We pay homage to a life cut short as we head towards Police Remembrance Day
As we approach Police Remembrance Day, let's take the time to reflect on the dangers of enforcing the law and remember those who have died in the line of duty. Today's blog honours the short Police career of a young 22-year-old man who died just as life was starting for him.
LIONEL GEORGE GUISE
Lionel was the only son of
Lionel Guise (Snr) and his wife in 1916, born in Parkes in the central west of
NSW.
He joined the NSW Police
Force on the 22nd of November 1937 and was sworn in on the 21st January 1938.
In early 1939 Lionel was as serving out of Newtown Police Station.
On the evening of the 26th
of February 1939, Lionel, in plain clothes, and another officer, Sergeant
Werner, were patrolling the Newtown area when they received notification of a
possible break and enter offence occurring in nearby Marion Street. When
attending the scene, the Police stopped their vehicle beside a truck which they
were led to believe had been used in the offence. As they pulled up, two men
jumped from the truck and fled on foot, pursued by both officers and
"Scotty Yuill" the local nightwatchman, who had called the incident in.
Lionel soon outran his companions.
Lionel chased this man about
180 metres through Enmore and Pemell Lanes, down Riley Street and into Don
Street. He had almost caught the man at this stage when he suddenly turned
around and hurled a torch which struck Lionel in the chest. It is believed that
Lionel then drew his pistol and grappled with the man. Two shots were fired
with four more in rapid succession.
Neighbours were woken by the shots and finding Lionel writhing in agony on the ground, he was heard to request an
ambulance which rushed him to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital at Camperdown.
Many of his colleagues donated blood and he was given four pints of the precious
liquid. He rallied a little and was able to commence a dying deposition but
lapsed into unconsciousness a few minutes later, and did not complete his
statement. He did manage to state that he was shot as he was struggling with
one of the men before he died.
A call was made for his long-time
girlfriend, Jean McManus, to attend hospital and she stated that they had known
one another for over four years. Earlier that day he had spent time with her
and her family before leaving to go on duty that night.
His distraught parents
arrived as soon as they could and were visibly shocked at the sudden death of
their son who had only spent time with them in Parkes some three weeks earlier.
Police officers in pursuit
of the offenders followed a trail of blood leading along Don Street which
abruptly stopped indicating one or both had been collected by a vehicle.
Inquiries revealed several taxis and trams with blood stains and Police were
checking with hospitals etc. of any man who may have attended with gunshot
wounds. Intelligence revealed that they were looking for a member of a gang who
had recently broken into several factories and stolen trucks laden with goods.
It wasn't long before the
offenders were located. Leslie William Murphy and Stanley Arthur Dayment had
bail refused when remanded at Central Police Court on the 8th of March on a
charge of having murdered Lionel George Guise. Both were later committed for trial on
the 22nd of March after the inquest was held.
The Inquest found that
Lionel George Guise was killed by a shot from his revolver in a struggle.
On the 13th of June 1939
Leslie William Murphy, 28, was found guilty before Mr. Justice Owen and a jury
of the Central Criminal Court with the manslaughter of Constable Lionel George
Guise, 22 and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
Mr. Justice Owen, informed
Murphy "You have a terrible record, but you are not a gunman. Had you been
armed I would have dealt more severely with you."- from The Sun News
-Pictorial (Melb) 14 June 1939.
Dayment was exonerated as
playing any part in the manslaughter of Lionel George Guise but had charges
like Murphy to answer regarding recent break and enter allegations at two
premises. He was sentenced to 12 months detention for each offence to be served
concurrently.
Thousands lined the
footpaths as the cortege left the Holy Trinity church in Dulwich Hill for
Rookwood cemetery on the 28th February. Lionel was afforded full Police honours
with the procession headed by mounted Police, followed by Police cyclists, the
Band playing Chopin's Funderal March and followed by Constables, Sergeants and
commissioned officer with the Commissioner of Police. Fireman, plainclothes
police officers and ambulance officers followed with other officials and direct
family, other relatives and friends.
Lionel George Guise now
rests peacefully in the Church of England area of the Cemetery.
He is remembered on the Police Service Wall of Remembrance Memorial near the Domain in Sydney.
Many of us have been known
to express negative opinions of the Police at times but we forget that they risk
their lives every day on the job, and many have lost their lives in an
instant.
On Police Remembrance Day,
the 29th of September, take a moment to reflect on those brave officers who
have sworn to uphold the law for the safety of others.
For this blog I have
utilised the Police Roll, Police Memorial website, many trove newspaper reports
with accompanying court summaries.
If you have any insights or
comments regarding this blog today, please add them to the comments or head to
the group facebook page found under
Rookwood Cemetery
Discoveries
or send me a message via
lorainepunch@gmail.com
Unfortunately, Lionel is
only one of a number of Police officers who have died in the line of duty who now
call Rookwood "home".
RIP
Until next week
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