Isaac Wood Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Demonstrator
• Occupation: Tanner

Was not worried by the meeting at the 16^th, until he saw the cavalry. ‘I went home, as usual, to my dinner.’

Account

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Isaac Wood, examined by Mr. Hunt—I live in Back Queen Street, Manchester. I am a tanner. My residence is about 200 yards from the place where the meeting was held. I have a wife and eight children. I was in Manchester on the 16th of August last. I went to the country, on Saturday the 14th, and returned about one o'clock on the Monday. I did not find, on my return that anything had stopped my business. I waited at the meeting for a few minutes. There were a great number of people assembled together when I went home to my family; but I did not do so on account of any alarm felt from witnessing the meeting. I saw nothing to excite alarm. I went home, as usual, to my dinner. I did not find my wife and family in a state of consternation. None of them expressed any alarm to me. I have no reason to suppose that they felt apprehension or alarm on account of my absence. I returned to the meeting, which was not then dispersed. The cavalry had just come to the ground. I was opposite the end of the Quakers' meeting house. I saw a part of the cavalry come in. They advanced towards the hustings, and no resistance was made to them by the crowd. They went up close to the hustings, and sur­rounded them. I was in a situation where I must have seen any opposi­tion made by the people to the hustings and surrounded them. I was in a situation where I must have seen any opposition made by the people to the military, had resistance taken place. I saw the cavalry from the time they were 70 yards from the hustings, until they came quite close to them. They were not, that I know of, hissed, hooted, or groaned at. I saw nothing thrown at, or lifted up against them. If any stones, brickbats, or sticks, had been hurled in the air, I was in a situation to have seen them.

Cross-examined by Mr. Littledale. — have been acquainted with Mr. Johnson for a short time. I am one of his bail. I am not bail for any of the other defendants.

Re-examined by—I have been in the volunteers at Man­chester, I was in a corps who clothed and armed themselves; but I left it about two years before it was disbanded. I was connected with it for seven years. I entered about the year 1802. It was a rifle corps.

Mr. Hunt here expressed a desire, that, as so much evidence had been given in proof of certain facts, it would be well if the Learned Judge were to state to the jury that those facts were fully proved, and that there was no need to call further evidence to them.

Justice Bayley —-l cannot at this moment suggest anything to the Jury.

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