The grand jury deciding whether to bring an indictment against several accused Rebeccaites met again on to decide on the cases of John Hughes, John Hugh, and David Jones. The Cambrian was there:
They first considered the charges against John Hughes (who appeared in court with his arm in a sling from injuries suffered during his arrest). Hughes’s lawyer tried to challenge the method by which the jury was composed, without much success.
The prosecutor addressed the jury, saying in part:
He would forbear from making any observations upon the state of the adjoining
counties, were it not for the purpose of accounting for their being assembled
together on that extraordinary occasion, for the trial of this, and other
cases which would come before the Court. The disturbed condition in which many
of the counties of South Wales were at the present time, rendered it, in the
judgment of those whose duty it was to advise the Crown, imperatively
necessary that the resolute and immediate administration of the law should
take effect, and justice be promptly administered, in consequence of the great
increase in the number and magnitude of offences committed under circumstances
of considerable violence.
He went on to describe the Pontardulais Gate attack as follows:
He would relate what took place on , by a mob, consisting from one to two hundred persons, many
of whom were on horseback. They appeared to have come from some of the roads
leading from the county of Carmarthen over a bridge, known by the name of
Pontardulais bridge, which crossed a river, called the Loughor river. At a
short distance from the bridge, on the Glamorganshire side of the river, there
was a toll-house and gate, and he believed they had existed beyond the memory
of most persons acquainted with that part of the country. He would next call
the attention of the jury to the general appearance of the mob, and the manner
in which they had provided themselves with arms and other implements of
destruction. The majority were disguised in some garments resembling female
attire, and having their faces blackened. Several of them had arms. Shots were
fired, and in some instances it would be proved, that the guns were loaded
with shot, one having been taken, and when examined was found to be loaded.
What were the contents of the guns which had been discharged could only be
proved by the effect taken by them, and it would be stated in evidence, that
the marks of shot were visible on different portions of the toll-house, and he
was not confident whether such was not the case in some of the neighbouring
houses. They advanced towards the bridge, which they crossed, and went to the
toll-house and gate. They appeared to have with them implements of a
destructive kind, and when it was considered that there were taken possession
of, on the following morning, some guns, cliff, pickaxes, sledge-hammers, and
some other instruments, the jury could have no doubt what was the object of
the party whom he had just described. The work of destruction soon afterwards
commenced — all the windows of the toll house were broken, and part of the
frame work destroyed, together with the door, and the house entered. The
partitions of the room were destroyed, and from one part of the house there
were several stones removed, making a breach or aparture in one place, in
height about two feet, and eighteen inches in length, and posts which some of
the witnesses would tell them were the props of the house. In their work of
destruction, it would be found they were interrupted. That would be proved by
the witnesses. When examined, it was found that the gate post was cut
one-third through with a cross saw, and the jury would learn the slate in
which the toll-house and gate had been left, from the evidence of the
magistrates, chief-constable, and officers, who went there with the intention
of apprehending some of the rioters. It appeared to him to be idle to suggest
any doubts as to the general character of the assemblage — that it was
riotous, tumultuous, and in every way illegal. When the large weapons made use
of were taken into consideration — when the disguised appearance and the
violent conduct of the mob were considered — there could not be the least
doubt but that it was, in the eye of the Act of Parliament [the law forming
the basis for the criminal charge], a riotous and tumultuous assemblage of
persons for the disturbance of the public peace. It appeared to him, that was
beyond dispute. What had actually been done, would be borne testimony to, by a
variety of witnesses, upon whose evidence no doubt could be thrown. There
remained for the juey but one additional enquiry, and that was — what
participation the prisoner at the bar had in the proceedings. He believed it
would be laid down from the Bench, that when any riotous assembly tumultuously
met together, every person who, by his presence, contributed to swell their
number, which gave them that formidable appearance and character, calculated
to inspire terror and alarm, would, in the first instance, be deemed guilty of
participation in the riot. It would devolve upon the accused to show that he
was present, with an innocent purpose. But the case against the prisoner did
not rest upon his mere presence among the mob. When apprehended, it was found
that he was armed, disguised by having his face blackened, and under
circumstances from which they would draw the conclusion as to the part taken
by him in the affair. It appeared that
Capt. Napier, accompanied by a
superintendent and some policemen, with a few others, to the number of eleven
or twelve persons, in consequence of having received information of an
intended attack upon the gate, proceeded there from the Glamorganshire side of
the Pontardulais bridge, with the view of apprehending some of the parties
concerned in the tumult. They were on a spot not a very great distance from
the gate, and from where they were enabled to see, hear, and judge of what was
going on among the crowd. They would be called before the jury. and would
describe the number assembled, the frequency of the gunshots fired by them,
the noises they made, and the signals given by means of blue lights. The work
of demolition having been manifested by crashing noises, Captain Napier and
his party advanced towards them, and desired them to desist. The conduct of
the persons assembled he would leave the witnesses to state.
Capt. Napier remarked the
dress of the prisoner, and when apprehended, recognised him as the person who
wore that dress. It was Captain Napier’s object to wound the horses, so as to
apprehend the riders. He accordingly fired, and the prisoner descended; the
police and the prisoner came into personal conflict, and in the conflict the
prisoner was wounded, as the jury would observe, from his arm being in a
sling. Upon a shot being fired by one of the mob, an attempt was made to ride
down the party headed by Captain Napier. The prisoner’s identity would be
distinctly proved. He was recognised by his dress — he was also recognised by
his wounds, and was taken to the toll-house. There was also found on his
person a quantity of gunpowder, with a shot belt in addition to copper caps,
and papers, which were evidently intended for threatening notices, found upon
him, and which he would call their attention to. The
Hon. and Learned Gentleman
then read a Welsh notice, to this effect:— “Come with your armour or covering
to on Wednesday next, to assist me, or you shall have no further
notice — (signed.) — Becca.” There were other papers found upon his person,
but parts of which were torn, which might render their meaning doubtful, so
that he would prefer the jury to read them for themselves. Those notices would
prove the prisoner to be closely connected with the operations of the night in
question, He (the Attorney-General) did not consider it necessary to name
every individual act of the persons present on the occasion, neither had he a
desire to raise any legal discussion, but be thought it clear that all the
acts of that assembly showed what were the objects for the accomplishment of
which they had assembled together.
The Monmouthshire Merlin quotes the note somewhat differently in their coverage:
Daniel Jones, Brynhyr, — Come with your armour (or covering) to Llan Ty Issa,
to assist us, on Wednesday night next, or else you shall not have another (or
further) notice. — Becca.
The chief constable who led the raid, Charles Frederick Napier, testified first:
On I received information, which induced me to go to the
Pontardulais gate. I first went to Penllergare. I was accompanied by Mr. J.D.
Llewelyn, and L.Ll. Dillwyn, two county magistrates, Mr. Moggridge, Mr
Sergeant Peake, and six police constables. We went across the country,
starting from Penllergare, about . During the time of our proceeding, I heard a great noise of
horns blowing [“as if for signals,” the Monmouthshire
Merlin adds] in different parts of the country, and firing. I heard
those noises repeatedly in the course of our proceeding. When arriving at the
gate, we halted in the field about 600 yards from the gate. While in the
field, I heard first of all great noise of voices, then shots were fired, and
I heard a number of horses trampling from the opposite side of the river. I
heard the voices on the Carmarthen side. The noise increased considerably, and
came from the direction of the Red Lion Inn. I heard a volley fired, and also
cheering, in the neighbourhood of the Red Lion Inn. I heard a voice say.
“Come, come,” three times. They then proceeded towards the Pontardulais gate.
Some of the mob cried out, “Gate, gate.” It was now
. When I
heard these voices I heard sounds of gate-breaking, and smashing of glass. I
then ordered my men to follow me, and proceeded across the lane, and then to
the main road. I saw three men mounted, disguised, with their horses facing
the toll-house. There were other persons dismounted, and in the act of
destroying the gate. There were about 150 [“about 100” says the
Merlin] there. One had a white loose dress, with a
loose handkerchief, and their faces blackened. The men on horseback appeared
to be directing the other parties. I ordered the men to fall in, and advanced
towards the party, and cried out “Stop, stop, stop,” as loud as I could. One
of the men on horseback appeared to hear, fired at me. I then said, “Mark that
man.” I advanced with my pistol, and fired at the horse. The muzzle was close
to him. The horses turned, and the party appeared as if they rode over us. The
man on the horse I shot fell, by what means I know not. The man that fell I
believe to be the same as the man I fired at. I then advanced to him, and we
struggled. He was then wounded in the arm, but by whom I know not. There were
several others who fired. I did not take that person into custody then, as I
was struck with a stick on the back of the bead. The person I was struggling
with had a straw hat and a loose white dress, similar to a Druid’s dress [the
Merlin says just that “he was disguised, and his
face blackened”]. Others were disguised, but not in the same way. Some had
their coat sleeves turned. I afterwards saw the same man in the custody of one
of the police. To the best of my belief, he was the same man. The mob then
retreated over the bridge to the county of Carmarthen. I know the prisoner at
the bar to be one of the persons who was taken that night, and, to the best of
my belief, who I was scufiling with. There were two other persons taken one
had the straw hat, and his coat sleeves turned inside out. They had their
faces blackened. The other had a woman’s straw bonnet, with a piece of fern
stuck in it, as a feather. After the mob had retreated, I observed what was
done to the house. The door was broken in, the window broken, and part of the
walls demolished. Part of the sills were remaining. The boards on the floors
broken up. About two feet ot the pine end of the toll-house were taken out.
That is, a part of the walls of the building. I observed one person, with the
but of his gun, drawing up the windows. There were several instruments found
on the following day — crowbars, blacksmiths’ sledges, hammers,
&c. There is a
blacksmith’s shop adjoining the turnpike. It was damaged. I had seen a light
when about five miles from Pontartlulais — it was a blue light, thrown up into
the air. I observed it twice.
On cross-examination he added that he’d gotten the tip that caused him to go to the Pontardulais gate at . Next to testify was county magistrate John Dillwyn Llewelyn. He told more-or-less the same story, adding the detail “It was a moonlight night.” His brother, and fellow-magistrate, Lewis Ll. Dillwyn, testified next, to much the same effect, though he described “noises, similar to the mewing of cats” coming from the mob. H.J. Peake then briefly gave his similar description and produced some physical evidence:
I produce two flasks of powder given me by
Thos. Jones, who also delivered
me some papers. On the same morning he delivered me some articles of dress.
[Pouch containing shot produced]. They are large shot. (Handed in). I produce
a shirt covered with blood delivered me by Sergeant Jenkins. I produce straw
hats and one covered with cloth [like a veil]. I produce two sledges, a cliff,
some iron bars, a gun, a coat with sleeves turned.
He was followed by police sergeants Jenkins and Jones, and constables Jones, Price, Williams, and Wright. Price claimed he heard a shout of “fight till death” during the melee (the Merlin says that Jones heard this as well, and attributed the shout to “one of the mob,” while the Cambrian was more ambiguous about who did the shouting). Some of the witnesses reported on which of the prisoners they’d tangled with, what damage was done to the toll house, and what evidence they’d found at the scene, but nothing particularly worth repeating here.
George Evans, proprietor of a blacksmith shop near the Pontardulais gate, testified that his shop had been broken into on the night of the attack and identified some of the tools recovered at the gate as having been among the items taken from him.
The papers,
&c., found on
the prisoner’s person were then put in evidence — one contained
5s. in silver, and was
addressed “Mrs. Rebecca,” and contained writing, but in consequence of its
being torn it was not very intelligible. There was also a threatening letter
saying, “That the worthy mother would call on some one, and visit him for his
wicked deeds, and giving him notice to prepare for the day of judgment,[”] and
signed “A Hater of Tyranny, and one of Rebecca’s daughters.”
The Monmouthshire Merlin also covered the hearing. It added the detail that “The court was densely crowded in every part.”
