Preece Family Tree

Events

Parents

Attributes

Pedigree

1. Thomas Morgan
   1. Harriet Walker
      1. William Thomas Morgan
      2. Abel James Morgan
      3. Francis Hollis Morgan
      4. Mildred Mary Morgan
      5. Ambrose Walker Morgan
      6. Leah Annie Morgan
      7. Laurel Grace Morgan

Ancestors

Source References

1. Cannock Chase Courier
   1. • Date: 7 September 1907
      • Page: Page 7
      • Citation:

        AN ARREST AT WOLVERHAMPTON

        A CHESLYN HAY BUTCHER IN CHARGE

        GREAT EXCITEMENT

        At a very early hour, yesterday (Friday) morning the intelligence reached the Courier Office to the effect that an arrest had been effected at Wolverhampton. It was stated that a butcher named Hollis Morgan whose home is at Cheslyn Hay had been arrested. According to the "Daily Gazette" it appears that two or three days ago the manager of a well known hotel at Wolverhampton was discussing the Wyrley outrages with a police constable, when he remarked that a customer of his had spoken rather strongly about the maiming, and when theories as to the authorship of the outrages were mentioned this young man invariably fired up in a great passion. The conversation and the account given of the man's conduct put the officer on his guard, and he told the circumstance to the inspector. The latter took a full statement from him, and laid it before the Chief Constable (Captain Burnett). Superindentent Stokes and Detective Inspector Lewis then commenced investigations narrowing their field of inquiry down to Hollis Morgan. It was found that he was a native of Cheslyn Hay. He was employed by a Horseley Fields Butcher, and had been in the habit of spending his week ends at Great Wyrley, usually leaving Wolverhampton on the Saturday night, and returning on Tuesday morning.

        THE ARREST.

        After complete inquiries Captain Burnett communicated with Captin Alison, and on Thursday Chief Superindendent Bishop paid a secret visit to Wolverhampton. He was met at the station by Superintendent Stokes and Detective Inspector Lewis, and several interviews were held. Superintendent Bishop was interviewed in the train on the way to Stafford by a "Gazette and Express" representative, and remarked that there was no further development, and that he had done nothing at Wolverhampton that morning. Throughout the day Superintendent Stokes and Detective Lewis conducted special observations in the Horsely Fields district, and early in the evening Captain Anson arrived, and was met at the station by Captain Burnett.

        The next development took place shortly after eight o'clock, when Superintendent Stokes and Detective Lewis stepped into the butcher's at Horseley Fields, and arrested Morgan.

        He was immediately conveyed to the Central police station, and after being seen by the police constables he was removed to the cells.

        It is stated that the greasy cap which was found in the field of a recent Great Wyrley outrage has furnished some clue. A further clue - this time in relation to the case of Cartwright's horse - was the finding of the bowl of a pipe in the field where that outrage was committed.

        Morgan is twenty-two years of age, and was employed by Messrs Hollingsworth, pork butchers. He strongly denies that he is guilty.

        Hollis Morgan, as stated above, is a native of Cheslyn Hay and is connected with well-to-do working class families. Indeed at Cheslyn Hay very many of the inhabitants are in some way related. He was formerly in a small way of business for himself in a cottage near the Lord Nelson, but whether he found the business did not pay or not, certain it is he worked as a journeyman butcher. His father formerly worked for Messrs Hawkins and Sons. There is, it is stated, a rather large family, and his mother lives in Hill street, or near there. All the family are respectable, and hence there was more than the usual excitement when it became known that he had been arrested. This was added to when it became known that another inhabitant had been warned that his services would be required at Wolverhampton and it was stated he had proceeded there.

        Rumours are very plentiful but the police are very reticent. Inspector Campbell was at Cannock very early on Friday morning and he proceeded to Wolverhampton early, but later in the day both he and Superintendent Bishop were at Cannock.

        There is apparently some rather important evidence but it is not prudent to enter into that just yet. It may howevere be said that the trunk of the accused containing his clothes has been roped and sealed to be handed over to the proper authorities for examination. A knife has also been taken possession of, while there is something in the cap and pipe, the bowl of which was found in the field when the horse of Mr Cartwright was found injured.

        The mother of the accused and his stepfather and some other relatives proceeded to Wolverhampton on Friday.

        BEFORE THE WOLVERHAMPTON MAGISTRATES.

        SOMEWHAT HYSTERICAL.

        There was some excitement near the Town Hall, on Friday morning, at 10.25 when Mr. A. C. Twentyman (chairman of the county magistrates) took his seat on the Bench. He was accompanied shortly afterwards by Alderman John Marston, and a few minutes later Captain Burnett entered the Court.

        In response to directions from the Chief Constable, two policemen brought Morgan into the dock, from the cells below. He wore a slate-coloured coat and a check cap, and as he leaned on the dock rails he was very pale and agitated, and soon became hysterical, hiding his face in his hands and shouting "Oh, my! Oh, my!"

        His mother who was present also burst into tears, and said "Hollis don't. Hollis don't." He, however, continued to sob and moan, and at the suggestion of Mr Twentyman, the accused's mother left the Court while the case was proceeded with.

        Captain Burnett then stated the facts on which the arrest had been made. The accused, he said, was arrested in Wolverhampton, and was at that moment in the custody of the borough police, on his (Captain Burnett's) responsibility. On Tuesday night last certain information came to him relative to a conversation which had taken place in a certain licensed house where the accused and others had been arguing about the so-called Wyrley outrages. On Thursday morning Superintendent Stokes, Inspector Lewis, and himself where the only persons who had cognisance of certain facts, but at that time he received a telephone message from the county police, and he also received a cap which had been identified as having belonged to the prisoner. It had been missing since the night that the last outrage took place. The prisoner next day bought a new one. The county police also brought a pipe which was found at Great Wyrley, and they would be able to prove the exact place where it was picked up. The pipe, too, had been identified as the property of the accused. When the prisoner was arrested a portion of a broken stem was found in his pocket.

        On these facts he proposed to ask for a remand. He hoped to be in a position to prove that prisoner took home from the place where he was employed a butcher's knife, and had it sharpened two days before the outrage at Landywood. He thought that knife would, in the course of a few hours, be in the possession of the police. He ought to mention that the prisoner had written a letter, which he had sent to a friend asking that he should be legally represented, and it was in prisoner's interest that he should be so represented.

        Detective-Inspector Lewis said he received a cap from the Staffordshire county police the cap (produced)? and also a broken pipe.

        When arrested, Prisoner replied: I will tell you where I was that night. I slept at home with my two brothers, Ambrose and Abel James. We slept three in a bed.

        Prisoner (interrupting): I cannot tell whether it was that particular night.

        Proceeding with his narrative the prisoner said: I got up in the morning about 5.30, and my mother got my breakfast. I then came on my bicycle to Wolverhampton. I had been going home week ends for some time.

        Inspector Lewis further stated: On the way to the police station prisoner said: I am not quite sure whether it was a week last Monday, or a fortnight last Monday, when we had Bloxwich Wakes, but it was the night of the Wakes when I slept at home. This was the only Monday night when I have been at home lately. At the Police Station I charged prisoner with unlawfully and maliciously killing a horse at Great Wyrley, during the night of August 26th. Prisoner made no reply.

        At the prisoner's lodgings there were found in his waistcoat pocket in the bedroom an amber mouthpiece of a broken pipe, the stem of which was produced. It corresponded with the pipe bowl produced. His bicycle was also taken possession of.

        The accused was remanded to Stafford in custody and he will be brought up at Penkridge on Monday.

2. 1901 United Kingdom Census
   1. • Page: RG13/2665/41/26
3. General Register Office: England & Wales Birth Index
4. (Death unknown but obviously not living)