QSR1886/4/5/9

Depositions of William Higgins, schoolmaster of Tempsford, his daughter Lilian Higgins, Charles Sprigge, surgeon of Great Barford, Thomas Woods, police constable of Blunham, Elizabeth Cope and Susan George. In the case of Israel Manning accused of indecently assaulting and illtreating a female child, Lilian Higgins.

26 September 1886

From: 1886 To: 1886

Lilian Higgins: a six year old living at Tempsford School with her father. On 26 September, she went for a walk with her sisters and cousin toward the Lodge, when a man overtook them. He said to them “Little dots where are you going to?” She told him there were going as far as the Lodge and then back again. They went a little further and then turned back. They saw the man sitting on a stile smoking. He had a germanium in his coat. He got of the stile and walked with them a little way to the sycamore tree. He told her to stand on the bank. She went and stood there with her sister Kitty. He asked her if she had pretty drawers on [details of the assault….] She fastened her drawers and went in the direction of the Anchor. She then went home and told her mother. Elizabeth Cope: 16 years old. On 26 September she was near the Anchor Public House and the prisoner passed her and her brothers. The prisoner was walking towards the sycamore tree and he had a geranium in his coat. They again overtook him by the sycamore trees between the school and the Lodge. He was sitting on a stile smoking. She saw Mr Higgins children nearby. When the children passed the prisoner she saw them turn around and go towards him. She knew the time from the church clock to be 3.25pm. Susan George: a single woman living in Tempsford. On 26 September she was walking along the road in Tempsford in the company of 2 others, between the school and the sycamore trees. A little past the school they met the prisoner walking along the road by himself, going towards Roxton. They met the Higgins children a little behind him. William Higgins: a schoolmaster at Tempsford. From what his daughter Lilian told him, he took her on 29 September to Dr Sprigge of Great Barford to be examined. On 30 September PC Woods brought the prisoner to him. The prisoner wished to make a statement and was cautioned by the constable. The prisoner said he was very sorry and that it was the first time he had done such a thing. The prisoner said he would be pleased if Higgins was get him off as well as he could. Higgins said it was out of his hands. Charles Sprigge: a doctor of medicine living at Great Barford. He examined Lilian Higgins on 29 September. He found her private parts slightly inflamed and a slight abrasion on her [?] membrane. Her internal parts were not injured nor was her hymen ruptured. There was a slight stain of blood on her drawers which had been made within the last few days. There was no permanent injury. Thomas Woods: on 30 September he apprehended the prisoner at Eaton Socon. The prisoner said he had not indecently assaulted the child. Whilst conveying the prisoner in a cart back to Tempsford, the prisoner said he had been for a walk to Chawston on that Sunday. He took the prisoner to Mr Martin George of Tempsford, and asked him in the prisoner presence if he had seen the prisoner at Tempsford on that day. George said he had seen him. The prisoner said he had been at Tempsford and that he was guilty. The prisoner was taken to make a statement to the prosecutor and then on to Biggleswade Police Station. Statement of the accused: he hoped the gentlemen of the court would deal with him as leniently as they could as it was the first time he had done such a thing. His mother was ill.

10 pages

item

Manning, Israel,
Higgins, William,
Higgins, Lilian,
Sprigge, Charles,
Woods, Thomas,
Cope, Elizabeth,
George, Susan,
George, Martin

TEMPSFORD, ROXTON, Great Barford, sex crimes, assault, surgeon, schoolmaster