QSR1840/2/5/8-9/a

Deposition of Henry Crouchley of Luton, police constable, against William Placcam

6 April 1840

From: 1840 To: 1840

On Friday afternoon he had been to Leagrave and was going his round. He came to the Balloon Public House between Luton and Dunstable about 5pm. He went in with another policeman for a pint of beer. He asked the landlady if she had bought him a paper of tobacco - she said she had but somebody had taken it as it was not there. Solomon King who was with the prisoner began to "kick up a row" and they demanded he seach them. He told them he did not want to and would rather pay for what he had quietly. Some gentlemen came in from shooting and gave Placcam and King beer to sit down and be quiet. They sat still a while until Placcam "put his fist in the other man's face" and wanted to fight him. They got their clothes partly off to fight. When the landlady and policemen told them to keep quiet they began to abuse them. He tried to put King out the door. Placam came up and struck him twice in the face. He went to the door after King and met him. He [Placcam?] struck him with a hoe, cutting his hat and then his head. He held the prisoner while the other policeman put handcuffs on him. King ran away.

item

Placcam, William,
Crouchley, Henry,
King, Solomon

LUTON, DUNSTABLE, LEAGRAVE, assault, Dunstable Balloon