Star. — 1830-04-08 (London, England)

MARPLE, MARCH 31. A number of persons, inhabitants of 31arple, Strines, and the neighbourhood, having determined upon opening the old footpath recently stopped up by Mr. Arkwright, proceeded about six o'clock this evening to the gates erected by Mr. Arkwright, at the entrance to the above named road. Finding them locked, and several men on the other side, seemingly prepared to oppose an entrance, Mr. Arkwright was sent for to ask him if he would allow the road to be thrown open to the public ? On his refusal to allow the road to be opened peaceably, Mr. Thomas Bruce, of Strines, taking a mattock, forced off the lock, and the whole party passed through at that part of the road which passes Mr. Arkwright's premises. They were met by Fur. Arkwright self, armed with a double-barrelled gun, who swore that if any man attempted to pass that way he would blow him through, and shoot his head off. He said the gun was loaded, and presented it to the breast of William Barnes. On being told that this was an unlawful act, he became very abusive, and said he dill not care a d—n for the law. Mr. Arkwright having two constables esent, ordered them to take into custody Mr. Bruce and Mr. J. Mason, who were handcuffed together, and taken before 31r. Leigh, the magistrate. Mr. Leigh inquired if the men had been commit' ting robbery or murder, and being answered in the negative, ordered them to be set at liberty. Mr. Arkwright had, in the forenoon of the same day, caused two young men who were walking peaceably along the same road to be handcuffed, and after keeping them in custody for half an hour, set them at liberty, without even the form of taking them before any magistrate. The facts above stated, we are assured, can be verified by tli.l oaths of several creditable witnesses. We are sorry that a gunkman of Mr. Arkwright's station in life should take so much pains to render himself obnoxious to his neighbours. In this respect his character strongly contrasts with that of the late Mr. Oidknow, of the same place. Mr. Arkwright seems to have acted very rathly and unadvisedly throughout this affair, and, we apprehend, has laid himself open to the strong lash of the law, if the parties choose to commence proceedings. We rejoice that the inhabitants of Itlarple and Strines know their rights, and " knowing, dart maintain." Itlr. Rawson, of Darley-hall, near Halshaw.moor, a short time ago stopped up a road which leads from Prestolee to Halshaw. moor, which be bad several times before diverted from its onginal line. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood being deter. mined not to permit their rights to be thus taken from them, went, in company with Mr. Seddon, of Prestolee, accompanied by a number of men in his employment, and determined to have the road opened. They were, however, oppposed by Mr. Rawson's men, and the consequence of this opposition was a trial of strength between the contending parties, in which a number of the men on both sides received bruises, and one man was very seriously injured. Eventually Mr. Seddon's men succeeded in opening the road, but since that time Mr. Rawson has caused it to be stopped up again_ The above circumstances having been communicated to the Footpath Society, several of its members went to the place, and on :Attempting to go over the road, were stopped by Mr. Rawson's :nen. They afterwards made inquiry, and found that the road had been used for half a century. In consequence of this road having been stopped, persons will have to go near two miles round.