John Lee Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Injured
• Occupation: Patten Drawer

At St Peter’s Field on the 16th of August. Was cut by Captain Birley at the meeting.

Account

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Q. You lived at Chetham on the 16th. August, 1819, at the time of the meeting?

A. I did.

Q. You are a pattern drawer?

A. Yes,

Q. Was you at the meeting on the 16th. August, 1819?

A. Yes.

Q. At what part of the meeting was you?

A. I stood very near the Windmill public-house, six or seven yards from the hustings.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—How far from the hustings?

A. Not more than ten yards.

Q. Was the meeting peaceable, or otherwise?

A. I never saw any thing different till the Cavalry came on the ground.

Q. What did you see the Cavalry do?

A. I saw them cut, and felt it too.

Q. Where were you when you was wounded?

A. About twenty yards from the hustings, making the best of my way from the ground.

Q. Do you know the person who wounded you?

A. I do.

Q. Who was he?

Mr. Serjeant Hullock—objected to the question.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—Before he answers the question I must know whether it is evidence.

Mr. Evans.—I ask this question to shew that the defendants were acting with the same object. I contend that it is clearly evidence.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—I think it is not.

Mr. Evans.—Your Lordship will receive it or not.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—In this question, the fact of wounding another person is not evidence.

Q. Can you mention who were present?

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—You may ask as to whether Captain Birley was there.

Witness.—Yes; it was him who cut me.

Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—That is very improper: you was told by his Lordship not to answer.

Q. Do you know if Alexander Oliver was there?

A. I do not.

Q. Previous to the Yeomanry cutting the people, was any resistance offered to them by the people?

A. I never saw them.

Q. Were any stones, or sticks, or brickbats, thrown at the military before they began cutting?

A. I never saw any thing of the kind.

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