The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-03-12 00:00:00

CRIMINAL ASSAULT ON A SISTER
OF MERCY.

At a special tnee.ing of the Pollee Court. Nfiddletnrs
Cheney, Banbury, on Saturday last, a serious charge of
aesault with Intent to commit a rape" was preferred
against Alexander U Gregor, a c,anmercial traveller, repre-
senting a London firm, whilst travelling on the London and
North-Western Railway.

Sister Frances Cells, sworn: I am a single woman,
and reside at Bungav, Norfolk. I also belong to the
House of Mercy, at Ditchingham. I am 40 years of
age. I left home fir Banbury at eleven o'clock on
Thursday morning, and came by way of Cambridge to
Ble,ebley. Prisoner joined the train at liuckingham,
and got into the compartment where I was sitting. We
were the only persons in the carriage. Prisoner was
very tipsy; he asked if he might sit en my side of the
carriage, and I said, " Certainly, there is plenty of
r tun." He did so, and I moved farther from him. Ile
offered me part of his rug, which I declined, as I had
one of my own. Ile asked rue to shake hands with him.
I said, "No, you are a stranger to me; you would not
ask me if you were sober." He then took my hand. I
resisted, and said I was a Sider of Mercy. He took
my hand again, and said he wanted my right hand and
not my left, Ile asked if it was right to kiss a Sister
of Mercy's hand; I said, "Certainly not." He drew
closer to me, and I said I should have to report his
conduct to the guard. He then began kissing me.
That continued some time. After which he grossly
assaulted me. [Witness here described the assault ]
I screamed out several times, He then sail, "Don't
make a noise, because it would make it so bad for a
Sister of Mercy." Ile tried to smother my mouth,
and he bit my finger. At Farthinghoe Station the
train stopped, and I tried to make the guard hear me,
hut could not; but as soon as the train got iii motion
I did succeed, and the guard came to my assistance,
and placed me in a first-elaas o.mpartment. Before
leaving the Banbury Station prisoner brought mV
wrapper to toe, and I heard him say that he was going
to the lied Lion Hotel.
William Bridgenumt : I am guard on this line of
railway, and took the train at Wowlow. As soon as
the train was in motion from the Farthinghoe Station,
I heard a female calling for help, and immediately
caused the train to be stopped. The lady Haul she
had been grossly insulted, and seemed in great distres.,
i She was placed n a first-class carriage, and the train
proceeded to Banbury, where complainant sent me for
a policeman.
John Simpkins, station master at Farthinghoe, and
John Knthb, the driver of the engine, gave evidence
corroborating that of last witness.
Police-constable Elijah Barnwell, sworn : I am in
the Northamptonshire police force, and reside at
Grimsbury. On the same night I went in search of
prisoner, and I found him at the Red Lion Hotel; he
was in bed at the time, and a considerable time elm; sed
before he opened the door. I told him I wanted him
to go with me to Grimsbury, to see a lady whom it
was alleged he had insulted in the train; he said he
knew nothing about it, and should not get up, but
eventually went with me.
Prisoner, who had nothing to say, was committed
for trial at the Northampton Assizes.