QSR1832/1/5/21

Depositions of Elizabeth Broughton of Kempston. Jane Francis, wife of Thomas Francis, bricklayer of Kempston. William Robinson, constable of Kempston. In the case of James Peacock accused of the violent assault of Elizabeth Broughton with intent to ravish.

5 December 1831

From: 1831 To: 1832

Elizabeth Broughton: [document badly faded] she had been in service to Mrs Fenwicke for 16 years and lived with her. Upon finishing work on 30 November about 8 o’clock she went on some business from the vicarage which was at Kempston Church End to the village, which was about half a mile. There was a gravel walk called Church Walk. It was dark. As she climbed over the stile into Church Walk she was overtaken by a man. She believed it to be Tom Tatham and spoke to him as Tom Tatham. She said to him that she thought his people, meaning the Masters of the Workhouse, were very kind to allow him to have so much liberty. He said that he went out to work and brought in a little and that helped to support his family and so they didn’t mind. Tom Tatham and his family live din the workhouse. When she got on the last causeway she perceived the man, she had taken for Tatham, to [?] against her more than once. She said to him that she knew it was dark but she was very near the hedge and he would push her into it. He did it again and she said to him ‘Tatham I think you insult me very much’. He put his hand around her waist and in the scuffle she lost her pattern and her umbrella. He took up her petticoats and in the struggle to prevent him she fell to the ground with him on top of her. He thrust his hand upon her private parts. She called murder several times and to prevent her calling out he put his cheek to her mouth. She bit him until blood came. She got up with great difficulty but before she had got a yard form him he seized her and pulled up her petticoats. He got his hand on her private parts. She struggle with him until she was almost ready to die and kept calling out murder. She got away from him and ran to Mrs Francis as hard as she cold. She could not say if he had his breeches down as she was so aggregated at the time. Jane Francis: she had been acquainted with Elizabeth Broughton for 16 years having lived with her in the service of Mrs Fenwicke of Kempston. On the evening of 30 November, about 8pm, Elizbateh came to the house smoothened all over in blood and dirt. The front of Elizabeth’s bonnet was crushed to her face and the crown was flat to her head. Elizabeth was so exhausted she could not speak at first and all she could say was ‘oh’ and pant for breath. Elizabeth clung to her whilst her husband got a chair. She gave Elizabeth some water and washed her face. After a quarter of an hour she took Elizabeth upstairs and Elizabeth told her what had happened and that she had been insulted and misused by a villain. Elizabeth said she had fought for her life and that she had never been so insulted before. William Robinson: he was one of the constables of Kempston and on the night of 30 November he was sent for by Mr Thomas Francis to go to the workhouse to apprehend Thomas Tatham for assaulting Elizabeth Broughton. He went to the workhouse and discovered that Tatham had not been out of the house all that day. He went to Mr Francis and said Tatham had not been out that day asked if Elizabeth Broughton was sure that the person who assaulted her came from the workhouse. He was told whoever the person was that Elizabeth had bitten him on the right check when he had lain upon her. He returned to the workhouse and went to where the men slept and found James Peacock in bed with a wound on his right cheek which was bleeding. Peacock pretended to be asleep and covered his face under the clothes. He made Peacock dress and took him to Mr Francis. Peacock accounted for his face by saying he had been taking in the beans and the stubs had rubbed against his face. He told Peacock that if he had gone home instead of going up the walk then this would not have happened. Peacock said he had not gone up the walk. He said to Peacock that it was being put at Tatham and Peacock replied “ah she kept calling me Tatham all the while”. He asked did Peacock mean to say that and he said he did. Peacock then said he had been at Mr Bradshaw’s and then had come home and into the workhouse when he saw a young woman go up the Church Walk and he followed and overtook her. He said he walked with her some time and threw her down but she got away from him. Peacock said he caught her again and threw her down and she had bitten his cheek and cried out when she ran away. James Peacock later said he was the only person there and would go before Mr Fenwick and beg his pardon.

item

Peacock, James,
Francis, Jane,
Francis, Thomas,
Robinson, William,
Tatham, Thomas,
Fenwicke

KEMPSTON, Kempston Church End, assault, sex crimes, assault, Parish Workhouses