The Sun.
London, England, 1822-04-09 00:00:00

present at the conversation—three or four. They did not all
hear this. Ido not know what became of those other persons
James Murray examined by Mr. Sergeant HITLLocw.—I
reside in Withy-grove, in Manchester. I remember going to
Whitemoss on the 15th of August, 1819. I set out'about one
o'clock in the morning. I was accompanied by John Shaw-
cross. Whitemoss is about 5 miles from Manchester. I got
there about 3 o'clock. Before I arrived, I heard a shouting.—
I heard it nearly all the way when on the road: I saw some of
the persons from whom the shouts proceeded. When I got
there, I saw a number of persons together. It was then about
break of day. They might be from 6to 800. We were direct-
ed to the spot by the shouts. The people were collected on the
moss. I went close to them. Shawcross was with me. They
were divided into different bodies ; but from their immediate
vicinity they appeared to make one body. They were employ-
ed in drilling. I heard them say " Wheel," March,"
‘‘. Stand at ease," and all the words used on a drill ground.—
They were exactly like troops. They continued in separate
divisions after I arrived. When I had been there a few minutes,
the squads began to halt, and shout " Spies." I then began
to retreat. The words " spies" and " constables" were uttered
by several persons. Nearly a hundred moved towards me,
when walking away ; Shawcross being between us. This party
pursued me, part of them running, and part walking. I heard
several voices from the main body cry Kill him," " Murder
him," " D—n him, murder him." I was overtaken by about
30 or 50. They began to throw stones and clods, and surround
me. They felt a little thnid to come forward at first. Some
were armed with sticks. The clods and stones struck me.—
When they surrounded me, those who had sticks used their
sticks to strike me—those that had none -kicked me with their
feet, and struck me with their fists. They struck me all over.
They brought me to the ground by their blows. I made as
great an outcry as I could. When this was going on, I heard
one say, " Must we kill him out and out, or put him in the pit,
or let him go ?" There was a pit there. One man said, " I
think he has had enough ; if he has more he will tile." This
was my own opinion long before. I lost my recollection for a
few minutes in consequence of the blows. They then ceased to
strike me. They enforced conditions before I went away.—
They gathered together : one stepped out from among the body,
and said " Will you down on -your knees and swear never to
be a King's man again, nor own the name of a King, nor con-
stable ?" I consented, to save my life. They then formed all
round me with their sticks.
Yours was " Liberty or Death ?"—I believe it was.
Witness continued—When they formed a circle, one came
foriard and administered the words I have sworn to. He said
" Kneel down." I did so. He then said, " You swear never
to be a King's man again, nor own the name of a King." Dur-
ing this time I was upon my knees. After this 1 got up, and
two of them struck me ; they left me, and I went to Middleton.
I was nearly worn out, and had great difficulty to get to Mid-
dleton. I sent to Manchester for a chaise, as I could not walk
home. I was bruised all over. I was all black with blows. I
was obliged to go to bed when I got home. I was confined to
my bed. On Monday, when in bed, I heard the sound of a
bugle and drums hearing. I was then assisted out of bed. I
was carried to the window to enable me to look out. There was
a column of people passing, eight or ten abreast. One man
cried " Halt," on which the bugle sounded, and they all halt-
ed. I saw the column pass. When they halted, they had some
conversation. They then sounded " March," and as they pass-
ed my house, they hissed and pointed to it. This column, I
should think, must have consisted of from 8,000 to 10,000 peo-
ple, as they occupied 20 minutes in passing, and were eight or
ten deep. This was between 11 and 12 o'clock. They had
banners, one at the head of every division. They marched well.
I have seen a regiment march worse. Many of them had sticks.
That was not the only column that I saw march. About an
hour afterwards I heard music, and was again carried to the
window. The whole street was then crowed. A band of
music preceded an open carriage. A great mob preceded the
music. Mr. Hunt was one of those in the carriage. Johnston
another. 1 did not know the lady. She was dressed in white,
with a banner in her hand. She sat on the dickey. They
pointed to my house as soon as they came in sight. Hunt and.
Johnson looked up at my windows, and the mob passed, hoot-
ed, and groaned tremendously. This hissing pervaded the
whole line. After they had hissed and hooted, and pointed to-
wards my house, they looked towards Hunt, and shouted and
cheered him, and again hissed as before. I thought this an in-
dication that they considered Hunt as their deliverer. Hunt
did not seem to have much command over the mob, or to give
any directions. It was a mere mob, and was sooner past than
the first procession which preceded it an hour. In going from
Smedley-cottage to St. Peter's-field, my_ house is not in the
direct way. It is six or seven hundred yards about ; nor is
it so convenient a road as the other, the streets not being half
so broad. I went to bed again after I saw these people pass.
Cross-examined by. Mr. EVANS—I am a confectioner by
trade, and have likewise become a farmer. lam well acquaint-
ed with the police officers at Manchester ; I went out to White
'Moss on account of the alarming state in which I conceived
the country to be.
Will you swear that the shout of the people directed you to
White Moss ?—I will swear that I was directed by them.
Did you ask the road of any body ?—Yes, once ; and only
once.
Were any persons with you ?—Yes ; Shawcross, Keymer,
and another.
Did you communicate your intention of going to any body ?
—Yes ; to Keymer, Shawcross, and Keytner's son. Curiosity
and anothei object carried me there ; drilling, pikes, and such
things, and a civil war was talked of, and I believed very soon.
I was very unhappy for several weeks before this day, and I'll
give you a clear answer, if I can. The accounts being very ter-
rifying, I went there to see if the accounts were likely to be
true. I went there because of my fear of a very serious disturb-
ance. My object was not to give information. I got nothing,
except my being almost murdered. I received no wages nor
emolument ; but there was a subscription made at Manchester,
to be given to the people who were unfortunately hurt, and I
got a compensation for two doctors. The moment I heard
"spies" and "constables" called out at White Moss, I endea-
voured to get away. My house is well known, and therefore
the eople earning to town knew my place, as I was a wholesale
confectioner; and the people as they passed before this time
(but not so much since), used to buy gingerbread at my house.
Though beaten so dreadfully, I could know the sort of beating
I got. It lasted near 10 minutes. I can now swear, that not-
withstanding I was so kicked and beaten, I can positively swear
to the words of-the oath. On the Monday I requested to be got
out of bed, and saw the banners from the window. I watched
them well.
Re-examined.—l have received no pecuniary compensation
whatever; and the sole cause of my going to that place arose
from the anxiety of my mind about the alarming reports which
were abroad in the country. My sole purpose was to see how
far there were grounds for such reports. These apprehen-
sions of danger first existed in my mind from the time I
first saw the placard of the 9th, and then followed up by
the drilling reports of the country, and they were confirmed
by what I saw on the morning of the 15th. My name was
mentioned distinctly by some of the parties on the morning of
the 15th, at White-moss. It was used this way—" Ginger-
bread Murray." I heard it more than once. It was the
article I dealt in. My trade experienced great diminution after
the 16th of August ; it principally went away—from six days'
work for my men to two.
Robert Keymer examined by Mr. Serjeant Citoss.—l reside
near Failsworth, and am Lieut.-Colonel of the Local Militia.
Prior to the 16th of August, I observed much training in that
neighbourhood, from Bto 9 o'clock at night. I only saw them
once, about 3 weeks before the 16th of August. I saw about
130 persons on that occasion. There was no difference between
their mode of drilling and that of my regiment. The same
words of command, the same movements, were observed. 1
have frequently heard bugles and words of command of an
-evening, several times, from three or four different parties at
the same time. The people in that neighbourhood were very
insulting, and very,much disturbed prior to the 16th of
It was at dusk I used to hear the bugle. .I went to the .Aug.hite-
moss on the 15th of August, the day before the meeting, and at
a little after 3 o'clock in the morning. Mr. Murray had just
then received his beating, and went off. I was threatened a
little, but received no injury. Being conversant in military
movements, I computed the numbers I found there about
2,000. I counted them in line, after seeing them for three or
four hours moving about in squads, each of which was com-
manded by some person. Their drilling was the same as in my
regiment, and I saw many there who had indeed been in my
regiment. I think as many as 150 who been under my com-
mand. Several of them spoke to me as they passed by me in
division ; " Colonel, we can march yet ; we shall be able to
teach you by and by ;" that was what they shouted out. Seve-
ral of them who stood near me said, that 20,000 of them were
to meet Mr. Hunt on the next morning. I saw the bodies of
the people in motion going towards the town on the 16th of
August, and among them recognized a great many of those
whom I had seen the day before at Whitemoss, and who had
been under my command: they were attacheed to the Oldham
and Failsworth divisions, and moved as well along the road as
at the Whitemoss. 1 saw their banners--they had the black flag
amongst them. I afterwards proceeded to the meeting, wherein
fact I had been before I saw that party, and recognized on the
ground there a good many of those I had previously seen. I
got near the hustings a little after 12 o'clock (the second time),
and observed that the people near that spot appeared very close
together, and their arms locked one through the other, for 9 or 10
deep. I could not get through them, they were between me and
the hustings ; there was some word given from the hustings that
they were to stand fast, and not suffer them to be broken in. Idid
not judge the public peace to be in perfect safety at that time. I
considered the town to be in very great danger ; and feeling
that impression, I left the ground as soon as the cavalry came,
and advised the people to leave the ground, as I was sure that