QSR1860/3/5/7

Depositions of Ruth Chew, single woman of Eversholt. Abel Chew, labourer of Eversholt and Benjamin Lawrence Hawkins, surgeon of Woburn. In the case of James Brasier accused ravishing and carnally knowing against her will, Ruth Chew.

30 May 1860

From: 1860 To: 1860

Ruth Chew: daughter of Abel Chew, a labouring man and she lived with her parents in Eversholt. She was 11 years old. She knew James Brasier and often spoke to him. On Thursday 10 May, after breakfast, she was sent by her mother on an errand to Woburn. She was returning when the prisoner, who was driving the cart, overtook her as she passed through the evergreens in the Duke of Bedford’s park. She asked him for a ride and got into the cart. She had never done so before. They rode together as far as Stump Cross Hill and had nearly reached the trees upon the top of the hill when the prisoner put his hand on her thigh and asked her if there was any chance. She did not know what he meant. [Description of the assault……] She saw the farm gang boys in the distance near Mr Forbes’s house. She told the prisoner that the farm gang boys were there but the prisoner said never mind as they would not see him. She cried but did not call out. [further description of the assault….] She was angry with him but he was stronger than her. The prisoner’s person entered her and he hurt her. When he got off her she got out of the cart. He hallowed after her asking if she was going to tell her mother and she said she was. She met no one in the park after she got out of the cart. She got home about 11.30am and saw her mother and told her directly what had happened. Abel Chew: on 10 May, when he returned home his daughter told him she had been ill used by the prisoner. In consequence of what she said he went to the prisoner’s father and told him that James Brasier had had a to do with his daughter in the gig. Brasier called his son and asked him what he’d been at. The prisoner replied ‘nothing’. He told the prisoner to tell the truth but the prisoner made no reply. The prisoner’s father wanted to make it up in the prisoner’s presence but he refused and left. When he got to the High Road the prisoner came to him and said “If you won’t say anything more about it I’ll give you almost anything “. He said he could not and went away. Benjamin Lawrence Hawkins: a surgeon with a practice in Woburn. On 11 May, Ruth Chew was brought to him by her father and he examined her. He found no evidence of rape having been committed or any violence about her private parts. He was quite sure there had been no penetration as her membrane was in tact. The hymen was not ruptured. Statement of the accused: when he first began to meddle with her she was at the bottom of Stump Cross Hill. She had been in the cart 10 minutes. The cart was walking up the hill all the time. When they were half up the hill she said there was a horse and cart coming but there was not one. At the top of the hill she got out and he asked if she should tell her father. She said no. Her father came to see him in the afternoon and said she was only 9 years old.

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Brasier, James,
Chew, Ruth,
Chew, Abel,
Hawkins, Benjamin Lawrence

EVERSHOLT, Woburn Park, surgeon, sex crimes, assault