Thomas Worrell Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Assistant Surveyor of Paving

Cleared away all stones from the field at 8am in the morning. Returned about 3pm and found large quantities of stones, brickbats and some large sticks.

Account

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Thomas Worrall sworn: examined by Mr. Starkie.

Q. You are assistant surveyor of the paving of the town of Manchester?

A. l am.

Q. In consequence of directions which you received from the boroughreeve, did you go to clear the area of St. Peter's field of stones?

A. I did.

Q. When was it that you went?

A. We commenced prior to the 7th. August.

Q. Was that before the first or second meeting?

A. Before the first. The first was to have been on the 9th.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—I thought you said you went prior to the 7th.

A. It was upon the 7th.

Q. Prior to or upon, you don't recollect which?

A. No.

Q. Did you and your assistants clear the area of stones, sticks, and brickbats?

A. We did.

Q. Every thing that might be made up of in an offensive manner?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you carry away the stones from the streets adjoining, as well as from the area?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you go again upon the morning of the 16th., in order that you might see every thing was done?

A. Yes; there might be a quarter of a load of stones upon the field.

Q. What time in the morning?

A. About seven o'clock.

Q. Were the whole of these cleared away?

A. They were, before eight o'clock.

Q. Were you there again between nine and ten o'clock?

A. I was; the same morning.

Q. Was every thing clear?

A. All was clear.

Q. Was you there after the meeting?

A. I was.

Q What time?

A. I was there from eleven o'clock till after three.

Q. The same day?

A. The same day.

Q. Did you find any stones?

A. There was a large quantity of stones.

Q. What time?

A. About three o'clock.

Q. Any sticks?

A. Some scores of sticks.

Q. What size were the stones?

A. The stones might be betwixt two and three inches diameter, some of them larger.

Q; Were those stones such as are used in paving the town of Manchester, or such as must have been brought from a distance?

A. They must have been brought from a distance. Most of them were gravel-stones—the greatest part of them were gravel-stones.

Q. And brickbats?

A. Yes.

Q. Large quantity did you say?

A. There was a load of brickbats and stones altogether.

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—Do you mean a cartload?

A. A cart load.

Q. As to the sticks, what sized sticks were they?

A. Some sticks were large. I suppose the biggest part of then about an inch diameter.

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