by Harry Nankin
That the object of the murder was robbery is proved by the fact that a box in the deceased’s bedroom was ransacked, and a quantity of clothing stolen, but a sum of over £5 was discovered by the police in two secret drawers underneath the till of the box. We believe that a few days prior to his death the deceased told a friend where the money could be found in case anything happened to him. It also appears that the deceased had a banking account, and his bank book has been found by the police.
“Superintendent Edwards, in whose district the affair has taken place, caused the fullest investigation to be made. The description of the deceased’s nephew, who is suspected to be the man who committed the crime, has been circulated throughout the country.
Age, 40 years, height 5 ft. 5ins or 6ins, slim built, pale complexion, long face and nose, dark hair, turning grey, whiskers and moustache, light brown, rather scanty (Imperial). A brown top coat, old dark mixture trousers with patches on each knee, leather leggings and clogs.”
Superintendent Edwards would have quickly updated the Chief Constable, who at that time was Mr Richard John Edgell, but there are no reports that he himself visited the scene. In those days there were no various specialist police departments rather it was left to local officers to deal with all matters that occurred in their area.
It follows therefore over a period of years these local constables and sergeants became very experienced in dealing with all matters of crime and law breaking. As they rose through the ranks they were able to pass on this experience to their junior ranks.
These local officers now dealing with the death of Mr Pickerill would be thus experienced but not necessarily with a heinous crime such as murder for there were few such cases. In North Shropshire since the inception of the police in 1840 this is believed to have been the first in the Whitchurch area, though another killing would soon be reported in nearby Whixall.
Having visited the scene Superintendent Edwards took command and directed operations.
A search of the deceased house revealed that items of clothing were missing. Details of this clothing, was obtained from Mrs Porter and others, it was circulated by telegram to other police forces.
A full description of William Arrowsmith now a suspect was also circulated by telegram to the surrounding police forces and to those forces near Manchester where the sister of Arrowsmith and niece of Pickerill resided.
In addition, local officers commenced enquiries at nearby houses with local residents to ascertain if they had seen anything. They were later to report good cooperation from people in the vicinity and some miles away in the town of Whitchurch.
The local newspapers made a big spread of the case and so it was soon common knowledge.
As a result, numerous people came forward that they had seen a man matching the description of Arrowsmith in the area.
The police were to have some early success when, as a result of the telegrams to other forces, replies were received from pawnbrokers over a wide area that they had taken in items fitting the description of the stolen property from the house of Pickerill. The items were seized and retained by the police. These forces in those days were often small but great in number, being made up of borough, city and county police. Clearly however, even in those days there was close liaison and cooperation between the forces.
It was also ascertained that William Arrowsmith had been resident at Newcastle in Staffordshire with a woman by whom he had four or five children. It was not known if they were married. The woman it appears had left for America with another man leaving Arrowsmith with the children. He had visited the home of Pickerill about two weeks before the murder seeking to know if he, Pickerill would care for at least some but he had refused.
Arrowsmith was to later deny visiting the area at that time stating his last visited had been some 14 years previous. Police enquiries being thorough revealed this to be wrong and that he had recently stayed with the children at the Whitchurch Workhouse.
The police now took a very unusual line of enquiry which would eventually show the tenacity of officers in those days.
It was decided that Sergeant Griffiths would visit the home of Mrs Myatt, sister of William Arrowsmith and a niece of George Pickerill. The address was located at 103 Howard Street, Denton, Manchester, and he would do so incognito.
As a police officer myself I had never heard of such a very tactful line of enquiry by an investigation team. Although officers frequently work under cover, it was extremely rare for an officer to do so in another force area.
Things were even more inventive, for in those days as it was in 1964 when I joined the service, county police officers held authority as a constable only in their county and any adjoining county. Manchester did not fall into this category being so far away. Griffiths would therefore have to rely on powers given by the common law. These were not laws not laid down by statute or act of parliament but those which had been accepted as law by tradition since time immemorial. A simile being the British constitution, all accept its contents though the precise details are not written down.
In those days on joining the police service we were instructed that there were two types of offences, misdemeanours or the more minor offences enacted by Parliament in the form of statutes. There were also felonies not so enacted but which had been the unwritten law since, as it was quoted time immemorial. One such offence was high treason another being murder. The power was given to any citizen and is often referred to as a citizen’s arrest. I recall from memory the power of arrest for felonies.
“Any person may arrest without warrant any person who he believes is about to commit a felony, or has reasonable grounds to believe has committed a felony or he believes a felony is about to be committed.”
What would not be covered were any other offences such as obstructing or assaulting a police officer or any power to search and detain property.
To travel to a large city such as Manchester not knowing into what situation one was going in pursuit of a felon suspected of such a heinous crime was a risk to the officer. It no doubt only proved the tenacity of the officer but that he had courage in the execution of his duty.
On his arrival it was a Sunday, Sergeant Griffiths visited Denton Police Station informing the Lancashire police officers stationed there as to his identity, his own police force and the mission he was undertaking.
On arriving at Manchester Sergeant Griffiths proceeded at once to the Detectives` office and had an interview with Detective Inspector Potts. He afterwards took up his quarters for the night at a Temperance Hotel, (no alcohol was served)
The next morning, Monday, he went to Denton Police Station, and made known to Inspector Nobblitt, Sergeant Pollitt, and P.C. Stott the object of his visit there. What transpired there we know not.
The events would prove what investigative skills and convincing manner of approach Sergeant Griffiths had and no doubt proved his ability.
In an hour or so afterwards he next went to the house of Arrowsmith’s sister, Mrs Myatt, 103 Howard Lane, a widow. Her husband, it is said, had been dead for some ten years, and she had two lodgers named Chester and Wood.
On Mrs Myatt coming to the door the Sergeant asked her if she could recommend a place where a person could stay a few days, and she replied that she could not. Just at that time three children, Arrowsmith’s, came to where they were talking she then asked the sergeant if it was he that wanted lodgings and he said it was.
On her asking him where he came from he replied, “Birmingham,” and that his name was, “Mr Pritchard.” He also told her (with a disregard to the truth that under the circumstances must be excusable) that he did not enjoy good health, and was having a bit of a tour, staying a few days first at one place and then another. He added that he thought that it was a nice district in which to spend a few days.
After hesitating a short time Mrs Myatt told him, he could have lodgings provided he would consent to sleep with a young man, (Chester) who was lodging there. She went on to say that if he did
not object to this she would do her best to make him comfortable.
Sergeant Griffiths only too glad to get lodgings at such a desirable place told her he would willingly sleep with the lodger, and told her he would pay her well for the accommodation.
After being in the house for some time he learnt that the three children were Arrowsmith’s. As there was an impression about the scene of the murder that Arrowsmith had, “got rid” of his children, previously to the murdering of his uncle, he, in the course of about an hour, left the house and telegraphed to Supt., Edwards as to the safety of the children.
The Sergeant surmised that before many days were over Arrowsmith would come to where his children were and in this he made no mistake.
He gathered from Mrs Myatt that her brother came to the house with the children about the last day in October. He left there on Wednesday, the 9th of November, and said he was going to Runcorn to try to get work on the Ship Canal.
It may be here interesting to note that Arrowsmith and the children had apartments at the Whitchurch workhouse on the night of Friday the 28th of October, so that when they left there on the Saturday morning Arrowsmith must have made his way with them straight to Denton.”
Enquiries revealed that Sergeant Griffiths venture may well have been scuppered.
“In the morning after Sergeant Griffiths had taken up his residence at Mrs Myatt’s, the milkman, who hailed from the neighbourhood of Prees in Shropshire, was going on his daily rounds, when he called at Mrs Myatt’s.
He asked her if she had heard anything from the old country, Shropshire, and she said she had not.
He then took out of his pocket the Manchester Evening News of the previous day, and read to her the account of the murder of Pickerill. Having done so he said that in another edition of the paper that a William Arrowsmith was wanted for the murder.
Mrs Myatt, ex-claimed, “My brother?”
He replied, “Haven’t you got a relation that worked in the stables at Hawkestone and who served four year in the army?”
Mrs Myatt made no reply,
The milkman then said, “I hope to the Lord they’ll catch him, hanging is too good for him.”
He, the Sergeant and Mrs Myatt had a talk about the murder, and she gave him a description of the old man and of the place where he lived, afterwards pulling the blinds down. The Sergeant asked her if she had had any news of the murder from her friends in Shropshire and she said she had not.
Sergeant Griffiths is believed to have passed the time going out walking and playing dominoes with the two other lodgers whilst he was in the house,
It was Thursday, the 17th of November at about seven o’clock as the sergeant was perhaps just playing his double nine, a man walked in. At that time he, the sergeant was sitting with his back to the front door. Mrs Myatt was sitting on one side of the fire and Arrowsmith’s eldest child, the other two having gone to bed, on the other side. The man at once sat down close by the sergeant.
Mrs Myatt said, “Hello, where’ve you been?”
He replied, “To Liverpool, round there after some work.”
She, Mrs Myatt then said, “My uncle, George Pickerill has been murdered at Prees Lower Heath.”
The man answered, “You don’t say so,”
“Yes he is” she replied, adding “last Friday night, it’s in the Manchester Evening News.”
The other lodger turned round to find the paper and as he did so, “Mr Pritchard” turned on his chair and half faced, the “latest arrival,” he said to Mrs Myatt, “who is this?”
She innocently answered, not knowing of course the purpose of the question, “It’s my brother and the father of these children.”
Mr Pritchard then said to him, “Is your name William Arrowsmith?”
He said it was. On being asked what had caused the sore on the nose he put his left hand to that distinguishing mark on his face and said, “I knocked the skin off whilst getting some coal in.”
As he was saying that the new lodger slipped, in the twinkling of an eye the barnacles, (handcuffs) on his left wrist and said to him, after telling him who he was, “William Arrowsmith I take you into custody on the charge of murdering your uncle George Pickerill, at Prees Lower Heath, on Friday night the 11th of November.”
He then cautioned Arrowsmith who said, “No, you’ve got the wrong man, I’ve not been there for three weeks and never heard of the murder till now.”
Mrs Myatt also said she did not believe he had committed the murder.
When Arrowsmith was taken out not more than five minutes had slipped, so it will be seen, “Mr Pritchard” had been pretty smart. He took his man to Denton Police Station and then wired to Superintendent Edwards of the apprehension. Afterwards Arrowsmith was taken to Audenshaw, a mile and a half away and remained there in the charge of two officers for the night.
On the Friday morning Sergeant Griffiths went to Mrs Myatt’s and discharged all his liabilities, apologising for having deceived her in the way he had done. He said it was a cruel murder, and whoever had committed it ought to be caught. She replied, “I do not blame you, Mr Pritchard,” whilst giving the highest praise to Sergeant Griffiths for the adroit manner and sagacity displayed in apprehending the prisoner.
The next morning Sergeant Griffiths, Mr Pritchard no longer, went to Audenshaw and received Arrowsmith into custody, and accompanied by Inspector Nobblitt proceeded to Guide Bridge station, leaving there for Whitchurch by the 11-20am train. He had expected to reach Whitchurch by the 1.36pm train, but missing the train at Manchester he did not arrive there till four o’clock.
The sergeant and the prisoner had a compartment to themselves all the way. No inkling of the arrest transpired until they reached Crewe. When they were in the waiting room there, Sergeant Griffiths was recognised, and a crowd of persons gathered round to obtain a glimpse of the supposed murderer.
The officer went to the guard and asked him to lock him and his prisoner in a carriage, the train at that time being the station, but not due to leave for half an hour, and this he did. The crowd, however, would have a look in the carriage and there was considerable excitement and some booing up to the time the train steamed out of the station.
Arrowsmith having been arrested and returning on a public train, he appeared before a brief hearing before the Whitchurch magistrates and was remanded into custody to Shrewsbury prison.
Eventually a committal hearing to commit Arrowsmith to the High Court or Assizes by the local magistrates was held.
On the fateful Wednesday night, officers travelled by train to Shrewsbury staying overnight. Early the next morning they returned bringing Arrowsmith with them to face the Magistrates.
He was walked through the town in public handcuffed to one officer escorted by both. The event was recorded.
The town was again the scene of great excitement on Thursday, when the alleged murderer, Arrowsmith, was brought up on remand charged with the wilful murder of his uncle, George Pickerill.
The prisoner was conveyed to Whitchurch by the 8 -10am train from Shrewsbury in the custody of Sergeant Griffiths and Constable Bowen.
Soon after the rising of the court Arrowsmith was taken to Whitchurch Police Station, being handcuffed to Sergeant Griffiths and Constable Bowen. Police Constables Lucas and Evans walked in front and Police Constables Fulcher and Francis behind, Superintendent Edwards bringing up the rear.
Clearly Superintendent Edwards must have realised a heavy police presence was necessary having to walk the prisoner through the public streets, when there might well be a protest or worse.
A crowd, principally, young boys and young men, followed, but with the exception of a man in Green End, shouting, “Hang Him” there was no demonstration. The prisoner left for Shrewsbury by the 6.25pm train, his custodians being Sergeant Griffiths and P.C. Fulcher.
The Lent Assizes for the county of Shropshire were opened at the Shirehall in The Square, Shrewsbury on a cold March morning.
Wednesday before Mr Justic
e Mitty.
William Arrowsmith, 42 years old, labourer, was indicted for the wilful murder of George Pickerill, at Prees lower Heath, on the 11th of November 1887.
The gallery at the rear of the Court was crowded soon after the doors were open to the public. The greatest interest being manifested in the pending trial of the prisoner. In the reserved spaces, many ladies occupied seats. The excitement that always accompanies a trial of this description was abundantly manifested, and the advent of the prisoner’s appearance was anxiously awaited by the gathering in the court.
At 10.15 the jury was empanelled, although it was without some difficulty that “twelve good men and true” were found to sit upon the enquiry. The large gathering in the Court prior to the appearance of the Judge, discussed the bearings of the tragedy, and speculated upon the ultimate fate of the prisoner.
The prisoner, when he appeared in the dock, maintained a dejected demeanour, and when the formal question, “are you guilty or not guilty?” was put to him he replied without the slightest hesitation, “not guilty,” in a low perfectly audible voice.