"It is not even like the actions of the Luddites - the latter focused on destroying the tools that threatened them, not anyone's personal property"


I think you're wrong there, George, and I'd say there was a very strong correlation to the Luddites who were fighting to preserve their livelihoods from greedy and unscrupulous profiteers. What I would not have condoned was the murder of mill owner William Horsfall. The Luddites paid dear for their actions: 3 were hung for Horsfall's murder, thirteen more were hung for an earlier attack on Rawfold's Mill.

On 21st April 1812 the house of mill owner, Emanuel Burton was burnt down.

After a further attack on Wray and Dunscroff's mill, four people were hanged, including a 12 year old boy who cried for his mother on the scaffold. Later in 1812 8 men were hanged in Lancashire and a further 15 hanged in York. When asked if they could all be hung on the same scaffold , the judge said "They'll hang more comfortably on two".


There is a long tradition in this country of taking direct action to create a fairer society. Sometime the end justifies the means.