QSR1869/4/5/19

Depositions of Joseph Gudgin, farmer of Shitlington. Henry Lewis Flint, farmer of Shitlington. Paul Limbey Poulter, son of a publican and a minor. George Morgan, organist of Ampthill. Ebenezer Ruff, police constable stationed at Shitlington. In the case of William Devereux accused of maliciously wounding and causing grievious bodily harm to Joseph Gudgin with a pick axe.

13 September 1869

From: 1869 To: 1869

Joseph Gudgin: he was a farmer of Shitlington. William Devereux lived at Shefford and was a labourer at the Coprolite Works at Shillington. On 29 September about 5pm he was at home when he heard a noise and disturbance in front of his house. It continued for about an hour. There were 5 labouring men there who were using very bad language and appeared to be in liquor and quarrelling amongst themselves. He went to them and wished them to go home and be good boys. 2 of the men were struggling in the road with a pick axe. He took it away from them fearing they would do themselves a mischief. The prisoner said to him that if he gave him the pick axe he would then go home. He gave Deveraux the pick axe. Several of the men then came up to him and some of them had shovels which they raised as if to strike and they had been close enough to do so. He collared 2 of the men to protect himself. Whilst he was struggling with these men the prisoner struck him with the pick. The prisoner had held it with both hands and he warded off the blow as well as he could but received a blow to the head. He found himself bleeding from the head. Devereux said “I’ll kill the b____” or words to that effect. The other men did not strike him but were very violent. He got away from them and went into the house bleeding. Soon afterwards the prisoner and 2 other men came into his yard with the pick and shovels. They had no business there and they used very bad language in the yard. He was obliged to send for a doctor. He bled very much from the head. The pick struck him on the top of the head and he was quite sure it was the prisoner who had struck him with the pick. Henry Lewis Flint: he was tailor and he lived in Shillington. On the afternoon of 29 September he was in the road near to Mr Gudgin’s premises in Shitlington. He saw 5 labouring men in the road. The prisoner, Devereux, was one of them. They were making a great noise and using bad language. They were all drunk. He saw Mr Gudgin come out of the yard and he went up to the men and wished them to go home quietly. They became very resolute and turned round on Mr Gudgin. The prisoner had a pick in his hand and another man had a shovel. He saw the prisoner strike Mr Gudgin with the pick. One of the other men was close by. They flew at him “like a parcel of tigers”. He got the prisoner down and was struck on the leg and one of the men came at him with a shovel and threatened him. The man held the shovel up near enough to strike him. He got out of the way. He saw Mr Gudgin go into his yard and he was bleding very much from the head. Al of the 5 men afterward came uinto the yard and they had their shovels and picks with the,. They cut about a little and swore and blackguarded one of the men when Mr Gudgin’s servant was going for the doctor saying “unhorse the B____ cut him down”. The servant got out of the way. All 5 men were present together. Paul Limbey Poulter: he lived at Shitlington with his parents and was 16 years of age. On 29 September he was at the Red Pot Close by Mr Gudgin’s house. He saw 5 men in the road with shovels and picks. The prisoner was one of the men. He saw Mr Gudgin come out of his yard. The prisoner and another man were fighting in the road and they all seemed drunk. One of the men was going to take the pick away from another and Mr Gudgin said to let the man be and took the pick away from the 2 men who were fighting. The prisoner went up to Gudgin and said “Give me my tool”. Gudgin gave it to him and told him to go home quietly. The prisoner said he would go home if Gudgin gave him his pick. Gudgin gave it to him and then 2 of the men rushed to the side of the road and got their shovels. All 5 men rushed at Mr Gudgin with their picks and shovels up. 2 were with shovels and 2 were without and the prisoner had the pick. As Gudgin was stooping he saw Devereux lift up his pick and strike Mr Gudgin with it on the side of the head. He saw the blood come. Mr Gudgin then got away towards his house. George Morgan: he lived in Ampthill and was an organist. On 29 September between 4pm and 5pm he was at Mr Gudgin’s house at Shitlington. Gudgin was in a fearful state and came in with his head bleeding. He went into the yard and there were 5 labouring men there. One of the men had a pick axe and one of the other men had a shovel. They were threatening everybody near them. Although all of the men were worse for liquor he believed they knew what they were about. The doctor was sent for to attend Mr Gudgin who was in a weak state and smothered in blood. The blood could not be stopped for some time. One of the men threatened him and wanted to get at the pick to mow him down. They all left threatening what they would do and used very bad language. PC Ebenezer Ruff: about 7pm on 29 September he received information from Mr Gudgin that there had been a row close to his farm and that he had been assaulted. He saw a wound on Mr Gudgin’s head and went to the Coprolite Works at Shitlington. From what he heard he went to Shefford. He had a description of the men engaged in the row. He took the prisoner and 2 others into custody and charged them with assaulting Mr Gudgin. He found the pick at Campton near Shefford. He showed the pick to the prisoner Devereux and he said it was his pick and he saw several spots of blood on it. The prisoner did not say anything when he took him into custody and brought him and the other men to the police station at Ampthill. Statement of the accused: he did not wish to say anything.

item

Devereux, William,
Gudgin, Joseph,
Flint, Henry Lewis,
Poulter, Paul Limbey,
Morgan, George,
Ruff, Ebenezer

Shitlington, SHEFFORD, wounding, grievous bodily harm, farmer, publican, coprolite worker, organist, AMPTHILL