QSR1852/3/5/33a

Depositions of James Axby, labourer of Woburn, Henry Veasey, surgeon of Woburn, Emma Staniford, minor, William Clay, police constable of Aspley Guise, and Mary Jane Axby of Woburn. In the case of Alick Smart, accused of unlawfully assaulting Mary Jane Axby with felonious intent.

24 June 1852

From: 1852 To: 1852

Mary Jane Axby: 10 year old daughter of James and Eliza Axby of Woburn. Her father is a labouring man. She knew Alick Smart well and he sometime gave her a halfpenny. About 2 months previous he had begun to take liberties with her. He kissed her and laid her down on the ground. This was in the fields at Woburn. There had been no one with her at the time. Some time the previous week, she had gone with Emma Staniford to Croholt Meadow at Woburn to play. Smart came up to her and asked her to lay down with him. She had done so more than once. She lay down, he did not shove her. The prisoner had asked her to meet him. When she was on the ground the prisoner pulled up her clothes and she saw him undo his trousers. He laid down with her and got on top of her. She felt his flesh against hers between her legs. He did not hurt her, only her legs where he laid upon them. He remained on her for a few minutes then got up and went away. Emma Staniford was standing by her at the time. She never told her mother or anyone else. Emma Staniford: 10 year old daughter of William and Mary Staniford of Woburn. Her father was a bricklayer. She often went to play in the meadows with Mary Jane Axby. She knew the prisoner; he had often spoken to them. She had seen him kiss Mary Jane and thrown her down upon the grass, and he had down the same to her. The previous week they had been walking through Croholt Meadow in Woburn, when the prisoner came up to them and spoke to them. She heard him ask Mary Jane to lie down. She did lie down and he pushed her a little. She saw him undo his trousers and get on top of her. He remained there a short time. Mary Jane did not call out or struggle. She told no-one what the prisoner had done but she was not very frightened. She had met the prisoner in town and he asked her to go to Croholt and she had gone. Henry Veasey: Mary Jane Axby was brought to him by her mother and she told him what had happened. He examined her and found very superficial marks of tampering but nothing more than. No penetration had taken place, but he could not say if they had been any attempt. William Clay: he attended Croholt fields with the Superintendent of Police, and they saw the prisoner there. He was ordered to take him into custody. He saw 3 little girls running away and asked the prisoner their names. He said they were Emma Staniford and Polly Axby. He asked the prisoner what he had been doing with the girls and he said he had been playing with them but not hurting them. He asked the prisoner what they had been playing and he replied "I have been playing at lying upon them" and he repeated he had not hurt the,. He said also said he had given them a halfpenny a piece.Statement of the accused: "I hope to be forgiven this once".

item

Smart, Alick,
Axby, Mary Jane,
Axby, James,
Veasey, Henry,
Clay, William,
Staniford, Emma

WOBURN, assault, sex crimes, surgeon