X On the 19th of December 1873, just beforeChristmas, Edward joined The Royal Marines inLiverpool (AMD 157/623/98). He was only 15 years 5months old. His ENLISTMENT PAPERS suggest a littledissembling ... his age was 'apparently 18 1/2'and furthermore his 'trade' was a 'labourer' andhe signed up to get 'a free kit'! After 109 days service on April 9th 1874 he paida regulation £20 for his 'freedom' and left thePortsmouth Division of The Royal Marines ... why? On the 21st October 1874 'The CheshireConstabulary Enrolment and Record Book' identifiesrecruit number 100, complete with 'shako' hat (CJP7) -Edward Hindley, Great Budworth, Cheshire.Shoemaker.Height 5ft 9ins. Age 19. Hazel eyes. Brown hair,Fair complexion. Figure proper.Sept 1874 Reserve. Sept 187422/-Oct 1874 Macclesfield. Dec 187423/4May 1875 23/4July 1875 23/11Jan 1876 24/6June 1876 25/8Absconded 19th December 1876.Remarks - Royal Marines 4 months. Discharged April1874.Fined 40/- & costs or 21 days. Absconded!? - at 25 shillings a week I'm notsurprised! Why did he lie about his age when he joined theMACCLESFIELD DIVISION of the Cheshire Police underChief Constable William Sheasby? The divisionmotto was 'to the best of our skill and knowledge'... appropriate enough for Edward? Edward's cousinJohn Hindley (1830-1911), 28 years his elder, hadalso abandoned family shoemaking for the policeforce, he served first in Northwich before beingtransferred to Wirral in 1874. Did John influencedEdward and suggest he joined up? ... and later his younger cousin Edward Hindley(1867-1948) followed the same path to theMacclesfield police force, joining in 1894 andrising to the exalted height of Superintendent. On Sunday November 18th 1874, barely two monthsafter Edward had joined the force, there wasconsiderable excitement in the Macclesfield townas Mina Jury, a young lady and witness in theinfamous TICHBORNE CASE, had escaped from the towngaol. The girl had been incarcerated after robbinga local hostelry, The Macclesfield Arms. Law andorder had always been a local responsibility andthere were only about a dozen constables inMacclesfield at the time. The escape of the ladycaused the Chief Constable much grief and a bigshake up followed. By May 1875 there were 28constables, a new gaol and the first GovernmentEfficiency Certificate had been awarded, whichincluded additional Central funding. Clearly theprofessionalism of policing was on the up andopportunities for a secure career were bright ... So why did Edward return to Barnton after such ashort spell in the police force, unexpectedly andwith a wife and son Samuel? Maybe Edward didn'twant cosy security? Or maybe he was made ascapegoat for the debacle? Edward never spokeabout the matter, and some suggested it was amurky episode ... but then allowing a famous ladyto escape from custody was a bit embarrassing ...and Mina Jury had form ... questions were evenasked in the House (Hansard 3rd August 1875 vol226 cc445-6) ... family and village gossip wererife ... Eda remembered that it was mentioned thatEdward had some 'trouble' with the police, but 'usyoungsters were not told anything in those days'... On 7th of June 1875 aged 16, nearly 17, EdwardMARRIED Harriet Williamson, a buxom wench fromBollington and ten years older than young Edward.The ceremony was in the parish church at Prestburynear Macclesfield, apparently without a Hindleypresent as a witness. Edward confirmed hisoccupation as a policeman at the time of hismarriage, but he continued to 'pose' as a 20 yearold?