Robert Sagar

[Scott Nelson]

Thanks for posting these, Chris. The bit from the Brighton & Hove Herald, 6 Dec 1924, "It was Mr. Sagar's view that the murders were committed by an insane man employed at Butcher's Row, Aldgate".... essentially agrees with Justin Atholl's story in Reynolds News 22 years later.

[Chris]

And here is another from the City Press:

A SHERLOCK HOLMES IN REAL LIFE
ROMANCE OF DETECTIVE.
ONCE A MEDICAL STUDENT.
There passed away at Brighton the other day a City detective who had had what may truly be described as a romantic career.
Ex.-Det.-Inspector Robert Sagar will long be remembered as a man of outstanding ability in the detection of crime. Commencing life as a student at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, he became fascinated with the work of the plain clothes police. His duties as a student brought him into close contact with them, and he astonished his family and connections by throwing up all thought of a medical career, and joining the police. Exactly how it was done, no one knows, but it is certain that young Sagar went direct to the detective force of the City. He never did duty in the streets as an ordinary constable, and also never wore a uniform.
THE STUDY OF CRIMINOLOGY.
His forte was the discovery of the criminal, and a problem charmed and interested him beyond measure. To unravel the tangled skein of a complicated human problem gave him as much pleasure as even "Sherlock Holmes" derived from his voluntary activities. That such a man should have been wonderfully successful goes almost without saying; but he was not invariably a persona grata with the powers that then were, for his originality and independence scarcely fitted in with the methods of the ordinary police. Still, his value was undoubted, and, despite many difficulties, he rose to the very top of his profession.
A NOTABLE CASE.
To recount his many successes would be impossible in the columns of a newspaper. Perhaps, however, it may be well to mention one case, now 25 years old, in which he made history. For obvious reasons, we withhold names, but it was the first case in this country in which a man was charged with receiving property stolen abroad. A large number of bonds was stolen following a murder in Paris. The older officials of the police were quite out of sympathy with Sagar in touching the case, but he had his way, and many distinguished French policemen came over, conviction resulting. It may be that that case will be referred to in the near future.
Det.-Inspector Robert Sagar retired very many years ago, and his death took place at the ripe age of 72. He was often referred to as the "doctor," and his popularity with colleagues and successors alike was undoubted.
[City Press, 6 December 1924, p. 10]

[Chris]

Here is another obituary from a local newspaper:

A NOTABLE CAREER.
Ex-Inspector R. Sagar.
The funeral took place at Brighton on Wednesday, of ex-Inspector Robert Sagar, a one-time famous detective of the City of London Police Force. Mr. Sagar, who was 72 years of age, had lived at "Homeleigh", South road, Preston Park, since his retirement in 1905. Among the mourners were Mr. R. H. Sagar (Fishguard), Mr. [C.] W. Sagar, sons; and Mrs. Bishop (Highgate) daughter. A few intimate friends also attended at the cemetery.
The early career of Mr. Sagar was remarkable. While serving as a medical student at St. Bartholomew's Hospital he took up amateur detective work and solved a number of [?]London crime mysteries, which so impressed the City Police Commissioner, that he was invited to join the Force. He did so, and it is stated that he was the only member of the City Force who went through 25 years' police service without having to wear a uniform. He had a large hand in tracing the perpetrators of many notorious crimes, and spent much time in trying to trace "Jack the Ripper."
[Brighton Gazette [etc], Saturday 6 December 1924, p. 4]

[Chris]

Just to add - I'm in the process of tracing descendants, and I hope to contact them soon. Incidentally, I don't think there were any male descendants named Sagar who lived in the Brighton area other than his sons, Robert and Cecil.

Robert Sagar was born in Simonstone, Lancashire, where Sagars had lived since at least the 16th century. On that basis I think it's safe to conclude that Robert Sagar was neither German nor Jewish.

[Chris]

I see there's been some discussion on jtrforums.com about Sagar's obituary in the Brighton and Hove Herald, referred to (but misdated to 1926) in the "A to Z".

The text of this article is as follows:

A "SHERLOCK HOLMES."
Death of Mr. Robert Sagar.
A romantic career has ended by the death at Homeleigh, South-road, Preston, of Mr Robert Sagar, a former inspector of the City of London Police Force. Mr Sagar was described as a "born detective." He had, indeed, the almost uncanny gifts of deduction associated with "Sherlock Holmes," and had remarkable success in the solution of criminal mysteries.
Among the famous crimes in the investigation of which Mr Sagar shared were the "Jack the Ripper" murders. It was Mr Sagar's view that the murders were committed by an insane man employed at Butcher's Row, Aldgate, who was subsequently placed by his friends in a private asylum.
On one occasion Mr Sagar was sent with two other officers by the British Government to Spain to deal with a supposed plot to take the life of the present King of Spain, who was then a child. The conspirators were arrested, and Mr Sagar and his colleagues were honoured by having a group portrait of themselves hung in the Royal Palace at Madrid.
Years ago when the great city house of Rothschild lent the French Government a huge sum, Mr Sagar was in charge of the transport of the gold.
After being in Brighton some fifteen years, Mr Sagar had a breakdown in health following a fall in the street. During his last illness, which terminated fatally on Sunday, he was devotedly nursed by his daughter-in-law, Mrs C. W. Sagar, to whom he was much attached. He was seventy-two years of age.
The deceased gentleman leaves two sons, Mr R. H. Sagar, of Fishguard, and Mr C. W. Sagar, of Preston, and one daughter, Mrs Bishop, of Highgate, with whom sincere sympathy is expressed.
The funeral took place on Wednesday at the Brighton and Preston Cemetery.
[Brighton and Hove Herald, Saturday 6 December 1924, p. 9.]