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Author Archives: andy1962
Adulterated Snuff
This report is taken from the Scotsman 17 Sep 1836. “On Wednesday M’Levy, the criminal officer, in passing down the Pleasance, observed a young lad dressed as a sailor with something concealed under his jacket. Mclevy followed him into an … Continue reading
Edinburgh 1830 Map
The national Map Library of Edinburgh shows the extent of the city in 1830 when James McLevy became criminal officer number 1. Marked in red at the centre is the Police Office with Brideqwell Jail at the tiop of the … Continue reading
John Sutherland, police officer
Officer 1483, John Sutherland was quite often in McLevy’s team of officers when making arrests. He joined the Edinburgh police on 20 January 1853 aged 25. He was single and previously had been a labourer. The popularly believed master of … Continue reading
Posted in Police, Police Officer
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John Gray, Greyfrairs Bobby owner
John Gray, Edinburgh police officer 1487, is believed to be the owner of Greyfrairs Bobby , the little dog that sat on his grave for 12 years after his premature death of tuberculosis in 1858 aged 45. He was born … Continue reading
Posted in Night Watchman, Police
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William Mulholland is James McLevy’s assistant. He was born about 1802 in Ireland, possibly Armagh, and joined the Edinburgh police force in the same year as McLevy in May 1830. One of three officers to be recruited that year. In … Continue reading
Night Duty 1856
On 23rd August 1856 all 6 Criminal Officers other then McLevy were assigned to night shift to work with plain clothes officers. Why McLevy was excused night duty is unknown although in his introduction to his first book he offers … Continue reading
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Ragged Schools
In 1818 John Pounds a Plymouth shoemaker started the idea of ragged schools a form of free education for working class children. Mary Carpenter continued these ideas in Bristol becoming the first female to present a paper to the Royal … Continue reading
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Henry Littlejohn, police surgeon from 1862
Henry Littlejohn was born 1826 and worked closely with the police in Edinburgh. He certified the death of John Gray the policeman who reputedly owned the famous dog known as Greyfrairs Bobby. James McLevy would consult him on cases for … Continue reading
Posted in Police, Surgeon, Uncategorized
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A Want Spoils Perfection
January 1850 watches stolen in Arbroath. Police Superintendent Richard Moxey asks McLevy to keep an eye out. Some time passes, and in Smith’s Close two me are apprehended – Alexander Clark and James Mitchell. They are sent to Dundee. Information … Continue reading
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The Child Strippers
May 1838 Kate Lang and Nell Duff were child strippers. Other accomplices were Mary Joice, Margaret Joice, Robina Finnie. 18 months each at the trial.
James McLevy 