Page 51 - Top Cover Issue 9

TOP COVER ISSUE 9 51

Arthur O’Connor points what turns Constable Nicholas Cock (Lancashire) Constable Joseph Moss (Derby Roderick Maclean tries to shoot Queen
out to be an unloaded pistol at Queen is shot and killed by an armed burglar Borough) is one of several officers who Victoria (right) as her carriage leaves
Victoria as she drives through the gates at night. Charles Peace confesses to the stop Gerald Mainwaring, described as Windsor railway station.
of Buckingham Palace in London. murder before he is executed in 1879. being ‘the son of a gentleman’ (in fact Constable George Cole (Met) is shot
Cutlasses are withdrawn from a magistrate), and a local prostitute, and killed by an armed burglar. Thomas
general use in Warwickshire Annie Green, in a pony and trap for Orrock is executed for the murder in
Constabulary. ‘furious driving’ after a night out on the October 1884.
Inspector Joseph Drewett and town drinking. On reaching the police At the request of the Met
Constable Thomas Shorter (Berkshire) station they struggle when officers Commissioner a barrister, James
discover four poachers at night in a try to search them and Mainwaring Edward Davis, compiles his list of when
lonely lane just outside Hungerford. produces a pistol. Moss is shot and ‘police constables may lawfully use
The officers manage to catch one, Frank killed and Mainwaring is charged revolvers’.
Tidbury, but his brother, Henry, returns with murder. At Derby Assizes he is Webley ‘Bulldog’ Revolvers
to rescue him and he shoots Drewett in convicted and sentenced to be executed. (left) are purchased by the Met for
the neck at close range. Shorter tries to However, a rumour circulates in the officers engaged in the protection of
get away but he is beaten to death by popular media that the jury, being Government Ministers.
the two brothers using their gun butts. unsure of whether or not to convict
They find Drewett still alive and so they him of murder or manslaughter, tossed
finish him off in the same manner. At a coin to decide the matter. This is
Berkshire County Assizes in 1877 Frank strongly denied by the jury foreman in
and Henry Tidbury are convicted of a letter to the Home Secretary, Richard
murder and sentenced to be executed. Cross, who nevertheless commutes the
They are hanged at Reading prison. sentence to life imprisonment.

1872 1876 1879 1882

1873 1878 1881 1883

Constable George Grey (North- Sergeant Jonah Sewell (Lancashire) stops Constable Frederick Atkins (Met) is The Met Commissioner, Sir Edmund
umberland) is shot and killed chasing a youth, Hugh Carey, and is shot and shot and killed by an armed burglar at Henderson, directs that every sergeant
poachers just outside Eglingham. killed when he tries to search him. Carey night. His killer is not identified and the and constable serving on outer
Charles Richardson and George Edgell escapes to Ireland but he is brought back Home Secretary, Sir William Harcourt, divisions in London is to submit a
are suspected but there is insufficient and charged with murder. At Liverpool questions whether it is time to arm the report indicating whether he wishes to
evidence for a prosecution. Spring Assizes in 1879 he claims that the police. be armed when performing night duty.
gun went off by accident and the trial Twenty revolvers, pouches, belts, 4,430 out of 6,325 men are in favour.
judge questions whether Sewell had holsters and 408 rounds of ammunition Terrorism results in Royal Irish
the lawful authority to stop and search are lent to Lancashire Constabulary by Constabulary officers with rifles being
him in the first place. He is therefore the War Office. They are distributed to employed as a temporary measure for
only found guilty of manslaughter. three main police stations. the protection of public buildings in
Anticipating a light sentence Carey’s The Chief Constable of Blackburn London. They are replaced by armed
supporters build a huge bonfire to informs the Home Office that he Met officers.
celebrate. It is reported that this remains intends to purchase revolvers from Home Office gives authority for
unlit when Carey is sentenced to twenty- Birmingham. the Met to purchase Webley gate-
Police five years penal servitude. Worcestershire, writes to the load revolvers to replace the Adams
The Town Clerk of Kidderminster,
revolvers (see 1868). These are
Home Office to say that in view of distributed to divisions. Left – Webley
History Series ‘recent outrages’ he intends to arm .450 gate-load revolver.
The Chief Constable of Lancashire
superintendents and inspectors with
Constabulary informs the Home Office
revolvers.
Revolvers are lent by the War Office
Mike Waldren QPM looks at a timeline of to Warwickshire and Flintshire. that he intends to buy revolvers to
replace those on loan from the War
Policing and Firearms. Office.
In this issue we explore 1866-1900