HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2025
The Manx Museum holds several reports from the Government Office of the Isle of Man relating to possible breaches of the criminal law - these were nominally passed to the Lt Governor for a decision as to whether they were to be proceeded with - in practice it would appear most decisions were made by Bertram Sargeant the Government Secretary.
One that did not appear to have been proceeded with, but indicates the type of work done outside the camp and the somewhat lax nature of the supervision is the following.
The location of the supposed theft is at the upper end of Glen Wyllin, now known as Cooildarry [oak glen] where the drying and bagging functions of what appears to be the then moribund Fullers Earth Mine were, which was reported as having closed at the start of the war. The work party were it seems stone breaking on the road about a quarter mile from the processing plant with the old farm house then acting as their base camp. Considering it was early February they were probably more grateful to escape the barbed wire than the pittance they would earn. It is likely that the work party arrived by train to Kirk Micheal and walked the mile or so to the work site before returning in the same way to St Johns, about the same distance from Knockaloe.
To Mr E.H. Corkill, Inspector of Police, PEEL.
Police Office, Michael, Isle of Man. 13th.February, 1917.
Sir,
I beg to report that Robert Faragher, Glen Willyn, Micheal who is manager for the Fullers Earth Works, Glen Willyn, reported to me last night that a quantity of flooring boards valued at about fifteen shillings, one spade value five shillings, one hammer value one shilling, one nail sifter value one shilling and several bags value one shilling each were stolen from a building belonging to the Fullers Earth Works, at Ballekinnag in the Parish of Michael.
This morning in company with Robert Faragher I visited the buildings named and at 1.30 P.M. I saw five Alien Prisoners enter the building, and on coming out each man had a bag. Two other Prisoners came along but did not attempt to go in the building, but stated that they went away from the Guard for a short walk. I arrested the seven men and locked them up. The first five gave their names as, Louis Bieslinger, No.5785, Edward Karolyn, No.7376, Walter Bock, No.7343, Oswald Borkert, No.5790, Frank Gram, No.5727. The other two who were absent from their guard gave their numbers as 6948 and 6955.
I left Robert Faragher to keep a watch while I was away and on returning Faragher had detained five other Prisonrs who were absent from their guard, who gave their No.s as; 7381,28156, 6375, 9296, and 24306. I left the five men in charge of Faragher, and went to see the Officer in charge of the Alien Prisoners who were breaking stones on the Main Road about six hundred yards away, and asked him if he had missed any of the prisoners, he replied that he could not tell, and ordered the Guards to see if any of the men were missing, when one of the Guards saw the last five Prisoners in charge of Faragher in the Glen, he ordered them to come along.
The Corporal in charge counted his men and reported seven men missing. I then told him that I locked then up an hour before this, i[n] company of Robert Faragher we went round on the Prisoners when we found six other bags in the possession of Adolf Ahlgrimm, No. 7406, one bag; Jonothan Metzer No.7258, one bag; Adolf Kachow, No. 7266, one bag; Richard Sufert, No.6185, one bag; One bag belonged to Walter Bock, No.7343, one of the five Prisoners caught taking the bags out of the building, but got no owner for the other bag.
I also found the spade and nail sifter, and we also saw a quantity of the wood which was stolen and which had been cut up to make tables and seats in an old house which is used by the Prisoners as a store-house. The Capt. of the Company stated that he saw the hammer about the end of last week at [= with] one of the Prisoners, but we failed to find it.
The Corporal accompanied me to Michael Court House with the four men who were in possession of the stolen bags where they were locked up. I then handed over the two men who were absent from the guard.
All the Prisoners were cautioned and charged with stealing the bags. The first five stated that they had no intention of stealing, and that they intended putting the bags back when the work was finished, and that they used the bags to sit one while breaking stones.
The other four stated that they found the bags by the roadside and one was found in the store house used by them and that they did not steal them.
They also denied taking any of the other things missing, but admitted them being used by the other Prisoners.
I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, (signed) John Fargher, Sergt.
The next paper in this file is the report to the Acting Chief Constable (the pre-war Chief Constable, Col Madoc, had been seconded to act as Commandant at Douglas Camp).
To Mr J.T. Quilliam, Deputy Chief Constable,
Police Office, PEEL Isle of Man, 13th.February, 1917. Sir,
I beg to report that I proceeded to Michael this afternoon and found the following Ps/W in charge of Sergt.J. Fargher,viz
Louis Bieslinger, No.5785, Camp 2, Com.1, Knockaloe,
Edward Karolyi, No.7376, " , 2, :
Walter Bock, No.7343, " " " "
Oswald Porkett, No.5790, " " " 1
Frank Gram, No.5727, " " " "These men were charged with stealing 5 bags valued one shilling each, They all said they did not intend stealing. I do not think they had any felonious intent to steal; only taking the bags to sit on while they were breaking stones, and if the Guard were keeping a proper watch on the prisoners this sort of thing could not happen.
The following Ps/W were charged by Sergt.Fargher with receiving a bag each knowing it to be stolen, viz:
Adolf Ahlgrimm, No.7407, Camp 2, Com.2, He stated he found the bag on the stones.
Jonathan Metjer, No.7258, Camp 2, Com2. stated he found the bag in the hut where they keep their tools.
Adolf Rachow, No.7256, Camp 2, Com.2, stated he got the bag from P/W No.7268 yesterday.
Richard Seifert, No.6185, Camp 2, Com.1, stated he found the bag on the stones where they were working, there were a lot of bags lying about.
We took the 9 Prisoners to Peel Police Station. They were later handed over to an escort and taken back to Knockaloe Camp. I do not think we could get the prisoners convicted if they were taken before the Court and charged with stealing.
I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, (Signed) E.H. Corkill, Insp,
The final page is the wise suggestion by the Chief Constable:
The Deputy Chief Constable J T Quilliam adds in his handwritten note to the Government Secretary dated 14th Feb 1917
Sir,
There does not appear to have been a felonious intent in the taking of the articles mentioned herein and I respectively recommend that the prisoners should not be dealt with by a civil court.
The offences of damage to property and trespass have been committed, but I submit that the whole blame for what has occurred rests upon the Military guard.
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