QSR1875/4/5/1

Depositions and examination - Joseph Wooding of Derby, bricklayer, charged with indecently assaulting Elizabeth Brightman at Ampthill on 24 July 1875

31 July 1875

From: 1875 To: 1875

Elizabeth Brightman of Pulloxhill, school mistress – she is 27 years of age. Joseph Wooding is a stranger to her. She never saw him before last Saturday. On that day she got into the train which leaves Flitwick for Bedford at about 3.30pm. The train was about ¼ hour late. She took a return 3rd class ticket. Mary Hailey was with her. When she got into the carriage there were two other persons who both got out at Ampthill Station. The only people in the carriage were herself, Mary Hailey and Wooding. She was sitting with her back to the engine and mary Hailey was sitting opposite. Wooding was at the other end of the carriage on the opposite seat to her. When the train left the station Wooding came close to her side and by degrees sat close and close. She crossed to the other side of the carriage to avoid him. As soon as the train entered the tunnel after the station Wooding assaulted her. She resisted and called out to Mary Hailey saying “Polly, pull the cord, this man is a villain”. She held her umbrella before her when she was struggling and it was broken. As soon as they got out of the tunnel he left her and sat on the opposite side of the carriage. She said to Wooding “you have grievously insulted me and you’ll suffer for this”. He said she had insulted him by crossing over. While proceeding to Bedford he annoyed her by putting his foot under her feet and pinching her knee. He tried to stroke her face several times and said “Don’t put yourself out”. She felt very much annoyed at being treated in such a manner. Wooding did not stop annoying her until they got near to the Bedford platform. There was no lamp burning when they passed through the Ampthill tunnel. It was quite dark. When she left the train at Bedford she complained to the first railway official she saw and said she wished to give Wooding in charge. She believes the man did not hear her and she complained to another railway policeman, told him she had been insulted by the prisoner and pointed him out. [Cross-examined] She did not strike him with her parasol before the bother commenced. Mary Hailey of Pulloxhill, single woman, a monitress at Pulloxhill School – she is 15 years old and lives with Elizabeth Brightman. … [as above] … When in the tunnel she heard a scuffle. Miss Brightman screamed and called out. She could not hear what she said. She was frightened. When they got out of the tunnel Miss Brightman seemed much frightened … [as above]. [Cross-examined] She did not see Miss Brightman strike him. William Bottoms, ticket collector at Ampthill Station (Midland Line) – on Saturday about 3.30pm he issued a single third class ticket for Derby to Wooding. He saw Wooding get on the train in a 3rd class carriage. William Henry Turner, railway policeman on the Midland Line at Bedford – at 4.30pm on Saturday Brightman made a complaint against Wooding and said she had been insulted by him in every way. She pointed the prisoner out to him. He went towards Wooding on the platform and called him. He told Wooding the charge the lady made against him. Wooding said “I have not done anything but I believe I broke her umbrella”. He asked how it was broken. Wooding said “by throwing my leg over”. He asked “over what” and Wooding said “over her”. He informed the station master of the complaint and some hours later Wooding was apprehended at the market place at Bedford. Samuel Green, station master on the Midland Line at Bedford – his attention was called to Wooding by Turner. He told Wooding to come to his office and told Turner to fetch the young ladies. Wooding went with him towards the office door. He opened the door for Wooding to follow him, turned around and Wooding was gone. He saw no more of Wooding until 10pm when he was in custody. As soon as he missed Wooding he sent 2 or 3 policemen in search of him. Joseph Wooding - He ran away from Bedford Station because he wanted to see his wife at Mrs Wightman's. He understood she was there but when he got there Mrs Wightman said she had not seen her. He then went into Bedford town with her husband. He had had some beer before he left Ampthill. He was later taken into custody at the Market Place.

item

Wooding, Joseph,
Brightman, Elizabeth,
Hailey, Mary,
Bottoms, William,
Turner, William Henry,
Green, Samuel

AMPTHILL, Derby, PULLOXHILL, BEDFORD, Bedford Market Place, sex crimes, railways, railway worker, station master, policeman, Ampthill Station, Flitwick station, Midland Railway official, Pulloxhill School, schools