Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1839/3/5/17/a
  • Title
    Depositions - William Cooper and George Wilshere, accused of riot and assault
  • Date free text
    10 June 1839
  • Production date
    From: 1839 To: 1839
  • Scope and Content
    Bartlett Powers, constable of Bedford - was on duty last Saturday night. As he was passing the Barlow Mow Public House in St Lloyds in parish of St Paul he heard singing in the house and fighting and quarrelling in the yard. He went for Paviour, another constable. They went together to the Barley Mow and saw 10 or 12 men in the road against the back gate with George Wilshere who lay dead drunk on the ground. They refused to disperse and go home. He and Paviour lifted up Wilshere and carried him towards the cage. The other men said Wilshere should not go. William Cooper seemed to be at the head of them. Powers told them to keep back. Waldock who keeps the Barley Mow put his head out of an upstairs window. When they got as far as Barton's Corner in Harpur Street Waldock came up with the other men and was very abusive. He called the others "cowardly beggars". Cooper rushed at Paviour and struck him in the head. Five or six others then struck Paviour and knocked his hat off. Paviour took Cooper into custody. Croft came and assisted them. They lay Wilshere on the ground - Waldock called him "a cowardly beggar". Powers ordered Waldock to help and to pick up Paviour's hat but he did not. Waldock did not strike them but encouraged the others. They sent for Coombs the chief constable and when he arrived the group went away except Cooper and Wilshere who remained in custody. Wilshere did not strike the constables, but knocked himself about and tore his new clothes and said he would hang himself before morning. Response to William Cooper - did not see Paviour strike Cooper. Say Paviour lay hold of him as he was in the act of striking him. John Paviour, constable of Bedford - was on duty in the High Street on Saturday night and heard a great noise at St.Lloyds. He met Powers at St Peter's Green and asked him to go to St.Lloyds. An hour later Powers returned and asked Paviour to go with him. Stated that Powers' evidence was true. He has not recovered his hat and was struck at least 20 times on his head. William Cooper - declined to say anything.
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