QSR1895/3/5/5

Depositions of Harry Procter, a basket maker of Leighton Buzzard, Minnie Lawson and John Woodward. In the case of William Frost, accused of maliciously wounding Harry Procter.

11 June 1895

From: 1895 To: 1895

Harry Procter: basket maker of Leighton Buzzard. On the 28th May he was walking with Miss. Lawson near Leighton Buzzard at about 8.45pm. The were returning home when Miss. Lawson noticed the prisoner lying behind a hedge. The prisoner appeared to be watching them. He directed Miss. Lawson to walk on and beckoned for the prisoner to confront him. The prisoner came forward and he asked the prisoner why he had been watching them. The prisoner turned around and whistled. He called the prisoner a ‘cur’ as he thought the prisoner was cowardly for calling for help. The prisoner rushed at him and he stepped back, raising his hands to protect his face. He felt a cut on his right hand which proceeded to bleed. As it was dark he could not see what the prisoner had used to cut him. The prisoner ran off and he went down the lane towards Leighton Buzzard where he met John Woodward. He showed Woodward his hand and told him what had occurred. Woodward returned with him to the field and searched in vain for the prisoner. He did not consult a doctor. [Cross-examined] Miss. Lawson went down the lane and did not see what had occurred. He believed his wound was inflicted by a knife, rather than a stick from the hedge where the prisoner lay. Minnie Lawson: single woman of Leighton Buzzard. On 28th May she was walking with Harry Procter near Leighton Buzzard. The were standing against a stile when she saw the prisoner in the field. The prisoner passed by them. She knew him well. The prisoner went through the gate into the next field where he crawled up the ditch on hands and knees until he got close to them. The prisoner appeared to be watching them. She called Procter’s attention to him. She went on to Leighton Buzzard and did not see anything more of either Procter or the prisoner that evening. John Woodward: basket maker of Leighton Buzzard: On 28th May he was out for a walk about 9pm. He met Miss. Lawson coming down the lane and, from what she said, he sent down the lane and met Procter. Proctor described what had occurred and showed him his hand which was bleeding profusely. The wound was about half an inch deep and appeared to be caused by a sharp object. They returned to the field to search for the prisoner, but did not find anyone. When he was in the lane before he met Miss. Lawson, he heard a loud whistle. [Cross-examined] There were not many people about that night. William Frost: Nothing to say.

item

Lawson, Minnie,
Woodward, John,
Frost, William,
Procter, Henry

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, basket maker, spinster, GBH