QSR1867/3/5/19

Depositions of William Chamberlain, a labourer of no.3 Railway Street, Poplar, Middlesex. William James Bodger, surgeon of Leighton Buzzard. Joseph Parsons, journeyman blacksmith of Leighton Buzzard. Thomas Brandon, labourer of Leighton Buzzard and his wife Sarah. George Parsons and George Cambers, police constables stationed at Leighton Buzzard. William Knight Clough, superintendent of police of the Leighton Buzzard division. In the case of Henry Scotchings accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on William Chamberlain by kicking him and breaking his leg in 2 places.

18 June 1867

From: 1867 To: 1867

William Chamberlain: he was a labourer living at 3 Railway Street, Poplar, Middlesex. On 8 June he went to Leighton and on the following day, between 8pm and 9pm, he went to the Nags head public house. A man by the name of Arnold was there and they had words about a woman who had drowned. Arnold called him a liar. There was something said about a galloon of beer and Arnold went outside the house and pulled off his jacket. Arnold returned into the house and said “Come along out you b___ I’ll give you a galloon of beer”. He went outside after him and gave him a smack in the face. They had several rounds of fighting. He had knocked Arnold down when Henry Scotching kicked him in the leg and said “Take that you b____” He fell upon his knee and Scotchings kicked him again on the same leg. He rolled to his left side. He had not seen Scotchings before. He did not know him and had not seen him in the public house. When the prisoner kicked him he had been standing still and was not fighting with Arnold. He was waiting for Arnold to come and have another round. He called out that his leg was broken and was brought to the house where he was lodging and had been laid up since. He was attended by Dr Bodger, the surgeon. He had not quarrel with the prisoner and had seen him the previous night but had not spoken to him. [cross examination] Scotchings was close to him when he kicked him. He was kicked twice. His leg was broken in 2 places. He was standing just on the rise of the hill when he was kicked. William James Bodger: he was a surgeon in practice in Leighton. On Sunday 9 June he was sent for to go to William Chamberlain at his lodgings in Leighton. He saw Chamberlain in the house sitting in a chair. He examined him and the leg was broken in 2 places. It was a recent fracture. He had attended Chamberlain since and he was now in bed and unable to attend. He would not be able to leave the bed for 2 months. He believed the fractures were from 2 kicks or violent blows. Joseph Parsons: Henry Scotching lived at Leighton and he knew him well. On the night of Sunday 9 June, between 9pm and 10pm he was in the Nags Head in Leighton and man by the name of William Chamberlain was there, among many others. A man named Thomas Arnold stripped to fight Chamberlain and they went out to fight. He went out after them and they were fighting in the road. He saw the prisoner kick Chamberlain’s leg very hard and Chamberlain fell on his knee. He did not know why Scotchings kicked Chamberlain and he saw no more. He only saw one kick. He did not hear the prisoner say anything and could not say if Arnold and Chamberlain were fighting at the time. He believed they were not and he could not say if the parties were drunk or sober. [cross examination] Scotchings had not tried to prevent Arnold and Chamberlain from fighting. He did not see him drag Arnold away. He did not say he would strike Scotchings unless he released Arnold. Thomas Brandon: between 9pm and 10pm on the night of 9 June he heard Chamberlain and Arnold fighting. He went to the spot and saw them both but they were not then fighting. They were in the road outside the Nags Head. He went to Chamberlain to get him away. He saw the prisoner go up to Chamberlain and kick him on the leg twice. After the first kick Chamberlain fell to his knee and after the second he fell on his side. He heard Chamberlain say that his leg was broken. He took Chamberlain home and his leg was broken on 2 places. The prisoner had kicked Chamberlain very hard. Arnold was a dozen yards away when Chamberlain was kicked and he heard the prisoner say “Take that you b___” when he kicked him the second time. He knew the prisoner well as he lived next door but one to him. He could not say whether the prisoner was drunk. As soon as he got up he saw the prisoner running about in a wild sort of way and then he ran up and kicked Chamberlain. The prisoner did not follow him up the road and he and his son did not pitch into the prisoner. Sarah Brandon: wife of the last witness. The prosecutor was her brother. Between 9pm and 10pm on 9 June she was outside the Nags Head. She saw Chamberlain, the prisoner and others there. Arnold was about 10 yards from Chamberlain. She saw no blows struck. She saw the prisoner push through he crowd and he passed very quickly to Chamberlain and kicked him on the leg. Chamberlain fell and Scotchings kicked him again. She turned away in fright and Chamberlain was brought to her house. His leg was broken in 2 places. The prisoner was not quite sober. Chamberlain was in no way intoxicated. [cross examination] the prisoner had had plenty of beer. He had been in her house about a quarter of an hour before. She did not see him after he had kicked Chamberlain. She did not see any blows struck. She saw her husband push him to prevent him kicking Chamberlain a second time. PC George Parsons: he apprehended the prisoner and told him the charge. The prisoner said he had not done it and it was done in the time he had run up to the police station. Scotching said he had heard nothing about the row and sat in his house and heard them fighting. The prisoner said he went out and saw a lot on Arnold and tried to help. He received a blow or two and ran to the police station to give information. PC George Cambers: the prisoner came to him about 9.45pm and said he was anted down at North End and that there was a murder there. The prisoner told him to make haste as Job Parson, they say, had broken someone’s leg. The prisoners face was bloody and he told Cambers to look at his face. He went to North End immediately and the prisoner followed him. William Knight Clough: On 9 June about 10.30pm the prisoner came to the police station and said there was a row at North End. He asked the prisoner who was causing the disturbance and he replied it was a man named Chamberlain and someone would be murdered. He sent the prisoner to the house of PC Cambers and shortly after the prisoner was brought to the station in custody. The prisoners face was bloody. The prisoner denied the charge. Statement of the accused: on the night of Sunday 9 June he had been going to bed and someone came to his door and called him to get up. He was told 5 or 6 were pitching not Arnold. He went up and got Arnold away and took him down Lanbrey [?]. Parsons came up to him and said that if he did not release Arnold he would give him a smack in the chops. He told Parsons to let Arnold be and Arnold got away. Arnold and Chamberlain were fighting. He went to assist Arnold. Brandon hit him in the mouth and his son struck him twice. He went to Mr Clough and he sent him to a policeman.

item

Scotchings, Henry,
Chamberlain, William,
Bodger, William James,
Parsons, Joseph,
Brandon, Thomas,
Brandon, Sarah,
Parsons, George,
Cambers, George,
Clough, William Knight

LEIGHTON BUZZARD, Poplar, surgeon, blacksmith, grievous bodily harm, assault