QSR1834/3/5/18

Depositions of Francis Field, constable of Luton. Thomas Tomlinson, landlord of the Black Swan, Luton. George Gardner, constable. In the case of William Field accused of the assault of Francis Field.

9 June 1834

From: 1834 To: 1834

Francis Field: he was a special constable for the town of Luton. On 2 June William Field was committed to Bedford for a month for not supporting his wife and family. The warrant of commitment was placed in his hands to carry William Field there. He was at the Black Swan waiting for his horse and gig. Mr Tomlinson, the landlord, called him to the side and requested him not to take the prisoner to Bedford without handcuffing him and tying him down in the gig because he had used threatening language that he would not go far with Francis Field. He told William Field he was ready and that he wanted to put one handcuff on him and the other on the side of the rick. William Field swore and said he would not be handcuffed. He collared William Field and so did Gardner, another constable who was present. He charged Mr Threadwill to aid and assist. In the scuffle they all got together in Mr Tomlinson’s pantry. He got a handcuff on William Field hand but Field passed his hand through his and got hold of a knife out of a knife box. William Field thrust at his belly with a knife and told him he would have the contents of the knife in his belly. He seized hold of William Field’s wrist and twisted it. He told Tomlinson to come and take the knife, which he did. They dragged William Field out of the pantry and Gardner threw him down. William Field kicked out desperately. He took out his pistol and told William Field he would shoot him if he kicked him. William Field had already kicked Gardner and Tomlinson. William Field got up and they went to Bedford. Gardner went with them. He had showed the prisoner the warrant before he asked to handcuff him. On his way to the Black Swan, John Field, the prisoner’s father, asked him where he was going to take his son. He had told him his son was committed for a month at Bedford. John Field had told his son not to go with Francis Field and that he had no business to take him as he was not a constable. John Field told his son he would pay to see him righted. He told John Field that he better go home and mind his business and not interrupt him in the execution of his duty. They got into Tomlinson’s and John Field again began to tell him son not to go with him as he was no constable. The father remained in the room whilst the scuffle took place. Thomas Tomlinson: William Field was brought to the house on 2 June by Francis Field, the constable. Francis Field went out of the house and charged the constable of Barton with the prisoner whilst he was gone. William Field had a pint of beer and said he would not stop in the house unless he had as much beer as he liked. William Field used dreadful language and swore he would not be handcuffed to any man in England. When Francis Field returned he called to him and told him it was not proper for him to go down by himself. When the scuffle took place he heard Francis Field call out to him to get hold of a knife. He went to assist and took a knife out of William Field’s hands. William Field kicked him desperately and used horrible language. He had marks on his legs. He heard John Field, the father, say that if it was him he would not go as Francis Field and Gardner were not constables. He told John Field that as he had been a constable himself he would know better. George Gardner: on Monday afternoon Francis Field came to him and told him that he expected there would be a desperate row with William Field and requested him to go with him to Tomlinson’s. He went and told William Field as soon as the gig was ready and pulled out the handcuffs to put them on him. William Field used dreadful language and swore he would not have them on. Francis Field then collared William Field and requested him to assist, which he did. In the struggle they all went into the pantry together. William Field drew a knife and he heard him use very bad language. Mr Threadwill came and took William Field by the arm and Tomlinson assisted in dragging William Field out. He managed to get William Field down but William Field seized his leg and bit it. William Field also attempted to bite his arm. He went down to Bedford with them; Francis Field having charged him to assist. He had earlier heard John Field, the prisoner’s father, say he would not go with him or Francis Field.

item

Field, William,
Field, Francis,
Tomlinson, Thomas,
Gardner, George,
Field, John,
Treadwill

LUTON, assault, constable, abandonment, Luton Black Swan