X Memorial to James Green, 1836 - 1873.LocationIn the yard of St Peter's Church, Elworth, nearSandbach.Description Headstone marking the grave ofJames GREEN,a police constable murdered while on duty.InscriptionIN MEMORY OFJAMES GREENA CONSTABLE IN THECHESHIRE COUNTY CONSTABULARY.WHO DIED IN THE FAITHFUL DISCHARGEOF HIS DUTY. FEBRUARY 24th 1873AGED 36 YEARSALSO MARY WIFE OF THE ABOVEWHO DIED JUNE 5th 1873AGED 28 YEARS.ALSO ANN THE BELOVED WIFE OF THOMASDUTTON & SISTER OF THE ABOVE WHO DIEDNOVEMBER 9th 1874. AGED 23 YEARS.ALSO MARY ANNIE DUTTON DAUGHTER OF THEABOVE WHO DIED JAN'y 2nd 1879. AGED 4 YEARS.WATCH THEREFORE. FOR YE KNOW NEITHERTHE DAY NOR THE HOUR.NotesBased on articles in The Crewe & Nantwich Guardianof the period.James GREEN became a constable in the police forceat Chester, and spent some time there in thecampaign against the Fenians. Following this hewas posted to Sandbach where he worked for fiveyears, living nearby in Moston.James BUCKLEY also lived in Moston. He wasapprehended by Green for theft and spent a monthin prison. After his release the thefts startedagain.One February evening Green went to keepsurveillance on Buckley but never returned. Inseveral days of searching, bloodstains were foundin an outhouse at Buckley's home. A nearby sectionof the Trent and Mersey Canal was drained. Green'sbattered body was found in the canal close to thesuspect's home.An inquest in April named Buckley as the murderer.However, the evidence was circumstantial. Buckleyclaimed that the blood belonged to a pig he hadjust killed. (Apparently, the experts of the daywere unable to tell the difference between pig andhuman blood). Neighbours testified that Buckleyhad been at home that evening, and all had beenpeaceful, no sound of a fight.After a trial at Chester Assises in May the juryspent only ten minutes considering the evidencebefore giving a verdict of Not Guilty. Buckley wasreleased and returned home.Green's widow died in June. The local newspaperreported the funeral, and said of Mrs Green: "Forsome time previous to the murder of her husbandshe had been in a weakly state of health, but theshock given to her by her husband's death was sosevere that she rapidly grew worse, andsuccumbed...."The headstone shows that tragic events continuedto stalk the family. The widow's sister died thefollowing year shortly after giving birth. Thebaby survived for just four years.James Green came from Handbridge, Chester. Hiswife, Mary, was from Christleton. They left threeorphans, the youngest being 15 months old.