QSR1832/3/5/12

Depositions of George Wren, bonnet presser of Luton. Frederick Tomalin, watchman of Luton. John Field, ostler of Luton. In the case of Henry Tarrant accused of rioting and breach of the peace.

19 April 1832

From: 1832 To: 1832

George Wren: he was in the street at Luton about 11pm on Monday and heard a great row in the Market house. He went to see and found a gang of gypsies and other strangers beating everybody near them. The watchman charged him to aid and assist and gave him a stick. He went up to the prisoner first and the prisoner swore at him and threw a fist in his face. He told the prisoner to keep his hands down or he would knock him down. The row then became so violent that he became mixed with the crowds and he saw no more of the prisoner. He saw a man with one arm who was the fastest of all the mob with his tongue and appeared to be the ringleader being at the lead all the time and urging them on. Frederick Tomalin: about 11pm on Monday he was called for as a watchman and went to the Market House and found a great crown of ill looking fellows making a disturbance and he asked them to disperse. They only became more riotous and were going t fight him but the young men who were by protected him. He sprang his rattle and got more assistance and they drove the men down the end of the town. After about quarter of an hour the men returned armed with great bludgeons. He went up to them and desired they would have the town but they immediately began to beat whom they came neat and used the most horrid language. Several of the assistant were knocked down and cut very much with the blows they received. He was hurt himself very much but they drove them quite out of town. John Field: he was at the Kings Arms at Luton and there was an ill looking set of strangers in the house. As he was going home Mr Farmer the landlord said to him that he must get the fellows out of the house as he was sure they were a set of thieves. Farmer asked him for assistance and they turned them out of the house. He heard a row in the street and went down the hill to see what the matter was and found the watchman endeavouring to disperse the mob; they threatened the watchman and wanted to fight him. The mob were driven down the town and as soon as he had got home he heard George Gray's name mentioned. Fearing something had happened to him he went out again and found him bleeding in the head. He then found the mob had returned armed with great sticks and were threatening to murder anyone that came near them. The watchman then came to the Kings Arms for assistance and several young men got sticks and went with him. He took a rolling pin and as soon as he got down to the mob he said "now let’s go one to one" he was immediately struck at with a bludgeon. James Attwood was knocked down against him. He was sent for the next day to Dunstable to see if he could find any of the party there and at the White Horse at Dunstable he saw the prisoner with 2 others. He would swear the prisoner was one of the most active in the mob and he was armed with a bludgeon. He did not give the prisoner into custody then but went to another public house to see if he could find anyone whom he knew to have struck any of their men. While he was gone the prisoner and his 2 companions ran away and the prisoner was taken by the Beadle of the town. He then went back to Luton for a constable and as they were bringing the prisoner to Luton the prisoner acknowledged that he was in the mob with a stick.

item

Tarrant, Henry,
Wren, George,
Tomalin, Frederick,
Field, John,
Farmer,
Gray, George,
Attwood, James

LUTON, DUNSTABLE, rioting, bonnet presser, watchman, ostler, Gypsies, Dunstable White Horse, Luton Market House, Luton Kings Arms, Market Hill