Bible John: A New Suspect by Jill Bavin-Mizzi

[Herlock Sholmes]

The newspaper article about Samson and Crows book slso states McInnes worked for a US Trading Stamp company (whatever that was, like green Shield reward stamps I guess) and fell out with management owing to missing meetings on Thursday nights to go to Barrowland.

Increasingly odd really because with all these trips to Barrowland he must have bee reasonably well known there especially with staff wouldnt he?

Another point to consider is the risk that he would have taken in going to the Barrowland when he met Helen Puttock considering that the photo fit was displayed after the murder of Jemima MacDonald. Had he not been there after the MacDonald murder (August 17th) until the night that he’d met Helen Puttock (October 30th) so that he wasn’t aware that the photo fit was on display? Was it displayed somewhere but he didn’t see it? As regulars wouldn’t Helen and Jeannie have seen it and noticed a similarity?

[New Waterloo]

Another point to consider is the risk that he would have taken in going to the Barrowland when he met Helen Puttock considering that the photo fit was displayed after the murder of Jemima MacDonald. Had he not been there after the MacDonald murder (August 17th) until the night that he’d met Helen Puttock (October 30th) so that he wasn’t aware that the photo fit was on display? Was it displayed somewhere but he didn’t see it? As regulars wouldn’t Helen and Jeannie have seen it and noticed a similarity?

I agree its a risk but I am not sure whether there is too much emphasis on the photofits and artists impressions. Say for example that McInnes did not resemble (too closely) the photofit displayed in the Barrowland after the MacDonald murder.

In some respects this would be a green light for McInnes (or anybody else who did not resemble the image) to wander at will and keep attending the Barrowland. Its almost as though the murderer has to fit the image or he is discounted from the enquiry. Maybe the images are clouding the enquiry too much. In other words were the investigators saying that a suspect has to fit the image rather than the other way round.

There seems a lot of faith being given to the images and not sufficient attention to speaking to witnesses

Getting myself confused but I think you all see what I mean.

NW

[OneRound]

With regard to why a car full of senior detectives dashed out to see John McInnes in darkest Lanarkshire, I confess that I simply don't have a clue.

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Hi Barn and all,

Before having a speculative stab as to why, could I please ask whether these four senior detectives were accompanied by lower ranked officers and, if so, in what sort of numbers.

Thanks,
OneRound

[New Waterloo]

Hi Barn and all,

Before having a speculative stab as to why, could I please ask whether these four senior detectives were accompanied by lower ranked officers and, if so, in what sort of numbers.

Thanks,
OneRound

Hello OneRound. Excellent question. I have some knowledge of policing methods in the UK. There could be a variety of reasons. I dont see any reason they would go mob handed because of a fear of weapons or violence. Its probably for practical reasons. If an arrest was made in such a serious matter an immediate search would need to be carried out at a persons dwelling and possibly other locations related to the offenders address. Maybe a search of any out buildings or even relatives houses. Securing scenes before evidence is removed by anyone. All in an effort to find any evidence such as victims clothing. Suspects clothing would need to be seized and all documented. Any press interest contained. So quite a bit really. If the station used is lightly manned this would be a factor.

Even if the suspect was taken away to a larger station the local evidence gathering would still be required hence the lower rank numbers (maybe) could be required. To do the donkey work so to speak.

ID parades can also drain resources a bit as officers would need to find several look a like stooges to stand in the ID parade.

The big question is why so many senior officers. Very unusual perhaps a Superintendent and Insp I would have thought.
It seems that they really thought they were onto something. Just dont understand why McInnes was ruled out so fast.

You raise a very thought provoking question

NW

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hi Barn and all,

Before having a speculative stab as to why, could I please ask whether these four senior detectives were accompanied by lower ranked officers and, if so, in what sort of numbers.

Thanks,
OneRound

Hi OneRound,

Its good to see you making an appearance

NW has already replied to your post but I’ll just add that as far as I can recall it was never actually stated who, if any, accompanied the four senior officers to Stonehouse (others might recall something being mentioned somewhere that I’ve missed) but I’d say that it would be as close to a certainty as possible that they would have had less senior officers with them. I can’t imagine a detective superintendent been keen on subduing a cornered serial killer intent on going down in a blaze of violent glory. Property searches, searches for the killer at other locations if he wasn’t at Sandy’s house (which he wasn’t) etc.

[cobalt]

Any press interest contained.

I can't see how four high ranking Glasgow City Police officers descending on Hamilton police station could do anything but fuel speculation locally. The police bush telegraph would have alerted local news reporters within a couple of hours and they would have a suspect's name and address pretty smartish. Photographers would be at the ready to snap shots of police entering the McInnes household and poking around in the back garden.

So I lean to the opposite view. The Glasgow contingent wanted to be photographed leaving Hamilton Police Station with a suspect who had his head covered by a raincoat. Otherwise they could have arranged for the suspect to be brought to Partick Marine and sent out lower ranking officers to oversee the work that NW described.