Reference
QSR1825/367
Title
Examinations and depostitions. Information of William Brown of Houghton Conquest, constable regarding assault.
Date free text
1825
Production date
From: 1825 To: 1825
Scope and Content
He was going towards the Royal Oak at Houghton Conquest to assist in carrying away three prisoners under a warrant of commitment who had been taken into custody and were being held by the other constables in the house. He passed John Robinson who asked him to go to the assistance of the other police. There were between 20 and 30 women and children outside the house. When he arrived William Robinson asked him to have some beer, which he did.
Meanwhile, the noise outside increased and he was forced to go outside and tell them 'to be still; but instead of stopping, they were worse. I then held up my constable's staff and told them if they would not be still I would drive them up to Mr Barber's. They still kept their noise. I then pushed John Dyer, one of the persons present, on in the direction of Mr Barber's house. I then went among the women to force them towards the same place and took hold of Elizabeth Watts, who struck me with her fist; I then hit her with my staff. Ann Betterson then struck me with her pattens and also her sister Mary, whilst I was defending myself against Ann Batterson. The next person that struck me was Harriet Riddy; she struck me with her patten. I was also struck by four or five other women ... I saw Sarah the wife of David Whiteman hold up her hand within a yard and half of my face and heard her say "damn you Brown, hit me" as if I wanted to strike her; Sarah Batterson was very noisy and swore at me ... '
Then Thomas Crowsley junior of Wilstead came out of the public house and told Brown to go inside, which he did. As soon as he got inside Mr John Robinson told him and another constable, William Robinson, to take those making the riot into custody. He then went accordingly to Mr Barber's and made information and complaint against Sarah, Ann and Mary Batterson, Elizabeth Watts, Harriet Riddy, Mary, wife of William Watts, John Dyer, and Sarah, wife of William Whiteman.
'Besides the conduct of the above mentioned persons, the behaviour of the rest of the crowd in general was very noisy and riotous, and appeared to me to be intended by them to draw the other constables out of the publc house, that the prisoners in their custody might makr their escape.'
Reference
Level of description
item