7th September 1812: Shearing frames destroyed at Gildersome, near Morley

In the second attack in the West Riding within three days, Luddites were at work at a mill in Gildersome, near Morley in the early hours of Monday 7th September 1812.

At 1.00 a.m., a group of Luddites arrived at the woollen mill belonging to Richard Lindsey & Sons. The doors were broken open, and 17 pairs of shears, along with shearing frames they were mounted on, were destroyed. No lights were lit and the whole action was concluded within 20 minutes.

The premises had been regularly guarded by the military until the lifting of the Orders in Council by government some weeks ago, when the available work increased and it was assumed they would be safe.

6th September 1812: James Starkey meets the spies Robertson and Ashworth to show them his plans for Rawfolds Mill

On Sunday morning 6th September 1812, the two spies James Robertson and George Ashworth met the would-be Luddite, James Starkey at the Globe Inn, Millbridge. They proceeded to Rawfolds Mill and Starkey revealed his plans to place the gunpowder under an archway for maximum effect.

The three men then retired to the Globe Inn and talked more. They parted later, agreeing to meet later at 7.00 p.m.

At the appointed time, only Ashworth turned up to meet Starkey. Starkey asked him to come outside - he was concerned that the three of them were not enough for the arms raid he had planned to succeed - he felt 10 or 12 men were needed.

A little later, the two men parted.

5th September 1812: Two spies meet a would-be Luddite with plans to blow up Rawfolds Mill

On Saturday evening, the 5th of September 1812, James Robertson, a private in the Stirlingshire Militia and George Ashworth, a Special Constable were undercover at the Globe Inn at Millbridge in West Yorkshire.

At one point, Robertson went to leave and a man who had come in earlier followed him out. The man stopped him and said "I wish I was a Ludd!" - Robertson took the opportunity to lead him on, telling him he 'wouldn't wonder if he was'. The man motioned into the distance, and said "there's a damned rogue who lives up there, his name is Roberson, he's the Parson" - the man went on to complain that Roberson had 'made himself very busy' at the time of the Luddite attack on Rawfolds Mill, and that the two men killed there should be revenged. The man then pointed out into the distance towards Rawfolds and said "there is another damned rouge lives up there and they ought both to be shot". Robertson carried on the conversation, and the man revealed he had dreamed up a plan to blow up Rawfolds Mill using a barrel of gunpowder with a long fuse.

The two men moved inside to drink, and were joined by the other spy, Ashworth. The man revealed he was a weaver and then revealed his plans again to Ashworth, and Robertson then suggested they move to a more private room. The man said his motivations were that William Cartwright had thrown men out of work in order to work his shearing machines, and also vengeance for the two men killed at Rawfolds, who he said he knew well. He went on to say that on the night of the attack on Rawfolds, he had stood on a nearby bridge and watched - his master would not let him join the Luddites. The man then revealed that he knew that at least 3 different houses in the neighbourhood had guns, and he revealed plans for stealing them, but that he had no pistol which he wanted the two men to acquire before it could be attempted.

The man said he could obtain the barrel of gunpowder from Halifax, but would need the two men to fund the purchase of it. If they did that, he would sort out Rawfolds, with the help of some Colliers that he knew.

The men continued drinking after moving to the Black Bull nearby. Later, the man showed the two men his house and asked them to call on him tomorrow before noon, when he would show them Rawfolds and explain how his plans would work. Before they left him, he told them his name - James Starkey.

5th September 1812: William Cartwright informs on those he suspects were involved in the Southowram attack

Saturday morning
Sep 5 ‘12

Sir,

I this Evening learn that the mob have destroyd the Machinery of a Mr Waterhouse at Halifax, assume this to be the Case; it occurs to me as most Singular that this same Gentleman was lately the mean of discontinuing the patrol of the Civil Power in Halifax declaring that no one could doubt for a moment that the County was in a State of perfect Tranquility!!!—

The purport of the present however is to day that I do not doubt the plans and executors of this Destruction are his own Servants my reasons are

George Hartley the Brother of Hartley who was shot here &
John Midgely – Particular [friend] [of Hartley…]
Abraham Pule all work with Mr Waterhouse

Now previous to the attack at my Place Pule who had formerly work’d with me (& who had at that Time taken up the dealing in Pigs) came to me & from affected motives of Friendship inform’d me that he had 2 Nights before been in a private meeting of the men of this very Mr Waterhouse & had overhear’d them say that they had receiv’d a message from the Huddersfield men on the Subject of the Attack at my Place which it was determined should take place before the End of 4 Nights unless it was thought that I was too much on my Guard, in which Case it should be defer’d for 2 or three Weeks (it took place exactly 3 Weeks from the Time)—but he play’d himself that none should take place without his conveying distinct Information to me—he did not keep his Word

Between his first visit & the attack Pul went to work with Mr Waterhouse & he remains there at present. I know not any where two more daring Characters that Midgley & Pul, Hartley I do not so well know. Pul is a Private in my Company of Halifax Local Mila the other 2 are Privates in the Light Company of the same regiments—

On the Morning of the Inquest on the 2 Men shot here Pul & Midgely were both lounging about at Robert Town 8 miles from their Home & Evinc’d so much Perturbation as led to suspect strongly that they had been of the Party—

Tho mere surmise I could not think myself justified in omitting to convey them to you & I remain

Sir – Yours Very truly

W Cartwright

[To Acland]

4th September 1812: Lieutenant-Colonel Wollaston reports the Luddite attack at Southowram

Halifax Sepm. 4th 1812.

Sir

I am sorry to have it in my power to report to you the total destruction of all the machinery part of a Gig-Mill within less than a mile of this place last night—

They must have watched the passing of our Patroles, as one party went very near the Mill — All our Patroles were accompanied by a Constable—

I have [etc]

George Wollaston
Lt Col: West Sufflk.

[To] M. Genl. Acland
&c &c &c

4th September 1812: Gig Mills destroyed at Southowram, near Halifax

After a hiatus in machine-breaking of several months, destruction broke out in the early hours of Friday 4th September 1812 at Southowram, near Halifax.

A local mill belonging to a Mr Waterhouse was on the route of the military, who were stationed nearby. Indeed, the local detachment passed by at 1.30 a.m., with all being well.

But the Luddites knew their movements, and were waiting. When the coast was clear, up to 100 Luddites arrived at the mill, quickly securing the watchman before any alarm could be raised. They obtained the key for the premises from a woman at the mill (possibly Waterhouse's wefe), and once inside, the Luddites destroyed 2 gig mills. In addition, several windows of a building occupied by a Mr Broadbent, the superintendent of the mill, were smashed, and his life was threatened should he be found working the mill again.

When the military patrol returned at 2.00 a.m., the action had taken place and the Luddites had dispersed into the night.

3rd September 1812: Arms raid at Greenroyd, near Halifax

In the evening of Thursday 3rd September 1812, the home of a man called Mr. Beeston at Greenroyd was raided by between 12-15 Luddites in search of arms. The Luddites demanded Beeston's pistols: he protested that he had none, and offered them another type of gun instead. Beeston tried to engage the Luddites in conversation, but they refused and left, telling him to lock up his home.

3rd September 1812: General Maitland updates the Home Office about the situation in the North

Wakefield
3rd September
1812

My dear Sir

I yesterday received Your’s, of the 31st, and when I originally got Mr. Park's Opinion, it accorded so perfectly with the Fact, of what the Magistrates had done, I did not send it to them, but now having the Attorney and Solicitor Generals Opinion, I will transmit it to them this day, as it must prove satisfactory to their Feelings.—

In addition to what I have heretofore stated, I have only to say, that I believe they are still coming in, where they started, and shall send you the Return when made up to the end of the Week.

In one instance too, 32 Men being Colliers of the Duke of Bridgewaters, and not connected with the Mottram District have come in, but this is the solitary instance, as not a Man in Manchester, and all that immense Neighbourhood have stired.

I went to Sheffield as I stated, and yesterday Morning four Men composing a Secret Committee at Barnsley, were seized by Warrant from the Magistrates of Sheffield, they were examined by Stuart Wortley, and committed to Sheffield, for further examination on Friday. He believes the truth of the original information which will attach capitally to two of them, I think it is the strongest I have seen, but what I want to see, is the effect it has in bringing in others, on this I shall be able to inform you in a day or two.—

I am sorry to say at Huddersfield and in its Neighbourhood, there are still some instances of Nocturnal Plunder, particularly in the Arm Ways and that we get on very slow indeed for want of Information, a short time I hope will however let us into it, as we have got a good number of People now at Work.—

I am [etc]
T Maitland

[To] John Becket Esqr.
&c &c &c

3rd September 1812: The authorities in Nottinghamshire inform the Home Secretary of stockpiled arms

Mansfield Sep 3d 1812

My lord

Agreeable to your Lordships instructions I have seen Hewitt the Deserter, who has given me some usefull information

—He states that the quantity of arms collected in this County at five hundred Stand, but from other information which I can rely upon I am convinced he has greatly over stated them

—I gave him instructions to get into the imployment of a Manufacturer of the name of [Flinders] who has not only assisted the Luddites with money but is frequently join’d them in their depredations—and from his situation in life I am very anxious to bring him to justice

I am sorry that owing to the secret as to the place where the Arms are deposited being known to so few even of their own party—has hitherto prevented me from gathering possession of them—but allow me to assure your Lordship that no exertion shall be wanting to accomplish that point—I have the Honor to be

Your Lordships
very humb Servant.

James A Stevens

To
The Rt Honl Lord Sidmouth
Secretary of State
London

2nd September 1812: Four weavers seized at Barnsley for administering & taking Illegal Oaths

Thomas Broughton, a weaver from Barnsley, had become involved with the local Luddites some time ago. Although it is unclear what had driven him to do so, in June 1812 he had approached Major Seale of the South Devon Militia and offered to obtain information for the authorities. Not long afterwards, Broughton met with the local magistrate and MP for the rotten borough of Bossiney, James Stuart Wortley, who directed him on what would be needed for the authorities to act.

By Tuesday 1st September, Stuart Wortley considered he had sufficient reason to issue warrants for the arrest of four men, and the following day they were arrested: the men were Craven Cookson, John Eadon, Stephen Kitchenman & William Thompson, all weavers from Barnsley.

2nd September 1812: John Becket of the Home Office writes to the Stockport solicitor John Lloyd

Copy
Private

Whitehall
2. Septr. 1812.

Dear Sir

I have received your several letters (3 in No) dated the 31st Ulto by this mornings post.

I had certainly been a little misled by your Statement respecting the Persons who had come in & taken the Oath of Allegiance at your office at Stockport concluding that they were from the immediate neighbourhood of that Place—this however does not appear to have been the case—I hope nevertheless the Example will be followed there in a short time.—

I hope the Clergyman at Holmfirth is a discreet man otherwise the Discretion you have entrusted him with to hold out the Expectation of a Pardon to any Person who will offer to make an ample disclosure of his Crimes may lead to some Embarrassment—The moment this is known every Scoundrel in the neighbourhood may come & claim the Benefit of this offer—& I don't see how a Pardon could be refused in any such case—Besides you are to recollect that the Legislature has not authorized such a Pardon to be granted. & it ought to depend & must depend upon the circumstances of a particular case Whether the Party should receive the Kings Pardon for any offence to Which it is not Extended by act of Parliament. I wish therefore you would write immediately to the Clergyman at Holmfirth and desire that for the present at least no previous general Engagement to grant a Pardon to Persons coming in & making disclosures be made, or the Expectation of it held out—it is not at all Clear that Persons who have taken an illegal Oath, will not readily take the opportunity afforded them by the Act of getting quit of the Penalties attached to that offence—Although they may be conscious of having been concerned in other outrages—It is also Possible that Persons with this Prospect of obtaining something like a General Pardon may come in & pretend they want Absolution from the Penalties they have incurred by taking an illegal Oath—While in point of fact their object is to procure a Pardon for other offences—they never having taken the Oath at all.—

You ask what you are to do with Yarwood. Upon this Point I will write to you again for the present let him remain in Custody—Bent also should remain unmolested—I have received information about him Which leads me to request you will take no notice of Him Whatever without writing to me first—You had better consult General Maitland about William Cooper Who you say was sent into Shropshire to be out of the way—if there is a Probability of his being made useful—it would be an easy matter to send for Him & employ him, I should doubt Whether [near] him not suspected—would not be the better Agents.—

I quite approve of your having urged a Commitment to York Castle in Scholefield's Case & you will acquaint Mr. Scott that He has adopted your suggestion very properly. Mr. Wood was not aware probably of all that you had passed respecting him—Which may account for his suggesting a previous communication with the Secretary of State—I trust that your Endeavours to procure Evidence against the other Parties Who were accomplices with Scholefield may prove successful—The case is so strong against Him that nothing should be said to Him Which can be construed into a promise of Mercy, by way of inducement to him to confess—if He proposes of Himself to say any thing let it be received—but I beg the Gaoler at York may be cautioned on this point, it is one of much Consequence. You will of course apprize me if you discover any thing from the Parties Whom you mention it is your intention to take to a distance—I see no great objection to this Step—provided you bear in mind the caution above mentioned respecting Scholefield—& apply it if possible to other Parties Who are implicated. It is not impossible that with care a conviction may be obtained against more than one.—

Please to send me back the intercepted letter signed J.B.—keeping a copy if you please—& send a copy to Ralph Fletcher Esqr. Bolton to Whom it may be [usefully] new Information against the 38 from Lancaster should be taken and sent up for consideration.

I am &c

(Sigd) J. Beckett

[To] J. Lloyd Esqr—
Wakefield—

2nd September 1812: The lesser-known cases at Lancaster Summer Assizes

On Wednesday 2nd September 1812, sentencing took place at Lancaster Summer Assizes. A number of cases were decided there which do not usually feature in any of the histories of Luddism, but which nevertheless deserve to be recognised and/or highlighted.

Six prisoners were on trial for rioting at Middleton during the 2-day disturbances in April: they had all been tried for arson at the Lancaster Special Commission in May, but were acquitted, and then immediately charged with rioting to be tried at the next Assizes. Robert Ogden and James Taylor were imprisoned for 18 months, with Paul Greenwood, John Scholes, Abraham Ogden & John Kenyon being imprisoned for 2 years.

Six women who were arrested after the Lancaster Special Commission for taking part in rioting at Barton-upon-Irwell in April were also brought before the Court: whilst Elizabeth Birch, Mary Clare, Mary Dunn were acquitted, Mary Barlow, Elizabeth Benyon & Sarah Parkinson were found guilty and imprisoned for 1 month.

Solomon Low - someone taken up by Captain Francis Raynes during his stay in the area of Mottram - was convicted convicted of having stolen three loads of meal at Ashton-under-Lyne, during rioting in April and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.

John Brown, the landlord of the Prince Regent's Arms in Manchester, taken up along with Humphrey Yarwood by John Lloyd in June, was not prosecuted for being present at the administration of an illegal oath.

Messrs Rowe & Duncough, the owners of factory at Westhoughton which was destroyed by Luddites in April, brought an action for recovery of their losses against the Hundred of Salford, no doubt because the military failed to act at the time, even though they were alerted. The verdict was given in their favour, and they received 'upwards' of £7000 in damages, and enormous sum of money.

Lastly Edmund Newton, one of the 'Manchester 38', who had been acquitted 5 days before was re-arrested at the end of the trial, charged with administering an illegal oath in Tintwistle and re-committed to Lancaster Castle to stand at the next Assizes.

1st September 1812 1812: Troop movements

Tuesday 1st September say more troop movements around Lancashire.

Units of the Royal Berkshire Militia which had been stationed in Lancaster for the past 3 months marched for Manchester.

On the same day, two companies of the Hampshire Militia arrived in  Lancaster from Wakefield.

31st August 1812: Arms raid & shots fired at Brighouse

Between 11.00 p.m. and midnight in the evening of Monday 31st August, Luddites launched raids at Brighouse in the West Riding.

At Thornhill, 3 houses were raided for arms by 40 Luddites, and 4 guns taken from them.

At 2.00 a.m. on the 1st September at Brighouse itself, shots from a blunderbuss and other weapons were fired into the home of a Mr Waddington, a corn-miller. Seven bullets were found lodged in his bedroom ceiling, with a musket being discharged into his parlour. The Luddites had managed to avoid a patrol of soldiers that had just passed by.

31st August 1812: The Stockport solicitor, John Lloyd, informs the Home Office of his breakthrough with John Hinchliffe

Wakefield
31 August 1812

Sir

It is with much satisfaction I inform you that John Schofield was this day committed by Mr. Scott to York Castle under Lord Ellenbro's Act for being present at aiding &c the shooting at Jno Hinchliffe the Examinations relating to which outrage, taken before the same Justice the day after the commission of it, I find, will copied & transmitted by that magistrate to you, & are referred to in the short Examination of Hinchliffe taken to day — a copy of which & also of the Examination, which the Prisr gave voluntarily, I shall sent here with. In the former Examinations Hinchliffe has foreborne to fix upon the Prisoner, Schofield, as one of the men — and this I find was a caution which fear alone occasioned — nor can I wonder at it when I contemplate the state of the country and the remote situation of Hinchliffe's House which I visited yesterday — To the removal of that fear and dread and to the promises which I gave him of protection by the Law if he told the truth and did his duty to the public, must be attributed the confidence with which he has now spoken of Schofield being one of the identical persons concerned; and happy for the Country; I hope it is, that he has. — I have an additional fact, collected at Holmfirth yesterday Evening, which may be important — I allude to Blythe’s statement upon which I have obtained a Warrant from Mr Scott against Battye and Thulas — and without any confession from Schofield we may be able to get a knowledge of the other man — we have all been very cautious with Schofield & have taken care not to affect our case against him.

Genl. Maitland was present at the Examination this forenoon — and there was a Justice of the name of Wood a Clergyman, who wished Mr. Scott to postpone the Commitment to York till the Secretary of State shold be consulted, but, as there appeared sufficient grounds to commit at once, I urged him to do so, undertaking to explain every thing to you — and I shall be happy if I know I have your approbation in what I have done — & shod be glad if you enable me to convince Mr. Scott of his having acted properly — I thought I discovered the motive of Mr Wood, who is the visiting magistrates I suppose of the Gaol — but as this is only conjecture I may be going too far to state it — however, you are not likely to blame me urging a Commitment to York without a direct solicitation or a hope encouraged for the Prisr to be come King’s Evidence — the case can never made so strong against the other man as it is now again Schofield

I have [etc]

J Lloyd

J. Beckett Esquire
Under Secy of State &c

31st August 1812: General Maitland tells the Home Office that Fear is the key to success against the Luddites

Wakefield
31st August
1812

My dear Sir

I this morning received Your’s, Lloyd’s information is correct as to the fact of the Oaths of Allegiance taken at Stockport, but not one of them Stockport Men, they all came from the Country, and that part of the Country. I have so frequently alluded to, indeed it is most material there should be no misunderstanding upon this Subject.

The numbers that have come in have been induced by Fear, and Fear alone, in fact whenever we seized any of their Heads that moment they begin to come in, and not till then, and of this I have the most clear and distinct Proof. It is very difficult to get at them from the Magistrates Clerks, but the return of those coming in, who have already been sworn is fast increasing, in fact, in that part of the Country where there has been real Military Exertion the Thing it over, and if we can set it agoing here in the same Way we will soon get rid of it.

Upon this Head I am happy to tell you that I think tomorrow or next day we will be able to commence at Barnsley, and I have at present great hopes we shall be able to lay hold of at least 6 or 8 of the Ringleaders, if we succeed in this, it will be a great Thing.

Schofield is just committed, to York Jail for trial, and the information is complete as far as one unimpeachable Evidence goes.

I have just received this moment a letter from Lawson, he is to be at Liverpool the 3rd and I shall send Acland to see him.

I shall be at Sheffield tomorrow about the Barnsley business, and shall write to you.

Mr. Scott who committed Schofield had some previous communication with your department upon the Subject, but on thorough consideration he judged it right to commit at once, if any use can be made of him otherwise, it is of course still open should it be deemed expedient.

Ever
Your’s
T Maitland
LG

[To] John Becket Esqr.
&c &c &c

31st August 1812: The Stockport solicitor writes to the Home Office about his spies and informers & suspects John Bent

Wakefield
31st August 1812

Sir

I have to beg your pardon if not sooner answering yours of the 26th –

The people continue to flock to my Office to take the oath of allegiance but at the time I left home I understood from my Clerks that the Inhabitants of Stockport formed no part of what had then been; of course Genl Maitland will explain the mistake which seems to have been made — as to our correspondence — There is no doubt however of its becoming very general — & I will venture to promise that in a few days we set it a going at Huddersfield — for we have obtained abundance of materials to act upon.

Your request of having the Instances of persons returning to their allegiance made public was anticipated, for I wrote paragraphs, for the papers the day before your wishes were known to me and I find Genl Maitland has done the same —

(1) I find from talking with the Clergyman at Holmfirth yesterday that his opinion is that the Luddites are afraid to come forward under the Act of Grace (if I may so term it from the provision it contains) because they are not indemnified in respect to their stealing arms — but I endeavoured to remove the obstacle by desiring him to assure some one Individual of a pardon from Offences even of that nature so that he made an ample disclosure — & told him if the Delinquent informed of two capital felonies he wou’d be intitled to his Pardon — that the promise cou’d not be extended — and he must induce some one to embrace the offer as early as possible

Extract 2 (with respect to the Letter from Ireland it appears to have been written by James or Jno Bent whom Yarwood mentioned as Treasurer of the Disaffected and Knight appears to be a relation to Knight that is one of the 38 at Lancaster (the 38 bundles of Blue) immediately returned — I do not know whether Whitaker did not mention Bent also. They are J.B.is right about Yarwood being still at Middlewich. Pray what must I do with him, he is in prison he is no longer, I conceived, of any use — William Cooper alias Strapper, is a man whom I employed at Newton & he was instrumental in convicting Daniel Garside of being privy to an unlawful oath adminsd to Cooper, and in convicting Joseph Thomas Schofield of inciting a felony, for which the latter was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment — the former of course transported). I sent Cooper into Shropshire after the trials at Chester to be out of the way of their vengeance but I think such men wou’d be very useful here — not that they wou’d again trust a stranger — but still a stranger cou’d observe the motions. I am already making some of them useful —

Wou’d you have any thing done with Bent

Your faithful & obedient St

J Lloyd

[To] J.Beckett Esqre &c &c &c

[Written vertically in the: “there is evidence in my office to fix some of the 38 returned — I suppose it must be done"]

31st August 1812: John Hinchliffe implicates John Schofield in his shooting

Since giving his initial deposition to West Riding magistrates on 23rd July, the day after he was shot, John Hinchliffe had now decided that he now knew who one of the men was.

The Stockport solicitor, John Lloyd, had 'persuaded him' to identify a man who was already suspected, John Schofield. Lloyd had essentially abducted Hinchliffe by removing him to a private residence, ostensibly 'for his own safety'. But since he was outside of legal custody, Lloyd could effectively do what he liked with him. There is no doubt that he subjected him to an interrogation, but it is not possible to know what went on beyond that. We do know that General Maitland had previously expressed his discomfort about Lloyd's methods, and that Lloyd's letters to the Home Office are full of dark hints.

On Sunday 30th August, Lloyd travelled to Holmfirth to talk to Constable Blythe. He found out from Blythe that Hinchliffe had connections to the Luddites: Blythe recounted a meeting between himself, Hinchliffe and two other men at his house on Sunday 19th July. One of the men, John Thulas, told Hinchliffe to 'give over following the Luddites' and pay attention to what the parson at the Church said in his sermons. Hinchliffe left, and Blythe then told the men that what Hincliffe had told him 'would hang both him and John Schofield'. The other man present, Abraham Battye, then left without saying anything.

Blythe now told Lloyd that he suspected Battye had gone more or less straight to relate the tale to Schofield, for the following morning at 6.00 a.m., Schofield visited Hinchliffe, asking him what he had said to Blythe. Two days later, Hinchliffe was shot.

On Monday 31st August, Schofield denied to Lloyd he had been involved, though in the same deposition, he did admit to meeting Hinchliffe on the 20th July, and asking him what he had said to Blythe.

Lloyd then presented his new knowledge to Hinchliffe. No doubt he laboured long and hard on him that he knew he was involved with the Luddites, and spelled out to him what that could mean for him. Despite saying previously that he did not recognise his assailants, that day, he signed the following deposition:

the former Examination he gave to Joseph Scott Esqr. on the 23d July and now read over is true and he further saith that from the observations which he made of one of the men whom he has alluded to in that Examination he has no doubt whatever of John Schofield the younger (the prisoner now in custody) being the man called him up and afterwards had hold of him at the Door and fled upon the hearing of the Horse for, he is very well acquainted with the Prisoner’s Voice having been much in his Company when the Prisoner has been learning to sing and he thought at the time he was called to that it was the voice of Schofield the Prisoner that did call — and when he came to see his person he thought it the person of Schofield — It was quite the shape of him — and he got a sight of part of his face & he thought it like the face of Schofield

31st August 1812: The Stockport solicitor, John Lloyd, informs the Home Office of his methods of intimidating suspects

Rather private

Sir

In the Case against the murderer of Horsfall & other Depredators committed to York I have obtained a material piece of Information, which, if the Zeal of Mr. Radcliffe the Justice has not marred, I shall avail myself of here — but the doubt I have is that Mr. R. has been taking some steps upon the same Information which was ultimately laid before him — & now if I make any thing out of the Witnesses it must be by suddenly taking them up & running away with them to a distance; a measure I shall certainly take the responsibility of doing, and therefore I am not asking your advice but informing you of the resolution I have formed

I find Mr. Scott valuable Justice — I fear Mr. R. talks too much – He is very resolute & independent and has other good qualities to recommend him — But if I ventured to act without consulting him I am sure to obtain his reprobation in return for my good opinion of him

Your faithful
& obedient

J Lloyd

[To] J Beckett Esqr

[31st August 1812]

31st August 1812: Handbill offering Pardon of Illegal Oaths posted in Manchester area