Kathryn Abnett - The Romford Outrage. The Murder of Inspector Thomas Simmons 1885

TRUE CRIME FROM WHARNCLIFFE

Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths Series

OTHER TRUE CRIME BOOKS FROM WHARNCLIFFE

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First published in Great Britain in 2009 by
Wharncliffe Local History
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS

Copyright Linda Rhodes and Kathryn Abnett

ISBN 978 1 84563 076 8
ISBN 978 1 84468 305 5(ebook)

The right of Linda Rhodes and Kathryn Abnett to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Contents

Our particular thanks are due to: Simon Donoghue (Havering Local Studies Library); Becky Latchford, Bryan Turner, Janet Lee & Fred Feather (all current or former staff and volunteers at the Essex Police Museum); Maggie Bird (Metropolitan Police Historical Collection); Roger Logan (Foresters Heritage Trust); Brian Norman; Lee Shelden; Bill George; Joan Burgoyne; Nancy Crisp; the late Sir Charles Graham, Bart, of Netherby Hall; Nigel Rixson, Kevin Trott.

We would also like to acknowledge the assistance given by the staff of the following:

Essex Record Office; National Archives; British Library Newspaper Library; Cumbria Record Office; Library of the Middle Temple.

Introduction:
Courage and Coolness

It was approaching five oclock on the morning of Friday, 2 January 1874 as the figure of a top-hatted policeman trudged slowly along South Street, in the town of Romford in Essex. The 29-year-old Constable Thomas Simmons had already been on duty for about seven hours. He had patrolled alone, occasionally meeting fellow officers at prearranged times to exchange information. He must have been looking forward to reporting back to the police station in the Market Place in a couple of hours time, before enjoying some well-earned sleep at his home in Victoria Road.

Simmons raised his lantern and moved it from side to side so that its rays illuminated the door and windows of the Post Office. All was well, so Simmons turned away, ready to move on. His eye suddenly caught movement at the crossroads about fifty yards ahead, where South Street met the High Street. Two figures were striding across the junction, in the direction of London, with large bundles slung across their shoulders. Simmons was immediately suspicious and set off in pursuit. He caught up with them on the outskirts of town, where the High Street became London Road.

Where are you going? he asked.

The pair, both young men, ignored him and walked on. Simmons ran past and turned round to face them.

What are you carrying? he demanded, looking at the bundles wrapped in rugs and curtains.

Still no answer. Suddenly one of the men threw his bundle at Simmonss head, while the other tripped him up. The officer was left flat on his face in the mud while the pair sprinted away with the second bundle.

Undaunted, Simmons hauled himself back to his feet and resumed the chase. He caught up once again and seized their collars, but they fought back fiercely. One punched Simmons several times in the face, forcing him to let go in order to defend himself. The second scooped up handfuls of mud from the road and pushed it into Simmonss face, forcing it into his eyes and mouth. Despite this, Simmons managed to handcuff one of the men to himself. He also snatched the remaining bundle, which the second man tried without success to wrench away before giving up and disappearing into the darkness. Simmons then began to drag his captive towards the police station, stopping to pick up the second bundle on the way. The man did not go willingly, but repeatedly threw himself down on the ground and tried to trip Simmons up. Eventually, however, the mud-splattered officer forced the young man through the doors of the police station.