
The year is 1844 and on the evening of 9 and 10 June there was great excitement on the streets of Leeds where there was a clash between the Borough Police and the Privates of the 70th Regiment of Foot who at this time were stationed in the town.
It appears that around 8 o’clock on the Sunday evening Policemen Haigh and Best were called to the shop of Mr Ward, a Surgeon in Kirkgate, where they found a man named Edward Thompson who was seriously wounded. When questioned he stated that he had been attacked by two soldiers named O’Brian and Kairn who were at the beer house called The Green Man in York Street.
In a short space of time the Police succeeded in apprehending the two soldiers, but as they were being taken to the Court House Privates Sherburd, Carr, and others attempted to rescue the prisoners. Taking off their belts they commenced to attack Haigh and Best and inflicted serious injury on the latter.
Other Policemen came up and there ensued a most terrific battle between the two bodies of men. Considerable violence was used by both sides and the prisoners were liberated by the soldiers but were later recaptured by Policemen in Briggate.
The Police succeeded in locking up seven of the soldiers and on the Monday the prisoners were brought before the Magistrates where Privates Sherburd and O’Brian were fined £5 each, and in default of payment they were committed to the House of Correction for two months. The other prisoners were handed over to their Commanding Officer for their punishment.
On the Monday evening, 10 June some restraint was put on the military at the barracks, notwithstanding this 40 or 50 of the soldiers got out in small batches and by pre-arrangement all met at the Green Parrot in Harper Street.
At about 7 o’clock they left the public house in a body armed with sticks, bludgeons, etc on a crusade against the Police and marched up Kirkgate into Briggate, Commercial Street, etc.
The police in every instance suffered defeat and disaster; Policeman Wildblood narrowly escaped with his life, Policeman Robertson was also very much hurt and bruised especially about the head and arms, while Policeman Smith was nearly killed.
During the affray the windows and streets of Briggate, Kirkgate, and Commercial Street were crowded with people. The populace seemed to generally be on the side of the military cheering them on through the streets and in some instances assisting in the riot.
At length a Piquet arrived to quell the disturbance. Some members of the Regiment took flight on their approach, but many of the soldiers were marched back to the barracks in Woodhouse Lane.
On the Tuesday evening the military were not allowed to leave the Barracks but a rabble took to the streets at about 9 o’clock and attacked the Police in Kirkgate pelting them with stones, bottles, and anything else that was at hand. This was soon cleared up by a large Police force armed with cutlasses.
On the Friday 17 people were committed to the Wakefield House of Correction to await trial at the Borough Sessions. These were the soldiers Cogland, O’Brian, Judd, MacClanaghan, Vickerman, Harwood, Turner, Mooran, Beaty, and Cosgrave. The arrested civilians were; Manassah Flatow, Daniel Davins, William Farrell, Benjamin Cawood, John James Sylvester Forrest, and John Caton.
On 2 July after a trial lasting for four days the following verdicts were returned against the military prisoners: O’Brian imprisoned for 12 months, MacClanaghan, Michael Coghlan, John Mooran all sentenced to 8 months in prison.
On the civilian side Manassah Flatow was found guilty of common assault and fined £4, John Caton, Daniel Davins, and Benjamin Cawood, were found guilty and sentenced to short terms of imprisonment. The rest of the prisoners were all acquitted.
Photos: The uniform of the 70th Regiment of Foot and map of Kirkgate
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