Mike Covell’s Blogg

This morning I had the pleasure of fitting a large piece to the jigsaw pertaining to Frederick Bailey Deeming’s life and time in Hull.  

Several weeks ago I found a copy of the typed up Hull Corporation Committee Minutes for the Hull Watch Committee.  The entries referred to featured Deeming, under his alias Harry Lawson, and the Hull Watch Committee trying to ascertain who will pay for the manhunt and extradition of Deeming from Monte Video, and entitled “Harry Lawson vs Regina”.  The two entries, spread over two books dated 1890-91, feature no conclusion to events.  One tantalising clue offered was that the Hull Finance Committee would have to discuss the case at its next meeting.  Sadly the Hull Finance Committee books make no mention of the case and for a short while the trail went cold.  

Some months ago I had spent time at the Hull History Centre and acquired the criminal file of Frederick Bailey Deeming, again under the alias of Harry Lawson and wondered if there was anything after this that might me of interest.  The trial file itself was huge, comprising close to 70 pages of correspondence, magistrates papers, evidence files and telegrams and covering Dec 1889 to Sept 1890. [1]

I then discovered that the National Archives had a Home Office file on Deeming/Lawson and requested copies.  When they arrived they covered the period after the trial file, and covered the dates from Dec 16^th 1890 to Oct 20^th 1891.  Despite the size of the file it felt like something was missing. [2]    

I was about to give up searching but was kindly informed by the staff at the Hull History Centre that there are other avenues.  This meant searching through a huge file pertaining to all manner of committee meetings, minutes, and correspondence.  Sure enough, there among the Hull Watch Committee Meetings was a note, “Henry Lawson vs Regina” The name was wrong, but as this was becoming common place I ordered the files.  

 This morning I was granted access and to my delight they showed the full events that unfolded between January 14^th 1891 and September 30^th 1891.  There is some overlap between the other two files, but this file alone is worth reading.  It transpired that questions were asked over who should pay for the manhunt and extradition of Frederick Bailey Deeming.  Usually this would fall on the Hull Watch, however, as the case was an international event it didn’t fall under their remit.  There was also a matter of whether the innocent Mr. Thomas Reynoldson should pay for the apprehension, however, this was declined.  Then there was the problem of Frederick Deeming’s Solicitor, who hounded the police and local government claiming that Deeming nor the Solicitor should pay.  Eventually a conclusion was drawn, and whilst it was never officially typed up, today marked the discovery of a new chapter in Deeming’s life. [3]

 1 CQB 396/1328 CR(A) 1890 under the alias Harry Lawson/Deeming/Denning/Deming.

2 HO144/479/X30712 under the alias Harry Lawson/Deeming/Denning/Deming.

3 CTCW/179 Box 4241 Correspondence and Minutes, Reg vs Henry Lawson alias Deeming 1891.