Henry Wyatt

Level 345

Maureen Withey on 15th February 2021

National Archives. HO 17/54/401829 Oct 1; 1832 Nov 7 Prisoner name: Henry Wyatt otherwise Henry Wyate otherwise Henry Waite. Prisoner age: 17. Prisoner occupation: Cotton spinner. Court and date of trial: Chester Summer Assizes, August 1829. Crime: First indictment 'Maliciously cutting' and stabbing James Burgess at Stockport on 24 August 1829. Second indictment 'cutting and stabbing with intent to maim and disable...'. Third indictment 'cutting and stabbing with intent to do some grievous bodily harm...'. Initial sentence: Death, commuted to transportation for life. Gaoler's report: Character indifferent. Annotated: Nil. Send abroad. In New South Wales. Petitioner(s): 60 inhabitants of Stockport. Mary Wyate alias Mary Wyatt (mother) with 96 inhabitants of Stockport; 80 inhabitants of Stockport; Joseph Slater (known to convict). Grounds for clemency: He didn't carry the knife; first offence; his age. Other papers: Letter from J H Lloyd [counsel] transmitting one of the petitions. Printed copy of the trial report from the Macclesfield and Stockport newspapers explaining that the crime followed industrial action by 10,000 men in Stockport, who had withdrawn their labour for 33 weeks. Additional Information: A very full account of the crime and the trial is given. Thomas Wyatt and William Wyatt (convict's brothers) were sentenced with James Pollitt to two years imprisonment for aiding and abetting the convict. --------------------------------------------------- There is a report about the case in The Sheffield Independent, 19 Sept 1829. Part of which: CHESTER ASSIZES. KNOBSTICKS.-—MALICIOUS STABBING. Henry Wyatt., was indicted for stabbing James Burgess, at Stockport, with intent to kill and murder; and William Wyatt, Thomas Wyatt, and Jos. Pollitt, with aiding, abetting, and assisting. The indictment contained the usual counts. Three others persons included included in the indictment were not in custody. The Attorney-General, Mr. Hill, (with whom were Mr. J. Jervis and Mr. J. H. Lloyd,) in stating the case for the prosecution, said he was sorry to say that this was one arising out the unfortunate disagreement between the master manufacturers, cotton spinners at Stockport, and their workmen, which had so long prevailed to the great injury and disquiet of the whole town and neighbourhood. It would appear that in the latter end of the year 1828, about 10.000 workmen turned out and left their employment, because the masters found necessary reduce the wages they were giving, in order to bring them to the level of the prices given in other towns, &to what their business would afford. After a period of 33 weeks, many of these misguided men returned to their work, and others were employed the neighbouring townships. Mr. J. Howard employed some men from Bredbury, of whom the prosecutor and his brother. .....