QSR1856/3/5/27

Depositions of James Holland, parish constable of Totternhoe, George Hailey, labourer of Totternhoe, Joseph Farr, surgeon of Dunstable, PC Jeremiah Cuttriss of Dunstable. In the case of John Wildman accused of maliciously stabbing, cutting and wounding George Hailey with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

16 June 1856

From: 1856 To: 1856

James Holland: on 5 June about 11pm he saw the prisoner drunk at Totternhoe. He tried to get him home and when he took him a short distance, Wildman said he would go no further and threw himself down. He lifted Wildman up and let him go. Wildman went about half a mile and then lay down in the road. He followed him and told him not to lie there. Wildman caught hold of his leg and he thought he was going to get up. After Wildman had got up he saw he had a knife in his hand and he ran away. He again followed him and again he lay down in the road. George Hailey came up and he advised him not to meddle with Wildman as he had a knife open. After he had lifted him the second time, Wildman had taken a stab at him but had not cut him. Immediately after that Hailey told his brother to his hands whilst he took the knife away from Wildman. Hailey said ‘he has cut me’. The next morning he found his boot cut through in 2 places and several holes in his frock. George Hailey: on 5 June he saw James Holland trying to take the prisoner home. He was a little way behind him at the time. The last time Wildman fell he picked him up and as soon as he had laid hold of him he stabbed him in the hand between the little finger and the one next to it. The next day he went to Mr Farr, the surgeon and hand his hand dressed. He had not been able to do any work since with that hand. He took the knife from Wildman after he had cut him. His hand was still not well. Joseph Farr: a surgeon of Dunstable. On 6 June, George Hailey came to him to have his hand dressed. Hailey had an incised wound on the back of his hand about 4 inches in length. It was still not well and it would probably be another fortnight before he could carry out his usual business. Hailey ought not use his hand at present. The cut was made with a sharp instrument. PC Jeremiah Cuttriss: on 13 June he took the prisoner into custody. Wildman said he would not have done it if he had not have been meddled with. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Wildman, John,
Holland, James,
Hailey, George,
Farr, Joseph,
Cuttriss, Jeremiah

DUNSTABLE, TOTTERNHOE, grievous bodily harm, surgeon, drunkenness