Paisley patria della GIUSTIZIA

At the intersection of George Street and Wardrop Street stands the historic St George's Church, which has now been transformed into residential flats. This structure was completed in 1820 by the city council to replace the Laigh Kirk on New Street, which had become inadequate for the growing congregation in Paisley. The new church was named St George's Low, designed in a classical style by architect William Reid. Its main façade features four grand Ionic pillars that support a pediment with square shoulders. Inside, the church was elegantly furnished and had a seating capacity of 1,200. Although there were plans for an octagonal bell tower above the façade, it was never constructed because the church treasurer absconded to South America with the funds allocated for it, and he faced no legal consequences. However, the church was the site of a different kind of trial—those for high treason. In 1820, the government sought to address grievances with the 'radicals' from 1816-1819, many of whom fled Paisley for America. Those who remained and were suspected of involvement were arrested. Among them were James Speirs and John Lang, who were taken from Paisley prison, handcuffed to police officers, and transported in a carriage under the watch of a troop of hussars. In the newly built church, they faced trial for high treason, a charge that carried the death penalty. The trial was overseen by prominent judges from England and Scotland, selected by the government, and was conducted under English law. The authorities aimed to make an example of the two men. Speirs was tried first, with the government alleging that, as the leader of a strike that had paralyzed a local cotton mill, he intended to undermine the Constitution and conspire against the king. The trial spanned three days, with the court mandating that the jury's verdict must be unanimous. When only ten of the twelve jurors found him guilty of the capital charge of high treason, the situation became increasingly tense. James Coats, the founder of the spinning mills, was one of the two jurors who stood against the majority. The rest of the jury worked tirelessly to persuade the dissenters to reconsider their stance. After extensive deliberation, they ultimately decided to deliver a guilty verdict on a lesser charge. This outcome, however, did not satisfy the government judges, who were adamant about seeking the death penalty for the accused. The process was repeated, yielding the same results. When the jury convened for the fourth time, they received the disheartening message that they would not be allowed to leave until they reached a unanimous decision on the original high treason charge. Upon hearing this, James Coats calmly reclined on a bench and addressed his fellow jurors, stating, "I will remain here as long as it takes, but I will not be complicit in condemning an innocent man." The other juror who shared his dissent was equally resolute. When the jury finally returned to the courtroom to announce their unanimous verdict, the judges felt a sense of relief, having learned that the men from Paisley had declared a verdict of NOT guilty, the same outcome given to John Lang. In a fit of anger, the judges proclaimed, "Inform the jury that their services are no longer required," and subsequently released the prisoners. The people of Paisley braced themselves for the worst, fearing that the trial would end unfavorably for both Speirs and Lang. Yet, in a remarkable turn of events, the esteemed legal minds of Britain were outmaneuvered by the jurors from Paisley, a trial that made headlines across the nation. As Speirs and Lang were freed, the entire town of Paisley erupted in joyous celebration, reveling in the long-awaited release. When the defense attorneys emerged from the courtroom, they, along with the triumphant defendants, were hoisted onto the shoulders of an ecstatic crowd. That evening, the town held a gathering to commemorate the miraculous escape of the prisoners from the brink of death and the defeat of the relentless prosecutors. Who could possibly overcome the resolve of Paisley's men without a struggle? An obituary in the Paisley Independent Newspaper following James Spiers' death in 1856 reveals more about his legacy... James Speirs lived a life of solitude, lacking the knowledge and skills necessary to lead a rebellion. His efforts were akin to those of an ordinary laborer, with limited resources and few allies by his side. Without wealth or influence, he was unable to challenge the government of his time. As a struggling shopkeeper, he was unfairly labeled a rebel, much like many of his contemporaries who were equally unprepared for the realities of insurrection. To put someone like Speirs on trial for treason, especially long after the supposed offense, was a grave injustice. He passed away quietly in extreme poverty at 11 Old Sneddon Street on October 4, 1856, having endured a legal battle for his life for 36 long years.