Police Constable shot dead.

Police Constable shot dead outside Knockcroghery Station while cycling from Roscommon.

"Westmeath Independent" Report: Saturday, August 28th 1920

Police Constable shot dead outside Knockcroghery Station while cycling from Roscommon. Ambushed by party of six. Story of the Inquest.

On Thursday night the 19th August within fifty yards of Knockcroghery railway station, Constable Wm. J. Potter, Kiltoom, Athlone, was ambushed while returning from Roscommon with another Constable and shot dead. He only survived his injuries a couple of minutes. Constable Potter was only temporary serving in Kiltoom. He was attached to the Roscommon Police force and formerly served in Athlone. Deceased was thirty six years of age.

The Inquest story.

Yesterday (Friday) afternoon, Mr John Gaynor, Coroner for Westmeath, and a local jury, investigated at Athlone Military Barracks, the circumstances connected with the death of Constable Wm. J. Potter who was shot the previous evening near Knockcroghery railway crossing while cycling from Roscommon with Constable McMahon. The following where sworn in on the jury: Messrs Francis Yates, James Coyle, Thos Boyd, John Quinn, John Kennedy, Patrick Fennell, Arthur Price, Thomas Morris, Robert Moore, Charles Spencer, John Prior and Kieran Dolan. The proceedings were conducted by Head Constable J. St John, Roscommon District. Inspector Carlyle was in attendance. The jury having viewed the body, evidence was taken.

Constable Michael McMahon, Kiltoom, in reply to Head Constable St John, said he identified the remains of those of Constable Wm. J. Potter who would be about Thirty Six years of age. Constable Potter was stationed at Kiltoom. On Thursday deceased and witness cycled to Roscommon with a letter. They left Kiltoom at about half past two in the afternoon and left for home at about quarter past nine.

When did you reach the Village of Knockcroghery? At sometime after ten, we called into Miss Jacksons remaining scarcely 10 minutes. We then cycled in the direction of Knockcroghery Railway Station.

After passing the Railway Crossing What Occurred? On the Athlone side of the Crossing two men rushed out from the roadside and fired at us. They fired two shots and then shouted "Hand Up" then immediately four shots were fired.

Coroner: Where they fired by the same men? Three of four others appeared, and I cannot say which party fired secondly. We put on speed and cycled through the men.

Head Constable: Did you get hit? A bullet went through my cap. At the time the first shots where fired, Constable Potter was a few yards in front. We had cycled about 30 yards when Constable Potter fell. I was going pretty quick at the time and I passed where he fell before I could dismount. I saw about six persons where we were ambushed. I got over the ditch and went to the Railway which is close to the place, I brought my bicycle with me, and came a short distance towards Athlone. After Constable Potter fell, I fired four shots over my left shoulder while cycling, and then when I dismounted I lay on the grass and fired two more shots at the attacking party from whom I was about one hundred yards. I then returned by road to Kiltoom going by a different route to that taken earlier in the day. A party of Police subsequently left the barracks to bring back the body.

Dr Dobbs stated he made a superficial examination. The Constable was practically unrecognisable on account of the amount of blood coming from the eyes and mouth. A bullet struck the deceased on the inside of the right arm, penetrating the upper part of the right lung, causing internal haemorrhage and shock, from which death resulted. There were some abrasions on the head, caused by the fall. He could not have lived more than a minute or two as he would have been smothered in his own blood.

Constable W. H. Dennison, Kiltoom, stated that accompanied by some Military from Athlone, he and another Constable proceeded to Knockcroghery Station. The body of the Constable was lying on the roadside, fifty yards from the station. Deceased was lying on his back, his bicycle on one side and his cap on the other. His revolver was in his right hand trouser pocket fully loaded. The body was conveyed to Athlone by goods train.

Head-Constable St John said it was a simple case where two men were cycling home, doing no harm to anyone, when they where waylaid and shot down deliberately in cold blood with out giving any possible provocation. It was a plain case of wilful and deliberate murder, and he asked the Jury to bring in a verdict to that effect. The Jury found that Constable Potter met his death at Knockcroghery from a bullet wound, inflicted by some person unknown.

Constable Potter was only temporarily stationed in Kiltoom, having been transferred there some weeks ago from Roscommon, he was formerly in Athlone. William Potter joined the R.I.C. on 16th December 1902 He was originally from Mayo, and his religion was Protestant. He was 18 yrs and 2 months on joining. He was 5ft 9 3/8. William Potter was discharged as unfit by a Surgeon on 17th December 1902. He was reappointed with loss of former service on 2nd March 1903. William Potter was posted to Roscommon on 16th September 1903, and continued in Leitrim.

The memorial to William Potter and the former Kiltoom Barracks where he was stationed.

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