Charles Routledge O’Downell Eyewitness Account

• Occupation: Lieutenant (15th Hussars)

During the process of  dispersing the meeting he saw a  pistol fired from the direction of the Quaker meeting house and was then attacked by a man with an iron railing. Believed it would have been more effective for the magistrates to have awaited the arrival of the 15th Hussars, before attempting to disperse the meeting.

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Lieutenant Charles Routledge O'Downell sworn: examined by Mr. Littledale.

Q. You are a Lieutenant in the 15th. Hussars?

A. I am.

Q. In Captain Carpenter's troop?

A. In Captain Carpenter's troop.

Q. On your arrival on the ground, there was a halt for some time?

A. On my arrival at the ground, there was a temporary halt for the purpose of forming. We then advanced. I think the word “forward" was given.

Q. Go on?

A. We then advanced.

Q. Did you find any resistance on the part of the crowd?

A. There was a considerable crowd; I cannot say I met with individual resistance.

Q. Did you find it difficult to advance?

A. Not in the situation I was. I was in the extreme right of the area, and my situation led me towards the Quakers' chapel, in the direction of Peter-street.

Q. You advanced towards the Quakers' meeting-house?

A. I advanced towards the Quakers' meeting-house.

Q. Were there many people assembled there?

A. Not so great a crowd in that place, as there was immediately round the hustings; yet there was a crowd.

Q. As you was there, did any body attempt to strike you?

A. After I passed the Quakers' meeting, a man made a blow at me with an iron railing; such as is generally in front of houses. I warded it off. As the man was going along, he made a blow with both his hands, let fall the weapon, and went off in the crowd.

Q. About that time, did you observe one of the Manchester Yeomanry?

A. On advancing, before I arrived in the direction of the Quakers' meeting, I saw a pistol fired; and immediately after, I saw one of the Manchester Yeomanry fall from his horse. It appeared to me as if he had been shot; but I heard afterwards that was not the case. The impression on my mind was, that the man had been shot.

Q. Where was the pistol fired from?

A. It was fired from a group of several persons assembled together, immediately under the wall of the Quakers' meeting-house. I cannot positively swear it came from the Quakers' meeting, but it seemed to me that it came in that direction.

Q. Did you afterwards ride to other parts of the field, to assist in the dispersion?

A. I did, afterwards; it was after the pistol was fired that I met with the man with the weapon. In my way to the Quakers' meeting, I heard the pistol, and saw the man fall; afterwards I met the man with the bar of iron.

Q. From all you saw, from the state of the crowd, and, in short, every thing you saw, could the Manchester Yeomanry have dispersed the meeting?

A. No.

Q. Do you think they were themselves in danger?

A. I think they were in very great danger; that is my opinion.

 

Cross-examined by Mr. Blackburne.

Q. You think the Manchester Yeomanry were not competent to disperse the meeting?

A. They were not numerous enough; not competent to withstand any attack where there was so numerous a meeting.

Q. And therefore if it had been the object of the Magistrates to have dispersed the meeting, it would have been more prudent to have waited for you?

A. It would have been more effectual.

Q. If their object had been to have dispersed the meeting?

A. If their object had been to have dispersed the meeting.

Q. You say that the impression on your mind was, that the Yeomanry man was shot?

A. It was.

Q. That impression has been since removed?

A. It has; for I have been informed, it was not the case.

Q. This bar of iron was too heavy for the man?

A. He threw it down; after striking at me, he stood and threw it down.

Q. It did not hit your horse?

A. It did not; I guarded it off by the point of my sabre.

Q. You say your impression, that the Yeomanry Cavalry man

 

Re-examined by Mr. Littledale. [Printing error – sic]

had been shot, was only removed by the information you received that such had not been the fact; if you had not been so informed, would that impression have still remained?

A. If I had not been informed that the man was not shot, I should have still had the impression on my mind that he was; I told many of my friends that I had seen the Yeoman shot.

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