Enormous thanks to our partners and funders
James McKennell Eyewitness Account
- Place: Manchester
- Role: Spectator
- Occupation: Salesman
From steps of Mr Buxton’s house he saw cavalry ride into the peaceful crowd and cutting down flags and banners from the hustings, their with swords moving up and down. Did not see anyone cut, but later saw wounded people. Did not hear riot act read.
Account
Download accountJames McKennell sworn: examined by Mr. Evans.
Q. You are a salesman in the house of Bramall and Company, of Manchester?
A. Yes.
Q. Was you at the meeting on the 16th. August, 1819?
A. I was.
Q. What hour did you get there?
A. About half past ten.
Q. Whereabouts in the field was you?
A. On the steps of Mr. Buxton's house; but not at that hour.
Q. At what hour were you?
A. From about half past twelve till the meeting was dispersed.
Q. Did you go into Mr. Buxton's house?
A. I did.
Q. What was the conduct of the meeting till the time you went into Mr. Buxton's house; was it peaceable, or otherwise?
A. Perfectly peaceable.
Q. Did you feel any alarm?
A. I did not.
Q. Did you see the Yeomanry Cavalry come on the ground?
A. I did.
Q. Did you see them advancing into the body of the people?
A. I did.
Q. At what rate did they advance?
A. At a brisk trot.
Q. What did you see them then do?
A. I saw the Yeomanry advance fast towards the hustings, surround the hustings, and immediately I saw the flags or banners falling from the hustings.
Q. Did you see them do any thing?
A. I saw the Yeomanry's swords raised up and down; but I cannot swear to seeing any person cut.
Q. Did you see any resistance made to the Yeomanry?
A. None whatever.
Q. Did you see any stones, brickbats, or sticks thrown? A. None.
Q. Was you in such a situation that you think you must have seen them thrown, if they were thrown?
A. I cannot answer that exactly; I was at a considerable distance, I was on the steps of Mr. Buxton's house. If stones had been thrown I could not have seen them.
Q. Had they been thrown between you and the hustings, could you have seen them?
A. I think I could have seen them forty or fifty yards from the house.
Q. Did you take notice of what sticks there might be in the people's hands?
A. I did; I saw the people with sticks certainly.
Q. What size might those sticks be?
A. Various sizes, such as you see country people walk with.
Q. Did you see any wounded persons?
A. I did not.
Q. Afterwards?
A. Afterwards I did.
Mr. Serjeant Hullock-—objected to the evidence.
Mr. Evans. — I submit this is evidence; as much as if a person fired a pistol, and a man was found near him dead, killed with the pistol bullet; he swears he saw the swords move up and down.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.— What is the question here? It is that the Yeomanry Cavalry, in going up to the hustings, to disperse the meeting, by the direction of the Magistrates, committed this injury on the plaintiff. Whether any other persons were wounded does not go to shew any thing with regard to the individual in question; for it is to be recollected that this is an action by an individual to recover damages.
Cross-examined by Mr. Serjeant Hullock.
Q. You say you stood upon the steps of Mr. Buxton's house, from half past twelve till the meeting was dispersed?
A. I did.
Q. By whom was the Riot Act read?
A. I never heard it read.
Q. Was there such a noise?
A. I heard no particular noise.
Q. Then you heard nothing read out of the window of Mr. Buxton's house?
A. I did not.
Q. And yet you was standing on the steps?
A. I was never absent from the steps.
Q. You know the room in which the Magistrates were assembled was over your head?
A. Yes.
Q. And yet you heard no such thing?
A. I did not.
Q. Did you attempt to penetrate to the hustings?
A. I never went from the steps.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—You went into the house?
A. That was prior to taking my station.
Q. Then you cannot tell us how near the line of Constables, or two lines of Constables extended?
A. I could not; I could see down the line.
Q. But whether it terminated before it reached the hustings, you could not tell?
A. No.