4. Longton: Northern Star Newspaper, 6th March 1841: 

The Chartists of this place, having met with much opposition, have determined to place an account of the petty tyranny which has been practiced towards them within the last six weeks, before the public. On Tuesday, January the 20th. our boards, with the placards calling a public meeting for that night, when Mr. John Richards, late Conventional Delegate, would deliver a lecture on the principles of the Charter, were stolen by the Inspector of the Police, who carried them through the street in triumph, thinking that he had stopped the meeting, but he was deceived.

One of our body went on the Wednesday, to see by whose authority he had taken them. He said, 'By my own.' When asked if he intended to give them back, he said he would not have such rubbish against our lamp posts, as if he was the master of the town. The person went to the High Bailiff, to know whether he had given him authority for taking them; he said he merely sanctioned their removal on account of the Tories, who had been complaining about them, and very kindly sent a note to the Inspector to give up the boards; but he had partly burnt them. He next waited on the Commissioners of Police, but got no redress...