1892-1904 Remarkable Manuscript Journal of a Yorkshire, England Police Constable Reporting on the Crimes and Arrests He Makes Patrolling the Wild and Scandalous Streets of a Victorian-Era City of York

On offer is a remarkable piece of British policing history, being the manuscript log/report book of a constable working for the York City Police. 

Our constable author references himself only on the flyleaf, titling his book “William Pearson, Police Constable, York”. Extensive research has suggested that this is William C. Pearson (1860-1907). Pearson married Lizzie Dawson (1868-1953) in 1888 and they lived and raised their children in Seaton Ross, York, Yorkshire. 

Pearson’s diary serves two purposes: First, he writes for 20 pages a “Manual for Police Officers” that applies to his role. Whether this is a transcription of a document he received in training, notes he made from a training lecture, or his own explanation and research on the regulations he abides by at work is unknown. However the pages provide absolutely priceless insight into the roles, responsibilities and guidelines Yorkshire police constables followed during the late 19th and early 20th century. 

The second piece of this diary is Pearson’s shift reports, where he writes in impressive and sometimes shocking detail of the crimes he observes, the perpetrators, the locations of the incidents, his actions, and the outcomes. This is 62 full pages that take the reader to the streets, hotels and homes of the city of York and allows them a peek inside the lives, challenges and tragedies of citizens at the time, as well as the priorities and powers of police in the era. In some cases, Pearson pastes in a clipping from the local newspaper when the paper has reported on one of his arrests. 

The diary appears to have been kept in real time between 1898-1904. There is one retrospective (but absolutely fascinating) entry about his experience being sent to do “special duty” at the Durham Coal Strike for nine weeks in 1892. In that entry, he describes being stationed in Seaham and then Castle Eden Collery during the riots. While managing the riots, Pearson states: “...we was called black legs not policeman, we had several riotious time…Colliers was very bad to manage”. 

The crimes about which Pearson reports range in severity and level of scandal. Some of the minor offences he handles include obstructing a footpath, a walking stick infraction, minor theft, bringing five pork pigs into the city without a pass, rubbish left in the street, breaking a plate glass window, traveling with a traction engine through the streets without a pass, and many more. While these crimes are minor in nature, Pearson’s descriptions of the offences are always thorough and paint a fulsome picture of York at the turn of the century. 

Pearson spends many shifts managing those charged with being “drunk and incapable” and “drunk and disorderly”. He also handles a lot of prostitution-related issues, issues with off-duty soldiers, extramarital sexual relations performed in public spaces, innkeepers requiring patrons be removed from their premises, embezzlement, homelessness, one case of a “wandering lunatic” who escaped a hospital, and one case of a dead body found floating in the river. Pearson is at times threatened and assaulted. His reports, however, betray no emotion and are remarkably professional, even when he is recounting situations that may make a reader chuckle or gasp over 125 years later. 

Some excerpts provide a sense of the content of Pearson’s writing. First, excerpts from the Police Manual (undated):

“Prisoners Confession…Any threat of harm or promise of advantage will render a statement made by the prisoner worthless as evidence against him; at the same time it is the duty of a constable to receive any voluntary statement the prisoner may choose t o make…it is always advisable that the statement be taken down in writing. The law treats with great consideration admissions made by accused persons against themselves…”.

“Arrest Without a Warrant…When a constable witnesses a felony committed it is his duty and it is the duty of all private persons to arrest where he has reasonable grounds of suspicion…the charge should always be distinct and the prisoner duly informed of it…to guard against assault or resistance…the constable in all cases where he makes an arrest without a warrant or is not in uniform should announce that he is a Police officer and should show his staff which is sufficient notice of authority…”.

“Robbery Defined…if the thing taken and carried away is on the body or in the immediate presence of the person from whom it is taken, or if taking is by actual violence…or by threats of injury to his person or property or reputation, the offense is robbery. (Stephens Digest Crim.. Law p. 208)”.

Excerpts from Pearson’s log of reports:

“While on duty in Tower Street and in company with PC Gaunt we heard a whistle blowing in the direction of Fishergate…man named George Armatage 43 Hartfort Street Ex Soldier with a Revolver and is going to commit suicide…and had his wife by the neck and very near strangled her…I accompanied [his wife] to into her house and saw a lot of pots, glasses, and furniture broken and very near every thing turned up side down in the House, Mrs. Armatage handed to me the Revolver and a quantity of cartridges and I brought to the Police office for teh safety of the Public there was 94 Cartridges Large and small ones in the Box” [Aug 23, 1899].

“Report against Esther Yeoman age 21 years…Married and George Woodmancey age 30 years No 45 Baker Street Engine Driver for behaving in an indecent manner in Minister Yard. Sir, I beg to report that…while on duty…with PC 47 Sutton we saw the above named two having connections together in the gate way Leading to Mr. Green House close to the footpath…they made no replie [sic]” [Oct 26, 1899].

“...I beg to report that at 1125 PM on the 27th…while on duty in Coppergate I there heard [Mary Ann Callum Hungate, Prostitute] say I hope the Bloody Rotten Fish will choke you, go F-k your Bloody Fish she used this kind of language several times…” [Dec 27, 1899].

“Re William Lane Judson Bircklayer in custody charged with being a wandering lunatic…I went to No 6 Finke Street, where I saw William Judson. I called him into the Street and from his conversation I saw that he was a lunatic and not under proper care and not fit to be at large by himself. I was obliged to bring him to the Police office on the above charge. This man had been a patient in teh county hospital and broke out…” [April 25, 1900].

“...I there saw the Female prisoner [Annie Fealy] with her back again the wall with her C– up and the man in front of her having connections with her, I saw them both exposed I brought them both to the office on the above charge. Also. Annie Fealy is charged with willfully breaking three squares of glass in a cell window at the Police Station…doing damage to the amount of three shillings. After the prisoner was put into a cell I heard a smash of glass, I went to the and saw the prisoner stood on the bed with her boot in her hand…”  [Aug 12, 1903].

“Re: Jack Glover…1st D. Guards Fulford Barracks in custody charged with using obscene language in Clifford Street. I respectfully beg to report that at 11,30 pm on the 21st…while bringing Hodgson along Clifford Street to the office for being drunk and in charge of a horse and cab The prisoner got in front of me and said to Hodgson what the hell is he locking you up for, I told the prisoner to go away…he said what the f-k-g hell have you got to do with it and put his hand up and threatened to strike me…Supt Worlnough up and assisted me to the office with him” [March 21, 1903].

“Report against Catherine Weatherley 14 Spurriergate. Widow. For allowing her Chimney to be on fire….I saw smoke and soot coming out of the above chimney top which covered the Street…Mrs. Weatherley states she was frying pan cakes on the fire.. The pan upset it was the cause…she put some salt up the chimney and did all she could to put it out, it was last swept in October. I told [her] I should report her…” [Feb 16, 1904].

This diary is truly remarkable in its attention to detail as well as to the picture Pearson’s entries paint of the city of York. Some of the many locations at which Pearson responds to disturbances include Malt Shuttle Inn, Hotel Micklegate, Eastman’s Butcher Shop, Queen’s Head in Fossgate, Exchange Hotel, Ship Inn, Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Talbot Hotel, Golden Slipper Inn, Black Bull Inn, Bay Horse Hotel, Adelphi Hotel Micklegate, and others. He also notes the names of many of his policing colleagues from fellow constables to sargeants and superintendents. 

This manuscript will be extremely appealing to those interested in policing history, British history, the public service, crime and punishment, legal discourse and 19th century England more generally. Pearson’s many references to soldiers living in York help the reader to connect the experience of policing the city with the interaction between the military and civilians. A truly exceptional piece of history.

The diary is kept in a hardcover ledger book measuring approximately 13x8 inches. It contains 186 pages with 84 pages filled with writing. Entries are not daily, but they do cover the period of 1898-1904, with the single retrospective 1892 entry completing the journal. There are three tipped in newspaper clippings, including an article about the pay scale for the York city police. Additional newspaper clippings related to Pearson’s entries are glued in. The book itself is in fair condition. The spine is severely chipped and the covers are very loose and separated in some parts. The pages remain intact and attached but it is certainly fragile. The writing is highly legible. There is some water damage to the edges of the pages which makes some letters illegible but does not interfere with readability. Overall Fair.