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The Times
Friday August 14 1840

Serious Riot at Colne.-Man Killed By The Mob
From the Blackburn Standard of Wednesday

About the end of last April we had to record the fact that a spirit of insubordination had manifested itself among the population of Colne and its neighbourhood, and that open violence had been resorted to, and an attempt made to get rid of the rural police stationed in that district by the modern method of "physical force." It was a blind and dogged resistance to the new police, on the part of those who had long been uncurbed, which led to the rioting we then announced; and it seems that within these few days a similar spirit has again broken into activity, and has led, not only to a disgraceful exhibition of bad passions, but also to the loss of human life.
It has been with considerable difficulty that we have collected the few meagre facts which we now present to our readers; they are not so minute as they might have been, but we believe that, so far as they go, they will be found to be correct.
After the riot in April, when the populace were mastered by the authorities, the town of Colne assumed a comparatively tranquil appearance, and as a larger proportionate number of the constabulary were stationed there than the amount of the population warranted according to the regulations established for the allotment of the men, some of them were gradually withdrawn, and as their numerical amount decreased, the obstractions and annoyance of the populace increased; but no particular acts of concerted violence took place, and the resistance of the inhabitants was confined to individual hostility to the police. At length, however, they assumed such an attitude that danger was apprehended, and on Friday night last an attack was made on the constables stationed in the neighbourhood, 19 in number, by a large concourse of persons, armed with staves and bludgeons, and well provided with the limestone which abounds about Colne, and which they showered down upon their opponents from the roofs of the houses. We believe that no great mischief was done on this occasion beyond the infliction of various bruises, but, as it seemed very evident that hostilities would be renewed on the following night, messages were despatched to this town for a reinforcement, and on Saturday Mr. Inspector Noble and nine men proceeded to the scene of the riot. Two troops of the military also proceeded from Burnley barracks, and in consequence the town was comparatively tranquil on Saturday and Sunday nights.
But on Monday morning the military were withdrawn, and it very soon became evident that their absence had so emboldened the rioters that another attack might very confidently be expected as soon as night favoured the designs of the mob. In order to be prepared as well as circumstances would permit, the magistrates held a meeting, and swore in a number of the more respectable inhabitants as special constables, to assist the regular police forces. In the meantime the greatest excitement prevailed, crowds gathered in the street, and as soon as darkness came on, a large mob congregated, and went in a body a little way out of the town to the residence of a gentleman whose name we have not been able to learn, where they tore down the iron palisades, and, armed with these and with pistols and wooden bludgeons also, they returned to Colne.
In Clayton-street, they were met by police and special constables, and a terrible collision took place, the rioters fighting with the utmost desperation, and the constabulary defending themselves as well as they were able, and endeavouring to disperse the misguided crowd. This, we believe, they at last accomplished, but not until one life had been sacrificed, and various injuries received. The unfortunate person who has fallen a victim to this mad violence is Mr. Joseph Halstead, a manufacturer of Colne, who was acting as one of the special constables. He was knocked down in the melée, and in a very few moments his brains were actually battered out by the infuriated multitude. Of course, when his body was rescued by his friends, no spark of life remained. In addition to the awful catastrophe which has befallen Mr. Halstead, we understand that Mr. Temple, the banker, has been seriously injured, and that one of the policemen has received a very severe stab, but we are unable to give the details of these and several other casualties.
An inquest will be held on the body of Mr. Halstead, at the Angel Inn, Colne, to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock, before John Hargreaves, Esp., of this town. We understand that several persons are in custody, but it is supposed there will be great difficulty in identifying them, or at least in bringing home to them an agency in the death of Mr. Halstead, on account of the extreme darkness of the night when the riot occurred.

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Mel

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