CONFIDENTIAL SUPPLEMENT A No. 12. FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1924. Vol. XI. RIGHT FOREFINGER PRINT UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED CONFIDENTIAL Supplement A THE POLICE GAZETTE No. 12. FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1924. Vol. XI. EXPERT AND TRAVELLING CRIMINALS. 214. Frank Percy Berry, alias Frank Berry, C. R. O. No. 452- 1907. Description : B. ( London) 1876, 5ft. lOJin., c. fresh, h. dk. brown ( turning grey, thin top), e. hazel, dot rt. forearm and second rt. finger. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Very plausible ; good appearance ; refined manners ; speaks French and German ; heavy drinker ; fond of the company of barmaids with whom he rides about in taxi- cabs and incurs debt with the cabmen. Sentenced at St. Albans Sess., 3- 1- 1922, to 3 and 3 yrs. pen. ( conc.) for embezzlement and falsification of accounts. Liberated on licence, 4- 4- 1924, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny, embezzlement and minor offence at CHATHAM, in CITY OF LONDON and on E, K, M, N, W and Y. Method - ( i) Whilst employed by a firm as an accountant he falsified the accounts and embezzled a large sum of money. Obtained money by forging the endorsement on three banker's cheques. Forged and uttered a guarantee bond for £ 1000. Visited a jeweller to whom he was well known as a customer and obtained a quantity of jewellery, tendering in payment a worthless cheque. Called on a firm of outfitters, where he was known as a customer, obtained three suits of clothes, etc., and gave a cheque ( worthless) in settlement. ( ii) In several cases during his employment as a clerk he has stolen various sums of money belonging to his employers. In one instance he stole a ring from a bedroom and immediately pawned it. ( iii) Called at the private house of a person, who was a superintendent where he was formerly employed, asked to be allowed to write a letter, and, whilst left alone in the drawing room, stole a quantity of plate and decamped. ( iv) Obtained a situation by false character by answering an advertisement in the daily press, and falsely representing that he had been previously employed by a firm for four years. ( v) Stole a directory from an office during the temporary absence of the clerk. ( vi) Employed by a firm as a traffic manager, he instructed carmen to deliver goods at a given address, where they were received by Edward Hammer, C. R. O. No. 16345- 1915, who was convicted with him. ( vii) Obtained the sum of £ 5 by wiring to the father of a soldier, who was serving in his regiment, and representing the telegram to come from the son. Obtained a gold tie- pin, etc., from another soldier in the same regiment under the pretext that he wished to help a certain Q. M. S. out of trouble, who was short in his accounts, he forthwith pawned the property. The portrait is a good likeness. 4 . Specimen if handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history 7 ^'^ TS ow^ Y' j^ v C^ Ct^ y , ^ ff^ l/ tlfy^ t- 215. Ernest Dorking, aliases Ernest Dorkin, Ernest Dawkins and Ernest Needs, C. R. O. No. 303- 1919. Description : B. ( Sunderland) 1889, 5ft. 7fin., c. dk., h. dk. brown ( turning grey), e. blue, scar top of head, E. D. rt., woman's head and MARY ALLEN 1. forearm, dot back rt. hand. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Speaks with a North Country accent. \ Sentenced at C. L. S., 20- 12- 1921, to 3 yrs. pen. for burglary. Liberated on licence, 2- 4- 1924, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny, attempted shopbreaking, receiving and minor offences at SUNDERLAND, EDINBURGH and on B and G. Method— ( i) During the temporary absence of the occupier, he endeavoured to effect an entry to a residential flat by breaking the glass panel of the front door and releasing the lock, but, failing this, he forced the door with a jemmy. ( ii) He gained access to the rear of a pawnbroker's shop during a Sunday afternoon, and attempted to gain entrance by forcing the door with a jemmy and a wedge. He was, however, unsuccessful in his repeated efforts and was arrested. John Lloyd, Case No. 105 ( Vol. IV.), and Richard Allan, C. R. O. No. 12928- 1916, were convicted with him. ( iii) In the con. for receiving several fox and skunk skins were found in his possession and which had been stolen by means of warehousebreaking. On one occasion he was charged, but discharged, for being concerned with others in effecting an entry to a warehouse by forcing, the padlocks from the door of a warehouse and stealing a quantity of skunk skins, etc. ( iv) Was seen taking observation of houses in a good class residential square and when arrested for loitering was found to be in possession of a jemmy. He assaulted the officer arresting him. Disposed of the property to receivers. Associates: James Walker, C. R. O. No. 24490- 1920 ( now in prison, and who has been convicted with him), and Samuel Hutton, C. R. O. No. S/ 129183. The portrait is a fairly good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history /^ k/ Ak/^ m:.. 216. Herbert Shirley, C. R. O. No. 15130- 1916. Description : B. ( Manchester) 1901, 5ft. 6in., c. fresh, h. and e. brown, scar each cheek, tombstone rt., heart 1. forearm, anchor and 5 dots back rt., H. S. back 1. hand, ring first 1. finger. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Speaks with a pronounced North Country accent; usually partakes of food in kitchen, has been known to leave excrement on floor. Sentenced at Middlesex Sess., 7- 1- 1922, to 3 yrs. pen. ( conc.) and 3 yrs. pol. supn. for burglary ( 3 cases). Liberated on licence, 16- 5- 1924, to Timperley. Pre. con. of larceny, housebreaking and burglary at SALFORD, LEEDS, ALTRINCHAM, GOOLE and NORTHALLERTON. Twenty- two cases of burglary committed at Watford and in the M. P. D. were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. A persistent suburban and provincial housebreaker, who works alone, and gains access to dwelling houses during the night, principally by means of insecurely fastened windows, but, should the occasion arise, by forcing the catches of ground floor windows. He operates chiefly at the rear of premises, and has been known to enter several houses, adjoining each other, in one night. When in custody on one occasion he confessed to having committed over two hundred burglaries, single- handed, in different parts of the country. Method— ( i) In the con. quoted, he climbed over the door of side entrance and gained access to the houses by forcing back the catch of the kitchen or scullery window with a knife. Disturbing the occupants whilst operating at the last house, an alarm was given, but he managed to secrete himself in an adjoining garden until the early morning, and was then observed endeavouring to leave the district with a suit- case containing stolen goods. He usually removes the stolen property in a suit- case or attache- case. ( ii) Stole a bicycle from a dwelling house, verandah and coach house. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history 217. Frederick James Simmonds, aliases Frank James Simmonds and Frederick Gorhan Ticehurst, CR. O. No. 7124- 1910. Description : B. ( Hastings) 1877, 5ft. 7in., c. fresh, h. brown, e. grey, prominent nose. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Fond of drink. Sentenced at Northallerton Sess., 5- 1- 1922, to 3 yrs. pen. for obtaining goods and money by false pretences. Liberated on licence, 4- 4- 1924, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of fraud at SCORTON. YORK and RICHMOND ( YORKS). \ Method - ( i) Obtained blank cheques from tradesmen, represented that he had an account at the bank in some other town, and later filled in the cheque for a small amount made payable to bearer. After the banks were closed, he visited other tradesmen, whom, in some cases, he induced to cash the cheques; in other instances he would make a small purchase and receive the change. ( ii) Whilst employed as a caterer in the Officers' mess at a camp, he called at a grocer's shop, ordered goods to the value of 13s. lid., tendered a worthless cheque in payment for same and received £ 3 6s. id. change. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history. 218. Louis Libovitch, aliases Philip Davies, Philip Davis and Louis Labovitch, C. R. O. No. 6355- 1921. Description : B. ( says Petrograd and London) 1896, 5ft. 3in., c. fresh, h. black, e. brown. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Walks smartly ; speaks with a foreign accent. Sentenced at Grimsby Sess., 10- 7- 1923, to 12 mos. impt. ( conc.) for housebreaking and larceny ( 3 cases). Liberated, 10- 5- 1924, to Newcastle. Pre. con. of larceny and housebreaking at ROCHDALE, LIVERPOOL and LEEDS. A case of housebreaking and larceny at Cleethorpes was taken into consideration when sentence was passed. Method— ( i) In conjunction with Barnet Goodstone, C. R. O. No. 8660- 1914, and Harry Goldman, C. R. O. No. 15271- 1921, he gained access to a house, in a good class neighbourhood, by forcing the catch of the kitchen window with a jemmy. Goldman, who has an artificial leg, kept observation outside the premises. ( ii) With companions, he effected entry to a high class milliner's shop, during the evening of an early closing day, by scaling the wall of a yard at the rear of the premises and forcing a window on the ground floor with a jemmy. A taxi- cab was engaged to convey the stolen goods to an adjoining town. ( iii) Effected entry to a dwelling house, during the afternoon, by forcing the kitchen door with a jemmy. Attempted to steal goods from a shop by breaking the window. Disposed of the property to pawnbrokers and receivers. Associates : Frank Street, C. R. O. No. 497- 1908 ( now in prison) ; Harry White, C. R. O. No. 6283- 1920 ( both of whom have been convicted with him) ; William Reynolds, C. R. O. No. 2850- 1900 ; and John Offin, C. R. O. No. 223- 1919. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history 219. Charles Ernest Lane, alias Charles Ernest Lawson, C. R. O. No. 11268- 1922. Description : B. ( Birmingham) 1897, 5ft. 8fin., c. fresh, h. brown, e. grey, scar on forehead. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Smart appearance. Sentenced at Manchester Sess., 9- 10- 1923, to 9 mos. impt., for obtaining money by false pretences. Liberated, 17- 5- 1924, to Manchester. Pre. con. of fraud on C. . A clever swindler who, for some considerable time, defrauded men by running bogus concerns under the title of a college for the training of men to become salesmen. He carried on these institutions in London and Provincial towns. After taking an office, in an attractive part of the town, he elaborately furnished it, sometimes on the hire purchase system, then advertised extensively in the daily press for men desirous of taking a course of instruction with a view to becoming salesmen and for whom he would find a situation. An interview with the applicants would be arranged, and it was invariably agreed that the course should be for three months, and during that period or at the end of the course a berth as a salesman or commercial traveller would be found them. If possible the fee, which varied between eight or ten guineas for the whole course, would be collected and an agreement form issued; after being duly filled in this was taken to Somerset House and stamped. After receiving the fee from a number of the applicants he engaged some person with knowledge of the subject to lecture them. In the meantime he wrote to firms, asking whether they would interview students from his college who were being specially trained as salesmen, thus, at any time during or at the end of the lectures, if they complained of the failure to find them a berth, they were given an introductory letter to a firm upon whom they coidd call for a sutuation or in other cases, without previous correspondence having taken place, to a firm who had advertised for travellers. He thus covered up his promise of finding them a position, but seldom was a situation obtained or found for them. Lane styled himself as the principal and when pressure became too great he would abruptly wind up the undertaking and leave without paying the rent. In some cases he engaged a secretary who would interview the applicants in his absence. Method ( i) Advertised in local newspapers that a situation would be found for any man who took a course of training at his commercial college. Numerous applicants took the course. During this time Lane wrote to firms who advertised for a man and when a reply was received showed part of the letter to the students and definitely told each individual that he had a situation waiting. When their training finished no post was forthcoming. ( ii) Inserted an advertisement in the daily press, in the name of Lawson, for a partner with a deposit of £ 100, good profits guaranteed. An interview with some of applicants was arranged at the Premier College, an institution run by his brother in the name of Lane. Here Lawson stated that he was the founder of the College ana had sold it to Lane, who would give him a reference, and represented that he was about to open a similar one for the training of commercial travellers at a named address where he alleged he had taken offices, and for which he had the furniture to furnish it but was short of capital, also that he had a list of firms who would take the students off his hands when they were trained. An agreement was drawn up and eventually signed and stamped. Under this pretext Lawson obtained a sum of money with a view to commence the business, which he failed to do, and further enquiries elicited the fact that the whole concern was a fraud. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent hk^> ey... C. A^.(/!.! ll% JSU. dL.. 0. ggf/ tr James Fawcett, Case No. 490 ( Vol. VIII.), was sentenced at Boston Pol. Ct., 16- 5- 1924, to 3 mos. impt. for loitering for the purpose of picking pockets. Joseph Wilson, Case No. 105 ( Vol. IX.), was sentenced at Preston Sess., 21- 5- 1924, to 3 mos. impt. for warehousebreaking. Forced the wire gauze from window at rear of the building and then broke the window with a hie. Thomas Healey, Case No. 310 ( Vol. X.), was sentenced at C. L. S., 20- 5- 1924, to 15 mos. impt. for housebreaking. Forced the basement door with a jemmy and stole jewellery. He violently resisted arrest. George Edward Gordon, Case No. 267 ( Vol. II.), was convicted with him. Claude Everard Garrett, Case No. 337, ( Vol. X.), was sentenced at C. C. C., 2- 5- 1924, to 15 mos. impt. for obtaining money and goods by means of worthless cheque ( 3 cases). 227. Albert Armstrong, Case No. 449 ( Vol. X.), was sentenced as Albert Ward, at Watford P. Sess., 20- 5- 1924, to 3 and 3 mos. impt. ( cons.) and 3 mos. impt. ( conc.) for stealing postal letters ( 2 cases) and attempting to steal postal letters. 228. Ella Mavis Cookson Gardner, Case No. 22, ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced as Ella Gardner, at Blackpool Pol. Ct., 14- 5- 1924, to 3 mos. impt. for obtaining food and lodgings by false pretences. Obtained lodgings at a boarding house by stating that she was employed at a local cafe and had been recom- mended to the house by the Supt. of Police. Harold Loughans, Case No. 36 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced at Bradford Pol. Ct., 14- 5- 1924, to 3 mos. impt. for loitering with intent. In the early morning was seen trying doors of lock- up shops. 229. John Samuel Brown, Case No. 63 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced as William George Dobson, at Ports- mouth Pol. Ct., 15- 5- 1924, to 1 mo. impt. for false pretences. Obtained money by calling upon tradesmen representing that he had an account to pay in the locality, but was 7s. 5d. short to enable him to settle it. He stated that he was an architect and Naval engineer. 230. Louis Mandeville Hopper, Case No. 150 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced at Dorset Ass., 23- 5- 1924, to 12 mos. impt. for shopbreaking. During the night gained access to a small lock- up shop, which he approached from the rear, and forced catch of window. Thomas Henry Milner, C. R. O. No. 20701- 1923, was convicted with him. James Stanley Thorpe, Case No. 159 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced at Newark P. Sess., 14- 5- 1924, to 3 mos. impt. for cyclestealing. A case of larceny at Manchester was taken into consideration when sentence was passed. LATEST INFORMATION James Armstrong, Case No. 242 ( Vol. II.), was liberated, 17- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 14, St. George's- road, Holloway. Frank Ruscoe, Case No. 302 ( Vol. II.), was liberated 27- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. Charles McDonald, Case No. 142 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated, 31- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. George Lester, Case No. 321 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated, 31- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. William Smith, Case No. 118 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 14- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. Alice Louisa Glassbrook, Case No. 145 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 19- 5- 1924, to Birmingham. George Brooker, Case No. 288 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 24- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 173, Vicarage Lane, Stratford. William Herbert Carter, Case No. 415 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 23- 5- 1924, to Manchester. Frederick James, Case No. 109 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 29- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. Ernest Lay, Case No. 393 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 24- 5- 1924, to Nottingham. William Berry, Case No. 482 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated on licence, 28- 5- 1924, to Wakefield. John Bennett, Case No. 370 ( Vol. VII.), was liberated on licence, 22- 5- 1924, to Chorley. William Seymour, Case No. 224 ( Vol. VIII.), was liberated, 15- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. Thomas Davis, Case No. 80 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated, 12- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. Camille Eugene Frederick Ledeilx, Case No. 91 ( Vol. X.), was liberated, 16- 5- 1924, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 6, Shawfield Street, Chelsea. Charles Norman Colin Hayter, Case No. 104 ( Vol. X.), was liberated, 24- 5- 1924, to Winchester. George Turner, Case No. 106 ( Vol. X.), was liberated, 31- 5- 1924, to Boston. Joseph Henry Champion, Case No. 289 ( Vol. X.), was liberated, 30- 5- 1924, to Liverpool. NOTE.— In the event of information being received of the DEATH of any criminal whose particulars have appeared in POLICE GAZETTE SUPPLEMENT A, the fact should be notified to C. R. O. As the latest information or subsequent conviction of criminals, whose particulars have been inserted in Supplement A, will appear in each issue at the end of the cases, the original numbers should be cross- referenced on the printed lines provided for that purpose. SPECIAL NOTICE. When any person whose portrait and description have appeared in Supplement A is again arrested for any offence, and on account of being locally known the finger prints are not sent to C. R. O. for the purpose of search, it is requested that particulars of such conviction be sent to Criminal Record Office as soon as possible in order that they may appear in an early issue of Supplement A for the information of all forces. Printed and t- uMiihel for Ills Majesty s Stationery Office by the Re. eiver for the Metropolitan Police I) si net New Scotland Tard, London, S \ V. 1