THE COLLIERS' STRIKE TRIAL OF THE WALLSEND RIOTERS. THE DISTRIBUTION OF STRIKE PAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 315, 10 November 1888, Page 6

THE COLLIERS' STRIKE TRIAL OF THE WALLSEND RIOTERS.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF STRIKE PAY.

At the Police Court, Newcastle, before J. Thorn and W. Lindus, J.P.'s., Joseph Halfway, Albert Bruton, William Thornton, Simon Siniox, George Lunn, John Uiimthfls William Simmons, Edward Penrose, John Shaw and Thomas Scott,-' on remand, weie charged Avith rioting at Wallsend on the 12fch insb. John William McLaughlin, for whom a warrant 3iad been issued, gave himself up and was placed in the dock with the other defendauts. The Court was again ciowdcd. Hugh Humphreys, clerk and assistant to Mr NeiUon, manager of the Wallscuu Colliery, deposed that he was at Walls-end on the 12th instant. On that day a number of labourers were engaged filling snrall coal. They commenced at ei^ht, I o'clock and knocked off at four, when they were taken to their quarters. By this time a large crowd had gathered outside the colliery fence some 130 yards away. They made a great noise and shouted out " Blacklegs " to the labourers as they left the tunnels for then quarter?. About five o'clock witness and two officials named Bousfield and Robson started for home on horseback, Neilson and Maddison being in tho buggy. There were a few police inside tho gates, and they opened the gate ior witness to pass through. Re was the Jirst to make an attempt to go ouf, bufe the shouting 1 of bhe ciowd drove his horso back. (Some t tones were tin own at the same time from the direction of the crowd. The stones weic thrown at the officials. A stick stiuck witness on the chest and several stonrs bit bhe horte. Witness made a second attempt to go out, but was driven back tv second time. The police then cleared the way and witness managed to get out, but tho other officials were *" unable to do so. The crowd continued shouting and hooting and saying, "Stop the b . Knock his b brains out." Some of the stones stiuck him in several parts of the body, one severely on the right side, and several on the head. Mr Neilson then came up in the buggy. Some persons called him a "b blackleg." The police cleared bhe way in "front of the buggy. one of bho constable" lending the honse by Che head. Witness followed close after the buggy. Thcie were 2,000 or 3,000 people present, and they wore shouting and thi owing stones at the vehicle. Witness had not much trouble in getting I through tho crowd, and no poison interfered with him until he met the accused Thornton, who was proceeding in the direction of the tunnel. Thornton walked up to witness and appeared as though he were going to take hold of the horse. He clenched his fist and put it in witness's face, saying, " I have a good mind to knock your head off.'' He seemed very excited, but walked on. Witnessrocognised Griffiths, Penrose, Simmons, Shane, Scott, McLaughlin and Haliday in the crowd neiu the gate. He &aw eight of the accused altogether. Griffith?, Shaw, McLaughlin, and Scott were waving their hats in front of the horse and tiying to 'stop witness from getting out. The accused had nothing: in their hands beyond their hats. After witness reached his home the crowd followed JVJr Neilson. The crowd, numbering between 5,000 and 4,000, was shouting and hooting and throwing stones ah witness' house. The hat (produced) was the one he wore on the 12th. The cuts on the hat wei'6 caused by stones. He had been laid u,p for •10 days from the oliects of ' the blow on fchc right -sido from a half brick, which was thrown at him near tho gate. He still felt the effects. , Tho police" remained at hi? house all night, and had been there ever since. Witness went to work the day after the assault, bub had not been there since. Other evidence having been taken. The Bench committed the whole of the defendants for trial at bhe Maitland Quarter Sessions on December 3, each accused reserving his defence. Mr Gorrick applied for bail, which was opposed by Inspector Brennan. Mr Mail", P.M., also objected to bail being: allowed, bub Messrs Webb, Thorn, Lindus, Ludlow and Weir, J.P.s, granted bail, in £100 each and two sureties of,£sQ each. The necessary sureties being forthcoming the accused left the Court.

THE, STRIKE PAY. The Globe minors held a meeting on Saturday, when considerable discussion ensued over the mode of distributing strike pay, and it was decided that a noticQ of motion be tabled afc the delegate board by the lodge delegate that at those collieries that are working the men be asked to pay 50 per cent, on all their gross earnings. One of those present alluded to the fact that as soon as some men saw the possibility of getting work else- , where they left the district immediately. - He knew men who had money in the bank, besides houses and land, who upon hearinp- j (hat the Great Northern and Stockton col- j lieries \vero about to start, ran away at the i first chance and obtained work. ' '