QSR1888/2/5/1

Depositions of Arthur Toyer, a greaser of Stopsley, Malcolm Alexander Rankin, MD of Luton, Tom Perkins, train examiner of Luton, James Targus, train examiner of Luton and PC William Butcher of Luton. In the case of William Sanders accused of wounding Arthur Toyer.

10 March 1888

From: 1888 To: 1888

Arthur Toyer: a greaser with the Midland Railway in Luton. The prisoner was a greaser on the same line. About 1am on Saturday they were in a cabin and the prisoner tried to knock his food over. He told the prisoner not to and the prisoner said “you are a b….. liar” and pulled off his coat and jacket. He pushed the prisoner and told him to go to his work. The prisoner struck him in the eye with his fist and Toyer hit him back. Sanders picked up a broom and dabbed it in his face. Toyer threw Sanders down and took the broom from him. Sanders said “I’ll do something when I get to the end of the train”. They finished greasing the train, one each side. When they had done the train they were talking and Sanders came towards him with an open knife and stabbed Toyer in the shoulder. Toyer knocked Sanders and he fell on his face. Sanders came at him to catch him in the privates. Perkins interfered and caught Sanders by the wrist. Perkins hand was cut. Toyer showed Sanders where he was cut and Sanders said he had thought it had not gone in but he intended to do it at some point so may as well as done it then. Toyer went to the doctor about 4am. The cut was in the back of his shoulders and he was unable to work. He remained under the doctors hands. His overcoat had a hole where the knife had gone in. [cross examination] they had worked together for 9 or 10 months. Toyer was 20 years old. Perkins and Targus, who were wheel tappers, were present. His food had not been knocked over, only nearly knocked over. He did not swear at Sanders but he may have blacked his eye and cut his lip. He had not said to Sanders that he would make a mess of him. As they came out of the cabin, Perkins asked if they had been having a row. Perkins and Targus saw the second part of the row. At first Perkins and Targus stood by. The greasers followed the tappers and the tappers were responsible for the greasers. Perkins was his chief and Targus was Sanders. He thought he could beat Sanders in a fair fight but he had no spite against him. Toyer went to the police after he had been to the doctors and then on home. His club had paid him 12 shillings. Toyer did not carry a knife, but used a dinner knife which he would leave in his basket. Sanders used his food knife to stab him. He could produce the bloody shirt he was wearing at the time of the stabbing. Malcolm Alexander Rankin: about 4am on the 3 March, Toyer came to him. Toyer had a wound over his left shoulder blade. It was a cut of ¾ of an inch and about an inch in depth at its deepest part. There were traces it had been bleeding and looked like it had been done with a sharp instrument such as a knife. He had examined the wound on the day of his statement and it was going on healthily. Tom Perkins: on the morning of 3rd March he left the cabin, leaving Toyer and Sanders in there. He saw Sanders run at Toyer with a knife in his hand. He caught Sanders wrist and stopped him. There were all walking from the train when they heard something and he looked around to see the knife in Sanders hand. After it was done, Sanders said “If I had not done it then I would have before I went home”. [cross examination] they were responsible for their greasers. He had gone on duty at 6pm until 7am. He did not leave at all and they had no beer only tea. The greasers should come behind them. Toyer was putting his supper up and Sanders tended the fire. Between 12 and 15 trains may have run between 1am and 4am. Toyer was not able to go to all the trains. They had been language used but he did not know who had used it, and he may have used bad language himself. Jame Targus: about 1am on Saturday, after they had done the train, they were walking to the box. The 2 greasers were behind and he was with Perkins. He turned round and Perkins said he’s got a knife. Perkins grabbed the knife and caught Sanders wrist. They all went back. Sanders said “It serves him right”. Targus told Sanders he would have to report him. PC William Butcher: about 4am on the morning in question je was on duty in Hitchin Road. He received information of the stabbing and went to the cabin. Toyer had gone to the doctor and Sanders was still there. He asked Sanders for the knife and he was given it. He afterwards apprehended and charged Sanders. Sanders asked how far the knife had gone in, and Butcher said he believed about 2 inches. Sanders said he thought it had gone in only an inch. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

14 pages

item

Sander, William,
Toyer, Arthur,
Rankin, Malcolm Alexander,
Perkins, Tom,
Targus, James,
Butcher, William

LUTON, wounding, assault, greaser, doctor, Midland Railway Company