QSR1856/3/5/10

Depositions of Phillip Wheatley, labourer of Warden, Daniel Hastings, labourer of Warden, John Champkins of Langford and Thomas William Colley, surgeon of Biggleswade. In the case of Frederick Reeves accused of assaulting, beating, wounding and illtreating Phillip Wheatley with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He is further charged with stealing 2 shilings.

30 April 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

Phillip Wheatley: on 26 April he ordered a young woman at one of the huts at Warden Tunnel to draw him a pint of porter. He gave her half a crown to pay for it and she brought him the change back, which was 2 shillings and 3 pence half penny. He put the 2 shillings on the table whilst he put the other money in his pocket. The prisoner took up the 2 shillings and he told him it was his money. The prisoner said he had not got it but the girl said he had. The prisoner stopped in the house a while and he kept asking him for the 2 shillings. The prisoner then went as far as Mrs Donald’s. he followed him and asked him again for the money. They left Mrs Donald’s and he again asked for the money. The prisoner said he would be damned if he would give Wheatley any money and had not taken any. Reeves went away towards Mr Walker’s and he followed but did not sight him again until he got on the bridge against Mr Walker’s. There he said “Well young men you may as well give me my money and have no more bother about it”. The prisoner pushed him down and once he got him down he fell to a kicking him in the side and head. He was left on the ground and became insensible and remained so for some time. He recalled be helped into a cart. He had not collared the prisoner on the bridge. Daniel Hastings: on 26 April he had been working down the right hand side of the railway in Warden and his attention was called to the prisoner who he saw standing on the bridge. He could see him down to the waist. He saw the prisoner draw back and kick something. He ran towards the spot and saw Phillip Wheatley on the ground. He called to the prisoner to leave the man alone and the prisoner responded “I’ll kill the B……” and then he repeated that he meant to kill Wheatley. Hastings went up to Wheatley and believed him dead. The prisoner walked away. He did not observe a weapon in Reeve’s hand. John Champkins: on 26 April he was at work on the railway at Warden. He saw he prisoner on the bridge and saw Wheatley meet him. He had been about 15 yards away when he heard words pass between them. The prisoner put his left hand on Wheatley’s shoulder and struck him with his right hand. It knocked Wheatley down and Reeve set about kicking him whilst he was down. Reeve appeared to hurt him as hard as he could about 50 times. He was afraid to pass them himself and went into the stable and called one of the drivers. They went together and looked but the prisoner was still kicking Wheatley. The driver told him not to go near. Daniel Hastings went up and the prisoner went away. He went for the police. Thomas Henry Colley: an assistant to Mr Stevens, surgeon residing at Biggleswade. On 26 April he was sent for about 10pm to visit Phillip Wheatley at Warden. He found Wheatley in bed. There was a deep wound between his eyes and another on his right temple. The wounds might have been caused by a kick with heavy nailed shoes. He found Wheatley to have a fractured rib and a bruised shoulder. Wheatley was very weak. He visited the following day and found him suffering from [?] in his hand and face. He had been attending him since; the symptoms had abated and he should recover. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Reeves, Frederick,
Wheatley, Philip,
Hastings, Daniel,
Champkins, John,
Colley, Thomas William

BIGGLESWADE, LANGFORD, warden, stealing, grievous bodily harm, surgeon, railway worker