Uncategorised Whitechapel Murders

[bigjarofwasps]

The officers directly involved in the Whitechapel murders are all well documented, as I'm sure you'll agree.

I thought it might be interesting and of benefit to collectors with an interest in the Whitechapel murders if a database of medals known to exist could be put together, that were issued to officers that can be confirmed as having been present in the area, whether that be by already serving in the area at the time or posted in to bolster officer numbers.

[bigjarofwasps]

METROPOLITAN POLICE
CONSTABLE 135.H CHARLEY SMITH
WHITECHAPEL DIVISION
WARRANT NO: 72728
SERVED 27/06/1887 - 01/07/1912

1897 METROPOLITAN POLICE JUBILEE MEDAL: PC. C. SMITH. H. DIV
1902 METROPOLITAN POLICE CORONATION MEDAL: PC. C. SMITH. H. DIV
1911 METROPOLITAN POLICE CORONATION MEDAL: PC. C. SMITH

14903

CHARLEY SMITH was born on 07/03/1865 in Hannington, Northamptonshire, having worked as an agricultural worker he joined the Metropolitan Police on 27/06/1887 with the warrant number: 72728. He was posted to their H Division (Whitechapel), given the uniform collar number: 135.H, and was stationed at H Division's Commercial Street Police Station. Whilst living in quarters there he appears on the census and electoral rolls between 1891-1895.
Having joined Whitechapel Division the year prior to the 'Jack the Ripper' killings he would have certainly been personally involved in the hunt for The Ripper on his normal patrols, and extra duties, expecially as he was showing an interest in a future with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) through the period of the killings. Who knows, maybe seeing Abberline and his men at work helped decide Charley's future career path onto the Whitechapel CID.

On 30/01/1888 Charley gave his first evidence at The Old Bailey Court, after chasing and arresting a burglar in Spelman Street, Whitechapel. He went on to give evidence at The Old Bailey on a staggering 21 seperate occassions, his cases ranged from burglary, theft, robbery, extortion, counterfeit currency, and receiving stolen goods. Every crime had been committed within the 1, 1/4 mile square of Whitechapel, and many of them within the infamous Whitechapel Public Houses.

On 08/10/1894 Charley was promoted to rank of Detective Constable onto the Whitechapel CID, and was stationed at the Divisional HQ at Leman Street. Once there he would have been one of only 7 Detective Constables, who worked under the direction of a Detective Inspector and 8 Detective Sergeants.
On 22/04/1898 Charley married in Northamptonshire, and he and his new wife moved into 20 Walden Street, Mile End Old Town, (Just off the Whitechapel Road).

On 16/12/1901 Charley was Highly Commended by the Judge at The Old Bailey Court for his part in arresting 3 dangerous members of a notorious London criminal gang, who were wanted for many crimes all over London. He was commended alongside his Detective Inspector, Frederick Wensley, and his Detective Sergeant, Benjamin Leeson, both of which were later to be shot during the SIEGE OF SIDNEY STREET.

On 3rd January 1911 the famous siege of Sidney Street commenced, after police attended at 100 Sidney Street to arrest members of a gang wanted for the murder of 3 City of London police officers the month before.
Divisional Detective Inspector Frederick Wensley of H Division CID knocked on the front door whilst accompanied by a number of Whitechapel Detectives (Including Detective Sergeant Benjamin Leeson) during the siege both of these Detectives from Whitechapel CID received gunshot wounds.
As Charley was a long serving and respected Detective of the same CID office, had worked very closely with Wensley and Leeson, and was living only 3 roads away from Sidney Street, I have no doubt Charley would have been in Wensley's team of Detectives who approached the front of 100 Sidney Street, and went on to be involved in the infamous seige.

Charley Smith served his entire career of 25 years and 4 days with the Metropolitan Police on their Whitechapel Division, and 18 years of which was on it's CID. It is very rare to find medals to a man who stayed on the same Division for his entire career, especially as that Division was the famous 'H' which was involved in so many high profile cases during his time of service.
Charley resigned from the service on 01/07/1912 to an annual pension of £56,12,4.
He moved with his wife back to his birth place of Hannington in Northamptonshire, and stayed there until his death on 13/09/1945 (aged 80 years).

Charley's full size original group of medals are now framed alongside a matching original trio of minatures, against a backing of a detailed street map of Whitechapel, London, dated 1888. (He was 7 days short of receiving the 1887 Jubilee medal, as he joined on 27th June 1887, and the Jubilee took place on the 21st!, so his group was almost a trio with 1897 bar!)
1897 medal was issued as a Uniformed Constable on H Division (One of 287)
1902 medal was issued as a Detective Constable on H Division (One of only 9)
1911 medal was issued as a Detective Constable on H Division (One of approx 12)

[bigjarofwasps]

Police Constable Joseph Daniels Metropolitan Police

Joined 17th May 1886, posted to C Div PC 387 (St James), 10th August 1888, posted to J Div PC 223/PC 502 (Bethnal Green) 20 days before the murder of Polly Nichols, at Bucks Row. 15th August 1890 posted to E Div PC259 (Holborn). He received a pay increase on the 23rd May 1891. Then on the 23rd May 1892, he died on duty, from choking to death on his own false teeth, whilst effecting an arrest. A local paper, The Holborn and Finsbury Guardian ran the following story.
The Danger of False Teeth
On Wednesday evening at St Clement Danes Vestry-hall, Strand, Mr John Troutbeck, the coroner for Westminster, held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Police Constable Joseph Daniels 259E aged 27 years who was killed early on Sunday morning whilst taking a prisoner to Bow Street Police Station. Superintendent Steggles of the E Division, was present, Joseph Daniels a registration agent of 9 Meeting House Lane, Peckham. Identified the deceased as his son, lately resided at Jubilee Buildings, Waterloo Road. Sometime ago he had erysipelas in the face, and the divisional surgeon ordered him to have some of his teeth extracted and replaced by false ones. These he was wearing at the time of his death, PC 379E Alfred Smith, said that on Sunday morning at about 12:20 he was in Kemble Street, Clare market, taking a prisoner to Bow Street Police Station. A crowd of several hundred persons had assembled and an attempt to rescue the man was made. Witness blew his whistle and in response the deceased came running up. He took hold of the prisoners other arm and they had only proceeded a few yards, when the witness missed the deceased, and on looking round saw him lying on the pavement. Another constable came up and witness went oh his way. PC350E William Stewart said that he was on duty in Newcastle Street when he heard the whistle blow, and on going to Kemble Street saw the two Constables with a man in custody. Witness broke through the crowd, and then he saw the deceased lying on the ground. He immediately undid his collar and sent for an ambulance, on which he conveyed the unfortunate man to the hospital. By the Coroner: the deceased was not knocked down, kicked or otherwise assaulted. Dr Eric Law Pritchard, house physician at Kings College Hospital, said that the deceased was dead when he was admitted. He made the post-mortem examination, which revealed that the deceased, was an exceedingly healthy man. Just about the larynx witness found a set of false teeth impacted, which had produced suffocation, the cause of death. The teeth were of a very inferior make, no doubt they became loosened through the deceased running, and an inspiration drew them down his throat. The jury returned a verdict of ?Accidental Death? and added that they thought the deceased was over anxious to do his duty.

Warrant No.- 71719; collar no.- 259 E Div; Pension to wife and 3 children - "died from the effects of an injury received in the execution of his duty" - 'swallowed false teeth when going to assist in arrest of a prisoner';
Death Register ref. - June 1892-St Giles 1b 377 age 27; died 22nd May

His widow, Louisa was given a job cleaning the police station at Bow Street and the pension enabled her to educate the 2 boys Albert and William and her daughter Florence .William grew up and became a police officer in Brighton.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Some very interesting information - and a direct background to the PC who died by swallowing his teeth. Linking the medals

to Police participants of the Jack the Ripper murders (as the public tended to know them) is a good one - and one that will keep

our Research enthusiasts busy.

One of our Members will shortly be publishing a new book on these murders. He has some quite different ideas - that will most

probably prove to be very provocative. When I next hear from him I will let you know. Mervyn

[MetPolice]

You can see all Met Jubilee and coronations awards in Jim Kemp's wonderful book. That includes all H Div awards.

Hope it helps.

Zeb

[bigjarofwasps]

You can see all Met Jubilee and coronations awards in Jim Kemp's wonderful book. That includes all H Div awards.

Hope it helps.

Zeb

Zeb what's the title of the book, sounds like something I should have in my collection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gordon.

[MetPolice]

Gordon, The Metropolitan Police: The Men and Their Medals by J.H.F. kemp . Jim is on the forum as Odin Mk 3. If you have anything to do with 'Met Medals' you NEED to get a copy of the book !!!!!

I can tell you that on 21 June 1887 H Div had 1 Supt., 1 Ch Inspr, 17 Inspr's (1 CID-Inspr), 38 Sgts (8 CID) and 465 Consts (6 CID).

J Div had: 1 Supt, 1 ChInspr, 30 Insprs (1 CID), 38 Sgts (8 CID) and 507 Consts (4 CID).

Zeb

Edited December 18, 2014 by MetPolice

[bigjarofwasps]

Cheers Zeb, it appears to be out of print as I can't find a copy from the usual sources? But thanks for the info re H & Divisions!!

[Mervyn Mitton]

Good information - and if Odin has any copies of his book for sale, we will happily allow mention on this Forum. Mervyn

[paul wood]

Yes I would certainly be interested in a copy were any to become available.

Paul

[Paul R]

Very interesting topic. Where are CONSTABLE 135.H CHARLEY SMITH's medals located?