X Edgar LEE. Stockport Borough PoliceDear Ian,Thank you for your nicely worded request forinformation concerning Edgar you would besurprised how many enquires we get from people whonever say please or thank you, but first I have topoint out a few things. Sadly we do not have aphotograph, however there may be a chance and Iwill explain later, see reference to Black-sheepIndex.No point in giving you the usual information aboutthe formation of the Cheshire Constabulary etc,but if you wish to know anything about StockportBorough there is something in the history of theCheshire Constabulary "To the Best of Our Skilland Knowledge" under the drop down menu marked'History' on the web site.We are lucky to have Edgar's record as StockportBorough was an independent force between 1870 and1967, and the whereabouts of all the officersrecords are not known, anyway below is what wehold.Can I ask you when you get a moment would you senda quick mail so I can mark of your enquiry ascomplete? If you have any further questions pleasedon't hesitate to contact me.Jim (Trustee and Researcher, Cheshire Museum ofPolicing).Collar Number/Rank. Inspector 55 Edgar LEEBorn. 1st August 1860, Staly, Cheshire.Date of Entry. 30th November 1881Date of Leaving. 26th September 1919How Discharged. To Pension.Initial Posting. Within the boundaries ofStockport Borough Police area.Miscellaneous Information. Previous OccupationPrinter. Previous/Last Employer Church Wardens,Stalybridge. Religion Church of England, Height 5'9", Age 29 years 3 months on 01 January 1890, EyesGrey, Hair Brown, Complexion Fresh, BuildProportional. Distinguishing Marks Nil. MaritalStatus, Married Wife Mary, Children, Not stated.Died 25th January 1925 Stockport.1891 Census residence 99 Chapel Street, Edgerley,1901 Census residence 120 Kings Street West,Stockport.Misconduct Reports. None recorded.Promotion. 2nd December 1887 Promoted Constable1st class. 21st November 1901 Promoted Sgt. 10thMay 1907 Promoted Inspector 4th class, 18th May1917 Promoted Inspector 1st class.Pension information. Annual pay on retirement£350. 19s. 2d. Discharged on a pension of £233. 19. 5d perannum.Total Service 37 years 9 months 25 days.Total time on pension 5 years 3 months 28 days.Approximate pension received £1200.Good Conduct. 25th June 1904 Awarded £1. 1s. 0dand highly commended by the Watch Committee forhis pluck and courage displayed in endeavouring torescue a youth named Jackson from drowning inSykes Reservoir Saturday18th June 1904 and 3rd December 1909 advanced oneclass for apprehending felons and detecting otheroffenders.10th February 1911 Commended by the WatchCommittee for his success in the apprehension offelons.1911 Received KGV Coronation Medal.12th February 1914 Presented with the Kings PoliceMedal at Buckingham Palace for Meritorious andDistinguished Service.Within the Museum's database the reference BSI mayappear this applies to a website known as theBlack Sheep Index (www.blacksheepindex.co.uk) thisis a site that carries newspaper articlesconcerning Police Officers. On occasions theofficer's full name is not given, but we havetried to make a match against what the MuseumRecords show. If you go to the site you will seethat Edgar has seven entries starting in 1896through to 1914 this being an article giving hisBiography and Photograph. There are chargesinvolved to obtain these newspaper cuttings directfrom the owner of the website. It is emphasizedthat the Museum does not know the contents ofthese cuttings and takes no responsibility forthem. The Museum is only showing this as an aidthat there is further information from anothersource. If you do decide that you want any ofthese items when contacting the owner of the siteplease mention that you have been directed to himby this museum, whilst you won't get them anycheaper it may just speed up the process.Lastly Ian, you are probably aware, but just incase you are not, in 2005 there was a bookpublished called 'Police Gallantry', (ISBN 0 64624838 3) which is a record of the circumstancesleading to the award of the King's Police Medaland Queens Police Medal (for Gallantry) 1909-1978.It was written by J. Peter Farmery. I do have acopy of this book and it is well worth a read.I only found out that HYDE was one of yourconstituant forces when I received a copy of apage from the Police Almanac 1919, which alsoshowed Stockport Borough and Det Insp LEE. I havea few copies of various Police Almanacs and findthem most useful.I also include a photo of the medals I purchased.The two 'unofficial' medals seem to have beenawarded for swimming?? The one on the far rightis engraved on the reverse '2nd prize, won by E.LEE, Sept 12th 1881, and the other one is engraved'Lancashire Swimming Association, 1st prize, wonby E. LEE. Aug 9TH 1886.Edgar LEE, Stockport Borough Police.[1881 to 1919]Edgar LEE was born on 1 August 1860 inStalybridge, Cheshire, the son a Harriett LEE. After leaving school he worked as a printer until30 November 1881, when at the age of 20 years hejoined the Stockport Borough Police as Constable55.For the first 3-4 years he served in uniform andwas then brought into the plain clothes departmentto assist Detective Charles BUCK [later ChiefConstable of Margate 1889 - 1893 and then ChiefConstable of Rochdale 1893 - 1898]. Rathersurprisingly, when Mr Buck left for Margate, EdgarLEEdeclined the offer to be a Detective, andreturned to uniformed duties. However, it was notlong before he again joined the plain clothesdepartment where he took on the role of summonsand warrant officer, together with that ofCoroner's Officer.He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant inNovember 1901, and Detective Inspector in May1907.Few officers can claim to have had such success intracking offenders and bringing them to justice,and his services were frequently sought after bythe various chiefs of police, notably during theRoyal Visits of Queen Victoria, King Edward V11and King George V to Cheshire and Lancashire,During his early career Edgar LEE was noted forbeing one of the finest athletes in police circlesand won numerous prizes as a runner and a swimmer.In June 1904 he was highly commended by the WatchCommittee for his pluck and courage in diving intoa deep reservoir to try and rescue a youth calledJackson, who sadly drowned.His good training and excellent fitness haveserved him well in the many violent struggles hehad with criminals endeavouring to escape fromjustice.In 1898 Edgar LEE and a colleague raided a housein New Bridge Lane and apprehended a well known'Coiner' called Henry James HOLDEN [described asthe finest counterfeiter of coins in England]. Hewas later involved in the arrest of another'Coiner', calleds BURKE, who was sentenced to 10years penal servitude.He was also involved in several murder andmanslaughter cases, burglaries, conspiracies,arsons and other crimes with a great deal ofsuccess.The last murder case he dealt with was that inwhich an Italian called DERIDO was stabbed todeath with a stiletto by another Italian calledCASTAGNA. In February 1908 CASTAGNO appearedbefore Chester Assizes and on conviction wassentenced to death, but was afterwards reprieved.During his 37 years exemplary police service EdgarLEE was commended by Judges, Chairman of QuarterSessions, and Magistrates. In 1911 he was awardedthe Coronation Medal [which he is wearing in theabove photograph].In February 1914 he attended Buckingham Palacewhere he was presented with the King's PoliceMedal for Distinguished Service by His Majesty theKing. The citation stated that Mr LEE had servedfor 32 years with exemplary service, distinguishedby special merit and ability, and success in thedetection of crime. A fitting tribute to a firstclass detective.Mr LEE retired from Stockport Borough Police inSeptember 1919 having served under three ChiefConstables.Edgar LEE died in January 1925 aged 64 years,after a short illness. His funeral was wellattended by his family, serving and retiredcolleagues, andmembers of the local authority and businesscommunities.I bought Edgar LEE's medals at Runcorn on 25 April2010 and am delighted to be the custodian.Ian Hall.3 May 2010.Acknowledgements.Jim Talbot, Cheshire Constabulary Museum.Stockport Advertiser, 2 October 1919 & 30 January1925.Reports from the Watch Committee.Police Review.