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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Lancashire => England => Lancashire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Ackotastic on Sunday 08 August 21 16:41 BST (UK)
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Good Afternoon
I'm trying to trace where I would find information regarding a great uncle of mine, who according to family rumours was incarcerated for the death of a police officer in the 1930s in manchester.
I have found 2 sets of seperate information but have not discovered anything yet that actually links the 2.
1st piece
in 1934 PC James Wright was on Traffic duty in manchester and knocked down by car which failed to stop
https://gmpmuseum.co.uk/roh-item/james-wright/
2nd Piece
According to Census records, a man by the name of Arthur Acton was housed at Calderstones Hospital, a a mental asylum at the time in Whalley Lancashire. The DOB of this patient fits my uncles DOB and would explain things like why he married later, and being "away" from his teens to a little later in his life. Occupation at the time is just incapacitated.
The only thing that could potentially link the two is the rumour stated he was around 15 at the time of the death of the policeman, which again kinda falls into line with the date of 1934.
Ive tried searching the lancashire archives, the british newspapers site but nothing I see mentions James Wright death or a court case around it and Im a bit stumped.
It seems strange that anyone would make such a story up, even if they were ashamed he was in an Asylum, but then surely I would have found something about it?
any help of pointer would be appreciated
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Welcome to Rootschat :)
There are newspaper snippets on Find My Past, British Newspapers mentioning the incident.
The Liverpool Echo, 16th June 1934 mentions someone being charged (not Arthur’s name) and perhaps 12th July 1934 gives more details.
I don’t have access to the articles.
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12 July entry says that WM from Bolton was sentenced to 12 months, and disqualified from driving for life.
Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail
Apologies - the 12 month sentence was for manslaughter of Constable James Wright.
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You could try Lancashire Archives to see if Calderstones Records are there and, if there is access, what you would need in terms of documentary evidence.
I see the 1939 birth date and the birth date on the death record match.
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Wow cheers to both of you, ive been looking for days and found nothing lol even on the British Newspaper Site. maybe I was getting tunnel vision.........hmmm
I just cant get my head around why a rumour like that in the family told by family members..............but i guess families have more locked doors than a bank at times
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They do say, don't they "There's nowt so queer as folk"!! And WM who was sentenced was aged 38.
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They do say, don't they "There's nowt so queer as folk"!! And WM who was sentenced was aged 38.
They certainly do :)
I found the article now that you both referred to. Not sure how I missed that, but now finding it, its giving me some ideas for searching for other links
thanks again
Acko
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Records for Calderstones Hospital
Records can be found at:
Lancashire Record Office
Record type
Date range
Administrative
1891 - 2000
General
1891 - 1989
Finance
1907 - 1974
Nursing
1969 - 1971
Admission & Discharge
1915 - 1980
Staff
1917 - 1920
Ephemera
1920 - 1990
Pictorial
1912 - 2000
Other
2000 - 2000
Clinical & Patients
1915 - 1990
I also found this about the hospital
https://www.lancslearningdisabilityinstitutions.org.uk/content/history/lancashire-institutions/calderstones/about-calderstones
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I have sent you a message.
I have found an article that gives quite a bit of information about Arthur Morris who killed PC James Wright.
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Is Arthur Morris the same person as Arthur Acton? I thought they were two different people.
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BUT - all the newspaper clippings related to the death of Constable James Wright have the same forename for the culprit and it is NOT Arthur.
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That’s what I thought.
Hopefully Ackotastic will come back with any updates. :)