Newspaper Report

The Sunday Riots

Examination at Marylebone (July 15 1855)

An unusual degree of excitement prevailed in the immediate vicinity of this court from an early hour on Monday, in consequence of its having become known that two soldiers and six boys would be brought up by S division of police from the Albany-street station-house, the boys charged with wilfully throwing stones, to the common danger of passengers and inhabitants of different parts of St Pancras; and the soldiers, who are privates in the Grenadier Guards, with riotous and disorderly conduct, and inciting a large mob to commit a breach of the peace.

At three o'clock the prisoners were arraigned before Mr. Broughton. The names of the soldiers were James Hutchins and Walter Ford; those of the boys were George Turner (aged eighteen), William Kelly (sixteen), Joseph Rimell (thirteen) George Hazell (thirteen), John Davis (twelve) and John Flanagen (eight).

Mr. Bodkin (with whom was Mr Powell, solicitor to the Treasury) attended on the part of the Crown to prosecute. Captain Keppel, of the Grenadier Guards, was also present to watch the case. Mr G E Williams appeared for Rimell, Mr Handley for Flanagan and Mr Rumsey for Hazell. Superintendent Fergusson and Inspector Byrne, of the S division, were likewise present during the case, copious notes of which were taken by them.

The amount of damage to windows by the lawless party was alleged to amount to £300 or £400.

Mr Bodkin said, that as regarded the four younger boys - Rimell, Hazell, Flanagan and Davis - it was not his intention to prosecute them; they were extremely young, in fact one of them a mere child, and he hoped that the length of time which they had been locked up at the station would be looked upon by them as being a sufficient punishment to warn them from taking part in such mobs in the future.

They were then discharged, Mr Broughton giving them to understand that they ought to be exceedingly thankful for the lenient course that had been adopted towards them.

Mr Bodkin then stated the case against the other four prisoners - the soldiers, Hutchins and Ford and the two youths, Tanner and Kelly. The facts, as narrated by Mr Bodkin at some length, were amply borne out by the following evidence:-

Trott, 200 S: On Sunday evening, at half past eight, while on duty, I observed a great mob in Park-village East, Regent's-park.

Mr Bodkin: Of how many do you imagine this mob consisted? - Witness: About 500.

Mr Bodkin: What did you see done? - Witness: Two soldiers were at the head of the mob, one of them having in his hand a cane and the other a stick. They were calling out to the mob, "Come on."

Mr Bodkin: Did you follow them? - Witness: I did not, Sir, I returned, and in Albany-street I met with a body of police. I heard windows smashed in the line that the mob were going. I returned with a body of police, and went with them to Albert-road. The mob was going towards Primrose-hill. When I got there the soldiers had left.

Mr Bodkin: Where did you next see the soldiers? - Witness: At the Pitts Head, Henry Street, Portland Town. I told them I wanted them, and that they must come out. They did so, and I and another officer took them into custody.

Mr Bodkin: Were they drunk or sober? - Witness: Sober, Sir.

Mr Bodkin: Did they go quietly with you? - Witness: They did. Hutchins told me that they followed him and his comrade, and that they couldn't get away from them; the other soldier made no observation in my hearing.

Mr Bodkin: How far is the station from the public-house you have named? - Witness: About a mile a half.

Mr Bodkin: Were the soldiers dressed as they are now? - Witness: Yes, Sir.

Clarke, 85 S: I first saw the mob in Park-village East, and the two soldiers present were heading them and waving their canes.

Mr Bodkin: Did they appear to you to be leading the mob on? - Witness: They did.

Mr Bodkin: Of what number do you suppose the mob consisted: - Witness: About 500.

Mr Bodkin: Did you hear either of the soldiers say anything? - Witness: No, Sir.

Mr Boughton: Did you see any stones thrown? - Witness: Yes, in Park-village and I heard the smashing of glass.

Mr Bodkin: Was there any shouting? - Witness: Oh, yes a great deal of it. I went away, and when I returned I found the mob in the Albert-road. The two youths Tanner and Kelly were then in custody; the soldiers were not.

Maria Ware: I am servant to the Rev James Brown, 3 Albert-road. I was standing at the gate yesterday evening and saw the mob come up by the house. The two soldiers who were with them said "Come on, boys, throw on." I then went in and shut the gate.

Mr Bodkin: Up to that time had you seen any stones thrown? - Witness: No, Sir, but directly after I had gone in some of our windows were smashed. Several at the next door were smashed also.

Mr Bodkin: Do you know who threw any of the stones? - Witness: I do not.

Mr Broughton: Can you swear whether the soldiers at the bar are the men you have spoken of or not? - Witness: I can't positively swear that they are, but they wore exactly the same dress.

Mr Henry Thornton, 2, Albert-road, said: I was not at home when this riot took place. I went out at six and returned at half past none, when I found that twenty seven panes of glass in my windows had been broken. My wife narrowly escaped being struck upon the head by a stone.

The prisoner Ford (to the witness Ware): Do you mean to say that you heard us tell the mob to "come-on?" - Witness: I do.

Edward Gould, 25, Munster Street: I was in Stanhope-place last Sunday evening, and I heard loud shouting; stones were thrown, and a great number of street lamps, as well as windows, were broken. The soldiers were at the front of the mob, and were flourishing their canes over their heads.

In reply to the prisoner Ford, witness said: I am certain you were in front of the mob when a cane and a stick were waved.

John Hill corroborated this evidence, as did also a little boy named John Wain. The latter said : "I first saw the mob headed by the soldiers near St James's Chapel, Hampstead-road."

The evidence being concluded, the hearing of which did not terminate until some time after the usual period for the closing of the court. Mr Bodkin stated it to be the intention of the Government to prosecute the accused parties by indictment for a riot, which had been attended with such serious consequences.

Kelly and Turner denied having thrown any stones, and the soldiers denied having meited the bob in any way whatever.

Mr Broughton remarked upon the serious character of such lawless conduct as that which had been pursued, involving as it did the peace and safety of her Majesty's subjects. The facts which had been adduced showed that the prisoners had pursued a course subversive of all proper and decent order, and that they and such of those as might think fit to pursue the same course would find that the law would be too strong for them.

The prisoners were remanded till Monday, when the depositions which have been taken by Mr Phillips, the clerk, will be read over, and the prisoners will then go for trial. At five o'clock they were sent off by the Government van to the House of detention.

 Return to Rimell Snippets Page