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.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in February
Courts decide who owns St Aubin’s railway
- A dispute over who owned a railway line resulted in a Clameur de Haro and the risk that the States would claim ownership itself.
- Read more…
Fishermen discover an unexpected coffin
- When a paddle steamer was grounded, and sank, some of its cargo was lost, including a coffin and the corpse inside it.
- Read more…
Jersey courts ponder accountant’s extradition
- The Australian government sent an extradition request to Jersey's Attorney General in February 2009.
- Read more…
A bishop’s daughter is killed on Jersey Railway
- The daughter of the bishop of derry stepped in front of an oncoming engine on the Jersey Railway in 1902.
- Read more…