HOME CIRCUIT. MAIDSTONE, FRIDAY, DEC. 13.

Summary

Trial of John Bodle for the murder of his grandfather George Bodle. See inquest record from 15 November 1833. A witness, Sophia Taylor, servant of the deceased, gives details of her relationship with the accused in her testimony: "We used to gambol and play together. He once dressed himself up in woman's clothes, but I do not know that he did it to please me. He generally came before the family were up, but he might have gambolled just as well afterwards, although I do not think he would have done it then. He did not always joke, sometimes he did and sometimes he did not." There seems to be a subtext that John is courting or at least testing the waters with Sophia, although she denies that she fancies him: "I was not at all disappointed that he did not come on the Sunday morning. I did not care anything about it, although he is a very nice young man, and I know nothing against him." "It was on Tuesday morning that he dressed himself up in old woman's clothes." (p. 5, col. E) Elizabeth Smith, "the dumb girl," another witness, also testifies "by means of an interpreter": "John Bodle and witness never used to pass jokes with each other. She recollected that he had once been dressed up in women's clothes. It was not the custom to have such jokes as those. It was not often done." (p. 5, col. F)

Full Title

14 Dec 1833. HOME CIRCUIT. MAIDSTONE, FRIDAY, DEC. 13. Times p. 5,6 c. E-F,A-B.

Publication

Full Record

Date

14 December 1833

Provisional Category

Practical Joker