The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-05-08
"Put Yourself In His Place"

inspired Chas. Reade's "Put Yourself in
His Place, recently died in England,
at the age of sixty-three, leaving wife
and children. He was a saw-grinder by
trade, and, after IS4S, secretary Of that
powerful and blody organization, the
Saw-Grinders' Union, OF Sheffield He
was a clear headed and resolue man,
but wholly without scruple. Under his
management the system OF terrorizing
masters and recalcilrant unionists was
carried to its utmost lengths. The "ven-
geance committe was accustomed to
blow their victims up with gunpowder.
Wherever the Sheffield "Mary Ann"
went she carried canisters full of that
explosive, and down chimneys and
through doors and windows death and
destruction were dealt to those who had
offended against the trade, or who were
in arrears with their " natty" money.
1t was always shrewdv suspected that
Broadhead was concerned in the crimes,
but is was not until October, 1866,
that matters came to crisis. A can Of
gunpowder was exploded under the
house OF a man named Fearnyhough,
and, although no harm was done to hu-
man life. much damage was done
to property. A CT 900 reward, offered
by the Sheffield manufacturers, and an
additional reward of fIoo promised by
the Government, failed to bring to light
the perpetrators of the outrage, all COM
plicity in which was indignantly rebu-
dated by the Trades Unions. In proof
OF their sincerity. they offered a supple.
mental EIoo for the detection of the
perpetrator.
AT last commission was appointed TO
investigate the whole system of trade
outrages at Sheffield, and absolute inn
munity was promised to all witnesses
who would tell the whole truth, however
deeply they might have been compro-
missed in the crimes committed Two
of the men examined, who had been
Broadhead's hired braves, began 10 make
damaging revelations con-
corning him. and he, finding the tolls
tightening around him, at length fully
confessed his guilt The narrative of
Broadhead began with 1853, when he
procured the ham-stringing of a horse
whose owner, one Parker, had been
guilty of working with non>unionists.
This warning being disregarded, Broad
head hired two men TO shoot Parker,
and Parker was shot on Whit Monday,
1854. In August, 1859, lie caused
his braves to track one Linley from
house to house to murder. The victim
was found at las. sitting in the room
of public house, and he was shot from
the yard and through window by means
of an air-gun. He died some weeks
afterward from the effects of the wounds.
Previously Linley had been blown up
once and shot once, always by Broad
heads directions. 1t was declared by
Broadhead that he intended the man to
be shot, but not slain outright, and he add
ed that it was with Every great pain" that he
had consented to the proposal for shoot
ing him. at came upon him." he re-
"as an unpleasant subject"
For the shooting of Linley he had paid
Els. and he took some f2oo out Of the
funds of the union for the purpose of
bribing the ruifians who executed his
murderous behesls.
Before having Linley killed, Broad
head secured the blowing up OF Samuel
Baxter, of Loxley, another impenitent
and self-willed saw.grnder. a couple
OF months after the shooting Of Linley,
one Helliwell, who had not been brought
up as a saw-grnder, was, for The offence
OF working at that trade, blown up by
which was ignited from
sparks from his "glazer as he regan to
work. Broadhead delivered three cans
Of gunpowder to a man called Clark for
the destruction Of the interoping saw
grinder, and halfa canful had been placed
by Clark in HeIliwell's trough. The
poor man was not killed, but only blind
ed. Broadhead drew up a plan for
shooting him. but relinquished 1t. and
blew up part of the factory of Messrs.
Wheatmen & Smith, who had sinned
greatly by introducing a new mode of
saws. At the close of the sit
ting OF the commission, Broadhead re-
ceived, according to the pledge given 10
the guilty witnesses, certificate of inn
munity, though by his own admission a
murderer and suborner OF murderers.