Star. — London, England, 1819-09-29 00:00:00

1 • • tiA ! , •,. , f. k . tip '''' p ADJOURNED INQUEST AT OLDHAM. OLDHAM, MONDAY, SEPT. 27. INQUIST ON JOHN LEES—(Evidence continued.) The Coroner took his seat at nine o'clock, and the Jury having answered to their names, the evidence we restuned. Martha Kearsley.—l am a single woman at Old- i ham. I was at Manchester on the 16th of August: I went there ; I saw two soldiets offer to strike at a man, and as he was keeping them off, another came behind and struck him over the shoulder. This was near the hustings. I was sitting on the edge of Mr., Hunt's carriage. There were others within the car riage. I cant say the time of the day, or how long I was there. I did not know John Lees. I have lived eleven years in Oldham. I could e in ten minutes from where I live to the house in which John Lees lived. I was behind the carriage, and he was before me.—(The Coroner here remarked, .that the witness, from her appearance, might be expected to give better evidence.) —I knew neither the soldiers nor the man. I can't say particularly what colour of clothes the soldiers had on. They were on horse back, and I saw they were soldiers. He had not been many minutes engaged with the two soldiers, when the other came: he had been preventing their blows. The third soldier came and struck ; I did not hear him say any thing. There were men on all sides : I am certain he struck him over the shoulder with a sword, intending to cut him. I was struck with horror, turned round, and saw no more of it: I saw many cut afterwards. Here a note was handed in to a Juror from a James Mills.] Mr. HARMER objected, and insisted no communi cation should be made to the Jury, but to the Coroner. The note was an application to be called as a wit ness. The Coroner said that no step hut what was regular should be taken, whatever might be the con sequence. After some explanation from M. Con stable, It was inquired, who handed the.note to the ' Foreman? It was a Constable who had handed it in ; he was told to do so nu more, but to hand any communication to the Co:oner. Lti itness proceeded.—l got into the carriage till a Constable came and opened the door to me, and I escaped by the way the soldiers had tome. The sol diers were then after the people. I met with no im• pediment on the ground. I only met one gentleman on horseback ; he was in black clothes. I left the soldiers all behind me. CORONER—Doesnomas - street lead to High-street? Witness—lt leads many ways. 1 can't say whe ther it leads to the High-street. Conossa—You have more sense than you choose to ha out. I won't be thus dealt with. Have you been five hundred, or one hundred, or twenty times in Manchester' Witness—l can't say how often. I was often car ried there when a child. _ _ CORONER—Do you know the Bridgewater Arms ? Witness—l have seen it many times ; but I don't know where it lies. _ CORONER—Have you been so often in Manches ter, and don't you know that? Witness—l know the sttcets. CORONEIt—I thought you knew more than you choose to tell. Witness—But I don't know how they lie. I saw the man struck once ; I did not see the man nor the soldier more. I saw Mr. Hunt come from the car riage to the hustings. I stood on the ground near the hustings then : I can't say particularly- how far I was from the hustings. CORONER—You can't say particularly, that is your answer ?—Wi tness—Ye s. Mr. HARMER—I beg pardon, but really Mr. Co roner you examine this wituess in a very different manner from Dr. Cor. CORONER—I think lam as mild in examining her as I was in examining Dr. Cox. Mr. llAnNiuft—The usual course is to ask a wit nets what had come under his observation ; that was your course with Dr. Cox. This witness you cross-examine. Coaossk—l believe I have seen as many Inquests as Mr. Harmer, and I conducted them as well as this can be conducted. Mr. lI.&RMER—I have no doubt of that, but I *ought you put the questions to tic witness so as to confound and petplex. CORONER.-I am surprised that the witness does net answer otherwise. She gives answer, when I ask the distance, that she did not measure it. Mr. l-fartxtrn—l think, if I examined her, she would give a satisfactory answer. • ConoNen--I thought she had beets examined before. She knew what party she came to give evidence for. Mr. HA RMER—I did not examine her. I did not even know her name till this morning. I know of eo party witnesses.--CoeoNza-.-I am for no party. Mr. HARMER—Gen forbid yon should. CORONER (turning to witness) --Your method of answering questions, your refusal to answer, occa sioned all this.--Witness-4 beg pardon, if I have offended. I meint to speak the truth. I have spoken the truth as far as I can. Mr. HA nmEß—Yes ; but you must speak the whole truth. pt is but mere justice to say, that this witness is a very modest and interesting young woman in her appearance, and that her manner was extremely cau tious and timid, except when she seemed to feel the question as reflecting upon her veracity.] Witness.—l knew the man that opened the door as being a constable, by having a truncheon. I saw sone that I knew of who was a Magistrate or Jus tice of the Peace, unless the min on horseback was. I don't know Nadin. I nevetrtook any notice what became of Mr. Hunt after he left the hustings. The ,;arriate was not more than a yard or a yard and a -half from the hustings. I saw Mr. Hunt on the hustings, not a quarter of an hour, as near as I can ,guess. I took no notice after I saw the people begin —the soldiers come among the people, and the peo ple begin to go off. I did not see this man offer any violence to the soldiers, only preventing the blows. I slid not see him strike or throw any thing : I can't particularly say what he had in his hand; he had nothing that I saw. I saw none of the soldiers off their horses. I was half as hour or twenty minutes on the ground. I never heard any Riot Act read, crud never saw my thing of it. I did not see an. MIA till the soldiers came, (What occasioned any tumult ?) The soldiers coming and cutting and slash ing among the people. The man in question was the first man cut that I took any particular notice of ; but I saw them cut as they came up to the car riage. The people g ave way. They came before me. I cannot particula rl y say the number of sol diers. I cannot give any idea ; if I could I would. I heard cheers before the soldiers came. Certainly, the noise was very loud. They cheered before the soldiers came up to me, and after. It was when the soldiers were in sight. I could not read two chap ters in the Bible before. they came up, after they came in u I saw them at one side of the crowd shaking their swords : I can't be more particular ; they were on one side. They were very near to the people. There was a deal of noise, I can't say par titularly who shouted. To the b est of my know ledge I thought the soldiers came to the hustings two and two. I can't say particularly whether they can tered or galloped. I did not take particular notice what colour of clothes the soldiers were dressed in. Mr. HARMER rose to put some questions to this witness as to former witnesses, whet The Cononsa said, I must now proceed regularly, Mr. Harmer. I allowed you hitherto to put ques- tions, because I wished for the fullest investigation. You have found fault with me. I must therefore proceed legally. Can you give me an .instance in which you cross-examined at an Inquest? Mr. HARMER.—I never knew a case in which it was necessary. I have myself suggested to Mr. Shel ton, a Gentleman of the-first respectability, questions which he always asked. .1 wished to do no more in this case.. You called upon me to ask any questions, and therefore I did it. CORONER.—You asked this witness a question. Mr. HARDIER.—MereIy an explanation. Do you call that examination ? Mit do you object to my ex amining the witnesses? Cortotseit.—No; but you found fault with my ex amination. Mr. Ilansten.—You did not get a ready answer from the witness, and your temper was, perhaps, ruffled. You said your patience was exhausted. CORONER.—I shall allow you, who are for the de ceased, to examine, be it regular or irregular. If there were none of you, I would have extracted the whole truth. If the witnesses were allowed to tell a partial story, I must get the whole. You extracted in some cases that the people were peaceable. If the testimony varies, I must re-examine. Mr. HARNtea.—l hope I have given no offence, Collor/EL—I think you spoke too much when you reminded me that 'Dr. Cox had not been so examined. Mr. HARMER.—.-Dr. Cox whispered, and I did not hear him as you did. But to me, his evidence soemed mole liable to the kind of examination applied in the last instance than the young woman's. I am not ' surprised that you were offended with her answers, I am sorry that she did not answer more satisfac torily, but the questions confused her. CORONER.-.—l gave her time enough ; but I saw an unwillingness to answer. Could not she have told me whether she had been 200 or 500 times in Manchester? Mr. DENlSCN.—Numbers are of all things most apt to confuse a witness. Mr. HARMER.—She had been often carried there when an infant, and therefore sale could not speak to numbers. CORONER.-4 only asked as to her knowledge. Examination continued.—l was there when Mr. Hunt came, and there were cheers. There were cheers the sante way when the soldiers appeared. The people got away as fast as they could, but it was not possible; the soldiers did not give them time to get away. A great many persons crowded to the hust ings; the soldiers used their swords to cut those per sons. lam not certain whether they wounded any person. I saw this person struck. I turned my head away, shockel to see the consequences. I could go away freely, because the people had run away. The coat he had on was the same, to the best of my know ledge, as that coat now produced-by Robert :Weald. By the CORONER.—I told that night, and repeat edly afterward during the week, of this man that I took most notice of, without any expectation of this. Don't you call blue a dark colour? I call corbeau or dark brown, a dark colour. That is the answer you give to my question ? Robert Neald.—That is the same coat I produced on Saturday last. It has been in my custody ever since. Robert Cooper.—l am a hatter in Oldham. I was with John Lees on Tuesday night after he had re. ceived his wound.. He said he was very ill cut. It was opposite the Spread Eagle, in Oldham, about, nine o'clock. He said he could not work any. 1 did not see his wound. His elbow appeared to be wounded. The CORONER turned towards Mr. Harmer, and said, that what the deceased said to witness was not evidence. Mr. HARMER. —Certailllr not. He is not pro duced by me. CORONER..—What did you see?—Witness—Noth ing ; only he told me he was upon the hustings—. CORONER.-.—That is evidence. Mr. HARMER submitted it was not. CORONER.-I think it is as against himself. Mr. HARMER.—We are not trying him. It is not a question of Felo d.e Pe. CORONER.It is evidence against him. Mr. HARMER.—Very well. I object to it. Witness proceeded.—He said the soldiers came up cutting and slashing ; he was on the hustings, and was defending himself; one of the soldiers fell off his horse, and one of the 15th Hussars came and cut his elbow. No person was present when he told this to me. He had on a brovmly coloured coat. By Mr. Haamta.—He said it was the Yeomanry Cavalry that were cutting and slashing, and against whom he put up his stick to defend himself. I first communicated this, I think, to the men of the shop where I work, on Tuesday morning. On Wednesday morning I did not mention particulars. I first men tioned particulars to Mr. Miller, the Constable. It was this morning. Mr. Miller called me across the road, and asked - me what John Lees said to me ? The deceased said he was off the hustings when be received his wound. He said he had leaped off to get away, and then the 15th Hussars cut him. I have not been told that it was itnportant to say that it was the 15th Hussars. I do not know the law that all concerned in an illegal act are answerable. Mr. Miller, the Coustable i. explainecl bow be came to call this witless nclw : his name tits given in on Saturday, but he had been at Liverpool. Mr. Jackson, the foreman.—His master wished him to be now examined, that they might not be both from home. • By the CORONER.—He did n ot sa y that he struck lay of the soldiers. He said the soldier fell in the ltruggle. I never mentioned that it was a 15th Hus sar till this morning. Jonah Andrew.--1 am a cotton-spinner at Leeds. I was at Manchester at the time, on the field. I mean St. Peter's-field, the place where the deed was done. I was with him when the soldiers came. Kg departed from me about ten yards. Immediately after I saw the soldiers surround him, and saw a Yeomanry Ca valry-man cutting at him with great vengeance. I saw him receive a wound on the arm, from which the blood immediately gushed. He fled towards the hustings, and ran under them. The Constables got around him, and beat him with their truncheons se verely. One of them got hold of the staff of a ban stet', that had been cut with a sword, and said, M D—n your b--y eyes, I'll break your back." I Whey struck at him for a considerable time with truncheons and the staff of the banner. I went away, and saw him no more till about two or three o'clock when he said, gt I have been dangerously hurt, An drew, which has affected my body very much. I must retire home,. for I am getting very sick and very poorly, which I think will be the occasion of My death." There were so many, I can't pretend to judge how many, went to the field with me. I was with John Lees on the field before Mr. Hunt arsived, to the best of my knowledge, about an hour. We were together just beside the hustings while they were erecting. We got on the hustings to see the people. I assisted to put them up. John Lees was on the Planks. I was not upon them when Mr. Bunt was speaking. I went off a little before Mr. Hunt got on the hustings. John Lees and I were together after we came off. The Cavalry had nut then come up. , When they came, I was about three or four yards from him. I first saw the Yeomanry Cavalry at St. Peter's Chapel. It might be a hundred yards from the hustings. It was about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour after that they came up. I saw them set ling off; I think it was a trot as fast as they could go; the Constables were making way for them. I saw them striking at they came along. I saw one struck at when they were about 20 yards from me. I think they came up two abreast. They squandered to right and left before they came up to me, about seven yards from me. They began to cut and hack at the people like butchers. I heard them say nothing. They got all round me. I heard nothing then.' I did not hear the soldiers say any thing to John Lees. There were soldiers all round the hustings when he was cut. I did not see him get off the hustings. I think the Yeomanry were at him ten or fifteen yards from the hustings. I cannot swear that he was not cut on the hustings; but I swear that no soldiers had come up when I saw. him off the hustings, after he had been on. The soldiers came about ten or fifteen minutes after Mr. Hunt came on the hustings, but I ca the n;tot ha sa d y bi to ue a c m lo in th n e te s . w Th ith e th other soldiers then ; the Hussars had blue clothes on , wfihrstitewfereaciTges; Yeomanry ;s aw no and their facings yellow; I saw them a little after, perhaps fifteen minutes after I had seen the others. The first Hussar I saw was about thirty yards from hustings. Mr. Hunt was off 'the stage at that time; I did not see him taken off; it might be an hour, or betwixt that and two hours, that I saw John Lees ; I did not know or hear any thing of Mr. Hunt being taken into custody till about fifteen minutes r he after the field was cleared; I was then at Shude-hill Pits, opposite the Infirmary; the Cavalry were coming that way then ; they were not at a gallop ; I did not run off the field; when I left, there were none bet soldiers ; it was the Yeomanry I saw at the In firmary ; I had last before seen Yeomanry on Saint Peter's-field ; I saw Police Officers, what are called Nadin's Runners, at the hustings, and Special Con stables ; they were iu a line from the hustings to wards Saint Peter's Chapel. Abraham Taylor warned me to come here, but nobody told me what to say. I was a soldier in the 91st. I was discharged in Mai' I last. I am a native of Leeds. I told this to many Ipeople on the road, as I was going home. I dont know Nadin. I saw no Constables attempting to take 11VIr. Hunt off. I can't tell the names of those who struck John Lees with truncheons. I never saw them, to my knowledge, before or since. I can't tell their dress. I saw about seven ; six had truncheons, aril one a piece of a staff of a banner. It was about the thickness of a man's wrist. I saw about four feet out of his hand.—How much was the rest ?—I cannot tell, for I did not see it.—Did you see him strike with it ? Yes.—And yet you can't tell the lengtit ? —I tell what I thought the length of the part I saw. He struck often. lam sure I saw him strike twice. I was ten yards off.—What do you call a consider able time ?—Three or four minutes. The soldiers were about fouf yards from John Lees then. The hustings were two carts. I can't tell the height. I can't tell the thickness of the planks that were upon the carts. CORON i R—TheJury will form their opinion of tat. Witness.—l know that the staff had been cut with, a sword, for I saw it cut by a Yeoman, and saw a man pick it up about a minute after. The staff was green. I saw nothing in John Lees's hand after he came off the hustings. The soldiers were galloping about the stage, and cutting every one that fell in their way. I cannot testify to any other man I saw cut. I was not hart. I had a staff. I came from Leeds to see the crowd, and hear what was to be said. I was not the leader. I know no leader. I gave no Lsudirections. I told some of them to keep their tongues let.. I can't tell the number that came along with me. I never was examined before till'l came to the room now, or asked any questions concerning this. I was in the house on Saturday, but not in this room. Abraham Taylor told me to come. He is a yell knitter. I heard of no Riot Act having been read, or notice given to disperse-till the soldiers came. All the notice I saw was driving people off with the edge of the sword. I saw no Magistrates or Peace Officers coming towards the stage with the soldiers, or any per sons acting as such, that I know of. I saw no person do any thing to the soldiers before they cut. I saw no stone thrown, nor pistol fired, nor heard any. All were peaceable and quiet till the soldiers cut and dis persed them. There was no noise, only cheering. The cheering was from the multitude. -I cheered when I raw Dir. Hunt, I mud % sei iThat others cheeped foe. I saw a man and woman lying bleeding o n ti t after John Lees was cut. I saw plenty m om. r 1 I call one, nor half-a•dozen, plenty. ckt By a Juror.-4 saw him lying on the gr":,/ . By Mr. HARMER—I went with a g re y • They were all quiet and peaceable. I h a d tion to commit riot or disturbance. All with me appeared to hare the same eii ttl i‘ During the hour before Mr. Hunt arrin.•!, very peaceable and quiet: the deceased, f.,,, t Z I saw, conducted himself peace:ll:Ay Every thing had been peaceable and order:vo - b soldiers came. I can't say whether the po r r els l beat with the truncheons came with the se4 e ,,, saw some with truncheons before the solein s '' I took no notice of the house in which t: l e trates were: I saw a young %roman in !I:. . 1 14 1 : carriage after he was gone: it was nigh vh tek deceased was woundej. Every one sough to . away, and never made any resistance: I sr.; pearance of arms whatever ; I had only a stick.—You have been in: pint d v: Ith leo his fate; why did you leave him ? Why, to myself. I considered my life in dimgen j,!4, think I should have escaped tinwminded. the soldiers cleared round the hustings, t h e was very greit. They could not I:ave t.:k thing up off the ground, or have wielded with their sticks to strike or thrcv,.. 'll ; , .. mt i Erlat ' appeared very good-humoured and friendly t o 0 . 2 another. The multitude gave thrr..e 11111Z1, tl 4 the soldiers came, the same as to Mr. ' were lads and women. T!ley men. Some of the females were very ckcerah• heard not a word mentioned to excite the disturb the peace. By the CORONER—After the soldiers cam; I ca l ray whether tho•.e next them could use their ar a , I can't say against my own conscience. I cat us who was in Mr. I lunt's carriage: I took •ithtice4 one woman. I can't say whether there were in n saw a woman in the carriage coming M r . Hunt. I saw a woman in the caninge aftervi:4, I can't tell if it was the same woman.— You trek particular no:ice •of one "oman in the carri-ce? Yes.—Yet you cannot tell wht titer it was the sza woman? No, I cannot.—That Mait both i•ourcrs dit ; was she young or old? I cannot tell; I :et the truth, ani I cannot tell whether she Itasyrurp old, because 1 took no notice of that. James, Mills.—.! am a wood-turner iri 01:Thain„ I sent that note in because Mr. Jonah Miller re in:ea take my name as a witness on Saturday. . Mr, Millcr explained, that he had said Be wltli take care he should be called, but relliSid to . aLit • , him to see hlr name put down. •.• Witness—The first time. I saw it4llllkir.if the hustings. I afierward , . saw men strikinglti:n the back, with •staves and truncheons,-as making his escape. I knew him' 'well. VT.,' ea near neighbours. I spoke to him, holdin'n•Vtel::l , tings by my hand. 1 saw hint run thrsig% and constables. The soldiers fornitil a tire.i'i.:Tr - 1 the hustings. They struck me: my ribs %I'm: a beaten that I was sick for a fortnight. flip doirs; . and they were jobbing at me with truncheots,...ll - c. I got under the hustings: here is a etitiniti,';:. (witness exhibited it.) I don't know wheal:in it;_ra r a sword or a truncheon. My neckcloth was cut a sword: I saw several cut on the &round, not-o:: !hustings. I could.distinguish that they were stables, because they were not Reformers, for the R. formers had no such sticks. ran under the czt when I saw the soldiers coming, for fear they wolii hurt us. I heard no notice given. It was the Yee. manry Cavalry that came first. I only heard the soldiers cursing and swearing at the people. Iwn sure John Lees must have been hurt, for they stud •at him with such vengeance. I saw none insult ;:x soldiers, lift a haled against them, or throw 'thing at their. I had a stick, which I had used .1 'part of a fishing-rod. I saw only kicks with °thy'. but I saw none strike with them, or lift them any one. Some of them might be as thick as child's wrist. All I saw were very anxious to gs away, but could not, till the soldiers made inroadsos the other side. I did not see the soldiers cut till they came near the hustings, Those in their way coil not get away for the press of the people, By Mr. HARMER—I was upon the hustings, had good opportunity of seeing the people. They were as orderly as I ever saw in my lice. I heard ra words exciting to riot or disturbance. I hardy. notice given to disperse. 1 can't tell what prt tit soldiers came from. I believe they cdme by the y':l of St. Peter's Church. The first sight I saw To their coming up to the hustings. Those who I described, were the first that she wed. By the CORONER—When the soldiers came 174 1 comstables jobbed at my side, and damned mete come out. The only notice I heard was cuniris the people.—( To be continua.) White Hats !—A. youth, who had not, it secinc, spe his money upon either beer or spirits, had saved it, ar. l lately bought with it a drab hat. He did not knair, tot think there was treason in the hat, till on the 16 th :0 : staiit, he mide his appearance at the Sunday SCE - s in Hulme, over which, P—L —T, cotton spinner, met despotic ; when this great man seized the hat, ari espied in the lining of it words to this effect : " All you who wish to be free (perhaps from dm:ler-IW)• " Abstain from Spirits, Beer, and Tea;" which, of course, he thought were seditious ; be , tbel v fore, in his. ire, tore out the offensive lining, and ad! , wise abused the hat, and ordered the owner of it!. leave the school immectiately, saying, " t school should be loyal as long as he had any thin; 45 do with it !" DIED. spa=l6, at Edinburgh, Dr. Patrick Lindsay, of Hospitals. 'Sept. 19, at Edinburgh, Dr. Wm. Wright, F.R.S.L. lista Physician to tie Forces. .• Sept. 13, at Edinburgh, Capt. Arch. Mercer Macvstac , the 224 Regiment. of Foot. August 30, Colonel Galbraith Hamilton, of the 3lalms Ivor blishment. • In Drogheda, in his 20th year, of a decline, Willian NR.N. second son of Captain T. Martin, late 13th Dragcce ovember 5, at Seharunpore, David liastie, 31. D. o n Co Bengal Establishment, formerly of. Edinburgh. He fell a vic•-a . Hut P b te eso in ntw l r 6 i: to a malignant fever, which has carried off great numbers Ltil the last two •seasdne. Sept. 17, at Haddington, Mr. John Welsh, aur-con. 17 - kit9ltlP 0 , ...to. - Air..,Alczandtr Baird,. late tcar*-71 ~~1yo:! 7.: :. • r2dc, Teng►t-.lMi - ~:. • . N