QSR1911/2/5/3a(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii)

The examinations(depositions) of Sarah Susannah Burden (not upon oaths) and of Reginal Charles Humphries, Hannah Rayment & George Racher, taken upon oath 24th March 1911 at Woburn in the county of Bedford before John Waugh Esquire & Major Gregory Haines 2 of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Bedford in the presence & hearing of Edward Miller

24th March 1911

From: 1911 To: 1911

(i,ii) Edward Miller was charged that on 19th March 1911 at the parish of Tingrith he did unlawfully & indecently asssault a certain female to wit the said Sarah Susannah Burden then being a young person under the age of 13 years to wit 9 years contrary yo the statute in the case made & provided The said Sarah Susannah Burden, states not on oath. I am nine years of age -& live with my Grandmother at Evershot. On Sunday afternoon last - 19th March 1911- I saw Ted Miller down the Tingrith Road - He said to us "hello" He took hold of us & took us through a gap into Mr Coopers field - He unbuttoned our knickers & put us on the ground - We got up again - He put Sarah? (Maud) Chapman down again & then he put me down again - he pulled my clothes up & pressed on me - I saw the keeper & we ran away. signed S S Burden (iii, iv) The said Reginald Charles Humphries sworn saith - I am a gamekeeper & live at Tingrith - On Sunday 19th March 1911 at 4:30pm I was in the Howe Cover at Tingrith - I saw the defendant in Coopers Field, ajoining the Eversholt/Tingrith Road, with 2 little girls. He was lying on his back on the bank with his trousers undone & his person out. He pulled the girls on him one after the other. I watched them for about 4 or 5 minutes & then went towards them- They sawme & all ran away - spoke to the girls & asked them what they were doing - they said Ted Miller took them into the field & made them do it - I then asked Miller what he was doing - he made no reply -I said I should infrom the Police - he said" Don't do that" - I have been cautioned by the police before- I took him to Police Constable Racher - Racher asked him what he had been doing, he said I don't like to tell you - Please let me off this time - I wont do it again. signed R C Humphries (v) The said Hannah Rayner sworn oath, I am the grandmother to Sarah Susannah Burden, she is 9 years old. From what PC Racher told me on the 19th March 1911 I examined her carefully * her underclothing. I found nothing wrong with either. Signed her mark X Hannah Rayner (vi) The said George Racher sworn oath, I am a Police Constable stationed at Eversholt . On Sunday 19th March 1911 the witness Humphries bought the Defendant to me & said in his presence "I Caught ths chap interfering with 2 little girls" I said to the defendant "what have you been doing?" he said " I dont like to tell you Please let me off this time, I wont do it any more" George Racher PC 66 The above depositions were taken & except as to the deposition of the said Sarah Susannah Burden, under oath before us at Woburn ; signed J Waugh, G Haines (vii, viii) Statement of accused; Edward Miller stands charged before the undersigned, Two of His Majesty's Justices of Peace for the County of Bedford this 24th March 1911 that he Edward Miller on 19th March 1911 at Tingrith did unlawfully assault a certain female to wit Sarah Susannah Burden of Eversholt. being a young person under the age of thiteen years to wit of the age of nine years. Contrary to the statute etc..... The charge being read to the said Edward Miller & the witnesses for the Prosecution being severally examined in his presence, the said Edward Miller is now addressesby us as follows; Having heard the evidence , do you wish to say anything in asnswer to the charge? You are not obliged to say anything unless you desire to do so; but whatever you say will be taken down in writing, and may be given in evidence against you upon your Trial. Whereupon the said Edward Miller said nothing. Taken before me at Woburn in the County aforesaid, on the day & year first above-mentioned. sigtned J Waugh, G Haines. & immediately after obeying directions of the 18th Section of the Act Eleventh & Twelfth Victoria, Chapter Forty Two, we the said Justices of the Peace, did demand & require of the said Edward Miller whether he desired to call any Witness; & thereupon, in answer to such demand, the said Edward Miller neither called or desired to call any Witnesses. J Waugh, G Haines

item

Miller, Edward,
Burden, Sarah Susannah,
Cooper, Mr,
Chapman, Maud,
Humphries, Reginald Charles,
Racher, George,
Rayner, Hannah,
Waugh, J,
Haines, G.

BEDFORD, TINGRITH, Evershot, WOBURN, assault, gamekeeper