QSR1882/2/5/12-13

Depositions of William Walker, police constable of Putteridge Park, Henry Sparrow, coachman of Putteridge Park, George Sowerby, colonel of Putteridge Park, Walter Hine, gamekeeper of Putteridge Park, William Tatman, police constable of Stopsley, James Smith, hedger of Stopsley and Malcolm Alexander Rankin, doctor of medicine. In the case of George Fensome & William Cooper accused of assaulting and beating police constable William Walker with a bludgeon or stick whislt in the execution of his duty.

27 March 1882

From: 1882 To: 1882

William Walker: a constable stationed at Putteridge. On 5 March he had been on duty at 12.40am in Putteridge Park close to Hertfordshire corner. He saw 2 men on the ground and as he got closer he saw one had his arm in a rabbit hole and the other was kneeing beside him. The men got up and faced him and then ran off. He ran and took hold of Cooper. Fensome came toward him with a spud in his hand. He released Cooper and took hold of Fensome. He was struck by a heavy blow on top of his head with a stick. He let Fensome go and received another heavy blow to the forehead by Cooper. He fell, partly stunned and the prisoners ran away. He knew both the prisoners identities before he was struck. Henry Sparrow: a coachman to George Sowerby of Putteridge Park. On the morning of 5 March he was called by Walker and saw Walker outside on the gate bleeding. George Sowerby: colonel of the third battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. On the morning of 5 March he was called and found Walker in a room in the stable. He had a bruise on his head the size of a small hen egg and a deep cut. He went to Hertfordshire corner and found a stake close to some dug out rabbit holes. Walter Hine: a gamekeeper in the employ of George Sowerby. It was part of his duty to look after Hertfordshire Corner and on 4 March those rabbit holes were all right and no stick was lying nearby. On 5 March the holes had been dug out. William Tatman: on 10 March he had been on duty at Wigmore Bottom and found the spud produced. He took it to Hertfordshire corner and it compared to some marks made by an implement made for digging out the rabbit holes. The marks could have been made by the spud. James Smith: a hedger living at Stopsley. On 4 March between 8 and 9pm he had walked towards Round Green with the prisoners. Malcolm Alexander Rankin: a Doctor of Medicine of Glasgow. On 5 March he examined William Walker and found a wound on the left side of his heard which was freely bleeding. There was also a swelling on his head. He attended Walker for about 14 days and Walker kept to bed for 3 or 4 days. Statement of the accused: they reserved their defence.

item

Fensome, George,
Cooper, William,
Walker, William,
Sparrow, Henry,
Sowerby, George,
Hine, Walter,
Tatman, William,
Smith, James,
Rankin, Malcolm Alexander

Putteridge, assault, police constable, coachman, gamekeeper, colonel, hedger, doctor