QSR1836/3/5/31

Depositions - William Town charged with assaulting Thomas Keech, constable of Stevington, in the execution of his duty

18 June 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

Thomas Keech, constable of Stevington – on 8 June between 6 and 8am he was in John Town’s house at Stevington. William Town came in and said to his brother John Town “Jack, what are you up to. My father will be down here presently and we’lll soon clear the house”. John Town called William Town upstairs. They went up and returned in a few minutes. When they came down John Town began to clear the house. William Town stood against the door with the door in his hand. He was there as constable. He went to distrain for rent with his brother. John Town rented a house in Stevington under his brother [Isaac Keech] which he left. His brother charged him as constable to go with him to seize some goods which had been removed from the place rented from his brother to another house John Town had at Stevington to avoid a distress for rent. He went to assist his brother in recovering the goods. He called in William Bowyer, William Kyne, William Mackaness and Amos Eaton to assist. John Town knocked Bowyer down and John Town and William Town cleared the house of them, but leaving one in the house. Then John Town came and caught hold of both his arms. William Town got hold of the door and both together threw him out of the house. While William Town had got hold of the door and before John Town threw him out John Town kicked and struck him very much indeed. He was very much hurt and has been under the doctor ever since. He can’t say whether William Town struck or kicked him but he helped to throw him out. They knew what he came for and that he was a constable. He had his staff in his hand. John Town had a great hoe which he held at him in a threatening position but he did not use it. Isaac Keech of Stevington, farmer – he is the owner of a house at Stevington, one room of which he let to john Town as a half yearly tenant at the rent of 6d a week. The rent was to be paid every half year. One half year’s rent became due to him last Lady Day. It was not paid. He asked Town for it several times. The last time was in the evening before the goods were removed. John Town’s household goods were removed from the room he occupied about a fortnight before 8th June. He did not see them removed but he missed them the next morning about 9 or 10am. After the removal he does not think he asked for the rent until the morning of 8th June. When he went with Thomas Keech the constable to John Town, before he could speak to him Town lifted up a large hoe and said “damn you if you come here, I’ll knock you down”. He said “I’m only come to ask you for my rent”. Town said “I won’t pay you” then whipped into the house. He went in after him. The constable followed. Town then put a pail of water into the boiler and said “damn you I’ll soon clear the house of you”. Town then caught hold of his collar and turned him out of doors and struck him. William Town was not present then. He knows nothing about the disturbance between the constable and William Town.

item

Town, William,
Keech, Thomas,
Keech, Isaac,
Town, John,
Bowyer, William,
Kyne, William,
Mackaness, William,
Eaton, Amos

STEVINGTON, assault, constable, general housing, debt, tenancy, household goods, farmer