Thomas William Tatton Eyewitness Account

• Place: Cheshire
• Role: Officer
• Occupation: Magistrate for Cheshire

Felt it would have been impossible to deliver the warrant without the assistance of the military. Denies that Mr Stanley remonstrated with him about the decision to send in the military.

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Thos. Wm. Tatton, Esq. sworn: examined by Mr. Serjeant Cross.

Q. You are one of the Magistrates of the neighbouring county of Chester?

A. I am.

Q. Brother to Mr. Egerton the member for the county?

A. I am.

Q. You, we understand, were one of the committee of Magistrates of the two counties?

A. I was.

Q. You have heard what Mr. Hulton, the chairman of the committee, has stated; do you concur with him as to the alarming state of the country at that time?

A. Decidedly so.

Q. Do you concur with him in the alarming appearance of the bodies, that marched in from the country?

A. I certainly do.

Q. As a Magistrate, did you feel any apprehensions for the peace and tranquillity of the town?

A. I considered, from the appearance of the assembly that was there, that the town of Manchester was in very imminent danger.

Q. In your judgment, was it practicable for the civil power to have executed the warrant?

A. I think it must have been fatal to any person that did attempt it, unless they were supported by the military.

Q. Then I need hardly ask you, Mr. Tatton, whether the measure had your entire concurrence?

A. Most decidedly so.

Q. Did you exercise, your judgment upon the occasion, as a Magistrate, from a sense of duty?

A. I should have supposed that I was not doing my duty properly to the country, and particularly so to the neighbourhood of Manchester, if I had not; or if I had not acted as I did.

Q. Were you actuated, at the moment, by any other considerations than a sincere desire to discharge your public duty, to the best of your judgment?

A. None whatsoever.

 

Cross-examined by Mr. Blackburne.

Q. We understand you were well acquainted with Mr. Stanley?

A. l am.

Q. Did you see Mr. Stanley in the Magistrates' room on that day?

A. I did, sir.

Q. Had you any conversation with him about these proceedings?

A. I do not recollect that I had any particular conversation with him respecting this meeting; but I perfectly well remember that I took him up stairs into a room above where we were stationed, that he might have a view of the assembly.

Q. Did he not, sir, before he left the room below, remonstrate with you on calling in the military?

A. Never.

A. And did not Mr. Stanley say to you, "well, I am not a Magistrate; it would not be delicate for me to interfere"?

A. I don't recollect any thing of the sort passing between us. I can almost positively say it did not.

 

Re-examined by Mr. Serjeant Cross.

Q. When Mr. Stanley stated, on his oath, that he had made no such remonstrance, that was correct, according to your recollection?

A. Certainly, according to my recollection.

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