QSR1890/1/5/5

Depositions of Gertrude McFadden, domestic servant of Luton, Elizabeth Sills, married woman of Luton, Francis William Clark, L.R.C.P M.R.C.S of Luton and William Chamberlain, detective officer of Luton. In the case of William McFadden accused of assaulting Gertrude McFadden and causing her bodily harm.

14 December 1890

From: 1889 To: 1890

Gertrude McFadden: 15 years old on 23 November and was now in the service of Mr Elingham at North Street, Luton. She had been there about a year. Before that she had lived at 17 Queen Street with her father, brothers and sister. Her mother lived at Arlesey Asylum. She used to sleep in the back room with her little brother and sister and her father slept in the front room. She had slept with her father. He had told her to and she had done so twice before going into service. She had always stayed all night and he did something to her which she could not say. He always did that when she slept with him. She first began to fall ill in May. Spots came out on her face, and afterwards lump on the inside of her thighs. She went to see Dr Clarke. Elizabeth Sills: wife of William Sills of 52 High Town Road, Luton. Gertrude was her 15 year old niece. She saw her with a rash on her about 3 months ago. She treated her for a usual rash but she got no better, so she took her to Dr Clark. Dr Clarke asked her to take her niece to a Physician in London, so she did so next day. On her return Dr Clarke made a statement to her and on his advice she questioned her niece who made a complaint to her. Her niece had kept to that story since. Francis William Clark: of Nelson Street, Luton. On 18 November Gertrude McFadden was brought to him. He found her face and body covered with a Syphilitic rash. He advised her aunt the day after and he had been treating her for it since. It is a disease communicated by connection. He examined her in detail and found no hymen. She was very sore from suffering from the discharge relative to the disease. The disease could be from 4 to 12/14 months old since the inoculation. The patient’s mental condition was of a low standard from her stunted growth and her mother being insane. He looked upon the girl as mentally weak. He saw no reason to think the syphilis was inherited. [cross examination] circumcision does not prevent syphilis. Absence of a hymen does not prove actual connection. The first symptoms of syphilis are accompanied by a visible discharge but the sufferer can hide it. Any person washing the clothes would see the discharge. Syphilis can possibly be contracted without connections but there would be no vaginal discharge. It always shows itself at the place infected. His opinion was that from the condition of the vagina the infection took place there. If properly treated for syphilis a year ago it may be possible he would find no signs of it now. William Chamberlain: he apprehended the prisoner on a warrant on 9 December. The prisoner said he did not quite understand the charge and Chamberlain told him it was for an offence committed on his daughter. The prisoner said “Good god do you mean it?” and he replied “yes”. The prisoner said he would say no more. Statement of the accused: he wished to say she had only slept with him once. The reason was she had been ill 2 nights before and he had to get out of bed to her so often. She complained of a man being in her room. He calmed her down and the next night he told her to lie in his bed because he did not want her to disturb him again. She lay quite quiet all night and he neither said nor did anything improper to her.

item

McFadden, William,
McFadden, Gertrude,
Sills, Elizabeth,
Clark, Francis William,
Chamberlain, William,
Elingham

LUTON, actual bodily harm, assault, domestic servant, doctor, Luton North Street, Luton Queen Street, syphilis, incest