QSR1882/4/5/5

Depositions of Henry Tofield, police constable of Dunstable, Mary Gregory, wife of Henry a cellarman at a hotel, of Dunstable, Lizzie Walker, a minor, and Emily Hutchins, a minor. In the case of Jesse Thorn accused of assaulting Lizzie Gregory, a child of 12yrs, with intent to ravish and carnally know.

20 September 1882

From: 1882 To: 1882

Mary Gregory: wife of Henry a cellarman at the Sugar loaf in Dunstable, and mother to Lizzie. They lived at 9 Regent Street Dunstable. Lizzie was born on 8 March 1870. On 13 September, Lizzie was playing with her hoop in Regent Street with Emily Hutchins, aged 10 years and Walter Janes aged about 7 years. Lizzie came in about 8, which was not unusually late. She appeared very excited and her eyes were red as if she had been crying. She told her mother she had been on an errand for Jess (meaning the prisoner) fetching him some apples and that she went with him to see his rabbits, but there were none. After she had gone to bed she examined her and found semen in her drawers and her private parts were very red. Next day Lizzie told her mother he had pulled her through a gap in the fence and dragged her over some stinging nettles and into a shed. He had laid down, unfastened his trousers and had behaved very rudely. He hit her across the nose and swore at her. He told her to go home laughing and cheerful. The child had 2 pence which she brought home with her. The child rested all the next day. The prisoner had often stayed at their house when he had disagreed with his father. Mary Gregory went to him and denied having seen the child or being improper. Lizzie Gregory: she had been playing with her hoop in the street with Emily and Walter. The prisoner came and asked her to fetch him some apple and he gave her a penny. Emily and Walter went with her. They met and gave him the apples at the top of the street. He then asked her to go on a little errand with him and she went alone. He asked her to go and see his rabbits in a shed and took her up ‘Leighton Gap’. He took her through a gap in the fence and through stinging nettles and then over some boards. They came to a shed but there were no rabbits. He unbuttoned his trousers and laid her on the ground. She cried and he hit her and swore at her. [Description of the assault….] He gave her two pence and asked her not to tell her mother and to go home laughing and cheerful. Emily Hutchins: aged 10 years old. She had seen Lizzie go with the prisoner up Chapel Road. It was getting dark. Henry Tofield: he apprehended the prisoner and took him to the police station. The prisoner said he had said to the girl what he ought not, but had not laid hands on her. Statement of the accused: he had said what he ought not of to her but did not lay hands on her.

8 pages

item

Thorn, Jesse,
Gregory, Mary,
Gregory, Lizzie,
Gregory, Henry,
Tofield, Henry,
Hutchins, Emily

sex crimes, DUNSTABLE, Dunstable Regent Street