The Pearl/Volume 7/The Trial of Captain Powell.

For Ravishing Margaret Edson, a child under the Age of 12 Years, at York Assizes, March 31st, 1775.

Mary Edson stated: I am the child's mother. On the Friday before New Year's Day, I perceived my daughter was ill, I asked her what she had done to herself (as she had trouble in making water), if she had fallen and hurt herself; she said no. On Sunday, the 1st January, when I stripped her I saw her shift very much daubed with what had come from her, which gave me a great shock.

Q.- What colour was it?

A.- A yellow colour mixed with red. When I saw her in that condition, I said if you do not tell me what you have done with yourself I will take the skin off your backside. As she would not tell me I got a birch rod, and twining her over my lap gave her bum a sharp tickling, when she said that Captain Powell sent for her brother and her, and he gave her brother a halfpenny to buy some sweets. After the boy went out the Captain barred the door, and then he put his finger up her body and hurt her very much. I was much surprised, and sent for Mrs. Nurser, a neighbour, who advised me to send for Dr. Lee, who lives at Knaresborough. In the afternoon too we asked her what Captain Powell did to her, and she then said Captain Powell unbuttoned his breeches and took out his cock and put it into her. I asked her if she felt anything come from him. She said she thought he made water in her. She said he sat in his chair and took her before him, and she shewed the motion he made in the chair, then he took her upstairs and did the same again.

Q.- From the appearance of the colour on the shift did you think it had the same appearance as that which comes from a man on those occasions?

A.- To the best of my judgment I thought it was. Mr. John Lee, a surgeon, said that Mr. Edson, the father of the child, making application to him to examine his daughter, he attended at his house, when he inspected the child, and found her private parts much inflamed and swelled, which convinced him she had received some injury; there was likewise a discharge from the parts, which made him afraid it was venereal. He attended and administered to her about six weeks.

Q.- Did it appear to you there had been any violence used by a man's penis?

A.- I cannot say I formed any judgment as to the cause.

Q.- Suppose a man had introduced his private parts, would it have occasioned this?

A.- Yes it would.

Q.- Would a finger being put there occasion the excoriation?

A.- Yes it might. If a man had entered the vagina of the child and entered into her body, I should have thought it would have had a different appearance. It would have brought away blood, but I observed none.

Margaret Edson (the child).

COURT.- What age are you?

A.— Ten-and-a-half

Q.— Do you tell lies?

A.— No.

Q.— Will you tell me the truth?

A.— Yes.

Q.— Do you know Captain Powell? Look round and see if he is here.

A.— There is Captain Powell, pointing to the prisoner.

Q.— Now tell us what Captain Powell did to you.

A.— I and my brother was at Mrs. Raper's playing with her little boy; we did not stay long. My brother and I were going home, and Captain Powell said, "Come hither, Peg, come hither." My brother went with me to Captain Powell, and he gave my brother a halfpenny to go and buy sweets. My brother went, and then Captain Powell bolted the door.

Q.— What did he do after that?

A.— He put one hand round my waist and turned up my clothes.

Q.— Where was he?

A.— He was sitting in a chair.

Q.— How was you standing?

A.— On the floor before him, between his legs.

Q.— What did he do?

A.— He unbuttoned his breeches and took his cock out.

Q.- How did you know it was his cock?

A.— I saw it; I saw him take it out.

Q.— What did he do after that?

A.— He put his cock in my arsehole.

Q.— Tell us that again?

A.— He unbuttoned his breeches, took out his cock, and put it in my arsehole.

The jury did not wish to hear any more, and he was indicted at the next assizes for a common assault, and found guilty.