POLICE, SPIES AND INFORMANTS - BIRMINGHAM
Police - Brutality in Birmingham
In May 1839 Birmingham, England took center stage in Chartist activity when the National Convention of the Industrious Classes (with responsibility for the management of the National Petition demanding political reform) decamped from London to Birmingham. John Collins and the Petition Committee had completed their task: the Petition had been completed and delivered to Thomas Attwood MP, who had already presented it to Parliament.
Not unnaturally, the people of Birmingham wanted to hear all the latest news and information about the Petition, and although local authorities had previously banned public meetings the townspeople exercised a longstanding traditional right and continued to gather almost every evening in the open space in the Bull Ring [Aris's Birmingham Gazette, 13 May 1839] where they could hear Chartist speakers and newspapers being read aloud.
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The oldest known drawing of the Birmingham Riot that took place on July 4th 1839. Discovered in the United States Library of Congress by Professor Ian Haywood.
Penned by Richard Doyle, the drawing shows the sequence of events on 4th July, including a peaceful Chartist meeting, followed by London police storming the crowd and violently clearing the Bull Ring under the watchful gaze of a couple pot-bellied magistrates, and lastly the 4th Irish Dragoons on horseback sent in to support police. [Birmingham Journal 7 July 1839].
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The day after the riot the Convention delegates met and agreed on a public statement in the form of a set of Resolutions criticizing the London police and their brutality. John Collins, the well-known Chartist delegate, who had chaired that meeting and was responsible for arranging the printing and posting of the Resolutions around the town, was subsequently arrested and imprisoned for libel and sedition. His friend William Lovett who signed the Resolutions was also arrested.
19th Century Police Truncheons, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery ©Birmingham Museums Trust
With kind permission
With kind permission
The Birmingham Police Force in May 1839
On 7 May 1839 Mr Tindale, the manager of the Birmingham Branch of the Bank of England, wrote to Mr Curtis, the Governor of the Bank of England, regarding the excited state of the town. In describing the Birmingham Police he said "our whole force (with a population of upwards of 180,000) consists of about 80 inefficient men, including (Parish) Constables, Street Watchers and Watchmen." Three days later, the Mayor of Birmingham wrote Lord John Russell at the Home Office in London that they had appointed 600 to 800 householders as Special Constables, and planned to increase this by a further 2,000. The Mayor also said they were swearing in 500 to 700 able-bodied Chelsea and Greenwich pensioners living in the Borough of Birmingham. Following the Birmingham Riots on 4 and 15 July 1839, there were moves afoot to start Birmingham's own Police Force and in September of that year Francis Burgess [a local barrister] was appointed Commissioner of Police, and the Treasury lent the town £10,000 to help establish a Police Force so long as "the powers of all other Constables in the town were to cease, (Watchmen, Special Constables and Parish Constables)." Dave Cross, West Midlands Police Museum |
Birmingham Police Force took charge of the streets on November 20, 1839, with 260 men. They were paid 17 shillings a week and supplied with a uniform. [West Midlands Police]
Secret Police Reports on John Collins
John Collins spent twelve months in Warwick Gaol as a political prisoner, and when it came time for his release the radicals and reformers of Birmingham planned to give him a dinner and public entry into the town. In addition to notices in the newspapers and placards throughout the town, Collins' impending release from prison was the subject of secret correspondence between the police in Birmingham and the Home Office in London.
IMPENDING RELEASE FROM WARWICK GAOL
Letter below from Francis Burgess, Birmingham Commissioner of Police to the Marquess of Normanby, Secretary of State in London. It contained three enclosures including an advert in the local newspaper for celebrations in honour of John Collins.
"Birmingham, July 5 1840
"Most Noble
"The Marquess of Normanby
"My Lord Marquess,
"I beg to enclose an advertisement which appeared in the Birmingham Journal of yesterday, and which has been placarded about the Town, as well as a report on the same subject made to me by one of my officers, by which it appears that the Chartists of Birmingham intend getting up a Reception for the purpose of meeting Collins and Lovett on their liberation from Prison on the 26th Inst, and as there can be no doubt that a vast assembly will be collected, it being on a Monday which is a holiday with the Mechanics of the Town, I feel it my duty to apprise Your Lordship of it, and to remind you that the event of the Bull Ring of the 15th of July arose from a procession got up to meet the same parties on their liberation from Warwick on bail last year.
"Most Noble
"The Marquess of Normanby
"My Lord Marquess,
"I beg to enclose an advertisement which appeared in the Birmingham Journal of yesterday, and which has been placarded about the Town, as well as a report on the same subject made to me by one of my officers, by which it appears that the Chartists of Birmingham intend getting up a Reception for the purpose of meeting Collins and Lovett on their liberation from Prison on the 26th Inst, and as there can be no doubt that a vast assembly will be collected, it being on a Monday which is a holiday with the Mechanics of the Town, I feel it my duty to apprise Your Lordship of it, and to remind you that the event of the Bull Ring of the 15th of July arose from a procession got up to meet the same parties on their liberation from Warwick on bail last year.
"I have communicated with the Mayor upon the subject, who with myself is anxious to have your Lordship's sentiments as to whether any attempt should be made by us to prevent the meeting; or that we should allow it to proceed, taking every precaution for the preservation of the peace which our means will allow. In the first case if we fail we shall do mischief, in the last, it may pass off quietly, but may be aired as a precedent for future meetings.
"There has certainly been a great change for the better in the disposition of the people since I came to Birmingham, yet there are still some mischievous and desperate characters lurking amongst them and, who, no doubt will be glad to avail themselves of any opportunity of doing evil.
"I have reports of secret organisation such as that referred to in a letter to Mr Redfern a copy of which I enclose, but as the writer is unknown, and as all my inquiries on the subject have proved fruitless, I am inclined to think there is nothing in it, however, I shall be on my guard.
"I shall be most happy to hear that the Police Assessment Bill has become law, in order that I may increase my force to an effective state, and be able to issue any warrant for funds as our purse is getting very low indeed.
"Anxiously awaiting a reply
"I have the honour to remain
"Your Lordship's Obedient Servant
"Francis Burgess" [Commissioner of Police, Birmingham]
"There has certainly been a great change for the better in the disposition of the people since I came to Birmingham, yet there are still some mischievous and desperate characters lurking amongst them and, who, no doubt will be glad to avail themselves of any opportunity of doing evil.
"I have reports of secret organisation such as that referred to in a letter to Mr Redfern a copy of which I enclose, but as the writer is unknown, and as all my inquiries on the subject have proved fruitless, I am inclined to think there is nothing in it, however, I shall be on my guard.
"I shall be most happy to hear that the Police Assessment Bill has become law, in order that I may increase my force to an effective state, and be able to issue any warrant for funds as our purse is getting very low indeed.
"Anxiously awaiting a reply
"I have the honour to remain
"Your Lordship's Obedient Servant
"Francis Burgess" [Commissioner of Police, Birmingham]
Enclosures to the Police Commissioner's letter
"Copy
"July 4 1840 "Inspector Hall reports for the information of the Commissioner, that it is the intention of the Chartists to meet Messrs Lovett and Collins on their arrival from Warwick Gaol. It appears that a Gentleman has promised to lend them his carriage to bring them into Birmingham, and they also state if the Police do not interfere, they shall not interfere with them, but if they do they shall be well armed to defend themselves and the Police must take care of themselves." "Copy "Mr Redfern [Chief Constable, Birmingham] "Sir, "I have inferred to you that there will be great disturbances and an alarming state by setting fire to five of the Tory Houses in the night time in the Parish of Edgbaston and I cannot say which houses they are going to, and it is somewhere in the Parish, by some of the Chartists men, for I heard a party of Chartists men the other night in the street talking about it. They will serve the Tory out some night, and they said they should remember the London Police coming to Birmingham last July in the Bull Ring and they said they don't care a dam for Policemen, and if any one offer to take them, they will blow their brains out with Pistol or stab them [with a] Spike. They will have their arms with them, and they were talking about hiding them in the fields ready for night, and I cannot say where they will hide their arms to, and they were a rough part standing in the street [the] other night when I saw them talking about it. I believe there was sixteen in number. "I remain yours very respectfully "(signed) William Smith "29th June 1840" |
POLICE CO-OPERATION WITH COMMITTEE FOR COLLINS' ENTRY INTO BIRMINGHAM
Letter below from Francis Burgess, Commissioner of Police, Birmingham to The Honourable Fox Maule who was the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department in London. There are a couple indecipherable spaces.
"Birmingham, July 23rd 1840
"Sir,
"I have just rcv'd [received] the enclosed report from one of my officers, but do not feel myself justified in the present tranquil state of the town in searching within by warrant or otherwise without the sanction of the Marquess of Normanby.
"The preparations for the great meeting on Monday next to meet Collins from Warwick still proceed. I had a deputation from the Committee with me this morning, soliciting the aid of the Police to preserve order. I told them that I could not allow it to take part in their procession, but that we should be ready to preserve the peace against any party who should attempt to break it They promised their best assistance to effect this object; told me of the reports which had reached them of an intended intervention of London Police; of uniforms being employed to create confusion and riot - which of course I contradicted in positive terms, telling them to bring before me such emissaries and they should know the fact, and after conversing them on various other topics they left me apparently highly satisfied.
"I shall take such precautions as I think the circumstances may xxxx xxxx and will report the result at the close of the meeting. I have had various reports brought me of secret meetings, some I have proved to be without foundation and others I can trace to an authentic source. But being fully persuaded that the mischievous will be on the alert on Monday, I shall be prepared for the worst.
"If a seizure or search is to be xxxx xxxx I shall be glad of an answer to that effect.
"I am Sir
"Your ob' serv' [obedient servant]
"Francis Burgess
"The Hon F Maule, etc etc"
"Sir,
"I have just rcv'd [received] the enclosed report from one of my officers, but do not feel myself justified in the present tranquil state of the town in searching within by warrant or otherwise without the sanction of the Marquess of Normanby.
"The preparations for the great meeting on Monday next to meet Collins from Warwick still proceed. I had a deputation from the Committee with me this morning, soliciting the aid of the Police to preserve order. I told them that I could not allow it to take part in their procession, but that we should be ready to preserve the peace against any party who should attempt to break it They promised their best assistance to effect this object; told me of the reports which had reached them of an intended intervention of London Police; of uniforms being employed to create confusion and riot - which of course I contradicted in positive terms, telling them to bring before me such emissaries and they should know the fact, and after conversing them on various other topics they left me apparently highly satisfied.
"I shall take such precautions as I think the circumstances may xxxx xxxx and will report the result at the close of the meeting. I have had various reports brought me of secret meetings, some I have proved to be without foundation and others I can trace to an authentic source. But being fully persuaded that the mischievous will be on the alert on Monday, I shall be prepared for the worst.
"If a seizure or search is to be xxxx xxxx I shall be glad of an answer to that effect.
"I am Sir
"Your ob' serv' [obedient servant]
"Francis Burgess
"The Hon F Maule, etc etc"
COLLINS' ARRIVAL INTO BIRMINGHAM
Police report below is dated one day after Collins' entry into Birmingham. For ease of reading, additional paragraph breaks have been inserted.
"(Copy)
"Third Division
"28 July 1840
"Superintendent Ross begs most respectfully to report for the information of the Commissioner that at about 20 minutes before 2pm the procession of Collins arrived on Gosta Green, the carriage containing Collins stopped between Woodcock Street and Duke Street, he commenced addressing the people consisting of above 3,000 people. The commencement of his Speech was unintelligible on account of the noise, he assured them that it gave him the greatest pleasure at observing so many of his friends assembled on this occasion, he rejoiced that he had once more the opportunity of addressing them, and to assure them he was still the same unflinching advocate of the People's rights as before his incarceration in Warwick Gaol, where he had been suffering under the Tyranical persecution of as Weak and Imbecile a Whig Government as ever a Country was afflicted with, but he hoped and trusted they would never rest until they had wiped away so foul a stain from their Country.
"If the Government think that by prosecutions and by imprisonments that they will stop the tide of public opinion, they will find themselves most egregiously deceived, for he was himself as firmly devoted to the Peoples cause as ever and still willing to be sacraficed at the Alter of the Country for what my friends have suffered! I did but speak the truth and such I would repeat again; you all know it was the truth; I spoke nothing but the truth; I was arrested and punished for the truth and yet it is still the truth after all!
"I said then it was a Cruel, a Wanton and Bloodthirsty Attack by persons in power upon the Property and Person of the People of Birmingham. I repeat it now (here he repeated the words above) I would ask is this Town in a State Organization, if it is not it must be. No doubt to some it may appear that the prospect of success is farther from us now than it was 14 months since, but he hoped they would show by their actions that they are still sincere and alive to their rights, for his own part much as he had suffered from incarceration in Warwick Gaol he was still ready to suffer in the righteous cause, and to say to Warwick Walls and to all the privations he had suffered, Welcome back again!
"And now my friends, I have a few words to say to you respecting the Visiting Magistrates of the County of Warwick. I had occasion to make a written application for the letters which had been directed to me during my imprisonment. Not receiving an answer I went accompanied by my friend Mr Thompson and had an interview with the Governor, who in reply said that he could not deliver the Letters to me until he had received a communication from the Secretary of State. I enquired how long it would take him to receive an answer, he replied I shall not write at all, it is for you to write. Not me I said surely you cannot understand me, and requested to be shown into the room where five of the Visiting Magistrates were assembled. The Governor announced to them that I wished an interview accompanied by my friend. I was conducted upstairs, but judge my surprise when I was informed that I might have the interview but that my friend could not be admitted. Would this be believed in these enlightened times, in the Nineteenth Century that five Magistrates should be afraid of one poor working man with his friend, fearing no doubt that I might state something unpleasant to their feelings and that they might be provoked to say something in reply for which they might afterwards be sorry, or might perhaps wish to alter or put a different construction upon some word or other which I might utter for the purpose of suiting their own party purposes. And I have no hesitation in saying that many of them are capable of this. I of course declined the interview.
"He had to speak in the highest terms of the Gentlemanly conducted of [William] Collins Esq one of the Visiting Magistrates, and also to express thus publicly his grateful acknowledgement to Lord Brougham, Mr Wakely, Mr Fielding and others for the able manner in which they had introduced his Case to the House of Commons. and now he would read to them a Letter from Finality John - that Little Lord of great consequence, a Letter written by him officially during the time he held the Office of Secretary of State for the Home department (here he read the letter the content of which could not be heard) after reading which he again addressed them. Thus my friends you see I am accused of endeavouring to overturn the state of things by Anarchy & Bloodshed. You see I was indicted for one offence and punished for another.
"When after reading a letter from Sir Eardly Wilmot upon the conditions of the Labouring People and the condition of the Prisoners confined for misdemeanours he contrasted the one with the other, he would maintain that badly as they were fed, severe as was the prison discipline, the condition of the Prisoner is ever preferable to that of the English Labourer of the present day. He said he should shortly have an opportunity of submitting to them a New Plan of Organization in the course of a few days. Tickets would be issued and he hoped that they would show themselves sincere to their cause, after dwelling at some length, but which was not of an important nature the Meeting quietly dispersed about 1/2 P. 2 o'clock.
"Signed John Ross
"Superintendent"
"Third Division
"28 July 1840
"Superintendent Ross begs most respectfully to report for the information of the Commissioner that at about 20 minutes before 2pm the procession of Collins arrived on Gosta Green, the carriage containing Collins stopped between Woodcock Street and Duke Street, he commenced addressing the people consisting of above 3,000 people. The commencement of his Speech was unintelligible on account of the noise, he assured them that it gave him the greatest pleasure at observing so many of his friends assembled on this occasion, he rejoiced that he had once more the opportunity of addressing them, and to assure them he was still the same unflinching advocate of the People's rights as before his incarceration in Warwick Gaol, where he had been suffering under the Tyranical persecution of as Weak and Imbecile a Whig Government as ever a Country was afflicted with, but he hoped and trusted they would never rest until they had wiped away so foul a stain from their Country.
"If the Government think that by prosecutions and by imprisonments that they will stop the tide of public opinion, they will find themselves most egregiously deceived, for he was himself as firmly devoted to the Peoples cause as ever and still willing to be sacraficed at the Alter of the Country for what my friends have suffered! I did but speak the truth and such I would repeat again; you all know it was the truth; I spoke nothing but the truth; I was arrested and punished for the truth and yet it is still the truth after all!
"I said then it was a Cruel, a Wanton and Bloodthirsty Attack by persons in power upon the Property and Person of the People of Birmingham. I repeat it now (here he repeated the words above) I would ask is this Town in a State Organization, if it is not it must be. No doubt to some it may appear that the prospect of success is farther from us now than it was 14 months since, but he hoped they would show by their actions that they are still sincere and alive to their rights, for his own part much as he had suffered from incarceration in Warwick Gaol he was still ready to suffer in the righteous cause, and to say to Warwick Walls and to all the privations he had suffered, Welcome back again!
"And now my friends, I have a few words to say to you respecting the Visiting Magistrates of the County of Warwick. I had occasion to make a written application for the letters which had been directed to me during my imprisonment. Not receiving an answer I went accompanied by my friend Mr Thompson and had an interview with the Governor, who in reply said that he could not deliver the Letters to me until he had received a communication from the Secretary of State. I enquired how long it would take him to receive an answer, he replied I shall not write at all, it is for you to write. Not me I said surely you cannot understand me, and requested to be shown into the room where five of the Visiting Magistrates were assembled. The Governor announced to them that I wished an interview accompanied by my friend. I was conducted upstairs, but judge my surprise when I was informed that I might have the interview but that my friend could not be admitted. Would this be believed in these enlightened times, in the Nineteenth Century that five Magistrates should be afraid of one poor working man with his friend, fearing no doubt that I might state something unpleasant to their feelings and that they might be provoked to say something in reply for which they might afterwards be sorry, or might perhaps wish to alter or put a different construction upon some word or other which I might utter for the purpose of suiting their own party purposes. And I have no hesitation in saying that many of them are capable of this. I of course declined the interview.
"He had to speak in the highest terms of the Gentlemanly conducted of [William] Collins Esq one of the Visiting Magistrates, and also to express thus publicly his grateful acknowledgement to Lord Brougham, Mr Wakely, Mr Fielding and others for the able manner in which they had introduced his Case to the House of Commons. and now he would read to them a Letter from Finality John - that Little Lord of great consequence, a Letter written by him officially during the time he held the Office of Secretary of State for the Home department (here he read the letter the content of which could not be heard) after reading which he again addressed them. Thus my friends you see I am accused of endeavouring to overturn the state of things by Anarchy & Bloodshed. You see I was indicted for one offence and punished for another.
"When after reading a letter from Sir Eardly Wilmot upon the conditions of the Labouring People and the condition of the Prisoners confined for misdemeanours he contrasted the one with the other, he would maintain that badly as they were fed, severe as was the prison discipline, the condition of the Prisoner is ever preferable to that of the English Labourer of the present day. He said he should shortly have an opportunity of submitting to them a New Plan of Organization in the course of a few days. Tickets would be issued and he hoped that they would show themselves sincere to their cause, after dwelling at some length, but which was not of an important nature the Meeting quietly dispersed about 1/2 P. 2 o'clock.
"Signed John Ross
"Superintendent"
Spies & Informants - In Birmingham
From the beginning of the Chartist Movement the Home Office in Whitehall, London was kept informed on Chartist activities in Birmingham (and other places) thanks to secret reports from local police and other informants. The Chartists were well aware that their meetings were infiltrated by spies and informants. At a meeting of the Birmingham Political Union, in July 1837, Union leader P H Muntz recommended they should charge non-union members one shilling to attend their meetings since he knew there had been spies in attendance! Co-incidentally this was the same meeting at which John Collins was elected to the council of the Birmingham Political Union.
The Chartists used the word "spy" as a general term, and it could include a local postmaster reporting to the Post Master General in London, a plain-clothes policeman infiltrating a meeting, or even a magistrate attending an outdoor meeting. In Birmingham the magistrates would have been a good source of intelligence, since some of them were former members of the Birmingham Political Union. One Birmingham magistrate employed a spy to do his dirty work.
Some spies were known to fabricate or exaggerate reports to cause alarm and perpetuate a need for more information. William Radley reported he had delivered a poisonous substance to Birmingham in an effort to get a job as an informant. The Birmingham Police Commissioner engaged additional informants to spy on one of his own spies (a man by the name of William Tongue) "to test the accuracy of his information." [Public Order in the Age of the Chartists, Frederick Clare Mather].
The Chartists used the word "spy" as a general term, and it could include a local postmaster reporting to the Post Master General in London, a plain-clothes policeman infiltrating a meeting, or even a magistrate attending an outdoor meeting. In Birmingham the magistrates would have been a good source of intelligence, since some of them were former members of the Birmingham Political Union. One Birmingham magistrate employed a spy to do his dirty work.
Some spies were known to fabricate or exaggerate reports to cause alarm and perpetuate a need for more information. William Radley reported he had delivered a poisonous substance to Birmingham in an effort to get a job as an informant. The Birmingham Police Commissioner engaged additional informants to spy on one of his own spies (a man by the name of William Tongue) "to test the accuracy of his information." [Public Order in the Age of the Chartists, Frederick Clare Mather].
SHARING INTELLIGENCE ACROSS COUNTY LINES
In addition to secret reports between Birmingham and London, intelligence about Chartist activities was also shared across county lines. Whilst John Collins was incarcerated in Warwick Gaol, the Birmingham police wrote the Mayor of Newport and the Sheriff of Monmouth County (as well the Home Office in London) reporting on the activities and whereabouts of a leading Chartist, William Cardo. The report tells of a meeting Cardo was to attend in Birmingham to raise money for the family of John Collins whilst he was imprisoned. In that particular instance, the Mayor of Newport made the information public - much to the annoyance of the Birmingham police.
By kind permission of the West Midlands Police Authority (the third letter is incomplete)
Transcripts of the above letters:
"Police Office [Birmingham] November 13th 1839.
"Copy of letter sent to each "J. Phillips Esq Mayor in Newport "Thomas Bateman Esq High Sherriff in County of Monmouth "Sir, "I beg to inform you that one of the Chartist Delegates, and a member of the General Convention, left this town [Birmingham] this morning on his way to Newport & Monmouth. Annexed I send you his description for your guidance, as well as a portion of his address to a meeting held here last evening. "I am etc - signed J Burgess" (Burgess was the Commissioner of Police for Birmingham, also referred to in the next letter dated November 14 1839) "Description - Cardo stands about 6 foot 1 inch - dark hair, small whiskers, rather broad shoulders, small across the lower part of his back - Dress, a black surtoat coat, black neckerchief, and black hat. "Portion of his address - The secret is to be found out yet, and that must be left till after I return from Newport when I arrive there I shall consider it my duty to go to the Hills of Wales, when I shall see the men of Wales, and then I shall get the whole transaction and truth about the late Riots at Newport - I shall endeavour to get an interview with Mr Frost before I return." "November. 14th 1839.
"(copy sent to each) "J. Phillips Esq Mayor in Newport "Thomas Bateman Esq High Sherriff in County of Monmouth "Sir, "I beg to inform you that Cardo left this town by the Worcester Coach yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock for Gloucester, he could not book himself through for Newport or Monmouth. I doubt not ere this the Commissioner's letter of yesterday has been duly received. "I have etc - signed R. A. Stephens "Inspector in Chief" "November 19th 1839
"S M Phillipps Esq [note this is not the same man as Mayor Phillips above] Home Office London "Dear Sir, "The reports since I saw you have not been material, except as to showing that the meetings extend beyond what I had then discovered. There is one held at the Cross Guns Inn, Lancaster Street. Our man Wilson got into it on Thursday Nov[embe]r 14. I send his report - he is the same man who reported best the meeting in Lawrence Street Chapel on Tuesday last Nov[embe]r 12th, you have the report, & from which the extract was made which I forwarded merely as a caution to the Mayor of Newport, but which he has so unjustifiably and indiscreet a manner given to the public. If such is to be the case it will be impossible to have confidential communications or to carry on the public business with safety. I have not written to the Mayor since. Cardo is expected to address a large meeting tonight - a placard is posted to that effect - it will be held at the Lawrence St[ree]t Chapel as before, and purports to be for the benefit of the wives etc of Collins, and Lovett. Cardo advertizes that he shall give an account of his arrest etc, and no doubt will make the most of the Welsh people's indiscretion, and give me and the Government a share of his abuse – a more unlucky thing could not have happened as the great meeting expected to have taken place yesterday at the Town Hall against the New Police called on the requisition of, I hear, 1400 rate payers, headed by Joseph Sturge and Captain Moorson, is put off till Monday next. Sturge and Moorson and others sit daily or nearly so secretly at the Public Office in a room there, no doubt for the purpose of concocting measures of annoyance to….." |
INFILTRATING CHARTIST MEETINGS
Although intelligence might be heard on the streets of Birmingham, it was most likely gathered by informants infiltrating Chartist meetings. Such information kept the police and the Queen's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Office somewhat up-to-date on the state of unrest in the town. For the most part, however, meetings consisted a lot of hot air talk and no action.
6th November 1839: At a Chartist meeting in Allison Street, Birmingham a police spy reported John Fussell said they should petition the Queen to give them universal suffrage or they would take it by force. He said there were others who said we will have it or die for it. A man named Smallwood said if the Queen would not give them universal suffrage they would join the insurrection and declare themselves a republic. Yet another said he would rather die fighting for his country than live a slave. When he asked how many there were in the room armed and prepared, 12 to 20 said they were. [Mike Bruner, "Chartism: A Primary Source Packet for Teachers"]
At another meeting in November 1839 in Lord's Shop in Lichfield Street: A spy reported there was talk of plans to burn down churches. They chose "Chicken" for their password, and "Peck" the countersign! And upon meeting in the dark they were to touch each other under the arm and take hold of the forefinger. [National Archives HO40/50] December 10 1839: John Collins was still in prison, and with his co-prisoner, William Lovett, suffering from harsh and unfair treatment. A police spy by the name of Wilson, attended a Chartist meeting in the Lawrence Street Chapel. He reported a Mr Thompson said he had received a reply from Lord Normanby, the Secretary of State in response to a petition calling for Collins' and Lovett's release from Warwick Gaol. The reply certified the prisoners must serve their time, and the spy reported Thompson said "the whole of the Secretary of State, and them at Whitehall and the Government is a bloody thumping set of rogues and thieves." [HO40/50] 19th January 1940: The Commissioner of Police reported, with one or two exceptions, Chartist meetings were thinly attended, and the town was perfectly quiet. Nevertheless, in view of intelligence from another town the past week the Commissioner had taken precautions and had a troop of dragoons saddled for a few hours at night. [HO40/56] On 7th August 1840: Police spy Constable Walter Smythe attended a Chartist meeting from which he reported to Police Commissioner Burgess the names of several chartists present, and that John Collins was to speak at a large meeting on Monday 10th August. [This was after Collins was released from prison.] |
SPIES, SPIES & MORE SPIES!
To infiltrate Chartist meetings police spies had to practice various deceptions, and sometimes their games of subterfuge bordered on the hilarious! Constable John Pashley of the Birmingham Police Force said he was a "shoemaker from Northampton" in order to pass muster with the guard at the door of one such meeting in Birmingham [Report of PC 276 Pashley HO40/56]. Sergeant Michael Daly, also of Birmingham, admitted under oath of associating with Chartist leaders and going around the town arm in arm with them [Northern Star 3 Sept 1842].
In early January 1840 Francis Burgess the Commissioner of Police informed Lord Normanby at the Home Office of uproar at a Chartist meeting at which Edward Brown an outspoken Chartist accused a man by the name of William Tongue of being a spy in the employ of the Mr Redfern the Birmingham Chief of Police. [National Archives HO40/56]
George Edmonds the Clerk of the Peace jumped into the fray and said he had proof that the accuser, Edward Brown, and another Chartist by the name of John Fussell (a leading exponent of physical force) were also spies! To cap it all, Chief of Police Redfern was later reported [Spectator 11 Jan 1840] as admitting he had employed Tongue as a spy (paying him 21 shillings a week HO 40/50) - but then dismissed him because he discovered Tongue was a vagabond! |
On yet another occasion police attempts to spy on the Chartists turned into even more of a circus! John Collins had just been released from Warwick Gaol, and Police Commissioner Burgess commandeered one of his men, Constable Barnett of the first division, to attend a Chartist dinner at the Cross Guns, (a local pub, regularly used as a Committee Room by the Chartists), on 29th July 1840. In spite of being in plain-clothes Barnett was viewed with some suspicion, but he successfully gained acceptance by claiming former membership in the Chartist Association. [PC Barnett: National Archives HO40/56] He was subsequently welcomed at other Chartist meetings, and at one point he passed the time of day with a group of Chartists at Bland's Beer Shop on Lancaster Street.
Barnett thought things were going well until Monday 10th August, when he found himself elevated, quite literally, to a place of importance on the platform at a big Chartist meeting at Holloway Head - at which it so happened John Collins was one of the main speakers. It is not known if the regular policemen on duty that day gave Constable Barnett away, or if his landlady who knew he was a policeman told on him, but after Holloway Head the Chartists started to give Barnett the cold shoulder! He was subsequently put on uniform duty working in the private sector, and to save face Barnett told the Chartists he was working at a Birmingham theatre as a private policeman, but then the police put him back on the beat and things went downhill after that. [Public Order in the Age of the Chartists, Frederick Clare Mather].
Barnett thought things were going well until Monday 10th August, when he found himself elevated, quite literally, to a place of importance on the platform at a big Chartist meeting at Holloway Head - at which it so happened John Collins was one of the main speakers. It is not known if the regular policemen on duty that day gave Constable Barnett away, or if his landlady who knew he was a policeman told on him, but after Holloway Head the Chartists started to give Barnett the cold shoulder! He was subsequently put on uniform duty working in the private sector, and to save face Barnett told the Chartists he was working at a Birmingham theatre as a private policeman, but then the police put him back on the beat and things went downhill after that. [Public Order in the Age of the Chartists, Frederick Clare Mather].
GOOD LOCATION FOR A POLICE STATION
Report dated July 23 1840, written by police spy Constable William Smythe from (of all places) Crooked Lane Police Station, Birmingham.
Transcription of the above letter:
"Copy
"Police Constable William Smythe reports to the Inspector Hall for the information of the Commissioner, that he has received information that about a month ago there was in the house of ___________ situate __________ a number of pike heads, staves loaded with lead, cutlasses, and pistols. "The Police Constable received his information from parties who were in the house and saw them. "Crooked Lane, Station "July 23rd 1840" |