QSR1891/4/5/4

Depositions of Sarah Elizabeth Prickett of Stagsden, Thomas Tompkins labourer of Stagsden, Amos Pheasey farmer of Stagsden, Annie Prickett of Stagsden and Charles Harlow Police Constable stationed at Bromham. In the case against Albert Tompkins for violent assault on and attempt to ravish and carnally know Sarah Elizabeth Prickett.

8 August 1891

From: 1891 To: 1891

Sarah Elizabeth Pricket said: I am the daughter of Noah Pricket and live at Stagsden in Bedfordshire – I was sixteen on the 19th of April last – On Wednesday the 5th of August I was going from Stagsden to Bromham at between three and four o’clock in the afternoon to take a note to my brother’s wife from my mother. When I got near the Wick End brook the prisoner overtook me – he spoke to me and went in front of me and walked slowly. I then caught him up he said “Good afternoon”. “It is a nice afternoon,” I said, “It will soon be harvest”. he then asked me my name I said, “Sarah Elizabeth Pricket” – he said “How old are you?” I said, “Sixteen” he said, “What’s your father’s name?” I said, “Noah Pricket” he then said “Where are you going?” I said, “Not all the way to Bedford” I was going in the direction of Bedford. He then said “Have you ever been touched?” I did not answer him – he said “Have you got a young man?” I told him “No” – I told him if any young man came near me I would smack his face for him – he was at this time walking on the left of me – he catched hold of me around my waist and throwed me down pulled my clothes up and got on the top of me – I tried to put my clothes down and I crossed my legs – his trousers were undone. I was crying and screaming he said “You need not holler” – he tried to get my legs apart he did not succeed. When he was on the top of me and my legs were crossed I felt something above my privates. This happened by a gate leading into Mr William Walkers field between the fir plantation and the Wick End Road – and on the right hand side of the road as I was facing towards Bedford. Whilst he was on the top of me I heard a trap coming he then got off me. The trap was coming from Bedford I did not know anyone who was in the trap – after the trap passed me I ran away towards Bromham. The prisoner caught me up and said “Let us have some more” I said “No” he then threw me down again and pulled my clothes up and got on top of me – I screamed – he put his hand over my mouth – I crossed my legs – I felt something against me just above my privates – he put his finger up my private parts – he put his hand under me – I was crying all the time – I then saw Tommy Tompkins he stood on the other side of the road and spoke and the prisoner got off me – I told the prisoner I should tell Mr Harlow (the Bromham Policeman) the prisoner said “You won’t will you” I said, “Yes I will”. I then started to go along the road the prisoner followed me and said here is some money for you I saw either a two-shilling piece or a half a crown in his hand I did not take the money – after I had gone two or three yards I heard someone holler – I afterwards saw it was Mr Pheasey in his field – I heard Mr Pheasey speak to the prisoner – I spoke to Mr Pheasey the prisoner was so near at the time that he heard what I said. I said “He’s been meddling with me” I went on and did not hear any conversation between Mr Pheasey and the prisoner – I went on to my sisters – the prisoner went back – when I got to my sisters I made a complaint. I did not then know the prisoner’s name – I did not know him – the man who assaulted me was the prisoner and he had the same coat on then as he has now with a black band round the left arm. [cross examined by Prisoner] You put me down twice – I did not take the money you offered me – I knocked the money out of your hand on to the grass. Thomas Tompkins said: I am a labourer working on the Crown Farm at Stagsden. On Wednesday the 5th August I was at work in a field called “Twenty Acres” on the side of the road leading from Stagsden to Bromham – it is the field which runs by the side of the road from the Wick End Turn to the fir plantation. Whilst I was at work between three and four o’clock I heard some screaming it sounded like a woman’s voice – it was a loud screaming – about ten minutes after I had heard the screaming I heard someone say “I will tell the policeman” I went towards the road – onto the road and up the road in the direction I had heard the noise. I saw a man and a woman lying by the side of the road – the man was lying on the top of the woman. The woman was screaming all the time – her clothes were up – I was on the opposite side of the road to where the man and the woman were – I said “what are you doing there?” The man got up and the woman as well. I saw it was Sarah Prickett – I did not then know the man – it was the prisoner – I said to the woman “You go and tell the policeman” she said “I will” – she started towards Bromham – the prisoner went after her – I saw him put his hand into his pocket and he then held his hand out towards her and said “You take this my dear and say nothing about it” – I could not say whether she took it or not. I went back to the field in which I was at work – there were men at work in the field I made a statement to two of them – And we all three went back to the road and came on the road at different spots – I went to see if I could see the man and the woman – When I saw the prisoner get off Sarah Prickett his trousers were undone and his person was out. [cross examined by prisoner] I am sure I saw your trousers undone. I am sure because I saw your trousers undone I did not see your shirt Amos Pheasey said: I am a farmer living at Stagsden and on Wednesday the 5th of August between three and four o’clock I was in my field on the side of the road leading from Stagsden to Bromham I heard crying and screaming down the road - I went and looked over the hedge – I saw a man and woman coming from the direction of the twenty acre field towards me – The woman was a little in front of the man she was crying – I heard her say “I will go and tell the policeman”. She was walking by the side of the road and the man in the middle of the road – she was going 4 or 5 miles an hour – When they got up to me I said “What’s the matter girl?” She said “This man has been meddling with me” – I said to the man “You great fool. You must be a fool you will get six months” The man stopped and went back towards Stagsden very fast – running a part of the way – I knew the man well it was the prisoner – I only knew the girl by sight. When I said to the prisoner “You great fool you must be a fool” he said “Well she asked me” – I thought the prisoner was a little worse for drink. Annie Prickett said: I and the wife of Henry John Prickett and live at Stagsden not far from Bromham. Sarah Elizabeth Prickett is my husbands sister – On Wednesday the 5th of August she came to my house with a note – I saw her coming along the road – When she got near the house I spoke to her she was crying – She made a complaint. Charles Harlow said: I am a police constable stationed at Bromham. On Wednesday the 5th of August between 5 and 6 o’clock I went to Stagsden – I saw the prisoner in The White Horse public house – I said “Albert I want to speak to you” he said “What is it” – I said “Which way have you been today” he said “I have not been 100 yards from this house” – I said “There has been a young woman assaulted this afternoon by some man along the road between Stagsden and Mr Pheasey’s” he said “It was not me I don’t know nothing about it” I said “Have you had another jacket on today?” he said “No I have had no more clothes only what I have got on now” – Mrs Bonny the landlady of the public house was there and said that man had a grey jacket on with a black band on the sleeve when he came in here this morning – the prisoner was not then wearing the grey coat he is now wearing – I took him into custody and as I was passing his mother’s house I said to his sister in his hearing – “Where is that grey jacket of your brothers?” She said “It is in the house” I said “Will you fetch it?” She fetched out the jacket the prisoner is now wearing – as we were coming along the road the prisoner said “You have made a mistake I am not the man”. Just before we got to Bedford the prisoner said “It is no use telling no lies I am the man it was drink as done it. I believe the prisoner at this time was the worse for drink – Before I took the prisoner into custody I charged him with committing an indecent assault and an attempt to commit a rape. Statement of the accused: I have nothing to say

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Tompkins, Albert,
Prickett, Sarah Elizabeth,
Tompkins, Thomas,
Pheasey, Amos,
Prickett, Annie,
Harlow, Charles

STAGSDEN, sex crimes, assault, labourer