Mike Covell’s Blogg

This morning I visited the Hull History Centre with a view to finding a newspaper report that linked Frederick Bailey Deeming to the murder of Mary Jane Langley.  It was rumoured to exist, and written about in the Yorkshire Post in 1892 during the trial of Deeming in Australia, but to date the actual Hull newspaper snippet has not been found, although searches are ongoing.   

 It was whilst there that I decided to search the minutes of committee meetings for the Hull Watch Committee.  These minutes are spread out in year books, with some books covering two years depending upon what has been discussed.  I was actually looking for information on several Borough Police Officers that had been awarded higher pay and career advancement because of their conduct in the Preston Murder, however, I found several interesting snippets on Frederick Bailey Deeming.  

 The two snippets cover the dates Wednesday December 9^th 1891 and Wednesday December 23^rd 1891 and explore Deeming, under the alias he used whilst in Hull – Harry Lawson, and the amount of money that went into the International manhunt when Detective Grassby left Hull for Southampton and later Monte Video.  

 The total cost for such a trip amounted to a stunning £153,9s,8d with the Hull Police trying to recuperate costs back from the Hull Corporation.  The minutes are incomplete, as the outcome had to be put before another committee, but I will endeavour to obtain the follow up report and ascertain who paid for Deeming’s manhunt when he defrauded the Hull Jewellery store, Messrs Reynoldson’s and Son.