QSR1878/4/5/5

Depositions and examination - William Mooring, charged with wounding Samuel Brace, police inspector, by kicking him violently while in the execution of his duty at Luton on 12 September 1878

2 October 1878

From: 1878 To: 1878

Samuel Brace of Dunstable Place, Luton – on Thursday 12 September he received a warrant to arrest Mooring. Between 7 and 8pm he went to Mrs Mooring’s to fetch him. He went to the back door and found Mooring in the house. He read him the warrant. Mooring replied “All right I will go quietly with you if you won’t handcuff me”. He replied “I won’t handcuff you then”. They came out of the back way into the Hitchin Road. When they got 2 or 3 doors past Mooring’s house he became very violent and they were obliged to handcuff him. When they got to Burr Street he saw Mooring put his legs around PC Pedrick’s and they both fell on the road together. He was stooping down to assist Pedrick and Wildman the constables when Mooring kicked him violently 3 times – once just below his right breast which caused him great pain, once on his right leg and once on his left shin cutting a piece of skin off as large as a shilling. They got Mooring up and with great difficulty got him to the Police Office at Plait Hall. His side got worse and he went home to bed. The next morning he went to the surgery of Dr Thomason who examined him and bound him up. The next day he brought up a great quantity of blood. He was obliged to keep to his bed for 12 days and has not been able to do duty since. He is still under the doctor’s care. [Cross-examined] He was stooping over Mooring when he kicked him. He thought Mooring’s boots heavy. He had been unwell but was all right then – he was well and never felt better. It was his first day on duty. James Pedrick of the Police Office, Luton, police constable – on 12 September he was with Brace and another and went to Mooring’s house. They took Brace into custody. They did not handcuff him as he said he would go quietly. In the street Mooring caught hold of his collar, put his legs round him and in the struggle they both fell. They handcuffed Mooring with great difficulty. Mooring bit him on his hand taking a piece out with his teeth. When they got opposite Burr Street, Mooring kicked Brace three times. Brace has been laid up ever since. Brace opened his coat and shirt and showed him the balck mark and also showed him his legs which were bleeding. Joseph Wildman of the Police Office, Luton, police constable – he saw Mooring kick Brace in Burr Street and saw the bruises at the police station. David Thomson of Luton, doctor of medicine – he is the police doctor. On 13 September 1878 Inspector Brace came to him. He examined him and found marks on both legs, with the skin off the shin of the left leg. Both knees were marked. On his right breast was an extensive bruise. He found Brace was suffering fractured rib, bandaged him and told him to go home and remain there. Two or three days afterwards Brace was ill, in danger of his life. Brace brought up a quantity of blood in consequence of the rib piercing his lung. He has attended him since. Brace is still unfit for duty. William Mooring - he reserves his defence.

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Mooring, William,
Brace, Samuel,
Pedrick, James,
Thomson, David

LUTON, Luton Dunstable Place, Luton Hitchin Road, Luton Burr Street, wounding, police constable, police inspector, doctor