williamjones

The Benwell Hotel certainly is(was) in Newcastle.

Yes - if anybody can help with any info on this intriguing comment we'd be very grateful! We haven't been able to find a date for his death (under either name) so we can't check newspapers at the moment.

I tried all the people with distinctive names, and struck out. Very surprising not to even turn up one death notice.

You mean crime didn't just start last week?

I have found a 'possible' in The Times, one William Hall. I will provide a transcription here and apologise for the size of my comment. I write from Australia and wonder if someone more local might be able to follow up the clues in the article to see if this is 'our man'.
Transcription:
[The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Aug 30, 1932; pg. 12; Issue 46225.].

Man Killed By Fall From A Roof: Slip When Defying Police


William Hall, lately living at Newcastle-on-Tyne, was killed by a fall from the roof of a house at Newcastle early yesterday. It was stated that the police were about to arrest him and another man for alleged attempted burglary at a near-by hotel. The other man was arrested.

At Newcastle police court yesterday, JAMES BISCOFF WHITEHEAD, 28, of Back Scotswood Road, unemployed, labourer, was remanded for a week on a charge of attempting to break into Benwell Hotel in Adelaide Terrace with intent to commit a felony.

Inspector Russell said he surrounded the building with the aid of persons living near by. Hall, the dead man, who had a jemmy, knocked off a chimney stack and threw slates and masonry on to the crowd below. In attempting to knock off another chimney pot he fell into the backyard and met his death through a fractured skull. The witness added that Whitehead jumped into the back lane and was arrested.

[Many thanks to Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums for uploading these extraordinary photographs, and to the State Library of Western Australia for their research seminars and online resources].

The doorway is still there.

White haired gentleman with the mustache in front looks like E. Walsh, the mayor in 1928-29. So the guy wearing the chain of office may be William Jones, mayor 1930-31. No, see notes below. That is Mr. Mercer, chairman, not the Mayor.

The gentleman on top row, 2nd from left, with moustache, is Austin Farrell, General Manager and Secretary Waterford Harbour Commissioners. He was my great uncle.

Brendan Grogan Thank you so much for this fantastic information! Could this be your great uncle when he was younger?

Yes, this is Austin Farrell, brother of my grandfather, Walter J. farrell, Harbour Master Waterford 1903 to 1940. Austin Aaron Farrell, born 22nd February 1872, died 28th February 1934. He was married 26th October 1897 at St. Mary's Clonmel, to Gertrude Josephine O'Mahony daughter of Denis Patrick O'Mahoney of 1 Anne Street Clonmel (Corn Merchant), and Mary Ronan Shandon House , Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. He was Secretary and General manager of Waterford Harbour Commissioners. Austin Farrell died 28th February 1934 at Summerville House Waterford and is buried in Ballygunner Cemetery, Waterford. Brendan Grogan