QSR1887/4/5/10

Depositions of Ellen Bates, wife of Edward of Leighton Buzzard, Sarah Harris, wife of William, chimney sweep of Leighton Buzzard and Thomas Ruffhead, police constable. Joseph Burton, travelling draper of Frome, Somerset on behalf of the defence. In the case of Peter Cull accused of indecently assaulting and illtreating Ellen Bates.

13 September 1887

From: 1887 To: 1887

Ellen Bates: wife of Edward Bates, a labourer and living in Vandyke Road in Leighton Buzzard. On 29 August about 3.45pm she was at her mother’s house in Chapel Path. She was keeping house for her mother and was alone except for her 2 year old. The house was detached with other houses opposite. She left the house to go to the shop to get some biscuits. The shop was 100 yards away. On returning to the house she heard a knock on the door and found the defendant standing there alone. The prisoner came into the house and placed the pack he was wearing on the chair. She had not asked him to come in. The prisoner undid his pack and asked her to buy a piece of blue cloth, asking 7s 6d for it. She said she had no money as she was keeping house for her mother. The defendant placed the cloth on her shoulder and pinched her breast. He told her she could have it for 5 shillings to square it off. She moved away from him and sat on the other side of the room. He followed her and unbuttoned his trousers and pulled out his person. [details of the assault….] He then said to her she would have the cloth for nothing if she gave him what he wanted. She told him she was a married woman and that was sufficient. He told her if she was married she could do with more and put his hand up her clothes. She tried to get free. The baby, which was on her lap, screamed but she did not. She heard footsteps on the path. The defendant packed the cloth back in his bag and went out. As he was going out Mrs Harris, who lived opposite, came in. She was almost helpless when Mrs Harris came in and she told her what had happened and together they went to the police. The prisoner went off with another packman. He had smelt of beer but was not drunk. [cross examination] there were 2 rooms downstairs in the house. It was usual to leave the cottage doors open. The Nags Head public house was about a minute and half walk from the cottage and the Crown public house a further minute from the Nags Head. Mrs Harris and went with her to the Nags Head about 20 minutes after the defendant left and saw him there with the other packman. They were on their way to the police. Mrs Harris told the prisoner he was going to the police and he said they may go as soon as they like. Both the defendant and the other packman had originally come to her mother’s house and the other packman went along the path. The other packman did not come to the door of the house whilst the defendant was inside and did not come back until he had left. The defendant was not more than 2 or 3 yards from the house when Mrs Harris came in. She could not scream and was subject to fainting. She almost did so. Sarah Harris: wife of William Harris, a chimney sweep. They lived opposite the house of Ellen Bates’ mother. On 29 August she saw the defendant call at the door of the opposite house belonging to Bates’ mother. He knocked on the door. She then returned to her own back yard and did not see him go into the house. When she returned to her house she saw the defendant do up the pack in the house, come out and go off towards Mill Road with another packman. She was standing in her own door. She saw the defendant buttoning up his trousers while he was outside the house. She went over to the house. Mrs Bates was sitting in the chair and could not speak at first. Mrs Bates appeared to be fainting. She made a statement to her and in consequence she went with Mrs Bates to the police. On the way they paused at the Nags Head and saw the defendant there. She asked him what he meant by upsetting Mrs Bates and he said he had done nothing. She told him there were going to the police. PC Thomas Ruffhead: about 5pm on 29 August, Mrs Bates and Mrs Harris came to his house and made a complaint. He later apprehended the prisoner at the Crown public house in North Street. The defendant said he had not assaulted the woman. The defendant was not drunk. Statement of the accused: nothing to say. Joseph Burton: a travelling draper from Frome in Somerset. On 29 August he was work with the defendant in Leighton Buzzard. They went into Chapel Path and defendant went to the house of Bates’ mother and he called at the house opposite. From the time the defendant went into the house until the time he came out, he was not further than 18 yards away. He stood outside waiting for about 3 minutes. When the prisoner came out he asked if he needed any goods and the prisoner replied no as he had not made a sale. The cottage door was open and he saw the defendant doing up his pack. He did not see the prisoner do up his trousers. They went away together to the Nags Head and had a glass of beer. When leaving the house, Cull said to Mrs Bates “Good afternoon mam” and she replied “good afternoon.” He could see Mrs Bates sitting on the opposite side of the room with a bay on her knee. She and the baby both looked quiet.

item

Cull, Peter,
Bates, Ellen,
Bates, Edward,
Harris, Sarah,
Harris, William

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, sex crimes, assault, draper, chimney sweep, Banbury, Leighton Buzzard Nags Head, Mill Road