Hugh Cholmondeley Eyewitness Account

• Place: Knutsford
• Role: Spectator

Saw the Yeomanry advance on the Hustings, with stones thrown at them as they advanced, but they did not respond. Claims to not have seen anyone be injured but he did see some wounded people on the ground.

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Hugh Cholmondeley, Esq. sworn: examined by Mr. Starkie.
Q. I think you reside at Knutsford in Cheshire?
A. I do.
Q. Did you go from thence to Manchester on the 16th. August?
A. I did; in the morning.
Q. Did you see Hunt and his party pass the Exchange in Manchester?
A.I did; and was on the Exchange steps.
Q. Is that the place where the merchants of Manchester and other places meet to transact business?
A. I have seen them there very often.
Q. You have often seen the merchants assembled there?
A. Yes.
Q. What was done by Mr. Hunt and his party on passing the Exchange?
A. There was an amazing shouting.
Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—I don't know whether it is necessary to trouble your Lordship with this over and over again.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—I don't know what is the effect of it.
Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—It is merely with respect to the insults and shouts before the Exchange. If the Gentlemen of the Jury have any doubt on these facts we must proceed.
Mr. Blackburne.—We must not have the Gentlemen of the Jury's opinion.
Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—I may ask their opinion.
Mr. Blackburn.—I apprehend my friend has no right to ask their opinion.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.— I don't think you can.
Mr. Serjeant. Hullock.—Then I must go on.
Q. What time was it that you saw Hunt pass?
A. I think it was somewhere between twelve and one. I cannot speak exactly.
Q. I will ask you generally, was business going on in Manchester as usual?
A. All business seemed to be suspended. I observed the shops, on my entrance, shut.
Q. What did that appear to be occasioned by—the suspension, of business and the shutting of the shops—did you afterwards go to St. Peter's Field?
A. I did.
Q. What time did you get there?
A. I followed a short time after Hunt and the procession had gone on.
Q. Did you see the Yeomanry Cavalry advances towards the hustings?
A. I did.
Q. Will you state what was done to them as they were advancing?
A. Before they came to the hustings, I should imagine somewhere about twenty yards from the hustings, or perhaps, more, I observed a shower of stones in that direction.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—In what direction?
A. In the direction that they were advancing.
Q. Did you see any thing done with sticks?
A. On their nearer approach to the hustings, l observed sticks held up.
Q. Had you seen the Yeomanry, previous to this, before the stones were thrown, on their advancing to the hustings?
A. I had.
Q. Had you seen any act of aggression on their part—any violence?
A. Not a single one.
Q. How did they conduct themselves, this assault haying been made on them by the throwing of stones?
A. They got up to the hustings. I did not even see them strike with the edge or the back of the sword; they surrounded the hustings.
Q. Did you see any number of persons with sticks there?
A. A Very considerable number.
Q. What kind of sticks were they; were they common walking Sticks?
A. I observed many much larger than common walking sticks, and likewise some smaller.
Q. From what you saw of the temper and demeanour of the persons assembled at the meeting, was any danger to be apprehended from it?
A. Undoubtedly.
Q. In your judgment, could a warrant have been executed without the aid of the military?
A. I conceived it utterly impossible.

Cross-examined by Mr. Evans.
Q. Are you a Magistrate?
A: No; I am not.
Q. What are you?
A. I am of no profession.
Q. What hour did you get on the field?
A. I cannot speak to the hour exactly. I followed Hunt immediately after he had got from the Exchange; when the mob had somewhat gone on.
Q. Did you see where the people got the stones from?
A. No; I did not.
Q. You did not see whether they picked them up?
A. No; I did not.
Q. What part of the ground were you on?
A. I was about fifty or sixty yards from the hustings—on the Deansgate side.
Q. Was it towards Watson-street?
A. I do not know Watson-street.
Q. How near were the military to the hustings, when these stones were thrown?
A. I think somewhere between twenty or thirty yards.
Q. Did you see the Yeomanry cut any body at all?
A. No.
Q. During the day?
A. Not during the day.
Q. Nor you saw nobody wounded?
A. No; I did not see any body wounded. I saw several people hurt on the ground, but I did not see them wounded.

Re-examined by Mr. Starkie.
Q. I did not ask your profession. You are the nephew of Lord Delamere, and the son of Mr. Charles Cholmondeley, of Knutsford?
A. I am.

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