QSR1865/3/5/10

Depositions of Samuel Rook, labourer of Biggleswade. Samuel Endersby, labourer of Biggleswade. John Wells, labourer of Biggleswade. Charles Palmer Stevens, surgeon of Biggleswade and Thomas Moore Woodward, police constable of Biggleswade. In the case of James Hawkins accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Samuel Rook.

26 April 1865

From: 1865 To: 1865

Samuel Rook: he was a labourer for Mr Marsom [?] of Biggleswade, a market gardener. He was lodging at the Tally Ho public house in Biggleswade. On 16 April about 10pm he was going from Biggleswade to Langford to see his wife, who was living there. When he got as far as the close known as Coffin Close, on the Langford Road, he met 2 men. He said good night to them. He knew one of the men as James Hawkins of Biggleswade but he did not know the shorter of the men. Hawkins said good night to him but then began to swear and call him a fool. Hawkins suddenly came up to him and struck him on the side of his face, knocking him down. Hawkins kicked him in the head and face whilst he was on the ground. He was sure Hawkins was the worse for liquor and he told Hawkins not to kick him and to let him up. He lay there for a long time and was then taken back to Biggleswade about 1am. He was bad all night. The next morning the doctor, Mr Stevens, was sent for and he had been in his hands since. He had been kept to bed for 3 days and felt a great deal of pain. He no felt better than he had but couldn’t walk without assistance. Samuel Endersby: on 16 April he was in a beer house kept by Samuel Manning of Langford. It was a little before 9pm. He saw John Wells there. Soon after James Hawkins came in. He stayed about half an hour after they came in and then left and walked on his cousin’s house in Langford. He stayed there sometime and heard Hawkins and Wells go by the house as he sat talking. He left about half an hour later and came towards Biggleswade. When he got to Coffin Close he saw a man lying on the ground on his back. He looked to see who it was but he could not tell as it was so dark. He struck a Lucifer match and then saw it was Samuel Rook. He used to work with Rook. Rook had been knocked about a great deal and his face was much bruised with a great deal of blood. He picked Rook up with the assistance of a young woman who was with him. They led Rook towards Biggleswade. He asked Rook who had knocked him about and he replied ‘Jemmy Hawkins’ and he should have a summons for him. He asked if ‘Snellop’, meaning Wells, was with Hawkins. Rook said yes but only Hawkins had knocked him about. Just as Rook said he would have a summons for him, Hawkins was against the Nags Head public house. Hawkins came to Rook and struck him a blow to the face. Endersby gave Hawkins a blow and knocked him down. They scuffled and Hawkins went away. He then asked Snellop if he had knocked Rook about and he replied no but Hawkins had. He stayed with Rook a little longer and then left him against the Nags Head. Rook was able to walk and was sensible enough to tell him that he would summons Hawkins. He did not know how the row had begun. Rook, Hawkins and Wells had been drinking. They were not sober. John Wills: on the evening of 16 April he and the prisoner started to go home from Langford to Biggleswade. When they got about half way they met Samuel Rook. It was against Coffin Close. Rook big them good night and Hawkins and he began to swear together. Wills moved on a few yards and looked around because his companion had not come. He went back and found Rook lying on the ground and he saw Hawkins kick Rook in the face. He took Hawkins away and they went towards Biggleswade. Rook followed them as far as the Nags Head and threatened to summons Hawkins. Hawkins turned round and knocked Rook down again. Samuel Endersby picked Rook up and carried him against the Nags Head. Hawkins and he left. Charles Palmer Stevens: he was sent for on 17 April and attended Rook lodging house. He found Rook in bed and suffering from contusions about the face. There had been bleeding from the left ear. During his stay Rook experienced convulsions, having previously had 2 or 3 fits. It was evident Rook had received severe blows to the face. Rook was in an unconscious state when he first saw him, no doubt arising from severe injury to the back of the brain. He attended Rook from time to time since and he had been getting better but was still far from well. Rook was in a great deal of danger and he was still in danger. Rook was obliged to keep to his bed for a number of days. He believed it to be the first day that Rook had been out. He was suffering from incomplete paralysis. PC Thomas Moore Woodward: on 17 April he apprehended Hawkins. When he first told Hawkins the charge, Hawkins said he knew nothing about it. However on the way to the station he said that he had hit Rook and knocked him down because Rook had threatened to throw him over the Langford Bridge. Statement of the accused: he was innocent and had not hit the man.

item

Hawkins, James,
Rook, Samuel,
Endersby, Samuel,
Wells, John,
Stevens, Charles Palmer,
Woodward, Thomas Moore,
Manning, Samuel

BIGGLESWADE, LANGFORD, Biggleswade Nags Head, surgeon, grievous bodily harm, assault