Daniel Kennedy Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Cutler

Testified at the Lees Inquest. States that he sharpened the swords of the Yeomanry during the four weeks before the 16th August.

Account

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DANIEL KENNEDY called in by Mr. HARMER, sworn, and examined by the CORONER.

Q. Where do you live?
A. In Fennel-street, Manchester.
Q. What are you?
A. I am a cutler.
Q. What do you know as to John Lees' death?
A. All I know about the matter is, the sharpening of the swords of the Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry.
Q. How did you come to have them?
A. I am in the employment of Mr. Richardson, and had them from him to do.
Q. When was this that you had them?
A. They were principally done in July. On the week ending the 17th of July, I had done sixty-three swords.
Q. What was the object for sharpening them?
A. The object was never given to me.
Mr. Barrow—(to the Coroner)—I submit to you, that what this man says cannot be evidence. What he is speaking to, was a month before the meeting.
Mr. Harmer—It is evidence, if it were twelve months before. The material point is, whether the sharpening was done in contemplation of the meeting; and it will be recollected, that the first meeting was to have taken place on the 9th of August, and that it had been advertised and talked of some time before.

The WITNESS examined by Mr. HARMER.

Q. Were none sharpened shortly previous to the 16th of August?
A. A few; but the principal part of them were sharpened some time before.
Q. You sharpened a few after the 17th of July?
The Coroner—You always echo the witness when it is in your favour; but you never do it when against you. You ought to do it fully if at all. He said, “but the principal part was before the 17th."
Mr. Harmer—Yes; he said that sixty-three were sharpened before the 17th, but a few were afterwards; and I repeated the latter part merely as an interrogation, that I might see if it was correct.
The Coroner—I must say, that you show too much zeal for the purposes of gaining certain ends—a zeal which will be fatal to the object you wish to attain. I have already cautioned you on this head. I know very well what your motives are in doing this, but they will be defeated.
Mr. Harmer—I have no motive in view but public justice, which, I hope, is the feeling by which we are all actuated. I seek only for justice, and God forbid that in such an object I should be defeated.
The Coroner—Yes, you have a different end to answer. Mr. Harmer—I am extremely sorry to hear you make such a remark. But, Sir, I can appeal to my own conscience that your accusation is unfounded.
Q. Was there any particular direction given with them?
A. No; only to sharpen them well.
Q. Did you accordingly make them very sharp?
A. Yes.
Q. Were all the swords taken away previous to the 16th of August?
A. Yes.
Q. Was there not a meeting announced for the 9th of August?
A. Yes; but I know not any thing further about it.
Q. Was it not well known that such a meeting was expected?
A. Yes, it was.
Q. By whom were the swords delivered to you to be sharpened?
A. Several were given to me by some of the individuals in the Yeomanry themselves.
Q. From whom did you receive the rest?
A. From Mr. Richardson.
Q. How long have you worked for Mr. Richardson?
A. Five years.
Q. Were Yeomanry swords ever brought to you to be sharpened before this time?
A. They were occasionally brought to be cleaned, but never to be sharpened.
Q. Was there any regimental order given for sharpening the swords?
A. I don't know.
The Coroner (to Mr. Harmer)—You told me, Mr. Harmer, that the swords were sharpened but a few days before the meeting. You misrepresented what would be the evidence of the witness, who says, they were sharpened in July.
Mr. Harmer—I have been guilty of no misrepresentation. Here, Sir, (handing to the Coroner a written paper) is the deposition signed by the witness himself, in which be states, that shortly previous to the first meeting the order came, and, Sir, recollect, that this meeting was to have been held on the 9th.
The Coroner—But what is the object of this man's evidence?
Mr. Harmer—I had rather not explain my impression. It might be considered presumptuous and illiberal. I had rather leave the Jury to form their own conclusion.
Coroner—What can his evidence have to do with the death of John Lees?
Mr. Harmer—I repeat, that it will be more proper for me not to explain the object; but if I am pressed to do it, I can have no difficulty in showing it is most important. Do you wish me, Sir, to state how it applies?
The Coroner—No.

The WITNESS cross-examined by Mr. BARROW.

Q. Was there any meeting before the 16th?
A. I cannot say; there was one talked of for the 9th.
Q. Did the swords want any repairing?
A. Possibly they might; but, generally speaking, they were merely to be sharpened.
Q. Did the swords appear to want sharpening?
A. They were as sharp as swords usually are; but they were sent to Mr. Richardson for the purpose of being made still sharper.
Q. Was this the first time of their being sharpened?
A. Yes.
Q. What is the reason why they were sharpened?
A. Because they were blunt.
Q. Was there any particular direction given as to the sharpening, any more than with other swords?
A. No.

This Witness called back by Mr. HARMER, and examined by the CORONER.

Q. Have you had any thing to do, while employed by Mr. Richardson, for any other corps than the Manchester Yeomanry?
A. No.
Q. Do you never receive swords to be sharpened from private persons?
A. Yes; it is very often the custom of gentlemen to send their swords to be sharpened.

The WITNESS cross-examined by Mr. BARROW.

Q. Was there any meeting before the 16th?
A. I cannot say; there was one talked of for the 9th.
Q. Did the swords want any repairing?
A. Possibly they might; but, generally speaking, they were merely to be sharpened.
Q. Did the swords appear to want sharpening?
A. They were as sharp as swords usually are; but they were sent to Mr. Richardson for the purpose of being made still sharper.
Q. Was this the first time of their being sharpened?
A. Yes.
Q. What is the reason why they were sharpened?
A. Because they were blunt.
Q. Was there any particular direction given as to the sharpening, any more than with other swords?
A. No.

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