JOHN was the son of JOHN KEW, a farm labourer and his wife MARY ANN (nee WOULD).
After leaving school, he worked as a farm labourer, before joining Lincolnshire Police Constabulary in 1892. He worked with them for just over two years, before being transferred to Yorkshire's West Riding Constabulary in February, 1895.
He married ADA HILDRED in January 1895 at Holbeach, Lincolnshire. They had four children.
While on duty on 10th July, 1900, reports were made to PC KEW that there was an armed man in the area, who was threatening people in the street with a hand gun.
He quickly made his way to the address in Swinton, arriving a little before 11.30pm. It was the home of brothers CHARLES age 23 & FREDERICK BACKHOUSE, aged 19, at which PC KEW had attended just a few days prior, to serve a Court Summons to FREDERICK on a charge of attacking his brother's wife. FREDERICK did not attend the court and was fined 40 shillings in his absence, which lead to resentment of PC KEW by him and his brother CHARLES and they had made threats to PC KEW in the previous few days.
As PC KEW approached the door, it opened and the BACKHOUSE brothers came outside. PC KEW informed them he had authority to search them, at which point CHARLES BACKHOUSE pulled out the revolver and shot PC KEW in the stomach at point blank range.
Even though he was badly injured KEW managed to tackle CHARLES BACKHOUSE to the ground. FREDERICK picked up the gun from the ground and witnesses told the court that he shouted "here's another for you" at PC KEW, before shooting him in the hip.
PC KEW was helped back to his own home nearby and was able to tell his wife what had happened, before he succumbed to a coma and died the following morning. He was buried on 14th July, 1900
The BACKHOUSE brothers were tried and convicted of "Wilful Murder" and both sentenced to death, despite the Jury asking the Judge for clemency for FREDERICK on the grounds of his age and that the fatal shot had been fired by his brother.
Just two days before they were due to be executed, FREDERICK received a reprieve of the death sentence and he was instead sentenced to life imprisonment. CHARLES was hanged at Leeds on 16th August, 1900.
After leaving school, he worked as a farm labourer, before joining Lincolnshire Police Constabulary in 1892. He worked with them for just over two years, before being transferred to Yorkshire's West Riding Constabulary in February, 1895.
He married ADA HILDRED in January 1895 at Holbeach, Lincolnshire. They had four children.
While on duty on 10th July, 1900, reports were made to PC KEW that there was an armed man in the area, who was threatening people in the street with a hand gun.
He quickly made his way to the address in Swinton, arriving a little before 11.30pm. It was the home of brothers CHARLES age 23 & FREDERICK BACKHOUSE, aged 19, at which PC KEW had attended just a few days prior, to serve a Court Summons to FREDERICK on a charge of attacking his brother's wife. FREDERICK did not attend the court and was fined 40 shillings in his absence, which lead to resentment of PC KEW by him and his brother CHARLES and they had made threats to PC KEW in the previous few days.
As PC KEW approached the door, it opened and the BACKHOUSE brothers came outside. PC KEW informed them he had authority to search them, at which point CHARLES BACKHOUSE pulled out the revolver and shot PC KEW in the stomach at point blank range.
Even though he was badly injured KEW managed to tackle CHARLES BACKHOUSE to the ground. FREDERICK picked up the gun from the ground and witnesses told the court that he shouted "here's another for you" at PC KEW, before shooting him in the hip.
PC KEW was helped back to his own home nearby and was able to tell his wife what had happened, before he succumbed to a coma and died the following morning. He was buried on 14th July, 1900
The BACKHOUSE brothers were tried and convicted of "Wilful Murder" and both sentenced to death, despite the Jury asking the Judge for clemency for FREDERICK on the grounds of his age and that the fatal shot had been fired by his brother.
Just two days before they were due to be executed, FREDERICK received a reprieve of the death sentence and he was instead sentenced to life imprisonment. CHARLES was hanged at Leeds on 16th August, 1900.
JOHN was the son of JOHN KEW, a farm labourer and his wife MARY ANN (nee WOULD).
After leaving school, he worked as a farm labourer, before joining Lincolnshire Police Constabulary in 1892. He worked with them for just over two years, before being transferred to Yorkshire's West Riding Constabulary in February, 1895.
He married ADA HILDRED in January 1895 at Holbeach, Lincolnshire. They had four children.
While on duty on 10th July, 1900, reports were made to PC KEW that there was an armed man in the area, who was threatening people in the street with a hand gun.
He quickly made his way to the address in Swinton, arriving a little before 11.30pm. It was the home of brothers CHARLES age 23 & FREDERICK BACKHOUSE, aged 19, at which PC KEW had attended just a few days prior, to serve a Court Summons to FREDERICK on a charge of attacking his brother's wife. FREDERICK did not attend the court and was fined 40 shillings in his absence, which lead to resentment of PC KEW by him and his brother CHARLES and they had made threats to PC KEW in the previous few days.
As PC KEW approached the door, it opened and the BACKHOUSE brothers came outside. PC KEW informed them he had authority to search them, at which point CHARLES BACKHOUSE pulled out the revolver and shot PC KEW in the stomach at point blank range.
Even though he was badly injured KEW managed to tackle CHARLES BACKHOUSE to the ground. FREDERICK picked up the gun from the ground and witnesses told the court that he shouted "here's another for you" at PC KEW, before shooting him in the hip.
PC KEW was helped back to his own home nearby and was able to tell his wife what had happened, before he succumbed to a coma and died the following morning. He was buried on 14th July, 1900
The BACKHOUSE brothers were tried and convicted of "Wilful Murder" and both sentenced to death, despite the Jury asking the Judge for clemency for FREDERICK on the grounds of his age and that the fatal shot had been fired by his brother.
Just two days before they were due to be executed, FREDERICK received a reprieve of the death sentence and he was instead sentenced to life imprisonment. CHARLES was hanged at Leeds on 16th August, 1900.
After leaving school, he worked as a farm labourer, before joining Lincolnshire Police Constabulary in 1892. He worked with them for just over two years, before being transferred to Yorkshire's West Riding Constabulary in February, 1895.
He married ADA HILDRED in January 1895 at Holbeach, Lincolnshire. They had four children.
While on duty on 10th July, 1900, reports were made to PC KEW that there was an armed man in the area, who was threatening people in the street with a hand gun.
He quickly made his way to the address in Swinton, arriving a little before 11.30pm. It was the home of brothers CHARLES age 23 & FREDERICK BACKHOUSE, aged 19, at which PC KEW had attended just a few days prior, to serve a Court Summons to FREDERICK on a charge of attacking his brother's wife. FREDERICK did not attend the court and was fined 40 shillings in his absence, which lead to resentment of PC KEW by him and his brother CHARLES and they had made threats to PC KEW in the previous few days.
As PC KEW approached the door, it opened and the BACKHOUSE brothers came outside. PC KEW informed them he had authority to search them, at which point CHARLES BACKHOUSE pulled out the revolver and shot PC KEW in the stomach at point blank range.
Even though he was badly injured KEW managed to tackle CHARLES BACKHOUSE to the ground. FREDERICK picked up the gun from the ground and witnesses told the court that he shouted "here's another for you" at PC KEW, before shooting him in the hip.
PC KEW was helped back to his own home nearby and was able to tell his wife what had happened, before he succumbed to a coma and died the following morning. He was buried on 14th July, 1900
The BACKHOUSE brothers were tried and convicted of "Wilful Murder" and both sentenced to death, despite the Jury asking the Judge for clemency for FREDERICK on the grounds of his age and that the fatal shot had been fired by his brother.
Just two days before they were due to be executed, FREDERICK received a reprieve of the death sentence and he was instead sentenced to life imprisonment. CHARLES was hanged at Leeds on 16th August, 1900.
Inscription
J. W. KEW
Police Constable
Who died doing his duty
July 11th, 1900
Aged 29 years.
"In the midst of life, we are in death"
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