QSR1841/2/5/18

Depositions and examinations - George Keech, John Edmunds, Thomas Edmunds, John Wesley, William Stanton, James Weed and William Gibbs

20 March 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

Thomas Tillyard constable of the county of Bedford No.4 - about 5pm on 9th March he was in Mr Bolton's field in Turvey where there had been a draining and hedging match. At that time all the defendants and many others whose names he does not know were there sparring. George Keech was sparring with a man named Jackson, who hit Keech harder than he liked. Keech wanted to fight Jackson. who stripped and was ready to fight. He told Jackson he must not fight and he said he would not. He left to ask some persons to assist him as he was alone and expected there would be a disturbance. He went back and begged them not to quarrel or fight. Some of the party - he does not know who - said he had no business there. They all know him as a police officer and he had on his uniform. He tried to persuade them not to fight or make a noise. George Keech said he would fight for any Bloody Police there. He told Keech that if he was determined he must do his duty and would take him away to prevent it. He took Keech by the collar and he seized another man's collar, saying "you shall take us both". Immediately the cry was "take him away". He was surrounded by 30 or 40 people. he was struck and Keech was rescued away from him. John Burden came to his assistance. He was struck by fists a great many times and was sore from head to foot in consequence. He retreated until he was knocked down. While he was on his back he was kicked by John Westley in his face and by other persons. While he was down a great many voices cried out "kill the bugger - kill him". Burden and Walter Churchman and another young man from Steventon came to his assistance. They were themselves struck and knocked down. Another man James Lacy came to his assistance. They knocked him down twice. When he recovered his legs he tried to get away as fast as he could. Burden and Churchman kept on each side of him. They were hooted at and huzza'd. He kept going backwards as far as he could towards Mr Higgins's at the Abbey, the nearest magistrate. They threatened him the whole of the way and while he was there. Mr Higgins was not at home and he went to Mr Thomas Charles Higgins's. They followed him there. Whilst against the gate of Mr Higgins at the Abbey Bailey the constable of Harrold offered to assist him but they threatened him so that he went away. The whole party were very noisy. By the time they got into the village there were 200 persons assembled. The village was very much disturbed. All the defendants took part in the row. Keech and the two Edmundses struck him. Westley kicked him, and Stanton, Weed and Gibbs struck him. After he had taken Keech into custody and was surrounded and struck he gave Burden his stick and then used his staff. He retreated as soon as the man was rescued from him - he ws surrounded by so many he thought he had no chance. He did strike some of them with his staff. He heard Thomas Edmunds say "I wish I had a bayonet I would run it into your guts". [Response to Mr Rogers for Defendants] ... he cannot swear that none of the competition for the draining remained in the field - he believes they were all gone. He did stop a man sometime back with a post and [raid?] and took him to find if his statement was true and it was not. He is sure none of the defendants said anything to him about that man. He believes James Raban to be a respectable man. He told James Lacy to prefer a complaint against the person who had struck him but he said he did not know the man. He believes all the defendents had been drinking but they were perfectly sensible and not staggering. John Burden of Turvey, shoemaker - what Thomas Tillyard stated is true. He knows nothing more. He is sure all the defendants were present. He was about 30 yards off when he saw the policeman on the ground. He could not see who kicked him. When the policeman got up his face was bleeding. Walter Churchman of Turvey, shoemaker - he did not see anyone hit the policeman but he saw him down and picked him up. His face was bleeding very much and he appeared much hurt. The evidence given by the 2 previous witnesses is true. William Raban of Turvey, labourer - he saw the row on the 9th and saw the policeman kicked as he was down by John Wesley. Wesley kicked him as hard as he could on the face. He is sure it was Wesley.

item

Keech, George,
Edmunds, John,
Edmunds, Thomas,
Wesley, John,
Stanton, William,
Weed, James,
Gibbs, William,
Tillyard, Thomas,
Burden, John,
Churchman, Walter,
Raban, William,
Lacy, James,
Bailey,
Higgins, Thomas Charles

TURVEY, Turvey Turvey Abbey, assault, police constable, rioting, shoemaker