Voluntary Examination and Statement of David Davies (Dai'r Cantwr), 17 January 1844 [page 2 of 3]

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'The Voluntary examination and Statement of David Davies otherwise called Dai'r Cantwr now a Prisoner confined in the Gaol of the County of Carmarthen under sentence made in the presence and hearing of Mr. Chambers Junior Esq J. P. & John M. Tierney, Inspector of the Metropolitan Police, the seventeenth day of January in the year 1844 relative to a proposal to shoot William Chambers Esquire the younger of Llanelli House in the County of Carmarthen who saith as follows: I David Davies and the undermentioned persons namely David, Cilferryucha, Tom Morris, William Walters' apprentice, William James, Tom Phillips of the Topsails workman who slept in Tom Phillips' house, and Thomas Phillips ot Topsail who went to bed in his clothes to wait for me that he may give me some victuals, were going to the Pembrey Mountain meeting. We all met at the Stag and Pheasant public house. When we got to the meeting place two or three persons came up from the neighbourhood to see if all was right - they then brought on 20 or 25 people - when the three or four me came up to us seven, they asked us if we were all right, we said we were, they then went for their partners, when they were gone Tom Phillips of Topsail asked 'what business is to be done. I said 'I know of nothing'. Tom then said it is a shocking thing that there men of Pontardulais have been used as they have been, suppose, says he, if we were to offer a sum of money for shooting 'Chambers'. I don't know exactly what I said but I dare say I joined in the thing, then, when the other party came up there were several things proposed, the first proposal was that the hedges of the enclosure of the Mountain should be all thrown down, and also that the Pinged Marsh enclosure should be taken among the Poor, we were sitting down on a Bank settling the pass word 'Cyfiawder' or righteousness was fixed on. Then Tom Phillips of Topsail said David Davies, meaning me, had something else to propose the I got up, and they said what is it, I then said that there was £5 for whoever would shoot Mr. Chambers ...'