Mexborough and Swinton Times July 1, 1927

Perilous Encounter on a Roof

The bravery of a Mexborough man, Police constable Joseph Kershaw, a member of the Hull City Police Force and Fire Brigade in closing with and capturing a lunatic on the edge of a high building, is to be recognised by the Hull Mental Hospitals Committee.

On Sunday night a lunatic escaped onto the roof of the Willerby Asylum, Hall. The man, who was an ex-soldier, eluded observation in the airing court and climbed to the roof by a pipe.

About 30 minutes later he was seen on the roof, where he remained for three or four hours stripping tiles and coping stone from the building and hurling them at anyone who attempted to approach. He shouted that he was going to stay there until dark and then escape.

The asylum Doctor telephoned for the Hull City Police Fire Brigade, PC Kershaw climbed across the tiles – after a hose pipe had failed to bring the man down – towards the man, who was standing with a large coping stone in each hand, threatened to brain him if he went near.

With great bravery and adroitness, Kershaw captured the man single-handed, and then, with assistance, got him down to the ground.

A slip by either of the men would have meant that both would have crashed 50 feet into a concrete yard. The doctor, reporting the incident to the Mental Hospitals Committee, said that he regarded Kershaw’s conduct as “sheer pluck.” The damage to the roof caused by the lunatic amounted to £25.

Police constable Kershaw is a native of Mexborough, and is the eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs William Kershaw, of Pinfold Lane, Mexborough.

He is 28 years old and joined the Hull police force about seven years ago. He previously worked at the Denaby Colliery, and was at one time an errand boy in the service of Mr George Marshall, milliner, Mexborough.