225-229 Finney Lane
 

Investigation and Trial

Constable Ikin of Cheadle found the motor car BNC 896 abandoned in a cul de sac on High Grove Road, Cheadle. It was then removed to Cheadle Hulme police station. Constable Taylor went to the bank and found a pane of glass broken in the door and another cracked, along with blood on the door and in a passageway. He spoke to Barratt under caution and asked him “Is that your other shoe at the bank?” “I expect so,“ he replied.

The owner of the car was Roderick Francis S Mervin of Withington Road, Whalley Range. He had left it in Dickinson Road, Manchester at 1.30pm on October 30th and found it was missing on his return at 2.10pm. A rubber glove that was inside the car was not his.

At 3.30pm, following a police message, Detective William Clarke of the Manchester City Police went to a house at 254 Brunswick Street, Chorlton on Medlock and waited for McNally to return. He did so at 6.25pm and was cautioned. He lied through his back teeth.

“I was with Joe this morning but I was not at the Bank. I can prove an alibi. I was at the Piccadilly Pictures this afternoon. I kept the half of the ticket.” He was asked where his hat and coat were “I lost them in a fight I had this afternoon in Mosley Street.” He also said that a bruise under his right eye was from the same fight. He then struggled very violently when being led out by the police.

“I will tell you my movements today. I got up at 9.10am and went out with Joe at 10.30am. We went to the Midland Hotel and spoke to the timekeeper there. I think I left Joe at 12.30pm. I think I then went to the pictures.” When pressed he couldn’t tell the officer the name of the film he had watched that day. “I forget, but I have the half ticket that will prove I was there.” He then produced it and went on to say he had had a scrap on Mosley Street but did not know whom he had fought with. His hat and coat were left near the scene of the fight. He then said he went to the reference library to read at 3.30pm before coming to his digs but again couldn’t remember the book title.

Detective Sergeant Evans took Barratt from Brown Lane back to the bank where he admitted that the shoe and hat were his but denied ownership of the revolver. He then came clean and wrote a statement. Later on McNally wrote in his statement “I was with Joseph Barratt in the attempted robbery of Heald Green Bank this afternoon.” He claimed a blue hat and spectacles were his and that he had carried the revolver to the bank. Whilst in the car he had gloves on and he had thrown his mackintosh over the river bridge at Cheadle. “The gun was unloaded.”

Barratt said, “If all bank managers were like him there would be no bank robberies.” McNalley added, “I could tell he had been in the army. He is not afraid of a gun. He fought like a tiger.” Barratt said he had found the gun in a field in Hull 12 months ago when it was all rusty and McNally said he had got it from him.

New Scotland Yard confirmed McNally’s fingerprints on the steering wheel of the getaway car and yet unbelievably they both pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial at Chester Assizes.

Dr Grace, a pathologist at Chester Royal Infirmary examined the 6 chambered Webley revolver that weighed 2lb 4ozs. It had both blood and hair on it from Mr Thornley. There were no fingerprints on the gun, suggesting gloves were used and the accused bloodstained clothes had had an attempt to clean them.

In February 1936 the trial was presided over by Mr Justice Humphreys. The men pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Frank Thornley with intent to rob him. The men were given different sentences. Once again, the newspapers across the country pronounced the verdict “Cat” for two bank raiders. 15 months imprisonment and 15 strokes with the cat for Barratt and 12 months and 12 strokes for McNally. The Justice praised Mr Thornley for his courage and hoped that his employers, a rich corporation, would reward him. Mr Dunn and Mr Lloyd were also singled out. They had acted as good citizens and were willing and anxious to help the police. Mr Dunn was rewarded £10 in addition to his expenses and Mr Lloyd £5.

Justice Humphreys ended with this rather sombre note. “The serious crime of this country at the present time is found to be committed by young men, very often young men who have not been in prison before. It may be thought that there is something fine and exciting about this sort of crime. I do not know where the idea comes from, but I do know that in the interests of the public it must be eradicated from the minds of those who fall into temptation.”