Something I bet no one has on their “Aldergrove History” bingo card: A former Scotland Yard inspector & his family living on a farm near the former Jackman BCER station who was also a charter member of the Aldergrove Farmers’ Institute. Here is Part 1 of the story, which is rifled with very deep rabbit holes.
Charles Richards was born in June 1856 in Staplehurst, England. He joined the Metropolitan Police in 1875 & married his 1st wife, Harriet, in 1885. Their son Charles Vernon was born in October 1886. Sadly, Harriet died in 1887. Charles then married Elizabeth Farrer in 1889 & they had 4 sons: Thomas (1891), Cecil (1892), Reginald (1898) & Alfred (1904).
In 1895, Charles was the arresting officer of Oscar Wilde at London’s Cadogan Hotel, but this was not his only famous case. Early in his career he came face to face with master of disguise Charlie Peace, a prolific house burglar who murdered his neighbour & shot a police officer. Charles spent several months trying to catch Mr. Peace.
In 1880, Charles was put in charge of the new Convict Supervision Office, which kept track of the city’s criminals. Charles also investigated the very disturbing case of Amelia Dyer, known as The Baby Farmer & he supervised the police presence at the Trafalgar Square Riots in 1888. While he was not involved in the Jack The Ripper case, he did investigate many crimes of theft.
He retired from New Scotland Yard's Criminal Investigation Division in November 1900 with the rank of 1st Class Detective Inspector. In the 1901 Census, Charles states that he is a Private Enquiry Agent; records exist pertaining to a 1906 investigation report, but it also could've been by his son; they’re not available online to view.
In 1910, Charles, Harriet & their 4 boys moved Canada, sailing from England on the Megantic, docking in Quebec on 22 May 1910. Their stated destination was Victoria, travelling across country by rail. It seems that the family only went as far as Vancouver (1911 census) & were established in the North Jackman area by September 1912.
Part 2 - Tomorrow
#storiesmatter #localhistory #ourcommunity
