Extract from the book Tough Times and Grisly Crimes by Noel Green. 

Rothbury in Northumberland may be a quiet village but in the winter of 1920s it was to hit the headlines for a heinous crime.

The incident which happened on the moonlight night of Saturday 29^th February was to lead to one newspaper dubbing it “Wild West Drama” 

The drama started around 9 pm as PC. Francis Sinton patrolled the village.  PC Sinton was 38 and had been in the force for 18 years.

A dance was being held in the village hall but other than that the officer had no reason to expect any disturbance of any description. 

But as he walked past the Rothbury Brewery, on the main Road through the village he heard a noise coming from the back of the premises, armed with just his Truncheon and torch. PC Sinton went to investigate.  The noise seemed to be coming from the bottle shed attached to the back of the building. 

PC Sinton stopped a passer-by called James Curry and asked him to nip across the road and get the Brewery Manager, Mr. Farndale while he kept watch on the premises .

PC Sinton then went back towards the shed where out of the darkness he was suddenly confronted by a man armed with a pistol.  The man fired but the bullet passed over PC Sinton’s head.   The pair began struggling, as another man appeared. He was armed with an iron bar and he smashed the officer over the head. 

M.r Curry and Mr. Farndale arrived on the scene just as the two men were running away. M.r Farndale managed to grab hold of one of them but he wriggled free, leaving behind a white muffler as the burglars vanished into the darkness.  Mr. Farndale and Mr. Curry then began looking for PC Sinton. Mr. Farndale struck a match to light up the area and near the shed he found the officer lying in a pool of blood. 

A doctor and nurse were then called and he was taken to the surgery but, for the next few days his life hung in the balance.   Officers were called in from far and wide and along with locals a huge manhunt began.

The next day two men were found hiding at Walbottle Dene near Ponteland, the pair gave themselves up without a struggle. The men turned out to be Russion Sailors. Police believe that they were trying to get into the Brewery safe when PC Sinton disturbed them. The men were charge with attempted murder and sentenced to 13 years penal servitude. PC Sinton was awarded the Kings medal for bravery and he continued in the force until he was 65.

 FMW