http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Messages.aspx?ThreadID=215&StartAtMessage=0ص
Full details can be found on pages 432-437 of volume 2 of John Mayalls "Annals of Yorkshire" published in 1874 and dealing with events in Yorkshire from the earliest history to that date. i will just give a brief summary but I recommend looking up the fascinating details.Incidentally these books are a goldmine of information and are available in scanned pdf format from various suppliers on the net. Mr Chorley was a surgeon with offices in Park Square, his I rish cook took some dripping home with her regarding it as a "perk" of the job. Chorley had been unhappy with her for some time and spoke to his friend who happened to be the chief magistrate of Leeds. he recommended charging her and the cook was duly convicted and sent to Armley which in those days (1864/1865) was for both sexes.This caused a mass outcry from the working classes with ballads, graffiti and other derogatory stuff appearing.A collection for the cook was held and when a fake announcement was put out about her release crowds flocked to Armley a week before the correct date.On being told they were wrong they went round to Chorley's house. He came out and told them he would do it afgain at which point he was pelted and his windows put in.Police were called and order restored.However a week later the cook was released early in the morning and slipped off to Scarborough. The crowds who assembled refused to believe she had gone and ugly scenes ensued. Finally convinced they went to Park Square and from there to the Town Hall where the council were sat panicking. The council sent for more police from bradford and also a squadron of cavalry from York.It was February and there was snow and ice on the streets so the crowd pelted Chorley and his house with snowballs as well as the police. A baton charge was led by the chief constable of Leeds (they led from the front in those days!) but he slipped and broke his hip, dying some weeks later from this. the police managed to clear the crowd but not before an onlooker was hit by a stone and given a fatal wound.Some people were arrested and the crowd dispersed before the cavalry were used. If the cavalry had been used we would in all likelihood know this as the Leeds equivalent of Manchesters "Peterloo" as the streets were very narrow then around the town Hall and a charge would have trampled people underfoot. This is a very condensed version and it is worth reading the events in full to get the proper sense of drama.
_______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
