CONFIDENTIAL SUPPLEMENT A No. 18. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1926. VOL. XIII. RIGHT FOREFINGER PRINT UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED 29* 299 300 301 302 303 CONFIDENTIAL Supplement A THE POLICE GAZETTE No. 18. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1926. VOL. XIII. EXPERT AND TRAVELLING CRIMINALS. 298. Mervyn Kenyon Griffiths, aliases Mervyn Kenyon Griffith, Captain Mervyn Kenyon Griffith, R. Kennith Griffith, Charles Hawker, Paul Brydson, A. Walker and Thomas R. Jenkins, C. R. O. No. 17291- 1921. Description : B. ( Llandudno) 1889, 6ft. 3iin., c. fresh, h. grey, e. brown, scar top of forehead, mole rt. cheek and behind rt. ear. Personal Weaknesses. Peculiarities, etc. : Walks with shoulders rather forward, speaks well, very talkative and quickly makes friends, gentlemanly appearance, quiet demeanour, addicted to drink. Sentenced at Marlborough Street Pol. Ct. ( L.), 17- 11- 1925, to 2, 2 and 2 mos. impt. ( cons.) for false pretences. Liberated, 17- 4- 1926, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of false pretences at EAST- BOURNE. Has also committed offences at Brighton and on V. A troublesome cheque fraud, who invariably describes himself as being connected with the press— usually as correspondent. Has visited various Midland and West of England towns. Method— ( i) From an accommodation address wrote to the agents of a well known motor car firm, posed as the London correspondent of the Welsh and Provincial Press, and stated he was desirous of testing one of their cars so that he could include the result of test in a series of articles he was writing for about 20 newspapers circulating in the West of England and Wales. The agents communicated with the firm, who arranged for a car to be handed over to him on calling at one of their garages. Drove to various provincial towns and to allay suspicion sent several communications to the firm making excuses for not having returned the car as arranged. ( ii) Called at a well known club in the West End of London, posed as a member, obtained a club cheque form and induced the cashier to cash a cheque, subsequently returned marked No account. ( iii) Stopped a page boy— employed at a club— in the street, asked him to go to the club and get a cheque form. When the boy returned with the form Griffiths filled it in for £ 10, signed it in the name of a member, sent the boy back again to the club to cash the cheque and received the proceeds. ( iv) Gained the confidence of tradesmen and acquaintances, induced them to cash cheques, usually made out on a plain piece of paper, with a request not to present them for payment for a few days, as he would then probably be able to pay cash as he was expecting money from friends. The portrait is a fairly good likeness, jjt Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. | | CU^ MAJJZ XI. C$ 1% 4.1* 1 M. V. 0: Subsequent historj' 299. Frederick Simpson, aliases George Thompson, George Robson, Fred Simpson, William George Chick, George William Chick and George William Wallis, C. R. O. No. 848- 1906 ( for M. P. D., S. R. N- 765a). Description : B. ( Essex) 1875, 5ft. 8in., c. fresh, h. brown ( partly bald), e. blue, scar rt. ^ forehead, 3rd and 4th 1. fingers crippled, anchor 1. forearm. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Of fairly smart appearance ; affects a quiet unconcerned demeanour. Sentenced at Wood Green P. Sess. ( L.), 23- 10- 1925, to 6 and 3 mos. impt. ( cons.) for larceny- trick ( 2 cases). Liberated, 8- 6- 1926, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny, fraud and attempted fraud on F, G, J, K, T and V. Method— 4( i) Entered a tea- shop and asked the cashier if she wanted 10s.- worth of coppers, which she accepted. He then stated he was manager of Woolworth's shop near by, asked if she required any silver, and was handed £ 2 in Treasury notes on promising to send the silver. Called on a tradesman, repre- sented he came from a local public house, that his employer was short of change, and obtained £ 5 worth of silver. Ordered goods to be sent to a given address, and requested that a certain amount of change be also sent; met the errand boy, obtained the money from him, and decamped. ( ii) Frequented main trading thoroughfares and carefully noted errand boys leaving their employer's shops, with a view to recognising the boys elsewhere on subsequent occasions. Entered the shops, introduced himself as a neighbouring tradesman's assistant, and stated his employer would be obliged if a quantity of coppers— usually about £ 5- worth— could be sent to his place at once. If a favourable reply was received, he immediately went to the doorway of his alleged employer, awaited the arrival of the boy, received the money, and induced him to return to his master for goods pre tended to have been ordered. ( iii) Having discarded his hat, and with a pen behind his ear, he w7atched a young woman leave a bank after cashing a cheque for her employer. Followed her a short distance, then ran up breathless to her, tendered an apology, announced there was some mistake in the endorsement of the cheque she had presented, showed her a letter marked Urgent, and stated it was from the manager. Induced her to hand over the proceeds of the cheque and told her to take the letter, as quickly as possible, to her employer. When the envelope was opened it was found to contain blank telegraph forms. ( iv) Called at a repairing tailor's shop and obtained a coat left by a customer. The portrait is a fairly good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent hfafa^. g jlA ^ ^ t. S^ lL l'} ^ hri. zfa 300. James Richard Samuel Orton, aliases James Cooper, Mr. Dare, H. Barnes, J. Dean and H. Eenan, C. R. O. No. S/ l 19090. Description : B. ( Shrewsbury) 1892, 5ft. 4fin., c. fresh, h. dk. brown, e. blue, scar rt forearm. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Very plausible, has slight limp ( believed 1. leg), of Jewish appearance. Sentenced at Worcester Sess., 30- 6- 1924, to 1 and 1 yr. impt. ( cons.), for obtaining credit by fraud. Liberated, 4- 3- 1926, to Gloucester. Pre. con. of false pretences at WARWICK, PET- WORTH, HAILSHAM, WELLINGTON ( SOMERSET) and FLEETWOOD). Method— ( i) By representing he was a traveller for the State Express Cigarette Co., he obtained lodgings and when left alone stole articles of clothing and absconded. ( ii) Called at a first- class hotel, engaged rooms and asked for a garage to put up his car, obtained food and when payment was demanded, promised to fetched the money and absconded. ( iii) Called on working- class people and canvassed for the enlargement of photographs, obtained a small photograph and money in part payment of order, but failed to return the work or the money. ( iv) Hired motor cars and motor cycles and failed to pay for the hire of same. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. / / V Subsequent history. . rr.: . .<^ 1?.. V&. 4. ;/(?..<. ( LUlii, * 301. Ernest Ackroyd, aliases Reginald Ernest Ackroyd, Clifton George, Roy Elston Ackroyd, Reginald Dawson and Alfred R. Dawson, C. R. O. No. 66- 1926. Description : B. ( Bradford) 1895, 5ft. 8in., c. fresh, h. brown, e. blue, scar 1. of face and 1. forearm. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Smart appearance, swinging gait, boasts of wealthy relatives, fond of the company of women, lives extravagantly. Sentenced at Leeds Sess., 26- 6- 1922, to 5 vrs. pen. for obtaining money by false pretences and bankrupt obtaining credit. Liberated on licence, 30- 3- 1926, to Bradf^ d. Pre. con. of fajse pretences at MARKET RASEN and CARLISLE. Jtiif ( i) By styling himself the " Hems worth Motor Works," he obtained credit by failing to disclose he was an undischarged bankrupt. He carried on an extensive business and advertised in the press re- con- ditioned motor cycles for sale, obtained deposits in numerous cases, but failed to supply the machines- ( ii) Posed as a theatrical agent and obtained money from persons by stating that he would find then) engagements as music- hall artists. Has also floated theatrical companies and concert parties, and after having given a few performances absconded with the takings. ( iii) Obtained lodgings for himself and a woman, not his wife, bv representing he was an agent for a firm of music publishers. Advertised in the newspapers for a manager and artists to form a touring concert party and obtained various sums of money from applicants as securities. He then secured a motor van and driver and with the party drove to a provincial town, where he left them stranded. ( iv) Represented he was the son of a wealthy printer and publisher who carried on a business in London, hired a shop and offices in a provincial town, advertised extensively for young ladies and ex- soldiers to act as canvassing agents, secured from applicants sums of money as securities, offered them a weekly wage and a bonus on all cash orders and sent the agents to different towns to canvass for advertisements to be inserted in a newspaper and tourists' guide, which were never published. ( v) He has formed and carried on numerous small businesses and concerns in various places, all of which were failures, in some cases incurring large liabilities. In one of these he posed as a major in the Army, stated he was doing work of national importance and thus secured a quantity of stationery. •••• 302. Arthur Davies, aliases Abraham Shafer, Abraham Shaper and Abraham Schafer, C. R. O. No. 2078- 1909. Description : B. ( Manchester) 1878, 5ft. 4fin., c. fresh, h. dk. brown ( thin in front), e. It. brown. Sentenced at Ashton- under- Lvne ( Co.) Pol. Ct., 25- 3- 1925, to 3, 3, 3 and 3 mos. impt. ( cons.), I > and 3 and 3 mos. impt. ( conc.), for larceny, dwelling ( 2 cases) and false pretences ( 4 cases). Three- hundred and twelve other cases of false pretences and one of larceny ( bailee), were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. Liberated, 25- 1- 1926, to Bradford. Pre. con. of shop- breaking, receiving, larceny ( person), false pretences, larceny and minor offences at LEEDS, BLACKPOOL, LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, RENISHAW, BOLTON and BRADFORD. Method— Sometimes accompanied by a confederate he called at houses of relatives of deceased soldiers, canvassing orders for the framing of soldiers' medals, plaques, etc. Frequently represented he was employed on behalf of the War Office and that the work was being done bv the Discharged Soldiers Enlarging Co., Berwick Street, Bradford ; or posed as a Government official. Obtained a cash deposit with order, but failed to return the medals, etc., framed as promised, or the deposit money. At two of the houses where he called he stole a purse from a sideboard and a purse from a lady's coat hanging behind a door. Associate : Thomas Ernest Robson, C. R. O. No. 5290- 1925 ( with whom he has been convicted). Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. 303. Marjorie Annie Anderton, aliases Patience Annie Kydd, Priscella Bebbington, Annie Priscilla Kidd, Margaret Moorcroft, Marjorie Singleton, Marjory Lynn, Annie Anderton and Nurse Anderton, C. R. O. No. 355- 1905. i, Description : B. ( Buxton) 1874, 5ft. 6in., c. fresh, h. brown ( turning grey), e. blue, scar between thumb and 1st rt. finger. Sentenced at Preston Sess., 7- 1 1925, to 12 mos. impt. for obtaining money by false pretences and obtaining credit by fraud. Liberated, 7- 11- 1925, to Darwen. Pre. con. of larceny and false pretences at DAVENTRY, ASHBOURNE, UTTOXETER, BAKEWELL, BUXTON. MACCLES- FIELD, ORMSKIRK, PRESTON and BLACKBURN. ( i) Obtained the hire of a private motor car and driver, drove to various places and when returning alighted from the car and absconded without paying her fare. ( ii) Obtained lodgings and induced the landlady to advance her a sum of money by stating she had a large sum in the bank and that she had motor cars of her own. Also by similar methods obtained goods from tradesmen. ( iii) By stating she was employed at a local laundry she obtained food and lodgings, and when left alone in the house stole clothing, etc. ( iv) Posed as a titled lady and wrote a letter to a tradesman requesting him to forward mourning clothes and signed the letter " Lady Douglas." Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history Method- Subsequent history The following persons who have already appeared in Supplement A have been re- convicted as follows— 304. Samuel West, Case No. 48 ( Vol. I.) and 395 ( Vol. XII.), was sentenced as Samuel Worthington, at Manchester Pol. Ct., 10- 8- 1926, to 2 mos. impt. for receiving a bicycle. ^ John Day, Case No. 92 ( Vol. I.), was sentenced at Chichester ( Co.) Pol. Ct., 31- 7- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for frequenting racecourse. 305. Percy Courtney, Case No. 147 ( Vol. III.), was sentenced at Marlborough Street Pol. Ct, ( L.), ^ 28- 7- 1926, to 6 mos. impt. for stealing and receiving silk jumpers from shop counter. ^ Charles Wooder, Case No. 35 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced at Clerkenwell Pol. Ct. ( L.), 31- 7- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for being a suspected person— attempting to pick pockets. 306. Henry Waring, Case No. 252 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced as George Crane at South Western Pol. Ct. ( L.), 3- 8- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for attempting to obtain money by false pretences. Method as in original case. ^ Harry Ellison, Case No. 310 ( Vol. VII.), was sentenced at Barry P. Sess., 30- 7- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for being found on enclosed premises with intent. James Sanders, Case No. 200 ( Vol. IX.), was sentenced at Warwick ( Boro.) Pol. Ct., 3- 8- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for frequenting railway station. 307. Frank Donald Duncan, Case No. 152 ( Vol. X.), was sentenced at West London Pol. Ct., 31- 7- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for obtaining money by false pretences. Was employed by a firm of business transfer agents to canvass businesses for sale, falsely represented he had sold a business and obtained money as commission. 308. Charles Bolton, Case No. 21 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced at Folkestone Pol. Ct,, 2- 7- 1926, to 3 mos. ^ impt. for stealing silver cigarette- box. Method as in original case. Used the name of Dr. Davis. • i j . . ..> ^ John Rush, Case No. 203 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced at Nottingham ( City) Pol. Ct., 3- 8- 1926, to 3 mos. impt. for obtaining money by false pretences. Method as in original case. 1 ' Y .'..:.'• ' * f; V » J| iHj • ' HIS* 309. Evelyn Margaret Robinson, Case No. 467 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced as Margaret Evelyn Robinson ^ at Hampstead P. Sess. ( L.), 11- 8- 1926, to 6 mos. impt, for larceny— trick Placed herself at the entrance to women's lavatory and demanded a penny from persons using the convenience. 310. John Edward Jones, Case No. 267 ( Vol. XTI.), was sentenced as John Edward Smith at Manchester Pol. Ct., 29- 7- 1926, to 6, 6 and 6 mos. impt. ( conc.), for false pretences ( 3 cases). Called on a trades, man and stated his motor cycle had broken down and that he required money for repairs. LATEST INFORMATION. Frank William Hutson, Case No. 227 ( Vol. I.), was liberated on licence, 12- 8- 1926, to Leicester. ^ John Wilson, Case No. 220 ( Vol. II.), was liberated, 3- 8- 1926, into the M. P. D. Intend^ address : 49, Claverton Street, Pimlico. John Riley, Case No. 247 ( Vol. II.), was liberated, 7- 8- 1926, to Liverpool. John Catesby, Case No. 296 ( Vol. II.), was liberated on expiration of sentence, 20- 8- 1926, into the M. P. D. • Frederick John Arthur, Case No. 38 ( Vol. III.), was liberated, 4- 8- 1926, into the M. P. D. K James Kirby, Case No. 434 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated on expiration of sentence, 16- 8- 1926, into the M. P. D. r- Edward McDonald White, Case No. 436 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 11- 8- 1926, to Exeter. Thomas Trevor Williams, Case No. 483 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, on licence, 18- 8- 1926, to Newport ( Mon.). 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. T5 • ntiH Published for His Majesty's Stationery Office by the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District Printed ana New Scotland Yard- London, S. W. 1.