Around New Year 1894 going into 1895, long standing Blantyre Police officer Constable James Moir and another officer were chasing some ‘coal stealers’ from a Bing at a local colliery when suddenly, the Constable slipped on some ice, badly injuring his leg.
By July 1895, his condition had worsened to the extent he could not use his leg at all, leaving him effectively disabled. The Constable had served Blantyre for the best part of 10 years, based at the former Glasgow Road Police Station (pictured, where now Auchinraith Trading Estate is) and had lived through the days of the Blantyre Riots often appearing in newspaper stories for his diligence.
However, that Summer, he received a rather abrupt letter, penned from the Chief Constable and delivered by a colleague as follows: “To Constable Moir, The Chief Constable, owing to the apparent permanent injury to your leg, has asked me to intimate to you that from yesterday, you are struck off the strength of the force and your pay will therefore cease. The Chief has gone on holiday and instructs me to inform you that the subject of you receiving any pension will be a matter for the committee in August. Meantime, until that is settled, you are permitted to remain in occupancy in the police house.”
I can only imagine what being a police officer was like in those days. The same terrible crimes existed then, as they do in some instances even today. Matters whilst I’ve been researching this town, which are too criminal, shocking or shameful which I dare not go into details here on Blantyre Project.
I hope the members of the County Council Committee did the right thing by this man and offered him his early pension.
He left the police and moved to Motherwell, taking up work at the gas plant at Dalziel works. He rose to become foreman before retiring. A staunch Freemason he was Chairman of the Masonic Veterans and was also identified with the Old Age Pensioners Association. James died at Airbles Street, Motherwell at his home on 9th Dec 1944, aged 78. He was survived by his wife, son and four daughters.
On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:
Anne Irvine Very harsh. And also the “chief” passing the buck to a “colleague ” to deliver to the officer, while HE was on holiday!!!
Mary Dawson Such a sad story
Louis Cannon No sympathy whatsoever for that Cop,,, Hope he got evicted & lost his pension & That he Ended up searching for bits of coal in bings & got charged for theft of it too !!!
Charles McQuade They were only stealing coal ffs
Rena Caullay What a terrible thing to happen, especially when the officer was injured in the line of duty. I really hope everything turned out well for him.
Blantyre Project Rena I’ve spent a wee bit of time further researching this yesterday just to see what happened. James Moir was so disillusioned by the police (and Blantyre) after this event that he left the police and moved to Motherwell, taking up work at the gas plant at Dalziel works. He did make a success of things. He rose to become foreman before retiring. A staunch Freemason he was Chairman of the Masonic Veterans and was also identified with the Old Age Pensioners Association. James died at Airbles Street, Motherwell at his home on 9th Dec 1944 during WW2, aged 78. He was survived by his wife, son and four daughters.
Rena Caullay Thank you so much for taking the time to research this story. I was so upset at the unfair treatment of James, and I was worried that he might have fallen on hard times. I was afraid to think of him having a family to support. I thank you once again, you are a star!
Linda Gourlay Where in Glasgow rd was the police station?
Blantyre Project at the junction of Auchinraith Road and Glasgow Road, where now the Auchinraith Trading Estate is. Demolished in the first decade of 1900s when the “new” police station was built at Victoria Street by 1910.