It was just a few hours after Police
Constable James Barron had been shot.
The Times, as well as the Herald and the
Spectator, raced to get out the day’s first edition as soon as possible.
An editorial writer with the Times had very
little time to write up an editorial on the shooting. There was a notable error
in his piece, that there were three, not two, suspects. The thrust of the
editorial was focused, and the passion felt was palpable:
“The
shooting of Constable Barron by one of three suspected burglars, whom he was
attempting to place under arrest, is a very serious matter, and emphasizes the
necessity for the most rigorous measured in dealing with crooks. Another
burglary on Sunday morning on Grant avenue leads to the suspicion that, as in
Toronto, an organized gang is at work. Householders will do well to take no
chances with unsafe doors or windows, nor leave their places unguarded. The
police, be they ever so vigilant, cannot be everywhere at once, and forethought
is better than regret.
“The armed burglar is a murderer at heart. He
deserves no mercy. Every found with a deadly weapon in his possession ought to
get the longest term the law provides for the offence of which he is convicted.
No half-measures will do. The carrying of deadly weapons, without proper
excuse, should be taken to mean intent to use them if occasion offers. Kill the
pistol and knife habit.
“Meanwhile let every person co-operate with
the authorities in running down the trio, one of whom wounded Constable Barron.
Every honest man in the land has a personal interest in bringing them to
punishment. The Council should promptly offer a handsome reward for their
capture.”2
Later that morning, a hastily-scheduled
meeting of the Hamilton Police Commission was held :
“For
twenty years the police Commissioners have been of the opinion that it was the
wrong thing to allow constables to carry firearms, but as soon as the news of
the shooting of Constable Barron reached them, they changed their minds and
called a special meeting to discuss the matter. The chief gave a brief
statement of the shooting and emphasized that the desperados made no attempt to
escape before the constable came on the scene, and that they shot as soon as
they got a good sight at him. They had about seven minutes from the time that
their presence was discovered until Constable Barron arrived, and it was
evident to the Chief that they waited for the constable. He further stated his
belief that it was the work of a greenhorn, and not of a professional crook.
The doctors held out very little hope of Barron, although they said that if he
lived 24 hours, he might recover. The bullet had not been found. It had broken
a rib and torn through the bowels.
“Answering a query of Judge Snider, the Chief
said that Barron did not have a lantern, as it was customary to give lanterns
only to the men who had to inspect alleys. The Chief admitted that it would
have been an advantage to Barron if he had a lantern.
“Mayor Morden said that he thought a reward
should be offered for the arrest and conviction of the shooter, and the
Magistrate and Judge said they thought so too, and it was decided to recommend
to the Council that a suitable reward be offered for the arrest and conviction
of the miscreant. The amount will be left to the City Council, and will be
settled tonight.
“The Mayor also thought that the men should
be allowed to carry firearms, and in this he was also supported by the other
Commissioners. Judge Snider, however, thought that the matter might be deferred
until the regular meeting of the Commissioners when it would be approved of.
The Chief expressed his opinion that the time had arrived to equip the force
with firearms. Twenty years ago, they had been taken away, owing to the
injudicious use of them. In the meantime, if a constable slips a revolver into
his pocket, he will not be violating any rule.
“Judge Snider said that the habit of carrying
revolvers was too common among young men, and he thought that when an offender
was caught, the severest penalty should be imposed, it was not only dangerous
to the public, it was dangerous to the young men themselves.
“The Magistrate said he had always been
severe with such offenders.
“The Mayor said he would like to see the
participants in the recent stabbing affray brought to justice, and if the young
men who were stabbed would not speak, they should be punished.
“As the Magistrate would have to deal with
that matter, he refused to express an opinion.
“It is likely that all the night constables
will be given firearms.”2
2 “Commissioners Meet : Recommended
Reward – Police Will Be Armed Hereafter.”
Hamilton Times. October 26, 1903.
The following day, all three city daily newspapers
reported the death of the police constable. The Times report included the
following, something mostly prepared the previous day:
“P.C. James Barron came here from Edinburgh,
Scotland where he served for two years on the police force. He was about 48
years of age, and had been on the local force 21 years. He was a most capable
officer and had a clean record. He had figured in some big arrests and had
always been unflinching in his duty, meeting death bravely in the discharge of
it.
“Deceased leaves a widow and a family of five
children – four daughters and one son. They are as follows : Misses Mamie, Ada,
Daisy , and Lillian, and William Barron. The son is with the Westinghouse
Company, and is the clever center forward of the senior Hamilton Football Club.
Deceased lived at 280 Robert street, and had a most comfortable house.”
The Funeral Thursday
“Arrangements have been made for the funeral,
which will take place at 3 o’clock on Thursday afternoon from his late
residence to Hamilton Cemetery. Deceased was a member of the Maccabees.”3
3 “P.C. Barron is Dead and Murderer At
Large : Police Are Working in the Dark With Little Hope of Success : Barron Was
Conscious to the Last, But Made No Ante-Mortem Statement : The Burglary Theory
is Now the One Accepted By All, and Well-Established : An Attempt Was Made to
Get Into City Solicitor Mackelcan’s House Also.”
Hamilton Times. October 27, 1903.
Yet another editorial on the Barron shooting
appeared in the Times, this time written with as much time as necessary to
fully express the reaction :
““James Barron, Hero.”
Hamilton Times. October 27, 1903.
“Policeman Barron is dead. The cowardly shot
of the sneaking burglar, or lurking assassin, has put an end to the career of a
brave and conscientious protector of the citizens. He gave his life to his
duty.
“Heroism is not confined to the military
career; the heroes of private life are perhaps more numerous; their courage
more noble. Many a man who would have responded without a tremor to the order to
charge an armed force on the field of battle, would have hesitated to go into a
dark yard, unarmed, to grapple with two supposed burglars, knowing that they
were probably well-armed and desperate. Barron never hesitated. His knowledge of
criminals and their habits made him fully aware of the risks he ran, and the
disadvantage he was under, but showed no disposition to save himself.
“ ‘It’s pretty dark down there, but I’ll have
to see what they’re doing.’
“That was all. It was a mere matter of course
that he should take all the risks. He had done so often before. And so,
fearless, he went to his death.
“All honor to that sort of courage! The
citizens have reason to be proud of officers animated by it.
_ _ _
“And the murders!
“The Council offered a reward of $5000.
The amount is substantial, but we could better afford to make it $1,000 or
$2,000 than that the miscreants should escape. Application should be made to
the Provincial authorities for a further reward for their capture and
conviction. Promptness and thoroughness should mark the actions of the
authorities. The clues are slim, but more obscure cases have been followed
successfully
In the meantime round up the roughs and
put them to work behind bars. Give no quarter to those guilty of deeds of violence
or those who live by crookedness. Stop the carrying of deadly weapons. Make
Hamilton sentences for grave crimes the terror of thugdom, and crooks and
burglars will give the city a wide berth.
An inquest into the circumstances surrounding
the attack on P.C. Barron was held at No. 3 Police station. Nothing more was
learned about the matter than was known from witness statements gathered
immediately after the shooting.
For the Barron family, they were in shock,
devastated, but a funeral service had to be held in their Robert street home.
The Times account of the funeral follows:
“Another
sad part of the terrible tragedy of the early hours of Monday morning took
place today, when the remains of the murdered man, P.C. James Barron, were laid
in their last resting place in Hamilton Cemetery. The funeral took place at 3
o’clock from his late residence, 280 Robert street. A short service was
conducted at the house by Rev. John Young.
“The police paraded at No. 3 Police Station,
in uniform, and marched to the residence, where they took a last look at their
departed comrade. They then formed a guard around the hearse a and accompanied
the remains to the cemetery. The Maccabees, to which deceased belonging, having
been a charter member, also turned in a body and marched to the grave.
“The funeral was very largely attended. At
the grave, Rev. John Young conducted a service, as also did the Maccabees. The
Chief and other officers attended the funeral. The pall-bearers were comrades
of the deceased and were as follows : P/C.’s Hawkins, MacDonald, Cameron, Jas.
Clarke, Cruickshank and Alex. Campbell.
“The floral offerings were very numerous and
beautiful, and were another indication of the high esteem in which the
unfortunate officer was held by a host of friends.
“The route of the procession was to king, Bay
and York. The Maccabees came first, followed by the police, the clergy and the
flowers and then the hearse and the mourners.”4
4 “Funeral of Murdered Man : Remains of
Late P.C. Barron Laid at Rest ; Funeral Largely Attended and Many Beautiful
Flowers : Police Working on the Case, But Still in Dark.”
Hamilton Times. October 26, 1903.
