Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

RHYS LEWIS.
workmen, and tlie -workmen masters. But wait a little ! We'll
see directly how all this speech-making pays. We have heard
of you already, and we know your family, young man, before
to-day."
"My family has nothing to do with the charge now laid
against me," said Bob.
"We say it has everything to do with it," the magistrate
replied.
" If so, you had better fetch my mother here," said Bob.
" No," returned the magistrate, "we have quite enough in
you. We don't want any old women here."
" How should I know," retorted Bob, "but that you might
like to have another on the bench."
"None of your impertinence, young man, or you may have
to pay for it," cried the magistrate furiously..
Mother had many times advised Bob to learn how to hold his
tongue ; but the task was too hard for him, his excuse always
being that his was a family failing. The owner of the Hall
having engaged in a brief consultation with Mr. Brown, who
listened to him in trembling deference, said :—
" The Bench do not see any necessity for a remand in this
case. The evidence is, to their minds, conclusive. They regret
very much that more of the scoundrels have not been brought
before them to receive their deserts; but the Bench are
determined to make an example of those upon whom the police
have laid hands. The Bench are determined to show that the
master is to be master, and that it is a workman the workman
is to remain. And the Bench wish to show that the colliers
must not take the law into their own hands, and that proper
people have been appointed to administer the law. And the
Bench are determined to show that the law is stronger than the
colliers, however numerous they may be. And so the Bench
are going to sentence five of you, namely, Morris Hughes, John
Powell, Simon Edwards, GrifEth Roberts, and John Peters to
one month's imprisonment with hard labour, and Eobert Lewis
to two months' imprisonment with hard labour, the Bench
believing him to have been the chief agitator. And the Bench
trust this will be a warning, not only to the prisoners, but to
others who ought to be in the same situation with them, who are