1845 - Three local characters known to police namely William Howell 28, his brother Walter 21 and Israel Shipley 38 while breaking into a barn at Gisleham were disturbed by village constable James McFadden.
In the act of confronting the men, the constable had a shotgun levelled at him by Will Howell and was warned off. Bravely continuing to effect the arrest of the three, Constable McFadden carried on his approach unperturbed. Will blasted a shot from the gun inflicting a serious wound to McFaddens thigh and causing him to collapse in agony to the floor where Walter Howell and Shipley set about kicking him and then ran off.
Constable McFadden managed to drag himself to a nearby farmhouse where he recounted the incident and named his assailants. Conveyed to his home in Kessingland and given what medical treatment was at hand, sadly the brave constable succumbed to his wounds. The three criminals were soon rounded up and sent to trial, where all three were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. Walter Howell and Israel Shipleys sentences were commuted to transportation for life to Norfolk Island. Will Howell was executed in front of a large crowd at Ipswich Gaol.

An excert from ‘A Grim Almanac of Suffolk’ by Neil R. Storey

By Kathie Jones, Historic Ipswich (UK)

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