A 'Nasty' assault

Hertfordshire Mercury, 15th January 1916

Transcript

At Stevenage Petty Sessions, William Wallace, a labourer from Nasty, Great Munden, was charged with assaulting Beatrice Maud Wooding, a maid, as she walked along a footpath between Walkern and Ardeley.  The defendant had, she said, approached her from behind and, after speaking to her, grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her to the ground.  She said that she had struggled for 10 minutes, and that she had screamed for help.

Eventually a man had come along, had rescued her, and had escorted her home.  Alfred Cannon, a blacksmith, of Ardeley, confirmed that he had heard the girl screaming and that he had seen a man riding away on a bicycle.  Mr Cannon advised the Bench that the girl had seemed very exhausted.

Inspector Bowyer gave evidence of arrest.  William Wallace, the defendant, exclaimed, whilst Miss Wooding was giving her evidence: “I wish to ask her if she will forgive me for it”.

The Bench committed the defendant for trial to Herts Quarter Sessions, but he was allowed bail in two sureties of £10 each.

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