Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/115

 notable victory on behalf of all enginemen. The trial and defence cost the Society over £295, but, said the next annual report, "We feel we have been amply repaid, for we secured the acquittal of our members, and a large influx of members has been our reward. The books show an increase of 474 members, in addition to seven new branches opened in the year."

The following letter was addressed by the Society to Mr. W. Warren, the solicitor in charge of the case, after the close of the trial:—

"17,, ,

January 14th, 1888.

,

I am requested by nearly two thousand members of our Society, belonging to the branches appended, to express to you and the other legal and professional gentlemen engaged in the defence of Taylor and Davies, in connection with the Hexthorpe trial, their high appreciation of your distinguished abilities in bringing about such gratifying results, and trust that you will kindly convey the same.

I remain, on behalf of the members of Liverpool, Stockport, Leeds, Plymouth, York, Sheffield, Mexborough, Lincoln, Llanelly, Bristol, Neath, Cardiff, Exeter, Pontypool, Nottingham, Newport, Peterborough, Oxford, London, Wolverhampton, Retford, Gloucester, Birmingham, Manchester, Grimsby, and Bradford,

Yours respectfully,

T. G. SUNTER,

General Secretary."

The whole body of drivers and firemen of the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway Company also subscribed a letter to the solicitor, saying:—

"We no sooner saw them put in fetters than one and all we