Another Newmarket,Co Cork man.B 16.7.1882,enlisted 30.12.1903 as PC 35,Sgt 1914, Temporary Sanitary Inspector 1923 ( to give him certain powers of entry,search and seizure),brother of John Murphy L/Sgt 137, awarded HKP Merit Medal Cl 2 in 1920 of work in tracking dangerous criminals,awarded Kings Police Medal 1924,ADCI 1937,later President of Police Old Comrades Association.
(Collar size 17,waist 42,inside leg 31,boots size 10 tic)
Tim was the first of three brothers from Newmarket, Co. Cork who joined the HK Force. There were also two Murphy cousins who joined. Tim and his younger brother John and cousin Michael all rose to senior positions as detectives. After Tim's brief stint seconded as a sanitary inspector he returned to the Force - he had petitoned to be allowed to rejoin and not lose out in seniority by his secondment. He was appointed sergeant in 1914, inspector in 1922 and Chief Detective Inspector in 1926. In 1931 he was gazetted as Assistant Superintendent, one of the first tranch of men who had come through the ranks from constable to hold the position. He retired, aged 52, in 1938, returning to Cork but to Kinsale, on the coast. Early in his career he had passed the highest exam in Cantonese and went on to gain three (of a possible four) merit medals, along with the Kings Police Medal, as mentioned by 1314 above, for his leadership in the 1923 Canton Road shootout, where a heavily armed gang of robbers were foiled in their raid on an apartment by well organized police action.
He was married twice, his first wife, Mary Shehan, dying of tuberculosis. She is buried in St Michael's Cemetery, next to Tim's brother James who had lost his life in a fall from an upper floor of the Police Inspectors' quarters in CPS. He then married May Colbert, the wedding taking place at St Josephs. The couple (Tim and May) had six children, losing a young daughter, Colleen, to meningitis.
Tim was fascinated by all things mechanical, especially engines. In Newmarket he had worked briefly on the engines of the small branch railway, whilst in HK he was soon one of the engine drivers in the Fire Brigade (staffed by European policemen at the time). He was probably one of the first members of the Force to own a motorcar - there are family photos of Tim standing proudly before his latest acquisition. Whether on duty or off, he was always seen with his faithful dog, usually a terrier - indeed one such lost its life when it followed its master into the Canton Road apartment and was shot.
Mr. Timothy Murphy was married this morning at St. Joseph’s Church, Kennedy-road, in the presence of a large number of fellow-members of the Hong Kong Police Force and other friends.
The bride was Miss May Colbert, who arrived from Home this week. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. Colbert, Liverpool.
The groom is Assistant Superintendent of Police, a rank to which he was recently promoted from that of Chief Detective Inspector. He is now Assistant Director of Criminal Intelligence.
Mr. W. Kent, Assistant Superintendent of Police, gave the bride away and Chief Inspector Peter Grant acted as “best man.”
The service was performed by the Rt. Rev. H. Valtorta, Vicar Apostolic of Hong Kong, and Father Riganti officiated at the organ.
Large Attendance.
Miss M.A. Lysaught and Miss M. Kent were the bridesmaids.
The bride wore a white georgette dress trimmed with pearls and gold roses, also a veil of Brussels lace and wreath of orange blossoms. The bridesmaids were in creations of pale pink crepe de chine.
The reception was held in the gymnasium hall at Police Headquarters, where an exceedingly large number assembled to drink the health of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy.
The honeymoon is being spent in Macao. The bride’s travelling dress was of grey georgette trimmed with blue and silver grey fur.”
“Detective Inspector T. Murphy charged two Chinese before Mr. J.R. Wood yesterday with the unlawful possession of a revolver and 5 rounds of ammunition. The prisoners were arrested at 31, Portland Street, and offered no resistance when the arms were discovered in an old tea pot concealed under the bed. His Worship thought that there was not sufficient evidence to convict and accordingly discharged the prisoners.”
A dusty old tea-pot, antique in shape and colouring, found it way to the Magistracy yesterday afternoon, to be used – not for the purpose of serving out afternoon tea for his Worship (Mr. J.R. Wood) but as an exhibit in an arms case. In it prime it must have served out many gallons of the national beverage for Chinese, but now, in its old age, its legitimate purpose had been abandoned, for when it came into the hands of Inspector Murphy of Yaumati, it was affording shelter for a deadly-looking revolver with the necessary five rounds of ammunition all complete.
Such an antique would have been looked upon with pride on any European’s sideboard, but, as if ashamed of the nefarious purpose for which it was being used, it was found hidden from the light of day underneath a bed – dusty and apparently neglected. Even the two men in the dock would have nothing to do with it. They both denied possession of the tea-pot and the revolver. Inspector Murphy said that when the two men were arrested at No. 31, Portland Street, they offered no resistance.
Mr. Wood did not think the evidence sufficient to convict and discharged the two men. He ordered the confiscation of the revolver, but as regards the old tea-pot, nothing was said. When last seen this curio was being admired by police officers in the store-room at the Central Police Station.”
Comments
Timothy Murphy HKP
Another Newmarket,Co Cork man.B 16.7.1882,enlisted 30.12.1903 as PC 35,Sgt 1914, Temporary Sanitary Inspector 1923 ( to give him certain powers of entry,search and seizure),brother of John Murphy L/Sgt 137, awarded HKP Merit Medal Cl 2 in 1920 of work in tracking dangerous criminals,awarded Kings Police Medal 1924,ADCI 1937,later President of Police Old Comrades Association.
(Collar size 17,waist 42,inside leg 31,boots size 10 tic)
Thanks 1314, you have an
Thanks 1314, you have an Encyclopedic knowledge of members of the Hong Kong Police Force!
I'm tagging people noted as policemen with the tag: HK Police
Here's the list so far:
http://gwulo.com/list-of-person?tid=HK+Police&title_1=
Regards, David
Tim Murphy - further
Tim was the first of three brothers from Newmarket, Co. Cork who joined the HK Force. There were also two Murphy cousins who joined. Tim and his younger brother John and cousin Michael all rose to senior positions as detectives. After Tim's brief stint seconded as a sanitary inspector he returned to the Force - he had petitoned to be allowed to rejoin and not lose out in seniority by his secondment. He was appointed sergeant in 1914, inspector in 1922 and Chief Detective Inspector in 1926. In 1931 he was gazetted as Assistant Superintendent, one of the first tranch of men who had come through the ranks from constable to hold the position. He retired, aged 52, in 1938, returning to Cork but to Kinsale, on the coast. Early in his career he had passed the highest exam in Cantonese and went on to gain three (of a possible four) merit medals, along with the Kings Police Medal, as mentioned by 1314 above, for his leadership in the 1923 Canton Road shootout, where a heavily armed gang of robbers were foiled in their raid on an apartment by well organized police action.
He was married twice, his first wife, Mary Shehan, dying of tuberculosis. She is buried in St Michael's Cemetery, next to Tim's brother James who had lost his life in a fall from an upper floor of the Police Inspectors' quarters in CPS. He then married May Colbert, the wedding taking place at St Josephs. The couple (Tim and May) had six children, losing a young daughter, Colleen, to meningitis.
Tim was fascinated by all things mechanical, especially engines. In Newmarket he had worked briefly on the engines of the small branch railway, whilst in HK he was soon one of the engine drivers in the Fire Brigade (staffed by European policemen at the time). He was probably one of the first members of the Force to own a motorcar - there are family photos of Tim standing proudly before his latest acquisition. Whether on duty or off, he was always seen with his faithful dog, usually a terrier - indeed one such lost its life when it followed its master into the Canton Road apartment and was shot.
There's further information about Tim's life and that of his brothers and cousins in Policing Hong Kong - an Irish History
“POLICE WEDDING.
“POLICE WEDDING.
-------------------------
POPULAR OFFICER MARRIED TO-DAY.
-------------------------------------------------
RECEPTION AT POLICE H.Q.
---------------------------------------
Mr. Timothy Murphy was married this morning at St. Joseph’s Church, Kennedy-road, in the presence of a large number of fellow-members of the Hong Kong Police Force and other friends.
The bride was Miss May Colbert, who arrived from Home this week. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. Colbert, Liverpool.
The groom is Assistant Superintendent of Police, a rank to which he was recently promoted from that of Chief Detective Inspector. He is now Assistant Director of Criminal Intelligence.
Mr. W. Kent, Assistant Superintendent of Police, gave the bride away and Chief Inspector Peter Grant acted as “best man.”
The service was performed by the Rt. Rev. H. Valtorta, Vicar Apostolic of Hong Kong, and Father Riganti officiated at the organ.
Large Attendance.
Miss M.A. Lysaught and Miss M. Kent were the bridesmaids.
The bride wore a white georgette dress trimmed with pearls and gold roses, also a veil of Brussels lace and wreath of orange blossoms. The bridesmaids were in creations of pale pink crepe de chine.
The reception was held in the gymnasium hall at Police Headquarters, where an exceedingly large number assembled to drink the health of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy.
The honeymoon is being spent in Macao. The bride’s travelling dress was of grey georgette trimmed with blue and silver grey fur.”
Source: The China Mail, page 1, 15th September 1928
Also reported on page 16 of The Hong Kong Telegraph, 15th September 1928
Also reported in greater detail on page 6 Hong Kong Daily Press 17th September 1928
“Detective Inspector T…
“Detective Inspector T. Murphy charged two Chinese before Mr. J.R. Wood yesterday with the unlawful possession of a revolver and 5 rounds of ammunition. The prisoners were arrested at 31, Portland Street, and offered no resistance when the arms were discovered in an old tea pot concealed under the bed. His Worship thought that there was not sufficient evidence to convict and accordingly discharged the prisoners.”
Source: The China Mail, page 4, 19th May 1923
“REVOLVER IN A TEA POT.
--------------------------------
A dusty old tea-pot, antique in shape and colouring, found it way to the Magistracy yesterday afternoon, to be used – not for the purpose of serving out afternoon tea for his Worship (Mr. J.R. Wood) but as an exhibit in an arms case. In it prime it must have served out many gallons of the national beverage for Chinese, but now, in its old age, its legitimate purpose had been abandoned, for when it came into the hands of Inspector Murphy of Yaumati, it was affording shelter for a deadly-looking revolver with the necessary five rounds of ammunition all complete.
Such an antique would have been looked upon with pride on any European’s sideboard, but, as if ashamed of the nefarious purpose for which it was being used, it was found hidden from the light of day underneath a bed – dusty and apparently neglected. Even the two men in the dock would have nothing to do with it. They both denied possession of the tea-pot and the revolver. Inspector Murphy said that when the two men were arrested at No. 31, Portland Street, they offered no resistance.
Mr. Wood did not think the evidence sufficient to convict and discharged the two men. He ordered the confiscation of the revolver, but as regards the old tea-pot, nothing was said. When last seen this curio was being admired by police officers in the store-room at the Central Police Station.”
Source: Hong Kong Daily Press, page 5, 19th May 1923