18th March 1812: The trial of William Barnes at the Nottingham Lent Assizes

The Nottingham Review of the 27th March 1812 continued with its coverage of the trials of the Luddites at Nottingham Lent Assizes:

William Barnes, one of most respectable men in Basford, was arraigned on suspicion of conniving at the breaking of three frames in his workshop, on the 26th of January, 1812, belonging to Messrs. Haddens, Hosiers, in this town.

Mr. Bodill, Constable, stated, that he took an order from Mr. Hadden to the prisoner, on the day named in the indictment, directing him to deliver up to such Constable the three frames belonging to Messrs. Haddens the next day; but it was thought necessary the plant two of the Berkshire Militia in the house, to protect them during the night from the violence of the Luddites. Accordingly, the witness took two soldiers with him to the house, and when he gave the prisoner the order, he said, “God Almighty damn the Hosiers, they are a pack of dammed scoundrels altogether;” wished the soldiers to be taken away, and would not suffer any of his family to fetch them any refreshment.

Henry Huggins, a soldier, deposed that he was placed in the prisoner’s house, for the purpose above specified; that the prisoner went out in fifteen minutes, as the admittance of himself and comrade, to fetch his daughter, for fear she should be frightened when she came at the sight of soldiers in the house, on whose account he seemed very uneasy. He described the prisoner as going out and in several times, and at length he entered in silence with eighteen or twenty persons at his back, in disguise, who immediately secured the soldiers and their arms—threatened them with instant death if they made any resistance, and sent the prisoner up stairs while they demolished the frames belonging to Messers. Haddens. The soldier described one person as a gentleman, who seemed to have the command of the rest, and who said to the men, ”Ned, do your duty, or you shall not be paid.” Witness further stated, that the frame-breakers remained in the house eighteen or twenty minutes; and that when they went away, the prisoner came downstairs, and exclaimed, “Oh dear me! this will be laid upon me! these frames would not have been broken, if the Constable had not come here.” Witness went on to state, that the priosner stated himself, during their conversation, to have been forced into his own house by two men, each with a pistol at his head, threatening, in a low tone of voice, instant death if he created the least alarm; that a table was broken in the house, and three frames in the shop, while three remained unbroken; and asserted most distinctly, that he did not fall a sleep before the frame-breakers entered the house.

Thomas Osborne, the other soldier, who had been present during the last witness’s examination, confirmed, in a hesitating manner, what his comrade had stated; admitted how much he was alarmed while the frame-breakers help their pistols to his breast; that he had not slept before they entered the house; and that they gave him and his comrade their arms back when they had completed their work of spoliation.

After Mr. Alexander Hadden had proved the demolished frames to belong to the firm of Alexander, John, and George Hadden, and that he had sent an order to the prisoner to deliver up the said frames, as stated by the witness Bodill,

Barnes was called upon for his defence, when he declared his innocence in the most solemn manner; that, so far from his having acted in the outrageous manner as stated by the witness Bodill, that he had not sworn an oath during the last seven years; that he thought it hard work for Mr. Hadden to send for his frames at so short notice, as it was not only contrary to established custom, but that he had worked him ten years, without ever an angry word having passed between them. He further stated, that if the soldiers had not slept before the entrance of the frame-breakers, that they had done something very much like it, for that he saw them hanging down their heads, and heard them snore; and that when he awoke them, they exclaimed bitterly against the Hosiers for being the cause of having such hard duty imposed upon them, and that it would be better to use violence to their persons than their frames.

Mr. Hadden voluntarily rose up and confirmed the testimony of Barnes respecting the length of time he had worked him, and the purity of his character after which,

Robert Elliott, a neighbour of the prisoner’s deposed, that he was in conversation with him at half-past six the evening the frames were broken, and that he had not parted with him at his (the prisoner’s) own door many minutes before he saw the frame-breakers enter his house, and heard the hammers go in the shop. Several highly respectable persons were ready to speak to the character of the prisoner, but the Judge thought their testimonies unnecessary; and after an impartial address to the Jury, they returned a verdict of Not Guilty.

26th February 1812: Town Clerk of Nottingham to Home Office about cases for the Assizes

Sir

Being concerned in two Prosecutions at the Assizes one in the Town against William Parkes and George Shaw, and the other in the County against William Barnes of Bulwell — We hope you will excuse our soliciting you to have the goodness to inform us whether Government intend to take any and what course as to supporting the expence or directing the manner in which these Prosecutions are to be conducted; as it will regulate our mode of Proceeding.

In the first of these Prosecutions we have reason to believe the Prosecution is not at all disposed to do more than his compelled by his Recognizance, and we are inclined to think that he is by no means in circumstances to afford any serious Attack upon his Pocket.

In the second Prosecution our Client is certainly adequate to sustain the expence but will not be at all sorry to have its burden rendered easy or entirely taken away from him by the Interference of Government.

We are more anxious to make this enquiry of you as the Judges have of late made such scanty allowances for the Costs of Prosecutions at Assizes as render it impossible in many Instances for persons in respectable Businesses to have any thing else to do with them but to order the attendance of the Witnesses suffering the Prosecution to take its own course in Court without Brief or Counsel and because it will be necessary in case of the Interference of the Crown to obey such directions as we may receive as to the Counsel to be retained and to whom Brief should be delivered.

We should not have ventured to make this enquiry had not Mr Coldham seen a Communication from Mr Ryder to the Duke of Newcastle, in which he understood the Treasury intended to take upon themselves the expence of all Prosecutions of this kind in the County.

I beg the favor of a reply — and am
Sir, (for Coldham & Enfield)
Your obliged and obedient Servant

George Coldham

Nottingham
February 26 1812

[Home Office note] acquaint him that it is not stated what is the nature of the Prosecutions mentd — if they are [illegible] connected with Framebreaking the Expences attending them will be defrayed by Government

7th Feburary 1812: 2 Framebreakers committed to Nottingham Gaol

On Friday 7th February, the authorities committed 2 more men to the County Gaol for frame-breaking.

John Osborne, of Eastwood, was committed for frame-breaking at Eastwood 2 days earlier. Upon his entering custody the County Gaoler, Thomas Wright, said he had found Osborne had about his person a piece of iron (part of a stocking frame) and a letter or piece of paper signed 'Ned Lud for ever Amen'.

It was also reported that William Barnes had been committed for frame-breaking at Basford on 26th January. The authorities had obviously decided that Barnes has connived in the attack upon the frames being kept in his home at the time.

28th January 1812: William Barnes taken into custody for aiding and abetting Luddites

In the 1st February edition of the Nottingham Journal, it was reported that William Barnes, the stockinger in whose house frames had been destroyed on 26th January, had been taken into custody "on a strong suspicion of aiding and abetting in this outrage." The Bow Street Magistrate Robert Baker had indicated in his letter to the Home Office of 28th January that this had happened on the same date.

28th January 1812: Bow Street Magistrate Robert Baker writes to the Home Office

Nottingham
Jany. 28, 1812

Sir,

We are favoured with your’s of the 27th inst. and have still to speak of reports which have reached here of framebreaking at Selston on the borders of Derbyshire and at Cotgrave 6 miles So-East from Nottm. but we cannot yet learn the extent of the mischief or any circumstances of Aggravation. Our letter of yesterday will shew how much we are impressed with the necessity of leaving no means untried of detecting the delinquents in the fact; in furtherance of which we have pursued every slight information and conjecturing what maybe, from what has been, have tried at hazard every chance of detection.

The inclosed letter will shew the means of security set on foot by Mr. Kirkby the Magistrate at Gotham and we have some satisfaction to think that the readiness we have shewn from the first moment we saw him to give our assistance and encouragement (such as they are) have further’d his Object; and we hope his endeavours will prevent, that most distressing of all measures, the hoziers taking home their frames from that and the neighbouring villages.

The two men brought last night from Budwell by Foy the Constable, as mentioned in our inclosure of yesterday have been examined this morning by a County Justice and committed for re-examination at the adjoumed meeting of the County Justices tomorrow.

We shall take care that the Town Clerk and the Clerk to the County Justices are apprized of the various offences to which their Case may attach, and an old woman and an Apprentice who were probably present when the frames were broken will be brought over in the morning as witnesses. Another man also has been taken into Custody today from Budwell under very singular and important circumstances. A Hosier here who had told a weaver of the name of Barnes at Budwell that he should bring home his frames for fear of their being destroyed. It generally has happened that frames in that case have been visited before removal — To avoid which a constable (not one of our Officers) went on Sunday Evening to Barnes’s house with two soldiers and said he was come to protect the frames ‘till removed and left the soldiers in the house. — Barnes treated the Constable and soldiers with the most abusive language, said he wanted none of their help and went out immediately, and the constable went also away to 4 other soldiers which were at the public house. Presently after Barnes returned and in an instant was followed by six men armed with pistols who ran in upon the Soldiers seized upon their arms presented Pistols at them, threw them on the ground, broke all the frames that belonged to the Hoziers and spared two which were Barnes’s own. Perhaps it may appear that Barnes was not present at the actual breaking as the soldier thinks he might go upstairs as he came in. All this will be before the Justices tomorrow.

Our Officers have brought a man also in Custody from Blidworth whom Mr. Sherbrook thinks may be important and has ordered for examination tomorrow; he was sometime ago in Custody on suspicion of Murder, but had now no pistol or offensive weapon on him or did anything more than run away the moment he was seen on the forest. He was found on the Waste of the Forest by one of the Officers we stationed at Blidworth. The Offr. and Sarjeant of the troop went out about eight at night towards the place where it is said the Mansfield conspirators held their numerous meetings — and where it is supposed their out scouts have sometimes met at night. They found their prisoner near that place alone. He is a man of Nottingham and was taken on the Open Forest 12 miles from home. It is not likely that anything will come of this.

The Result of the Justices meeting tomorrow you of course will hear from us by the first post.

We are [etc.]

Bob Baker

26th January 1812: Frame-breaking at Basford - anatomy of an attack

In Basford on the night of Sunday 26th January, a Hosiery firm - Messrs Haddens - had arranged with the authorities for 2 soldiers from the Berkshire Militia - Henry Huggins & Thomas Osgood - to guard some of their frames at the home of an employee.

Osgood & Huggins received their orders from Corporal Stephen Allen who, along with a Special Constable Thomas Bodill, accompanied them to the home of the employee, William Barnes, a framework-knitter.

Upon their arrival at 7.00 p.m., Bodill handed Barnes a note from Haddens which explained the arrangement with the military. Barnes was extremely annoyed by this, and insisted the frames were perfectly safe left unguarded in his home. When Bodill gave the soldiers some money for refreshment, Barnes refused Bodill's requests to fetch some food for the soldiers, saying they should go themselves. Bodill and Corporal Allen then left.

Barnes was extremely agitated. Only 10 minutes after their arrival, and whilst Osgood and Huggins warmed themselves by the fire, Barnes left the house, returning again five minutes later. As the soldiers relaxed, they heard a footstep outside, and leapt up seizing their muskets. Barnes told them to rest easy, as it was his neighbour returning home. Within 15 minutes, Barnes had left again, pausing outside to speak to someone who the soldiers assumed was his neighbour.

Upon his return 5 minutes later, he flung the door open and was followed by 20 Luddites, many of them carrying sticks, and some of them armed with pistols. Huggins and Osgood were rushed by the Luddites, with Huggins being knocked to the floor, his musket being seized in the process. Up to 4 Luddite dealt with Osgood, who was presented with pistols aimed at his head, and threats to 'blow his brains out' if he moved.

Posting sentries outside, the Luddites then commanded Barnes and his wife to go upstairs, which they did. They then set about smashing 3 stocking frames kept in Barnes' workshop, making sure they targeted those belonging to Messrs Haddens. 3 others that belonged to Barnes were left untouched.

Their work finished, the Luddites fired the soldiers muskets into the air outside the house, confiscating the bayonets. They returned the now empty muskets to the soldiers, insulted them and left. Barnes was still annoyed, telling them that the frames had only destroyed because the soldiers were present, and that the Luddites would target any properties where frames were being guarded.