CONFIDENTIAL SUPPLEMENT A FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1927. VOL. XIV. RIGHT FOREFINGER PRINT UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED 101 102 103 104- / 05 106 CONFIDENTIAL Supplement A THE POLICE GAZETTE FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1927. VOL. XIV. EXPERT AND TRAVELLING CRIMINALS. 101. Henry Stuart, aliases Henry James McAdam, Henry James Stuart McAdam, Captain H. C. M. J. Stuart and Captain McAdam, C. R. O. No. 3545- 1920. Description : B. ( Sydney, New South Wales) 1894, 5ft. 7fin., c. fresh, h. brown, e. blue, sometimes wears pince- nez, scar rt. of forehead. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Well spoken, very plausible, well dressed. Sentenced at O. O. C.. 11- 5- 1926, to 12 mos. impt. for obtaining monev bv false pretences. Liberated. 17- 3- 1927, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny and false pretences at SOUTHAMPTON and EXETER. A clever swindler who came to this country from Australia in 1919 and ever since has been a source of trouble by imposing on charitable persons. He frequently feigns illness in the street or some public place, often choosing the residences of Army officers, clergymen, etc. His illness is extremely well acted and makes a great impression upon those who go to his aid. Method— ( i) Called upon a fancy goods dealer after banking hours and persuaded the proprietor to sell him a blank cheque, saying he had left his cheque book at home and that he wished to pay a bill. Upon receiving the cheque he made it payable to himself, signed a fictitious name and afterwards induced his landlady to cash it for him. 9 ( ii) Posing as an ex- Army officer with many decorations, he called on a Brigadier- General in a provincial town and produced a letter which he stated he had received from the Association of Ships' Pursers, Clerks, Waiters, etc., offering him a post as purser on condition that he became a member of the Association. He stated he was unable to pay the fare to London, also the membership fee, and induced the General to loan him sufficient money, which he promised to repay on his appointment. The whole story was found to be false. ( iii) Feigned illness in a restaurant, told a story of poverty and styled himself as a captain of the Australian Forces. He was assisted by one of the customers and the proprietor of the restaurant also made a collection amongst the customers for him. On another occasion he was found by a gentleman lying on his doorstep apparently ill, was tiken into the house, where he said that he owed two weeks rent, that his wife and children were ill, and that he expected to be turned out. WTas given monev to pay his rent and buy food, etc. The same evening, it was discovered, he was taken home by another gentleman who also assisted him. ( iv) Called on a minister, who was also editor of a religious newspaper, said he was a journalist in straitened circumstances, told the usual tale of poverty and feigned illness. The reverend gentleman took pitv on him and gave him money. ( v) Called on a tradesman in a provincial town, said he was a police officer from Scotland Yard, that he was there to bring off a job and had been recommended by a local officer known to the tradesman, said he required certain articles of disguise, obtained various articles and failed to return them. ' No. 7. k ( vi) Stole a gold ring from his lodgings. Associate : Thelma Aslonoglou, C. R. O. No. 18723- 1924. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history. U 3/& MJ1 T^^^ f^^ T ^ Vr^ T 102. Joseph Schneider, aliases Julius Joseph Schneider and Joseph Sneider, C. R. O. No. 52- 1927. Description : B. ( London) 1885, 5ft. 6£ in., c. dk., h. dk. brown, e. blue ( wears spectacles), mole rt. cheek, scar near rt. eye, 1. cheek and rt. forearm, 2nd 1. finger deformed. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Stoops slightly when walking, very plausible. Sentenced at Kent Ass., 25- 11- 1925, to 18 mos. impt. for obtaining money by false pretences and fraudulent conversion. Liberated, 1- 4- 1927, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of false pretences, receiving and a minor offence at LEEDS, in the CITY OF LONDON and on B. Has also been convicted of fraud in BELGIUM. Method— ( i) Took offices and set up a bogus employment agency. Advertised ; n the newspapers for motor car drivers to take charge of depots for the sale of pea nuts and obtained from applicants sums of money as securities. ( ii) Induced a ticket collector on the railway to sell him a used return half ticket, London to Dover, for a small amount. Schneider then used the ticket for a journey between those places and after- wards obtained a refund of the price of the ticket from the Company by falsely stating he had not made the journey. ( iii) Posed as an agent, advertised in newspapers, particularly the " Jewish Times," and obtained sums of money from persons who were desirous of obtaining certificates of naturalization. ( iv) By representing himself as a trader he obtained quantities of margarine, tea, etc., and failed to pay for same. ( v) Posed as a commercial traveller for the Allied Traders Import & Export Co., who had offices in London and Belgium, received orders and money for goods but failed to deliver same. Associate : Alfred William James Cook, C. R. O. No. 3537- 1925, with whom he has been convicted. The portrait is a fairly good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. 103. Ernest Gibbons, aliases Ernest Gibbins. Ernest Arthur Gibbins, Joe Smith. Ernest Arthur Gibbons and Ernest Arthur Lord, C. R. O. No. 24203- 1917. Description : B. ( Martsfield, Sussex) 1898, 5ft. 7in., c. fresh, h. dk. brown, e. brown, scar rt. of forehead, 1. of upper lip and 2nd 1. finger, woman, Maude, swallow, Death before Dishonour rt., woman, scroll, Fred 1. forearm. Sentenced at Lewes Sess., 14- 10- 1924, to 3 yrs. pen. for housebreaking and larceny. Liberated on licence, 4- 3- 1927, to Canterbury. Pre. con. of shopbreaking, larcenv, housebreaking, burglarv and minor offences at UCKFIELD, MANSFIELD, C. O. and on A, R and T. An expert burglar and housebreaker, he works mostly in suburban and country districts, to which he travels by train from London during the daytime, commits burglaries and returns by the first available train next morning, He secretes himself in gardens or shrubberies near the house and awaits an opportunity to break in. Method— ( i) Called at a vicarage, posed as a music hall artist, and enquired if the clergyman was in, was told he would not be in until 7 p. m. He then watched the house, accompanied by a confederate, and when other members of the familyjeft climbed to a window sill, forced back catch of w indow and entered. In another case he effected entrance to a rectory b}*- climbing to bedroom window by means of a ladder and getting through the window, which was partly open, stole money and jewellery. ( ii) With a confederate broke into a villa in a suburban district by forcing the catch of ground floor window at rear of premises, with a knife or chisel. ( iii) Whilst employed as a gardener and to assist Avith housework he took property from a bedroom and absconded. ( iv) Broke into a shop and stole a quantity of tobacco, clothes, etc. Disposes of property to street hawkers and pawnbrokers. Associates : Harold Grey, C. R. O. No. 19160- 1919 ; James Williams, C. R. O. No. 24- 1914 ( now in prison) ; Charles Hanney, C. R. O. No. 16035- 1914 ; and James Melville, C. R. O. No. 14908- 1919, with each of whom he has been convicted. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history 104. John Lambert, alias Walter Sutton, C. R. O. No. 23552- 1920. Description : B. ( Taunton) 1892, 5ft. llin., c. fresh, h. dk. brown, e. hazel, scar rt. cheek, woman rt. forearm. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Walks erectly, speaks slowly. Sentenced at Newbury P. Sess., 21- 10- 1926, to 6 mos. impt. for larceny. Liberated, 22- 3- 1927, to Newbury. Pre. con. of cyclestealing, larceny and attempted shopbreaking and possessing housebreaking implements by night at WESTON- SUPER- MARE, GUILDFORD and on A and W. Method— ( i) Entered a motor garage during the night by pulling open the door, which had a defective fastening, and stole a motor cycle, rode the machine away, obliterated the engine number, changed the regis- tration numbers, and attempted to dispose of it. On another occasion entered a private garage and stole a motor car, drove to a provincial town, w here he called at a garase, said his car had broken down and asked to leave it for repairs. He then negotiated for the purchase of a motor cycle, was allowed to take it for a trial run, but failed to return. ( ii) Called upon a woman from whom he had borrowed sums of money, said he had come to pay her the money he owed her, gave her a cheque for £ 10, and on the strength of same obtained 5s. The cheque was found to be worthless. ( iii) Effected entrance to a dwelling house by removing pane of glass from window at rear of premises, cutting away the putty and afterwards replacing the glass by means of tacks, and stole jewellery, a bicycle and a cheque book. The cheques he afterwards filled in and tendered for various amounts. He also consumed on the premises food, beer and wine. On another occasion was discovered attempting to break into a tea house in a park. ( iv) Whilst in lodgings entered a bedroom and stole money from a chest of drawers. Also whilst employed as a house porter stole clothing the property of one of the residents. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. 105. Thomas Michael McKenzie, aliases Thomas McKenzie and Thomas Mackay, C. R. O. No. 17218- 1921. Description : B. ( London) 1896, 5ft. 4| in., c. fresh, h. dk. brown, e. grey ( wears spectacles), scar 1. eyebrow. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Very plausible, slouching gait, shabby appearance. Sentenced at Southampton Sess., 9- 4- 1926, to 12 and 12 mos. impt. ( conc.) for housebreaking and larceny ( 2 cases). Liberated, 3- 3- 1927, to Southampton. Pre. con. of larceny, housebreaking and minor offences at HENLEY- ON- THAMES, GLOUCESTER, CHELTENHAM, RAMSGATE, WALLINGTON, HASTINGS, BRENTWOOD and on A, J and K. Has also been convicted of theft in CANADA. Method— ( i) Begging from door to door in a suburban district during the afternoon, he called at a house and getting no reply he returned later, and still finding nobody at home climbed a garden wall at the rear, and effected entry by forcing windows on the ground floor with a piece of iron. He also climbed an outhouse, forced a window on upper floor of same house and so gained access to bedrooms, ran- sacked the rooms and collccted all the jewellery he could find, slept in one of the beds and left the following morning. ( ii) Called at dwelling houses and on finding the occupiers at home he produced a begging letter, but on receiving no reply he forced doors and windows left unfastened and stole jewellery, etc. ( iii^ l At a seaside resort he snatched a handbag from a woman on the promenade and ran away. * Has often been discovered at rear of houses and lock- up shops and could not satisfactorily account for his actions. Disposed of property to second- hand dealers and pawnbrokers. no- Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history A^ S.. ^ 106. Muriel Shields, aliases Muriel Blanche Aitken and Muriel Blanche Atkin, C. R. O. No. 5473- 1919. Description : B. ( London) 1898, 5ft., c. sallow, h. dk. brown, e. grey. % Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Walks erect, medium build, very talkative. Sentenced at C. L. S., 1- 12- 1925, to 18 mos. impt. ( to be computed from 17- 11- 1925), for obtaining goods by false pretences and obtaining credit by fraud. Liberated, 18- 2- 1927, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of cyclestealing and larceny at HOVE and on F. An unscrupulous thief and swindler, who, following her occupation as a nurse and governess, has travelled considerably in America and on the Continent. She has posed as a wealthy person, and by her extraordinary tales of being an heiress to a great fortune induced tradespeople and others to allow her credit for large amounts. Method ( 1) Called on a dressmaker and represented she was the daughter of a rich mine owner in South Africa, who had died and left her a huge fortune. Also that she had inherited from her mother's estate £ 150 per week as trust money, and that she was engaged and about to be married to a rich American. In these circumstances she obtained a considerable amount of clothing, which she said she would require for her trousseau. To inspire confidence she took a partner of the firm to see a large house in the country, represented she had bought the house and was making it her future home. ( ii) Whilst receiving lessons at a riding school she ordered and obtained saddles and bridles to the . value of £ 40, but did not pay for them. She also presented the riding mistress with several articles of clothing which she had fraudulently obtained. ( iii) Under similar representations as in ( i), also by declaring she had a banking account with a New York bank, she obtained the hire of a Daimler motor car and chauffeur for a period of several weeks, drove to various places of business, and thus by creating a good impression was allowed to take away goods on credit for which she never paid, neither did she pay for the hire of the car. ( iv) Whilst employed as a children's nurse she stole jewellery from the bedroom of her mistress. ( v) Hired bicycles, failed to pay for the hire, and disposed of them. Disposed of property to wardrobe dealers and pawnbrokers. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent historv lA^.^ AL^ A^.:. J The following persons who have already appeared in Supplement A have been re- convicted as follows— 1 George Wilson, Cases Nos. 286 ( Vol. I.) and 141 ( Vol. XIII.), was sentenced at Salford City Pol. Ct., 22- 3- 1927. to 1 mo. impt. for wandering with no visible means. David Philip Roberts, Cases Nos. 203 ( Vol. II.) and 12 ( Vol. XIV.), was sentenced as David > Roberts at Bridgend P. Sess., 12- 3- 1927, to 3, 3 and 3 mos. impt. ( cons.) for larceny— trick, cycle- » ; stealing and larceny. Method as in original case. Five other cases of a similar nature were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. i/ . J § MB 107. Joseph Rowland Williams, Case No. 228 ( Vol. II.), was sentenced at Kingston ( Co.) P- ^ 26- 3- 1927, to 6 and 6 mos. impt. ( cons.) for cyclestealing ( 3 cases). Stole the bicycles from clu premises. 1/ John McCarthy, Case No. 260 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced as John Murray at Bow St. Pol. Ct. ( L.), 11- 3- 1927, to 3 mos. impt. for larceny, reduced from shopbreaking. With confederates gained access to a large stores and stole a number of clocks, etc. Frederick John Ward, C. R. O. No. 7399- 1920, and Alfred James Coates, C. R. O. No. 1497- 1922, were convicted with him. i/ Charles Henry Noble, Case No. 426 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced as Arthur William Rouse at Littlehampton P. Sess., 21- 3- 1927, to 14 days impt. for obtaining food by false pretences. Stated he had obtained a situation at a local tailor's. 1/ William Pearce, Case No. 281 ( Vol. IX.), was sentenced at Bristol Pol. Ct., 28- 3- 1927. to 3 mos. impt. for failing to report. John Cowie, Case No. 395 ( Vol. IX.), was sentenced at Windsor Pol. Ct., 21- 3- 1927, to 6 mos. impt., fined £ 5 or 1 mo. impt. ( conc.) for failing to report and personating a police officer. 108. Henry Brough, Case No. 323 ( Vol. X.), was sentenced as Stanley Roberts at C. C. C., 10- 3- 1927, to 5 yrs. pen. and 5 yrs. p. d. for obtaining money by false pretences ( 4 cases) and being a h. c. Posed as a rich provision merchant, as the chairman of a limited company, also as a chartered accountant. He obtained sums of money from women by either going through a form of marriage or by offering them marriage. Promised to invest the money in shares and absconded. Twenty other cases were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. y 109. Charles William Hayes, Case No. 177 ( Vol. XII.), was sentenced at C. C. C., 11- 3- 1927. to 10 yrs. pen. and 18 mos. impt. ( conc.) for ( i) Having in his possession a firearm with intent to endanger life and ( ii) Assault on police. WTitb confederates was seen to examine the doorways and windows of several houses. When arrested became violent, struck the officer and attempted to draw a loaded firearm. George Thompson, Cases Nos. 1 ( Vol. I.) and 362 ( Vol. XIT.), Arthur Frederick Collison Flatman, Case No. 442 ( Vol. XI.), Frederick Kenneth Neill, C. R. O. No. 16103- 1920, and Albert Jennings, C. R. O. No. S/ 81078, were concerned with him. Ernest Ackroyd, Case No. 301 ( Vol. XIII.), was sentenced at Birmingham Ass., 14- 3- 1927, to 18 mos. impt., for fraudulent conversion. Method as in original case. LATEST INFORMATION. Joseph William Southall, Case No. 151 ( Vol. II.). was liberated on expiration of sentence, 21- 3- 1927, to Dudley. Henry Elliott, Case No. 312 ( Vol. III.), was liberated, 2- 4- 1927. to Portsmouth. 1/ William Weyland Champion, Case No. 64 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated on licence. 25- 3- 1927, into the M. P. D., and not as shown in issue dated 19- 11- 1926. i/ George Day, Case No. 22 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated on licence, 22- 3- 1927. into the M. P. D. / Thomas Williams, Case No. 126 ( Vol. Vll.). was liberated, 23- 3- 1927, to Birmingham. George Gardner, Case No. 362 ( Vol. VIII.), was liberated, 26- 3- 1927, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 50, High Street, Homerton. y Thomas Holt, Case No. 299 ( Vol. IX.). was liberated on licence, 25- 3- 1927, to Oldham. y Arthur Edwin Wood, Case No. 379 ( Vol. XI.), was liberated on licence, 24- 3- 1927, t- o Manchester. William Frederick Hector Pinkham, Case No. 68 ( Vol. XII.), was liberated, 25- 3- 1927, to Portsmouth. 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 otfence, 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 earl} issue of Supplement A for the information of all forces. Printed and Published for His Majesty's Stationery Office by the Receive? for the Metropolitan Police District, New Scotland Yard, London, S. W. I. i