The Sun. — 1841-03-26 (London, England)

NORTHERN CIRCU.I7'—LANcAsrxn, March 24. Richard Boothman, James Wilkinson, Thomas Riley, and Henri/ Bidekaigh, were indicted for the wilful murder of Joseph Halstead, at Colne, on the 11th of August last. A second count charged 13oothman with the murder, and the other prisoners with aiding and abetting him. It appeared in evidence, that about a week before the event serious disturbances had occurred in the town of Colne, and the Magistrates thought fit to send for the military, who remained from Friday to Sunday. On the evening of Monday the Magistrates received such information as induced them to swear in seventy special constables, among whom was the deceased, a respectable tradesman of the town. The Riot Act was read first at the Old Church, and then about a quarter of a mile further. A distance further on. was the New Church, from the fence which iron rails had been torn. The Magistrates and Constables proceeded awn _Nineveh— street to Cross-street, where they heard the spring of a rattle, and heard a considerable noise and the discharge of firearms, and soon heard that a man had been killed. From the ti.ne the deceased was sworn in he was accompanied by a special constable named WU. In Cross-street they were followed a few yards by the mob. A violent blow was aimed at. Wild with an iron bar, which so alarmed him that he went home. The deceased was then standing at the door of a man named Hawksworth, who looked out of his window, and saw a man down on the ground, and the mob making exclamations, " Kill him." Some said, " Don't kill him." Others, again, said, " Kill him," and he was killed. The deceased was subsequently found on the ground by a man named Snowden, with his head beaten to pieces, but Snowden was driven away by the mob while endeavouring to get it into ahouse, but the body was so disfigured that Snowden could not recognise him. Three police officers will prove that Boothman was in the mob, and that he struck the blow which brought the person down who was standing at Hawksworth's door. He then ran away, and dropped an instrument, and an instrument was taken upat the place. With respect to Riley, a man who had known him before, followed him. lie fell, and a piece of wuod was dropped, and he was secured. As to Wilkinson, the evidence  , . is various. A .4peclia nim6d Pm-og, pa,3sed by him. lie was subsequently found in bed, 4.lld.6'ili4et st4111:!1 with blood. There was also a pair of wet shoe, wigt nitss upon them, the ownership of which he denied. In a cr.,dlo, Under a pillow, was found a wai-tceat stained with b1,,0,1. On the roof of the house was foticil a shirt sta;ned in part with block!: His hat had been lanielted oft by it oonstable. subsequently said to tin tiffier; cashould riot hale dor!, it, but the man sent me to the Holler itf COrfeetion for piityi-g at football." It will be proved that. in January; 1840, he bad been sent to the House of Correction for two months on au it hiftilatintt riven by the deceased. Some information was given as to the prisoner Riley lining out of the way, and he was not found till February, when he wits taken ho Halifax, !kith a wound in his head, which hi! said he had got ill the sitcet. Ile afterwards said that on the day of the occasion he Will ciming to Colne, and met the mob, who put a weapon hoc) his hant, when he was .knocked down at a door in Crossstreet. The next morning a piece of iron, covered was found about. 200 yards from the spot where the deceased was kited. _ . _  Evidence also was given to show that in January, 1840, -Ite prisoner Wilkinson had been convicted and s •riteuecd to :Ivo months' imprisonment, under the Malcious Tiespasi Act, tin the infirmation of the deemed. The evidence against the prisoners Riley and Bidehalgh was such as to connect them with the riot, but. as it did not fix them with any actual violence to the deceased, his Lord-hip acquitted them. Mr. WILKINS then addressed the Jury on behalf of Boothman and Wilkinson, and his Lordship having summed up the evidence, the Jury, after a e insiderablti retirement, returned with a verdict of Guilty against Bouthman, and acquitted WU Sentence of death was immediately passed upon Boothman. Ri!ey, and Bidehalgh were then arraigned upon an indictment for a riot, and severally pleaded guilty. Wilkins n was sentenc,d to eighteen and the other two to twelve calendar months' imprisonment and hard labour.