Joseph Buckley Eyewitness Account

• Place: Chadderton
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Seasonal Shearer,Weaver

Was at White Moss on the 15th of August, saw people practicing drill and was asked to join in, claims he only did so out of fear.

Account

Download account

Joseph Buckley sworn: examined by Mr. Serjeant Cross.
Q. You are a weaver, I believe, at Chadderton?
A. Yes.
Q. Was you at the White Moss the day before the meeting?
A. Yes.
Q. About what time did you get there?
A. About five or six o'clock.
Q. Did you see people drilling there?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you see what became of them when it was over?
A. Yes.
Q. What became of them?
A. They marched off to different parts of the country.
Q. In bodies, or separately?
A. In squads.
Q. Any towards Blakeley?
A. Yes.
Q. Blakeley, Ashton, Middleton, and Royton?
A. Yes.
Q. You saw them going in all these different directions?
A. Yes.
Q. Before they left the White Moss, did you hear them say any thing they were to do?
A. Yes; I heard John Walker, who was drilling one of the squads, say Hunt was to be at Manchester at twelve o'clock.
Q. When?
A. On the 16th.; and they must all be sure to be there.
Q. Did you hear any of them say any thing after that?
A. Yes; when they had gotten the day, they would have a new government.
Mr Serjeant Cross.—After your Lordship and the Jury have heard so many witnesses, I do not think it necessary to go into any further particulars of the drillings.

Cross-examined by Mr. Blackburne.
Q. Are you a weaver, of Chadderton?
A. I am, now.
Q. You still continue in that employ?
A. Yes.
Q. Are you any thing else?
A. Sometimes in the summer I go out a shearing.
Q. Were you drilling, or one of the spectators?
A. I was one of the lookers on.
Q. Did you know the man with whom you had this conversation?
A. I did not know him; I had never seen him before in my life, to the best of my knowledge.
Q. And probably never since?
A. Not as know of.
Q. Was he a spectator, or drilling?
A. He was drilling in the squad.
Q. How many people were there with you at the time he told you this?
A. A great number.
Q. They would hear this, as well as you?
A. Several; I dare say many scores besides these people that were drilled.
Q. And this man said all this about the new government loud enough for you to hear?
A. Yes.
Q. Did he beg you to fall in and drill?
A. One came out of the squad, that did.
Q. One came out, but that was not the person?
A. No.
Q. Was it out of the same squad?
A. Yes.
Q. When this man asked you to fall in, you refused?
A. He said I must either, fall in or go about my business.
Q. Did you do either the one or the other?
A. Yes; I did fall in.
Q. Then you was drilled?
A. Yes.
Q. How long was you drilled?
A. About an hour and a half.
Q. You would become expert at drilling?
A. Yes.
Q. You are now fit to move in any procession?
A. I should not wonder but what I am.
Q. You became qualified by that one drill; the men who drilled you were very skilful persons?
A. Yes.
Q. Now, was this after or at the drill?
A. At the drill; I was standing by.
Q. Was it before you went in to be drilled or after?
A. Before.
Q. The man told you all this before?
A. Yes.

Re-examined by Mr. Serjeant Cross.
Q. What made you fall in; was you afraid?
A. I was afraid they would do with me as they had done with other persons, if I did not.
Q. Then you fell in for fear of falling out?
A. Yes.

Back to list