Joseph Davidson Sowerby

Both died in the 1990s leaving a son, Roderic Dean Batten (wife Jane) who currently lives in the Torquay area.

[2] On 10 June 1891 Leeds Borough PC William Moss discovered a bundle in an alley next to the police station.

Walter was said to have brought home an object wrapped in linen and hid it underneath the stairs at their house, telling his mother not to worry about it.

The body was horribly mutilated and was covered with a white paste, determined by the coroner Mr J.C. Malcolm to be chloride of lime.

Sowerby arrested Walter Turner, and gave evidence in court that led to his conviction and sentencing to death in August 1891.

After sentence was passed, Mr Grantham presented a bouquet to the deceased child's mother and was met with rapturous cheering and applause as he left the building.

The Plymouth Police Watch Committee employed Sowerby on a £300 a year salary, and notified Chief Constable of Leeds, Mr F.T.

[10] He was known for rewarding his officers generously, and in August 1907 Sowerby traveled to London by train with his wife to present Mr F. James, who had just departed the Plymouth Borough Police, with a solid gold English lever watch bearing the inscription "Presented to Mr F. James by the Plymouth Constabulary and friends, on his appointment to the Chief Constableship of Hastings.

Three years prior Sowerby had presented Mr James with a solid gold double Albert chain with a suitable inscription, upon his promotion to Superintendent in 1904.

[11] In December 1907 he was publicly criticised by Reverend Arthur Robinson, who had been arrested for an offence against a woman whilst at church by a Detective Morrish.

[13] In 1909 Sowerby investigated the manslaughter of Plymouth Argyle Football Club trainer Nicholas Arthur Wallis.

Sowerby asked his colleague, an Inspector Tucker, to travel to Newcastle and bring McIntyre back to Plymouth.

[14] In December 1913 Sowerby led a contingent of officers to the Plymouth Dockyard to intercept the SS Majestic, which had just arrived from New York.