CRIME IN PAST TIMES

Drunken attack ends in jail

An unprovoked attack on a street trader resulted in a jail sentence for William Downs, of Eastgate, Bourne, after the court heard that he had caused serious injuries to the old man.

Downs was going home from work drunk between 8 pm and 9 pm on Thursday 19th August 1869 when he encountered Peter Anderson and his young son in Star Lane [now Abbey Road]. Anderson was described as a quiet and inoffensive man who went about the country selling ornaments and images and when they met Downs, some of his wares were lighted up to attract the notice of prospective purchasers.

Without any provocation, Downs knocked some of them over and on being asked to pay for the damage, he became extremely violent and assaulted Anderson in a shocking manner, dealing him several heavy blows on the head with a thick stick. The injured man was taken to the Woolpack Inn [in Eastgate, now demolished] and for some time his recovery was doubtful.

The following day, Downs was taken before the magistrates charged with unlawfully wounding Anderson and was remanded in custody until August 24th, bail being refused because of the precarious state of the injured man, but at the subsequent hearing, the magistrates were told that Anderson was progressing favourably and Downs was allowed bail until September 2nd in his own surety of £40 and two others of £20 each.

Downs duly appeared before the petty sessions at the Town Hall on September 2nd and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and a further month in the event of the costs amounting to £3 0s. 6d. were not paid.

The case had caused great excitement and indignation in the town and the Stamford Mercury reported: "Much sympathy is felt for the poor man Anderson and abhorrence at the conduct of the perpetrator of so unprovoked and brutal an assault."

Return to

Crime in past times INDEX