Kelso Burgh Police

Elliot Jackson was born in Castleton, Roxburghshire about 1851.

 

He joined Roxburghshire constabulary on 4 October, 1871. He was promoted to Police Sergeant after about 10 years.  On18 October, 1884, he was promoted to Inspector and Head of Kelso Division, a position he held for 27 years.

 

According to the Chief Constable, John Morren,

 

 “He retired on pension on 16 January, 1912 with an unblemished record of over 40 years’ service to his credit, the whole of which service was marked by conspicuous ability, and an unflagging zeal and devotion to duty.

 

On one occasion he was specially rewarded for energy, tact and perseverance displayed in the performance of duty, and, among other meritorious acts, the following case in which he acted with exceptional courage and diplomacy may be mentioned.”

 

The following is a very brief summary of a small section of three page report by Chief Constable Morren in which he recommends Ex-Inspector Jackson for the King's Police Medal. It does not do justice to the courage and devotion to duty of either police officer involved.

 

“On 13 April, 1901, Inspector Jackson received information that a local landowner, a few miles from Kelso had become insane and was in a highly dangerous condition armed with a loaded revolver and various other firearms.

 

He was to accompany two local doctors, Dr Rutherford and Dr McRae, two asylum attendants and Police Sergeant Smail, to remove the man to an asylum.

 

When planning how to effect the securing of the man, neither the Doctors nor the Asylum Attendants would enter the grounds. A new Valet had been employed and it was decided that he should try to administer a draught supplied by the Doctors to incapacitate the man.

 

On entering the grounds of the estate, the Valet encountered the Landowner stalking the perimeter armed with a rifle.

 

Despite the fact that earlier in the day, the man had telephoned Kelso Police Station several times and threatened to “blow out the Inspector’s brains”, Inspector Jackson and PS Smail used their wits to gain access to the house while facing the same man armed with a loaded rifle.

 

At a pre-arranged signal, they grabbed the man by both arms and after a severe and desperate struggle, he was overpowered and disarmed.

 

Besides the rifles and loaded revolver, another fully loaded revolver was found in his coat pocket while his other pockets were crammed with cartridges.

 

All the firearms were loaded and the walls, doors and windows of the house were riddled with bullets which the man had fired at imaginary antagonists.

The man was so violent it proved impossible to move him to the asylum in Edinburgh until the next day.

 

The man was later removed to England and on 22 November, 1902, at the Hampshire County Assizes in Winchester, he was found guilty of the Unlawful Wounding of a Police Constable by shooting him.”

 

Elliot Jackson became the Librarian in Kelso Public Library upon his retirement. He was awarded the King's Police Medal on 1 January, 1913.

 

He died aged 62 on 9 November, 1913 in the Public Library House, Kelso. His son John E. Jackson registered his death.

 

 

With grateful thanks to the late Ian Hall for permission to use the images and biographical details included here.