The Northern Guardian. — 1893-04-17 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

MURDERED POLICEMEN.  "The policeman's lot is not a happy one." The truth of this has been abundantly proved of late. Two policemen, while in the execution of their duty, were murdered last week —one so near home as Middlesbrough and the other in Exeter. We believe that policemen are, as a class, much respected, and atremendous number of civilians are willing at a moment's notice to go to the assistance of any of our custodians, in spite of the fact that, like other human beings, they do occasionally make mistakes. Those who devote their lives to the laudable cause of preventing crime and bringing offenders to justice are deserving of the assistance of all who can in any way render such assistance. At times their duties are anything but pleasant, and they go, as it were, with their lives in their hands. But there are also occasions when no one expects danger in the air when the police are assaulted in a disgraceful manner. Poor P.C. Henderson, of the Middlesborough Borough Constabulary, would never for a moment dream that there was any chance of his being killed when he went to take a gun from Gould. It was known that the latter had been showing signs of want of mental powers for sometime, and that he had at various times threatened to shoot different people. It was on account of this behaviour that the Chief Constable at Middlesbrough sent word to Gould's father, a knacker, to take precautions against his son committing any violence, and to put any firearms or other dangerous weapons that he : might have in his possession out of the way. The Chief-Constable also requested Gould, senior, to call in the relieving officer for the , district, who would procure the services of a doctor. After these instructions had been conveyed to Gould the latter intimated to Sergeant Black at Linthorpe that they had been complied with during the same day. However, on Friday morning the Chief-Constable sent an inspector of police to Mr Scotson, the relieving officer for the district in which Gould lives, with a message that Gould was supposed to he a lunatic and should be attended to. Mr Scotson promised to look into the matter, and later in the day Dr. Scanlan, the parish doctor for the Linthorpe district, went to where Gould lived, and reported that undoubtedly the man was mad, as he would not allow him to go near him, and threatened to shoot him. In the meantime Mr Scotson was endeavouring to procure the services of a justice of the peace to see Gould and certify him as a lunatic. In company with Sergt. Black, Mr George Anderson, and the ill-fated P.C. Henderson he proceeded to Linthorpe shortly after five o'clock to put the man under restraint with a view to his removal to the Clifton Asylum. On arrival the murderer was found with gun in hand, surrounded biy a number of dogs. Gould threatened to make use of the gun if any attempt were made to touch him. Without further warning the gun was levelled, and the poor constable fell back dead. Before Gould had time to move he was pounced upon by the others present and safely lodged in a police cell. The constable has left behind him a widow and a number of children, who have the sympathy of all in their hour of trial. We are also glad to notice that subscription lists are being opened in Middlesbrough, and we trust a goodly sum will be raised so as to save poverty being added to the poor widow's greater trouble. This murder appears to be the work of one who cannot be said to be responsible for his deeds. No so the other case. The murdered, body of a policeman was found yesterday in a country district of Exeter. His throat was fearfully cut and his head badly battered in. Near him was found some stolen property. It is thus thought that the policeman had caught the thief or thieves, and in order to escape the law they murdered him. This is, of course, only surmise. The matter has yet to be cleared up. These two cases are, however, quite sufficient to show that policemen have at times very precarious duties to perform, and that they are deserving of our sympathy and assistance when needed.