QSR1832/4/5/5

Depositions of John Gaydon, watchman of Dunstable. Robert Fowles, constable of Dunstable. In the case of Thomas Keene accused escaping from custody.

13 August 1832

From: 1832 To: 1832

John Gaydon: on Saturday night about 11pm he was going down the street and was told that he was wanted at the Black Horse. When he got to the door he saw the prisoner Thomas Keene standing at the door post very tipsy. The landlord charged him to clear the house of him and as he could not do it without assistance he was obliged to get 2 men to help him. Keene was very violent but they got him out of the house and the door was bolted. The prisoner then set his foot against the door and he tried to force it open. He took hold of Keene by the neck and told him he should not do that and in getting him away they fell down together. While they were on the ground the prisoner said “Damn you I’ll knock your eyes out” and the prisoner kicked him violently in the eye. It badly cut his eye. They took the prisoner to his house and he left him there in the charge of the 2 assistants whilst he went to fetch Fowles the constable to put the prisoner in the stocks. The prisoner came out again whilst he was away and they took him again and Fowler put him in the stocks. Robert Fowles: about 11.10pm on Saturday they put Thomas Keene in the stocks and locked him in. About a quarter of an hour later he returned to the stocks and found that Keene had escaped. The stocks were open and the lock gone.

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Keene, Thomas,
Gaydon, John,
Fowles, Robert

DUNSTABLE, escape from custody, watchman