QSR1841/3/5/21

Depositions and examination - John Martin

6 May 1841

From: 1841 To: 1841

Alfred Tingey - he is in the employ of John Abbott of Ruxox in Flitwick. He was at Ampthill Fair of 4 May. He went towards home about 10 at night. A young woman Abiathar Ashwell, his fellow servant, was with him. As he got over a stile in maulden parish a man took hold of his neck behind, pulled him down backwards and laid on him. He then saw there were 2 men. He felt the man who was upon him put his hand in his breeches pocket - he thinks it was that man, but it could have been the other. The same man took a silk handkerchief off his neck and took his hat off. Both men were helping to hold him down. He was struggling to get away. Both men then beat him with sticks. One tried to get his boots off and cut the strings. They beat him chiefly round the head - all the wounds on his face and head were done by them. He was stunned. He head the men speak. Abiathar Ashwell called out murder. One of the men said "damn you I will murder you". He knows the prisoner. He lives at Flitwick. He had seen him that day at the Fair. Martin wore a short smock - he thinks the one he was now wearing. He cannot swear to the men who robbed him as he was got down before he saw them and was struck with a stick and became confused. Abiathar Ashwell was quite close, on the other side of the stile. When they went away and he became sensible she said she thought one of the men was John Martin. He lost a shilling, his hat and his silk handkerchief. The place he was robbed is about 3/4 mile from Ampthill going by the Union House, but not 1/2 mile by the footpath across the fields. Abiathar Ashwell - she is in the service of Mr Abbott of Flitwick. She was going home on Tuesday night with Alfred Tingey. She was getting over a stile in Maulden and saw 2 men comeup behind Tingey out of the hedge. She was frightened and fell over into the field. Tingey and the men were in the lane. It was a bright moonlight night. John Martin was one of the men - she knew him. She had seen him at her master's a few weeks before. He wore the same dress he does now. He had his cap on when he first caught hold of Tingey. It was Martin who seized Tingey first. She had seen him 4 or 5 times before. Martin pulled Tingey down and the other person picked his pocket. The other person wore a hat with hay in it. She picked up the hat now produced on the spot - she supposed it was Tingey's. Martin's cap came off during the struggle and she saw his head uncovered. She has no doubt it was the prisoner. She thinks the struggle lasted 5 minutes or more. It was chiefly Martin who struck Tingey with a stick. The other man also struck him with a stick twice or more. She ran away 9 or 10 yards and called out murder, then ran back again calling out murder. One of the men said "damn you I will murder you". She ran away and back again and said 2 men were coming. Martin got over the stile and passed her, came back and struck her on the head with his stick and then ran away over the meadows. The other man got over the stile, hit her and ran away. Martin had a knife in his hand and tried to cut Tingey's boots off. When Tingey became sensible she said she knew Martin was one of the men. Hannah Abbis, wife of William Abbis of Ampthill, publican - Martin was in their house on Tuesday night. She thinks it was nearly 12 o'clock when he left. He was the last man to leave. He was very fuddled - they were obliged to help him out. Caroline Sheffield, wife of Joseph Sheffield [sent for at the prisoner's request] - they keep the Red Lion public house in Ampthill. The prisoner was in the house on Tuesday night. She cannot say when he came in. he was there when the house was cleared at about 1 o'clock. He might have come in at 12.30 for all she knows. He walked away without her assistance. He did not appear intoxicated. John Martin - he is innocent. He was so tipsy he had not strength to get to the place. It was past 12 o'clock when he came away from Abbis's. Ben Virgin and they got him to the Red Lion, and there he sat down and went to sleep. The landlord saw him there about 1am.When he came out of Abbis's he fell down he was so drunk. He was put into a waggon and rode to the standpost at Flitwick.

item

Tingey, Alfred,
Martin, John,
Ashwell, Abiathar,
Abbis, Hannah,
Abbis, William,
Sheffield, Caroline,
Sheffield, Joseph,
Virgin, Ben

FLITWICK, Ruxox, AMPTHILL, MAULDEN, robbery, assault, fairs and markets, Ampthill Red Lion, drunkenness