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James Platt Eyewitness Account
- Place: Manchester
- Role: Officer
- Occupation: Police Constable
Attended SPF as Police Officer.
Account
Download accountJames Platt examined by Sergeant Hullock - I am a police officer, and was in St. Peter’s area, on 16th of August. About twelve, I saw Dr. Healey bring up a number of people to the hustings. Witness then described the formation of the people around the hustings, and identified Healey and Bamford as being there.
On his cross-examination, he said the shout which hailed Mr. Hunt’s arrival appeared to be one of defiance rather than joy.
Mr. Hunt. - What is the price of a flimsy (a flash phrase for a forged note) now? -A. If you want them in the flash - why ten bobs (shillings). The prices vary a little according to the execution. The way I came to know forgeries was, that my father had some forged £5 notes paid him for fustian; he offered one at a grocer’s shop in Middleton, which subsequently proved to be bad, and they were returned; the five pound notes were returned by my father, and in return he got six or seven forged notes for £1 or £2 This so aggravated me that I determined to detect the passers . I went to the people (continued the witness) and by inveiglement I got into the secret, and obtained from them a £5 and £2 note, upon which I gave information to the Bank of England. I would do so again; 8s. was the price of a flimsy then; for a £5 I gave £2 16s. ;The man who gave them to me was committed, but not tried; it was this circumstance that introduced me to Mr. Nadin. By inveiglement I detected others since, and one of them was by my evidence hanged.
Q. What price did you receive for that? —I decline answering that question. I never gave false evidence. I have prevented many, and never appeared against one that was not nailed; I gave no evidence for forgeries at the last Lancaster Assizes. Nobody assaulted or insulted me on the field, nor did anyone else offend where I stood, though I am said to be a dealer in flimsies.
Dr. Healey exclaimed-with great warmth, that the witness said one thing here today, and another at the New Bayley. This the witness denied. He would not say whether he swore or not at the New Bayley that he saw Saxton on the hustings, between the hours of twelve and half past one o'clock.