Public Executions In Chester From 16th Century
George Marsh burnt at Spital, Boughton
A woman burnt at Boughton for poisoning her husband
John Taylor – Gaoler of the Castle
William Geaton – servant to the Bishop of Chester – his body hung on chains on Grappenhall Heath A woman named Candy was pressed to death at Chester Castle Arnet servant of Saltney Side hung Sir Timothy Featherstonhaugh shot in the Corn Market of Chester by
order of Parliament Two Irishmen executed – gibbeted at Two Mills Three men hung for burglary
Execution of James Knight for murder
Christopher Lawless. Isaac Hutchinson, Alexander Solomon and Isaac Josephs executed for robbing the shop of Mr Pemberton, jeweller. They were buried behind the Rodney Cop opposite Overleigh
S. Thorley executed for the murder of Ann Smith, a ballad singer near Congleton. He cut off her head and part of her he actually broiled and ate. He was hung in chains on the Heath
William Ellis for burglary William Loom for discharging a loaded pistol at Charles Warren Sarah Jones for stealing 28 yds. of chintz Resolution Heap and Martha Brown for burglary Elizabeth Wood for poisoning
John Oakes hung for coining
Execution of Peter Steens
Execution of Edwart Holt
Execution of Thomas Hyde aged 35yrs for horse stealing
Execution of James Buckley for burglary in Newgate Street 1786 Oct 7th
1789 Feb 4th
1790
1791 April 21st
1791 Oct 8th
1796 April 30th
1798
1798 Oct 4th
1800
1800 Oct 12th
1801 May 9th
1801 Oct 3rd
1809 May 6th
1810 May 2nd
1810 Oct 1st
1813
1813 June 26th Execution of Thomas Buckley aged 20 yrs
Thomas Hoate for the murder of John Parry a constable in Handbridge – on the gallows he charged his wife with infidelity (she was 70 yrs of age)
John Dean for the murder of his wife who was 7 months pregnant
Execution of Lowndes for robbing the Warrington Mail. He was hung in chains at Helsby Hill
Knox for burglary. The gallows were moved to the other side of the road after
Thomas Brown and James Price for robbing the Warrington Mail. They were hung in chains at Trafford Green and remained there until 1820. In the skull of Price was found a robin’s nest.
John Thornhill for the murder of his sweetheart
Peter Martin for firing at a boat’s crew of the Actaeona in the Mersey employed in the impress service
Thomas Bosworth for forgery
Alexander Horton for felony
Mary Lloyd for forgery
Thompson, Morgan and Clare for burglary.
Aaron Gee and Thomas Gibson hung out of a temporary window way on the south side of the old Northgate. They were propelled from the window about 5 feet and dropped near 40 inches
Execution of George Glover and William Proudlove in front of the House of Correction for shooting at an excise officer. The drop was used for the first time and the rope broke. New ropes were procured and the sentence carried out about 1 hour later
John Done was executed for the murder of Betty Eckersley, a woman of bad character. He denied the offence to his last moment.
Smith and Clarke for burglary. They were buried in St Martins Churchyard
Edith Morney for the murder of her husband. Immediately after conviction shepleaded pregnancy and a jury of matrons pronounced her quick with child.
William Wilkinson. James Yarwood and William Burgess for a rape on Mary Porter near Weston Point
Simeon Betson. William Berson and James Renshaw for burglary.
1814 May 28th
1815 April 22nd
1817 May 10th
1818
1818 Sept 26th
1819 May 8th
1819 Sept 25th
1820
1820 Sept 16th
1821 May 5th
1822 May 4th
1822 Sept 14th
1823 April 14th
1823 May 20th
1823 Sept 13th
1824 April 21st
1826 April 26th
1826 Aug 26th
1829 May 9th
1829 William Wilson aged 70yrs for arson. The man caused a stir before and at the execution.
Griffith and Wood for burglary
Joseph Allen for uttering Bank of England Notes Abraham Rostern and Isaac Moors for burglary John Moor for burglary
Joseph Walker – highway robbery
Samuel Hooley and Jon Johnson (a man of colour) for burglary
Jacob McGhinnies for shooting Mr Birch Ralph Ellis for burglary and William Ricklington for setting fire to a rectory house at Coddington
Samuel Healey for highway robbery at Stockport William Tongue for a rape on an infant George Groom for highway robbery Thomas Brierley for highway robbery
Samuel Fallows for the murder of his sweetheart
John Kragan for a rape on an infant
Edward Clarke for highway robbery
Joseph Dale for murder
Philip McGowan for robbery and Abraham Stones for robbing Mr Marsden. A gentleman of upwards of 70yrs of age near Cow Lane Bridge. On this occasion the apparatus for execution was removed from the east to the west of the city gaol
John Green for burglary
John Proudlove for highway robbery
John Levi for burglary Joseph Woodhouse for a rape on his own daughter
Sept 26th Joseph Henshall for firing at gamekeepers 1832 Samuel Cumberledge for arson 1834 Samuel Thorley for murder John Carr for felonious shooting James Mason for attempting to procure a miscarriage 1841 Bartholemew Mourray for murder 1843 James Ratcliffe for murdering his wife 1844 Mary Gallop for poisoning her father at Crewe
1848 William Bates for murder 1856 Dec William Jackson for the murder of his two children in Handbridge, 26th Chester
1857 John Blagg 1861 Martin Doyle 1862 Alice Hewitt 1866
April 23rd Samuel Griffiths
The Northgate Gaol taken down in 1808. The City Gaol erected in 1807. Over the West Entrance the County and City prisoners were publicly executed. It ceased to be a gaol in 1871 and prisoners moved to the County Gaol at the Castle.
Notice
By Order of the Visiting Magistrates – 10th April 1805
We the publicans permitted to serve the prisoners within the Castle of Chester with “ale” etc do hereby publicly declare, that from the date hereof. We will exonerate every prisoner, on his discharge, from all debts whatever we may have permitted him to contract with us, either for ale, porter or wine.
Witness our hands
Signed Rob Oldham
Rob Goff
In 1877 the Government took over all the local prisons numbering 113 and closed 38 of them at once. The County (Chester) Gaol continued to be used for prisoners and Mr J B Manning remained in charge until 1884 when it was closed as a County Prison and the prisoners removed to H M Prison at Knutsford. A small part of the 1843 Sept 2nd
1844
1848 April 22nd
1856 Dec 20th
1857 Aug 20th
1861 Aug 27th
1863 Dec 28th
1866 April 23rd prison was used as a military prison under the charge of Mr J Martin. Military prisoners were afterwards moved to Stafford.
The following is a list of condemned prisoners whose names appear on Chester Castle Tombstones in the possession of Mr W G Parker. The executions are listed previously but this gives additional details.
James Ratcliffe for the murder of his wife at Stockport on the previous 22nd June. - R Huxley Sheriff
Mary Gallop for poisoning her father, Richard Gallop, at Crewe – Edward Tilston, Sheriff
William Bates for the murder of William ……………. At Arlington - John Green (?) Sheriff
The first execution at Chester at 8.0.a.m.
William Jackson native of Handbridge for the murder of his two children, Mary Jane aged 7 and John aged 6, by cutting their throats and afterwards burying their bodies in a pit in Richard Roger’s orchard. Old Wrexham Road. – J Jones, Sheriff
John Blagg for the murder of John Bebbington a gamekeeper to W Corbett of Tilston Lodge – J Jones, Sheriff
Martin Doyle for cutting and wounding (with intent to kill) Jane Brogine at Holmes Chapel – James Rowe, Sheriff
Alice Hewitt for the murder of her mother, Mary Bailey, at Stockport
– Robert Little, Sheriff
Samuel Griffiths for the murder of Isaac Newport at Dunham – C Dutton, Sheriff
The first malefactor to be buried in the City Gaol
What had become an odious duty to the City and its Officials was this year transferred by Act of Parliament to the Sheriff of the County
JG Lady Day 1906
BROADSIDE REGARDING A MURDER IN
DUBLIN AND A MURDER IN CHESHIRE

Transcription
An Account of two Horrid MURDERS
The one committed on a Skipper in Dublin.
And the other a Young Woman in the County of Cheshire.
THERE was lately a Fellow in Dublin called Charles Lovegrive A- pothecary from Gremany, who seeing his Bed-fellow the Skipper of a small Vessel, receive some Gold and Money, Killed him when he was asleep; and to conceeal the Murder, he cut off his Head from his Shoulders, and burnt his Scull in the Fire, Quartered and divided him into Piece, and at several times carried him to the Water side, and threw him in at Esseks- Key; However his Policy being defeat he was at last taken, and after confessing the Fact was Arrign'd, Condenm'd and Executed. The like may warn People of all Ranks to Guard against bad Fellowship.
In the County of Cheshire there lived one James Walter, a Farmer, who after his Wife died, took home a Young Woman, a Relation of his owu to be his House Keeper, this Man some way or other debatched this Young Woman and got her with Child, some while after, fearing least it might be discovered, he procured a Russian called Mark Sharp to Murder her and the better to compleat it, he gave put to the Young Woman that he had provided her a place where to lye in privately, wherer she was to go with speed, and that when she was delivered and well, he would take care of the Child, and she should return and look after his House as former- ly; The Young Woman consented to this, and the day appointed he sent her away with the Rogue he had engaged to destroy her, the Fellow & she at length coming to a great Moss, and being far from People, he with a Pick, they did dig Coals withall, knocked her upon the Head, wherewith giving her several Wounds; he received some of her Blood springing out of her wonnds on his Stockins, which he though to have washed off, but the more he washt, it still grew the clearer, and then he threw them with the Pick into a Truff of Moss, and then covered her with Moss, and so went a way and told the Farmer what he had done, the Farmer thinking that it would never be Discovered, payed the Murderer his Money, which they had agreed upon for that Action. But the Ghoast of the Murdered Woman appearing to a certain Man in that place, and relating to him the manner of her murder, and bididg him to Declare the same, which he accordingly did, and they Confessed the Fact, and are expected to be punished as the same Deserves.
EDINBURGH, Printed in the Year 1717,
1777 MURDER
of
Mary Pemberton in Northwich
This tale involves a couple who should have been looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together but their wedding plans ended with the death of the bride to be.
Mary Pemberton was a 19 year old chamber maid from Leftwich Old Hall and Samuel Thorley was a local farm labourer. They had met at the annual Witton Wakes and had been going out with each other for 18 months.
The couple were planning a spring wedding in 1777 and then they were going to rent a small cottage from Samuel's employer, Mr Ted Leather.
One Sunday evening, Mary had not returned back to Old Leftwich Hall and her employers thought she had been caught up in the thunder storm and she had stayed at her aunty's house in Northwich. But by the following day, they went to her aunty's house and then found out that her boyfriend, Samuel, hadnt reported for work either. People started to think that the couple had eloped to Gretna Green and as the couple were both well respected in the area, no body thought anyelse but that they had gone to get married and they would return a few days later.
But six days later, a gruesome discovery was made. Mary's body was found in a willow bed on land belonging to Mr George Gorst. A search was started for Samuel. A couple of people reported that they had seen Mary and Samuel arguing by these willow beds a few days before.
Ten days later, Samuel walked into Chester Castle looking tired, dirty and unkempt. He told them he had walked from Northwich and had been living rough in Delamere Forest. He admitted to killing Mary. He explained that they had quarrelled over wedding plans and in a fit of temper he had strangled her.
Samuel's trail took place at Chester and he was hung on April 10th, 1777. His corpse was then gibbeted.
This murder shocked the town because both Mary and Samuel were so well thought of. A local ballad of Samuel was later sung by girls in Northwich.
Little remains today to remind us of the murder. Leftwich Old Hall was demolished and a farm house was built on its site but ghost stories and reports of strange happenings fill this area.
Murder in Audlem 1812
Edith was born Edith Coomer and married George Morrey, a farmer’s son, on Tuesday the 18th of April 1797 at St. Chad’s Church in Wybunbury in South Cheshire. She was then about nineteen years old and the daughter of a well to do farmer. Initially the marriage was happy and they settled in the Cheshire town of Nantwich. George opened a grocery store there and the couple made a reasonable living over the next four years.
In early 1801 they returned to the village of Hankelow, near Audlem, to take over George’s father’s farm when he retired. They were blessed with seven children, three boys and four girls, although one of the girls died in infancy. George tended the farm whilst Edith made cheese for sale locally and looked after the family.
The Morrey’s were wealthy enough to have servants and by Christmas 1811 they had a maid, Hannah Evans who had been with them nearly a year and a twenty year old farmhand called John Lomas who had just joined them. At this time Edith was once again pregnant but was to have a miscarriage in February 1812.
We have no means of knowing Edith’s emotional state at the time, so soon after a miscarriage, but it was quite possibly rather fragile; for whatever reason Edith quickly fell for John and they began having an affair. Over the next two months or so Edith started to think in terms of marrying this young man, some fifteen years her junior, however there was one obvious impediment, George! No doubt Edith was not prepared to give up her children and comfortable life style by simply running away with John, nor was she willing to face the social disgrace that this course of action entailed at the time. So another way had to be found to keep John’s affections and rid themselves of George. Edith determined that John should kill George and afterwards they could be together.
On Saturday the 11th of April 1812 George had been to Witton Wakes, a major fair in Northwich and did not return home until midnight. Edith and Hannah Evans were still up at this time and George had supper before he and Edith retired to bed. Hannah went a little later after she had cleared away the supper. Hannah was soon awakened though, by the sounds of a commotion from inside the house. She and John Lomas ran to the house of a neighbour to raise the alarm. The pair then returned to the farm with a couple of neighbours, Thomas Timmis and John Moores. The two men found Edith sitting by the fireplace and then opened the door into George’s bedroom where they made a grim discovery. George was laying face down on the floor with an axe handle projecting from underneath him. He had several axe wounds and in addition had had his throat cut, so there was blood everywhere. Timmis and Moores decided that George’s brother, Jem, should be sent for and told Lomas to go to his house. Returning with them, John Lomas told him that the house had been burgled, with one hundred and fifty pounds missing from George’s desk and that his master had been killed by the intruders. However aspects of this story did not ring true. John was wearing a clean shirt on the Sunday morning which raised suspicion and there were no signs of any forcible entry into the house. When questioned on this John showed unconvincingly, how easy it was to open the front door from the outside. Unconvincingly, because it relied upon the nail that was the bolt not being fully inserted.
The police arrived in the shape William Dooley, the Parish Constable and John Groom who was a special constable and also a solicitor. John Groom questioned Edith and got the same story that John Lomas had given. He also noticed that John had dried blood on his nose and on his wrist. He asked John to produce his dirty shirt and John refused saying that he had worn the present one all week. Groom began a search of the house now that it was getting light outside and they could see a little more. As they got to the bottom of the stairs they noticed a hand print in dried blood and looking carefully were able to follow a trail of blood spots which went back through the kitchen to John’s room. The constables examined John further and noticed blood stains on the cuffs of his jacket. They then demanded that John open his box which he kept in his room. They all went to his room only to find Edith already there and were in time to see her take something from the box and attempt to conceal it. This was of course the blood stained shirt. Constable Dooley now arrested John on the strength of this evidence. John told the constable that the shirt had been bloodied due to having to bleed George’s mare at the blacksmiths earlier in the week. Dooley took John back to his house in Audlem where he made a confession and implicated Edith as the principal in the killing, telling the constable that she had given him the signal to enter his master’s bedroom when she was sure that George was asleep and handed him the axe. She held a candle for him whilst he struck the blows and passed John the razor when it became clear that George was still alive. William Dooley asked how long Edith and John had been planning the murder and he told the constable that it had been some time.
Back at the farmhouse Constable William Hall, from Hankelow having heard John’s confession and allegations against Edith decided to arrest her. He told her that he was taking her into custody and she asked to be allowed to get ready which he allowed. She slipped into another room and moments later returned with blood pouring from a razor wound to her throat. Fortunately the local surgeon was on hand having come to view George’s body for the inquest and he managed to staunch the flow of blood and sew up the wound before Edith bled to death.
Constable Dooley had a full search made of the premises and as part of this drained the pond which revealed the murder weapon. Lomas had closed the blade before throwing the razor into the pond and it was seen to have blood and hair on it. Edith was placed under the guard of Richard Thursfield, who was constable Dooley’s deputy and he had been told to record anything Edith said when she came to. She told him she wished she had not lived and that she had not been in her right mind of late.
As was usual at the time the inquest on George was held at the village pub, The White Lion, on the Monday afternoon following the killing, before Chester Coroner, Mr. Faithful Thomas. Also as normal, witnesses were called to give their accounts of the murder, a practice which tended to prejudge any subsequent trial. Edith and John were both declared to be guilty of murder and committed for trial. George’s body was buried on April the 15th at St. Chad’s Wybunbury. John was taken to Chester Castle to await trial and Edith transferred there on the 4th of May when she was sufficiently recovered from her suicide attempt.
Chester was part of the Welsh Circuit and thus its assizes were known as the Great Sessions. The court sat at the Shire Hall in the outer bailey of Chester Castle. Edith and John stood trial on Friday August the 21st before Chief Justice Robert Dallas and Francis Burton, a more junior judge. They were both charged with Petty Treason rather than murder, as the deceased was the husband of one defendant and the master of the other. The prosecution was led Samuel Benyon, assisted by David Jones. Edith was represented by John Cross and John Hill, John being represented by John Lyons.
The evidence and witness testimonies from the inquest were repeated, lasting some four hours.
John Cross questioned Hannah Evans as to the state of the Morrey’s marriage and as to whether she had noticed any impropriety between mistress and servant. She confirmed that she thought her employers were happily married and that she had not seen any intimacy between Edith and John and that there seemed to be no tension in the house when George returned home on the Saturday night. John Cross also tried to introduce the jury to the possibility that burglars had killed George rather than the defendants. John Lyon suggested that William Dooley had put pressure on John Lomas to make a confession but he refuted this and assured the court that had neither bought pressure upon John nor promised him leniency in return for his confession.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty against both prisoners after just a few minutes discussion. Judge Dallas then addressed both of them, suggesting that although he believed that John had actually carried out the killing it was Edith whose guilt was the greater for planning and organising the destruction of her husband. Asked if had anything further to say before he was sentenced John told the court that he deserved his execution and hoped to be quickly forgotten. On Edith’s behalf John Cross told the court that she was pregnant and thus could not be sentenced to death at this time. A panel of matrons were sworn in from the married women in the court at the time and they were taken with Edith to the house of Matthew Hudson the governor of the county gaol at Chester Castle where she was examined and determined to be “quick with child” to use the contemporary expression. She was about five months pregnant.
Robert Dallas proceeded to pass the death sentence on them both and John was removed to the condemned cell to spend his last three days. Edith was respited until after she had given birth and also housed with the County Gaol in the castle. The governor of the gaol allowed Edith and John to meet twice over the weekend before he was hanged and even allowed them a final embrace.
Uniquely in Britain, Cheshire county executions were not carried out at the county gaol at all, but rather at the Chester City Gaol which had opened in 1808, under the jurisdiction of the Chester Sheriff. On the morning of execution John had thus to be transferred to the City Gaol where the gallows was erected on the flat roof of the gatehouse. John’s hanging took place there on Monday the 24th of August 1812. He spent sometime with the chaplain, the Reverend William Fish, before being led out up to the roof for his appointment with Cheshire’s hangman, Samuel Burrows. A large crowd had gathered to witness the event and the usual broadsides were sold. John made a short speech from the gallows warning others not to follow his example. His body was dissected after death by Owen Titley at the infirmary next door to the gaol.
Edith remained in the County Gaol and on the 21st of December 1812 gave birth to a healthy male child who was taken from her a week later for adoption. In law Edith could now be hanged within a month but in fact this was not to be so. Her execution warrant was signed by Robert Dallas, her trial judge, at the next Great Sessions on Wednesday April the 21st 1813 and her hanging scheduled for two days later, on Friday the 23rd. Edith slept quite well on the Thursday night and got up at five on the Friday morning. She dressed in her least valuable clothes, as these would afterwards be the property of the hangman and drank a little coffee but refused any breakfast.
She went to a service in the prison chapel at eight o’clock which lasted nearly an hour. Matthew Hudson, the Governor, then had her taken into his parlour to await the arrival of the under sheriff. He arrived a little before noon and Hudson personally led Edith out to the cart waiting to take her to the City Gaol. She was accompanied by John Robinson, one of the turnkeys, in the cart which was flanked by constables for the short journey of around a hundred yards between the two prisons.
On arrival at the City Gaol she was taken in through the gatehouse and then up on to the flat roof where the New Drop gallows was waiting for her. Here she ascended the platform without assistance and knelt in prayer with the Reverend Fish before submitting herself to Samuel Burrows. He tied her wrists and arms and also tied a cord round her legs before placing the noose around her neck. She was given a handkerchief to drop by Burrows as the signal for him to release the bolt before he pulled a white night cap down over her face. Chaplain Fish exhorted her “to dismiss all worldly thoughts and fix her whole being on the Redeemer”.
Edith thanked John Robinson for the kindness he had shown her and addressed the crowd thus ”My dear Christians, I hope you will take warning by my melancholy situation. My crime has been of a double nature. In the first place I have broken one of God's commandments, by committing adultery, and defiling the marriage bed, and in the next I have committed a most inhuman murder by imbruing my hands in the blood of an affectionate and indulgent husband." Her final words were " Lord unto thee I commit my spirit.” She then gave the signal just after one o’clock in the afternoon and the drop fell, plunging her through it to knee level. For whatever reason the black screens that usually surrounded the platform were not erected for Edith’s execution so everyone was able to witness her struggles over the next two and a half minutes or so as she fought her loosing battle against the noose. At length her body became still and was left on the rope for an hour before being removed for dissection. Her hanging had attracted a crowd estimated at ten thousand people.
Edith’s dissection was carried out the next morning by Owen Titley. He only opened her thorax and abdomen and removed her heart for preservation. After having done so her body was sewn back up and left on display for a short while before being taken for burial.
Edith’s baby was adopted by her parents, William and Edith Coomer and christened Thomas. At the age of twenty he was convicted of theft and sentenced to transportation to Australia for seven years.
One wonders how Edith’s miscarriage affected the balance of her mind and her judgement in early 1812. She seemed to be on good terms with George even on the Saturday evening but what were her true feelings for John Lomas, her junior and in every way her inferior? In those days the miscarriage would not have been considered a factor in her defence and there were no psychiatrists to examine her and bring forward expert testimony.
Chester Chronicle -Friday 6 January 1826
CHESTER POLICE REPORT.
SATURDAY, Dec. 31—Present, the Mayor, Aldermen Francis, Masse; Morris, and Harrison.
CONSTABLE'S DUTY Miss Evans, of Handbridge, lodged a complaint against Thomas High, a Constable of Handbridge, who on being sent for to remove a drunken fellow that made a noise and disturbance at her door, refused to come to her assistance returning a message, that he would not attend ; and upon being afterwards charged with his misconduct declared, that he never would give his attendance, however often she might send for him he would always refuse her. In his defence. High said, that when sent for, it was inconvenient for him to go, his wife only being in the house, with an infant, that he could not neglect his own concerns, and that moreover the complainant had insulted him in his own house, on the preceding night. This was explained by Miss Evans, who admitted she had waited upon him, but with a friendly intention, to obtain an acknowledgement of his having acted improperly, which she would rather have received, than lodge a formal complaint against him before the Magistrates—this, however, he refused, and treated her very uncivilly. The charge therefore being tacitly admitted, and justified only on the ground of his own convenience, the Mayor very severely, and very properly reprimanded him, observing it" Was the imperative duty of Constables promptly to attend when called upon to preserve the peace; that the country expected, and the oath he had taken hound him to the performance of the duty; and that on the present occasion, he had conducted himself in a manner highly reprehensible. The least he could do was to offer an apology to the complainant, with which she would probably be satisfied: and on Miss Evans signifying assent, High, though in a way anything but gracious, muttered something like “very sorry”, and the case was discharged.
(Officers details entered into appointments database 01/2012)
Chester City Police Office 1828
Information extracted from the Minutes Book of the Assembly Book 1805 ‐1838
At a Meeting of the New Market Committee held the 29 December 1828:
Present:
Mr Mayor; Mr Alderman Francis; Mr Alderman Lardon; Mr Alderman Hy Bowers;
“It was Ordered: That the Shop in The Exchange occupied by Lawrence Laurinson and

James Blease, be taken for a Police Office and that they have Notices to Quit the same”

Chester Chronicle - Friday 16 January 1829
CHESHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS. The Epiphany Sessions, commenced at ten o'clock on Monday last, in the Court at the Castle, before Trafford Trafford, Esq. Chairman, and a Bench of Magistrates, of whom were present, Townshend Ince, Esq. Richard Congreve, Esq. C. Morrall, Esq. Rev. R. H. Gretton, the Rev. Thos. Brookes, Rev. J. Armitstead, Richard Perryn, Esq. E. D. Davenport, Esq. M.P. Edwin Corbett, Esq. Calveley Cotton, Esq. Major Tomkinson, Archdeacon Clarke, and J. Feilden, Esq G. Walmsley, Esq. of Bolesworth Castle, qualified as a Magistrate of the county.
The expenses for the Police of this County, last year, were at least £15,000; and in Stockport alone, it amounted to £2,400, whilst the County Rate collected in that town, was only £904; which was an aggregate above the rate of more than £1,100.
The Magistrates of the County, alarmed at this increase of crime, had taken the subject into their serious consideration; they could not attribute it to any defect in the laws, for those had been considerably improved—nor to the Magistrates, for no county possessed a more intelligent or active Magistracy He considered, that from the appointment of what are called standing overseers, great advantages had accrued.
In looking to the appointment of Constables, it must be acknowledged, that hitherto there were many defects, as well as objections. If they resided in the country, they were generally farmers, and in the towns, shopkeepers, men who were altogether unacquainted with the duties of such and office; to this, in some measure, might be attributed the increase of crime, for offenders were seldom apprehended by them, and not one out of ten brought to justice.
The Magistrates thought that a great improvement might be made in the police of the county, without interfering with the rights of the lords of manors, and the present mode of appointing constables. A communication had been had with the Secretary of State upon the subject, and a bill had been drawn out which would be laid before Parliament in the next Session. It was very desirable that it should be carried into effect; not only as tending to correct the demoralization of the people, which is a subject of deep interest, but also by the prevention of crime causing a reduction in the burthens of the County, to an infinitely greater extent than any expense which could, by possibility, be incurred by carrying the provisions of the Bill into effect. He could not, indeed conceive that any objection could be brought against it. The Magistrates in Petit‐Sessions would have a power, upon the representation of ten respectable householders of any township, or in their own judgement where an obsolute necessity may exist, of appointing an assistant Petit‐Constable for such township; and the Magistrates in General Quarter Sessions would be empowered, in cases where it may be deemed expedient, to appoint deputy High Constables of hundreds, who would have the superintendance of the assistant Petit Constables.
These several officers, by being continued for some time in their office, and by their residence in particular districts, would have an opportunity not only of acquiring a of their duties, but also of the characters of the various classes of people with whom they might have to deal. It would be also, the duty of the deputy High Constable to give publicity to crimes, and descriptions of offenders, in the Hue and Cry, County papers, and by handbills; also to communicate with the deputy High Constables of the other divisions of their own County, and other Police officers throughout England. Much also might be effected by the vigilance of these officers in the prevention of crime, which was always much more desirable than its detection. Such are the benefits expected from the appointment of such officers, and the expense of them would be but small.
It was proposed that the salary of an assistant Petit‐Constable should not exceed £10 per annum, except in places where the duties imposed by a numerous population should require a higher salary, which the Magistrates in Petit‐Sessions would be empowered to order, on the representation of a majority of the ley‐payers in each township, voting at a vestry in the mode prescribed by the late Vestry Acts; such salaries to be payable out of the poor rates. The salary of the deputy High Constable is proposed to be paid out of the County rate, and to be limited to the following proportions:— A salary not exceeding £100 per arm where the population of the hundred should be 50,000; where it was less than that number, and more than 30,000, £80; if less than 30,000, and more than 20,000, £60; and if less than 20,000, and more than 10,000, £40.
There were other provisions in the bill, as to the residence of the Deputy High Constables, which would be fixed by the Magistrates of the Hundreds; and all of them would be amenable to the Quarter Sessions for their conduct.
Chester Chronicle - Friday 5 June 1829
Apprehension of a Murderer
The circumstances attendant upon the death of Joseph Fletcher, of Dunham‐on‐the‐Hill, who died in July, 1824 in consequence of the wounds inflicted upon him by William Parkinson, a man with whose daughter Fletcher was intimate, are doubtless still fresh in the recollection of our readers. Parkinson found means to escape, and a Coroner's jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against him; but the Grand Jury at the ensuing Autumn Assizes, most unaccountably found a bill for manslaughter only. The Chief Justice's : warrant was issued for the apprehension of Parkinson, who has since contrived to elude the vigilance of the police, until he was apprehended by the Worship‐street police‐officers, in London, last week. Burgess, the very active constable of the hundred of Macclesfield, was despatched to London for the prisoner; and after very properly refusing to remain in London several days at the expense of the county, to give time for an application to the Judges to admit the prisoner to bail, (unless his expenses were paid by the prisoner or his friends), Burgess conveyed him to this city, and brought him before Charles Morrall, Esq. on Wednesday last, by whom he was fully committed for trial at the next Assizes. It is worthy of remark that Burgess found at the prisoner's lodgings in London, a sort of sword‐bayonet, supposed to be the identical weapon with which he inflicted the fatal wounds upon Fletcher. The prisoner is nearly 80 years of age.
(Entered on to Appointee’s Database 01/2012)
Chester Chronicle - Friday 17 July 1829
CHESHIRE CONSTABULARY ACT.
The following are the provisions of this important act which the Chairman (Mr. Trafford) explained to the Grand Jury (see his charge) at the Quarter Sessions on Monday. It is to be hoped that all the good effects, so confidently anticipated will accrue from it. Indeed, it may be reasonably expected that, as far as the probability (amounting almost to a certainty) of detection, and the mere dread of punishment can operate to deter from the commission of crime, the act will have that effect at all events, if only as an experiment, it is well worth the trial; and we have reason to believe that if it should be found "to work well" in this county, the leading provisions of the act will be extended to the kingdom at large at no distant period.
The Preamble states, that it is expedient to provide more effectually for carrying into execution the laws for the prevention of crime, and the detection of offenders within the county palatine of Chester, and that, for that purpose, the Magistrates of the county should have power to appoint Special High Constables and Assistant Petty Constables.
It then goes on to enact:
That the Magistrates in Quarter Sessions may from time to time appoint a Special High Constable for any hunched or division, or for any two or more adjoining hundreds or divisions, for such period as they may think expedient.
And no such Constable shall resign his office, without having given a month's notice of his intention to do so, to the Magistrates in Quarter Sessions.
The Magistrates in Quarter Sessions are also empowered to appoint Assistant Petty Constables, on the recommendation of three Magistrates in Petty Sessions; each Constable to act for one township or for two or more adjoining townships, as may be deemed most expedient.
No person to be appointed to the office of Special High Constable, or Assistant Petty Constable, unless he be of sound constitution, able bodied, and under the age of forty years, and unless he can read and write; and no Constable to bold such office after he is sixty years of age.
Constables under this Act to be sworn into office at the General Quarter Sessions, in open Court; for the administering of the oath, seven shillings and sixpence to be charged, and no more. And Constables so sworn are to be Constables throughout the whole county, and to have all powers and privileges as such.
Constables are to reside at such places within the several Hundreds and Townships for which they are appointed, as the justices may approve, and as near as may be to the centre of their several districts; and they are not to remove from such places of residence without the approbation of the Magistrates by whom they were appointed, or to be absent from home for the space of ten successive days. And any Constable offending against this provision, shall be deemed guilty of misconduct, and shall be liable to be removed from us office, or to be fined not more than five pounds, on conviction before two justices. special High Constables are to attend at the several Petty Sessions and, when required, at the several Petty Sessions within the county, and report to the Justices upon all such matters as they may think it necessary to report; they are to execute all warrants, and to take measures for the apprehension of persons guilty, or suspected to be guilty, of felony or misdemeanour; they are to give notice of such felonies or misdemeanours to the Special High Constables of their adjacent Hundreds or Divisions, and to such other persons as they may think proper; they are to cause notices of such felonies or misdemeanours to be given in the Hue‐and‐Cry Gazette, and in the newspapers, and also by means of hand‐bills; they are to apprehend all reputed thieves, or persons suspected of felony; and they are to assist the justices in the suppression of all riots and breaches of the peace.
On any pressing emergency, Special High Constables may require the assistance of Assistant Petty Constables in any part of the county, or of Constables as now by law appointed, within their respective Townships, or the next adjoining Townships. Assistant Petty Constables are to perform all the duties which belong to Constables of Townships as now by law established, and to assist the Special High Constables whenever called upon so to do.
Constables neglecting their duty, on conviction before two Magistrates, are liable to a penalty not exceeding rive pounds, to be deducted from their salaries, or levied by distress and sale of their goods and chattels; and if there be no salary due, or no goods upon which distress can be made, then the party offending to be committed to the House of Correction for not exceeding two months. Penalties to be paid in aid of the county rate.
Magistrates in Quarter Sessions may discharge Constables for misconduct or incapacity, or in case they think that the necessity for such an officer has ceased. Magistrates in Petty Sessions may suspend any Constable until the Quarter Sessions, and appoint a substitute ad interim.
In any action brought against a Constable for any act done in obedience to the warrant of any Justice, such Constable not to be responsible for any irregularity in the issuing of such warrant, but may plead the general issue, and upon proof of the signature of such warrant, the jury shall return a verdict for such Constable, who shall recover his costs. Common reputation to be sufficient evidence in a court of justice as to the right of any Constable to hold his office.
The salary of the Special High Constables to be fixed by the Magistrates at Quarter Sessions. Where the population of the district exceeds 50,000 the salary not to exceed £I50 per annum, where the population is less than 50,000 and exceeding 30,000, the yearly salary not to exceed £110; where the population is less than 30,000, but more than 20,000, the annual salary not to exceed £80; and where the population is less than 20,000, the annual salary not to exceed £60. And reasonable allowance is to be made to the Constables for any expenses they may incur in the execution of their duty.
Salaries and allowances to Constables to be paid out of the county‐rate, and repaid out of the hundred‐rate. Separate rates to be made upon each hundred for the payment of the Constables' salaries and allowances; such rates to he regulated as county‐rates are at present regulated.
If the same person be appointed Constable for two or more hundreds, such hundreds are to contribute to his salary as above fixed, in proportion to their population.
The county treasurer to keep separate accounts with each hundred, for which he is to be allowed such sum as the Magistrates may think fit.
The towns of Stockport, Macclesfield, and Congleton, having separate police establishments, are exempted from the operation of this Act, and from the payment of any rate for carrying its provisions into effect.
The salary of the Assistant Petty Constables are to be paid by the overseers of the poor of the Townships for which they are appointed, out of the poors rate, to be fixed by the Justices in Quarter Sessions, and not to exceed £20 yearly in each Township. Such salary to be a complete remuneration for all services performed within the Township for which the Constable is appointed; and for any services performed out of the Township the Justices are empowered to award such recompense as they may think proper, to he paid from the county‐rate. Justices in Petty Sessions may increase the salary of an Assistant Petty Constable to £50 per annum, such increase having been previously sanctioned by a vestry meeting of the inhabitants of the Township for which such Constable was appointed.
Officers are not to accept any fee or gratuity beyond the salaries and allowances above specified, on pain of forfeiting their situations or incurring a penalty not exceeding £20. But they may receive allowances as prosecutors or witnesses, and rewards for the apprehension of offenders.
No Special High Constable is to be engaged in any trade, without the permission of two Justices. Proceedings are not to be void for want of form, or to be removed into any of his Majesty's superior courts of record.
The existing powers of Constables in the county are not to be interfered with by this Act.
Penalties to be recovered by summons.
Parties aggrieved may appeal to the Quarter Sessions.
Justices are empowered to administer oaths.
The expenses of obtaining this Act to be paid out of the county rate.
The Act to be deemed a public Act.
WANTED

Under the Cheshire Constabulary Act
A SPECIAL HIGH CONSTABLE
for the Hundred of Northwich
for which it is requisite that such Officer shall be able bodied, of a sound constitution, and under the age of forty years; of good character for honesty, sobriety, fidelity and activity, and able to read and write.
Any person wishing to be appointed to the situation aforesaid, is requested to forward (if by letter post‐paid) his offer of service, together with testimonials of character and sufficiency, to the offices of Messrs. Vawdrey & Barker, Solicitors, Middlewich,
before Monday the 12th day of October next.
Any further information as to the duties of the situation may be had on applying to Messrs. Vawdrey & Barker. Middlewich,
24th August, 1829.
Chester Chronicle
Friday 4 September 1829
Staffordshire Advertiser. July 1835.
MURDER AND SUICIDE AT DODDINGTON
The residents at this delightful place and neighbourhood (the demesne of Sir J.Broughton) which, as most of our readers are aware, is on the confines of Cheshire and adjoining to the western side of Staffordshire, were thrown into a state of the greatest anxiety and alarm on Monday morning last, by the awful intelligence that a young female had been found in a field cruelly murdered. The melancholy tidings were speedily authenticated and almost all doubts as to the perpetrator of the horrid crime were removed by another gloomy circumstance ‐the discovery that a man had hung himself at a short distance from the place where the poor girl had lost her life, and connected with suspicious circumstances that naturally led to the conclusion that he had been the murderer. We proceed to place before our readers the details of these tragical and melancholy occurrences. The unfortunate female thus early brought to an untimely end, was a domestic in the house of H. Davison, Esq., Sir John Broughton's land steward, where she had lived about twelve months, during which time, her conduct had been most exemplary. The age of the unfortunate female was 16, and she is described as having been a remarkably fine girl, with pleasing manners, and of an address rather superior to her situation in life. Her parents reside about a mile from Mr. Davison's, and are said to have brought up their family in the most praiseworthy manner. The deceased was the third of a family of six children. The man suspected to have committed the murder, (Thomas Bagguley) was also in the service of Mr. Davison, as a labourer in which service he had been for the last four years. He had previously been employed for twenty‐one years by Mr. Richard Dobson, and had the character of a quiet, honest, hardworking: he was of rather a reserved disposition, and not given to conversation, He was about 50 years of age and had a wife and a family of eight children living. From his conduct for a number of years, the last suspicion that would have arisen was that he would perpetrate any such offence as that now attributed to him, nor is it known that the slightest intimacy existed between him and the young woman. The leading facts connected with this melancholy affair at present known are as follows; ‐On Monday morning, just after midnight, Mrs. Davison was awake by Mary Malpass, the deceased, knocking at her door and asking if she might leave the house, as some one had brought her word that her mother was dangerously ill, and wanted her to go home directly. Mrs. D. did not ask her who the messenger was, but immediately gave her permission, and heard her go downstairs and out of the doors, never to return again. Mrs. D. soon afterwards went down to see that the door was secure, when she found it was locked, and the key gone, taken as she supposed by the young woman in order to let herself in again on her return. On Mr. Davison's family rising in the morning, a ladder was found on the grass plot below the window of the girl's room; it had been brought from another part of the premises, and it is supposed for the purpose of awakening the young woman without disturbing the family. The body of the young woman was found about five o'clock in a field not a quarter of a mile from Mr. Davison's house, in the state hereafter described. There was no footpath through this field, and it was not the shortest way to the house where the parents of the young woman lived, although a person might go that way, and it would be only a little circuitous. The body of the man was found, as described by the witnesses, in about an hour afterwards; and the two striking facts, that he would not go to bed at his own house, though repeatedly desired to do so, but was left up; and that he had the key in his pocket which the young woman had to let herself out of the house, ‐These two facts prove almost to demonstration that Bagguley was the man who inveigled the girl from the house under the false pretence of her mother's illness, and in the sequel perpetrated the awful crime of murder. Our readers will draw their own conclusion from the evidence given at the Inquest, and now laid before them. The opinion formed by those who reside upon the spot, and are best acquainted with the circumstances is, that the wretched man's contrivance of decoying the ill‐fated girl from her master's house in the dead of night, was only with the intention of gratifying a lust which, under all the circumstances, cannot be attributed to anything less than Satanic influence; and then finding the unfortunate object of his desires virtuous to death, and fearing his iniquitous conduct would come to light, deprived his hapless victim of her life! Supposing this view to be correct, it is easy to imagine, that stung with remorse and goaded by the same fiend‐like spirit, the wretched man decided to finish the tragical occurrence by a suicidal act. Inquests were held on view of the bodies on Tuesday, before F. Thomas, Esq. coroner, and evidence given in substance as follows. Mr. George, of Doddington Farm, was foreman of the jury. The jury being sworn, viewed the body of the female at her father's house where it lay, and then, for want of room, adjourned to Mr. Dobson's. After a patient investigation of that case, and finding the verdict as stated below, they proceeded to Mr. Davison's, where the body of the unfortunate man was, and having heard the evidence, found the verdict, which is also given below.
INQUEST ON VIEW OF THE BODY OF MARY MALPASS.
Mrs.Davison, wife of Henry Davison Esq.,l and steward to Sir John Broughton, Doddington, being sworn, deposed as follows:‐
The deceased, Mary Malpass, was my servant maid on the 28th of June, and on the evening of that day she retired to bed about half‐past nine; I did not observe anything particular or contrary to her usually modest deportment prior to her retiring to rest. About half‐past twelve o'clock on the same night I was awoke by some one knocking at my bedroom door, and the deceased said‐"Mistress, shall I go and see my mother, who is taken dangerously ill, and likely to be dead." I said‐"Certainly, you may go;" but did not ask her who called her up, supposing it to be either her father or one of brothers. I did not hear anyone about the house, but heard the deceased go down stairs, and in a short time leave the house. I came down stairs to lock the front door, but found it locked and the key gone. I supposed the deceased had taken it, that on her return she might let herself into the house without disturbing the family. It was our invariable custom to leave the key of the front door on the sideboard in the parlour. It was left there when I went to bed; but in the morning both the inner door and front door were wide open.
Simeon Davis, servant to Mr. George, Doddington Farm, deposed as follows ‐About five o'clock on Monday morning, the 29th June, I was going to fetch up my master's cows, and on going through Chapel Field, Hunsterston,(about a quarter of a mile from Doddington) I saw a woman lying on the ground, near the hedge; she was lying on her back, but inclining towards her right side; her gown and petticoats appeared much disordered; she had her bonnet on, but it was much torn in front, and her cloak was rucked up, and lay under her head as if she had been violently struggling; two clean aprons which were folded up, and her comb, lay by her side. I did not observe any marks of violence on her person; I felt at her, and found she was quite dead; I did not know her; Ralph Latham, my fellow servant, was with me; we neither of us knew her; her face was much drawn on one side, and discoloured; we supposed she was a stranger; we both knew the deceased well when she was alive, but had no idea that the woman we saw in the field was Mary Malpass; we left her where we first saw her, and returned to our master's; met several persons on the road, and told them there was a woman lying dead in Chapel Field.
Mr. John Twemlow, surgeon, Hatherton, deposed –
About 10 o'clock on Monday the 29th ult., I was sent for to examine the body of a woman, who was found dead in a field near Pepper‐street Moss; I found her lying on her back, inclining to her right side. On examining her person, I found considerable blackness and darkness round her neck, with here and there a scratch; the discolouration on the neck seemed to have been made from violent pressure of the hand and appeared general round the throat. On examining the lower part of her body, I found a considerable degree of blackness on the inside of her thighs, and several scratches. If to violate her person had been the object of her destroyer, I have every reason to believe he did not effect his purpose. The ground round about where she lay was much disturbed, as if two persons had been violently struggling; and I am decidedly of opinion the deceased came to her death by strangulation from some person's hands.
Mr.E.Barker, surgeon, Audlem, deposed;
about four o'clock p.m. on Monday the 29th ult. I saw the body of the deceased Mary Malpass at her father's, John Malpass, Hunsterston Lodge. On examining the upper part of her throat I found there had been much pressure and violence on each side of her wind pipe, with the appearance of finger nails penetrating through the skin, producing strangulation. On examining the thighs and legs I found much redness and discolouration about them, produced apparently from excessive friction, as though she had been struggling violently with some person. I believe her person had not been violated, but that an attempt had been made. There was also much blackness and redness about the face and on the upper part of her breasts. The discolouration of the upper part of the body is to be accounted for by the pressure on the vessels of the neck, preventing the return of the blood; consequently the minute vessels would become distended, producing blackness and swelling on the surface of the body. I am decidedly of opinion she died from strangulation.
Ann Malpass, wife of John Malpass, bricklayer, and mother of the deceased, deposed:‐
The deceased, Mary Malpass, was my daughter, and lived with Mr. Davison, of Doddington. I did not send on the 28th ult. any one to my daughter to say I was ill, and if she wished to see me alive must come directly. I was not at all unwell on that day, but as well as ever I was in my life.
John Shuker, labourer, Hunsterston, deposed:‐
Yesterday morning the 29th of June, I went to the house of Mr. Davison, of Doddington, to meet Thomas Bagguley, labourer, who had agreed the previous evening to assist me in loading some calves. In consequence of Bagguley not coming to his work at Mr. Davison's as usual, Mrs. Davison asked me to go to his house to enquire for him. I saw his wife, who said he had not been at home the whole of the night. On returning to Mrs. Davison's, she desired to tie up the cows and suckle the calves, and by that time Bagguley might be come to his work. After tying up the cows I went to fetch the calves out of a hay crib adjoining the cow house, thinking the calves might be there, though it was not the usual place they were kept in. The hasp was on staple of the door post and a hanging lock through the staple, but not locked. On opening the door I observed a man's legs. The knees of which were bent, and his feet touching the straw under him. I started back alarmed; on recovering myself I went in, and taking him by the shoulders I turned his face towards me, and saw it was Thomas Bagguley. He was suspended by a rope tied round his neck with a running noose, fastened to a ladder which was over the hole where the hay is put down into the hay crib below to fodder the cows. On seeing his face, I knew it to be Thomas Bagguley, Mr. Davison's labourer; he was quite dead. I alarmed Mr. Davison's family, and went with two men to the hay crib, when Simeon Davis took out his knife and cut him down. It was a small cord which was round his neck. I then and asked Mrs. Davison for the keys of the stable: she could not find them, but said Bagguley might have them in his pocket, and desired me to examine; on feeling in his pockets I found several keys, which I took out; one of the keys opened the stable door, and the rest I hung on a nail in the inside of the stable. I do not know whether I took from his pocket the key of the front door, but if I see it I can tell whether it is the same I took out of Bagguley's pocket. (The key of Mr. Davison's door, by which the young woman let herself out, was brought). The key now produced is one of those I took out of his pocket and hung on a nail in the side of the stable.
(A gentleman who was present told this witness that if he ever should be placed in the same unfortunate situation, and see a fellow creature hanging, he hoped he would have courage enough immediately to cut him down, rather than lose all chance of saving his life by wasting time in seeking for assistance, when nothing more was wanted but presence of mind in the individual.)
Thomas Bagguley, labourer, son of the deceased, deposed –
I work on the rail‐road, but generally sleep at home at the week's end; I was at my father's house on Sunday night the 28th ult; my mother asked my father to go to bed several times, about half past 9 o'clock; she went to bed about 10 o'clock; she requested him to go with her; he said "I am coming," but did not follow her; I then locked the door, and left the key in the lock, and said, "Father, come to bed;" he again said "I am coming," but did not follow me. When I was in bed I heard my mother several times call to him to come to bed; his answer invariable was "I am coming;" about two o'clock my mother awoke, and not finding him in bed she went down stairs; he was not in the house; the door was locked and the key put under the door. I got up about 4 o'clock, and found the door locked, and the key put under; when I went to bed I locked the door and left the key in the lock.
Henry Davison, Esq., Doddington, deposed –
The key now produced, and sworn to by John Shuker, as the one he took out of Bagguley's pocket, is the key of my front door, and was left on the sideboard, in my parlour, on Sunday evening, about Half‐past 9, June 28.
The jury, after a few minutes consultation, returned a verdict of wilful murder against Thomas Bagguley, deceased, for having in the night of Sunday, June 28th, feloniously and wilfully destroyed the deceased Mary Malpass, by strangulation.
INQUEST ON VIEW OF THE BODY OF THOMAS BAGGULEY.
Simeon Davis, a labourer of Mr. George's, Doddington Farm, deposed as follows –
On Monday morning, June 29, I was alarmed by John Shuker, who came from Mr. Davison's, saying that Thomas Bagguley had hung himself; I went with him to Mr. Davison's, and on going to the place where fodder is put down for the use of the cows, I saw a man hanging by a rope or small cord, fastened round his neck, with his knees bent, and nearly touching the ground; I took out my knife and cut the cord and laid him down; he was quite dead; it was the body of Thomas Bagguley; the cord was fastened to the stave of a ladder, placed over the hole where the hay is put down into the hay crib below.
John Shuker, labourer, deposed:‐
On Monday morning last, June 29th, I was at Mr. Davison's, of Doddington, when I was desired to tie up the cows and suckle the calves, belonging to Mr. Davison. After attending to the cows I went to a hay crib adjoining the cowhouse for the calves, supposing they were there. The door was fastened by the hasp being placed on the staple, and a hanging lock passing through the staple, but not locked. On opening the door I saw the legs of a man who was hanging by a small cord tied round his neck, his feet touching the straw under him, and his knees bent. I was alarmed and stepped back. On recovering myself I went in, and laying hold of his shoulders turned his face towards me; I then saw it was Thomas Bagguley, and that he was quite dead. I left him hanging and fetched Simeon Davis and Ralph Latham to my assistance. Simeon Davis took out his knife and cut the cord by which he was suspended, and he fell down on the floor of the cow bin, where he now lies. I saw him at two o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and conversed with him some time; he was then in good spirits, and very pleasant, as much so as I ever saw him. I never saw any signs of insanity in him, and have known him for some years.
VERDICT
Verdict, that the deceased feloniously and wilfully destroyed himself by suspending himself to a ladder, with a small cord, on the morning of the 29th June.
RAPE, MURDER AND SUICIDE.
This county has obtained an unenviable notoriety for the commission of crimes of the most revolting character. The following exhibits a picture of depravity and crime which it is shocking to contemplate. A man advanced in years ‐a hoary headed sinner with grown up children, leaves his own house, his wife and family, in the dead of night, and succeeds in decoying a young female, only 17 years of age, the servant of a neighbouring gentleman, from her master's house, under pretence that her mother is dying and wishes to see her. In going across the fields, he attempts the gratification of his brutal passion by violating her person; and failing to accomplish his purpose he strangles his victim. And adding catastrophe to this tale of depravity, he hangs himself in a cowhouse!
The following is a brief narrative of the particulars of this double tragedy, and on the inquests held on the bodies.
The unfortunate female deceased was named Mary Malpass, and was in the service of Mr. Henry Davison, steward to Sir John Delves Broughton, Bart. at Doddington Park, near Nantwich. The suicide Thomas Bagguley, was a labourer also in the employ of the said gentleman, and resided at Walherton. It appears from the testimony of Baguley's son, that his father was at home at 11 o'clock on Sunday night; and after the rest of the family had retired for the night, he was repeatedly called to by his wife to come to bed, but he refused to do so. At two o'clock in the morning, it was discovered that he had left the house, and he did not return afterwards. Mrs. Davison stated that she and her family went to bed about half past nine o'clock on Sunday evening. About one o;clock on Monday morning, the servant girl, Mary Malpass, knocked at her bedroom door, to ask if she might go to see her mother who was dying. Mrs. Davison, with out inquiring how the girl obtained the information, gave her permission to go, and on going downstairs to lock the door after her, she found that it was already locked, and the key missing.
On Monday morning two labouring men named Simeon Davies and Ralph Latham, in going through what are called the Chapel Fields, in Hunsterston, a short distance from Mr. Davison's house, found the dead body of Mary Malpass. She was lying on her back, her clothes were above her knees, and otherwise in dis‐order; her bonnet was much torn; her combs were lying beside her; and the appearances on the grass and the ground near the body clearly indicated that there had been a violent struggle. About six o'clock on Monday morning, Baguley was discovered in a shippon suspended by his neck with a rope from one of the steps of a ladder. He was quite dead and cold. He appeared to have been resolutely bent upon self destruction, for his feet rested upon the ground even with his knees bent. In his pocket were found several keys, and among them the key of Mr. Davison's front door.
From the testimony of Mr. John Twemlow and Mr. Edward Barker, the surgeons who examined the body of the deceased female, it appeared that the neck was very much discoloured all round, as if it had been clasped, and the windpipe violently pressed by both hands, and the finger nails had penetrated through the skin over the trachea. The face and breast exhibited marks of discolouration from bruises. The general appearance indicated that there had been a violent struggle, and left no doubt of the nature of the crime that was attempted to be perpetrated before death, although, in the opinion of both these gentlemen, it had not been accomplished. The coroner's jury, in the case of Mary Malpass, found a verdict of wilful murder against Thomas Baguley; and in the second a verdict of felo de se.
This dreadful affair has, as may well be supposed, excited a great sensation in the neighbourhood. The family and relatives of both the deceased, are in a state of distraction more easily conceived than described.
The Liverpool Times – April 3, 1838
Thursday
MURDER IN WARRINGTON
illiam Hill, aged 27, was charged with the wilful murder of Betty Minshull, at Warrington, on
W the 8th of December last. The indictment alleged that, on the day in question, the prisoner maliciously, feloniously, and with malice aforethought, assaulted the said Betty Minshull, by pressing his hands upon her throat and neck, thereby suffocating and strangling her, of which strangling and suffocation she then and there instantly died. The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
Dr. BROWN, with whom was Mr. BOILEAU, stated the case for the prosecution, and called the following witnesses:
Mary Pritchard examined by Dr. BROWN – on the 8th of Dec. last she was servant to Mr. Higginson, who kept the Legh Arms, Warrington. Betty Minshull was a housekeeper, and has been about a year and a half. She was his daughter. The 7th of December was Thursday night, and Warrington Fair. Several persons were drinking there. There was a club held there, and the prisoner and others came in about eight o’clock. Mrs. Minshull treated them to half a gallon of ale
– her father also gave them a quart. There was some singing. The prisoner sung. Mrs Minshull sat in the tap-room with them, but did not drink with them. About twelve o’clock Mrs. Minshull ordered me to bed. There had been no quarrelling then. I went to sleep immediately on going to bed, and heard nothing until five o’clock in the morning. Besides master and myself there were only two persons, one of whom was a soldier, and the other a person named Nicholas Murphy. Mrs. Minshull usually slept with me. I awoke about five o’clock, and found she was not in bed. I got up and struck a light and went to look for her. The back door was open, and I went down the yard and found her in the privy lying on the floor on her back. Her head was reared in one corner and her feet reached the door. Her clothes were up to her knees and I pulled them down. She was dead. I found a bunch of keys beside her – a lock, a candlestick and the lock and key of the bottom gate – a gate close to the door of the privy, which leads to the mug market. That door is usually locked about dark. There was no candle in the candlestick, but the slide was raised up to the top. I called for assistance to remove the body into the house. Nicholas Murphy and the soldier carried the body into the house. I helped them the best I could. The deceased was sometimes in the habit of carrying a snuff-box. She had a bone-hafted knife with two blades, which she also carried in her pocket, and often had it out to cut lemons in the bar. When she took money and silver she generally put in her pocket, and the copper in the drawer. The day after I searched for her snuff-box in the house but could not find it.
Cross-examined by Mr BRANDT – Mrs Minshull was a lusty woman and was subject to fainting fits when put out of the way. She had a husband residing at Manchester who visited her about once a fortnight. He had seen her last week. She had a rather short neck, and the bone of her stays seemed pressed upwards on the left side a little. Mrs Minshull was in the room when Hill sung and seemed pleased with his singing. She sat in the room not far from them.
Ralf Crowfoot was at Higginson’s on the night in question, with the prisoner and several others. The deceased came in the room, and sat above an hour near the prisoner. There was a quarrel between twelve and one o’clock. No persons were parties to the quarrel except Joseph Yates and Edward Cox. It lasted a few minutes and then the parties left the house. Seven of us went out together, but the prisoner remained in the house. Prisoner was in the same room where the quarrel took place but did not take any part in it. Joseph Yates and Edward Cox fought in the street near Higginson’s. After the fight witness went home.
Cross-examined by Mr BRANDT – I don’t mean to say that the prisoner did not come out of the house, but I did not see him. There were eight men in the house and Betty Minshull. She sat next to the prisoner. When the fight commenced it created some confusion. I did not hear the deceased or any one else desire us to leave the house.
John Boardman examined by Mr BOILEAU – Was at Higginson’s on the night in question. There was a quarrel – John Yates and Joseph Yates took part in it. Prisoner took no part in it. Witnesses attempted to part them. All then went out except the prisoner, and the bar was closed.
Eliza Holbrook – Worked at the Cock Edge Factory. Is sister of James Holbrook. Was at the Legh Arms on the night in question and left at nine o’clock. Prisoner was there. Saw him next morning at six o’clock and observed that his face was scratched. Went to dinner at twelve o’clock and heard what had happened to Betty Minshull. On my return, I told him she was dead, and he said “Ay by -, is she” I asked him what time he left, and he said he did not know. He said there was a row among them, and he assisted the deceased to get them out; that then he went into the house with her, stayed about a quarter of an hour, and they drunk what drink was left. His face was scratched, and I asked him how he had got it scratched, and he replied, “In the row”.
Cross-examined by Mr BRANDT – It was in reply to my asking what time he got home that he said he did not know. He said Betty Minshull and he had drank what ale remained in the jug.
Alice Thomas, who keeps a public house adjoining Higginson’s said she was up about one o’clock on the morning of the 7th of December. She went into the front room about that time, and heard a fight in the street. She then went to her own bed-room in the back part of the house. She then heard the screams of a female, which appeared to come from the back part of Mr Higginson’s house. They continued very loud for some time, and then ceased suddenly. Witness did not go out at that time. The screams became fainter and fainter previous to ceasing. Witness closed the window and went to bed. There is a thoroughfare at the back of our house. It is generally closed about ten o’clock. Mr Higginson’s is the only thoroughfare except ours. When I heard screams I opened the window and called out.
Isaac Bellas, plasterer, lodged at Mr James Langshaw’s at the bottom of the mug market, opposite Mr Higginson’s back gate, in Dec. last. Went home on the 7th Dec. between one and two o’clock. Could not get into the house at first, and had to stand at the door about five minutes. When standing there saw the prisoner whom he had known before, coming down the Legh Arms yard. First saw him about twenty yards up the passage. It was a moonlight night. The prisoner was walking towards witness, and passed within a yard of him. Witness spoke to him, and said, “Bill, is that thee?” He went in a direction towards Lyon’s house.
In cross-examination, the witness stated that he was first examined the Monday following the murder; but on reference to the depositions by the learned Judge, it turned out that it was on the 1st of January.
In re-examination, he stated that he heard of the murder on Friday night, the 8th, and it was the night before that he saw the prisoner.
In reply to a question from one of the jury, he stated that when he said he had seen the prisoner coming down the Legh Arms yard he meant coming down the mug-market.
Richard Lyon said he was overlooker of the Cock Edge Factory. On Friday morning the 8th of December the prisoner came to his house. Knows the Legh Arms. Witness’s house is between a quarter and half-a-mile from the Legh Arms. The prisoner lived in Coar Edge, nearer the factory than the witness’s house. It was a few minutes before three o’clock when the prisoner came. He knocked at the door, and witness got up to the window. Prisoner then requested witness to open the door which he did. On his coming in, the prisoner said he had been to the fair, and had had the best luck he had ever had in his life, adding that he had had connection with a landlady. He then gave witness a knife with a buck-horn haft, and said he was to keep it for memorandum. He wanted to stay with witness all night, as he was afraid of being too late for his work. Witness persuaded the prisoner to go home and said he would call him up. The prisoner went home, and witness did call him up. Nothing further passed until Saturday morning, when the prisoner asked witness to lend him a knife, when he returned the prisoner’s over to him, a knife being the chief thing used in their business. On the afternoon of Saturday, before wages were paid, the prisoner handed to witness half a sovereign and six shillings, which he requested him to take care of, as they intended to go to Bolton to see a young man. On Monday morning witness had a conversation with the prisoner, when the latter told him what had passed between them. (It is unfit for publication) He showed a snuff-box, which he said he had taken from Betty Minshull; and he said he had also taken a knife from her, which he had thrown into the reservoir; he also said he had thrown the snuff-box into the reservoir.
The witness in further examination, stated that he engaged some persons to search in the reservoir for the knife and snuff-box, and produced a snuff-box which had been delivered to him by a person named Joynson.
The parties who searched the reservoir were then called, and they deposed to finding the box, which was delivered to the last witness. Mary Pritchard was called. She identified the box as the property of the deceased.
Dr John Davis examined by Dr BROWN – I graduated as a physician at Edinburgh and have practised as a surgeon in Warrington between two and three years. I examined the body of the deceased, by order of the Coroner, on the 11th of December last. The body appeared very fat. On the right and left forearm were several bruises, particularly about the elbow and on the wrists. There was a mark on the wrist and another immediately under the right jaw. There was also a partial discolouration about the integuments of the neck. I opened the body. On removing the integuments on the right side of the neck I found the interior curve of one of the muscles of a very dark colour and, containing extravasated blood throughout the whole of the bruised part. On removing the integuments on the opposite side there was also extravasated blood. On opening the chest I found the lungs gorged with blood. Their structure appeared healthy. The stomach also appeared healthy, and contained food undigested. The liver also appeared healthy, with the exception of a small tumour on the interior margin, near the gall bladder. Judging from the tumefaction of the integuments of the neck, from the extravasated blood in the muscles, and from the gorged state of the lungs, I am of opinion that death was caused by suffocation produced by pressure on the neck. Pressure with the hands would produce the appearance I have described.
Nothing material was elicited from the witness in cross-examination.
The examination of the prisoner before the magistrates was then put in and read. In it he admitted being in the house, and remaining a short time after the company left.
This closed the case for the prosecution.
Mr BRANDT (with whom was Mr Hulton) addressed the jury at considerable length, and with much ability. He said the first question for the consideration of the jury was whether the deceased had come to her death by violence – the second, whether that violence had been committed by the prisoner under circumstances that amounted to the crime of murder, - and observed that if the jury had any doubt on either point they must give the prisoner the benefit of it. He contended that neither fact had been proved, and said he did not believe it possible in human nature that there could have been such a monster of barbarity as the prisoner would have been had he acted in the manner alleged, or such a beast in intellect so void even of the animal instinct of self-preservation as he must have been if, with the consciousness of having occasioned the death of a fellow creature, he had gone straight way at three o’clock in the morning, to boast of what he had done, and furnished then, and subsequently the only evidence that could convict him, - his guilt, if he were guilty, being then known to himself alone. He admitted that if a man, in the attempt to commit, or in the commission of a felony, occasioned the death of a fellow creature, the offence was murder, although the offender had no intention to take away life, and consequently that if the prisoner had, in the commission of a rape upon the deceased, or an attempt to commit it occasioned the death of the deceased, it was the duty of the jury to find him guilty. But he contended that this was not made out in evidence, whilst, on the other hand, there was a strong presumption that the deceased had died in one of those fainting fits to which she was subject, and which they had heard were liable to be produced by any excitement.
Mr Justice PATTESON said that the law looked upon all cases in which death ensued from violence as murder, and it lay with the persons who occasioned it to show that it was otherwise. Though the prisoner, in this case might not intend the death of the deceased, yet if actually did put her to death in the commission, or attempt to commit another felony, his offence was murder. If the jury were of opinion that the prisoner at the bar, in attempting to have connection with the deceased against her will, and by force – that is, in attempting to commit a rape, occasioned her death – it was immaterial whether he intended to kill her or not, - the offence would be murder. In order to find him guilty of that offence, the jury must be satisfied, first of all, that Betty Minshull died by violence, and in the second place, that the violence was inflicted by the prisoner at the bar. If they had a doubt on either point, they must give the prisoner the benefit of it. His Lordship then went over the evidence very minutely.
The jury retired at ten minutes to three o’clock. They returned into Court at four o’clock, with a verdict of guilty.
His Lordship put on the black cap, and silence having been proclaimed, proceeded to address the prisoner. He said that after a very full inquiry, and a most patient consideration on the part of the jury, the prisoner had been found guilty of the offence laid to his charge. He (the Judge) was not at all surprised at the conclusion, for every person in the Court who had heard the case must be convinced that he was in truth guilty of the offence imputed to him. He by no means meant to say, nor did he think that one of the jury meant to say, he believed that the prisoner, when he went out at the back of the house with the unfortunate deceased, intended to murder her, or had any such notion passing in his mind; but he did believe that the prisoner was determined at that time to have connection with her, either with or without her consent, - in other words, to commit a rape upon her; - that she resisted as much as, she could, and that, in the attempt to stifle her screams, he had strangled her and occasioned her death. The prisoner had, in fact, been guilty of murder, rape and robbery. The case was a very aggravated one, and under the circumstances he should not feel justified if he held out the slightest hope of mercy to the prisoner; in this world he had none to expect; but in one respect he was in a better situation than the unfortunate individual whom he had sent out of the world, probably unprepared for such a change, and certainly on a sudden. The prisoner had the opportunity of endeavouring to make his peace with God. In this world he had no hope of mercy, but in that which was to come he might still hope to find it. Every possible assistance would be afforded to him, and he trusted the prisoner would avail himself of it. But a short time was left to him in this world, and he should take advantage of it to endeavour to secure the pardon of the Almighty, through the merits of the Redeemer in that which was to come.
His LORDSHIP concluded by passing sentence of death upon the prisoner in the usual terms.
The prisoner was then removed. He manifested the utmost firmness throughout the trial, and when taken down walked steadily from the bar.
From the Guardian Series, first published Wednesday 24th Oct 2001.
If we take a look at things that have happened in the history of where we live, we just might see something that would make those spirits restless.
For the sake of justice, our ancestors were burned, boiled, branded, mutilated, blinded, maimed, drowned, and often hung by their fellow citizens.
Hangings and burning at the stake took place at the top of Barrel Well Hill, at Boughton, Chester.
On the way to Chester City Centre, you may have noticed a small obelisk overlooking the river on the left‐hand side of the road. It was on that spot that for many years Cheshire hanged its unwanted criminals. It was a very public place, and if the felons were hanged high enough the spectacle could be seen for miles around, a lesson to others!
In 1801 three men were being taken there for hanging, when one of them made a desperate bid for freedom. He leapt from the cart, and painfully tumbled down the steep hill and straight into the River Dee. Weighed down by his chains he made a valiant effort at swimming to the far bank, but after only a few short strokes, he sank beneath the water. The Sheriff commandeered a rowing boat, and began to trawl the water with a grappling hook and after some time the body of the prisoner was dragged to the surface. The body was taken back up the hill to the cart, and the waiting crowd, and thrown in beside the other two prisoners. The procession, somewhat delayed, then carried on and all three were hanged together as the law had decreed.
The authorities did not want that fiasco repeated so the next executions took place from the attic windows of the old prison. Once hung the prisoners kicked out so much that they broke all the glass in the adjacent windows.
The first cart over the new Wardle Bridge in Middlewich, that had just been built in 1809, carried the bodies of two hanged criminals, George Glover and William Proudlove. At their hanging both their ropes broke and they had to wait a further hour until new ropes were found. They were being returned to the scene of their crimes to be gibbeted.
Joseph Allen of Weaverham was hanged in 1817 for forging Bank of England notes. The forged notes had the wrong colour ink printed on the wrong paper, he died protesting his innocence.
Samuel Thorley was a Northwich businessman who in 1835 murdered his fiancée, who had threatened to finish with him. He slit her throat during an argument and promptly walked to Chester to give himself up. He was hanged, despite protestations that his was a crime of passion ‐his death warrant can be seen in the record office.
Public executions ceased in 1866 and hanging then took place inside the walls of the prisons.
The last Cheshire public hanging took place in 1863, when Alice Holt was hanged for the murder of her mother for the insurance money.
James Phipps was hanged in 1912 for the murder of Eliza Warburton, in Winsford. His execution broke the record for the quickest hanging in England, 47 seconds from the hangman, Henry Pierpoint entering the condemned cell, until his neck was broken. Phipps abducted Eliza and brutally murdered her in fields in Wharton in 1908, a search party caught him fleeing the scene of his crime towards the centre of Winsford. The Old Police Station at Wharton where James Phipps was first detained after murdering Eliza Warburton has been haunted by the unexplained sound of footsteps.
In 1946 Harold Berry from Winsford was hanged for the murder of Bernard Phillips of Manchester.Berry murdered him for money to finance a weekend trip to London with his mistress. He was only a night watchman at the CWS bacon factory, and needed money to finance his passion.
A newsagent in Greenbank was the scene of a dreadful murder in 1942, where two women were attacked with an iron bolt. A local youth, Donald Moore was convicted of the crime, but could not be hung because of his age.
Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in England, was a frequent visitor to Vale Royal. Her lover and would be racing driver David Blakely often came to Oulton Park to race, and she accompanied him on several trips from London and stayed locally.
Policing in Crewe.
1842 – Due to unruliness and damage to crops, game and fences 17 Farmers and others from 3 or 4 miles around founded the Second Crewe and Coppenhall Association for the prosecution of Felons which filled a gap in the Police organisation of the time. There was 40 members with a subscription of 5/-.
1843 – The Reverent Appleton, Railway Company Chaplain appealed to the Board to appoint a Police Officer to preserve order especially on the Sabbath and as a result Crewe possessed two Company Policemen by 1846.
1847 – The Company and Magistrates were forced to build a police station in Willaston (Now Eaton Street). The Company provided a Superintendent. In addition there was an office for the railway police in Sandbach Street. A new county police office was erected in Edleston Road in 1876 when the numbers of police officers maintained in Crewe and the surrounding Townships was 14 under an Inspector. It underwent an enlargement.
The Commissioner of Police granted to the Borough made no immediate attention to the Crewe Police arrangements which would remain under the control of the County authorities. The Corporation did not press for a separate Crewe Police Force as it was cheaper for the Borough to be watched over by the county police. Crewe Town Council did press from time to time for the removal of the Superintendent from Nantwich to Crewe.
1902 – Not until 1st April 1902 did the Standing Joint Committee elevate to the headship of a separate Police District including Shavington, Weston, Haslington, Leighton, Rope and Willaston.
1910 – A branch police station was built in Ford Lane
1922 – Finial development came in 1922 when local Magistrates proposed a merger of the Crewe and Nantwich Police Divisions and the reduction of the Nantwich superintendencies to an inspectorship under Crewe .
Items taken from Birkenhead History Book of Interest
1845
Inspector Watson was awarded 2 guineas, Constable Yarwood £2, Constable Donoghue £ l and Constable Mason F -I for their manly conduct in a riot with some brickmakers at the Park Hotel.
1846
Inspector McNeill commended Constables Burgess and Doyle for courageous conduct displayed in the recapture of a drunken and disorderly prisoner when furiously attacked by a mob of about 200 men and women from Back Chester Street and the adjacent locality, in an attempt to effect the offender's rescue.
Mr. Cowan, the Albert Dock Superintendent, rewarded Constable Reilly with a handsome silver patent lever watch and guard of the same metal, and five guineas in money, for his most praiseworthy conduct in rescuing a woman from a watery grave in February.
1852
FIRST MENTION OF MURDER
About 1.15 a.m. on Sunday morning, 5th July, 1852, Constable 11 Bradshaw was going his rounds when he found a man named William Green lying dead on the footwalk of Beckwith Street. The deceased belonged to the brig "George" lying in Birkenhead Docks. It appeared that between 12 and 1 o'clock on Sunday morning the man was walking along Park Street when he was set upon by 10 or 12 men, two of whom knocked him down and left him lying on the ground. The unfortunate man got up and ran into Beckwith Street, where he collapsed and was found later by the Constable. Two women saw the men knock the deceased down and kick him, and in consequence of a description given by them to the Police, several men were apprehended, but only one could be identified. His name was Martin Byrne and on the following morning he was brought before the Magistrates.
1855
On 26th December, Detective Officer Hodgson and Inspector Gunning were assaulted in the execution of their duty in dispersing a prize-fight on vacant land situated between Priory Street and White Street, when Hodgson's head was severely cut by the blow with a stone thrown by one of the fighters, Thomas Benyon.
1856
MURDER OF P.C. VAUGHAN
"The Superintendent has the painful duty to report to the Committee of the melancholy death of the late Police Constable William Vaughan, who was stabbed in the heart with a knife by a man named Thomas Smith, 9 Cobden Place, whilst in the execution of his duty in Bridge Street at 2 o'clock on Tuesday morning, 23rd December 1856. He was much beloved of the whole Force, and leaves an aged mother and an infirm sister, of whom he was the sole support."
1860
THE FIELD STREET AFFRAY
"On 30th January the Superintendent reported that the navvies intended to turn out to make an attack on the Bridewell in Hamilton Street with a view to liberating the prisoners, who were committed for assaulting Constables Massey and Randles in Field Street, on the 25th January, but fortunately there was no breach of the peace or attempt at rescue. On the same day the prisoners were removed to Chester Castle for safety in case a further attempt should be made on the Bridewell. The Superintendent, with the assistance of the Committee, used every precaution to prevent an outrage in the township. He had all the men off and on duty in attendance. Captain Smith, Chief Constable for the County, arrived in the town at an early hour with 120 of his men. Major Greig, by direction of the Watch Committee (of Liverpool), had 150 men and two Superintendents in reserve all day ready to be sent across in a moment's notice in the event of a riot breaking out.
"The military at Chester were communicated with, and it was arranged that a company of militia should be promptly in attendance should their services be required."
VISIT OF THE HIGH SHERIFF
"The Head Constable has the honour to report that an Agent from the High Sheriff of the County waited upon him on Saturday last to intimate the intention of the High Sheriff to pass through Birkenhead in procession on Friday next, 1st April, on his way to Chester to attend the Assizes there, the procession to be formed at the Park Entrance by 11 a.m., pass through Conway Street, Argyle Street, Hamilton Square, Market Cross and Chester Street. A number of the Police will be required to attend the High Sheriff through the town, not only for the preservation of order, but respect for his high office".
It is later recorded that the Head Constable was instructed to order a suitable carriage for the Chairman of the Birkenhead Commissioners and a horse for his own use. Seven Inspectors and 52 Constables were detailed to attend to the procession.
1880
"The Superintendent has the honour to report that P.C. 25 Beard stopped three men at Woodside Ferry on 15th September carrying three bags. He questioned them as to what they contained and was told `sailors' luggage' and that they had been engaged by a man named Antonio Fernandoz to carry them from South Castle Street, Liverpool, to a Spanish ship in the Birkenhead Docks. Fernandoz then came up and gave the P.C. a sovereign saying: 'It is all right, officer, they are a few revolvers. We poor sailors do a little trade on the coast, do not be too hard on us.' The P.C., thinking all was not right, called the Ferry Inspector and had all the men brought to the Police Office, and on the bags being opened they were found to contain four parcels in each of which were 25 canisters of gunpowder, the whole weighing about 3 cwt. The men were then locked up and brought before the Magistrate on the following morning.
"Fernandoz was fined £IO and costs for conveying a quantity of gunpowder across the river in one of the Woodside ferries, contrary to the regulations. The other three men were discharged. The gunpowder has been destroyed. P.C. Beard was later allowed to keep part of the sovereign as a reward."
"Inspector Fenna reports that at 11.50 p.m. on 24th March, P.C. 30 Burns was on duty in Chester Street and heard shouts of `Murder, Police' from St. Mary's Gate. He ran up and saw a woman running along shrieking, 'My children, my children'. He then saw one of the eldest boys, Robert, aged 11 years, jump out of the front bedroom window of the dwelling house of Richard Dowell, No. 3 St. Mary's Avenue, which was on fire. He broke in the door and found the house enveloped in flames. Telling the neighbours to look after the inmates, he ran blowing his whistle to the Police Office. P.C. 19 Coatup who was on duty there heard the whistling and with the assistance of the Clerk got the reel and ladders out before Burns arrived.
"They arrived at the fire at 12 midnight, being ten minutes after Burns first heard shrieks of `Murder' and `Police', and found the above house in flames with smoke issuing from the bedroom windows back and front. It was stated that the children of Mrs. Dowell, six in number, were in bed. The second boy suddenly jumped from the front bedroom window into the street. A ladder was put up to this window but it was found impossible to gain access from the density of the heat and smoke, although two branches were playing from a hydrant in St. Mary's Gate. The ladder was then removed from the front to the back bedroom window, which is over a deep yard with stone steps leading down and the ladder could not be fixed in it, and Inspector McClelland on hearing that there were more children in the room placed the ladder resting on the top of the wall and ascended at great risk. The rooms were full of suffocating smoke and the flames darting up the stairs. He groped till he found the bed and brought out Patty Dowell, a girl six years of age, who was unconscious at the time, and on being passed down the ladder P.C. Burns instantly took her to Doctor Cornwall where she died on her arrival. Inspector McClelland on having a lamp passed to him made his way to the front bedroom and there found the dead bodies of Margaret Dowell, eight years of age and Thomas Dowell, 10 years of age, which were also passed down the ladder and taken to a neighbour's house where Dr. Cornwall stated they were both dead.
"The excitement of the spectators at Inspector McClelland's danger and his three journeys into the burning house was very great. By this time the fire was got under control, namely
12.50 a.m.
"The house was tenanted by Richard Dowell, his wife and six children. Dowell is at present in Wrexham and at the time the fire broke out the occupants were Mrs. Dowell and her six children. They having retired to rest and Mrs. Dowell having been awoke by the flames at once rushed to the front door which was bolted. She got out at the back door with her baby into the street in her nightdress. The two eldest boys attempted to escape by the stairs but finding the flames too strong escaped out of the front window."
1905
"With reference to the circular addressed by a number of members of Parliament to Local Authorities re the Motor Car Act, 1903, the Chief Constable has the honour to report that it appears to him that the strict enforcement of Clause 1 Section 1 of this Act would entirely meet the case." (The Section which deals with reckless driving is then quoted.) "If this Section were strictly enforced no speed limit appears to be necessary. The present system of timing cars over short distances by the Police with stop watches is very unreliable and unsatisfactory - such work can only be undertaken by experts.
"A suggestion is made in the circular that each Local Authority, should be allowed to fix its own speed limit but that would make the use of motor cars impossible as no driver when driving through a strange neighbourhood could possibly know when he passed the limits of the jurisdiction of the various authorities. The erection of the necessary notice boards would be a very serious expense.
"The suggestion that the motor car should be impounded does not appear to be of any practical use as that would not prevent the offending driver from driving other motor cars. The more frequent and stringent enforcement of Section 4 (Sub-Section 1) of the Motor Car Act which provides for the suspension of the licence of the offending driver and for his disqualification would have more effect.
"The hands of the justices should also be strengthened in dealing with offenders enabling them to impose a term of imprisonment with hard labour in substitution for a fine. There is no doubt that the imposition of fines has been abortive in many cases.
"At present there is no doubt that motor cars are a serious public danger owing to the reckless and careless driving of a number of both professional and amateur chauffeurs, but the Chief Constable submits that if the present Act were strictly enforced and amended as regard the substitution of imprisonment for fine there would be some amelioration of the present state of things."
1911
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A CONSTABLE
At 9.40 p.m. on Saturday, 2nd December, 1911, P.C. McManus heard screams of "Murder" and "Police" in Field Street. On enquiring into the case he found a man named George R . . . and his wife quarrelling in the street, and R . . . had in his possession an open razor. Upon being remonstrated with, R . . . immediately turned his attention to the Constable and savagely attacked him, cutting his ear and cheek and cutting through the collar of his cape and overcoat, inflicting a serious wound on his neck. The Constable, "finding matters serious", thereupon drew his baton and struck the man down. He then took him to the Bridewell where it was found that both the prisoner and the Constable were in a state of collapse and had immediately to be removed to the Borough Hospital where both were detained.
R . . . was later sentenced to five years' imprisonment and Constable MIcManus awarded the Merit Badge and £5.
1916
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
At 4.0 a.m. on 17th March, 1916, Sergeant Towers was on duty in Brassey Street during a heavy thunderstorm, when he was struck by a flash of lightning which dazed him for a few minutes but he was afterwards able to complete his tour of duty. On getting up from bed at 5
p.m. same day he found that his eyesight was very much affected and that he could scarcely see. The Police Surgeon was called and attended to him. He did not appear to make satisfactory progress and was seen by a specialist who ordered treatment and said he would completely recover before long.
It is later reported that Sergeant Towers had to wear spectacles and finally was pensioned because of his affected eyesight.
1917
ARREST OF ARMED CHINAMAN
On 3rd September, 1917, P.C. 22 Colligan was informed that a Chinaman named Lee Que had run amuck in the house of another Chinaman named Lee Foo at 4 Cleveland Street, and had shot at Mrs. Lee Foo with intent to kill her. When the Constable got to the house he saw Lee Que standing in the lobby with a revolver in his hand and, after considering the situation, deemed it advisable to enter the house by the back way. On going round to the back and partly opening the yard door, he saw Lee Que with a revolver still in his hand coming towards the door. On seeing the Constable, he made a dash for the door which was closed and held by the Constable and, failing to open it, he fired a shot from the revolver which grazed the Constable's wrist, making a small wound. He then turned and went back towards the house and Colligan then loosed his hold on the door and slipped into the back yard opposite. In a few seconds Lee Que returned to the yard door and opened it but before he could make further use of the revolver Colligan pounced upon him, knocked him down with his staff, disarmed him, and afterwards lodged him in the Bridewell. On further investigation it was found that Lee Que, during his frenzy of madness, had deliberately fired two shots at Mrs. Lee Foo and two at a Chinaman who lived in the house. The revolver was found to contain one live and four spent cartridges. Lee Que was later sentenced to three years' penal servitude for shooting with intent to murder.
1928
AWARD OF MERIT BADGE TO CONS. 44 GRIFFITHS
On 25th February, 1928, Constable Griffiths, whilst in the execution of his duty, was savagely attacked by a man with a razor and dangerously wounded, receiving a wound three inches long which cut through the muscles of the scalp and extended down to the bone, necessitating five stitches and rendering him unfit for duty for 39 days. His assailant was committed for trial at the Assizes on a charge of attempted murder, but was found insane and ordered to be detained during His Majesty's pleasure.
1936
KING'S POLICE MEDAL AWARDED TO CONS. 26 BOSTOCK
At about 10.25 p.m. on 15th April, 1936, Constable Bostock was in Tower Road, Birkenhead Dock Estate, when he heard a shout "There's a woman in the Dock". He ran towards Egerton Dock and saw a woman about 10 yards from the North East corner of the Egerton Dock -East Float Passage.
Constable Bostock threw off his helmet and overcoat and jumped into the Dock. He swam out and caught up to the woman. He caught hold of her and she began to struggle and shout "Let me drown, let me go, I want to die".
Both were eventually rescued and afterwards taken to the General Hospital.
At the spot where the Constable entered the Dock the water was at least five feet below quay level and there are no steps in the vicinity.
The depth of water in the Dock was 28 feet and at the time the temperature was only a few degrees above freezing point.
1937
AWARD OF MERIT BADGE TO CONSTABLE 28 METCALFE
Arising out of a complaint made by three ladies at Slatey Road Station on 28th October, 1937, Constable Metcalfe accompanied them to the place indicated and, in order to render himself less conspicuous, wore a mackintosh and trilby hat. On approaching the corner of Egerton Road and Palm Grove a man was seen standing there and the three ladies at once said he was the man complained of. As Constable went towards him he walked away and then began to run and vaulted over the gate of 5 Egerton Road. Constable followed him, got him in a corner near a garage and told him he was a Constable. The man at once viciously attacked Constable with a steel jemmy wrapped in a sock and a terrific struggle ensued, Constable drawing and using his baton. Constable received two more blows on the top of his head, being stunned. His baton was forced out of his hand and, although completely exhausted and almost unconscious, he managed to grab and retain the man's jacket and raincoat. This jacket, as it turned out, proved to be a most important clue as it ultimately led to absolute identification of the wanted man.
After extensive enquiries in which the Liverpool Police rendered most valuable assistance the man was arrested on warrant at his house in Liverpool. He was tried at Manchester Assizes on 13th December, being sentenced to three years' penal servitude for wilfully and maliciously wounding the Constable and to twelve months' hard labour (concurrent) on each of three charges of housebreaking, etc.
Constable Metcalfe, who received very serious head injuries necessitating much stitching, was off duty for 33 days. He displayed tenacity and courage of a very high order.
1940
AWARD OF MERIT. BADGE TO ACTING SERGEANT 49 DALY
On the evening of 17th September, 1940, Acting Sergeant Daly was at home, off duty, when he heard bombs dropped quite close to his home.
He ran out of the house and was hurled off his feet by the blast of another bomb which exploded nearby. On recovering, he ran into Rockybank Road where the bomb had exploded, and found that a house had been hit by the bomb and that the occupants were trapped beneath tons of debris.
With assistance, the Acting Sergeant removed sufficient debris to allow a free passage of air to the trapped people and whilst this work was in progress his clothes were covered in dust and soot.
After more than three hours work, two persons were rescued alive and the body of a third recovered, but the body of a fourth person was so wedged in the wreckage that owing to the increasing danger of the rest of the house collapsing, the work of recovering the dead body had to be discontinued until daylight. During the whole of this time the Acting Sergeant was in charge of the incident.
1945
AWARD OF KING'S POLICE MEDAL TO CONS. 10 BINGHAM
At about 4.35 a.m. on 26th March, 1945, Constable 10 Bingham was on duty in Grange Road on the opposite side to the Services Club when he heard noises which appeared to come from the Services Club. He immediately crossed the road and heard someone inside the Club. He obtained the assistance of another Constable whom he sent to the rear of the premises. He then forced the front door and made a search of the lower floor. He noticed that property behind a counter had been disturbed and on looking into a recess inside the front door saw a man who was holding a revolver. This man pointed the revolver straight at him and said, "This revolver is loaded and if you come any nearer I will let you have it". The Constable closed with him, took the revolver from him, and took him into custody.
Upon examination it was found that the weapon, a Service revolver in perfect working order, was fully loaded in all six chambers.
The prisoner afterwards stated that the Constable was very decent with him but that if he had raised his baton he would have shot him.
AWARD OF BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL TO CONS. 240 ALLEN
At 3.30 p.m. on 14th September, 1956, a Mr. H . . ., aged 81 years, was boarding a bus in Manchester when a man who was already inside the vehicle pushed past him to alight, remarking that he had boarded the wrong bus. When Mr. H . . . had boarded the bus he found that his wallet was missing. He informed Constable Allen who was also travelling on the bus, in civilian clothes whilst off duty, and the Constable chased and caught the offender. He attempted to arrest the man who said, "I'll knife you", and struck the Constable on the face with an open pocket knife, inflicting a wound four inches long on the left cheek. He than ran away, but the Constable, although bleeding badly, pursued and caught him.
Constable Allen was treated for his injury at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, six stitches being inserted in the wound.
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