The Sarratt-born policeman who played a key role in the Dr Crippen murder case has died at the age of 104.

Mr James Pulle, born in 1870, discovered the chemist’s form which later proved Crippen had purchased poison with which he killed his wife. During his service – he joined the Metropolitan Police in 1894 and retired 33 years later as a detective inspector – Mr Pulle received more than 60 awards and recommendations.

[From the Watford Observer of October 25, 1974]

 

Here is a story told at a Watford meeting this week. A man of 94 ordered a pair of boots to be made, particularly specifying that he wanted the best leather, so that the boots would last many years.

The bootmaker smilingly suggested that, at the customer’s age, he was unlikely to require boots for many years ahead. “Well,” was the unexpected reply, “I have studied the statistics very carefully and I find very few people die after the age of 94.”

[From the Watford Observer of October 28, 1938]

 

The Watford and District Council of Churches has recently considered the Government’s intention shortly to offer Premium Bonds for sale and is of the opinion that, in a country which for well over a century has set its face against any form of State lottery, their introduction is to be deplored.

We find the argument unconvincing that, because the investor does not risk the loss of his capital, the Bonds do not constitute a gamble for, as has recently been stated, the Government says in effect: “Lend us your spare cash free of interest. With the interest to which you would normally be entitled, we will run a national lottery and it shall be redistributed in lump sums to the prizewinners on the chance of the draw.” There is clearly a gamble here and we are of the opinion that it [is] the duty of Christians and all people of goodwill, to withhold support from something which is anti-social and therefore against the best interests of the country.

[Letter to the Watford Observer of October 26, 1956]

 

Rocketing crime figures and a tendency towards public disorder which the chief of Hertfordshire’s seriously under-strength police force describes as “disturbing”, are certainly reflected in the situation in “C” Division, said Watford deputy police chief, Superintendent Ted Gibson, this week.

Chief Constable Raymond Buxton, in somewhat alarming reports to the County Police Committee, described an unprecedented 25 per cent increase in Hertfordshire crime figures for the first six months of this year. Mr Buxton wondered whether the acute shortage of manpower in this area had some bearing on it.

[From the Watford Observer of October 22, 1974]

 

Television personalities John Thaw and Dennis Waterman, shortly to appear in a new series entitled The Sweeney, formally opened the annual autumn fair at Hangers Wood School for physically handicapped children, at South Oxhey on Saturday. The fair made £518 for school funds.

[From the Watford Observer of October 25, 1974]