QSR1836/1/5/54

Depositions of Lewis Wooding of Kempston. In the case of Jonathan Cox, John Cox and Levi Cox accused of assault.

2 Jnauary 1835

From: 1835 To: 1836

Lewis Wooding: on 20 September he had been in a public house in Steventon kept by Alexander Field. The Cox men were also there. It was Steventon Feast. He was having some beer and had a goodish lot but was not tipsy. Jonathan Cox came and struck him and then directly left the house. Then Levi and John Cox both came and struck him too. He believed he struck Levi and then fell to the ground. Whether they kicked him and broke his leg or whether they jumped upon him and broke his leg, he did not know. It was one of the two. His left was broken and he went to the Bedford Infirmary where he was confined for 7 weeks, all but one day. He had never spoken to Jonathan Cox, nor had he done anything to him, nor had they had a quarrel. Nor did he with Levi or John Cox. He had not had an angry word with any of them. Thomas Keech: he was the constable for the parish of Steventon. On the evening of 20 September he was Lewis Wooding and the Cox men. Nothing took place between them whilst he was watching. There were 2 men called Long and Stufferton sparring across the table. Long fell and he intervened and took Long out of the doors. He was gone about 5 minutes and when he went back he saw Lewis Wooding lying on the floor with a broken leg. [cross examination] he only heard Levi Cox say to long “damn you will you knock me down?” He did not see him kick up a row in any other way. Lewis Wooding sat very quiet on the floor. He did not hear him say a word to any body and he was there a long time. Wooding was not drunk but had plenty of beer. Statements of the accused: Jonathan Cox – he did not strike him and he was not in the house when the leg was broken. He had a witness to prove it. Levi Cox – Lewis Wooding had come rolling into the house drunk and had got up and struck him on the breast. He hit Wooding. He knew nothing of how Wooding’s leg broke and he was sure he had not broken it. John Cox - he was up at Mr Field’s stairs when the row first began. When he came down somebody knocked him down. He did not know who. He got up and hit somebody else but he did not know who it was.

item

Cox, Jonathan,
Cox, John,
Cox, Levi,
Wooding, Lewis,
Field, Alexander

KEMPSTON, Steventon, assault, feasts