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Police
Sergeant in Middlesborough and later Chief Constable of
Leicester, Chesterfield, and Birmingham where amongst other things, he was
involved in a Jack the Ripper hoax and the Ledsam Street dynamite conspiracy. |
Joseph Farndale
FAR00350B
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank
Samantha Malkin who put me right on a number of points regarding Joseph and his
nephew Joseph (FAR00463) who
was also a Chief Constable.
I would also like to thank
the West Midlands Police
Museum for the information that they have provided and you will find more
information about the Birmingham Police on their website.
1842
Joseph Farndale was born at Newholm, Whitby District, on 27 April 1842 (GRO Vol 24 page 514, Whitby PR & IGI). Joseph Farndale was the son of John Farndale a labourer of Ewecote, Newholm, Whitby and Margaret Farndale formerly Dowson, (FAR00262). He was baptised on 4 May 1842.
1851
In the
Census of 1851 for Eskdaleside, John Farndale, head; ages 32;
agricultural labourer; born Newholm in 1818 lived
with his wife Margaret Farndale, aged 31; born Newholm
in 1820 and their children, Thomas Farndale, 11; scholar, born Newholm in 1839 (FAR00344); and Joseph Farndale,
8.
1861
By 1861, Joseph Farndale was employed as a drainer in the country
south of Whitby.
In the
Census of 1861 for Bottons Buildings,
Eskdaleside, John Farndale, head; 43; waggoner; lived with his wife Margaret
Farndale, 41; and their son Joseph Farndale, 19; who was a drainer. Also in the 1861 Census was an entry for Joseph Farndale was now boarding with the
Paget family, a drainer, unmarried, aged 21, at Hawsker
cum Stainsacre, Whitby. Although the ages differ, it
looks like Joseph was in different places when the census called for statistics
at the two different locations. Eskdaleside is about 3km southwest of Whitby
and Hawkser is close by, nearer to the coast, about
2km south of Whitby.
A story was later told that
when Joseph was working as a farmhand, he was driving the plough one weary day
when his employer came up, and farmer like, complained of his work. Young
Farndale had a vigorous and independent spirit and was pining for a more active
and satisfying field of labour, and throwing down what he had in his hand he
said he would go off and be a policeman.
Middlesbrough Police, 1862 to
1869
1862
By 1862, Joseph Farndale was a police constable with the
Middlesbrough Police Force.
In the Stockton
Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser, on 18 July 1862: Middlesbrough Police News, Monday July 14th
before J Richardson, E Gilkes, and H Thompson Esqrs: Disorderlies.
George Robinson was charged with using foul and disgraceful language to PC
Farndale on Saturday night last, and also allowing his ferocious dog to go
at large unmuzzled. Fined 20s or 28 days imprisonment.
In the Stockton
Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser, on 29 August 1862: Middlesbrough Police News: Disorderlies.
William Reilly was charged by PC Farndale with being drunk and riotous
on Saturday evening, in Durham Street. Fined 10s, including costs, or 14 days
to Northallerton.
The Yorkshire Archives have a lot of records of
Joseph’s activity as a Police Constable, rising to inspector, in Middlesbrough
between 1862 and 1869.
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against George Doughty late of the
borough of Middlesbrough shoemaker for stealing an overcoat, the property of
Joseph Jobling - Recognizance made by Joseph Jobling tailor, Peter Hanlan puddler, Joseph Farndale police constable, and
George Hopper, sergeant of police, for their appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to give evidence in the case against George Doughty. Date 16 Dec 1862
(Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1863
1/7/19, Catalogued)
Recognizance
dated 16 December 1862 made by Edward Joseph Saggerson
of the borough of Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at
the next Quarter Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against William
Lancaster late of the borough of Middlesbrough for getting meat and drink by
false pretences from Hannah Allen wife of Andrew Allan of the borough of
Middlesbrough provision dealer - Recognizance dated 16 December 1862 made by
John Rush contractor and Joseph Farndale police constable, both of the
borough of Middlesbrough for their appearance at the next Quarter Sessions to
give evidence in the case against William Lancaster - Recognizance dated 18
December 1862 made by Andrew Allen of the borough of Middlesbrough provision
dealer for the appearance of Hannah Allan his wife at the next Quarter Sessions
to give evidence in the case against William Lancaster, dated 16-18 Dec 1862 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1863 1/7/20,
Catalogued).
Depositions of
Bridget Riley wife of William Riley beer house keeper, the said William Riley, Joseph
Farndale police constable, and Joseph Ryan labourer, all of the borough of
Middlesbrough, witnesses in the case against Margaret Rush of the borough of
Middlesbrough singlewoman - Statement of Margaret
Rush, the accused - With separate cover sheet – Dated 6 Nov 1862 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1863 1/8/3
Catalogued).
Depositions of
Joseph Jobling tailor, Peter Haulan iron puddler, Joseph Farndale police constable, and
George Hopper police sergeant, all of the borough of Middlesbrough, witnesses
in the case against George Doughty of the borough of Middlesbrough shoemaker -
Statement of George Doughty, the accused - With separate cover sheet – Dated 16
Dec 1862 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference
QSB 1863 1/8/19 Catalogued).
Depositions of
Hannah Allen wife of Andrew Allen provision dealer, John Rush contractor, and Joseph
Farndale police constable, all of the borough of Middlesbrough, witnesses
in the case against William Lancaster of the borough of Middlesbrough -
Statement of William Lancaster, the accused - With separate cover sheet – Dated
16 Dec 1862 (Yorkshire Archives Document reference
QSB 1863 1/8/20, Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of Patrick Feenan of the borough of Middlesbrough labourer for being
drunk and riotous in Durham Street; on the complaint of Joseph Farndale of
the borough of Middlesbrough police constable - Offence committed at the
borough of Middlesbrough on 3 July 1862 - Case heard at the borough of
Middlesbrough – Dated 7 Jul 1862 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1863 1/10/14/39, Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of Patrick Corner of the borough of Middlesbrough labourer for being
drunk and riotous in South Street; on the complaint of Joseph Farndale of
the borough of Middlesbrough police constable - Offence committed at the
borough of Middlesbrough on 12 July 1862 - Case heard at the borough of
Middlesbrough – Dated 14 Jul 1862 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1863 1/10/14/50, Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of Patrick Corner of the borough of Middlesbrough labourer for assaulting
Joseph Farndale one of the constables for the borough of Middlesbrough in
the execution of his duty; on the complaint of the said Joseph Farndale -
Offence committed at the borough of Middlesbrough on 12 July 1862 - Case heard
at the borough of Middlesbrough – Dated 14 Jul 1862 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1863 1/10/14/51, Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of Mary Forbes of the borough of Middlesbrough for being drunk
and riotous in Stockton Street; on the complaint of Joseph Farndale of the
borough of Middlesbrough police constable - Offence committed at the borough of
Middlesbrough on 26 July 1862 - Case heard at the borough of Middlesbrough –
Dated 28 Jul 1862 (Yorkshire Archives, Document
reference QSB 1863 1/10/14/63, Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of Patrick Garner of the borough of Middlesbrough labourer for being
drunk and riotous in Durham Street; on the complaint of Joseph Farndale of
the borough of Middlesbrough police constable - Offence committed at the
borough of Middlesbrough on 10 August 1862 - Case heard at the borough of
Middlesbrough – Dated 23 Aug 1862 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1863 1/10/14/96, Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of William Riley of the borough of Middlesbrough labourer for being
drunk and riotous in East Street; on the complaint of Joseph Farndale of
the borough of Middlesbrough police constable - Offence committed at the
borough of Middlesbrough on 23 August 1862 - Case heard at the borough of
Middlesbrough – Dated 25 Aug 1862 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1863 1/10/14/102, Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of George Robinson of the borough of Middlesbrough shopkeeper for using
abusive and insulting words and behaviour to Joseph Farndale of the borough
of Middlesbrough police constable with intent to provoke a breach of the peace
- Offence committed at the borough of Middlesbrough on 7 July 1862 - Case heard
at the borough of Middlesbrough – Dated 14 Jul 1862 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1863 2/10/13/7, Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of Francis Goodrick of the borough of Middlesbrough brewer for
assaulting Joseph Farndale one of the constables for the borough of
Middlesbrough in the execution of his duty - Offence committed at the
borough of Middlesbrough on 30 October 1862 - Case heard at the borough of
Middlesbrough – dated 30 Oct 1862 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1863 2/10/13/58, Catalogued).
1863
The Stockton
Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser, on 24 April 1863 reported: Middlesbrough Police News. STEALING BOOTS – Edward M’Quinnal,
of Stockton, was charged by John Conner with last. Prosecutor stated that at 10
o’clock he saw them safe, and shortly afterwards saw prisoner about his stall,
and while he was engaged with his back to him, prisoner had gone away, and he
(Conner), missed a pair of boots. He followed after prisoner, and in about
twenty yards overtook him and asked if he had got a pair of boots from the
stall, at the same time taking him by the collar, and saying he would give him
in charge of the police. Prisoner said what boots, and dropped them to the
ground. He called on PC Fandall [sic] to take
him on the charge. Their value were 7s 6d. Committed to Northallerton for one
month of hard labour.
The Stockton
Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser, on 24 July 1863 reported: Middlesbrough Police News. DISORDERLIES –
Stephen Weatley was charged by PC Farndale with being drunk and committing a nuisance at Stockton Street on Sunday night.
Fined 10s including expenses, or in default, seven days’ imprisonment at
Northallerton.
The York Herald, on 3 October
1863 reported Police
Court, Middlesbrough on Tees: John Dooley, shoemaker, was charged with having
been drunk and riotous in Dacre Street, on 26th inst. Fined 10s.
Isabella Dooley, wife of the previous defendant, was charged with having been drunk, and with having assaulted policeman
Farndale in the execution of his duty at the time and place above
mentioned. Fine £1, but in default of payment was committed to the House of
Correction for 28 days.
The York Herald, on 7 November
1863 reported: Police
Court, Middlesbrough on Tees: Jane Hamilton Sparke, aged nine years, was charged
by Policeman Farndale, with having been picking pockets
in the Market place, on
the 31st ult. The officer, who was on duty in plain clothes, caught
the juvenile thief in the act of picking a woman’s pocket, and immediately took
her into custody. In consequence of the tenderness of years, the magistrates
committed the prisoner to the York Industrial School for five years.
The Stockton Herald, South
Durham and Cleveland Advertiser, on 24 July 1863 reported: Middlesbrough Police News, Monday
December 7th. DISORDERLIES – Edward Gartlin
was charged by PC Farndale with being drunk and
fighting in Newcastle
Row on Saturday night last. Disharged on payment of
5s 6d costs.
The Stockton Herald, South
Durham and Cleveland Advertiser, on 8 December 1863 reported: Middlesbrough
Police News, Monday, April 4th. DISORDERLIES – Thomas Connolly was charged
by PC Farndale with being drunk and riotous in Stockton Street on the 28th.
Ordered to pay 5s 6d costs.
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against John Ferguson late of the
borough of Middlesbrough for stealing eight yards of
flannel from the person of William Shaw - Recognizance made by William Shaw
of Tees Tilery in the parish of Normanby platelayer, David Brown moulder and Joseph
Farndale police constable, both of the borough of Middlesbrough, for their
appearance at the next Quarter Sessions to give evidence in the case against
John Ferguson – Dated 26 Dec 1863 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1864 1/7/22, Catalogued).
Depositions of
William Shaw of Tees Tilery in the parish of Normanby platelayer, David Brown
moulder and Joseph Farndale police constable, both of the borough of
Middlesbrough, witnesses in the case against John Ferguson Statement of John
Ferguson, the accused With separate cover sheet Dated 26 Dec 1863 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1864 1/8/22,
Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of Isabella Dooley of the borough of Middlesbrough for assaulting
Joseph Farndale of the borough of Middlesbrough one of the constables for
the borough in the execution of his duty - Offence committed at the borough of
Middlesbrough on 25 September 1863 - Case heard at the borough of Middlesbrough
– Dated 26 Sep 1863 (Yorkshire Archives, Document
reference QSB 1864 3/10/11/66, Catalogued).
1864
The Stockton Herald, South
Durham and Cleveland Advertiser, on 4 April 1864 reported: Middlesbrough Police News, Monday
December 7th. AGGRAVATED OFFENCE – John Melone, a youth twenty years
of age, was charged with being drunk and riotous in Danby Place, and with assaulting
William Spence, PC Farndale and Inspector Bowes. It appeared he had
misbehaved himself in a house, when a cry was raised for a policeman and
William pence going into the house turned him out. He struck,
kicked and drew his knife, and while the police officers were taking him to the
lock up he was very violent. For being drunk and riotous he was fined 10s
or go to prison 14 days; for assaulting Spence he was fined 20s and in default
one moth’s imprisonment; and for the assault on the policeman 10s for each
offence, or 14 days.
By July 1864, Joseph
Farndale had been promoted to Police Sergeant.
The York Herald, on 15 July
1864 reported: MIDDLESBROUGH
POLICE NEWS, Monday July 11th Before E Gilkes (Mayor), J Richardson
and HWF Bolckow Esqrs. Felony – Elizabeth Mulligan
was charged with having stolen two pounds and a half of mutton from the stall
of Geo. Milner in the Butcher’s Market on Saturday night last. Complainant said
he was a butcher, and had a stall in the market, and on Saturday night, whilst
he was serving some customers, defendant came up. He had his back to the
defendant, and after she had left the stall he missed the mutton. Complainant
immediately followed, and found it under her shawl. He valued it as 1s 8d. Sergt Farndale said he saw the prisoner on
Saturday night, when she said she had taken a glass of drink, or else would not
have taken the meat. She had only 8 1/2d in her possession.
Committed for 21 days hard labour at Northallerton.
The York Herald, on 16 July
1864 reported: MIDDLESBROUGH.
STEALING MUTTON – At the borough court, on Monday, Elizabeth Mullighan, married woman, was charged by George Milner,
butcher, with stealing 2 ½ lbs of mutton, value 1s 8d, from his stall in the
market, on the night of the 9th inst. Prisoner went up to the stall,
and after handling some meat, was seen to put the piece of mutton under her
arm. She was charged with the theft, when she ran away,
but Sergeant Farndale, who was close by, succeeded in capturing her. In
defence, prisoner pleaded that she would not have stolen the mutton if she had
not been in drink. Committed to Northallerton for twenty one days’ hard
labour.
Recognizance
dated 22 February 1864 made by Edward Joseph Saggerson
of the borough of Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at
the next Quarter Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against Thomas Eeles
for stealing a bottle of rum, a bottle of whisky, and two packages of tobacco,
the property of Warley Pickering his master; and against Thomas Stevenson and
James Smith for receiving the goods knowing them to have been stolen
-Recognizance dated 22 February 1864 made by Warley Pickering grocer and
provision dealer, William Mellanby grocer's apprentice, Charles Bowes inspector
of police, and Joseph Farndale police constable, all of the borough of
Middlesbrough, for their appearance at the next Quarter Sessions to give
evidence in the case against Thomas Eeles, Thomas Stevenson and James Smith -
Recognizance dated 22 April 1864 made by Thomas Eeles miller and George Weastell miller, both of Stockton on Tees in county Durham,
for the appearance of Thomas Eeles the younger at the next Quarter Sessions to
answer the charge against him Dated Feb-Apr 1864 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1864 3/7/1, Catalogued).
Depositions of
Warley Pickering grocer and provision dealer, William Mellanby grocer's
apprentice, Charles Bowes inspector of police, and Joseph Farndale police
constable, all of the borough of Middlesbrough, witnesses in the case
against Thomas Eeles, Thomas Stevenson and James Smith - Statement of Thomas
Eeles, one of the accused - Statement of Thomas Stephenson, one of the accused
- Statement of James Smith, one of the accused - With separate cover sheet –
Dated 22 Feb 1864 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1864 3/8/1,
Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of James Massey of the borough of Middlesbrough labourer for
assaulting Joseph Farndale one of the constables for the borough of
Middlesbrough in the execution of his duty - Offence committed at the borough
of Middlesbrough on 21 February 1864 - Case heard at the borough of
Middlesbrough – Dated 22 Feb 1864 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1864 3/10/11/204, Catalogued).
1865
The Stockton Herald, South
Durham and Cleveland Advertiser, 1865 reported: Middlesbrough Police News, Monday December 7th
HAWKING WITHOUT LICENCE – James Todd was charged by
Sergeant Farndale with hawking pots without a licence at Port
Darlington on Monday last. Committed fourteen days hard labour.
Joseph Farndale of full age, Police Sergeant of Middlesbrough, son
of John Farndale,
farmer married Jane Newton of full age, a spinster of
Middlesbrough daughter of John Newton a coachman at the Parish Church Middlesbrough, on 6 November 1865.
Joseph was 23 when he married.
1867
By November 1867 Joseph
Farndale was a police inspector.
Joseph Farndale acted on a couple of occasions in the role of
‘timekeeper’:
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against David Lewis late of the borough
of Middlesbrough for obtaining soup, beef and pork value 7s 8d from Mary Lloyd
by false pretences, and for obtaining beer and pies value £1 4s from Mary Jane
Knott by false pretences - Recognizance made by Mary Lloyd eating house keeper,
Matthew Barker police sergeant, Mary Jane Knott wife of Robert Knott beer house
keeper Joseph Farndale timekeeper, and Robert Thorpe police inspector,
all of the borough of Middlesbrough, for their appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to give evidence in the case against David Lewis late of the borough
of Middlesbrough puddler – Dated 24 Jan 1867 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1867 2/7/8,
Catalogued).
Depositions of
Mary Lloyd eating house keeper, Matthew Barker police constable, Mary Jane
Knott wife of Robert Knott beer house keeper, Joseph Farndale timekeeper,
and Robert Thorpe police inspector, all of the borough of Middlesbrough,
witnesses in the case against David Lewis of the borough of Middlesbrough puddler - Statement of David Lewis, the accused - With
separate cover sheet – Dated 24 January 1867 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1867 2/8/8, Catalogued).
He was then
regularly giving evidence as an Inspector:
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against Elizabeth Henderson late of the
borough of Middlesbrough for fraudulently converting to
her own use a flock bed, a mattress, a pair of sheets, and a quilt
belonging to William Bryant, of which she was bailee - Recognizance made by
William Bryant lodging house keeper, Mary Elizabeth Worthy pawnbroker's
assistant, John Connell shoemaker, Thomas Temple police sergeant, and Joseph
Farndale police inspector, all of the borough of Middlesbrough, for their
appearance at the next Quarter Sessions to give evidence in the case against
Elizabeth Henderson – Dated 12 August 1867 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1867 4/7/13, Catalogued).
Depositions of
William Bryant lodging house keeper, Mary Elizabeth Worthy pawnbroker's
assistant, John Connell shoemaker, Thomas Temple police sergeant, and Joseph
Farndale police inspector, all of the borough of Middlesbrough, witnesses
in the case against Elizabeth Henderson of the borough of Middlesbrough married
woman - Statement of Elizabeth Henderson, the accused - With separate cover
sheet – Dated 12 August 1867 (Yorkshire Archives,
Document reference QSB 1867 4/8/13, Catalogued).
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against John Kelly of the borough of
Middlesbrough for obtaining four pairs of boots and a
pair of slippers from Edwin Thomas Foster Huskinson by false pretences -
Recognizance made by Edwin Thomas Foster Huskinson shoe dealer, Mary Taylor
wife of Thomas Taylor beer house keeper, John Connell shoemaker, Mary Haston
wife of Henry Haston beer house keeper, and Joseph Farndale police inspector,
all of Middlesbrough, for their appearance at the next Quarter Sessions to give
evidence in the case against John Kelly of the borough of Middlesbrough hatter
– Dated 28 October 1867 (Yorkshire Archives,
Document reference QSB 1868 1/7/2, Catalogued).
Depositions of
Edwin Thomas Foster Huskinson shoe dealer, Mary Taylor wife of Thomas Taylor
beer house keeper, John Connell shoemaker, Mary Haston wife of Henry Haston
beer house keeper, and Joseph Farndale police inspector, all of the
borough of Middlesbrough, witnesses in the case against John Kelly of the
borough of Middlesbrough hatter Statement of John Kelly, the accused With
separate cover sheet Dated 12 October 1867 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1868 1/8/2, Catalogued).
The York Herald, on 2 November
1867 reported: Middlesbrough.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A CHILD – On Tuesday last an inquest was heard before T C
Sowerby Esq, deputy coroner, on view of the body of Michael Brannan, a child
seven weeks old. Ann Murray said she lived next door to Mrs Brannan, and about
half past seven on Monday morning she was called in to see the child, which was
lying in a cradle quiet, dead, but warm. Dr Dickenson deposed that he made a
post mortem examination of the body of the deceased and from the internal
appearance he was convinced that it had been suffocated. The coroner stated
that about a year ago he held an inquest on the body of another of Brannan’s
children who had died in a similar manner, and he had ordered a post mortem
examination to see if there had been foul play. There was no evidence to show
that there had. Inspector Farndale had made
inquiries round about the neighbourhood relative to the death of the deceased.
Verdict: “Died from suffocation, though by what means there is not sufficient
evidence to show.”
1868
The Northern Weekly Gazette,
on 13 March 1868 reported
on MIDNIGHT DOINGS AT MIDDLESBROUGH … Inspector Farndale: On Sunday, 23rd February, Thomas Wild came to me
about seven in the morning. He said he had been assaulted the night previous. I
asked him what time; he said he could not say exactly. I asked him if he knew
any of them. He said he didn’t, nor could he give any description. He was going
to see Carter, who, he believed was sober, and he would know who did it.
The Northern Weekly Gazette,
22 May 1868 reported
on ANOTHER BEERHOUSE OFFENCE – William Shaw, beerhouse-keeper,
was charged by Superintendent Saggerson with permitting several persons to play at dice for money in
his house, in Wilson Street, on the 16th inst,
Inspector Farndale and John Pickerill proved this charge. Fined 9s. and
ANOTHER BEERHOUSE OFFENCE – Joseph Quigley was charged by Superintendent Saggerson with permitting violent,
disorderly and quarrelsome conduct upon his premises on the 16th
inst. Inspector Farndale proved this case, and defendant was fined 15s.
By September 1868, Joseph
was interviewing for a Police Superintendent (Chief Constable) role, with Durham police, and getting himself short listed.
The York Herald, on 5
September 1868 reported:
Durham. THE SUPERINTENDANT OF DURHAM POLICE FORCE. Last night week, the
adjourned meeting of the City of Durham Watch Committee was held in the Mayor’s
Chamber, Guildhall (the Mayor Presiding), to consider the testimonials of ten
candidates for the office of superintendent of police selected at last
meeting. Shortly after the business commenced, a deputation, consisting of Mr
Joseph Taylor, publican, and Mr Dawson, painter, was introduced to present a
memorial, numerously signed by the inhabitants, praying that the committee
would allow Superintendent Beard to withdraw his resignation. The memorial
received, and the committee proceeded to select five candidates from the ten
already retained. The following is a list of those retained: Inspector
Farndale, Middlesbrough; Supt Jas Jarvis, Aylesbury; Inspector John
Shields, City of York; Sergeant Woodward, Durham County Constabulary; and
Inspector Wilson, Salford. The meeting then adjourned until Thursday. The Shields Daily Gazette on 4
September 1868 reported
that “Each candidate was afforded a personal interview with the Watch
Committee, and after some consideration they were called in and informed that
the choice of the committee had fallen on Inspector Wilson, of Salford.”
The Northern Weekly Gazette,
on 11 September 1868 reported DRINK – Martin Folery,
labourer, was charged by Inspector Farndale with being drunk and riotous
at Feversham Street …
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against Leonard Mudd of the borough of
Middlesbrough joiner for inflicting grievous bodily harm on John Carter of the
borough of Middlesbrough bricklayer - Recognizance made by John Carter
bricklayer and Thomas Wild bricklayer, both of the borough of Middlesbrough,
Henry Page of North Ormesby fitter, Robert Skelton police inspector, William
Godfrey innkeeper, John Hedley surgeon, Robert Wright plater, Andrew Sample
police sergeant, John Robinson police constable, and Joseph Farndale police
inspector, all of Middlesbrough, for their appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to give evidence in the case against Leonard Mudd - Recognizance made
by Leonard Mudd joiner, Joseph Gowing builder, and William Wake butcher, all of
the borough of Middlesbrough, for the appearance of Mudd at the next Quarter
Sessions to answer a charge against him – Dated 9 March 1868 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1868 2/7/13,
Catalogued).
Depositions of
John Carter bricklayer and Thomas Wild bricklayer, both of the borough of
Middlesbrough, Henry Page of North Ormesby fitter, and Robert Skelton police
inspector, William Godfrey innkeeper, John Hedley surgeon, Robert Wright
plater, Andrew Sample police sergeant, John Robinson police constable, and
Joseph Farndale police inspector, all of the borough of Middlesbrough,
witnesses for the prosecution and the defence in the case against Leonard Mudd
of the borough of Middlesbrough joiner Statement of Leonard Mudd, the accused
With separate cover sheet Dated 9 Mar 1868 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1868 2/8/12, Catalogued).
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against Emma Brunton of the borough of
Middlesbrough for stealing a piece of mutton value 1s 4d, the property of John
Dodds of the borough of Middlesbrough butcher - Recognizance made by John Dodds
butcher, George Waller butcher, and Joseph Farndale police inspector, all of
the borough of Middlesbrough, for their appearance at the next Quarter Sessions
to give evidence in the case against Emma Brunton of the borough of
Middlesbrough married woman – Dated 12 Oct 1868 (Yorkshire
Archives Document reference QSB 1868 4/7/31 Catalogued).
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against Jane Appleton of the borough of
Middlesbrough for stealing two gold rings value £1 5s, the property of Matthew
George Collingwood of the borough of Middlesbrough silversmith Recognizance
made by Matthew George Collingwood silversmith and Joseph Farndale police
inspector, both of the borough of Middlesbrough, for their appearance at the
next Quarter Sessions to give evidence in the case against Jane Appleton of the
borough of Middlesbrough married woman Dated 17 Oct 1868 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1868 4/7/35
Catalogued).
Depositions of
John Dodds butcher, George Waller butcher, and Joseph Farndale police
inspector, all of the borough of Middlesbrough, witnesses in the case against
Emma Brunton of the borough of Middlesbrough married woman - Request for Emma
Brunton to give her consent to be tried summarily - Statement of Emma Brunton,
the accused - With separate cover sheet – Dated 12 Oct 1868 (Yorkshire Archioves, Document
reference QSB 1868 4/8/32
Catalogued).
Evidence in the
case against Jane Appleton of Middlesbrough Description Depositions of Matthew George Collingwood silversmith and Joseph
Farndale police inspector, both of Middlesbrough, witnesses in the case against
Jane Appleton of the borough of Middlesbrough married woman Statement of Jane
Appleton, the accused With separate cover sheet Dated 17 Oct 1868 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1868 4/8/36
Catalogued).
Summary
conviction of Peter Browningham of the borough of
Middlesbrough puddler for assaulting Joseph
Farndale one of the constables for the borough of Middlesbrough in the
execution of his duty Offence committed at the borough of Middlesbrough on
9 August 1868 Case heard at the borough of Middlesbrough Dates 10 Aug 1868 (Yorkshire Archives Document reference QSB 1868
4/10/13/143 Catalogued).
Joseph and Jane Farndale
had their only child, John William Farndale (FAR00472),
born on 13 November 1868 in Middlesbrough and
baptised ast St John, Middlesbrough on 1 December
1868 .
1869
Recognizance made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of Middlesbrough superintendent of
police for his appearance at the next Quarter Sessions to prefer a bill of
indictment against George Williams of the borough of Middlesbrough for obtaining 5s by false pretences from George Hearse of
the borough of Middlesbrough beer house keeper - Recognizance made by George
Hearse beer house keeper and Joseph Farndale police inspector, both of
the borough of Middlesbrough, for their appearance at the next Quarter Sessions
to give evidence in the case against George Williams of the borough of
Middlesbrough groom Dated 11 Jan 1869 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1869 2/7/3, Catalogued)
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against George Williams of the borough
of Middlesbrough for obtaining 6d by false pretences from
Edward Cooper of the borough of Middlesbrough bill poster Recognizance made by
Edward Cooper bill poster and Joseph Farndale police inspector, both of
the borough of Middlesbrough, for their appearance at the next Quarter Sessions
to give evidence in the case against George Williams of the borough of
Middlesbrough groom Dated 11 Jan 1869 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1869 2/7/4, Catalogued).
Recognizance
made by Edward Joseph Saggerson of the borough of
Middlesbrough superintendent of police for his appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against Mary Thompson of the borough of
Middlesbrough for fraudulently converting to her own
use three woollen shirts belonging to John Mayn and Samuel Rowley Forrester
of the borough of Middlesbrough drapers Recognizance made by John Mayn draper,
William Harrison pawnbroker's assistant, and Joseph Farndale police
inspector, all of Middlesbrough, for their appearance at the next Quarter
Sessions to give evidence in the case against Mary Thompson Dated 25 Jan 1869 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1869 2/7/8,
Catalogued).
Depositions of
George Hearse beer house keeper, Joseph Farndale police inspector, and
Edward Joseph Saggerson chief superintendent of
police, all of the borough of Middlesbrough, witnesses in the case against
George Williams of the borough of Middlesbrough groom Statement of George
Williams, the accused With separate cover sheet Dated 11 Jan 1869 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference QSB 1869 2/8/3,
Catalogued).
Depositions of
Edward Cooper bill poster, Joseph Farndale police inspector, and Edward
Joseph Saggerson chief superintendent of police, all
of the borough of Middlesbrough, witnesses in the case against George Williams
of the borough of Middlesbrough groom Statement of George Williams, the accused
With separate cover sheet dated 11 Jan 1869 (Yorkshire
Archives, Document reference QSB 1869 2/8/4, Catalogued).
Depositions of
John Mayn draper, William Harrison pawnbroker's assistant, and Joseph
Farndale police inspector, all of the borough of Middlesbrough, witnesses
in the case against Mary Thompson of the borough of Middlesbrough widow
Statement of Mary Thompson widow, the accused With separate cover sheet dated
25 Jan 1869 (Yorkshire Archives, Document reference
QSB 1869 2/8/8, Catalogued).
Chief
Constable of Chesterfield Police, 1869 to 1871
In 1869, Joseph
Farndale became a Chief Superintendent, with a move to the Chesterfield Borough
Force:
The Derbyshire Times, 29 May
1869: reported:
On Tuesday the members of the Corporation met for the purpose of choosing a Superintendent
for the Borough Police in place of Mr Stevens, who had retired. There were
fifteen members of the Corporation present, but the press being excluded, we
are unable to give their names. Five persons had been selected from the list of
applicants, and the Council first proceeded to vote for four out of the five
when the votes stood as follows:
13 – Farndale, Middlesbro’
13 – Shields, York
8 – Jones, Salford
7 – Else, Chesterfield
0 – Leonard
The two lowest were struck
out, and the Council voted for two out of three s follows:
Farndale – 11
Shields – 10
Jones – 2
The contest then lay between
Farndale and Shields, and the final vote stood as follows:
Farndale – 8
Shields – 7
Mr Farndale, of Middlesbro’,
was then declared elected and the meeting broke up.
The Guardian, on Thursday 27
May 1869 reported:
Mr Farndale, late an inspector in the Middlesbury
(sic, recte Middlesbrough) police, has been appointed
superintendent of the Chesterfield Force.
In doing so, he became the
Chief Constable, again succeeding Mr
Stephens. The York Herald, on 29 May
1869 reported: THE POLICE
INSPECTOR – Mr Farndale, inspector of the Middlesbro’ police force, has been
appointed chief constable of Chesterfield, as successor to Mr Stephens, now
superintendent of Rochdale force. The Richmond
& Ripon Chronicle, on 29 May 1869: On
Tuesday last Mr Farndale inspector of the Middlesborough police force was
appointed chief constable of Chesterfield. Inspector Detective Shiels of the
York Police Force was a candidate for the vacancy, but lost the appointment by
only one vote. The Derbyshire Courier, on 5 June 1869: THE NEW
SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE. Mr Farndale, formerly inspector of the
Middlesbro’ police, arrived in Chesterfield on Monday last, and
commenced his new duties as superintendent of police for this borough. We
earnestly wish him success in his new office. The following appeared in a
Middlesbro’ paper: On Tuesday last Inspector Farndale of the Middlesbro’ Police
force, was appointed Chief Superintendent of Police for the borough of
Chesterfield, Between seven and eight years ago, Mr Farndale, when scarcely
twenty years of age, entered the Middlesbro’ force as a constable. Under Chief Superintendent Saggerson he
has been gradually promoted through various stages to the position of Inspector
– the duties of which he has satisfactorily discharged for some time,. By
his gentlemanly manners and thorough efficiency as an officer, Mr Farndale has
gained the respect of all classes at Middlesbro’; and we have no doubt he
will fill the responsible office to which he has been elected with credit to
himself and advantage to the community along whom he is placed. It speaks well
for our police force that Mr Farndale has been selected out of a number of
applicants; and that on two previous occasions of a similar nature he stood
second in regard to votes.
A History of the
Chesterfield Police from an article in the Derbyshire Courier, on 28 February 1914:
Reminisces of the
Chesterfield Borough Police Force
… from information
bearing on the time preserved in a book in the possession of the present Chief
Constable. In this record the first pay book of the organised force - it is
proved that although the Act only came into force on January 1st 1836 the Town
Council had formed a force equal to the needs of the town six days later. The
date, therefore, shows that the borough force is the oldest in the county, if
not in the kingdom.
The first chief constable
was a Mr Samuel Hollingworth, and when appointed he had to act also as borough
accountant, rate collector, sanitary inspector, market tolls collector, and
also crimes investigator for the whole county of Derby. Eighty years ago the
population was under 6,000, with about 1,300 houses, against 8,000 houses and
38,000 inhabitants in 1914. The strength of the present forces 51.
Mr Hollingworth's
remuneration as chief constable was £30 per annum. His inspector was Mr C
Cotterill, and the first constables were...
The first mention of the
fire brigade is in the books in 1839, when Mr Galley, the engineer, was paid 5s
for ‘playing the engines’’....
In 1852 the local police
superannuation fund was established and in the first quarter's pay months totaled £3 15s 2d.
The list of chief
constables of the borough is as follows: Mr Samuel Hollingworth (1836-1846);
Mr. James R Radford (1846-1864); Mr Samuel Stevens (1864-1869; Mr Joseph
Farndale (1869-1871); Mr Thomas Horne (1871-1876); Mr. John P Else (1876 –
1882); Mr Edward Emery (1882 to 1900); and Mr Robert Kilpatrick (1900).
David Mitchell contacted me
in December 2023 as follows: Thomas Horne was an Inspector with
Middlesbrough Constabulary where he worked with Joseph Farndale. In 1869 Thomas
Horne briefly moved to Cardiff as the Deputy Superintendent of Police before
moving to Chesterfield Constabulary and becoming the Head Constable, replacing
Joseph Farndale when he moved to become Head Constable at Leicester
Constabulary. It is likely Joseph told Thomas about the role as they knew each
other from their time at Middlesborough (and quite possibly even recommended
him). Thomas Horne remained at Chesterfield until his resignation in 1876.
The Derbyshire Times, 26 June
1869 reported: PRESENTATION
TO SUPERINTENDENT FARNDALE. We have much
pleasure in noting that Mr Farndale, the recently appointed chief
Superintendent of the Chesterfield borough force, has been presented by
the Middlesborough Police Force and a few friends, with a handsome gold watch bearing the following inscription:
“Presented to Inspector Farndale by the Middlesborough Police Force and a few
friends, as a mark of respect, on leaving to take command of the Chesterfield
constabulary – June 9, 1869”.
Joseph quickly got down to
business and The
Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 13 July 1869 reported: ANOTHER ROBBERY – Margaret Daley, a prostitute, was
charged with stealing from the person of one George Dove 35s on the 11th
inst at Chesterfield. Superintendent Farndale
asked for remand in this case also until today (Tuesday), which was granted.
The Derbyshire Times, on 14
July 1869 reported:
Before the rising of the Court, Supt Farndale of the Borough Police
addressing the Bench said he was sorry he was not in attendance when the
two little girls were tried for stealing a pocket handkerchief, but from the
remarks which had fallen from the Bench, it was necessary that he should make
some explanation. On Tuesday night Mr Robinson, surgeon, sent for an officer
and handed the two little girls into custody, for picking the woman Yeoman’s
pocket. He said he was in his surgery and saw them work around the woman and
one got the handkerchief and handed it to the other girl, who worked it round
her foot and afterwards concealed it. When they had got some distance they
stopped to examine it and they then went away. He (Mr Farndale) went to see
Mr Robinson about the matter, and he said from the way in which the little
girls took the handkerchief he had no doubt they were expert pickpockets.
As there had been several complaints of parties having handkerchiefs stolen,
and only on Saturday last a woman had her handkerchief which had a sovereign in
it, taken, he thought he might have dropped upon the guilty parties; but had he
been aware that the woman was in the habit of playing with the children he
should have taken a different course in the case. The Derbyshire Courier, on 17
July 1869 reported
… Superintendent Farndale explained to the bench with
reference to the little girls charged with picking a pocket of a handkerchief,
that it was in consequence of Dr Robison informing him that he had seen the
girls working around the prosecutrix in the manner of professional pickpockets
…
There are a large number of
similar articles in 1869 not all repeated here.
The Derbyshire Times, on 7
August 1869 recorded
the Chief
Constable’s Annual Report:
Head Constable Office, 2nd
Aug 1869
TO THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE
BOROUGH OF CHESTERFIELD
GENTLEMEN. I have to report
that during the quarter ending 31st July, 87
persons were taken into custody by the police, and 12 summoned; of those, 5
were committed for trial, 79 summarily convicted, and 15 discharged.
The police force was
inspected by Captain Egee, her Majesty’s inspector of
Constabularies for the Northern District, on the 23rd ult. He
suggested some alterations in the books, that an officer should always be in
charge of the police office, and strongly recommended that a lock up should be
built.
In
consequence of so many robberies taking place in brothels, I felt it my duty to
lay informations against several of the occupiers, and on the 13th
of July last Thomas Sims and Elizabeth Nichols, Cross Keys Passage, and Ann
Dickin, Wheeldon lane were committed to take their trial at the next quarter
Sessions. Since then the number of offences and disorderly houses have greatly
diminished.
In conclusion I beg to state
that since my appointment the members of the force have been attentive and
active in the discharge of their various duties.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen
Your most obedient servant
JOSEPH FARNDALE, Head
constable
On 3 August 1869, the Sanitary Inspectors’
Report was read
as follows:
TO THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE
BOROUGH OF CHESTERFIELD
GENTLEMEN. I beg
respectfully to inform you that during the past quarter I have inspected forty
six nuisances as entered in the presentment and report books, most of which
have been removed as soon as possible after official notices have been given,
but there are a few cases not yet remedied and to enforce which I shall take
legal proceedings.
Since the last quarterly
meeting the Sanitary Committee have held six meetings (the ordinary and three
special) they have selected a very eligible and convenient site for the
erection of slaughter houses, which was confirmed by the Council at a special meeting
held on the 5th ult. Since then the plans have been approved,
contracts entered into, and the work is progressing satisfactorily, ad will be
completed in a few months, when slaughtering in the shambles and probably some
other places will be discontinued.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen
Your most obedient servant
JOSEPH FARNDALE, Sanitary
Inspector
In the Derbyshire Chronicle on 1 and 4 September 1869, there were a lot of
articles relating to the “Black List”
and to beer houses including:
John Andrew, Old Fountain In,
applied for a renewal of his licence but was objected to by Chief
Superintendent Farndale, on the ground that his spirit licence was stopped
two years ago – Licence refused.
Thomas Gilliatt, Wheat
Sheaf, Packer’s Row, Chief Superintendent Farndale said this applicant
had been summoned for refusing the billet soldiers in August 1867. Granted.
John Silcock, Princes Concert Room, Wheeldon Lane was opposed by Chief
Superintendent Farndale on the ground that he harboured improper characters.
Evidence was given that the applicant harboured prostitutes and thieves.
Refused.
John Spowage, Cross Keys, Knifesmith gate, was opposed by Chief
Superintendent Farndale, on the ground that he had been convicted in 1868, and
also that he harboured improper characters. Refused.
By July 1869, he was
reported in the public offices of Billet Master, Inspector of
Nuisances, Inspector and Registrar of Lodging Houses and Superintendent
of Borough Police (Derbyshire Courier, 3 July 1869)
By August 1869, he had been
given the office of Inspector and Registrar of Lodging Houses (Derbyshire Courier, 7 August 1869).
By 6 November 1869, Joseph
Farndale had the civic titles in Chesterfield of Billet Master and Inspector
of Nuisances (article in the Derbyshire Courier, 6 November 1869).
The Sheffield Independent on
25 September 1869 reported: NORTON FARMERS CLUB AND EAST DERBYSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY. … The ground was well kept by a detachment of
the borough police, under the charge of Mr Superintendent Farndale, and
the arrangements of the exhibition reflected the considerable credit upon the
committee of management and the stewards.
…
The Derbyshire Times, on 20
October 1869 reported:
THE CHESTERFIELD POLCE FORCE. On Friday evening last, the
Chesterfield Watch Committee, acting under the recommendation of Supt Farndale,
raised the wages of each police officer 1s per week, so that third
class constables begin at 19s, and the others proportionately. They also
decided to give 1d per day extra for three years, and 2d per day extra for six
years’ service, and as nearly the whole of the force have six years service in, they will receive the desired advantage.
A merit class was also established so that for meritorious conduct an officer
will be entitled to 1s per week extra.
The Derbyshire Times, on 20
November 1869 reported:
ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON. James Lory, Alfred Fod,
ad Henry Briddon, three notorious characters, were
charged with assaulting and stealing from the person of one Peter Parks, of
Wingerworth, one leather purse and £1 7s 6d in Wheeldon lane on the 14th
inst. Head constable Farndale said since the
prisoners were apprehended he had discovered that the offence was committed in
the county, and he must therefore ask the Mayor to discharge them. The
prisoners were then discharged, and re apprehended by the county police.
The Salisbury and Winchester
Journal, on 11 December 1869 reported: SAVAGE ASSAULT – About two o’clock on Tuesday
morning, as Police constable Fryer, of the Chesterfield Borough Police, was
going his rounds in St Mary’s gate he heard loud cries for assistance … Superintendent
Farndale briefly narrated the facts of the case as given above and asked
for a remand until Monday next which was granted.
Joseph Farndale continued
to fulfil his additional responsibilities as Sanitary Inspector:
The Derbyshire Courier, on 18
December 1869 advertised:
THE NEW SLAUGHTER HOUSES
THE NEW SLAUGHTER HOUSES
will be ready for use on and after January 1st 1870, and will be let
at an annual rental of £7 each, rates and water included. Application to be
made to:
Mr J Farndale, Sanitary
Inspector
PUBLIC NOTICE
After the 31st
December next ensuing, the Slaughtering of Animals will not be PERMITTED to take place in the Shambles, situated in
the borough of Chesterfield.
By the Order of the Sanitary
Committee
Mr J Farndale, Sanitary
Inspector.
The Derbyshire Times, on
Christmas Day, 25 December 1869 recorded an extract of the evidence in the trial of William
Connor, a labourer of Chesterfield who had been charged
with cutting and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in Church
Walk, Chesterfield:
Prisoner: If you tell the truth about that knife (he was taking to
another witness, John Smth), I gave your wife a gill of beer for it.
Superintendent Farndale: Then you don’t deny it was your knife?
Prisoner: No Sir.
Mr Bluett, surgeon: At about
one o’clock o Sunday morning the prosecutor was
brought into my surgery by Superintendent Farndale. He was bleeding from a
wound in the left side. …
So
the head of police was engaged in cross examination in court hearings.
1870
The Derbyshire Courier, on 8
January 1870
reported: EXPOSING DISEASED MEAT FOR SALE. William Staple, a farmer of
Aldwick, was charged with exposing 48 lbs of beef unfit
for food of man in the market on 18 December 1869. Head Constable Farndale said he
bought the meat in question before the Mayor, and he ordered it to be
destroyed. The defendant admitted that the beef was his.
The Derbyshire Times, on 22
January 1870 recorded
that when two teenagers (13 and 12) were charged with
stealing 5s from an old man, Superintendent Farndale gave evidence When the
children were given into custody they said he had given them the money and
wanted to take liberties with them. He did not lock them up but ordered them to
come here this morning and make their statement.
The Sheffield Daily Telegraph,
on 3 February 1870 recorded that Superintendent Farndale
was elected Inspector of Weights and Measures, at a salary of £25 per year,
the appointment being until 9th November next.
In the same paper: The Sanitary Inspector.
This report was read, and the Inspector tendered his resignation … Councillor Bdot was very sorry at the intimation. The matter was in
good hands … Ald Black said the resignation was determined because of the
increasing duties devolving on Superintendent Farndale under the separate
commission … Councillor Oliver called attention to the inefficient arrangements
in the new slaughter houses. The wheels and locks were not sufficiently good.
Councillor JW Rooth said that before he came into the Council the contract was
let, and the pattern of wheels taken from his. If they wanted them on a newer
principle they must alter them. With his wheels he could draw a bullock up 500
tons (loud laughter).
The Sheffield Independent, on
3 February 1870 confirmed:
INSPECTOR OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. The Town Clerk said that now the Lord
Chancellor had appointed gentlemen to sit on the commission of the peace, it
was necessary for them to appoint an inspector of weights and measures, and it
had been stated that it would be more than satisfactory to give the officer a
salary rather than a fee out of each prosecution. After a desultory discussion,
Supt Farndale was appointed a t a salary of £25 a year.
The Sheffield Independent, on
5 February 1870 recorded
that under the Factory Act, Mr. Superintendent
Joseph Farndale was appointed inspector for the borough, in accordance with the
provisions of the Factory Act.
The Derbyshire Courier, on 5
February 1870 set
out the Chief Constable’s Annual Report:
THE HEAD CONSTABLE’S REPORT
Chief Superintendent’s
Office
31st January 1870
TO THE MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF CHESTERFIELD
GENTLEMEN, I beg to report
that during the past quarter there has been a slight decrease in indictable
offences as compared with the previous quarter of the previous year; but more
than double the number of cases have been dealt with summarily.
The conduct of the officers
and constables with two exceptions has been good, one having been discharged
and the other reduced from second to third class constable.
I am, Gentlemen
Your most obedient servant
JOSH FARNDALE
At the same meeting, Joseph
Farndale was confirmed in his appointment as the Government Inspector under the
Factories Act.
The Derbyshire Times, on 12
February 1870,
in an extract from a published letter from a ratepayer to the town council: They appoint Superintendent Farndale inspector of
weights and measures at a salary of about £25 a year (about 1s a week), and,
strange to say, in fixing his salary, nobody seems to have asked what time
would be occupied by these duties, but simply what the fees would produce.
I do not know what salary is attached to this office of sanitary Inspector
which the Superintendent gives up, but I doubt not the weights and measures at
£25 a year is a much better thing. Please find out and tell us what the late
Inspector got.
The Derbyshire Times and
Chesterfield Herald, on 26 February 1870 and repeated 2 March 1870: Borough of
Chesterfield, Police Clothing. The WATCH COMMITTEE will receive
tenders for 22 coats, 35 pairs of trousers, 26 pairs of boots and 13 helmets
to be supplied not later than 1st May next. All Tenders are to
be submitted before Saturday 5th March next. Joseph Farndale,
Chief Constable.
The Sheffield Independent, on
30 August 1870 reported:
Adjourned Brewster Sessions.
Mr Superintendent Farndale opposed a beer licence being renewed to the
Burlington arms, Burlington Street, because a great portion of the house had
been converted into a shoe shop. He did not wish the licence to be withdrawn,
but that the bench should order the whole house to be used as a beerhouse. The licence was granted on the above condition.
John Wholl
applied for renewal of the licence of the Ten Bells, Spencer street. Mr
Farndale opposed on the ground that Wholl had
obtained the licence, but it was managed by a man named Andrews, who had been
convicted of a breach of licence, and the bench refused to give him a
certificate.
A large number of other articles during 1870
and 1871, not included here, show Superintendent Farndale giving evidence etc
in court cases.
The Sheffield and Rotherham
Independent, on Tuesday 5 Jul 1870 reported on a beer house offence: Sarah
Ann Nash, of the Tanners’ Arms beerhouse, Chesterfield, was charged with selling
beer during prohibited hours, on Sunday the 26th ult. Sergeant
Windle proved the case. Superintendent Farndale said
the house was very badly conducted, and great complaints were made about Sunday
selling. Defendant pleaded guilty and she was fined £1 and costs 8s 6d and
cautioned as to how she conducted the house in the future.
The Derbyshire Times, on 8
October 1870 advertised
FIVE SHILLINGS REWARD. LOST on Friday evening, between St Helen’s I and Stonegravels Bar, a brown paper parcel containing two small
account books and mechanical drawings. The articles are perfectly useful to
anyone but the owner. Apply to Supt FARNDALE Police Office, Chesterfield.
The Derbyshire Times, on 10
December 1870 recorded:
THE MEAT INSPECTOR. After a long discussion relative to the resignation of
Mr Burton one of the Meat Inspectors, it was finally resolved that Supt
Farndale officiate for the next three months.
The Derbyshire Courier, 4
February 1871 recorded
the Annual Report of the Chief Constable and the Sanitary Inspector’s Report:
The Head Constable’s Report.
Head Constables Office, 30th
Jan, 1871.
To the Mayor and gentlemen
of the Town Council of the Borough of Chesterfield.
Gentlemen,
I beg to state that since your last meeting the conduct of the officers and
constables, with one exception, has been good. On Friday the 13th inst, I suspended PC George Blanksby for
improper conduct, and on the 27th inst he was brought
before the Watch Committee and dismissed. During the past month, several
offences of a serious nature have been committed. On Friday, the 20th instant,
John Hayes, of Brampton, was robbed whilst in a state of drunkenness, of £45.
This was not reported to the police until the following Tuesday, which gave
them but little chance of recovering the money. They, however, succeeded in
apprehending a man and woman who were not only seen in company and drinking
with the prosecutor about the time of the robbery, but were seen to bring him
out of the public house, drag him down Whealdon Lane, rifle his pockets, and
run away. Hayes, however, swore they were not the parties who had robbed him,
and the magistrates dismissed the case. On the 21st instant several cases of
pocket picking were reported for which a woman has been apprehended and
committed for trial. On the night of the 23rd instant the premises of Mr
Wilcockson, pawnbroker, were broken into and 24 watches, 70 wedding rings, and
25s in silver stolen there from. Every inquiry has been made, but up to the
present time none of the property has been recovered.
I have the honour to be,
gentlemen,
your obediant
servant, Joseph Farndale.
Mr Wood proposed and Mr
Marsden seconded a motion that the report be received which was carried
unanimously.
The Sanitary Inspector’s
Report.
Sanitary Inspector’s office,
31st January 1871.
To the Mayor and gentleman
of the Town Council of the Borough of Chesterfield.
On the third inst licences were renewed
to the public slaughter houses, on condition that the tenants allowed the
corporation to have their manure. With one exception they have done so. This
one will either have his licence withdrawn or will have notice to quit. On the
same day licences were renewed to 16 private slaughterhouses.
I am, gentleman,
Your obedient servant
Joseph Farndale.
The adoption of the report
was moved by Mr Douglas, seconded by Mr Marsden, and carried unanimously.
1871
The 1871 Census for Chesterfield showed Joseph Farndale, Chief Constable of Police, 28 living with
Jane Farndale, his wife, 29, John W Farndale, their son, 2 and Sarah Vaughan, a
general servant.
The Sheffield Independent, on
22 April 1871 reported:
CHESTERFIELD. Bad Meat. John Arthur, New Square, was charged by Mr
Superintendent Farndale, Sanitary Inspector, with being in possession of 24 lbs
of pork, unfit for food…
The Derbyshire Times, on 6 May
1871 set out
the Chief Constable’s Report:
Chief Constable's Report.
Head Constables office, 1st
May, 1871.
To the Mayor and gentlemen
of the Corporation of the Borough of Chesterfield.
Gentlemen, I beg to state
that since your last meeting the conduct of the officers and constables has
been good, and that the town has been free from offences of a serious nature.
On the 22nd ult, the force
was inspected by Captain Elgee, Her Majesty's
Inspector of Constabularies for the Northern District. He complained that the
money in the superannuation fund had not been taken from the bank, and put it
out at interest, as recommended by him last year, also that police offices and
cells had not been provided, the existing accommodation being totally
inadequate for the requirements of the borough. The plans prepared by Mr
Rawlinson were laid before him, he expressed himself quite satisfied with the
site, offices, and cells, and stated it was entirely a question for the
Corporation whether they built a house or not. At the same time, he said, it
was very desirable that the chief officer should reside near the office. He
should therefore recommend No 2 plan which provides a house.
I am gentleman, your
obedient servant, J Farndale. Head Constable.
The Derbyshire Courier, 5
August 1871 reported:
THE HEAD CONSTABLE’S REPORT
Head Constable’s Office, 1st
August 1871
TO THE MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE CONCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF CHESTERFIELD
I am, Gentlemen
Your Obedient Servant
J Farndale
Head Constable
The Sanitary Inspectors
Report.
Sanitary Inspectors Office,
August 1st, 1871.
To the Mayor and gentlemen
of the Corporation of the Borough of Chesterfield.
Gentlemen, I beg to state
that during the past quarter, I have inspected 45 nuisances as entered in the
presentment and report books, all of which have been remedied. In consequence
of the recent wet weather, there has been great difficulty in getting night
soil removed. On the 29th June last, I seized and destroyed the carcass of a
pig, the property of Thomas Jenkinson, as being unfit for human food. He was
summoned before the magistrates and fined £5 and costs.
I have made numerous inquiries respecting the removal of night soil in other
towns, and find in large towns they have a proper staff for the removal of the
same under the superintendence of the sanitary inspector, but in small towns
that is chiefly removed by contract. I have visited Newark, and find that they
get the night soil removed, streets swept etc for £180 per annum. Ordering that
they have a larger population then we have, and that the area is 2,083 acres
against 276 acres, I have no doubt that ours would be taken for a less amount,
which would be a great saving for the town. Subjoined are specifications,
forms of contract, and agreement between the Newark Corporation and their
contractor.
I am gentlemen, your obediant servant, J Farndale, sanitary inspector.
Within a short time, Joseph
Farndale was making a further move to promotion to the Chief Constable of the
Leicester Police. The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, on 30 August 1871 reported: PROMOTION OF A
MIDDLESBOROUGH POLICEMAN. The friends of Inspector Farndale, who left
Middlesborough two years ago to become chief constable of Chesterfield, will be
glad to learn that he is one of two candidates selected by the watch Committee
of Leicester, out of sixty candidates, to fill the office of chief constable of
that important town. The applicant included a colonel and a captain in the
army, and a detective inspector, the two selected being Inspector Farndale and
Colonel Vivian. The appointment will be made at the next Council meeting. Mr
Farndale joined the Middlesborough Police Force as a Private.
Meantime, the Derbyshire Times, on
28 October 1871:
advertised WANTED for the Chesterfield Borough Police Force, THREE ABLE
BODIED MEN. Wages first four months, 20s per week, the following eight months,
21s per week, and afterwards 22s per week. A merit class and service class has
been formed by which a constable can be raised to 24s per week. Application to
be made personally to Mr Superintendent Farndale, on or before Wednesday,
October 25th inst.
The Derbyshire Times, 7
October 1871 reported
on a special meeting of the Chesterfield town council held on Monday morning
last in the municipal hall, to consider the steps necessary to be taken
inconsequence of Superintendent Farndale having resigned the office of Chief
Constable of the borough. Just one half of the members were present, the
attendance including the Mayor James Wright Esquire, Alderman Drabble, and
Councillors Boot, Douglas, Short, Oliver, Kent and J W Rooth.
The mayor briefly stated the
object of the meeting which was held in consequence of Chief Constable Farndale
having resigned, owing to his appointment as Chief Constable of the Borough of
Leicester.
In answer to Mr Boot, the deputy town clerk stated that the
resignation was dated September 27 and the office would be vacant on the 27th
October. The watch committee had accepted the resignation of Mr Farndale with
an expression of their appreciation of the services he had rendered to the
town.
Mr Douglas said he must express his regret that the town should
lose Mr Farndale's services, as he considered him a most efficient officer. He
had done the town great credit during the time he had held the office, and more
particularly by the way in which he had put down those pests, the houses of
immorality. He had also been very successful in reducing drunkenness, and his
duties generally had been performed in a most honourable and exemplary manner,
(hear, hear).
Mr Oliver had great pleasure in supporting the words of Mr Douglas
as he considered Mr Farndale had acquitted himself in a manner which did him
great credit, and he felt convinced Chesterfield would never secure a better
officer. The mayor also expressed his regret that the town was losing Mr
Farndale’s services, but at the same time could not but congratulate him up on
his success in his profession especially considering the comparatively short
time he had been in the police force. Hardly 10 years had elapsed since he
entered the force at York as an ordinary police officer, and now he was chief
constable of one of the largest boroughs in England, with something like
£300 a year salary.
Mr Short said the town at large would regret Mr Farndale's
departure.
The Mayor said of the next business was to decide on salary to be
given to the next Superintendent and arrange as to advertising for one etc. Mr
Boot would suggest that all the offices at present held by Mr Farndale be
thrown into one. The present salary was £120 as chief constable, £20 as
inspector of nuisances, £25 as inspector of weights and measures, and £12 for
clothing, making a total of £177 per annum.
The Mayor: Yes and he also receives £10 for acting as assistant
relieving officer under the guardians.
Mr Short: Yes but that does not come under our disposal.
Mr Boot said he should propose that the post be advertised as
vacant, at a salary of £120 to cover all duties and that there be additional
allowance of £12 for clothes. This would of course be independent of the £10
from the union over which the Council had no power.
Chief
Constable of Leicester Police, 1871 to 1882 (11 years)
The Derbyshire Times, on 2
September 1871 reported
that at a recent meeting of the Town Council of the important borough of
Leicester, held for the purpose of selecting a gentleman to fill the office of
Chief Constable for the Borough, Mr Superintendent Farndale, of Chesterfield,
was selected as one of five out of 56 candidates for the post. Subsequent
voting reduced the issue to the choice of Mr Farndale or a Colonel Vivian, and
at this point the meeting stands adjourned. It is a
great proof of Mr Farndale's high position in his profession that the
testimonials of those with whom he has come in contact during his career should
have been so favourable. We can over only express our regrets that
Chesterfield is likely to lose Mr Farndale’s services, but at the same time we
are certain that if he obtains the post he seeks the borough of Leicester will
be fortunate in obtaining a most valuable servant.
The Northern Weekly Gazette,
on 29 September 1871 recorded: APPOINTMENT OF MR FARNDALE. Mr Farndale, so highly
respected while in the Middlesbrough Police Force, and to whose probable
promotion we lately alluded – was elected on Tuesday by a large majority as
Chief Superintendent of Leicester. The York Herald, on 30 September 1871: POLICE APPOINTMENT. On
Wednesday, Mr Joseph Farndale, a native of Eskdaleside, and formerly a member
of the North Riding police force, was elected head constable at Leicester by a
considerable majority. Mr Farndale has been superintendent of police at
Chesterfield. The Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal, 6 October 1871: APPOINTMENT OF A CHIEF
CONSTABLE FOR LEICESTER. The appointment if Chief Constable took place on
Tuesday week, and resulted in the election oof Superintendent Farndale, of the
Chesterfield Police.
Joseph Farndale was
appointed Head Constable of Leicester Police on 27 October 1871. He replaced Mr Charters. His salary was £220 per annum, with a
house included.
An article in the Leicester Evening Mail on
15 January 1937 looked
back at Joseph Farndale’s achievements with Leicester police.
Charters was succeeded by Joseph Farndale, who more than anyone else, laid the
foundations of the efficient police system which modern Leicester possesses.
When Farndale came to Leicester in the 70s the force was only 90 strong,
although the population had increased to 25,000 people. Today the authorised
strength is *, and the population is 260,000. Farndale was not long in making
changes. He scrapped the tall hats and frock coats which made the constables
look more like funeral mules then policemen and substituted helmets and tunics.
The townspeople were rather critical of these changes, but in time they came to
appreciate that the new uniforms tended to create a cleaner respect for the
power of the law.
Many of the recruits to the force were not used to discipline, and
hardly likely to inspire respect, even if they did create fear. Drunkenness was
all too common in the force and the Watch Committee had a difficult job to
improve matters.
One step in the campaign was taken when Farndale endeavoured to create
a team spirit by forming a police band, under the conductorship of
Inspector Smith. This soon became one of the most popular institutions of the
town. The band played in the municipal square every Friday night, and was
always in demand for concerts.
But alas, good intentions do not always bring the best of results.
It was found that the police became much more interested in their music and
their concerts then in their duties as policemen, and the Watch Committee had
reluctantly to disperse the band.
There was at that time an astonishing amount of undetected crime in
Leicester for a small town, and Farndale set out to discover the reason. In
those days, the practice was to make the person robbed pay the costs of
apprehending a prisoner who had left the town after the crime, and many people
either could not afford to pay for a police chase or preferred to allow justice
to go unsatisfied, rather than make a personal sacrifice. This of course was a
ridiculous state of affairs and before long Farndale had persuaded the Watch
Committee to allow the cost of such arrests to be borne by the ratepayers.
How far Farndale would eventually have gone in this war against
crime we are never to know because at the peak of his career he was offered the
Chief Constableship of Birmingham, and naturally accepted it.
Farndale, I remember, was succeeded by James Dunn of Durham whose
chief claim to fame was that he altered the system of night beats, following a
big sale robbery at Gimson’s Vulcan Works, when thieves got away with £1,000 in
cheques and money. In Farndale's time there was a fixed beat system, which
enabled criminals to choose their time for a robbery and carry it out more or
less at leisure....
Shortly
after his appointment, on 19 December 1871, Leicester police ceased to be
responsible for fire fighting and Leicester Borough Fire Brigade was created.
1872
The Leicester Chronicle, on 20
January 1872 reported:
A REPREHENSIBLE PRACTICE. The thoughtless and dangerous practice of throwing
orange peel on the causeways was commented upon by the mayor … He called the attention of Head Constable
Farndale to the circumstances and he hoped he would give instructions to
his men to remove the orange peel from the footpaths whenever they saw it, and
that persons would refrain from the culpable habit of endangering the limbs of
their fellow creatures. With the aid of the police, and the cooperation of the
more reflective portion of the public, it is hoped a check will be put upon
this abominable nuisance.
The Leicester Chronicle, 20
April 1872: INSPECTION
OF THE COUNTY CONSTABULARY AND THE BOROUGH POLICE FORCE. On Wednesday last, the
County Constabulary Force were inspected at the Corn Exchange by Colonel Cobb… At one o’clock the Borough Police Force assembled at the
Corn Exchange for inspection under the command of the Head Constable (Mr
Farndale) …
A large number of various
articles showing Chief Constable Farndale’s evidence in a lot of court cases
are not all reproduced here. For instance the Leicester Daily Post, 21 September 1872: THEFT. William Harper,
on remand, was charged with stealing a shirt, the property of William Dalby,
pawnbroker, Belgrave gate, on the 12th inst. The evidence has been
published. Mr Farndale stated that there had been communication with the
authorities at Brixton, and had found that the prisoner was on a ticket of
leave, having been sentenced to seven years penal servitude for felony. He was
committed to the sessions.
Joseph soon had to deal
with a serious incident in Leicester. The Chichester Express and West Sussex Journal, 27 August 1872 reported: Leicester was also the scene of a serious
disturbance on Saturday night. As eleven o’clock dew near a large concourse
of persons had assembled at the Old Haymarket, the principal thoroughfare, and
shortly afterwards the crowd was considerably augmented, until it numbered
several thousands, by those who had been turned out of the vaults &c in the
neighbourhood. A large body of police, under the charge of Chief Constable
Farndale, however, kept them moving for some time. At length one of the
mob, named James Stevens, a shoe fisher, who was the worse for liquor, declined
to move on and struck the police. He was at once taken into custody, when an
attempt was made to rescue him. A large number of policemen then rushed to the
aid of their comrade when some of the mob began to throw stones, which struck
some of the police, one of whom was also struck with a ginger beer bottle. For
a little time it appeared as though this slight skirmish would lead to serious
consequences, but the police obtained complete power over their prisoner, and formed
in line with their staves drawn at the end of the street. He was quickly
conveyed up a bye street to the police station where he was charged with
assaulting two of the officers. This coupled with the appearance of a
reinforcement of police seemed to act as a deterrent, and the crowd became less
dense and more scattered. A successful effort was then made to clear the
streets, the spectators being driven before the police, with staves drawn,
up the various thoroughfares, and by half past twelve the riot was suppressed.
The Leicester Daily Post, 28
August 1872 reported:
FIRE IN LEICESTER LAST NIGHT. About nine o’clock last night a fire which at
one time threatened to be desolating in its effects, broke out in the shop of
Messrs T Tacey & Sons, drapers &c, Granby Street.
Chief Constable Farndale was passing down the street a little
before nine, and saw several persons
standing, looking up at the windows above the shop, from which smoke was
issuing. Seeing at once what was the matter he immediately despatched
messengers to the Borough Fire Brigade, for Mr Tacey’s son, who lives in
Leicester, and for Mr Tacey himself, who resides at Humberstone. The brigade
was on the spot a few minutes afterwards, and the hose having been attached to
the street main, was soon set to play upon the building.
The flames did not make their appearance till the door was forced
open when they burst forth with a rather threatening aspect. Some fears were
expressed regarding the safety of the adjoining property, but happily beyond
that caused by the water in one of the upper rooms of the Swan Hotel, no other
damage was done.
The efforts of the firemen were principally directed to the front
shop, and the flames were quenched in a very short time. A ladder was laced
against the window of the first storey, and an entrance effected there, but it
appears the fire was wholly confined to the ground floor. The counters and
several of the other fittings were completely burned, and the entire stock
destroyed. We understand the loss is partially covered by insurance.
The Day’s Doings, 31 August
1872:
Accordingly every precaution was adopted by the local authorities
to guard against a disturbance, a considerable number of county police being
drafted into the town and held in reserve, while all the available borough
force was out on duty. In their efforts to preserve the peace, the magistrates
were well aided by the publicans, most of whom, especially the occupiers of
vaults, took the precaution of putting up their shutters by half past ten
o'clock, and intimating to their customers the desirableness of withdrawing
quietly at the appointed hour.
As eleven o’clock drew near
a large concourse of persons had assembled at the Old Haymarket, the principal
thoroughfare, and shortly afterwards the crowd was considerably augmented,
until it numbered several thousands, by those who had been turned out of the
vaults etc in the neighbourhood.
Most of these appear to have
assembled out of sheer curiosity to see a ‘row’ which had been talked about,
while others seemed evidently ready to join in a disturbance, if one were
started, and began to assemble in groups, discussing and denouncing the new
law.
A large body of police under
the charge of Chief Constable Farndale, however, kept them from moving for some
time,
until at length a few of the more turbulent seemed determined to ‘make a
stand’, which led to cheers from their partisans and groans from the
police.
The later however acted with
great forbearance, until at length one of the mob, named James Stevens, a shoe
finisher, who was the worse for liquor, declined to move on, and struck one of
the police. He was at once taken into custody, when an attempt was made to
rescue him. A large number of policemen then rushed to the aid of their
comrade, when the mob began to throw stones, which struck some of the police,
one of whom was also struck with a ginger beer bottle. …
A successful effort was then
made to clear the streets, the spectators being driven before the police, with
staves drawn, up the various thoroughfares, when the large majority, evidently
having seen enough, and being warned that they would have to take the
consequences, deemed it discreet to retire, the town being perfectly quiet by
half past twelve o’clock.
The Leicester Guardian, 18
September 1872:
At the Town Hall on Friday, the Mayor called the
attention of Mr Farndale, the Chief Constable, to the practice of flying
kites in the streets, and pointed out the danger of it both to foot
passengers and those who were driving, as it was liable to frighten the
horses. It had been complained of in the papers and otherwise. He had no
wish to debar children from enjoying themselves, but that was not the way to do
it. Mr Farndale said he had given instructions to the police to report all
cases to the Local Board.
Joseph Farndale was a keen
participator in dog show competitions. The Leicester Journal, 4 October 1872: NOTTINGHAM NATIONAL DOG SHOW. … In the St Bernard’s (rough), Chief
Constable Farndale is awarded second honours with his dog Pluto, aged 2
years and 4 months.
The Leicester Chronicle, 5
October 1872:
LEICESTER RACES … A posse of police under the
superintendence of Head Constable Farndale, were engaged in the
preservation of order at the course.
His Annual Reports are records of statistics of crime at the time. The Hinckley News, on 2
November 1872 set
out Joseph Farndale’s report on Borough Police Statistics.
The following report has
been issued by Mr Farndale, Chief Constable.
Gentlemen, I have the honour
to submit the annual police statistical returns for the year ending the 29th
Ultimo, with other information of a miscellaneous character, and to report that
a decrease in indictable offences has taken place during the year as compared
with the year previous; but there is a considerable increase in cases
determined summarily. The following table gives the number of indictable
offences reported to the police during the past ten years, with the number of
persons apprehended for the same: in 1863 the number of indictable offences was
159, and apprehensions 110; In 1864, 200 and 121; In 1865, 202 and 147; 1866,
156 and 98; In 1867, 153 and 105; 1868, 193 and 108; 1869, 149 and 123; 1870,
132 and 88; 1871, 214 and 143; 1872, 185 and 113.
Many of these cases are
undetected for want of funds. When a robbery is
reported, and the offender has left the
town, the person robbed is asked if he is prepared to pay the cost of the
prisoner being apprehended and brought back, if he is not, no further steps are
taken, but the robbery is entered into the books, and shows against the
efficiency of the police as an undetected crime, though they have not had the
remotest chance of detecting it.
The total number of persons
apprehended, summoned, and summarily disposed of during the year (exclusive of
644 civil cases such as arrears of poor rates, bastardy etc) was 2,453. The
following statement shows the number of persons disposed of by the justices
during the last ten years: number of offences in the year 1863, 1,459; 1864,
1,549; 1865, 1,739; 1866, 1,686; 1867, 1,594; 1868, 1,702; 1869, 1,841; 1870
1,928; 1871, 1,001; 1872, 2,453.
By far the largest numbers
in the above returns are under the headings of drunkenness, drunk and
disorderly, and common assaults. The number charged before the magistrate
during the last ten years are as follows: drunkenness - 1863, 274; 1864, 350;
1865, 422; 1866, 386; 1867, 315; 1868, 304; 1869, 349; 1870, 348; 1871, 402;
1872, 490. Common assaults, 1863, 546; 1864, 623; 1865, 676; 1866, 597; 1867,
592; 1868, 625; 1869, 622; 1870, 575; 1871, 526; 1872, 523.
A considerable increase is
shown in the number of charges made against licenced victuallers; but
the charges against beer sellers appears to have gradually decreased since the
passing of The New Beerhouse Act 1869, which brought them under
the control of the magistrates. In making this statement, I think it is right
to add that the conduct of many of these houses has much improved, and I
believe for drinking during prohibited hours on Sundays, Leicester will bear
favourable comparison with any other town. This, in my opinion, is mainly
attributable to the action of the magistrates at the Brewster Sessions in
withholding the licences of all persons whose houses were proved to have been
improperly conducted.
In consequence of having
numerous complaints respecting the nuisance of disorderly houses in the town,
I took proceedings against and succeeded in closing one which had been a new
notorious nuisance for several years; but 28 remained, nearly all of which are common
brothels of the lowest class. These places are somewhat difficult to deal
with, in as much as the legal machinery by which they are suppressed is not
only cumbrous and expensive, but cannot be put in motion by the police, until a
complaint has been made by two inhabitants of the locality in which such houses
exist. To meet this difficulty the authorities of several boroughs with which I
am acquainted have, in their Extension and Improvement Acts, inserted the following
clause:
“If any person keeps or acts
or assists in the management of any brothel or other disorderly house, room, or
other place, every person so offending shall, for every such offence, be liable
to a penalty not exceeding the [sic] pounds, in default of payment three months
imprisonment with hard labour.”
If such a bylaw could be
added to our Improvement Act, I have no doubt that in Leicester, as in other towns where they
have the benefit of this clause, these houses would soon cease to exist.
Several Acts of Parliament
have recently come into operation including the Prevention of Crime Act, the New Licencing Act 1872 and the Pedlar’s Act, all of which are working
satisfactorily. Since the 1st of January last 293 pedlars’ certificates have
been granted, and 263 endorsed, for which I have received fees to the amount of
£79 16s 6d, which will be placed to the credit at the borough fund.
Colonel Cobbs, Her Majesty's
Inspector of Constabulary, has made his annual inspection in April last. There were present on
parade – 1 head constable, 5 inspectors, 11 sergeants, and 69 constables;
absent on duty, 1 sergeant and 3 constables; on leave, 1 sergeant; Sick, 4
constables; and 4 wanting to complete the number. Total 98. With the
appearance of the men and the efficiency of the force, he expressed himself
perfectly satisfied, but called attention to the offices and cells, which he
considered inadequate for the requirements of the Borough.
In conclusion, I have much
pleasure in stating that during the past year the officers and constables have
been active in the discharge of the various duties, and that their conduct,
with few exceptions, has been good, as shown by the annex summary for the three
years ending September 29. In 1870 the strength of the force was 86; Number
reported 37; Cautioned, 11; Fined, 17; Reduced, 1; Dismissed, 1. In 1871,
strength of force common 92; Reported, 34; Cautioned, 4; Fined, 15; Reduced, 1;
Dismissed, 14. In 1872, strength force, 98; Reported, 13; Cautioned, 3; Fined,
4; Reduced, 1; Dismissed, 4. This great decrease in 1872 is no doubt the result
of offenders having been severely dealt with by the Watch Committee in the year
previous.
I have the honour to be
gentlemen, your Obediant servant, J Farndale.
The Leicester Chronicle, on 2
November 1872: We
have no lack of information certainly, concerning the doings and misdoings of
the population of Leicester. The latest contribution to the public store of
knowledge on this head has been supplied by Mr Farndale, the Head Constable,
who has presented to the Chairman and Gentlemen of the Watch Committee of this
borough the Annual Police Statistical Returns for the year ending Sept 29.
…
The Leicester Daily Post, 2
November 1872: Presentation
to Mr S Stone. On Wednesday the Leicester Borough Police Force gave expression
to their feelings of respect and esteem for Mr Stone, the late respected Town
Clerk of Leicester, by presenting him with a valuable timepiece and two
statuettes. The presentation was made by Mr Chief Constable Farndale, in the
Town Hall, at one o’clock, in the presence of the inspectors, sergeants,
superannuated officers, and members of the force.
Mr C Farndale, Head
constable, in terms appropriate and tasteful, gave utterance to the feelings of
regard which are entertained for Mr Stone by every member of the force, who had
had the privilege of coming in contact with him, during his many years of
zealous and efficient labour. He bought testimony to the courtesy which he
himself had always experienced from Mr Stone, and to the feelings of regret
which he in common with his staff entertained at the loss which they had
sustained through his retirement. He however assured Mr Stone that he had
retired into private life with the best wishes of all for his future
happiness...
In Mr Stone’s reply … he had
observed with very great pleasure the fair, plane, straightforward, and
commendable manner, in which that testimony when it was now generally given, a
fact which had attracted the attention of Mr Farndale on his first coming to
Leicester. Mr Stone concluded by again thanking the Force for that beautiful
testament testimonial, which would be preserved by him and his family as a most
gratifying proof of the estimation in which he was held by the Leicester force.
These observations were listened to by the subscribers present (about 100) with
great attention and frequent expressions of their approval.
The timepiece bore the
following inscription: Presented to Samuel Stone Esquire by the Leicester
Borough Police Force, as a mark of respect and in appreciation of his
invariable kindness and courtesy during the 36 years he has held the office of
town clerk to the justices. Leicester, October 9th, 1872.”
The Leicester Daily Post, 9
November 1872: In a speech by the Mayor: Nor must one forget Mr
Farndale, for the efficiency he has shown in placing the cases before the
magistrates had been beyond all praise. He believed Mr Farndale had the
confidence of the whole bench, and that the force over which he had
presided was now well disciplined and in efficient working order.
The Leicester Chronicle, 7
December 1872: DISORDERLY.
Two boys names Elijah and Thos Taylor were charged with being disorderly on
Tuesday night … Head Constable Farndale said he had
frequently had complaints about boys annoying the teachers at these schools,
and had in consequence been obliged to send out men in plain clothes.
1873
Again there are multiple
articles about Joseph Farndale and his evidence in multiple court cases during
1873 including the Leicester Daily Post, 11 January 1873: THE LEICESTER LIBEL CASE.
THE ALDERMAN OF STONYGATE v A CAIN . … Arthur Cain
was charged with publishing a certain malicious, slanderous libel, of
and concerning Richard Harris and others…. Have you any particular reason for
refusing to post a bill that had not the printer’s name on it? Yes because I
was told by Mr Farndale not to post bills without the printer’s name on it.
Is it true that a great number of bills were circulated without the printer’s
name? Yes. When you were called up by Mr Farndale, what did he say to you? He
said that there had been a deal of dissatisfaction about election bills being
posted on corners of streets, about the town, and there were many complaints.
He requested me not to do it. Did Mr Farndale threaten you if you posted the
bills without the printer’s name? No, it was posting bills on streets without
permission. I promised not to do it. Did the unknown gentleman who asked you to
post the “Blue Pill” offer you a sovereign to do it? Yes … What was the cause
of the alleged libellous bill appearing at all. It was because of this “Blue
Pill”, and it was published after the billposters had been called to the Town
Hall by Mr Farndale, and told that if they continued to go on positing bills
without the printer’s name, cognisance would be taken of it,…
The Leicester Daily Post, 13
February 1873: DINNER
TO THE LEICESTER BOROUGH FORCE. As proof if their appreciation of the zeal,
energy, and efficiency which characterises the borough constabulary, a few of
the leading citizens of Leicester entertained the members of the force at a
dinner, which took place in the Fish and Quart Inn, on Tuesday, and yesterday.
… The event on this occasion had a special feature of interest attached to it,
inasmuch as the chief of the force – Mr Farndale –
presided, and he, giving the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, in the course of
his remarks complimented the members very highly on the successful efficiency
of the force. He expressed the feeling of pleasure which it afforded
him to be able to congratulate them on the fact that in point of energy and
ability, they were second to none, and were a credit to the town. The toast of
success to the town and trade of Leicester was drunk with the utmost
enthusiasm, and numerous personal toasts, including the health of Mr Farndale,
were equally well received, and heartily responded to. The company sat till a
late hour in the evening on each occasion, and the mutual harmony of the
meetings were pleasantly interspersed with songs. A number of the Town
Councillors, and others, were present.
The Leicester Daily Post, 3
March 1873: THE
FLOOD SCHEME. The article related to a Report of the Highway and Sewerage
Committee on the best means of preventing a recurrence of floods to
which the town is subjected in the neighbourhood of the river. MR ELLIS then moved the adoption of the second part of
the Highway and Sewerage Committee’s Report. He explained the amount of
inconvenience which was necessitated by policemen having to apply to the
Committee before prosecuting cases of a frivolous nature, and said that the
matter occupied the attention of the Chief Constable for some time. He also referred to the extent to which the solicitation
of prostitution was being carried on in the town, and said it was getting
almost intolerable. Mr Farndale had sent out a man to apprehend offenders,
but nothing could be done until the case had been before the Highways Committee
and by that time the prostitute charged had generally left the town for a time.
Half of the time of the Committee was occupied in investigating these cases. Mr
Farndale had written to twenty of the largest towns in the kingdom, and in
every case prosecution was effected without the authority of the Highways
Committee.
The Leicester Daily Post, 2
April 1873: THE
PRINCE OF WALES AT LEICESTER STATION. His Royal
Highness, the Prince of Wales, who is now on a visit to Lord Carrington, at
Melton Mowbray, passed through Leicester Station, last evening, en route to that place … a considerable number
of persons, including not a few ladies, had assembled to see His Royal
Highness, and Mr Farndale, the Chief Constable, had a detachment of police
on the spot to maintain order. The Prince, who was attired in a light suit
and deerstalker hat, and was smoking a cigar, was greeted with cheers when the
train arrived. …
The Leicester Daily Post, 17
April 1873: THE
RETIREMENT OF MR PAGET FROM THE MAGISTERIAL CLERKSHIP. … Mr FARNDALE also took the opportunity of
acknowledging the many kindnesses he had received from Mr Paget. He (Mr
Farndale) had been in the police service for about twelve years, and during
that time had been connected with many police courts, and had to work with many
magistrate’s clerks, but from none of them had he received more kindness and
assistance than from Mr Paget. He was sure he spoke the feelings of every
member of the force when he expressed regret at his leaving, and hoped he might
live long to enjoy that quiet and happiness to which his long service had so
well entitled him. MR PAGET, who was almost inaudible, said the expressions of
confidence which one and all had uttered had been extremely gratifying to him …
He could not sit down without returning his thanks to Mr Farndale and the
police for their kindness …
The Northern Echo, 17 May 1873: PRESENTATION TO THE CHIEF
CONSTABLE OF MIDDLESBROUGH. In a speech by Edward Saggerson,
their Chief Constable: With regard to the men who have served here, Superintendent
Farndale, Inspector Horne, Mr Hopper, workhouse master, and others. We
cannot all rise to better positions, but still there is not a man in the force
but may improve his position, promotion is always to be obtained by good
conduct and energy …
The Bath Chronicle and Weekly
Gazette advertised:
Leicester Borough Police. Wanted for the above Force, a few smart
intelligent men, between 21 and 30 years of age, to stand clear 5 feet 8 inches
without shoes. Must be able to read and write and be free from all bodily
complaint. Wages on appointment, 21s 6d, after six months, 22s 6d, advancing
26s, according to conduct and ability. The usual supply of clothing with two
pair of boots annually. Hours of duty 8 hours per day. One pint of hot coffee
is served out to each man on night duty throughout the year. Application with
testimonials to be sent to Mr. J Farndale, Chief Constable, Town Hall,
Leicester.
The Leicester Daily Post, 19
July 1873: LEICESTER
BOROUGH POLICE V COVENTRY CITY POLICE. A match between eleven men of Leicester
Borough Constabulary and a like number of Coventry City Force, was played on
the Bull Fields Ground, Coventry, yesterday, and resulted in a glorious victory
for the Leicester team. The Leicester men left at 8am for Coventry, accompanied
by their respected Chief, Mr Farndale.
The Leicester Daily Post, 1
August 1873:
LEICESTER BOROUGH POLICE ANNUAL HOLIDAY: … When the first lot had done
justice to the good things provided, the second party partook of a similar
repast. The afternoon was spent in the most enjoyable manner, Mr Farndale, who
arrived at the Park about two o’clock, and Rev A A
Isaacs, doing what they could to add to the pleasure of the men and their fair
companions. After an excellent tea, the company
adjourned to the green, and the remainder of the evening passed in singing,
dancing etc, the band of course, tending considerably to enliven the
proceedings. Before starting on the return journey at eight o’clock, Mr
Farndale, in a few appropriate remarks, returned the thanks to Mr Isaacs on
behalf of the men, stating how much they appreciate and valued his kindness. Mr
Isaacs suitably replied, remarking that the day had been one of the most
pleasant in the whole year to him. He was very glad to see Mr and Mrs Farndale
present, as it had been the first occasion on which the chief had accompanied
the men …
The Leicester Daily Post, 20
September 1873:
RAID UPON ALLEGED BETTING MEN IN LEICESTER. Mr Farndale said that morning
under warrant, he entered the house of Thomas Oakey Potter, known as the
Admiral Nelson, in Humberstone Gate, and found the landlord and the other five
defendants in the bar. Inspectors Hickinbottom and
Langdale accompanied him, and he told them to search the defendant Potter’s
house. The officers were now present, with books and papers relating to betting
which had been found upon the defendants.
The Leicester Journal, 7
November 1873:
A very interesting document has just been issued by Mr. J Farndale Chief
Constable of Police for the Borough of Leicester. It is the annual return of
criminal and miscellaneous statistics for 12 months in connection with the
Borough Police, and is published at the request of the Watch Committee. From
this document we learned that during the year ending the 29th September last, a
decrease has taken place, both an indictable offences, and cases summarily
disposed of. 116 indictable offences were reported to the police for the year,
and 94 apprehensions ensued. The total number of persons apprehended, summoned,
and summarily disposed of during the year (exclusive of 414 civil cases such as
arrears of poor rates, bastardy etc )was 2,385. Of these 1,751 were apprehended
and 634 summoned. Of these 1,543 were males, and 302 females. The number of
drunken cases disposed of was 464, and of common assaults 456. There has been
an increase in the number of juvenile offenders. The want of an industrialist
school for this class has been much felt, and arrangements have now been made
for the school board with one or more schools to which such children can be
sent, and their parents compelled to contribute to their support. Mr Farndale
adds that the
New Licencing Act has been productive of much good in Leicester. There is a decrease
of 26 drunken cases compared with last year, and taking into account the
increase of population, high wages, and other causes, this decrease is very
considerable. The offences by publicans and beer sellers have decreased from 29
to 8. The streets are now much quieter at an earlier hour; midnight brawls are
rarely heard of now; and all the sweet wine shops, many of which were used as
common brothels, have been closed. So far then as Leicester is concerned, it is
gratifying to find the New Licencing Act works favourably...
The Leicester Daily Post, 8
November 1873:
THE RETIRING MAYOR OF LEICESTER: … The Mayor: … Mr Farndale, the Chief of
Police, has always been at his post here and done his duty in the most
admirable manner, and has been well up in those cases he has had to bring
before us. We are much indebted to those officers for the manner in which they
have discharged their duties. It is a gratification to find from Mr Farndale’s
report – and a very excellent report it is – that there has been a decrease in
the number of cases of drunkenness before the court …
1874
The Leicester Guardian, 25
February 1874: ANNIVERSARY
DINNER OF THE LEICESTER POLICE FORCE. Inspector Newell spoke … They had many privileges since Mr Farndale had been in
their midst, which they did not previously enjoy. In fact before Mr Farndale
came, he had only had one Sunday in 22 years, and the last was when he went
to the Dublin Exhibition in 1851, but now he had one every month. He had
therefore great pleasure in proposing the health of Mr Farndale – the toast was
drunk with enthusiasm, the band playing “For he’s a jolly good fellow.” Tune
by the Band: “We’ll run ‘em in”
which was received with applause. MR FARNDALE:, in responding, said he begged
to tender his heartfelt thanks for the kind manner in which they had drunk his
health. Hr felt that the proposer had said a great deal more of him than he was
entitled. He might say however that since he had been there he had endeavoured
to do his duty to the best of his ability, both to the public and to the force,
and judging from the way they had received the toast, he might fairly conclude
that he had, to some extent, succeeded with them.
The Leicester Guardian, 6 May
1874: THE
LATE ALD ELLIS. The funeral took place on Thursday morning, at the cemetery…
About thirty members of the Borough Police Force, under the direction of
Chief Constable Farndale, assembled a guard of honour, being stationed on
either side of the principal carriage roads on the Cemetery.
The Leicester Daily Post, 14
November 1874:
WATCH COMMITTEE The Watch Committee beg to report that, having received an application
from the Chief Constable for an increase in his salary, they directed
information to be procured from the town clerks of all boroughs with a
population of from 50,000 to 150,000 in habitants as to the amount of direct
and indirect salary paid to their chief of police, and having regard to the
information received, and also the very satisfactory manner in which Mr
Farndale performs the duties of his office, they recommend the Council increase his salary
from £250 to £350 per annum…. Now, in regard to Mr
Farndale, they had in him a most valuable officer … and it was the unanimous
opinion of the profession that Mr Farndale was most deserving of the
increase proposed … Since the appointment of
Mr Farndale the borough had increased and, he was happy to say, was increasing
daily, and almost hourly around them. … He was sure it was the opinion of all
present that Mr Farndale was, in every sense, a truly efficient officer, and
the duties that were cast upon him in the investigation of crime and the
brining of criminals to justice was indeed a very serious matter, and he
thought that if they were to look through all the towns of England they would
not find a more truly efficient person than Mr Farndale. He could tell them
candidly that Mr Farndale’s knowledge of the duties, not only of his office,
but his general knowledge of the criminal law, and the rules of evidence, and
what was necessary in order to establish a case, was, he might almost say,.
Perfect – equal to that of a professional man.
The Leicester Chronicle, 31
October 1874:
In a letter to the Editor complaining about Councillor Neale: … Is it true,
also, that in a committee of the Council last week, he voted for an advance of
£100 upon the present high salary of Mr Farndale? Unless he satisfactorily
answers these questions, of grave importance to myself and fellow rate payers,
I, for one, shall strenuously oppose the election of a man who allows his
private interest to dictate such a squandering of public money. Awaiting an
immediate answer. I beg to subscribe myself A Burgess.
The Leicester Journal, 25
December 1874 reported
the Criminal Returns of the Leicester Police.
Mr Farndale, the chief constable
of Leicester, has just published the third annual report on the state of crime
and police establishment of the borough for the year ending 29 September 1874.
There are 73 houses of bad character, some of which are common brothels of the
lowest order. During the past year a clause has been inserted in the Leicester Improvement Act
1874 empowering
the corporation to make such bylaws for the suppression of this evil as they
may deem necessary. If the council would get the above clause passed into law,
he would endeavour, as far as possible to close all disorderly houses, which
are a nuisance to the inhabitants.
During the year 2,431
persons have been dealt with by the justices (exclusive of 579 civil cases,
such as arrears of poor rates, bastardy etc). Of those 1,281 were apprehended
and 1,150 summoned. Of the prisoners apprehended and charged and with indictable
offences and those summarily disposed of, 1,196 were males, and 176 females,
1,232 were English, 95 Irish, 1 Welsh, 29 Scotch, and 16 foreigners. 430 could
neither read nor write, 325 could only do so imperfectly, 582 could read and
write, 29 could do so well, and 7 had been well educated. 972 were of good
character although unknown to the police, 104 were designated suspicious
characters, 155 known thieves, 18 common prostitutes, 68 habitual drunkards,
and 56 vagrants and tramps, 500 were natives of Leicester, 330 strangers, 57
had resided in the town 12 months and under two years, 39 two years and under
three years, 43 years and under four, 24 four years and less than five, and 293
five years and upwards.
He
was glad to be able to report a further decrease in the number of drunken
cases, also in offences by publicans. This improved state of
things is attributed, the chief constable said, to the New Licencing Act, and the action of the
magistrates at the Brewster Sessions during the last two or three years in
withholding the licences of all persons who had been guilty of serious
violations at the law. The course adopted by the justices in these cases has,
in his opinion, vastly improved the conduct of public houses generally. It had
awakened the owners of this class of property to a sense of their position, and
caused them to be much more careful in selecting tenants, and in the manner in
which they conduct their houses. Respecting drunkenness, comparing Leicester
with 28 towns of a population of 50,000 inhabitants and upwards, the chief
constable finds, with seven exceptions, it has the lowest percentage of drunken
cases; but it is only fair to say that in Leicester they do not proceed against
persons for simple drunkenness, those charged before the magistrates are all
either drunk and disorderly or drunk and incapable. The Licencing Act 1874 has made but little
difference in Leicester; The clause that were complained of and repealed were
never enforced here. There was however one clause in the amended Act which the
chief constable is afraid will be found to work very mischievously where people
are inclined to break the law. He refers to the publican being allowed to
entertain his friends during prohibited hours. He had already some proof of
this. There was another matter connected with the Licencing Acts which the
chief constable thinks requires immediate attention, viz, licences to sell beer
not to be consumed on the premises. He is of opinion that magistrates should
have the same discretionary power in granting or refusing of these licences as
they have in all others. At the present time, if the house in respect of which
a licence is applied for be worth £15 a year, and nothing be known against the
character of the applicant, the Justices are bound to grant the licence, though
in many cases it is very undesirable that they should do so, in as much as many
of these houses have no separate yard, but one in common with several other
houses. By closing the yard door they may supply liquor to the neighbours
without much fear of being detected, and it is no uncommon thing for large
numbers of people to visit these houses joining a beer house of this class, on
Sunday mornings, no doubt for the purpose of drinking. These places are rapidly
increasing, nearly 20 new licences being granted annually. Before leaving this
subject he calls the attention of the authorities to the rapid spread of liquor
vaults in the town. These places are admitted by most people, including many of
the leading members of the trade, to be a great nuisance, and productive of
much mischief. If a by law were passed prohibiting any such alteration being
made in licenced premises without first obtaining the sanction of the local
authorities, it would, he was sure, be of great benefit and much appreciated by
the public.
The
value of property reported stolen within the borough during the year and
the amount to have been recovered by the police compared very favourably with
previous years. This the chief constable considers, was mainly due to having
had placed at his disposal the necessary funds for the purpose of pursuing and
apprehending offenders. The chief repeats his recommendation of last year,
respecting branch police stations and informs the Watch Committee that
on the 14th ult he had a letter from the Government Inspector, inquiring if
anything had been done towards providing district or outlying station houses
and in reply he informed him that it was now under the consideration of the
Watch Committee. For the better protection of the borough, he recommends that some
branch police stations be established. In all large boroughs, and in many
smaller towns than Leicester, they have had district stations for years, and
all the chief constables with whom he is acquainted strongly recommend them.
The benefit that would arise if this were done must be apparent to everyone.
Take, for instance, the bottom of Belgrave Road: a man is apprehended for
drunkenness, if he is at all a obstreperous, it will take at least two men to
take him to the station, and in a crowded thoroughfare like Belgrave Gate, some
hundreds and sometimes thousands of people are collected, the officers are very
roughly handled, stones thrown, and the greatest disorder prevails and all
along the route, to the great annoyance and danger of the inhabitants. If a
small station were built there, this would all but obviate it, and instead of
requiring two officers one would be sufficient, and he would be back on his
beat in a few minutes, whereas now two beats are frequently left unprotected
for an hour and upwards. The same remarks apply to other parts of the town.
On the 19th March last year
Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary for this district made his annual
inspection and expressed himself well satisfied with the efficiency and
discipline of the force.
In conclusion the chief
constable had much pleasure in stating that the general conduct of the officers
and constables during the year had been most satisfactory. The strength of the police forces 107, including the
head constable, 14 sergeants, four detectives and 84 men.
1875
The Leicester Chronicle, 2
January 1875:
There are one or two instructive features in connection with the criminal
returns for the past year which are apt to be overlooked inasmuch as they can
only be perceived by contrasting the details of Head Constable Farndale’s
returns for the past year with those of his predecessor …
The Leicester Chronicle, 20
February 1875:
DISASTROUS FIRE IN LEICESTER. The large factory of Messrs Hands and
Scampton, in Heanor Street, which was destroyed by fire about five years ago,
and reconstructed, was burnt to the ground on Wednesday and damage committed to
the extent of about £8,000. … A posse of police under Head Constable
Farndale proved of considerable service in keeping back an eager crowd, and
so facilitating the operations of the brigades.
The Leicester Journal, 26
February 1875:
TOWN TALK AND STREET ECHOES. The Inspector makes one suggestion which we
trust the Town Council will see its way clear to adopt. The same suggestion
had been previously made by Chief Constable Farndale, and is one which it
is highly essential should be speedily carried out. We refer to the establishment
in various localities of divisional station houses, so that the constables
may not be taken off their beats so far as to the central police station on
every apprehension.
The Hinckley News, 15 May 1875. In an article about poor
quality meat … The meat was destroyed; part of it was given to Mr
Farndale’s dog, and three quarters and the head he saw boiled up for
the pigs of Mr Gibbs …
The Leicester Journal, 11 June
1875: Chief Constable
Farndale is very desirous to have branch stations, but for some unexplained
cause the Council hesitates to comply with his wish. When a police officer is
severely injured in the discharge of his duty, then we suppose something in
this direction will be done, but until then our sluggish Corporation prefers to
wait.
The Leicester Chronicle, 2
October 1875:
ALARMING PETROLEUM EXPLOSION IN LEICESTER. A petty quarrel, but one of
serious interest to the public, came before the Leicester Magistrates at
the Town Hall on Friday. According to the statements of the Head Constable (Mr
Farndale) and the parties, it appears that a few days ago Councillor Wilford
gave an order to a London firm for four large casks of petroleum, which were
to be sent via the Grand Junction Canal to Leicester, where, it seems, Mr
Wilford expected they would be stored by the company. The highly explosive
materials arrived in due course, and were tendered to Mr Wilford on Thursday,
but he refused delivery, the law forbidding that such large quantities of so
dangerous a liquid should be kept in a populous part. The drayman
knowing the nature of the consignment, refused to take back the casks, and
deposited them in the street. The agent of the Canal Company called upon Mr
Wilford, ad offered to send the goods back to London, provided he gave a
re-consignment note, remarking that he was prevented from storing the goods by
the same law that affected Mr Wilford. This Mr Wilford refused to do until he
had communicated with the firm in London of whom he had ordered the petroleum.
Meanwhile Mr Farndale had his attention called to the obstruction in the
street, and warned the parties to appear before the magistrates, and they
accordingly did so, after the safety of those in the neighbourhood had been in
danger for a considerable time. The parties, setting upon the advice of the
magistrates agreed – Mr Wilford to give a re-consignment note, and the other to
have the casks removed by one o’clock that day. The matter appeared to end
there, but it seems that the parties had only agreed to differ; for it is said
that on the company calling for the casks Mr Wilford refused to allow one of
his men to assist in loading them, and the drayman went off and left them in
the street. Any man might, while lighting his pipe, throw an ignited match on
the barrels which now lie in St Nicholas square, and the result be a disastrous
explosion, such as has never been witnessed in Leicester, and equal to that
which occurred a short time ago, from the same substance, on the Regent’s Canal.
The Leicester Chronicle, 25
December 1875: CHRISTMAS.
Head Constable Farndale, with a view to maintaining order in the
streets of the borough on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, has issued a
handbill stating that the police have received instructions to take proceedings
against persons behaving in a disorderly manner at the times specified.
1876
The Leicester Chronicle, 6 May
1876: Alleged
Gambling. John Yealy was charged with permitting gaming on his licenced
premises, the Loughborough House, Church Gate, on the 15th April. Mr. Wright
defended. Mr Farndale stated that the defendant had promised to do away with
the skittle alley if the charge was not preceded with, and under the
circumstances he wished the magistrates to allow him to withdraw from the case.
Mr. Wright stated that he had a complete answer to the case. The bench allowed
the application of Mr Farndale. and Tuesday before W Rowlett Esq. Remand. Mary Ann White, a respectably dressed girl,
was charged with stealing money from several schoolchildren on the previous
day. On the application of Mr Farndale, who stated that the children from
whom the money had been taken were very young, and that their evidence
would require to be corroborated by other persons, the prisoner was remanded
until Thursday.
The Leicester Chronicle, 27
May 1876, in a
letter to the editor regarding the use of handcuffs: … When my
sentence was passed, I respectfully requested the magistrates to permit me to
be taken direct to prison. Instead I was kept for four hours in one of those
beastly cells at the police station.
On my release I asked Mr Farndale why I was handcuffed, and he
replied that all convicted prisoners are handcuffed, and that as he had no
special instructions in my case I was necessarily treated as any other convicted
prisoner would be. My opinion is that the odium rests with the magistrates,
though I can hardly reconcile Mr Farndale’s statement with the fact that even
convicted prisoners have been (to my knowledge) sometimes removed unmanacled – even as lately as a week last Wednesday. I
remain, dear Sir, Yours respectfully
ONE OF THE PRISONERS,
Leicester, May 24th, 1876
The Leicester Chronicle, 29
July 1876:
Leicester Police Force Excursion. The members of the Leicester Police Force,
through the kindness of the Rev A A Isaacs, vicar of
Christ Church, and several friends, enjoyed their annual outing on Tuesday. The
party met at the Town Hall in the morning, the men being accompanied by their
wives and sweethearts, numbering altogether 123. Six conveyances took the party,
headed by the excellent band of the force, to Beaumanor, where
refreshments were served in a large marquee. After dinner the party visited
Bardon Hill, and both before and after tea engaged in dancing, to the strains
of the band. Before leaving, three cheers were given for the Rev A A Isaacs, who accompanied the party, and also for Mr
Farndale, the excellent head constable. The party returned to the town in
the evening greatly delighted with their day's excursion, which was rendered
all the more enjoyable by the fineness of the weather.
The Leicester Daily Mercury, 7
August 1876, at
the opening of the new town hall: A procession was then formed in the
following order: Mounted policeman. Rifle volunteer band. Foresters’ banner.
Robin Hood, Friar Tuck and the little foresters in regalia. Band. Banner of
Saint Mary's Lodge of Nottingham Oddfellows. Several members in characterful.
Banner of the Georgian and Dragon Lodge. Drum and Fife band. Banner of the
Grand United Order of Oddfellows. Members in Regalia. Banner of the Royal
Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes. Members in regalia carrying small banners of
the Prince of Wales, Royal Alfred, Marquis of Lorne, Sir Henry Pearce, Duke of
Marlborough, King and Crown, Tichborne, Good
Samaritan, and Shakespeare :odges, and lastly a
banner containing a representation of Shakespeare himself. The members were
loudly applauded. 3 Mounted Police. Firemen on two engines, holding hose,
decorated with flowers. Lamplighters with poles, the top of each being
surmounted with flowers. Yeomanry cavalry band. Representatives of the press.
Leading tradesmen of the town. Head Constable
Farndale on horseback. School board officers.
Members of the school board. Members of the Corporation. Borough magistrate
clerks. Borough magistrates. Carriage containing mayors of four neighbouring
towns. Great Mace bearer....
1877
The Rutland Echo and
Leicestershire Advertiser, 8 June 1877: Promenade concert on Leicester racecourse. A few evenings ago
the members of the Borough Police Band, numbering in the aggregate 24
performers, under their talented conductor, Mr J A Smith, commenced this vernal
season’s campaign with a soiree musicale in that aromatic Elysian field,
where, on a scorching summer day, loungers may be seen in a state of apathetic
listlessness and total prostration of energy, which the vox populi of the
delectable town by universal consent have christened a recreation ground. The
programme was varied and excellently chosen, and it is almost superfluous to
say that all the instrumentalists sustained their parts admirably, and this,
the first concert alfresco, was rendered more attractive by the appearance of
the band for the first time in their new silver braided caps, which
closely resembled the shakos of the celebrated zouaves of the French army, and
which have been supplied by Mr Underwood, of Granby Street, who not only
executed this order, as well as a previous one for helmets, to the satisfaction
of the Watch Committee, and imparted a dignity and grace to the ‘colour’ of the
gallant regiment whom we are accustomed to see every day in blue uniform and
white buttons, and who like ‘birds of a feather flock together’ very often in the
stately drawing room of Farndale's Hotel. Correspondent.
The Leicester Journal, 31
August 1877: THE
TRAFFIC IN ITALIAN CHILDREN. … Mr
Blunt then addressed the Bench, and said it would hardly be necessary for him
to enter into the legal question, as Mr Farndale, the Chief Constable
had already received a communication from Mr Crowe on the subject …
The Leicester Journal, 16
November 1877: A
TESTIMONIAL TO COL BURNABY. Mr R Waterfield has addressed a long letter to the
papers, thanking the late Mayor (Alderman Winterton), the Town Council and Mr
Farndale, in the name of the Veterans, for what was done in connection with
the late banquet, and suggesting a fund should be raised to present Colonel
Burnaby with an address on vellum, and a life-size sized portrait, and also to
present Staff Instructor Manship with a silver cup.
The Leicester Journal, 28
December 1877:
THE LATE ASSAULT OF A WIFE. DEATH OF THE VICTIM. On Friday evening, last
week, between five and six o’clock, Mr Hetley, house
surgeon at the Infirmary, intimated to the police authorities that a
considerable change for the worse had taken place in the condition of Mrs
White, who had been severely burned through her husband throwing a lamp
at her on Saturday night last. Mr Farndale at once sent a cab for Mr W
Rowlett JP and another for Mr Blackwell, the magistrate’s clerk, in order that
depositions of the woman might be taken, and the husband of the woman was
also conveyed to the Infirmary so that he might be present …
1878
The Police Gazette on
Monday 18 March 1878: Description of a man committed to the Leicester Borough gaol
on 11th instant, for 21 days, on a charge of attempting to pick pockets in the
market: James Brown, fictitious name, 32 years of age, 5 feet 3 1/2 inches
high, brown eyes, light brown hair, turning grey, pale complexion, blue scar
centre of chest, large mole under left breast, mole on left side of back, three
moles on left hip, scar centre of forehead, blue dot on left forearm, and large
burn mark on right wrist, about 1 1/2 inches in size; dressed in a light grey
broken check coat, with pocket on the hips, nearly new, Scotch tartan patterned
trousers and waistcoat, blue and dark green squares, dark grey twill serge
overcoat, with velvet collar, blue and black striped necktie, hard black
billycock hat, and elastic sided boots, much worn; Is no doubt a travelling
thief, and appears to know Birmingham well, gave an address at 16 York Street,
Leeds. Information to be given to Chief Constable Farndale, Central Police
Station, Town Hall, Leicester. Bow street, March 13.
The Hinckley News, 11 May
1878: The
Review was held on Friday on the race course, under the inspecting officer, and
in the presence of five or six thousand people. The Regiment, in their handsome
full dress, left the market place shortly after ten o’clock, accompanied to the
review ground by a large concourse of persons. Having been formed up into a
huge square, which was carefully kept by a large posse of police under Chief
Superintendent Farndale, the review opened by the Regiment marching past
the saluting point in review order, walking, trotting, and then walking past in
Indian file. This was all done in good style, the trot being very creditable to
the riders. In going past in Indian file several horses became unmanageable,
and this, to some extent, spoilt the general effect of the movement. Several
miscellaneous evolutions followed with respect to various formations by the
respective squadrons. In these the wheeling was but very indifferently
performed …
The Leicester Chronicle, 1
June 1878: … Leicester
is about to become a place of some little importance, through having been
chosen as the most fitting place in the midland counties for a military centre.
As many military gentlemen with their families will thus soon settle down in
our midst, and as we have also the attraction of the Leicestershire hunting
grounds, I think the time has arrived when Leicester might be supplied with a
corps of commissionaires. It might be organised under the same rules and
regulations as those in force in London, and other large towns, and even in
Nottingham, where they have been established for some time. Our Head
Constable, Mr Farndale, whose influence is felt and appreciated, could act as
its chief, and under his careful supervision some useful and trustworthy
men could be brought together and employed by the public …
The Leicester Journal, 12 July
1878: REMOVAL
OF PRISONERS. The MAYOR read a recommendation from the Borough Justices that Mr
Farndale be allowed £1 a week on his undertaking to make all necessary
arrangements for the removal of prisoners to and from the Gaol. … Mr
Farndale was responsible to the magistrates for the conveyance of the prisoners
to the gaol, and he had made arrangements with Colonel Milman to allow him
the use of the county van, the borough van being in a dilapidated state … It
was the business of the magistrates to see that the prisoners were conveyed to
the gaol, and Mr Farndale, as their servant, was responsible for this being
done … Alderman Paget said Mr Farndale was undoubtedly the best man to whom
the management of this plan could be entrusted. He did not see why it might
not be left in his hands, allowing him to charge the Council for the horse, the
van, and the driver, so he might command their services from time to time. They
would not wish that Mr Farndale should lose anything by this duty, neither was
it desirable that it should be made a source of profit to him. … The MAYOR in
replying said Mr Farndale would buy the horse and keep it … The Justices
considered this would be an economic arrangement, and he was quite certain that
Mr Farndale would gain nothing from it.
The Leicester Chronicle, 28
December 1878: THE
PRIVILEGES OF POLICE CONSTABLES. To the Editor. Sir, I wish to ask, through
your journal, whether it is lawful for a policeman to enter the home of any
person without authority? I think not. On the 9th inst
two police constables came to my house, and tore from me my son. They were not,
moreover, in any way civil. My wife was at home when they arrived. The
neighbours came to the help of the mother, and would not let them take the boy.
When I reached home the neighbours told me that one of the officers pulled off
his coat, and used objectionable language. All this was done without authority.
I asked them for their warrant, not being willing to let the lad go, but they
told me that they had orders from Mr Farndale, and that I rendered myself
liable to three months imprisonment for interfering with an officer in the
discharge of his duty. I consequently let them take the boy. I contend that no
man has the right to enter a house on such a mission unless he has on his uniform,
or has a warrant. If it were otherwise a man might go to any house, and say
he had been sent by Mr Farndale to search the dwelling. The people might
then give way to him, and thus be robbed. My boy had done nothing but abscond
from the smack owners. His case is very hard indeed. Mr Dexter, one of the men
who fetched my boy, said there was 10s reward and that he might as well have it
as anyone else. It was thus for the sake of the money they took my boy, though
there was no warrant from Grimsby at the time. My son was kept at the police
station at Leicester for five days and five nights apparently without
authority. But they let these smack owners know, and the warrant came on
Saturday. He had then been there four days and nights with no light. They
cannot now apprentice boys without their parent’s consent; But we cannot free
those who have been bound unless we buy them off. One person in Leicester has
asked a smack owner of Grimsby what he would take to liberate his son, and he
demanded no less than £35. If some person of influence would take the matter
up, they might show us parents in Leicester how to gain back the boys who have
been decoyed away. In conclusion, I may say that if I was to take the liberty a
constable did in my case, they would take me before the magistrates, and I
should be punished. I am yours respectfully, Thomas William Riley. 189 Argyle
street, Leicester, 23 December 1878.
1879
The Leicester Daily Mercury, 15 August 1879: Leicester Police Holiday. On Thursday the members of the Borough Police force held their annual holiday at Great Glenn, the residence of the mayor. The band of the force proceeded by the conveyance, and a portion of the men went by the 9.30am train, another section following by the afternoon train. A substantial lunch having been partaken of, a cricket match was played between the Police Force and a team from Great Glenn., resulting in a victory for the former. … the party, which was subsequently joined by Mr Joseph Farndale, the Chief Constable.
The Leicester Journal, 19
September 1879:
PRESENTATION TO HEAD CONSTABLE FARNDALE: On Wednesday last, a presentation was
made to the Head Constable of the Borough Police Force (Mr. J Farndale), by the
men under his command. The Head Constable has recently been taking his holiday,
and during his absence a subscription was entered into by the members of the
force for the purpose of presenting him with a token of their attachment to him
as their superior officer. Sufficient money was spontaneously raised to enable
the promoters of the movement to purchase a very handsome and massive black
marble twenty one day timepiece, with bronze and gilt ornaments. The
timepiece, which was procured from the shop of Mr Russell, Humberston Gate, was
greatly admired. At half past one o’clock on Wednesday, nearly the whole of the
members of the force, who had assembled in the muster room for the purpose of
receiving their weekly wages, were formed into three sides of a square, when
Head Constable Farndale was apprised of the fact the men desired to present him
with a testimonial.
Inspector Bayley, in making
the presentation, said... It was not
until four or five days after the Head Constable left Leicester for his holiday
excursion, that the subscription was opened, and in the short time which
elapsed prior to his return, the testimonial was purchased, which proved the
good feeling all had towards their superior officer. He trusted Mr and Mrs
Farndale, and son, would live long and prosper, and that the clock before
them possessed as good a mainspring to regulate its movements as Mr Farndale
had to regulate the police force. He was sure the Head Constable would then
have no occasion to complain of its inaccuracy....
Sergeant Poultney said
during the seven or eight years Mr Farndale had been amongst them, he had
gained the good feeling of every member of the force by the straightforward and
honest manner in which he dealt with the men. If a man did his duty, he
found himself rewarded, as was proved by the fact that no less than five or
six men who had belonged to the force under the command of Mr Farndale, had
been appointed to the office of chief constables in other towns. On the other
hand, if a man did not do his duty, he got what was called ‘the straight
tip’; or rather, he was cautioned, and received another opportunity of
pulling himself together by better conduct. He hoped Mr Farndale would live
long to look upon the timepiece, and that he would value it not on account of
its intrinsic worth, but on account of the good feeling it manifested towards
him (applause).
The time piece which bore
the following inscription: “Presented to Joseph Farndale, Esq, Chief Constable,
by the officers and constables of the Leicester Borough police force, as a mark
of esteem and regard; 17th September 1879” was then handed to the Head
Constable by Mr Bayley.
Mr Farndale, who was
received with a loud applause, in reply said: Mr Bayley and brother officers, I feel
utterly unable to thank you for the presentation you have been good enough to
make to me today. I have been so completely taken by surprise that I feel I
shall not be able adequately to express to you my feelings for the handsome
timepiece ... I came to the town, when the force was not so large as now by
30 men. This shows the good results of our meetings. At those meetings I
have always endeavoured to impress upon you the fact that you have not only to
look to me for instructions and orders, but to regard me as a brother
officer and friend to whom you can come for advice and support. Those of
you who have come to me for such advice and support, have not done so in vain.
I hope that this good feeling will continue. I am sure nothing will be
wanting on my parts to add to your comforts, and to assist you in every way,
and thus commend myself to your good opinions. I thank you particularly for the
time you I've chosen to present me with this handsome timepiece, as it is an
extremely gratifying welcome on my return from my holiday. I trust I may
live amongst you for many years to come. I have had one very advantageous
opportunity of leaving Leicester, but as Mr Bayley has said, this is a large
and prosperous town, and I have received in it nothing but kindness since I
have been here, not only from the inhabitants generally, but the members of the
police force, and I begin to feel as though I should be leaving home were I to go away from Leicester. I should be sorry to
leave Leicester, and so long as I am treated in the kind manner I am by you,
and the inhabitants generally, I don't think I shall be likely to do so, (loud
applause). I beg to return you my most sincere thanks, and also for the kind
way in which my wife and son had been spoken of. My boy is present with us,
and I have no doubt these proceedings will have a lasting impression upon his
mind, for to him will be the timepiece handed down as an heirloom (loud
applause).
The Derbyshire Times, 4
October 1879:
the Leicester Journal of last week has been kindly sent me by a friend, and I
read in it a most pleasing report of a presentation made to a gentleman
formerly resident in Chesterfield. Some eight years ago Chief Constable
Farndale of Chesterfield, was appointed Chief Constable of the Borough of
Leicester. He left Chesterfield respected and regretted, and it is pleasant
to find that the good feeling manifested towards him here has been shown in his
present home. The men of the Leicester Police Force, taking advantage of
Mr Farndale's absence on holiday, opened a subscription amongst themselves, and
on his return presented him with a very handsome marble timepiece as a token
of their esteem and respect for him, not only as their chief, but as a friend.
Well done Leicester.
The Leicester Chronicle, 6
December 1879: Shocking
accident at Groby Pool. A Young lady drowned. On Tuesday
afternoon, a shocking incident occurred at Groby pool, by which a young lady
lost her life, and several other persons had a narrow escape. [At the inquest]
the following evidence was given:- Joseph Farndale: I am Chief Constable of the
Borough of Leicester. I knew the deceased; she was the daughter of William John
Bruis, of Leicester, shoe maker; she was 19 years old.”
1880
The Derbyshire and
Chesterfield Herald, 12 June 1880. The Leicester Borough Police have a capital institution, to wit,
an annual dinner, and at this attends the Mayor and many members of the
Corporation who show their appreciation of that which in too many instances is
a much abused body. But my principal object in drawing attention to the fact is
that the chief constable of the large borough mentioned is Mr Joseph
Farndale, who will be pleasurably remembered as head of the staff of police in
Chesterfield some years back, whence he went to Leicester, receiving the
appointment above the heads of a large number of candidates. On the occasion
of this dinner a most interesting presentation was made to Mr Farndale by chief
constables who had served under him. The presentation consisted of a paid of handsome bronze ornaments, on one of which
was inscribed the following: “Presented to Joseph Farndale, Esq., Chief Constable of the Borough of Leicester, as a
memento of the esteem and gratitude felt by the subscribers, all of
whom have had the privilege of serving under him.” The subscribers were Mr
G Windle, chief constable of Hanley; Mr G Mercer, chief constable of
Colchester, both of whom were members of the Chesterfield Police; Mr C Pole,
chief constable of Halifax; Mr D Preston, chief constable of Banbury; Mr J
Wilkinson, chief constable of Kendal; Mr J Pemberton, chief constable of
Grantham; and Mr C Clarkson, chief constable of Wakefield.
The Derbyshire Times, 31 July
1880: MR
FARNDALE. At a meeting of the Leicester Town Council on Tuesday last, the Watch
Committee recommended that the salary of Mr Farndale, Chief Constable of
that borough be raised from £350 to £450 per annum, there having been no
increase for five and a half years. In the discussion on the report Mr
Farndale’s services were highly spoken of, and the proposition was carried
unanimously. Mr Farndale will be remembered well in Chesterfield, where je held the appointment of Chief Constable, and we
congratulate him, as we are sure all who know him will, upon his successful
career in the larger town of Leicester.
The Leicester Chronicle, 31
July 1880: Mr Farndale’s salary. The Watch Committee
reported that they had an application for an increase of the salary from Mr
Farndale, chief constable, and recommended that in future he should receive
£450 instead of £350 a year.
Alderman Anderson moved the
adoption of the report, and said it with some satisfaction to know that the
committee were unanimous in the recommendation made. The increase was
recommended on three grounds, one being on the strength of returns obtained
from other towns. At Nottingham, with a population of 168,000, and a police
force of 189, the salary of the chief constable was £550 with a deputy having
£250. At Newcastle, with 140,000 and a force of 200, the salary of the chief
was £525; and at Salford, with 185,000, and a force of 300, £500 a year was
paid to the chief constable who was recently appointed. At Birkenhead, with
80,000 people in the force of 117 constables, the salary of the chief was £450;
At Blackburn, with 102,000 and a force of 102, £450, also a recent appointment.
At Rochdale with 72,000 and a force of 65, £430; At Derby with a population of
80,000 people and 90 men, £400; At Middlesbrough with 52,000 people in 52 men,
£367; at Portsmouth, with 134,000 people and 130 men, £362, a recent appointment.
At Halifax, with 70,000 and 75 men, £350, the office there being held by Mr
Pelley, who was for some time a member of the Leicester force. Mr. Anderson
also quoted Plymouth, Bath, Sunderland and Stockport, and said he thought he
had brought forward quite enough instances. When Mr Farndale mentioned the
matter to him last year, he could not see his way to bring it before the
committee, but having considered the subject very carefully he had great
pleasure in introducing it now. The committee recommended the increase,
secondly, on the ground of the highly satisfactory manner in which Mr Farndale
discharged his duties, and the efficiency in which the police force was
maintained by him. Five or six men had been taken from the force and placed at
the head of other forces in the country, and he had the authority of Colonel
Cobb for the statement that the Leicester force was the best that he
inspected....
The Daily Telegraph, on Friday
29 Oct 1880:
Yesterday a disastrous flood visited Leicester and Leicestershire, which
inundated many streets and hundreds of houses, and did a great amount of
damage. So quickly did the waters rise that in many cases the inhabitants awoke
only to find their houses inundated and the furniture floating about the rooms.
On Wednesday night the gas supply in many dwellings was stopped. Work at
several factories had to be suspended and traffic was impossible. The Mayor,
Mr. John Bennett, the chief constable Mr Farndale, and other officials have
visited the inundated districts to tender what aid was possible…
The Evening Post, Wednesday 29
Dec 1880: CRIME
IN LEICESTERSHIRE. Mr Farndale, chief constable of the Leicester police, has
just issued a report in which he states: I have to report a very
material decrease in the number of indictable offences committed during the
year, in comparison with last year's returns, and a still greater decrease in
the number of offences disposed of summarily. This is a subject for
congratulation, when the rapid yearly growth of the town is taken into
consideration. By referring to the indictable offences, table No 4, it will be
seen that there is a decrease of 138 cases in comparison with the returns for
1879. This is mainly attributable to the passing of an Act, entitled the Summary Jurisdiction
Act 1879, which
came into operation on the 1st of January this year, conferring on magistrates
the power of summarily disposing of crimes which previously could only be dealt
with on indictment at sessions or assises, thereby reducing the number of
indictable offences to a considerable extent. The alteration of the law
enlarging the jurisdiction of justices, and giving them power to deal with
cases of larceny to the value of 40s, instead of 5s, as heretofore, causes a
similar percentage of apprehensions to be shown. The total number of offences
reported is 245, and the number of apprehensions for the same is 84, or 34.2%.
Had the law remained unaltered, the number of offences shown would have been
270, but the number of apprehensions would have been 109, or 40.3%. Then again,
as has been explained in previous reports, the number of crimes detected cannot
be gauged by the number of prisoners apprehended, as it frequently happens that
a thief has committed several offences, and is convicted of not more than one
or two. This number is only shown in the column of total prisoners apprehended,
but all the offences he has committed are shown under the heading of total
crimes. There is a decrease of 218, or 13.2%, in the number of persons
apprehended and a decrease of 218, or 11.6% in the number of persons summoned,
making a total decrease of 416. In the former, the decrease is mainly under the
heading of drunkenness, the decrease on the offence alone being 113 cases, or
20.1%, less than last year. In the latter, the decrease is partly under the
heading of the Elementary
Education and Vaccination Acts, and a small decrease in
common assaults and breaches of the peaceful stop the aggregate number of
persons preceded against during the year was 3,081; last year 3,517.
1881
The 1881 Census recorded that Joseph
Farndale, Chief Constable, 38, lived at 94 Municipality Building, Bishop
Street, Leicester, with Jane Farndale, his wife, 40; John William Farndale,
their son, 12; Alice Bush, a visitor and Naomi Parsons, general domestic
servant.
The Leicester Daily Mercury, 8
January 1881: The
Public Park in the Abbey Meadow is now being rapidly proceeded with. A contract
for the supply of some 16,000 trees has been entered into, and they are being
brought to the spot, ready for planting. I hope Mr Farndale will also plant
some bobbies there, to take care of them, because there’s a good many new
houses being built in the neighbourhood, with gardens which require shrubbing.
The Leicester Chronicle, 15
January 1881:
In a letter to the editor: Sir. Who would be a magistrate, and who would
be a “bobby”?. The writer has no special leaning to either but is fully
alive to the fact that there are magistrates and there are magistrates and
there are policemen and there are policemen. … Many times have I heard from the
temperance platform, and in a variety of ways, both magistrates, superintendent
and police condemned in no measured terms for not assisting to put down
drunkenness; and often it has occurred to me that such was the case.. .. Mr
Farndale is informed that “casual customers”, or plainer still, casual
drunkards, must not be interfered with unless they (the police) have
by some mysterious process informed Sampson that the “lion” has already had
enough. What nonsense! What would Mr Publican say to a policeman who
should thus act? Why, he would tell him to go and mind his business, and serve
him right. There is just as much sense, Mr Editor, in Mr Farndale, knowing a
rat put, betting house etc, to exist in a certain locality, in order to catch
offenders, sending to London for a detective; but prior to his arrival orders
one of his Leicester men round the rat pit etc to say what he has done, so they
had better look out. When would the evil doers be caught? Let Mr Mereweather
answer.
The Leicester Journal, 11
March 1881: ANNUAL
DINNER OF THE BOROUGH FIRE BRIGADE. [Superintendent Johnson] proposed “The
Health of the Police Force” with which he associated the name of Head Constable
Farndale. He did not think there was any other town where the police
force was better conducted than in Leicester. The police had to assist the
fire brigade in cases of fire, or they would be utterly powerless. He felt
grateful to the members of the police for the services they had rendered to the
brigade (hear, hear). Head constable FARNDALE in responding said he was glad to
know that Supt Jonson found no jar between the police and the fire brigade
(hear, hear). It was well that the two bodies should work together in harmony.
The Hinckley News, 19 March
1881: Henry
James, a well dressed young man, giving his address
as the Temperance Hotel, Moore-street, Birmingham, was charged with stealing a
purse from the person of Mrs Susannah Longland, a widow … Mr Farndale
informed the Bench that the accused had already undergone a term of six
weeks imprisonment for pocket picking – Sentenced to three months’ hard labour.
The Nottingham Evening Post, 1
July 1881: As
a fitting conclusion to yesterday’s proceedings a display of fireworks by Mr
Pain, of London, whose entertainments are ow so well known
and appreciated by the Nottingham public, took place upon the Trent Bridge
Cricket Ground, last evening … The police arrangements of the day were of a
successful character … Mr J Farndale, the chief constable of Leicester, had
under his command 40 men from the Leicester borough police force.
The Leicester Journal, 14
October 1881 reported:
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Leicester show branch. President: His Grace the Duke of Rutland KG. Vice
presidents: the Venerable Archdeacon Fearon, Sir A G Hazelrigg,
Bart, T T Pagett Esquire MP. The committee of the
Society have agreed to provide a properly trained and efficient officer who
shall be permanently stationed at Leicester for the purpose of preventing
cruelty to animals, and conducting prosecutions both in the Town and County if
the sum of £100 a year at least is obtained in subscriptions to pay for the
services of the officer, and the cost of prosecutions. A further sum of about
£30 will be required to cover printing, advertising and local expenses. Through
the kindness of the Mayor, John Bennett Esquire, the under mentioned
subscriptions have already been promised and it is earnestly hoped that those
who are interested in the promotion of kindness to animals will contribute the
remainder of the requisite funds. Mr Farndale, chief constable, has kindly
consented to receive subscriptions, or they can be paid to the account of the
Society at Pares’s Bank, or to Mr H Burgess, honorary secretary, pro tem, Barridge Street, Leicester,
October 1881. Subscriptions already promised... Mr Farndale £1 1s 0d.
1882
In March 1882, Joseph Farndale left the Leicester Force to become Chief Constable
of Birmingham.
James Duns took over as Chief Constable by which time the salary was increased
to £300 per annum plus rent, rates, free coal and uniform.
Chief Constable of Birmingham City Police, 1882 to 1899 (17
years)
Joseph Farndale was appointed to be chief of the Birmingham Police
Force on 24 January 1882.
The Birmingham City police
force was established by special Act of Parliament in 1839, following chartist
rioting. During Joseph’s tenure as Chief Constable, when Birmingham became a
city in 1889, the town police became the Birmingham City Police.
Chief Constables of
Birmingham City Police included:
1839 –
1842: Captain Francis Burgess
1842 –
1860: Richard Stephens
1860 –
1876: George Glossop
1876 –
1881: Major Edwin Bond
1882 – 1899: Joseph Farndale
1899 –
1935: Sir Charles Haughton Rafter KBE KPM
1935 – 1941: Cecil Charles Hudson Moriarty CBE OBE
CStJ
1941 –
1945: Sir William Johnson
1945 –
1963: Sir Edward Dodd
1963 –
1974: Sir William Derrick Capper
Birmingham was granted City status in
1889, so Joseph Farndale was the first Chief Constable of Birmingham City
Police.
Having been granted City status
Birmingham set about building its own Assize Court. The Victoria Law Courts, in
Corporation Street, Birmingham were opened in 1891. At the same time the Police
Lock Up in Steelhouse Lane was built, with a tunnel
connecting it to the law courts. This Victorian Lock Up remained in continuous
use until it closed in 2016. It is now home to the West Midlands Police Museum. Unless it was
during one of his illnesses Joseph Farndale would certainly have been present
at the opening.
The West Midlands Police Museum have
produced a book on 150 Years of Policing Birmingham.
A History of the
Birmingham Police Force, written in 1907 (Birmingham
Mail, 13 April 1907):
Our City Police
HOW THE FORCE WAS STARTED
AND DEVELOPED
The Birmingham policeman
is an interesting product of evolution. …
the Birmingham police force as now understood is quite a modern
institution. It came into being in 1839 under peculiar circumstances, during
the trouble troublous times of the chartist riots.
The town had, of course, been policed prior to this, but even a century ago
there was no regular body of constables or watchmen. Parish constables there
were, but their service was often as inadequate as it was unreliable. During
the latter part of the 18th century men were employed by the justices to patrol
the streets. This arrangement could not have been of a permanent character, for
in 1795 a resolution was adopted by the inhabitants expressing the opinion that
the time had long since arrived when the two constables were found inadequate
to look after public safety. When the street commissioners came into being
regular watchmen, “Charlies”, as they were called, were appointed; and when
assistance was needed the magistrates simply exercised their right of swearing
in special constables. The ordinary arrest of criminals devolved upon the
parish constables.
The name of Major Bond, Mr
Glossop’s successor, will ever be associated with the Birmingham police. He was
a capable officer but he brought himself into disrepute by his crusade against
the silent drunkards... The military chiefship was short and eventful and
terminated within five years, in 1881. During the Major 's term of office the
strength of the force was advanced to 520. To his credit be it said he looked
well after his men.
The force was further
developed during Mr Farndale’s leadership, which commenced in 1882. It was over
800 strong when he retired, there being one constable to every 683 inhabitants
This compares today to a strength of 900 or one officer to every 560 persons.
The Ledsam Street dynamite discovery, during Mr Farndale’s regime, brought
universal praise on the force. Nitro-glycerine was manufactured in premises
extensively used as a paper hanger shop, and a whole gang was captured, and
prevented from carrying out a diabolical scheme of explosions at important
buildings in London.
The Manchester Courier and
Lancashire General Advertiser, 25 January 1882: Mr Joseph Farndale, Chief Constable of
Leicester, has been appointed chief superintendent of the Birmingham Police
Force, at a salary of £700 per annum.
The Gloucester Citizen 25
January 1882: The
Birmingham Watch Committee have appointed Mr Joseph Farndale, Chief
Constable of Leicester, to the vacant post of Chief Superintendent of the
Birmingham Police Force, at a salary of £700 per annum. The other four selected
candidates were Captain Orr, of Greenock; Mr Clarkson, Chief Constable of
Wakefield; Mr Catbush, Chief Inspector of the
Metropolitan Police; and Mr Jervis, Chief Constable of Blackburn.
The Banbury Advertiser, 26
January 1882:
APPOINTMENT OF A CHIEF OF POLICE FOR BIRMINGHAM. The five candidates were …
Joseph Farndale, aged 37 years, chief constable of Leicester … with the final
result that, though all five candidates were considered extremely good men, Mr
J Farndale was unanimously elected, on the motion of the Chairman … Mr
Farndale was seven years in Middlesbrough police force; for two and a half
years he was chief constable for Chesterfield, and he has held his appointment
as chief constable for Leicester for over ten years. Mr Farndale’s salary was
twice increased since his appointment as chief constable of Leicester, each
time by £100, in addition to which an annual allowance of £52 for the expense
of a horse was grated to him, bring the value of his office up to about £600
per annum. The salary attached to the chief of police of Birmingham is £700,
without allowances of any kind.
The Derbyshire and
Chesterfield Herald, 28 January 1882: I am pleased to note that Chief Constable Joseph Farndale,
who was for some years the head of the Chesterfield Borough Police Force, and
who has since filled the important office of Chief Constable of the Borough of
Leicester, has been appointed to the high position of Chief Constable of
Birmingham. The post was vacant by the resignation of Major Bond. Mr
Farndale’s salary will be £700 a year in his new position. He has had a
remarkably successful career as a police officer, but has always won golden
opinions from all with whom he has come into contact. Mr Farndale succeeded at
Chesterfield Mr Samuel Stevens who has just been appointed Chief Constable of
Nottingham. Mr Farndale was one of five candidates out of a large number, the
others being Captain Orr, of Greenock, Mr Clarkson, CC of Wakefield, Mr Catbush, chief inspector of Metropolitan police force and
Mr Jervis, CC of Blackburn.
The Burnley Express, 28
January 1882: Mr
Joseph Farndale, Chief Constable of Leicester, has been appointed chief
superintendent of the Birmingham Police Force, at a salary of £700 per annum.
The Pateley Bridge and
Nidderdale Herald, 28 January 1882: Mr J Farndale, a native of Whitby, and for many
years connected with the Middlesbro’ police force, has been appointed Chief
Constable of Birmingham, with a salary of £700 a year.
The Leicester Chronicle,
18 February 1882:
PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS TO THE LATE CHIEF CONSTABLE. Mr Farndale left
Leicester this morning to enter on his duties as Chief Constable of Birmingham.
As a token of regard and esteem, the officers and constables of the Borough
Force last night presented him with an address, beautifully illuminated on
vellum, and enclosed in a handsome frame …
A lengthy article follows
including the address: Inspector M’Cormick then read the address, as follows:
“To Joseph Farndale Esq, Chief Constable of the Borough of Leicester. Respected
Sir, We, the Inspectors of Leicester Borough Police, on behalf of all ranks of
the Force who have had the honour and pleasure of serving under you, are
desirous, on your departure from amongst us, of expressing our unfeigned regret
at your removal from the position which you have fulfilled with such honour and
credit for the last ten years. Allow us also to tender you our grateful
acknowledgement of the many improvements which you have affected in the hours
of duty in the efficiency in the general working of the force, as well as for
your unwearied efforts for the advancement of our interests in the service,
which fact is borne out by the promotion of many of your officers to
responsible positions in other towns. Although deeply regretting your removal,
we beg to offer you our warmest congratulations on your accession to such an
honourable position as that of Chief Constable of the Birmingham Police, one of
the most important commands in police forces of the country. It is gratifying
to know that amongst the varied and numerous competitors your qualifications
were so highly appreciated that you were unanimously appointed, and we venture
to think that the Watch Committee of Birmingham have made a choice which they
will never have reason to regret. We trust that you may be spared with your
family for many years to enjoy the position you have so honourably earned by
your untiring energy and perseverance in the performance of your onerous public
duties, and we hope that when in a strange town and among strange people you
may think with pleasure of the many happy days spent in Leicester, and of the
respect, esteem and love felt for you by the officers and constables of the
Leicester borough police force. Signed, G Langdale, J Hickinbottom,
W Richards, J A M'Cormick, F H Mardlin.”
Mr FARNDALE, who was
evidently affected by the reading of the address, thanked the officers and
constables for the beautiful present. His leaving Leicester was a subject upon
which he could not trust himself to speak, but he might say, after the many substantial
marks of respect which he had received from members of the Force, he never
anticipated being presented with this beautiful address, which had just been
handed to him. He thanked them all. (Applause).
The Birmingham Daily Post, 17 March 1882: The Chief Constable of
Birmingham, Joseph Farndale, was yesterday presented with a silver salver
and £200 by the Mayor of Leicester and the Crown Court in the presence of a
large number of chiefs of police of Coventry, Rochdale, Grantham, Banbury and
Leicester. The Mayor said Birmingham had gained a most worthy chief, who left
Leicester with the esteem of the whole community.
The Leicester Chronicle, 18
March 1882 reported:
PRESENTATION TO MR FARNDALE. An interesting ceremony took place at the Crown
Court at the Town Hall on Thursday where Mr J Farndale, late chief constable of
Leicester, and now of Birmingham, was presented with a token of respect and
esteem by his numerous friends in this town … A lengthy article follows. He
was presented with a silver salver. Many words were said and Joseph Farndale
made a reply at length.
There followed an article
about the Leicester Borough Police annual dinner at which Joseph Farndale also
spoke at length.
The Reading Mercury, 25 March
1882: The
chief constable of Birmingham, Mr Joseph Farndale, late of Leicester, was last
week presented with a magnificent silver salver and £200, by the Mayor of
Leicester.
The South Wales Daily News, 21
April 1882: THE
NEXT OF KIN FRAUDS. ARREST OF THE BIRMINGHAM MANAGER. BIRMNGHAM, Thursday. E
Beeton, described as the manager of the Birmingham offices of the
International Law Agency, was arrested this afternoon at the Fighting Cocks
Hotel, Moseley, near Birmingham. The warrants for the arrest were not issued
until this afternoon owing to the necessary warrants not having previously been
complied with. Immediately after the exposure of the frauds in the press, and
it becoming known that in all probability a warrant would be issued for the
arrest of Beeton, the detectives, by order of Mr Farndale, chief of
police, kept their eye on the whereabouts of the alleged conspirator …
An early issue was that of ‘seditious utterings’ within the police
force. The Dundee Evening Telegraph,
10 May 1882: Seditious
Utterances by a Constable – The new Chief Constable of Birmingham,
Mr Joseph Farndale, who has taken the place of Major Bond, has just made a
sharp example of an indiscreet member of the force who had been heard to express
sympathy with the perpetrators of the recent outrages in Ireland. The
constable, who is a young Irishman, and had not long joined the force, used
disloyal words in the presence of some of his colleagues, and the matter was
immediately laid before the Chief Constable. The office was reported, and his
explanation not being deemed satisfactory, he was called upon to resign. This
is the first case of the kind that has ever happened in the Birmingham police
force. The prompt action of the chief of police has met with general approval,
though the severity of the measure appears to have taken the indiscreet officer
completely by surprise.
The Western Gazette, 19 May
1882: DISMISSAL
OF A DISLOYAL POLCEMAN. An example has just been made by the Chief Constable
of Birmingham, Mr Farndale, of a disloyal member of the Borough Force. The
constable, who is a young Irishman, and who has only lately joined the force,
expressed sympathy with the perpetrators of some of the outrages in Ireland,
and said to one of his collages a few weeks ago, that if he knew who had
murdered Mr Herbert and Mrs Smythe, both of whom have recently been
assassinated in Ireland, he would not tell. This came to Mr Farndale’s
knowledge, and, as the constable was unable to afford a satisfactory
explanation, he was, with the concurrence of the Judicial Sub Committee,
dismissed from the Force.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 27
September 1882:
The explanation given by the CHIEF OF POLICE at the Watch Committee meeting
yesterday, with regard to the entire absence of police along the extensive
route traversed by the armed burglars on Sunday morning was characterised by
the chairman as satisfactory … It seems that on Sunday mornings, from six to
ten, which Mr FARNDALE describes, no doubt correctly, as the “quietest time of
the week”, there is a partial interregnum of police supervision, only half
the ordinary staff being on duty. The arrangement is necessitated we are
told by the extra demands on the staff on the Saturday evening, when the
number of rough and disorderly characters about is greater than the ordinary
night staff could cope with …
The Leicester Chronicle, 30
December 1882: Mr
J Duns, Chief Constable of Durham, appointed chief of Leicester in succession
to Mr Farndale, resigned.
Joseph Farndale career at Birmingham was dominated by the Irish
Bombing campaigns in England.
The Fenian Dynamite
Campaign, 1881 to 1885:
1881
14 Jan 1881: A bomb exploded
at a military barracks in Salford, Lancashire. A young boy was killed
16 Mar 1881: A bomb was
found and defused in the Mansion House, London.
5 May 1881: Bomb explodes
at Chester Barracks, Chester.
16 May 1881: Bomb attack
at Liverpool police barracks.
10 June 1881: Bomb planted
at Liverpool Town Hall,
30 June 1881: Disguised
explosives found aboard SS Malta at Liverpool.
2 July 1881: Disguised
explosives found aboard SS Bavaria in Liverpool.
1882
12 May 1882: A bomb
exploded at the Mansion House, London.
1883
20 January 1883: In
Glasgow, bombs exploded at Tradeston Gasworks, Possil Road Bridge and Buchanan Street Station. About a
dozen people were injured.
15 Mar 1883: In London,
bombs exploded at government buildings at Whitehall and at the offices of The
Times newspaper. There were no injuries.
29 March 1883: Fenians
Denis Deasy, Timothy Featherstone and Patsy Flanagan are arrested while police
in County Cork raid the homes and businesses of associates of Deasy and
Flanagan.
28 May 1883: Future Easter
Rising leader Tom Clarke is sentenced to penal servitude for life.
11 June 1883: Gallagher
Trials begin.
22 August 1883: Fenian
'Red' Jim McDermott arrested.
31 August 1883: Those
responsible for Glasgow bombings in January were arrested.
30 Oct 1883: Two bombs
exploded in the London Underground, at Paddington (Praed Street) station
(injuring 70 people) and Westminster Bridge station.
December 1883: Trial of
Glasgow bombers.
1884
26 Feb 1884: A bomb exploded
in the left-luggage room of Victoria station, London. The building was empty at
the time and no-one was injured. Other bombs were defused at Charing Cross
station, Ludgate Hill station and Paddington station.
11 April 1884: John Daly
arrested with explosives at Birkenhead.
30 May 1884: Three bombs
exploded in London: at the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police's Criminal
Investigation Department (CID) and Special Irish Branch in Scotland Yard; in
the basement of the Carlton Club, a gentlemen's club for members of the Conservative
Party; and outside the home of Conservative MP Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn. Ten
people were injured. A fourth bomb was planted at the foot of Nelson's Column
but failed to explode.
30 July 1884: John Daly,
James Egan and William O'Donnell tried at Warwick Assizes under charges of
treason.
13 Dec 1884: Two
American-Irish Republicans, who were planting a bomb on London Bridge, were
killed when their bomb prematurely exploded. One of the men was William Mackey
Lomasney
1885
2 Jan 1885: A bomb
exploded at Gower Street station, London.
24 Jan 1885: Three bombs
exploded in London, in the House of Commons chamber, in Westminster Hall and in
the Banqueting Room of the Tower of London. Two police officers and four
civilians were injured. Two men; Henry Burton and James E. Gilbert, were sentenced
to penal servitude for life as a result.
10 February 1885: Dynamite
found at Harrow Road, London.
1883
One of the most serious offences committed in Birmingham was
discovered when Alfred Whitehead was arrested on 5 April 1883, on the charge of
manufacturing nitro-glycerine, or dynamite, at 128 Ledsam Street.
Whitehead was one of the
Irish-American or American-Irish party of the Land Leaguers or Home Rulers, who
entertain the idea that by committing horrible outrages in England. they will
succeed in making Ireland "free from the galling yoke of Saxon tyranny"
and every Irishman independent of everybody and everything everywhere. Well
supplied with funds from New York, Whitehead quietly arranged his little
manufactory, buying glycerine from one firm and nitric and sulphuric acids
from others, certain members of the conspiracy coming from London to take away
the stuff when it was completely mixed. The deliveries of the peculiar
ingredients attracted the attention of Mr. Gilbert Pritchard, whose chemical
knowledge led him to guess what they were required for; he informed his friend,
Sergeant Price, of his suspicions; Price and his superior officers made
nightly visits to Ledsam Street, getting into the premises, and taking samples
for examination; and on the morning named Whitehead's game was over, though not
before he had been watched in sending off two lots of the dangerously explosive
stuff to London. There was, however, no less than 200 lbs weight found still on
the premises.
The men who carried it to
London were quickly caught with the dynamite in their possession, and with
Whitehead were brought to trial and each of them sentenced to penal servitude
for life. The distribution of rewards in connection with the "dynamite
outrages," so far as Birmingham people were concerned, was somewhat on a
similar scale to that described by the old sailor, when he said
"prize-money" was distributed through a ladder, all passing through
going to the officers, while any sticking to the wood was divided among the
men. Mr. Farndale, the Chief of Police, was granted an addition to his
salary of £100 per year; Inspector Black was promoted to the rank of
Superintendent, adding £50 a year to his salary, and was presented with £100
from Government; Sergeant Price, became Inspector, with a rise of £41 12s. a
year, and received a bonus of £200; Inspector Rees'
salary was raised to two guineas a week, with a gift, of £50: while Mr.
Pritchard, to whom belonged the conspicuous service of having given the information
which led the police to act, was rewarded (!) with £50, having lost his
situation through his services to the public.
Pictures from The Dart (13th April 1883)
of some of the
police principals in the Ledsam Street Dynamite Conspiracy. Top left is
Sergeant Price who was the first investigating officer. Mr MacReady
is an "expert", who was probably used as a witness in court. The
large middle picture is of the "laboratory" with presumably the chief
conspirator Alfred Whitehead busy at work. Bottom left is Detective
Superintendent Robinson and bottom right is the Chief of Police Mr Farndale:
The Dart, 5 April 1883
The Preston Herald, 7 April
1883 reported: THE
DYNAMITE CONSPRACY. FURTHER ALARMING DISCOVERIES. SUPPOSED FENIAN PLOT IN
BIRMNGHAM. DISCOVERY OF A NITRO GLYCERINE FACTORY. IMPORTANT CAPTRURE AND
SEIZURE. A HUNDREDWEIGHT AND THRE QUARTERS OF DYNAMITE SEIZED. THREE ARRESTS IN
LONDON. At Birmingham police court on Thursday afternoon, Albert George
Whitehead, apparently about twenty years of age, was charged with
manufacturing and being in possession of explosives with the intent to
commit a felony. Prisoner was strongly guarded in the dock, being surrounded by
detectives and police,. Chief Superintendent Farndale, addressing the bench,
said ”This Albert George Whitehead, your worships, has been apprehended
charged with manufacturing and being in possession of explosive substances,
namely nitro glycerine with intent to commit a felony” … What application do you make now? Mr
Farndale: My application now is that he be remanded here a week. I have
received a telegram from the Home Secretary directing that the man in
custody here should be brought before the magistrates under section 54, 24 and
25 vic., cap 97, and remanded for a week.
The Dundee Courier, 9 April
1883: ALARM IN
BIMRINGHAM. MILITARY CALLED OUT. Owing to the increasing alarm in
Birmingham that the Fenians will avenge the arrest of Whitehead, the Mayor,
Alderman White, after consulting with Mr Farndale, the chief of police,
telegraphed on Friday night to the Home Secretary requesting that a body of
military should be immediately drafted into the town to assist the police
in protecting the borough gaol at Winson Green, where Whitehead is confined, an
attempt to rescue the accused being expected.
The Eastern Evening News, 9
April 1883:
SUPPOSED PLOT TO BLOW UP BUIDINGS. THREE MORE ARRESTS. The seizures of nitro
glycerine at Birmingham and London on Thursday last, together with the
apprehension of the man in possession of the dangerous compound, have been
promptly followed up by two more arrests, one at Glasgow and the other in the
metropolis…. Immediately Norman was captured, I telegraphed to Mr Farndale “Man
in custody Contents of the box nitro glycerine.” And Mr Farndale ordered the
arrest of Whitehead at Ladywood, and the seizure of everything on his
premises.
The Dundee Courier, 10 April
1883: THE
BIRMINGHAM DISCOVERY – WHITEHEAD’S ASSOCIATES. CLEVER RUSE BY A DETECTIVE. Price,
to whom all credit is due of initiating the investigations that led
to the important discovery in Lincoln street, has given a graphic account of
the incidents that led to the arrest of Whitehead and the seizure of
explosives. He says days before the seizure he received certain information
from a friend which induced him to take the matter up. His friend was
accustomed to pass Whitehead’s shop, and on this occasion he noticed Messrs
Harris’ man deliver glycerine there … He then went and informed Mr Farndale,
Chief Constable of what he had seen, and expressed his conviction that
Whitehead was making nitro-glycerine. Then Mr Farndale set detectives to
watch the shop. On the Sunday afternoon Price took an opportunity in
passing the shop to notice the fastenings of the door and the sort of lock. He
ascertained that Whitehead did not live on the premises, and he asked Mr
Farndale for permission to make a search. Inspector Black accompanied him, and
at 2 o’clock on Monday morning they unlocked the door with a skeleton key, and
taking off their boots, went in and made a complete examination. Next morning
they again went ion, and found that some of the contents of the vat in the
scullery had disappeared. They took a sample from the vat and gave it to Dr
Hill, by whom an analysis was made, which confirmed Price’s suspicions, and
they found that Whitehead was making nitro glycerine. … On answering a
sudden call to Ledsam Street early on Thursday morning, Price found that Mr
Farndale had determined to arrest Whitehead and take possession of the premises.
The Southern Reporter, 12
April 1883: THE
FENIAN PLOT. … At the Birmingham Police office in the afternoon, Whitehead
was brought up before the Stipendiary and Alderman Deakin, and was charged
under the Act 24 and 25, chap 97, sec 54, for having nitro glycerine in his
possession for the purpose of committing a felony. The prisoner, who is rather
sallow complexioned, and of slim build, seemed to be undisturbed when the
charge was read over. Chief Constable Farndale stated the facts of the case,
showing that the prisoner’s house had been watched for the past two months,
and stating that when the premises were entered into on Thursday morning seven
or eight gallons of liquid were found, which on being submitted to the borough
analyst were believed to be nitro glycerine. On the same premises fourteen
carboys containing nitro glycerine and sulphuric acid were found. Mr Farndale
also stated that a man was seen on Wednesday evening to take a box from Ledsam
Street to the North Western Railway Station where he booked it for London. A
detective telegraphed to Scotland Yard, and the man was arrested with the nitro
glycerine in his possession. In answer to the charge the prisoner said nothing.
A remand for a week was granted.
The Lincolnshire Chronicle, 13
April 1883: THE
DYNAMITE CONSPIRACY. SEIZURES OF NITRO GLYCERINE. The police have at length
succeeded in effecting some important arrests in connection with the dynamite
conspiracy, and the authorities have now hopes of being able to ferret out the
miscreants in this plot as effectually as they have ben
able to track members of the Assassination Society in Dublin. The credit for
the first discovery which led to the arrests seems to lie with the Birmingham
police … Recent certain suspicious circumstances were brought to the notice of
the police, and numbers of detectives were set to watch the prisoner, the
result being that at six o’clock on Thursday morning, the Chief Constable, M
Farndale … and a number of other officers made a raid upon the premises.
Several officers were detailed off to make an inspection of the adjoining
house, where they found and arrested Whitehead.
And as reported much later
in the
Birmingham Mail, 3 July 1915: O’Donovan Rossa and the Birmingham Dynamite Factory. The
death of O’Ddonovan Rossa recalls the fact that this
infamous agitator at one time paid a visit to this city when he was at the
zenith of his career as the head of the Fenian movement, for the purpose of
making a secret enquiry as to the spread of Fenianism
in this part particular neighbourhood. Later on, in 1883, he became associated
with an important dynamite manufacturer which was established in Ledsam Street.
The discovery of this plot was a big feather in the cap of the local
detective force, and especially of one of the local members of the
constabulary, whose knowledge of chemistry was largely instrumental in
unveiling the crime. A great sensation was created in this city on April 5,
1883, when a man named Alfred Whitehead was arrested for manufacturing
nitro-glycerine as an insignificant shop in Ledsam Streett. Whitehead
belonged to the Irish American party intimately associated with O Donovan
Rossa, and being well supplied with money from New York, he hit on the idea of making
Birmingham the centre for the manufacture of explosives for the destruction of
property in England. In order to disarm suspicion, he purchased his
ingredients from various shops, but the abnormal quantities which he dealt with
led to a chemist 's assistant, Mr Gilbert Pritchard by name, speaking to
Detective Sergeant Price, who, being a bit of a chemist himself, recognised
that the materials required formed the chief components of nitro-glycerine. This
information was conveyed to the chief constable Mr Farndale, who put the
matter into the hands of then Inspector James Black one of the smartest
detectives Birmingham has ever known, and who, I am glad to say, is still
alive. With other officers he paid nightly visits to the establishment in
Ledsam Street. In order to detect any intrusion into his secrets Whitehead
never left the shop without first placing a piece of cotton across the doorway,
the breaking of which would at once have given the show away. The detectives
discovered this ruse, and although they paid many visits to the premises,
Whitehead was never aware of the fact. Whitehead was arrested after he had
sent two consignments of nitro-glycerine to London, each cargo being
followed by a Birmingham detective, who in conjunction with the members of
Scotland Yard watched its destination and saw that it never left the premises
until the men who had charge of it were arrested. Subsequently with
Whitehead these men were sentence to penal servitude for life.
The Worcestershire Chronicle,
14 April 1883: Some
further particulars have been made known concerning Whitehead since he has been
in custody. It appears that he was in possession of £11 off at the time of his
arrest, nearly the whole amount being in gold. He had no revolver or any other
weapon for his personal protection. Up to the present time he has maintained a
demeanour of perfect self possession amounting even
to bravado. When he was introduced to Mr Farndale at the shop after being called
up, he saluted him with “Who are you?” and on being informed that he was the
chief of police, he said: “I thought so, and a very good looking gentleman you
are. In the police van which conveyed him to Winson green he sang several
songs, one of them commencing “I’ll upset the English Government; I’ll die for
old Ireland, I will”.
The Daily Telegraph, on Friday
6 Apr 1883,
published a long article.
The Discoveries and arrest
at Birmingham.
Regarding the seizure of
nitro-glycerine and the arrest affected at Birmingham, our correspondent in
that town telegraphs as follows.
This morning, Thursday, a
seizure of explosions was explosives was made by the Birmingham police, who
appear to have unearthed what may prove to be a highly important piece of
evidence in connection with the Fenian conspiracy, and possibly with the recent
attempts to destroy public buildings in the metropolis. It appears that about
two months ago a respectfully dressed young man, giving the name of Albert
George Whitehead, took a shop at Ledsam Street, near the Mount Pleasant public
house, and started business extensively as a paper hanger and oil seller. He
took lodgings next door, at the house of a Mrs Poynton, where he had his meals
and slept, conducting himself, as his landlady testifies, in a quiet
gentlemanly manner. It was noticed that his stock in trade was very limited,
the contents of the front shop being confined to a few pieces of ordinary paper
and cans of common oil. According to the testimony of persons living in the
locality he does not seem to have disposed of more than a few shillings worth of
stock during the time he has occupied the premises. What at last aroused
suspicion was the fact that a large consignment of chemicals which could be of
no possible use in the paper hanging trade reached the shop from time to time,
and were stowed away out of sight. The premises, it should be explained,
consists of a front shop, a backroom, and a small kitchen. These consignments
of chemicals were put away in the rear apartments. Within the last few days
information has reached the police which led to the police to the place being
closely watched, and this morning, about seven o’clock, two detectives paid a
sudden visit to the lodgings next door, and on the landlady coming downstairs,
one of the officers told her that the door of the shop had been left open. Mrs
Poynton replied that she would go and tell Mr Whitehead, who was in bed, to
come down and see it see to it. Whitehead got up at once, and on going into the street was arrested by the officers. An
examination of the premises was thereupon effected, when some startling
discoveries were made. The front shop contained a paltry stock of wallpaper and
several cans of oil, mostly of a common description, but two cans contained
glycerine. In the backroom were eleven large jars of chemicals, and a number of
carboys, the contents of which cannot be known until after scientific
examination. In the kitchen to the rear appearances were still more suspicious.
The ordinary washing furnace was filled with a liquid preparation, and to carry
away the fumes when the copper was used a flue had been made over it connecting
with the chimney. In the furnace were several gallons of this mysterious
compound. Near at hand a thermometer was lying in a variety of chemical
appliances. The kitchen smelled strongly of recent operations, in which
apparently assets had been employed. There were several jars in the kitchen,
two of them being labelled sulphuric acid. The place was at once taken
possession off by the police, but at the same time quietly, so as to excite as
little suspicion as possible. Few of the residents in the neighbourhood knew
anything about the seizure; But when it did eventually become known, the
wildest and most alarming reports obtained currency.
Whitehead is described as
being a short dark young man of gentlemanly appearance and of exceedingly quiet
demeanour. Although he spent most of his evenings at home, he rarely conversed
with his landlord or landlady, though he occasionally took some notice of the
children. On one occasion Mr Poynton asked him what sort of business he was
doing at the shop, and his reply was that there was no necessity to complain
and perhaps it would improve. It is supposed by the police that the paper
hanging business was simply a blind to conceal the operations at the back of
the premises. It is stated that during his stay in the neighbourhood Whitehead
never attended a theatre or a place of amusement and he used conspicuously to
display a Church of England prayer book which he read occasionally in the
evening. Mrs Poynton once took up the prayer book and found in it the
inscription Albert G Whitehead, Devonport. He attended a place of worship in
the neighbourhood with scrupulous regularity every Sunday. He was not a teetotaller
but was very temperate; his allowance of beer at dinner and supper never
exceeded a glass. On one occasion while he was reading out a paragraph from a
newspaper Mrs Poynton remarked that he had not had an English accent and he
replied no it is a Devonshire accent; I come from there. His landlady's
suspicions were first awakened last Sunday evening when she saw two detectives
in front of the shop. She said to Whitehead I wonder what those detectives
want, but he made no reply although he turned very pale. Since then, however he
has made no attempt whatever to escape. If he had he would have been unable to
succeed as his movements were closely watched. The premises have been it
entered every night since Sunday by detectives with skeleton keys.
At four o’clock this
morning, Mr Farndale, chief constable of Birmingham, Superintendent Robinson,
Detective Inspector Black, and Sergeant Richard Price obtained admission to the
shop with skeleton keys. They made a careful survey of the premises before proceeding to
arrest the accused. To provide against contingencies, the police were armed
with revolvers. Whitehead’s demeanour on finding himself entrapped is
described as exceedingly cool. Black asked to him ‘you're a nice fellow to go
and have your front door open’. Whitehead replied ‘No I did not I am sure”.
Black rejoined ‘well come and see’. Whitehead said to his landlady ‘well give
me my hat, Mrs, and I'll go’. He then went out and on reaching the shop was
taken into custody. He did not make the slightest show of resistance. The
police are strongly of the opinion that Whitehead is an assumed name, and that
the prisoner is an Irish American It is stated that...
in this bottle the mixed nitric
acid and sulfuric acid lie at the bottom, and the thicker liquid on top is
nitro-glycerine.
This afternoon at two
thirty, the prisoner was brought before the magistrates, at Moore Street. On
being placed in the dock, he cast a sharp look round and smiled, but,
seemingly, it was a forced effort. He sat most of the time. He is about 5 foot
5 inches in height with small, sharply cut features, with no beard or whiskers,
and only a short moustache. His general mele gives the impression of more than
average intelligence and decided force of character. The accused would not be
taken for an Irishman insightful stop his age would be guessed at about 25. The
magistrates on the bench were Mr Kinsley and Mr Daykin. The prisoner's name was
given as Albert George Whitehead, Chief Superintendent Farndale, addressing
the bench said:
This Albert George
Whitehead, your worships, has been apprehended on a charge under the 24th
and 25th Vic, c97, sec 54, charged with manufacturing, and being in
possession of, an explosive substance, namely nitro glycerine, with intent to
commit a felony. It seems that something over two months ago this man came to
Birmingham quite a stranger, and took premises that Ledsam Street, I think
about February the 12th, and there he has since resided. Some short time ago
our suspicions were aroused, and since that date I have had the premises
watched night and day. With the aid of keys occasionally lent by our
burglary friends, we have been into the house several times, and have been
able to ascertain what was going on inside. I had some samples of a liquid
found in a vat were there brought away two or three nights ago, and analysed by
Doctor Hill, the medical officer of health, and his an analysis will prove that
they were nitro-glycerine. Inconsequence of this instructions were given to the
detectives watching that, in case any tin or box or anything should be removed
from the house, they were to note and follow whoever removed it to their
destination. Yesterday afternoon, or rather towards evening, a man was seen to
leave the premises, taking with him a box evidently containing something of
considerable weight. The detective who was watching, followed him to New Street
Station. Finding there that he took a ticket to London the detective also took
a ticket for London, and we wired the Metropolitan Police to meet him at the
station, and sometime this morning, they apprehended a man there, and found
that he had in his possession a case of nitro-glycerine. Upon that charge he
will be or has been taken by the police before the magistrates to be remanded
for a week. Finding that this man had been taken into custody in London, we
went to the prisoner’s house this morning and came upon a large quantity of
chemicals there. We found in a vat about 6 or 8 gallons of liquid, some of
which Doctor Hill has brought away, and has since informed me that he is
satisfied himself, though the analysis is not quite complete, that that also is
nitro-glycerine. We also found on the premises 14 carboys of nitric and
sulphuric acid, each carboy containing about 6 gallons, and nine glazed tins,
some of them rather empty, but in all about 56 pounds of glycerine.
The Stipendiary: What was
the prisoners ostensibly occupation?
The Chief Constable: It was
ostensibly that of a painter and paper hanger. He has a few paint brushes in
the shop, very few, and some very common paper. When the time comes for us
going into the case more fully I shall produce a boy who was employed in the
shop, and I think, he will tell you that, during the two months he has been
there, the sum total taken over the counter amounted to only ½ d. When we went
there this morning we sent to the adjoining house where prisoner lived and had
him brought to these premises, and he was there charged with being in
possession of these explosives with intent to commit a felony. He said he came
from Plymouth; He was asked if he chose to give any account of the business he
was doing, or name any man with whom he was doing a legitimate business. He
said ‘he would tell us nothing, we wanted to know a great deal too much’. He
was then handcuffed and brought to the lockup. Inspector Black will tell you
that he visited the place again with Superintendent Robinson and brought the
staff from there and sent it to Doctor Hill, who has certified that it is
nitro-glycerine. The inspector will also prove going there with me this
morning, and apprehending the prisoner, and charging him with being connected
with the man already in custody in London. What he said to that I do not know.
Mr Kynnersley:
What application do you make now?
Mr Farndale: My
application now is that he be remanded for a week. I have received a
telegram from the Home Secretary, directing that the man in custody here shall
be brought before the magistrates under section 54, 24 and 25, vict, chap 97, and remanded for a week.
The Magistrates Clerk then
read the section referred to as follows: “Whoever shall make or manufacture or
knowingly have in his possession any gunpowder or other explosive stuff, or any
dangerous or noxious thing, or any machine, instrument or thing, with intent
thereby... To commit any of the felonies in this act mentioned, shall be guilty
of misdemeanour, and if convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of
the court, to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding 2 years, with or without
hard labour, with or without solitary confinement; and if a male under the age
of 16 years with or without a whipping.
Mr Kynnersley (to the
prisoner): Have you anything to say while you should not be remanded?
Mr Farndale said there was
inspector Black’s evidence to be given before the remand took place.
Chief Inspector Black then
said on Saturday night after previously watching the prisoner’s premises, I
went to the house and entered it with skeleton keys. Sergeant Richard Price was
with me. We saw a large quantity of acid in a jar, in a boiler in the scullery.
The jar was full and contained about 6 gallons of acid. We went again the next
night and took a sample from the jar for Doctor Hill. We went again this
morning in the company with Mr Farndale, and Superintended Robinson, and we
found the same jar full, apparently of fresh acid. There were also 14 carboys
of nitric and sulphuric acid, which we discovered in a shop in the backroom.
Prisoner was brought in from next door, I arrested him and charged him with
being in possession of these explosives, I asked him if he chose to account for
the acid in the jars. He said, ‘no I am not going to expose the secrets’.
Prisoner, interrupting
witness: Excuse me I do not believe I said that word. The witness has been
prompted by the man beside him, Sergeant Price.
The clerk: Well he, price,
will have to give evidence as well.
Inspector Black: It was his
secrets. Those were the words....
The Daily Telegraph, on
Saturday 7 Apr 1883: Doctor Dupre explained
that even in that diluted state the compound was still highly dangerous,
although the risk from spontaneous combustion had been removed. Then arose the
question of disposing of the material. Colonel Majendie
asked if there was any waste ground or large unoccupied space within a
convenient distance. Mr Farndale informed him that he did not think there was a
place in the neighbourhood where the liquid could be desposited
with safety. After a long consultation Colonel Majendie
said he and his colleagues had come to the conclusion that the Nitro
glycerine had better be treated as dynamite, by mixing it with sawdust, and
that it should then be taken to the sewage farm at Saltley,
and burned in small pieces. It would have to be spread out in a thin layer,
dried, and then burned. In answer to the Chief Constable, the Colonel observed
that the stuff might be removed at once, but it must first be thoroughly mixed
with the sawdust and then dried, so as to be burnable. So treated the material
would be harmless in regard to spontaneous explosion, but not proof against
mechanical concussion, any more than ordinary dynamite. It might be carted off
or taken in a cab, but the safest plan would be to carry it by hand. Doctor
Hill expressed himself willing to begin the work of precaution and removal at
once. It was a peril to the neighbourhood to allow it to remain...
The Daily Telegraph, Monday 9
Apr 1883: The
Chief Superintendent himself, accompanied by the Borough analysts and an armed
constable, drove in the Chief’s private carriage, the officer
retaining a hold upon a revolver during the whole of the journey. Upon the van
itself, by the side of the driver, was another armed officer, equally well
prepared in case of emergency, while at the back of the vehicle a policeman,
also armed with a revolver, rode upon the step. Immediately following the van
were two close carriages, containing the chiefs of the Birmingham detective
force. The route had been carefully mapped out so as to avoid jolting
in passing over large paving stones. On entering the sewage farm, which
comprises a tract of land over a mile square, extra precautions had to be taken
in consequence of the unevenness of the road. The approaches were closely
guarded by police, and the only spectators of the operations were the Chief
of Police, Mr Farndale; the specialist from Glasgow, Mr Macready; the
Manager of the sewage farm, Mr Anscombe, the Borough analyst, Doctor Hill, some
detectives, and a few reporters. The site selected was a fallow field in the
centre of the farm, some hundreds of yards distant from a building of any kind.
The buckets were removed to the centre of the fields, where they were taken in
charge by the operator and Doctor Hill. The operator took a small quantity
of the explosive about a couple of pounds weight, to a spot at a safe
distance some two or three hundred yards from the buckets, and then the
Scotchman struck a vesuvian and applied it to the little brown heap. A burst of
faint fame flame followed, and the stuff was consumed in a few seconds,
with the production of a great heat and the liberation of a large amount of
gas, but quite noiselessly. Subsequently Mr Macready took larger bulks of the
dynamite, spreading them about the ground somewhat, and the flames burst over
the mass with great rapidity. In all, the work of destruction occupied about
half an hour.
In gaol Whitehead maintains
an air of utmost bravado. It has been deemed necessary to keep a light burning
in his cell all night in order that he may be more securely watched. Military
sentries are now placed in the gaol at night.
The Daily Telegraph, Tuesday
10 April 1883:
... this visit convinced me that there was something wrong going on. I
detected the Irish American accent of Whitehead at once. I went up to Ladywood
and changed my clothes, and from there to the central office, and reported
all that I had seen and heard to Mr Farndale, chief constable. I told him
my opinion was that Whitehead was making nitro-glycerine. After listening to
what I had to say, he at once ordered the place to be watched back and front by
detectives, and one of the policemen visited the ‘factory’ at night,
tracked two of Whitehead 's visitors to London, and ultimately captured the
principal as already known.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 5
May 1883: THE
COFFEE HOUSE MOVEMENT IN BIRMINGHAM. Yesterday the Birmingham Coffee house
Company opened a new coffee house in Newton Row … It was an interesting fact in
connection with the movement of the Birmingham coffee house Company that the
same kind of work had been taken up and carried on with more or less success in
many of the large towns in England; and he was glad to learn that the movement
was being imitated in New York and Philadelphia. Probably some of the bearers had
noticed in a recent police case some remarks by Mr Farndale and one of the
magistrates as to the prevalence of gambling in coffee houses …
The Shields Daily Gazette, 13
July 1883: A
Birmingham correspondent telegraphs that examination has been made by the
police of a supposed infernal machine, discovered yesterday on the
premises lately occupied by Whitehead, and they are of the opinion it could
not have been constructed with any malicious design. It is about four inches
long by two wide, and consists of a thin tube slightly battered at one end;
attached to this was a brass wheel, with little eccentric gearing. It has been
remarked that the machine has been found since the police gave up possession of
the place two months ago. A telegram was received by Mr Farndale, chief of
police, last evening from the Home Secretary, asking for details of the
discovery, and a reply was sent that the machine was a mere toy, and could not
possibly be used for an explosive purpose.
In the Shepton Mallet Journal on
20 July 1883,
this incident was reported as “An Infernal Machine Hoax”.
In the St James’s Gazette, 6
August 1883:
THE DYNAMITE PLOTS IN
BIRMINGHAM
The Mayor, at the quarterly
meeting of the Birmingham Town Council: I have had for some time under my
consideration the manner in which the services should be recognised of those
to whose courage and skill the detection of the nitro-glycerine plot was due.
… I desire to testify the very high
opinion I have formed of the remarkable skill, intelligence, and resource,
exhibited by Mr Farndale, the Chief Constable of Birmingham, throughout the
whole of the matter and in other transactions of a similar nature in which
I have received from him much valued assistance.
The Pateley Bridge and
Nidderdale Herald, 11 August 1883:
THE DYNAMITE CONSPIRACY AND
THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE
A private meeting of the
Watch Committee of the Birmingham Town Council was held on Aug 3, when a report
was adopted which had reference to the Birmingham police who took such a
prominent part in bringing to justice the dynamite conspirators. The
committee recommended that the salary of Mr Farndale, the chief
superintendent of police, be increased from £700 to £800 per annum …Mr
Farndale, it may be interesting to state, was some years ago the Chief
Constable in Chesterfield. He is also well known in many parts of Yorkshire, of
which county he is a native.
The Nottingham Evening Post,
29 August 1883:
RECOVERY OF MISSING JEWELLERY. Chief Constable Farndale of Birmingham,
yesterday morning, received a consignment of damaged jewellery, which has since
been identified as part of the stock stolen from Messrs Mole and Sons, High
Street, Birmingham, valued at £5,000. The articles were found in a parcel in
the river Mersey. Also reported in the York Herald, 29 August 1883, under the headline The Great Jewellery
Robbery in Birmingham.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 4
December 1883: THE
ROYAL VISIT TO BIRMINGHAM. … The occasion was the visit to Birmingham of
their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Christian and the Marquis of
Lorne, paid in connection with the Birmingham cattle and poultry show … on
arriving at Washwood Heath the Prince and Princess
were met by Mr Farndale, the chief superintendent of police …
The Evening Despatch, 7 July 1939:
THE DYNAMITE
DIDN’T GO OFF ...
In 1883, New
Street station was nearly blown up by a charge of nitro-glycerine. Veterans
should remember the Ledsam Street conspiracy.
One day in
1883 a detective, keeping his eyes open in Ledsam Street, Birmingham, saw a man
take a black box out of a shop and get into a cab.
The
detective followed the cab along to Monument Road, then down Hagley Road to
Five Ways, and so to New Street Station. If he had had any doubts about the
innocence of the black box, they were now fully justified by the circuitous
route the mysterious stranger had taken.
The cab
arrived at the station before the detective but the officer used a little tact
with the cabbie when he found him, picked up a colleague on the way, arrived at
the station to find two porters pushing the box around.
The
detective managed to make two marks on it with his penknife when no one was
looking. He then brought bought two tickets for London and travelled down with
his companion, one compartment away from the box.
A few hours
later the owner of the box was arrested in Southampton Street Hotel. The
officers picked up the box and carried it along the yard at the back of Bow
Street Police Court still in doubt about the contents.
Temperamental
explosive
The box
contained nearly a hundredweight of nitro-glycerine, the most temperamental of
all explosives in general use.
That is how
New Street Station came within an inch of being blown away by during the Fenian
conspiracy of which thanks to the quick work of the Birmingham policeman never
succeeded in striking a blow.
You can
still see a shop in Ledsam Street where several carboys of nitro-glycerine were
manufactured by a young man masquerading as a dealer in oil and paints. He had
intended to blow up New Street Station on more than one occasion it was used by
carriers who were handling the explosives for London consumption. The shop had
been a grocers,...
The younger
Irishman was arrested on the morning of 5 April 1883 and eventually sent to
Winson Green with a military export escort.
The dynamite
conspiracy was more than a nine days wonder then. The newspapers were...
The
Birmingham Gazette received a terrorist letter containing the warning it is in
our power to make Birmingham a heap of ruins and a deluge of blood and other
pieces too and we have the will and the means to do so.
It was one
of the most sensational news stories which have ever broken in Birmingham.
Publishing enterprise was different in those days... Not only did the
newspapers carry columns of the matter and line drawings of the shop, the
kitchen and other items of interest but special broadsides, poems and sheets of
line illustrations appeared.
…
1884
The Manchester Evening News,
14 April 1884: The
chief constable of that place [Birmingham], is a man who has few rivals in
his particular walk of life, and he fully deserves the eulogium passed
upon him by the Home Secretary last year. Mr Farndale commenced life as
an ordinary constable, I believe in Middlesbrough, and he has worked his
way upwards to his present position. He occupied the post of chief
constable in two or three other towns before ging to Birmingham, in each one of
which he added to his reputation. The circumstances of his career have given
him an amount of experience which is comparatively rare, and he has added
to it a very careful study of the criminal law, in the knowledge of which he
has not many superiors. Mr Farndale is very much opposed to the practice
of selecting retired army officers for the posts of chief constable, and he
himself is a strong argument in favour of his theory that such positions ought
to be filled by men practically acquainted with the routine of police work.
Joseph Farndale was involved in a further incidence of the Dynamite
Conspiracies only a year later.
The Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping
Gazette, 12 April 1884: THE RECENT DYNAMITE CONSPIRACIES – ARREST OF CONSPIRATORS. Another
American Fenian conspiracy has been traced to Birmingham. Some time
ago, Chief Constable Farndale, of Birmingham, was informed by the Home Office
that an American emissary had arrived in the country, and a strict watch was
kept on all suspects. They directed their attention more particularly to
the house of a man named Jas. Egan, described as a commission agent …
The police kept a vigilant watch on this man …
The Leeds Times, 19 April 1884: ANOTHER ARREST IN
BIRMINGHAM. Contemporaneous with the capture of Daly, was the arrest of
James Francis Egan, thirty eight, clerk, of Kyott’s
Lane House, Grafton road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham ... During the five or six
months the premises were watched the observations of the police were regularly
reported to Sir Wm Harcourt, Chief constable Farndale making a midnight
journey to the Home Office to communicate important information.
A SUSPECTED SERGEANT As the
result of the capture of Egan and Daly, the police hope to make further
arrests. Acting under the provisions of the Explosives Act, the Chief
constable (Mr Farndale) caused to be searched the apartments of Patrick Hogan,
drill instructor of the Birmingham volunteers … a colour sergeant in the 6th
(Royal Warwickshire) regiment … The attention of the police was directed to him
by his being frequently in the company of Day and Egan at public houses …
The Alcester Chronicle, 26
April 1884: THE
RECENT ARRESTS. At the police court, Birmingham, James Francis Egan has been
brought up, on remand, charged with conspiring with John Daly, alias Denman, to
cause an explosion in the United Kingdom, likely to endanger life and property
… the presiding magistrate addressing Mr Farndale, the chief constable asked if
he was prepared to proceed with the case. Mr Farndale: No sir. I am instructed
by the solicitor for the Treasury to ask for a further remand for a week.
The Dundee Courier, 2 May 1884
reported the
discovery in the garden of Mr Egan a bottle containing a thick liquid of
suspicious appearances. Mr Farndale, Chief of Police reported the matter to
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Explosives, Colonel Majendie.
There was also a letter found in the bottle from William McDonell of
Wednesbury, so Mr Farndale proceeded to Wednesbury to interview McConnell and
several other people there.
The Jersey Independent and
Daily Telegraph, 17 May 1884: THE DYNAMITE PLOTS. COMMITTAL OF DALY, EGAN AND MCDONNELL. At
Birmingham Police Court this morning before the stipendiary, the prisoners
Daly, Egan and McDonell were charged on remand with treason felony…
Joseph Farndale gave
evidence, reproduced in the Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser on 24 August 1929: TOWN UNDER GUARD. The Warwick Advertiser of
August 2, 1884,
stated: The prisoners Daly, Egan and McDonnell, committed to the assizes on
charges connected with the dynamite conspiracy, were removed on Saturday last
from Winson Green Prison, to Warwick in readiness for their trial. The prison
van was brought up to the door of the gaol without any commotion being excited,
and drove to Soho station, where the 12.31 train to Warwick was caught. The
escort, only a portion of which accompanied the prisoners beyond Bordesley,
consisted of the Inspector of Prisons for the district, Rear Admiral Fenwick,
the Governor of the gaol, Captain Tinklar, and about
a dozen warders, the Chief Constable, Mr Farndale, Superintendent Black, and a
number of detectives, all being armed with revolvers. The prisoners arrived at
Warwick at 1:45 pm, the approaches to the station being guarded by a force of
police under Inspector Hall. The warders and detectives surrounded the
prisoners, who were heavily chained, and conducted them to the cabs in which
they were quickly driven to the gaol. The arrival of the prisoners excited very
little attention, the intended time of removal having been kept strictly
secret. The gaol at Warwick was guarded by a detachment of the 2nd
Staffordshire Regiment and a special force of police; the castle, the public
buildings of the town and the gas works being carefully watched also. Active
preparations were commenced on Tuesday morning in the immediate vicinity of the
Shire hall, in view of the approaching trial...
The Birmingham Daily Post, 13
September 1884:
THE SOCIAL SCIENCES CONGRESS. … Among the readers of papers in other
departments are the following …. By Mr J Farndale, chief constable
of Birmingham, and Mr JA Telfer, on “What Means would Reduce the Traffic in
Stolen Property.” …
The Kenilworth Advertiser, 18
October 1884: Birmingham
has in Mr Farndale as skilful a Chief Constable as any town in the Midlands,
and it has a very fine police force, but there is in Birmingham a sufficiently
large number of disorderly persons to sack the town. Now that the roughs have
once tested the pleasures of a riot, we must rely upon it that they will not be
long before they find another excuse for setting at defiance the powers of the
law …
1885
The Birmingham Mail, 14 February
1885: THE
DYNAMITE OUTRAGES. POLICE WITNESSES INTIMIDATED. THREAT TO BLOW UP ST PAUL’S
CATHEDRAL AND THE BANK OF ENGLAND. A DYNAMITE PLIOT TO DESTROY NOTTINGHAM
CASTLE. SUPPOSED HOAX.
… By a letter
accidentally received by a tradesman at Aston from Nottingham, a plot has
been discovered to destroy the castle, art museum, school of art, Nottingham
… On enquiry at the Birmingham Detective office today we learn that a copy of
the same letter has been sent to Mr Farndale. The letter is sad to have been
accidentally opened at Aston, and was forwarded to the chief of the borough
police …
The Leighton Buzzard Observer
and Linsdale Gazette, 5 May 1885: POLICE SUPERANNUATION. A
meeting of chief constables of police was held on Thursday at Anderton’s Hotel,
Fleet Street, London, for the purpose of taking into consideration sections of the Police Bill which has just been brought
into the House of Commons. A deputation afterwards waited upon Mr Fowler MP,
the Under Secretary of State at the Home Office, with reference to the measure
… The deputation having been introduced … Mr Farndale, chief constable of
Birmingham and others addressed Mr Fowler in support of the bill, which
provides for the superannuation of police officers after a certain number of
years’ service. Mr Fowler received the representations of the deputation
very favourably, and said that the Government would do its best to pass this
bill this session.
Superannuation is
essentially a pension scheme.
The Birmingham Mail, 16 June
1885: BIRMINGHAM
POLICE MISSION. A social gathering in connection with the Birmingham Young
Men’s Christian Association’s Police Mission was held in the Association Rooms,
Needles Alley, last night, Alderman Downing presided. It was announced that Mr
Farndale had expressed his readiness to afford all the men in the force time
and opportunity for attending a place of worship once every Sunday …
The Birmingham Mail, 13
October 1885: A
YEARS CRIME IN BIRMINGHAM. At the meeting of the Watch Committee this
morning Councillor Bishop in the chair, the Chief Constable (Mr Farndale)
presented his annual return of crime in the borough for the twelve
months ending September the 25th last …
1886
The Nottingham Guardian, 1
January 1886: SERIOUS
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST BIRMINGHAM POLICE OFFICERS. When a man well known to the
police was arrested after violence was used there was a report that the
police had struck the man with a staff across his shoulders and the court
directed Mr Farndale to institute an inquiry into the matter …
The Blanford and Wimborne
Telegram, 12 March 1886: The question of Chief Commissionership of the Police is at
last decided. Mr Howard Vincent, it is said, will not take the post. The recent
riots at Manchester and Birmingham, and the excellent way in which they were
checked by the police forces in those towns, have drawn Mr Childers’ attention
particularly to Mr Wood, the chief constable of Manchester, and Mr Farndale,
who holds the same position in Birmingham. Mr Farndale has, we believe,
risen from the ranks, having entered the force as a common policeman. The
practical experience of such a man could not fail to be highly valuable, if
he also possesses those graces of manner which have always hitherto been deemed
indispensable for this important command …
The Globe, 16 March 1886: A SCARE IN BIMRINGHAM.
BAYONETS SOLD AT ONE PENNY EACH. The attention of the local police has just
been called to the wholesale distribution of old bayonets among children
and others in the town … at several of the Board schools in the town the teachers
were startled to see their young scholars march in literally “armed to the
teeth” … As soon as this became known there was quite a rush to the shops,
and the dealers drove a roaring trade among the juvenile population. Mr
Farndale, the Chief of Police, mentioned the matter yesterday morning to Mr
Kynnersley at the Public Office, but the stipendiary said he thought no steps
could be taken in the matter.
The Edinburgh Evening
News, 14 September 1886: MR CHAMBERLAIN UNDER POLICE PROTECTION. This morning Mr
Chamberlain had a long interview with Mr Farndale, the chief of police in
Birmingham, and it is understood that an arrangement was arrived at
for a detective to accompany him on his holidays. The right hon
gentleman starts in a few days for the Continent, accompanied by Mr Jesse
Collings.
The Worcester Chronicle of
18 September 1886 also reported a song written to commemorate the event of which an
extract is:
So Joseph and Jesse far away
will sojourn,
The shame of it is, they’ll
be sure to return.
A detective goes with them,
who’ll have a great try
To “detect” Jesse’s genius
and Joe’s honesty.
Farewell to the Bobby;
His task will be hard;
That he’ll ne’er overcome it
Is quite the card.
The Liverpool Daily Post of
15 September 1886 reported that it is understood that it was arranged that Inspector
Van Helden should accompany the right hon gentleman throughout his tour
… and the Blackburn
Standard, 18 September 1886 reported that Van Helden speaks several European languages.
Joseph Chamberlain (1836
to 1914) was a liberal and later conservative politician and the father of
Neville Chamberlain. He made his career in Birmingham as a manufacturer of
screws and later as mayor. He resigned from Gladstone’s government in 1886 in opposition
to Irish Home Rule. He helped engineer a split in the liberal party and became
a Liberal Unionist.
The Morpeth Herald, 30
October 1886 reported: GREAT RAID ON BETTING MEN IN BIRMINGHAM. On Tuesday
afternoon the Birmingham police made a raid on three public houses in
Birmingham notoriously used for betting purposes … Mr Farndale, the Chief
Constable, under whose immediate superintendence the arrangements were made,
provided for a simultaneous swoop upon the three houses…
1887
The Birmingham Daily Post, 23
February 1887 reported
on a meeting to discuss the bye laws for regulating street traffic. There was concern
about the speed of tram cars: BIRMINGHAM WATCH COMMITTEE. The bye laws
provided that the speed should not exceed four miles an hour, but the borough
surveyor reported that the cars were occasionally run at the rate of 9 ¼
miles per hour. The CHIEF CONSTABLE (Mr Farndale): They go 19 ¼ miles an
hour in some places outside the borough …
In the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria, Joseph Farndale was involved
in the Queen’s visit to Birmingham. The Birmingham Daily Post, 8 March 1887 reported: THE QUEEN’S VISIT
– PROGESS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS. … With reference to the illuminations we
understand that Mr Farndale, the chief constable, will probably suggest to the
Watch Committee that vehicular traffic in the central streets should be
prohibited. Experience of the last similar occasion proved that even a
single line of traffic could not be worked without difficulty and confusion, as
well as leading to numerous accidents ..
There was a recollection of
city poverty and the Royal visit in the Birmingham Daily Post on 23 May 1953:
Poverty Common
For recreation the
children of my time had only the opportunity of walking round the area
encircling Nelson's Column, or strolling through the Market Hall where, as is
the case today, plenty of interest was provided. Going down the hill at High
Street there were, as today, hawkers offering their goods on the side of the
footpath, crying out their wares, toys, novelties, laces etc.
Poverty was much in
evidence and there existed, more or less, the rich and the very poor, without
the middle classes of today. The depressing sites were the men, women and
children badly clothed, in a number of instances without stockings or boots,
and pleading for assistance. The crossing sweeper generally was a one legged
man, who would sweep the mud over a section of the road either in New Street or
at the corner of Corporation Street. Drunkenness was prevalent, and I have many
times witnessed the prostate form of a man or a woman lying in the gutter, or
the unfortunate person being taken in a staggering condition to the police
station, then situated in Moor Street, to await the morning, when the
magistrates would hear the case.
The Victoria Law Courts in
Corporation Street, were not then in existence and the Assize judges assembled
either at Warwick or in the Council House. Legal business was transacted in
London. A famous detective at the time was Inspector Black, whom elderly
citizens may recall. The policeman's beat at these times was a dangerous one
and, as a result of violent assaults in the slum areas, such as those then
around Park Street, and other thoroughfares, it was found necessary for visits
to be made by two constables.
I remember the fair being
held in the facility of Moor Street. Other stirring events in the town were, of
course, the market days, when there was a large influx of country people. They
frequented the Bull Ring, High Street, Dale End and Ashtead Row, which
constituted the principal shopping areas of the town. At the time when onion
fair came round there was much more life stirring. Within a few yards of the
gates of St Martin’s church some of the country folk offered live geese for
sale. The market stalls were lighted with the naptha
flare lamps, and trade continued till eleven o’clock on Saturday nights.
Mention should also be made of the horse fair held in the district still
bearing its name, where many animals were tethered to the long footpath rails
awaiting sale.
In High Street a number of
old buildings have given way to modern ones, while others have been virtually
destroyed as a result of the heavy air attacks. However there remain today some
of the old shops in the centre of the city that still bear the names of 70
years ago - Taylors, adjoining the Market Hall; And Jarvis’s, the famous
biscuit shop halfway down Worcester Street. Midway in High Street, there were
for many years the premises of James, the Waxworks Show, which was a miniature
Madame Tussauds. The attention of visitors was attracted by the constant
playing of a hurdy gurdy.
Queen Victoria’s Visit
One of my most outstanding
recollections is of the visit to Birmingham of Queen Victoria on March 23,
1887, shortly before her jubilee. I vividly recall standing on the balustrade
in the old home, looking down at the throng and hearing the vociferous cheering
as the Queen’s carriage was drawn along. There was a triple arch from Swan
Passage over the road to Thompson’s Passage, the centre span of which was 40
feet high.
Queen Victoria at this
time was approaching 70 years of age. For some time before her visit the town
was agog with excitement; The railway companies had provided many special
trains to bring in visitors from the adjoining counties. The Queen arrived at Small
Heath station from Windsor and spent 3 ½ hours among the town people. Twenty
one guns were fired at Balsall Heath to announce her arrival. The procession
went through large crowds along Digbeth, Bull Ring and New Street to the Town
Hall. Accompanying the Queen in the procession were the Mayor and Mayoress,
Alderman and Mrs Thomas Martineau, Lord Lieutenant of the county, the High
Sheriff, the late Mr THG Newton, the Town Clerk, Mr E O Smith, the Recorder of
Birmingham, Mr. J S Dugdale QC MP, the Chief Constable, Mr Farndale, and
an escort of 60 troopers of the 15th Hussars. With the Queen were the Prince
and Princess Henry of Battenburg, and the Duchess of Buccleuch. The bells of St
Martin’s rang out in jubilation. At the Town Hall where the Queen was to have
lunch, there stood the statues of Sir Robert Peel, Priestley and Wright. The
old established firm of caterers, Lisseter and Miller
served the lunch at which were present following MPs who represented the town
in those days: the Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, Mr Jesse Collins, Mr
George Dixon, Alderman Kendrick and Alderman Powell Williams. Also present were
the Bishop of Worcester, Cardinal Newman, the Right Reverend Bishop Ilsley,
Canon Wilkinson, Rector of Saint Martin’s, and Captain Tozer, Chief of the Fire
Brigade. After lunch the procession left for Corporation Street, where the
Queen laid the granite foundation stone of the Victoria law courts. The Queen
was greatly touched by the loyalty of the citizens, who were allowed one hours
extension to celebrate, which meant that the licenced houses remained open
until midnight; Next day the magistrates had to deal with a number of cases as
a result of excessive drinking, but from all accounts clemency was shown.
Great fire
The famous fire of 1888
took place at the premises of Marris and Norton who at that time were the great
carpet and furniture traders of the town and whose premises were on the sites
now occupied by Lloyds Bank, Corporation Street, and W H Smith and Son. It
started on Saturday, and on Sunday morning I was taken to the scene and saw the
smouldering carpets in the deep basement beneath the footpath. So intense was
the heat that the windows on the opposite side of the street occupied by the
dawn were cracked.
New Street has much
changed and one's mind is taken back to the celebrated shops that were
patronised by well to do citizens who invariably arrived in town with the
coachman driving their brougham or carriage. What a difference, then and now,
in regard to the ladies’ costumes. I could still see those of my young days
strolling along the footpaths, some wearing bustles, and others with dresses
comprising at least six yards of material, with the train gently removing the
dust from the stone footpaths. It did not concern them that later the garment
would need a great deal of cleaning.
Among the angling
fraternity of Birmingham, the river Trent at Aire was represented the waterside
of the Birmingham Piscatorial Society. At that period the Trent was well
stocked and in my boyhood I have seen many excellent bags of fish brought into
the city by my father and others to be handed over to the local fishmongers.
Conditions of life have
changed greatly during the past sixty years; individuals have much more
freedom. Then there are the present day amenities brought about by the more
even distribution of wealth and, of course, the social services. But one
regrets that so much of the quietude of the City was given way to the rush and
bustle of today. Whereas there are now many accidents, a solitary death arising
from a road accident in bygone days caused such consternation that the incident
would be talked about for many months.
The Yorkshire
Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 24 March 1887 reported:
THE QUEEN IN BIRMINGHAM. ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. Her Majesty’s first
official visit to the provinces in her Jubilee year has been an unqualified
success – the weather splendid for the season of the year, the
crowds of her subjects in the streets large, orderly and enthusiastic, and the
arrangements for her reception, progress, and departure perfect in every
particular … The police arrangements, carried out under the superintendence
of Chief Constable Farndale, were admirable so far as they went; but it
would have been impossible for the police to keep the streets clear if they had
not had the assistance of 400 firemen and several battalions of volunteers, who
lined the route. ..
The event was illustrated in
The Graphic,
26 March 1887: The
Queen’s Visit to Birmingham:
The Aberdeen Press and
Journal, 5 November 1887: THE GOVERNMENT RESOLUTE. The Right Hon A J Balfour, MP,
Secretary for Ireland, attended meetings in Birmingham yesterday and delivered
addresses on the Irish question … On the platform the right hon gentleman
was met by Sir James Sawyer, President of the Birmingham Conservative
Association, and by the chief constable of Birmingham, Mr Farndale …
The Birmingham Daily Post, 7
November 1887: THE
SOCIALISTS IN BIRMINGHAM. A SUNDAY EVENING DISTURBANCE. A disorderly scene took place in front
of the Council House last evening, in connection with one of the meetings which
are held on the Sundays by the members of the Socialist League, under the
direction of the local agent. Mr A Donald … Donald, we understand, denies that
he was advised to abandon the meeting. In order to avoid the crowd that
gathered in Moor Street, the various persons interested were let out the back
way, and Mr Farndale detained a policeman to secure Mr Donald from
molestation on his way home.
1888
Joseph Farndale was involved in a hoax relating to the Jack the
Ripper murders (“the Whitechapel Murders”) in 1888.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 8
October 1888: A
BIRMINGHAM CONFESSION. At Birmingham Police Court on Saturday, before Sir
Thomas Martineau … a respectfully dressed man, named Alfred Napier Blanchard
(34), who described himself as a canvasser … was charged by his own
confession with having committed the Whitechapel murders. Detective Ashby
explained that on Friday morning the prisoner went into a public house in
Newton Row, and openly accused himself od having committed the Whitechapel
murders. Witness took him into custody, and when they reached Duke Street
police station he denied having made any confession … Was he drunk at the time?
Mr Farndale: he was sober when he first broached the subject, but by the
time the police were called he was undoubtedly under the influence of drink
… Mr Farndale now said he did not attach the least importance to the arrest,
but, at the same time the prisoner had placed himself in the position in which
he now stood, and he could not complain if the Bench remanded him. Mr
Goodman: Do you know anything about him? Mr Farndale: Nothing, except what has
been gleaned from papers found in his possession.
The Birmingham Daily Gazette,
8 October 1888:
A CONFESSION AND ARREST IN BIRMINGHAM.
At The Birmingham Public Office on Saturday,
before Messrs. J.D. Goodman and W. Holliday (magistrates), Alfred Napier Blanchard (34), described as a
canvasser, of 2, Rowland Grove, Rowland Road, Handsworth, was charged on his
own confession with committing the Whitechapel murders.
Detective-sergeant Ashby said that on Friday night
the prisoner was in a public-house in Newtown Row, and he told the landlord that he was the
Whitechapel murderer. He repeated the
statement to several people and witness arrested him. When at Duke Street
Police Station he denied being the murderer, but witness thought proper to keep
him in custody. The police had not yet had time to make inquiries and knew
nothing of the prisoner's antecedents.
Richard King, landlord of the Fox and
Goose, Newtown Row, said the
prisoner came to his house about eleven o'clock on Friday morning, and remained
till about a quarter past eight at night. During his stay in the house he drank about five and a half pints of
beer. About half-past twelve
o'clock he asked witness what kind of detectives they had in Birmingham.
Witness told him he believed them to be very clever men. Prisoner said that it would be a funny thing if the
Whitechapel murderer were to give himself up in Birmingham. Witness acquiesced, and prisoner continued, "I am the
Whitechapel murderer." Turning
round to an elderly gentleman sitting in the bar, prisoner said, "Look
here, old gentleman; perhaps you would not think there was a murderer in the
house." "I don't know about that," replied the customer;
"you might not look unlike one." Prisoner said, "I am one,
then." Later on the old gentleman asked prisoner had he got the knife with
him, and he answered that he had left a long knife behind him. Someone asked
prisoner how he did the murders without making the victims scream. He explained
that this was done "simply by placing the thumb and finger on the windpipe
and cutting the throat with the right hand." He said he had "done six of them in
London." He was sober when he
made this statement. Turning round to witness prisoner said, "You are a
fool if you don't get the thousand pounds reward offered for me; you may as
well have it as anyone else."
Mr. Farndale (Chief Constable) informed the
magistrates that he did not
attach the least importance to this arrest. At the same time prisoner had placed himself in a most serious
position, and could not complain if the magistrates thought fit to remand him
for inquiries. At present nothing had been ascertained with respect to him
beyond information contained in some papers found upon him.
Mr. Goodman thought that
some further inquiries should be made.
The prisoner asked if he might say a few words,
and, having obtained permission, stated that he was stationed in London, and
was a canvasser for a London firm. He had recently been working up North. He
was now on his way to London, and when he made the statement incriminating
himself was labouring under great excitement, having been previously reading
the reports of the inquests. The statement was, on the face of it, ridiculous,
and he was sure they would admit that. He could give them references in Birmingham.
Mr. Barradale (Magistrates' Clerk) told the
prisoner that he could give any references he had to Mr. Farndale for inquiry.
As the prisoner said he was a murderer, it was a question whether time should
not be given to make inquiries.
Mr. Goodman: It is your own fault that you are in
this position.
The prisoner said he was aware of this, but at the
same time he was labouring under great excitement.
Mr. Barradale: Were you suffering from the drink?
Prisoner: Partly from drink and partly from
nervousness. I had been drinking for two or three days.
The prisoner was remanded until to-morrow.
Mr. Barradale told him that if he wished any
messages to be sent the police would assist him in every way. He could
telegraph to anybody living away from the town and write to anyone he thought
proper.
As he was proceeding towards the cells, prisoner
said he had a favour to ask. Would the press be kind enough not to mention this
case? It was a serious matter for him, and should his employer get to hear
about it he would lose his situation.
Mr. Barradale: The magistrates have no power over
the press.
The prisoner then went below.
The Star which claimed it had the
largest circulation of any Evening Paper in the Kingdom. LONDON. FRIDAY, 23
NOVEMBER, 1888. ONE HALFPENNY.
Front Page:
MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE.
Mr. Joseph Farndale, the Chief Constable of Birmingham, who
is making the running for the Chief Commissionership, is an excellent officer.
Birmingham got him from Leicester, where from working a beat he had risen
to the position of head policeman. There was some talk of Mr. Farndale when Sir
Edmund Henderson resigned, and the Birmingham Watch Committee - the Town
Council Committee that has control of the police - were in despair. They would
have been very glad for his sake if he had obtained promotion, but at the same
time they fervently hoped that he would not be taken away from them.
Birmingham ascertained by sad experience the
disadvantages of a military despotism. Major Bond, a gentleman who achieved
some little distinction in Ireland, was Mr. Farndale's predecessor. He was a
provincial Charles Warren, and it was not long before Birmingham rebelled
against his iron rule. The police lost touch with the people, and neither the
people not the police liked it. He had to go, and from occupying a position of honor and eminence he came to be an Irish resident
magistrate. When the Major went the first qualification which the people and
the press demanded in his successor was that he should be a civilian. Mr.
Farndale had an excellent record, and has thoroughly justified his selection.
The secret of his
success is that he carefully avoids any display of force. Shortly after the
disturbances and the sacking of the West-end, there was some fear of a similar
occurrence in Birmingham. The Chief Constable dealt with the situation in a
very admirable manner. He did not attempt to interfere with the
demonstration, and carefully refrained from crowding Costa-green with policemen
or from irritating the people by any unnecessary display of authority. There
was no bludgeoning, no violence, and the consequence was that the crowd,
amongst whom were a good many bad characters who would have stuck at nothing in
the way of plunder, gradually dispersed.
The Chief Constable himself
preserved his good temper throughout, and was cheered by the crowd as he
passed. He has the advantage of being a handsome man - a great point
with the crowd. He looks remarkably well in his uniform and on horseback,
and he is always in evidence whenever there is anything moving.
When the dynamite plot was discovered in
Birmingham, the Chief Constable was in his proper place, and directed the
investigations so well that not a mistake was made. Night and day he
remained at his post until the right moment came, and then the police swooped
down and captured the gang. The result was that the dynamite conspiracy, which
had its head-quarters in Birmingham, was completely crushed out of existence.
Mr. Farndale looks something over 40. He is tall,
broad-shouldered, athletic, has good features and looks like a gentleman. He has the bald head that comes of wearing a constable's helmet.
The Evening Star, 6 November
1888 reported: MR
GLADSTONE’S JOURNEY. SPEECH ON HOME AND FOERIEGN POLITICS. Mr Gladstone
left Hawarden for Birmingham this morning, for the purpose of
fulfilling a series of arrangements in connection with the National Liberal
Federation … The train steamed into Birmingham station at 1.15 precisely …
Outside the station there was an immense concourse of people. Here, however, as
well as along the whole route to the Town Hall, strong barricades had been
erected, and a large force of police being in attendance, under the command
of Mr Farndale, a perfectly clear space was kept for the procession. An enthusiastic
cheer was given as Mr Gladstone emerged from the station …
Of Gladstone’s visit, the
Burley Gazette of 3 November 1888 had commented Since, in dealing with so large a number, it is
impossible to ensure that all shall be sympathisers, with the object of the
gathering, or even respectable men, there will be a strong police force in the
hall, commanded by the Chief Constable (Mr Farndale) who has frequently
shown himself a man of rare tact and energy on such occasions…
The Bristol Mercury, 13
November 1888: Sir
Charles Warren has taken the course of a sensible man, in resigning from a
position for which it is evident he was not fitted … The police are a civil
body charged with the maintenance of order and the detection of crime and the
Whitechapel horrors have shown how incapable Scotland yard is in this respect …
They make the fatal error of transferring even their detectives from division
to division, so that they have not men with intimate local knowledge as
Mr Coathupe has in Bristol, or Mr Farndale has in
Birmingham, acquainted with the criminal classes and all the dark places
of the city, so that very few hours would elapse before the arrival of a
suspicious stranger or a suspicious occurrence in the lowest haunts in the
place would become known at police headquarters.
Joseph Farndale started to be named as a possible candidate for
Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. The Bristol Mercury, 20 November 1888: Mr Malcolm Wood, Chief Constable of
Manchester, whose name is mentioned so prominently amongst those who are stated
to be candidates for the post vacated by Sir Charles Warren as chief
commissioner of the police in the metropolis, followed Captain Erwin as deputy
chief at Manchester, Captain Owen having succeeded Mr E W Coathupe
when the latter left Manchester to become chief constable at Bristol. On the
retirement of the chief constable of Manchester Mr Malcolm Wood obtained his
present position, and is now about 45 years of age. His friends were early in
the field mentioning his name as a suitable candidate immediately Sir Charles
Warren's resignation became known. The other names mentioned are Mr
Howard Vincent, Mr Munro, Mr Farndale (Birmingham), Mr Harold (Dublin),
and Sir Stuart Hogg, a retired Anglo Indian, for some time Commissioner of
Police in Calcutta. Mr Coathupe has more than once
attracted the special notice of the Prince of Wales and received his congratulations
and thanks, and it was at first thought that he was one of the provincial chief
constables referred to as probable candidates.
But illness struck. The Birmingham Mail, 28 December 1888: MR FARNDALE’S ILLNESS. Although Mr
Farndale has been incapacitated for a considerable time, it has not yet
been announced what he has actually been suffering from. A severe cold was at
the outset said to be the cause, but when he was recommended to repair to
the South of England it was generally accepted that his illness was of much
greater severity than his medical attendants chose to announce. During his
absence he continued to lose strength, and the development of the obstinate
complaint manifested itself in a manner which occasioned considerable
apprehension. The fact is that the Chief of Police contracted an attack of
diphtheria of such a peculiar character that his medical advisers were
baffled in their diagnosis. During the latter part of his stay at Torquay,
however, paralysis supervened, and then it dawned upon them that the primary
complaint was diphtheria. The paralysis gave rise to much alarm, and Mr
Farndale’s return was at once ordered. Since he has been at home he has
been attended by Sir W Foster and Drs Wilders and Hunt, and we are pleased to
be able to announce that he is now showing some signs of improvement,
although some time must yet transpire ere he is able to resume his duties.
1889
The Birmingham Mail, 5 January
1889: I hear
with regret that Mr Farndale has had a relapse, which has aroused fresh fears
amongst his friends and medical advisers. The paralysis from which he was
suffering on his return to Birmingham at first showed some signs of gradual
abatement, but with the advent of the cold weather the symptoms returned with
increased severity, and the dense fogs have also tended to render anything like
a speedy recovery less hopeful.
The Whitby Gazette, 11 January
1889: Mr
Farndale, chief constable of Birmingham, who has been seriously ill, is now
slightly improving.
But he found it necessary to sell his horse: The Birmingham Mail, 6
February 1889 advertised:
CAVES, BIRMINGHAM, TOMORROW (Thursday), THE property of Joseph Farndale Esq,
a BROWN MARE, 16.1; quiet to rise and quiet in harness. By Auction, in the
usual Horse Sale.
The Derbyshire Times, 9
February 1889: I
have heard for some time with regret of the serious illness of Chief
Constable Farndale of Birmingham and formerly Chief Constable of
Chesterfield. Mr Farndale unfortunately contracted diphtheria which was
followed by diptheric paralysis of the throat,
complicated by kidney disorders. Mr Farndale’s many friends will however be
glad to hear that he is decidedly better and Dr Lawson Tait gives hope
of a seedy recovery. Mr Farndale is held in kindly memory in Chesterfield, and
I trust he will soon be well and strong again.
The Birmingham Mail, 16
February 1889: Anyone
passing a certain police station within the limits of the city early on Monday
morning last, might have witnessed a very lively snowballing encounter,
between a dozen or so of Mr Farndale’s most trusted officers. Of course
very few people were about at the time, but these opened their eyes in
astonishment with which the myrmidons of the law entered into their game. The
scene would have delighted some of the ragamuffins who were later in the
day rebuked by the self same officers for doing a
similar thing.
Joseph was back at work by April 1889. The Birmingham Mail, 26 April
1889: THE
DEMONSTRATION IN BINGLEY HALL All the tickets for the Unionist demonstration
in Bingley Hall tonight have been applied for and issued … The convenience
of ticket holders has been admirably provided for in the arrangements made by
the Chief Constable (Mr Farndale), which include the blocking of King
Alfred’s Place, King Edward’s Place, and part of Cambridge Street by cordons of
police, who will permit no person to pass unprovided with a ticket.
He was welcomed back to work with speeches and an Illuminated
Address.
The Whitby
Gazette, 14 June 1889: The Chief Constable of Birmingham (Mr Farndale) is shortly to
be made the recipient of a testimonial from the Birmingham Magistrates and
many influential citizens. The committee which has been formed to carry out
the presentation consider that as the prolonged illness of the chief has
entailed a very heavy expense, a substantial monetary testimonial would be both
an appropriate and graceful act. Already a resolution has been passed
expressive of cordial congratulation on his recovery. The presentation
committee also aim at showing their high appreciation of Mr Farndale’s many
excellent services in connection with the force by the fund which they have
initiated. Circulars asking for subscriptions have even forwarded to those who
it is thought would like to participate in the testimonial, but the appeal is
in no wise a public one – in fact it is being made privately.
The Birmingham Daily Post 27
June 1889:
Inspection of the City
Police Force. Colonel Cobbe, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary for the
Midland District, yesterday afternoon inspected the police force in the yard at
the rear of the police station in Duke Street …
The men were drawn up in
their various divisions … Mr and Mrs
Farndale were driven into the centre …Superintendent Sheppard then
presented the Chief Constable with an handsomely illuminated address … He
wished the chief a long life and good health, and referred to the kindness that
Mr Farndale had always shown to members of the force.
The address, which was read
by Superintendent Sheppard, was as follows: “Address to Joseph Farndale Esq., Chief
Constable for the City of Birmingham – We, the undersigned, deputed by a
meeting assembled and representing the whole body of the Birmingham Police
Force, consisting of 550 members, heartily congratulate you upon your
resumption of duties as chief in this large and important city. We rejoice
at your restoration to health, as we sympathised with you in your serious
and protracted illness; and it is now a source of happiness for us to have the
opportunity of thus expressing to you how much we cherish and admire those
qualities so characteristic of you, and which have drawn and endeared us to you
during your chief constableship here. We feel that when and wherever qualities
abound which have distinguished your career in such an eminent degree then will
a true appreciating and grateful people respond and unmistakably demonstrate in
no uncertain way the inspiration in their hearts. We therefore ask you sir,
prompted by these feelings, to accept this illuminated address, not for
its intrinsic value, but rather as an outcome of our expression of pleasure
and congratulations upon your resumption of duties, and as a small token of
our admiration of your worth as chief, man and friend. With a fervent wish that
your convalescence be of long duration and that you live long in the buoyancy
of health to champion our cause as hitherto in the course and conduct of our
duties, and in the path of wisdom, justice and right. Signed, on behalf of the
members of the force, Superintendents Wm Wilcox, Rd Sheppard, Wm Shaw, Philip
Stephenson, Joseph Hervey, James Black, and David Noon.”
Superintendent Wilcox also
added a few words in a similar strain and presented two handsome bouquets to
Mrs Edwards and Mrs Farndale. The Chief Constable, in acknowledging the
presentation, expressed the great pleasure which this unanimous demonstration on
the part of the men had afforded him. He was in a measure prepared for
something of the kind, because of the kindness that had been shown towards him
by all the members of the force during his illness. He attributed his recovery
in a great measure to this cause, because cheerfulness of mind played a great
part in such matters. …
The Mayor, on behalf of the
City, expressed gratification at seeing Mr Farndale once more about and making
progress towards as he (the speaker) hoped, perfect health. … Cheers were then given
for the Chief Constable, and afterwards for the Mayor, and the constables then
dispersed to their various divisions.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 7
and 17 July 1889:
PRESENTATION TO MR FARNDALE
A largely attended and
representative meeting was held at the Council House, yesterday, for the
purpose of making a presentation to Mr Joseph Farndale, the chief of police,
upon his restoration from his long and serious illness. Mr Jaffray occupied the
chair and amongst those present were the Rev Canon Wilkinson, Alderman Sir Thos
Martineau, the Town Clerk (Mr E O Smith), Alderman Pollack, Messrs W Holliday,
A Hill, G Marris, HG Reid, JC Holder, WM Ellis, TH Bartlett, Joseph Ansed, Councillor Lawley Parker, Councillor Barclay,
Councillor Bishop, … Mr Farndale was warmly applauded on entering the room. The
balance sheet showed that the memorial fund amounted to £433 1s and that the
expenses, including the preparation of an illuminated address, were £28 1s. There
were 201 contributors.
The Chairman read the
following address which was illuminated for framing by Mr Morton, and of which
a copy was bound in book form with the names of the subscribers:- “To Joseph
Farndale, Esq., Chief Constable for the City of
Birmingham. Dear Mr Farndale, - We, the undersigned, on behalf of several of
your friends and well wishers, are desirous of
tendering to you our warm and sincere congratulations upon your restoration
to health after your late severe and prolonged illness, and of expressing
to you the hope that such restoration is of a permanent nature, and the
gratification we feel in seeing you are able to resume the active duties in
your important office. We acknowledge with pleasure the efficient and masterly
manner in which you have controlled the civil order and protected the
individual and material interests of this great city; the able assistance that you are ever ready with unvarying
courtesy to afford to all persons in connection with your office, even in
matters not forming part of your official duties, and the high esteem in which
you are held by the officers and men of the force of which you are chief; and
we look forward with pleasure in the hope of seeing your face amongst us for
many years. As a mark of our personal regard we request that you will accept
the accompanying cheque for £405. We are, dear Mr Farndale, faithfully yours …”
In handing over the
address, the Chairman said he could not sit down without expressing, on
behalf of that very representative meeting of Mr Farndale’s fellow townsmen,
their appreciation of his character and service. He was old enough,
unhappily, to remember a succession of chief constables in Birmingham, and he
spoke of the sentiments of those who knew most intimately how Mr Farndale
discharged his duties when he said that no officer who ever presided over the
police force had ever discharged his duties with more courtesy, with less
friction, and with ore ability. They all knew how easy it was to cause
annoyance in the discharge of delicate and responsible duties as those which
pertained to the chief of police. They had the proof of it very recently in London,
where something of a social revolution was threatened by the friction – he did
not say whether what was done was right or not – which took place between the
police and the civilians. They had never experienced anything of the sort
since Mr Farndale came amongst them. There had been the utmost good
feeling, and it was well not only that the law should be respected, but
that its administration should be so gentle it was scarcely felt or seen. Then,
with respect to the regulation of the streets, none of them could fail
to see the improvement as regarded safety of persons crossing the streets at
crowded points through the organisation of the traffic and the invariable
courtesy with which the police were ready to ‘help the lame dog’ across. Then
take another matter, the dispersion of large assemblies on a wet night from
the town hall. What a chaos it used to be, and how almost impossible for
those in charge of ladies to get away. Now, however, they simply handed a card
to a policeman, it was taken in the most polite way, and their carriage was
found without disorder or delay. Within Mr Farndale’s household – the police
force – matters were admirably arranged, and a finer body of men it would be
impossible to find. Even the London newspapers, who found fault with many
things in Birmingham, and who were bound to say something nasty (laughter)
never Said anything disparaging of the police. (Hear, hear). In the proceedings
the other day the most prominent feature was the martial bearing and action of
the police force. Mr Farndale had already received from the members of his
force a recognition of his kindliness of spirit and the good feeling which
prevailed between him and those under his command. The present meeting, which
might be taken as representative of the whole town, testified to the general
appreciation of the way in which he had conducted his difficult and delicate
duties, and they echoed the hope expressed that Mr Farndale may regain as much
health and strength as he previously enjoyed, and that he might long be spared
to discharge the duties of his important office, (Applause). The Chairman, in
conclusion, handed over to Mr Farndale the cheque for £405, and
expressed regret that Mrs Farndale was not able to be present to receive the
beautiful bouquet which it had been intended to present to her.
Mr Farndale, in reply, said that he had not been
altogether ignorant of the fact that some presentation was to be made to him,
but he was greatly surprised at the extent to which the movement had been taken
up. He thanked the committee and subscribers most sincerely and he thanked Mr
Jeffray not only for occupying the chair and for the too flattering words he
had uttered concerning himself, but for the way he had spoken of the police
force. He was very proud pf the Birmingham Police, and he was greatly pleased t find that pride was shared by a very large number of the
inhabitants of the city. There had been some misapprehension current with
regard to the number of cases in which men were reported against, especially
for drunkenness; but he was glad to say that whereas some years ago the reports
every year amounted to several hundreds, last year, with an augmented force,
the number of offences for which members of the police force were reported were
just brought down to two figures, being only 99. He fully endorsed what had
been said as to the manner in which the force performed their duties. They
could have no greater proof that they discharged their duties intelligently
than the fact that fir the last two or three years – certainly two, if not more
– they had not had a single complaint or action brought against any
constable for illegal arrest or illegal search, although they were often
called upon at a moment’s notice to decide cases which some of his friends, who
were lawyers, would want a little time to consider. It had been his lot to
receive testimonials on several occasions but they had been parting gifts by
the sorrow of saying ‘goodbye’. He was glad that feature was not characteristic
of the present occasion. He thanked those of all classes, from the lord
lieutenant and high sheriff down to the most humble citizens, who had expressed
sympathy for hum in his illness; and he echoed the chairman’s hope that he
might be spared to serve the people of Birmingham, who had never lost an
opportunity of showing him kindness, and who had evinced so generous an
appreciation of his services.
On the motion of the Rev
Canon Wilkinson, seconded by Dr Lawson Tait, a vote of thanks was passed to the
chairman and to the two hon secretaries, and the proceedings terminated.
Mr Farndale has received from
an anonymous contributor, signed himself ‘a friend’, the sum of five
guineas, which the donor said he should have been pleased to have added to
the private list if he had been aware of it at the time.
There was a visit by the Shah of Persia in July 1889. The Birmingham Daily Post, 5
July 1889: THE
SHAH’S VISIT TO BIRMINGHAM. His Majesty the Shah of Persia is
expected to arrive at New Street Station by special train from Bromsgrove at
about 11.30am on the morning of Thursday, the 11th instant. … The street
traffic will be under the control of the Chef Constable (Mr Farndale). As
it is expected that considerable interest will be evinced in the visit of the
Shah and in his progress through the streets, the Mayor hopes that the
inhabitants will maintain the reputation of the city in assisting in the
preservation of order along the line of the procession, and by keeping the
route clear and free of obstruction.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 12
July 1889:
THE SHAH IN BIMRINGHAM
PUBLIC RECEPTION AND
INSPECTION OF FACTORIES
The Shah paid his
promised visit to Birmingham yesterday, but the event was robbed somewhat
of the éclat which would otherwise have attended it through an unfortunate
upsetting of the programme which had been arranged.
The article refers to the changed
plans of the Shah which led to delays whilst sightseers had already turned
out and shop keepers found their business suspended or closed.
A great many undoubtedly
thought the time too valuable to idle away, even to show respect to England’s
guest – for the crowds in the street thinned. Those who remained behind either
waited patiently at their posts or promenaded along the pavements willing away
the time as best they could. The name of the illustrious visitor was in
every one’s mouth but what was said about him had better not be published.
“What a shame!”. “Our Queen wouldn’t serve us such a trick”, “I suppose he
thinks he can do as he likes with us”, were among the very mildest of the
grumbling comments … “He ain’t worth a tanner”
suggested one irreverent passer by. “”What!”,
shrieked the man in the cart, “not worth a tanner, when he’s doing all this to
save war with old England! – Bah!” … Quite a sigh of relief went up as Mr
Farndale and a few mounted policemen rode down to the station. The Mayor
followed, the ugly rumours that the Shah was not coming at all were thrown to
the winds, and in due course patience was rewarded and curiosity to a certain
extent satisfied by the Imperial possession …
As soon as the Shah’s
carriage had left the station yard, it was surrounded by a squadron of the 9th
Lancers, under Major Mackenizie … who formed the
escort. The procession was headed by Mr Farndale, the chief superintendent of
police, and the carriages not covered by the escort were flanked by mounted
constables
…
The Bromsgrove and Droitwich
Messenger, 17 August 1889: DEATH OF INSPECTOR CHECKETTS. The police who attended
numbered more than one hundred, including superintendents, inspectors,
sergeants and constables, and Mr Farndale (the Chief Constable). The funeral
cortege was headed by the police band …
The Dudley Mercury, 31 August
1889: Amongst
the visitors of Droitwich, who are taking the brine baths, are … Mr
Farndale (chief of the Birmingham Police) and many others of lesser note.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 5
November 1889:
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. The annual meeting of the Birmingham
Branch of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was
held yesterday … With regard to Mr Farndale, he was pleased he had recovered
from his recent illness, and was gratified to find that he had given good
assistance to the society (cheers).
There was an account of 1889
from 50 years later in the Birmingham Mail, 18 March 1939:
FIFTY YEARS AGO. The Right
Honourable Henry Cecil Raikes MP, Postmaster General, laid the foundation stone
of the new post office. In a cavity beneath the stone was placed a copy of the
‘Mail’. Mr Joseph Chamberlain was present and spoke of the Birmingham of a
further 50 years ago, the 1830s, when there were no parks, baths, or wash
houses, no museums, very few schools, very little paving, except for the
petrified kidney order, no sewerage, no sanitary arrangements and the death
rate was five or six and 1000 higher.
In the large crowd present
pickpockets got a gaol hall, but three of them were chased and arrested after a
struggle.
The Council Chamber and the
Reception Hall of the Council House were being fitted up in the form of
temporary law courts for the opening of the Spring Assize. The ailing chief
constable of Birmingham, Mr Farndale, had to give up his home on the Hagley
Road for Her Majesty's judges, and he had been moved in a bath chair under the
care of his physician to a friends house in Calthorpe
Road.
Board school teachers had
been accused of inflicting cruel secret punishments on their charges, and the
school Board had announced that it must stop. After inflicting corporal
punishment a teacher had to record it in a special book.
A headmaster wrote to the
Mail: “Imagine the trials and tribulations of a young assistant shut up in a
classroom with 60 or 70 children, hour after hour, day off today, week after
week. Some of the scholars have been born to lying, thieving and impudance, yet almost every one of them, capacity or no
capacity, must be made to pass the government examinations at the end of the
year. The restricted assistant yields to temptation, and punishes on the sly.
Robin Goodfellow.
1890
The Birmingham Mail, 19 March
1890: THE
POLICE AND THE EIGHT HOURS SYSTEM. The part played by the police forces of
the country in the public affairs is so important that any question bearing
upon the administration of their official duties becomes a matter in which all
law abiding citizens should not only take a interest,
but if necessary, their opinion should be earnestly consulted. We have now
before us the fact that a section of our police force is agitating for a
return to the old system of duty viz, that of performing the entire eight hours
duty straight off the reel, thus leaving the remaining sixteen hours at their
disposal … The discussion at the Council meeting clearly showed that this
satisfactory feature of administration is the result of the system
instituted by Mr Farndale …
The Birmingham Daily Post, 31
May 1890:
POLICEMEN’S HOURS. The debate in the City Council on the management of the
police force has not, as it may h=be supposed to have done, settled the
question … The long duty system was in force during the greater art of Major
Bond’s term of headship; the short duty system was introduced by Mr Farndale
seven years ago. Its introduction was marked by the concession of a day’s
leave per month, and thus was in the nature of a compensation … The chief
motive of the agitation is to obtain a longer spell off duty … The sole
question which has to be considered by the management of the force is as to the
effect upon discipline, physique and general efficiency; and as soon as
this question is raised the case against the long duty system appears to be
very strong. The Watch Committee and the Chief Constable seem, at all events,
to be agreed upon this point. It was this consideration which induced Mr
Farndale eight years ago to recommend the abandonment of the system. He was
struck by an absence of smartness in the appearance of the men, especially
of those who were doing an early spell of duty from 6am to 2pm. It occurred to
him that, supporting the men were sensible enough in every case to make a
temperate use of their sixteen hours freedom, it was hardly probable that they
would get a warm meal before starting out so early in the morning, or find very
much time for brushing up their uniforms …
The issue of “the Dynamitards”, then recurred and questions arose
about the legitimacy of the arrests of Daly and others in the 1884 arrests (as
distinct from the very successful arrest of Whitehead in 1883). Joseph Farndale
appeared to have had his doubts about the legitimacy of those 1884 arrests and
was concerned about methods adopted by the Irish Police, although there was
controversy about exactly what Joseph Farndale said to Alderman Manton. He was
clearly a man of conscience who worried about the legitimacy of the arrests
when facts came to his attention later.
The
Staffordshire Chronicle, 27 September 1890:
DALRY THE DYNAMITARD
A STARTLING STORY
On Monday, Mr W T Bryan,
secretary of the demonstration which took place in Tipperary on Sunday to
protest against the treatment to which Mr John Daly and his fellow prisoners
have been subjected in Chatham gaol, received a letter from Mr William O’Brien
MP … I have for some time been in communication with an English gentleman of
much eminence in Birmingham, who has discovered startling proofs that John
Daly is the victim of a plot organised by emissaries of the Irish Constabulary.
His authority for this terrible charge is no less a personage than the chief
constable of one of the principal English cities, whose confession has been
before the Home Secretary. It will be our duty to press for the fullest
investigation of this horrible business, and to insist that pending such
investigation there shall be no continuance of the barbaric system of prison
torment revealed in the evidence before the late unfairly constituted
commission. …
Alderman Manton’s statement,
so far as the conviction of Daly is concerned, is briefly as follows: He states
that a few weeks after the trial at Warwick, Mr Farndale, the Chief
Constable of Birmingham, told him – Alderman Manton puts it that Mr
Farndale came to him to unburden himself of a secret that was truly
troubling his conscience – that the explosives found on Daly when he was
arrested had been planted on him by an agent in the employ of the Irish police;
that Daly and Egan were maintained for some time previous to their arrest by
money supplied to them by this agent; that it was he who made an appointment
with Daly to hand over the bombs; that he did in fact give Daly the bombs at
Stafford station; and that the police, acting on instructions, allowed this
agent to escape. Alderman Manton alleges that he has evidence in his
possession, which not only confirms the statements which he alleges were made
by Mr Farndale, but which points to the absolute innocence of Daly. It is on
these grounds that he has been agitating either for an inquiry or for the quiet
release of the prisoners.
Mr Farndale’s position in
the matter is rather plain. There is a distinct conflict of statement between him and
Alderman Manton as to the circumstance under which first communication was
made. Mr Farndale, we believe, declares that he informed Alderman Manton of
the employment of the agent, not in any way as a confession, but merely as a
repetition, at Alderman Manton’s solicitation. Of a statement which Mr
Farndale, in the absence through illness of the alderman, had already made to
the Watch Committee. Mr Farndale told the watch Committee, and subsequently
Alderman Manton, that he entertained the gravest objections to the methods
which the Irish police had employed in obtaining the conviction, and that had
he known at the outset of the extent to which the agent provocateur had been
employed he would have declined all connection with the case. These options
Mr Farndale still holds, but he has never stated, as alleged by Mr John
O’Connor, that “the whole thing was a put up job”; nor has he expressed
any doubt as to the justice of Daly’s conviction … In justice to Mr Farndale it
should be stated that bot a shadow of responsibility attaches to him for the
employment of this agent. Mr Farndale’s duty in the matter was simply to obey
the directions of the Irish police in charge of the case, and it was not until
a very late period that he knew the methods to which he objected were employed …
The Dis Express, 3 October
1890:
THE CONVICT DALY
In view of the agitation
for the reconsideration of the case of John Daly, the dynamitard, who was
sentenced to penal servitude for life for treason felony, and is now
an inmate at Chatham Convict Prison, it may be mentioned that he was tried
at the Warwickshire Assizes in July 1884, by Mr Justice Hawkins….
Soon after the conviction Mr
Manton began his correspondence, writing among others to Mr Gladstone, then
Prime Minister, and Mr Parnell, but his letters led to no result …From Mr
Parnell no reply whatever was received, but Mr Manton explains this by alleging
that his letter to that gentleman was intercepted in the Post Office and never
received by the addressee. He draws this conclusion from the fact that Mr
Farndale, chief of the Birmingham police, and a borough magistrate,
mentioned to him that he had been writing to Mr Parnell, a circumstance of
which they had become informed in some mysterious manner. An easier explanation
is that these gentlemen had learnt of the circumstances from Mr Edwards, to
whom My Manton had stated he had written …
In support of Manton’s
request for Daly’s release, he submitted the following narrative of a
conversation he had with the chief of the Birmingham police: “Mr Farndale
soke as follows. ‘Mr Alderman Manton, you will be surprised when I tell you that the explosives found
on Daly were planted on him by the police.’ I said ‘Can it be possible?’ Mr
F replied ‘It was really so.’ I said ‘Are you absolutely certain?’ Mr F
said ‘I am’, adding ‘and I promise you that I will never engage in another
such business as long as I live’.
… It appears that Mr
Farndale told the Birmingham Watch Committee, and subsequently Alderman Manton,
that he entertained the gravest objections to the methods which the Irish
police had employed in obtaining the conviction, and that had he known from
the outset of the extent to which the agent provocateur had been employed he
would have declined all connection with the Case. These opinions Mr Farndale
still holds, but he has never stated, as alleged by Mr John O’Connor that “the
whole thing was a put up job”, or has he expressed ay
doubt as to the justice of Daly’s conviction. The whole question indeed, turns
on the propriety of the employment of spies for the purpose for which the agent
was used.
The Illustrated Weekly
Telegraph, 4 October 1890 and Aberdeen
Press and Journal, 8 October 1890 reported: Much excitement has naturally been caused by the
assertion of certain Irish members that Daly, the convicted dymamitard,
who is present at Chatham gaol, is an innocent man. … According to the
Birmingham Alderman’s statement made to Mr O’Brien, Chief Constable Farndale
of that city was the official referred to as having a knowledge at the time
of the dynamite “plant” put on Daly by an agent of the Irish constabulary.
Mr Farndale, on the other hand, emphatically denies ever having stated that
“the whole thing was a put up job” or having expressed any doubt as to
the justice of Daly’s conviction. It is said that Chief Constable
Farndale, of Birmingham, whose name has suddenly sprung into prominence, is
far from being a likely man to strengthen the hands of the Irish party. Outside
his district and as far away as Scotland Yard he is known as an experienced
and zealous officer, and on several occasions he shared the honour with
Chief Constable Malcolm Wood of Manchester with being mentioned as worthy of
the Chief Commissionership of the metropolis. He has risen from the ranks by
sheer ability, and step by step fought his way to chief of the Leicester
police, and from thence he went to fill a similar post in Birmingham.
1891
In the 1891 census, Joseph Farndale, Chief of
Police, 48, was listed at Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Kings Norton, Warwickshire,
with Jane Farndale, 50; John William Farndale, a medical student, aged 22;
three visitors; and three servants – a parlour maid, a housemaid, and a cook
The Birmingham Mail, 17
January 1891:
THE SHOPKEEPERS’ GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE POLICE. A meeting of the Birmingham
and District Drapers’ Association was held at the Colonnade Hotel, New Street,
yesterday. It was presided over by Mr Alfred Baker. The question of the police
notice relating to the obstruction of footpaths was discussed, and it was
resolved that a sub committee consisting of officers of the association, and
Messrs Roach, Bennion, W Oliver, Stevens and Atkinson, should wait upon Mr
Farndale, to confer with him as to the threatened prosecutions in the
matter. The deputation subsequently had a conference with Mr Farndale at the
Council House, and laid the grievances of the trade before him. He gave
assurance that no prosecutions should be instituted against any member of the
trade without first communicating with the officers of the association.
The Birmingham Mail, 4 August
1891: MR
FARNDALE AND THE DALY CASE. Only thirty nine members of Parliament were
found to support Mr Redmond’s motion last night for the reconsideration of the
sentences passed upon the dynamite convicts, Daly and Egan. Even the Irish
members, with few exceptions, took a languid interest in this threadbare
topic. ... The dethroned Irish leader and his henchman, Mr Redmond, both
made speeches which were stale repetitions of Alderman Manton’s contention that
the dynamite bombs were planted upon Daly by an agent provocateur… He, of
course, did not omit to embellish his case with the narrative of what Mr
Farndale,. The Chief Constable of Birmingham, is supposed to have said to
Alderman Manton … upon this more or less fictitious account of Mr Farndale’s
interview with Alderman Manton was based the case for reconsideration of
Daly and Egan’s sentence …
The Tenbury Wells Advertiser,
11 August 1891:
Having gone minutely into the matter, the Home Secretary asserted that
there was not a little evidence to bear out Mr Farndale’s interference,
which he reminded the House, was drawn in answer to a severe reproof
administered by the Birmingham Watch Committee in regard to the carelessness of
the Birmingham Police in allowing Daly to allude them …
1892
The Birmingham Daily Post, 6
April 1892: THE
SALARIES OF MR FARNDALE AND SUPERINTENDENT TOZER. Mr Wilders submitted the
report of the Watch Committee, and in accordance with its recommendation
moved that the salary of Mr Farndale should increase from £800 to £900 per
annum. He said the proposal had received the most careful consideration of
the committee, who had come to the conclusion that it was simply an act of
justice to a most energetic, efficient and experienced officer. Mr Farndale
had been a policeman thirty years; he was forty none years of age, and one
of the most energetic, experienced and efficient chief constables in the
kingdom. He was a thorough disciplinarian, always kind and considerate to
his men; and he possessed sound judgment and tact in a remarkable degree … Mr
Farndale could if he hose leave the force tomorrow, and claim a pension of £532
per annum from the Police Superannuation Fund … Mr Stevens proposed as an
amendment “That the increase of Mr Farndale’s salary be deferred until after
November next in order that the ratepayers may have an opportunity of
expressing their opinion on this … There was further debate.. The amendment
only received 5 votes and the original motion was carried.
The Swindon Advertiser, 4 June
1892: RAILWAY
ACCIDENT IN BIRMNGHAM. EXPRESSES IN COLLISION. A terrible railway
accident happened shortly before five o’clock on Friday in
Birmingham, two expresses making for the Derby junction at the end of the
Lawley Street viaduct colliding at the points … The body was quickly removed to
the Duke Street mortuary, when the full extent of the catastrophe was learned, the
railway officials along with the Chief Constable (Mr Farndale), did everything
they could to aid the injured passengers, who were sent to the General and
Queen’s Hospital in cabs and other available vehicles …
The Scotsman, 4 November
1892:
THE DYNAMITARDS IN PRISON.
AN EX CONVICT’S STORY
The Birmingham Daily Mail
yesterday published the following account of an interview with an ex prisoner,
who, at Chatham and Portland, came in close contact with some of the principal
convicted dynamitards.
By a somewhat singular
circumstance, a representative of the Mail had an opportunity, a few days ago,
of a conversation with a man who, during his incarceration at Portland and
Chatham, worked side by side with several of the prisoners who were convicted
of treason felony in connection with the American dynamite campaign. His story
of the way in which they conducted themselves during his enforced companionship
with them, of their remarks concerning the crimes for which they were
convicted, of their general bearing towards those around them and their
dispositioned and aspirations in regard to the future are intensely interesting
in view of the efforts which are now being made for their release. As to its
reliability, the writer, of course, has no means of judging, except from the
manner in which the man told what he had to say, and his conclusion was that it
was a plain unvarnished tale, nothing extenuated and naught set down in malice.
The man cannot gain anything from it, and in many of its particulars the authorities,
if they choose, may very easily test its credibility.
The first point on which the
writer invited information was which of the dynamite convicts his informant had
had acquaintance with, and to what degree that acquaintance extended, and the
question was asked: “How did you manage to become acquainted with your fellow
convicts, when absolute silence is enforced, and conversation punished, I
believe most rigorously?” “Well, we work in gangs”, he replied. “I was a ‘Red
Star’ man, that is, one who has never been convicted before, and the ‘Red Star’
men are, as a rule, kept together. The dynamite convicts are all ‘Red Star’
men, and so in my gang, which comprised a good number of well
educated men, some in for very small offences, most of the dynamiters
were included. There were about sixty of us in one work room at the tailoring,
and there were two warders only to watch us, they could not always have their
eyes on the whole sixty but we could all have our eyes on them …
… He is constantly offering
the warders insolence, calling them ‘pound a week men’, and irritating them by
offensive remarks; and of course he always got hauled up for that, for that is
considered a most dangerous form of insubordination. He complained once to me
about being had up for a bit of paper. He had been searched, and a bit of brown
paper with some writing on it, which he intended to pass to some fellow some of
his fellow dynamiters, had been found on him. Another thing peculiar about the
dynamite prisoners is that they all knew all that is going on outside. Even
when they're not receiving friends they get information from the outside. I
have a guess how it is done, but I need not say what it is. They were able to
tell me that ‘Joe Biggar’ was dead; and all the time the Parnell Commission was
on they used to tell us about Pigott and Le Caron, and they had great rejoicing
at the way in which Michael Davitt was acting and of the exposure of Piggott.
They got very excited at that time and we other convicts used to hear them
singing ‘God save Ireland’ in their cells. Of course that was all against all
regulations, but they did not care, and they seemed to get off being punished
for it. If any other convict had gone on in that way he would soon have been
held up.
I know that Egan does hope
to be released. The first time he said anything about it was after a visit from
Mr Barry, who, I believe he said, was MP for Westmeath. He said Mr Barry had
come down and had told him that it had come about the affair over which he and
Daly had been convicted. It had been discovered to be all the plot between
the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Birmingham police, that an Alderman in
Birmingham had found out all about it and said that Mr Farndale, the chief of
police, had been dismissed, and that he and Daly were going to be
liberated. About the Ledsam Street gang, Dr Gallacher and Whitehead and Norman
and the others who were sentenced to penal servitude for life in connection
with the nitro-glycerine factory in Ledsam Street and the wholesale importation
of the explosive to London for the purpose of blowing up public buildings, our
informant had not very much to say.
A more recent account was
published in Crime, 22 July 2021.
IRISH ‘DYNAMITARDS’ BOMB
PLOT HATCHED IN MIDLANDS
In the late 1800s,
Birmingham and the Black Country was riddled by a maze of terrorist cells. With
large Irish populations, the West Midlands’ major cities were infiltrated by
ruthless members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a shadowy organisation that
believed freedom could only be achieved through blood-letting.
Like the IRA, they were
intent on gaining Irish independence through bombing England’s landmarks.
One such terrorist was
Alfred Whitehead, a man who turned his ladywood shop
into a dynamite factory.
His deadly trade - a trade
funded by sympathisers in America - was uncovered on April 5, at 1883, but
Victorian detectives feared their raid had come too late to prevent caches of
explosives being sent to IRB terrorists around the country.
Just a year later a plot
that would have gone down as the worst terrorist strike in British history was
rumbled in the nick of time. The ‘Dynamitards’ as they were dubbed planned to
bring large scale death and destruction to Victoria, Paddington and Charing
Cross Railway stations. The Law courts and Notting Hill police office were also
earmarked for destruction. Thousands would have died in the blasts, part of
what was dubbed the Fenian dynamite campaign.
Over 80 people were injured
during the campaign,
One young boy was killed, as
well as two of the bombers, in the 1884 blast at London Bridge. That campaign
led to the establishment of the Special Branch, first known as the Special
Irish Branch, but many of the blueprints for the crime were drawn up in the
West Midlands.
At the end of February 1884,
the nation was shocked to learn 20 pounds of dynamites had been founded the
busy railway stations.
Luck was on the side of our
law enforcement officers. The bombs were set to explode at noon, but the timing
devices on all three jammed at 9.
The hunt was on to find the
men responsible and a reward of £2,000 (£115,000 today) was posted.
Soon three alleged
dynamitards were arrested in the West Midlands.
James Francis Egan was
licensee of a number of Black Country pubs, including the Royal George,
Wednesbury, and Wolverhampton 's Duke of York.
John Daly, alias Denman, was
a lodger at a Spark Hill property owned by Egan and considered the most senior
member of the terrorist cell. Daly was, said detectives, caught red handed in
Birkenhead.
He was also a known
revolutionary and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood who had been
forced to flee to America after waging war against troops in his home country.
The third individual,
O'Donnell, was later acquitted.
He was a sympathiser, but
played no part in the plot.
History has caused doubt on
the three men's guilt.
They may have been
convenient full guys for a police force under pressure to find the culprits.
After being held at Winson
Green, they were moved to Warwick gaol in a prison carriage with 10 guards
armed with revolvers. The arrests made headlines in the Birmingham post of
April 21. It reported:
“Although the excitement occasioned by the arrest of daily and
Egan on Good Friday has subsided, the interest in the investigations which are
being pursued by the Birmingham police remains unabated, and intelligence of
some result is away awaited with not a little impatience. The interest mainly
centres on Egan and the possible accomplices in the plot who are still at
large.
In the case of Daly, the man was arrested with implements of
destruction in his possession, and though he has still to go through the legal
process of trial and conviction, no reasonable doubt can be felt that fitting
punishment will be his.
The charge against Egan however depends upon somewhat different
elements of proof. He was the master of the house in which Daly lodged, and a
charge of conspiracy on his part with his tenant can only be satisfactorily
established by the discovery of letters or of explosives hidden upon his
premises in such a way as to show that he was cognizant of Daly’s proceedings,
and either actively or passively abetted him in his nefarious activities.
Curiosity is therefore natural as to the progress of the search which the
detectives have been carrying on at Kyett’s Lake
House in possession of which they have been for the last 10 days. A feeling,
moreover, prevails that Daly must have had more than one confederate, and that
if the police are not able to draw the meshes of the law fast around them, the
arrest of Daly, important though it may be, is but a partial success …
An extraordinary reticence has been observed during the past week
concerning the searching of the house, not even the legal adviser of Egan being
informed of its progress.
The detectives engaged in the work which has been carried on by
virtue of the
Explosives Act, under the superintendence of Inspector Richard Price, has been,
for some days, under threat of instant dismissal if they impart any information
to the public. We have therefore been obliged to make our own independent
inquiries, with the result of confirming to some extent the very strong
indication that explosive material or infernal machines had been upon the
premises.
We have reason, however, to conclude that the discovery to which
such great importance is attached, was made upon the premises on Tuesday last.
Upon that day a cab was hailed from a neighbouring stand and a
parcel resembling two cigar boxes wrapped in a textile fabric, was removed from
Kyett’s Lake House by Detective Price.
We are officially informed that the discovery is not dynamite, but
if reliance is to be placed upon the statement at the cab man, ‘to drive
gently’, it points, together with the careful handling which Price exhibited,
to the parcel containing some substance which certainly was not safe.”
Perhaps for security
reasons, Daly was moved to Liverpool to face trial. Egan appeared before
Birmingham magistrates on May 3.
The Birmingham Post later
reported “James Francis Egan, 38, described as merchant’s clerk, was first
charged with conspiring with John Daly to cause an explosion of a nature likely
to endanger life” and “That charge was on Saturday abandoned, and one of treason
felony substituted (Treason Felony Act 1848).”
Mr Poland, who was
accompanied by Mr Cuffe, the treasury solicitor, prosecuted on behalf of the
Crown and Mr O'Connor again appeared for the prisoner. The court was only
partly filled, but among the spectators were Mrs Egan and her father.
“The prisoner leaned upon
the dock rail, with his hands clasped, during the greater part of the time that
the proceedings lasted and smiled at the reading of some of the documents.”
The canister in which they
were found was a small round one, and appeared to have been in the ground for a
considerable time. Mr Poland, in opening the case, said he had instructed the
solicitor to the treasury to prosecute the prisoner for treason felony. Having
explained the nature of the Act which renders the prisoner upon conviction
liable to transportation for life, the learned counsel said on future occasions
he would have the prisoner Daly in Birmingham, together with Egan, upon a
charge of conspiracy. The prisoner had lived at Lake House since September,
1880, where he was joined in July 1882, by Daly, alias O'Donnell, alias
Deadman.
Daly had previously lived at
Birkenhead under the name of Denman, and had been on most intimate terms with
Egan before he came to Birmingham. Before Daly came to Birmingham he had lived
as an attendant at a lunatic asylum retreat in Sussex, and in July 1882 came to
live with John Egan.
Daly, a republican who had
fled Ireland after taking part in a 1867 Limerick uprising, received a long
prison sentence.
In Chatham prison, Daly
claimed he was being poisoned with belladonna, deadly nightshade, and was
right.
An 1890 investigation
uncovered what the authorities described as an error by the warder.
He was a free man by 1895
and elected as a Parnellite Irish National League Member of Parliament for
Limerick City. He lectured in America and set up a successful bakery business
in Limerick.
Disturbingly, he may have
been wrongly gaoled over the London dynamite plot.
The head of the Birmingham
police confessed on his deathbed that the Irishman had been convicted on
perjured evidence.
Egan was sentenced to twenty
years penal servitude, but served only half that sentence.
The New York Times of
January 22, 1890 three, informed readers: James Francis Egan, convicted of
participation at Birmingham in an Irish dynamite plot and sentenced to 20 years
penal servitude, was released today from Portland prison.
This was by order of home
secretary Asquith.
The prisoner’s health ill
health was the cause of his restoration to liberty.
The Treason Felony Act
1848 is still in force in 2023. It is a law which protects the King and the
Crown. The offences in the Act were originally high treason under the Sedition
Act 1661 (later the Treason Act 1795), and consequently the penalty was death.
However it was found that juries were often reluctant to convict people of
capital crimes, and it was thought that the conviction rate might increase if
the sentence was reduced to exile to the penal colonies in Australia (the
penalty is now life imprisonment). Consequently, in 1848 three categories of
treason (all derived from the 1795 Act) were reduced to felonies. This occurred
during a period when the death penalty in the United Kingdom was being
abolished for a great many offences. The Act does not prevent prosecutors from
charging somebody with treason instead of treason felony if the same conduct
amounts to both offences.
The article above seems unfair on Joseph Farndale, since the
contemporaneous evidence of the media was that Joseph Farndale acted entirely
properly in 1884, but when he later learned of facts that gave him rise to have
concerns, he immediately consulted others about what should be done to resolve
the matter.
This was clearly not a deathbed ‘confession’, for the matter was debated in
Parliament at the time, well before Joseph Farndale’s death and this must have
arisen because Joseph Farndale had tried to do something about facts which he
had subsequently learned.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 30
June 1892: AN
INPECUNIOUS CHARACTER. Edwin Glover (40), a military looking man, of no
occupation, was charged with obtaining two glasses of whisky and a cigar from
George Hawthorne of the Malt Shovel Inn, and with consuming the same without
having the means to pay for it … He later stated that he was Captain Glover and
was well known to Mr Farndale …
The Birmingham Daily Post, 24
December 1892:
STRANGE CASE OF DISPUTED IDENTIFICATION. The Birmingham police have had to
unravel during the last few days a singular question of identity relating to
the body of a man … The man was a wire worker, and made fancy puzzles, bird
cages and domestic nick nacks, and he lodged with a
companion who followed the same avocation … He had been in business and had
failed. This much was evident from the fact that his pockets contained an old
cheque book, of which all the counterfoils but three were filled; and a pathetic
commentary on the disaster by which he had been brought to take up peddling as
a means of livelihood was supplied by an entry in his pocket book, which
appeared to be the draft of a letter sent to his wife. It was in these words:
“My own darling, I am utterly ruined. Good bye. God bless you forever. Your
loving but heart broken …” Even the name appended to
this touching farewell was illegible. … Yesterday, a few hours before the
inquest opened, the Chief Constable (Mr Farndale) received from
Inspector Stiggles, of Bow Street, the following
telegram: “The body of man is that of M H Hay, whose friends reside at
39 Church Street, Kensington. Wife is now at Hastings, but family will send on
as soon as possible to identify.” This information was forthcoming as the
result of a visit to the bank in High Holborn, but it was manifestly not conclusive,
since the deceased might not be the owner of the cheque book found in his
possession …
1893
The Birmingham Daily Post, 11
January 1893: CHILDREN.
ATTITUDE OF THE POLICE. The publicity given in the Daily Post to a painful
case of juvenile depravity in Christmas week has caused the police a good deal
of trouble. Detective Inspector Van Helden was brought back from his home
in Holland, where he had gone to a fortnight's holiday; other detectives who
were present during the scene we recorded have been questioned upon it, and the
Chief Constable has made enquiries from the divisional superintendents. The
result was embodied in a report which Mr Farndale presented on Monday to the
judicial sub-committee, and is to be perceived also in a certain
nervousness which appears to affect the behaviour of the detective force in
their relations with journalists. The report was submitted to the Watch
Committee yesterday morning, when Councillor Wilders presided, and there were
also present mayor Alderman Parker, Alderman heart and Councillors Brfinsley, Whateley, and Bishop.
The Shields Daily News, 10
February 1893:
THE
PROPOSED AMNESTY – MR REDMOND’S AMENDMENT
Mr JOHN REDMOND, resuming the debate on the Address, moved his
amendment humbly representing to Her Majesty that the time had come when the
cases of all prisoners under the Treason Felons Act who are and have been many
years undergoing punishment for offences arising out of insurrectory
movements connected with Ireland may be advantageously reconsidered …He
especially instanced the case of Day, as to whom, he recalled the statement of
Mr Farndale, of the Birmingham police, who had informed the local Watch Committee
that it was in his knowledge that the explosives found in Daly’s possession
were ‘planted’ upon him.
Mr CLANCY seconded the motion. He joined in the expression of the
belief that Daly was an innocent man. Did the Chief Secretary or the
Home Secretary believe that if Mr Farndale had given the evidence at the trial
in Warwick which he and given since, Daly would have been convicted? …
IMPORTANT SPEECH BY THE HOME SECRETARY
Mr ASQUITH, in replying on behalf of the Government, assured the
mover that he entertained no fear that the action which had been taken would
embarrass the Government,. The Government welcomed the opportunity to speak
plainly on the subject (Ministerial cheers) … A number of documents were found
at Daly’s lodgings, showing he was undoubtedly a member of the Irish Republican
Brotherhood, and had taken an active part in its proceedings. Daly was released
after eight and a half years penal servitude because he had had sufficient punishment
…
Mr POWELL WILLIAMS said that Mr Farndale had told him he did
not believe the bombs were placed upon Daly by an agent provocateur. The
statement of the Home Secretary would be welcomed by the whole country
Col NOLAN said .. The reason why successive Governments had
refused to investigate Mr Farndale’s statement that the bombs were placed in
Daly’s possession was the fear that if proved it would be a very great scandal
against the English police …
…
The House then divided, when there were:
For Mr Redmond’s Amendment – 81
Against – 397
Government majority: 316
In another more detailed report on the parliamentary proceedings
in the Birmingham Daily Post, 10 February 1893:
… Mr ASQUITH … Now I will deal in a sentence or two with Mr
Farndale. I have no jurisdiction of any sort or kind over him. He is
a servant of the Birmingham Corporation. Mr Farndale has been questioned as
to the statement Alderman Manton attributed to him, and he has declared it to
be purely imagination. If so, what becomes of the suggested testimony of Mr
Farndale that Daly was a victim of the police. The truth is Mr Farndale, who
was the head of the police, was considerably annoyed that the arrest of Daly,
in whose innocence at the time he did not believe, should have been procured
not by the Birmingham, but by the Irish police …
Mr POWELL WILLIAMS said … the contradiction was made to the Watch
Committee, of whom at Mr Farndale was the servant, and he at the time and as
early as he could, repudiated that statement of Alderman Manton to the effect
that he, Mr Farndale, considered that Daly was an innocent person. What the
Honourable Member said was that the Chief Constable of Birmingham had
admitted, first of all, that those bombs were placed upon daily by an agent
provocateur, and secondly, that he knew him to be an innocent man. To all
those statements he could have he could give on Mr Farndale's behalf an
emphatic contradiction.
Mr HARRINGTON: Does the Honourable Member pledge himself that he
has the authority of Mr Farndale to say that he did not make the statement that
these bombs were planted on daily by a member of the Irish police?
MR POWELL WILLIAMS said he was not authorised in any way to state
(laughter). How could he be authorised within 10 minutes to make a statement
for Mr farndale. But he would tell the honourable member and he would tell the
house what Mr farndale had stated to him. He said to him that those bombs
were not in his opinion placed upon daily by an agent provocateur.
The Scotsman, 23 January 1893:
THE IRISH PRISONERS – RELEASE OF EGAN
James Frances Egan was, by order of the Home Secretary on Saturday
afternoon released from Portland Prison, where he had been a convict for several years past … James
Frances Egan arrived in Birmingham at 1.43 this (Sunday) afternoon). In London,
on Saturday evening, he visited the National Liberal Club … He was very
reticent towards the representatives of the press, but expressed his
indebtedness to the Irish political party for their efforts towards his
release, and especially he is grateful to Ald Manton and Mr Farndale for the
part he understood they had taken …
South Wales Daily News, 25 January 1893: RELEASE OF POLITICAL
PRISONERS. INTERVIEW WITH J F EGAN . SENSATIONAL STATEMENTS. WHY HE WAS
IMPRISONED. CLAIMS TO BE “VICTIM OF A POLICE PLOT”. … I never despaired,
because I knew perfectly well that what I had heard of the disclosures by
Alderman Manton, and the action taken by Mr Farndale in honestly exposing the affair,
would bring the public to see that a gross injustice had been done to me …
York Herald, 18 February 1893:
JOHN DALY
Mr W REDMOND asked the Home Secretary if he would order a fresh
investigation into the allegations made against the police by Alderman Manton,
and question Mr Farndale, the Chief Constable of Birmingham upon the subject.
MR ASQUITH said so far as the matter was a personal one affecting
Alderman Manton and Chief Constable Farndale, he had no right to interfere, so
far as it affected the innocence or otherwise of Daly, the allegations had
already been fully investigated, with the result which he stated to the House
the other night (hear, hear).
Mr W REDMOND asked the right hon gentleman whether, in view of the
opinions held by 80 Irish members out of 103, he would have a personal
interview with Mr Farndale, and grant a fresh investigation into the case.
Mr ASQUITH did not think any useful purpose would be served by
his having a personal interview with Mr Farndale. He was in possession of all
the facts of the case.
Mr J REDMOND gave notice that in Committee of Supply he would
press for further investigation.
Jane Farndale died suddenly
in Stockton on 18 July 1893. The Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 29 July 1893 reported: Deaths … FARNDALE – on the 18th inst, at the house of her cousin, Mrs Hodgson, at Stockton
on Tees, Jane, wife of Joseph Farndale, Chief Constable of Birmingham, formerly
chief constable of Chesterfield.
The Northern Guardian
(Hartlepool), 21 July 1893: SUDDEN DEATH AT STOCKTON. Mrs
Farndale, wife of Joseph Farndale, chief constable of Birmingham, died
suddenly yesterday at Stockton. The deceased lady had been in ill health
for some months, and had been in medical treatment in London. About a
fortnight ago she came to visit some friends who live in Yarm Lane, Stockton.
She had a relapse yesterday afternoon and suddenly died. The deceased lady was
53 years of age.
The Hartlepool Northern Daily
Mail, 21 July 1893: The Stockton police
received information last night of the sudden death of Mrs Farndale, the wife
of the Chief Constable of Birmingham. The deceased lady, it is stated, had been
in ill health for some months past, and went to Stockton to stay with some friends.
1894
The Birmingham Daily Post, 24
January 1894: A STRING OF OBJECTIONS. Mr
Stanbury Eardley appeared at the Birmingham Police Court, yesterday, for
Herbert Brooks, of Osler Street, cabman, summoned under the city bye laws for
not being constantly in attendance on his cab at a public stand in Bath Row …
Having elicited that the summons was taken out by Mr Farndale the chief
constable), Mr Eardley urged that the informant ought to appear either in
person or by counsel or attorney. On being told that the usual course was being
followed, he replied, “The ramshackle procedure followed here does not affect
me… Mr Eardley then said that he must call for the report on which the summons
was applied for, but was told that he must subpoena Mr Farndale to produce
it …
The Birmingham Daily Post, 20
February 1894: NEW CENTRAL POLICE
OFFICES. The Central Police Offices in Corporation Street adjoining the
Victoria Courts, are rapidly approaching completion, and in a few days the
removal of the scaffolding will give an uninterrupted view of the building …
The police offices are entered into by the first door in Newton Street, opening
into an entrance hall, which is to be fitted with benches for the convenience
of that portion of the general public who may have business at the offices. From
the hall, doors open to the rooms to be occupied by Mr Farndale and by
Superintendent Wilcox and the clerks and a lobby adjoining the hall leads to
the general store room and other apartments. An elaborately constructed
staircase from the hall gives access to the first floor, where accommodation is
found for the detective department …
The Birmingham Daily Post, 9
March 1894: ALLEGED MILITARY SCANDAL
IN BIRMNGHAM. There are indications that the closing days of the Bagot
Street Factory as a Government Establishment will be attended with some
excitement. It is alleged that for a long period certain officials of the
factory have been receiving pecuniary premiums from workmen applying for
situations there, and that the practice having come to the attention of the war
Office, Lieutenant and Quartermaster Locke and Sergeant-major Murray have been
placed under arrest pending an investigation by court martial. Locke and
Murray have been in charge of the corps of armourers from which men are
selected from time to time to act as armourers to the various regiments –
positions for which, on account of their remunerative character, there is a
great deal of competition … The greatest secrecy had to be observed in the
conduct of the enquiry, which was placed in the hands of Colonel King-Harman.
He was advised by the Secretary of State for War to seek the aid of the Chief
Constable,. Mr Farndale was made acquainted with the nature of the
complaints, and the assistance he offered was readily accepted …
The Morning Post, 14 March
1894:
THE TREASON FELONY PRISONERS
… MR REDMOND … Having referred to the fact that Mr Farndale,
the Chief Constable of Birmingham, was still of the opinion that the explosives
found on the prisoner Daly had been ‘planted’ upon him by an agent in the pay
of the Irish police, the hon and learned member said he had an entirely new
case to bring under the notice of the Home Secretary. It was that of a man
called Curtin Kent, a labourer and an illiterate man, who could not by any
possibility have been a principal in the dynamite conspiracy … He was put on
trial with the other me and, although the only evidence against him was that he
had written to Gallagher and got £5 from him, he was convicted and sentenced to
penal servitude for life …
MR ASQUITH reminded the House that the general considerations
which affected this question were fully debated a year ago, when he expressed
at considerable length and in much detail the views of her Majesty’s Government. …
The Aberdeen Evening Express,
25 April 1894: A “MOOSTONE” MYSTERY IN
REAL LIFE. By a curious combination of chances a valuable diamond which
was lost more than 20 years ago at Birmingham has been discovered, and
is now in the possession of Mr Farndale, the chief constable. Some days ago
one of the workmen in the employ of Messrs Taunton, safe manufacturers, was
engaged in repairing a safe, and came across a piece of paper in which was a
large diamond, estimated to be worth at least £100….
The Birmingham Daily Post, 16
July 1894: LIFEBOAT SATURDAY IN
BIRMINGHAM. The procession was timed to leave Cambridge Street at half past
two, and a quarter of an hour later the signal was given, and Mr Farndale
led the way through the centre of the city … The streets were lined by
two hundred police officers, who, together with the one hundred in
procession, had volunteered for the duty. Mr Farndale was in command …
The streets were crowded with people … and it was often with great difficulty
that Mr Farndale and his mounted officers could force their way through …
The Birmingham Daily Gazette, 28 July 1894:
A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE
The Home Secretary has given his decision in the case of George
Frederick Burbidge, who was convicted in March last of a theft of a
sovereign by means of a trick. Burbidge was arrested on information given
by a servant, who swore his identity. He protested that the girl was mistaken
and set up an alibi, which did not, however satisfy the court … The Home
Secretary was of the opinion that the pardon should be allowed.
His solicitor wrote that his client wished to publicly express
his gratitude … and lastly to Mr Joseph Farndale (Chief of Police) for
the exhaustive inquiries he caused to be made, and which largely
contributed to the eminently satisfactory conclusion of this extraordinary case …
The Birmingham Daily Gazette,
18 August 1894: ROYAL VISIT TO BIRMINGHAM.
All the arrangements for the visit to Birmingham of their Royal
Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York on September 8 are ow completed …
Their Royal Highnesses will arrive at the city boundaries on the Castle
Bromwich Road at noon, and will be met by an escort of the 17th
lancers, the Chief Constable (Mr Farndale), and mounted police …
Joseph Farndale was responsible perhaps for the British habit of
forming an orderly queue. The
Birmingham Daily Post, 18 April 1942. THE START OF QUEUES. A
correspondent writes: The new Order making it compulsory for six or more
persons to form a queue when boarding bus or tram recalls the origin of a
similar disciplinary measure in Birmingham nearly fifty years ago. In the
autumn of 1894 Henry Irving came to the Prince of Wales theatre. Prices for all
parts of the house, with the exception of the gallery’ were doubled. All
Birmingham, so to speak, made for the gallery door, and there was a terrible
commotion! When this had happened on two successive nights, Irving instructed
his manager, Brian Stoker, to see the chief constable about it. “Tell the
Chief Constable,” he said “that outside my theatre in London we have adopted
the system of a queue, two by two, and that it works very well”. Mr Stoker
carried this message to the chief constable, and Mr Farndale agreed to make
an experiment. He sent along members of the force, Mr Edwin Bennett, later
Chief Superintendent, among them, and they arranged the first queues.
But not without difficulty. Some roughs attempted to rush the entrance hall and
according to Mr Bennett, five watches were found in the gutter. Birmingham
gradually got accustomed to the queue habit, but not before Sir Charles Rafter
brought a prosecution for disorderly conduct against some who attempted to
break through. Much of the voluntary queuing outside Birmingham shops today
may be traceable to the initial steps of half a century ago.
1895
The Birmingham Daily Post, 18
January 1895:
THE SUSPENDED POLICE OFFICERS
The manner in which the case against the landlord of the Edgbaston
Brewery Tavern, Lee Bank Road, dismissed by the magistrates on Wednesday, was
got up by the police will on Monday be the subject of an investigation by the
Judicial sub committee, who will report to the Watch
Committee, and will probably also communicate with the Treasury. At the
conclusion of the case on Wednesday, Mr Wilcox, the deputy chief constable, who
was present during the magisterial censure, ordered the officers engaged in the
case to proceed to the Chief Constable’s office. The circumstances were briefly
narrated to Mr Farndale, who forthwith suspended Inspector Parker and
Police Constables Nicholls (69B) and Flattery. The discrediting of the evidence
of the police in a case of this kind is particularly unfortunate at the present
moment.
The Stage on 25 April 1895 reported that during the Shakespeare Birth week, Joseph
Farndale was a guest at the Shakespeare Commemoration Dinner in connection
with the Birmingham Dramatic and Literary Club held at the Midland Hotel, New
Street, Birmingham. The Shields Daily Gazette on
30 April 1895 reported that at the same
dinner, when ‘Dagonet’ was unable to find a gold pencil lent by Captain
Rodgers of the Prince of Wales’ Theatre and wanted
to make a note in a hurry, then Mr Farndale, the amiable Chief Constable of
Birmingham kindly lent me his, and I lost that somewhere, and then my old
friend Mr Wight the postmaster, lent me his, and I mislaid that, and so it came
about that when the time arrived for me to speak I had borrowed and secreted
about me some half dozen gold pencil cases, I had made notes all over my
menu and backs of envelopes collected from the company, and not one word
that I had written was I able to read.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 25
April 1895 reported that Joseph
Farndale was a guest at the inspection of the new smallpox hospital at Little
Bromwich.
The Whitby Gazette, 24 May
1895:
REPORTING A CHIEF CONSTABLE.
The Birmingham Daily Argus of the 11th inst,
has the following, anent the chief constable of Birmingham, Mr farndale, a
Sleights man:
A good story reaches us from the Birmingham police force, viz,
that a common constable, a humble member of the rank and file, has had the
temerity to lodge a report against no less a personage than his commanding
officer. The constable is a young officer who is not been very long in the
force, and it would seem that he is burning to distinguish himself in some
unprecedented way. There can be no doubt he has succeeded, and it may be safely
asserted that the number of men in the force who would have had the courage to
take such a step is very small indeed. The officer was on duty in Harborne
Road, when he saw his commander in chief, who much effects equestrian
exercise, approaching on his steed. It would seem that the animal proved
refractory in some way, for it became subject to a sharp chastisement from
its rider. The constable appears to have considered that the chastisement
exceeded do bounds, so he pulled out his little notebook and pencil, and made
an entry to the effect that his superior had beating his horse about the
head more than was justifiable, and looking upon his chief as no more
privileged and hit this respect than common John Smith the civilian, he
reported the matter in writing to the Superintendent. This put the divisional
officer in a quandary. What was he to do with the report against his chief
officer? To pass such a thing on to the central office seemed like sacrilege.
Yet it was made in the books, and he could not get rid of it otherwise without
committing a serious breach of the regulations. So he came to the conclusion
that he had no alternative but to send the report, with his other reports, to
the headquarters. There it has gone and it would be interesting to know what
happened there when the report was given. A live, smoking bombshell would
probably have created no more profound sensation. Presumably the report will
come before the judicial subcommittee at their meeting on Monday, and it will
be very interesting to know the issue of it. We can imagine Mr Farndale, who
is about the last man against whom one might expect such charge to be made,
reading the report with blended feelings of admiring surprise, comical
annoyance, and roll amusement. He must admire the Spartan sense of duty of
his young officer, must feel annoyed that he should have fallen into such an
error, and experience amusement at the humour of the whole business.
The same paper, in its issue with the 14th inst,
says:
A mild sensation was created on Saturday by the appearance of the
‘day by day’ paragraph, in which was related the audacious act of a zealous
police constable who was no respecter of persons, and carried his judicial
severity to the extent of reporting the chief constable. Members of the
watch committee are reported to have derived considerable entertainment from
the tale of the incorruptible policeman, and Mr Farndale undoubtedly
relished the pigment humour of the whole thing. The only cause for regret
is that the dignified procedure befitting ‘the smartest force in the Kingdom’
has prevented the joke being played out. Had the facetious disposition of
Alderman Edwards only being allowed to express itself upon the subject, and
Councillor Ostler invited to sharpen his pretty wit at the constable’s expense,
there would have been a delightful half column of quips and cranks for the
jaded reader these summer-like days, which indisposed one for the exertion
entailed in wading through the parliamentary reports. The Chief Constable did
not report himself for cruelty to animals at the meeting of the Watch Committee
this morning, nor was he reduced in rank from first to second class. His
honour, and his horsemanship, have been vindicated. The indiscretion of the
zealous policeman has been explained. The moral of the whole matter is that the
shying of a horse at a perambulator is not exactly a justification for
reporting the rider for cruelty. Too much indulgence of the horse’s whim
might have led to the horse and rider being injured by colliding with a wall,
or passengers on the footway being trodden under foot. On the whole, the
chief, has more reason to complain of his horse than his horse to complain of
him. Sometimes since, when there were not any perambulators or other
infernal machines in the way, it fell in Bennetts hill, causing the rider to
injure his arm. That animal appears to share the slight disrespectful authority
which the constable of inst.
The Birmingham Gazette, 10
June 1895 reported the visit of His
Highness the Shahzada, the second son of the Ameer of Afghanistan: In
the central drive between Railway Stations, there was an escort of 25 mounted
police, under the command of the Chief Constable (Mr Farndale).
The Tamworth Herald, 9
November 1895: The opening meet of
the South Stafforshire Hounds took place on
Tuesday at the cross roads, Bassett’s Pole. … Among those present at the start
were …, Mr J Farndale …
1896
The Birmingham Mail, 4
February 1896:
THE HORSELESS CARRIAGE DIFFICULTY
BIRMINGHAM MANUFACTURERS FINED
At Solihull today … Gascoine & Co, horseless carriage builders
was summoned as the owner of a locomotive used on the public highway for not
having a person on foot preceding the locomotive by 20 yards as prescribed by
section 3 of the Locomotives Act 1865,
and section 29 of the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act 1879.
Police Constable Clifton stated that on Saturday morning, the 22nd
December, he was on duty in Stratford Road, Shirley, and saw a motor car, or
horseless carriage, travelling in the direction of Birmingham. There was
no one in front of it to warn the public of its approach. The vehicle was
travelling at the rate of five or six miles an hour; and it made a certain
amount of noise, and steam was issuing from an exhaust pipe at the rear …
As it was only within the last five years that the vehicle had
been used in England, the Legislature could not in fact, or in imagination,
have known of a horseless carriage when they formulated the Acts referred to,
and therefore the regulations could not apply. …
Mr McCardie: Yes, and if you wanted to
take a little trip of 30 or 40 miles, taking in the three neighbouring
counties, it would cost you £30, besides the wages of the three men to drive,
where only one is wanted, and another useless person to go in front.
The Clerk: Going as fast as it does too, the man in front would
have to go on a bicycle (Laughter)
Mr McCardie: Oh yes, it is manifestly
absurd. Fancy all the expense I have mentioned when the machine only costs a
half penny per mile for propulsion. Besides, I notice that the tires would have
to be no narrower than three inches, and that would spoil the vehicle altogether,
I contend that it in no way answers the definition of a locomotive, and that
the Bench are entitled to dismiss the summons. I may add that Mr Farndale,
the chief of the Birmingham police, has stated that he would not allow any
proceedings to be taken against such carriages…
In the early 1890s the first cars to be driven on the roads in
Britain were imported. In 1895, the first man to own and drive a car in Britain
was Ebvelyn Ellis. It is estimated that by 1895,
there were still only about 15 cars in Britain, imported from abroad. By 1900,
the number had risen to about 700. Work to build the first motor car in Britain
began in 1892 by Frederick Bremner, a gas fitter and plumber. His vehicle first
ran on the public highway in 1894. Fords started to arrive in Britain from
about 1908.
The Locomotives Act 1865 was also known as the “Red Flag Act”
and sipulated that self-propelled vehicles should be
accompanied by a crew of three; if the vehicle was attached to two or more
vehicles an additional person was to accompany the vehicles; a man with a red
flag was to walk at least 60 yd (55 m) ahead of each vehicle, who was also
required to assist with the passage of horses and carriages. The vehicle was
required to stop at the signal of the flagbearer. The Highways and Locomotives
(Amendment) Act 1878 was an Act to amend
the Law relating to Highways in England and the Acts relating to Locomotives on
Roads and for other purposes.
At the same time his nephew, Joseph Farndale (FAR00463), Chief Constable of
Margate Police, was involved in a charge against a motor car driver for
exceeding a speed of two miles per hour.
Joseph Farndale
recommended a system for registration of bicycles in 1896, as reported in the Birmingham Mail, 28
April 1896:
The Home Secretary and Cyclists.
Proposed further legislation.
The Home Secretary has just issued a circular to the Chief
Constables of counties and boroughs on a matter which will give rise to a great
deal of discussion in the cycling world. Sir M White Ridley explains that he
has received various complaints with regard to cycling in the streets, and that
from the nature of the objections laid before him, he has felt prompted to make
a general enquiry as to the present cycling system, and ascertain
whether further legislation is essential to check reckless riders being a
danger to the community. The Chief said police are therefore invited to express
an opinion on the desirability of amending the present law, and they are
further requested to add any suggestions they may think expedient.
Mr Farndale has had this circular under careful consideration, and it is understood that he has replied very fully as to the
prevailing state of affairs in this district. Probably in no other city in the
Kingdom has the popularity of the cycle reestablished itself with such rapidity
and so generally as in Birmingham. Unfortunately this circumstance has had the
effect of producing an increased number of foolhardy scorchers, who are a
nuisance to everyone, and reckless riders who, unmindful of their own risk, pay
no heed to the safety of others. The inevitable result of the presence of
these riders has been a considerable number of accidents under great many
complaints.
The laws at present in force are stringent enough to suppress
those wheeling offenders if the police could only put them into operation.
Therein lies the difficulty. When a pedestrian has been upset, and may be
injured by a negligent or furious cyclist, if the machine does not happen to be
injured, the rider pedals off post haste. If it should happen that a policeman
appears on the scene in time to prevent the cyclist disappearing, the rider is
asked for his name and addressed. Experience shows that in 99 cases out of 100
wrong names and addresses are given.
Then again, what method is there of dealing with the scorcher? A
policeman trying to stop him would probably damage the rider and the machine,
and as a consequence be amenable to an action for damages. The scorcher takes
advantage of the circumstances, and the wail from the pedestrian has now become
so general that intervention has been practically forced on the authorities.
The question is, how to remedy existing evils? As already stated, the Home
Secretary has courted suggestions, and it is suggested that Mr Farndale has
recommended that a system of registration should be put in force. It is
contended that every rider should be licenced, that his machine should bear an
official number, and that he should carry this number together with an
indication of the police district from which he held in some conspicuous place
on the cycle. It is said that this would entail no hardship because the fee for
registration would be nominal, and number offenders would have anything to fear
from such regulations. It is further argued that it should be made an offence
for a cyclist to give a wrong name and address. This is the import of the
suggestions which have been forwarded from Birmingham.
When the Home Secretary has received replies to the whole of the
circulars it is thought that he would proceed to frame an amendment to present
laws relating to reckless wanton and negligent cycle riding.
1897
The Newcastle Chronicle, 22
February 1897: Several Chief Officers
of Police are cooperating with Mr Farndale, the Chief Constable of Birmingham, to
get an Act passed this session in Parliament to obviate the defects of the
present law in regard to the unlawful possession of property, and Sir JB
Stone MP at Birmingham, has already obtained leave to introduce a Bill, which,
I feel sure, will receive general support, for until the police are better
armed than at present, they cannot, with any effect, suppress the large number
of robberies which are annually committed in all large commercial centres.
1897 was the year of
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, celebrating sixty years since her accession.
The Linlithgowshire Gazette, 1 May 1897:
THE POLICE AND THE COMMEMORATION
A meeting of chief constables of counties, cities and boroughs in Great Britain was held on Saturday
afternoon at the office of Mr Farndale, Chief Constable of Birmingham, to
consider the most suitable form of celebrating the Queen’s reign. It was
reported that the Scottish police had decided to join the national scheme … It
was decided to draw up an illuminated address congratulating Her Majesty on her
historic accomplishment …
The London Evening Standard, 8
July 1897:
ROYAL VISIT TO BIRMNINGHAM.
OPENING OF THE GENERAL HOSPITAL
Much enthusiasm was manifested in Birmingham yesterday on the
occasion of the visit of Princess Christian, as the representative of the
Queen, to open the new General Hospital. Along the route of the royal
procession the streets were gaily decorated, with Venetian masts at intervals,
and garlands of flowers....
After the formal receptions the trumpet sounded, and their royal
highnesses proceeded ... the procession was headed by Chief Constable Farndale
and mounted police and was formed in the following order...
As the royal visitors entered the Council House, a salute was
given by a detachment of the Bedfordshire regiment, which formed a guard of
honour...
Her Royal Highness, in reply, said “It gives me very great
pleasure to visit the City of Birmingham on behalf of the Queen, my dear
mother, and in her name I thank you for your loyal and beautiful address. Her
Majesty desires me to express the great gratitude with which she bears of her
people at Birmingham having made this latest addition to the hospital...
The Liverpool Mercury, 29
September 1897:
WHAT IS ‘SCORCHING’?
At the meeting of the Birmingham watch committee yesterday,
Councillor Baker drew attention to what he described as the practice of
scorching on the Moseley Road, his object being to ascertain whether the Chief
Constable (Mr Farndale) was prepared to adopt measures to check the
indiscretion of offending cyclists. The wood pavement, he said, was an
irresistible incentive to most people, and the practise complained of was
becoming a source of serious danger to the public.
Mr Bishop: “Perhaps Councillor Baker does not know what
‘scorching’ is. They don't ‘scorch’ on the Mosley Rd.”
Mr. Baker: “Oh don't they?”
Mr Bishop: “Well what do you call ‘scorching’?
Mr. Baker: “I would call ‘scorching’ going at 12 miles an hour.”
Mr Bishop: “They don't go at 12 miles an hour.”
Mr. Baker: “What! Not on that wood payment pavement I think they
do.”
Mr Farndale said the matter was one of some difficulty for the police to deal with, in as much as it has recently been
held in the law courts that though a police officer could summon a scorcher he
might not lay his hands on him to stop him. Two or three years ago when there
were complaints of ‘scorching’ in Broad Street, policemen were provided with
bicycles to capture the offenders, and they simply had to ‘scorch’ after the
‘scorchers’ until they overtook them.
Mr Bishop had no doubt the chief constable would give the matter
every attention. Mr Farndale was a nice, quiet rider himself, as he could
bear witness.
Mr Farndale: I followed the example of the chairman of the
judicial committee, Mr Bishop, who goes at a reasonable pace.
The subject then dropped.
1898
The Edinburgh Evening News, 12
January 1898: FOOTBALL AND TEMPERANCE. Interviewed
in reference to the marked increase of drunkenness in Birmingham, the
Chief Constable, Mr Farndale, said that good wages had most to do with the
increase. He had been struck by the fact that rainy Saturdays, which
prevented indulgence in outdoor sports, usually meant a great increase in
drunkenness. The popularity of football, generally speaking, has been the
means of diverting a good deal of interest from the taproom.
By March 1898, Joseph Farndale was ill again.
The Birmingham Daily Post, 18 March 1898 reported:
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF MR FARNDALE
We regret to hear that Mr Farndale,
Chief Constable of the city, is lying seriously ill at the Grand Hotel. An
attack of chill or influenza contracted at the Charity Sports, on Wednesday
week, was followed by pneumonia, and at one time his condition was considered
critical. Under the care of Dr Hutchinson, the crisis was tided over, and,
although very ill, Mr Farndale was yesterday reported to be out of danger. Late
last night Mr Farndale was progressing very favourably.
The Birmingham Mail, 18 March 1898:
THE ILLNESS OF THE CHIEF CONSTABLE
On enquiry at the Grand Hotel this
morning, we were informed that Mr Farndale’s condition shows considerable
improvement.
The Edinburgh
Evening News, 19 March 1898: Mr J F Farndale, Chief Constable of
Birmingham, is lying seriously ill.
The Leamington
Spa Courier, 4 June 1898: Major J L Swain, Commanding the North
Western Military District, recently communicated with the Chief Constable of
Birmingham, in which he advised Mr Farndale that the Secretary of State had
given instructions for the formation of a scheme for posting placards
calling out the Army Reserve forces if required, and asking Mr Farndale to
state whether, in the event of such a contingency, he would be prepared to
render the military authorities his full assistance. There is no Act
compelling the Constabulary to assist in the work of mobilisation, but Mr
Farndale readily offered his services. In answer to his reply sent to the
authorities, he received a communication asking what number of posters would be
required for placarding the various chapels, churches, post offices, and other
public places in the city, and this point is now under consideration. It is
roughly estimated that in Birmingham and the district there are something like
20,000 reserved men of all classes. The National Association for Promoting the
Civil Employment of Reserve and Discharged Soldiers and Naval and Military
Pensioners has had about 11,000 men on its books since its foundation in 1886,
and it does not deal with the whole of the reserve. Should the reserves be
called up the postal and police services would have to sacrifice many good men,
and various places of amusement, restaurants, and hotels, would be deprived of
well-built and finely developed doorkeepers. Last season the society mentioned
found employment for 359 men; of these 256 belonged to the reserve and 106 of
them went to the post office...
The Birmingham Daily Gazette, 29
December 1898: It is gratifying to hear that the Chief Constable (M
Farndale) has benefitted by his stay at Bournemouth, and that he will resume
duty tomorrow.
1899
The Birmingham Mail, 10 March
1899:
INCREASE OF CRIME IN BIRMINGHAM
THE CHIEF CONSTABLE’S REPORT
The report of Chief Constable relative to the state of
crime in the city during the past year has just been issued, and the
statistics it contains make, as is usual with these annual reports, interesting
reading. In the first place Mr Farndale states that the authorised strength
of the police force on the 31st December last was 700, and 16 additional
constables. The actual strength was 700; Their nationalities being 617 English,
44 Irish, 26 Welsh, 12 Scotch, and 1 Dutch; the average height being 5 feet 10
1/2 inches. During the year 3 constables were transferred to the additional
strength, and 55 left the force, viz, 6 superannuated, 16 were called upon to
resign from his conduct or inefficiency, 28 resigned at their own request, and
5 died, including the late Deputy Chief Constable, 67 men joined the force
during the year. There were 138 members on the superannuation list.
The Birmingham Mail, 11 March
1899:
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE CHIEF CONSTABLE
AN APOPLECTIC SEIZURE
We regret to announce that the Chief Constable of Birmingham
(Mr. J Farndale) is lying seriously ill at his residence in the Hagley
road. His health has for some time past being unsatisfactory, but no such
serious developments as those which have unfortunately ensued were anticipated.
Last night, Mr Farndale was seated in his dining room when immediately
following a somewhat violent sneeze, he had an apoplectic seizure, and lost all
power of speech, and the use of his right side. In their concern, the household
at once sent for Dr Cyril Hutchinson and Superintended Moore of the Ladywood
division, and upon arrival of these gentlemen Mr Farndale was carried upstairs
and placed in bed. His condition was most critical and at one time it appeared
extremely doubtful if you would live the night through. However owing in no
slight degree to the unremitting care of his medical attendant and the
watchfulness of the nurse, whose services had been requisitioned, the patient's
condition this morning showed an improvement, and enquiries at noon today
showed that the progress had been so well maintained that the patient had in a
measure recovered his speech.
The Birmingham Mail, 13 March
1899:
BIRMINGHAM ASSIZES OPENING TOMORROW
It was at one time feared that Mister Farndale’s illness would
interfere with the arrangements for the Birmingham assizes, which had been
announced to open tomorrow. The chief constable's house becomes on such
occasions the judge’s lodgings, but the danger which would attend Mr Farndale’s
removal makes it unlikely that his house will be available for the
accommodation of the judges on the present occasion. It had been suggested that
unless suitable lodgings can be found for them, the Birmingham assizes may be
merged in the county assizes, which would mean that all the persons who are
required to attend the Victoria Courts would have the expense and inconvenience
of attending at Warwick instead. It now appears, however, from enquiries made
in official quarters that the Birmingham Assizes will be held at the usual as
usual at the Victoria Law Courts tomorrow....
The Sheffield Independent, 15
March 1899: Mr Joseph Farndale, the
chief constable of Birmingham, whose grave illness threatened to involve the
transference of the city Assizes to the old county town of Warwick, is a man
with an honourable and interesting past. His cousin, who still resides
and works in the midst of those rural scenes of Yorkshire which the smart
member of the Farndale family quitted to earn fame and fortune, tells that young
Joseph Farndale was at work in the fields one day, at the tail of the dung cart,
when some word of blame brought his natural dislike of the occupation to a
head, and throwing down the fork, he explained, “I'll go for a
policeman!” No sooner said than done. He joined the force in a neighbouring
town that very day and soon became a particularly capable constable. From
Middlesbrough Farndale passed to Chesterfield, now well on the path of rapid
promotion. He was Chief Constable of Leicester for a few years, and then
obtained the valuable Birmingham appointment. Mr Farndale has brought the
Birmingham City force to a high pitch of smartness, efficiency, and discipline.
The Birmingham Mail, 15 March
1899: THE ILLNESS OF MR
FARNDALE. On enquiry we learn that the Chief Constable was a little better
this morning, and that the improvement which was noticeable was maintained in
the afternoon.
The Derbyshire Times and
Chesterfield Herald, 18 March 1899: The health of Mr
Joseph Farndale, the popular and brilliant Chief Constable of Birmingham, is
causing the greatest anxiety. I earnestly hope to be able to report better
new next week. Mr Farndale has many friends in Derbyshire, which he made when
Chief Constable of Chesterfield.
The Worcestershire Chronicle,
18 March 1899: Mr Farndale, chief
constable of Birmingham, is lying seriously ill, through the breaking of a
blood vessel, consequent upon violent sneezing.
The Derbyshire Times, 8 April
1899: I regret to hear that
there is not much improvement in the health of Chief Constable Farndale,
of Birmingham.
The Nottingham Evening Post, 14 April 1899:
ACCIDENT
TO A CHIEF CONSTABLE
The
Chief Constable of Birmingham, Mr Farndale, had a narrow escape from serious
injury yesterday morning. He was being driven in a closed brougham
to the city to discuss police matters with the superintendents for the first
time since his serious illness, when the horse, a high spirited animal, bolted
in Broad Street, owing to the snapping of one of the reins. A futile effort to
stop its progress was made by police constable Goldby, who caught at the
shafts, but was struck on the chest by the horse’s head, and thrown back. At
the corner of Easy Row the carriage was brought into collision with a cart, and
Mr Farndale’s coachman, Thomas Terry, was thrown violently from the box. Even
this check, however, did not stop the horse, which dashed round the corner into
Paradise Street, where a few yards to the right it collided with an oil float,
and was brought to a standstill at the edge of the pavement. Mr Farndale
escaped with nothing more serious than shock and injury to the nose by broken
glass. Terry, the coachman, had his leg fractured.
Daily
Gazette for Middlesbrough, 15 April 1899: Mr Farndale, Chief Constable of
Birmingham, is to be commiserated with on the curiously bad luck which is
dogging him. He recovers from a serious illness, only to be involved
in a carriage accident, which might have had dangerous results. Like Bret
Harte’s miner, the Chief Constable has struck a streak of bad luck. Let us hope
it will soon change.
The article refers to the novel by Bret Harte called The Luck
of Roaring Camp.
The Derbyshire Times, 22 April
1899: Chief Constable
Farndale of Birmingham, is so much improved in health as to be able to
resume his police duties.
The Birmingham Mail, 25 April
1899: The Chief Constable (Mr
Farndale) has been granted leave of absence for a month in order that he may
take a holiday to recuperate his strength after the recent serious illness
through which he has passed. While he is away his official duties will be
discharged by Superintendent McManus, the acting Chief Constable.
Finally Joseph
Farndale was forced to resign due to his continuing illness in May 1899. The Hull Daily Mail, 30 May
1899 (also reported in Dundee Courier, 30 May 1899): Mr
Joseph Farndale has resigned the Chief Constableship of Birmingham in
consequence of ill health. He has occupied the post for 17 years.
The Dundee Courier, 30 May
1899: Mr Joseph Farndale, for
seventeen years chief constable of Birmingham, in which office he followed
Major Bond, has resigned his position owing to prolonged and serious ill
health, which has necessitated frequent vacations in the last few years. His
retirement allowance will be £500 per annum.
The Birmingham Mail, 30 May
1899 reported:
THE RESIGNATION OF MR FARNDALE
MEETING OF THE WATCH COMMITTEE
As was intimated in the Mail last evening, the chairman of the
Watch Committee, Mr Waters, at the meeting of that body this morning, announced
the receipt of a letter from Mr Joseph Farndale, resigning his position as
chief constable of the city. The letter which was read by Mr Holton, the
clerk to the committee, was as follows:
Chief Constable’s office, 29th may 1899
To the chairman and members of the watch committee.
Gentlemen, It is not without feelings of sincere regret that I
feel it incumbent upon me to tender you here with my resignation as chief
constable of the city of Birmingham. The present state of my health
is such that I feel I cannot do justice to so important to post any longer, and
my medical advisor insists upon the necessity of entire absence from the
worries of administrative work. I have been a chief constable upwards of 30
years, 18 of which have been in connection with the Birmingham police force,
and in severing my connection I cannot do so without here expressing the deep
sense of gratitude I feel for the many kindnesses and extreme courtesy extended
to me during my term of office by the members of your committee.
I beg to remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, J Farndale,
chief constable
Councillor Waters moved that the letter be received, entered on
the minutes and referred to the judicial subcommittee. He would just like to
say that he was sure the committee would regret very much indeed the fact of Mr
Farndale’s resignation, and also that the resignation was brought about,
although he had been chief constable for many years, not by old age or length
of service, but by the fact of illness, which they all regretted. That Mr
Farndale had been an excellent servant to the committee, they must all agree.
They would all miss a very familiar figure from the committee, and the town
would regret the loss of one who had served them so long and so faithfully in
connection with that committee which he had so well served. He hopes that Mr
Farndale would be able for many years to enjoy the superannuation for which he
so well deserved.
Alderman Hart acceded to the resolution, and said that every
member of the committee would agree with the remarks of the chairman. He was,
he thought, the only member of the Watch Committee who was a member of the
committee when Mr Farndale was appointed. He had the honour of being chairman
of the committee at the time, and he had been in close touch with Mr Farndale
during the 18 or 19 years which had elapsed since then. He did not think the
town ever had a better servant, and he was quite sure that during the
retiring chief’s regime the morale of the force had become very much
higher than it was previously. It was a much larger force, and it had a
reputation which was known all over the country. He had never known a man
more sensitive to what he knew to be right and honourable than the retiring
chief had been, and he was sure the feeling of the town council, as well as of
the committee and the city, would be one of regret.
The Lord Mayor said he had known Mr Farndale intimately for a very
much shorter time than the other members of
the committee, but during the last two years he had seen a great deal of him.
It had been in times of pressing anxiety with regards to various questions, and
he could not but be struck by the great care Mr Farndale took, the anxiety he
showed to remove anything like a ground of complaint with regard to the
efficiency of the force. He was a most conscientious man, and they would
be fortunate if they found one who could fill his place as worthy as he had.
They could only hope the fact of his retirement would lead to the restoration
of the retiring chief to health, and … they hoped that Mr Farndale would live
for many years to enjoy his retirement.
Alderman Edwards said that he felt sure that the committee would
be very fortunate if they succeeded in obtaining a successor worthy of Mr
Farndale, and the resolution was carried.
MR FARNDALE’S CAREER
Mr Joseph Farndale was appointed chief constable of Birmingham on
the resignation of Major Bond in 1882. Prior to his selection out of some 90
candidates, Mr Farndale had occupied the position of chief constable at
Leicester, where he had served for 10 years He is a native of the North
Riding, Yorkshire. It was about 1863 when he first became connected with
police work. He joined the force in his native Riding at the early age of 19.
He remained there, however but a short time, joining the Middlesbrough force,
where he soon attained the rank of Inspector. Some seven years afterwards, Mr
Farndale was appointed chief constable of Chesterfield. Here he remained for 2
½ years when he was selected to a
similar position at Leicester, where, as previously stated, he remained until
his appointment to Birmingham. In this city Mr Farndale’s reputation was
enhanced by the breaking up of what was known as the Ledsam Street dynamite
conspiracy. The arrest of Whitehead in Ledsam Street in April, 1883,
and the subsequent capture of Daly and Egan in the same month of the
following year, are matters of local history. In consequence of the part he
played in the arrest of these men the Watch Committee, with the approval of the
then Home Secretary, increased Mr Farndale’s salary by the sum of £100 per
annum.
Filling the vacancy, preliminary steps.
Upon the completion of the business of the Watch Committee, the
reporters were requested to retire and we understand that upon their withdrawal
the meeting resolved itself into a special meeting of the Judicial subcommittee
for the purpose of receiving Mr Farndale’s letter, which had been referred to
them by themselves sitting as the Watch Committee. The vacancy, or impending
vacancy was discussed at some length...
The Hull Daily Mail, 30 May
1899:
ANOTHER FROM THE RANKS
His resignation will be received with regret not only by the
members of the Watch Committee and the citizens, but the whole of the police
force with whom he was very popular.
Mr Farndale's salary is £900 a year, and he is entitled from
length of service to a superannuation of 2/3 of this amount. This morning's
paper.
Mr Farndale is a Yorkshireman, and commenced his police career in
the ranks at Middlesbrough. We like to hear of men
rising from the ranks.
The other day we were stimulated with the story of Hector
MacDonald, one of the heroes of Omdurman, who, from the ranks, had risen by
sheer merit and sterling worth to the highest rung in the military ladder.
This morning the name of another man is honourably prominent,
because he is ending his career in a distinguished position. He also has risen
from the ranks.
The retiring chief constable of Birmingham has had a career
which is worth studying in these degenerate days. It is full of instructive
points. Mr Farndale is a man of strong individuality. Yet he invariably got on
well with his Watch Committees. He was their servant as well as their master. He
was competent, and therefore would not be dictated to. He was respected,
because he had the courage of consistency. He would perhaps not have been
happy in Hull.
The story of his early life is quite picturesque. Mr Farndale
was a farmhand. He was driving the plough one weary day when his employer came
up, and farmer like, complained of his work. Young Farndale had a vigorous and
independent spirit and was pining for a more active and satisfying field of
labour, and throwing down what he had in his hand he said he would go off and
be a policeman. What an accident of fortune!
He made good his words at once, and entered upon a career which he
has unquestionably adorned. The path of the chief constable of a large city is
often beset with difficulty and perplexity! It is also one of grave and
constant responsibility. An efficient, fearless, and fair minded chief
constable is a boon that a large town like Birmingham cannot afford to rate
cheaply. But Watch Committees have often a great deal to answer for, and strong
chief constables are not popular everywhere.
At the early age of 26, Mr Farndale was appointed chief constable
of Chesterfield, and from that comparatively unimportant town he went to
Leicester. He was not then 29 years of age. He remained at Leicester for 10
years, and then obtained one of the plums of the profession. He was appointed
chief constable of Birmingham when still in his thirties. It is admitted that he
has greatly improved the police administration there, and that he has shown
market ability in dealing with large crowds of people. His discovery of the
Ledsam Street dynamite conspiracy at Birmingham one him much favour at the Home
Office; And even Sir William Harcourt did not withhold very graceful
appreciation.
Chief constables of large towns who have risen from the ranks are
rare. It is one thing to be
chief constable of an obscure borough and quite another to be responsible for
the security and public morality of a city of the size and character of
Birmingham. Nor is the man who has risen from the ranks always a success in
high office. The retiring chief constable of Birmingham, however, was not
demoralised, he was strengthened by success. If success could always be born
with good sense and fortitude it would often be a spectacle more gratifying to
contemplate.
The South Wales Daily News, 30
May 1899:
CHIEF CONSTABLE’S £600 A YEAR
Mr Joseph Farndale, for 17 years chief constable of Birmingham, in
which office he followed Major Bond, formerly chief constable of Cardiff, has
resigned his position owing to prolonged and serious ill health, which has
necessitated frequent vacations in the last few years. Mr Farndale is a
Yorkshire man, and commenced his police career in the ranks at 26. He was
appointed chief constable of Chesterfield over a force of 17, and after three
years became chief of police at Leicester, whence he went to Birmingham. His
retirement allowance will be £600 per year.
The Birmingham Mail, 2 June 1899:
The watch committee and Mr Farndale's resignation.
The report of the Watch Committee to be presented at the meeting
of the City Council next Tuesday contains the letter, already published, from
Mr Farndale, resigning the office of chief constable of the city. The committee
state that they have received Mr Farndale's resignation much regret, and they
desire to place on record their appreciation of the conscientious and efficient
manner in which he is always discharged his duties of office.
Mr Farndale was appointed in 1882 at a salary of £700 per annum.
At that time the total strength of the police force was 520, as against 700 at
present time. The area of the borough was 8,420 acres, as against the existing
area of 12,705 acres. The population was 400,774, the estimated population at
present time being 514,955. The committee proposed to
advertise for candidates for the office of chief constable, at a salary of £800
per annum, without allowances of any kind, and to appoint the candidate whom
they deem most eligible for the office.
The Leicester Chronicle, 3
June 1899:
THE CHIEF CONSTABLE OF BIRMINGHAM
RESIGNATION OF MR FARNDALE
At a meeting of the Birmingham judicial subcommittee, on Monday,
the chairman of the Watch Committee, communicated to his colleagues the fact
that he had received a communication from Mr Joseph Farndale resigning his
position as chief constable of Birmingham. Mr Farndale's resignation is due to
the counsel of his medical advisor, who, in view of the nature of his recent
illness and his incomplete recovery, regarded the step as imperative. The
announcement was received with unanimous regret. Mr Farndale was eligible to
retire on a pension several years ago, but it was his own desire to remain in
harness sometime longer, and the Watch Committee cordially approved of this
course.
Mr Farndale has always been popular with the citizens of
Birmingham, and enjoys the distinction of having been the most efficient
officer of that the local police force has had since it came into existence.
His relations alike with the City Council, the police, and the public have from
the commencement of his association with Birmingham been of the most cordial
character. Mr Farndale who is a native of Yorkshire has been connected with
police duties from his boyhood. At the age of 19 he became a constable in the
North Riding Constabulary, from whence he removed to Middlesbrough. His fine
presence, combined with a high degree of intelligence, led to his rapid
promotion, and it was not long before he attained the rank of Inspector.
He had only seven years police experience when the vacancy
occurred in the police in the post of chief constable of Chesterfield, and to
this Mr Farndale was appointed. The Chesterfield force was only a small one,
the borough having a very limited area, but it afforded Mr Farndale
administrative experience which was of great value to him. He was, we
believe, at the time of his appointment, the youngest chief constable in the
Kingdom. Mr Farndale remained at Chesterfield for only 2 ½ years, but he
had he had secured a standing which led to his appointment to the far more
important position of chief constable of Leicester. How he composed himself
there is shown by the terms of the testimonial given to him by the Mayor of
Leicestershire at the time he became a candidate for command of the
Birmingham police force. The Mayor of Leicester wrote: “Mr Farndale is a
thoroughly practical man, and an excellent disciplinarian. Towards the men he
is considerate and firm, and has won their entire confidence and respect. Throughout
the town, by the authorities he is fully trusted and highly esteemed.” While at
Leicester Mr Farndale's salary was twice increased each time by the sum of
£100. Several of the leading officers who served under him there rose to
important positions in other forces, and the Leicester police became known as
one of the best organised bodies in the provinces.
Mr Farndale succeeded the late Major Bond as Chief Constable of
Birmingham, and his services in connection with the dynamite conspiracy will be
remembered. He has won the esteem of the citizens of the Midland metropolis,
and will retire on an allowance of £600 a year. On his leaving
Leicester, it may be added, he was presented with a silver salver and purse of
£200, the members of the police force testifying to their goodwill in an
illuminated address.
The Coleshill Chronicle, 3 June 1899:
CHIEF CONSTABLE OF BIRMINGHAM RESIGNS
Joseph Farndale, the chief constable of Birmingham, has
inconsequence of continued ill health placed his resignation in the hands of
the watch committee. About two months ago Mr Farndale had an apoplectic
seizure, from the effects of which he has never thoroughly recovered, and he
has not since been able to take up his duties. Acting on medical advice he has
decided to retire. His resignation will be received with regret not only by
members of the Watch Committee and the citizens, but by the whole of the police
force, with whom he was very popular.
Mr Farndale’s salary is £900 a year, and he is entitled from
length of service to a superannuation off two thirds of that amount. He rose
from the ranks and commenced his police life in the Middlesbrough force. At
the early age of 26 he was appointed Chief Constable of Chesterfield, and 2
½ years later was given the command of the Leicester force. After remaining
there 10 years, he was, in February, 1882, selected by the Birmingham watch
committee, out of 90 candidates, as chief constable of Birmingham, a position
which he has since filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to everyone. He
has done much to improve the police administration and has always shown
marked ability in dealing with large crowds of people. …
The
Derbyshire Times, 3 June 1899: Mr Farndale’s reputation was enhanced by the breaking up of
what was known as the Ledsam Street dynamite conspiracy. The arrest of
Whitehead in Ledsham street in 1883 and the subsequent capture of Daly and Egan
is in the same month of the following year are matters of history. In
consequence of the part he played in the arrest of these men, the Watch
Committee, with the approval of the then Home Secretary, increased Mr
Farndale’s salary by £100 per annum. Sir William Harcourt, in writing to
express his approval of the action of the committee, said, “I desire to testify
the very high opinion I have formed at Mr Farndale, the Chief Constable of
Birmingham, throughout the whole of this matter and in other transactions of a
similar nature, in which I have received from him valuable assistance” Not only the public of Birmingham, but those of
Leicester and Chesterfield, who know Mr Farndale’s worth, and have had the
pleasure of his friendship, will wish that in his retirement he may be restored
to health.
The Western Times 31 May 1899: The resignation of the Chief Constable of Birmingham (Mr
Joseph Farndale) through ill health will cause a vacancy in a post to which a
salary of £900 a year is attached. Like the Chief Constable of Exeter, and many
of the best men at the head of the police force, he rose from the ranks. He was
Chief Constable of Chesterfield at the age of 26. Mr Farndale’s reputation was
enhanced by the breaking up of what was known as the Ledsam Street Dynamite
Conspiracy. The arrest of Whitehead in Ledsam Street in 1883 and the subsequent
capture of Daly and Egan in the same month are matters of history. In
consequence of the part he played in the arrest of those men the Watch
Committee, with the approval of the home secretary, increased Mr Farndale’s
salary to £100 per annum. Sir William Harcourt, in writing to express his
approval of the action of the Committee said, “I desire to testify the very
high opinion I have formed of Mr Farndale, the Chief Constable of Birmingham,
throughout the whole of this matter and in other transactions of a similar
nature, in which I have received from him valuable assistance.”
The Leeds Times, 3 June 1899: Mr Joseph Farndale has resigned the Chief Constableship of
Birmingham in consequence of ill health. He has occupied the post for 17 years.
The Derbyshire Courier, 3 June
1899:
NOTES FROM THE CROOKED STEEPLE
By an Old Crow
The popular chief constable of
Birmingham, has, in consequence of continued ill health, placed his resignation
in the hands of the Watch Committee, last Monday. Mr Farndale has been the head
of the Birmingham police force for 17 years and during that time he has won the
esteem in respect of the whole community. Among Mr Farndale's most notable
professional triumphs was the capture in 1883 of the notorious
Whitehead-Gallacher dynamite gang - a capture affected under circumstances that
reflected
the highest credit on the sagicity, vigilance and
ingenuity of the chief constable and his detective staff. Yorkshire has the honour of producing
and training the famous Birmingham chief who joined the North Riding
Constabulary at the age of 19, and who was afterwards stationed at Middlesbrough.
In a surprisingly short time he attained the rank of Inspector, and after only
seven years of experience of police duties he was appointed chief constable of
Chesterfield, subsequently holding similar appointments Leicester and Birmingham.
Under the new regulations, Mr Farndale
is entitled to a retiring allowance of £600 a year.
At the time of Mr Farndale’s
appointment the Chesterfield force comprised only 17 men, but to put even that number in charge
of a young man of 26 might have been regarded as a risky experience had it not
been for the conviction of the watch committee that Mr Farndale was older
than his years,
and that his capabilities only required testing to be abundantly manifested.
During the 2 ½ years he remained in our midst, Mr Farndale formed many
friendships, among them a close and abiding one with the then chairman of the
Watch Committee, Alderman Wood, who always entertained for him the highest
regard. From Chesterfield Mr Farndale went, after a short space of time I have
mentioned, to take the command of the Leicester force, which was at that time eight times as
large as that of Chesterfield. He soon won golden opinions there.
A former resident of Leicester has borne
testimony to the esteem which Mr Farndale has held. “During the whole time of
his residence in Leicester,” says this gentleman, “Mr Farndale was a model
public official. He reorganised the police force of that ancient borough with
both tact and courage. While he made the men both smart and active, he never allowed them to
become officious or interfering. He made the police popular with the people. He himself had the happy knack of
winning the good opinion of all sorts and conditions of men. The magistrates
learned to respect the man who knew the criminal law better than the lawyers. The Town Council felt the outmost
confidence in a zeal which never relaxed, and a discretion never at fault, and it was said that the general
public gave up bolting their doors and baring their windows, as the thieves had
too much respect for the vigilance of Mr Farndale's constables. In all his social relations of life,
Mr Farndale was found a good companion and a trusty friend.”
On leaving Leicester Mr Farndale was the
recipient of a silver salver and a purse containing £200 which the members of
the police force presented to him with a handsome illuminated address.
In February 1882, Mr Farndale was
selected out of a batch of 90 candidates for the responsible office of the
Chief Constable of the Birmingham force, the fourth largest force in England, and subsequently when the chief
commissionership was vacant at Scotland Yard his name remained on a very small
and select list. In 1880 he was presented by Sir John Jaffray on behalf of a
number of prominent people of Birmingham with a gracefully worded address and a
cheque for £403. I have already referred to his exposure of the dynamite
conspiracy, with regard to which he received a well
deserved compliment from Sir William Harcourt, then home secretary. Describing Mr Farndale in 1888, a
writer in “Birmingham Places and Faces”, after speaking of him as a man of
great ability observes: “To begin with, he is solid physically. He weighs fifteen stone and
a half and has immense shoulders and depth of chest. He gives his directions in
a fine sonorous voice, with great calmness. Some chief constables are military
men, who still retained the military imperiousness. Mr Farndale differs from
this state of officer. He has never been a military man, and he has never even
belonged to a rifle corps. He certainly never learned the over beating method
which a certain member of the military so much admires. I am sure that Mr
Farndale’s many friends will join me in wishing that he made enjoy for many
years the rest and leisure which he so well deserves.
The Halifax Courier, 3 June
1899: A CHIEF CONSTABLE’S
RESIGNATION. Mr Joseph Farndale has resigned the chief constableship of
Birmingham in consequence of ill health. He is occupied the post for 17 years.
Mr Farndale is Yorkshireman, and was made chief constable of Leicester when he
was only 26 years old. He is uncle of chief constable Farndale, of York, who
was formerly inspectorate Halifax. His retirement allowance will be £600
per year.
The York Herald, 10 June 1899: The serious and prolonged illness of Mr Joseph Farndale,
which causes his retirement from the office of chief constable of Birmingham,
will be regretted by many of the older inhabitants of Middlesbrough, to whom he
was well known. Mr Farndale was a native of North Riding, and commenced his
distinguished police career in Middlesbrough police force. Ambitious and
endowed with the best qualities for police service, his promotion was
rapid, and 17 years ago, after a short experience as chief constable of
Leicester, he received the appointment of chief constable of Birmingham. in
consequence of a serious intermittent illness he has only been able during the
past two or three years to fulfil his duties occasionally, and he has decided
to retire. His salary has lately been £900 per annum and he becomes entitled to
the handsome pension of £600.
The Birmingham
Mail, 22 June 1899: Sir. The final retirement from office of Mr
Farndale, the chief constable, may render not unfitting a word of appreciation
from one who owes him thanks for many courteous and kindly act. Soon after my
arrival in Birmingham I came into contact with the Chief Constable when seeking
material for an article on the civic life in the midst of which I was to spend
some years. I found him ready to give me help at every point, a fact
which made my task comparatively easy so far as his department was concerned.
Later, whether in or out of office, I had occasion to send American writers and
students to him, and in their cases, as well as my own, there was the same
generous aid, the same anxiety to do for them all that lay in his power.
For all this help, as well as for many pleasant personal relations, I can only
thank him thus publicly, and joined his fellow towns men in wishing him
complete restoration to health, many years of life and happiness, and to
Birmingham itself a successor in his office who shall emulate his example. It
may not be amiss either for me to say how effective, in its every rank, I
have found the police force of this city. Both myself and family have had
abundant reason to appreciate their watchfulness and politeness. I have been
much absent in America, but it is always with the assurance that every
precaution to make my family feel secure would be taken by these guardians of
the public peace. During my service as consul, and since my retirement into the
ranks of private citizenship, I have had reason to wish that every city
might have a police force with the same discipline, intelligence, and devotion
to duties as those that I have found during six years of experience in
Birmingham. Yours etc. George F Parker, Elmwood, Arthur Rd, Edgbaston, June 21.
His final years after retiring
On Joseph Farndale’s
resignation as Chief Constable of Birmingham through ill health, his nephew, also
Joseph Farndale (FAR00463) was shortlisted amongst eight to succeed his uncle, but in the
event Sir Charles Haughton Rafter was appointed.
The Manchester Evening News, 5
July 1899: The Chief Constableship
of Birmingham. The Birmingham Watch Committee yesterday received tabulated
statements concerning the applicants for the chief constableship of the city.
There are exactly 50 applicants, and it is a notable fact that over half of them
are gentlemen whose only qualification appears to be a military training. Among
the candidates is Mr Farndale (FAR00463), the chief constable of
York, a nephew of Mr Joseph Farndale, the retiring chief. …
The Manchester Evening News, 8
July 1899: The vacant Chief
Constableship of Birmingham. The judicial sub-committee of the Birmingham Watch
Committee yesterday held a special meeting to consider the applications –
exactly 50 in number – for the office of Chief Constable, rendered vacant by
the resignation of Mr Joseph Farndale. The proceedings which were conducted in
private, lasted upwards of an hour, and at the conclusion it was stated that
eight gentlemen had been selected to attend personally before a further meeting
of the sub-committee, to be held next Friday, when the final choice will in all
probability be made :- The eight applicants in question were … Joseph
Farndale, 35, Chief Constable of York
(FAR00463) …
The Manchester Evening News,
17 July 1899 (also reported in Lincolnshire Chronicle 21 July 1899 and Edinburgh Evening News, and Dundee Evening Telegraph
17 July 1899): Appointment of the
Chief Constable for Birmingham. The Birmingham Watch Committee at a special
meeting this morning appointed Mr G H Rafter, Chief Constable of the City.
Mr Rafter who is 42 years of age, has been District Inspector of the Royal
Irish Constabulary at Boyle. The appointment was vacant owing to the retirement
of Mr Joseph Farndale through ill health. Mr Rafter has had 16 years’ Irish
police experience.
Joseph Farndale’s
health continued to be a concern. The Birmingham Mail, 9 September 1899: HEALTH OF MR FARNDALE . It is reported that the health of Mr
Farndale, ex Chief Constable of Birmingham, is still in a state which causes
anxiety. He is at present staying near Blackpool. The Stockton Herald, 16 September 1899: The health of ex Chief Constable Farndale, of Birmingham, who
is staying at the hydro, near Blackpool, has not improved on the unsatisfactory
state we reported some time back. It is still such as to give his friends cause
for anxiety. The Birmingham Mail, 21
October 1899: The late Chief
Constable, Mr Farndale. Has returned to Birmingham from Blackpool. He
contemplates taking up his residence in the city, I understand, and is at
present residing in Calthorpe Road. His health is now much better than it has
been lately. The presentation which the police purpose making him will assume
the form of a dog cart, an easy chair, and an illuminated address in book form.
The presentation will, in all probability, be made next week.
On his return to
Birmingham, he received a presentation for his service. The Birmingham Mail, 3
November 1899: THE EX CHIEF CONSTABLE OF THE CITY.
Last night Mr Joseph Farndale, the ex Chief Constable
of Birmingham, was the recipient of a valuable present from the members
of the Birmingham Constabulary as a mark of appreciation. The presentation,
which would have been made earlier but for Mr Farndale's absence from the city
in consequence of good health, took place at the house in Calthorpe Roadd, where he is at present residing. Among those
present were Mr Joseph Ansell, Dr Hutchinson, Superintendents McManus (Deputy
Chief Constable), Morgan (Chief Clerk), Moore, Beard, Thomas and Monk. The
present consisted of a dog cart and a set of silver plated harness, a richly
upholstered arm chair, and an illuminated address in book form, bound in green
Morocco leather. The trap, which is the latest design, and fitted with a
clock on the inside of the splash board, was driven round the house. In a
brief speech Superintendent McManus asked Mr Farndale’s acceptance of the
presents and the address, which had been signed on behalf of the whole of the
members of the force by the Deputy Chief Constable and the other
Superintendents, was then read by Superintendent Morgan. Subsequently Mr Ansell
spoke and Mr Farndale acknowledged the presentation, and desired his thanks to
be conveyed to the whole of the members of the force who had so generously
testified their appreciation of the feeling which had so long existed between
them.
1900
The Birmingham Daily Post, 4 July 1900: MR FARNDALE. Mr J
Farndale. The late chief constable of Birmingham, has just returned from
Bournemouth, and is staying at the Hollies, Sutton Coldfield.
The debate still
went on about Daly and the Irish arrests.
The Daily
News (London), 21 August 1901: Anyone who knows the inner side of
Irish life is well aware that it is the general belief that hundreds of the
outrages are manufactured by the police, partly for political reasons, and
partly for the purpose of obtaining promotion. In connection with these
manufactured outrages is it will be remembered that the Chief Constable of
Birmingham, the late Mr Farndale, distinctly and repeatedly alleged that the
Birmingham dynamite plot had been promoted and fostered by the Irish policeman,
who had been sent to Birmingham for the purpose. He declared again and again his
bitter regret that he had innocently allowed himself to be drawn into the
transaction. The Home Secretary of the time declined to take action on Mr
Farndale's representations but the admission made by Mr Windham in the House of
Commons on Saturday proved that there was, unfortunately, only too much ground
for investigating these matters in the light of open day. I trust now the Chief
Secretary has gone so far, he will continue his investigations into the conduct
of the mayor and police into the general methods of the Royal Irish
Constabulary.
The Dundee Evening Post, 24 August 1901:
HOIST WITH THEIR OWN PETARD
POLICE ‘MANUFACTURE’ CRIME
WITH VARIOUS RESULTS
ROYAL IRISH REVELATIONS
The revelations in the House of Commons
as to the manner in which agrarian outrages were deliberately manufactured by
Sergeant Sheridan of the Ulster Royal Irish Constabulary, although they must
have created a very unpleasant impression on the minds of English readers, are
matters of almost everyday occurrence in Ireland, and go far to explain the
general feeling of exasperation with the English rule which is current amongst
all sections of the community in the South and West of Ireland. That the English
people are not familiar with outrages quite as had as
just revealed in the house, speaks well for the clever methods adopted by the
government for suppressing inconvenient facts of this nature.
… in connection with these manufactured
outrages is it will be remembered that the Chief Constable of Birmingham, the
late Mr farndale, that distinctly and repeatedly alleged that the Birmingham
dynamite plot had been promoted and fostered by Irish policeman, who had been
sent to Birmingham for the purpose. He declared again and again his bitter
regret that he had innocently allowed himself to be drawn into the transaction.
The Home Secretary of the time declined to take action on Mr Farndale’s
representations.
1901
Joseph Farndale
died, aged 59, at the Hollies, Sutton Coldfield, on 8 August 1901, having
served for 17 years as Chief Constable of Birmingham, and previously as Chief
Constable of Chesterfield and Leicester.
The Coventry Evening
Telegraph, 8 August 1901: DEATH OF MR FARNDALE.
BIRMINGHAM’S LATE CHIEF CONSTABLE. The death is announced of Mr Joseph
Farndale, late Chief Constable of Birmingham. He died at Sutton Coldfield early
this morning. Mr Farndale retired two years ago. He was Chief Constable at the
time of the Egan Conspiracy, in which Egan, Daly and Gallagher were concerned.
The Manchester Evening News, 8
August 1901: DEATH OF EX CHIEF
CONSTABLE OF BIRMINGHAM. The death is announced of Mr Joseph Farndale, late
Chief Constable of Birmingham. He died at Sutton Coldfield this morning. Mr
Farndale retired two years ago. He was Chief Constable at the time of the
Fenian conspiracy, in which Egan, Daly, and Gallagher were concerned. The
American papers alleged that Mr Farndale and the then chief detective hatched
the plot artificially, but Daly confessed this was nonsensical.
The Bradford Daily Telegraph,
9 August 1901: DEATH OF EX CHIEF
CONSTABLE FARNDALE. Mr Joseph Farndale, ex chief constable of Birmingham,
died yesterday, at his residence, Sutton Coldfield. Mr Farndale was a
Yorkshireman, and joined the North Riding Police Force at the age of nineteen.
He was subsequently appointed Chief Constable of Leicester, which position he
held for ten years. He then succeeded Major Bond as Chief Constable of
Birmingham, and was superannuated in 1899. Mr Farndale’s nephew, Mr Joseph Farndale,
is Chief Constable of Bradford.
The Manchester Courier and
Lancashire General Advertiser, 9 August 1901: OBITUARY.
Mr Joseph Farndale, who retired from the Chief Constableship of Birmingham a
couple of years ago on account of health, after nearly 20 years
service, died yesterday at Sutton Coldfield. He first joined the force
in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and at the age of 26 was appointed Chief
Constable of Chesterfield. Two years after he was appointed Chief of Leicester,
and 10 years afterwards was appointed to Birmingham.
The Nottingham Evening Post, 9
August 1901: OBITUARY. MR JOSEPH
FARNDALE. The death is announced of Mr Joseph Farndale, late Chief Constable
of Birmingham. He died at Sutton Coldfield yesterday morning. Mr Farndale
retired two years ago. He was Chief Constable at the time of the Fenian
Conspiracy in which Egan, Daly and Gallagher were concerned, and American
papers have alleged that Mr Farndale hatched the plot artificially. As Daly
confessed however, this was nonsensical. He first joined the force in the West
Riding of Yorkshire, and at the age of 26 was appointed Chief Constable of
Chesterfield. Two years later he was appointed Chief of Leicester, and ten
years afterwards was appointed to Birmingham.
The Sunderland Daily Echo and
Shipping Gazette, 9 August 1901: Mr Joseph Farndale, who
retired from the Chief Constableship of Birmingham a couple of years ago after
nearly 20 years service, died yesterday at Sutton
Coldfield. He discovered the dynamite plot in Birmingham.
The Gloucester Citizen, 9
August 1901: Personal Gossip. … Mr
Joseph Farndale, who from 1882 to 1899 occupied the position of Chief Constable
of Birmingham, died on Thursday.
The Gloucester Citizen, 13
August 1901: The funeral of Mr
Joseph Farndale, formerly Chief Constable of Birmingham, took place on Monday
at Witton Cemetery, amid every outward manifestation of respect and sympathy.
About 200 Birmingham policemen attended.
The Birmingham Mail, 23
October 1901: At a meeting of the
Watch Committee today, a letter was read from Mr J Farndale, Chief Constable at
Bradford, thanking the committee for the resolution of condolence in respect to
the death of the late Mr Joseph Farndale.
The
Birmingham Daily Gazette, 9 August
1901:
DEATH OF MR JOSEPH
FARNDALE
A LONG AND INTERESTING
POLICE CAREER
The news of the death
of Mr Joseph Farndale was received in Birmingham yesterday with feelings of
general regret. He was a man respected in his official capacity as chief
constable of Birmingham by every member of the force, and esteemed for his
sterling attributes, and manly character by the thousands of Birmingham
citizens who know him either as chief of police or as a friend. Failing
health caused Mr Farndale to resign his position in May of 1889...
A native of the north
riding of Yorkshire, Mr Farndale joined the force in that riding at the age of
19,. After serving there a short time he joined the Middlesbrough force...
In January of 1882 Mr
Farndale was selected out of ninety candidates to fill the important post of
chief constable of Birmingham … he was called upon to to take part in many
important criminal cases. Birmingham and the whole country will easily recall the
troublous times of the dynamite plots. Mr Farndale had not been chief
constable of Birmingham long before he had to direct the delicate and important
inquiries which resulted in the arrest of Whitehead, in April of 1883 and of
Daly and Egan a year later.... Mr Farndale’s tact and ability in
connection with the capture of the conspirators did not go unrewarded, and the
Watch Committee, with the approval of the Home Secretary, Sir William Harcourt,
increased Mr Farndale’s salary by £100. Sir William Harcourt in a letter to the
Mayor of birmingham, in connection with the valuable work which the Birmingham
police force had rendered, wrote:
Home Department, August
3, 1888,
Mr Mayor, as you are
aware, I have for some time had under my consideration the manner in which the
services should be recognised of those by whose courage and skill the detection
of the nitro-glycerin plot was due. Among those the Birmingham police claimed
the first rank. I have as you know, submitted to Parliament an estimate for a
sum of money to be awarded to the officers who took part in Birmingham and
London in this transaction; but as I am informed that your Council has under
its consideration the rewards which it shall grant by way of promotion and
increased pay to the members of its own force, I desire to testify the very
high opinion I have formed at the remarkable skill, intelligence, and resource
exhibited by Mr Farndale, the Chief Constable of Birmingham, throughout the
whole of this matter, and in other transactions of a similar nature in which I
have received from him much valuable assistance. I shall be extremely glad to
hear that the Town Council of Birmingham have thought fit to bestow upon him
some signal mark of their approval.
I remain, Mr Mayor,
your faithful servant, W V Harcourt.
A story from london
In a paragraph written
during the illness of Mr Farndale, a London contemporary stated Mr Joseph
Farndale, the chief constable of Birmingham, whose grave illness threatened to
involve the transference of the city's Assizes to the old county town of Warwick,
is a man with an honourable and interesting past. His cousin, who still resides
and works in the midst of these rural scenes of Yorkshire which the smart
member of the farndale family quitted to earn fame and fortune, tells that
young Joseph Arndale was at work in the fields one day, at the tail of the dunk
art, when... [see this story
reported elsewhere]
The Leicester Daily Post, 9 August 1901: DEATH OF
MR FARNDALE. INTERESTING CAREER. General regret will be felt in Leicester at
the death of Mr Joseph Farndale, who for 10 years was chief constable of the
borough, and who until 1899 was chief constable of Birmingham, but who resigned
in may of that year inconsequence of indifferent health. The deceased gentleman
has been ill for some time, and died at his residence, The Hollies, Sutton
Coldfield, yesterday morning. Mr Farndale was a native of Yorkshire, and had
been connected with police duties from his boyhood. At the age of 19 he
became a constable in the North Riding Constabulary, from whence he removed to
Middlesbrough. His fine presence, combined with a huge degree of
intelligence, led to his rapid promotion and it was not long before he
attained to the rank of Inspector. Seven years later the chief constable
Chesterfield became vacant...
The Nottingham
Evening Post, 9 August 1901: A FAMOUS CHIEF CONSTABLE. By the death
of Mr Joseph Farndale, of Birmingham, a famous chief constable, who retired
from active duty two years ago, passes away, and his name recalls memories of
the miscreant dynamitards who made the Midland capital their headquarters
nearly 20 years ago. The manufacturing of dynamite was established in an out
of the way street, and from it the deadly compound was exported in trunks and
India rubber fishing boots to London, to blow it up. Its existence was
supposed to have been discovered in a dream to a chemist’s assistant, who
communicated with a friend in the police force. Their inquiries soon discovered
that the vision was a grim reality, and with great skill, and at much risk to
themselves, the detectives in Birmingham and London soon had the leaders in
custody. For his services on the occasion Mr Farndale received the thanks of
the Home Office and a government reward.
The Dundee
Evening Post, 10 August 1901:
TRACKING DYNAMITARDS. GREAT PLOTS
FOILED.
The ex chief
constable of Birmingham, Mr. J Farndale, died at Sutton Coldfield, near
Birmingham, on Thursday after a prolonged illness.
Rising from the ranks, Mr Farndale
attained the position of head of the city force, and during his office he
unearthed the villainies of the American dynamitards, who made a special visit
to this country with the object of intimidating the British government by their
diabolical outrages. The police, however, proved more than a match for the
gang, and it was Mr Farndale who found that the conspirators were making their
dynamite in the midlands.
A Birmingham chemist noticed that an
unusual quantity of nitric acid was being purchased by a man living in Ledsam
Street, in the city, and he gave information to the police. This resulted in
the detectives letting themselves into Ledsam Street premises with the aid of
skeleton keys, and while the occupant was asleep the officers took samples of
the contents of seething carboys, which proved to contain crudely made
nitro-glycerine. There was enough explosive in this illicit dynamite factory
to destroy the whole suburb of Ladywood. After this the premises were kept
under careful observation and the majority of the gang, including Dr Gallacher,
Wilson, Whitehead, and Curtin were captured while conveying dynamite to London.
For a time this broke up the plotters, but it was not long before the
plotters were at their work again, and curiously enough, they again made
for Birmingham one of their centres. Mr Farndale and his staff, however,
were once more equal to the occasion. Daly, a prominent member of the Fenian
brotherhood, was the active agent in a plot to throw bombs from the strangers
gallery's on to the table in the House of Commons. He had his headquarters
with a man named Egan and was watched day and night by Mr Farndale’s
emissaries. Eventually Daly was arrested in Liverpool with the deadly bombs in
his possession, and in Mr Daly in Egan’s garden dynamite and documents relating
to the secret society were found.
Mr Farndale was the recipient of a
special compliment from Sir William Harcourt, speaking on behalf of the
Government, and a considerable sum of money was voted him. The activity
displayed by Mr Farndale was largely responsible for neutralising the zeal of
O’Donovan Rossa.
The Derbyshire
Courier, 10 August 1901. MR JOSEPH FARNDALE LATE OF CHESTERFIELD. We
have also to record this week, with regret, the death of Mr Joseph Farndale,
formerly chief constable of Chesterfield, and subsequently of Leicester and
Birmingham, which occurred on Thursday at his residence, The Hollies, Sutton
Coldfield. Mr Farndale, who is 59 years of age, had for several years
suffered from Bright’s disease, and his retirement from the chief
constableship in May, 1899, followed upon a seizure from which at the time, he
was scarcely expected to recover. He rallied however and on retiring went to
reside for a time at Bournemouth. Last year he removed to Sutton
Coldfield, wintering, however, at St. Leonards on sea. On Sunday last he
was attacked by a cerebral haemorrhage, but remained conscious until
Wednesday. He rapidly became weaker, and died on Thursday morning. Mr Farndale
was a native of Yorkshire, and had been connected with police duties from
boyhood. At the age of 19 he became a constable in the North Riding
Constabulary, from whence he removed to Middlesbrough. His fine presence,
combined with a high degree of intelligence, led to his rapid promotion, and it
was not long before he attained to the rank of Inspector. He had only seven
years police experience when a vacancy occurred in the post of the chief
constable of Chesterfield and to this Mr Farndale was appointed. The
Chesterfield force was only a small one, the borough having a very limited
area, but it afforded Mr farndale and administrative experience which was a
great value to him. He was at the time of his appointment the youngest chief
constable in the kingdom. Mr Farndale remained at Chesterfield for 2 ½ years,
but he had secured a standing which led to his appointment to the far more important
position of chief constable of Leicester. How he composed himself there is
shown by the terms of the testimonial given to him by the Mayor of Leicester at
the time he became a candidate for the command of the Birmingham police force.
The Mayor of Leicester wrote: “Mr Farndale is a thoroughly practical man, and
an excellent disciplinarian. Towards the men he is considerate and firm, and he
has won their entire confidence and respect. Throughout the town by the
authorities he is fully trusted and highly esteemed. While at Leicester Mr
Farndale’s salary was twice increased each by each time by £100. Several of the
leading officers who served under him there rose to important positions in
other forces, and the Leicester police force became known as one of the best
organised bodies in the provinces. In 1882 out of 90 applicants, Mr Farndale
was unanimously appointed to the chief constableship of Birmingham. The
Birmingham police force when Mr Farndale ended up on its direction numbered 520
men, but in a little over a year, after Mr Farndale’s appointment 50 more
constables were added, and further increases to about 720 men were made from
time to time. Of the masterly fashion in which Mr Farndale dealt with the
dynamite conspiracy it is unnecessary to speak. So William Harcourt who was the
Home Secretary at the time wrote to the mayor of Birmingham and letter in which
he said... Upon his retirement in 1889 in 1899, the officers and men of the
police force gave expression to their respect and goodwill by presenting Mr
Farndale a handsome trap, harness and carriage clock.
The Shields
Daily News, 10 August 1901: DEATH OF A NOTED CHIEF CONSTABLE. Mr.
James (sic, recte Joseph) Farndale, late chief
constable in Birmingham, died on Thursday morning at his residence, Sutton
Coldfield...
Of the funeral: Coventry Evening News, 13
August 1901: The Chef Constable of
Coventry (Mr C C Charsley)
on Monday attended the funeral of Mr Joseph Farndale (ex cChief
Constable of Birmingham) at Witton Cemetery.
Of the estate: The Sutton Coldfield News, 29 December 1901: THE
ESTATE OF THE LATE MR FARNDALE. The estate of the late Mr Joseph Farndale, of
The Hollies, Sutton Coldfield, formerly chief of the city of Birmingham police,
has been sworn at £1,059, 19s, 11d, and the personality at £959, 1s, 8 ½ d. As Mr
Farndale died intestate, and his only one child and next of kin, Mr Joseph
W Farndale, being resident at Ba, Fiji islands, a grant of administration to
the estate of the deceased has been obtained by Mr Joseph Ansell, solicitor,
27, Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, on behalf of, and as lawful attorney to, Mr J W
Farndale.
The Official Gazette, 17
December 1901:
Joseph Farndale Deceased
Pursuant to the statute, 22 and 23 Victoria, chapter 35.
Notice is hereby given, that all creditors and other persons
having any debts, claims, or demands against the estate of Joseph Farndale,
late of The Hollies, Sutton Coldfield, in the county of Warwick, formerly chief
of police for the city of Birmingham, who died on the eighth day of August,
1901, and whose personal estate letters of administration were granted by the
Birmingham District Registry of the Probate Division of the High Court of
Justice to Joseph Ansell, of Bennett’s Hill, in the said city of Birmingham,
solicitor, are hereby required to send particulars of their claims or demands
to us, the undersigned, as solicitors, to the said Joseph Ansell, on or before
the 31st day of January, next, after which day the said Joseph Ansell will
proceed to distribute the assets of the deceased amongst the parties entitled
thereto, having regard only to the claims of which he shall then have had
notice; And the said Joseph Ansell will not be liable for the assets, or any
part thereof, so distributed to any persons of whose debt or claim he shall not
then have had notice. Dated this 13th day of December 1901. Ansell and Ashford,
27 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, solicitors to the said Joseph Ansell.
After he died
The general view of
Joseph Farndale after he died was very favourable.
The Birmingham Mail, 20
December 1901 recalled the old days: Sir,
Wednesday night's proceedings may to some minds appear barbarous, but had we
had one of our own officers at the head of the police, he would not have lost
his head in an emergency and caused it innocent children to be maimed with the
baton. He would have resorted to our late Mr Farndale's method, and turned
the harmless fire hose on them. Yours, a Brum man.
The Derbyshire Times, 14 November 1903:
The retirement of Superintendent Detective Melville, of Scotland Yard,
reminds one of his connection with one of Chesterfield 's former Chief
Constables. It was during the dynamite plots that detective Melville first came
prominently before the public, and in the process of running to earth the
culprits, he and Chief Constable Farndale, of Birmingham, were closely
associated. The honours for the discoveries in London rested with
detective Melville, but he has always been ready to acknowledge the assistance
of Chief Constable Farndale rendered him, and to admit that it was largely
due to the manner the Birmingham chief unearthed the factory and the miscreants
in his own city that the complete break up of a conspiracy more
dangerous and vile than the gunpowder plot, was brought about.
Harking back to the ‘good old days’, The Birmingham Daily Gazette, 18 October 1905: to
the editor of The Gazette and Express. Sir. I am more than pleased to find that
you are still fighting the cause of Miss Burrows and Mr Bentley. Had this
occurred in Mr Farndale's time or that of Major Bond the matter would not
have stood over sine die but would have been settled at this by stripping the
officers of their uniform …
A reminiscence of Joseph Farndale, the
unintended recipient of some grapes in the Birmingham Mail, 24 August 1907: Reading the
article in the Mail the other evening on Police Court officers of the past in
Birmingham, I was reminded of an amusing little incident of which I was a
witness some years ago at the Victoria Law courts. At the time it occurred I
was sitting by the side of the late Mr. Hammond, as genial and genuine an old
soul as ever pleaded before the magistrates. Mr. Hammond had retired from
active practise in those days, yet he remained one of the most familiar figures
at the courts, where he seemed to have a smile and a nod of recognition for
everybody. It was one of his little eccentricities to carry in his trouser
pocket a supply of grapes, to which his hand stole every now and again as
lunch drew near. Among the messenger boys who flitted in and out of the press
seats, these grapes were a well known quantity, by reason of the fact that Mr
Hammond often gave the lads a few, the fruit generally passing from one
to the other undercover of the table provided in front of the dock, or the
convenience of the solicitors addressing the bench. On the day in question Mr
Hammond had motioned a messenger boy on his side, but the lad had no
sooner taken his seat than the chief constable of that day, the late Mr
Farndale, appeared at the table. The boy instantly rose to make way for
the chief, and down sat Mr Farndale, without his presence being apparent
to Mr Hammond, who at the moment was deeply engrossed in certain evidence
that was being tendered from the witness box. He still had his eyes fixed
intently on the witness when, dipping a hand abstractedly into his pocket, he
pulled out a few grapes and pushed them quietly into Mr Farndale's hand.
I leave readers who remember the somewhat pompous dignity of the late chief
to imagine the astonishment, not unmixed with a semblance of annoyance, with
which he regarded the proffered fruit; but even Mr Farndale’s surprise was mild
compared with that of the worthy lawyer when he realised the embarrassing
nature of the situation. Mr. Hammond had a rare fund of reminiscence, and I
have heard him tell some remarkable stories of the historic days of the gun
making boom in Birmingham in the early 70s....
The Referee,
13 October 1907: TO MOTOR ME TO MALVERN. The last time I took the
road between the capital of the Thames and the capital of the Rea and Tame,
Faust up-to-date, waltzed into Birmingham on his hind legs to express his
dissatisfaction at the steam trams, and when I drove out of it on my way to London
Chief Constable Farndale went ahead in his dog cart, acting as a kind of
pilot engine, saw me and my performing pony safely out to the London Road
beyond the iron horses who snort was terror and whose breath was blackness...
The Birmingham
Daily Gazette, 5 June 1908: During his command of the Birmingham
police Major Bond had initiated several wise and necessary reforms, and he left
to his successor, the late Mr Joseph Farndale, a force which was in every
respect far superior to that which he had himself taken over some years before,
and Mr Farndale developed the reforms on useful and beneficial lines. The chief
constableship of Mr Farndale is within too recent memory to call for
reminiscent comment, but I may mention an anecdote illustrating how the former
chief came to drift into the police service. Oddly enough, it was in a little
village beyond York, and in a little chapel where I had been unexpectedly
claimed called upon to preach, that I met Mr joseph Farndale's cousin,
who told me that Joseph Farndale, when a young man, was engaged in a farm in
the north country. It happened that one day he became greatly irritated, and in
an outburst of discontent with his lot he flung down his whip and declared he
would go off and become a policeman. He was as good as his word, and
without further deliberation he set off to Middlesbrough, and joined the police
force. He rose through the ranks, secured the post of chief constable of
Chesterfield, and next accepted the same rank at Leicester, whence he came to
Birmingham in the early 80s to assume the chief constableship here.
There was a strange case of wife
desertion which occurred in 1909, and evidence concerning Joseph Farndale’s
instruction to the former policeman named Wolffe became in
issue. The Birmingham Daily Gazette, 25 August 1909:
WIFE DESERTION. STRANGE MATRIMONIAL TANGLE. MR FARNDALE’S ADVICE. An
involved and interesting matrimonial case was heard at the Birmingham police
court yesterday before the deputies … Mr Farndale’s Inquiries …. when [the
former policeman] married the complainant in Birmingham Mr Farndale, who was
chief constable at the time, made inquiries as to his first wife, but what the
result of those inquiries was he could not say. Since leaving Bristol he has
never communicated with his first wife's relatives The complainant recalled
said that when Mr Farndale found that she and Wolfe were living together as man
and wife, he gave them a month to get married if Wolfe intended to continue in
the Force. Wolfe never made any inquiries as to whether his wife was alive or
not, and witness and Wolfe went through a form of marriage. She was to take Mr
Farndale the marriage certificate within the month and this she did. Afterwards
her husband gave her a letter informing her that she and he were to attend at
Mr Farndale's office at the Council House. They went, and Mr Farndale said to
the witness I am sorry to inform you that your position in regard to being Mr
Wolffe’s wife is just the same as before you were married. I have information
that his wife is living in Cardiff. Mr Farndale further told her that as Wolffe
had gone through the form of marriage with her he could continue in the Force
if she consented to live with him. He said however that if she preferred to
leave him, he would see that Wolffe kept the child. She continued to live with
Wolffe. Questioned with regard to those statements Wolffe said that Mr Farndale
never made them. He merely said to the woman that if anything happened to him,
Wolffe, she would be entitled to the money... The Yorkshire
Telegraph and Star, 25 August 1909: MARRIAGE MAZE. DESERTION CHARGE
REVEALS AMAZING ROMANCE. AN EXTRAORDINARY TANGLE. EX POLICEMAN’S STORY OF LONG
LOST WIFE. … complainant in the course of further evidence said that prior to
her marriage she had been living in Birmingham with Wolffe, who was then a
police constable in the city, and Mr Farndale the chief constable about time
told them that they must be married if Wolffe was to continue in the force...
The Birmingham Daily Post, 8 September 1909:
Birmingham Police Court … Mr Farndale, the then chief constable of Birmingham,
had told her that he had received information to the effect that Wolffe had a
wife living in Cardiff, and therefore complainants position in regard to being
Wolffe’s wife was just the same as before they went through the form of
marriage. Wolffe went into the box cover and denied that Mr Farndale had made
those statements...
The Birmingham
Mail, 2 July 1910: The letter which was published in the Mail the
other evening complaining of the reign of the hooligans in the neighbourhood of
Garrison Lane sounds like a return to the old order of things. There was a
time when this part of Birmingham was one of the most notorious in the city,
when it was unsafe for any respectable person to be seen in the district, and
when the rough reigned supreme and wielded the buckled belt and knuckle duster
with terrorising effect. But the late Mr Farndale, as chief constable,
organised a crusade against the half savage hooligans, who were
finally made to understand that they must not interfere with law abiding
citizens, however much they might feel inclined to battle the heads of their
brother roughs.
The Derbyshire
Courier, 16 December 1911: THE POLICEMAN’S FRIEND. One of the closest
one of his closest intimates was Mr Joseph Farndale, the well
known chief constable of Birmingham, who was formerly chief constable of
Chesterfield and subsequently of Leicester, and it is betraying no secret stage
that it was at Brambling House, Chesterfield, where the main provisions of the
police superannuation act were originally drafted, at a gathering which
included Mr Farndale and the chief constables of several of the largest towns
in the country....
Before long he was recalled as a ‘superman’.
The Leicester Evening Mail, 10 January 1921:
A retrospect on the municipal aspect … To the editor of the Leicester Mail.
Sir, I settled in Leicester in the 1877 … The present Sir James Bell of London,
was certainly the Superman, with Mr Hiley a remarkably good second. I remember
on one occasion when it was proposed to bring forth a Bill in Parliament for
borough extensions, Mr Hiley took leading counsel's opinion, with the result
that it was dropped as being impracticable at the time. Would that similar course
had been adopted with regard to the present I should imagine him to be a very
capable waterworks engineer and reliable advisor. There have been several, I
believe half a dozen, chief constables of whom there is no doubt the late Mr
Farndale was a Superman. At the same time I think the present holder of the
position is a thoroughly reliable and efficient officer.
And there were those arguing that Joseph Farndale had
been the handsomest chief constable The Leicester
Daily Mercury, 5 September 1921:
The late Mr Farndale and the Abbey park
opening.
Several correspondents have written to
correct a correspondent who assured me that the late Mr Farndale was
Chief Constable of Leicester when the Abbey park was opened, though he was
present on the occasion when King Edward, whom he resembled, came to
Leicester as Prince of Wales. As a matter of fact Mr Joseph Farndale resigned
in February 1882 and was succeeded by the late Mr James Duns. The Abbey Park
was opened in May of the same year and Mr Farndale was at the head of a posse
of Birmingham police, who came over to assist the local Constabulary in
controlling the crowds which assembled for the royal visit.
The handsomest chief constable.
Another correspondent challenges my
assertion that Mr Farndale was the handsome list chief constable Leicester ever
had. He writes:
“The handsomest chief constable in
recent times and distant, for the matter of that, was not Mr Farndale, but
Chief Constable Lumley, particularly when he was in uniform. He was by far the
handsomest chief constable Leicester has ever heard, and chief constable Alan
is the brainiest.”
Happily good looks are matters of
opinion, so that I shall not be expected to recant.
When the police wore top hats
The reference to Mr Farndale has
reminded another of my readers of earlier constabulary days. He says “It took
my memory back to 1871 when I was a boy of 14. In that year the Chief
Constable, Mr Charters retired. In his time the members of the force wore top
hats …
The Leicester
Daily Mercury, 22 March 1929: One must not forget to notice to the
Chief Constable of his day, Joseph Farndale, the most distinguished chief
constable in living memory, so like the Prince of Wales people used to say of
him. …
The Leicester Daily Mercury 17 December 1931: I
find in the 1875 directory that Mr Henry Thompson dwelt at his Tolbert Lane
school, but only the only house mentioned in St Martin’s West is that of the
chief constable, Mr Joseph Farndale. Now my lady informant assured me that
a daughter of the house, the house that is evading me, was very musical and
that the Farndales, who were their neighbours, used to visit the Thompsons
for musical evenings...
The Derbyshire
Times, 15 March 1935: The annual dinner of the Chesterfield borough
police Athletic Club has been fixed for tonight … Another well
known chief in the earlier days was Mr. J Farndale 1869 to 1871, uncle
of the present traffic commissioner for the north Midlands. Mr. J Farndale
became Chief Constable of Birmingham, where he broke up the Fenian conspiracy
of that city. He was an old friend of the late Alderman T P Woods, of
Brambling House, Chesterfield and frequently attended his famous new year
parties.
The Birmingham
Daily Gazette, 6 March 1939:
The Chiefs have been …
During the 100 years the
Birmingham police force has been in existence it has been controlled by –
Chief Commissioner Francis
Burgess, 1839 to 1842, resigned when control by the Crown ceased;
Chief Superintendent
Richard Stevens: 1842 to 1860, resigned owing to failing health.
With the rank of Chief
Constable:
Mr George Glossop 1862 to
1876, retired on pension;
Major Edwin Bond, 1876 to
1881, resigned following criticism of the administration of the force.
Mr Joseph Farndale, 1882
to 1899, retired on pension.
Sir Charles Rafter: 1889
to 1935, died.
Mr CCH Moriarty, 1935.