CUTTING EDGE OF CRIME

Saturday January the 8th - 1938

"ALLEGED ATTACK WITH A KNIFE - SPITALGATE AIRMAN CHARGED - GONERBY MAN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL"

There is a lot in the media at the moment about the "knife crime epidemic" in the big cities, and there is no denying that many young men are losing their life due to knife attacks. Knife crime was happening in the period before world war 2 too, in the environment of industrial Grantham.

Leading Aircraftman William Phillips (30), was based in Grantham. At some time between 1 and 2 am on New Year's Day 1938, a fight broke out during a dance at the drill hall, Great Gonerby. Once the fight had subsided, the victim, John Cook (25) of Long Street Great Gonerby, discovered that he had been wounded.

The night shift uniformed sergeant took charge of the enquiries (hurrah for Sergeant Curry! He was later promoted to Inspector, and will feature in future blog posts), and went to the nearby barracks. A knife was produced to him by the Sergeant Major in charge, and he took a statement from the barman at the public house.

Clearly in those days, issues such as forensic cross-contamination weren't considered to be an issue, as the good sergeant went to the scene of the attack, spoke to the victim in hospital and went and arrested the suspect.

Having arrested the suspect, Detective Officer Bramhall got involved. A "voluntary statement" was produced by the suspect after he had been subjected to an identification parade. Unsurprisingly, he was detained and remanded for trial by the magistrates court, having been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent (an offence which can carry a life sentence).

What stands out in the report is the lack of sensationalism. Even today, a section 18 GBH offence using a knife would probably be a major news article for most local newspapers. A knife attack by a serving forces personnel would almost certainly make the national news. In 1938, it made page 15.

IN OTHER NEWS: TYPHOID EPIDEMIC WARNING TO BARROWBY

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