Serious disturbances have occurred at Todmorden, where the large factories
of Messrs. Fielden are situated. We abridge the account of the occurrence from the country papers. Serious disturbances have occurred at Todmorden, where the large factories of Messrs. Fielden are situated. We abridge the account of the occurrence from the country papers. The Messrs. Fielden have made themselves conspicuous by their opposition to the introduction of the Poor-law into their "happy valley" of Todmorden ; and it appears that the working population cordially sympathized with their employers. Mr. William Ingham,
Overseer of Langfield, refused to collect a rate imposed under the Poor-law by the Guardians of the Poor in the district of whirl) Lang- field and Todmorden form part, in consequence of ninneroustbreats of i injury to his person and property, in the event of his aiding n any way the introduction of the odious law. A warrant of distress was issued against Mr. Ingham; and on Friday the 16th of November, Feather, the Assistant Deputy Constable of Halifax, with the Ser- geant of the Watch, proceeded to Langfield with a horse arid cart to levy a distress on Mr. Ingham's effects. They were warned of the danger they incurred ; but persisted in making the seizure. While they were in the house, a mob collected, broke up and burnt the cart, and turned the horse adrift. The constables were then forced to pro- mise on their knees to execute no more warrants; after which, they were stripped of all their clothes, severely beaten, and driven away. They obtained refuge at a farmer's house, and escaped in the dress of millers.
The mischief did not end here. On Wednesday the 2Ist, a mob of at least one thousand men, armed with bludgeons, assembled at Tod-
morden, with the avowed design of destroying the property of persons favourable to the Poor-law. They sacked eleven houses belonging to the most respectable persons of the district ; including those of Mr. James Taylor, Chairman of the Board of Guardians, Mr. Stansfield, Clerk to the Board, Mr. Oliver, Surgeon, and the inn where the Guardians held their meetings. They destroyed the furniture, and set fire to the residence of Mr. Greenwood of flare-hill; but the fire- engine was sent from Messrs. Fielden's factory, and the flames were stopped. In the mean while, the Magistrates, who bad taken no precautions in the first instance to prevent disturbance, (and one of Mr. Fielden's brothers, a Magistrate, is even said to have met the mob on the road to his mill, and not to have warned them against breaking the peace,) sent to Rochdale and Burnley for military assistance. Two detachments
of infantry and a troop of cavalry arrived in the evening. The mob immediately dispersed ; and the next day all was quiet at Todmorden. In no instance was any property purloined; and according to one account no liquor was drunk, but another says that the mob made free with what they could get. The Magistrates held a meeting next day, and swore in one hundred and fifty special constables. They then proceeded with the military and constables to Lumbutt's, near Mankinholes, the place where the Halifax constables were assaulted ; and there surrounded one of the mills of Messrs. Fielden, which they entered. They arrested forty mom and boys, against whom informutions had been laid. Mr. Maslen protested against the entry of the military into his factory, and said he would resist a second attempt of that kind, lie offered to bail the prisoners ; but the Magistrates, not consenting, sent them off to Manchester New Bailey, under an escort of cavalry ; and thence to Liverpool. In two of Fielden's mills the greater part of the machinery is standing, in consequence of want of workmen, of whom many have absconded.
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