QSR1891/3/5/1

Depositions of Amelia Howe, General Servant to Mr Thomas Smyth at Streatley; Emma Howe, wife of Jacob Howe labourer, of Streatley; Louisa Palfrey, wife of John Palfrey, of Streatley and Alfred Elison Muncaster, LRCP&S in practice at Barton In the case against John Palfrey accused of unlawfully and indecently assaulting Amelia Howe.

13 April 1891

From: 1891 To: 1891

Amelia Howe: said that on March 21st the defendant came into the kitchen where she was scrubbing the floor, she was alone in the house, it was between 12 and 1. He came beside her, kissed her and said he loved her. He put her up against the wall and tried to take liberties with her, he tried to put his hand up her clothes but she prevented him. He touched her indecently, she set the dog on him and he let go of her and went away. About 4 she was in the kitchen again alone in the house, he kissed her repeatedly and put his hand up her clothes. She resisted him and slapped his face. He still kept pulling her about, he tried to get her down that time and had done so before. She said that she should tell Mrs Rainbow [identified on 1891 census as Fanny Rainbow] the housekeeper, he said “I don’t care who you tell.” On the Wednesday in consequence of her having told her mother (which she did on the Saturday) Mrs Rainbow in her presence and her mother’s presence, he said he had never touched her and called her a thundering liar. The next Saturday Mr Smyth accused him of touching her and he denied it. [cross examination] she said that Mrs Rainbow and Mr Smyth had gone to Luton, Palfrey had not gone home to dinner when the first assault occurred. Mrs Rainbow and Mr Smyth went away in the dogcart between 12 and 1. She did not call the defendant into the kitchen and give him some wine, there was no wine there. She said that she was a general servant, he was a servant. Mrs Rainbow and Mr Smyth had gone before dinner. The kitchen door was open. There were a lot of men in the yard. It is not possible to see out of the window into the yard. She told her mother and Mrs Rainbow the same day, she told them all about it. They spoke about a charge of Christmas Eve and other occasions. She told Mrs Rainbow directly she came home. On Good Friday Mrs Rainbow and Mr Smyth went away before 6 and came home after she went to bed. Her mother came before dinner and stayed all day and all night with her. On Sunday the 22nd March she was left alone when the others went to Church, defendant came in and out about his work. On December 24th and 27th defendant assaulted her, he threw her down on the floor unbuttoned his clothes and tried to have connection with her. He had tried several times since. She told Mrs Rainbow when she came home, she was away on holiday. She has never been in his wife’s house except when she was sent by Mrs Rainbow on a message. He asked her for a stud as he had broken his and she gave him three. She said that it is because of the repeated indecent assaults that she had been obliged to summon him, she had tried to keep peace and that was why she did not let his wife know. Her master told the prisoner that if he did not leave her alone he would “give him the sack”. Her father did not know until the 25th March when her mother told him. On the Saturday there was Smith the odd man about at dinner time, and several in the afternoon. [re examination] she said that she did not tell her father as he is a very violent man. Emma Howe: said that she is the mother of Amelia Howe. Her daughter came to her about Christmas time and complained about Palfrey. She had made the same complaints several times and especially the 9th and 21st March. Amelia came home to her in the evening, she was very much exhausted and cried bitterly. She said John had been upsetting her, threw her down on the floor and crossed her; she said it was too beastly to tell how he had acted to her. A few days after she was at Mr Smyth’s washing, Mrs Rainbow and John and she were present, they talked it over, he denied it and when they called the daughter in he called her a thundering liar. She told her husband and he said he would go through with it. She had not told him before as she hoped Palfrey would cease and she was afraid of her husband making a disturbance about it. [cross examination] she said that she could not tell what time in the evening she had been told about it, it was not so late as 7 but she thought it was about 6. She did not speak to Mrs Rainbow till after the 21st March. On Good Friday she was at the farm all day and night with her daughter, she did not see Palfrey – she went there to protect her. Palfrey’s wife came to her on the Saturday night. She did say that if he had apologised in the first instance they might have overlooked it but he only swore and abused them. Louisa Palfrey: said that on Wednesday 25th March at dinner time he [Palfrey] told her that he had been accused of assaulting Amelia Howe. That was the first that she had heard about it. On the 28th he again spoke about it, he said “You had better put your things on and go across and see what they mean.” She went and saw Amelia Howe and Mrs Rainbow and said “I want to know what this is Amelia about my husband insulting you.” Amelia said “He has insulted me, he did at Xmas.” She heard Mrs Rainbow say “Go out it is nothing to do with her.” Amelia told her to speak to Mrs Rainbow and Mr Smyth. The same evening she saw Amelia’s mother, she said she was very sorry to say it was true, if he had apologised they would not have said anything about it. She said Amelia was in her house on the 14th March and once she believed as well since Christmas – she came to bring the butter. She said she knew her husband was going to leave some weeks ago, she asked Dr Muncaster some weeks before if he knew of anyone wanting a man. Alfred Elison Muncaster LRCP&S: said that he knows Palfrey, he is in his employment. He was first spoken to about taking him into his service about 2 or 3 weeks before he gave Mr Smyth notice - Palfrey said he did not like the situation. He made enquiries as to his character and he engaged him on the day before Good Friday. He did not apply to Mr Smyth but had previous characters from other people who had employed him. He knew the accusations against Palfrey thoroughly before he entered his services. Palfrey’s wife told him of it, that was before a summons was issued. He produced a letter from Smyth ‘A’ [Exhibit A is transcribed at the end of this deposition] to which he replied asking for particulars but had had no reply. He met Mr Smyth that morning on the road, he said “I would never take a neighbour’s man into my employ,” he complained that he might have taken from his employment; he had no information to the contrary and also of employing him after leaving his service. [Exhibit A - Letter] Streatley 5/4/91 Sir, I understand you are going to have that man John Palfrey as your servant. I should like you to refer to me then I will give you a satisfactory character of him – I trust you will not take him without so doing. With kind regards Yours truly Mr Smyth Dr Muncaster Statementof the accused: I reserve my defence

20 pages

item

Howe, Amelia,
Howe, Emma,
Palfrey, Louisa,
Muncaster, Alfred Elison,
Palfrey, John,
Rainbow, Fanny,
Smyth, Thomas

STREATLEY, Barton, sex crimes, assault