QSR1870/4/5/7

Depositions and examination - Jesse Washington of Eggington, labourer, charged with indecently assaulting Naomi Washington

5 September 1870

From: 1870 To: 1870

Naomi Washington, age 13, daughter of Jesse Washington of Eggington, labourer – she was 13 years of age last June and lives with her parents Jesse Washington and Emma. He is a labourer and has 4 other children all younger than her. Yesterday afternoon Sunday 4 September she started to go to school and met her father standing at the gate. She walked with him to the school. When they got there he said she was not to go to school but they would go to her aunt’s. Her aunt lives at Hockliffe. They went across the fields together towards Hockliffe. About half way he put his arm around her waist and said he loved her. A little further on he said they would go over the stile (which is not the way to Hockliffe). In the second field they were both picking up crabs. He ran towards her and she ran away. They went into the next field together. She sat a short distance from him. He lit his pipe. They both got up and returned back into a lane on the road to Hockliffe. She was in front. He ran after her and hung round her waist and threw here down on the ground. [Description of assault] She pulled his hair and said she would tell her mother. She got away from him and he walked after her. She then saw a police constable. Henry Quenby, police constable stationed at Hockliffe – about 2.30 yesterday afternoon 4 September he saw the prisoner and his daughter going across a field in the parish of Hockliffe and from the prisoner’s manner he watched them. He did not know then that they were father and daughter. They went into an adjoining field where there was no foot path. He saw the prisoner go in and out of a ditch several times while the girl stood near. They then walked away. He saw them by the side of the hedge as if they were gathering something. They were about 10 yards apart. The prisoner ran towards the girl and she ran away. She then joined him again and they both went through a gap into the next field. They sat down a few yards apart. After about 10 minutes they got up and went into the field and into a lane towards Hockliffe. He lost sight of them for about 10 minutes. When he saw them again the girl was lying on her back in a ditch [… description …]. He was not more than 12 yards from them. He did not hear them speak. They both got up and went off together. He went up to the prisoner and asked what he had been doing. He said he was a police constable and would take him into custody on a charge of indecently assaulting the little girl. She said he was her father and did not hurt her, she would not let him. The prisoner said he was only playing with her. She said “did you not hear me halloo”. He asked why she called – she said because he wanted to upset her. The prisoner said “never mind if I get 6 months I must put up with it”. When he took the prisoner back to his [Quenby’s] house he asked the girl whether she heard him coming. The prisoner said they never heard him but he saw someone further down the lane. Jesse Washington – he does not wish to say anything.

item

Washington, Jesse,
Washington, Naomi,
Quenby, Henry

EGGINGTON, HOCKLIFFE, sex crimes, police constable