Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary
1857 - 1963Mr Frank Ward, Chief Constable of Lancaster
Mr Frank Ward has been the means of some important arrests. On October 30th, 1885, he secured a notorious armed burglar named Baker, who hailed from Bethnal Green road, London, and who, along with two other men, giving the names of Rudge and Martin, committed the famous daring burglary at Netherby Hall, Cumberland, on the night of the 29th of the same month, during the time the family were at dinner.
The rogues made off with a quantity of jewellery and other property, and afterwards shot dead PC Byrnes, of the Cumberland Constabulary, who intercepted them at Plumpton.
The gang was a desperate one, for the party also shot one or two members belonging to the Carlisle City Police; but, fortunately, not fatally, whilst they gave some indication of the measure of their daring when they made their escape for awhile by jumping on a passing goods train on the London and North Western Railway.
Happily, however, they were espied in one of the waggons by a signalman. The result was the train was stopped and searched at Tebay, where the three desperadoes were found secreted in the waggon under some sheets. After a determined struggle Rudge and Martin were pluckily secured by the railway officials and detained, Baker, however, making good his escape.
Information was wired to Lancaster early the next morning, and Mr Ward was quickly out of bed and at the railway station with one or two of his men. A strict observation was kept upon all passing trains, and when the mail train, going South, and arriving a little before three o'clock, was about departing, a man was noticed to creep stealthily out of the goods sidings and get on to the platform, making an attempt to enter the train.
The Chief Constable immediately made for him, and on the man seeing him he attempted to get his hand into his pocket, but before he was able to do so Mr Ward rushed at him, knocked him down, and threw himself on the robber, who was then secured. Mr Ward afterwards took from the man a seven-chambered revolver, each barrel being loaded.
All three men were ultimately taken back to Carlisle, and, being each sentenced to death, were hanged at Carlisle Gaol. The affair caused a great sensation throughout the whole country owing, not only to the gravity of the offences, but also to the desperate conduct of the murderers and the unique way in which they were traced and captured.
Rudge, pleading guilty at the trial, showed great callousness, and endeavoured to clear his comrades, but without avail. A fourth man was also said to be implicated in the affair, but although several men were arrested and taken to Carlisle, none of them could be identified as having any connection with the offence, and the fourth man has never been brought to justice.
Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary, Constable 103 (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)
Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary, Constable 103 (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)
Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary, Constable 103 (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)
Cumberland and Westmorland Constable. (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)
Cumberland and Westmorland Constable. (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)
Cumberland and Westmorland Constable. (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)
