Houndsditch Murders and the Sidney Street Siege

Alan Baird · September 23, 2021

This story refers to PC Choat and Chief Inspector Hayes who both attended 11 Exchange Buildings on that terrible night.

Just to recap Police Constable Choat was a physically big and strong individual and he was the one that caught and held on to George Gardstein, one of the robbery gang. To force the Police Constable to let go of Gardstein, other members of the gang repeatedly shot the constable until he could take no more.

'''''Choat's condition suggested that he had offered resistance to the assailants. No less than 6 bullets had struck him, three in the trunk and three in the left thigh, calf and foot, two of the latter had passed right through. Police Constable Piper came to Choat's aid and he was placed in a hand-litter. Chief Inspector Hayes arrived at this point and spoke to him. The constable's lips moved in reply but in the hubbub it was impossible to make out what he said.''''' [Battle of Stepney by Colin Rogers.]

Now here we have Chief Inspector D G Hayes, City of London Police medals being sold at DNW Auction on the 13th of October 2021, obviously they wont go for £300 to £400......... but for much more.

Alan Baird · September 27, 2021

Detective Constable James Frederick Amos was promoted to ''plain clothes patrol duties'' on the 15th of July in 1899 and remained on these duties until he was promoted to Detective Constable at Bishopsgate Police Station on the 4th of January in 1904

''''''''''A good detective keeps his ears to the ground.''''''''''

Alan Baird · September 27, 2021

The article relating to the previous assault on Detective Constable James Frederick Amos was dated 20/3/1900.

The article following is another assault on Detective Constable James Frederick Amos and is dated 25/9/1900. Please note Detective Constable regains his sight and goes after and recaptures the suspect.

'''''''''A good detective should keep his eyes wide open at all times.''''''''''

Alan Baird · September 27, 2021

Some incidents are obviously more difficult to deal with than others and doing the right thing may be hard.

Detective Constable James Frederick Amos had only been stationed at Bishopsgate Police Station for approximately 7 months and promoted to the rank of Detective Constable. The article dates from August in 1904.

Here we have the '''hidden detective'' and the article is from 17th of May in 1904.

Alan Baird · September 28, 2021

Article dated 28/11/1911.....The Wandering Lunatic who was also armed and disarmed by Detective Constable Amos and his partner.

Apologies the photographs have come out in the wrong order....

2nd photo first.

then 1st photo.

finally 3rd photo.

I think I will leave Detective Constable Amos's exploits at that...............

Alan Baird · January 9, 2022

Hi,

Here is another officer that was stationed in Whitechapel or 'H' division during the ''Sidney Street Siege incident.'

Here we have a Queen Victoria Metropolitan Police Jubilee medal for 1887 and with the 1897 clasp and was awarded to 'PC H Frost P divn.'

Police Service Summary.

Henry Silvester Frost joined the Metropolitan Police on the 5th of April in 1886 and was issued with the warrant number of 71452. PC Henry Frost was assigned to Camberwell or 'P' division.

In 1887, PC Henry Frost is awarded the above medal whilst serving with Camberwell or 'P' division.

On the 8th of March in 1893, PC Henry Frost was transferred to Hammersmith or 'T' division.

In 1897, PC Henry Frost was awarded the 1897 Jubilee Clasp for taking part in Queen Victoria's Jubilee Parade through London whilst serving as a PC with 'T' division.

On the 4th of September in 1897, Henry Silvester Frost was promoted to Police Sergeant and transferred to Greenwich or 'R' division.

In 1902, Police Sergeant Henry Frost was awarded the Coronation medal whilst serving as a PS in Greenwich or ''R' division. This medal is missing.

On the 7th of May in 1903, Police Sergeant Henry Frost was promoted to Station Sergeant and transferred to Clapham or 'W' division.

In 1904, Station Sergeant Henry Silvester Frost was promoted to Inspector and transferred to Whitechapel or 'H' division. This is the period of his service that we are especially interested in and will detail later.

On the 5th of February in 1906, Inspector Henry Frost attended the Old Bailey trial against 2 individuals that had assaulted a Whitechapel Police Constable and this will be detailed later on in this input.

In January of 1911 whilst the 'Battle of Sidney Street,' was taken place, Inspector Henry Frost was still serving with Whitechapel or 'H' division. At the height of the incident there were approximately 750 Metropolitan and City of London Police officers attending this major incident. The majority of these officers would have been Metropolitan Police personnel. We cannot, at this time confirm that Inspector Henry Front was in attendance at this incident but hopefully ongoing research might establish the details more clearly.

On the 10th of April in 1911, Inspector Henry Silvester Frost retired from Whitechapel or 'H' division and the Metropolitan Police.

Here are some details concerning Henry Silvester Frost and family.

Henry Silvester Frost born 11/10/1863, Portsea Hants. Henry's father is George William Frost and his mother is Charlotte Amelia Frost [nee Guy.

Henry's mother dies and his father remarries Eliza Pooley on the 28/7/1878, in the Parish of Carshalton, in Surrey.

In the England Census of 1881, Henry is 17 years old and is recorded as being an unemployed Grocer's assistant and the family are residing in Carshalton.

In 1884, Henry S Frost marries Mary Lampard, in the District of Carshalton, in Surrey.

England Census of 1891, Police Constable Frost and his wife Mary now have 2 children and are residing at 59 London Road, in Sydenham, in Lewisham.

In the England Census of 1901, Police Sergeant Henry S Frost and family are now residing at 29 Eltham Road, Eltham and now have three children.

In the England Census of 1911, Police Inspector Henry Frost [47] and family are now residing at 3 Rectory Square, in Stepney East, in the Parish of Mile End Old Town.

In 1912, Mary Louisa Frost [24], Henry S Frost's daughter is recorded as marrying in Stepney, in Tower Hamlets. The family home is still recorded as being at 3 Rectory Square, Mile End Old Town.

On the 17th of January in 1951, Henry Silvester Frost dies in London.

Alan Baird · January 9, 2022

Hi,

''An assault on a Police Constable.''

Inspector Henry Frost of Whitechapel or 'H' division and the assault on Police Constable 337H James Clarke, causing grievous bodily harm.

On the 5th of February in 1906, an Old Bailey trial took place in which Robert Clarke [26] and Joseph Cole were charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Police Constable 337H James Clarke,

The incident actually occurred on the 2nd of December in 1905 between Saturday night and Sunday morning, after the public houses had closed. A group of men were shouting and singing outside the Salisbury Arms public house and Police Constable James Clarke requested them to keep the noise down.

One of the group of men was Robert Clarke who had previously been arrested/convicted and fined due to Police Constable 337H James Clarke's evidence in court. In an unprovoked attack, Robert Clarke suddenly punched and repeatedly kicked the Police Constable and Joseph Cole also assisted in this attack. Police Constable 337H James Clarke was repeatedly knocked to the ground and kicked again and again in the stomach and abdomen. At one point Police Constable 337H James Clarke managed to draw his truncheon and strike Robert Clarke on the head before again being overpowered. The Police Constable somehow managed to get into a nearby butcher's shop and was assisted to leave through the back entrance. Police Constable 337H James Clarke was now barely conscious and was found by two other Police Constable and two civilians and they assisted the injured Constable back to the Police Station.

Inspector Henry Frost [Insp. 'H' divn.] at the Police Station found Police Constable 337H James Clarke in a state of almost total collapse due to the severe kicks/beatings especially to his stomach/abdomen area of his body. A statement was taken from the injured Police Constable. Charles Graham Grant, the 'H' division Police Surgeon found the Police Constable was in great distress due to his injuries to his abdomen and was passing blood and having pain in passing water etc. An ambulance took the injured Police Constable to his place of residence. The Police Surgeon visited and examined the Police Constable over the next few days to check on his condition. The internal injuries resulted in Police Constable 337H James Clarke being on the sick list for over 2 months.

Both Robert Clarke and Joseph Cole resided in Eastfield Street and only lived approximately 100 yards apart. About 18 Police Constables were present to arrest these two individuals, as they were known to be difficult individuals and this was considered a rough area where they lived. They were taken from their beds and without even being fully dressed and marched to the Police Station. Robert Clarke had a head wound which had been bleeding and had been dressed and which was the result of the truncheon blow from Police Constable 337H James Clarke's truncheon.

Robert Clarke was found guilty of the charge and sentenced to 4 years penal servitude and Joseph Cole for his slightly smaller role in the attack was sentenced to 21 months with hard labour.

Observations........ they only hit Police Constable 337H James Clarke several blows to the face and head and Robert Clarke carried out most of his attack against the Police Constable's stomach and abdomen area of his body. It is much more difficult to bruise these lower body area's because it is all soft tissue with very little bone matter in the vicinity but the damage could be considerable. I think Robert Clarke knew what he was doing and decided on this style of assault.

.......................The arresting Police Constables appear to have resisted the temptation of physical revenging the attack on their colleague. They appear to have been very professional and took no chances. The suspects were forcefully removed from their beds and marched semi-clothed, for all to see, back to the Police Station. Some individuals attempted to provide items of clothing ie boots, jackets to the prisoners whilst on their way to the Police Station etc but the Police Constable were not stopping until the prisoners were in Police custody and in their cells.

Alan Baird · January 9, 2022

Hi,

Just a little more information of the above arrests.

Shortly after the vicious assault on Police Constable 337H James Clarke, a force of Police Constables was assembled to arrest Robert Clarke and Joseph Cole. In fact it was just before 1.30am that they reached 116 Eastfield Street to arrest Robert Clarke and other officers, were at the same time, arresting Joseph Cole, approximately 100 yards away in the same street. This was an extremely fast arrest after the assault of Police Constable 337 James Clarke.

Robert Clarke was partially dressing in bed and was still wearing his trousers, shirt and socks. Robert Clarke was taken as he was and went quietly to the station. I believe he had a motion in his trousers by the time he was placed in the cells.

Joseph Cole on the other hand, had to be dragged from his bed and refused to assist in any way so he was escorted more forceably to the station and to the cells.

The Constables seemed to work in groups ie some removed the prisoners from their rooms and then handed the prisoners to other officers waiting on the ground floor of the premises etc. There was never a chance that either of the prisoner's could escape and I suppose the fact that neither of the prisoners were wearing their boots also ensured an uneventful passage to the Police Station.

To ensure everything was done professionally, Charles Graham Grant [Police Surgeon/'H' divn.] examined the 2 prisoners were in good health.

Alan Baird · January 10, 2022

Hi,

I was wondering how the 'serious assault' on Police Constable 337H James Clarke may have affected his Police career but it appears, it did not affect his career, as he continued to serve with the Metropolitan Police until he retired on pension in 1924.

Warrant number 85497.

Joined on the 4th of September in 1899, as a Police Constable with Whitechapel or 'H' division.

Retired on pension on the 8th of September in 1924, as a Police Constable with Islington or 'N' division.

The records also stated he served in the British Army during the Boer War.

Earlier Metropolitan Police pension records would sometimes identify periods of sickness which involved on-duty injuries but since he retired in 1924, I am not sure it this later record would detail such information. Anyway I am unable to access his pension records on ancestry at the moment.

Alan Baird · January 17, 2022

Hi,

Police Constable Jesse Etheridge and is it possible he was present during the 'Sidney Street Siege.'

Jesse Etheridge was born in Horley, St Bartholomew, in Surrey, on the 12th of May in 1888 and was baptised there on the 29th of July in 1888. Jesse's father, Charles Etheridge was a gardener/domestic and his mother was Annie Etheridge.

But we are interested in his Metropolitan Police career which started when he joined the Constabulary on the 28th of March in 1910. Police Constable Jesse Etheridge was assigned to Whitechapel or 'H' division and given the warrant number of 98118.

But my interest was to find out if Police Constable Jesse Etheridge was serving in Whitechapel during the, 'Houndsditch Murders,' in December of 1910 and was he serving there during the, 'Sidney Street Siege,' in January of 1911.

The England Census of 1911 recorded Police Constable Jesse Etheridge as serving at the famous, 'Leman Street Police Station at 16 Tenter Street, Leman Street, London E.' He was 23 years old and single. This England Census of 1911 is quite a valuable record, as it records approximately 65 Police Officers who are stationed at Leman Street Police Station. It also confirms he was stationed in Whitechapel or 'H' division during the two events we are interested in and these two events form to make the one historic story.

Police Constable Jesse Etheridge was awarded the Metropolitan Police Coronation medal for 1911 whilst serving as a Police Constable with Whitechapel or 'H' division and this is his full medal entitlement.

The next record which was informative, was his marriage certificate. Police Constable Jesse Etheridge [29] marries Hedwig Minnie Amelia Ewert [30] at St Mark, Goodman's Field, in Tower Hamlets, on Christmas Day in 1917. Another record dates the marriage as Christmas Day in 1918 but I would go with the first date of 1917. The document records his place of residency as being 16 Tenter Street, London E. which is Leman Street Police Station so we can now confirm he has served there for approximately 8 years.

Police Constable Jesse Etheridge completed his Police service and was pensioned out of the Metropolitan Police, on the 29th of March in 1936, as a Police Constable now serving with Finsbury or 'G' division. Unfortunately, his pension records are not yet available so we do not know when he finally transferred out of Whitechapel or 'H' division.

In the England Census of 1939, Jesse Etheridge is recorded as being a Police Pensioner [68] and is still married to Hedwig M E Etheridge [69] and residing in the area of Dorking and Horley in Surrey.

It will obviously be a long journey to try and find any references to Police Constable Jesse Etheridge actually being present at the Sidney Street Siege but maybe we will get lucky with some old newspaper account or other published information which will help in this area. It should be remembered there were approximately 750 Police personnel who attended the incident and the majority of these were Metropolitan Police personnel.

Alan Baird · February 9, 2022

Hi,

Here we have another Whitechapel or 'H' division Police Constable that may have attended the 'Sidney Street Siege etc.' Police Constable William Henry Parnell who served his entire Police career in Whitechapel. I will just give a quick summery of his Police career.

William Henry Parnell was born in Devonport, in Devon, in 1871.

William Henry Parnell joined the Metropolitan Police on the 23rd of May in 1892 and was attached to Whitechapel or 'H' division and given the warrant number of 77692.

Awarded the Queen Victoria Metropolitan Jubilee medal for 1897 whilst serving in Whitechapel.

Awarded the Metropolitan Police Coronation medal for 1902 whilst serving in Whitechapel.

Awarded the Metropolitan Police Coronation medal for 1911 whilst serving in Whitechapel.

In the England Census of 1911, Police Constable William Henry Parnell and his wife Rose Parnell are residing at 59 Senrab Street, in the Mile End Old Town and have no children or lodgers.

Police Constable William Henry Parnell was serving in Whitechapel or 'H' division during the period of the Sidney Street Siege etc.

On the 18th of August in 1919, Police Constable William Henry Parnell retired on pension from the Metropolitan Police and Whitechapel or 'H' division.

There was an interesting murder case in 1903, in which he was involved in.

Police Constable William H Parnell [collar number 256H], attended the Old Bailey trial of Dennis McCarthy [20] on the 19th of October in 1903, for the killing/murder of Rose McCarthy and it should be made clear, neither of these two individuals were married or related to one another, just friends.

Rose McCarthy was drinking with two friends, Charlotte Weal and Catherine Gilby, in the Crown Public House which is located on the corner of Denmark Street and Cable Street, on the night of the 28th of September in 1903. They entered the Public House at approximately 9pm and at 9.55pm Rose stepped outside and spoke to Dennis McCarthy. As I have already stated, they knew each other but were not connected or involved in any other way. Dennis thought she should be with him, rather than drinking with her friends. He then stabbed her in the neck causing several wounds. At approximately 10.10pm she staggered into the Crown Public House covered in blood and fatally wounded.

Police Constable William H Parnell was in Ship Alley, approximately 200 yards from the Crown Inn when he arrested the prisoner and cautioned him regarding his confession on what he had done. The prisoner was covered in blood and other Police Officers found the knife and removed the woman to the London Hospital where she was declared died.

It appears from the evidence that Dennis McCarthy was a hard working individual and normally never drank but on this particular night, he had. When he was younger he had been knocked over and banged his head and since that time he was of limited intelligence. There was also evidence of insanity in the family. These factors and the evidence from the witnesses of his good character, probably save him from going to the gallows and was instead sentenced to 15 years hard labour.

These Old Bailey trial records can be very interesting by detailing and highlighting real situations and how the Victorians or Edwardians viewed these cases and what justice meant to them in these cases.

Alan Baird · February 9, 2022

HI,

I just noticed that the jury, in the murder trial of Rose McCarthy, did an extremely kind gesture for the murdered girl's mother.

At the bottom of the newspaper article it states the jury recorded :-

'''''They expressed their sympathy with the mother of the deceased. to whom they handed their fees.'''''

This is 1903, hardship and poverty would have been rife and the fees, would have been their jury fees.

What a kind gesture and it speaks volumes about their high regard for Rose's mother and probably also for the deceased Rose McCarthy herself.

Alan Baird · February 12, 2022

Hi,

Here we have a '''City of London Coronation medal for 1902''' which was awarded to '''PC J G Shand''' but when he look closer at the history of Police Constable John George Shand, his story becomes an even more interesting........

The individual and medal has not been fully researched but here is what we have so far.

John George Shand was born in Moray, in Scotland, in 1881.

John George Shand, served in the Gordon Highlanders, prior to joining the City of London Police.

Police Constable John George Shand was issued with the warrant number of 7147.

In the England Census of 1911, John George Shand was an '''Acting Sergeant at Bishopsgate Police Station'''. Therefore he would have been involved in the, '''Houndsditch Murders,''' which took place in December of 1910 and or in the '''Sidney Street Siege''' which took place in January of 1911, in some form or another, over this extended period covering the two incidents.

During the First World War years, John George Shand served in the C.I.D. and was especially commended for good work by the Home Secretary.

Inspector John George Shand, in a newspaper article, it was stated that this Aberdonian had only missed out by 1 vote in getting the position of Chief Constableship of Maidstone.

[Aberdeen Press and Journal dated 3/12/1921.]

In 1926, John George Shand was in the rank of Chief Inspector and in charge of Cloak Lane Station and Division.

In 1928, Chief Inspector John George Shand was promoted to the rank of Superintendent in charge of the Port of London Police Authority.

When John George Shand retired he was still in the rank/position of Superintendent of the Port of London Police Authority.

Alan Baird · February 12, 2022

HI,

An interesting point, is since Superintendent John George Shand retired from the '''Port of London Police Authority,'''

then if his personal records have survived, they would be held at the '''River Archives, Museum of London Docklands''' and not with the '''London Metropolitan Archives.'''

City of London Police personal files, that have survived, are to be found at the '''London Metropolitan Archives.''

I have not yet attempted to check on the status of Superintendent John George Shand's personal file with the River Archives but will do this at a latter date.

Alan Baird · February 12, 2022

Hi,

There is an ''Old Bailey trial record'' against a John Buller, for theft/burglary, dated the 5th of December in 1911.

John Buller [25] was observed attempting to break into an ''Aerated Bread Company shop at 140 Leadenhall Street.''

He was observed by Police Constable George Hanson 378C who was on plain clothes duties at the time.

Part of the shop door fastenings had been removed, the door had been damaged and the undercover Police officer heard the sound of wood creaking.

Basically Police Constable George Hanson arrested John Buller and found house-breaking tools on him.

At Bishopsgate Police Station, Sergeant John Shand charged the prisoner and requested he be searched again, as did the Inspector, and the prisoner was found to be concealing a chisel.

John Buller was found guilty at the Old Bailey and sentenced to 4 years penal servitude.

Alan Baird · September 14, 2022

Hi,

Another Whitechapel Detective serving during the 'Houndsditch Murders' and especially the 'Sidney Street Siege' period.

''Police Constable Frederick Gooding, later to become Detective Inspector Frederick Gooding.''

Frederick Gooding was born in Aldershot, in Hampshire, on the 13th of September in 1872.

On the 30th of March n 1896, Frederick Gooding joins the Metropolitan Police and was assigned to Whitechapel or 'H' division. Frederick Gooding was given the warrant number of 81089.

Police Constable Frederick Gooding was awarded the Queen Victoria Metropolitan Police Jubilee medal for 1897 whilst serving in Whitechapel or 'H' division and was also awarded the Coronation medal for 1902 whilst again still serving with Whitechapel or 'H' division.

After over 6 years of service in uniform and on various occasions on plain clothes duties, Frederick Gooding was appointed to ''clerk to the Whitechapel C.I.D.'' and was later appointed by ''Detective Inspector Wensley'' to ''Detective patrols.''

On the 10th of May in 1906, Detective Frederick Gooding was promoted to Detective Sergeant [3rd Class] within Whitechapel or 'H' division's C.I.D.

In December of 1910, during the ''Houndsditch Murders'' incident and on the 3rd of January in 1911 during the ''Sidney Street Siege'' incident - Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding was serving with the Whitechapel or 'H' division's C.I.D. and would therefore have been directly involved in the investigation of these incidents.

On the 3rd of March in 1911, Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding was promoted to Detective Sergeant [2nd Class] within the Whitechapel or 'H' division's C.I.D.

Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding was awarded the Coronation medal for 1911 whilst serving in Whitechapel or 'H' division.

On the 19th of February in 1915, Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding was promoted to Detective Sergeant [1st Class] and transferred to Whitehall or 'A' division.

On the 30th of March in 1918, Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding was transferred to Holborn or 'E' division.

On the 20th of October in 1919, Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding was promoted to Inspector [2nd Class] in Holborn or 'E' division.

On the 5th of April in 1921, Detective Inspector Frederick Gooding retires on pension from the Metropolitan Police and Holborn division.

On retiring from the Metropolitan Police, after serving 25 years, Detective Inspector Frederick Gooding had an admiral record for maintaining ''Law and Order.'' The first 19 years was serving in Whitechapel including 13 years in their C.I.D. and then serving 3 years in Whitehall and Holborn and retiring as a Detective Inspector. During his career he was commended by judges, magistrates, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioners of Police on more than 100 occasions. On retiring Detective Inspector Frederick Gooding was certified as having an ''Exemplary Conduct.'' Detective Inspector Frederick Gooding retired knowing that he had recorded approximately 1,100 arrests which was an outstanding achievement. There are many ''Old Bailey'' trial records and ''British Newspaper Archive'' accounts of his cases.

Here is a sample of the cases Frederick Gooding was involved in :-

[a] ''The murder of Mr and Mrs Farrow by the Stratton brothers in 1905.''

The ''Stratton Brothers'' Alfred and Albert were the first murderers to be convicted for murder based on fingerprint evidence. They murdered and robbed Thomas Farrow [71] and his wife Ann [65] in the couples flat, above their shop. They were found guilty and executed on the 23rd of May in 1905 for the vicious murders.

[b] ''The murder of Leon Beron in 1911.''

On the 1st of January in 1911, the body of Leon Beron was found bludgeoned and stabbed to death, after being robbed. Leon Beron was a slumlord, owning several dilapidated houses that he rented out. Leon was not well liked but the investigation soon centered on Steinie Morrison. The alibi he gave police was that he had attended the theatre on the night of the murder, along with a teenaged girl and her sister. This alibi was soon disproven and he was charged with the murder. Steinie Morrison was found guilty and sentenced to death but Winston Churchill commuted the sentence to ''life in prison.'' Steinie Morrison always demanded the death sentence should be reinstated and even went on hunger strike several times to highlight his demand. He died in prison on the 24th of January in 1921 and his body had been weakened by the multiple hunger strikes he had endured.

[c] ''The Houndsditch Murders and the Sidney Street Siege.''

The Houndsditch Murders and the Sidney Street Siege in December of 1910 and January of 1911, had the whole of London and the country in an uproar due to the murder of the City of London Policemen. Detective Inspector Frederick Porter Wensley and Detective Sergeant Benjamin Leeson etc were both heavily involved in these investigations. Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding knew both men very well and this can be evidenced by the many Old Bailey trial records which record these individuals working together on cases. Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding actually worked the street of Whitechapel for approximately 19 years and of which 13 years were spent serving in the Whitechapel C.I.D. It should also be noted that Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding was promoted to ''Detective Sergeant 2nd Class'' only a couple of months after the Sidney Street Siege incident had ended. During these incidents no leave was allowed and Detective Sergeant Frederick Gooding would have been armed and basically Christmas was cancelled for all of them, as they hunted the killers of their fellow officers from the City of London Police. This is one detective who would have been at the heart of the investigation especially as he was an experienced Detective Sergeant. Frederick's colleague Detective Sergeant Leeson was one of the police officer that was wounded at Sidney Street, having been shot in the chest but survived.