QSR1868/4/5/14

Depositions of Hannah Sharpe, wife of Reuben, gamekeeper of Kinsman Green, Harpenden. William Fisher, labourer of Luton. Sarah Dorrington, bonnet sewer of Luton. Charles Cucksey, innkeeper of Luton. George James, Inspector of Police of Luton. In the case of James Bottoms accused of assault with the intent to ravish and carnally know Hannah Sharpe.

19 October 1868

From: 1868 To: 1868

Hannah Sharpe: wife of Reuben Sharpe, a gamekeeper in Mr Leigh’s service at Kinsman Green. On Sunday 11 October 6.30pm she was going home from towards Luton to her house. She had been for a walk with her father. The prisoner overtook her about a quarter of a mile from her house on Turnpike Road and put his had on her shoulder. He did not say anything. He put his hand round her neck and under her arm and threw her backwards on to the ground. [Detailed description of the attack…] She hollered ‘Murder’ 3 or 4 times. William Fisher came up whilst she was hollering and the prisoner got up and went away. She did not know Bottoms. She had not seen him before. She was sure he was the man. She had been in the middle of the road when he first laid hold of her and pulled her down. William Fisher: he was a labourer and lived in the Old Bedford Road, Luton. He was coming from Harpenden to Luton on Sunday 11 October about 6.30pm. Between Kennersbourne Green and Gil[?]ton Gate he heard a woman crying murder dreadfully. He hastened forwards as fast as he could and got to the 3rd mile post. He found a man and a woman lying on the side of the road. The woman was lying on her back and the man was on top of her. Her clothes appeared to be up above her knees. The prisoner was moving as if he was having connection with her. He heard the man tell her to hold her tongue. The woman hollered ‘murder’ and he was coming and there seemedas if there was something over the mouth. As soon as he got there the man got off and walked away. He saw the man pull up his breeches as he walked away. He did not see him again that night. He was sure the prisoner was that man. As soon as the woman got her liberty she sprung up and caught hold of him and said that he was a good man and she was glad he had come as the man could have killed her. She asked him to take her home and he did so. The woman was in a sorry way and very upset. He next saw the prisoner at the police station and knew it to be him. Sarah Dorrington: she had rooms in the prisoner’s brother’s house in Chase Street, Luton. On Sunday 11 October about 8pm she had been standing at the door opening into Chase Street. She saw the prisoner coming down in the direction of the London Road. The prisoner went round the back. His brother had gone to bed and he went through the rooms in the house. She had not seen him at home since the previous Tuesday. He had not been there on Saturday night. Charles Cucksey: he was the keeper of the Clifton Arms public house in Chase Street, Luton. He knew the prisoner. The prisoner had not come to the house on Sunday 11 October. Inspector George James: on Tuesday 13 October the prisoner was brought to the police station by the husband of Mrs Sharpe. From something Shrape said to him, the prisoner said “I am sure I am not the man as done that I never insulted the woman” Bottoms said he had been at home all day Sunday and went to the Clifton Arms between 6pm and 7pm for a pint and left about 7pm and went home to bed. Statement of the accused: nothing to say.

item

Bottoms, James,
Sharpe, Hannah,
Sharpe, Reuben,
Fisher, William,
Dorrington, Sarah,
Cucksey, Charles,
James, George

LUTON, Luton Chase Street, Harpenden, assault, sex crimes, innkeeper, gamekeeper, bonnet sewer