Reference
QSR1840/1/5/22/a
Title
Depositions of Jonah Mager, Francis Sale and John Bray Cater, and examination ofJohn Green of Biggleswade, charged with assaulting and wounding Jonah Mager
Date free text
4 December 1839
Production date
From: 1839 To: 1840
Scope and Content
John Mager of Biggleswade, labourer - on Saturday 23 November he was in the Black Swan Public House in Biggleswade and Green was there also. He had a rope of onions to be raffled for at half a crown. Green found fault with them and said he could bring as good a rope at 15 pence. He was provoked and struck Green, who did not return the blow. They quarrelled for some time, left to go home and kept on have words outside. When they got to the corner near the blacksmith's shop Green went home and fetched his poker and brought it in his jacket pocket. Green stood in the middle of the road and said "now come along". He went up to fight him - he did not know Green had the poker. Green struck him on the top of the ehad with it and knocked him down insensible. He knew nothing else until Francis Sale the constable picked him up and led him home. Mr Cater came - they shaved his head and put him to bed. He was not able to get up until the previous day, December 3, and for some days was so bad he thought he would die.
Francis Sale of Biggleswade, yeoman and constable of Biggleswade - on Saturday 23 November between 10 and 11pm he heard two men scuffling in the street. One fell and cried out "oh dear". He found Green lying on top of Mager. Blood was flowing fast from Mager's head. He raised him up and led him home (about 200 yards), left him in the care of his wife and went on his rounds as watchman. About half an hour later he called in and found Cater the surgeon there, who reported that Mager's life was in danger. He went and took Green into custody. As he was taking Green away the prisoner said he was drunk when he did it, he did it in a passion and was sorry. He picked up the poker on the road by the side of the two of them.
John Bray Cater of Biggleswade, surgeon - he was sent for to the house of Jonah Mager and found him seated in a chair bleeding very profusely from the head. He examined his scalp and found four distinct wounds [described]. He thought Mager in considerable danger for several days. He bled him several times and he remained in bed for 8 or 9 days. He does not consider him yet out of danger.
John Green - it was not the night in question on which he found fault with the onions but the week before. He was very drunk and did not know what he was doing or it would never have happened. He was very sorry.
Level of description
item