QSR1918/3/5/2a to 2l

The examination of Albert John Lunniss of Tays End Wootton in the County of Bedford, a carpenter; Frank Smith of The Cock Inn Wootton, a publican; Harry William Church of Kempston, Police Sergeant; George Butters of Kempston, Physician & Surgeon & Ewart Gordon Anderson of The County Hospital Bedford, Physician & Surgeon. Taken on Oath 20th April 1918 before one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace in the hearing of Walter Redman who is charged that he on 5th April 1918 unlawfully did wound himself with a certain chisel with intent feloniously wilfully & with malice aforethought to kill & murder himself.

20th April1918

From: 1918 To: 1918

a & b) Albert John Lunniss on his oath saith; I am a carpenter carrying a business at Tays End Wootton. On Friday 5th April about 8:25am I was in my stores. I heard someone crying, I opened my front door & looked out. I came to the back door , I saw Mrs Redman she was crying. From what she told me I went to the barn attached to the defendants house the door was shut to but was not fastened. On opening the door I saw the defendant lying face downwards on the floor. I noticed a pool of blood. I sent for the parish nurse, the police & the doctor. Defendant has lived near me for 5 or 6 months. He was lying in the pool of blood, I have known hem all his life. I have never noticed anything wrong with him. Signed A J Lunniss c & d) Frank Smith on his oath says; I am a licenced victualler residing at the Cock Inn at Wootton. I remember the 5th April about 8:15am I received certain information from the last witness, I huurieddown to where Walter Redman lived, I Walked into Redmans barn , Walter Redman was curled up in the barn on his left side very nearly a yard away from a pool of blood. His face was towards the ground. I raised his hand, I said "Walter what have you been doing? " He said "I did not do it Frank It was them at Covenrty did this". A woman cam, I bathed his wound & took himto the house. He had a wound on his forehead. The nurse arrived, I assited the nurse upstairs with him, undressed him & laid him in the bed. I have known him 26 years well. I have never noticed anything wrong with him. signed Frank Smith e & f) Henry William Church on his oath; On Friday 5th April about 8:40am, I received certain information from Charles Sinfield. From what he told me I went towards Wootton. Near Brook Farm I met a motor car. In it were Dr Butters, Albert Lunniss & the prisoner. The prisoner had his head bandaged up & from what the Doctor told me I took charge of the prisoner & conveyed him to the County Hospital. Later the same morning I visited the residence of the prisoner at Wootton, about 20feet from the back door is a barn , the door of the barn opens sideways, the inside of the barn could not be seen from the house. On opening the door which I found [locked] I sawto the left a chopping block about 18" in height, to the left of the block wwas the chisel, produced marked "A", with fresh blodd upon it, also the hammer , produce marked "B", fast beside it. There was a pool of blood on the floor about 2 feet from the block. I also found the rope , produce marked "C" on the floor. On Thursday 18th April I conveyed the prisoner from the County Hospital to Gadsby Street Police Station, I there formally charged him. He replied "I have nothing to say, I didn't wish it to occur again & I am very sorry it has happened" signed Harry William Church g) George Butters on his oath says; I am a Physician & Surgeon residing at Kempston. I remember the morning of 5th April. I went to Wootton, I found the prisoner lying in bed about 8:45am, he was partly dressed , on examnation I found an irregular incised wound on the forehead. The frontal bone was fractured & was protruding as if it had been levered up. I dressed the wound & took him to the County Hospital. The wound could have been caused by the chisel, produced marked "A". I think the wound could have been self-inflicted. The prisoner said to his mother "Mother you are not to blame for this" He appeared at that time to be quite rational. signed George Butters h & i) Ewart Gordon Anderson on oath says; I am a Physician & Surgeon resident at the County Hospital Bedford. I remember friday 5th April , the prisoner was admitted to the hospital about 10 o'clock that morning. I examined him & found 2 incised wounds on left forehead with centre halfway between margin of scalp & supra orbital ridge. \THe upper wound was about 1.1/2" in length & ran into the lower wound which was about 2 to 2.1/2" long, The wounds extended down to & included frontal bone. The outer table of frontal bone was extensively fractured. Subseguently he was operated upon, the loose bone removed & the wound stitched up. on operation the inner table was found not to be fractured. The wound healedby first intention. Prisoner was discharged on 18th April inst. I believe it is quite possibl;e that the woulds could have been caused by the chisel, produced marked"A". & I believe they could have been self inflicted. During the time the prisoner has been in Hospital he has been under my obsevation, I found him quite rational & no evidence of mental disorder. Whilst in the hospital prisoners life was not endangered by the wound. If slightly deeper it would have endangered his life. signed E Gordon Anderson The above depositions were taken & sworn at Bedford in the County of Bedford before me this 30th day of April 1918 signed Walter Harter, A Justice of the Peace for the County of Bedford. j) "D" Statement from the prisoner ; Dear Sir, First instant I gave up my business & went out on Government work. As I don't think I shall be able to get back to business again that as been a trouble to me. To my wife. I came to Wootton in Feb, I had my calling Papers a few weeks after. I taken them to Rothsay Road they sent my exemption card back to Wootton . I said to Mr Baker had I gat to answer my call on the 4th April & they had not got me down in the book for that day & they asked me to go on Friday but I didn't go that day. Misfortune in Hospital. I thought that I went for Medical Examination & I had not had exam under the new category. I have a opinion that if I had gone I should not have a chance to come back to my wife & children again. I have 3 of my own brothers out there & 2 brothers in law. & I have been on Government work 3 years last Feb. I hope they will look over it this time. very sorry it has happened. I had to move the wife & children to Wootton as they were not confortable in 1 room & not healthy Yours respectfully Walter Redman 2k) List of exhibits for Rex V Redman signed by G Willaims Clerk to Committing Judge 2l) Walter Redman stands charged that on 6th April 1918 he did unlawfully wound himself with a chisel intending to kill & murder himself. And the said charge is read to Walter Redman after he has heard the evidence against him & asked what he had tosay; he replied I want my written statement marked "D"read. Confirmed as read by Walter Harter. The prisoner was asked if he wished to call any other witnesses, he called Lydia Redman Examination of Lydia Redman taken on oath; The prisoner answered his call up to the army on 4th April. He went to Rothsay Road Bedford, the Recruiting Office, His business manner was quite all right till he got his calling up papers. He had them about a fortnight before. I noticed after that he was very worried & upset. Nothing else changed. He didnot sleep well for the last few nights. He had not said anything to me what he was going to do. signed Lydia Redman The above deposition of Lydia Redman was taken & sworn at Bedford in the County aforesaid before me; Walter Harter a Justice of the Peace for the County of Bedford.

item

Redman, Walter,
Lunniss, Albert J.,
Smith, Frank,
Church, Harry William,
Butters, George,
Anderson, Ewart Gordon,
Harter, Walter,
Redman, Lydia,
Williams, G

WOOTTON, BEDFORD, KEMPSTON, wounding, carpenter, publican, police sergeant, physician, surgeon, suicide