266 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. 



the several times when he so 

 attended, until the 31st of Dec. 

 1816, the time particularly stated 

 in the indictment. On that even- 

 ing he went about six o'clock to 

 preach, when 70 persons were 

 assembled without the house ; the 

 night was showery and cloudy, 

 and the ground wet. Among 

 the persons assembled were the 

 several defendants, and also Mr. 

 Easton (the clergyman), and 

 Jerrard. The mob were sup- 

 plied with cow-horns, large bells, 

 and various discordant instru- 

 ments, and, encouraged by the 

 clergyman and peace - officer, 

 made a most clamorous and 

 terrific noise. They paraded 

 about nine yards from the house ; 

 and, notwithstanding the remon- 

 strances of the high-constable of 

 the hundred, who attended the 

 meeting-house, and other res- 

 pectable persons, they persevered 

 in their disturbance, until the 

 minister could not be heard, and 

 he was compelled abruptly to 

 discontinue the religious service. 

 On the return of Mr, Hopkins, he 

 was followed by the same mob, 

 amidst execrations, noises, and 

 their horrible music, for half a 

 mile, to the boundaries of the 

 parish of Anstey. 



Mr. Casberd, for the defend- 

 ants, endeavoured to convince 

 the Court and jury that there was 

 no conspiracy, and that, as the 

 people did not enter the house of 

 meeting, nor personally ill-treat 

 the minister or congregation, 

 there was no riot. 



But Mr. Justice Holroyd inter- 

 posed, and declared, that as to 

 the conspiracy the jury should 

 decide, but that the proof of a 

 most indecent, un^varrantable, 



illegal riot, was distinct and un- 

 controvertible. 



Mr. Sergeant Pell then stated, 

 that the Dissenters, from lenity 

 to the clergyman, not by way of 

 compromise, would not press for 

 a verdict for the conspiracy, but 

 only for the riot, and for which 

 they would certainly bring up the 

 defendants to London for the 

 judgment of the Court of King's 

 Bench, during the ensuing term. 



At this liberality the judge and 

 the Court expressed satisfaction, 

 and the jury retui'ned a verdict 

 of — Guilty of the riot against the 

 Rev. Wm. Easton, James Jerrard, 

 and seven other defendants. — 

 Salisbury Journal. 



MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. 



Bullock Hunting. — John Rip- 

 pon, William Chisholme, Charles 

 Allan, William Howells, and 

 George Buckey, were indicted 

 for having riotously assembled in 

 Spitalfields, on the 25th of March, 

 and assaulted William Henry 

 Racine and others. 



The trial lasted upwards of 

 four hours, a great number of 

 witnesses having been examined 

 upon both sides. The following 

 are the leading facts : — 



At 3 o'clock on the day speci- 

 fied in the indictment, while the 

 workmen of Mr. Racine, who 

 owns a silk warehouse in Ayre- 

 street, which contained property 

 amounting in value to 100,000/. 

 were at work, a bullock was 

 driven into the premises by a 

 body of violent fellows, consisting 

 of between 200 and 300. The 

 animal had been followed by this 

 band until it arrived opposite to 

 the gate of Mr. Racine's premises, 



and 



