Sub-Inspector James ALLAN (50)

04 Sep 1893
Lanarkshire Constabulary

Sub-Inspector Allan died after he was stabbed whilst attempting to arrest a male for robbery. He was survived by his wife and eight children.

About 23:10 on Monday 4^th September 1893, Sub-Inspector James Allan and Constable Pirrie were on foot patrol in ‘Inchbelly’ Road, Bishopbriggs when they were approached by a ‘railway servant’. The man told them he had seen two males robbing a drunk on the footpath near to the Crow Tavern.

‘A young engineer from Springburn had been partaking too freely of liquor, and while passing through Bishopbriggs either fell or was knocked down’… He was relieved of 10 shillings, his coat and shoes.`

They were nearby, and as they approached saw two men who they questioned. Although they denied all knowledge, the officers were sceptical and took them by the collar to march them back. Almost immediately Allan’s prisoner broke free in an attempt to escape, but he was able to regain his grip and a violent struggle ensued. Before Allan was even able to draw his baton he fell to the ground, shouting ‘I’m stabbed’ to his colleague, whilst the prisoner made off across the fields towards Glasgow.

Constable Pirrie called two young men who were nearby for help to capture the man, or at least hold his prisoner to allow him to assist Sub-Inspector Allan. They refused and he was forced to march his prisoner the short distance to the police office, where he placed him in a cell ‘without even the customary search.’

When Constable Pirrie returned to the scene a few minutes later he found that Allan had attempted to pursue his assailant, but had only made it to the wall before collapsing in a pool of blood. He told Pirrie ‘I’m dying’ and fell unconscious. He had sustained a stab wound to his back and a deep cut to his thigh which severed the femoral artery and he died at the scene.

Constable Pirrie recovered the blood stained weapon, ‘an ordinary sharp-pointed clasp knife’ and was left with the task of removing his colleague’s body (with some help) to the police office. He then had to wake Sub-Inspector Allan’s wife to deliver the devastating news.

Commandeering a passing cab, he went first to St Rollox police office to deliver the news, then on to Rutherglen where he informed the Divisional Commander, Superintendent Smith.

Smith telephoned Commander McHardy at Hamilton then passed the word to other stations and neighbouring forces by means of telephone calls and messengers. Smith, with Inspector Fraser, accompanied Pirrie back to Bishopbriggs where they searched and interviewed Pirrie’s prisoner.

As he left the cell, they noticed he had also been in possession of a clasp knife which he had tried to conceal in the cell. He gave a full statement, denying any theft but naming Sub-Inspector Allan’s killer and adding to the description.

Their suspect was a 40 year old miner, of no fixed abode and with an extensive criminal history. He had been released the previous year, after a 5 year term of imprisonment for Theft by Housebreaking at Broomhill Convalescent Home in Kirkintilloch. He had failed to comply with the terms of his release and was, in fact, wanted by police.

A full-scale search was instituted for the culprit, with officers from Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire Constabularies combing the countryside with the assistance of gamekeepers and others. Superintendent Simpson of Lanarkshire appears to have been in charge of the manhunt and he began a systematic checking and rechecking of farm buildings and woods around Campsie, an area the culprit was known to frequent.

The tactic paid off when a contingent of officers returned to Blairtummoch farm (about 4 miles from Lennoxtown on the Aberfeldy Road) at 03:00 on the following Saturday. Whilst searching the outbuildings, Sgt. Calder discovered their man well concealed in a hayshed, fast asleep. He was taken into custody without incident and seemed somewhat relieved it was all over.

The accused was remanded in Duke Street prison in Glasgow and appeared before Lord Young at the High Court in October charged with murder. He pled guilty of Culpable Homicide, stating he had been cutting tobacco when he encountered the police. The fact he had been holding the knife had been incidental and he had not meant Sub-Inspector Allan any harm.

His plea was accepted and he was sentenced to 10 years penal servitude.

James Allan was 49 years of age and had joined the Lanarkshire force in February 1870 as a Constable, after serving for a year in Renfrewshire. On 21^st July 1882 he had been transferred to Bishopbriggs as Sergeant and Sub-Inspector of Police. He was known as an efficient officer and was much respected in his community. He was a married man with 8 children of various ages.

Sub-Inspector Allan’s name is engraved on the Scottish Police Memorial and will never be forgotten.

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