QSR1834/4/5/1

Deposition of Mary Lewin Cockburn, single woman of Woolwich. In the case of Aaron Yates otherwise Aaron Gates accused of assault with intent to commit a rape.

22 August 1834

From: 1834 To: 1834

Mary Lewin Cockburn: She had lately been residing at Toddington on a visiting to the house of Mrs George Denbigh Hicks. On Sunday 10 August about 7pm, she went out to take a walk on the road heading towards Hockcliffe. She turned on the road leading to Chalgrave Church and met the prisoner. As he passed he said “Goodnight” and she replied with the same words. After a few yards the prisoner called out but she did not know what. She kept on walking as fast as she could and in about 5 minutes looked round and saw the prisoner running after her. She was frightened and ran on. She had not run 100 yards when she fell exhausted as she was so frightened. The prisoner overtook her and caught hold of her wrist. She said “For Gods sake don’t touch me” and the prisoner said “My dear will you come down the lane” and at the same time he pushed her towards the lane. He told her he wanted her to go down the lane into the fields. She struggled to release herself and said she would not go. The prisoner put his hand on the back of her head and kept hold of her wrist. He dragged her to the ground. She told him if he wanted money she would immediately give him her purse. He did not reply but threw her down on her back. She got up and screamed as much as she could. When she was down he attempted to remove her petticoats. She prevented him by struggling. When she got up and screamed he put his hand to her mouth and she bit his finger. He told her not to scream and got her down a second time telling her he was determined to do the deed. He removed her clothes and exposed her person as far as her knees. She did not know what part of his dress was removed. She continued to scream for help and resisted him for several minutes. He lay on her and she felt his hand on her person above her knees. She saw 2 young men and 2 young women come running towards her. The prisoner heard them and raised his head, took up his hat and ran away. Whilst the prisoner was on her he told her he was in love with her and was determined to do it. She had never seen the prisoner before. The place where it happened was 500 yards from the house. She was still on the ground when the people came to her and she got up but as agitated. She could scarcely stand. One of the young men named Edward Clark supported her and one of the young women assisted her home. Mrs Hicks directed the constable to look for the man and it was found he had absconded. The prisoner came back after a week and she saw him in the street and he was taken into custody. She told Mrs Hicks immediately she got home. The prisoner was the man who assaulted her. He had been a little intoxicated but not so much as not to know what he was about. Statement of the accused: he had noting to say. He was intoxicated and did not know what he was doing.

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Cockburn, Mary Lewin,
Yates, Aaron,
Gates, Aaron,
Hicks, George Denbigh

Woolwich, CHALGRAVE, TODDINGTON, sex crimes, assault