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Funerals of the Sun Inn Murder Victims 1913

13/04/2018 by Northumberland Archives

Funerals of P.C. Bertram & Sergeant Barton

On 15th April 1913, P.C. George Bertram Mussell (30) Sergeant Andrew Barton (40) and Mrs Sarah Ellen Fenwick Grice (33) were brutally murdered at the Sun Inn public house in Bedlington by John Vickers Amos. A blog written in 2013 on the 100th anniversary of the tragedy looked at the witness statements of some of the people involved. https://northumberlandarchives.com/test/2016/06/09/the-sun-inn-murders/ On the 105th anniversary, this blog looks at the funerals of all three victims.

A report in the Morpeth Herald on Friday 25 April 1913 stated that never in the history of Bedlington was there such an enormous assemblage of all classes of people as those gathered to witness the funeral of Sergeant Andrew Barton and Constable George Bertram Mussell on 18 April 1913. All of the shops in the town were closed and the blinds drawn in respect. The Co-operative Society, of which the deceased officers were members, sent wreaths. People streamed into the town from the outlying villages and Bedlington soon became extremely crowded in the vicinity of the police buildings. It proved a telling public tribute to the memory of two worthy representatives of the county police force. When the coffins were carried out of the residential quarters of the police station, it was seen that they were exactly alike in construction, panelled fumed oak, with brass ornamentations. The inscriptions were simple and concise, and gave only the customary facts regarding name, date of death, and age. Sergt Little, Morpeth; Sergt Anderson, Newsham; Sergt Barrons, Whitley Bay; Sergt Wood, Bedlington Station; Sergt Ormston, Blyth; and Sergt Hill, Blyth; acted as underbearers to Sergt Barton. P.C. Mussell’s coffin was carried by members of the Northumberland county tug-of-war team, of which P.C. Mussell was a leading member. They were P.C. Walker, Seaton Sluice; P.C. Scott, Seghill; P C. Taylor, Westerhope; P.C. Barclay, Kenton; P.C. Middlemiss, Shankhouse; and P.C. Storey, Dinnington.

Supt. James Tough, the superior officer of the deceased men, took charge of the police arrangements. An invitation had been sent out to every officer and member of the force in the county, and about 100 were able to attend the funerals. The representatives of the the County Constabulary included the Chief Constable (Capt. Pullarton James), Supt Taylor, Hexham; Supt Bolton, Alnwick; Supt Marshall, Morpeth; Supt. Metcalfe, Wallsend; Supt. Weddell, Gosforth; Supt Tough, Blyth; Inspector Jackson, Whitley Bay, and Inspector Hutchison, Blyth. Following these were the members of the Northumberland County Police Reserves and members of the Newcastle City, Durham County, South Shields, and Tynemouth Borough Forces. In the first hearse was the body of Sgt Barton followed by two coaches with the chief mourners. The hearse with the body of P.C Mussell came next with four coaches containing the principal mourners. Representatives of the County Justices, the Ashington Ambulance Brigade, the Blyth Fire Brigade, and the Cowpen Colliery Ambulance Brigade came next. The general processsion was made up of the clergy, members of the Bedlington Council, a representative from Blyth Coastguards and the Northumberland Colliery Enginemen’s and Firemen’s Association. At the cemetery the service was taken by the Rev. R. J. Pearse and the Rev. J. H. Davies. The deceased officers were interred in separate graves, side by side. There was a large number of beautiful wreaths, including two from the Blyth Police Division, with deepest sympathy from the officers and constables. The Chief Constable, officers, and constables of the Newcastle Police Force also sent wreaths with a card reading “In for a comrade.”

The Interment of Mrs Grice

Sarah Ellen Fenwick Grice was laid to rest in the Seghill Churchyard on 18 April 1913. Although a large company did not follow the remains, it was evident that her bereaved husband Richard had the sympathy of the whole village. Window blinds were drawn as the procession passed, and many watched the cortege as it made its way to the churchyard. The body was removed from the Sun Inn, Bedlington on the morning of the funeral. It was followed by a single funeral coach and arrived at Seghill Hall Lodge (her home) shortly after one o’clock. The route after leaving Bedlington was along the main road by way of Horton, Shankhouse, Cramlington High Pit, and Annitsford. The progress of the little procession as it passed through the various villages was watched by a large number of people. At Bedlington many of the public, and also a large number of police, including Inspectors Culley and Hutchison, took up a position behind the hearse. The two Inspectors accompanied it to the outskirts of the village. The cortege left the Seghill Hall Lodge shortly before four o’clock. The vicar of Seghill, the Rev. J. H. B. Abbott, conducted the service in the church and also the committal service at the graveside. The coffin containing the remains was of pitch pine with brass mountings and bore the simple inscription: Sarah Ellen Grice, died April 15th, 1913, aged 33. Noticeable among the mourners were the bereaved husband Mr. Richard Grice; Mrs. and Miss Lindsey, mother and sister of the deceased and Mr & Mrs Clark. Amongst the general public were Mr. Leach, agent to the Seghill Coal Company (who had employed Mr. Grice as his chauffeur for about years) and Mrs Wood Irons, wife of the owner of the Sun Inn. Beautiful floral tributes were laid on the newly-formed grave, including wreaths from the members or the Northumberland County Constabulary.

Northumberland Archives have the burial register containing the entry for Sarah Ellen Fenwick Grice. [EP 143/A/22].

Trouble at the Inn – The Tale of an Alnwick Riot

08/05/201809/04/2018 by Northumberland Archives

RIOT AT THE ALNWICK MARCH HIRING!

On Saturday, 6^th March 1875, a disturbance in the Angel Inn was to end with the death of a local man.

An auction poster advertising a sale to take place at The Angel Inn. *REF: NRO 11343/B/DAT*

The events that took place that afternoon were described by the Alnwick Mercury published on the 13^th March as ‘RIOT AT THE ALNWICK MARCH HIRING’.

March hiring’s were a common practice in England, it was a time for farmers to hire workers for the next twelve months. The 1875 hiring’s saw a great number of agricultural labourers arriving in Alnwick as well as large number of pitmen from the surrounding collieries. The Alnwick Mercury described that Saturday as “such a concourse evidently contained the elements of tumult and disorder; and what made matters worse was that there was more than the ordinary drunkenness, as the rain that fell heavily during great part of the day drove the people to resort to the public-houses to a much greater extent than would otherwise have been the case.”

The disturbance in the Angel Inn was down to two brothers, John and Thomas Waite. John Waite had been drinking in the Angel and was worse for the drink that he had consumed. The Alnwick Mercury reports that he behaved in a “riotous and noisy manner” in a downstairs room and even worse when he went upstairs. The article continues with “he was so violent that at length Mr (John) White, the landlord, sent for the police to put him out.” When the police arrived, they asked Waite to leave the premises but he refused and continued to act in a violent manner. Waite was taken hold of by the two constables with a view to eject him from the inn but as they walked down the stairs, he broke free and returned to the upstairs room. The constables recaptured him and this time were able to get him downstairs where he was pleaded with to go home quietly. Instead of doing so, Waite punched one of the constables, P C Robinson, causing him to stagger. Waite grappled with the constable and unable to shrug him off, P C Robinson drew his baton and struck Waite on the side of the head.

The constables then brought their prisoner out of the Angel Inn yard onto Fenkle Street with the intention to escort him to the police station on St. Michael’s Lane. To do this, they had to cross an open space which was crowded with people. It was at this stage that Thomas Waite grabbed his brother in an attempt to rescue him and a number of the crowd joined in to help him. The constables were able to hold onto their prisoner and tried to make their way through the drunken crowd. It was at this stage that Police Sergeant John Hately and two other constables made their way through the crowd to assist P C Robinson and P C Connell. The report states that the route to the police station was packed with almost two thousand people, most of whom were drunk and jostling the policemen. Due to the pressure of the crowd, the policemen and their prisoner were forced to the Shambles on the opposite side. It was here that John Waite was rescued from the police by his friends.

The police formed a line in front of John Dickman’s shop and wielding their batons, were able to clear a space in front of them. Not wanting to provoke the crowd further, Sergeant Hately decided that he and his men should make their way over to the entrance to the nearby Correction House Yard where they could more easily defend themselves should the need arise. Leading his men forward, Sergeant Hately found himself surrounded by the mob and whilst defending himself he fell to the ground, ashen faced. The constables rushed forward to assist but the jeering crowd made it difficult. P C Robinson was first to reach Hately and as he was trying to lift Hately to his feet, he was kicked and jostled by the drunken crowd. Eventually the constables were able to carry Hately and force their way to the police station. Medical assistance was called but to no avail, he was declared dead. The post mortem was held on Sunday, 7^th March by Dr A J Main who found no wounds on Hately’s body, but an examination of Hately’s heart found evidence that he had died of a heart attack. Sergeant John Hately left a widow and eight young children.

It was nearly 5 o’clock before the riotous crowd dispersed into smaller groups, both John and Thomas Waite were apprehended and taken to the cells in the police station. The next day, Monday 8^th March, saw both brothers in court where the magistrate, Mr H Lisle, ordered them to be remanded for eight days. The Waite brothers, together with six others were charged with assaulting and resisting Police Constables Robinson and Connell in their execution of their duty. All eight appeared in front of the town’s magistrates on Saturday, 20^th March and after hearing the evidence, John and Thomas Waite and the other six were all fined the sum of £10 with failure to pay would result in three months imprisonment. All paid their fines except for one, a Thomas Dunn, who was sent to prison.

A map showing the location of the Angel Inn as it was in 1827, forty-eight years before the riot.

This piece has been researched and produced by a volunteer working on the Dickson, Archer and Thorp Project. We would like to thank him for his work.

This Week in World War One, 5 April 1918

06/04/2018 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 5 APRIL 1918

MILITARY CROSS FOR BERWICK OFFICER

Second Lieut: N. S. Craig

We have pleasure in announcing that the Military Cross has been awarded to Sec. Lieut. N.S. Craig, Royal Scots, son of Mr Nicol M. Craig, chemist, Berwick, and Mrs Craig, Castle Terrace, and we are sure all will join with us in congratulating this gallant young officer on the award which has come to him for gallant work in the field. Lieutenant Craig, who was a medical student at Edinburgh University, was attached to the Officers Training Corps there before joining up. He proceeded to Gailes for training, and was gazetted to the 2-10th Royal Scots in April, 1917, being later transferred to another battalion for service in France. He has our heartiest congratulations and good wishes for his future in the Country’s service.

LOCAL NEWS

Ex Corporal Graham, D.C.M., son of Mr Graham, baker, Castlegate, has been made the recipient of a handsome silver rose bowl from the Woodhorn Colliery Coy., in appreciation of the gallant act which earned the award for Distinguished Conduct in the field. Ex Corpl. Graham is now discharged, having lost his foot as a result of a bomb explosion, but is able to get about quite well on his artificial limb, and is now engaged in driving an electrically controlled engine at the Ashington Pits.

An interesting display in ambulance work, Morse signalling, and physical exercises, by the members of the Berwick Scout’s Evening Classes took place in the Drill Hall, Ravensdowne, on Thursday evening. The Mayor presided, and here were also present Mrs Plenderleith, Rev. R.C. Inglis, Mr G. H. Ballard, Mr T. M. Morrison, Mr Geo. Stewart, Mr Wm, J. Dixon and Mr James Stevenson. The programme, which was carried out under the direction of Scout Master E. W. Turnbull, consisted of a display given by three classes which have been taught during the winter under the auspices of the Education Committee.

(c) Graham Robson http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

The first part consisted of semaphore signalling taught by Leading Boatman Sparrow; this was followed by ambulance and stretcher drill, taught by Nurse Anthoney; and physical drill and other exercises, taught by Lance-Corporal John Mace Short and stimulating addresses were delivered by the mayor and Mr Dixon, and a presentation was made to Scout Alexander Stevenson, Ravensdowne, for best attendance and diligence. This consisted of two handsome volumes- one on Scottish Character, and the other the New Testament, these being kindly gifted by Mr G. Lindsay Hilson, Kenmore Bank, Jedburgh.

Twenty six lads of the Berwick Parish Church C.L.B. Corps (affiliated to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps) under the command of Lieut. R. Harvey, paraded on Easter Monday for a trip to Horncliffe. The lads, who looked quite smart in their new khaki uniforms, spent a most enjoyable day with manoeuvres and games.

Berwick Parish Church. © John Box – Friends of Berwick and District Museum and Archives website.

This old establishment company of the Church Lads Brigade is now recognised by the War Office as a regular cadet company; and we are glad to note the increasing strength and efficiency of the company under the able command of Lieut. R. Harvey, assisted by Sergeant Instruct or Johnson, both of whom have been discharged from the army after severe wounds. It is proposed to have a Church Parade on Sunday at 10.45.

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