QSR1879/3/5/6

Depositions and examination - Jeremiah Jefferies charged with assaulting and attempting to ravish and carnally know Rose Hull at Roxton on 12 June 1879.

21 June 1879

From: 1879 To: 1879

Rose Hull of Chawston, singlewoman – she is apprenticed to a dressmaker at St Neots, about 4 miles from where she lives at Chawston. On her way home from St Neots she comes through Eaton and Wyboston and on to Chawston. Before she gets to Chawston she turns off the Roxton Road. She goes to St Neots at 7am and leaves work at 8pm. On 12 June she got home at nearly 10pm. On her way home she met Mr Ward and Jefferies. They both caught hold of her. She met them just after she turned off the Roxton Road between Wyboston and Chawston. They both kissed her. Ward put his arm round her neck and Jefferies took hold of her arm. They pulled her down into the road. She got away from them and went on towards home. Jefferies took her umbrella away, followed her and came up to her between Mr Wilkinson’s farm and her home … [description of assault] … she tried to get away and called out “Mother” more than once. When she got up she ran home. Her umbrella and basket were left on the grass where Jefferies put them. Whilst she was on the ground a horse and cart passed. They were going fast. She called out but they did not appear to hear – they were galloping. She got up directly the cart passed. She did not see anyone until she got home. When she got home she complained of Ward and Jefferies to her mother. Her cloak was dirtied and her wrist scratched. A few minutes after she got home William Berrill brought her umbrella and basket. After she got home Jefferies came to her father’s house. She knew Jefferies before this, but has never walked with him. When she went home she was crying. When she called out Jefferies put his hand over her mouth. William Berrill of Chawston, labourer – he works for Mr Wilson. On 12 June at nearly 10pm he was on the road. Someone passed him in a cart 4 or 5 chains from Mr Wilkinson’s white gate. The cart was going towards Rose Hull’s house at a good pace. He was going in the same direction. When he got to Wilkinson’s house he heard someone call out “Mother”. He hurried on and saw someone over the hedge, nearly 200 yards from Wilkinson’s white gate. He asked who was there – no one answered. He saw a man over the hedge. When he spoke the man skulked down by the side of the hedge. He went about a chain further to get over the fence. He heard the man run away and could not see him when he got back to the road. He saw a basket and an umbrella and picked them up. He saw no one else about. He took the basket and umbrella to Hull’s house. He waited there and saw Jefferies, who came to Hull’s house with his mother. Jefferies asked Rose Hull’s father to forgive him. He asked Jefferies what he ran away for. Jefferies said “I thought it was the Bobby”. Where he found the basket and umbrella there are trees and the hedge is high, it is a dull part of the road. It was a dark night. He heard the cry of “Mother” several times before he got to where he found the basket. Jefferies house is between Mr Addington’s and where he found the basket. When he first saw Rose Hull that night she was sobbing. Hannah Hull of Chawston, wife of Job Hull – she is the mother of Rose Hull. On 12 June her daughter came home crying and complained to her. She spoke to her husband who was in bed and told him the name her daughter mentioned. Her husband got up. Her daughter’s dress was wet and had a patch of dirt on it. Later on in the evening she saw Jefferies. Jefferies came to her house with his mother and said he was sorry. Job Hull of Chawston, labourer – Rose Hull is his daughter. On 12 June he saw her about 10pm. His wife came upstairs while he was in bed. She told him something and in consequence he went to Jefferies’ house. Jefferies was not at home. Jefferies later came to his house, said he was sorry and wanted to beg pardon. When he came downstairs his daughter was sobbing and her clothes were dirty. John Maddams of Great Barford, police constable – on Monday night he apprehended Jefferies on a warrant. Jefferies said “I am very sorry it happened. If ever I get out of this I will take care I never get in it again. I have never done anything like it before in my life. I shouldn’t have done so then if it hadn’t been for Mr Ward. Ward first took hold of her and pulled her back some distance along the road and kissed her about 20 times. She then got away from him and Ward said to me you are a b--- fool if you don’t go back after her”. Jeremiah Jefferies – “I shouldn’t have done it if it hadn’t been for John Ward”

item

Hull, Rose,
Jefferies, Jeremiah,
Berrill, William,
Hull, Hannah,
Hull, Job,
Maddams, John,
Wilkinson,
Wilson

ROXTON, Chawston, Great Barford, St Neots, assault, sex crimes, agricultural labourer, police constable, dressmaker