Author Archives: andy1962

John Sutherland, police officer

Posted on August 19, 2012

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 →

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John Gray, Greyfrairs Bobby owner

Posted on August 18, 2012

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 →

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William Mulholland, police officer

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 →

Aside | Posted on August 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Night Duty 1856

Posted on August 12, 2012

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

Posted on August 12, 2012

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

Posted on August 8, 2012

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 | 1 Comment

A Want Spoils Perfection

Posted on August 1, 2012

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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