QSR1865/4/5/14

Depositions of Mary Ann Drew, wife of Thomas, labourer of Potton. John Wilson, station master of Potton. In the case of Josiah Skinner accused of the indecent assault and illtreatment of Mary Ann Drew.

13 September 1865

From: 1865 To: 1865

Mary Ann Drew: she lived at Potton but was returning by train from Yarmouth on 31 August. Josiah Skinner was acting as the guard. The train stopped at Potton and she proceeded to get out. Her carriage did not quite fit onto the platform and she was looking to see where to get down when Skinner came up to her. He put his right hand up her petticoat, as high as he could and touched her in an indecent way. She slapped his face. The station maser came up and asked what the matter was. She told him that Skinner had put his hand up her petticoats. Skinner heard this but said nothing. [cross examination] there were several other people in the carriage. Her husband was with her and they had a quartern of rum in a bottle which they drunk on their way home. She was the last one to get out. The defendant was in Guard clothing. She did not see him with a lantern. He helped her out in an indecent manner. It did not remain there any longer when she reached the ground. She fell upon him. Her husband had got out first and was not there at the time. She went to Bidwell the following Monday. John Wilson: he was the station master at Potton. Skinner was one of the guards on the train and he knew Mrs Drew. He saw Mrs Drew strike Skinner in the face. He asked her if she had any complaint against Skinner and she said what business had he to put his hand up her petticoats. The floor of the carriage was 3 or 3 ½ foot from the ground. James Warren: Superintendent of the District of Bletchley and Cambridge and Station Master at Bedford. Josiah Skinner had been a servant of the company since July [?] under his supervision. He knew Skinner to be a mild, quiet and inoffensive man. He did not believe him capable of doing the act intentionally. George Waite: foreman at Messrs Howards in Bedford. He had known Skinner for 8 years. Skinner had worked under him at Howards for 5 years. He had never had any complaint of him whatsoever. They had 500 men at work and Skinner was one of the best. He did not believe him capable of the act. Statement of the accused: he was on the train which stopped at Potton and saw the person getting out of the carriages. He went to Mrs Drew intending to help her down. He put his left hand to catch her and with his right hand was going to strike her clothes down. Unfortunately his hand did not go far enough behind her. Mrs Drew accused him of putting his hand up her petticoat. He told her he did not do anything to her intentionally. That was all he had to say.

item

Skinner, Josiah,
Drew, Mary Ann,
Drew, Thomas,
Warren, James,
Waite, George

POTTON, BEDFORD, indecent assault, station master, foreman, superintendents, Potton station