William Whittaker Eyewitness Account

• Place: Oldham
• Role:
• Occupation: Spinner

Account

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Name: William Whittaker

Occupation: Spinner

Home: Oldham

Date: 27 September 1819

Source: Lees Inquest 72  73

Summary: Local associate of John Lees who observed his condition before and immediately after attending St.Peter’s field.

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WILLIAM WHITTAKER called in, sworn, and examined by the CORONER.

Q. What are you?
A. l am a cotton-spinner.
Q. Where do you live?
A. At Oldham.
Q. Did you see John Lees after the 16th?
A. Yes, several times.
Q. When did you see him?
A. I saw him on Wednesday afternoon, by his father's factory door.
Q. Did you know he had been hurt?
A. Yes.
Q. How did he appear?
A. I saw nothing irregular about him.
Q. How did you know he had been hurt?
A. I had only heard it.
Q. Were you in company with him?
A. No; I only saw him standing as I passed.
Q. Did you afterwards see him at any public-house?
A. Yes; on Sunday night, the 22d of August, I saw him at the sign of the Cock, in Middleton, between 9 and 10 o'clock.
Q. Was he alone, or in company?
A. He was in company with three men and two women.

Q. What was he drinking?
A. I don’t know; I and my brother-in-law had a pint of beer only, and stopped about twenty minutes.
Q. Did he appear to be drunk?
A. No, he did not.
Q. Did he look as well as he used to do before he was hurt?
A. Yes; I observed nothing the matter with him.
Q. Had he his coat on regularly, as usual?
A. Yes.
Q. Had he his arm in a sling?
A. No.
Q. Did he make any complaints that night, or say he was hurt?
A. No.
Q. Did you see him afterwards?
A. No, I can't say I did.
Q. Did he drink as usual while you were there?
A. He drank once while I was in.

The Witness examined by Mr. HARMER.

Q. Then he was not intoxicated when you saw him at Middleton?
A. No.
Q. And you only saw him drink once in the twenty minutes you were in his company?
A. No.
Q. Can you tell us whether he lifted the beer to his mouth with his right hand or his left?
A. No.
Q. He appeared quite as well and as hearty as ever, when you saw him at the factory door, and also at Middleton?
A. I did not see much difference.
Q. Then, perhaps, you doubt whether he was hurt at all, or is even now dead?

[The Witness gave no answer, and was ordered to withdraws.]

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