22nd December 1816: Assassination attempt on George Kerry, at Aspley, Nottinghamshire - the final Luddite raid?

On the evening of  Sunday 22nd December 1816, an attempt was made on the life of a framework-knitter called George Kerry, in the village of Aspley, Nottinghamshire. The attack was probably the final Luddite raid, at least that we know about.

The attack drew limited coverage in the press at this point, with both articles getting Kerry's name wrong. The Leicester Chronicle of 27th December 1816 carried a brief Nottingham Review article:

It is with the greatest concern we feel it our duty this week, to record one of the most atrocious attempts at murder, that ever disgraced Nottingham. On Sunday evening last about a quarter before eight, as George Kenney and his family (who reside at a lone house by the road leading from Bobber’s Mill, to Bilborough,) was sitting by the fire-side, at supper, their house was entered by two men in disguise and armed with pistols. Kenney in attempting to seize the foremost man, was shot at by him, but without effect, and during the struggle the other man fired, but fortunately the slugs only grazed his head. The murderers thinking their object attained, instantly departed. The most prompt assistance was rendered by the neighbours, and the Police from Nottingham, but owing to the frost, and extreme darkness of the night, no trace whatever could be made of their retreat. Nottingham Review.

The Morning Post of the 28th December also ran an article:

Accounts have been received of another most atrocious attempt on the part of the Luddites to commit murder. On Sunday night last, as a weaver of the name of CURRY was sitting with his wife and a relation, two men knocked at the door and desired admittance. When they entered, they immediately made up to CURRY, and one of them discharged a pistol at him. The ball did not touch him. CURRY immediately made an effort to close with the villain, when the other man immediately five, and wounded him under the eye, but it is hoped not mortally. The men then retired, and made their escape. Their faces were completely disguised. CURRY does not know in what way he could have made himself obnoxious to the Luddites. He has not been working with machines, which are the objects of their hostility, nor has he been working under price. The magistrates took all possible steps, as soon as the event was known, to discover the assassins. A Constable was placed in CURRY'S house for his protection, but it is not supposed the villains will make a second attempt.

23rd October 1814: Aborted assassination attempt on an employee of Thomas Garton

On the evening of Sunday 23rd October 1814, a group of men approached the house of an employee of Thomas Garton, the man whose house had been attacked by Luddites 9 days before. The man lived at Lenton, and it is possible the group were trying to intimidate him into not giving evidence - a press report stated their object was to assassinate him.

Despite their number, they abandoned their object when they observed that a guard of some sort had been posted outside his home.

According to a press report, the unnamed man was sacked by Garton for fear that his presence as an employee would bring further vengeance.

14th October 1814: Armed attack on the home of Thomas Garton leaves a Luddite and bystander dead

The home of Thomas Garton had been raided, and six knitting frames had been destroyed, on 4th September 1814. Shortly afterwards, a framework-knitter called James Towle had been arrested and placed in custody awaiting trial following Garton identifying him as was one of the Luddites involved in the raid.

Since that time, Garton's life has been threatened. The Town Clerk, George Coldham, had an informant involved with the Luddites, and he had been alerted by this person on Thursday 13th October that an attack on Garton's home would take place on Sunday 16th, with a view to killing him to prevent evidence being given against Towle at his trial. On Friday morning, Coldham summoned Thomas Garton and his brother and explained to them what he knew. He suggested that Garton should be moved to a safehouse on Saturday morning and measures taken to secure the house with a view to arresting any attackers.

But Coldham received more news from the informant at 6.30 p.m. on Friday 14th that the attack on Garton's home had been brought forward to 8.00 p.m. that evening. Coldham wasted no time and dispatched a constable to move Garton to safety at the Police Office in Nottingham, as well as other constables to go to Garton's house and another to alert Garton's brother to come to his aid.

Constables Benjamin Hall and John Flude arrived at Garton's house at 7.30 p.m. Three of Garton's journeymen and 2 apprentices were there, one of them armed with a stick, the rest unarmed. Shortly, 4 more constables from Nottingham arrived, armed with cutlasses and guns. Finally, Garton's brother and his son and two servants arrived, bringing more weapons.

After 2 hours, nothing had happened, and two constables - Griffin and Barnes - were dispatched to fetch some food and drink.

But within 10 minutes, those inside heard what sounded like a hammer banging on the front door of the house, and voices could be heard in the passageway at the side of the house - someone later estimated 10 men were outside. The door being forced open, 3 men rushed in, with one of them calling out "damn him! where is he? where is he?" - this was followed by 3 or 4 shots being fired into the house by the intruders. The force of the shots was so great that soot fell from the chimney, almost putting out the fire in the hearth in the parlour, with candles going out. One constables said "be steady lads, give them a volley" and the constables returned fire - one of the intruders dropped to the ground, and others fell outside in the passageway. All was then quiet.

However, the noise and commotion had excited interest elsewhere. A neighbour of Garton came to his front door, but was swore at and threatened by a man who threatened to 'blow his brains out'. Mrs Garton was at the house of a neighbour, William Kilby, who lived only 30 yards from Garton's. Mrs Garton had heard the noise and became alarmed - Kilby rushed out to his door, but was hit by  a bullet from a gun. He fell down dead. Later reports accused the Luddites of killing Kilby, but one constable present - Robert Lineker - later gave a statement which clearly stated Kilby was shot at the time they returned fire - it was possible, but not acknowledged, that a stray shot aimed at the Luddites had killed him.

The constables in the house expected another attack to be made and set about reloading their weapons. A light was found, and it was then clear the intruder that had fallen was dead - his head being shattered by shots. No trace of any remaining intruders could be found, but it was apparent that Garton's brother was injured in one hand, and one of the men he had brought had minor wounds in his stomach. Mrs Garton then arrived and told the constables what had happened outside.

An hour passed without incident, and the two constables that had left returned, bringing with them six dragoons. The whole group didn't leave until it was almost dawn.

The raiders had escaped into the night. The raider who was killed in Garton's house was later identified as Samuel Bamford, originally from Basford, but latterly living in Nottingham.

23rd February 1813: Nottingham's Town Clerk, George Coldham, has doubts about the suspects in the Samuel Ash shooting

My Lord

By Desire of the Mayor I have the Honour to inclose for your Lordship’s Information the Minutes of the Examination of Thomas Kirke & Thomas Neaps & some other Persons regarding the Charge of firing a Pistol into the House of Samuel Ash on the Morning of the 14th of February Instant. It will I apprehend appear to your Lordship that there is nothing like any distinct Evidence either that Neaps or Kirke actually fired the Pistol & it does not appear from the Enquiries subsequently made by the Magistrates that we are likely to acquire any distinct Information on this part of the law; Thomas Kirke has however virtually assaulted the Constable who apprehended & struck him violently with a view to affect his Escape & upon him at his Dwelling House the Pistol & a Sword is found & he [appears] precisely in appearance the Man who appears to have acted a very leading part in some of the later Attempts to Destroy Frames. The Magistrates are therefore extremely Desirous of knowing what course it would be desireable to pursue with regard to him at the Assizes — & thus hope that your Lordship will have the Goodness to enquire of the Law Officers of the Crown in what way they would advise the Magistrates to shape a Case against him to avoid him being sett at Liberty & to insure if possible some degree of Punishment for the part he has acted in this Business. If any thing further should be made the Magistrates will give Directions that it shall be immediately reported to your Lordship

I have [etc]
Geo Coldham
Town Clerk

Nottm
23d Febry 1813.

[To] Lord Sidmouth

15th February 1813: The Deputy Town Clerk of Nottingham reports shots fired at an employer

Nottingham 15th Feby 1813

My Lord

By direction of the Mayor and Aldermen of this Town our report your Lordship that a most daring outrage was committed in the Town at 6 oClock yesterday morning by some person firing Slugs into the supposed Lodging room of a Mr Samuel Ash a Manufacturer of Braces and other Network. Suspicion attaching to several men the Mayor & Aldermen sat the whole of yesterday and were engaged in examining the Persons whom they apprehended until 12 oClock last night. Two of them Thomas Kirke & Thomas Neaps were committed to prison for further Examination. In the House of Kirke a large Pistol was found — concealed in a hollow part of the floor in a room in his House which is called here the House place where the Family usually reside; and it is the opinion of Major Humphrey who are seen and examined the Pistol that it had been recently fired off and that it is sufficiently large to have fired from it the Slugs found in Ash’s room

There was also found in Ash’s Kirke’s House a Bayonet and Hanger and from the facts disclosed upon his and other mens Examinations there is strong ground of Suspicion that he and Neaps have been concerned in this Transaction. There is not at present any positive proof against either of them but the Magistrates hope as upon further Investigation something will transpire to lead to the detection of the offenders.

I have [etc]
H Enfield
Dy Town Clerk

P.S.
Your Lordship will
have the goodness to excuse
the hurried writing of this
letter — Time allows not
of any Copy

[To] The Rt Honble Lord Sidmouth

14th February 1813: Assassination attempt on a manufacturer, Samuel Ash, in Nottingham

At 6.00 a.m. on Sunday 14th February 1813 a net lace manufacturer, Samuel Ash, and his wife were asleep in their house at Poplar Place in Nottingham. They were awoken by the sound of a pistol being discharged and then that of breaking glass in a neighbouring room.

The shot had been fired by assailants unknown into a room that he and his wife used as a bedroom until recently. Had they been sleeping there that morning, they would have taken the full force of the various pieces of lead slugs used to make the shot.

28th December 1812: Days before George Mellor's trial, Joseph Mellor is attacked twice in the same evening

George Mellor's cousin, Joseph, was due to give evidence at George's Trial at the York Special Commission, which would commence in but a few days time.

At 10.00 p.m. on Monday 28th December, Joseph was riding his horse home, and about to enter Dungeon Wood when he was accosted by up to two people. One of them grabbed the bridle of his horse, but Joseph lashed out at the person, making them loosen their grip - he then spurred his horse and rode home at speed.

An hour later, having calmed down, he went out into his garden at home for a smoke of his pipe. Suddenly, he heard the crack of a pistol or musket, and in an instant the sound of a bullet striking the wall near to him. Terrified, he quickly ran back inside.

Someone wanted to either kill or intimidate Joseph - one way or the other, they didn't want him to give evidence at his Cousin's trial. Within a day, General Acland had posted a guard at his house.

23rd November 1812: a shot is fired into the house of a man at Clifton

The Monday 30th November 1812 edition of the Leeds Intelligencer featured a letter to the editor which described an attack on an individual at Clifton who had been, along with others, the subject of an arms-raid 4 months previously.

MR. INTELLIGENCER,—Can you explain to the public the end the Faction have in view in telling us, with reference to the neighbourhood of Huddersfield, that “all is now perfectly tranquil in that district.” Can they be ignorant of the fact that on Monday night, the 23d instant, about ten o'clock, a shot was fired into the house of John Wilkinson, of Clifton, cardmaker, which shot passed thro’ the window-shutters, struck the back of the chair in which Mr. Wilkinson usually sits, and broke some glasses on the opposite side of the room. Mr. Wilkinson, by accident, (I say by Providence) was not at that moment sitting in his chair, or he would have received the ball in his body.—Is Clifton not in the Huddersfield district? or is a transaction which upon the face of it has all the appearance of a cool malicious determinate intention to take away the life of a quiet respectable member of Society, sitting by his own fire side, no interruption of perfect tranquility?

It is not a little remarkable that these same men, who pique themselves upon the accuracy, their penetration, and their early authentic information, took some pains to persuade us that Luddism was nearly, if not totally extinct, about the time when that systematic attack was made on the inhabitants of Clifton, by which they were deprived of their fire arms, and when Mr. Wilkinson’s gun was violently taken from him.—It is not easy to guess what is Mr W's. offence, except that he thinks, and has expressed an opinion, which every body else entertains, that the feat of arms-stealing, performed at Clifton in the summer, was not the work of “foreigners”

VERAX.

31st July 1812: A would-be Luddite assassin is found dead in Newton, Cheshire

In his memoirs, Captain Francis Raynes related an incident that took place in the evening of Friday 31st July 1812 at Newton, near Hyde, Cheshire. The Cooper referred to is William Cooper, Raynes' informer, who had been uncovered by Luddites and whose life had been threatened previously. Raynes had taken him under the protection of the military:

About five o’clock in the Saturday morning ... Ashworth, my special constable, came to inform me, a man had been murdered in Newton, at a short distance from the back of Cooper’s house, and his body horribly burnt and disfigured. I immediately hastened to Newton, accompanied by some soldiers and the special constable, and found there a spectacle too shocking to describe. On examining the body and the place where it was found, I had no doubt in my own mind, but the deluded men, bent on the horrid purpose of murdering Cooper, had assembled at the back of his house, with determined resolution of executing it. But it appeared to me, that Samuel Crabtree, the young man found shot, after loading his pistol, had put it into his pocket, where it had accidentally gone off, several bullets having entered his back, and the fire communicating with a quantity of powder he had about him, produced the dreadful appearance the body assumed: a powder flask burst, and a leathern bag, containing upwards of sixty bullets, some of which were melted, were found with the body.

Raynes went on to state that there was no formal inquest into the death. The incident was later related in the press, although there was no mention of Cooper. Crabtree was 18 years old.

22nd July 1812: John Hinchliffe shot and badly wounded at Upper Thong

Around 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday 23rd July 1812, John Hinchliffe - a professional singer and the parish clerk of Holmfirth - was asleep in bed at his home in Wickens, near Upper Thong. He was awoken by a great din, someone was banging on his door - someone shouted "does John Hinchliffe live here?". He sat up and said, loudly, "yes, what do you want?" - a voice called back "we want to speak to you".

Hinchliffe got up and went directly downstairs and opened the door. Two men were there and each raised a pistol to point right at him. He noticed that the face of one of the men was covered.They grabbed him, saying they would not hurt him, but wanted him to show them where someone lived, but wouldn't say who. Hinchliffe refused to go, and then noticed a horse trotting up the lane - the masked man let go of him and ran after it. The other man still had hold of him and said "what have you been doing?" - Hinchliffe said "nothing" - the man said "you're a liar, you've been giving information against someone at Thong!".

At this point, Hinchliffe broke free of the man's grip - as he was turning, the man raised his pistol and fired straight at Hinchliffe's head: Hinchliffe screamed out, and the man ran away.

Hinchliffe's neighbour - another Hinchliffe called Thomas - heard the shot and got up. He went to his door and heard Hinchliffe calling out "Tom! Tom! Tom, there's a man, he's shot my eye out!" and moaning. It was only when he opened the door on the moonlit night and let John in that he could see Hinchliffe's head around his left eye was a bloody mess - but he was still alive.

15th June 1812: Attempted assassination of a Special Constable, William Milnes, at Lockwood

William Milnes was a Special Constable for the Huddersfield area, and lived in Lockwood, near the town. Between 11.00 p.m. and 12.00 a.m. on Monday 15th June 1812, his house came under attack.

Three shots of musket balls were first fired through the windows of his home, and this was followed by the breaking in of the windows by individuals with sticks. The attackers made off without being apprehended or identified. The Leeds Mercury of 20th June 1812 noted that Milnes "had incurred the displeasure of the Luddites by the vigilant discharge of his duty as a Constable".

6th June 1812: Shots fired close to the owner of Foster's Mill, near Horbury

At 11.00 a.m. on Saturday 6th June 1812, apparent shots from a musket were fired at Mr. Foster, the owner of the Mill attacked by Luddites almost two months previously. The shots passed very close to Foster.

Foster saw the culprit, Joseph Naylor a tailor, and wasted no time in applying to a magistrate for a warrant to apprehend him. Naylor was later examined by the Reverend Mr Taylor, who found that Naylor had fired a double-barrelled gun loaded with musket balls, but that he could not have seen Foster. Consequently, Naylor was discharged with a reprimand.

21st May 1812: A soldier is attacked in Leeds

In the evening of the 21st May 1812, Ensign Madden of the 30th Regiment was walking through the streets of Leeds. He had passed the Moot Hall when he was set upon by up to three men, one of whom drew a sword from under his coat at thrust it at him.

Although Madden was injured in the thigh by the sword, the wound subsequently proved to be minor.

16th May 1812: A Luddite-baiter is shot in Nottingham

On Saturday 16th May 1812, a Mr. Gaunt from Hucknall Torkard, a 'gentleman who had been particularly active in discovering the Luddites' (according to the Leeds Mercury) was shot in that town. At the time of writing, it was not clear whether or not he would live.

11th May 1812: The assassination of the Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval

The Assassination as depicted in an etching by Henry Warren

On Monday 11th May 1812, John Bellingham finally got a Minister to take his grievances seriously when he shot the Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, at the House of Commons. Perceval is the only Prime Minister, so far, to suffer this fate. The following is the report that appeared in the Times on the following day, 12th May:

About a quarter past five Mr. PERCEVAL was entering the Lobby of the House of Commons, where a number of persons were standing, when a man, who had a short time previously placed himself in the recess the door-way within the Lobby, drew out a small pistol, and shot Mr. PERCEVAL in the lower part of the left breast. The ball is supposed to have entered the heart. Mr. PERCEVAL moved forwards a few faltering steps, nearly half way up the lobby, and was in the act of falling, when some persons stept forward and caught him. He was immediately carried to the room of the SPEAKER’S Secretary, to the left of the lobby, by Mr. W. SMITH, Mr. BRADSHAW, and another Gentleman. Mr. LYNN, the Surgeon, in Parliament-street, was immediately sent for; but on examining the wound, he considered the case utterly hopeless. All that escaped Mr. PERCEVAL'S lips previously to falling in the lobby, was “murder,” or “murdered.” He said no more afterwards. He expired in about ten or twelve minutes after receiving the fatal wound. Several Members of both Houses of Parliament went into the room while he was dying: among others, his brother, Lord ARDEN: all of them appeared greatly agitated. There was very little effusion of blood from the wound, externally. His body was subsequently removed into the SPEAKER’S House. Lord FRANCES OSBORNE, Lord OSSULSTON, and some others, were crossing the lobby at the moment of the assassination, and were very near to Mr. PERCEVAL. The deed was perpetrated so suddenly, that the man who fired the pistol was not instantly recognized by those in the lobby; but a person passing at the moment behind Mr. PERCEVAL, seized the pistol, (which was a very small one) from the hand of the assassin, who retired towards a bench to the left; he surrendered it without any resistance. Mr. GOODIF, an Officer of the House, took hold of him, and asked if he were the villain who shot the Minister. He replied, “I am the unhappy man:” but appeared quite undisturbed. It is said, that he added something about the want of redress of grievances from Ministers; but if he did say so, it was heard by very few. On searching him, a few pounds were found in his pockets, and some printed papers, copies of which he is said to have previously distributed among Members. He was taken to the bar of the House of Commons, and identified as the assassin. Another pistol, similar to that which he had fired, was taken from his pocket in the House. All the doors of the House were then locked, and he was conveyed by the private passages up stairs to one of the apartments called the prison rooms, in the upper story, over the Committee-rooms. Here he underwent an examination for some time, which is attended by Aldermen COMBE and CURTIS, and by Mr. READ, Mr. COLQUHOUN, Mr. FIELDING, and other Magistrates; and several Members of the House of Commons, Mr. WHITBREAD, Mr. WYNNE, Mr. STEPHEN, Lord CASTLEREAGH, Mr. Secretary RYDER, &c. After an examination of various witnesses, among whom were Lords OSBULSTON, and FRANCIS OSBORNE, General GASCOYNE, Mr. H. SUMNER, the Officers of the House, and several strangers, the man was fully committed to Newgate for trial. A hackney-coach was brought to the iron gates in Lower Palace-yard; but the crowd, which was at first composed of decent people, being gradually swelled by concourse of pick-pockets and the lower orders, who mounted the coach, and were so exceedingly troublesome and even dangerous, that it was not deemed advisable to send him to Newgate in the manner intended. We heard with pain, repeated shouts of applause from the ignorant or depraved part of the crowd, as if they were hailing some oppressed but innocent victim; some of whom even mixed with their shouts, the cry of “Burdett for ever!” and attempted to open the opposite door of the coach, as if to give the murderer an opportunity of escape. A party of Life Guards arrived about this time, and formed a semicircle Lower Palace-yard, by which the mob were kept at a distance. It was, however, thought more prudent to send him away by another outlet, and so avoid confusion. He was therefore taken out by the Speaker’s entrance, and conveyed to Newgate. His name is Bellingham. He has been engaged in mercantile concerns at Liverpool, and was recognised by Generals TARLETON and GASCOYNE, the Members for that place. He is about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches in height, with a rather thin visage, a nose somewhat aquiline, and of genteel appearance. He has been a good deal about the House of Commons during these few weeks, and dined several times in the coffee-room. He preserved, during the most part of the proceedings, an air perfectly calm, and the appearance of one under no sort of agitation, but who had deliberately and fully made up his mind to the atrocious act he has committed, and the awful consequences that would ensue to himself. He observed to a Police Officer, after his commitment, that he knew what his crime was, and what its result would be. He had lodgings in New Millman-street, near the Foundling Hospital. His landlady, who is a young widow, with a family, stated, that he had been very serviceable to her in the recovery of a child of her’s, which had been missing, and that he had taken her yesterday morning to see the European Museum. He used to complain to her of money due to him, which he was wronged of, without getting which, he must be ruined man. It is said that he has a wife and three children. Several circumstances are stated relative to expressions used by recently: among others, one, respecting some allusions lately made by Mr. PERCEVAL of secret assassinations, on which is said to have observed, that Mr. PERCEVAL should not have that to say for nothing. Various stories are retailed, of his having been given frequent proofs of temporary derangement. He was, we understand, engaged some years ago in commercial speculations in Russia; and made certain demands, for compensation, on Government, which were not acceded to. He is said to have complained of the conduct of Government, and of our then Ambassador at St. Petersburgh; and have recently reiterated his complaints, without being able to impress the conviction of their justice. These are the prominent particulars of what we have learned of this wretched person; respecting whom, there are of course numerous floating reports.

9th May 1812: Soldier & companion are drowned in the Rochdale Canal

At 11.00 p.m. on Saturday night the 9th of May 1812, John Moore a Sergeant in the 1st Regiment of Manchester Local Militia Sergeant and a female companion, his cousin, got into an altercation with a group of men at a bridge over the Rochdale Canal in Manchester. They were pushed off the bridge and into the canal, and subsequently drowned, their bodies being found the following morning.

It was later alleged that Moore had refused to be twisted-in, and had feared for his life for the last 3 weeks prior to his assassination.

8th May 1812: Attack on the home of Colonel Campbell at Woodhouse, Leeds

In the evening of Friday, 8th May 1812, an attack was made on the home of Colonel Campbell, the commanding officer of the Leeds district, at Woodhouse.

The attack took place between 10.00 and 11.00 p.m. that night. Two men armed with muskets had concealed themselves in a plantation 20 yards behind the house and fired them at 2 Hussars near to the guard house: the shots missed, and instead hit a tree. Sentries pursued the men, who were seen ascending a wall at the rear of the property and got away.

It's possible that this attack was a decoy for the main target. At virtually the same time as the shots from the rear, a shot was fired by one of up to five men at the front of the property, and aimed at the Colonel's son and another soldier who were at the south-east corner. The shot failed to find a human target, and again, the would-be assassins got away.

Campbell arrived home not long afterwards, and set about strengthening the guard.

In a letter to Lieutenant Colonel Grey the following day, Campbell explained that those at home knew something was amiss:

voices were heard all round about my house which stands detached from other buildings & persons I now find were seen all the early part of the night lurking about my house—I suppose watching for my return home

28th April 1812: The assassination of William Horsfall

The most famous representation of the shooting, an etching by renowned Victorian artist 'Phiz'

By Tuesday 28th April 1812, there already had been 3 attempted assassinations in the West Riding on those directly involved in, or with strong links to, the manufacturer's war against the working class in the Huddersfield area.

On that day, one of the major manufacturers to make use of shearing frames, William Horsfall, undertook his regular journey to the Huddersfield cloth market, on horseback across the coach road from his mill at Marsden. That day, the mill was in the process of finishing its first ever order for black cloth.

He headed back in the late afternoon, in the company of Edmund Eastwood, another manufacturer from Slaithwaite, and a friend of Horsfall. At 17.45 p.m. they stopped at the Warren House, an Inn on Crosland Moor for a drink with 2 ex-employees. Horsfall only stopped for 15 minutes, whilst Eastwood stayed and watered his horse. The Leeds Mercury described what took place next:

"when he had come within about 300 yards of the Warren Inn, a distance of about a mile and a half from Huddersfield, on the Manchester Road, four men, each armed with a horse pistol, who had just before stepped out of the small plantation, placed the barrels of their pistols in appertures in the wall, apparently prepared for that purpose; the muzzel of two of these pieces Mr. Horsfall distinctly saw, but before he had time to extricate himself from his perilous situation, they all four fired, and inflicted four wounds in the left side of their victim, who instantly fell from his horse, and the blood flowed from the wounds in torrents. A number of passengers both horse and foot rushed almost instantly to the spot, and, after disentangling his foot from the Stirrup, he was some difficulty got to the Inn."

Another representation of the shooting from 'York Castle in the Nineteenth Century'

Of the assassins, the Mercury had the following:

"after they had perpetrated the sanguinary deed, walked to the distance of some yards, and soon after briskening their speed, they ran towards Dungeon Wood, and entirely escaped undiscovered, no pursuit or search having been made after them, till the arrival of a troop of the Queen’s Bays, about three quarters of an hour afterwards. One of the Assassins is described to us as about six feet high, another as a low portly man, and the two others as about five feet six or seven inches high, rather slender; they all wore dark coarse woollen coats, and appeared to be working men."

Edmund Eastwood had by then re-mounted his horse to catch up with Horsfall, but the horse threw him at the time the assassination took place. Though he himself was injured by the fall, the Mercury later reported that he ran back to Huddersfield to get medical help.

Horsfall lay in the road, badly injured & bleeding profusely. But according to a letter written 2 days later by Colonel Campbell, the reaction of most people nearby was far from helpful:

"as soon as he fell after being wounded the inhuman populace surrounding him reproached him with having been the oppressor of the poor — they did not offer assistance — nor did any one attempt to pursue or secure the assassins who were seen to retire to an adjoining wood."

Another manufacturer who was nearby helped Horsfall back to the Warren House. Some time later, a surgeon belonging to the Queen's Bays, Mason Stanhope Kenny, arrived to do what he could for Horsfall. Eastwood, who had returned with the help, offered to run another errand for medical supplies. He mounted his horse and rode back to Huddersfield, but his mount again threw him at the corner of the churchyard in Huddersfield, and he suffered yet more injuries.

By night-time, Horsfall was still lying in the Warren House, clinging on to life.

27th April 1812: Attempted assassination of a Nottingham Hosier, William Trentham

William Trentham was Hosier in the town of Nottingham, a partner in the firm of Trentham, Tierney & Morton. He was already a notorious and hated character among the framework-knitters of that town.

At the height of Luddism in Nottinghamshire in January 1812, his windows had been smashed on two occasions.

In February, his warehouse was broken into and a quantity of silk and cotton stockings were removed.

Only a few days ago, he had received a threatening letter about his subcontracting to another Hosier who was paying extremely low wages to some of her workers. The letter was clear about the consequences of continuing in the practises he had thus far.

According to Thomas Allsop, a member of the United Committee of Framework-knitters, on Saturday 25th April, Trentham had docked his workers' wages and told them to 'tell Ned Ludd' if they were unhappy.

At 10.15 p.m. on a Monday evening, the 27th April 1812, Trentham was returning home, when he thought that 2 men were following him. He couldn't be sure, but with the letter he had received suddenly springing to mind, he decided to hurry home. He reached the door of his house at Kaye's Walk near St Mary's Church Yard in Nottingham, and knocked on it. While he waited for an answer, the 2 men that had been following approached him, one of them presenting a large horse-pistol to his chest. Without a word, the man shot him.

Trentham was lucky: he was found shortly afterwards, and help was obtained to remove the bullet which was lodged just under his left shoulder. Despite being 63 years of age, he survived and later recovered.

23rd April 1812: Attempted assassination of an employee of Joseph Radcliffe, Isaac Rayner

Isaac Rayner was a husbandman employed by the Huddersfield magistrate Joseph Radcliffe. At 9 p.m. on Thursday 23rd April 1812, he was returning home after a long day working at Milnsbridge. He decided to cut through a plantation at Ryecroft Edge. Soon he became conscious of at least three figures near the road, which seemed to him to be odd, and he made his way towards them. At this point he saw one the figures there present a gun, and next heard the shot being fired and the flash from the muzzle, and in an instant, something passed very close to his head.

He turned and ran through the plantation, and did not stop until he reached home. Lighting a candle, he took his hat off and placed it on his table. In the soft light of the candle he noticed a hole in his hat that wasn't there this morning: the shot from the gun had missed his head by inches.

Three days later, Rayner formally related the incident to Radcliffe, who sent his deposition to the Home Office, offering to post a reward of £100 if a Royal pardon could be given to any accomplice that would come forward.