QSR1887/1/5/1

Depositions of William Sharp Page, gentleman of Leighton Buzzard, Polly Bates, Sarah Pratt and Sarah Adcock, both of Leighton Buzzard, Emma Bransom and Mary Ann Smallbone of Leighton Buzzard and Henry William Adrian Sandell, medical officer of Leighton Buzzard. In the case of John Battams accused of indecently assaulting a ten year old, Polly Bates.

7 December 1886

From: 1886 To: 1887

Polly Bates: was nine years old and had lived in the Leighton Buzzard Union workhouse for some years. She knew John Battams as he was one of the workhouse inmates. On 26 November about 9.15am she met the accused in one of the passages leading to the school. He was weeping the passage. She asked him for a piece of sugar and he took hold other and kissed her. He put his hands underneath her cloths [description of assault….] It went on for 5 or 10 minutes. He held her with his other hand and she made no complaint. She heard a noise like someone knocking on a window and Battams moved away from her. He had offered her sugar before and had done the same thing to her 2 or 3 times. Emma Bransom:an inmate of the Leighton Buzzard Union Workhouse. On 26 November about 9.15am she was in the able bodied woman’s bedroom. The windows of the room overlook the passage leading to the girl’s school. She saw the defendant and Polly Bates in the passage. The defendant was in a stooping position and he had his hand up the child’s clothes. He and his broom were leaning against the wall. She watched them for about 5 minutes and called the attention of Mrs Smallbones to what was going on. Mrs Smallbones knocked on the door. Battams got off and took up his broom and began sweeping. Polly Bates went on to school. The window from which she was looking was about 3 or 4 yards from where they were. Mary Ann Smallbones: an inmate of the Leighton Union workhouse and on 26 November, in consequence of what she had been told be Emma Bransom, she went to the able women’s bedroom. A window there looks out into the passage. She saw John Battams and Polly Bates. Battams had his arm around the girl and his broom was leaning against the wall. Battams was stooped and looking up into Polly’s face. He had her clothes in an indecent way. She knocked and he let go of the child and took up his broom. The girl went on to school. She told the matron what she had seen. Sarah Adcock: matron and certified nurse at the Leighton Buzzard Union workhouse. On 26 November, in consequence of information received, she examined Polly Bates. From what she observed the child was examined by the medical officer Mr Sandell. Henry William Adrian Sandell: medical officer of the Leighton Buzzard Union Workhouse. On 27 November in consequence of information received from the matron he examined Polly Bates. He found her genital organs unduly red as if she had been manipulated or tampered with. It may have been caused by a hand. Sarah Pratt: wife of William Pratt and aunt to Polly Bates. Polly was the daughter of Thomas Bates and her sister Fanny, formerly Riddy. Both were dead. She was able to produce the child’s birth certificate which states she was born on 27 [28] February 1876. Statement of the accused: he did not put his hand up her clothes.

item

Battams, John,
Bates, Polly,
Page, William Sharp,
Adcock, Sarah,
Bransom, Emma,
Smallbone, Mary Ann,
Sandell, Henry William Adrian

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, assault, sex crimes, Leighton Buzzard Poor Law Union