George Norman, market gardener, was fined 10s including costs for an assault on Thomas Ward of
Preston this morning in Hitchin market. (July 1855)
Mr George Wright (farmer) of Preston was charged with an assault upon Thomas Ward (aged 39, of
Back Lane , Preston) of Preston on the night of the 5th of November. Complainant said that about
eleven o’clock he went into a lane to look for his donkeys and found they had strayed into Mr Wright’s
fields and went in to fetch them out. Whilst in the field, Mr Wright came up to him and asked him what
he was doing there. he said to fetch out his donkeys that had got through a gap in the hedge. Mr
Wright said he would take the law into his own hands and struck him in the face with his fists and said
he would thrash him if he did not take himself off. Mr Wright admitted having struck the complainant,
but said that when he went up to him to tell him that neither he nor his donkeys had any right on his
land, some altercation took place when Ward kicked him on the leg. Fined 5s and costs. (September
1856)
ASSAULT. Daniel Groom (aged 45, a labourer from Church End, St Pauls Walden) was brought up
in custody charged with committing an assault on Mr John Cook at Hill End in May last. The prisoner
had just come out of gaol, where he had been imprisoned under a conviction for night poaching.
Committed for six weeks. (December 1859)
ASSAULT. John Sharp, (labourer) of Preston, whose case was adjourned from last week, was
accused of assaulting James Kirkby Complainant stated that on the evening of the 27th of August,
he met the defendant who worked for his father, and asked him why he had not been to his work that
day. the defendant then struck him with a stick and struck the horse that he was on two or three
severe blows. Complainant then rode away, when Sharp threw stones at him. Ordered to pay 10s
and the costs. (September 1863)
John Sharp, labourer of Preston, charged by J Weeks Esq. of Preston with threatening to assault
him. Dismissed. (October 1870)
George Wright (aged 61), farmer of Preston, charged with assaulting one of his labouring boys,
Samuel Reeves (aged 11, a ploughboy living in a cottage near Preston Hill Farm), who appeared in
court with his arm very much injured. Fined £3 including costs. (December 1870)
(See Alleged Assault at Kings Walden case below)
ASSAULTING THE POLICE. Henry Chalkley (aged 29, a brick maker of Breachwood Green, Kings
Walden) and Charles Chambers were charged with assaulting the police while in the execution of
their duty. Police-constable Gibbs said on the 30th ult. he and Pc Farr attended the fair at Preston.
About half-past ten at night a man was given in their custody at the Red Lion public-house on a
charge of felony and as they were escorting him through the village, the two defendants came up and
said they should not take the man into custody. The two men then seized hold of the prisoner and
tried to rescue him and subsequently he was kicked by one of the defendants and hurt very much.
They succeeded in getting the prisoner as far as the Chequers public house and there a cart was lent
them to convey the prisoner to the station-house. Witness and Farr tried to put the prisoner into the
vehicle and all the time they did so, the defendants interfered and tried to prevent them doing their
duty. Chalkley was fined 40s and 12s 6d costs or two months imprisonment and Chambers, 20s,
including costs, or 14 days imprisonment. (November 1872)
ALLEGED ASSAULT. George Wright, farmer , was summoned for having on the 13 ult. assaulted a
young woman, Mary Slater.The defendant was summoned to appear before the Bench at their last
meeting, but had failed to do so. Mr Shepherd appeared for the accused. He said the defendant was
exceedingly sorry that anything should have occurred to call for the interference of the Court, but
since the occurrence a satisfactory arrangement had been come to between himself and the
complainant’s father and the young woman did not now wish to press the charge. The magistrates,
under these circumstances, allowed the case to be dismissed. (August 1873)
ASSAULT. William Monrow, gardener to Mr Weeks of Temple Dinsley, was charged with assaulting
William Sharp (aged 16, living in Preston in 1871) on 21st of November. Mr Harper appeared to
prosecute.
Wm Sharp deposed: I have worked for Mr Weeks at Temple Dinsley about four years and a half. On
Friday last I was at leaf cart about half past three. Geo Palmer (aged 14, living in Preston in 1871)
was with me. The defendant came to us and said, ”Pull off your jacket.” I told him it was too cold,
when he said if I did not pull my jacket off, he would and then took hold of my throat and said, “ You --
-----, I’ll choke you.” the buttons on my shirt were broken off and my collar was smothered with blood
by the defendant scratching me. He then threw me on the ground and swore he would kill me; he
struck me while down and tore my trousers down the side. The cowman came and pulled him off me
and he told me and Palmer to go to the stable and he would pay us.
Defendant said he spoke to Sharp about his work and told him if he did not do his work better, he
would have to leave. He also told the boys about having their coats on and they refused to take them
off. He told them if they did not obey they would have to leave and then Sharp threw down his rake
and said, “Now you ------------, give us our money.” Fined £1 including costs (November 1873)
ASSAULT AT PRESTON. Martha Peters (aged 20 of Back Lane, Preston) of Preston was charged
with assaulting George Boston (aged 15 of Back Lane, Preston) of Preston but as the defendant
was unable to appear, the case was adjourned for six weeks. (September 1877)
SERIOUS CHARGE. At the Hitchin Petty Sessions on Tuesday, Jesse Bryce, a young man of about
twenty years of age was charged on remand with feloniously assaulting Elizabeth Roberts, a middle-
aged woman, on the road between Gosmore and Preston on the night of April 19th. Several
witnesses having been examined, including the prosecutrix, who was too ill to attend. The
magistrates sent the defendant for trial at the Assizes. Mr Nash, solicitor who defended, asked for bail
and fixed it as follows: the accused in £100 and two sureties in £50 each with notice to the police.
(May 1889)
Henry Jeeves of Preston (woodman of Back Lane b 1839c) was charged with assaulting Frank
Stanford of Hitchin on the 18 July. Mr Horace Baker, solicitor, appeared for the defendant. Stanford
was also charged with assaulting Jeeves at the same time and place. The Bench dismissed the
charge against Stanford and fined Jeeves 16s 6d including costs or seven days imprisonment. (Aug
1881)
ASSAULT. Thomas Ward (b 1816) was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Sturgess (b 1827) of
Preston. It came out in evidence that the fair complainant herself was guilty of the offence with which
she charged the defendant and the case was therefore dismissed, on payment of costs by her. (May
1845)
Francis Sharpe was charged with assaulting John Buck of Kings Walden. It appeared from the
complainant’s statement that the defendant came to his house in company with some others on a day
when a club feast was held there and called for beer. This however was refused upon which Sharpe
and the others (one of whom was convicted last week) assaulted the complainant and threatened to
demolish his windows. Fined £1 and in default of payment committed for one month. (May 1845)
ASSAULT. Charles Ray (sic) was summoned, charged by Hill with assaulting him on 12 March.
From the evidence of the prosecutor it appeared that he was making hurdles in a wood. Ray came up
to him and charged him with taking the bread out of his mouth. This the prosecutor said he could not
help as he had been told to do the job. Ray then went up to him and struck him with a hurdle
sideways. When the prosecutor got up, Ray then pulled him by his coat and struck him a blow in the
eye with his fist. (The mark was still visible) Ray also said that if he found out that the prosecutor had
asked for the job, he would drop on to him and give him a good thrashing.
The prisoner said that he had gone and sworn at the prosecutor for taking the job out of his hands. As
he was going away, he told Hill what he would do to him if it was true. Hill retorted, and he went back
and struck him in the eye with his fist. The magistrates said that one man had as much right as
another to do a job and therefore fined Ray £1 and 12s 6d costs which were paid. (March 1860)
Hitchin Petty Sessions, 10 January 1837. John Wade (sic - probably Ward), of Preston was
brought up on a warrant charged with assaulting John Squires at Preston on 7 January. The
complainant stated that on the night in question, when he was coming out of the door of the
Chequers at Preston, where his club had been held that evening, he found Wade waiting for him
outside. Wade immediately struck him and a little scuffle ensued after which the prisoner fetched a
large stake and hit the complainant over the eye with it and made a great wound. He was convicted
in the sum of 15s to include costs and in default was committed to the House of Correction at Hitchin
for 21 days.
Daniel Winch was also brought up for assaulting John French at the same place and on the same
evening. The circumstances attending the affair were very similar to the last case but with
considerably more aggravation. He was therefore fined the full penalty of £5 and committed to the
House of Correction for two calendar months.
Assault. Charles Swain was charged with assaulting Joseph Saunderson and John Wilshire at
Preston in the parish of Hitchin. It appeared from the statement of the complainants that they are
related to the defendant and met together when some family differences arose and the assault
complained of was committed. (The defendant’s solicitor) endeavoured to make out that his client
was ‘more sinned against than sinning’ but in this he failed and the defendant was adjudged to pay
£2 10s including costs. (9 October 1847)
Henry Jeeves, a labourer, was charged with assaulting Frederick Redrup, a publican of Preston
and also with doing damage to a window to the extent of 5/-. The complainant said that the
defendant’s sister was occasionally in his employment. On the night of 6 September, a stone was
thrown through the window and on the witness opening the door to see who was outside, the
defendant struck him. The defendant said that his sister, who kept his house, went to the
complainant’s house to drink rather than to work. He admitted breaking the window but denied the
assault. For the assault he was fined £1 and costs and for the damage, 10/- and costs making a total
of £2 1s 6d. (16 September 1899)
A charge against Samuel Reeves, dealer of Whitwell, of assaulting William Henry Brown, another
dealer at Preston on Saturday, was dismissed. There had, it seemed, been a dispute between the
parties about money matters. (11 Dec 1897)
ASSAULT AT PRESTON Frank Brown, of Preston, was summoned for assaulting John Dew at
Preston on 30 June. The complainant, a farmer, gave evidence to the effect that while driving towards
Hitchin, a missile struck him on the back and when he pulled up to ask what it meant, the defendant
threatened to assault him. In cross examination it was established that the witness was not struck by
the defendant and that there had been some ill feeling between the parties. The defendant was
ordered to pay the costs amounting to 14/6d and was bound over to keep the peace for three
months. (11 July 1891)
Frank Brown of Preston was charged with using threats to John Dew, farmer of Preston and also
with obstructing the highway there. Both charges were adjourned to enable the defendant to call
witnesses, the summons only having come to his knowledge late on Monday night.
Later – The complainant threatened to “do for him” but this was denied by the defendant who said
that Dew had given him a great deal of annoyance for some time past. After hearing the witnesses on
both sides, the Magistrates bound both parties over to keep the peace for six months. The charge of
obstruction, which was brought by Mr Dew, in his capacity of surveyor of highways, was dismissed
the Bench thinking that the dog-cart which was found on the road was not there long enough to
sustain such a complaint. (23 July 1892)
Petty Sessions, Hitchin. Alfred Brown, farmer of Preston was charged with using threats to George
Hailey, saddler of Hitchin. There had it seemed been some unpleasantness between the parties
before arising out of County Court proceedings set on foot by Mr Hailey and when they met on the
road, the defendant, it was alleged, used the threats complained of. The Magistrates bound the
defendant over in his own recognisances in the sum of £10 to keep the peace for six months. (11
November 1893)
MASTER and MAN. William Jackson, farmer of Hill End, Hitchin was charged with assaulting
Samuel Peacock, a groom-gardener who was in his employment, on December 21 The complainant
said Mr Jackson found fault with him for not completely plucking two geese and witness rejoined that
he had kept on plucking as long as he could see. With that the defendant committed the assault,
throwing him down and almost strangling him and knocking his head against the door of a cart shed.
Being cross-examined, the witness said he was quite sober. It was true that he used threats to the
defendant but these were conditional on the defendant interfering with him. Strong language was
used by them both. Giving evidence on his own behalf, the defendant said he paid the defendant his
wages and ordered him off the premises. He did not leave and was thereupon put outside on the
highway. Peacock was not sober at the time. Mr Jackson flatly contradicted the main part of the
complainant’s testimony. After retiring to consider their decision, the Magistrates dismissed the case
on the defendant paying the costs. (5 January 1906)
PETTY SESSIONS. Arthur Jenkins, a labourer, was charged with assaulting his wife at Preston on
March 5th. The complainant who has to walk on crutches because of an infirmity, said her husband
came home the worse for drink and struck her with his hand on the side of the head. Jenkins said he
gave her a slap on the face because she nagged him. He was bound over in his own recognizances
to keep the peace for six months. (14 March 1908)
PETTY SESSIONS. Albert Smoothy, dairyman of Hitchin was charged with assaulting Reginald
Joseph Brown a lad of 17 living at Preston. The complainant’s evidence was that he was sitting in
the bar parlour of the Gloucester Arms public house with the defendant and two others after looking
at a horse he wished to buy from one of the company. Smoothy asked to be paid some money
witness owed him. Witness promised to pay him but before he could do so, the defendant hit him a
severe blow on the eye. For the defence it was contended that the blow was a slight one and that
provocation had been given. A fine of £1 with 10/- costs was imposed. (8 April 1905)
James Brown of Kings Walden was charged with an assault upon Joseph Barker who said: I am a
farmer and live at Knebworth. On 28 October, I was at Preston fair and about noon Brown came up to
me and said, “Come along with me!”. I said, “What for?” and refused to go. He caught hold of the
collar of my waistband and tore it off. I told him to let go but he would not and dragged me along
about a pole. He abused me very much and I struck him on the head twice before he would let me
go. Brown had also summoned Barker. The evidence was very contradictory and the Bench
dismissed both cases. (6 November 1852)
Henry Bradden, (61) keeper of the Chequers public house at Preston, was charged with committing
an assault on George Hammitt of the same place. Case dismissed (10 November 1861)
Charles Swain (34) of Preston in the parish of Hitchin was charged with assaulting John Swain (34,
cousin of Charles), blacksmith of the same place. Case dismissed with plaintiff paying costs. (17 April
1852)
William James Wright of Preston, farmer (of Preston Hill Farm) was fined 12/- including costs for an
assault upon Thomas Ward (40, of Back Lane), a dealer in marine stores on the night of 5 November
at Preston. Complainant stated that about 11 o’clock he missed his two donkeys from a lane into
which he had turned them and found they had strayed into one of Mr Wright’s fields and went over
the fence through a gap to fetch them out when Mr Wright came up and asked him what he was
doing there. He said, ‘After my donkeys’ and Mr Wright struck him with his fist on the face. Mr Wright
admitted having struck the complainant but that he first kicked his legs. (18 November 1856)
William Monk of Preston was charged with assaulting Mr James Ford Kirkling (Kirkby?), farmer of
Preston on 3 February. Fine and costs £1: Paid. (19 February 1859)
William Sturgeon (Sturgess ?, father and son at Back Lane 52 and 18),of Preston was charged with
assaulting Julia Rowbottom (26, married to George, of Hill End). Fined 40/- and costs. (19 June
1852)
Benjamin Brown of Preston was charged with committing an assault on William Brown (46 of the
Red Lion) of the same place. Fined £1 including costs. (11 January 1862)
Charles Stevens and William Currell were charged with assaulting a poor man of weak intellect,
Samuel Farr, at Kings Walden on 25 July. Farr appeared to have been beaten very severely, but both
defendants stated positively that he threw stones at them before they touched him. Stevens was
fined 7/- and Currell, 5/- (12 August 1843)
Charles Wray (my great grandfather) of Kings Walden was charged with committing an assault on
Henry Hill. The parties were rival hurdle-makers and the assault arose because Hill was employed
by one of Wray’s masters. Fined £1 1/- and costs (24 March 1860)
John May (59, ag lab) was charged with assaulting Thos Bradden, landlord of the Chequers at
Preston. It appeared from the evidence that the defendant misbehaved himself in the house and
Bradden very properly interfered when he was struck by the defendant for so doing. Fined 1/6d and
costs 13/6d. (18 September 1847)
Hertfordshire Mercury 9 January 1875 Mr Brown of Preston attended at the request of the Hertford
Board of Guardians to give explanation in reference to a complaint by Louisa Ward of bad treatment
while in his service. After hearing his explanation, the Board felt he had not intentionally dealt harshly
with the girl.
Bedfordshire Mercury, 4 November 1837
William and Jonathan Brinkley, two gypsies were brought before the Bench for assaulting George
Cranfield and Robert Thrussell. It appeared that the 25 inst was Preston Fair and on the evening of
that day, the complainant met the defendants at the Chequers at Preston and there in consequence
of an old dispute, the defendant challenged the complainant to fight and stripped for that purpose.
The challenge was refused, Cranfield’s master having forbidden him to mix in quarrels of that nature.
Brinkley then struck him on the face by way of provocation whereupon Cranfield sent for the
constable who came bringing with him the complainant, Robert Thrussell, to assist him; there was
great disturbance between the constable and defendant and his brother Jonathan and others,
‘F.juadem generis’ in the course of which Jonathan struck Thrussell over the mouth. The riot
appearing to have arisen from the conduct of the defendants, they were both convicted – William for
the assault upon Cranfield for which he was fined £5, which he paid and Jonathan for the assault on
Thrussell for which he was sentenced to pay 50/-, but not being able to raise the wind, he was
committed to the House of Correction at Hertford for one calendar month.
A DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR AT PRESTON
Harry Monk, Samuel Chalkley, Alfred Bradwick and James Wilshire, four youths of Hitchin were
charged with assaulting Charles Crane, a young man of Preston, at Ippollitts on 27 September.
Mr Wells, solicitor, Hitchin appeared for the prosecution and said it would be proved to be a most
unprovoked attack on a Sunday evening when the defendants met the complainant walking towards
Temple Dinsley and attacked him. The prosecutor was set upon by all four at once and suffered great
pain from the injuries for the next two days. The only difficulty mightb be as to the identity of the
prisoners but he thought he should have enough evidence for that.
Charles Crane said he lived at Preston and was an under-gardener at Temple Dinsley to Mr McMillan.
On Sunday evening he was walking along with other young fellows when he heard a noise and four
young fellows passed them and three young women. After they had passed they came up behind and
said, “I’ll show you Charlie Smith”. Two of them struck Gilbert and Walter Peters who were with the
witness and they ran away. The other two then struck George Peters and then the first two attacked
him, one holding his arms at his side while the other two struck him. When George Peters the last of
his companions went away, they all set upon him and one of them took his stick away. He had no
opportunity of striking any of them with the stick as they were holding his arms. One of the young
women said, “Don’t Harry”. He went to work the next day but could not do much and suffered great
pain in his stomach for two days afterwards. It was quite dark and he could not recognise who they
were.
The defendants had nothing to ask. George Peters said he lived at Preston. On 27 September he
was walking with two others named Peters and Crane. On the road they met four lads and three girls.
He could not recognise them again as it was quite dark. After they had passed they came back and
struck his brother and cousin and knocked them in the hedge and they ran away. They then set upon
the witness and Crane, the witness got away and looking back he saw them all onto Crane; one was
holding him while the others were punching him. Crane had a dog, puppy with him and they kicked it.
One of the defendants said the dog barked at them and they thought the other party set the dog on
them and that was what made them stop. Sarah Ann Taylor, a young girl was called and said she
lived at St Andrews Street, Hitchin. On that Sunday evening, she and two other girls were walking
with the four defendants and they met four others with a dog. The dog caught hold of Wilshire’s
trousers and Crane then hit Wilshire with a stick on the hand and they went away. That was all that
happened. Witness said all the defendants went into the Chequers at Preston and had a little drink,
some whiskey and they (the girls) stayed outside but had some of the drink.
Walter Peters added he did not hear the dog bark or hear anyone complain of being bitten or being
hit with a stick. Gilbert Peters said the lads turned back and hit the witness in the side and he ran off
and Walter and him got out of sight as quick as they could. Supt. Reynolds said the noisy conduct of
the defendants and others at the public house had been greatly complained of. Each of the
defendants were fined 15/- including costs or 14 days at St Albans prison in default. The defendants
walked out of the dock in a body saying they would have the fourteen days then.
Wilshire was further charged with stealing Crane’s stick. He said he took hold of the stick and Crane
let go of it after he had hit him with it. Crane said the stick was taken away from him at the time of the
assault and he did not see it again until he saw it in the hands of the police at the Police Station. A
fine of five shillings was imposed or seven days imprisonment.
9 October 1891
DISTURBANCE AT PRESTON FAIR
Jesse Froy, bricklayers apprentice of Hitchin, was charged with assaulting PC Bush at Preston Fair
whilst in the execution of his duty on 27 October. James Bates, Ernest Moules and Henry Halley,
bricklayers labourers of Hitchin, were also charged with assaulting PC Bush. From the evidence it
seems Bates, Moules and Hailey were making a disturbance at Preston Fair about 10 pm. They had
their oats off and said they had come for a row and Bates offered to fight the best man in Preston.
The police were knocked about in attempting to put an end to the disturbance, Froy assisting the
other defendants.
The defendants were found guilty as charged. Froy, who had just come out of prison for a very gross
assault on the police, would be sent to prison for two months. Hailey had been fined before for a
similar offence and Bates seemed to be the ringleader. Both were both sent to St Albans for one
month. Moules had not been charged before and was fined £1 including costs.
5 November 1897
Thomas Fairy, a labourer of Preston, was charged with threatening to kill Frank Warren, a baker.
The complainant said that on 7 May while delivering bread at Preston, the defendant who was half
drunk used very bad language and threatened to stab him. Christopher Collins gave corroborative
evidence. Fairy denied using threats and said the complainant had declare threat unless he paid for
some bread that was owing he would ‘have something out of the house’. If the complainant had
asked him civilly he would have paid him. Fairey was bound over in the sum of £5 to keep the peace
for six months.
20 May 1887
A History of Preston in Hertfordshire
Preston in the news: Assault cases