QSR1881/1/5/4

John William Grant, milkman of Beckett Street Bedford, William Herbert. labourer of 19 Bunyan Road, Bedford, David Miller Johnson, grocer of Bedford, Francis Thomas Mercer, auctioneer of Bedford and William Wright Milligan, surgeon of Cranfield. In the case of Joseph Parker accused of malicious wounding with a stick.

2 December 1880

From: 1880 To: 1881

William Grant: a milkman of Bedford and for 12 or 14 years he had been assistant bailiff to the sheriff’s officer Mr Spicer. On 15 November, he was instructed to take possession of the prisoner’s goods at Cranfield under a Bill of Sale. He took William Herbert as a sub bailiff. He first went to Parkers house. Parker used to occupy the Moat Farm but had relocated to a house in Cranfield. He seized the furniture and left Herbert in possession. He then went to Moat Farm and seized what he could find there, putting the items in a place of safety. He returned to Bedford and next morning received a letter from PC Mooring and so returned to Cranfield. He took with him a letter from Mr Jessop, who was Parker’s solicitor, addressed to Parker. When he got to Parkers house he found Herbert outside on the furniture. The house was locked up. He examined the house and found a window unfastened. A man named Reynolds was in possession at the farm for the landlord. Reynolds got through the window and let Grant in the door. He found the best part of the furniture as it had been and he left Herbert in charge of it and returned to Bedford. He gave instruction to Mr Mercer, the auctioneer, to sell the things in the house and the sale was fixed for 19 November. On the morning of 19 November, he went with Mr Mercer to Cranfield and to Parker’s house. He again found Herbert outside and in consequence of what he told him, he went to fetch the PC Mooring to commence the sale. When they got to the house they could see Parker inside and spoke to him through the window. They told him they wanted to enter and that there was a letter from Mr Jessop, which Parker asked to be put under the door. The letter was read by Parker; it told him he would be liable to criminal proceedings should he not give up. Parker said it did not alter his decision. He refused to let Grant in. Grant forced the door. It did not require much force as the bolt were off. As soon as he had forced the door, Parker came out with a knobbed stick and hit Grant over the head many times. He was knocked senseless. David Miller Johnson caught him. His head was severely cut and bled a lot. Parker was put in the policeman’s charge and a doctor was sent for. Dr Milligan attended and strapped his wounds. He had since been in the hand of a doctor in Bedford. Since the blows he had become very deaf and his sight had been affected, he was giddy at times. [cross examination]: on 16 November he found Herbert in the yard and he told him Parker had threatened to knock his brains out. He told Herbert not to leave the premises. He knew the letter purported to tell Parker to give up possession and give what assistance he could. He had not suffered from deafness on his left side before. He had a crow bar with him which he bought from Bedford. He expected trouble. William Herbert: a labourer in Bedford. On 15 November he went with Grant to Cranfield. Grant put him in possession of the prisoner’s house and furniture. Next morning, about 3am, Parker locked him out. He sent word to Grant. He was put in possession again on 16th by Grant. He discovered some things had been moved. Parker came and told him to go. He told Parker that he must put him out then, and so Parker did. Parker had previously threatened to smash his brains out. He remained outside the premises until Mercer and Grant came on 19th. He heard Grant asked Parker to let him in. Parker would not. Grant forced the door and Parker then stepped out and struck him in the head. He struck Grant 2 or 3 times in the doorway, but not hard, and then the hardest blow whilst outside. Grant staggered back and Johnson caught him. Grant bled from the head. Milligan attended him. [cross examination] Grant dropped the bar when Parker struck the hardest blow. Grant warded off the blows with his hands not the crowbar. He saw Parker take things away but did not interfere. He had not left the premises since Tuesday and slept at John Millard’s on the Wednesday and Thursday, which was near by. David Miller Johnson: a grocer living at South End, Bedford. On 19 November he went to Cranfield in his pony and cart on private business. Whilst in the Leather Bottle Inn the prisoner came in. The prisoner said to the man he had been drinking with “you’ve got here then is any one else coming”. The man replied there were 4 or 5 more on their way. The prisoner bought them both beer and asked Johnson “ask you for Mercer or ask you for me”. Johnson said he didn’t know what he meant and that he had just come for the sale. The prisoner said that they’d be no sale today. Parker went into the house where the sale was to be. Johnson was present when Mercer and Grant went to the door and he saw Parker strike Grant with the stick. He stuck Grant twice inside the house and gave him a severe blow when they stepped outside. Grant cried for the police. He caught Grant when he reeled from the blow. Francis Thomas Mercer: an auctioneer in business at Bedford. On 19 November he went to Cranfield to conduct an auction sale of Parker’s effects. He went with grant to the door and Parker struck Grant with a stick. Grant’s head was cut and bled a lot. There was a quantity of broken crockery outside and no sale took place. It was an oak stick and 4 or 5 blows were struck. William Wright Milligan: a physician and surgeon in practice at Cranfield. He was summoned to see Grant who had an incised wound an inch and a half long on his left temple. The wound was clean and bled a good deal. Grant was suffering from shock and trembling and complained of deafness and dimness of sight. He took Grant into the cottage and dressed his wound and directed him to put himself under medical care as soon as he got home. Statement of the accused – Joseph Parker: not guilty

item

Parker, Joseph,
Grant, John William,
Herbert, William,
Johnson, David,
Mercer, Francis Thomas,
Wright, William

BEDFORD, CRANFIELD, wounding, surgeons, milkman, grocers, bailiffs, auctioneers