FORMER BERMUDA POLICE OFFICER JOHN McQUAID WHO SERVED IN BERMUDA BETWEEN (Sept 1963-1969) WROTE TO SAY:

I recently came across a fascinating piece of tittle-tattle in a Sheffield newspaper, having been attracted to a by-line which read:

‘POLICEMAN’S BERMUDA ROMANCE’ Dated January 27^th of 1927. I became increasingly interested as I was not until then aware that serving British cops were being recruited so long before my short sojourn on the Island in the 1960’s. The official website of the Bermuda Police Service soon confirmed for me that recruiting from England did indeed occur as early as 1920.

‘The First Overseas Recruits

In 1920 the Force underwent another major reorganization.

The Police Establishment Act 1920 empowered the Chief of Police, Mr. J.H. Semphill, to recruit young men in England and that is exactly what he did. Eighteen men were selected from the five hundred applications received and they arrived in Bermuda in August of that year. Five were ex-Royal Marines and the other thirteen ex-United Kingdom Police Officers. The new Force now numbered forty-six.

The new recruits arrived by steamer which berthed in Hamilton and after docking they were marched off to Hamilton Police Station (yes, the same building which we use today!) Literally within hours of arrival some of them were detailed to walk the beat.

Having just arrived in a foreign country (five of them without any Police training whatsoever), is it hardly surprising to learn that one of them became lost and had to ask a road sweeper the way back to the Police Station!’

JOHN WENT ON TO SAY:

It was the sub-headlines of the article which were certain to encourage me to read on:

‘Arrested on Honeymoon’ and ‘Imprisonment Sentence for Bigamy’

Well, who wouldn’t read on!  I produce a reprint of the item in its entirety below which is pretty well self-explanatory as to the man’s plight. I have also produced two other clips, both from Australia, where in Melbourne his cunning plans were to unfold so rapidly.

I have searched a little further and can confirm that the policeman in question was a John Tyers, a transport police officer, born in Yorkshire in 1901 [actually, born in Lincolnshire in 1898 – see below] and legally married to Martha Jane Dobson – then a widow – in Bradford in June of 1920. (From what I can discover, she was several years older than him). The date he travelled out to Bermuda by steamer is not clear but it seems that his wife stayed behind in the marital home in Yorkshire, though there were apparently no children to the marriage.

JOHN FURTHER WROTE:

Chislaine Bennett was born about 1905 in Ormskirk, Lancashire and would have been around 20 years of age when she was known to be holidaying in Bermuda, where she was to take up the acquaintance of Pc Tyers. She sounds as if she was of good stock (rich) and he seems to have latched on to her like the English coppers often did. He sneaked her address from her bank-book in the post office and when she returned to her home in Maghull, Lancs, she was soon to be followed by an obviously smitten suitor – (I wonder if he’d deserted’ from the Police?).

In June of 1926 the two were married at her home Registry Office. Three weeks after this ‘marriage’, the couple set off for a honeymoon in Australia and apparently, straight into the arms of the local bobby in Melbourne.

Chislaine – also known as Christine – sounds like an interesting lady and pretty obviously not short of a few pounds. Very soon after his arrest she is reported to have married in June 1945 to a William H. Hood in Liverpool, England, though this marriage did not last much longer as Ghislaine died in 1957 in Liverpool aged just 45; her William died ten years later in Liverpool, aged 60.

A titillating tale perhaps, but I wonder if the records at Prospect hold any references to this bold adventurer from so long ago. I would love to know. John and Martha (Dobson) re-united eventually and lived the rest of their lives in Bradford where both died in the latter half of 1971 – in Bradford.

END OF JOHN McQUAID’S SUBMISSION

The Courier [Dundee]

1920, June 7

A BROUGHTY VISITOR

Mr. J. Howard Sempill, chief of police and Provost Marshall General of the colony of Bermuda, formerly chief constable of Broughty Ferry, is at present in this country recruiting for the Bermuda police force. Mr. Sempill renewed his acquaintance with Broughty Ferry by a visit over the weekend.

Sourced by John McQuaid to whom thanks are given.  

1920, June 21 – Marriage (1) after Banns, of John Harry Isaiah Tyers (25) Bachelor to Martha Jane Dobson, Widow, in North Bierley, Bradford, Yorkshire, England. [St. John’s Church, Parish of Clayton,

County of York]

He gave his occupation as Police Constable and his address as 30 Cobden St, Clayton, Yorkshire. His father, John Tyers is described as ‘Gentleman’.

Martha Jane (30) is described as a widow of 18 Cobden St, Clayton, Yorkshire

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2628-4T9

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:262L-BZY

1921 CENSUS:  No gain – 100 year rule applies

1925, July 9 – Sailed under the name JOHN H. I. TYERS from Liverpool bound for Bermuda on S.S. “OROPESA”

The Royal Gazette and Colonist Daily

1925, 28 December

INVESTITURE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE

This morning at 11.30 in the grounds of the Public Buildings His Excellency, the Governor will formally present J. H. Sempill Esq., Chief of Police with the insignia of the O.B.E.[sic] awarded to him by His Majesty the King, for services rendered Bermuda, on the occasion of the last Royal birthday.

The date is a happy one for it is eleven years today since Mr. Sempill arrived in the Colony, and during that time we have witnessed the reorganization of the whole Police Force and watched it grow to its present splendid state of efficiency. There will be many friends of the Chief’s present today to see him honoured and the occasion will be marked by the biggest parade of Police ever seen in Bermuda.

[I concur with Roger’s opinion on the above photo when he states:

“I’m almost sure it is Court Street judging by the wall on the left which has to be the House of Assembly eastern wall”. As reported below, the parade is led by Inspector W.N.T. Williams].

EDITORS NOTE  - Unfortunately, this photo has been quite badly damaged over the years since 1925.  We would be delighted if anyone could trace a better copy of it.

The Royal Gazette and Colonist Daily

1925, Tuesday, December, 29

Yesterday morning in the grounds if the Public Buildings, Hamilton, the Chief of Police, Mr. J.H. Sempill, was invested with the insignia of the M.B.E. [sic] by His Excellency the Governor, Lieut.-General Sir J. J. Asser. The ceremony was witnessed by a very large and representative crowd of spectators, and was performed in the presence of the Police Force, who paraded 50 strong under the command of Inspector W. N. T. Williams. They were drawn up two deep on the north side of the Cenotaph, facing the Public Buildings, with the Chief of Police in front of them, and the Governor took up a position near the flagpole for the function.

His Excellency was attended by Brigade-Major Imbert-Terry, R.A. and Capt. Hoskyn, A.D.C., and Col. Briggs, C.R.E., was also present. Among the spectators were the Hon. H. Henniker-Heaton, Colonial Secretary; the Hon. K.J. Beatty, Chief Justice; the Hon. Major T.M. Dill, Attorney General; Major R.W. Appleby, Police Magistrate, Central District; the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of Bermuda; Mr. J. Robertson Honey, American Consul; Hon. S.S. Spurling, C.M.G., M.C.P., Hon. J.P. Hand, M.C.P., and other members of the legislature; the Wor. A.W. Bluck, M.C.P, Mayor of Hamilton; and the business community was also well represented.

On his arrival, His Excellency inspected the Police Force, and then, taking up his position near the flagpole, read the Charter of the Order and pinned the decoration on Mr. Sempill’s breast. He afterwards made a short speech. “About 11 years ago,” said the Governor, “it was felt that the Colony was not exactly what it ought to be, and a search was made for a police officer of high qualifications to take up the work, and the choice fell on Mr. Sempill. He was man with a long apprenticeship in police work, and had good service to his credit. It was proper that that day should have been chosen, the 11^th anniversary of Mr. Sempill’s arrival in the islands, for him to receive this decoration, conferred on him by His Majesty the King “in appreciation of the faithful manner in which you have carried out your task undertaken 11 years ago. You have certainly rendered a good account of yourself,” added the Governor.

It gave His Excellency great pleasure to have the honour of making the decoration, because he had looked through many records of the early days and the years following Mr. Sempill’s arrival, and so he understood the situation which obtained in those days as far as public security was concerned, and what obtained today. He gathered from those records, and those of the Police, that the Force was very different to what he saw before him that day.

The first thing that Mr. Sempill had realised on taking up his position was that he had got to surround himself with a Force of honest and reliable men. It was not an easy task, and was work which entailed careful thought and consideration and much time, because he not only had to select men but had to wait and see whether he had been wise in his selections. But thanks to his good judgement and quality of dealing with men and his understanding and long experience, he had by careful selection and by eliminating those unsuited to the profession, Mr. Sempill now had command of a Force which the Governor had no hesitation in saying was a model to any other country. That was not only His Excellency’s opinion, but visitors from the Dominion and other Colonies spoke in the highest terms, while visitors from other countries highly commended the Police Force, while the officers of the Services, the Navy and the Army, spoke of them in the highest terms.

His Excellency complimented them on that high state of efficiency. Any man, he added, could build up a Force, but he would not get the best unless he had the whole-hearted support and good-will and loyalty of the men, and it was largely due to that state of affairs that Mr. Sempill stood before them to receive the decoration.

In conclusion, the Governor hoped that each member of the Force, now that this high state of efficiency had been reached, would strive to maintain it and to uphold the good name they had won, that they would be a credit to their Chief, to Bermuda, and the British Empire. (Applause)

This ended the investiture, and the Police Force, a very smart looking body of men indeed, marched from the Public Buildings, via Front and Reid Streets, back to the Police Station, where they were dismissed.

[It remains unclear at this writing whether Commissioner Sempill was awarded the M.B.E. or the O.B.E.]

The Royal Gazette and Colonist Daily

1926, Saturday, January, 16^th

Although there were several cases down on the criminal calendar this morning [Friday, January 15^th] yet only one was tried as this case took up the entire morning. This was an assault case and was rather unique in the annals of criminal procedure of Bermuda inasmuch as the defendant was a Police Constable.

The complainant was Harry Hugh Hayward, a youthful barber of Queen Street; the defendant was John Henry Isaiah Tyers, a member of the Bermuda Police Force, and the charge was that of assault under section 269 of the Criminal Code. Mr. J. R. Conyers appeared as counsel for the prosecution, and Mr. H. Villiers Smith was counsel for the defence. After four witnesses for the prosecution and two for the defence had been examined and cross-examined, and the learned counsel had summed up, the Magistrate announced he would give his decision at ten o’clock next Monday morning.

Briefly the facts were that at about 12.20 a.m. of the 2^nd inst Hayward, accompanied by a woman companion, entered the precincts of Victoria Park and took up a poetic position on the fresh green grass. According to Hayward they stretched out on the sward on their sides each with an elbow supporting a head and facing one another. Ten minutes later this interesting situation was interrupted by the approach of Police Constable Tyers, (whose duty it was to patrol the park in order to see that all visitors were well on their way to their homes for the hour was late), by flashing his electric torch upon them. This led to a scramble on the part of the pair to gain their feet after which a conversation ensued between them and the Constable. The question of their being under arrest and to a visit to the Police Station was gone into. According to Hayward he had a hand bag in his right hand and called to girl; “Hold this for me!”

The next thing Hayward knew was that he found himself back on the ground with, as he said, a bruised and injured jaw, and which he alleged was the result of a blow from the Constable’s fist. Hayward said his cheek was cut inside and he could not eat for two days and suffered considerable pain; but there was no medical evidence forthcoming to show the seriousness of the wounds. Hayward got up with the Officer’s assistance and, as he said, ran off to look for witnesses leaving the girl in the Constable’s care. She pleaded for release so successfully that he let her go. She then joined Hayward who took her home. Later on that morning and again in the afternoon Constable Tyers met Hayward, once outside the American House and again in Hayward’s shop when the affairs of the early morning were touched upon.

That night about 8 o’clock Hayward decided to take action and made a report to the Police and later on laid a formal charge before the Magistrate.

Constable Tyer’s story differed greatly from that of Hayward’s. He claimed that the law was being broken and it was his duty to interfere whereupon Hayward passed a blow at him which caught him on the chest and in return he pushed him away with his arm and Hayward fell down, but he denied striking him, as Hayward had stated. He had acted in self-defence and had he really struck him Hayward would not be able to be in court today. Constable Tyers said that while he did not make a note of the matter in his official note-book he did not report the occurrence at the Police Station when came off duty at 4 a.m. as he took advantage of the privilege of a Police Officer had in using his discretion, and it was not until Hayward had made his complaint that Tyers told his story.

As to the chivalry in the complainant dragging the girl as a witness into court in a case of this kind is entirely a matter of opinion, but in all the main points she corroborated Hayward’s story.

Mr. Conyers in his summing up for the prosecution drew attention to the gravity of the charge which might as well be a case for the Supreme Court rather than a summary one especially where a Constable was concerned. The Magistrate quite concurred in this but said he would treat it summarily.

Mr. H.V. Smith made careful review of the main points in the case on behalf of the defense in which he spoke of the bearing and demeanour of his client when giving his evidence, and the trial ended when the Magistrate announced he would reserve his decision until Monday morning next.

The Royal Gazette and Colonist Daily

There was a very large calendar awaiting the Magistrate’s attention this morning, [Monday, January 18^th] some fourteen cases criminal and civil. The majority of these cases were set down for last Friday but owing to a protracted trial of an assault case they were put over until today.

This assault cases was brought on a charge made against JOHN HENRY ISAIAH TYERS, white, a member of the Bermuda Police Force, by Harry Hayward, white, a barber on Queen Street. This morning the Magistrate gave his decision; he made a careful review of the evidence and found the defendant guilty and convicted him accordingly. But before he passed sentence he wished to confer with the Chief of Police in order to ascertain what penalty, if any, he would receive at the hands of his department.

Witnesses came in for some rebuke because they refrained from telling the truth which was rather misleading in arriving at the facts of a case. The defense was that of Self-defense which in the opinion of the Magistrate was not sustained. He spoke of the bad effect it had on the Police Force when an officer acted hastily and without foresight in striking an alleged offender. Sentence will be passed on Wednesday morning. An account of this trial appeared in last Saturday’s issue of this paper.

The defendant, a Police Constable, is charged with having unlawfully assaulted one Harry Hayward on the 2^nd instant.

It appears from the prosecution that shortly after midnight on Friday 1^st inst. the complainant accompanied by a female who has been called Miss Smith, and will be called so in this judgement, entered Victoria’s Park and sat on the grass in a secluded part of the Park. A few minutes after the defendant who was patrolling the Park, saw the two persons, and ordered them to leave the Park and threatened to arrest them and take them to the Police Station. The complainant and Miss Smith started to leave but both objected to going to the Police Station, saying that they had done nothing. Some altercation took place, when according to the complainant’s story the defendant struck him on the mouth and knocked him down. As a result of the blow the complainant’s lip was cut and he suffered considerable pain for a couple of days. The complainant’s story is corroborated by Miss Smith.

Sergt. Major McBeath, Bermuda Police Force, gave evidence that on the 4^th instant the defendant stated to him that he had struck the complainant with his fist but that he had done so in self-defense. There is no doubt that the assault was committed and the question really is, whether or not it was committed in self- defense, and if so, whether more than sufficient force necessary to repel an assault either contemplated or actual, was used.

The defendant testified that the complainant had first struck him. His evidence on this point was:

“The man said to the girl ‘Take hold of this bag’ at the same time passing me a blow with his right hand and caught me on the chest. He stepped in at me to pass the blow and I put my left hand up and pushed him away. He fell on the ground.”

It is unfortunate that witnesses when giving evidence so frequently fail to observe the oath which has been taken, namely not only to tell the truth but to tell the whole truth. In this case the evidence of the complainant was distinctly misleading to the Court. He stated that after he had been knocked down Miss Smith pleaded with the defendant whereupon the defendant said: “All right I’ll let you off this time. Do not let me catch you here again.” And he then continued “Miss Smith and I then left and I took her home.” It was only after a considerable amount of questioning by the Court that the complainant admitted that he ran out of the Park leaving Miss Smith and the defendant in the Park and that some minutes later she joined him in Cedar Avenue. I particularly mention this because very often the Court is materially assisted in arriving at a conclusion by what might at first seem to be a matter of slight importance. In the present case if the parties had left together as stated and as the Court was led to believe, I might have had some doubts, apart from the evidence, as to whether, if there were an assault, such assault was as serious as stated. The fact that the [defendant] ran away (to seek a witness as he stated, but which I consider to be untrue) might easily warrant the assumption that an assault of a more or less serious nature had been committed, and that the complainant, being in fear, had taken the opportunity of running away from further damage.

There was no idea on the part of the complainant of getting away to avoid being identified as he was already known to the defendant. The general rule of law with regard to self-defense is that if an assault is threatened, as by raising a hand against another within a distance capable of the latter being struck, the latter may strike in his own defense to prevent it, and, although unnecessary, violence must not be used. If a person strike at another, the person struck at is justified in using such a degree of force as will prevent a repetition of the assault. Judging from the evidence I do not think that the complainant either attempted to or actually did strike the defendant.

It does not seem reasonable to suppose under the circumstances that there are any reasons why the complainant should assault the defendant, nor does it appear that there was any ground for the assault by the defendant on the complainant, except possibly that the defendant, by means of the words used by the complainant to Miss Smith, namely “Hold this bag,” may have imagined that he was about to be assaulted. In my opinion these words alone were not sufficient to justify the assault and the assault therefore cannot be considered as having been committed in self-defense. I come to the conclusion that the defendant acted hastily and ill-advisedly, and without due forethought and so committed the assault complained of. In my opinion the failure of the defendant to report the matter to the Police and his subsequent visits to the complainant were made with a view if possible to effect a settlement without criminal proceedings and that the visits were not made solely with the object of ascertaining Miss Smith’s name. Such action by a Police Constable is entirely reprehensible. The defendant as a Police Constable is a Guardian of the Peace, and as such should be ever mindful of the prestige and reputation of the Force to which he belongs, and it is acts of this kind which lower the confidence which the Public should be able to repose in persons who constitute the Force.

For the above reasons I consider the defendant to be guilty of the assault complained of, and he is accordingly convicted. Before passing sentence I propose to confer with the Chief of Police in order to ascertain the effect of this conviction on the future of the defendant and so that in any sentence to be inflicted regard may be had to any such effect.

R.W. Appleby, J.P.

The Royal Gazette and Colonist Daily
 

This morning [Wednesday, January 20^th] the Magistrate passed sentence on JOHN HENRY ISAIAH TYERS, a member of the Bermuda Police Force, who was convicted last Monday of assaulting Harry Hayward, a barber of Queen Street, in Victoria Park, during the early hours of the 2^nd inst. He was sentenced to pay a fine of £5 or go to gaol for two months at hard labour in default of payment.

In the issue of yesterday the Magistrate was given in full, sic. a typographical error was committed which is herewith corrected. The Paper said, “The defendant ran away” whereas it should have been, “The Complainant ran away.”

1926, February 17 

Police Headquarters

Hamilton.

 Letter of Resignation

From Constable J.H.I. Tyers

To the Chief of Police

I respectfully ask leave to resign my position as a constable of the Bermuda Police Force, to take effect from 31^st. March 1926.

My reasons for resigning from the Force is the desire to return to England early in April to my children.

I have the honour to be Sir,

Your obedient servant

J.H.I. Tyers (Signature appears)

Police Constable

From The Chief of Police

To the Colonial Secretary

I have the honour to forward for the information of His Excellency the attached report received from probationary Constable J.H.I. Tyers in which he asks permission to resign his appointment. This is the Constable who was recently prosecuted for an assault the particulars of which are contained in the report accompanying my minute No. 17 of 9^th January, 1926. I do not think that Tyers would ever be a success as a Police Constable, and I recommend that his resignation be accepted with effect from 1^st April, 1926.

2. His appointment papers are attached hereto.

J.H. Sempill (Signature appears)

Chief of Police

1926, April 3 – Sailed as a Transit passenger from Bermuda under the name of HARRY I. TYERS on the S.S. “ORDUNA” bound for Port of New York arriving on April 5, 1926

1926, April 7 – Sailed from New York bound for Southampton, England on S.S. “ORDUNA”

Details obtained from ship’s passenger list for US Immigration purposes include:-

Aged 30     Male     Married      Police Officer

Last permanent Residence: - Brantford

Address of nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came:

30 Cobden St, Clayton, Brantford, Yorkshire, England

[Could this address and the relative named refer to his wife Martha and to their home address in Yorkshire?]

Height: - 6’ -. Fair complexion

Passage fare paid by: - Self

Final destination: - Brantford

Place of birth: Lincolnshire

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G5MR-KH?i=281&cc=1923888    Image 282

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-95MR-LK?i=282&cc=1923888      Image 283

 

1926, May 12 – Marriage (2) of John Harry Tyers to Ghislaine / Thislaine Rosy Bennett in Ormskirk, Lancashire, England

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZT-6TSV

And

1926, 2ndQ – Marriage of John H Tyers to Ghislaine R Bennett at Ormskirk, Lancashire, England

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=bmd%2fm%2f1926%2f2%2faz%2f001186%2f136

[The name Ghislaine later reads as Thislaine on a 1926 ship’s passenger list – see below. Could be a typo]

1926, June 5 – John Harry Tyers sailed on the S.S. “ANCHISES” from Liverpool bound for Melbourne via Las Palmas, Capetown & Australian Ports

Details obtained from ship’s passenger list include:

Aged 28     Male     Born 1898    Shown as accompanied by wife whose occupation is not shown

Last address in the United Kingdom: ℅ Smith Wood & Co.

Country of Last Permanent Residence – England

Country of Intended Permanent Residence – Australia

Travelling with John H Tyers was:

Mrs. Thislaine R. Tyers    Aged 21     English      Occupation not shown 

Last Address in the United Kingdom – 21 Water St. Liverpool

Country of Intended Permanent Residence – Australia

 

1926, July 24 – John Henry Isaiah Tyers was arrested in Melbourne, Australia under the Fugitive Offenders’ Act on a provisional warrant of arrest for bigamy offences in England.

BIGAMY CHARGE – EXTRADITION OF ENGLISHMAN

John Henry Isaiah Tyers, aged 28 years, was brought before Mr. A. A. Kelley, P.M., at the City Court yesterday on a warrant issued under the Fugitive Offenders’ Act, in connection with a charge of bigamy. The warrant was issued in England, and was endorsed on Friday by Mr. Justice Schutt.

Detective O’Keefe said – Tyers was arrested on a provisional warrant in Melbourne on July 24. This is an indictable offence in England, and the maximum penalty is imprisonment for seven year. I produce the original warrant for Tyers’s apprehension. I saw Tyers at the detective office and asked him whether he were the defendant named. He replied, “Yes.”

I read to him a copy of the marriage entry of Ghislaine Rosy Bennett and John Harry Tyers, showing that they were married on May 12, 1926 in Lancaster. I produced also a copy of a marriage entry showing that Tyers and Martha Jane Dobson were married on June 21, 1920, at Bradford. Tyers said that he was the person mentioned in the certificate.

Mr. Kelley (to Tyers) – I commit you to prison to await your return to the United Kingdom.

Accused – I am not contesting the extradition. May I be allowed bail?

Mr. Kelley – No.

1926, November 23 – Arrived on the S.S. “EURIPIDES” at Port of Southampton having embarked in Melbourne, Australia – [a sailing time of between 46 and 50 days]

Mr. John H. Tyers 3^rd Class travel. Gave his proposed address in the UK as Brant, Broughton Nr Newark, Notts.  Occupation: Police Officer. Aged 28

Also recorded in the ship’s passenger list:

Mrs. Ghislaine Tyers 1^st Class travel. Occupation: Housewife and aged 21. Gave her proposed address in the UK as 8 Bold Place, Liverpool

 

 

LEEDS MERCURY

1926, 25 November

TRANSCRIBED BENEATH

ORMSKIRK (Lancs), Wednesday. An extraordinary story of a Bradford ex-constable’s matrimonial experiences was heard at Ormskirk to-day, when John Harry Isaiah Tyers (28) was charged with bigamously marrying Rosy Bennett (21), of Maghull, near Ormskirk, a girl of independent means.

Supt. Pagett stated that Tyers, who had been a police-constable at Bradford and in Bermuda, met Miss Bennett this year in Bermuda, when she was on holiday, and they returned to England and were married.

Tyers married Martha Dobson, a widow, in 1920 at Clayton, near Bradford, it was stated, and she was still alive. During his stay in Bermuda Tyers had corresponded with his wife, and he stayed with her after the ceremony with Miss Bennett. She and Tyers sailed to Melbourne, where he was arrested and sent back to England. Miss Bennett admitted her mother first mentioned marriage between them and bought the engagement ring, while her step-father paid for her marriage licence. Tyers was remanded in custody.

YORKSHIRE EVENING POST

1926, 29 November

TRANSCRIBED BENEATH

ORMSKIRK, Monday.  The wife of John Harry Isaiah Tyers (28) refused to give evidence when he was charged at Ormskirk, today with bigamy. Tyers was formerly a policeman at Bradford, at Oldham and in Bermuda. Mrs. Tyers lives at Broadfolds, Clayton, Bradford.

Tyers was brought from Australia to answer a charge of bigamously marrying Rosy Bennett (21), stepdaughter of Mr. J. M. Wood, a magistrate, of Bank House, Maghull, Bradford.

Tyers now stated that the prison chaplain had written to his wife and had now brought about a reconciliation. His wife, he believed, did not wish to give evidence. Mrs. Tyers was called, but declined to give evidence against her husband. Another witness gave evidence of Tyers’s marriage to Martha Jane Dobson in 1920. Tyers said he would reserve his defence and asked that Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Wood should be subpoenaed.

The Clerk: Do you admit the second marriage? – No.

Tyers was committed for trial at the Liverpool Assizes, and he applied for bail.

Superintendent Pagett strongly opposed bail, saying that Tyers had had to be brought back from Australia at great expense to the country.

Tyers said he was allowed bail in Melbourne. He was put in custody at various ports of call, and if bail was not now granted he would have a further lengthy confinement.

Bail was granted himself in £200 and two sureties of £100.

LEEDS MERCURY

1926, 30 November

PARTIALLY TRANSCRIBED BENEATH

From Our Own Correspondent

ORMSKIRK, Monday. A former Bradford policeman, John Harry Isaiah Tyers (28) of Clayton was sent for trial at Ormskirk today charged with bigamously marrying Rosy Bennett (21) stepdaughter of Mr. Jasper N. Wood …………………………….

DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH

1926, 1 December

[UNKNOWN SHEFFIELD NEWSPAPER]

1927, January 27

POLICEMAN’S BERMUDA ROMANCE –

ARRESTED ON HONEYMOON – IMPRISONMENT SENTENCE FOR BIGAMY

A Bradford ex-policeman’s romantic experience in Bermuda had a sequel at Liverpool Assizes yesterday, when John Harry Isaiah Tyres (28), described as a motor driver, pleaded not guilty to bigamy.

Mr. N. H. Goldie, for the prosecution, said the facts were simple, but in some respects extraordinary. While serving as a railway policeman at Bradford in 1920, prisoner met his lawful wife, who was then a widow, and who now expressed a desire not to give evidence against him. Some year later, accused went to Bermuda and, while in the police force there, became acquainted with a young girl of independent means, named Christine Rosie Bennett, whose home was at Maghull, near Liverpool, and who had gone to Bermuda for a holiday trip. Miss Bennett returned to this country, and was followed shortly afterwards by the accused. They met again and went through the form of marriage at Maghull Parish Church. Three weeks later the two sailed for Australia, but when the ship arrived at Melbourne Tyres was arrested and sent back to this country where the charge of bigamy was made against him. The girl, said counsel, appeared to console herself very quickly, for she met a Mr. George White in Melbourne and married him.

Mrs. White, a stylishly dressed woman, who said her age was 21, corroborated counsel’s statement, adding that accused told her he was single. While she was in the cable office at Bermuda accused came in and looked over her shoulder and got her address, and that was how the acquaintance started. She denied that when she discovered he was married that she attempted to commit suicide, and said it was he who threatened suicide because he said he was so fond of her.

Prisoner in his address to the jury denied that he used to telephone Miss Bennett at ten o’clock in the morning in Bermuda, and said he met her every day and that every night when he was on night duty she met while on his beat. “When she told me that she was unhappy, I told her life was too short to be miserable.” Continuing his address prisoner said these proceedings had brought him back to his senses and were likely to prove a blessing in disguise. “My wife has taken me back and I think that proves I have not been such a bad husband to her.”

Prisoner was found guilty, and was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

THE AUSTRALIAN

1927, February 5

CONSTABLE COMMITS BIGAMY – Australia

A former Bradford policeman, John Harry Isaiah Tyers, aged 28 years, who bigamously married Miss Rosy Bennett following a courtship on his beat in Bermuda in 1920 [probably should read 1926], was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment. He was arrested in Melbourne, whence he was brought to Liverpool for trial. The prosecutor remarked that Miss Bennet had apparently been quickly consoled, because while in Melbourne she had married George White. Tyers gave evidence that when a fellow constable suggested that he was already married, Bennett replied, “I do not care. Married men are the best.” The judge expressed the opinion that Bennett had not suffered greatly.

https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10450-48926635/age-melbourne-vic#fullscreen

1927, April 8^th – Mrs. Ghislaine Rosy White aged 21 sails from the Port of London on board the S.S. “NALDERA” bound for Melbourne, Australia. She traveled 1^st Class and gave her last address in the UK as 8 Bold Place, Glasgow. She appears to be travelling alone.

 

1929, July 8^th – Mrs. Ghislaine White aged 24 arrives at the Port of London from Melbourne, Australia via. Cape, on board the S.S. “ULYSSES” On this occasion she is accompanied by Master William White aged 1 year and she states her proposed address in the UK to be Bank Lodge, Maghull, near Liverpool. Ghislaine travels 1^st Class.

1935

Reference:         J 77/3465/5721

Description:      Divorce Court File: 5721.

                          Appellant: Ghislaine Rosy White otherwise Ghislaine Rosy Bennett

                          Respondent: Augustus George White.

                          Type: Wife’s petition for/of nullity [wn].

Date:                 1935

Held by:            The National Archives, Kew

Legal status:      Public Record(s)

Language:          English

Closure status:  

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8078986

1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION

Tylers Household (2 People)

At 15 The Avenue, Bradford C.B., Yorkshire (West Riding), England

John H. I. Tyers - born 04 April 1898 - Male - Tramway Overhead Linesman & Motor Driver – Married

Martha J Tyers - born 08 November 1887 - Female – Unpaid Domestic Duties – Married

Source: www.Findmypast.com

1945, 2^nd Q – Marriage (3) of Ghislaine R Bennett to William H Hood at Liverpool South, Lancashire, England

 

Photo and comment source: Sue Cook

1971 - Interestingly, both Martha Jane and her husband John Harry I Tyers appear to have died in the same 3^rd Quarter of 1971 in Bradford, Yorkshire. Death certificates and the details contained therein would be required to show the actual dates and causes of death for each of them. See below.

There is a death registration in 1971 (Jul-Aug-Sept) in district of Bradford, Yorkshire of a John Harry I. Tyers born 04 April 1898 Vol 2b page 239 - buried Bradford.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCB-MNP8

There is a death registration in 1971 (Jul-Aug-Sept) in district of Bradford, Yorkshire of a Martha Jane Tyers born 08 November 1887 Vol 2b page240 - buried in Bradford.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCB-MNPD

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=bmd%2fd%2f1971%2f3%2faz%2f001102&parentid=bmd%2fd%2f1971%2f3%2faz%2f001102%2f106

 

This article researched and compiled by George F. Rose – 2017

This article about the lengthy but successful investigation into the murder of Mrs Jean Burrows in 1971 by Paul Belvin has been written by retired Superintendent George Rose who was directly involved in the investigation. It includes aspects of the inquiry never before revealed. 

_______________________________________________________

At about 4.30 a.m. on Saturday 3^rd July 1971 the lifeless body of a 24-years old English wife and mother was found floating face-up and partially clad in shallow waters along the water’s edge of the Hamilton Inner Harbour, several hundred yards from nearby Pomander Gate where she lived with her husband and small son. The discovery was made shortly after daybreak by two friends of the deceased Jean Mary Burrows, who were searching the area after she had failed to arrive home after eating and socializing during the previous evening with her husband and the same friends at a nearby restaurant in Hamilton. One of the friends immediately fetched Police Constables 263 Malcolm M. Irvine and 322 Robert W. Allan whom he had seen earlier that morning at the nearby hospital and they attended accompanied by a doctor who certified the woman was dead but he made no examination of the body. C.I.D. and Scenes of Crime Officers (SOCO) including Detective Superintendent Hammond attended and photographs were taken ‘in situ’ before the body was removed from the water. It later transpired that Burrows had been brutally assaulted, raped then drowned.

 

Various articles of her property were found scattered about the wide crime scene between distances of up to some 50 yards from where the body was discovered in the lonely Paget beauty spot.

 

 

During the following days sixty-six men and women of the Police service, in all parts of the island, were engaged in one of their biggest-ever manhunts in the search for the man who waylaid the slim, attractive brunette – a former reporter for the local Royal Gazette newspaper. These were 16 hour days requiring physical stamina and a strong tenacity of purpose; sometimes a month went by without a proper rest day and it interfered with your social life for sure but as the boss would remind you - ‘if you don’t like it I can find a uniform for you.’ 

 ENTRANCE TO POMANDER ROAD, PAGET (July 1971)

The ‘Action Book’ [no computerized assistance in those days] blossomed in the first week into hundreds of enquiries to be run to ground. One such action assigned to my team was to locate and identify all foreign vessels then in local waters and to then interview their crews before they departed. All exit routes by way of airports and shipping ports were placed under close scrutiny. As I recall there were about 20 such yachts moving about the local waters but a priority enquiry centered on four crew members [three males and one female] off the motor-yacht “Mistress” known to have been berthed at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club [on Pomander Road] at the material time of the murder. It was quickly ascertained that the “Mistress” had left Bermuda waters at daybreak on the morning of the murder.

Although the Bermuda Government indicated that they were prepared to call in Scotland Yard at this early stage it was a move not yet adopted but was being kept under consideration by Commissioner George Duckett. An autopsy had revealed that the victim had died by drowning after having been viciously raped and struck on the head by the unknown assailant. 

 

Seven days into the investigation the daily newspaper editorialized in the following terms:

“It is now a week since Jean Burrows was murdered. It has been a week of the most intensive Police investigations, a week in which the force has probed deeply and carefully into all the circumstances surrounding the death.

“The investigation has taken the form of an extremely careful search of the murder scene and its environs, and the interviewing of over 300 people. Numbers of Policemen have been detached from their normal work to probe into the death. At the moment it is not clear whether any leads are developing. One gains the impression that the evidence gained so far is such that it does not reveal a clear pattern, but instead is susceptible to a number of different interpretations. In the circumstances the question is inevitably arising: should Scotland Yard be called in?

“The advantages would be that the Police would gain the assistance of specialists in difficult-to-solve murders, men who spend most of their time on nothing else but seeking murderers. We would also gain the services of two senior men, which might ease burdens on senior Bermuda officers. The disadvantage is primarily one of morale. If the Bermuda Police Service can solve this one it will be a definite boost, that important feeling of having overcome major difficulties. But in fact, if Scotland Yard is called in it would not really be an admission of defeat by the Police. Rather it would be like a general practitioner calling in a specialist – for, happily, our Police have not had to deal with many murders, have had very few difficult murders to handle, and have not had to develop murder specialists. No one can deny the energy or care which has gone into the investigation so far, and should Scotland Yard be called in they will undoubtedly find the groundwork completely done.  A tremendous effort is being made to solve the crime; it would not denigrate the Bermuda Police in any way to seek outside specialists.”

A week after the discovery of Jean’s body, the Chief Secretary’s Office stated that “If at any stage the services of Scotland Yard would appear to be in any way helpful in the conduct of the investigation, there would be no hesitation in calling them in, but it is not considered that there is any need to do so at this stage.”

 

 

HONDA MOTOR CYCLE A437 PROPERTY OF JEAN BURROWS

Investigations concerning the crew of the motor-yacht “Mistress” proceeded apace and the murder probe moved overseas to Nassau County, New York. It was disclosed to the public that no positive lead had yet been established in the rape-murder and that – “two Bermuda Police officers had been to New York last week to ‘follow a particular line of enquiry’ into the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Burrows’ death. Detective Chief Inspector John Sheehy and Detective Sergeant George Rose are now back in the Colony, and their report has been submitted to Commissioner of Police Mr. George Duckett, and to Superintendent Frank Hammond of the Criminal Investigation Department, who is in charge of the investigation.”

Working primarily with and through the resources of Detective Frank Fehn of the Homicide Squad, Nassau County, Mineola, New York State the subjects of our enquiry were located and interviewed as follows:

 The first of the male crew to be located and interviewed on Wednesday 14^th July was an 18 year old dock builder by the name of John S. who was already known to the Nassau County police as a drug peddler and who was then on bail for serious drug offences. As we approached him at his worksite on the dock at the Manhasset Bay Marina I saw Detective Frank Fehn open his jacket and release his gun holster safety-strap. Detective Fehn introduced himself and asked this person of interest to accompany him to the nearby Port Washington Police Section House in order that he might assist police officers from Bermuda in the investigation of a homicide in Bermuda. John S. replied, “Sure, I hope it’s not going to take too long.” At about 3.30 p.m. at the Section House he was acquainted with certain facts relating to the Burrows murder.

Under questioning, John S. was slow in remembering his movements during the whole time he was in Bermuda. His mind was sluggish and it appeared he was of below average intelligence. It was made clear to him that he would derive some benefit on his pending narcotics charge if he truthfully told all he knew and could remember in detail of his actions whilst in Bermuda. He was further interviewed by Detective Fehn after which I commenced a written statement from John S. in which he slowly recalled the timeline of his movements in Bermuda during his stay. He admitted having been in the Pomander Road area during the hour of 1.0 a.m. on the morning of the murder and he also mentioned that prior to his returning to the “Mistress” that morning he had met and spent time with an old friend named Paul from Fairylands, in Bermuda. John S. said he left Paul’s house about 1.0 a.m. and made his way back to the “Mistress”.  On the way back, he said, he met Thomas P. another member of the crew but continued on his way to the “Mistress”.  We made immediate communications with the Bermuda murder room and detectives there located and interviewed Paul in an effort to establish the authenticity of his friend’s movements in Bermuda at the material times.

Meanwhile, it was decided that John S. should undergo an expensively operated Polygraph test which would help to evaluate and determine whether or not he was lying about substantive points in his statements. Together with DCI Sheehy, Detective Fehn and others, I monitored the test for the next 2½ hours from behind a two-way mirror in an adjacent room wherein John S. was voluntarily subjected to the test conducted by Detective Sergeant Edward Goutink and Detective Kenneth Krassner of the Scientific Investigation Bureau. The test results rendered John S. to be a mentally confused individual. He was brought to a point during the interrogation process where he would have clearly admitted raping Jean Burrows, or being in any way concerned with the assault on her. The test was finalized at 11.05 p.m. Shortly thereafter, telephonic communications from Bermuda suggested that John S. was lying in his comments about having left Paul’s house in Bermuda and returning the “Mistress” at about 1.0 a.m. on the Saturday morning of the murder.

Paul had told Police in Bermuda that his friend John S. had stayed the whole night of Friday to Saturday at his house in Fairylands. At 11.35 p.m. this important point was put to John S. who earnestly denied Paul’s assertion. John S. was believed in his strong denial and further communications during the midnight hours with detectives in Bermuda revealed that Paul was, in fact, mistaken in his earlier claims that John S. had stayed the night with him.

 John S. stood 6’ 6” tall, of slim build wearing medium-brown hair extending below his ears. He was clean shaven and wore a size 13 shoe. He was a drug user and he looked it. He was clearly in both mental and physical decay. He was not an intelligent youth and he responded best to a sympathetic approach. It is certain that he was in the area of Pomander Road at or near the time of the Burrows murder but he steadfastly denied hearing or seeing anything of relevance. He was subjected to immense psychological pressure during interrogation and it was felt by the detectives that he would have confessed his part had he have been in any way involved in the crime. Together with his photograph, samples of his spittle and shoulder length hair were obtained for comparison purposes [these were the days before DNA sequencing of course] and shortly before 1.0 a.m. on the 15^th July John S. departed Police company – for now.

At 10.0 a.m. that same morning the second of the male crew of the “Mistress”, Thomas P., was approached at his residence in Port Washington. He was aged 18 years and occupied as a part-time dock labourer along the waterfront during the summer - and as a student. He had not had communication with John S. overnight. He was affable and in no way appeared nervous by our approach. He had not had any involvement with police officers hitherto. At Nassau County Police Headquarters Thomas P. was thoroughly interviewed concerning his movements during his short stay in Bermuda. Initially, he was vague in remembering detail but as he recounted his past events his memory fixed on times and incidents without hesitation. I finally recorded a statement from him ending at 1.25 p.m. Thomas P. was an intelligent youth who assisted in our enquiries.

It is clear that he left the “Mistress” after midnight (Friday/Saturday) and rode into the city. He recalled meeting John S. along East Broadway and then, he states, – in contravention to what John S. remembered – they both went for a hamburger in Hamilton. They later rode back together to the “Mistress” arriving at the yacht at about 1.0 a.m. having noticed nothing of importance along the way.

Thomas P. agreed to undergo a Polygraph test which commenced at 2.0 p.m. and which concluded at 5.0 p.m. The test was again conducted by Detective Sergeant Ed Goutink and according to him the test results indicated that Thomas P. was concealing something of a personal nature. Goutink emphasized however that he did not believe it was anything to do with the assault on Jean Burrows. Thomas P. stood 5’ 8” tall, of good solid build wearing medium to dark brown hair almost touching his shoulders. He wore a size 9½ shoe and confessed to using drugs frequently. He co-operated with our enquiries without hesitation and by his own admission would have been in the area of Pomander Road at the material times. He believed however that he may have ridden his livery cycle the long way round to the Dinghy Club entering Pomander Road the wrong way. (This, he stated, was a habit he had gotten into during his stay). Thomas P. was mentally, more alert than John S. and stated that he neither saw nor heard anything unusual during his journey. As with John S., his photograph, samples of his spittle and long hair were obtained for comparison purposes. He departed Police company at 5.45 p.m.

 The third and fourth members of the crew were interviewed the following morning. They were Captain of the “Mistress” Paul K. aged 26 together with his girlfriend Katherine F. aged 28 years. At their home in Port Washington both were co-operative, frank and straightforward in answering our questions and I recorded statements from both giving their movements whilst in Bermuda and recording their impressions of John S. and Thomas P. They were unable to confirm at what time either of the two crewmen returned to the “Mistress” on the Saturday morning or whether or not they arrived at the yacht alone or together. Paul K. stood 5’ 11” tall, of heavy, stocky build. He wore a full beard and fair hair over the ears. His recollection of events was accepted by investigating officers and there was nothing to suggest that he was any nearer the scene of the crime early on that Saturday morning than being on board the “Mistress” with his girlfriend. He was able to say that he noticed nothing out of the ordinary concerning his crew members John S. or Thomas P. at any time during or after departure from Bermuda at daybreak on Saturday.

Katherine F. confirmed that both crewmembers John S. and Thomas P. were asleep in their bunks at between 6.0 a.m. and 7.0 a.m. on Saturday morning from whichen they arose prior to departure.

Later the same day John S. was re-interviewed regarding his having omitted to mention he had eaten a hamburger with Thomas P. during the early hours of that Saturday morning. When the matter was put to him, he immediately recalled having done so.

DCI Sheehy and I returned to the island from New York on Friday16th July having completed our enquiries.

The following weekend the public was informed that on July 18^th Detective Constable Ron Wallace had flown to London to deliver exhibits in the case to Scotland Yard for further analysis in their forensic laboratory. Some ten days later it was announced that two Scotland Yard detectives were due in Bermuda to help local Police solve the Jean Burrows case. Police Commissioner Mr. George Duckett announced that Scotland Yard had been asked to assist in the inquiry.  He named the two Scotland Yard officers as Detective Chief Superintendent Bill Wright, and Detective Sergeant Basil Haddrell. The Commissioner said that hundreds of people had been interviewed and appeals had gone out for anyone in the vicinity of Pomander Road at the time of the crime to come forward. He confirmed that Detective Chief Inspector John Sheehy and Detective Sergeant George Rose had made a trip to New York the previous week to pursue one line of inquiry in the case.

The last time that the Scotland Yard Murder Squad had been called in to help solve a local murder was in 1959 when an English secretary, Barbara Rawlinson, was found dead in the sea off the South Shore after disappearing from a private beach. Wendell Willis Lightbourne, who was convicted of the murder, was sent to England to serve a life term in a British security prison.

On 4th August Detective Chief Superintendent Bill Wright of New Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad said at a press conference that ‘Mrs. Jean Burrows had lost a lot of blood from a head wound before she went into the water’. “That is my opinion at the moment,” he said. He felt it was a “baffling case,” admitting he would be a lot happier “if we knew where and how the murder occurred.” He explained to newsmen: “What we are doing is re-opening the case right from the beginning. This is the only way we can get down to it. We have to study all the documentation and hard work already put into this case, which takes a long time. “It is important to keep the matter fresh in the minds of people, just in case people in the area have not come forward.”

Mr. Wright agreed that many people were constantly leaving the Colony – tourists, yachtsmen and crews of ships. He knew the press was aware that inquiries had extended to New York. Asked where else, he replied London and Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. “We are always making some progress,” said the Detective Chief Superintendent, “But if you mean have we got a suspect in mind the answer is no, not yet.”

He concluded by informing the press that a “murder squad office” had been set up at Police headquarters, Prospect.

In late August 1971, a neighbor and landlady of the deceased living on Pomander Road reported that one of her cheques had been forged and uttered at the Princess Hotel on 30^th August 1971. A local man by the name of Paul Belvin was raised as a suspect. Belvin was detained for the cheque offence by Detective Constable Raymond Souza and was later interviewed by D/Supt Bill Wright and D/Chief Inspector Sheehy on the morning of Thursday 2^nd September. From the outset, it was apparent that Belvin was familiar with certain aspects of the murder. When asked how he thought the murder had happened, he went on to relate how she had been strangled. During this interview, he was putting forward his own theory as to how the murder had occurred.

Later that morning, Belvin accompanied D/Supt Wright and DCI Sheehy to Pomander Road where he was asked to demonstrate what he thought had occurred. For the purposes of this demonstration, Police Constable 298 Andrew Lavery rode a Honda auxiliary cycle down Pomander Road in the direction the deceased is believed to have travelled. Belvin had positioned himself between two palm trees and, as the cycle came round the bend he stepped out in front of it, causing the rider to stop. He said to the rider, “Lady, have you a light please?”

He then made an imaginary blow to the back of the rider’s neck, followed by an imaginary punch to the face. The rider fell backwards on to a low rock wall. Belvin then went on to describe and to demonstrate in detail what and how he would have dealt with the deceased and her property thereafter including where he would have hidden her cycle; and how he would have left the scene and changed his clothes before burning them on Elbow Beach. He said that he would then have spent the rest of the night at Lower Ferry or Hodson’s Ferry where he unscrewed the lightbulb and went to sleep. [Belvin later identified Lower Ferry to police as having been his lodgings for the night].

During the early afternoon Belvin was re-interviewed and eventually elected to make a written voluntary statement under caution in which he admitted killing Jean Burrows. Belvin’s statement disclosed some 20 points which could only have been known to the person responsible for the offence. When police charged and cautioned him Belvin said: “I am kind of sorry that I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t intend to kill her. All I wanted was to have sex.” The next day, 27-year old Paul Augustus Belvin appeared before a packed court charged with the murder of Jean Burrows. During remand appearances thereafter it was said that a total of 34 witnesses, including 21 policemen, will be called to give evidence in the trial which was to begin on January 17^th. It was also reported that Belvin had been one of 10 key finders in the annual ZBM Treasure Hunt in 1969. 

 On the third day of the trial before a hushed Supreme Court, the Crown called the British Home Office’s top pathologist Professor Keith Simpson as a surprise witness in the trial. Also on that day, another of the expert witnesses for the Crown, Richard Stedman, a senior scientific officer at the London Metropolitan Laboratory, was accused by defense lawyer, Mr. Charles Vaucrosson, of giving misleading and prejudiced evidence. Mr. Vaucrosson’s allegation came in cross-examination on technical evidence Stedman gave about samples sent to the laboratory for analysis. Mr. Vaucrosson said that because only some items of clothing had been examined, the evidence was biased. Mr. Vaucrosson later apologized for what he called his outburst and Stedman asked leave to speak. “Before lunch I was accused of giving biased evidence,” he said. “I would just like to say that this is more than my job is worth. We are very jealous of our reputation in the forensic service.” Puisne Judge, the Hon. Mr. Justice Barcilon, said that no blame could be attached to the witness. “He only examines the articles sent to him, and gave the findings on them,” he said.

I was the 32^nd and final witness for the prosecution. I told the jury that on Friday 3^rd September 1971 I was at Hamilton Police Station in company with Belvin’s [stepfather] and his [stepbrother]. I told the jury that acting on a request from his [stepfather] I caused Belvin to be brought by Constable 291 Alistair Reid to the Parade Room. I read from my original notes an account of a conversation between the accused, his [stepfather] and his [stepbrother] which then occurred between 9.43 a.m. and 9.50 a.m. The gist of this conversation was that Belvin said he did not remember what happened on the night of July 2/3, 1971. Constable 291 Alistair Reid was present throughout and corroborated my evidence. Throughout this conversation nothing whatsoever was said to Belvin by either Constable Reid or by myself. Resulting from what was said by Belvin during this conversation I interviewed two hitherto unknown witnesses and recorded statements from both.

When the defense opened their case, Belvin’s lawyer Mr. Charles Vaurcrosson announced, “We have taken instructions from our client, we have informed him of his rights, and he has elected to make a statement from the dock.”

“Are you calling any other witnesses?” asked the Puisne Judge. “No,” said Mr. Vaucrosson.

“What do you want to say?” the Judge asked the accused.

Belvin replied: “I repeat, not guilty. I must admit the night of the murder I told them I was there, but as far as my knowledge reminds that I was not there the night of the murder. And I still plead not guilty.”

“Yes?” said the Judge.

“That’s it,” said Belvin.

It took the 12-man jury just over an hour to reach their unanimous verdict of “Guilty.”

The Court Registrar, Mr. John Barrington-Jones, asked Belvin if there was anything he would like to say why sentence should not be passed on him.

“I am not guilty,” came the clear, steady voice from the dock.

Mr. Barcilon, after a slight pause, looked at Belvin and said: “The sentence of this court is that you should suffer death.”

On appeal Belvin’s death sentence was later commuted to one of life imprisonment.

Prior to leaving Bermuda Scotland Yard officers Detective Chief Superintendent Bill Wright and Detective Sergeant Basil Haddrell thanked everyone who had co-operated in the murder investigation.

Said Mr. Wright, “In particular, I very much appreciated the efforts of the local Police. I think Bermuda has a well-organized and most efficient Police Force, and my colleague and I were very grateful to the Commissioner, Mr. George Duckett, who insured that every aid was available when required.

“I felt that during the inquiry we all worked together as a team, not as individuals.”

This group photo shows the CID team who investigated the sexual assault and murder of Royal Gazette reporter Jean Burrows during the early hours of Saturday 3^rd July 1971.  Her naked body was found in the waters adjacent to Pomander Road, Paget.  This photo consisting of most of the murder team members was taken at Police Headquarters on or about Monday 6^th September 1971 shortly after Paul Belvin had been formally charged and remanded in custody for the murder. The team was still together at this point before being dismantled as was customary leaving a skeleton crew to mop up and prepare the court files.

The photo was featured in our 'Who When and Where' column which can be viewed at http://expobermuda.com/index.php/who-when-where/103-murdersquad1971

MURDER MANHUNT

GOVT. PREPARED TO CALL IN SCOTLAND YARD IN POMANDER ROAD MURDER

34 WITNESSES IN MURDER TRIAL

SCOTLAND YARD DETECTIVES FLY HOME, PRAISE LOCAL POLICE

25^th June 2017

Editors note  -  We just received this very interesting and informative email from Ray Sousa in Australia who describes his personal involvement in the arrest of Paul Belvin and his prior knowledge of Belvin from their school days. 

Ray has an excellent memory and had a fascinating career in the Bermuda Police before he and his wife Pat decided to emigrate to Australia in 1974.  Ray kindly wrote about his reminiscences in our “Then and Now” column which you can read at http://expobermuda.com/index.php/tan/40-rsousa

 _____________________________

This is another interesting article from George Rose.  I was going to add at the bottom of it, "Excellent story.  A lot of hard work to eliminate suspects and get Belvin's conviction.  There are many stories, within this story. "

For your information the following is my part of the story.

Although I would not admit it at the time, the nature of the offence and photographic evidence I saw had a big impact  on me.  Like many horrific incidents I have dealt with in life, the images at times come back to haunt me.

I went to school with Paul Belvin.  To say he was not the brightest kid in school, and had problems would be an understatement.  During the investigation a number of Bermudians who were spoken to were distressed, because they believed they were considered to be murder suspects. There was a concern/feeling they could wrongly be accused of the murder.  On the day of Paul's arrest I was off duty in Hamilton. As I often did I had a close look at ships docked there.  I found it useful to observe known drug users/dealers who spoke to crew and passengers of ships.  Such information at times led to arrests.

To my surprise I saw Paul hanging around the crew's gangplank entrance to a ship.  No security was in sight.  When I approach Paul he said, " Hello Cosmo [my school nickname] I was just having a look.  Have you come to talk to me about that murdered woman?" or words to that effect.  I told him no I just wanted to talk to him about some cheques he had.   

I officially arrested and cautioned him, then asked him to come to my car so I could take him to the station.  He indicated that he knew Police were looking for him and in fact had spoken to him without recognizing him.  

Even during the short walk to my car Paul could not stop talking about the murder. I knew that Paul was a bit anti-English and I played on this, telling him I was not interested in the murder of an English woman.  This made him talk even more about the murder.  He had an alibi, which I knew was not true, and knew things about the murder that the public and I did not know. Due to his talkative mood, [each time he opened his mouth he gave more information]  I drove him to Hamilton Station, via Foot of the Lane and back.  Even at the station he wanted to continue to talk despite repeated reminders of the caution.  At the station I phoned the Murder Squad saying I had arrested Paul and had no doubt of his guilt. I remained at the station until other detectives came to speak to Paul.

I made notes of my conversation and was later grilled by Supt. Hammond to confirm what was said.  I have no doubt this information was used in the follow up investigation, and I presented them during the court case.

Much to my surprise and dismay I received a lot of fall out over the arrest, from:-

• Some members of the Murder Team who felt that I had interfered in the investigation.  They felt I should not have spoken to Paul at length.  Paul did all the talking, and if he was giving evidence against himself, why stop him?  I appreciate how some of these officers felt after all their hard work with limited results. The same thing has happened to me when someone else had made an arrest after my long hours of work;
• Some Officers who felt I was treating Paul as a good friend, rather than a brutal animal they believed he was.  First of all if you want cooperation/evidence it is important to get the person's confidence by treating them with respect. Besides I try not to hate people, even those who have come close to killing me;
• Some locals, including good friends who felt that I helped frame Paul for the murder.  Some of these people still believe that today.  In all fairness this is not the feedback I got from Paul's family who I highly respect.

From my dealings with Paul Belvin, some of the things he did later, even after the arrest and conviction, and the excellent enquiries made to eliminate other suspects, I have no doubt Paul was guilty of the murder.  Having said that, when you serve in emergency services you have to expect there are some issues/images that will always haunt you.  In my case I have over 51 years of "haunts"!

If you think George or anyone else is interested in this perspective feel free to pass it on .

I didn’t set out to write a comprehensive story about the killing but only to record, in context, my own involvement as a team leader concerning the unusual polygraph enquiry.  It’s doubtful if the investigation papers still exist; but even if they did they wouldn’t convey the personal recollections of the officers involved in the manhunt. The factual evidence presented at trial is never fully covered by the press; and police witnesses are rarely examined during their testimony as to their personal feelings or opinions.

There were 21 police officers who provided evidential input into the investigation. You and Andy Lavery have already shared your respective recollections and it would be good if others in the case could provide theirs also before the passage of time renders them lost forever.

If I remember correctly this was the murder involving the HOLMES product – introduced by the Yard and tested alongside the ‘Action Book’. HOLMES – meaning ‘Home Office Large Major Enquiry System’ – was, by coincidence, the same name as DC Stewart Holmes who was a SOCO team member on this enquiry. I know he was ribbed about it at the time. Where might he be now? 

Good luck with sorting your ‘hauntings’.  I’m sure you have experienced how the passage of time can soften them until they become less bothersome.

Editors note – I’m sure it was Ray who made the initial arrest when he saw him hanging around the docks because he also gave evidence of the arrest etc. during the trial, along with his personal knowledge of Belvin and his continual reference to the “English woman who was murdered.” 

It should be noted that despite every attempt being made by library staff to obtain the best possible quality reproduction I have been informed that – ‘the January 1972 microfilm was originally scanned very poorly, so several of the articles are partially illegible.’ [A few reported comments relative to Dc Sousa’s testimony were found to be undecipherable]

“Before Mr. Belvin’s first statement to Police was read out, a passage in it was excised at the suggestion of the prosecutor, Mr. A.W. Sedgwick. In the statement, taken on September 1, Belvin said he had last been on Pomander Road about nine or ten weeks ago. Mr. Sedgwick observed that this would be around June 23 or 30.

“The statement was produced by Det. Con. Raymond Sousa who said he was driving his car on Front Street around 6.30 p.m. on September 1 when he saw Belvin, whom he knew. He stopped Belvin and told him he was wanted by the C.I.D. for questioning about an offence which had nothing to do with the murder case. Mr. Sedgwick noted that it also had nothing to with sex or violence.

“Det. Con. Sousa said he arrested Belvin who said, after being cautioned, “Surely, I like to help if I can.” He took Belvin to Hamilton Police Station and contacted Det. Con. Gwilym Williams, who was associated with the investigation in the Burrows murder case.

“Det. Con. Sousa read out his record of the interview which Det. Con. Williams had with Belvin, who signed it. Belvin said he walked around Pomander Road and slept there sometimes, but the night of the murder he thought he was sleeping in someone’s house. He had never seen Jean Burrows. He was single and was dating a girl named Sue who worked at the Bank of Bermuda and lived at White Sands Road.

“Asked where he slept in Pomander Road he replied, “Anywhere soft in the bushes.” He said he did not have a bike but his girlfriend had a car. He had driven buses but had never driven a car.

“Questioned on the last time he was in Pomander Road, he answered “Christ, now you ask me, about nine or ten weeks ago around 12 noon.”

“Asked what he was doing there, he said he was trying to get a job at the Bermuda Yacht Club: The Hamilton Dingy Club is nearby. He was not there the night of the murder, he said, adding “The next morning the murder came out. I saw a picture in the paper.” Asked what he knew about it, he said, “Just that she had been killed.”

“Asked where the bushes were where he slept, he said, “Behind back by the fence where they park cars for the hotel.” The night of the murder he said he was at ‘Rockfish’ DeSilva’s house in Happy Valley Road. He walked there from work about 4 p.m. and had a bath. He was working at Holiday Inn at the time.

“Shown a photograph of Jean Burrows he said he could not recognize her.

“He was not sure what he was wearing that night, but thought it was the same …. pants and green shirt he had on when interviewed.

“He said he used to work at Pomander …. when he was …. and did not know anyone there.

“The next few questions and answers were not read out and the Judge ordered them …. …. a photostat made of the statement.

“Asked if he could tell Police anything that would help them …. …. he said ….    The statement was read over to him and he signed ….

“Detective Sousa said he then told Belvin he would be detained until the officer investigating the other case was able to see him. He was searched and placed in the cells. Cross examined by defence counsel Dennis Chandler, the constable said he knew the accused was unable to read and could barely write his name. 

“Det. Con. Gwilym Williams, [then attached to the Narcotics Squad], who took the statement, said the record represented the interview fairly. Mr. Chandler objected to having the rest of the witness’s evidence at this stage, and said the defence would have a number of similar objections – [which were heard by the judge throughout the following day, that being Friday. As before, arguments in the absence of the jury, were barred from reporting by the news media]

“Mr. Charles Vaucrosson, one of the two lawyers defending Belvin, told the jury that the evidence of Detective Constable Sousa showed that Belvin didn’t remember where he was on the night of the murder – “but the accused had no particular reason two months later when [he] was questioned to remember that night and couldn’t remember where he was .”

“Mr. Vaucrosson also claimed that there might have been errors made when interviews were recorded by the Police with Belvin. “It would be easy to confuse the words, and the accused couldn’t verify what he said because he can’t read.”

The Acting Chief Justice took over four hours to sum up for the jury. Regrettably, the entire page 2 of the RG article – which may have carried the judge’s guidance to the jury respecting Dc Sousa’s evidence – was not microfilmed and the record of his summing up and instructions is thereby missing in its entirety.

My family was involved with the Belvins from the 40’s.

Paul grew up on Dudley Hill Paget where he was run over by my Father after he rode a pedal cycle out of the bushes. Seriously injured he received a steel plate as part of his skull.

My Father found Jeans body on Pomander Road as he was going to his ‘punt’.  Irony.

For the avoidance of doubt, I’ve examined the available records concerning the initial discovery of the deceased’s body in the waters of Hamilton Harbour. There is no evidence to support your assertion that your father found the body, nor is there a record that he ever became a person of interest to the investigation team. I found no mention of anyone other than material witnesses John Ellingham and David Roberts both of whom later described the circumstances surrounding their discovery of the body. 

Special attention would have been paid by investigators to both Ellingham and Roberts and they would certainly have been treated initially in a manner more popularly known today as ‘persons of interest’. They would have been carefully and fully examined, separately, until their status could be confidently determined. 

In his post-investigation report dated 14 September, 1971 Det. Chief Superintendent W. Wright of New Scotland Yard wrote [in part]:

Para. 9. About 4.30 a.m., Ellingham and Roberts decided to make enquiries at the King Edward Hospital to see if she had been admitted. On learning she had not, they returned to the Pomander Road area and again started a search, the light now being reasonably good.

Para.10. They were walking along the water’s edge on the North side of Pomander Road, behind a house known as “Waterville” when Ellingham saw the partially clad body of Jean Mary Burrows lying outstretched, face up in shallow water. He called out to Roberts who then joined him.

Para.11. Ellingham then directed Roberts to return to the Hospital to fetch the two Police Officers they had seen there earlier.

Belvin’s trial commenced on Monday, January 17, 1972 and was reported in the Royal Gazette the following day by Tomasina Fountain and Marian Robb.

[When describing to the court the initial finding of the body] – the Acting Attorney General Mr. A.W. Sedgwick in his opening address to Puisne Judge the Hon. Justice Hector Barcilon and the jury, said, in part, ‘it must have been after 4.a.m. that Roberts and Ellingham went to the emergency ward of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to see if she had been admitted. The answer was negative. They came back along Pomander Road, as dawn was breaking, and parked the car near the first bend in the road to have another look around the area.

It was then that Ellingham saw a body in the water, not far from the road. He drew his friend’s attention to this discovery, and Ellingham described the body as looking “like a mannequin floating in the water.” Roberts drove back to the hospital, and returned with an ambulance, a doctor and a policeman. All this was at about 5 a.m. on Saturday, July 3.’

Again, dealing solely with the initial finding of the body, – the trial report in the Royal Gazette of Wednesday, January 19, 1972 states, in part, that witness John Ellingham, a reporter with the Bermuda Sun during his examination in chief said, ….‘when it was dawn, [he] went with David Roberts in his car to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, and found out at the emergency department that Jean Burrows had not been admitted as a patient.’  

[Ellingham further told the court] – “it was quite light when they started down Pomander Road, and they parked near the first bend. It was while walking near the water that he saw a body floating in the harbor and Roberts went in his car to the hospital and returned with two Policemen, an ambulance and a doctor. It was about 4.45 p.m. (sic) Ellingham thought…………….”

Under cross-examination by Mr. Chandler…………Ellingham agreed that when he first saw the body in the water, he also saw Burrows’ long black …..? – [the missing word could be hair – it is difficult to read from the deteriorating microfilm].

Terry, I have reviewed the full list of 34 witnesses including 21 police officers. Of the 13 civilian witnesses who gave evidence at trial, 10 were males all of whom are known to me. They do not include the name of your father.

Editors note – The irony here is that George Rose has not only provided very extensive and factually correct information about the circumstances of this heinous crime but he has also gone to great lengths to double check the facts, review press reports and compile a first class article. 

Terry, you need to face the fact that there is not a single shred of evidence that your father was the person who found the body of Jean Burrows. Zero, Zilch, Nothing, 

It is indeed ironic that with no supportive evidence of any kind whatever you insist on continuing to make assertions that are wrong in fact, together with continuing to make sarcastic comments about someone who devoted his life to serving with distinction in the Bermuda Police.

I guess our readers can weigh up Terry's version of who found this body and compare it with the facts provided by George Rose.