Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1896/4/5/2
  • Title
    Depositions of Joseph Binns, Josiah Brightman, Charles Stevens, George Javins and Francis Barclay Willmer Phillips. In the case of James Godfrey, indicted for grievous bodily harm upon Joseph Binns.
  • Date free text
    16 August 1896
  • Production date
    From: 1896 To: 1896
  • Scope and Content
    Joseph Binns: The Witness lives at Tavistock St. Bedford House renovator [?]. On 16 August from 4 to 4:30 o’clock he was on the Ampthill Rd. near Kempston Hardwick. He believes it was in Houghton Conquest parish. He saw the Prisoner as he [the Witness] was coming towards Kempston Hardwick. The Witness was on a bicycle. The Witness saw a horse and cart and several people on the road about two to three hundred yards [sic]. The Witness rang his bell, and almost immediately saw the Prisoner coming off the side of the road towards him. The Prisoner put his hand in his waistcoat pocket. The Witness steadied up. The Prisoner struck the Witness a severe blow under the jaw. The Witness fell toward the left. When he became conscious there were several people about; 3 or 4 were holding the Prisoner down. The Witness’s jaw was very much hurt. Some of his teeth were loosened. His mouth was cut inside. His head was cut. He had pain in his hip. The back of his hand was cut. He has not been able to work yet. Josiah Brightman, parish Bailiff living at Houghton Conquest: About two p.m. on 16th August he saw the Prisoner on the Ampthill Rd. near the turn [?] of the road to Houghton Conquest. About 4.15 he came that way again with a man named Stevens. He saw the Prisoner on the Ampthill Rd. about two hundred yards nearer Ampthill than when he saw him earlier in the afternoon. The Prisoner was standing still when they got to him. Stevens said, “Good afternoon.” The Prisoner at once struck Stevens and knocked his hat off. Stevens asked him what he meant by it. The Prisoner made no reply but struck Stevens again. They both went down. The Witness went to Stevens’s assistance and held the Prisoner down. The Witness asked the Prisoner what he meant by striking Stevens. The Prisoner said, “I have not interfered with any one. Let me get up.” The Witness asked the Prisoner if he would go on about his business if they let him get up. The Prisoner said he would. They then let him get up. The Witness then asked him where he was going. The Prisoner said, “I don’t know.” The Prisoner then went across the road and stood on the side of the road. Stevens and the Witness walked up the road towards Ampthill. A horse and cart came up from Bedford and they stopped and spoke to the man driving the cart. Whilst the Witness was speaking to this man he saw a man coming from the direction of Ampthill. It was the last Witness [i.e. the prosecutor]. He [the prosecutor] passed by and went on towards Bedford. When he got to the Prisoner, the Prisoner knocked him over. The Prisoner struck [the] prosecutor with his right hand. The prosecutor fell back on his left side. The Prisoner was on the prosecutor’s right hand. The Witness was about 20 yards off the prosecutor when he fell. The Witness went to the prosecutor, and found him lying on the road unconscious. Stevens came up. It was five minutes before the prosecutor became conscious. The Witness sent for the Constable and gave the Prisoner in charge. Charles Stevens, blacksmith at Houghton Conquest: About 4:15 p.m. on 16th August he was with the last Witness and saw the Prisoner standing on the Ampthill Rd. As they were passing him, the Witness said, “Good afternoon.” The Prisoner at once tried to hit the Witness. He then struck the Witness on the side, knocked him down and got on top of him. Brightman came to the Witness’s assistance and they held the Prisoner down. They afterwards let him get up. The Witness asked the Prisoner whether he wanted a penny or twopence to help him on the road. The Prisoner said he did not want money. Brightman and the Witness went on towards Ampthill. They stopped to speak to a man in a cart, and whilst they were speaking to him the prosecutor coming from the direction of Ampthill passed them; he was on a bicycle. The Prisoner struck the prosecutor and he fell to the ground. Brightman and the Witness went to the prosecutor; he was not conscious for some minutes. The Prisoner did nothing after the prosecutor fell; he stood quite still. The policeman was sent for and he took the Prisoner away. George Javins, Police Constable stationed at Wootton: About 4:30 on the afternoon of the 16th August the Witness went on the Ampthill Rd. He there found the prosecutor, Brightman, Stevens and the Prisoner and several other persons. The prosecutor was bleeding very much from his head. Stevens and Brightman were holding the Prisoner on the ground. The Witness told them to let him get up and they did and the Prisoner at once tried to hit the Witness. The Witness took the Prisoner into custody. He brought him to Bedford in a cart and brought the prosecutor at the same time. Frances Barclay Willmer Phillips, surgeon practising in Bedford: Shortly after 7 o’clock on the evening [?] of 16th August the prosecutor came to the Witness’s house. He had a wound on the left side of the scalp near the top of the head. It was not a clean cut, but one which might be made by a blunt instrument or a fall. A swelling on the left side of the lower jaw [sic]. The skin of the mouth on the left side was torn and some of the teeth were loosened and on the back of the left hand were two abrasions. Statement of the Defendant James Godfrey, when asked if he wished to say anything in answer to the charge: “No, sir.”
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