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Richard Holt Eyewitness Account
- Place: Manchester
- Role: Injured,Officer
- Occupation: Special Constable
Saw stones thrown at the Yeomanry and was hit by one. Seized a cap of liberty from a flagstaff while another constable tore down flags. Received blow on his wrist at this point.
Account
Download accountRichard Holt sworn. examined by Mr. Littledale.
Q. You are a dyer at Manchester?
A. I am.
Q. Was you a special constable, on the 16th. August?
A. I was.
Q. I will take him at once to the Manchester Yeomanry coming on the ground. Did you see the Manchester Yeomanry come on the ground?
A. I did.
Q. Did you see them advance towards the hustings?
A. I did.
Q. While they were advancing, were there any stones thrown?
A. There were; I saw one, and immediately after that, I was wounded over my left eye with another.
Q. This was before they had got to the hustings?
A. It was about twenty yards from the hustings.
Q. Did you afterwards go upon the hustings yourself?
A. I did, sir.
Q. When you got to the hustings, what, did you individually seize?
A. I seized a colour.
Q. While you were seizing the colour, was any thing done to you?
A. I was struck over my left arm, at least my left wrist, with a stick.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—Did you say wrist or fist?
A. Wrist.
Q. Was anything upon the top of this flag?
A. A cap of liberty.
Q. Did you get the cap of liberty away?
A. I did, sir.
Q. Did any other person come up to your assistance, any other special constable?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you see what the other special constable was doing at the time?
A. He tore the colour from the staff.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—Who did?
A. The other special constable.
Q. In your judgment, was it possible for the civil power to have executed the warrant without military aid?
A. It was not possible.
Cross-examined by Mr. Blackburne.
Q. What was the conduct of the Yeomanry—how did they conduct themselves?
A. Very properly, in my opinion; I followed them up to the hustings, and I did not see a single blow struck by them.
Q. Either with the flat side, or any other side of the sword?
A. No.
Q. You followed them up to the hustings?
A. I did.
Q. Where from?
A. From the front of Mr. Buxton's house.
Q. You was at the front of Mr. Buxton's house, was you?
A. I was.
Q. In the rear of the Cavalry—you went up with them?
A. I did, sir.
Q. Where were the Cavalry at the time you got the caps of liberty?
A. I cannot say where they were; they were in advance of me.
Q. They had passed the hustings?
A. They had, sir.
Q. Of course, this cap of liberty you have burnt?
A. No, sir, I did not.
Q. What has become of it?
A. I cannot say what has become of it; I left it at Mr. Buxton's house with the Magistrates.
Q. How many constables were there about the hustings?
A. I cannot say.
Q. Were there a good many?
A. I cannot say.
Q. Did you see any amongst your brother constables who took the flag? You left the staff standing.
A. It was in a man's hands.
Q. And was this cap of liberty upon a staff too?
A. It was at the top.
Q. Was it as you were tearing it down, you got this thump?
A. It was when I held hold of the staff.