QSR1828/406-407

Examination of James Lines of Luton, groom, regarding the riot on 5th November.

1828

From: 1828 To: 1828

Saw a mob outside Mr [Charles] Austin's [house] throwing stones, squibs etc. at the house. Then heard some of them say 'Now lets go up to Dickey Jones's and give him a touch.' He quickly went home to his master's; Richard Jones. The mob broke some windows and went away. His master asked him to go into the field opposite and see no one took away the rails and fences. He sat down under the hedge near a heap of stones and soon saw the mob coming back, this time with a lighted tar barrel. He could see his master and his brother standing at the upstairs window 'very plain' by the light of the barrel. He heard the mob call out 'Damn your eyes you Welsh b _____ , come down here and we'll spill your blood.' 'Damn his eyes, if we could get him out we'd cut his head off and kick it up and down the street and make a football of it.' and with a great many very bad words swore they['d] kill him if they could get him out. Master ... said 'My good fellows, you had better go away - now go now or I will shoot' ... bit they kept on throwing stones and brick bats ... Master said 'So help me God I'll shoot if you don't go away' but they still kept on pelting with stones ... and daring him to shoot with dreadful oaths ... 'eventually his master shot in the air.' From this point, very similar to other depositions.

item

Lines, James,
Jones, Richard,
Austin, Charles

LUTON, rioting, groom