The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-06 00:00:00

were two meetings of the olab at the Kim's Head. that day,
one in the morning and the other in the afternoon ; the com.
mittee and others were present at both; I went there at half-
past two o'clock; the meeting was held in the garret; the
boxes belonging to the society were kept in the same room ;
Williams Was present, and they wore reckoning up the 'ste-
ward's bank when 1 entered ; alter the books were finished,
the steward asked could we do nothing in the affair of the
masters ; at that time we had a sort of a compromise with the
masters ; it was suggested by the meetity, that it would be a
good thing it' we could settle the affair ; I said I had .been
with the masters, and that it would be a good thing to have
an arrangement made; one of the committee said it would
be no use to enter into any arrangement, as the masters

would not take the biggest part of us back ; Williams also
said it would be of no use, and that he wanted two or
three volunteers to shift the knobsticks ; there was no di-
rect answer given to that, but one of the committee said we
didn't need any thing of that sort ; the meeting then broke
up, but as we were going down stairs Williams swore he'd
be d'—d if he didn't shift some of them. I went away from
the house then, and Williams followed me • that was about
half-past three o'clock ; he said the union funds were done,
and that something should be done to get rid of the knob-
sticks, or we might starve in the streets ; I said I was go-
ing to Ralph Kennedy, to know if there was a letter go-
ing to Liverpool, as we sent to Liverpool every week, to
get money from the union fund ; while we were speaking
Robert Kenworthy came up, and said he had been apply-
ing to get his wife out of the Lunatic Asylum ; he then
left, and Williams and I went on together to Ralph Ken-
worthy ; Ralph, his wife, and a Mrs. Marshall were inside;
after some time Williams beckoned Ralph and myself out ;
we went; I asked Ralph if Hardwick was going to write to
Liverpool ;he said he was ; then Williams said, Ralph, we
should do something to get rid of these knobsticks ; the

union fund is done or: nearly so ; we have had a letter to that
effect." He also said, "We must either get shut of them
or we may starve in the street." He said, " Your pipe, Jack
and me have got ready ; we have loaded it with that powder
that you (Ralph) and myself sent for ;" he said, "I have got
some fine powder in my pocket to lay a train that it may run,
and I want you (Ralph) to watch while Jack lets it off, to
see that nobody takes it." Ralph said, " I don't know ; its
a dangerous thing to be seen with; will it do any harm ?"
Williams said, " No ; it will only give them a bit of a start."
Ralph said, " I'll never mind going then if Davies (meaning
me) will go with me." I said, " Provided no injury is in-
tended I'll go." Williams said, " There will not ; if you
meet me at the King's Head, I'll send Jack the other road
with it, and I will come through Dukinfield." He also
said, that " If we were not at the King's Head soon we
should meet him in Scotland-street." Ralph then went into
his house; Williams went off ; and I went to the King's
Head, and front there to Samuel Hardwick's. I spoke to
Hardwick at his house. From Hardwick's I went back again
to the King's Head, but, not finding Williams there, I went
to Scotland-place, and I met Williams just over the canal
bridge. He asked me if Ralph was come; I said, "No ; I
expected him here." He said, "He is most likely up at the
place with Jack." Dukinfield bridge is not a hundred yards
from the canal bridge. Williams then said, "Come up this
way (Scotland-street), Jack will be up yonder." We were
then going in a direction nearer to Whitfield's. Williams

then fold me to put his under coat on, that I should be dis-

guised, and he would keep on his top-coat. First, he pro-
posed that we should change coats, but I said my coat
wouldn't fit him, and that I would do very well as I was. We

didn't change coats. We then went up-to Scotland street,
and came into Stamford-street, where we turned to the right
towards Whitfield's. As we went along he took me up lb
the gable-end of Mr. Swift's house and said, " Thou hast
nothing to defend thyself with." I said, "No ; I didn't
want anything ;" and he pulled a knife out and put it in my
hand, but I returned it to him. He said, " Jack must be
protected ; I will lose my life before Jack shall be taken."
He then took up a stone and said, " We'll go on, and when
we get near the spot whistle and Jack will know that I am
here." We then went towards the sawpit, I first and he fol-
lowing me, and when we got within fourteen or fifteen yards
of it, and immediately after Williams told me to whistle,

there was a flash. The flash consisted of a long trail of fire
running along the ground a yard or more. Hulme was within
two yards of the flash. He stood opposite the side of the
pit. The report was a very heavy one. Hulme then came run-
ning towards me and kept on towards Stamtbrd-street ; there I
lost sightof him; I never saw him again until he was in custody.
Williams ran with me, and I passed him before he got six yards.
We rassed some buildings called Scurrah-buildings, where we
heard a woman cry out, " Good God ! what made that noise?"
We went through Penny-meadow. At the Tontine Hotel
we met William Marsden and William Newton. At that
time Williams was walking along with me, for we then ceased
to run. I went down Wellington-street ; the prisoner was
with me at th. time. We went through the market-place
before we got to Wellington-street. We went through Holt-
street, Portland-street, and over the canal bridge leading to
Walkmill. He crossed near the new square in Stamford-
street, close to Dr. Wood's house. I parted from Williams
at the junction of the canals ; he went off towards Dukin-
field along the footpath. Before he left he wished me to go
through Oldham ; he said as there is likely to be a bother
about this we had better go out in the country. As we were
passing two sawyers that were working at Mr. Gill's he said,
` I wish that long b—r," meaning a man named Massey,
"had a couple of bullets in him." 1 said I didn't wish any
one to be shot. He said, "if Jack has elevated yon piece
right he has made a job of him ; when I left Ralph Ken-
worthy's the last time that afternoon I went across the mar-
ket-place ; I was taken into custody at eight o'clock on the
night of the 11th of December; I can't say whether Wil-
liams was taken up the same night, but I saw him in the
court the Wednesday following; we were then sent to Droyls -
den, and in about a fortnight after we were brought up in the
lock-up to be shaved ; Williams, the two Hardwicks, and
myself were left together; Williams said to the Hardwicks,
" I hope there will be no splitting on this—Jack is a little
good-'un, I shouldn't like him to be hurt—l would sooner
hang like a pound of candles than split on him ;" we were
sent that night to Kirkdale Gaol on a charge of conspiracy,
not of murder; while at Kirkdale I said to Williams that
this was a very serious job, that a good many were taken up
on it, that some innocent person might suffer death for it,
and that if I knew he would have gone so far I wouldn't have
gone with him ; he said, " Oh, never mind it ; it will never
be found out;" I said I was sure it would come out ; he
said, " no one on earth knows anything about it outside—
only me and Jack" • Samuel Hardwick then joined us; the
same was said in his presence ; I said I was sure it would
come out—that murder could never be kept secret so long ,
he said it never would come out; [witness was here handed
a paper] I saw this before at Beckwith's ; Williams gave it
to me ; he said it contained some good receipts for making

lucifer matches and for making fire without light ; I was
examined before the magistrates on this charge ; I did not
tell the whole account on that occasion exactly as I told it
to-day ; I omitted the last part about the discharge of the
cannon.

Cross-examined by Mr. WILKINS.—I have been a sawyer

for twenty years, perhaps, during the greater part of which
I have been a resident in Ashton. Never resided out of
Ashton longer than a week or two at a time, when I had a
job in the country. I did not tell all that I knew at first,
but all that I did tell was true. There might be some parts
of it not exactly as I have recollected since. Ido not mean
to say those parts were not true ; but as near as possible they
were correct. Robert Newton and Keys apprehended me,
in my own house. I did not give Newton the account which
I have given to-day. I might have told Newton that I had

not heard of any Man being shot or any shooting. I was
very much agitated at the time. I told Newton 1 had left
the King's Bead the afternoon before the murder was com-
mitted, but I do not recollect telling him that it was at
six o'clock. I believe I mentioned some time, but I cannot
recollect what it was. I told him the names of the parties
who were there. I cannot say that I mentioned the name
of Williams to him. The recipe book produced was not
found upon me. It was given to the police by my wife,
whom I sent to look for it in a certain book. Ido not know

to whom it was given. I was a prisoner. It was given in
my house. They were not searching my house at the time :
they did search it, but the pocket-book containing it, in a
drawer, escaped their notice. Samuel Hardwick was present
when Williams gave the recipe book to witness : it was at
Beckwith's house, on the sth of December, at night. Wil-
liams said I should find some good recipes in it. I did not
read it at the time, but put it in my pocket. I went on
" tramp" to seek work, in October. I applied for work at
Lancaster, and at many other places. James Kenworthy left
Ashton with me. The first place we went to was Oldham,
where we staid all night. I was not sent out expressly for
the purpose of collecting subscriptions. I did solicit sub-
scriptions. I went to Bury, where the society said they had
many men out, and were very poor. After that I did not
ask them for subscriptions. I also went to Burnley. I
asked for subscriptions there, and I gave the society a letter
which I had received from the secretary at Ashton. I went
to Preston. I will swear I did not ask for subscriptions
there. I next went to Fleetwood to look for work. I did
not ask for subscriptions there, as there was no society. I
then went to Lancaster, where I saw some sawyers. I will

swear I never said to them—" If they would do as I wished,
they would soon blow all the knobsticks to the devil," nor
any thing of the kind. I never told them I had a recipe
that would soon put an end to the knobsticks. I never
suggested to them that if the knobsticks were allowed
to work, I would set fire to their places. I then went
to Liverpool, and afterwards to Dublin. I did not so-
licit subscriptions there, but the man who was along with
_me did. I stayed in Dublin two days. I then came

back to Liverpool, and afterwards went to Wigan where
Ralph Kenworthy solicited subscriptions. I should be
surprised to see him here; but I have heard he is gone
away. Kenworthy joined me in Liverpool, and he went to
Dublin with me ; came back with me ; went with me to Wi-
gan, and back again to Ashton, where we arrived on the 2d
November. It was on the 18th November I first heard any-
thing of the pipe. I know it was that day because I saw a
letter addressed by a friend of mine, named Thomas Bennett.
It was not connected with the trade. At that time Bennett
lived with Thomas Perry, a spinner, in Cowell-lane, Ashton.
Bennett is a painter : he is my wife's brother. I do not
know where he is now, as he left Ashton to look for work.
He is not in custody. I have been in prison the whole time.
I was brought from Kirkdale here. I cannot say how many
times Newton has seen me in Kirkdale : two or three times
perhaps. He has not seen me a dozen times; but I will not
swear he has not seen me half a dozen times. I told the go-
vernor of Kirkdale prison to write for him when I laid the
information. It is three months since. What I told him at
that time was true. I did not at that time tell him I was
present when the pipe was shot. I know it was the 18th of
November because I had seen the day of the month in Henry
Hardwick's book two or three days before. I cannot re-
member what was in the book. I first saw the pipe on the
18th. Hulme had it wrapped up under his arm. I expressed
myself many a time against using such things. I did not
threaten to inform more than once, if that pipe was not made
away with ; but I told Williams, on the night of the 18th,
I would let somebody know about it. I took it home with
me the same night. I told my wife, when she asked me
what it was, that it was some tools, for which a man would
call. The canal is 300 or 400 yards from my house. I poured
some water into the pipe the same night, about seven o'clock.
I got the water from the kitchen: My wife was not in then;
she was in some of the neighbours' houses; but she had not
been out many minutes. I cannot say when was the first
time that I mentioned Ralph Kenworthy's name ; but I
mentioned it in the court-house at Ashton. Both Ralph
Kenworthy and myself told them to throw the pipe into a
pit. I know Job Arundel and Henry Hardwick. I was not
present when Hardwick and Kenworthy ordered Arundel to
fetch some gunpowder from Oldham. I do not know Betty
Travis by name. I might know her by sight. She might
have been examined before the magistrates. There were six
or seven people present when Williams said, as he was going
down stairs, that he would shift the knobsticks. It was on
the 11th that Williams said, " Jack and me have got ready
yon pipe, with the powder that you and me and Harry have
sent for." This was not said to me, but to Kenworthy. I
have told this before to-day; it was in the court at Ashton.
When Williams wanted me to change coats with him, he had
a blue coat on : it was not that which he is at present wear-
ing. I had no notion that Newton was taking me up on a
charge of murder ; but I was committed for conspiracy. He
did mention something about a man having been shot. The
pipe was sent for to my house about five o'clock in the after-
noon of the 28th November. Ralph Kenworthy went for it.
My wife knew him. I have known Hulme for about three
years : he has gone for some time by the name of " Cast
Metal Jack."
Re-examined.—Newton did not come to me at all until
after Mr. Amos, the governor of Kirkdale House of Correc-
tion, at my request, had sent for him.
Samuel Hardwick, examined by Mr. WORTLZY.—I am a
sawyer. I was a member of the Sawyers Society at Ashton,
and was secretary for a few months towards the last. In the
month of October last I went to Bowstead's house, having
been sent for. I found John Williams there, and asked him
for what purpose he had sent for me. He said he should be
obliged to have his card, for he must go off, as be had been

making an attempt at Mr. Whitfield's, and he must have a
sovereign too. He said he had made the attempt the night
before. This was on the night of the 21st October. The
I meaning of " taking the card," is to show that the man who
has it is qualified to take a job as a member of the trade. I
told him he knew it was impossible for us to give him a sove-
reign, or any thing of the sort, as our money was very scarce.
He said it ought to be borrowed, for he had lost his great
coat in the attempt the night before, and Hulme had lost a
pair of shoes. lie had mentioned Hulme's name before.
He said that Hulme and lie had bored a hole through the
door, and put a quantity of powder through, and when Huime
was just upon the point of lighting the match, the watchman
came round the corner, and they had a scuffle. I did not give
him a card. He told me to go to my brother Henry, who was
the steward of the society, to ask for the card. I went; I
then went back to Williams, and told him that my brother
said he should have neither card nor sovereign. He said he
hardly expected it, as he understood my brother Henry was
rather in liquor. I remember being in Prophet's beer-shop,
one night ab,iut the middle of November. I found John
Williams, John Hulme, Ralph Kenworthy, and Edward Da-
vies there. I believe nobody else was in the room. I saw
Davies carry something out, wrapped in something which I
took to he a bag. He took it from the seat he had been
sitting upon. The whole four had been sitting upon the
same seat. Davies came back in a quarter of an hour. He
then spoke to me, but the other men could not hear what
he said. Two or three days after that, Williams told me
that Hulme and himself had been trying the instrument.
He said the instrument was a cannon made out of a pipe.
He said they had tried it three times that night, but it would
not go off, near Mr. Whitford's saw-pit. I remember being
at Beckwith's house the Saturday night before this : there
were there, me, Davies, Williams, and Hulme. I told
Hulme I had been told by a certain person in Ashton, that
he was not a man to be trusted with secrets belonging to the
sawyers. I told him that this man had told me that whilst
he was in Kirkdale, Williams had had to come down to him
to keep his tongue a little quiet. He said he had said nothing
of the sort, but that he had said the sawyers ought to look
upon him more respectfully, or something of the sort. If
recollect Williams had a sheet of paper inshis side pocket,
and he wanted to get it out to give it to Davies, as there
were some good recipes in it, one particularly, to make good
lucifer snatches. He gave it to Davies, and told him to take
care of it. 'Williams had some difficulty in getting it from
underneath a brown paper parcel, which he had in his pocket.
The parcel was a square one. On the sth December, about
three o'clock in the afternoon, I asked Williams to go with
me to Staleybridge. He said Job Arundel was to bring
him something from Oldham, and he should have been home
before that time. We walked on 40 or 50 yards, and then
Williams stopped again, and said; " I should be at home to
receive the parcel which Job Arundel is to bring me." I
said " very well," and at that moment Davies came up ; he
went with me, and Davies came back. The morning after
the murder, between 10 and 11 o'clock, I was at the King's
Head. Many sawyers were there. There was a meeting of
the club at 2 o'clock, in the room up stairs. Edward
Davies, myself, John Williams, and some others were
there. Hulme was not there; he .is not a sawyer, but I
have seen him frequently at the King's Head. At that
meeting, after we had gone through our accounts, so
that everybody was satisfied, I said, " Would it not
be better to send a deputation to the masters ?" Some
doubted the utility of it, and some recommended it. Joseph
Marshall recommended the proposition, and said he should

like to know how many of ihei.r masters had got~into the
black book? Williams said, in the end, "If nothing can be
done, I only want two or three good volunteers." I did not

remain in the room three minutes after that,

into custody that evening, and I have been in custody ever
since. I was in the police station with Davies, my brother
Henry, a man named Thompson, Williams, and another. I
heard Williams say •` he should not like any splitting, and,
rather than any harm should come to little Jack, he would
hang like a pound of candles." 1 was afterwards taken to

Kiri:dale, and I remember some conversation between Wil-

hams and Davies. Davies was talking with him very se-
riously : he said that a great many people would suffer—that

the innocent would suffer as well is the guilty. There had
been an allusion to the Glasgow cotton spinners. Williams
replied, " How the devil can they bring anybody in when

nobody knows but thee and me and little :tack'? "
Cross-examined by Mr. WlLioNs.—l have been arraigned
on the charge of conspiracy. I have been with Davies this
morning, and have had some conversations with him before.
It was four or five days after we were liberated from Kirkdale

,
that we gave evidence before the magistrates at Ashton-
under-Lyne. I was secretary to the society a little short of
six months, and a good while since I held the office of stew-
___....

Williams and myself have not been very intimate

There is no rule of the society that would justify me in giving
Williams money to commit a felony. I made very light of
it when he asked me, because I could scarcely believe it. It
was three o'clock in the afternoon when we got back to

Ashton-under-Lyne. Two other clubs held their meetings
in the room at the King's Head besides the sawyer's society.
The first information which I gave respecting this matter was

,o Mr. Hall at his office. Davies was not present, but I had
seen him the same day. I did not then tell the same story as
[ have told today, Newton apprehended me. I told him

I knew nothing about the murder. I hare not been told that
if I would tell all I should escape unhurt. Ido not expect
any thing for telling all ; and no promise has been held out
to me to induce me to do so.

Mr. Whitfield was here recalled, and he said that on the
night of the 20th of October an attempt was made upon his
house. The door had been bored through, and a quantity
of powder put in. The watchman alarmed witness.
Cross-examined.—The powder was of a coarse kind, but
not so coarse as blasting powder.

Friday night, when Kenworthy fetched it away a little after
five o'clock. I gave my husband's pocket-book to Mr.
Newton, and he took the recipe-book produced out of it.
This happened when my husband was in custody.
Cross-examined.—My husband told me that what he had
brought was soma tools which a workman would fetch away.
I have never said I did not know the man who fetched the
parcel away. On the afternoon of the murder my husband
came to his dinner about three o'clock. He did not stay
longer than a quarter of an hour. He came home again
between six and seven o'clock. It was not seven o'clock
when he came. His father came with him.
Ann Booth, examined by Mr. Sergeant ATCHERLEY.
am the wife ofiJoseph Booth, fvho keeps a beer-shop in Dela-
mere-street. I know Edward Davies. I remember seeing
him, the two prisoners, Ralph Kenworthy, and Edward
Shaw there one Friday night in November. There was a
squabble among them about some pies which belonged to a
man who was selling them. This was the same day that a
man named Ashworth came into our house.
John Ashworth, captain of the watch at Ashton, proved,
that the day mentioned by the last witness, was the 20th of
November, as he was called in to qhell the noise. He saw
Hulme the same night in the street, and charged him with
having stolen the man's pies, and Williams in the Stamford
Arms.

Cross-examined.—lt turned out that the pies were paid
for, and that Hulme had not stolen them.
James Bowstead, examined by Mr. WORTLEY. I am a
sawyer. On the sth November I was working for Mr. Dar-
went. Arundel and I went afterwardsto the Feathers, when
I saw Davies and Hulme. We all came ciut together.
Hulme went home towards Dukinfield. I called with Arun-
del at a beer shop, where we remained a quarter of an hour.
I saw Hulme again as he was going to market, about half-
past seven. We went down Duknifield-lane together. We
met Williams just below the lodge gates, between Dukin-
field and Ashton. Edward Davies and Samuel Hardwick then
came up, and Arundel and I went home. I was at work at
Darwent's on the night of the 11th December. I left off
work about seven o'clock. Hulme had been working there
that day. Ido not remember what time he went to his tea,
but I asked him, and he told me it was hardly six. When he
came he said " hat, you are working yet." I cannot tell
how long the other men had been back. He left before me,
about an hour after he had come, after he had made two
shuttle boards. We went by Mr. Hindley's clock, as we
could hear it strike, which was usually a little before Ashton
church clock. It was ten minutes past seven by Mr. Hind-
ley's clock as I was going. I heard the Ashton clock strike
as we were going away, but I cannot tell what it struck.
Sarah Beckwith examined by Mr. BRANDT.-My father
keeps a public-house in Dukinfield. The Saturday before
the murder four persons came to our house about eight o'clock
in the evening. They went into the tap-room. The door
was closed four times, and I opened it that I mi*ht see that
nothing wrong was going on. I took them a pint of ale at.
first; they were three-quarters of an hour in drinking it
then I took them another pint. Two of them were sitting
on the form, and two on the table. One of the two who sat
upon the table was the prisoner. One of them on the form
had a paper in his hand. After I had taken the 2d pint the
door-way closed again, and I opened it.
Cross-examined.—The paper in the man's band was like
a long sheet of letter paper.
Samuel Beckwith, father of the last witness, said that when
he came home he found four men in the tap-room. One of
them was Williams—he was not sure whether Hulme was
one—and the others were Hardwick and Davies. After
staying an hour they went away. Williams, Davies, and
one of the Hardwick 's. came back in twenty minutes after-
I was taken I wards.

Cross-examined.—Davies appeared rather intoxicated.
William Dobson.—l am an excavator at Ashton-under•
Lyne. On the sth December I went into Beckwith's house

with a soldier. There were there Hulme, Williams, Davies,
and Hardwick ; Davies and Hulme were to my right.
Hulme was kneeling between Davies legs. He had with him
a basket : he was dressed in a round jacket.
Cross-examined.—l mean to swear that Hulmewas there;
but at first I was rather in doubt of it.
James Whitehead.—l was landlord of the King's Head
in Ashton-under-Lyne in December. Hulme has been there
several times with Williams. He was there last on a Sunday

morning, tnree weeks or a fortnight before the murder, and
asked for a pint of beer which, he said, Williams authorised
him to get. I refused to give it to him. On the 11th De•
cember Williams was at my house, with Davies and the two
Hardwicks. The latest time I saw him then was between 4
and 5 o'clock. That was the last time I saw him.
Cross-examined.--Other clubs 'met in the same room as
the sawyers' club. He passed the bar to go first, and Davies
went out with him.

Samuel Cowley said he was assistant overseer of Ashton.
He confirmed the statement of Kenworthy having applied
to him togethis wife out of the Lunatic Asylum.

Ann :Marshall.-1 am the wife of Joseph Marshall. I
remember the day Cooper was shot. On that day I was at
Ralph Kenworthy's house, which is a quarter of a mile from
Mr. Whitfield's sawpit. Williams and Davies came in.

Ralph was at home. bne of them said they wanted to speak
to him, and they all went out together. Ralph was out
about ten minutes : he then got his tea. I saw no more of
Williams or Davies.

Joseph Gill.—l was in the Ashton market-place on the
afternoon of the 11th December. I saw the prisoner Wil-
liams and Edward Davies pass through the market together.
Betty Travis.—l am a widow, and live at Ashton. On
the 11th December last, I was coming from Stayleybridge
to Ashton, when I saw Williams at half-past four in John
Kershaw's field. He was going towards his home. I
watched him go over the cut [canal]: _ This is rather more

than a quarter of a mile from Mr. Whitfield's saw-
yard. I went forward into the town, and passed Mr.
Whitfield's saw-yard. I do not know what time that would
be, but it went half-past four when I was in Kershaw's field.
I heard a loud report about half an hour after I had passed
Whitfield's yard. I saw three men standing in the road, on
the same side as Whitfield's yard, but I do not know who
they are. One of them was very low and slender. I heard
the report exactly at 10 minutes before six o'clock by Ashton
church.
Cross-examined.—The last point at which I saw Williams
_

was by flab Hole's swing-bridge, which is a good way from
Whittleld's saw-yard. The three men I saw near the yard
were outside of the yard. I did not know them. I have
known 'Williams thirteen years.

iy the JUDGE.—Willia;ns was not one of the three men
saw near Whitfield's sawpit.
.._ _

Benjamin Revel.—l am a plasterer in Dukinfield. I re-
member the 11th December. I was standing at \Vickergate,
from ten minutes to a quarter before six o'clock, with Ben-
jamin Booth, a man in my service. John Hulme, I think,
passed me there. I believe it was him. He had on a light-
coloured jean round jacket and light trowsers ; he was going
at a quick rate, between a run and a walk. He was coming
as it were from Dukintield, and going towards Ashton. I
observed him from 20 to 30 yards.

Cross.examined.—l will not venture to swear it was
ulme who passed me. The man I saw was by himself.

Benjamin Booth.--I am a plasterer, and work for the last
witness, The day this murder happened I was standing in
Wickergate with my master. About five minutes before that
time I heard a loud report from the direction of Mr. Whit-
field's. After a little time I saw John Hulme pass. I am
sure he is the man. He was dressed in a round jean fustian
jacket. He was coming up Scotland-street, and was going
towards the Old Cross. I knew him by the name of " Cast
Metal Jack." My master used the term as he was going
by. I have known him for nine years.

Cross-examined.—No man was with him. I have never
said there was. lam now in the employment of Mr. Revel.
I have heard about the £2OO reward offered in this case, but
Ido not expect to receive any of it. I went to the Police-
office on a Sunday morning, with a person named Groom,
and I saw the prisoner Hanle there. I had no business
there beyond going with Groom.
Re-examined.—After seeing " Cast Metal Jack" pass, I
saw James Kenworthy pass, and then Ralph Kenworthy.
Ralph Kenworthy went into the Church-yard. They both
came from Scotland-street. They all came from the same
direction.

Catherine Nicholson.—l live with my husband in Scur-
rah-buildings, about 100 yards from Whitfield's saw-yard.
On the night of the 11th December I heard a report. It was
a few minutes before six. I opened the door, and exclaimed
" Good God ! what's that ?"
William Marsden said.—l was out on the evening of the
11th of December, in Penny Meadow with Wm. Newton. It
was at ten minutes past six. I am not a sawyer, but I had
been sawing a plank up for Mr. Isaac Newton. Hulme had
told me I had better give it up, or I must take the conse-
quences. He spoke to me afterwards, that if I did not give
over sawing I must abide by the consequences. Williams
was in the same place on that occasion, but I do not think he
heard him.

Cross-examined.—l am quite sure Hulme was the man
who used this language to me. I never told it till last Sa-

Francis Lee.—l am a sawyer, and live 20 yards from the pri-
soner Williams's house. On the evening the man was shot I
went to the canal for some water. The canal is fifty yards
from Williams's house. I met him between the towing-path
of the canal and his own house ; he was coming from to-
wards Ashton. This was about half-past five by Ilindley's
clock.

Robt. Newton, examined by Mr. BRANDT.—I am deputy-
constable of Ashton. I heard of the murder about twenty
minutes past six. I was then at the police-office, which is
500 yards from Mr. Whitfield's house. I went first to the
Swan Inn, where I saw the deceased lying. I then•went in
search of Davies, in consequence of information I had re-
ceived, and upon my way to his house I met Williams. He
was wearing a topcoat. It must have been then about half-

past seven o'clock. I found Davies at home, and appre-
hended him. Williams and the two Hardwicks were after-
wards taken up and committed to Kirkdale on a charge of
conspiracy. On the ,lth January, having received a letter
from Mr. Amos, I went over to Kirkdale, where Davis made
a statement to me. On the morning following I apprehended
Hulme, and told him he was charged with having discharged
the pipe at Benjamin Cooper. He said, " I was at Darnell's
at that time, working with Thomas and Edward. I was in
again from six to seven. There was a man there called John
Cooper, or Jack o' Tom's. Darnell's sawyers were at work
both when I went and came back from my Laggin" [tea].
I took down in writing what he said. He said, " I went to
make two shuttleboards :it was half-past five when I was in
James Broadbent's : I had also a load and a half of coals to
get in that night." I read over to him what I had written,
and he made no objection to it. On the Bth of January I
went to Kirkdale again. Williams and Davies were libera-
ted on bail, and I apprehended them immediately after on
the charge of murder. I told them the charge. On the
way to Manchester Williams said, " I know nothing about
it, so help me God." He was committed on this charge on
the 21st January. In the railway train he made a statement
to me. Davies had before that been examined as a witness
in the presence of the prisoner. I took down what Wil-
liams had said. I wrote it down as soon as I had delivered
him into Kirkdale. He began, " Ned Davies has got him-
self nicely out of this job, and I suppose what I say will
make no difference." I said, " I cannot make you any pro-
mise, but if you say anything I will state the same to the
magistrates as well as I can recollect."
Mr. WILKINS said he would take the Judge's opinion
whether there was not in these words an implied inducement
for the man to confess.
The JUDGE held the objection valid.—The confession,
therefore, was not read.
Examination continued.—The recipe book produced I re-
ceived from Davies' wife.
The book was then put in, and the CLERK of the COURT
read from it a recipe to make lucifer matches. The word
" mark" was written at the top, just above the recipe, in
black-lead characters.
John Gatlev.—l am deputy-constable of Stalybridge. I
received the prisoner Williams from Newton on the 12th
December, and I told him he was charged with conspiracy,
and with the murder of one of Mr. Whitfield's men. I made
no promise or threat to him. He said that on the afternoon
of the murder he had been at the club-house from two to
half-past three o'clock, that he went home at half-past four,
and never went out of the house after.
Hannah Broadbent said she was the wife of James Broad-
bent, and that she lived at Dukinfield, four doors from
Hulme's house. The week before the murder, she saw
Williams come to Hulme's house. He went and tried the
door, and then went back again. He asked witness if she
knew where " Jack" was, and she replied that she could not
tell him. Williams had gone to Hulme's many a year.
Cross-examined.—Hulme was at my house on the night
of the murder. At twenty minutes past five he came in and
asked me where his little boy was. He went away then.
There were some coals at his back door, but I do not know
whether be got them in. My house is about five minutes'
walk from Darnell's, but I do not know how far it is from
Whitfield's saw-pit.
Michael Heaton.—l am a sawyer. I lived in Manchester
in October. On the 31st of October I went to Ashton to
seek employment, and I went to Mr. Higginbotham's yard.