John Tyas Eyewitness Account

• Occupation: Reporter 'The Times'

Testifies to seeing the Yeomanry coming into the crowd and deliberately cutting at flags, also saw people wounded. States that the meeting was peaceful, but does admit that Hunt, Carlile and Johnson hissed as their carriage passed the magistrates’ house.

Account

Download account

Mr. John Tyas sworn: examined by Mr. Blackburne.

Q. You, I believe, report for the Times?

A. I do.

Q. Did you do so in August, 1819?

A. I did.

Q. Were you down at Manchester the 16th. of that month, for the purpose of reporting the proceedings of the day?

A. I was.

Q. At what time of the day was it you went first to Peter's Field?

A. I was there as early as eight o'clock. I was perpetually to and fro.

Q. Did you observe the time when any persons came to the hustings, when the hustings were erected?

A. About half past eleven o'clock.

Q. What did you see?

A. I saw two bodies of reformers come to the ground with two banners, each surmounted with a cap of liberty.

Q. In what manner did these persons coming up to the hustings conduct themselves?

A. Peaceably and quietly.

Q. What more did you see, at that time: did you see any more than these two?

A. I went from the field, after that party had come.

Q. When did you go back again to the field?

A. I went, I think, between twelve and one; but it is so long since, I cannot speak with certainty.

Q. Did you see, at that time, any other persons?

A. When I returned again, there were a great number of persons assembled.

Q. Did you get on to the hustings ultimately?

A. I did.

Q. Will you tell us how you got there?

A. I was, at that time, very unwell, and not being able to make my way through the crowd ssembled, I thought the best mode was by applying to Mr. Hunt.

Q. You did apply to Mr. Hunt, and got to the hustings in consequence?

A. I did.

Q. At that time, what was the conduct of the meeting?

A. At the time I got on the hustings, the meeting was cheering Mr. Hunt.

Q. Mr. Hunt, I believe, made a speech?

Q. How long had he been speaking, before you saw any thing of the Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry?

A. From five to ten minutes.

Q. What did you then see?

A. I saw the Yeomanry Cavalry advancing rapidly to the area, where the meeting was held.

Q. Where did they form?

A. They formed opposite to the house in which the Magistrates were.

Q. That is opposite to Mr. Buxton's house.

Mr. Serjeant Cross.—That fact has been proved by every witness, and is undisputed.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—But it may be leading on to what he saw afterwards.

Q. At that time, tell us whether you observed any constables?

A. I knew there were some that had marched in on that day; but I had no means of distinguishing them.

Q. You had no means of distinguishing them from the other people?

A. I had no means of distinguishing them from the other people.

Q. Had you at any other time?

A. I had at a subsequent part of the day; by seeing their truncheons.

Q. You did not see the line of constables from Mr. Buxton's house?

A. I did not.

Q. Did you observe the Cavalry advance towards the hustings?

A. I did.

Q. At that time, did you observe the persons that were round the hustings?

A. I did.

Q. How were they standing?

A. Very closely jammed together indeed.

Q. Up to the time of the advance of the cavalry to the hustings, what had been the conduct of the meeting?

A. As far as fell under my observation, orderly in the extreme.

Q. You have attended many other public meetings I believe?

A. I have attended many others.

Q. At the time when the Cavalry advanced up to the hustings, did you observe them?

A. I did.

Q. Will you tell us what took place on their advance up to the hustings?

A. The people gave way in every direction, as fast as they could, before them.

Q. At what speed did they advance?

A. Rapidly at first; they could not go very quick, they could not get quick on their way; the people made as much way for them, it appeared to me, as they possibly could.

A. I believe you was on the hustings till they came up to them?

A. I was.

Q. Were you in such a situation as that if any sticks or stones had been thrown at them, you would have seen them?

A. I was.

Q. Were there any?

A. I saw none.

Q. Not up to the time of their coming to the hustings?

A. Not up to the time of their arriving at the hustings.

Q. Did you see arms locked round the hustings?

A. It was impossible for me to see arms locked below the hustings; I beg leave to add, unless in the front rank before the hustings.

Q. Why?

A. In a closely jammed mass, I have lately looked particularly at the manner of standing, and I have never seen ------

Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—I object to his stating what he has seen.

Q. You did not observe it?

A. I did not.

Q. And for some reason you know you could not?

A. I could not.

Q. When the Cavalry came up to the hustings, did you hear any thing?

A. On the road?

Q. On the road.

A. No.

Q. After?

A. I heard, after the hustings were taken away, a cry of "have at the flags."

Q. What more?

A. I was at this time on the hustings, a flag there was cut down; immediately the Yeomanry began cutting away at the flags stationed on the ground.

Q. Did you see any thing more pass?

A. I saw several persons on the ground bleeding.

Q. Do you know Oliver?

A. I do not.

Q. You do not know him when you see him?

A. I do not know any of the Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry when I see them.

 

Cross-examined by Mr. Serjeant Cross.

Q. So they fetched you all the way from London to give this account; and you went all the way down from London to be at this wonderful meeting?

A. I did.

Q. You had gone to attend the meeting of the 9th.?

A. I had, in Manchester; and the meeting of the 16th.

Q. And you staid till this was over?

A. Yes.

Q. You have been asked whether you attended many others; was you at the Smithfield meeting that just preceded?

A. I was.

Q. Where Mr. Hunt presided?

A. Exactly so.

Q. When was that, Mr. Tyas?

A. I do not recollect the exact day; in July, I believe.

Q. Then your department was, I suppose, to follow Mr. Hunt?

A. No, sir; my department was to go wherever there was a meeting.

Q. Then you recognized him?

A. Yes.

Q. As an old acquaintance?

A. Not as an old acquaintance.

Q. You knew him as a public character?

A. Yes.

Q. You have been many times at public meetings in the open air?

A. I do not know that I have.

Q. You saw him come in a carriage?

A. I did.

Q. And Carlile?

A. And Carlile.

Q. Of Fleet-street?

A. Of Fleet-street.

Q. He keeps what they call "The Temple of Reason"?

A. The same.

Q. Hunt, Carlile, and Johnson, were in the carriage together?

A. Yes.

Q. Were you there, when they halted opposite the house where the Magistrates were?

A. I was beside the carriage from the Exchange.

Q. They halted where the Magistrates were?

A. They did.

Q. The carriage was attended by many thousands of people, marching, with colours flying and drums beating?

A. Yes.

Q. And they were halted at the house where the Magistrates were; carriage, people, and all?

A. They all stopped.

Q. And then, I believe, they very peaceably set up a universal hiss?

A. There was a hiss.

Q. Do you know where Carlile lives now?

A. I believe in Dorchester goal.

Mr. Blackburne.—Surely it has nothing to do with the present case, where Mr. Carlile lives?

Mr. Serjeant Hullock.-Why; he is one of your friends.

Q. He was on the hustings, along with Mr. Hunt?

A. He was along with Mr. Hunt.

Q. He kept the shop in Fleet-street?

A. Yes.

Q. Since called "The Mart of Sedition and Blasphemy"?

A. I have not any knowledge of that, but from the public papers.

Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—You was taken yourself?

A. I was.

Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—You see what respectable acquaintances you had got among, and what a scrape they brought you into.

Q. How long was you kept?

A. Twenty hours.

Mr. Blackburne.—Bad company sometimes gets a man illegally into a scrape.

Back to list