17th November 1817: Henry Enfield send his bill for supporting Blackburn & Burton to the Home Office

Nottingham Novr. 17. 1817―

My Lord

I beg leave to enclose for to your Lordship the Bill of payments made by me relative to Blackburn & Burton―& to request that your Lordship will direct the Amount to be paid into the Bank of Messrs Smith Payne & Smiths, to my Credit in account with the Nottingham Bank―

I have [etc]

H Enfield

[To] The Rt Hble Lord Sidmouth

[Enfield enclosed a receipt for his payment to the Constable, Benjamin Barnes, who provided the following invoice of the costs he had incurred on Enfield's behalf]

Nottingham 26th September 1817

Mr Enfield

To Benj Barnes

1817
Sepr

Advanced to Burton at different times}
From 17th August to 25th September} £3 “ 0―0

22 Journey to Kettering to fetch Blackburn}
and Wife 3 Days} £3 “ 3―0
Coach Hire for self to Kettering ― £0 “ 17―0
Coachmen and Guard ― £0 “ 3―0

23 Chaise Hire from Kettering to Harboro’ £0 “ 18―0
Post Boy and Toll Bar £0 ― 4 ―0
Coach Hire from Harboro’ to Nottingham}
for self Blackburn Wife and Child} £1 “ 11―6
Coachmen and Guard £0 “ 6―0
Expences for self, Blackburn, Wife and}
Child three Days £1 “ 10 “ 6

25 Paid for Burton’s Wifes clothes our of Pledge £1 “ 4―10
Bonnet for Mrs Burton £0 “ 6―0
Two Petticoats and Skirt for Mrs Burton £0 “ 13  “ 6
Cloak and Bonnet for the Child £0 “ 8―6
Shoes for Mrs Burton £0 “ 6―0
Great Coat for Burton £1―5 “ 0
Shirt for Burton £0 “ 7―0
Hat for Burton £0 “ 7―6
Shoes for Burton £0 “ 9―0
Pelisse for Mrs Blackburn £1 “ 4―0
Bonnet for [ditto] £0 “ 6―0
Shoes for [ditto] £0 “ 6―0
Cloak and Bonnet for the Child £0 “ 8 “ 6
Pair of Breeches for Blackburn £0 “ 15 “ 0
Shoes for Blackburn £0 “ 9―0
Shirt for [ditto] £0 “ 7―0
Board and Lodging for Blackburn}
and Wife at Nottingham} £0 “ 12 “ 6
Attending with Burton and Blackburn in}
Nottingham} £0 “ 10 “ 6

[Total] £21―18 “ 10

26th September 1817: The informers, Blackburn & Burton, leave Nottingham forever, surrounded by an angry crowd

On Friday 26th September 1817, the Luddites turned informers John Blackburn & William Burton left Nottingham for London, their ultimate destination being Canada. The Leicester Chronicle of 4th October 1817 described the scene:

The noted John Blackborne and William Burton, the King's evidences on the trial of the Luddites at Leicester, at the last Lammas Assizes, and the latter of whom was the principal evidence against Daniel Diggle, hanged at Nottingham in April last, were recognised on the Hope coach, in Nottingham on Friday last. A concourse of people collected round the coach to see them, and bestowed some execrations upon them in a liberal manner.―It is understood both they and their wives and families, are gone off for America.

They were escorted by the Nottingham Police Officer, Benjamin Barnes, who carried the letter to the Home Secretary below, written by the Town Clerk, Henry Enfield:

Nottingham Sep. 26. 1817

Mr Lord

The Police Officer, Benjamin Barnes, will deliver this Letter to Your Lordship & inform you of his arrival in Town with Burton & Blackburn, their wives & Children―

I have [etc]

H Enfield

Town Clerk

[To] Rt Hble Lord Sidmouth

25th September 1817: Henry Enfield informs Lord Sidmouth of the arrangements for the informers Blackburn & Burton

Nottingham Sept. 25th 1817.

My Lord,

In consequence of Mr. Lockett’s communication to me of your Lordship’s arrangements relative to Burton and Blackburn and their families (whose several names and ages Mr. Lockett will have stated to you) I have sent for them from their hiding-places; and finding them all in good health and desirous of immediately proceeding to their destination, I shall send them to London by one of the Coaches in the course of to-day or to-morrow under the escort of the Police Officer Benjamin Barnes―

Barnes will attend at your Lordship’s Office to give Information of their arrival, and I will direct him to enquire for Mr. Noble, within whose Department, as I understand from Mr. Lockett, this business falls.―

I have the honor to be
My Lord,
Your Lordship’s hble Servt

H Enfield

P.S.
I take this opportunity of informing you that the Frameworkknitters are said to dropping in again to work―This is the case I believe with some – but he bulk still remain out – however there is no violence―

H.E.

[To: Lord Sidmouth]

22nd September 1817: Jeffery Lockett sends a description of the informers Blackburn & Burton to government

Derby September 22d 1817

Dear Sir

William Burton is 21 years of age, and his wife, Leah, also twenty one. They have but one child,―a daughter named Charlotte, only five months old:

John Blackburn is twenty three years of age,―and his wife, Ann Blackburn, only twenty. Their only child is a daughter named Mary, and one year & two months old.―

Both parents and Children are in very good health―and able to perform the journey.

Burton is in the neighbourhood of Nottm.―About a week ago, an attempt was made to assassinate him. He was walking out with his wife and child,―and was met by three men, who looked at him very attentively,―and afterwards shot at him, but he escaped.―When he got home he found two other men at his door,―and hearing one of them say “that is him”―he retreated―& went by another way into the town.

Blackburn is at his fathers at Kettering in Northamptonshire. A messanger is sent for him and he will be in Nottm. tomorrow or on Wednesday.

Mr. Enfield will do what is necessary to prepare them for their journey―and you will have the goodness to write to him on the [illegible]. It is hoped that they may sail on the first of October.

I am very sorry to inform you that a fever has attacked several prisoners in our County Gaol. The [prison] has been overcrowded of late:―The magistrates are making every possible exertion to stops its progress.―It is to be lamented that the order for the removal of the reprieved convicts at our last assizes has not been yet received here. I saw Mr. Justice Holroyd sign the [certificate] on Friday―and Mr. Hilditch assured me that it [should] be sent immediately to the Treasury & the order be applied for.

I am apprehensive that this [illegible] is not within your department, but under the pressing circumstances which I have mentioned I am sure you will excuse me for troubling you with it.

I am Dear Sir
Your most obed Servt

Wm Jeffery Lockett

[To: ‘Noble Esqr’]

13th September 1817: The Secretary for the Colonies authorises Blackburn & Burton's emigration to Canada

Downing Street 13th September 1817.

Mr Lord,

I have had the honor of receiving your Lordship’s letter recommending to my particular Consideration John Blackburn & William Burton who are desirous to become Settlers in His Majesty’s Provinces in North America, and I have in reply to acquaint your Lordship that I shall feel great pleasure in recommending them to the protection of the Governor General Sir John Sherbrooke in order that each of them may receive a Grant of one Hundred Acres of the Crown Reserves in Canada;―that being the most valuable portion of the Lands at the disposal of the Crown, & being therefore, in my opinion best calculated to mark the sense entertained of the merits which have procured for them your Lordship’s recommendation.

I shall further give directions for allowing them Rations during the first twelve months, until some part of the lands allotted to them shall be brought into Cultivation;―altho’ Government have not charged themselves with this expence in any of the recent Emigrations.

As the Season during which Settlers were forwarded to the Province by this Department has long since elapsed, I trust Your Lordship will take the necessary measures for providing messieurs Blackburn & Burton with a Conveyance.

I have [etc]

Bathurst

[To] Viscount Sidmouth
&c &c &c

29th August 1817: Charles Mundy updates the Home Office about the informers, Blackburn & Burton

Burton August 29th: 1817

Dear Sir

I have written to Mr. Lockett to ask if there is anything further material in Olivers statement that it is necessary for him to apply to me about & as soon as I receive his answer I will send the papers to you.―John Blackburn & Burton are not at all in the way of any one. Blackburn is with his father in Nottinghamshire Burton with his wives father near Nottingham. as they dare not go out to enquire for work or shew themselves. I have found it necessary to supply them with a weekly allowance for the support of themselves & families.―Blackburn comes late at night to me once a week for his subsistance & I have employd Barnes one of the Nottingham Police Officers to pay Burton his.―

The Wife of Samuel Caldwell otherwise Big. Sam who prevented by fits from taking his trial with Savage & the other Luddites at Leicester last spring & who was sentenced at the late assizes to be transported for Life has been to me to ask if it is possible for her to accompany her Husband to the place of his destination

the poor woman, who has a very good character, is an Irish woman without a friend in this country if such an indulgence is ever granted I really think this is a case for it. Caldwell never was considered a man of bad character till his connection with our friend John Blackburn & then has not appeared as a Leader or Contriver of the business.―they have one daughter about ten years old & I find the man has been a good Husband & father.―

I remain dear Sir
Ever yours faithfully

C.G. Mundy

[To] H. Hobhouse Esq

13th August 1817: Charles Mundy informs the Home Secretary of the whereabouts of John Hill & Christopher Blackburn

Burton August 13th
Near Lougborough

My Lord

I have the Honour to inform your Lordship that John Blackburn came to me a few days since to inform me that John Hill, one of those concerned with him in the outrage at Lougborough, was concealed in a House at Nottingham. I wrote to Mr. Lockett to know if he had rec.d any directions from your Lordship respecting those men against whom Bills were found by the Grand Jury at the last Lent Assizes at Leicester but who had not been apprehended  if this member John Hill is one.―as there will be no possibility of convicting any of them without the testimony of John Blackburn or William Burton I beg the favour of being instructed by your Lordship what steps to take concerning John Hill.―As I have received no answer from Mr. Lockett I presume he is from home.―John Blackburn also informed me that his Brother Christopher is working at the embankments in the Fens of Lincolnshire, the usual resort of those who are driven from this part of the Kingdom.―Would your Lordship think it advisable to endeavour to allure him to return & give Evidence against Frank Ward now in custody under your Lordships warrant on suspicion of treasonable practices? but against whom I apprehend we have no case whatever for a jury.―Savage & Joshua Mitchell both told me before their execution that the Loughborough Job was arranged between Frank Ward & Christopher Blackburn, if Ward could be convicted as an accessory before that Outrage it would be a most effectual blow against the revival of Ludding. How far Christopher Blackburns evidence might go or how far it might be possible to [confirm] him of course I can form no idea till without seeing him.―I am sorry to say things are not in a good footing between the workmen & the Hoziers.―there is plenty of work but the prices in general given are so low that no workmen can maintain a family. This has given rise to a sort of warfare between the parish Officers & the Hoziers. the former having proclaimed their intention of supporting the men without work whose masters will not give an advanced price. some of the Hoziers have adopted the advanced price, & I am assured by several very respectable Hoziers that it is no more than the trade can well afford to give. but many of the Hoziers, & those the most opulent & of the most extensive business still give the low price. they have also enlarged the size of the pieces making a yard of work to consist of forty two Inches instead of thirty six. but when the piece is sold to the shopkeeper the yard is only thirty six Inches. I fear those desperate may without close watching lead to dangerous combinations again on the part of the workmen who at present are very quiet

I have the Honour to remain
My Lord your Lordships most Obedient
Very Humble Servant
C. G. Mundy

4th August 1817: Charles Mundy sends an update on the Informers Blackburn & Burton to the Home Office

Burton August 4.th 1817
Near Loughborough

My dear Sir

Blackburn & Burton have both decided that they should like to go with their wives & families to America if any mode can be pointed out of their earning a living there. This decision was not finally made until a day or two immediately previous to Leicester assizes. the letter from the Gaoler informing me of it did not reach me so soon as it ought to have done owing to my being it at Derby in attendance to give evidence before the Grand Jury in the Reason Bills. & on my return home I found Mrs Charles Mundy whom I had left ill still so & all my three children in a state of the utmost danger. this prevented my attending the assizes at Leicester I wrote to Mr. Lockett who I knew was there to beg he would see Blackburn & Burton & tell them to remain quietly in Leicester Gaol till I rec.d directions from Lord Sidmouth respecting their wish of going to America.

unfortunately, Caldwell had having pleaded guilty & Lockett having no other business there he was gone home to derby before my servant got to Leicester with my letter.―In consequence of these accidental circumstances Blackburn & Burton heard nothing from me.

The undersheriff, (Mr. Miles) & some others I believe went to the men, and as they describe it told them some one thing & some another” & puzzled them till they did not know what to do―The High Sheriff went to Mr. Justice Bailey & stated that two men were in Gaol without any charge & commitment but justice Bailey conscientiously felt himself justified compelled to ordering them to be discharged the day he left the Town & at ten OClock at night they arrived at my House without money or place of refuge. I determined then after consulting with them what would  be best for them to do till I could hear from Lord Sidmouth respecting their going to America they determined that Blackburn should remain here all night & set out early in the morning for Kettering in Northamptonshire & stay with his father there and that Burton should go on in the dark to his Wives father at New Radford, Nottingham: this subjected to us thinking it a dangerous plan for Burton but he was bent upon it and said he would get there in the night & remain concealed till I send to him.

I gave them a pound note each for their present support but I own I feel nervous about them especially Burton. as soon as Lord Sidmouth determines in the mode of conveying & providing for them I shall be glad to be inform’d.―

Would Lord Sidmouth now think it worth while to set John Blackburn to work to find his Brother Christopher and try to persuade him to surrender & to give evidence against Frank Ward as an accessary before the fact of the Loughborough Job? Frank Ward is now in custody under Lord Sidmouths Warrant on suspicion of Treasonable practices but we have nothing to support any charge. he is such a rascal & so mischievous a fellow it would be a good thing to transport him.―

I remain dear Sir
Ever yours faithfully
C.G. Mundy

If the Sheriff & Mr. Justice Bailey would have been quiet the two men would have remained quietly in Gaol they had both signd their consent to remain there.

[To] H. Hobhouse Esq

26th April 1817: Jeffrey Lockett updates the Home Office about Christopher Blackburn & other wanted Luddites

Derby April 26th 1817

Sir

In confidence of your letter of yesterdays date, I have given directions for the immediate apprehension of Christopher Blackburn. It is supposed that Hudson Dakin and Hill also are in the neighborhood of Nottingham, and every exertion shall be made to take them also. Blackburn is the only one who is privy to the treasonable designs of Henson, Ward, & that party. There can be no doubt but that he will be ready to communicate all that he knows either of Luddism or treason, and think himself mercifully dealt with if he is only transported.

Mr Mundy called upon me immediately after my letter of the 23d was sent to the post office,—and I had a communication from him after his conference with Mr Allsopp and Mr Enfield. As he informs me that he has written fully on several subjects to Lord Sidmouth I presume that the further detention of John Blackburn and William Burton and the subsistence of them and their wives in the house of correction at Leicester—and the expediency of employing Mrs Wing or Woodward, and making [illegible] a small weekly allowance for his services, are topics upon which he has consulted his Lordship. I have apprized Mr Mundy of his Lordship’s wish that C. Blackburn [should] be taken.

I have [etc]

Wm Jeffery Lockett

[To] Rt Honble H. Addington

24th April 1817: Louis Allsopp writes to the Home Office about the wanted Luddite, Christopher Blackburn

Private

Nottingham
24 April 1817.—

My Lord—

Mr Mundy came here yesterday afternoon, & We have had a great deal of Conversation on the Subject of Savages confession—a plan has been thought of, to [cause] Burton, through the medium of the person, who has been employed as the Secret Agent here, but I do not expect any Success—it certainly would be of the greatest Importance to get that one or two of the men, who have instigated the Loughborough Job, that this business might be made quite complete; from Information obtained here by Mr Enfield & communicated to him by him to Mr Mundy, there can be no doubt but that two or three of those, concerned with Loughboro’ business who have not been taken, are near here, indeed Christopher Blackburn is known positively to be so, but there is a difficulty to know what to do with him, in consequence of some promise made by Lord Middleton & Mr Rolleston to his brother, when first taken, but Mr Mundy, (who is in the room with me) will communicate with your Lordship [hereon]—He will thank your Lordship to send him a Copy of Andersons Letter; & We take the Liberty of submitting to your Consideration, the propriety of giving orders at the post office for all Letters from Calais to be searched, as your Lordship will have this much letter better done in London than at this place—I have some thoughts of being in London on Sunday I will do it myself the Honor of calling upon yr Lordship on Monday Morning—

I have [etc]

L Allsopp

PS.

We have since fixed that Mr Mundy shall write to yr Lordship by tomorrows post, on the Subject of [Christopher] Blackburn, which will have given yr Lordship time to conclude what ought to be done, prior to my calling on Monday, if I am able to leave home—

[To] Lord Visct Sidmouth

16th April 1817: The GPO Surveyor, Gratian Hart, forwards the letter from John Blackburn to William Burton, to his superior

Nottingham 16 April 1817

Dear Sir

Among the letters from Leicester this Afternoon, was one, directed Mr. William Burton, Lambley, near Nottingham; the man's name, & the Village, are both of notoriety, & accordingly I have copied the Contents: I have no one at this moment to communicate with, Mr. Alsop being absent, nor is there in this Case an immediate necessity.

Blackburn was admitted Evidence—one expression in his letter requires explanation, before he regains his liberty: "My Master is settled with me for the Frames"—now it strikes me, Mr. Blackburn has received his remuneration for his work of Iniquity, breaking the Frames from his Master, who is the person just now exactly wanted.—If it strikes you in the same point of view, you will of course acquaint the Secretary of State.—

I am [etc]
(signed) Gratian Hart

[To] F. Freeling Esq
&c &c &c

11th April 1817: The Luddite-turned-informer, John Blackburn, writes to his fellow Luddite-turned-informer, William Burton

April 11

Dear frends.

I have the liberty of wrighting to you oping this will find you well in health. wich it leave us at this present time thank God for it Nancy is very well & the child & she desires to be remembered to you all you Must exused me getting into sutch a scrape as this for I had no more thoughts than flying In the hair last year but I thought It would do me good But thank God I have got over it—as I have my Master is settled with me for the frames but where we shall goto after whe get out of here I cant tell they tell I am quite at liberty so where I shall go to I can't tell

I have no more at present

John C. Blackburn

[To: William Burton, Lambley]

31st March 1817: The trial of the Luddite John Clarke (aka 'Little Sam') at Leicester Assizes

LEICESTER.

Trial of JOHN CLARKE, otherwise LITTLE SAM, FOR SHOOTING AT JOHN ASHER.

MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1817.

This morning, at eight o'clock, the Hon. Sir Richard Richards, Knight, took his seat on the Bench. The Court was immensely crowded, and vast anxiety was evinced to obtain situations in the Hall.

Thomas Savage, William Withers, John Amos, John Crowder, Joshua Mitchell, Samuel Caldwell, James Watson, John Clarke were put to the bar, and arraigned on a charge of having, on the night of the 28th of June last, feloniously and maliciously shot that John Asher, with intent to kill and murder him. Another count charged them with aiding and abetting in shooting at John Asher, &c.

After twelve of the pannel had answered to their names, they were challenged on the part of the prisoners; and then another twelve, and so on, so that it was found impracticable to obtain a jury from the pannel, to try them altogether. A proposition was made to make up a Jury from by-standers in Court, but this was objected on the part of the Crown, and all but John Clarke were removed from the bar. An attempt was then made to obtain a Jury from the pannel, but as the Crown challenged some, the Counsel on behalf of Clarke, others, and some did not attend, only six could be found, and the residue were selected from by-standers in the Court. The whole number of challenges on behalf of the prisoner had been expended when nine jury-men were in the box. An hour and a half was occupied in this uninteresting business, and it was not till half past nine, that the Gentlemen of the Jury were sworn. Their names are as follows:—

John Leadbetter,

St. John Kirk,

John Lee,

John Chamberlain,

Humphrey Cartwright,

Thomas Ward,

Thomas ______

Joseph Dumelow,

William Robinson,

George Simpkin,

John Fowkes,

John Measures.

Serjeant Vaughan, in a very animated speech, stated the case to the Court and the Jury, and detailed to them the leading features of the evidence which would be produced.

A very neat model of the building, with some of the inside parts thereof, was exhibited upon the table.

John Boden, the first witness called, was examined by Serjeant Copley. In June last, he was partner with Mr. Heathcoat, in a lace manufactory at Loughborough. In the early part of that month he was not at Loughborough, but came there on the 25th. The model on the table was a correct representation of the building where the manufacture was carried on. There were no less than fifty-five frames or machines in the place, finished and unfinished—twenty-three on the first floor, and thirty in the top story. The concern was at full work when he came to Loughborough on the 25th of June, and there had been an additional guard placed over the premises about two days before, in consequence of some unpleasant things which had come to their knowledge. They had always had one guard, John Ironman, who acted as watchman, but this had been increased to six regular guards, and some men were kept at work in the night. On Friday the 28th June, he had been in the factory, and left it about 11 in the evening; at that time, there were six regular guards, including Ironman, besides the men who were at work in the lace frames up stairs. The six guards were in the casting shop, which is a laying-to to the factory, and has an interior communication with the main building; one door leads to the setting-up room, and another into the street. The ground floor of the factory is called the setting-up shop; the laying-to is the casting shop; the first floor is called the lace shop, and the second floor the top shop; these two contained the machines. He left all safe that night, and did not return again to the factory till about five in the morning; he had been sending off to inform the Nottingham police-officers. When witness got to the factory, he found the frames broken, some entirely and some partially; they appeared to have been demolished by hammers and hatchets; some of the beams were cut—some of the lace on the frames was also cut; the whole of the lace on the machines was destroyed, some had been cut and some burnt, the windows were also broken, apparently with stones thrown from outside. John Asher, one of the workmen on guard that night, was wounded, witness saw him at his own (Asher’s) house that day, and found he had been shot at the back of his head, but the ball was then extracted.

John Asher (examined by Mr. Reader) deposed, that he was in the service of Messrs. Heathcoat and Boden on the 28th of June last, he was one of those who sat up as a watchman, along with Thomas Ironman, and John Webster; there were six appointed to watch, these three, and _____ Sylvester, John Barker, Thomas German, but the last three went out; they had three pistols and one or two guns, is not sure which; they sat in the casting shop, and had a good fire—about a quarter past twelve he heard a noise, as though two men were coming up the passage, the dog barked, and a pistol was fired. He saw three or four men come up to the casting-shop door with pistols, but one had an axe; he put his hand behind and laid hold of a pistol on the shelf, which he presented to the man and attempted to fire, but as it was not cocked it did not go off, several of the men presented their pistols at him immediately, and he turned his head aside, somebody then rushed into the shop, and shot him at the back of his head. He fell down and was insensible for a time, but when he came to himself, he found himself under the workbench, with Ironman and Webster, down beside of him, and two men stood over them with pistols, who threatened if they stirred, or offered to talk, to blow their brains out; they lay with their faces towards the ground, being desired to do so by the men over them. While he lay on the ground, he heard a great noise, as if the machines were breaking, he also heard loud swearing; some called out, "Ned, do your duty," others shouted, "Well done, Ned;" this was said, while, as he imagined, the men were breaking the frames; when he had lain about a quarter of an hour, bleeding very fast all the time, and afraid of bleeding to death, he requested that he might be permitted to go out, or else that they would fetch a doctor to him; to this request no answer was made. A man came into the yard soon after, and said, "How is that man that’s wounded?" but nobody answered him: the man then turning to witness said, How are you? I said I was very bad; he replied, can you do a bit longer? I told him I thought I could if they would make haste: the man said they would not be long—The noise of breaking the machines went on all the time. In about five minutes after, they all left the factory. When they were going out, one said he would shake hands with the wounded man, Webster put out his hand, but they said that was not the man. Mr. Palmer the surgeon was then sent for, and he was taken home.

The witness was cross-examined by Mr. Balguy at some length, but no material variation on on the matter was elicited.

Thomas Palmer, (examined by Mr. Reynolds,) was a surgeon at Loughborough, and was called up about twenty minutes past one on the morning of the 29th of June last; he reached the casting shop about half-past one; he found John Asher lying on his back in the centre of the casting shop, with a coat doubled up, and placed under his head as a pillow; he was faint, insensible, and bleeding, with a wound on the back part of his head, inclining to the right side, made by a ball or slug fired from some instrument. Witness ordered him to be carried home, and when he was put to bed, examined the wound more particularly, when he found that a ball or slug was lodged in the right side of his head. He extracted the ball at the time, and produced it at the last Assizes, but left it in Court, and had never seen it since. Asher was ill five weeks.

On his cross examination (by Mr. Denman,) Mr. P. stated, that the ball or slug passed between the cranium and the scalp, from the back part of the head to the right side. It had gone around, instead of penetrating.

John Blackborne, an accomplice, (examined by Serjeant Vaughan,) deposed, that he lived at Lambley, six miles from Nottingham, in the month of June last. He knew the prisoner at the bar about three weeks before the breaking of Messrs. Heathcoat and Boden’s machines at Loughbro’; the first time he had any concern with him was at the Radford job, about three weeks before the Loughbro’ job happened. Clarke generally went by the name of Little Sam. Witness saw him in company with William Withers about a week before the Loughbro’ job, and told him that Withers wanted the witness and two more men for a job. The prisoner asked where it was, and Withers told him at Loughborough, he had 18l. down then to buy tools or pistols with, for the purpose of attacking Heathcoat and Boden’s factory, and that 40l more was to be paid as soon as the work was done, 60l would be collected after, and distributed amongst the men engaged; the business was to be done on the Friday after the next Friday. Prisoner told him he would not go till he was paid for the Radford job, and witness also said that neither he nor the other chaps would go till then. Withers then assured them they should be paid for the Radford job before that day; he would settle with them himself. On a doubt being expressed as to the possibility of the execution of the enterprise, Withers told them there was only one sentry, and some were to scale the walls and seize him, while the others were breaking in in different places. Sam (the prisoner) then agreed to go when he was paid for the Radford job, and Withers said he would pay witness, who would then pay him. It was arranged that they were not to leave Lambley till the day on which the job was to happen at night. There was talk of Aaron Daykin going with them, but witness did not agree to it. Withers told him that Savage, Jack Disney, Little Sam, Slater, and most of the old Neds were to be of the party. By old Neds he understood, persons who had been out framebreaking before. It was agreed that he was to see Withers again at Mr. Scattergood’s, the Goats Head, in the Meadow plats, Nottingham, on Saturday, after he had taken in his work,—and was there to receive the money due to him, Little Sam, Big Sam, and Aaron Daykin, for the Radford job. He accordingly went to the Goat’s Head, and met Withers there, who gave him twenty-three shillings for himself, and the other three. He saw the prisoner in Big Sam's (Caldwell's) house on Sunday morning, when witness paid him five shillings, and they agreed to take a walk together after dinner. Big Sam lived with Long Bill, whose real name is Tom Woodward, but who went by the name of Wing—Woodward and his wife, who was called Mrs. Wing, lived on the ground-floor, and Caldwell or Big Sam, in the room above. When walking together after dinner in Lovatt’s close, Big Sam and Aaron Daykin joined them, the prisoner said, Jack, (Blackborne) Big Sam says he'll go. Big Sam immediately said, Damn your eyes, I’ll go, and Aaron Daykin said he’d go. Witness had been ordered to bring two besides himself to Nottingham, but this made three, however after some consideration, he determined to take the three with him. They directly proceeded to Nottingham, first to the sign of Sir Thomas White, the Burgess’s friend, and afterwards to Mr. Seymour is, at the Horse and Chaise, in Millstone-lane. They got to the latter place about five o'clock, and saw there in the course of the evening, Jack Slater, Benjamin Badder, and several persons he knew. Slater said to witness, Jack, there’ll be a fine crash this week; he answered he had heard so, but had come over to learn the particulars. Slater asked whether them three chaps (meaning, Little Sam, Big Sam, and Aaron Daykin) were come over to be at the job with  us; he told him they were, and Slater enquired if they would stand. Witness said yes they would, and Slater replied they are nice-looking chaps, have they ever been out before; he said yes, and Slater answered, that will do. Witness, prisoner, Big Sam, and Aaron Daykin slept at the Horse and Chaise that night, he in one bed, with Tom Seymour, the son of the landlord; the other three in another bed, in the same room. On Monday morning, they all set off to go to Savidges’s house, they stopped at the top of the street, but knew what he was going for; he went to learn at what time they were to go from Lambley to Loughborough, and also to ask for some money, as they had been living on their own up to that time; Savidge not being at home, they all went back again to Seymour's. Witness soon after went to his brother at Radford, and thence, along with Big Sam, to Lambley; they set off about eleven o'clock. He did not stay more than an hour in Lambley, and in the afternoon, by appointment, he, along with Big Sam, went to the King’s Head, Narrow marsh, Nottingham, where were sitting the prisoner and Aaron Daykin. Soon after, witness and Big Sam went out, but Big Sam returned, and witness found his brother, (Christopher Blackborne); his brother and himself went towards Savidge’s house, and met Withers, Savidge joined them, and they all went to the Milton's Head, in Parliament-street. The prisoner went part of the road, but never went to the Milton’s Head, witness told him he was going to Savidge’s for money, and he returned. When at this public-house, he received one pound from Savidge, which was for himself, Big Sam, Little Sam, and Aaron Daykin, to support themselves with till Wednesday. Savidge told him they had better be in the lower part of the town, to prevent suspicion, two in one house, and two in another; however they all slept at the Kings Head that night. The money was shared amongst them equally. After breakfast on Tuesday morning, they went from the Kings head, and started across the Meadows, along the Trent side, till they came to Beeston. It had been agreed they should sleep at two different places, and two of them went to the Durham Ox, the other two went to the New Inn, but as the people in the house seemed very cross, they left that place, and joined their Companions at the Durham Ox, where all four, that is Blackborne (the witness), Big Sam, Little Sam (the prisoner at the bar), and Aaron Daykin, supped and slept that night.—For supper they had beef stakes and cabbage; the stakes were bought at a butcher’s shop, Little Sam carried them home, and the servant lass cooked them. The next morning, (Wednesday,) witness and the prisoner set off by themselves, they went through Bramcote, and thence to Lord Middleton's park side, at the end of which, Savidge had promised to come or send to them, with more money. They went on till they came to the Rose and Crown in Lenton, where they went in, and as they sat there, saw Witness with his brother C. Blackborne, passing the window, he rapped, and they came in; after taking some refreshment, they all went back again, and when they had crossed the cut (canal) about 200 yards, Withers took out a pistol, and fired it off, saying he did so to try it. When they got under a tree by Lord Middleton’s wall, either Withers, or witness’s brother, he cannot say which, gave them a pound or guinea note, which was to be divided among the four. They also directed him to be at Loughborough the next day, where he was to meet Savidge, either at the Pack-horse, or the Duke of York; Aaron Daykin was to go to Sheepshead for Jack Disney, sometimes called Sheepshead Jack; Sheepshead is two or three miles out of the way, between Beeston and Loughborough. The prisoner and Big Sam were to go the next day to meet two men with three hatchet heads in a bag, which they were to get stailed somewhere on the road. Little Sam went to Nottingham, but came back that night, and joined the other three at the Durham Ox, where they all supped and slept on Wednesday night; they were waited on at supper by the same lass. On Thursday morning they all went out together, Big Sam and Little Sam turned back again; witness and Daykin went on to Hathern turn, where they parted, Daykin for Sheepshead, and witness for Loughbro’, he arrived at the Pack Horse, about three in the afternoon, where he found Savidge and some market folks; he had been desired to take no notice, but drink a cup of ale and go out, as a signal; he did so, and Savidge came out directly, and they went on the road to meet Daykin and Disney, at Tyler’s, the White Lion. The prisoner had desired him to tell Savidge that he wanted more money, he did so, and Savidge gave him 6 or 7s; he went and gave Big Sam and Little Sam the money at Hathern turn. Witness slept in a cart that night. The next day, by Savidge’s desire, he went to Hathern turn, to tell the prisoner and Big Sam not to bring the hatchets into Loughborough till it was dark; he saw there Big Sam, Little Sam, Daykin, and Disney, and he delivered his message, they told him they were not likely to bring them, for they had not money to release them; they shewed him where the hatchets were at a wheelwright’s, the man was working at the handles, and shaving them up. He left with them about watching one shilling in halfpence, which they said would do for them to drink till he came back with the money for the hatchets, and he returned towards Loughborough; witness had not proceeded far before he met Jack Amos and Savidge, they were coming to meet him on the road; he told Savidge that money was wanted to pay for the handles of the hatchets, and he gave him a three shilling piece to take to the men for that purpose, and six shillings more for the suppers of himself and Big Sam, Little Sam, Disney, and Daykin, and also give directions that when they went into Loughborough they should go separately, two to one house and three to another, and by no means bring the hatchets into the town before it was dark; witness and Big Sam were to go to Tyler’s, and prisoner, Daykin, and Disney to the Green Man. He accordingly went to give these directions to the men, but being tied, when he had walked part of the way, he lay down, and in about half an hour, they came up to him; as it was not dark, the hatchets were put in a dry sough in the lane; part of the them went to Tyler’s and part of the Green Man as directed; while witness, along with Big Sam, was at the former place, Savidge came in, and asked Mrs Tyler for a quart of rum, which she let him have, he paid for it and the bottle; Savidge then drank a glass of ale, the preconcerted signal for them to go out, for he was not to talk to them; they were just going to get their suppers, he however went out directly, the other did not follow of a quarter of an hour.—Bill Towle met witness in  the street, and told him they were to go together to fetch the hatchets from the sough; about eleven o'clock they started for that purpose, and in half an hour came back into Ashby-lane, about fifty yards from the turnpike  and two or three hundred yards from the factory.—The whole party were then assembled; he saw Bill Towle, Bill Burton, James Watson, Big Sam, Little Sam, Aaron Daykin, Sheepshead Jack, witness, his brother C. Blackborne, Savidge, Amos, Old Crowder, Jos Mitchell, Jack Hill, Slater, an Withers, and soon after saw Jem Towle, making seventeen in all. Savidge had got the quart of rum, Withers produced some fire-arms (pistols), but cannot say how many, Withers said they were all loaded, he had tried them before, and they had no need to try them again. The prisoner had a pistol given him. They began to disguise themselves, some put handkerchiefs over their faces, some tied them up to their noses, others over their heads; some changed clothes with each other, Jos. (Mitchell) had his coat turned inside out. Savidge produced the bottle of rum, and they all drank round, out of the bottle. They all saw the factory in the lane, and a good deal of conversation took place respecting the attack; some said it was a dead drop, they should get half killed before they got in. Slater, Bill Towle and Burton, carried the hatchets. They stood hesitating some time how to begin the attack, when witness said to them, damn it, will you stay here all night? some one replied, will you go first? he said he did not care, he’d show them the place. They all set off, he leading the way, but directly two or three of them ran past him, and seized a man who was going towards the factory, they put their pistols to his head, and threatened him with instant death if he did not let them in without giving any alarm, or attempting any resistance, the man knocked at the door, it flew open; a dog began to bark, and Bill Towle chopped at it with his hatchet, but missed it, the hatchet flew out of his hand. Jem Towle then shot it, and it barked no more; it was a great large dog. The cry was, brush forward lads, and he saw his brother and Watson in the casting shop; he went in and saw three men sitting on stools, they were ordered to lie down, instead of so doing, one of them took a pistol off the shelf, and aimed it at his brother Christopher Blackborne, witness immediately rushed by and fired at the man, and then ran out again, he saw the man fall before he ran out, the others then lay down under a bench, and a guard was set over them. The prisoner was fixed sentinel over a man at the door, but cannot how near prisoner was to witness when he (witness) fired the pistol; knows he came into the yard before the man was shot. Soon after he saw the prisoner in the setting-up shop, standing sentry over a man. Witness was placed as a guard walking the casting-shop to the Malt-Mill lane. Witness had his brother’s pistol, his brother was without one. The pistols were brought at Derby, by Savidge and Withers. Witness did not go up stairs; in about a quarter of an hour after he had been placed as a guard, he heard a cry of more hands wanted, Little Sam (the prisoner Clarke) told him to go up stairs; he did so, and went into the first floor, where he saw Slater, Bill Towle and several others, breaking the frames.―The prisoner at that time was sentinel over one of the factory men near the outer door in the setting-up shop. Savidge staid on guard in Malt-Mill-lane, where he had a woman in his care and custody; he heard a firing of one pistol on the outside, that against Malt-Mill-lane, where Savidge was. After the work was done, the pistols were fired off, some fired several times, it was customary to do so on such occasions; they also called their numbers over, and though only seventeen were there, they counted as high as about ninety, this was done in order to make folks believe there were more engaged in the business than there were in reality. They went away by the Ashby road again. Before they left the place, Big Sam told Slater, who had a hatchet, to hit a desk which was in the shop against the war, Slater hit it twice, and Big Sam took away two pistols which were in it. He saw Big Sam with a gun; Jos Mitchell had a musket in his hand. When they went away, they went by Garrendon park side; they all went together as far as the Trent, except Disney, who parted with them when they had gone about five miles. They brought the hatchets and pistols away with them, and Big Sam brought the musket and bayonet away. When they got to Zouch bridge, witness’s brother gave big Sam a pistol, and he then agreed to throw the musket into the cut; he did so; they then went on towards Ratcliffe, where they saw a man at a plough; it was getting daylight; they were straggling, though all in the same close, he did not see any body go up to the man. They went to the Trent side, and saw a boat, into which they got, but it could not take them over; they then got out, and went to Aram’s ferry, the boat was on their side and eleven or twelve got into it first and were taken over, the others were behind; four more came over in the boat after; Slater was in the first boat, and had a hatchet with him, almost all of them had pistols; Mitchell had his coat turned, and almost all had their faces covered. In the second boat, when the four came over, there were another hatchet; witness had flung the third into the Trent. Two men were on the other side of the river at the time they first came up. Savidge paid for the ferrying over of the whole; he gave the man one shilling first, but as the chap rather grumbled, he gave him more. When they had got across the Trent they undisguised themselves. They then separated, and witness went with Big Sam, Little Sam, and Aaron Daykin to Beeston, intending to go to the Durham Ox. Big Sam and Daykin went together before Little Sam and witness; as the windows of the house were not open, Big Sam and Daykin did not stop, but just as witness and prisoner came up, the girl was opening the windows, they two went in, and calling for a cup of ale, lay down on the settle and slept a bit. The lass said she thought they had been up all night. Witness and Clarke walked together as far as the Strugglers in Lenton, but Clarke was so knocked up he was obliged to leave him in the garden. Before they had got into the boat, Savidge had told them all to meet him at the Fox, in New Sneinton, at ten o'clock, when he would give them money. Witness went, and Little Sam (the prisoner at the bar), came in soon after.―Savidge gave witness two pound, and told him to give ten shillings a piece to Big and Little Sam and Daykin, he did so, and there was ten shillings left for himself. Witness saw Clarke the next day (Sunday) at Long Bills house.

Cross-examined by Mr. Balguy.―The party mustered in Ashby-lane about half-past eleven; there was a little pause, and it was he who moved on to lead them the way. Watson and witness’s brother were first in the casting-shop; witness was the third man, and all the others were behind; they were all on the premises, within the gate. Directly as he got into the casting-shop he saw a pistol presented to his brother; witness was alarmed for his safety and fired; it was done on the spur of the moment, it was the result of a sudden impulse to protect his brother. The next time he saw the prisoner was when on guard at the setting-up shop; this was the first time that he saw him after they all left the lane; it was two or three minutes after the pistol was fired. The door of the setting-up shop opens to the yard near a pool of water. Witness first saw the prisoner on the premises when he was at that door opposite the pool of water, he stood sentry over a lad in the inside. Witness was taken up on the 3d of January for poaching; that was all he went for, but he was also charged with firing into Cook’s house; he was then armed with a sword but not a pistol. He was taken in the fact. He knows Burton; was taken up a fortnight or three weeks after Burton; it was on being taken on a charge of firing at Cook’s house that he told, as he told the story for the purpose of saving his neck, for he knew he was taken on a charge that would hang him. Witness told before Burton did; it was a week or a fortnight after he was taken; he told directly of Lord Middleton's concern, but not of this till a week or fortnight after. It was his brother who walked before Cook’s door with a drawn sword; witness had had a gun, but he changing it with his brother for the sword. He began with the gun and ended with the sword. Witness never discharged the gun at all, and that he will swear.

William Burton, the other accomplice, (examined by Mr. Clarke) was at Loughborough on the 28th of June last, and knows Heathcoat and Boden’s factory. He was in a lane near there about twelve o’clock on that night, and many persons were with him; he had been in the lane about an hour before the hatchets were brought. There were present, himself, James Towle, William Towle, the prisoner Clarke orLittle

Sam, Big Sam, Jack Disney, Aaron Daykin, William Withers, J. Blackborne, C. Blackborne, Jos Mitchell, John Hill, Thomas Savidge, John Crowther, Amos, Watson, and Slater. They disguised themselves different ways, some turned their coats, some changed their cloaths, others put handkerchiefs about their heads and faces; they were armed with pistols and hatchets; witness had a hatchet. Savidge produced some rum, of which they all partook, it was handed round in a bottle out of which they drank. They were to attack the factory in three different places, the pistol men were to go first, the hatchets next, and those who had nothing were to be last. They advanced and saw a man, Christopher Blackborne laid hold of him, and threatened him with instant death if he did not take them into the factory without creating any alarm. A large dog barked as soon as they entered the yard; Bill Towle struck at him with his hatchet, but he missed  and the hatchet flew out of his hand; witness was going to chop at him, but Jem Towle pushed him away and shot the dog. He saw Slater at the door of the factory, within a yard of the casting-house door, he was threatening to knowck a man down with his axe,  if he did not go in; the man had not come out of the casting-shop, and instantly went back again. They were all within four or five 5 yards of the door when the pistol was fired. Witness went through the casting-shop to the setting-up shop, where he saw a boy, of whom he enquired how many men were up stairs; the boy said he would tell him their names, witness said he did not want their names, and at last lost the boy said there might be eleven or twelve. The lad was ordered to lie down, and the prisoner was set over him as a watch, with a pistol in his hand. Witness had not observed the prisoner do any thing before that. He (Burton) went up stairs into the first shop, where he broke some frames. After all was done the men came out of the factory. The whole did not last above forty minutes. Slater broke a desk open with his hatchet, at the desire of Big Sam, who took out two pistols and a powder flask. When they had done, they went into the turnpike-road, and numbers were called up to one hundred or thereabouts, to give the idea of greater strength than they really possessed. There were only seventeen present. Big Sam had a musket with a bayonet on it, which he took out of the factory. They directed their course through through the turnpike-gate, and along the side of a gentleman’s park. When they got to the Zouch bridge witness threw a hatchet into the river on the left hand side, and Big Sam threw the musket in on the right, but not the bayonet. They all went on together, till they came to the Trent, except Sheepshead Jack, (Disney) who had turned off for Sheepshead. They got into a boat in the river, but when about half way across the Trent, they were stopped by a wear, and Slater and another got out to set the boat at liberty that they might get back again. They landed on the same side of the Trent, and Big Sam produced the powder flask, which witness saw; it had a man with a gun and a dog painted on it, Big Sam said he had it out of the desk which Slater broke open. When they got to Aram’s ferry, twelve went over first and four after. They had the same disguises on as they had when they attacked the factory. Slater carried at hatchet in the first boat, and the other four who came after, had a hatchet with them. Savidge paid the ferryman for them all, one shilling in silver first, but as this did not satisfy him, he gave him fourpence in copper. When they had got over they altered their dresses. Slater had had Big Sam's smock-frock on. They separated then, and witness and Watson went home together.

Cross-examined by Mr. Denman—Witness came to Leicester Gaol before Blackborne did. He did not confess a word about the Loughborough job till he was charged with shooting at Kerry; he did not shoot at Kerry, though he was at Kerry's house with Diggle when Diggle shot at him. Was never charged with firing at Needham, of Lambley. It was witness who proposed going back to Kerry's house to break the frames, after he had been shot and left for dead. He thought if he told this story about the Loughborough job it might do him some good; it might keep his neck from the halter. He was sure he was present in the factory when the frames were broken.

Re-examined.—Witness did not know the story that Blackborne had told, for Blackborne was at Nottingham at the time when witness confessed.

Ann Woodward (examined by Mr. Copley) sometimes goes by the name of Wing; lived at Lambley in June last, and Caldwell (or Big Sam) lived in same house; she lived in the lower room, Caldwell above. Witness knew John Blackborne and Aaron Daykin, and saw them frequently together in the month of June last. On the Sunday before the frames were broken, the prisoner and Blackborne came there; Aaron Daykin joined them soon after. About one o'clock, after dinner, they went out together with Caldwell, and said they were going to Sutton and to Mansfield, but Caldwell did not come home that night. He came, however, between one and two in the afternoon of Monday, put on a clean shirt and handkerchief, staid about half an hour, and then went out again; he did not return that night, nor till the Saturday following, the day she heard the frames were broken. She had not seen either J. Blackborne, Daykin, nor Little Sam, in the mean time. Aaron Daykin came first, between five and six o'clock on the Saturday afternoon, and in about half an hour, Little Sam and Caldwell came; they all seemed very tired and foot sore. She saw J. Blackborne on Sunday at the public-house.

Thomas Seymour (examined by Mr. Reader,) deposed, that his brother kept the Horse and Chaise public-house, in Nottingham. He remembers John Blackborne coming there on a Sunday, but cannot say how long that was before the factory of Messrs. Heathcoat and Boden was demolished. Blackborne slept in the same bed as the witness, and three other men slept in another bed in the same room. He cannot say that such a circumstance ever occurred before.

Ann Blatherwick (by Mr. Reynolds) kept the Durham Ox public house in Beeston, in June last, and remembers that two persons came together, three days before the framebreaking at Loughborough, to her house; two more of them on the same day, and they all seemed well acquainted with each other. They supped on beef-steaks and cabbage, and slept there. John Blackborne was one of the four men, and she pointed out the prisoner as another of them.

Cross-examined—Witness never saw the prisoner before that night to her knowledge; she had seen him in prison, and knew him there; cannot say what she had to supper this day fortnight, though she remembers that in June last, these men had beef-steaks and cabbage.

Mary Sanson (examined by Serjeant Vaughan) lives at Oxton, but she lived at the Durham Ox, in Beeston, in June last. She well remembers that two persons came together into the house and asked if they could have a bed, on the Monday or Tuesday night before the frames were broken at Loughborough; two more soon came in, and they all slept there that might, they went away the next morning, and returned between six and seven in the evening; three came first and one after with some beef-steaks, which she cooked, and they all partook of them, they slept there that night, and went out the next morning. Is not certain whether they staid there two or three nights. On Saturday morning, when she was getting up, she saw two men pass by, and opened her window to look after them, and thought they were two of the four men who had slept there the night or two before; she turned her head, and saw the other two coming up against the wall; when she went down and was opening the shutters, the last two went into the house, they called for a cup of ale, which she let them have, and they lay down on the settle by the fire, and went to sleep; they appeared very fatigued. In about an hour, she wanted to scour down the settle, and she awoke them telling them she thought they had not been in bed that night, but they said they had; soon after that they went away. While they were asleep, Barnes, the constable, of Nottingham, came up to the door on horseback, and inquired for something to drink. The learned Sergeant asked witness to point out the man who was with Blackborne, for she knew Blackborne at the time. After some hesitation, she pointed to the prisoner; she thought that was him, but if it were, he was very much altered. After looking at him a little longer, she declared herself satisfied that it was the same man; was confident of it.

Cross-examined by Mr. Balguy—Witness had looked more at the prisoner and was confident that was the same man. She did not know whether she was going to be married to man of the name of Green or not. Does not know whether she will have any reward or not. When she appeared before in Court, she had her expenses paid; Mr. Enfield paid her for two days, and she expected to be paid for her time and expenses this time.

John Hanford (examined by Mr. Clarke) lives at Hathern, two miles and a half from Loughborough, on the road leading to Derby; he had three hatchets heads brought him in a bag to put stails into; but when they were brought he cannot tell; this he will swear; does not know whether it was before or after the frames broken at Loughborough; thinks it is about three quarters of a year ago, but cannot tell when. One man brought them. They were strong hatchets, such as were used for felling timber. Recollects asking the man whether he was going to a fall of timber, but the man gave an evasive answer. He was desired to put long long stalls in, and of a proportionate strength. Cannot say how long they were left at his house, it might be three or four hours; thinks he charged two shillings for each of them. Does not recollect putting stails into three such hatchets all at the same time, either before or since. By trade he is a plough-maker.

Jane Tyler (examined by Serjeant Copley,) stated, that her husband keeps the White Lion at Loughborough. J. Blackborne, along with another man came there, and brought some steaks to be cooked on the Friday evening that the attack was made on Heathcoat and Boden’s factory.—Another person came in, and asked for a bottle of rum, he had no bottle, she found him one, and he paid both for the rum and the bottle. He said he wanted to take the rum some miles out of town. When this man went out, Blackborne followed him. This was on the Friday night.

On her cross-examination, (by Mr Balguy,) she said she did not know Blackborne's name then; she had been taken to the gaol, where she saw him, and was told that his named was Blackborne.

Charles Young keep the Green Man at Loughborough. On the evening previous to the breaking of Heathcoat’s machines, two men came into his house between nine and ten o'clock; soon after a third man came in who joined their company. All three went out together—The prisoner was pointed out to him in Court, but he would not undertake to say that he was one of the men.

Isaac Beeby keeps the Pack Horse public-house at Loughborough. On the night previous to the robbery, Savidge and Blackborne came into his house and staid two hours.

John North deposed, that he was employed at the factory at the time the frames were broken; he was a lace-hand, and was appointed to be one of those who staid all night at work for the defence of the building. He had been to get his supper, and when he was returning, and had got to the end of the factory, he heard a noise of footsteps, he expected it was some of the factory men; but they laid hold of him; he asked what was their meaning, and they clapped a pistol to his head, threatening to blow his brains out if you do not lead them the way without giving any alarm.

William Walton lives at Zouch Mills. On the 23d of Aug. last, he was mowing some weeds in the river Soar, and found a musket on the right hand side of the bridge. He gave it to Thomas Foreman. It had no bayonet on at the time. It was loaded four fingers deep.

Thomas Foreman is a smith at Zouch mills. The musket was given to him on the 22d August by last witness. He examined and found it was loaded with two bullets, but the powder was decayed. This witness produced the musket.

Benjamin Sylvester was in the service of Messrs Heathcoat and Boden, at the time of the demolition of their factory at Loughborough. He was foreman of the guard, and loaded the musket produced by the last witness, on the 28th of June, with two small musket balls. This gun had a bayonet on, and was taken from the setting-up shop. A desk in which kept his books and other things, was quite smashed to pieces, and two pistols and powder flask were taken out. The powder flask was painted with a man and dog and gun on round side.

Joseph Shepherd is a labourer and lives at Beeston. About a quarter before five o'clock on the Saturday morning, the same day that he heard of the frames being broken, he was at Aram's boat, and saw thirteen or fourteen men go over; they were disguised, some having their coats turned, and some their handkerchiefs tied about their faces. Four more went over afterwards, and one man in the first boat paid for all. In the first boat he saw one man with a large axe, and another axe was in the last boat. He also saw the butt end of a pistol.

Charles Godfrey Mundy, Esq. who sat on the bench, near to the Judge, was sworn. He is a magistrate; John Blackborne had made a confession of the transaction, which had been reduced to writing, and on the prisoner being taken, Mr Mundy read over the deposition of Blackborne; when he had finished, prisoner burst into tears, and said it was all true, and afterwards the prisoner voluntarily signed it. This was done without any promise being made to him, or any inducement being held out by Mr. M.

Mr. Balguy wished the constable to be called, who took the prisoner to the magistrate, to ask whether the constable had not told him it would be better to confess; but this was over-ruled.

The information or deposition of John Blackborne, was put in, and read over. It was a very long document, but the substance of it is contained in Blackborne’s evidence as given above. It had the mark of the prisoner affixed to a declaration made by him that it was all true as far as he knew.

Mr. Balguy took a legal objection, which was decidedly over-ruled by the learned Judge.

No evidence was called on the part of the prisoner, either to facts or to character; and which was a very remarkable circumstance, we believe the prisoner was never called upon for his defence. This we conceive, was owing to the great attention paid by his Lordship to the arguments of the learned counsel on the objection which had been taken; and we are quite convinced that it was not an intentional omission, but an oversight. We have heard the omission remarked, and this induces us to offer our opinion of the cause thereof.

His Lordship proceeded to sum up the evidence, which he did with the utmost impartiality and clearness; particularly impressing upon the minds of the Jury, the jealousy with which they should receive the evidence of accomplices, unless confirmed by unexceptionable witnesses. In about three minutes, a verdict of guilty was returned.

This was nearly six o'clock, and the Court adjourned to the next morning.

18th March 1817: The trial of the Luddite Daniel Diggle, for shooting George Kerry, at Nottingham Assizes

COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAM.

Tuesday, March 18.

This morning, DANIEL DIGGLE, a fine stout-looking young man, only 20 years of age, was put to the bar, and arraigned on a charge of having on the night of Sunday, the 22d of December last, entered the dwelling-house of George Kerry, situate in the parish of Radford, armed and disguised, and then and there, wilfully, maliciously, and unlawfully shot at the said George Kerry, with intent to kill and murder him!

To this indictment the prisoner pleaded guilty, but Sir Richard Richards, having humanely pointed out to him the consequences of such a plea, and recommended him to consider the matter, and by pleading not guilty, take the chance of a trial, with some reluctance he consented, and pleaded not guilty.

Serjeant Vaughn shortly stated the case to the Jury. Four men were concerned in the perpetration of this atrocious act. One of them stood at the bar; another would be brought to give evidence, and the other two, Woolley and Henfrey had absconded.

Mr. Denman called William Burton the accomplice, but his Lordship wishing to have Kerry's evidence first, he was called, and Burton was ordered out of Court.

George Kerry (examined by Mr. Denman) was a framework-knitter, and lived at Radford. On the Sunday before Christmas Day, about eight o'clock in the evening, himself, his wife, his mother, Hannah Morley, and his niece (Ann Kerry) were at home. The door was closed and latched, but not locked. Two men lifted up the latch, opened the door, and came in; they had dark coloured long great coats on, with handkerchiefs over their faces, tied up to their eyes; one was a dark checked handkerchief, the other a light faded one; their hats were slouched down; one was a taller man, the other not so tall; at such a time one cannot tell to one, two, or three inches; they said "Advance into the parlour;" but the women were so frightened, instead of obeying the order, they all went into a corner; we were sitting in the house-place—the house-place is on one side of the door, and the parlour on the other. The men had pistols in their hands, which they presented at me and my family; I rose up from my chair, and seized the first man’s pistol by the barrel; he was the shorter man of the two; some struggling ensued; he appeared wishful to discharge the pistol into my body; I turned it aside, and when he pulled the trigger, the contents went into the fire, and knocked out some coals; the candle stood about a yard and a half off, and it was blown out by the firing of the pistol. I gave the pistol a twitch, but did not get it from him, I only drew out the ramrod.— (The ramrod was produced in Court.) I saw the other man with his pistol ready to discharge it at my head, he stood within nine inches of me, and perceiving he was going to fire, I stooped down, and when he fired, part of the contents catched my head, and the other part went into the wall in a triangular form; it was loaded with shot and slugs, and hit a tea tray fixed against the wall, and knocked it down. Two shot-corns entered my head, Mr. Attenburrow (surgeon), extracted one that might, and another the Saturday following. I have reason to believe there is another yet in my head, for it hurts me when I press on the place. I fell down, crying out, "I'm shot, I’m a dead man." They turned round and ran out of the house immediately. Hannah Morley, my wife's sister, locked the door. I got up soon after, and would have followed the men, but the women would not let me. The whole transaction, from the time of their coming into the house, to the time of their going out, might be a minute and a half; there was not above a few seconds between the firing of the two pistols. I saw Daniel Diggle afterwards in the gaol at Nottingham; it was on the 15th of Feb. Hannah Morley and John Kerry were with me. By order of Mr. Rollestone, one of the Magistrates, the turnkey’s lodge was cleared, and Diggle was brought up to me. When he came up, he shook me by the hand, sat down by my side, and asked me how I did; I replied not so bad as you meant me to be, and he made no answer, but his colour changed. I told him I was come to see him in a different form to what he came to see me, the Sunday night before last Christmas day; he made no answer. I asked him what induced him to do so. (Here the learned Judge made particularly enquiries whether any promise had been made to the prisoner, to induce him to confess. The witness maintained that no inducement was held out to Diggle either by himself, or any other person, in his hearing. Hannah Morley was present all the time, and some of the turnkeys occasionally came into the room.)—He made no answer. I asked the question several times, but still he was silent; at last he said, he'd be damn’d if he knew what made him come. I said to him, I reckon you left me for dead, when you left our house; he said he did. I asked him what he thought of me when I seized Woolley’s pistol; he replied, I’ll be damn’d if I know what to think of you. I said, you see I know, do you know who has told? Prisoner said no. I said, then I'll tell you, it is Burton: he replied, I know’d somebody had told, by what Mr. Rollestone said to me last Saturday.—He asked me where Burton was; I told him in Leicester gaol, he said he had never seen him since he was taken. I asked him if he knew what he said when he was coming down Pearson’s close, (Pearson’s close is about 120 yards from Kerry's) he said he did not know. I asked him if he did not say, damn his eyes, we’ll blow his brains out at the first go off; his answer was, I believe I did. I asked if Woolley did not come into the house first. He replied yes. I knew the persons both of the prisoner and Woolley very well, though I did not know them at the time. The prisoner’s father lived next door to me for several years, and is a very honest, industrious man.—(Here the witness’s feelings seemed almost to overcome him.)—Diggle said Shaw loaded the pistols in his room, as he and his wife were sitting at the fire. He said he expected at the time that Woolley, Shaw, Burton, and Henfrey were to come to my house, but when they had loaded the pistols, they put a pistol in his hand, and forced him to go; they were all in his room. I asked him where the hammer came from, that Burton had; he said from Bobber’s mill. The prisoner said Henfrey got the powder at Pogson’s. Hannah Morley asked him if he recollected what he said when he went out of the house; he replied he did not know, for he ran all the way home, quarrelling with Henfrey all the way for loading the pistols with any thing but powder. Hannah Morley repeated her question, adding did you not say, "damn his eyes, he’s is as dead as a nit;" the answer was, I believe I did. The prisoner said he had done that by me for which he should be hanged, and hoped I'd be as favourable as I could. He said Burton wanted them to come back again and break the frames, after they had left me for dead.

William Burton, the accomplice, (examined by Mr. Clarke) lived at Nottingham. On the Sunday before Christmas day, himself, Diggle, Henfrey, and Woolley, set off to break a frame at Kerry’s, it was about eight o'clock, they took three pistols and a hammer with them; witness carried the hammer; Henfrey fetched it from Constable’s house or garden, he did not know which, at Basford plat. Henfrey brought one of the pistols into the room loaded: the other two were loaded with powder from Pogson’s. at twenty minutes past eight, the prisoner and Woolley entered Kerry’s house, with pistols in their hands; witness staid at the door. When Diggle flung the door open, Kerry said, "halloo." The prisoner had a great coat on, with a light coloured handkerchief tied on his face, and an apron round his shoulders.—Diggle said to those in the house, "go in," meaning go into the parlour. The women screeted and a little girl (Ann Kerry) came to the door, but on seeing him with the hammer, she ran back again, and directly after the pistol was fired. Witness both heard and saw it; saw Kerry lay hold of Woolley’s pistol, and heard it go off. When the other pistol went off, Diggle and Woolley ran out of the house directly. He asked Diggle what he could think of firing? Diggle said because Kerry had seized hold of Woolley. Witness told him he had no occasion to fire, and he replied he was damn’d mad at himself for it. Witness then said, you're always such a damn’d fool when you’ve got a bit of powder; O says Diggle, damn him, he's as dead as a nit.—Witness and the prisoner went down some closes home; Henfrey and Woolley took another road.

Hannah Morley the sister-in-law to Kerry, was examined by Mr. Denman, but as her evidence was only confirmatory of that of Kerry’s it is not necessary to repeat it.

Ann Kerry, the niece, the girl who went to the door, and ran back when she saw Burton, was placed in the witness box, merely for the purpose of giving the prisoner an opportunity of asking her any questions he might think proper, but he declined doing so.

Thomas Pogson remembers that on Sunday before Christmas, about six o'clock, Henfrey came to borrow some powder of him. He lent in some in a horn.

The witness received an admonition from the Judge, and was desired to be more guarded in future.

The prisoner was called upon for his defence.—He said he did not know that the pistol was loaded with any thing but powder; he did not load it himself; and he only fired it to frighten them.

On being asked whether he had any witnesses to call, he mentioned several names, which were called in Court, but none of them appeared. After a considerable pause, the Learned Judge began his charge to the Jury; but before he had proceeded far, it was announced that one of the prisoner’s witnesses had made his appearance, and his Lordship, with that humanity, which we had frequent opportunities of admiring while he presided in the criminal court, and which we cannot sufficiently applaud, immediately paused, and ordered the witness to be sworn. It proved to be

Wm. Hemmett, who had known the prisoner twelve years, and gave him a good character.

It being stated that others were expected, his Lordship waited, and the next who appeared was

Robert Willis, a framework-knitter, of Arnold, who knew the prisoner, for he had worked for witness from July 1815, to July 1816, and always conducted himself well.

Elizabeth Hemmett had known him seven or eight years; he worked with her husband, and bore a good character as far as she knew.

After impartial and clear summing up of the evidence by the learner judge, the jury were desire to consider their verdict; which they returned obstinately, "guilty, my Lord."

His Lordship proceeded to pass sentence of death upon the prisoner, which he did in so impressive a manner, as to draw tears from most persons in the Court. It was nearly in the following words:—

"Daniel Diggle—You have been tried by a patient and attentive Jury, and been convicted on the clearest evidence, of an offence, which the law has made capital. In consequence thereof, your life has become forfeited, and you must lose it in the prime of your days, and in the full vigour of your mental and corporeal faculties. You went to the house of your neighbour and friend, a man who even now speaks of your father in terms of commendation; you went along with the other assassins, with deadly arms, forgetful of your duty to your God, forgetful of your duty to society, and forgetful of your duty to your father; you went, without provocation, in the calm and tranquillity of the evening, and you did all that you could, to murder your neighbour in cold blood. I thank God that you failed in your diabolical purpose. Your crime is of that magnitude, that you must not expect any mercy to be shewn you here; I should think myself accessary to the crime were I to suffer you to live, and depend upon it, I shall not disgrace myself, by soliciting mercy on your behalf. I therefore most earnestly intreat you to prepare yourself for that world, for an entrance into which I am afraid, you are quite unprepared. I have now only to pass the sentence of the law, which is, that you shall be taken to the place from whence you came, and from thence to the place of execution, there to be hung by the neck till you are dead, and may the Lord God of all mercies, have compassion on your soul."

These words were pronounced with so much solemnity, that they appeared to make a deep impression both on the prisoner and the Court: almost every eye was suffused with tears, and his Lordship himself was evidently much affected.

16th March 1817: Louis Allsopp accuses the frameworkknitter union leader, Gravenor Henson, of being the 'chief instigator' of the Hampden Clubs

(Private)—

Nottingham
16. March 1817.—

My Lord—

I  have had a Communication since my return with Mr Hooley, who is prepared to state his firm Belief & Conviction; that G. Henson is the chief Instigator of the Hampden Clubs here, tho’ not known to be a member of any one Club; that prior to the Establishment of Hampden Clubs Henson had the Charge of the Books & papers belonging to the Society of the associated Counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Leicestershire & Nottinghamshire, whose object was to overthrow the [Government] & effect a Revolution; & that these books & papers are in the possession of G Henson. at a Meeting of the Deputies from the different Counties in December at his house; that it was determined at this meeting that it was then too early to make any attempts, but that they [should] wait till the Spring, by which time the Country would be irritated by the Rejection of the Petitions in the mean time to be presented, & would be ripe for the purpose & a Revolution might be effected; that as soon as Parliament evinced a determination to support the measures brought forward by yr Lordship, Henson concealed, or destroyed these books & papers, & no Traces can be obtained of them, nor any Evidence of their contents procured; that Henson avoids appearing openly, & is too cautious to commit himself to any but a few he thinks he can confide in;—that tho he may appear to be quiet, yet that all his attention & Views are directed for his favorite objects of a Revolution; that in these Views he is assisted by a man of the name of [Matthew] Atkin, who is also a very shy & cautious man—Mr Hooley has obtained his Information from a person to whom Atkin has communicated these matters, & though he can take upon himself to swear to the his firm belief & Conviction in these Circumstances & that Henson & Atkin entertain at this time Views of a most dangerous & treasonable nature, yet as no conviction [could] take place without further Evidence, & as there is little or no probability of getting at any of the papers, Mr Hooley entertains an opinion that no good would be derived from an arrest of these men or either of them; they would be considered as Martyrs & only comfortable from their Confinement hereafter, possessed of more influence and Consequence than they now know, & that by waiting there is a Chance they may become bolden, & their papers may be got at—At the same time as yr Lordship possesses much more general Information of what is going on here & elsewhere, Mr Hooley & myself have thought it right to transmit these points to yr Lordships Consideration with this an observation, that we shall most readily adopt any measures your Lordship may advise—G.Henson is a most skilful man, he has quiet Caution & Command of himself—

every thing is going on with Spirit & Courage all will, I understand, be quiet—Your Lordship will of course have heard of the Conduct of the Prisoners at Leicester, I have no doubt the Magistrates there will do their duty—

Mr Hooley has made a sacred promise to the person who gave him the Information not to divulge  his name, but he has the greatest [illegible] in his Veracity.

I have [etc]

L. P. Allsopp

PS – I have this morning seen Blackburn & Burton who were brought over Yesterday from Leicester to give Evidence—The former says G.Henson has now nothing whatever to do with Luddism, only with politics—but there is a man of the name of Ward (whom I know) who is a very bad fellow in every respect, he was the person who suggested & instigated the men to the murder of the Judge—

15th March 1817: Charles Mundy informs the Home Office that Blackburn & Burton have been moved to Nottingham under escort

Burton March 15th 1817
near Loughborough

My Lord

I have the Honour to inform your Lordship that I have made arrangements with the commanding Officer at Leicester & the High Sheriff for the County Nottingham for the removal of the two prisoners Blackburn & Burton from Leicester to Nottingham and under an escort of the 15th Light Dragoons this day. I anticipate that they will return on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I have [etc]

C. G. Mundy

[To: Lord Sidmouth]

8th March 1817: Charles Mundy is concerned for the safety of the Luddites-turned-infomers, Blackburn & Burton

Burton March 8th 1817
near Loughborough

My Lord.

I take the liberty of addressing your Lordship on account of the uneasiness I feel for the safety of the two prisoners John Blackburn and William Burton who are as your Lordship is perfectly aware the mainspring of the case against the Luddites now in the Gaol of this County. I find that both those persons will be necessary as Kings Evidence at Nottingham assizes the former in the prosecution for the attack on my Lord Middleton's gamekeeper the latter in the attack on one Kerry’s House & shooting at him & wounding him in the Head. As Nottingham assizes unfortunately take place previous to those at Leicester there is every possible inducement for such of the Gang as are at large & their very numerous friends to attempt the lives of those men, for if they were disposed of the whole case for the prosecution for the outrage at Loughborough falls to the ground with the exception of one prisoner (Thomas Savage) The removal of these persons from Leicester to Nottingham will be attended with danger as will also their appearance in Court at the latter place. I should hope the High Sheriff & the magistrates for that County will take ample precautions and that the police of the Town will likewise be called into service on the occasion. If I might venture to offer an opinion I should suggest that a very large number of Special Constables should be appointed, & selected from the most respectable classes & well arm’d. I will say to your Lordship (privately) that I fear they are hardly sufficiently alive to the danger and that a jealousy of acknowledging the justice of the bad character the population of the Town & neighbourhood have acquired induces them to under rate the probability of any attempt of the kind I allude to.—Respecting the mode of conveying these two men from Leicester to Nottingham I conceive that best mode will be to take them in chaises under an escort of dragoons two troops of the 15th Lt [Dragoons] are at Leicester but I believe none at Nottingham the distance from Leicester to Nottingham is twenty five miles. In my opinion the best method would be to bring send an escort from Leicester to Loughborough the day before the men set out which would be ready, with their Horses fresh, to take charge of them from the escort which brings them from Leicester & convey them to Nottingham and remain in the Barracks (which are out of the limits of the Town) to convey the men back again, the Escort which brought them to Loughborough remaining there to receive & convey them to Leicester. This arrangement will of course require all your Lordships interference respecting the escort. I should think sixteen men would be sufficient—probably infinitely less would be sufficient for real security but the terror of the two men especially Blackburn, is so great that I am sure you Lordship will see the necessity of inspiring them with confidence. I should hope either a Military Guard or a strong party of well armed Constables will be retaind in the County Gaol at Nottingham during the time these men are there. If this plan should be adopted by your Lordship I would order chaises from Nottingham to meet them at my House which is in the most direct road from Leicester to Nottingham; some distance would be sav’d & the Town of Loughborough avoided. The escort from Loughborough would take charge of them here with less tumult than at Loughborough.—An attempt at a correspondence between Savage & some friends at Nottingham has been discovered to the Gaoler through the means of a prisoner charged with sheepstealing. the Object of it is that a party from Nottingham are to be ready in the vicinity of the Gaol on a certain night the prisoners at Locking up time are to rush on the two Turnkeys & either murder them or force them into one of the Cells & lock them in while others secure the Gaoler & get possession of the keys. Let themselves out into the street where their friends are to be ready with tools to take off their irons & a change of Cloaths to facilitate escape. I have procured a Guard of the 15th [Light Dragoons] every night from Locking up time till after they are let out of the cells in the morning.

I suspect they have some plan in agitation from which they expect success otherwise I cannot account for their encreased spirits & appearance of confidence knowing, as I do, that their [illegible] gives them no hopes of acquittal. As the assizes for the County of Nottingham are very fast approaching I have thought it right to lose no time in stating the circumstances to your Lordship.—I have the Honour to remain

My lord, your Lordships most Obedient very Humble Servant

C. G. Mundy

I should add that the prisoners now in the Gaol of this County for trial at the next assizes amount to no less than fifty four.—

[To] The Rt Honble Lord Sidmouth &c &c &c

9th February 1817: Lancelot Rolleston sends William Burton's further confession to the Home Secretary

My Lord

I have the honour of forwarding your Lordship a further confession made to me on Friday last by William Burton, one of the persons now in confinement at Leicester for the outrage at Loughbro’. The importance of his communication will I trust be an inducement to his Majesty's Government, to extend some favour towards this misguided man, who is very young, & appears highly sensible of his past errors; Should your Lordship wish to see the depositions regarding each particular circumstance, they shall immediately be remitted.

I have [etc]
Lanct. Rolleston.

Watnall Feby 9th

[To: Lord Sidmouth]

9th February 1817: William Burton's further confession

The voluntary confession of William Burton late of Basford in the County of Nottingham, taken before me Lanct Rolleston Esqr one of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the said County.

The attempt to murder Kerry.

On the Sunday before Christmas, Thos Henfrey & John Woolley of Basford, came to me whilst I was at William Pickburns houses, on Parson’s flat Basford, a called me out & said, they wished to speak to me; I went out, they desired me to ask Sutton Bill, alias Wm Pickburn if he had a bit of powder, I asked what they wanted powder for, said, they were going to break Kerry’s frame; I went & asked him, he said he had none; went & told them so; Henfrey had two pistols, one loaded & one not, Danl Diggle had one, unloaded; they said, they wanted as much powder as would load them both; I asked who was going to go; they said Henfrey, Danl Diggle John Woolley, James Shaw, (all of Basford) & said you must go & all, meaning deponent; said I had rather not, Henfrey said you had better, as they would soon do it, & they would not be more than half an hour; asked where Diggle & Shaw were, said up stairs in Diggles room; Henfrey desired them to stay where they were, (being at the bottom of the yard) & he would go to Thos Pogson’s, & ask him for some powder; went & brought some, brought it in a horn; then went into Diggle's room; Henfrey loaded one pistol, & Diggle another, Diggle got an old coat which was very much torn, & put it on & tied an handkerchief over his face; Deponent, Henfrey, Diggle & Woolley then went out of Diggles room, they stopt a bit in the yard, whilst Henfrey went some where to get a hammer, he got one, but does not know where from; they went directly to Kerry’s house, met no one by the way; Diggle & Woolley went on first, I & Henfrey followed at a little distance; Henfrey said; Dan, (meaning Diggle) damns his eyes if he don't blow his brains out, if he stirs, I said, that won't do; we overtook them, we came up to them in Pearsons close, before they got to the house; there agreed, that Henfrey should stand in the lane, Woolley against the door, & Diggle & myself should go in; I had the hammer, the other three had pistols; went up to the house listened against the window, & heard the children talking; came out of the yard again & stood the lane, deponent said we’ll stop about ten minutes, & the children will be gone to bed, they would make such a noise if we went in whilst they were up; Diggle was looking at his pistol, I said, my lad, let me beg you not to shoot, you’ll have no occasion for it, said he would not; Diggle & Woolley went again, I was about 5 or 6 yards behind, Diggle went first & threw open the door, Diggle & Woolley went in, I stood at the door; Kerry said, Hello, Diggle order’d the people in the house to go into the parlour, the women scream’d, & Kerry got up & seized Woolley, laid hold of his pistol, could not get it away, but pulled the ramrod out; then Diggle shot him; did not hear Woolley’s pistol miss fire, they then run out; when they got into the first close, Diggle dam’d his eyes if he had not shot him dead; said he tumbled down as dead as a rat; I asked him how he could think of doing it so, said. he did not know his pistol was cocked, I said I know’d, said, why did you not tell me, said, I did & talked to you about it before you went in; he said, damnation seize his eyes, he should have let Woolley alone, he seized Woolley he should have gone into the parlour & then I should not have done it; he said he was dam’d mad with himself for having done it, told him he was such a fool, that whenever he got a pistol & a bit of powder, he was always firing; I said it was the last thing I would ever be concern’d in, & would never go out any more; we then went home I & Diggle went together, & Henfrey went with Woolley a bye road; met no one by the way, saw no one & thinks no one saw us; went to Diggles house the next day, Diggle said, some one shot old Kerry last night. The ramrod did not belong to the pistol Woolley had, but belonged to a pistol taken from the factory at Loughbro’; thinks the pistol was drown’d, in Cheeny pool near Nottm, where all of them were drown’d, as he had heard say; it was a particular ramrod; the reason they wanted to break Kerry's frame was, because it was a cut up.

Job. at Bramcote

The Sunday before this took place there were many talking that man at Bramcote had got cut ups; Bill Towle said they should break them, & shew they could do a job without Jem; (meaning James Towle who was at that time in Leicester Jail) heard nothing more of it, till returning home from Arnold the Saturday following, saw Danl Diggle on the Parson’s flat, he said his brother Nathan & Bill Towle were gone to Chilwell to fetch pistols, for the job, they were to get them from his brother in laws where some had been left after the Loughbro job; James Shaw came to us & said we were to meet at the lane above Browns bleachyard, at ten oclock, we did meet there; the party then consisted of deponent, Danl Diggle, Chas Elliott, Joseph Widdowson, John Lomas, James Shaw, Robt Sugden, Jonathan Austin, & one Sam, (who run away for robbing the tent on the Race ground with Bill Towle, he has since enlisted into the guards at Derby, he has a mole on one side of his face, & is very pale looking, a good deal like, Saml Caldwell.) they then set off, went thro’ cherry orchard as they call it, past Aspley field, straight to the canal side; when they got to the top of the canal where the road to Trowel crosses it; Shaw, Danl Diggle, Chas Elliott & another, thinks it was Austin; went over a bridge to a public house, & got some ale, said they had a full quart & paid 6d for it; they drank it at the door & did not go in; Shaw said it was the last measure in the parish; this night be about eleven oclock it was in July; when these came from the public house they all went together along the cut side, for some distance till they came to a Lane, which they went down till they came to a place where they met Nathan Diggle & Bill Towle, who had brought pistols & cartridges & an hatchet; they gave pistols to those were to stand guard out of doors, namely Dan Diggle, Chas Elliott, & Bob Sugden, Jonathan Austin was also outside but had a gun of his own, Sam had a pistol & went into the house, Bill Towle had a pistol, James Shaw an iron crow, deponent the hatchet; the others had candles; coming towards the house, they saw a light in the chamber window, but it was put out before they got to the door; Bill Towle rattled the door, called out desiring them to come & open the door, they did not come, Towle took the hatchet giving deponent his pistol to hold, (this pistol Towle afterwards lost in the house) & broke it open; when they got into the house they got a light; they had things for striking a light with them; Towle went up stairs, Nathan Diggle, Widdowson & deponent followed, they broke 4 frames in the shop, the people in the house were in bed, thinks they never got up as they saw no one; they were there about 20 minutes, it was between 12 & 1, when they had done the frames, they went into another chamber, where the children lay, there was a machine there for winding silk they broke it, & as they were throwing it out of the window some of their own party fired at them, supposes by some mistake, did not hit them; they then came away, the children lay quite still & never made any noise; Bill Towle said he never saw any children lay so quiet before; they all went home together the same road they came, saw no one & no one saw them as he thinks; it was about 4 oclock when they got home; does not know the man's name whose frames they broke—.

As they were going to break the frames (after Diggle & the others who had been to the public house had joined them) they met a man on the canal bank, thinks he was drunk as he laid hold of several of them, & shouted, hallo lads, he went singing down the cut side towards the public house they had left, does not know if he went in, he was a middle sized man, had a short white frock on which only came down to his waist, & thinks a white hat it was moonlight; he looked like a miller thinks he was miller. The next day they took the pistols to Jack Hill’s, where he worked being in the same yard at the sign of King George on horseback; Hill was gone out, the master, (Hill’s brother in law) took them up into a cockloft.

One of the pistols bought by Savage at Derby for the Loughbro’ job; fellow to the one supposed to be at a gunsmiths in Nottm Mitchel, had with him at the shop where he worked, at the time he was taken,—

Lambley Job

Two or three weeks before this was done, Tom Austin, Jack Plumb, & big Sam alias Saml Caldwell, came to me & said, if I would get chaps to do a Lambley job, they, (meaning the Lambley men) would assist me at any time to do Bulwell; said, I would mention it; did so to the 2 Diggles, Thomas Corson or Corson or Corser. (since enlisted into the 96th) Joseph Mellors, Thomas Henfrey & William Cooper all of Basford; (Cooper has since gone to his parish which is Thringstone near Whitwich in Leicestershire) to Edwd Straw, Isaac Burton & John Wright of Arnold; Wright has since enlisted into a rifle corps at Nottm) & John Lommas of Bulwell; they all consented; the Saturday it was done big Sam, & Jack Plumb came to me at that time at Arnold, & asked if, they would come; said they would; Sam said he would go to Nottm & get pistols & ammunition, saying we were to meet in a particular close, next but one to the town; we did so, Jack Plumb went with us from Arnold, & when we got to Lambley, he went somewhere into the town & brought up two pistols; they soon heard a whistle, Plumb went towards it, the rest followed; about 2 closes off they found big Sam, Tom Austin, George Lovatt, as he called himself & John Blackburn; they brought pistols & ammunition; Sam said he had hid two pistols in Lovatt’s stacks, but had been to look for them, & could not find them; supposed some of Lovatt’s men had got them, & said when they went to break his frames they must get them if they could. They then went to Lovatts house; Henfrey broke open the door, deponent, Henfrey the 2 Diggles, Cooper went directly up stairs & broke the frames; Danl Diggle took a pistol & candle & went into the room where the journeymen & apprentices lay, & said, their general had informed them, they had got two pistols as belonged to them, & said he would blow their brains out if they did not give them up; they denied having; Diggle had an handkerchief over his face, & most of them had their clothes changed; saw no one in the house—Went from thence to Needhams house, knocked at the door, Needham open’d the door himself, they rushed in & Needham run up stairs, & they saw nothing more of them; all the party was more or less in the house at different times, except Isaac Burton, who said he would go into none, for having been apprenticed in the town, he should be known; an handkerchief of Burton's was lost there; they broke all the frames in the shop, went away without seizing any ones

Went from thence to Kirks the door not being open’d they broke it open, does not know who did it; Kirk did not come down, but talked to them on the stairs; said they had come to break his frames, he begged they would not, & said they were [Bergin] James’s; they said they were Shaws, that he was working at under price, & they could do them; Danl Diggle open’d the stair foot door & fired up stairs; it was a Cotton shop, deponent did not go into it; but Henfrey Cooper & Corser went in & broke all the frames; Went from thence to Godbers, desired to be let in, & rattled the door, two women put their heads out of a window, & said, that was not a public house; said, we did not want a public house, but had come to break the frames; the women called some men who put their heads out of the window & asked what we wanted, said we came to break the frames, & desired them to come & open the door; they did not; Henfrey broke it open, with the hatchet; it was one of those bought for the Loughbro’ job; we went in, & broke all the frames; it was a bottom shop, saw nothing more of the men or women; this was about 1 or 2 oclock; were about 2 or 3 hours altogether in the town; saw no one about; all went out of Lambley together number’d ourselves as high as 50 does not know how many frames they broke in each shop, but knows 30 were broke in the whole. then parted, Basford men went one way Arnold men another; before I got home I parted with the others, who went along a lane, & went by myself across the closes; On monday after the job Hill, Mitchel & a Adams Scotchman came over, & gave Mellors 17s to drink for doing the job we all drank it together; About a fortnight afterwards, Jack Plumb, Tom Austin, big Sam & Isaac Burton, met deponent in Arnold, & said Tom Needham could swear to Isaac Burton; and offer’d deponent & Isaac 10s to go & shoot him; Isaac said he would do it himself, if I would put hear him company there & back; said, I would know have no concern in murder; Jack Plumb said, I need have no concern as Isaac would do it himself, & only wanted me to walk with him; said I should be reckoned as bad, as if I did it; he said I had done that already as would hang me; but told him I would have no concern in taking life; they said no more to me about it, but Isaac plagued me very much to go & said he could do it easily, & would shoot him thro’ a hole in the window which was just against where he worked.

Needham might have seen Isaac Burton the night the frames were broken; thinks it was him who said, damn your eyes remember Clumber Street. When they first went into Needhams house, after he open’d the door, a pistol was fired either by Dan Diggle of Burton; thinks Wm Emmet & his wife where D. Diggle lodged will be brought to prove his alibi; & a woman named Hibbet or Herbert, who lives at Nathan Diggles will also be brought; she is married but lives with Nathan Diggle.

John Blackburn says, Jack Plumb & Isaac Burton have often requested him to shoot Tom Needham & one Police of Lambley.

The deponent William Burton is not a member of the Hambden Club.

Mr Rolleston
9 Feb. 1817