QSR1836/2/5/11

Depositions - John Brittain of Potton, charged with assaulting John Edwards in the execution of his duty as constable of Potton and attempting to rescue William harris, James Brittain and James Almond out of his custody at Biggleswade

27 January 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

John Edwards, constable of Potton – on 13 January he had William Harris, James Brittain and James Almond in custody under a warrant of commitment signed by the Rev John Hull, Justice of the Peace. He was about to take them down to the Old House of Correction at Bedford under the warrant. There was a cart belonging to John Brittain (brother of James) in the yard of the White Swan Inn in Biggleswade where they were. There was a crowd of people in the yard who helped the three prisoners up into the cart against his will and in spite of all the resistance he could make. John Brittain held the horse and as soon as the prisoners got into the cart he got up into the cart and tried to drive away, laying about the horse with his whip. He laid hold of the horse’s head to prevent him getting away and Brittain’s whip struck him on the face. He does not think Brittain hit him on purpose. William Carrington of Shefford, merchant – he was in the yard of the White Swan in Biggleswade on 13 January and saw Edwards the constable with three men in his custody. He saw the crowd help them up into Brittain’s cart, then John Brittain got up, flogged his horse and tried to drive away. The crowd would not assist the constable. He and the constable succeeded in stopping the cart and prevented the rescue of the prisoners.

item

Brittain, John,
Edwards, John,
Harris, William,
Brittain, James,
Almond, James

POTTON, BIGGLESWADE, SHEFFORD, assault, constable, merchant, Biggleswade White Swan