CONFIDENTIAL SUPPLEMENT A No. 6. FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1926. VOL. XIII. RIGHT FOREFINGER PRINT UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED CONFIDENTIAL Supplement A THE POLICE GAZETTE No. 6. FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1926. VOL. XIII. EXPERT AND TRAVELLING CRIMINALS. 84. Richard Blake, aliases Richard Arthur Dicketts, Walter Arthur Charles Dicketts, Walter Arthur Dicketts, Christopher Arthur Welfare, Blakie, Blackney, Blackeney, R. Ashton Dale, Ashton Dell, Ashton Bell, jMajor P. M. Carberry, L. Carberry, R. Cardberry, Capt. A. Went- worth, Charles Mills, Arthur Mills, H. C. Dicketter, Rockdorf, Fox and Col. Woodhouse, C. R. O. No. 14882- 1921. Description : B. ( London) 1899, 5ft. U£ in., c. pale, h. dk. brown, e. brown, sometimes wears coloured spectacles, pointed features, receding forehead and chin, dimple in chin. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Smart appearance ; well spoken ; smiles when talking : very plausible. Sentenced at C. C. C., 16- 6- 1925, to 9 mos. impt. for obtaining money, etc., by false pretences ( 3 cases). Liberated, 30- 1- 1926, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of false pretences, forgery and larceny in FRANCE, at CHESTERFIELD, in the CITY OF LONDON and on B. A well educated and clever swindler, he has travelled extensively, and has been convicted in France, where he obtained a large sum of money from a foreign bank by opening an account with a worthless cheque drawn on an English bank. At other places also, he has, on many occasions, attempted to obtain large sums by worthless cheque. He is an ex- officer of the R. A. F., and often talks of his decorations and of a bad crash, of which there is no record. He is very elusive, and while awaiting trial on the last occasion absconded, left the country, and consequently failed to surrender to his bail. Method - ( i) Advertised in the daily papers, represented he was about to start a business, and asked for partners to invest sums of £ 200 each, stated he was the owner of some Automatic Advertising Clocks, which were to be installed at railway stations in London and the provinces, and that various firms had agreed to advertise on the clocks. He thereby induced persons to invest capital in the scheme, which proved to be fictitious, and the clocks were found to belong to another man. ( ii) Obtained gold and silver cigarette cases from a jeweller by falsely representing he was a secretary employed by a local tradesman, who required the goods for presentation purposes. ( iii) Secured a sum of money by producing an unstamped bank paying- in slip, purporting to show that £ 1000 had been pai l into the bank. ( iv) With a confederate hired motor cars over the telephone, paid part cash for same, and at the teimination of the hire period gave cheques in payment, which were afterwards found to be worthless. ( v) Stayed at good class hotels, incurred debts for food and lodgings, and obtained goods from local tradesmen, tendering in payment worthless cheques. ( vi) By stating he was a Government employee and had special facilities for purchase, he obtained a large sum of money, for the purpose, as he pretended, of releasing a quantity of cigarettes from bond. ( vii) Obtained a British passport by means of a forged application purporting to have been verified by a solicitor. It was afterwards found to have been written by himself. Associate : Percy Douglas Dolond, C. R. O. No. 22240- 1921, with whom he has been convicted. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. & Subsequent history W fTlA/ f ' Vr'fax'X; 85. Francis Jeffrey Page, aliases Francis Page, Francis Geoffrey Page and Francis Jeffery Page, C. R. O. No. 3274- 1919. \ Description : B. ( says Bedford and Gillingham) 1903, 5ft. 8in., c. fresh, h. brown, e. blue ( I. artificial), scar rt. eyelid, over 1. eye, 1. forearm, 2nd, 3rd and 4th 1. fingers. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Head slightly inclined to rt. ; well spoken. Sentenced at Oxford Sess., 15- 10- 1923, to 3 yrs. pen. for stealing a motor cycle and side car. Liberated on licence, 14- 1- 1926, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of false pretences, larcenv, obtaining credit by fraud and a minor offence at CHATHAM, ST. ALBANS, LUTON, MAIDSTONE and on E. A persistent thief and impostor, who has for a number of years been a source of trouble. He has travelled a good deal about the country and posed as the son of a major in the Army, also as a commercial traveller, and is interested in the Boy Scout Movement, of which he has been a member. Method - ( i) By stating he was a traveller for an American firm and was in a good position, he induced a taxi owner and driver to drive him to a certain provincial town, when he paid for the fare with a worthless cheque. ( ii) With a confederate entered a garage through a temporarily secured window and stole a motor cycle and side car. Before leaving the garage disconnected the essential parts of a motor car to prevent its use. ( iii) Called on the Lady Superintendent of a Y. M. C. A. Hut and offered to purchase some goods for her, secured a Treasury note, and failed to return. ( iv) Posed as a discharged officer of the Royal Engineers, stayed at a first class hotel, and during the absence of the other guests stole articles of clothing, etc., from their rooms. ( v) By representing himself to be a police officer he called at a tailor's shop and obtained an officer's uniform under the pretence that he could find a customer for it, was allowed to take it away, and failed to return. ( vi) Hired bicycles, rode them to another town, where he disposed of them and absconded. ( vii) Stayed at hotels and other places where he ran up bills for food and lodgings, and absconded. Associate : Horace Hurrell, Case No. 86 ( Vol. XIII.), with whom he has been convicted. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history. .. 86. Horace Hurrell, aliases Horace Winston Guy Vernon Hurrell and George Ellis, C. R. O. No. 23447- 1918. Description : B. ( London) 1901, oft. ( SAin., c. fair, h. brown, e. grev, large scar over rt. temple, scar each 1st, 2nd rt. and 3rd 1. fingers, Grace 1. forearm. Sentenced at Oxford Sess., 15- 10- 1923, to 3 yrs. pen. for stealing a motor cycle and side car. Liberated on licence 14- 1- 1926. into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny, cyclestealing and a minor offence at OXFORD, LIVERPOOL and SOUTHEND- ON- SEA. A clever cycle thief, he is an expert motor cyclist and a criminal who has carried firearms. Method - ( i) With a confederate gained access to a garage by a temporarily secured window and stole a motor cycle and side car. Before leaving the garage they disconnected the essential parts of another motor car to prevent its use. ( ii) With a confederate, during the night, stole a sailing yacht from its moorings and sailed it to the north of France, where they were forced to abandon it owing to high seas. ( iii) Effected entrance to a garage by climbing a gate, unlocked the gate from the inside, then forced the padlock of garage door and stole a motor cycle and side car. ( v) With another man called at a public house and obtained food and lodgings, under the pretence that they had met with an accident. Were in possession of two motor cycles which they rode away in the early morning without paving their bill. The cycles were afterwards found to have been stolen. ( v) Stole a number of bicycles left unattended in the street. On one occasion when arrested was found in possession of a revolver. Disposed of the property at garages. Associates : Francis Jeffrey Page, Case No. 85 ( Vol. XIII.) and James Adolphus Ivey, C. R. O. No. 4047- 1922 ( with each of whom he has been convicted). The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent histoxssd^ i. S..^..:..{$&//... fc. d^!'... i„. C..,.....('.. XX/./. I « * A / A * MkyM fx^ yt/ .. ffiP. 87. John Arthur Harris, aliases Arthur Miller, Edward Smith, A. Hall, Cooper, A. Covell, Harrison, Craig and Joseph Irons, C. R. O. No. 9- 1926. Description : B. ( Bookham) 1887, oft. 3Jin., c. fair, h. dk. brown, e. grey, dimple in chin, thick lips, 4th rt. finger amputated. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Speaks quietly. Sentenced at Bournemouth Sess., 10- 10- 1923, to 3 yrs. pen. for fowlstealing ( 2 cases). Liberated • on licence, 11- 1- 1926, to Horshsun. Pre. con. of larceny, false pretences, cvclestealing and minor offences at HORSHAM. REIGATE, DORKING, ABINGDON and LUTON.' Cases at Canterbury, Alton, Horsham, Newbury, Ipswich, Bedford, Reading, Lowestoft, Hove, Eastbourne, Evesham, Stratford- on- Avon and on V, were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. A criminal who travels about the country as a dealer, often uses a small pony and cart, calls on farmers, dealers and others and buys old metal, etc. Method - ( i) With a confederate called on a person who had advertised fowls for sale, arranged to purchase a number, said he would take them with him to complete an order and would pay on his return, but failed to do so. ii) In answer to an advertisement in a local paper called on the advertiser and stated he had pur- chased an orchard in the neighbourhood and required a horse to haul the fruit. His story was accepted and he was allowed to take the horse and harness away, promising to pay the follow ing day but failed to return. ^ fij; ( iii) Represented he was licensee of a public house at which he was lodging. Induced a dairyman to part with fowls and cheeses and absconded. ( iv) Borrowed a horse and trolly from a marine store dealer under the pretence that he had some iron to move. With the borrowed troll}-, which bore the dealer's name, he called on a firm, stated he had been sent by the dealer for some iron, was given a ton which he took awav and sold to the above marine store dealer. ( v) Called on a wood merchant and agreed to purchase a quantity of wood. On leaving the premises he noticed a number of fowls and offered to purchase them. Was allowed to take them away, promised to pay for them when he came for the wood but failed to return. 1 Associate : William Miller, C. R. O. No. S/ 174691 ( brother;. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. CO 1/ ^ Subsequent history .. la . MJ^ IMJ^ Lj^ L^. 88. William Chapman, aliases Herbert Wilson, James Taylor and John Dawson, C. R. O. No. 27- 1926. Description : B. ( West Hartlepool) 1885, 5ft. 6fin., c. fresh, h. dk. blown, e. grey. Sentenced at Cumberland Sess.. 7- 4- 1925, to 12 mos. impt. for obtaining a security by false pretences. Liberated, 6- 2- 1926. to Penrith. Pre. con. of larceny, false pretences, forgery and attempted false pretences at WEST HARTLEPOOL, MIDDLESBROUGH, GUISBOROUGH and on E, G and L. Seven other cases were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. A begging letter impostor who has victimised people, mostly Army officers and their widows and relatives, in various parts of the country. Often stated he had obtained a situation in a distant town, but that it was impossible to take advantage of it owing to the fact of being short of cash. He used accommodation addresses or post offices for the receipt of letters or telegrams. The former were often Salvation Army Hostels. Method— ( i) Wrote to an Army officer who resided in the provinces, stated he had served under him in the late war and asked for a sum of money to be wired to him to enable him to travel to a seaport town, where he said he had obtained a situation as a steward. ( ii) Wrote to the widow of an ex- Army officer, stated he served under her husband in the late war and was actually with him when he was killed. He then asked that she would advance him money to return to his ship. ( iii) Assumed the name of another person and wrote to a relative of the latter, stated he was spending a holiday in London and had been robbed of his money, asked for a sum of money to pay his fare back home, requested it to be wired to a certain post office, at which he called and obtained the cash. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history . CJlZ!.' iti^^ ** ;...... tMAi m.^* 89. Alice Brown, aliases Margaret Hanson, Maud Willing, Margaret Wilson, Maud Wellings, Annie Davis, Alice Maud Mallens and Mary King, C. R. O. No. 230- 1908. ( For M. P. D., S. R. N. 1733a). Description : B. ( Otham, Kent) 1876, 5ft. 6in., e. fresh, h. fair, e. hazel. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Well spoken, fairly well educated. Sentenced at C. C. C., 28- 2- 1922, to 3 yrs. pen. for conspiracy and larceny. Liberated on licence, 26- 2- 1924, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and larceny at O. O. and on A, F and V. A jiersistent criminal who has often worked with confederates, some of whom are well known forgers. ( i) Advertised in the daily papers, and by means of false references supplied by a confederate obtained situations and stole a quantity of jewellery, etc., and absconded. ( ii) Whilst employed as a cook at a dwelling house, and during the absence of her employer abroad, stole linen and jewellery. ( iii) With the aid of confederates obtained the signatures of various people with banking accounts, forged cheques for large amounts, made out on half sheets of note paper and successfully uttered the same by sending messenger l> qys to the bank with letter purporting to come from the payee. ( iv) Called at the shop of a well known firm and presented a cheque for a certain amount, said she had been sent by a well- to- do customer to get it cashed as the bank was closed. The cashier believed her story but not having sufficient money in hand, advanced her part. Disposed of property to pawnbrokers and dealers. Associates : Charles Welling. Case No. 192 ( Vol. I.) ( now in pen.), Mabel Clara Hughes, C. R. O. No. 1857- 1907 ( with each of whom she has been convicted), Philip Montague Peach, C. R. O. No. 1381- 1904, and John James, C. R. O. No. 2309- 1902 ( now in pen. V The portrait is a fair likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O Method The following persons who have already appeared in Supplement A have been re- convicted as follows Herbert Brazier, Case No. 266 ( Vol. III.), was sentenced as John Edwards at Kent Ass., 19- 2- 1926, to 15 mos. impt. for housebreaking. Method as in original case. 90. Robert Wilson, Case No. 44 ( Vol. IV.), was sentenced at Northumberland Ass., 17- 2- 1926, to 18 mos. impt. for obtaining food by false pretences. Method as in original case. Thirteen other cases of a similar nature at Wigan, Bootle, Chorley, Preston, Leigh, Blackburn. Runcorn, Fleetwood, Crewe, Old Trafford, Bradford and Rochdale, were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. Used the names of Ball, John Foster, Robert Rimmer, J. Turner, William Foster, John Taylor, John Harrison, Jacob Baxter and Bradshaw. Thomas Ambrose, Case No. 51 ( Vol. IV.), was sentenced as Thomas Bennett at Manchester Sess., 10- 2- 1926, to 9 mos. impt. for attempted larceny— person. 91. William Jones, Case No. 339 ( Vol. IV.), was sentenced a* William Allen at Croydon P. Sess. ( L ), 23- 2- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for stealing tea. Took the property from the rear of a shop. 92. Harry Ross, Case No. 372 ( Vol. IV.), was sentenced at C. C. C., 16- 2- 1926, to 3 yrs. pen. for larceny— person. With confederates hustled a person in the approach to a railway station and stole a diamond tie- pin. Frederick Semain, C. R. O. No. S/ l 12766, and Charles Freeman, C. R. O. No. 12065- 1921, were convicted with him. Charles Wooder, Case No. 35 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced at Marylebone Pol. Ct. ( L.), 13- 2- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for being a suspected person ( attempting to pick pockets). Robert Abraham-, C. R. O. No. 998- 1902, and Frank Martin, Case No. 442 ( Vol. V.), were convicted with him. Lily Willoughby, Case No. 372 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced at Slough Pol. Ct., 24- 2- 1926, t> 6 and 6 mos. impt. ( cons.) for obtaining food and lodgings by false pretences ( 2 cases). Two other cases at Windsor and on T were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. Method as in original case. William Herbert Carter, Case No. 415 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced as James William Taylor at Bolton Pol. Ct., 22- 2- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for stealing a purse and money from the person. Frank Martin, Case No. 442 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced at Marylebone Pol. Ct. ( L.), 13- 2- 1926. to 6 weeks impt. for being a suspected person ( attempting to pick pockets). Robert Abrahams. C. R. O. No. 998- 1902, and Charles Wooder, Case No. 35 ( Vol. V. J, were convicted with him. 93. George Wilmore, Case No. 13 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced as George Wood, at C. C. C., 15- 2- 1926, to 12 mos. impt. for burglary and larceny. Method as in ( i) original cas « . Thomas Hopkins, C. R. O. No. 223- 1905, was convicted with him. Alfred Lingfield, Case No. 193 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced at Clerkenwell Pol. Ct. ( L), 22- 2- 1926, to 1 mo. impt. for assault. Asked a person to lend him a sum of money and on being refused struck him in the face. 94. George William Golden, Case . No. 355 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced as Frederick Wheeler at Hants Ass., 23- 2- 1926, to 3 yrs. pen. for larceny. Method as in original case. 95. Noel Wilfred Neve, Case No. 231 ( Vol. VIII.), was sentenced as Arthur W. Kent at Melbourne ( Australia) P. Sess., 14- 8- 1924, to 1 month impt. for larceny. George Beesley Blackshaw, Case No. 364 ( Vol. VIII.), was sentenced as George Blackshiw at Westminster Pol. Ct. ( L). 15- 2- 1926, to 6 mos, impt. for attempted false pretences. Method as in ( i) original case. 96. John Samuel Brown, Case No. 63 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced as John Richard Brown at Bray Sess. ( Ireland), 5- 2- 1926, to 2 mos. impt. for obtaining goods by false pretences. Method as in original case. Louis Mandeville Hopper, Case No. 150 ( Vol. XI.),' was. at Bullingdon Pol. Ct., 27- 2- 1926, fined 10s. or 7 days impt. for acting as a pedlar without a certificate. 97. Bert Osborne, Case No. 290 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced as Arthur Roberts at Salop Ass., 19- 2- 1926, to 1, 1 and I yrs. impt. and 5 yrs. pen. ( conc.) for obtaining credit by fraud, larceny and false pretences. Posed as a wealthy person and as a mining engineer from South America, entered into negotiations with a person for the purpose of forming a company to take over his business, obtained large quantities of goods for which he gave post dated cheques and absconded on the day they became due. Harry White, Case No. 136 ( Vol. XII.), was sentenced at Manchester Sess., 10- 2- 1926, to 12 mos. impt. for receiving. Samuel James Tasney, Case No. 12 ( Vol. XIII.), was sentenced at West London Pol. Ct., 23- 2- 1926, to 0 and 0 mos. impt. ( cons.) for stealing bicycles left unattended in the street. One other case of cyclestealing was taken into consideration when sentence was passed. LATEST INFORMATION. Frederick Gregory, Case No. 248 ( Vol. I.), was liberated, 27- 2- 1926, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 46, Dennette Road, New Cross. Robert Wilson, Case No. 126 ( Vol. II.), was liberated, 6- 3- 1926, into the M. P. D. Patrick Manning, Case No. 2 § 6 ( Vol. II.), was liberated on licence, 24- 2- 1926, into the M. P. D. Thomas Peters, Case No. 375 ( Vol. II.), was liberated, 25- 2- 1926, into the M. P. I). Intended address : 157, Central Street, St. Luke's. William Manley Adams, Case No. 297 ( Vol. III.), was liberated, 27- 2- 1926, to Leamington. William Dwyer, Case No. 85 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated, 2- 3- 1926, into the M, P. D. Intended address : 35. St. Silas Street, Kentish Town. Walter Roberts, Case No. 228 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated on licence, 26- 2- 1926, into the M. P. D. John Jackson, Case No. 278 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated on licence, 28- 12- 1925, into the M. P. D. Daniel John Melaney, Case No. 124 ( Vol. V.), was liberated on licence, 19- 2- 1926, into the M. P. D. George Jones, Case No. 280 ( Vol. V.), was liberated on licence, 22- 2- 1926, into the M. P. D. John Clayton, Case No. 347 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 26- 2- 1926, to Grimsby. Frederick Hoare, Case No. 28 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated on licence, 23- 2- 1926, into the M. P. D. Tom Emmerson, Case No. 73 ( Vol. VI.), died, 7- 1- 1926, in Camp Hill Prison. Una Coke, Case No. 506 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated on licence, 26- 2- 1926 into the M. P. D. George Shotton, Case No. 137 ( Vol. VIII.), was liberated, 27- 2- 1926, to Newcastle. Charlie Mitchell, Case No. 45 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated, 2- 3- 1926, into the M. P. D. Frederick White, Case No. 219 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated on licence, 25- 2- 1926, into the M. P. D. William Benjamin French, Case No. 277 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated, 2- 3- 1926, into the M. P. D George Robinson, Case No. 2 ( Vol. XI.), was liberated on second licence, 17- 2- 1926, to Spean Bridge, from a sentence of 18 mos. impt. at Edinburgh High Ct., 25- 1- 1924, for theft by house- breaking. Herbert Shirley, Case No. 216 ( Vol. XI.), was liberated, subject to police supervision, 1 - 3- 1926. to Liverpool. Alfred John Webb, Case No. 154 ( Vol. XII.), was liberated 1- 3- 1926, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 15. Magee Street, Kensington. 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 Published for His Majesty's Stationery Office b y the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District, New Scotland Yard, London, S. W. 1.