QSR1834/4/5/4

Deposition of John Brunt, farmer and salesman of Marston Moretaine. Richard Gardner, servant and chaise driver of Little Brickhill. John Haytread, innkeeper of Silsoe. In the case of James Hopkinson, stone mason, late of Maulden accused of the violent assault of John Brunt accompanied by threats to murder and shoot him.

3 September 1834

From: 1834 To: 1834

John Brunt: about 10.30pm he was travelling back from Barnet Fair in his gig. About half a mile from Silsoe, on the way to Ampthill, driving at the rate of 4 to 5 miles an hour, his pony started to one side of the road. He drove on a few yards and saw the prisoner standing directly in front of the pony with his hands held up as if meaning to stop it. The pony turned and began to gallop back towards Silsoe. The prisoner called out “where are you going to” and said “damn your eyes I will murder you”. The pony then ran up a bank and upset the gig. The prisoner threw a stone at him but it missed him. The prisoner then came up to him and began to knock him about. He then collared him and the prisoner then struck him his right hand over his left eye, it was a violent blow and he said “you bugger I will murder you”. The prisoner repeated this great many times. He asked what he wanted and the prisoner said repeatedly that he would shoot him if he did not let him go. He told the prisoner he would give him anything if he would not knock him about and would help him get the gig up. The prisoner kept saying he would shoot him if he did not let him go. He heard something coming which proved to be a chaise and he called out 3 or 4 times to it. The prisoner tired to throw him to the ground but he was too strong for him and threw him on his back and stood across him holding him down by the collar. The prisoner threw up his legs and locked him in the lower chest and the pit of the stomach. He was obliged to let go. In consequence of the injuries received he had been confined to his bed. The post chaise came up and he called to the driver to stop, which he did. He told the driver the prisoner had threatened to murder and shoot him and that he had hurt him very much. He asked the driver to take him to Silsoe, which after some hesitation he consented to do. When the chaise came up the prisoner attempted to get upon the chaise to where the driver was sitting. On the post boy consenting to drive him to Silsoe the prisoner said he should go but he told the prisoner he would go back with them and took hold of him by the collar. The prisoner made no resistance. No conversation passed on the way. On arriving at the Star & garter Inn he told Haystead what had happened and sent for a constable. The riser made no attempt to escape. The post boy drove him back to Ampthill to an inn there and he immediately sent for a medical gentleman whose care he was still under. Richard Gardner: servant and chaise driver to William Ratcliffe of Little Brickhill. He was returning with an empty chaise from Silsoe towards Little Brickhill hen he saw John Brunt and the prisoner struggling together on the road. When he came up Brunt called out to stop. He was unwilling to stop but he was begged to stop and told him his name and said he would pay for the chaise as he knew his master very well. Brunt said the prisoner had been knocking him about and that he wished to be taken back to Silsoe with the prisoner. The prisoner got upon the chaise and made no resistance. He drove them back to the Star and Garter and they got out of the chaise. He believed the prisoner to have been in liquor although afterwards at the Star and Garter he appeared not to be so much in liquor. John Haytread: between 10pm and 11pm the post chaise drove to his door. Mr Brunt of Marston Moretaine and the prisoner were in the chaise. He asked what was the matter and Brunt said the prisoner had stooped him on the road and attempted to murder him. The prisoner got quietly out of the chaise and he put him in the tap room and stood at the door. He sent for the constable. Whilst his servant had gone for the constable the prisoner got up and said he would go out of the house. He prevented him by pushing him back and the prisoner tried again in a threatening manner. He struck the prisoner with his stick and the prisoner sat quietly until the constable came. Mr Brunt gave the prisoner in the charge of the constable and he then accompanied Mr Brunt to Ampthill in the chaise. From his appearance and manner he thought the prisoner had been drinking but did not think him drunk. Statement of the accused: he was drunk and did not know what he did.

item

Hopkinson, James,
Brunt, John,
Gardner, Richard,
Haytread, John,
Ratcliffe, William

MARSTON MORETAINE, MAULDEN, SILSOE, Little Brickhill, AMPTHILL, stone mason, assault, threatening behaviour, farmer, salesman, servant, Silsoe Star & Garter, chaise