Monumental Inscription Detail

Place:

St Peter, Preston

Inscription:

THIS TABLET IS ERECTED
IN MEMORY OF
FREDERICK ISAAC GOLD,
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 27TH JUNE 1881,
AGED 64 YEARS.
AND OF
LYDIA MATILDA HIS WIFE,
WHO DIED 27TH FEBRUARY 1910,
AGED 86 YEARS.
FOR MANY YEARS THEY WERE
PARISHIONERS OF PRESTON
AND REGULAR WORSHIPPERS IN THIS CHURCH.
"I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.".

Monument details:

Type: Internal Monument.

Monument Condition: Excellent.

Inscription Condition: Excellent.

Person commemorated (or mentioned):

Last name: Gold.

First Name(s): Frederick Isaac.

Birth date: Not given.

Death date: 27 Jun 1881.

Age: 64.

Comments:

1881: Murder of Frederick Gold in the Balcome Tunnel: The murder occurred on a train from London to Brighton. A man left the train with blood on his clothing and was stopped and searched. On being taken to his lodgings he ran off and later a portrait of the wanted man Mapleton was given to the press – the first occasion this was done. He was arrested and hanged on 29 November 1881.

The 2.20 train from London Bridge first stop Preston Park, Brighton arrived at 3.20 pm Monday 27th June 1881 when a ticket collector at Preston Park Railway Station on the outskirts of Brighton, opened the door of the first class carriage. He found a bloodstained young man "his collar gone", who claimed that he had been attacked by two men as the train passed through the first tunnel after Croydon (Merstham).

He gave his name as Arthur Lefroy and that he had heard a gun shot and almost simultaneously was knocked unconscious. He had just come round now and needed a doctor. A guard spotted a chain hanging from Lefroy's shoe and pulled it, finding a watch attached. Claimed it was his and that he had put it there for safety. Claimed attackers had got out further up the line.

Taken to Brighton police station where Detective Inspector Howland took a statement from him. He then went to hospital where his wounds were found to be relatively minor and he was then taken home to Wallington by Detective Sergeant John Holmes of the railway police. (A Metropolitan Police officer on loan.) En route they found out that a body had been found by the track in Balcombe Tunnel which was about fifteen miles south of Merstham.

At Wallington railway station Detective Sergeant Holmes received a telegram from Detective Inspector Howland asking for the details of the watch. He left Lefroy at his home and on returning to the station he received a further telegram instructing that he be detained.

On return Holmes waited for reinforcements and then they found Lefroy had gone. Body was that of Isaac Gold a sixty four year old retired businessman and coin dealer. He had been shot in the neck and stab wounds to his chest. His hat and umbrella, Lefroy's collar and what was thought to be his hat was scattered along the line.

Daily Telegraph published a sketch of the suspect. Detective Inspectors Swanson and Jarvis Metropolitan Police were appointed to the case. The suspect was traced after four days and arrested in a Stepney boarding house by Swanson and Jarvis for the murder of Isaac Frederick Gold and later appeared at Maidstone Assizes.

Percy Lefroy Mapleton was hanged at Lewes prison 29 November 1881.

It appears that as the train approached Merstham Tunnel Lefroy drew a revolver and shot Gold four times but he still put up a fight and was stabbed in the eye and face. Evidence was thrown from the train and found at Burgess Hill, Hassocks Gate, Clayton tunnel and near Preston Park.

Source: International Centre for the History of Crime, Policing and Justice Website.

Transcription details:

Transcribed by: Mark Collins.

Batch: Unknown.

Image:

Image of a monument

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