QSR1885/4/5/2

Depositions of William Inskip, miller of Flitton and Jane Richardson, singlewoman of Flitton. In the case of James Fowler of indecently assaulting Miriam Arnold.

20 August 1885

From: 1885 To: 1885

William Inskip: a miller living at Greenfield. On 15 August he had been in the orchard at the back if the mill. There was a footpath running on the other side of the hedges of the orchard. He heard some children and looked over the hedge to see what there were doing. He saw the defendant sitting on the ground near the footpath with a young girl, Miriam Arnold on his knee. He watched the prisoner put his hand under her clothes and kiss her several times. Several other children’s were around. He heard the defendant say he would give the other children a penny if they would go home to dinner. Fowler told Miriam Arnold he would give her something if she stayed. The other children went away and then saw the defendant undo his trousers and take out his person. Richardson came along and took the child away. He went up to the defendant and said to him that had the children his, he would have thrashed him. Jane Richardson: on 15 August she went down Mill Lane at Flitton to fetch some children. When she got there she found the defendant with 2 children sitting by his side. One child was Miriam Arnold. She said to the defendant that he was a good for nothing man. The prisoner said he had not hurt the child. She took the children away and saw Inskip the miller. Miriam Arnold as about 5 years old. Statement of the accused: he went to the mill to try to get a job. There were 4 or 5 little girls who asked him for sweets. He gave them some. The little girls followed and one of then asked him to sit down. He did so. What Inskip said was not true.

6 pages

item

Fowler, James,
Arnold, Miriam,
Richardson, Jane,
Inskip, William

FLITTON, Greenfield, miller, assault, sex crimes