper, from which he learned with great satisfaction that, while their lordships were sitting under this commission, in a neighbouring county a commission of a different character had been opened. He had read with infinite pleasure the ad- dress of the right hon. gentleman who opened that commission. He was bound to stale this, because he fell it strongly. 1 hose two great measures, taken together in conjoined and co-ordinate operation, he felt would be the very best means of putting an end to those faul disturbances. If that commission proceeded under the same spirit-if it showed that wise forbearance which characterised the pioceedings of the Attorney-General, in the exercise of his high functions, he was sure that the happiest effects must be produced. He felt that the prisoneis, that all who were connected with them by ties of blood or 01 friendship, that even those casually connected with them, even such as stood in the position that he did at that moment, had reason to feel deep gratitude for the conduct pursued by his hon. and learned friend. In that conduct his learned friend only fol- lowed the impulse of his kindly nature, and yet, in pursuing it, he seemed to have the high authority of the great Roman ora- tor, nunquam uliud natures aliud snpientiir. dixit. In the indul- gence of his feelings his learned lriend, perhaps unconsciously, had obeyed the dictates of the highest wisdom. He trusted that not only would his learned friend receive for this the reo ward in his own mind, which no circumstances could deprive him of, but would also find that the policy of humanity and lorbeaiance would be attended by the happiest effects. It had been found that examples by tenor had not the salutary results wished fcr, or that they answered the purposes for which they were undo taken. From mercy much greater and moie perma nent good might be hoped, than ever could be expected to be obtained from severity. Suanger as he was to the principality, be still felt that it was part of his beloved countiy. He knew that his opinion was of no weight, and his wishes of no import- ance, but still he could not but express his fervent desire that returning loyalty-and patriotism should produce their due effects in that counlly, that Souih Wales should return to, and re- obtain that character for order and tranquillity which for so many years it had so deservedly enjoyed. John Hughes, who was convicted on Saturday, having been placed with the other prisoners at the bar, Mr. Baron Gurney then addressd the prisoners, and said, they stood severally convicted of a felony, and a felouyof an aggravated desc;iption. They had banded and associated themselves with others; they had assembled in large numbers at the dead hour of the night; they had armed theimtelves with deadly weapons, and they had proved that they were not indis- posed to use them. Thus prepared, they had proceeded to the demolition of a turnpike gate,and then of a turnpike-house. They had associated themselves in such numbers as to over- whelm all lesistarice on the part of the owner of the house, or even his neighbours. They were interrupted in their purpose .by magistrates and peace-olficers, and then they made use of fire-arms, with which they had equipped themselves—thus settino law at defiance, and disturbing the peace of the country all these circumstances, he said, were a very great aggravation. Until of late such crimes were of very, very unfiequerit occur- renceintt.iscour.try. The interruption they hud received would, perhaps prevent the repetition of the crime in this country but it was impossible for the Court to be ignorant that in neighbouring counties the perpetration of such crimes continued to this day. It was absolutely necessary that the law shouid be cofolced, that the ptaee of the country should be preserved, that good onier should be restored. Iu the course that had been taken by the brown undoubtedly everything had been done to give justice its fullest effect. They (Ihe; prisoners) had been tried at a remote part of the county from where the offence had been commuted, where passions were not excited— where a cool, deliberate, and impartial judgement could be given. The Jury, after a long and paiient hearing had found John Hoghesguttty; and the prisoner David Jonesand John Hugh had pleaded guiliy to an indictmeut of asimitardesenp. tion, and (heir Leaineo Counsel in his address to the Court had very properly impressed upon it the contrition of Jones and Hugh which they had manifested, and which was intended to recommend them ID SOllie measure to the mercy of the Court. This circumstance was not forgotten, but still an example was necessary. they, from the respectability which they had formerly maintained aud the rank of life which they occupied were persons of whom it was particularly necessity that an example shauld be made to deter others from a repetition of their crime. I hey were liable to be Iranspolted beyoud the seas for the term of their lives but, considering all that had been stated with lespect to David Jones and John Hugh, the Court was of opinion that it was impossible to pass a less sentence than that which he was about to pronounce, which was, that each of them should be transported for the term of seven years. With respect to John Hughes, the Couit could not entertain the same view of his case. He appeared to be one in a station of society far above the rest—one not likely to be misled by others, and upon evidence proved to be a leader, if not the tcaderofthistawtessmuttitude. His conduct at the time, as well as the papers found in his pocket, demonstrated, at least, that he was a leader—that he was active in collecting adherents andussooates, and that something like threats had issued from him against those who were not forward in joining his illegal couife. He had been reccommeuded by the jury to the mercy oftheCourt. The Court fdt extreme Jifficul:y ill any degree lessening the punishment which the law awarded to his offence The law said he was liable to transportation for life, and giving all consideration to the lecommendation of the jury and to all the circumstances which had been so ably stated by the Learned Counsel for the prisoner, the Court was of opinion that he be transported beyond the seas for the term of 20 years. As to any further extension of mercy, the prisoners must recommend themselves to the grace and mercy of the Crown; but that mercy could not be expectfd if offences of this kind were re- peated and the peace of the country not fully restored. He had now ischarged a most painful duty, and be did trust that the 01 the Crown, as well as the punishments inflicted by the ourt, would have the effect of detering all who might be dispose to associate themselves together for the purpose of comlllltllng offences against the law. In the case of David Lewis, a labourer against whom there was a. charge of feloniously and maliciously cutting and wounding. The Attorney-General said that, on looking over the ciicuns- stances, he felt imposed to enter a nolle prosequi. This prisoner was than discharged. Lewis j)¡¡VIS was then indicted, upon the oaths of William (,!lamb:r., thc younger, of Llant!lIy, in the county of Calmar- then, gentleman, and another, wiih unlawfully and maliciously throwing down an estroying a certain turnpiks-gate in the parish of Llandilotalyboru. b v & The prisoner haying pleaded Guilty, The Attorney-General said he had given his best attention to this case, and du not ee it necessary to press for the judge- ment of the Couit ul'on "> as |)e shovild consider it sufficient ihat the piisoner s ou enter into his own recognizances to appear and receive t ie Ju gement of the Couit if called upon, The prisoner then entere itli0 his 0.vn recognizances for jE50.,andwasdi<cbarge. Morgan Morgan and Esther Morgan also pleaded Guiltv In an indictment for being le oniously p,eSent and aiding unci assisting Margaret Morgan, to maliciously cut and wound ( F-Napier, of Swansea, gen eman, wiib intent, in so doing, to prevent the apprehension ol: one Henry Morgan. The Attorney General said that he would enter a nolle prosequi to the charge of felony against these prisoners. Con- sidering their advanced age and o.her circumstances connected .vith the case, he should be satisfied if tjiey were coloring int<? their WipiiiafiCM, The prisoners having entered into their own recognizances for £ 50 each, were accordingly discharged. Margaret Morgan, Rees Morgan, and John Morgan, like- wise pleaded Guilty, the first to an indictment chaigtng her with maliciously cutting and wounding the before-mentioned C. F. Napier, and the other prisoners with having been felo- niously present, and aiding and assisting her to commit the said felony. The Attorney-General entered a nolle prosequi so far as re- garded the felonious charge against the prisoneis, and observed that, having ascertained ilie tiicumslances under which this aggravated assnult had taken place, he did believe they weie ander a mistake with respect to the right to resist. Under these circumstances he was not disposed to press for a severe punish- ment in this case but as the law had been resisted, the offence must, at the same time, be marked by aome sentence which would manifest the severe displeasure of the Court. Mr. Hill, on the part of the prisoners, expressed his grati- tude for tho course which the Atlorney-Geneial had adopted. He had only to add one word viz., that one of the prisoners had received a gunshot wound, from the effects of which he was still suffering. Mr. Baion Gurney then addrassing the prisoners, said that they had beeen convicted on their own confession, of having assaulted a constable in the execution of his duty, It was most important that officers in the execution of their duty should receive the protection of the Court; and the resistance of them, and assault upon them, under such circumstances was a very grave offence. In this case it appeared that, in the resistance which had been offered, the life of the officer was in danger, and he had no doubt that if the officer had not, in his own defence, discharged a pistol, his life would have been saciificed, and that all the prisoners would have had to answer for the charge of murder, and have ended their days by an ig- nominious death. He observed that the Attorney-General had forborne to press against hem any iodictment charging them withthehigherafidfeionious offence. It was felt, however, that notwithstanding the forbearance of the Attorney-General an example must be made, particularly where resistance to a peace-officer had been offered, and in the manner in which that resistance had been given. The Learned Judge then sen- tenced Margaret Morgan to imprisonment forsix months, and Rees and John Morgan for twelve months. The Learned Baron further observed, that the Court had received information respecting the goodness of their characters previously to these offences, and that that was the only reason why he had not con- sidered it necessary to senteacethem 10 hard labour also. Mr. Baron Gurney then addressing the grand jury thanked them in the name of the country, for the services they had performed, and discharged them. His Lordship also in dis- charging the petty jury. expressed hia regret that they should have been taken from their homes at an unusual period of the year, thanking them at the same time for the manner in which they had performed their duty, The juries then ietired, and the. proceedings ot the commis- sion terminated.

-!).,.'"-COMMISSION FOR ENQUIRING…

------ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT…

P 0 N T Y P 0 0 L.'.

.-.---.--...--SIR R. PEEL…

FASHIONS FOR NOVEMBER. |F)

[No title]

[No title]