QSR1898/3/5/2

Depositions of Hannah Agnes Lacey of 21 Wedington Road, Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town; George Carroll, Labourer of Bolnhurst and Lewis Pedley, Police Constable of Thurleigh. in the case against Walter Jones of Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire accused of indecently assaulting and illtreating Hannah Agnes Lacey

3 June 1898

From: 1898 To: 1898

Hannah Agnes Lacey said: I am a single woman and am of the age of 22 years. I live at 21 Wedington Road, Prince of Wales, Road,Kentish Town. I am staying on a visit with my uncle George Carroll at Bolnhurst. On Tuesday May 31 about 5pm I was in my Uncle’s house getting ready to go out with my Cousin Annie Carroll to a farm to get some milk when the defendant came into the house and asked if we were coming for a walk. I said “We are just going to the farm to get some milk.” We all three then went out together for a little distance along the village. My cousin then left to get the milk and Defendant asked me to go for a little walk and asked me if I had seen Bolnhurst Church. (I had not known the Defendant before) I said I should like to see Bolnhurst Church as I had been no where yet. Defendant said we should not be gone above half an hour. We then walked towards the Church along the Road and went thro’ the Gate into the Churchyard where the Tombstones are and then over a stile into a Grass Field. When we got into the Field Defendant got hold of me and threw me down on the ground. He then threw my clothes up and put his hands in my privates. I then started scratching his face and hands to stop him doing anything. He was lying on the top of me and would not get off. I kept screaming at the top of my voice but it was in vain. I made his face bleed with the scratching and the blood dropped on my face and hands. I at last got away from him and went back over the stile – Defendant came up and said “I will serve you out for this” meaning his face. He then left me and I found my way home to my Uncle’s house. My clothes a jacket and brand new dress were soaking with wet from the grass – it was not raining. When I got home I told my Uncle I would never have gone if I had known Defendant was going to behave so indecent. I then went with my Uncle and gave information to the Police. [cross examined] I went to Bolnhurst on Whit Sunday. I had not been there before. I know the Fox and Hounds Public House there it is next door to my Uncle’s. I went into the House with my Uncle and Cousin about 9pm on Whitsunday. We were there about 9.30. There were several men there. I sang a song. There were glasses of beer on the table I had some. We remained there until closing time. My Uncle and Cousin were there all the time – I danced with some man there. I did not notice the Defendant there – At closing time I went with my Cousin to her house and my Uncle afterwards brought some men in and some beer and we danced for a little while. On the Tuesday I went with my Cousin Annie to the Fox and Hounds about 2 o’clock. My Uncle was there – I saw the Defendant there who came and asked me to have a dance and I did. He also asked me to drink and I had some. There were other men there. My Cousin left and I was the only woman then. My Uncle was there. After I had been in the Public House about 2 hours I left and went home, my Uncle stayed behind. about 5 o’clock my Uncle came home. Soon after the door opened and Defendant came in. I was not sitting on my Uncle’s knee but I kissed him (my Uncle) Defendant might have said “I do not like it but shall not take any notice being as it was your Uncle” I said nothing. My Cousin then came in and we all three went out. I did not say to defendant “You daren’t take me for a walk dare you”. After we had gone a little way Defendant said “I am going to have another drink before I start are you going with me?” We then went into the Fox and Hounds and had another drink - we stayed there about a quarter of an hour. I then said to defendant I could not wait but if he was going for a walk he must go now – we both then went out of the House and walked down the road towards the church. As soon as we got into the field Defendant put his arm round my waist – I did not object. I then said we must not be away longer than half an hour – We walked across the fields to the churchyard, not by the road all the way. Defendant had his arm round me as soon as we got in the fields. After we got into the field over the stile from the churchyard Defendant swung me round and threw me down. When I was on the ground I screamed and began to scratch him when he acted indecently. Defendant did not unbutton his trousers but went to do it. Defendant did not leave me as soon as I began to scream, not until I scratched him. He did not do me any harm. I gave him a good scratching. When I got up I ran away – he caught me at the stile. I don’t know whether he ran – I went home by the road as quick as I could. On Tuesday night I slept in my cousins bed. She was out. George Carroll said: I am a labourer and live at Bolnhurst. The Prosecutrix is my niece and is staying with me on a visit. On Tuesday 31st May last about 6pm I was in my house when the Prosecutrix came in. Her hands and her face were covered with blood and her clothes very wet. I said “Good gracious girl what is the matter?” and she said “Look what this beastly fellow has done I would not have gone with him if I had known he had been going to do that and I wish you to complain to the Police” I then went with her to the Police. [cross examined] There are only 4 rooms in my house – I remember Defendant coming to my house on the Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutrix was not then sitting on my knee. My daughter objected to my putting the matter in the hands of the police and she did not sleep in my house. She said she would not come back to the house again. Lewis Pedley said: I am a Police Constable stationed at Thurleigh. On Tuesday 31 May I was on duty at Thurleigh about 7pm when the Prosecutrix came with her Uncle George Carroll to me and made a complaint and from what she told me I went to Bolnhurst to the Plough Public House and there saw the Defendant. I asked him to come outside and there told him I had received a charge against him of indecently assaulting and attempting to commit a rape on Hannah Agnes Lacey in a field near Bolnhurst Church. He said “It is a bad job but I have had some beer” I then took him into custody and brought him to Sharnbrook Police Station. On searching him I found that there were few scratches on his face and a wet pocket handkerchief in his pocket amongst other things. He was then charged with committing an indecent assault and attempting to commit a rape on the Prosecutrix and he was cautioned and then said “I did do it but I was on beer” He seemed partially the worse for drink then. On Wednesday June 1st I visited a field adjoining Bolnhurst Church and saw a place where the grass was beaten down as if a struggle had taken place recently – it was close to a stile near the churchyard. [cross examined] The Prosecutrix had not pointed out the place to me when I first saw it, but this morning she did point it out to me and it was the same spot I had examined. statement of the accused: I plead not guilty and reserve my defence

9 pages

item

Jones, Walter,
Lacey, Hannah Agnes,
Carroll, George,
Pedley, Lewis

Kentish Town, BOLNHURST, THURLEIGH, Higham Ferrers, Bolnhurst Fox and Hounds, Bolnhurst The Plough, labourer, indecent assault