Historicaleigh - Leigh's Riotous Policeman

July 6, 2017 by Carole Mulroney

Sgt Larter of at Leigh, retired from the Police Force in 1913. He had had a colourful career commencing in July 1885 in Chelmsford where he was very soon thrown in at the deep end when rioting broke out over the General Election in the November and December of that year. During the election period riots had broken out all over the County and beyond and Constable Larter was seriously injured when a stone hit him in the head and resulted in him having to wear an eye patch for 2 years—he became known as the ‘one eyed policeman’.

His other escapades included receiving seven shillings and sixpence (37.5p) from the Magistrates for stopping a runaway horse on 3 March 1903 and 10 shillings (50p) for stopping two runaway horses on 5 June 1907. Another time he was chasing 3 thieves across a cattle field when he fell into a well up to his armpits, but he caught the thieves and was commended by the Bench. Later still he caught 3 men by the roadside stealing ducks. There was an intense fight with one of them, whom he arrested and again got a commendation from the Bench.

Sgt Larter was well known by shopkeepers in Leigh and Southend for he was the officer who detected a shoplifting gang and recovered several loads of property by examining dustbins in back yards at night, finding in one a tin of Pheasant brand tongue that had been stolen. He kept the tin as a memento.

His standing was great in the Force and on his retirement in 1913 the Chief Constable visited Leigh to bid him farewell.