[From Manx Quarterly #10, 1911]

BRAVE MANX CONSTABLE.

King's Medal for Sergeant William C. Caine.

On January 2nd, the daily newspapers published in England contained a list of New Year honours conferred by his Majesty the King. The list includes the names of several members of various police forces who have distinguished themselves either by length or merit of service, or bravery, and among these appears the name of Police-Sergeant W. C. Caine, of the Isle of Man Constabulary, who is gazetted in the following terms:-

Charles William Caine, constable, Isle of Man Constabulary.

Conspicuous gallantry in effecting the arrest of an armed criminal. The man had been ill-treating a dog, and on being remonstrated with, drew a revolver and threatened the crowd. He had wounded a police officer who had approached him when he was seized by Police-Constable Caine, at whom he attempted to fire.

The deed which gained for Sergeant Caine-he has been promoted within the last few months-the honour of being made the recipient of the highest award to which a member of a police force can aspire-the equivalent, in fact, of the Victoria Cross-is fresh within the memories of Manx people, but it will well bear recapitulation. On the 8th November, 1909, a Russian shoemaker, who subsequently gave the name of Andersen, was observed to cruelly ill-use a dog on the Loch Promenade. Information of the occurrence was laid with Constable William Stanley Cain, who followed Andersen to the Central Promenade, where he came up with him. The constable questioned Andersen, and his replies proving unsatisfactory, he was required to accompany the officer back to the scene of the ill-usage of the dog. Arrived on the Loch Promenade, further conversation ensued, and eventually Constable Stanley Cain suggested that Andersen should interview the owner of the dog, who lived close by. Accordingly he placed his hand on the man, who immediately pulled out a revolver, and with it opened fire on the policeman. Two shots took effect, with the result that Constable Cain was severely wounded in the region of the head, and fell to the ground. Andersen then walked along the sea side of the Promenade leisurely, followed by witnesses of the affray, who, knowing the man to be armed and desperate, kept at a respectful distance. When Andersen reached a point opposite to Peveril Buildings, he halted, leaned against the parapet wall, and calmly surveyed the crowd, which had by now assumed considerable dimensions. That he had his weapon ready was apparent, and for quite quarter of an hour he held the people at bay. Then Constable William Charles Caine arrived on the scene, and without hesitation advanced to effect Andersen's arrest. When he was within a few yards of his man the latter drew his revolver, aimed, and pulled the trigger. By great good fortune, the cartridge was defective, and missed fire. Before Andersen could repeat the attempt, Constable Caine dashed in on him, knocked up his pistol arm, and grappled with him. Constable Watterson, who had approached on the flank, rushed to Caine's assistance, and the crowd also closed in, with the result that Andersen was arrested, but not without a determined struggle on his part, in the course of which he drew a murderous looking knife, which a bystander knocked out of his hand. Andersen was in due course committed for trial on the charges of having attempted to murder Constable Stanley Cain and Constable Charles Caine, and in the end he was, at the Court of General Gaol Delivery, sentenced to ten years' penal servitude. It transpired at his trial that he was a dangerous criminal, who had been convicted on several previous occasions in England. Constable - now Sergeant-Caine was soon after the incident made the recipient of a badge of merit by the Chief-Constable (Col. Freeth). This badge carries with it an increase in pay.