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Roger Entwisle Eyewitness Account
- Place: Manchester
- Role: Spectator
- Occupation: Solicitor
Saw the Stockport division arrive armed with sticks. Saw stones and brickbats thrown, but did not know how people had acquired them. Claims the warrants could not have been administered without military assistance and that the yeomanry behaved appropriately.
Account
Download accountRoger Entwisle sworn: examined by Mr, Starkie.
Q. You are a solicitor in Manchester?
A. I am.
Q. Did you see the Stockport division march into Manchester, on the morning of the 16th.?
A. I did.
Q. Of what number did the body consist?
A. I should think between 4,000 and 5,000.
Q. I will ask you generally; did they march in military step, and with flags and music, as the witnesses have described the other bodies to do?
A. They did.
Q. Did you hear any of the divisions say any thing as they passed?
A. I happened to be standing on the steps of an hotel; and one observed, "thou hast got a good coat on thy back; before the day is over, I will have as good a one as thee."
Q. Had they any sticks with them?
A. They had.
Q. Small or large?
A. Some of them very large ones, and they carried them on their shoulders.
Q. In what manner did they carry them?
A. On the right shoulder —not as a firelock.
Mr. Justice Holroyd,—You said something about a firelock?
Witness.—Not as firelocks; but merely slanting on the shoulder.
Q. Did you afterwards go near the hustings?
A. I afterwards went to St. Peter's Field
Q. How near did you get to the hustings?
A. At the time Hunt; arrived, I was within ten yards of the hustings.
Q. Do you know whether Hunt could see the Infantry stationed in Dickinson-street?
A. I could see them distinctly; and I have no doubt: he could, if he looked that way.
Q. Did you hear him say anything?
A. I heard him use the expression: "enemies," and as I conceived at that time, he was pointing towards the military in Dickinson Street.
Mr. Justice Holroyd—Pointing towards Dickinson-street?
Witness.—At that time he was pointing towards. Dickinson-street with his hand.
Q. When he was so pointing, he used the word "enemies"?— did you hear him say anything more than that?
A. “If they attempt to molest you, you will knock them down, and keep them down."
Q. Did you see the Yeomanry in front of Mr. Buxton's house?
A. I did.
Q. What did Hunt do when the Yeomanry appeared there?
A. He appeared to cheer, and the mob also cheered.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—At the time, when the Yeomanry were there?
A. When they appeared before Mr. Buxton's house.
Q. In what way did this appear to be done — as if he was glad to see them?
A. I considered it as a threat of defiance to the Yeomanry.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—You thought it so?
A. That was my opinion at the time.
Q. Did you see the Yeomanry advance towards the hustings?
A. I did.
Q. What was done to them as they advanced towards the hustings?
A. When they arrived within about fifteen yards of the hustings, I saw stones and brickbats thrown at them.
Q. Any sticks, sir?
A. I did not see any sticks.
Q. Could you form any judgment whether those stones hit any of the Yeomanry?
A. They were aimed at the horses; I have no doubt they hit some part.
Q. Had the Yeomanry used any violence previous to this?
A. On the contrary, they had used the greatest forbearance.
Q. In your judgment, could the constables have executed the warrant without military assistance previous to this?
A. It would have been utterly impossible.
Q. In your judgment, was the meeting and the proceedings on that day, sufficient to create alarm in the minds of the people?
A. It was.
Q. Did you see any sticks upon the ground, after the dispersion of the meeting?
A. After I had been down to the New Bailey, and returned a second time, I saw a large quantity of sticks and stones that had been picked up, similar to those that were brought by the Stockport division.
Cross-examined by Mr. Evans.
Q. You are also clerk to the race-course?
A. I am.
Q. You see a good many crowds there?
A. I do.
Q. Did you ever see so large a crowd there?
A. Much larger.
Q. At what rate did the Cavalry go?
A. When they advanced at first, they went at a half trot; afterwards they could not proceed so quick on account of the people.
Q. What hour were you in the field in the morning?
A. About half-past eleven to twelve o'clock, before the hustings were erected, and when few people were on the field. I followed the division that came from Stockport; they went down and I followed them.
Q. You say the Cavalry were fifteen yards from the hustings when stones were thrown?
A. To the best of my knowledge.
Q. Was the body very dense there?
A. It was.
Q. Where did the people get the stones and brickbats to throw?
A. I cannot tell whether they carried them on their persons or not. I saw several thrown.
Q. Did you see where they got them from?
A. I did not.
Q. Do you believe they had them in their pockets?
A. I cannot say whether they had or not.
Q. When you came on the ground in the morning, did you see any stones or brickbats on the ground?
A. There were a great number of people assembled. I did not examine it.
Q. You have had a good many journeys about this matter?
A. I was examined upon the Oldham Inquest, and I was also examined at York.
Q. Have you had legal proceedings yourself?
A. None whatever.
Q. Nobody has sued you?
A. I have had a dispute with Mr. Milne——
Q. An action was brought against you?
A. It was a dispute between us as to the time that I had been at York.
Q. It was not that you had received£20 too much, and given no account of it.
A. I did not receive it; that was not the charge.
Q. What was the sum?
A. It was for £15.
Re-examined by Mr. Starkie.
Q. This alluded to your expenses as a witness at York?
A. It did.
Q. You say you are clerk of the race-course, you have been accustomed to see a large concourse of people?
A. I have.
Q. In your judgment, what was the number?
A. I considered at least from 80,000 to 90,000.