28th February 1939
Mainlanders arrested on explosives charges
Leonard Groves was arrested at a Jersey hotel by a local police officer, Clarence Grant, and handed over to officers who had flown across from the mainland. He was to answer a charge of possessing explosives, after police had discovered 150 detonators, four ounces of gelignite and a dozen safety fuses at his Kensington home.
But Groves wasn’t the only one detained. George Darry, whose stash was a little smaller but still comprised eight detonators, five fuses and another quantity of gelignite, was arrested alongside him, and the two were flown back to Bournemouth post-haste.
The Western Gazette of 10 March quoted Dorothy Young, acting manageress of the Hotel de la Plage where the men had been staying, explaining that they had arrived on 7 February and asked her to place twenty £1 notes in the hotel safe for safekeeping.
The men were subsequently charged under the Explosive Substances Act following a break-in at a London office.
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Other events that occured in February
Dean of Jersey killed in Mont Orgueil escape attempt
- The Dean of Jersey died when he tried to escape from Mont Orgueil castle by climbing down a rope of knotted bed sheets.
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A suspected arms dealer is arrested at his father’s funeral
- A suspected arms dealer was arrested at his father's funeral on a charge of having obtained a false passport.
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States treasurer is charged with embezzlement
- Jersey States treasurer was charged with embezzlement following the collapse of the Jersey Banking Company in 1886.
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Safe-breaking results in a Jersey arrest
- Three men appeared in court after being arrested in Jersey on charges of using explosives to rob a safe at the Co-op.
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