Robert Neald Eyewitness Account

• Place: Oldham
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Hatter

Account

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Name: Robert Neald

Occupation: Hatter

Home: Oldham

Date: 25 September 1819

Source: Lees Inquest 44  45

Summary: Observed the condition and injuries sustained by John Lees during the days after returning from St.Peter’sfield and oruduces his bloodied and cut jacket in court. Also recognises Wrigley’s testimony of witnessing events in Manchester, corroborated by John Lees.

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ROBERT NEALD called in, sworn, and examined by the CORONER.

Q. What are you?
A. I am a hatter.
Q. Did you know John Lees?
A. Yes; I had known him for seven or eight years.
Q. Did you see him after he was wounded on the 16th?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. Where?
A. At the sign of the Shears, Newton Heath.
Q. How do you know he was wounded?
A. Because he showed me one wound on his right elbow, and said he had another on his shoulder, which nobody had looked at.
Q. Did you then look at it?
A. Yes.
Q. What did you observe in it?
A. I observed what I thought a stab, and I saw his shoe was rent.
Q. What time was this?
A. About five o'clock.
Q. How came you to meet with him?
A. I saw him passing the window, and I called him in.
Q. Did you have any conversation with him?
A. Yes; as we were going home he pointed out Joseph Wrigley to me, and said, “That is the man who saw me have my wounds—he was with me;" they then met and shook hands.
Q. Did you know Wrigley at that time?
A. No, not then.
Q. Did you go to any public house?
A. Wrigley asked us to go into the Wool-pack, but the deceas¬ed refused, saying, his arm was stiff, and he wished to get home. This is the coat he had on.

[The witness here produced the coat: there was a cut on the right elbow; the sleeve was covered with blood, and there was a cut on the right shoulder. He also produced the shoe of the deceased.]

Q. Where did you get these things?
A. I had them from his father.
Q. How do you know they belonged to the deceased?
A. I believe they were his.
The FOREMAN of the JURY—(after examining the coat, said)—I believe it to be the deceased's; for I have often seen him pass my warehouse with it. The colour is what is called a corbeau.
The CORONER—The coat may be his: but I must have the iden¬tity regularly proved.
Mr. HARMER—(to the Coroner)—It is very easy to call the pa¬rents to prove the fact, if the Jury wish further evidence on the subject.
The CORONER—I have no doubt of the identity, but wish to have it proved regularly.
Examination of the Witness resumed by the CORONER.
Q. When did you next see him?
A. On Sunday, the 29th.
Q. Did he complain of illness then?
A. He said he had lost his appetite, and that he was very ill.

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