At the Central Criminal Court on Friday, April 14th, Alderman
Ben Tillett, indicted for inciting to riot at Bristol, was found guilty by the jury of "using words calculated to lead to riotous conduct," but they added that "he spoke in the heat of the moment without previous intention to lead to a breach of the peace." This was explained by the foreman to mean that the jury believed that Mr. Tillett had "no intention to provoke to violence." Mr. Justice Cave expressed the opinion that this verdict amounted to one of "Not guilty," and accordingly dis- charged the prisoner. The Judge, in summing-up, told the jury that the case "had been made more of than it really deserved," and that the riot "was about as mild a riot as he had ever heard of." We cannot help thinking that Mr. Tillett had a lucky escape, and that the jury probably were not aware that their verdict meant "Not guilty." At the same time, we are glad that things turned out as they did. No one wants to make a martyr of Mr. Tillett, and it is an excellent thing that the working men should feel that the Courts are in no way unsympathetic to them, but rather the reverse. There should be no shadow of an excuse for Baying that the Judges are engines of capitalist tyranny.
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