The Express.
London, England, 1852-12-03 00:00:00

THE OLDHAM ELECTION.

TOE POLL.

OLDHAM, Dec. 2.
I described the disgraceful proceedings of yester-
day up to the close of the nomination. Front that time up
to midnight, and even at later hours, the a were
paraded by gangs of rough people, and the inhabitant* were
uaduceu to close their houses and shops, from the fear of
the disorder which prevailed. The public houses at which
the friends of bit. Fox assembled wire attacked repeatedly,
and one of them, the Red Lien, had its windows
smashed and shutters broken—the :um ItC bl. in
obliged to defend themselves so hest they could.
A great many collisions occurred in the streets, and heads
were broken, but no lives are lost so far as could he ewer
Wised this morning. I neglected to inquire, before writing
yesterday, how many people bad been taken into custody
for rioting and disturbing the peace by fighting during the
nominition, but I learn this moriiiug that during the two
and a half hours' fightin4 in front of the liestings, not a
single person had been (akin by the 600 spee:ala and police,
and what is more, during the faction tights in the even•
ing, some of which were of a severe charseter, not a single
runt in was in " durance vile " to answer for the hem is be
had broken, or the windows sod property he had smashed.
When the morning broke, therefore, I was not surprised
to find that the street* wore again a scene ,of disorder. A
drizzling rain was falling at nice o'clock, the streets
(which looked as though they had never known a scaven-
ger's broom) were in a state of puddle, and thousands
upon thousands of rough operatives were perambulating
them in all directions. Bands of youths, marshalled
by the Heald party, were seen going from house
to house to groan and hoot those who hod voted
on the other side. They had thus delightfully serenaded
the residence of one of the supposed Fexite voters when a
female tried to appease one of the leaders of the gang by
some esplanation. Her says they'n voted for 1 eald
(Heald)," exclaimed the youth ; but he said it doubtfully
di if asking his companions if they were to believe the in-
formation. " Not they," broke from a number of the other
ruffians ; but they walked away to another house. About
half-past nine a band of tb's kind came into
collision with au Iriahm.n neer the Town-hall,
and the excited Hibernian wielded in a threat-
euiug manner a bar of iron he held in his hand.
A dlvision of specials, led by a policeman, here interfered,
and led the Irishman off to the l'oliee-mice. It was their
maiden capture. The rough, disorderly appearance of the
streets deterred the shopkeepers from opening their shut.
ten, and the borough presented a gloomy and most unin-
viting aspect. As the cabs and coaches brought up laden,
they were interrupted by crowds of people, their occupants
hooted, and the police were called upon to insure a passage.
At the time I write this passage eleven o'clock—
at the Angel Hotel, one of the moat central
parts of the town, and where I have stationed
myself because it is not a party house, I have
a view of an immense crowd of ruffians in the market-place.
It is reported that Mr. Fox is at the head of the poll, but
neither party has published the returns; and the tory mob
have now just stopped a cab, and threatened a voter who is
going to pull for Mr. Fox. He is known by his cab having
no placard upon it. The driver has had to dismount, but
the polies have interfered and protected him here, and the
crowd are rushing down a bye street, probably to intercept
him at another point. Another cab follows it close behind,
with a large placard upon it, inscribed " James Heald,
Esq.," sod goes quite unmolested, and the occupants are
cheered.

--------
A gentleman who has just been here informs me that now
(eleven o'clock) Mr. Fox is considerably a•head; but his
friends fear fur the resua, notwithstanding, in ouusequeuce
of the intimidation and ruffianism. lie says an 0111110u+
fell of persons going to vote fur Fox has just been upset by
a mob, and the voters thrashed. At the Working Alen's
hall the liberals have their headquarter., and there are
collected a great number of electors disposed to vote fur
Mr. Fox, but tho doors at either end are besieged is
thousands of the adherents of Mr. Ileald, and the electors
dare not leave the ball ; in fact they are wedged in by the
masers. Why do not the specials set them tree? Because,
said he, they are mostly young fellows unwed to acting in
such a capacity, and are utterly iucapable of coping with
such a multitude of ruffians.

HALF-TUT 12 tectonic.
There has been terrible mansion, I am informed, in
various parts of the town, and the it..,. Mr. Mills, one of
the magist•ater, has gone, at the desire of others of the
body, to request that the dragoons stationed at Lees may
be brought saw the town for the protection of the electors.
It was rumoured to be the intention of the tones to stop
the election directly Mr. Heald gets ahead ; but there now
appears to be little probability of thtt, as 1,333 out of a
total register of 1.978 electors have polled. This leaves a
margin of 421 names; but this includes all the duplicates
on the list, and the disqualified and deceased voters. Pro-
bably not more than 300 of the whole are geed votes.
The attack on the Working Idoe's-ltall Ms bees • bread
affair. The liberals hat made it a refralummt men he
country voters, and a few of these were aseembled is the
building about half-put twelve, "Ms a mob of dm Heald
party broke dews she doors with huge pleats of mirk and
tabu mimes% sad nisi in *pea the essugasia. Every
miss in the Om was Mama tenthly by thavo Miens, the
hems and furniture glass and ia lees this twenty
minutes the pima was a semideto wreck, so far as the inter-
ad MMgs were isseesettel. The Rev. Me. Mina obsirinsa of
Oa meet" Meek et mighlesha mauled sell mod the riot
set, het tie him est toast as km se then was
any adeskiet they amid pepotrate, and whim I Mated
the pine • little liedirrakosiber: were a nun*"of ties
in a ark room let the ale out of a barrel, frees
ghassetabs, and preparing ves for more serious work
Symms( the megistestss I have bum told that they bed
mu he the mommy, leaks Me *seal msetedM
fame," totaw then eve espressive sad • dew
shim having been wade by two of the ale of Me. Fox
that the town was in a state of disturbmse, sad more
forme were wanted. Nemervas reports MI them bees
brought to the Town Hall that polling bases bed bees
obstructed and coeintitteweasse of Mr. Fez broken into,
before the military were snit for. A gentleman who was
to vote for Mr Fox wee upset is his stab, and the cab
• messenger is hsnsbesk hem the Cluaiderton
prime bed been sttesked mad Ms head beekes. The
Oesege-swesk bed bum saseked, sad the wla-
dews imsehal,-lsting • Mese of Mr. Fox's pasty. Meatr
hums behinglng to the some piety, tailed the Osemserelal
Ina, bsd bees attacked by • Nub Haddites in the usese
way.

Taw o'CLocit.
The Waugh bee been in peat uprose mad disorder
sine 1 Wendt. A Mop of let Downs entered
the lowa et • lawns le ea*, ander Captain Meet. red were
drown spin fleet el the Town-bel. They aillenrsede
evaded to the mine mews .1 disorder, by
several nagiewolse, awl wen Allowed tins* Oran
by bosom mu* d postio. Non of wbse *send Ibis.
sad One!weal thew ivory nionsent shorans ef pub&
feeling pew was. 'The peat saws of dmo dinederly 1
name drew twatima nand then as • every and wins
tit weep remobsd the Towa-ball spin Wavy paving
dean we Mann at then. and lbey made •
nsorn Amp anempt the peo♦
pale Windy sand
sad they lid as Mot as they ceeld,
bat • sensiderabie number fell beams* the hones'
lbet, wad had es be envied away. Bs far as I could Nara,
sena of the resit were hart, the eavaL7 gab striklag with
the fat side of their swords. Wan then it has been thought
doeiraVe to egad for a detsahasat of the 4th 'abut*
lowa AellenandowLyne.
Menthols ea winos et tenet I sea rely, tells it was
tine te !Wag the speolal aoastables sad mead for the WU-
Way. he a
wes kind of bis wire wee Nis "di vete foe Mri
Pow ern is 4 lry die neb. mad • mbabost of 60
spend enninlies bed wised te apse the sob In whin he
was ding. This was la the mast plows.

3Potrz o'ciocz.
Behr' I dose my (Uwe& I way metier that the town,
theegb maw %toter, is weds worded, and it is trued
will be again before the evening closes. I hay*
nee the ...m di
et the poll, but the following returit has
jot loses boompla la hen Mr. Fox's committee, and places
the mgt leper& a doubt:—
Hr. To:
Mr. Heald
Majority for Fez ll6

It h eel signets& that 90 sere year will be added le
the **aflame. The angssee use ridin thank the
suss% wed Mt eleseellegee watehing it.Ws hisses&
Net lees then MN peep.. steam Is hest of the Town-
hall. The omen I =admits hart yegerday is sot deed,
but le le • ‘1•191.11 el•harbig isen lama kid's& es
thebefee part et the ines. Ihme ef the ism potty
mote otdoosion to tie pall being esellswed aft"
lbe Isliesr, were nut he bat they had ese dews this till
ere* wee restored, sad the Mayor did aid ease the poll
lea that mount. I did wet Ism ids single AM:Wm by
the supporters of )ft. Tea.