William Buckley Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Merchant

Testified at Lees Inquest. Saw the peaceful procession of 4-5000 coming down Mount Street- but the Yeomanry, whom he had seen earlier loading their pistols, galloped up in disorder and ‘dashed amongst the crowd.’

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Mr. WILLIAM NORRIS BUCKLEY called in, sworn, and examined by the CORONER.

Q. What are you?
A. I am a merchant and tradesman at Manchester.
Q. What do you know of this business?
A. I saw parties coming into Manchester to attend the meeting on the 16th.
The Coroner (to Mr. Harmer)—What is the gist of his evi¬dence?
Mr. Harmer—I understand he can speak to the whole proceed¬ings of the 16th.
The Coroner—But he knows nothing of John Lees?
Mr. Harmer—No, Sir; but it seems scarcely necessary for me to state, that if the attack were made without necessity—if there were no riot or disturbance to justify even the interference of a peace officer, yet a body of military are sent in to cut down and trample on the unarmed and unoffending people, so as to occasion death, it is murder. And I mean to state, that all those concerned, and who were present aiding and abetting, whether they be magistrates, soldiers, or constables, are, in the eye of the law, guilty, as principals, of the murder.
The Coroner (to the Witness)—Well, Sir, proceed.
Witness—I saw a large party of men come up Deansgate, about 12 o'clock.
Q. How many did the body consist of?
A. There must have been four or five thousand of them—they were linked together arm in arm.
Q. Had they any flags?
A. Yes, of various descriptions, with inscriptions.
Q. How many flags had they?
A. I suppose, six or seven.
Q. Can you remember any of the inscriptions?
A. Yes; there was "UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE," “ANNUAL PARLIAMENTS” and “LIBERTY OR DEATH."
Q. After this, did you see any other parties enter the field?
A. Yes; I saw a party come down Mosley street to the meeting.
Q. Had they flags?
A. Yes they had.
Q. Had they any inscriptions on them?
A. I do not recollect.
Q. Had they music with them?
A. Yes; they had a band which played “Rule Britannia," as they were passing St. Peter's church.
Q. Were they peaceable and quiet in their conduct?
A. Perfectly so; and one party was headed by an old woman.
Q. How was she dressed?
A. She had on a reddish gown, and a black bonnet with a sprig of laurel in front of it.
Q. Did you hear her say any thing?
A. No, I did not.
Q. Had the men any thing that you observed?
A. Yes; about a dozen of them had pieces of laurel in their hands, which appeared to me as an emblem of their peaceable dis¬position.
Q. Had any of them sticks?
A. I observed none.
Q. How many parties did you see?
A. Three or four.
Q. Where were you at this time?
A. I was standing on the steps of St. Peter's church, and saw them all distinctly while they passed.
Q. How many were in the last party?
A. Three or four thousand, I should imagine.
Q. Did they proceed to the hustings?
A. Yes; but being the last party they had some difficulty in getting there.
Q. What occurred when these parties arrived?
A. They were generally greeted by the multitude assembled, when they joined them.
Q. How were the hustings situated in regard to the Quakers' chapel?
A. The Quakers' chapel was nearly in a line with the hustings.
Q. How long was it after the last party arrived before Mr. Hunt came?
A. About half an hour.
Q. After those parties had passed, where did you then go?
A. After the whole had passed; I left the steps, and went on the ground towards the body of the meeting, in front of Mount-street, and I heard the sentiments of many persons as to their peaceable and quiet intentions; and it was the general observation of the per¬sons I spoke to, that there was no danger of any disturbance, if the people were not interrupted and disturbed.
Q. Did you hear any thing about the military coming while you were in this situation?
A. Yes; whilst I was standing here, I heard that the Cavalry were filing off from Pickford's Yard, and I then went to Portland-street to see them.
Q. Did you see the Yeomanry Cavalry there?
A. Yes; I saw them load their pistols there.
Q. How many of them were there?
A. About sixty; I saw all that were in Portland-street load their pistols.
Q. Did you see the Cavalry do any thing more?
A. I saw them told off to the right and left, while I was standing at the end of Nicholas-street; after this I went back to St. Peter's church, in company with a friend of mine, Mr. John Moon.
Q. By the time you got back to St. Peter's church, had Mr. Hunt arrived?
A. Yes, he had; but as I wished to hear him, I did not remain; but after standing for three or four minutes at the North East end of the church, I went opposite Mount-street again, and stood about 100 yards from the hustings; while I was here I saw Mr. Hunt take off his hat and address the people, but I had not been more than from five to ten minutes in this place, when I heard an alarm, a general cry of “the soldiers are coming," and in a very short time afterwards they unfortunately made their appearance.
Q. What soldiers were they?
A. The Yeomanry Cavalry were the first that came into the field; two trumpeters first appeared; they rode pie-bald horses; they came up in front of Mr. Buxton's house, where they made a stand, or took up their stations as pivot men; shortly after, the body of Yeomanry Cavalry rushed round Cooper's Cottage, in great confusion, and dressed themselves in line by the trumpeters.
Q. Did they come in quietly or otherwise?
A. They came in galloping, pellmell, one upon another, with their swords drawn; I immediately decamped from that situation, and had only time to discern their faces, and observed they looked remarkably pale.
Q. How near were you to them?
A. They passed betwixt me and Mount-street, on the other side, within three yards of me.
Q. What became of you after you left the situation by Mount-street?
A. I immediately set off towards the Quakers' Meeting-House, with the intention of leaving the meeting altogether, but as I was passing the Quakers' yard a thought struck me that I should be safe there, and I climbed over the gates, and from the wall had an opportunity of seeing the proceedings. I had only sixty yards to go, and at the time I got there, they were brandishing their swords in the air, and they then dashed amongst the crowd.
Q. Had there been any uproar and noise among the people?
A. There was a hurrah by the meeting, and the Yeomanry went forwards and dashed among them.
Q. By whose orders did they do this?
A. I cannot tell.
Q. Who led them on?
A. I saw them come in a body; I did not see any particular person lead them.
Q. How long did you remain in the Quakers' chapel yard?
A. Until there was a complete dispersion of the meeting, which occurred about five minutes after I got there.
Q. Which way did the people go?
A. Some rushed from the hustings towards me, and endeavored to pass a narrow outlet close to where I stood, but they could not get past on account of the great pressure, and they appeared so pressed together as to be in a state of suffocation; while they were in that state, the Yeomanry who had pursued them struck them with their swords.
Q. Did they strike with the edge or flat side?
A. With the flat side, as I think; while I was in the chapel yard I heard the report of a pistol; on looking round in the direction from which it appeared to come, I saw two or three Yeomen riding after the people in the yard, and cutting as they passed at those who, like myself, had taken shelter there.
Q. From whence did the report of the pistol come?
A. Thirty or forty yards from me towards Deansgate.
Q. Who fired it?
A. I can't say, but I should imagine from the report the pistol had not been loaded with ball.
Q. With what did the Yeomanry load?
A. Apparently with cartridge; I don't know whether they had ball in them; but it struck me they were beginning to fire ball, and I ran across the yard and jumped over the wall.
Q. What made you go away?
A. I apprehended they would cut me.
Q. Did you see whether they cut the people at whom they were striking?
A. They struck; but whether they wounded any one I did not see, for I was too anxious for my own safety to look after other people.
Q. What reason had you to suppose they would cut you?
A. Because the attack was indiscriminate, and if I had not been startled by the report of the pistol, I should have been probably cut myself; but in consequence of hearing the pistol fired, I turned round, and perceived three of the Yeomanry coming down the yard, as I have before stated.
Q. Which of the Yeomanry in the yard, did you know?
A. I knew none in the yard, but in Mount-street I saw Mr. R. Sharp, Mr. Whitlow, attorney, Mr. James Moon, whom I know, and also others whose names I am unacquainted with, although I know their persons.
Q. Were they officers or privates?
A. I believe they were privates.
Q. When was it they looked pale?
A. When they came up to Mr. Buxton's.
Q. Whom did you see in the act of striking?
A. I saw Mr. Fox, one of the Yeomanry, in the act of striking people under the wall. He was down below the Quakers' yard; in alarm I got over the wall, and found myself awkwardly situated, for I found some of the Yeomanry in Dickenson-street, and felt apprehensive of my personal safety.
Q. You might feel fear where there was no occasion; did any person offer you violence?
A. No; but it was impossible not to be afraid after what I witnessed; they struck down a poor old man who was hobbling along on a crutch in Dickenson-street.
Q. With what part of the sword was he struck?
A. I saw the old man fall, but whether he was struck with the flat or the edge of the sword I cannot precisely say.
Q. Did the Yeoman say nothing to him?
A. Yes; he said, D—n your soul, what do you want here? as he struck him, and then galloped off.
Q. Who was the old man?
A. I don't know. He was lame and supported on a crutch in one hand and a staff in the other.
Q. What then became of you?
A. I saw a quantity of soldiers stationed in Dickenson-street, and I did not think it safe to pass them, so I went up Lloyd-street.
Q. Did you see the foot soldiers do any thing?
A. No; I did not see them strike any one, or move from their situation; they appeared to be stationary.
Q. Did you see or hear the Riot Act read?
A. I neither heard it nor saw the appearance of its being read.
Q. Did you know that Magistrates were upon the ground?
A. I was not aware of it.
Q. Have you had any quarrel with any of the Yeomanry?
A. No, I have not.
Q. Then why did you think yourself in danger?
A. I was afraid, from the manner in which they came up, that they meant to disperse the meeting with violence.
Q. Where did you stand, and for what length of time?—How long did you stand by Mr. Buxton's house?
A. About five minutes.
Q. How near to it?
A. About 20 yards from it.
Q. At what time was that?
A. Betwixt one and two o'clock.
Q. At what time did you arrive?
A. I was first there from half-past twelve to one o'clock, and remained there about five minutes.
Q. Did you, at that time, hear the Riot Act read?
A. No, I did not.
Q. Where did you say you saw the Yeomen load?
A. In Portland-street.
Q. Did you not know that the Magistrates were present?
A. I looked for them in the station they were in at the Blanket meeting, and did not see them.
Q. Did you see the special constables?
A. Yes; they were in a line from Mr. Buxton's house to the hustings.
Q. Where were you when the Cavalry charged?
A. In the Quakers' Meeting-House yard, as I said before.
Q. How long did the soldiers remain in front of Mr. Buxton's house before the charge was made?
A. Not more than two or three minutes.—I saw them move from before the house to the charge. There was a complete convulsion when the soldiers rode their horses among the multitude, and they seemed to be laying about them with their swords, in their way towards the hustings; and when they arrived there, they cut down the people that held the flags.
Q. Where was Mr. Hunt at this time?
A. He seemed to disappear all at once, as if he had been shot.
Q. How many flags were there?
A. Possibly fifteen or sixteen.
Q. Are you not aware that there were Hussars then near the hustings?
A. I am not; the first Hussar I saw was under the wall, ordering a young man to throw down a green flag: at this instant I heard the report of a pistol, and don't know what became of the young man or the Hussar.
Q. What then became of you?
A. I went to a private house in Front Princes-street, where I remained from half-past one to two o'clock.

The Witness examined by Mr. HARMER.

Q. Did you see any sticks in the hands of the men?
A. I did not see any.
Q. If the men had sticks of an uncommon size, must you have observed it?
A. I must.
Q. Was there the smallest disposition to riot or disturbance be¬fore the military came?
A. No, there was not; and I heard many persons say that they were sure there would be ho riot if they were let alone.
Q. Let alone by whom?
A. As I understood, by the Magistrates and soldiers.
Q. Were there many present who did not seem to have any connection with the Reformers?
A. There were, and I mixed with them.
Q. How long were the people assembling?
A. From eleven till half-past one.
Q. In what time were they dispersed?
A. In about five minutes.
Q. Where were you at the time of the dispersion?
A. As I was passing the Quakers' yard, a thought struck me that I should be safe there, and I climbed over the wall, where I had an opportunity of witnessing the proceedings. I saw women, with children in their arms: many lying on the ground, with others assisting. I did not choose to run any risk, as the carnage seemed to be indiscriminate.
Q. Then am I to understand, you supposed yourself in danger and made your escape, because you had observed the Yeomanry cutting indiscriminately at all within their reach?
A. Yes, it was; and as I considered myself as likely to be cut down as any other person, I thought it best not to stop and try the experiment.
Q. Did you, shortly after the 16th, examine the Quakers' burying-ground?
A. Yes, I did within three or four days after.
Q. Did you observe any thing particular as to the trees in the Chapel-yard?
A. Yes, I saw several of the branches had been cut off; and there were evidently sabre cuts on the trunks.
Q. Did you make any observation respecting the rails?
A. Yes, I saw marks of blood upon the rails, or, at least, something that had the appearance of coagulated blood.
The Coroner (to Mr. Harmer)—But you do not show that this was occasioned by the Cavalry?
Mr. Harmer—Not at present; but this witness, Sir, has proved that he saw the Yeomanry cutting at people in the Chapel-yard, and I intend to carry this proof still further, for I shall call witnesses who can prove, as I understand, not only that they saw persons wounded at this spot, but identify the Yeomen who inflicted the wounds.
Q. Did you return to the ground after the meeting was dispersed?
A. Yes, I did, and then saw blood lying about in different parts.
Q. Had you, while looking over the wall, seen any ones wounded?
A. Yes; several.
Q. What became of those persons?
A. The wounded people were taken away in a cart.

Re-examination of the Witness by the CORONER.

Q. How do you know the people were wounded? did you see their wounds?
A. No, I did not; but I saw blood in the cart.
Q. Do you mean to say that you saw the wounds of any one?
A. No, excepting one of the Yeomanry Cavalry, whom I saw carried on a shutter in Mosley-street.
Q. Where was he wounded?
A. I don't know, but I saw blood on his breast.
Q. At what time was this?
A. A little after two, as I think.
Q. Do you know how he got his wound?
A. No, I did not see how it happened, but I was told he was pursuing an old man, and—
The Coroner—Stop, you must not tell us any thing told you by others.—Who was the Cavalry man?
A. I don't know, but Mr. Close can tell, for be was carrying his arms.
Q. What interest had you in seeing the events of the meeting?
A. None whatever; I was merely induced by curiosity to go there to see the proceedings, in consequence of the meeting being postponed from the Monday preceding.
Q. Where were you, when you saw the stones flung?
A. I was in the Quakers' yard, and an officer of Cavalry was coming up to some people under the wall, and they threw bricks or stones at him, which caused him to retreat-
Q. Who was the officer?
A. I don't know who he was.
Q. Was this before you saw the soldiers in the yard of the Quakers' meeting?
A. Yes, it was.
Q. Where was the officer when the stones were thrown?
A. He was coming up to the people who were under the wall, with intention, as I thought, to attack them, and I supposed the stones were thrown merely in self defence.
Q. How many stones or bricks were thrown?
A. I imagine not more than three or four.
Q. What became of this officer?
A. On finding the people determined to resist him, although only with stones, he turned his horse and went away.
Q. Was he by himself, or in company with others?
A. He was alone.
Q. At what distance was he from the wall?
A. About thirty or forty yards.
The Coroner—Well, I have nothing more to ask you.
Mr. Harmer—I presume the Jury must be pretty well exhausted with the attention they have paid to the proceedings of this day, and after so many hours they must require refreshment. I cannot, therefore, expect you will proceed further to-night, as it is now past nine o'clock.
The Coroner—I think we must finish for to-night; the Jury, I dare say, have had enough of it.
A Juror (to the Coroner)—I hope you, Sir, have had enough of it. I am sure we have, in being kept so many hours without our meals.
The Coroner—Mr. Harmer, have you many more witnesses?
Mr. Harmer—Yes, at least sixty.
The Coroner—What, are your witnesses increasing?
Mr. Harmer—Indeed, they are; the accumulation of numbers is proportioned to the inquiries which are necessarily made while this inquest is proceeding; and, I am determined to bring forward every witness that can elucidate the transactions of the 16th of August; especially as I am now told, there is an intention to produce evidence of a contradictory description.
The Coroner—I think it would be as well to close your evidence here, unless you can produce something more specific.
Mr. Harmer—I shall not desist until the fullest evidence be given to satisfy the Jury that there was no ground or justification for the cruel attack made upon the people, on the 16th of August.
The Coroner—Mr. Buckley, you may withdraw. [Mr. Buckley arose, and was proceeding towards the door, when he turned suddenly round, and said, "I recognise here, one of the Yeomanry Cavalry," and pointed to a person then standing near the Coroner.]
Mr. Harmer—What is his name?
Mr. Buckley—I don't know his name.
Mr. Harmer—Did you see him among the Yeomanry on the 16th of August?
Mr. Buckley—Yes, I did. I observed him telling them off right and left, before the charge.
Mr. Harmer—I demand his name. I charge him with wilful murder.

[Here the Coroner and the persons sitting round his table, and also Mr. Cooke, an attorney, who was on the audience side of the Court, at a short distance from Mr. Harmer, and who was under¬stood to be attending on behalf of the Magistrates, ejaculated with apparent surprise, “Wilful Murder!"]

Mr. Harmer—Yes; wilful murder. I mean not to shrink from the expression; on the contrary, I assert, and confidently contend, that every man of that corps, who entered the crowd in the manner the witnesses have stated these Yeomanry did, is, in the eye of the law, guilty of murder.

[The Coroner and the other gentlemen at his table simultaneously said, “Take down his words," while each fulfilled the injunction of the rest.]

Mr. Harmer (to them all)—Yes! take down my words. I wish them to be taken down, and for that purpose will repeat them.

[Mr. Harmer began to repeat, when he was interrupted by Mr. Radley, an attorney, who was at the Coroner's table, and who arose, and addressing Mr. Harmer, said, “Speak slowly, if you would wish your words to be taken down." Mr. Cooke joined in the same request.]

[The Coroner was at this time writing, and Mr. Harmer apparently waiting till he was ready to attend to him, and take down his words, as he should repeal them.]

The Coroner (looking towards Mr. Harmer, after a short interval)—Have you any thing more to say?
Mr. Harmer—I must trouble you to read what you have already written, before I can answer that question.
The Coroner—Your clerks can tell you the words.
Mr. Harmer—I am addressing myself to you, Sir, as the Judge of this Court, by whose order my words are to be taken down. I wish you alone to take them; and trust implicitly to your honour and liberality to do me justice, and write them accurately. You have been writing something, as having been said by me. I wish to hear what is written, that I may have the opportunity of correcting or avowing it.
The Coroner—I have only taken notes for my own information; and your words are, perhaps, not correctly taken. You are surrounded by Gentlemen from London, who will take your words down, and I perceive you have four clerks of your own, who have, no doubt, taken your words more accurately.
Mr. Harmer.—You are mistaken, Sir, in supposing I have so many clerks; these gentlemen (pointing to several Reporters) are not connected with me; but, Sir, I wish that you, in preference to any other person, should take down what I say, because I have confidence that my expressions will not be distorted by you.
The Coroner—I decline taking more than I have already done.
Mr. Harmer—Will you be so good as read your notes?
The Coroner.—No, I shall not.
Mr. Harmer (addressing his Clerk)—Then I must beg you will take down, distinctly, what I mean to say, so that I may not be subject to misrepresentations, or have to rely on the accuracy of per¬sons who are strangers to me. I mean to say, that every member of the Yeomanry corps who entered the field, and joined in the attack on the people, on the 16th of the last month, without any cause or provocation, is guilty of wilful murder; and if the person now in the room, acted as one of them, I charge him with wilful murder, and crave his name.
The Coroner—No man is bound to criminate himself.
Mr. Harmer—Certainly not; but to give his name is surely not criminating himself. If he refuses to answer me, I call upon you to procure his name, and to detain him in custody upon the charge I have offered.
The Coroner (after a considerable pause)—Does any one know his name?
Mr. Harmer's Clerk*—I know his name: his name is William Gregson.
Mr. Harmer—Then, Mr. Coroner, I contend, that you have a right, upon the evidence already given, to issue your warrant and to commit him.
The Coroner—I do not feel myself justified in so doing. You complained that suggestions have been made to me, and you have, yourself, four clerks, who give you assistance and suggestions.
Mr. Harmer—You are mistaken, Sir; I have no persons to assist me but Mr. Denison and this gentleman, who writes the evidence for my use. The other gentlemen to whom you allude, sit at the table by mere accident. The Reporter for the Chronicle, Mr. Finnerty, I have no connection with; and this gentleman on my left hand, I have not the slightest knowledge of. I should be happy to be acquainted with him, but at this moment I do not even know his name. It is, therefore, unnecessary for me to add, that he has no concern whatever with me; and I deny that he has given me assistance; our conversations, to which you perhaps allude, have been confined to general observations on the passing occurrences.
The Coroner—I have seen him often giving you assistance and suggesting questions.
The Gentleman alluded to, Mr. Ross, the reporter of the Times, arose, and said, Mr. Coroner, I must most distinctly deny that I have any connection whatever with Mr. Harmer. I have not assisted him by suggestions or otherwise. I am not aware that I ever spoke to him, until I saw him here upon this occasion.
The Coroner—You have been frequently talking to him during the day?
Mr. Ross—Yes, I have; merely because I happened to sit beside him.
The Coroner—There is a gentleman (alluding to a gentleman on the left of Mr. Ross) on the other side. You have not been talking to him.
Mr. Ross—Yes, I have talked to him.
The Coroner—But not so much as to Mr. Harmer?
Mr. Ross—No, certainly not.
The Coroner—(to Mr. Ross)—I have not the honour of knowing your name; what is your name?
A Person—(at the Coroner's table)—His name is Tyas.
Mr. Ross—No, Sir; my name is Ross.
The Coroner—Where have you come from?
Mr. Ross—From London.
The Coroner—For what purpose?

* It may be right hero to explain, that the Gentleman who acted in this ca¬pacity was only engaged at Manchester for that purpose

Mr. Ross—To give an impartial account of these proceedings to a London newspaper.
The Coroner—What paper is it?
Mr. Ross—The Times.
Mr. Harmer—(to the Coroner)—I cannot, Sir, help remark¬ing that it appears to me strangely inconsistent that a Manchester Cavalry Yeoman should be sheltered from giving his name, and almost at the same instant, this gentleman should, without any reason or necessity, be compelled to declare, not only his name, but his object in being here.
The Coroner—It was not to impeach him that I asked his name.

Mr. BUCKLEY re-examined by the CORONER.

Q. Were you here on Saturday?
A. Yes, I was.
Q. Were you in this room?
A. I was, until the order was given to exclude witnesses; but I did not enter the room since, until I was called to give evidence.
Q. You knew that Gregson was a witness sent for by Mr. Harmer?
A. Yes.
Q. How came you to challenge Mr. Gregson for being in the room, knowing that Mr. Harmer summoned him to attend as his witness?
A. I knew there was a witness named Gregson to be called by Mr. Harmer, but I did not know this was the man.
Q. How came you to know that a witness of that name was to be called?
A. I don't recollect—(after a pause)—I now remember, I saw the name in a list on the table of Mr. Harmer's room, at the Al¬bion Hotel.
Q. Then you have seen a list of Mr. Harmer's witnesses?
Mr. Harmer—No witness, Sir, is mine; they are all wit¬nesses for the public; I have, as it was my duty, inquired, and discovered many who could give evidence respecting the transac¬tions of the 16th of August; I put in their names to you that they may be called. But there are many with whom I have had no communication, as was the case with this man; and I did not know he was present, much less did I expect that any witness summoned by me should be allowed to come into your side of the room, and be standing just at your elbow.
The Coroner.—You should take care of your own witnesses; I am not to take charge of them; you have said, you receive no assistance from any one, when I have myself seen you receive many notes.
Mr. Harmer—Not one, except from my friend Mr. Denison.
The Coroner—Mr. Denison, then, received them from others, and you got the information just the same.
Mr. Denison—I did not; all of them were written by myself.
The Coroner—But you have had verbal communications.
Mr. Denison—No communication has been made to me, except¬ing what I collected myself below stairs.
Mr. Harmer—I beg leave to say, that I consider it no crime to have received information from any one, and if it had been the fact, I should not have hesitated to acknowledge it Even you, Sir, have received notes and suggestions from others.
The Coroner—I have only had the names of witnesses handed to me.
Mr. Harmer—I beg your pardon; I saw you receive notes from this gentleman on my left, who is attending on behalf of the Magistrates*, and you immediately put a question, as if it had contained some suggestion,
The Coroner—Well, we must adjourn.
Mr. Harmer—I will thank you, Sir, to have James Richardson called on his summons.
The Coroner—You are aware that we can proceed no further to-night?
Mr. Harmer—Yes, Sir; but I wish to have him called, merely to see if he is in attendance, as Mr. Denison has been informed he intended to resist your summons; my object is, if he be not in attendance, to apply to you for a peremptory summons for him; as also for one William Whalmby, who asserts that he will not attend.
The Coroner—Let James Richardson be called.

[The witness was called but did not answer.]

Mr. Harmer—I wish Mr. Denison to be sworn. [Mr. Denison was sworn accordingly.]
Mr. Denison—I served a summons on James Richardson, requiring his attendance here, and I have been told by his wife that he could not come. I also served William Whalmby, and he told me he would not attend.

ADJOURNED TILL WEDNESDAY, THE 29TH INSTANT, AT NINE O'CLOCK.

• Alluding to Mr. Cooke, the attorney.

[535-6]. Mr. WILLIAM NORRIS BUCKLEY was here called in, and was again sworn by the CORONER; examined by Mr. HARMER.

Q. Have you at any time, Sir, since your first examination, had any conversation with any member of the Manchester Yeomanry, relative to the firing of a pistol?
A. Yes.

Mr. Barrow—Before this witness is examined, I hope, Mr. Coroner, that you will first enquire whether he has been in the room during the examination of any of the other witnesses.
The Coroner (To the Witness)—Have you been in court since your first examination?
A. I have attended the proceedings of this Inquest ever since the commencement of the business, when I had time.
Mr. Barrow—Then, Mr. Coroner, I object to this witness being examined, because it is a complete contradiction to your rule.
The Coroner (to the Witness)—Certainly you cannot be examined, after you have been in the room; because, I made an order to that effect before.
Mr. Buckley—Before I quit the court, Sir, I trust I may be allowed to bring to your notice, a publication which has appeared in the Courier Newspaper, and in which I have been most villainously traduced by some anonymous writer in that paper.
The Coroner—I cannot hear it.
Mr. Buckley—I trust, Sir, that as my character has been attacked, with respect to the evidence I gave before your Court, that you will allow me here, in the face of your court, to rebut the foul calumnies that have been aspersed against my character.
The Coroner—I really cannot; and I will tell you why: You are not the only person that is traduced and slandered by the public papers. Evil speaking, lying, and slandering, are the order of the day; and I do not mean to confine that observation to one paper. I heard yesterday, that I was traduced, and that my conduct was widely belied: and I fancy, various people are, beside myself:—but we cannot have the proceedings of this court interrupted by refuting such calumnies here. I would not do it, with respect to myself, and I cannot suffer it, with respect to any other gentleman.
Mr. Buckley—I only wish, Sir, to point out to you the flagitious slander that has been published in this paper (holding up a Courier) with respect to me.
The Coroner—I really cannot. I have done all that was in my power to prevent these things, which are most infamous. I re¬strained the papers, as much as I could, from publishing the proceedings of this Inquest, until after the final result of any proceedings that might result out of it. I made an order, that none of the proceedings should be published in any paper, until this investigation should be closed: My order also extended to this, that if any trial arose out of this Inquest, the proceedings were not to be published until after that trial, because it would be illegal, and contrary to a decided case.* I wish I could manage the control [sic] of the papers; but some of them have infringed my order, contrary to. law, and they may depend I will see that the law is enforced.

* Rex v. Fleet. 1 Barn, and Ald. Repts. 379.

Mr. Barrow—It is very improper on both sides.
Mr. Buckley—I trust, Sir, that you will allow me here to state openly, a full refutation of the aspersions of my character, which appeared in the Courier of the 7th October.
The Coroner—I had rather not. If we enter into inquiries of this sort, we shall never have done.
Mr. Buckley—Then I take leave here openly, to state, that the man who is the author of this unfounded attack on my character, is a malicious liar and an infamous scoundrel.
The Coroner – I think the Editor of the Times newspaper is the same; and I told him so yesterday.*
Mr. Buckley—The infamous tissue of slander to which I allude, is in a letter, signed "Licinius."

[Here a burst of hisses and indignation at the lower end of the room disturbed the proceedings.]

The Coroner—Turn these people out.

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