John Hampshire Eyewitness Account

• Place: Elsewhere,Padfield
• Role: Demonstrator
• Occupation: Calico Printer

Went with Saxton to Observer office and then on to meeting at SPF. Saw Hunt arrested, who did not offer resistance or encourage crowd to resist. Recalled to confirm Hunt’s words from the platform.

Account

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John Hampshire was the only witness Mr. Holt thought necessary to call in behalf of Mr. Saxton. - Lived at Padfield, 17 miles from Manchester. Knew Mr. Saxton. Saw him on 16^th of August at his own house, a little after twelve o’clock. Went to give him an order about some bills printing. Remained with him about an hour. Dined with him that day. Had only seen him once before. Left his house a little after one. Went along with Saxton to “The Observer” office. Saxton was a reporter to “The Observer”. This might be a quarter or twenty minutes after one. Remained a short time with him: he was then getting his paper and cutting pencils to write at a public meeting. Witness left Saxton and went to the meeting: he went towards the hustings: the crowd pressed him, and he turned rather sick: he was, in consequence handed up to the hustings. Mr. Hunt had not then arrived. Saw Saxton after witness had been some minutes on the hustings: did not see him before Mr. Hunt arrived. Saw Saxton writing on the hustings: he could have not been there before witness, as he left him (Saxton) at The Observer office, and went directly to the hustings. Did not hear Saxton address the meeting: could not possibly have avoided hearing him had he done so. Witness stayed till the dispersion of the meeting.

By the Judge - Saw no disposition in the crowd to resist the military before the dispersion of the meeting; witness stopped till after Mr. Hunt was arrested: did not see him resist, or encourage the crowd to offer any resistance; he heard a military officer say, “You Chairman come down this moment.” Mr. Hunt’s reply was, “Very well, Sir,” and he got down off the hustings.

John Hampshire examined again by Mr. Hunt—Was on the hustings before Mr. Hunt arrived; does not recollect having heard examinant say as applied to the soldiers. "These are our enemies, if they molest you, put. them down, and when down, keep them down;” saw the military arrive, and charge towards the hustings, my whole attention was bent to the military after the charge commenced; and during their progress up to his (Mr. Hunt’s) arrest, did not see the least resistance attempted on the part of the people.

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