QSR1836/4/5/13

Depositions and examination - Edward Jarvis charged with assaulting Emma Balls with intent to commit felony

8 August 1836

From: 1836 To: 1836

Emma Balls of Bendish (Herts) – last Sunday Week (31 July) she came down to Luton with 3 little girls, and as she was going home by herself in the evening between 7 and 8pm she was walking quickly along the footpath by Nether Crawley Farm. Ned Jarvis of Mangrove was behind her going up the hill. When she first saw him following her it was a little way before Nether Crawley Farm. He caught her 2 or 3 fields beyond the farm, laid hold of her without speaking and threw her down. She said he had better let her go about her business and he said he would not. She said if he did not let her go she would hollow. He put his hand over her mouth. She did hollow as well as she could and 2 women heard her and came up to her. Before they came up he got up and ran away. Jarvis swore he would kill her if she did not hold her tongue. When he assaulted her [description] she made as much noise as she could. Catherine Robinson of Cockernhoe in the parish of Offley (Herts) – last Sunday week she was going from Cockernhoe to Luton in company with Mrs Allen of Mangrove. Crossing one of Mr Tomson’s fields at Nether Crawley near a spinney or spring she heard someone hallooing, they thought for assistance. She knew it to be a woman’s voice so they hallooed again to let her know someone was near. They went across the road towards the spot the sound came from and heard the hallooing again. They crossed the road into a field on the other side and saw a young woman coming towards them. She said a young man had been interrupting her and that he had jumped over the hedge and run away, and that she dare not go home for fear of meeting him again. The young woman appeared a great deal frightened and cried very much, and said the young man’s name was Ned Jarvis and that he went to see another young woman named Ann Chambers. She did not the man. Instead of coming on to Luton they accompanied the young woman to Wigmore Hall on her way home. When they got there they saw Mr Taylor’s cart going to the Heath near Bendish where the woman said she lived. She asked the boy who was driving to let the young women ride home with him which he did. They then went back home without going to Luton as she had intended. She did not know the young woman, but she said her name was Emma Balls and that she lived at Bendish, and is the young woman now present. Sarah Allen, wife of William Allen of Mangrove in the parish of Lilley (Herts) – she has heard Catherine Robinson’s evidence and declares it is correct and true.

item

Jarvis, Edward,
Balls, Emma,
Robinson, Catherine,
Chambers, Ann,
Allen, Sarah,
Allen, William

Bendish, Cockernhoe, Offley, Mangrove, Lilley, Stopsley Nether Crawley Farm, LUTON, assault, sex crimes, carts