QSR1836/2/5/10

Depositions - William Placeham, George Cooper, Joseph Bowers, Richard Howes and James Taylor

22 March 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

William Oakley of Dunstable, special constable – on the evening of Saturday 12 March he was walking down the principal street in the execution of his duty as constable. He heard William Placeham making a noise. He remonstrated with Placeham and requested him to go home quietly. Placeham struck him a violent blow under the ear. He requested the persons about him to take him home. Placeham struck him again, then seized the lantern fastened round his [Oakley’s] waist and beat him with it on the head. When he first saw Placeham he was near the Swan with Two Necks. He was thrown down in the scuffle and Placeham bit him on the hand. Twenty or more people were present assisting Placeham but no one came to his assistance except James Pratt. This occurred at about 11.30pm. James Pratt of Dunstable, shoemaker – on Saturday 12 March he was in the street at Dunstable near his mother’s door and heard the cry of “murder”. There were about 20 or 30 people in the street. He went towards the crowd. Gaydon and Oakley charged him to aid and assist them as constables in taking Placeham to the cage. He saw Placeham had got Mr Oakley down on his knees and his hand fixed on Oakley’s neckcloth so as almost to throttle him. He laid hold of Placeham’s hand and released Oakley from his grasp. Oakley, Gaydon and himself tried to take Placeham to the cage, but the mob rescured him from their hands and he escaped. During the struggle between the constables and Placeham he heard the constables call on those around to aid and assist them. George Cooper, one of the mob replied he would “see them buggered first, without there was murder done”. Catherine Cook of Dunstable – he heard a great noise in the street and asked James Taylor who lives next door to her if he heard the row. He said he would go and see. He returned in a minute and said some person was going to fetch a summons for him. She asked what for, as he had not been gone a minute. She does not think there was a very great noise. William Oakley of Dunstable, constable [further examination] – in the evening of Saturday 12 March when he was taking Placeham into custody, George Cooper, Joseph Bowers, Richard Howes and James Taylor were present. He called on all present to aid and assist. James Pratt came forward. Howes and Placeham took hold of Placeham as well as of himself and rescued Placeham from his custody. The mob was very violent. Cooper called out “I will see the bloody Police murdered before I will help” in reply to his call for aid and assistance. He saw James Taylor distinctly in the mob when he called for aid and assistance the second time. He was very weak from the beating he received. John Gaydon of Dunstable, special constable – he was coming down the street with William Oakley, another special constable. He heard a great noise near the Swan with Two Necks. Placeham was there making a great noise. There were a great many others there. Placeham appeared to be drunk. Oakley desired Placeham to go home. Placeham then struck Oakley a blow on the head. He struck Oakley 2 or 3 times. They tried to take him to the cage and Placeham again assaulted Oakley. Several things struck him [Gaydon]. Oakley requested the persons present to aid and assist, including Cooper, Howes, Bowers and Taylor. James Pratt was the only one who came forward. There was a great noise and Placeham was ultimately rescued out of his custody by the mob. Charlotte Placeham of Dunstable, singlewoman – she went to fetch half pint of beer from Mr Botterille. She was going in and her brother was coming out. He said he would wait for her and they came out together. There was no one near. They walked on towards Mr Waterfield’s very civilly together. He called out for Joe Bowers who was against Mr Eli’s. There was no mob in the street until Mr Oakley collared her brother. The mob came after. Her brother was not drunk. He had had some beer. He was not tipsy nor yet sober.

item

Oakley, William,
Pratt, James,
Cook, Catherine,
Taylor, James,
Cooper, George,
Bowers, Joseph,
Howes, Richard,
Gaydon, John,
Placeham, Charlotte

DUNSTABLE, assault, escape from custody, special constables, parish cages, drunkenness, Dunstable Swan With Two Necks