James Jacques Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Calico Printer

Brother-in-law to Mr Buxton watched events from Mr Buxton’s house. Testifies that the ground was clear when he arrived, but littered with sticks and stones after the crowd had dispersed. Heard Nadin refuse to deliver the warrant without assistance, and agreed that it would be impossible to do so.

Account

Download account

James Jacques sworn: examined by Mr. Starkie.

Q. You are a calico printer in Manchester?

A. Not now: on the 16th. August, 1819, I was.

Q. I will ask you generally; did you see different bodies of people coming in upon Peter's Field on the day of the meeting?

Q. Did you observe what number had sticks?

A. A very great proportion indeed.

Q. In your judgment, was there serious ground of alarm for the safety of the town?

A. Most assuredly.

Q. Was you in the Magistrates' room on that morning they met at Mr. Buxton's house?

A. I was.

Q. Was Mr. Silvester the Magistrate there?

A. He was.

Q. Did you see any cards there, with the proclamation printed upon them?

A. I did.

Q. Did you see Mr. Silvester leave the room?

A. I saw him leave the house.

Q. Do you know whether he had one of these cards with him?

A. He had.

Q. You say, you saw him leave the house; do you know where he went?

A. Among the crowd.

Q. Did you see what he appeared to be doing?

A. I could not distinctly see.

Q. Did you see him after he came back?

A. I did.

Q. How soon after did he come back to the Magistrates' room?

A. Perhaps five minutes.

Q. In what state was he, as to his clothes?

A. He appeared to have been in the dirt—to have been knocked down.

Q. Were you present when the warrant was delivered to Mr. Nadin?

A. I was.

Q. Upon that occasion, did he agree to execute it; or decline, without assistance?

A. He declined, without assistance.

Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—We may appear to be repeating the same evidence; but it is important to the justice of the case, that all the facts should be stated, and then well proved

Q. In your judgment, could he have executed it without military assistance?

A. I think not.

Q. Did you see the Yeomanry advance to the hustings?

A. I did.

Q. What obstacles prevented their approach?

A. A great proportion of the crowd came armed with sticks, and they had stones; they must have brought them to the ground.

Q. What did they do?

A. They attacked the Yeomanry; I saw the stones flying in the air in very great numbers indeed.

Q. What reason have you for supposing they must have been brought to the ground?

A. I had walked over the ground prior to the assembly of the mob.

Q. Did you see stones there then?

A. Certainly, none

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—You say there certainly were none?

Q. Did you observe the ground afterwards—after the meeting was cleared?

A. I did.

Q. After it was cleared of the mob?

A. Yes.

Q. What did you then see?

A. A very large number of sticks, of very awkward appearance indeed.

Q. Awkward, as to size, or shape?

A. Both size and shape. They appeared as if drawn from the hedge that morning, a large proportion of them.

Q. Were they such as, in your judgment, would be sufficient to bring a Cavalry man from his horse, if properly applied?

A. If I was to give a Cavalry man one blow with it, I could bring him down very neatly, I am sure.

Q. Were the persons who had these sticks, capable of managing them as well as yourself?

A. A great deal more capable.

Q. I think you say you saw a number of these stones flying in the air, when they got pretty near the hustings?

A. When they got near the hustings.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—When they got near the hustings, you say, you saw the stones flying?

A. I did.

Q. Did you see the sticks also used?

A. I did not distinctly see any thing of the kind.

Q. At the time the stones were thrown, as you have described, were the Yeomanry closed in by the mob?

A. They were; the stones were flying when the Yeomanry were near the hustings.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—You saw the stones flying at that time?

A. I did.

Q. During the attack made on the Yeomanry, when they were so closed in, did it appear to you that the Yeomanry were in danger from the mob?

A. Most certainly.

 

Cross-examined by Mr. Blackburne.

Q. Where is it you live?

A. Union-street, Ardwick.

Q. What trade are you?

A. I have been out of trade a considerable time; I have since purchased goods on commission.

Q. Was you a spectator, or did you go in an official capacity?

A. The house where the Magistrates were, was my brother-in-law's, and he was from home.

Q, Does Mr. Silvester live near you?

A. No.

Q. Were does he reside?

A. I do not know where he resides.

Q. Have you seen him since the 16th. August?

A. I saw him on the 16th, and had known him prior.

Q. Have you seen him since lately?

A. Not these two years.

 

Re-examined by Mr. Starkie.

Q. Did you see whether any persons had their arms linked?

A. I did.

Q. At what distance from the hustings?

A. I cannot distinctly state. The mass was so very dense I could only see the outside row.

Q. Did you see that from the Magistrates' room?

A. I did.

Back to list