Police Memories

by Bill Williams

  It was customary for this to be done in those days, though not today for fear of breaching patient confidentiality. Claude thought justice and the rights of the victims and community must have superseded the rights of offenders in those days.

  Claude attended and whilst waiting to see the man he heard something that drew his attention, "Where is sister?” said the young nurse.

  “Oh,” replied another. “She is outside in her car with that Copper where she always is.”

  Claude had no time to ponder for the injured man was brought from the treatment room. Claude interviewed him and he admitted the damage and thus he was arrested and walked to Copton Police Station, (Yes, prisoners were walked to Police Stations in those days) where he was eventually charged with the offence, bailed and later convicted and received a fine.

  It was some weeks later, the incident of his disappearing colleague returned to Claude’s mind. The officer he had seen that night apparently liasing with the night sister was suddenly moved to another station, rumour was rife he had been found on duty cavorting with a lady.

  Claude always assumed it was the night Sister he had seen that night, as she had been dismissed at the same time for the same reason.

  It was many years later the truth was revealed. The randy officer was not in fact moved for such conduct, neither was the nurse dismissed for having an affair with him even though the affair seemed common knowledge within the hospital.

  The truth of the incident was related to Claude, in retirement by the offending officer, an Inspector, no less.

  He related the story that one night matron was making her rounds at 2am as matrons often did, as they resided on the premises. Whilst walking along a corridor she had heard voices. On opening the door of a side ward she discovered the same night sister in the throws of love making, not as Claude suspected with his colleague but with the Inspector who was an inpatient at the hospital at that time. As a result she was instantly dismissed but he being a patient no report could be made and no action was taken against him. Claude felt on receiving the confession, he had egg on his face, smiled but said nothing.

  He was interrupted from thinking any further when there was a knocking on the door and Angelina’s voice was calling, “Claude are you ready?”

  He replied, “Yes.”

  In a moment he was outside the room and they were on their way to dinner.

  After dinner they made their way to the lounge and once seated Angelina said, “Now Claude we were talking earlier today of the past, I was nominated to start first, how far did I get?”

  He replied, “You were saying that you had been at The Post Office and mentioned the dress making it was then your transport was announced.”

  “That is it,” she replied and continued, “In addition to the Post and general goods I had always been interested in dress making, and as I said I worked for father but that side of the business proved non profit making due to the cheap imported clothes that now began to arrive.”

  “One day” she added, “I was shocked when a lady came in for some stamps and whilst browsing came upon my old scrap and note book.

  She picked it up and then said “My, these are nice did you do draw them?”

  “I did, yes,” I said.

  The lady looked through them and asked if I made as well as designed clothes, I confirmed I did. That was the end of the matter.

  A week or so later the lady arrived with a younger lady, whom she introduced as her daughter, I was asked if they could look at my book of designs again, so I went and found it. I was surprised when the young lady asked me if I would make a Bridal Gown for her forth-coming wedding. I was duly amazed but after some hesitation, through shock I think, I agreed and the order was placed, I made it and the whole thing was very successful.

  She continued, “The dress design business grew rapidly, the lady was well placed, told all her friends, after some weeks I had many orders for various items, dresses, suits to name but some. I was obliged to employ staff in the post office and in my sewing room to meet the demand in the clothing business and to fulfil my obligations with the post office.”

  “When I was nearly sixty years old, I had made substantial funds and decided to retire. I never married so had no commitments. Having substantial funds and living alone I decided to retire here where I could be looked after and have company, so here I am that is my story.”

  “Interesting,” replied Claude “When you arrived, I realised things might well have changed for me, for the better I might add. I hope we can continue to be good friends and neighbours.”

  Angelina smiled and said, “Yes, I would like that, can you recall exactly how we met?” She said.

  “I see,” said Claude, he hesitated, he had in fact forgotten and she realised that,

  “I will remind you,” she said.

  “One day I was working in the shop very busy we were, when three young men arrived. They were a mind of questions and wishing to try everything on. In the end they bought nothing and I thought at first what a waste of everyone’s time it had been but I was wrong.”

  “They nicked something,” said Claude.

  “They did,” she said, “My handbag and all the money from that mornings takings, I was just about to take it to the bank when they arrived. I reported it to the police and a young officer arrived, although he stayed for ages taking details I didn’t hear anything.”

  “You arrived some days later Claude to review the case you said; you were a sergeant at that time.”

  “I recall telling you in addition to the money there were several items of no value but they were sentimental. You left and I thought that was the end of the matter.”

  “I have it now,” said Claude “I remember the case, yes, I did find the handbag, minus the cash of course but the remainder of the items were inside.”

  “Indeed you did Claude, and one day I will show you the very things, I still have them to this day, as a matter of interest where did you find them?”

  Claude smiled and said, “In one of the two places I looked and where I always looked they being favourite hiding places for criminals to conceal or dump things, toilet cisterns and bins.”

  “Really,” she said, “I would never have thought of that.”

  Claude replied, “It was a common trick, steal wallets or handbags especially from your work mates, then take out the cash and wrap in a plastic bag then hide the booty in the toilet cistern. If there was a fuss and a search made the thief was clean and often got away with it. Days later when the pressure was off, the thief reached into the toilet cistern and retrieved the money, as easy as that.”

  “Good heavens said Angelina and the Bins?”

  “Ah,” replied Claude, “More often than not, they only wanted the cash, so once outside they took the cash then reached into a waste bin stuck the bag, wallet or purse in the bottom and covered it over with waste so a passing glance wouldn’t find it. My officers and I searched the bins, fortunately, the local Council even in those days was slow to empty them and so I recovered your handbag.”

  “Now you see,” she said “After all these years the mystery is solved and now I know how thorough you were, unlike the Police today,” she added.

  “Indeed” said Claude, “Don’t I know only too well. I am sorry I had forgotten until you reminded me, there are so many memories you see,” he replied.

  She said, “Indeed there must be, but, I will give you another test. Now what was the next time we were involved together, so to speak?” she said smiling.

  “I recall that now you have reminded me of the bag” he replied. “One day, we had this very obnoxious young man in custody for being drunk. When he had nearly sobered up I went into the cell to speak with him. He demanded to be released but I told him he was to be detained over-night to which he reacted violently. He attempted to push passed me to escape from the cell.”

  “In those days it was almost a mortal sin either to lose a prisoner or have one die on you so I held him to
prevent him doing as he wished. There was a major struggle during which he ripped the stripes off my tunic arm. With difficulty I held him, I was lucky as I was the only one in the police station at that time. I pushed him away so as to leave and close the door but he came at me, took a swing to hit me. I moved myself to the left and his punch missed. At the same time I did what I rarely did, I hit him a short swift blow to the right of his chin and down he went.”

  “Was he knocked out,” she said laughing

  “No, just sent him off balance,” he replied adding “That was it, I eventually released him when I came on duty the next morning. I charged him with assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty and criminal damage to police property, i.e. the stripes and finally being drunk.”

  “Whatever happened to him, please tell, I find this very interesting,” she said.

  He said, “I submitted my report and then weeks later the man appeared before the Magistrates.”

  “I have to say at this point, things were different in those days. The magistrates were often landed gentry or ex military men, in fact so were many police officers, just after the war you see, well twenty or so years but not so long. They had an eye and an ear for discipline. The lady magistrates were often professionals or Independent ladies such as yourself, or wives of shall we say the upper middle class. They were local, walking in the towns and villages saw people in their every day lives and being human they remembered it.”

  “I recall several schoolteachers who were Magistrates. There were many times when shall I say, I received the word after one case or another when a police officer or witness had given evidence and so did the accused. The accused was not believed in spite of his solicitor calling the officer a liar.”

  “Please go on,” she interrupted obviously anxious to know the end of his story.

  He smiled and said, “In one case which sums it all up, it was a case of “Threatening Behaviour,” when the magistrates retired to their room and were discussing the evidence, the school teacher Justice, said to his colleagues, “I know the officer is telling the truth for I know the man in the dock, he was a pupil of mine he often acted obnoxiously and said exactly the same things to me in school, just as the officer said he had done to him.” The case was proved.

  “I never,” said Angelina “But it all makes sense, how interesting, what happened with the uniform ripper.”

  “The thing was,” said Claude “I was required to get my uniform repaired and so visited your shop where you made a great job of sewing the stripes back on again. You gave me an invoice and that was that.”

  “The case came to court; he pleaded guilty to being drunk, not guilty to the charges of assault and causing criminal damage. I was called to give evidence and said what I have told you.”

  The solicitor of the accused on this occasion was a new lawyer to the area, and over the years together with the small team of lawyers in Copton we would so to speak clash or even do battle with them on many occasions. Her name was Jane Hudson; she was aged about 30 years when she arrived, very attractive and well but quietly spoken as one might expect from a lawyer who had received the benefit of a private education. I and other officers were to find over the years that she could raise her voice and was very knowledgeable in the law and her clients often had a remarkable knowledge of legal defence’s, stories and excuses after consulting her. In a nutshell it was necessary for officers to be equally knowledgeable, record the facts correctly at the time of making enquiries, detecting offences, making arrests, interviewing witnesses and in preparation of case files.”

  On this occasion she stood and said to me, “Sergeant Friendly, are you telling the court you struck my client.”

  I replied, “Yes Sir,” (All replies in those days were addressed to the Court i.e. Chair of the Magistrates not to the questioner)

  I continued, “I did the once, just as I have given evidence.”

  Miss Hudson was about to make a meal of it, I realised she had expected me to deny it as officers often did, the wind was taken out of her sails when I admitted it during my Evidence in Chief rather than allowing her to bring it out resulting in a battle of denials during which she hoped to cast a doubt.

  She looked at the Magistrates and said .” There, you have it, Your Worships; this officer admits he struck my client?” Can you believe he has openly admitted it?”

  The Lady Chair leaned over to her Clerk and said, “May I ask a question,” he whispered to her, and then she said.

  “Sergeant Friendly, why did you strike this man?”

  I replied, “Because he hit me your Worships.”

  She smiled and said, “No further questions.”

  The Solicitor made a song and dance of the case for a further ten minutes after which the Justices retired, on their return they simply said

  “Guilty on all charges, you will go to Detention for 3 months and pay the cost of the damage to the officer’s uniform.”

  .

  Jane Hudson stood, closed her file and shouted “This is outrageous we will appeal”

  The Magistrates as usual said nothing just rose and left the Court.

  “So that is the story of the stripes” she said, “after all these years it was interesting to know the facts and that I played a small part in them. “I do recall,” she replied reading a little of it in the local newspaper.”

  “From that time through the years we had, as I recall always had a nice relationship, we always spoke and of course you came into the shop from time to time. I am pleased by coincidence we are now neighbours and I to hope it will stay like that, good friends and neighbours.”

  “Yes so do I,” said Claude adding, “By the way, sorry I was unable to recover your lost cash or get the thieves who stole your handbag, I suspected they were from Liverpool, travelling criminals just passing through. You know what Scousers are?”

  “Indeed I do,” she said and smiled.

  “You do,” replied Claude.

  “Oh yes,” she said, “I Originate from Liverpool I was born there to Scousers. My father trained there on leaving the army after World War 1.”

  Claude realised he had put his foot in it she didn’t have a Liverpool accent, so he changed the subject; “I must say your hair is nice since you have had it done.”

  He was hoping his comment as to what he thought of the folk of Liverpool, wouldn’t be noticed by her.

  She knew his game, many coppers didn’t like or trust Scousers as Liverpool folks were known. Due to the travelling criminals, they believed all Liverpool people were the same. She smiled but said nothing.

  It was soon 10 pm they stood up and retired to their rooms for the night.

  Claude sat in his arm chair and reviewed how the day had gone, pretty good he thought, still he did drop a clanger with his comment on Liverpool folk. He had no idea she was a Scouser for she had no accent, unlike old Joe or whatever his name is from the room on the other side of his room. He was definitely a Liverpool man borne and bred, a “Paapul Caatins” man for sure. Ah, old Joe, he thought, a small guy who had the build of a jockey, according to what he had been telling a visitor one day he was a train driver when he worked.

  Claude wondered if it might have been the driver of Ted, The Tank Engine, yes indeed.

  Claude didn’t know him much, he saw him in the lounge one of only the two men Claude had seen since he arrived. He seemed a quiet guy; Claude didn’t hear much of him in his room and when in the public rooms even at meal times he was always reading. Ah now then Claude thought, if I did decide to write a book there might be someone who would proof read for me.

  He stood up put on his night attire climbed into bed and was soon feeling very tired and nodded of.

  Angelina meanwhile, had retired immediately to bed on arrival in her room. When lying in bed she thought how strange it was to meet and have as a neighbour, this ex copper. She had known him around Copton town over many years but other than the two incidents in which she was involved with him she
had nothing really to do with him other than seeing him standing outside the shop or watching her leave in the evening. Speaking aloud she said to herself, “I think his past experiences would really make a very interesting book, if, he would do it, that is.”

  The next morning Claude was awake early and went down to the garden and just as he expected it was a very nice day, cold and crisp he thought but very pleasant.

  He walked around the paths then sat on one of the seats. He was a little put off, as there was a plaque on it saying in memory of someone or other. He glanced at it but didn’t really read it; he thought how such items brought the dead back to remind the living, “See you soon.” Silly, but that is what he always thought.

  As he sat, he looked around at the exterior of the building; it was very pleasing for modern times. Eventually he saw various residents walking passed their windows and so he realised it was breakfast time. He made his way inside and on arrival went directly to the dining room.

  When he arrived he saw Angelina already there but seated with a group of ladies. He went over and sat on his own at his usual corner table.

  After a few moments his other neighbour arrived and on doing so looked about for a vacant table, there was none, he hesitated when Claude called to him.“Excuse me” he called, the man looked and Claude waived him over then said to him, “There is room here if you would care to join me. The man smiled and did just that.

  Once the visitor was seated Claude broke the ice and said. “My name is Claude I am your next-door neighbour.”

  The man smiled and replied, “Hello wack, I am Joe Rollason, I have seen you around but we never had a chance to speak.”