Roll of Honor
Incident
An inquest returned a verdict of wilful murder by the assailant James Crowley, who, by that time, had fled to America.
In March 1844 he returned to England where he was betrayed to the police who arrested him at a public house in Chester.
He was tried at Warwick Assizes in April 1845, found guilty and hanged at Warwick Prison on 18th April 1845.
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BO-GB-SPE-AEF58185- Stewardship
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- April 8, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
184 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Constable Tilsley served with the Spernall.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Constable William Tilsley is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Tilsley's cause is highlighted.
How William Tilsley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Tilsley is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.