The London Times seems to have had a particularly industrious reporter on the case during the Rebecca Riots. I have yet to delve into the Times archives themselves, but occasionally its work was quoted or referred to in other papers. Here is an example, from the Monmouthshire Merlin:
Rebeccaism.
Commission of Enquiry.
(From the Times reporter.)
Carmarthen, .
On my return from the Special Commission at Cardiff I thought it my duty to
wait upon the Commissioners appointed by her Majesty to inquire into the
grievances complained of in South Wales, who are now prosecuting that inquiry
at the town-hall, in this town, for the purpose of ascertaining how far the
investigation would be open to the public. I was politely informed by Mr.
Frankland Lewis, the chairman, on the part of the Commissioners, that having
no desire whatever to make their inquiry a secret one, but rather to court
publicity, the Commissioners yet thought they would best arrive at information
and at the truth without the presence of reporters for the public press, as in
some cases parties would be deterred by the fear of publicity from giving full
information, whilst in others persons would be prompted to make inconsiderate
statements in the hope and expectation of seeing them in the newspapers. This
was, at present, the opinion of the Commissioners.
The Commissioners sit in a large room in the court-house, and, with their
secretary, Mr. Gurney, the short-hand writer, and a clerk, there are usually
six persons present at the examinations, which the Commissioners informed me
they thought was an audience sufficiently formidable to examine the country
people before, without further increasing its numbers by the presence of the
representatives of the press. The Commissioners also informed me, that the
evidence given before them, and their report, will be printed and laid on the
table of the House of Commons, only so far condensed as to be reduced to a
readable form. I send you this as the result of my interview, and of the
present opinion of the Commissioners.
A deputation of farmers, amongst whom were some relatives and friends of the
prisoners [John] Hugh and [David] Lewis, tried at the late Cardiff special
commission, last night waited upon Mr. Chambers,
jun., of Llanelly, and
expressed their anxiety for a restoration of tranquillity to the country, and
as an earnest of their feeling, offered to be sworn in as special constables
to preserve the peace. I understand Mr. Chambers has appointed to be in
attendance on at Llanon, for
the purpose of swearing in as special constables those who thus tendered their
services.
The Government has sent down a gentleman,
Col. Hankey, to act as a
police magistrate in those districts where there are now no resident
magistrates. Colonel Hankey will, accordingly; as soon as possible, be sworn
in of the commission of the peace, to act for the three counties of
Carmarthen, Pembroke, and Cardigan.
A rumour is current that another special commission, for the trial of the
Carmarthenshire prisoners, will be sent down after term into this county. It
appears to have arisen from the fact of the county gaol being quite full of
Rebecca prisoners, and from one Mr. Maule, the treasury solicitor’s clerks,
being in the town arranging the evidence against the prisoners. [The
Monmouthshire Merlin also mentioned this rumor,
saying that “There are now nearly fifty prisoners in the county gaol, and
several others out on bail, awaiting their trials.”]
In many parts of the county the late verdict against the “Rebecca” prisoner
[John] Hughes, at Cardiff, has excited intense animosity against the jury who
tried him. I have been told that some farmers from the more disturbed
districts have affected even to be incredulous that such a verdict was ever
returned by a Welsh jury. So far as an opinion can be formed at present,
however, the severity of the sentence appears to have had a salutary effect,
whilst it has at the same time excited universal commiseration for the
culprit.
Two toll-bars were destroyed on , near Cwm Ammon.
