Reference
QSR1821/348
Title
Examination of Thomas Hine, John Sturges the elder and John Sturges the younger of Milton Ernest.
Date free text
17 July 1821
Production date
From: 1821 To: 1821
Scope and Content
Thomas Hine of Milton Erness, farmer and constable said "Between 12 & 1 oclock of Sunday Morning July 15th instant I was called out of my bed by some persons who said if I did not get up immediately & go into the street opposite the Queens Head Public House & put an end to the distrubance murder would ensue. I opened my chamber window & heard a great noise & in consequence went to the place when I got there the persons had gone into the Queens Head Public House. I went into them & ordered them to go out. They went out pretty quiet. I then charged them all to go home. Part of them went down the street to the Swan Public House & went in there. I followed them in & told them to go to their own homes. They came out of the House & proceeded up the street making a great noise. I again followed them & had some stones thrown at me. A few minutes after Henry Hart & James Parrott began to fight I laid hold of Hart & told him he had broken the Peace & insisted therefore he would go home or else I would take him into custody. He resisted & I endeavoured to take him away. John Solesbury swore I should not take him away & struck me with the intention of liberating Hart. I let loose of Hart & seized Solesbury & charged John Sturges the Elder & John Sturges the younger to assist me & another Person whose name I do not know but whose person if I saw him again I could sware to. I was leading Solesbury away assisted by the two Sturgesses when on an Instant we were surrounded by 20 or 30 men who shoved us about & endeavoured to pull Solesbury away from us. The mob cried out put them into the Pond (there was a Pond in the Street) & we were driven 20 yards until we were upon the brink of it. There the mob after much pulling me & my assistants about rescued the prisoner. Edward Hart was one who endeavoured to rescue the prisoner & attempted to pull him from my hold with all his might. Henry Hart was another. James Parrot was another & William Brown was another. It was a moonlight night." Signed Thos Hine.
John Sturges the elder of Milton Erness, labourer said "On Sunday morning the 15th day of July instant between 1 & 2 oclock I was in the street at Milton Erness in consequence of hearing a great noise & uproar & was charged by Mr Thomas Hine the constable to assist him in taking away John Solesbury whom he had in custody which I endeavoured to do. We were surrounded by a mob of 20 or 30 men who shoved & pulled us about & endeavoured to rescue Solesbury. There was a cry of "put them into the Pond" & we were shoved to the edge of the pond where they got Solesbury away from us. I had hold of Solesbury by the collar & he was pulled away from me with such violence that he left his shirt collar in my hand. Henry Hart was one of them persons who struck at me with his fist. Edward Hart shoved & pulled me about. I heard the voice of William Browne swearing in the mob. Thomas Griggs was shoving Mr Hine & me about. It was a moonlight night." Signed with a mark.
John Sturges the younger of Milton Ernest, labourer said "On Sunday morning of July 15th instatn about 1 oclock I was in the street of Milton Erness. There was a great crowd & a great uproar. I saw Mr Thomas Hine the constable with John Solesbury in his custody & he charged me to assist him to take away Solesbury. I did assist him when the mob came upon us all at once & by shoving & pulling us about endeavoured to get Solesbury away from us. The mob creid out "Pond them" & we were all shoved to the edge of the pond where after a deal of skuffling they got Solesbury away from us. It was a moonlight night sufficiently so as to know a person's face. Henry Hart was one who was active in the rescue. James Parrot was in the skuffle." Signed with a mark.
Reference
Level of description
item