ARREST OF FOURTEEN CHARTIST LEADERS in MANCHESTER.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 273, 10 January 1849, Page 3

ARREST OF FOURTEEN CHARTIST LEADERS in MANCHESTER.

Manchester, Wednesday.— The magistrates have at last inflicted a blow on secret organization in (his city. For months past much of their time hai been taken up, and the police force has been wearied out with watching the proceedings and thwarting the designs of these parties. Of late, however, many circumstances have arisen which made it necessary to take more decisive steps, and shew thete infatuated people and their leaders, that not only are their secret doings known to the authorities, but that there it the power and determma'ion to put a stop to their future mischievous doings. The proceedings of the last few days hate been of too seriom a nature, and fraught wi.h too much danger to the public safety, to be allowed to pass unnoticed. The unremitting vigilance of the magistrates, the activity of the police force, by whom every attempt to disturb the peace has been frustrated, iceui to have infuriated the leaders, and the cold blooded

affray at Ashton th« olher night, together with other circumstances, make it evident that a thirst for revenge is fast ipreading amongst those disaffected people. — There is every reason to believe that an extensive organization existed) not only amongst the Chartists and Repealers in Manchester, but between them and the same parties in all the surrounding towni. Meetings have been held in all the club rooms in Manchester and the out-townships every night for the last week, which have been continued till past midnight, and with closed doors. An attempt was made to get up a large meet ing in Stevenson-square, Manchester, on Monday night, but wiih difficulty the police prevented it. The magistrates have used every means to ascertain the nature or their designs, and the result was the determination at once to ai rest the leaders. It whs arranged to effect this while they were at their several meetings last night. A little before ten o'clock, therefore, a force of about 300 police, under the direction of Captain WiHis, Mr. Beswick, and other Inspectors, re paired to the OMham road station as the most central point for the various clubs. The troops of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons and two companies of the 30th regiment had been put in readiness to render any as* sistance that might be needed. At ten the police divided, and set out so as to arrive at the various rooms at the same moment of lime. This they effected, and very shortly were in possession of every room. At one meeting, held at a coffee house, in Ancoats street, nine persons were arrested. In all the rooms, papers, books, &c, were seized. After making these seizures, and securing such men as they wanted, the various police parties met, by appointment, at Ancoats-street, and with the soldiers escourted ihe prisoners to the town hall. When they reached there, the magistrates were assembling, the troops were formed in the street, and every other precaution made to secure the peace. After the prisoners were safely lodged for the night, the troops withdrew, and the magistrates, a large number of whom *ere present, retired. The prisoners were brought up for examination this morning before a full bench of magistrates. The following are the names of those arrested — Jamet Leach, Dan. Donovan, John J. Finnigan, and. Thomas Rankin, were arrresled on wnnant; J. Whittaker, Henry Ellis, Patrick Devlin, M. Carriqui, G. Rogers, J. Leamnn, H. Williams, G. Webber, G. White, and J. Dolan, were taken without warrant. The prisoners were defended by Mr. Roberts, solicitor. Mr. Pollock, atked that thf prisoners should be remanded. After some consultation it was determined to bind all the prisoners over to appear this day week.