Saturday 8 September 2012

8th September 1812: General Acland tells General Maitland he is ready to arrest John Baines at Halifax

Huddersfield 8th September 1812

My dear Sir

I send you the particulars of the breaking of Mr. Lindsey’s Shears on the night of the 6th & 7th inst. at Gildershem as transmitted by Mr Roberson

I have this moment a report from Lt Colonel Nelthorpe that a man was taken up at Flockton last night by the Norfolk Patrol attended by a Constable - Thornhill, Lloyd & Nelthorpe are gone out to enquire into it, & see what can be done — Another man was sent in by the Sergeants party at Lindley, and will be brought before Mr. Radcliffe this day — I think we can take up old Baynes & five others at Halifax in a few days: & make a good Case of it from the Informations of Smith & Downes, two of them for stealing Lead in company with Downes, old Baynes for twisting in Smith, when all the others were present — who have since acknowledged to have been present at the Business, when Downes has been in their Company — it appears to me it will be worthwhile to strike at them, & I can arrange to take them all in the same night, if they are still in Halifax — If you have any objection, let me know by return of Dragoon, as I mean to send them over this Evening to renew their Acquaintance & see where they are — Mr. Scott has just called to tell me, that George Howarth of High Burton came before him last night, & took the Oath of Allegiance — You have I believe heard of this man, in Whitaker's Confession — I send some Papers I found on my Table yesterday, which I conceive must belong either to Lord Milton or Mr. Wortley; as you will see them on Friday or Saturday, you will perhaps have the goodness to enquire & return them—

I remain [etc]
Acland
[To] Lt. Genl
The Rt. Honble
T. Maitland

This letter can be found at HO 40/2/7. In this letter, Acland refers to the spies that had trapped Baines & Co as Downes and Smith, which was presumably their aliases, as their real names were McDonald & Gossling.

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