QSR1861/3/5/10

Depositions of Charlotte Reynolds, single woman of Ridgmont. William Williamson, labourer of Ridgmont. Samuel Sinfield, labourer of Lidlington. George Reynolds, labourer of Ridgmont. In the case of William Cowley, otherwise William Cowell, accused of the violent assault with the intent to ravish of Charlotte Reynolds.

1 July 1861

From: 1861 To: 1861

Charlotte Reynolds: a single woman of 18 years living with her parents at Ridgmont. William Cowley was a labourer living in the same place. On 29 June she went to Ridgmont station to meet her father. She was alone and upon returning saw the prisoner sitting by the side of the road with man by the name of Taylor. The prisoner asked for her company saying he was going to Ridgmont. She went on without speaking to him. He followed her alone. The prisoner asked if he father had come and she replied no. The prisoner observed it was cold and she made no reply. He put his hand on her shoulder and she told him to leave her alone. He tripped her up and she cried out ‘murder’. She saw 2 men about 200 yards in front and when she fell to the side of the road the prisoner put his hand over her mouth to prevent her calling out. She tried to get up but he prevented her and threw himself to her side. He pulled up her clothes and she called out. He tried to undo his trunks but fumbled and she got up and away from the prisoner. One of the men she had seen in front came up with her sister. She had expected to meet her and before this she told the prisoner she would inform her father and have a policeman on him. The prisoner went away. A man named Sinfield came up and she pointed to the prisoner who had interfered with her. The prisoner was turning into Mr Readman’s field. She and Williamson halloed to the prisoner and he ran away as fast as he could. She returned home with her sister, Williamson and Sinfield. A short distance from home she met her mother and told her how she had been treated. Her father came home shortly after and she told him. She had been very frightened. The prisoner had not attempted anything of that kind before and she had never before spoken to him. William Williamson: a carter at Ridgmont. On the Saturday evening, about 8pm, he had been returning from Ridgmont station with Sinfield. As they were going along the complainant’s sister, who was about 12 years old, ran past them. He heard the cry of ‘murder’ more than once. He saw someone scuffling on the ground by the side of the road. They were about 400 yards away and he saw nobody else near by. As he and Sinfield returned towards the spot, Charlotte Reynolds ran towards them. She was crying and seemed very frightened. He asked her the matter and she said Will Cowley had thrown her on the ground and put his hand up her clothes. She pointed to a man going through Mr Readman’s field of corn. He saw a man running by the hedge but he was too far away to recognise. They returned to Ridgmont together and met the complainants mother who was informed of what he occurred. George Reynolds: a wheelwright of Ridgmont. He returned home about 9pm on the Saturday. His found his daughter distressed and she told him Will Cowley had ill treated her, pulled up her petticoats and taken liberties with her. He informed the parish constable and had the defendant taken into custody. He went with the constable and told the prisoner he was wanted for ill-treating his daughter. The prisoner said “I have not hurt her have I”. When the constable was putting the handcuffs on the prisoner said he knew he had done wrong and had pulled up her clothes and put his hand over her mouth. The prisoner asked the constable if it could be settled. Samuel Sinfield: about 8m Saturday he had been going towards Ridgmont from the station. He heard a female cry ‘murder’ several times. He was with Williamson and looked back and saw a female on the ground. A man was on top of her. They ran towards her and she met them crying. The man had gone into Mr Readman’s corn. Williamson and the girl called out to the prisoner and he ran off as fast as he could go. Charlotte Reynolds told them how she had been treated and that the prisoner was William Cowley. Charlotte Reynolds sister passed them running before they had turned back and was with Charlotte Reynolds when they met her. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Cowley, William,
Cowell, William,
Reynolds, Charlotte,
Williamson, William,
Sinfield, Samuel,
Reynolds, George,
Readman

RIDGMONT, sex crimes, assault, LIDLINGTON, Ridgmont station, wheelwright, carter