QSR1880/3/5/14

Depositions of Joseph Darby, butcher of Brunswick Street, Luton, Alice Odell, Old Bedford Road, Luton, Frank Roberts, Chapel Street, dealer of Luton, Thomas Welch, greengrocer of Chapel Street, Luton, Fredercick William Rowley, labourer of 169 Park Street, Luton, George Major, bricklayer of 16 New Town Street, Luton, David Thomson, surgeon of Market Hill, Luton, In the case of Joseph Crawley accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Joseph Darby.

23 June 1880

From: 1880 To: 1880

Joseph Darby: a butcher in the service of George Wilson, and residing in Brunswick Street, Luton. On 3 May, about 3 pm, he was near the Wheatsheaf public house. Joseph Crawley and Arthur Wilson came up. Wilson said “What have you been doing to my brother”. Crawley was just behind. Crawley said “if you don’t take it up Arthur I will”. Darby was standing opposite the old church yard, near the drinking trough, with his right side towards the railings. Crawley was behind him on his left side and struck him on the back of the head. He was knocked over and got hold of the railing to pull himself up. Crawley went in front of him and hit him 3 or 4 times, cutting his lip. Crawley put an arm around him and struck him several times in the ribs before telling him to go home. He followed Crawley as far as he could but fell down. He had not worked since and had given Crawley no provocation. He was a stranger to him. [cross examination] perhaps what was done to him was because of what he had done to Jesse Wilson. He had no opportunity to return the blows. Jesse Wilson had struck him on the shoulder and so he had struck him. He had not had a notice to leave Wilson that morning. Alice Odell: wife of John Odell living in Old Bedford Road, Luton. On 3 Mary she saw Darby and Crawley near the drinking trough in Church Street, Luton. There were about 6 people there. She saw Crawley hit Darby, Darby ran to the railings. Crawley got Darby against the railing s and punched him 5 or 6 times. Crawley told him to go home. Darby went up Church Street but fell down before he got to the Wheatsheaf. [cross examination] Darby did not want to fight and he ran after the first blow. She did not see Darby fall at the first blow. Darby staggered like a drunken man when he walked up the street after Crawley had finished with him. Frank Roberts: a hawker of Chapel Street, Luton. He was near the drinking trough when Crawley first came down the street. He saw Crawley strike Darby and Darby ran to the fence. Crawley followed and struck him 23 or 4 times. He said “Joe don’t hit him no more”. Darby was hanging on the rails with one hand and had the other hand over his face. Crawley struck him again. Darby walked up the street as if a drunken man, but fell. He went and put Darby in a chair and then took him to the Wheatsheaf. [cross examination] he had no ill feeling towards Crawley and ha d never said he would make it hot for him. Darby turned away and then Crawley struck him on the head. Darby never fell to the ground and never offered to hit Crawley. Darby would have fallen if he did not have hold of the railing. Thomas Welch: a poultryman living in Chapel Street, Luton. On 3 May, he saw Crawley and the 2 Wilson’s quarrelling. He saw Darby come down the street and hit Darby. That was in the middle of Church Street. He saw them up against the railing and Crawley hit Darby. [cross examination] he saw Crawley hit Darby in the face. Darby did not try to hit back. He did to see Darby hit in the ribs or be knocked down. Darby tried to get away twice. Frederick William Rowley: a labourer living at 116 Park Street, Luton. On 3 May, he was in Church Street, Luton and saw Darby going down the street. He saw Crawley strike Darby, who went to the fence and Crawley followed. Crawley struck Darby 4 or 5 times in the upper part of his body. Crawley went away and he helped to pick up Darby whose mouth was bloody. He had been about 30 yards away and on a scaffold. Darby did not fall. George Major: a bricklayer living it 16 New Street, Luton. Darby was going down Church Street and Crawley came down after him. He heard Crawley say something and Darby made his way to the churchyard fence. Crawley hit him 4 or 5 times. He saw Darby walk away and later be lying on the path, face up. [cross examination] he was on the scaffold with Rowley. He saw Darby from when he was first struck until he fell. He walked away steadily but held his head down. He did not see him struck until he got to the railings. He was on Mr Ellend’s house opposite. David Thomson: a doctor of medicine residing in Luton. On 3 May, he was called to see Darby at the Wheatsheaf. He found a wound on his lip. He was in a prostrate condition. He examined him and sent him home. He afterwards found him to have 2 ribs broken. He believed this could have been caused by a blow from a fist. It must have required some violence. The following Wednesday, he found the ribs had entered the lungs. On Thursday, Darby brought up blood. Darby is now better but unable to work. He had not been fit to give evidence until now. He had attended Darby before when he had an attack of cold in the winter. Darby has a weak heart. Statement of the accused – Joseph Crawley: not guilty

item

Crawley, Joseph,
Darby, Joseph,
Odell, Alice,
Roberts, Frank,
Welch, Thomas,
Rowley, Frederick William,
Major, George,
Thomson, David,
Wilson, George,
Wilson, Jesse,
Wilson, Arthur,
James, Joseph,
Hawkes, Thomas

LUTON, Luton Wheatsheaf, Luton Church Street, Luton Chapel Street, Luton Brunswick Street, Luton Old Bedford Road, Luton Market Hill, Luton New Town Road, Luton Park Street, grievous bodily harm, butcher, confectioner, greengrocer, poultryman, surgeon