Leslie Heaton (Electrician):
Statement #1:
C.I.D. Anfield.
Tuesday, February 17th 1931.
Leslie HEATON says:-
I am telephone Electrician in the employ of H.M. Post Office, Engineering Dept, Liverpool, and I reside at 12, Maldin Road, Liverpool.
Anfield 1627 on the telephone exchange is connected to a telephone kiosk which is fitted at the junction of Rochester Road and Breck Road, Anfield.
Bank 3581 on the telephone exchange is connected to a telephone and coin automatic box which is fitted to the premises of Messrs.Cottle and Cons, 24 B. North John St. [Cottle’s City Café, where the Central Chess Club plays on Mondays and Thursdays]
(Signed) L.Heaton.
Statement #2:
Evidence taken 19th. February 1931.
LESLIE HEATON:–
I am a Telephone Electrician in the employ of H.M. Postmaster General.
I live at 12 Malden Road, Liverpool.
There is a Public Telephone Box at the junction of Rochester Road and Breck Road, Anfield. It is shown on the plan W.H.W. 15. The Telephone Exchange Number is Anfield 1627.
On the Liverpool Bank Exchange there is a number, Bank 3581, attached to the telephone in the City Cafe 24.B. North John Street.
BY Mr. SHOLEFIELD ALLEN, Counsel for accused :-
I know the district well. I do not know if there is now a telephone call box in the Public Library, Breck Road, Anfield. I do not know of other telephone boxes in shops in Breck Road but there may be.
[Added Presumably by Munro: “Lit up at night”]
Louisa Alfreds (First Operator):
Statement #1
General Post Office.
23rd January, 1931.
Louisa ALFREDS says:-
I am a telephone operator in the employ of the Postmaster, Liverpool, and engaged at Anfield Exchange, Richmond Terrace, Liverpool. I reside at 23, Saxon St., in this City.
On Monday the 19th January instant, I went on dury at 9 a.m. finished at 1 p.m. and resumed again at 4.30 p.m.
About 7.15 p.m. I received a call from 1627 Anfield, a call box at the corner of Rochester Road and Breck Road. The call was for Bank 3581. I answered and in a man’s voice the number 3581 was asked for. I plugged in, in the usual way and went on with my ordinary business. About two minutes later Miss Lilly Kelly, another operator, made a communication to me and I saw her endeavouring on the board to get Bank 3581 and I heard the same voice asking “Is that the City Cafe”. I then “came off” seeing that the call was put through.
The voice was quite an ordinary one and appeared to me to be that of a man used to using telephones. It was decidedly not gruff. I remember the voice particularly by reason of the way he pronounced “Cafe”. I remarked to Miss Kelly at the time “What a funny thing to say “City Café”
(Signed) L. Alfreds.
Statement #2:
Evidence taken 19th February 1931.
LOUISA ALFREDS:-
I am a Telephone Operator in the employ of H.M. Postmaster General.
I live at 23, Saxon Street, Liverpool.
I am engaged at the Anfield Telephone Exchange.
On the 19th. January last I was on duty at that Exchange. At 7-15 p.m. I received a call from the Call box 1627 Anfield. The call was for Bank 3581. It was a male voice, a quite ordinary voice. I plugged straight through to Bank 3581 and someone from that number came on the line. Witness Kelly, another operator, was beside me, and in about two minutes she made a communication to me. She was trying to get Bank 3581 for Anfield 1627. I did not hear the voice the second time.
Lilian Martha Kelly (Second Operator):
Statement #1:
General Post Office.
23rd January, 1931.
Lilian Martha KELLY says:-
I am a single woman and reside at 13, Auburn Road in this City. I am a telephone operator in the employ of the Postmaster, Liverpool and engaged at Anfield telephone Exchange.
I went on duty at 12 noon on the 19th instant and finished at 8 p.m.
About 7.15 p.m. I received a call from 1627 Anfield a call box by the Cabbage Hall Picturedrome. A man’s voice said “Operator I pressed button ‘A’ and haven’t had my correspondent yet”. I asked him “What number did you ask for please” and he replied “Bank 3581”. I then spoke to Miss Alfreds who was the operator next to me, as a result of what Miss Alfreds told me I said to the man “Press button ‘B’ and regain your two pennies”. This he did. I asked him “Do you think there ought to be a reply from this number” and he said “Yes”. It’s a restaurant, there ought to be plenty of people there”. I again tried to get the number but failed. I informed the Supervisor and eventually I connected him with the number he had asked for.
I listened on the line for a moment with a view to ascertaining if he got the right people. I heard him say “Is that the City Cafe” and receive the reply “Yes”. I then went off the line.
The man spoke with an ordinary voice, certainly not a gruff voice and appeared to be a person accustomed to using the telephone. I particularly noticed when he used the sentence “City Cafe” the manner in which he stressed Café
By reason of the complaint of his not having had his conversation with the person he wanted when he first asked for his number, a record was made of his second call
Statement #2:
Evidence taken 19th. February 1931.
LILIAN MARTHA KELLY:-
I am a Telephone Operator in the employ of H.M. Postmaster General.
I live at 13 Auburn Road, Liverpool.
I am engaged at the Anfield Telephone Exchange.
I was on duty there on the 19th. January last. At about 7-17 p.m. [later that initially stated 7.15 PM] I received a call from the Call Box Anfield 1627. It was a man’s voice. I replied. Witness Alfreds was on my left. I had a conversation with her. There was nothing said to the subscriber just then. The telephone box is a modern one where the money is put in before making the call. I know when the money is in. I spoke to the subscriber and I observed a light on my board which indicates that the money has been returned to the subscriber. I had a further conversation with the subscriber and I tried again to get Bank 3581 but received no reply. The Supervisor at the Exchange is witness Robertson to whom I spoke. Two or three minutes later I connected Anfield 1627 with Bank 3581.
Annie Robertson (Supervisor):
Statement #1:
36, Skipton Road.
February 18th 1931.
Annie ROBERTSON says:-
I am a supervisor of the Anfield Telephone Exchange, Richmond Terrace, and I reside at 36 Skipton Road, Anfield. On Monday the 19th January 1931 I was on duty from 10. a.m. and 8. p.m. at the Exchange.
At about 7.20 p.m. a telephonist asked me to try and get Bank 3581, as there had been no reply. I obtained a reply.
I produce a docket made out at the time in reference to the matter dated 19th January 1931. time 7.20 p.m. which was the time showing in the exchange, on the clock. [Apparently not checked by police for accuracy].
(Signed) A. Robertson
Evidence taken on 19th February 1931.
ANNIE ROBERTSON:-
I am a Supervisor at the Anfield Telephone Exchange. I live at 36 Skipton Road Liverpool.
On the 19th. January last I was on duty at the Anfield Exchange. At about 7.20 p.m. a call was referred to me by witness Kelly. It was Bank 3581. I got the call and the connection was made to witness Kelly.
Gladys Harley
Statement #1:
City Cafe,
24 North John Street,
Liverpool.
21st January 1931.
Gladys HARLEY says:-
I am a waitress employed at the City Cafe, 24 North John Street. I reside at 37 Caird Street.
On Monday last 20th instant, it was our late chess night. I was on duty and some time after 7. p.m. I hear the telephone ring and answered the ‘phone. The operator said “Anfield is calling you”. A man’s voice then said, “Is Mr. Wallace there?” or “Mr. Wallace speaking”. He said said it was something connected with the Chess Club and I said, I’ll bring the captain Mr. Beattie” and the man said, “All right”. I went to Mr. Beattie who was playing chess and he went and answered the telephone. The man who telephoned had a deep voice and spoke very quickly.
(Signed) Glayds (sic) Harley
Statement #2:
Gladys Harley of 37 Caird Street West Derby Road Liverpool Spinster will say:-
I am employed as a Waitress at the City Café, North John Street Liverpool where the Central Chess Club meets at lunch times & on the nights of Monday & Thursday in each week during the Autumn & Winter. The Club has no special room in the Café, but it is a well recognized thing for the members to use certain tabled there. I wait on the members, & know a considerable number of them by sight, including Mr Wallace, Mr Caird Mr Banwell, & Mr Beattie.
Between 7 & 7 o-clock on the evening of Monday 19th January 1931, I heard the café telephone bell ringing in the telephone box, & went to answer it. I cannot be more precise about the time, but I am absolutely positive that our line had not been used by anyone for the previous half hour. The box is in full view of the part of the café where I am accustomed to be, & the ringing of the bell is clearly audible. I had not seen anyone enter or leave the box, & usually when there is a call I answer it in the first place.
When I went to the box the operator called out our number Bank 3581, & I said “Yes.” There was then a little delay & I called to the operator “Do you require this number”. She said “Yes, Anfield calling you; hold the line”. Then she asked the person at the other end to put the pennies in, & then a voice said “Is that the Central Chess Club“. I said “Yes.” The reply was “Is Mr Wallace there”. I did not recognize Mr Wallace by his name, & therefore came out & asked was he there. I then asked Mr Beattie to __ to the telephone. I did not recognize the voice on the telephone, but there was nothing strange about it. It seemed like the voice of an elderly gentleman; I am not familiar with Mr Wallace’s voice. I answer the telephone so many times a day that (?) Mr Wallace arrived about half an hour afterwards.
G. Harly.
Statement #3:
Evidence taken 19th. February 1931
GLADYS HARLEY :-
I am a Waitress employed in the City Cafe, 24.B. North John Street, Liverpool.
I live at 37 Caird Street, Liverpool.
I was on duty at the Cafe on the 19th. January Last. Sometime between 7 and 8 p.m. the telephone bell rang and I answered it. After a minute or two I heard a gentleman’s voice. In consequence of what was said I left the box to see if a customer was in. I then spoke to witness Beatty. He went to the telephone.
BY Mr. Scholefield Allen, Counsel for accused :-
I am quite sure our line was free at that time. It had been free for about half an hour. It is quite untrue that our number was engaged.
I know the accused. He is in the habit of visiting the Cafe. I did not recognise the voice on the telephone. It was an ordinary voice.
[In Margin: “Size of Café
Number of people
notice board]
