Some history on Bermondsey, including Rotherhithe, in London

London | Bermondsey inc. Rotherhithe

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© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

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© Photo taken by author on August 10th, 2007. DO NOT COPY

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"On Sunday morning, about nine o'clock, an accident of a singular and serious nature occurred at the parish church of St. Mary's, Rotherhithe, to a young man named James Walker, 18 years of age, one of the bell ringers. It appears that he had gone up to the belfry where the bells were already "set up" previously to ringing off, and whilst there, had incautiously placed his foot on one of the beams, and his companions being unaware of his presence in the belfry, began to ring off, when the tenor bell, which weighs upwards of half a ton, immediately swung down with tremendous force, and caught his foot between the beam and its edge, fixing him to the spot. His screams alarmed his companions, who hastened up to the belfry, and endeavoured to extricate him, but ineffectually, and upwards of an hour was consumed before his release was effected, his foot being so firmly jammed, they had to saw and cut away a considerable portion of the beam; during which time Walker was enduring excruciating torture, and on being extricated, it was found that his foot was literally crushed to pieces. He was conveyed to Guy's Hospital, where it was deemed necessary to amputate it."
"Singular Accident At St. Mary's Church"
The Era : May 1st 1842 Page 3

"On Thursday, at the Thames Police Court, David Brosnahan, aged 40, a grave-looking man, wearing spectacles, and in the garb of a clergyman, who was described as a Roman Catholic priest, of Cherry Garden Street, Bermondsey, was charged with indecently assaulting Catherine Moran, a young married woman, dwelling at Soden Street, Bromley. The complainant stated that she was a native of Ireland, and a Roman Catholic. Her husband was fireman at a paraffin manufactory. On Wednesday afternoon, between the hours of five and six o'clock, she was in her room in the lower part of the house, suckling her child, when the prisoner entered, and asked her if she had anything for him, which she once understood to mean did she intend to give him a subscription towards the building of a new Catholic chapel. She said "No, I have not ; it is the wrong time of the week." He then took a chair and sat down opposite to her, and very close to her. She felt a little disconcerted because her dress was open, and her child taking the milk. He then put his hand on her bosom, and she laid hold of his hand and put it away. He directly forced his hand on her bosom a second time, and she put it away and arranged her dress. He then asked her to come upstairs, and she told him she would not, and she would tell her husband what he had done. He then left the house, and she followed and hallooed and cried. The first person she saw was a Mrs. Connor, and she told her what the prisoner had done ; and Mrs. Connor said, "Never mind him, he came into my house and put his arm round my neck and kissed me, but I took no notice of the thing, owing to the disgrace it would occasion." In answer to questions, the prosecutrix said that she had seen the prisoner once before Wednesday, but had not spoken to him. Her daughter, a girl aged seven years, was in the room when he acted as she described. He first asked if her husband was in. When he asked her to go upstairs he said he would not keep her long. She knew the priest was collecting money for a new chapel. He put his hand twice upon her naked breast. Constable Crone asked for a remand, and said the prisoner had committed similar offences and taken liberties with women in all parts of London. Mrs. Ellen Connor, of Soden Place, said : I was there. I saw the priest go into Mrs. Moran's house. He was there five minutes. Mrs. Moran came out first, and she appeared distressed. The Rev. Mr Brosnahan followed her, and went away. She hallooed and cried loudly. She told me what he had done. Mr. Benson asked the witness [who was laughing all the time she was giving her evidence] to describe how Mrs. Moran was crying. "Weil, then, I'll just be after telling you ; it was a loud roaring sort of cry, like an Irishwoman, and I am one, your hanner's worship." Constable Crone said that on receiving information of the occurrence he went to the Superintendent of the Roman Catholic schools, in Devon's Road. The prisoner was taking tea there, and arrested him. He told the prisoner the charge, and he made no answer. The prisoner on being formally called upon for his defence, after the usual caution, said, "Why I asked her to go upstairs was that I thought the lower part of the house did not belong to her, and I wanted to speak to her about the mission I was upon. I had no intention of making an attack on her virtue, nor do I recollect placing my hand on her bare bosom. I only asked her the question, Is your husband upstairs? because I wished to see him." Mr. Benson said the case must go to the sessions, and if the prisoner had any witnesses call as to character or otherwise, they would of be value to him. The charge was one or a most serious nature. He committed the prisoner for trial."
"Alleged Indecent Assault By Priest"
Northern Warder and General Advertiser : September 14th 1869 Page 6

I checked up on his trial and was dismayed to read that, despite the policeman stating that the priest had "committed similar offences and taken liberties with women in all parts of London," the jury found him not guilty.

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