WEYMOUTH BOROUGH POLICE PART 2
This is not the history of the police force in Weymouth, it’s more like a chronological document of information, which I have uncovered about the men that made up the Force from start to finish. I am not sure if this should have been included in my blog, but I think my Grandfather would appreciate it.
What I want you to know is, that I started off with just a few photographs and one piece of paper with some names on. Add to that, a few stories from my Grandfather who worked with some of the old Borough men between 1929 and 1932 and that’s was it. So it maybe a little mundane, but stick with it as their are some interesting cases in the town during the Borough’s time.
The piece of paper I came across with officers names on which was basically part 1 on this blog, this related to the very important last photograph from 1921, which got my interest going. Although I was very disappointed to find out I did not have the original photograph. It certainly bemused me where it had disappeared too, as why did I have the names positioned like a photograph who’s who. Obviously the first thing I wanted to do was, to find a copy of it, but that would have to wait several years, and in the meantime I started to research the Borough Force.
In 1921, the Weymouth (and Melcombe Regis) Borough finally gave in and had no choice, but to join the Dorset County Constabulary. For many years Weymouth Borough Police Force had clung on to their independence and used all sorts of diversionary tactics to stay a Borough Force. Weymouth had managed to do so, for much longer than any of the other local Borough and were possibly the last town in England to do so.
Like all Counties in England, Police Forces started off as small Borough Forces of less than ten and got larger until gradually they all amalgamated with their Counties, for financial reasons. Weymouth and Melcombe Regis Borough Police were born on 17th September 1846. Up until this date there had been a few constables employed to walk the town including John DUNMAN, who was one of either the day or night constables. In early 1846 after several incidents of the constables being assaulted, there was a realisation that Weymouth’s constables were not very efficient, especially when the magistrates compared their town to Poole. Not long after their concerns were raised, William MORRIS who was a police Inspector in the London Borough Police was recruited and put in charge of the new Force. You would imagine that the area would also include the Isle of Portland but the borough was not that large, so that was not the case and it was not until 1856 that Portland and Wyke Regis became part of the Dorset County Constabulary.
At the start is one of the original badges from the Borough Force.
Insp MORRIS who had been born in Ireland, was 39 years old and a widower. His wife had died in London in 1843, leaving him to bring up their two young children. No doubt on moving to Weymouth they would have initially lived in accomadation in the Guildhall which had opened ten years earlier. The Constables that he and the town were to recruit, were all to be based at the Guildhall and the only restriction for recruitment was that the officers must be under 30 years of age.
George Nutley BRINE must have been the first man to be recruited as he was just under 30 and was given the number 1 in the new Force.
Here is a photo of George later on in his career. This photograph was taken probably just before he retired as a Sgt in 1880. Ten years before he had the chance to be the Supt but turned down the opportunity and still carried on being a Sgt till retirement.
PHOTO OF GEORGE BRINE
The other constables who were the first recruits were:
Robert CARTER (unable to work out who is due to his common name)
Charles BARRETT , unable to fimd any information on him.
John PERKS a 24 years old man ,who in 1851 census was employed as a boat pilot. So did not last long.
Launcelot Edward DUNMAN who was born in 1821 at Melcombe Regis the son of John DUNMAN mentioned above and both were living in St Thomas St. His father was a carpenter and I cannot read what Lancelot’s employment is in the 1851 census.
John TRIM born 1817 Melcombe Regis
John BASCOMBE ,who in 1851 census was a fireman on a steamer,so did not last long.
John CLARKE again no information located.
At the first official court on 20th Oct 1846 there was a case where a male had been arrested at the Weymouth races in September for theft of a shawl from a ladies carriage. Insp MORRIS who was in plain clothes at the races, when he recognised George ELLIOT and the shawl was found on him and he was arrested. At court MORRIS gave evidence and claimed he knew the offender as he was from a gang of thieves in London. ELLIOT who was 20 years old was found guilty and given 7 years transportation.
As usual with all new enterprises there must have been some early teething problems as some of these constables were never mentioned again. In August 1847, Sgt Thomas WOOTON is at court with Insp MORRIS although in March 1848 he is named again in court as a constable, so unsure when he became the first Sgt, but it was before the 1851 census.
In Oct 1848 Insp MORRIS was called across to Portland to help a local magistrate who had been assaulted by 2 carpenters employed at the Government works. On arrival MORRIS was also assaulted and with the help of Richard LANE, a resident constable the carpenters were detained in handcuffs and later taken to Dorchester Gaol. At court the main offender was fined £2 and both were bound over to keep the peace for 12 months. Richard LANE not long after joined the Borough Police and is recorder as lodging in Melcombe Regis in the 1851 census.
Records from the 1851 census, their age and addresses.
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Supt William MORRIS 41, and family at 4 Brooke buildings, St Thomas St |
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Sgt Thomas WOOTON 26, and family, been there since at least 1848 |
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PC Robert Lovell LEGG 30, 17 Little George St, born Puddletown, boot maker in 1861 census and when married in 1848 puddletown |
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PC Charles MITCHELL 27, and wife Ann at St Nicolas St Weymouth later a Verne prison warder in 1861 |
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PC James LEGG 26, 12 St Thomas St, Melcombe Regis and family, born coombe farm Somerset, in 1861 census portland prison officer |
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PC Richard LANE 24, lodger St Thomas St, Melcombe Regis bn Moreton, Dorset, by Aug 1854 when married , warder at portland prison |
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PC George BRINE 23, and family at 13 St Nicholas St. |
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PC Charles NOTLEY 21, and wife at St Nicolas Street Weymouth |
In Jan 1852 the Borough Police were at court for 3 adults, accused of obtaining money by false pretences. William Manning JEY, aged 41 was described of superior education but as shabbily attired, he was indicted with two females. Mary Ann MIERS, aged 45, described as a frightful looking hag with inflamed and disfigured features and Sarah MASON, 34 years old, a quiet and good looking woman for conspiring together in a fortune telling deception. The rues had been that the victim whilst she was having her fortune told by cards for a sixpence was made aware that she was possibly entitled to inherit some property. During the lengthy fraud she paid out 60 pounds and eventually Insp MORRIS made the arrest and was commended at court when the three offenders were convicted. All received transportation for 7 years and in February were taken to Millbank prison in London to await their removal abroad.
At the Town Council meeting in June 1853, the Borough Policeman’s wages were discussed. The Town Clerk read out a petition for an advance of wages which was backed by many influential rate payers. It was stated that the Inspectors salary was £1, 5 shillings a week after it had been reduced some time ago from £1,10 shillings, the Sgt 18 shillings and the third class men 15 shillings a week. The Force was described as wretchedly underpaid, in comparison to other towns and therefore more like a training ground for policemen who no sooner left for places where better salaries were being paid. Eventually after a long discussion the committee decided that the Sgt would get an extra shilling and the constables an extra 2 shillings. Also on the agenda was the Police Superannuation Fund, but this discussion was postponed.
After checking census records so far I can only find evidence that by 1851 only one constable appears to have stayed for the 5 years since the Borough Police were created.
DEATH OF CHIEF MORRIS
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On 6th Dec 1856, Chief MORRIS died and the Council first considered whether they should now join the newly forming Dorset Constabulary. They decided against it and hired Charles LIDBURY as their new chief. His background is not that clear, but he appears to have been born in Wiltshire at Warminster, then joined the Metropolitan Police in the 1840,s. When he was married in 1848, he was a PC at Paddington and when he joined Dorset he was still in London and probably a Sgt or Insp.
In 1867 there was a newspaper report of an ex Borough policeman called WHITE, being promoted from Sgt to Supt in the Salisbury Borough Force. This was the first time I had come across this man and after much searching I could not link him to Weymouth Borough police Force. However, after researching the census’s James Henry WHITE was found in 1861 as one of the two Sgts in the Salisbury Force and his first two children were born at Weymouth in 1856 and 1858 so he must have been a PC from about 1856 to 1860 in the Borough. He could not have been a Sgt at Weymouth as there were already a Sgt so obviously moved on, to gain promotion and made a good decision as the next Weymouth Sgts post, was not created for another 15 years (which would have been after WHITE, retired as a Supt).
Records from the 1861 census, ages and addresses.
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Supt Charles LEDBURY 36, 4 St Edmunds street next to gaol, bn in Warminster |
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Sgt George Notley BRINE 44, 5 west quay, |
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PC George HARVEY 48, 15 Nicholas street |
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PC John S BILLETT 47, 3 High West St, Weymouth invalided policeman |
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PC Michael MCMAHON 45, 2 west quay, |
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PC George MARSH 42 , Templeman Ct, Weymouth |
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PC Henry DAMON 35, lodger at bridge inn, married but no wife, bn Fleet, Dorset |
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PC Charles ENGLISH 34, 4 west quay, from Harham, Suffolk. |
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PC John MARCH 31, 3 ridge buildings, single. born Fareham, Hants |
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PC Charles BOWRING 28, boarder, 1 St Albans row, bn Wimborne, married Eliz winter sep 1861 weymouth , pc in 1871 at deptford photo on the ancestry site, but not in uniform |
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PC Philip POWELL 27, boarder, 3 ridge buildings, bn Fareham, Hants. |
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PC Joe APSEY 24, who originally joined Dorset Constabulary |
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PC Samuel WOOD 22, boarder 1 St Albans Row, bn Falmouth, Cornwall |
In July 1864, Chief LIDBURY asked the Town Council to appoint a second Sgt in the police force for when he and Sgt Brine were away. He did not want an extra officer just wanted PC HARVEY to be promoted with an increase of 3 shillings a week. The Mayor agreed, but the item was deferred due to the extra charges being made on the rate payers. However, the following month PC HARVEY was promoted, so the Borough now has two Sgts. In November the Force was made up of Chief LIDBURY, Sgt’s BRINE and HARVEY and 9 constables.
Sept 1867 PC MCMAHON nearly hit by train, but no the full story is yet to be found !
DEATH OF CHIEF LIDBURY
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On the 6th Jan 1869 Chief LIDBURY dies, and on the 21st of the month the Town Council look at the candidates to take over his position.
Apparently Sgt George BRINE, had already been offered the job but said he would be retiring soon so declined to take over. The four candidates were: first, one of LIDBURY’s brothers who had served in the Met Police “A” Division but was now a ticket collector on the south western railway. Insp MORRISON who was police railway officer on the Great Western Railway and was well known in Weymouth was the 2nd candidate. Police Supt BAYNTON who had just resigned from his position as Supt at Wimborne in the County police appeared to be ideal man, but age not on his side and the 4th candidate was Sgt Samuel VICKERY of the County Constabulary was described as being very fit.
The council were undecisive and suggested they write to the Met Police to see if they had anyone who would fit the bill for a salary of 100 pounds.
The subject of amalgamating with the County Constabulary was also brought up again as it was thought that this would be the best time to do so with there being no current chief and the Borough would save money and make thet Town more efficient. It was decided in the end, that all they would do was put an advert in the papers where the salary would be 100 pounds and £15 extra for also being the inspector of nuisances. Eventually Samuel Alfred VICKERY was chosen, and he then resigned from the Dorset County Constabulary on 8th April 1869. At this time there are still 12 men in the Weymouth Force.
Records from the 1871 census and information.
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Supt Charles VICKERY 4 Wooperton Street, lived next door to Thomas Hardy, who was writing one of his first books. |
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Sgt George Notley BRINE 54, 1 West St |
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Sgt George HARVEY 58, Love Lane |
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PC John Summers BILLETT 57, High West St with wife Ann 67,he from Bridport. |
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PC Michael MCMAHON 56, and son at 4 West St , widower |
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PC Charles ENGLISH 44, 2 West St |
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PC Joseph APSEY 34, 7 Rodwell Rd |
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PC Sam DELAMONT 31, 4 Rodwell St |
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PC Robert MEECH 31, 1 Ebenezar Pl,wife Sara from Compton Vallence and in 1881c a gardener, he had left by Aug 1873 as was a night watchman at son’s birth |
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PC Samuel MEAD or HEAD 27, 15 Walpole St, and family, from Launceston, Sussex |
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PC James BARLETT 26, born Frome wife Eliza |
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PC Charles HANSFORD 26, lodger, 6 Trinity St, born Chickerell |
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PC John LOVELL 21, lodger, 6 Trinity St, born Chickerell |
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PC George MILLER or MILLET 20 boarder, 15 Walpole St born Stanton,Wilts |
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PC William OLDING ? 20 boarder, 1 Penny St , born Corton,Wilts |
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PC Fred BALLETT 20, lodger,4 Trinity St, born Poole 13 constables in total |
By 1877 the Force strength has now increased to 16, which includes the promotion of Joe APSEY to Sgt and 4 more constables. Supt VICKERY is now on a wage of 145 pounds annually, and the Sgts on either 30 or 29 shillings a week and the constables between 23 and 26 shillings a week.
Records from the 1881 census, ages and information.
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Supt Sam VICKERY 52, Longhill Villa, Wyke Regis |
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Sgt George HARVEY 65, Love Lane, and family born Childe Okeford |
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Sgt Samuel DELAMONT 42, 4 Rodwell St |
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Sgt Joseph APSEY 44, 7 Rodwell St |
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PC Michael MCMAHON 63, with son at 5 charles st |
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PC Charles ENGLISH 55, and family at Chapelhay. |
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PC Charles HANSFORD 36, and family at 1 Union Pl,Wyke Regis |
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PC James BARTLETT 36, 8 Rodwell St |
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PC John STICKLAND 34, 4 Trinity Place and family. |
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PC Edwin SMITH 32, 5 Stanley St with family, fm Linley Stoke,Wilts and wife ellen 28 fm warminster, 3 kids all bn weymouth, eldest 5 |
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PC William CARTER 30, 3 Rodwell St and wife born Langton Herring |
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PC Joseph BARRETT 30, 6 Trinity Place, married, wife Victoria, both bn Weymouth |
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PC William T BULLEN 26, and wife Rose at 8 Dorset Place, Wyke Regis |
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PC James RIGGS 24, lodger. High West St, born Bingham Dorset |
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unknown PC 24, policeman, border, 2 Crescent St (could be NOAKE but unable to prove at the moment) |
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PC Walter W J SPICER 23, 4 Trinity Pl, single born Wool . next census back at Wool working on railway |
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PC Joseph EASON 22, 4 Trinity Pl, single, born Loppen, Somerset. |
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PC Henry KAILE 21, lodger at 1 Union Place, Wyke Regis |
DEATH OF CHIEF SAMUEL VICKERY
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On the 4th June 1886 Chief Samuel VICKERY dies, after it was claimed ,that for some time he had been dangerously ill with diabetes at his home at Longhill Villa in Wyke Regis. On the 18th June the Town Council decided that Vickery’s son Charles, who was only 22 years old, was to take over from his father, as in his absence he had been dealing with his father’s duties and he had the backing of 3 able Sgts. Prior to this, Charles also seems to have been the first detective constable in the Borough Force , no doubt because of his father.
Weymouth and Portland had got accustomed to many boating accidents and on the evening of Saturday 30th Oct 1886, a party of 12 people left Weymouth harbour on an 8 ton yacht, the “Laureate” yacht and its attached 17 ft long boat to go conger fishing . Amongst the 12 were, police Sgt Joe APSEY and his son, Cpl George APSEY of the 21st Huzzars and two metropolitan detectives Mr Arthur RUSSELL and Mr John THURGER stationed at Weymouth. Arthur RUSSELL was a 33 year old from the Met “A” Division .On leaving Weymouth the sea was very calm, but later on the conditions changed off Portland, and it turned into a very heavy gale. The yacht was tied on to the government buoy and the catching pots were put out. Several hours later in the evening some of the crew including Sgt APSEY got in the attached boat and rowed out to get them in, but there was no catch so again the pots were replaced, but this time near the breakwater and by then it was raining heavily and the wind had got up. Some of the crew wanted to return to shore but it was decided that it would be best to see out the storm and then go back to Weymouth in the early hours of Sunday. Around two o clock the wind got up and the yacht rolled heavily and at one point the anchor rope snapped. Several of the men then got into the attached boat and whilst waiting for the others to jump in a large wave smashed the boat against the side of the yacht which left all the men in the sea and the boat sank. Three of the bodies were located by the breakwater later on Sunday afternoon and a fourth on Monday.
On Thursday 3rd Nov the remains of Constable Arthur RUSSELL were interred at Weymouth cemetery. The funeral was attended by a large number including his family, including his widow and two children. The body was carried to the grave by local Borough policemen: PC’s CARTER, KAILE, BARRETT READ, MORRIS and DAY. Police Sgts HARVEY and DELAMONT and constables HANDSFORD and BARTLETT were also present, along with Sgt APSEY’S son George.
John DENNIS a waterman and Cpl George APSEY were the only two who survived and at an inquest several days later, even though 4 bodies were still missing the two gave their accounts of the trip. After other witnesses, including the coastguards and relatives had been spoken too, there was concern that the captain of the yacht maybe at fault but eventually the jury returned a verdict of accidental drowning.
Sgt Joseph APSEY’s body was washed up on 14th Dec on the beach at West Lulworth and he was buried on the 16th December at Melcombe Regis leaving a widow and his five children. Joe APSEY had been a policeman for over 28 years, he joined the Dorset County Constabulary in Sept 1859 and was stationed at Maiden Newton and Cerne Abbas. He did have some problems in his first year and he was fined 3 times by the Chief Constable and two of them were for drinking. In Dec 1860 he resigned from the County Police so it must have been at that time that he secured a job in the Weymouth Borough Police. He was promoted in 1874 to Sgt and by the time of his death he was 50 years old and could have already retired. PC Charles HANSFORD was promoted then to Sgt to replace Joe APSEY.
MILITARY OUTRAGE
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Just before midnight on Sat 24th January 1891 a fight took place between some local men and four Royal Artillery soldiers based at the Nothe Barracks. Being a port, soldiers have always been based around Weymouth and Portland and at this time there were two artillery batteries at the barracks, Major Blake commanded the 2nd and Major Eustace commanded the 39th Battery.
An argument broke out between the four soldiers and an equal number of civilians which turned into a fight on the High Street. During the altercation one of the soldiers took off his belt to help beat off or attack the civilians. All of the soldiers then took off their belts and used them freely, but the soldiers were knocked to the ground and two belts were taken off them and the soldiers came off worse so ran off back to their barracks. The civilians then went to the police station and spoke to the night police under the supervision of Sgt George DELAMONT and handed over the belts. Not long after Sgt DELAMONT and his men made their way to the barracks to speak to the soldiers commander, but on arrival found that about 70 to 80 soldiers were leaving as a piquet with side-arms had been dispatched to go to the town and locate any soldiers still out of barracks.
It seemed that on return to the barracks the four soldiers had exaggerated the seriousness of the assault and the piquet had been turned out under the command of Lieutenant PENNETHORNE, Sgt Major ? and a Bugler. Sgt DELAMONT informed the officer that all was in order in the town now but he was ignored and told the piquet were going to locate and arrest the civilians. The piquet were a band of very excited soldiers because of the allegations made by their comrades and rushed into the town centre over the bridge shouting and “whooping”, rushing towards anyone in the area. Sgt DELAMONT told the officer in charge to immediately recall his men but the sound of the Bugler seemed to have no effect and were in vain. The soldiers in the piquet had their swords drawn and were looking for any men that looked similar to the civilians involved, but luckily by this time most were back in their houses. One man called William BROWN who worked for a merchant on St Edmunds Street went out and was surrounded by 12 soldiers one of whom made a jab at his head which missed but another made a thrust at his body and the sword cut through his clothes and inflicted a one inch cut to his thigh. Being close to the police station he then ran off and managed to gain safety there although he was still pursued. A second man called HATCHER who was on the corner of St Edmunds Street by the Wesleyan chapel was badly bruised by being hit with the flat sides of a sword and then received cuts to his hands whilst trying stop his face being hit. A third incident took place is St Mary’s Street where a young man names SYMONDS was grabbed by the throat by some soldiers and were just about to further assault him when the commanding officer came upon them and called them off and he was released. The bugler could then be heard and the soldiers then drifted back to the barracks. Sgt DELAMONT as soon as possible spoke to Supt VICKERY who was at his home and a private enquiry was held on the Monday morning by the local magistrates. At the enquiry about a dozen witnesses who had narrowly escaped injury when they had heard the disruption and left their houses to see what was going on. The following day Tuesday the magistrates gathered again and sat for four hours listening to two cases of assault which led to the incident on Saturday night. The court was crowded with interested locals listened as a labourer called Joseph JOCELYN had been summoned by Gunner James MCBRIDE for assaulting him. MCBRIDE when questioned said that he and Gunner RICE were crossing Weymouth Bridge about 1130 pm when JOCELYN struck him on the back of his head for no reason. He claimed he took off his belt to defend himself as there were lots of civilians in the area whereupon he was struck down and his own belt was used against him and he was struck in the eye. He managed to escape to the barracks but was followed by a crowd of about 20 men who on getting to the barracks threw stones over the barracks gates. The other three civilians named Frederick GILLINGHAM, James DENCH and Philip VILE when spoken too said they were with JOCELYN but said the soldiers had started it by taking off their belts and when the soldiers fled they followed so they could return their belts.
A counter assault allegation was also heard where MCBRIDE had been summonsed by JOCELYN but after everyone had their say the Bench dismissed both summonses as the evidence was conflicting.
A strongly worded report had already been put together and sent to the Secretary of State asking for a thorough investigation. The following day two officers from London came to the town to investigate the whole matter.
1891 CENSUS and officers age and information.
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Chief Charles VICKERY 27 longhill villa,wyke regis |
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Sgt George HARVEY 79 7 love lane |
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Sgt Sam DELAMONT 52 7 rodwell st weymouth and family |
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Sgt Charles HANSFORD 47 chapelhay st |
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PC John STICKLAND 46 4 trinity place weymouth and family |
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PC James BARTLETT 46 8 rodwell st weymouth |
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PC William CARTER 40 3 rodwell st and family bn langton herring |
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PC Joseph BARRETT 40 6 trinity pl and family |
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PC Richard thomas RICE 36 |
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PC William READ 35 2 high west st weymouth and family |
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PC Charles MORRIS 32 12 st george st melcombe regis detective ? |
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PC Henry KAILE 31 7 franchise st and family |
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PC Charles SAINT 30 6 rodwell st and family |
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PC Charles LOVELESS 29 lodger 14 west parade melcombe regis |
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PC Walter DAY 28 boarder, 3 prospect pl,melcombe regis. married |
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PC Harris LAKEY 27 6 charles st melcombe regis |
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PC James BURT 26 2 newberry cottages wyke regis and family |
DEATH OF CHARLES VICKERY
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In May 1891, Charles VICKERY became quite ill and the Watch Committee granted him a month’s leave to try and recover. The Watch Committee were quite happy that the 3 Sgts could cover for his duties in his absence. VICKERY and his wife decided to holiday and get some rest in Jersey and had been there for nearly 3 weeks when he unfortunately died at the tender age of 27. His body was brought back to Weymouth and on the 22nd June he was buried at Melcombe Regis.
At short notice, the Weymouth Town Watch Committee had to then look for a new chief and decided that the local Sgt’s would not be appropriate and after advertising they received seven applications to be the new Superintendent. On 2nd July the Committee narrowed it down to three candidates namely:
Captain GRIFFIN, Insp EACOCK of the RSPCA and Sgt RACKHAM of the Dorset County Constabulary. After a vote by the eight councillors present GRIFFIN and EACOCK got the same amount of votes so the casting vote was left to the Mayor and he chose the latter. Frank EACOCK was already well known in Weymouth as years before he had worked in Weymouth with the RSPCA. It seems there was some displeasure in the town for as few weeks of MR EACOCK’S appointment as some of the watch committee who missed the meeting tried to quash the decision and the town clerk referred it to the council to review the voting procedure. About the same time the council were debating whether it was time to join the County Force. The main argument in favour of doing so, was that it would save the £775 a year and that Capt AMYATT of the Dorset County Constabulary had a very efficient county force. However various members spoke against the move as they wanted to keep their self-government, even if it cost them that little bit more. They voted on the amendment and decided 15 to 3 to stay as they were.
In Nov 1891 Sgt George HARVEY finally retired at the grand age of 80. He had completed 40 years of service, 27 years of which was as a Sgt and I believe this is a record for the Borough. In my research I have come across a few officers who did serve longer, but no one who got close to 80 years of age. PC John STICKLAND filled his shoes and now doubt had a delayed promotion for several years, because of George HARVEY extended service.
In May 1892 PC Henry KAILE died suddenly at 32 years of age. It would appear he was a promising constable and had been in the Force for at least 11 years. He left a wife and 3 children. Two years later his wife Hannah followed him but luckily the children all lived longer lives.
During 1893, Sgt John STICKLAND is promoted to Inspector which is a new rank in the Force, so he is now the most senior officer except for the Chief Constable EACOCK.
In 1893 the December Xmas do was held at the Antelope Lodge, which was on Dorchester Road. In the papers it was mentioned that the officers that attended were: Chief ELCOCK, Insp STICKLAND, Sgts BARRETT and MORRIS, Detective Sgt or PC DAY ,unsure of his rank, and 12 PC’s.
1894 Nov bank fire, more to follow if I can find it !
1895 Feb: det day at PC BURT at court for attempt MURDER. Visitors from Bournemouth drinking and a female was stabbed on esplanade, more to follow hopefully !
In August 1895, DAY is defintely a sgt now as mentioned as Det SGT
The below photograph was in the Dorset Constabulary “Bobbies on the beat” book and is said to be from 1895. If the date is correct and I have no reason to not believe it then the officers in photo should be below the photograph.
In this photograph the officers must be from left to right standing:
1:Detective SGT Walter DAY in plain clothes
6: Sgt of the Mace:
There are 9 constables standing who will be:
PC Charles SAINT, William SWEET, Joseph WEBB, James BURT, Richard RICE, Eustace MARTYN, Peter LAKEY and either Henry RUDD, William TALBOT or Tom HUTCHINGS.
Sittting
Insp John STICKLAND
Sgts Joseph BARRETT, Charles MORRIS
1:
2:
3:
4: Chief Frank EACOCK standing in the middle.
5:
6:
7:
In June 1896 there is the first record of Sgt LOVELESS mentioned.
POLICE FIGHTING IN COURT
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Before reading this be aware there are words which could be offensive to you, but I am reporting it as reports did at the time as we all evolve and you must appreciate times were different for your ancestors.
On sat 18th July 1896 a crowd of people gathered on the beach, where a “negro evangelist” originally from Ethiopia was speaking. In the Western Gazette it was reported the man and a brother “darkie” had been preaching about the “speedy coming of the millennium”. It was a busy weekend in the town as many summer visitors had come down on the Great Western train from Swindon, which was also where the evangelist resided.
At 1645 hours PC Joseph WEBB noticed the gathering and on getting closer saw an evangelist addressing the large crowd and a collection box being passed around. PC WEBB then pushed his way through, eventually getting to the front and asked the male to move on down the sands as he was blocking the steps on to the beach from the Esplanade by Chesterfield Place. The evangelist moved about 6 foot and said he would move no more which made little difference as there was now about 150 people gathered and listening. For his alleged obstruction, “grotesque behaviour and blasphemous speaking” he was summoned to appear at the Borough Court the following week. At some point the speaker had applied for authority to speak on the beach but the Mayor had denied him that permission.
On Monday 27th July the evangelist called Charles HIGGINS was at court charged with causing an obstruction on the Esplanade. PC WEBB was the first to get in the box and give evidence and stated what he saw on the beach and that the accused was arguing with him on the beach and as a result he described him as a free thinker. An independent local man was next in the box and claimed that the steps were blocked however there was certainly no blasphemous language.
Chief of Police EACOCK was then called to inform the Magistrates of the accused background. EACOCK stated he had made enquiries at other places around the Country and immediately the accused shouted that he had no right to do that as it was not relevant to this case. As a result the chairman of the bench told him to calm down otherwise the court would have to be cleared of the large gathering witnessing the case. Chief EACOCK was then allowed to continue where upon he reported that the accused had already been convicted at Brighton and Tunbridge Wells, where upon the accused asked him “What for” and EACOCK replied obstruction. EACOCK continued that the accused had been convicted at Brighton, Gloucester, Hastings and Tunbridge Wells for obstruction and at Marlborough Street Court for fighting in Hyde Park, London. He also had a letter from the Supt of Swindon stating that he had been arrested many times there for being a nuisance.
HIGGINS as he stood in court was described as a powerful square built man about 35 years of age. He bore on his coat two medals and a cross (one the Coomassie medal, another the star for good conduct in the American Navy and the third medal for good conduct in the British Navy), and down the sides of his trousers were stripes of blue and gilt.
Police Sgt ELKINS of Swindon (Wiltshire Constabulary) was next stood in the box and the accused again complained, this time that the Sgt had been brought to Weymouth today for what has happened elsewhere, not for the current case where upon the crowd in the court applauded him. ELKINS claimed he had known the accused for about 15 months as an evangelist and produced a list of convictions against him which included several court appearances and fines and one where his completed 14 days in prison with hard labour. When cross examined he was asked what the accused character was and he replied “He is rough ‘un”, which drew some laughter. ELKINS also mentioned that at Swindon the accused had a woman with a black baby and again the accused said “I was waiting for you to say that and I will make you prove your words”.
After the Borough Surveyor had been called to confirm that the accused position on the beach had caused an obstruction of the steps and highway, HIGGINS then had his turn to speak where he claimed the proceedings were most unjust as although he was an African native he had been a British subject for 20 years and had always adhered to the laws of the Country. Whilst a British subject he had gained three honourable medals for fighting for the laws of Great Britain and therefore should have the same protection as a white man, which again got applause. He continued, that he was a great orator so he naturally drew large crowds. In his country of origin (Ethiopia) white men sent missionaries who were allowed fair play, and if they did not get it they took it which drew more laughter, so why was he not allowed the same in this country. For 18 months he had preached against atheism starting in London and then in the West Country and had always made collections so he could live and this was not a fraud as he had no bank account. He then went on to saiuthat his wife was an English lady who had been arrested and assaulted by Sgt ELKINS previously in Swindon, when his beautiful wife had intervened in him being arrested which resulting in her being kicked by the Sgt so his evidence against him was inadmissible.
HIGGINS claimed he was the founder of the Millenuim Mission and rented a hall, therefore had a right to preach and orate on the beach and caused less of an obstruction than that of the “nigger troupe, the Punch and Judy Show and the other Judies”.
Mr T.S. WALLIS a member of the Weymouth Town Council then volunteered to give evidence on behalf of the accused and stepped into the box amid a scene of considerable excitement. He said he had seen the accused and listened to his words from the Esplanade and that he had done nothing wrong and then the Bench retired and after a lengthy absence returned to court.
The Chairman of the Bench Sir Richard HOWARD, said the majority of the magistrates considered he had broken the law, but at the same time as there was no violence or bad language or conduct he would just receive a fine of 10 shillings, and costs amounting to a total of £1 19 shillings, 6d to be paid within a week. He must realise that the beach belongs to the Weymouth Corporation and that he had no right to take up a stand there and cause an obstruction.
HIGGINS in reply said that the beach belonged to the people as no one owned it and he would not pay the fine even if he had 6 months to pay it as he had not caused a breach of the peace and not broken the law which received another outburst of applause.
The chairman’s repost was that if that was the case he would receive 14 days imprisonment if he refused to pay the fine and then Mr WALLIS said he would pay the fine on the accused behalf which received even more applause.
HIGGINS then said to WALLIS, to not pay the fine as he would rather go to prison and then asked the Chairman to review his case where upon in annoyance he called the next case and ordered that the accused be removed from court. Immediately six police constables approached the accused and tried to remove him even though the crowd were hissing and booing. HIGGINS stoutly refused to move and a fight started between him and the constables and then Sgt ELKINS was forced to join in. Several of the constables were roughly handled but the “burly negro” was quickly overpowered when his legs and arms were held but still they had a job to get him down the stairs to the cells below and one constables had a grip around his throat. That constable’s coat and trousers were allegedly torn to pieces as HIGGINS still had his teeth to defend himself. The onlooking were applauding HIGGINS as he was taken down an outside a lot of his supporters gave money to Councillor WALLIS who was collecting money, cap in hand for the prisoners fine on the steps outside the court. It was clear, many of the onlookers were his supporters and thought the police were overzealous and the money was raised quickly and they gathered in the Guildhall lobby and outside awaiting HIGGINS release. Not long after their wishes were granted and he was liberated from custody and normality was resumed in the town, although he was back on the beach that evening with another crowd of followers!
In September, Higgins was still causing headlines on the beach as he was reported as being the “expounder of the Gospel” and going through a form of baptism when he immersed four women and two men in the sea which drew a large amused crowd, but on this occasion there was no police intervention.
In August 1899 a new rank of Chief Inspector was created which was filled by John STICKLAND and Sgt Walter DAY was promoted to Inspector. John STICKLAND then retired in January 1900 which meant DAY again was promoted and Sgt Charles MORRIS who was the detective Sgt was promoted to Inspector and PC LAKEY took his place. Walter DAY later on stated that at this time there were at least 30 officers in the Force.
In the summer of 1899 is the first record of the Borough police taking part in the annual Dorset County Constabulary sports day. There is just a record that they competed but they were back in 1900 as Chief EACOCK thought his men were strong enough to compete in the Tug of War but unfortunately came up against the County in the first round and lost again.
1901 CENSUS and information, age and address.
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Chief Constable Frank EACOCK 44 |
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Chief Insp Walter DAY 38 17 hobart cottages |
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Insp Charles MORRIS 42 |
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D/Sgt Peter LAKEY 37 |
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Sgt Charles SAINT 40 |
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Sgt Charles LOVELESS 39 1 auckland tce and wife |
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Sgt William H TALBOT 35 77 walpole st weymouth |
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PC Richard RICE 46 |
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PC James BURT 38, 5 st leonards rd,weymouth and family |
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PC Joseph WEBB 37 1 cromwell tce wyke regis and family |
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PC Eustace MARTYN 33 |
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PC William SWEET 31 |
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PC Walter BLANDAMER 31 |
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PC Thomas HUTCHINGS 30 |
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PC Richard DIBLEY 29 |
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PC Henry PALMER 29 18 hobart cottages |
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PC George HANSFORD 29 2 bridge buildings |
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PC Charles BALLARD 29 6 norwich rd and family, he and all kids fm bedfordshire and youngest was 2. 1911c pc in county durham b4 dec 1903 |
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PC William J SCRIVEN 28 boarder at 8 spring lane,weymouth |
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PC Henry RUDD 28 ranelegh rd |
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PC Stephen MANNING 27 18 maycroft rd with wife annie, he fm devon and she cornwall no kids 1911c met pc |
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PC Thomas BARTLETT 26 32 honeford st weymouth and family |
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PC Wilfred PUGH 25 |
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PC Nelson KINDEN 24 33 honeford st, weymouth and wife annie died around sept 1909 aged 33 in uth |
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PC James SANSFORD 23 29 argyle st with family |
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PC Richard PELLS 23 |
In June of 1901 the Borough police team again turned up at Dorchester to take part in the annual Tug of War police competition
Dorset County Constabulary won easily in their heat by seeing off the Royal Horse Artillery and then in a confusing and close fought tussle lost to Weymouth Borough Police in the final. This was the first year the Dorset team had lost since the inauguration of the annual event.
Dorset team was coached by Sgt GROVES and were: PC’s CORNICK, CARTER, LARCOMBE, SWATRIDGE, BARTLETT, THOMAS, FARLEY, RICHARDSON, SCOTT and STOCKLEY.
Weymouth’s victorious team was coached by Insp Chas MORRIS and were: Sgts LOVELESS and SAINT and PC’s RICE, WEBB, MARTIN, MARSH, PALMER, HUTCHINGS, HANSFORD and MOWLEM.
1901 Jun robbery/burglary Detective LAKEY invovled
1901 July inspection completed at parade, C/C, C/I insp ( sgts? )and 21 men
BEACH GIANT
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In July 1901, you could go and see a Giant on the beach at Weymouth. The giant called Baptiste HUGO was French and seven foot six inches tall but had to flee the town after an allegation he had assaulted some children. It was alleged that some children had been hanging around the giant’s tent and he had scratched, kicked and thrown sand at them. The towns folk then gathered as they were incensed to find out he had kicked a little girl called COLEMAN and about nine o clock in the evening the giant was being verbally threatened by the crowd and his tent ropes were loosened. Due to the mob becoming aggressive the police arrived and the giant left the area in a cab for his hotel. By this time the giant’s tent was pretty much wrecked and he was pelted by sand balls and stones and the carriage windows were broken and the police had to stop the mob from turning the carriage over. Two summonses were brought against the giant by cab driver John William COLEMAN, the little girl’s father who was present and showed the court a bruise on her knee. Fred SKIFFENS also alleged he was also assaulted, but by then the giant had already left in a hurry by train to Southampton on route to Le Havre back to France.
PART 3 TO FOLLOW
