QSR1887/2/5/6

Depositions of James Garrett of Toddington, David Thomson of Luton, Albert Hull of Sundon, James Brightman of Sundon, and Caleb Marsden of Sundon. In the case of Hattil Buckingham accused of assault.

7 March 1887

From: 1887 To: 1887

James Garrett: on 11 December about 11am he had been at work and went home for dinner. He went to Chelton with Hattil Buckingham and stayed there until 3pm. He went to Sundon with Buckingham and there saw Clay. He paid Clay 2 shillings for mending a gun, but did not take the gun away then. They went to Underwood’s public house where he left Buckingham but later returned and they both went to Clays. It was between 8.30 and 9pm. Buckingham took the gun and left Clay’s before him. He caught up with Buckingham in the field about 200 yards from the house and told him he had no business to take the gun. Buckingham struck him in the head with the gun. Garrett knew no more after the blow. David Thomson: MD of Glasgow practising in Luton. He attended Garrett at the cells on 12 December where he was in a dazed semi conscious state. There were bruises to Garrett’s face and hands. On the right side of his head there was a severe wound fracturing the skull. The bone was fractured and depressed. Thomson attended him again and again and then recommended his removal to the workhouse infirmary. The injury would affect his brain and memory. Thomson suggested a gun or such weapon could have caused the wound. [cross examined] when he saw Garrett he was unable to give an account of what had happened. He did not know if Garrett was now perfectly recovered. It is possible Garrett may now have recovered his memory. The evil effects will always lie latent and he may suffer from delusions. It was very likely blood would be on the instrument causing the wound. That may possibly have occurred from a fall from a height onto a hard round substance but it would have needed to be a fall with very great force. After receiving such an injury a man might get up yet be unconscious of what had happened. Garrett’s eye was much bruised and very black and reached the temple. Albert Hull: a labourer at Sundon. He was out on the night of 11 December with a young woman. Between 12 and 1 o’clock his mother fetched him. He found James Garrett there and he was but to pieces and covered in blood. Garrett was sitting in a chair by the fire and he had no hat. He got him out of the house. He didn’t know the man was Garrett. James Brightman: a poor man “doing nothing” and living in Sundon. He recalled being in bed about a quarter to 10 on 11 December. He heard men shouting in the meadow as if they were drunk and in a temper, angry with one another and falling out. PC Caleb Marsden: on 12 December he received information and searched Odell’s dye house. He found Garrett lying in the loft. Garrett’s head and face were covered with blood. He got a horse and cart and took him to the police station. From enquiries made he apprehended Buckingham and asked him where the gun was. Buckingham’s brother fetched it. He found blood and dirt on the stock and dirt on the barrel. In the field he found footmarks and knee marks depressed in the ground. There was a great quantity of blood and signs of a struggle. He found a hat. [cross examination] Garrett was first charged with wilful damage to Odell’s property. It is supposed that the damage was done after Garrett left Hull’s house. The charge was withdrawn. Statement of the accused: he reserved his defence.

12 pages

item

Buckingham, Hattil,
Garrett, James,
Thomson, David,
Hull, Albert,
Brightman, James,
Marsden, Caleb

TODDINGTON, SUNDON, LUTON, assault, guns