QSR1865/4/5/8

Depositions of Ann Bygrave, spinster of Southill. Samuel Urin, labourer of Southill. John Farr, labourer of Southill. Benjamin Bygrave, labourer of Southill. In the case of William Bland accused of the indecent assault of Ann Bygrave.

13 September 1865

From: 1865 To: 1865

Ann Bygrave: she lived at Shefford Bottom in Southill with her father and mother. She was 13 years of age on 28 March. On the afternoon of 9 September, she was going home from Ireland, in the parish of Southill, having fetched some damsons from her grandfather for her mother. She met a man at the bottom of Ireland Hill and said to her that it was a hot day. She answered that yes it was and he asked if she was getting blackberries. He stopped and gathered some with her. Just then 2 men came over the hill and the man left her and got over a gate into the field and stooped as though hiding himself. She went up the hill with her little sister and when she got nearly to the top she saw the man coming. She took her sister in her arms and ran. The man ran after her and caught her near the hand post. He asked her which way the roads led and asked if the Balls lived at the public house. She said yes and he said he would go and have a pint of beer. She had a basket in her hand and he took it and threw it across the other side of the road. He laid hold of her and threw her to the ground. [Detailed description of assault….] She hollered and he put his hand over her mouth. He told her to hold her tongue and lay still. Some people came along and he jumped up and ran away. Samuel Urin was one of the men. She told Urin what had happened and he ran after the prisoner. [cross examination] she did not now the man before. She recognized him again by his clothes. She saw him in Ireland and told her father she thought him to be the man. Samuel Urin: on Saturday afternoon he saw someone meddling with a young girl. The girl came away from the hedge in a dreadful state and she told him she had been used shamefully. He followed the man towards the spinney and saw the man about 200 yards before him. He found William Bland in the spinney with John Farr, the keeper. He asked Bland what business he had interfering with the young girl and he said he had not. He took Bland back to the girl and she he was the man. Bland had been lying down in the spinney. The prisoner had plenty of beer but was not drunk. John Farr: keeper to Mr Whitbread. He saw the prisoner run from the stubble to the spinney and get into it. He saw the prisoner lie down. He then saw someone running after the prisoner. He went towards the defendant and asked him what he wanted. The prisoner said he was asleep. They took him to Ireland and the girl’s father was sent for. The defendant said to the girl’s father that he would rather make it up than have any more bother. Benjamin Bygrave: Ann Bygrave was his daughter. The defendant offered him money to make it up with him and he told the prisoner he would not take a farthing from him. Statement of the accused: he was not guilty.

item

Bland, William,
Bygrave, Ann,
Bygrave, Benjamin,
Urin, Samuel,
Farr, John

SOUTHILL, Southill Ireland, sex crimes, indecent assault