Constable George LOW (22)

14 Mar 1881
Edinburgh City Police

PC Low died after being stabbed when he was attacked by two housbreakers he disturbed on his beat.

In the early hours of 14 March 1881, 22 year old PC George Low was patrolling his beat when he found a back door forced open in Elm Row Edinburgh. The door led to a common close and a cellar area used by merchants to store goods.

By the light of his bull’s-eye lantern be spotted an intruder with a metal bar and attempted to effect an arrest.  His prisoner, a young sailor, began to resist violently and Low drew his police baton in an attempt to subdue him.

As PC Low struggled with the man his accomplice, another sailor descended the stairs and stabbed the constable repeatedly and without warning with a sheath knife. The first assailant was then able to pull free and struck PC Low a stunning blow to the forehead with his metal bar.

Leaving PC Low for dead, both men went to the family home of the first male in nearby Union Place, where his father noticed he had been cut during the attack and extracted the story from them. Apparently, appalled by the attack on the officer and hoping he might be saved, the father immediately went to the Police Station in St James Street and reported the matter.

Sergeant Andrew had noticed PC Low missing from his beat and had begun a search. Once in possession of the information as to his whereabouts, officers went to the scene and found the constable lying dead on the stairs, his baton still clutched in his hand.

The men claimed variously to have been in the close to answer a call of nature or to visit a friend, although no one in the close professed to know them. One was still in possession of the knife when he was taken into custody and a chisel, used to force the door was found on the stairs at the scene.

At their subsequent trial at the High Court of Justiciary both men admitted their part but pleaded not guilty to murder. On retiring after hearing the evidence, the jury took all of 15 minutes to find the first male guilty of assaulting PC Low whilst in the execution of his duty & the second of Culpable Homicide.

They were sentenced to 18 months and 15 years penal servitude respectively.

PC George Low was returned to his parents in his native Aberdeenshire for burial. A 300 strong police guard of honour accompanied his coffin to the railway station, including almost all the night duty - of which he was part - and as many other officers as could be spared.

His name is engraved on the Scottish Police Memorial and will never be forgotten.

 

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