Jane Whittaker Eyewitness Accounts

• Place: Oldham
• Role:
• Occupation: Housewife

Account

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Name: Jane Whittaker

Occupation: Housewife

Home: Oldham

Date: 9 October 1819

Source: Lees Inquest 529  529

Summary: Saw John Lees hitching a lift in a cart whist appearing not to be injured (seen on the Tues 17 August 1819).

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JANE WHITTAKER called in by Mr. RADLEY, sworn and examined by the CORONER.

Q. What are you?
A. The wife of — Whittaker, of Oldham.
Q. What is he?
A. A hatter.
Q. Did you know John Lees, the deceased?
A. I never saw him but one day after he was hurt.
Q. What day was that?
A. The Tuesday next but one, after he was wounded.
Q. Where did you see him that day?
A. It was in Manchester road, getting into a cart.
Q. Between Manchester and where?
A. It was a mile off Manchester.
Q. On what road?
A. On the road to Oldham.
Q. What was he doing?
A. He was going on the road, and a man with a cart called to him.
Q. Was it the driver of the cart?
A. Yes, it was the man in the cart.
Q. Where were you then?
A. I was in the cart
Q. Did he call to him to ride?
A. Yes, to ride.
Q. What did he do in consequence of that?
A. He sat aside of me. He got into the cart, and sat aside of me.
Q. What did you do, all of you then?
A. He told me he had been at the Infirmary, and at the dress.
Q. Well, what more? How did he appear? What did you observe?
A. I observed nothing to him.
Q. Did you see any wound?
A. I asked him if he was wounded very ill on his elbow, and he said, no.
Q. Did he shew it?
A. No.
Q. Did he mention any other place in which he was hurt?
A. I asked him, if he was hurt any where else, and he said no.
Q. How far did you ride together?
A. To the top of Holley Moor.
Q. How far is that?
A. About a mile, I think.
Q. Who was there in the cart besides he and you?
A. There was Richard Lloyd, I think his name was:
Q. Who else?
A. I think his wife.
Q. And who else?
A. Ann Bardesley, I think, and another woman; but I don't know her name.
Q. How did John Lees appear? Did he appear to be well, or ill; lame, or low?
A. He was no way lame, that I saw.
Q. Was any body with him?
A. Thomas Whittaker, his half brother was with him;
Q. Did he appear to be unwell, or sick.
A. I did not see him sick.
Q. Did he appear to be well?
A. He appeared to be well to me.
Q. What time in the day was it?
A. We started in the afternoon from Manchester, between three and four o'clock.
Q. And what time might it be, when he got into the cart?
A. About four o'clock.
Q. Where did he get out at?
A. At the top of Holley Moor.
Q. At any particular house?
A. No.
Q. Was it about five o'clock that he got in and out in this way?
A. Perhaps it was about that time.
Q. Did he get in and out of the cart of himself?
A. Yes.
The Coroner—Now what questions have you to ask of this witness?
Mr. Barrow—I will just get you to ask her one or two questions, as to the state of his coat.

The WITNESS examined by Mr. BARROW, through the CORONER.

Q. How was the sleeve of his coat?
A. It was on his arm, but I am not sure whether it was tied or close.
Q. Was the seam ripped open?
A. No.
Q. Was his arm in a sling?
A. He had his hand in his waistcoat
Q. Then he had no sling to rest his arm in, or his shoulder?
A. No.
Q. You say, he said, that he had been at the dress. Did he say he had actually been dressed?
A. No.
Q. How did he get in and out of the cart?
A. He got in while the cart stopped for him.
Q. How did he get out?
A. I can't say exactly, but he got out by himself.
Q. Without any assistance, you mean?
A. Yes.
Q: Did he get in and out of the cart on the road, between the first time and the last time you have mentioned.
A. He got in and out once, on the road.
Q. Was that without assistance?
A. Yes.
Q. Had he any thing to drink when he got out that time?
A. I never saw him get any there.
Q. Was it at an ale-house?
A. No, but he supped twice while he was in the cart; that is all I saw.
Q. Was the cart loaded or empty?
A. No.
Q. What was there in it?
A. A box, and a sack or two, I believe.
Mr. Barrow—That is all; thank, you, Sir.
The Coroner (to Mr. Harmer)—Do you wish to ask this witness any questions?
Mr. Harmer—No; I thank you.
Mr. Barrow—Now Sir, as I was not in Court, when Elizabeth Rayborn was examined, Mr. Harmer agrees that I should cross-examine her now.
Mr. Harmer—Certainly.

[Elizabeth Rayborn was now called, but did not immediately answer.]

Mr. Harmer—Now, Mr. Coroner, I have a woman here, named Sarah Barlow, who was looking out of the same room window, that the witness Hall was looking out of. I tender her testimony, to see whether she will confirm him in the account he has given. He was called in behalf of the accused.

The Coroner—As I said before, Sir, it is merely for the sake of shortening the proceedings, that l wish to curtail the evidence as much as it is possible, consistent with justice. I don't say I won't hear the witness you speak of; but if we are to have one witness called to contradict another in this way, there will be no end to it.
Mr. Harmer—I shall use my best endeavours to bring her examination to a close by asking her very few questions.

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