QSR1862/1/5/20/a

Depositions of Jane Fisher, spinster of Beeston. William Hills, police constable of Blunham. In the case of John Roberts accused of the violent assault of Jane Fisher, with intent to ravish and carnally know.

28 December 1861

From: 1861 To: 1862

Jane Fisher: she was 22 years old and lived in Beeston. On 8 December she went to see her sister in Moggerhager. At 3pm she set of to return by herself. On getting to Drovers Lane in Moggerhanger, about ¾ of a mile on her way, she heard someone running up behind her. She looked around and saw the prisoner. He came up to her and seized her neck. She called out as loud as she could and he told her if she made a noise he would knock her teeth down her throat. She told him she would give him a penny if he let her go. He took hold of her hand and led her to a hedge. He twisted her round 3 times and threw her down. He pulled up her petticoats. [Description of the assault…….] He got up and ran away. She saw a man coming. She called out as loud as she could. She got up and went to the man and told him what the prisoner had done to her. She then went home. Her mother was in London and so she told her father that she had been interfered with. Her clothes were smothered in mud. She had not seen the prisoner before and did not see him again until he was brought to her house by the policeman. PC William Hills: on 23 December he apprehended the prisoner and charged him with assaulting Jane Fisher with the intent to commit rape. The prisoner said “yes I did interfere with some young girl but I don’t know who she was but I should know her again if I was to see her”. The following morning he took him to Jane Fisher‘s house and she immediately recognised him. The prisoner said she was the young lady. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Roberts, John,
Fisher, Jane,
Hills, William

BLUNHAM, Beeston, Moggerhanger, sex crimes, assault