QSR1837/3/5/31

Deposition against John Godfrey, charged with maliciously stabbing John Copperwaite, and character reference for Henry Godfrey.

27 June 1837

From: 1837 To: 1837

John Copperwaite of Clifton – last Saturday evening he went into Thomas Woollard’s house, the sign of the Golden Lion at Clifton. He saw William Morgan sitting in the tap room. Morgan asked him to take something to drink. John Godfrey was sitting there at the time and said to Henry Godfrey who was also there, “uncle, there’s the man”, pointing at him. The uncle asked him why he beat his brother so last night. He said “because he collared me”. Henry Godfrey then said “I will give it you on Monday morning”. He answered “now’s your time – if you’re a man come out now”. He went out of the house and Henry Godfrey followed him. When they got out he said “Henry now’s your time, now you are in your hot blood”. He struck Henry Godfrey in the face and Godfrey returned the blow. John Godfrey assisted his uncle and they both knocked him into a ditch. While he was in the ditch John Godfrey straddled over him and calling Henry Godfrey said “bugger his eyes and limbs where’s your knife Henry, give it me and I’ll stab the bugger”. Henry said “where’s your own”. John Godfrey answered that it was at home. He then saw Henry Godfrey take a knife out of his waistcoat pocket and hand it (opened) to John Godfrey who was still standing over him. He had hold of John Godfrey’s throat at the time, trying to release himself. John Godfrey held him down with his right hand and stabbed him twice with the knife with his left. He received a stab in the right arm and one near the hip. He bled very much. There were many people round them at this time. He called out for mercy and told them to take Godfrey off him or he would be killed. John Lock then took Godfrey off him. After he got up he said to Henry Godfrey that he would now fight him with one hand. He stayed talking with Master Woollard a few minutes then fell down from loss of blood. He remained senseless for some time and was carried home by some persons. He was attended by Mr Gay and his son of Shefford, surgeons, who dressed his wounds. Character reference for Henry Godfrey: "we believe the bearer Henry Godfrey to be a man of sober industrious and regular life, and whom we have always respected, and we understand that in the present instance he only acted in self defence". Signatories include Rector and Churchwardens of Clifton.

item

Godfrey, John,
Godfrey, Henry,
Copperwaite, John,
Woollard, Thomas,
Lock, John,
Gay

CLIFTON, SHEFFORD, assault, wounding, knife, Clifton Golden Lion, surgeon