QSR1898/4/5/2

Depositions of Amy Elizabeth Titmus of Stopsley; James Garrett of Stopsley; William Brown 31 Windmill Street Luton, Boiler Maker; Sarah Titmus, Stopsley, Clip Reeler; George Lansberry Luton, Police constable. In the case of William Holt accused of unlawfully and indecently assuault and ill treat a certain female named Amy Elizabeth Titmus

11th July 1898

From: 1898 To: 1898

Depositions of Amy Elizabeth Titmus of Stopsley; James Garrett of Stopsley; William Brown 31 Windmill Street Luton; Boiler Maker; Sarah Titmus, Stopsley, Chip Reeler; George Lansberry Luton, Police constable; In the case of William Holt accused of unlawfully and indecently assault and ill treat a certain female named Amy Elizabeth Titmus This Deponent Amy Elizabeth Titmus on her Oath saith as follows: - I live at Stopsley with father and mother. Age 19. On the 7th July 1898 at 2.45p.m. I was coming towards Luton from Stopsley, on the Luton Road. The man in Court came up tome. He met me. He never spoke but came up to me and took hold of me and throw me down in the middle of the road. He fell down on the top of me. I shouted and the man put his hand over my mouth. I struggled and bit his hand. While one hand was over my mouth he put the other up my clothes above my knee. I struggled all the time. He was lying on the top of me all the time. The man saw Mr Brown coming and he got up and went away. The only words he uttered all the time was when I shouted. He said “Leave off hollering” Another gentleman then came up - Mr Garrett and - Mr Brown followed the man who went away in the direction of Stopsley. The man was a stranger to me. The man never put his hand quite on my person but kept it up my clothes the whole time until Mr Brown came up. I am quite sure the prisoner in the dock is the man James Garrett of Stopsley -Road man on his oath says as follows: - on the 7th inst I was working on the Road near Stopsley at about 2.45 p.m. A man passed me going toward Stopsley. He stopped and spoke to me and then passed on. I believe prisoner be the man. About 5 or 6 minutes after, I heard a female scream. I went towards the sound – in the direction the man went. About 5 chains along the Road I saw the man on the top of the woman – in the middle of the road. On seeing me the man got off and ran away. I saw Mr. Brown and shouted to him to stop the man and Mr Brown went after him. I stopped with the woman whose clothes were much disarranged. She git up when I got there. She was crying. The prisoner resembles the man although I can’t say positively. His clothes appear the same. William brown of 31 Windmill Street Luton, Boiler Maker on his Oath saith as follows: - On the 7th inst I was in the garden- field (allotments) Stopsley at 2.45 p.m. I heard the scream of a woman “Murder”! I ran across 3 allotments and got into the Luton Road. When I got into the road I saw a man coming towards me about a dozen yards from the woman – coming from her. I said to him “Is that your wife” He said “certainly” I said “well it is no use my interfering” The man in the dock is the man. I left the man and in consequence of what Garrett said. I followed the man. He saw me and the man ran. I caught him up at Stopsley Church. He pushed me back and asked me what I was following for. I said “about my business” I then pushed by him and went along about 20 yards and the man then stopped and I stopped. He said “If you don’t go I’ll put a bullet through you” He then ran and I ran in front of him. He then pointed something at me and he made pretence to go into a Public House The first and Last. I then lost him. I have no doubt prisoner is the man. Sarah Titmus wife of George Titmus Stopsley - Chip reeler on her Oath saith as follows: - I am the mother of Amy Elizabeth Titmus. On the 7th inst between 2 and 3 p.m. I was along the Luton Road going towards Round Green. I met the man in the dock I noticed him he was eating biscuits he was going towards Stopstley. I met him the Luton side of the place described by my daughter. George Lansberry of Luton Police constable stationed at Luton on his Oath saith as follows: - I received the prisoner into custody from the Bedford Boro Police on the 10th instant. I charged him with indecently assaulting a young woman at Stopsley on the 7th instant. He said “I don’t know where Stopsley is I know it was somewhere near Luton where I did it” He asked if that was the only charge and if he was not to be charged with attempted rape” He said he had been in a Public House in Luton and was in drunk else it wouldn’t have happened. Statement of Accused: I reserve my Defence and wish to call no Witnesses. Letter from Accused: - Her Majesty’s Prison, Bedford. Sirs, In pleading guilty to the charge I wish to state, that at the time of the assault I was under the influence of drink, also that the indecency complained of which is not a very serious nature was unintentionally committed. I also want to draw your attention to the evidence of Mrs Titmouse and Miss Titmouse [Titmus] the prosecutor. As regards myself on that day the 7th of July I had been drinking very heavy and I had, had up to the time of the assault mo less than7 pints of beer. I don’t infer that I was drunk and did not know what I was doing, but I was what is generally called forward. About 20 minutes previous to meeting Miss Titmouse I had purchased a pound of milk biscuits as they are better digestive than any thing else I thought on the top of beer. On Hitchin Road I met Miss Titmouse [Titmus] she was coming towards Luton and I was going way from Luton we was both on the same sidewalk. When I got close up to her I understood her to pass this remark or something to the effect, Leave me some or don’t eat them all meaning the biscuits I replied, “Here my love take the lot but I am going to have a kiss for them. I offered her the bag with my right hand and placed my left arm round her neck to kiss her. In doing so whether from my weight, or owing to me being in drink, we went to the ground together. The result of it was my right hand got between the lower part of her legs, whether under her clothes or the outside of them I could not swear. The whole affair did not last 2 minutes. Now the evidence of Mrs Titmouse is to the effect that about half an hour before the assault took place she said that she saw me in Stopsley and that she noticed a very wild and peculiar look about me. This I can only account to the effects of drink. This is all Mrs Titmouse [Titmus] said. Miss Titmouse [Titmus] said in regards to the indecency was that my hand went under her clothes but did not go above her knees she also said that I did not threaten her, nor was my dress disarranged nor did I in any other way attempt to assault her. I think from her own account and the time and place, a main road, were the assault was committed does not suggest that there was any assault premeditated. I am infinately (sorrow) sorry that such a thing has occurred as I have always when there has been any occasion to interfere on behalf of a female I have always done so and I assure you Sir if it had not been that I was forward and the biscuits I should not have been before you now. I have since my last conviction for felony on 24th of February 1896 I have lived an honest life. My convictions since then are of a minor sort and all resulting from the cause of drink. I promise you Sir that I will give up this drink for I see it is the only cause that is bringing me to prison. I was once looked up to by the elder members of the Church I attended as being one of the future workers of that school but also I was same as a good many other young men I thought I could do without school and this is the result. I hope you will take in consideration the 4 months I have already been in prison. I hope you will be as leniently with me as possible and give me a chance to become once more a worthy member of society I now leave myself to your Judgement. Prisoner William Holt November 1st 1898

13 pages

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Titmus, Amy Elizabeth,
Garrett, James,
Brown, William,
Titmus, Sarah,
Lansberry, George,
Holt, William

STOPSLEY, boiler makers, police constable, sex crimes