Posts
Unlucky Goldsmith.
Tarlok Mittu, was a Asian goldsmith, who had premises in Staveley Road, Wolverhampton, some 150 yards from the then Divisonal Police Station, Dun stall Road. I went there in 1969 staying until late 1972. Mr. Mittu, helped with translations, never charging. He struck me as quiet man, although a clever goldsmith. In 197o, on a Saturday afternoon, I had just completed duty at a Wolverhampton Wanderers Football match.and I was in my first floor office, removing my outer clothing, before travelling home. I heard loud voices, and went to the top of the stairs, to hear an officer, tell someone, they could not see me, until Monday morning. I shouted down, to send up the person, who was endeavoring to see me. Up come Tarlok Mittu, he looked tired, and worried. He sat down and told me an amazing story/ He had travelled to London on the Friday evening previously, to met an Asian, who was obtaining him some £5000 worth of bar gold, for his business. Gold was then controlled, although the government, has announced that restrictions were to be withdrawn. This Asian had told Mittu, that the deal was with an Hatton Garden reputable dealer, was above board, but the amount was slightly over the permitted maximum. Mitta had £5000 in c ash, £500 in a Bankers Draft for the middle man. He went with the Asian to Hatton Garden, paid his £5000. gave the agent, the draft. and was on his way out of the building, with hius gold, when they were surrounded by nine police officers. Mittu was told that he was under arrest, for illegal dealing and was taken to Hammersmith Police Station, he did not go into the charge room, but into a CID Office. The gold was on the table. so was the money, but not the bankers draft. No officers, gave there names. Mittu was not charged with anything. He was then pushed through a rear door, no gold, no money, no charge. He went back into the front of the station. He explained what had happened. He was told to leave, as no one would speak to him about his so called arrest. He went to New Scotland Yard, and was told at the enquiry office, that there was no trace of him being in a police station, and was threatened with arrest/ Mittu decided to return to Wolverhampton. For some reason, he wanted my advice.Mittu described in detail, the room he had been kept in, and the men who had arrested him. He gave me a name and exact desciption of the agent, who had made the arrangements. I telephoned Hammersmith Police Station, I asked to speak to as senior officer. I was asked by the Station Sergeant. What is this about. I replied, I want to make a complaint" He said, I will take it" I made it clear that I wish to speak to a Superintendent at least. Whilst, I was on the telephone, I heard voices, one clearly, said, "It only about the Paki" ".f... him" After three more calls, I could see, that I was not going to get anywhere. All at this Police Station, knew what was going on. It took me a hour, to finally converse, with A DAC, a high ranking officer, he tried to put me off, but I told him, that if the room was not forensically searched for gold presence, and station staff interviewed I would inform the press. I was fed up at being fobbed off.Two hours later, the DAC telephoned me. He has found gold particles in he CID Room. He had suspended one Inceptor, 2 sergeants and six constables.He also asked me to be available at 2pm on Monday with Mr. Mittu. He would personally interview us. He did not do so a Chief Supt from a special squad with an Inspector took statements/ We were told the gold had been recovered, so had the money, and the Asian agent arrested, he was in custody I HAD CLEARLY FOUND AN HONEST MAN/Some months later, Mittu and I were warned for magistrates court, strangely, the committal took place, and the men concerned appeared at the Old Bailey. Neither of us were called. Some of the men pleaded, others did not. They all were sentenced to long periods of imprisonment. Clearly Mr. Mittu was pleased We remained friends until his untimely death. His young wife, died a little time before that. They both desire children. They never achieved it.Mitta left a brother, also a goldsmith and other relatives. The Mittus have a high respect in our community. Fair, honest and skilled artisans/The case, caused hardly a comment from the local CID, several times later, I had minor problems with them. They most ended up in the famous Serious Crime Squad, or other rag bag units. I had committed the cardinal sin. I had listened to an Asian. Not the done thing in 1972 I was frequently reminded by senior detectives, that this case had not "Done me any good" I always felt vindicated.
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Police Police Station Riot
TUMULTUOUS RIOTING 75 YEARS AGO
John P. Mellor
John Mellor served for many years in the police force in Bilston. Here he tells us about a riot that happened many years before he was there but which he researched for an article in the Police Gazette.
The cry of "Burn baby, burn" which have echoed through the ghettoes of Chicago, Los Angeles and Detroit may seem to be very remote from Bilston. The expression, however, could have well been used on Monday, 21 July 1919, by the crowd some 60 years ago, when a series of ugly incidents took place, culminating in the partial destruction of the local police station.
The trouble began during the early evening when two or three men, being the worse for drink, were said to have assaulted two police constables in Church Street. Near the Market Hall were soldiers who were home on leave and who joined in the melee with other people. The policemen were forced to walk away towards the town hall, followed by a crowd of people which became larger and larger and more violent. Near the town hall there was further trouble and the two constables had to draw their batons and break out of the crowd to reach the police station to get help and report the incident.
The ever-increasing mob followed them and at 11 p.m. the crowd was estimated to be several thousand strong. The mob ring-leaders began to demand that one of the constables, who for some reason was regarded with aversion by the crowd, should be turned out of the police station. Their demand not being granted, the crowd surrounded the station and tried to break the front door in, shouting: "Turn out ---- , we will have his blood."
During the next hour every window in the police station was shattered. A long perimeter wall was torn down and bricks were thrown at the front and side, while poles were fetched from a nearby yard to be used as battering rams to break down the doors. Then petrol was poured on the wooden door cases in an attempt to set the building on fire.
At this stage Supt. Rowbottam, the officer in charge, went out and tried to reason with the mob but without success. A brick was thrown and struck him, breaking his arm. P.C. Jarvis, who was with him, was struck under the eye.
Despite the efforts of the Police, who were forced to withdraw, the office and charge room were wrecked, the telephone line and the instrument destroyed, and the Superintendent's house next door ransacked before reinforcements from West Bromwich, Wednesbury and surrounding districts were brought in to disperse the crowd. It was 2 a.m. before they eventually left.
The Police Station after the riot
Three people were arrested as a result of the attack: two men and one woman, who appeared before the magistrates charged with "tumultuous rioting" and "causing malicious damage to the police station." The two male defendants were also charged with assault on the police. While the court was being held a large crowd surrounded the court house behind the police station.
The presiding magistrate found all three defendants guilty and penalties of 40s. and costs, with the alternative of 30 days' imprisonment, were imposed upon all three defendants, who were bound over to keep the peace. After the proceedings, the large crowd around the Police station was dispersed by the Police.
Next day a large crowd gathered in the town centre and by 11 p.m. some 3,000 people surrounded the town hall. The leaders were proposing to storm the police station when a discharged soldier named Wainwright addressed the crowd and appealed to them to go home.
He told the crowd that the police superintendent who had been injured had lost his only son in the war. Within minutes the crowd had dispersed and by midnight the first and only serious riot to take place in Bilston was over.
John P Mellor
John P. Mellor
John Mellor served for many years in the police force in Bilston. Here he tells us about a riot that happened many years before he was there but which he researched for an article in the Police Gazette.
The cry of "Burn baby, burn" which have echoed through the ghettoes of Chicago, Los Angeles and Detroit may seem to be very remote from Bilston. The expression, however, could have well been used on Monday, 21 July 1919, by the crowd some 60 years ago, when a series of ugly incidents took place, culminating in the partial destruction of the local police station.
The trouble began during the early evening when two or three men, being the worse for drink, were said to have assaulted two police constables in Church Street. Near the Market Hall were soldiers who were home on leave and who joined in the melee with other people. The policemen were forced to walk away towards the town hall, followed by a crowd of people which became larger and larger and more violent. Near the town hall there was further trouble and the two constables had to draw their batons and break out of the crowd to reach the police station to get help and report the incident.
The ever-increasing mob followed them and at 11 p.m. the crowd was estimated to be several thousand strong. The mob ring-leaders began to demand that one of the constables, who for some reason was regarded with aversion by the crowd, should be turned out of the police station. Their demand not being granted, the crowd surrounded the station and tried to break the front door in, shouting: "Turn out ---- , we will have his blood."
During the next hour every window in the police station was shattered. A long perimeter wall was torn down and bricks were thrown at the front and side, while poles were fetched from a nearby yard to be used as battering rams to break down the doors. Then petrol was poured on the wooden door cases in an attempt to set the building on fire.
At this stage Supt. Rowbottam, the officer in charge, went out and tried to reason with the mob but without success. A brick was thrown and struck him, breaking his arm. P.C. Jarvis, who was with him, was struck under the eye.
Despite the efforts of the Police, who were forced to withdraw, the office and charge room were wrecked, the telephone line and the instrument destroyed, and the Superintendent's house next door ransacked before reinforcements from West Bromwich, Wednesbury and surrounding districts were brought in to disperse the crowd. It was 2 a.m. before they eventually left.
The Police Station after the riot
Three people were arrested as a result of the attack: two men and one woman, who appeared before the magistrates charged with "tumultuous rioting" and "causing malicious damage to the police station." The two male defendants were also charged with assault on the police. While the court was being held a large crowd surrounded the court house behind the police station.
The presiding magistrate found all three defendants guilty and penalties of 40s. and costs, with the alternative of 30 days' imprisonment, were imposed upon all three defendants, who were bound over to keep the peace. After the proceedings, the large crowd around the Police station was dispersed by the Police.
Next day a large crowd gathered in the town centre and by 11 p.m. some 3,000 people surrounded the town hall. The leaders were proposing to storm the police station when a discharged soldier named Wainwright addressed the crowd and appealed to them to go home.
He told the crowd that the police superintendent who had been injured had lost his only son in the war. Within minutes the crowd had dispersed and by midnight the first and only serious riot to take place in Bilston was over.
John P Mellor
Two unfortunate decisions.
The local authority in Wolverhampton, has difficulties. It was left a poisoned chalice, by the former Labour controlled council. I have great sympathy for he horrible mess that they have to extract themselves from .
However, why close the Residential home at Underhill, why close the Information Centre in Queen Square. Surely you could cut out the fat, from the myriad organisations, in Wolverhampton, that serve no purpose, but act as a sounding board for your political opposition
However, why close the Residential home at Underhill, why close the Information Centre in Queen Square. Surely you could cut out the fat, from the myriad organisations, in Wolverhampton, that serve no purpose, but act as a sounding board for your political opposition
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)