QSR1878/1/5/7-8

Depositions and examinations - John Mooring, charged with assaulting John King at Luton on 21 November 1877 while in the execution of his duty as a constable and rescuing William Mooring from King's custody; Charles Taylor charged with refusing to assist Joseph Tompkins, constable of Luton, to apprehend William Mooring when called upon to do so

24 November 1877

From: 1877 To: 1878

John King, police constable for Borough of Luton – on Wednesday 21 November about 11.15 pm he was on duty in York Street, High Town, Luton. PC Tompkins was with him. He was called to a disturbance in the Hitchin Road by William Mooring’s wife. He went to William Mooring’s house. Her arm was cut and blood was running down her fingers. There was a great number of people outside the house. He also found several panes of glass broken in the windows. He knocked at the door twice. William Mooring opened the door. He asked why William Mooring refused to let his wife come in the house. Mooring replied “what the hell has that to do with you, go about your business” He said he thought it was his business as the poor woman was wandering about the street. Somebody in the crowd then pushed the door open. William Mooring then rushed at him and struck him, making him stagger back. He went up again and Mooring struck him again in the chest. He called on PC Tompkins to assist him. They entered the house and took Mooring into custody. Mooring struck him several times; they fell and had “up and down” several times. Mooring also pulled his whiskers violently. He held Mooring down and tried to put handcuffs on. They succeeded in getting one on the left hand. While they were trying to get the other cuff on John Mooring came in, caught hold of his collar, pulled him over and he fell over on his back. He asked John Mooring who he was and what right he had to interfere. John Mooring said he was the prisoner’s brother. After a further scuffle he pulled William Mooring out into the street, with one cuff on and one hanging loose. William Mooring swung his left arm with the cuff on round striking him over the eye with the cuff and knocking him backwards. His head struck the pavement and he did not remember anything for a few minutes. Blood spurted out and ran down his face. He was rendered unfit for duty and has not yet returned. He first remembers Tompkins saying he would go for assistance. When it arrived he directed John Mooring to be taken into custody for rescuing his brother. He later went with Inspector Brace and PC Harries for William Morning and they found him about 2.30am the next morning in another street. Inspector Brace went to the back door and he and Harris remained at the front. Harries knocked and a woman looked out of the window. He asked if Billy Mooring was there. She said he was not and she had not seen him for 5 or 6 days. He went in the back door with Inspector Brace and found William Mooring in a chair behind the door. The Inspector took him into custody. At the time they were taking William Mooring into custody at his own house Charles Taylor stood close to them. PC Tompkins charged him to aid and assist them. Taylor said “I will see you b—d first”. As he was trying to take William Mooring into custody Mooring was so violent that his cape was torn. [Cross-examined] Mooring’s wife’s arm was bleeding but she did not say how it was done. She said her husband had taken another woman to bed with him and would not let her in. The woman was there when he went. He found a crowd of people outside. The house was quiet. The doors were locked. William Mooring struck him intentionally, not a push but a blow. He heard John Mooring say “go quietly”, but John resisted each time they went to take William Mooring. The crowd were excited and indignant against the young woman inside. [Re-examined] John Mooring tried to stop him taking William although he said “go quietly”. He stopped to prevent the crowd hurting the woman. [Deposition of Frederick Robertson Haward, medical officer for the police and a surgeon at Luton, deleted] Joseph Tompkins, police constable for Luton – he was in PC King’s company on the night in question. Evidence as King’s. While he was putting handcuffs on William Mooring he was pulled off by John Mooring. After that William Mooring gave him 2 blows in the face, made his nose bleed and scratched his face. When he was pulled of John Mooring said he would rather be locked up himself than see his brother locked up. He saw Charles Taylor there and in called him to aid and assist in taking Mooring into custody. He was in his uniform. Taylor did not assist although he called him a second time. William Mooring then escaped and he went for assistance. [Cross-examined] When he first saw John Mooring they had William Mooring down. He did not hear John say “go quietly”. John did not strike him. [Further description of the scuffle] When they went inside there was a woman there. Mooring’s wife touched her and she was hustled out somehow. [Re-examined] John Mooring pulled him away from William Mooring. They were only doing their duty and would not have taken him if he had not struck King. They did not attempt to force an entrance until after King was struck. They went to ask Mooring to let his wife in. [Cross-examined] He called on Charles Taylor who was 2 or 3 yards off. He knew him and called “Charley Taylor”. Henry Bailey, police constable of the Borough of Luton – he was asked to assist by PC Tompkins. There was a large crowd at William Mooring’s house. PC King was there exhausted with blood flowing from his left eye. John Mooring was in the crowd. King said he would have taken William Mooring if it had not been for his brother. He took John into custody by King’s direction and charged him with rescuing his brother. [Cross=examined] John resisted at first saying he had done nothing but did not want his brother hurt. Samuel Brace of Luton, inspector of police for the Borough of Luton – on the morning of the 22nd he went in search of William Mooring. PC Harries and King went with him. On asking at the house if Mooring was there he was at first told he was not. He knew Mooring was there and went in and found him in the back kitchen behind the door sitting down. Mooring had a handcuff on his left wrist and the other was hanging down closed. He took him into custody and charged him with assaulting PC King. Mooring said “I am sorry for what I’ve done but I will go quietly with you”. William Wingrave of Hitchin Road, Luton, blocker – he lives at 42 Hitchin Road. On Wednesday 21st there was a row in the road against Bill Mooring’s house. A lot of people were shouting about and saying “turn the old whore out, turn her out”. Mooring asked them to go away and mind their own business. Mooring went in and shut the door. Then his wife broke the window. He went to bed and about ¼ hour later got up and saw the woman lying on the pavement. The police were there. William Mooring and both PCs were coming out of the house together. He saw a policeman fall down. The other then threw William Mooring down and both policemen got on top of him. William Mooring got up and one policeman went for more strength. William Mooring swung round and he thinks his hand hit the policeman in the face. Both the policemen went away leaving William Mooring standing there by himself with a handcuff on. He later saw John Mooring standing in the crowd. [Cross-examined] Both policemen went away and brought 3 more policemen. He did not see King bleeding. The shouting first called his attention. A Mrs Welch was lying on the pavement. She was the woman they called a whore. He heard the policeman call someone to assist. Frederick Dumpleton of Hitchin Road, Luton, pedlar – he was in the crowd, which was making a great deal of noise. He saw the policemen come, knock on the door of William Mooring’s house and go in. He couldn’t hear what was said because there was such a noise. He did not see a blow struck before they went in. He was in the gutter. He never saw anybody go in with the police. He saw them come out with Mooring. They came rolling out all together. John Mooring was in the house. He heard John say “get up and go civil and I will bail you out in the morning”. After the police had gone William Mooring went. John was taken afterwards. [Cross-examined] He did not go into the room when John was there and he did not strike PC Tompkins. He saw Taylor there. He heard the policeman call out to Taylor saying “Charles Taylor I charge you to aid and assist”. Taylor said “I’m sure I shan’t”. He is sure Charles Taylor’s name was mentioned. John Mooring – he has nothing to say. Charles Taylor – he has nothing to say.

item

Mooring, John,
Taylor, Charles,
Mooring, William,
King, John,
Tompkins, Joseph,
Bailey, Henry,
Brace, Samuel,
Wingrave, William,
Dumpleton, Frederick,
Haward, Frederick Robertson,
Harries

LUTON, Luton Hitchin Road, Luton York Street, assault, refusing to assist a constable, domestic violence, adultery, police constable, police inspector, surgeon, blocker, pedlar