CONFIDENTIAL SUPPLEMENT A No. 25. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1927. VOL. XIV. RIGHT FOREFINGER PRINT UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED 4. I4. 415 416 41 7> 418 419 CONFIDENTIAL Supplement A THE POLICE GAZETTE No. 25. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1927. VOL. XIV. EXPERT AND TRAVELLING CRIMINALS 414. Cyril Gatenby Barker, aliases Charles George Baxter, George Barry, Charles George Harrison, George Barrymore, F. Bedford, A. V. Campbell and Captain A. E. Harvey, C. R. O. No. 4150- 1922. Description : B. ( London) 1893, 5ft. 8| in., c. fresh, h. dk. brown, e. hazel. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Very plausible, well spoken, has swinging gait and twitching eyes. Sentenced at Wimbledon P. Sess. ( L.), 20- 11- 1926, to 4, 4 and 4 mos. impt. ( cons.) for obtaining money byfalse pretences, and at Salisbury ( City) P. Sess., 10- 1- 1927, to 3 mos. impt. ( cons, with above) for false pretences. Liberated, 6- 12- 1927, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of false pretences, attempted false pretences and larceny at NEWCASTLE- UPON- TYNE, NEWPORT ( Isle of Wight), CHICHESTER, CAMBRIDGE and on F. A plausible scoundrel who emigrated to Australia in 1910 and was believed to have returned to this country with the Commonwealth Forces during the Great War. He has since defrauded numerous tradesmen by means of worthless cheques. He generally stayed at first- class hotels, where he ran up bills for food and lodgings and absconded. On one occasion, when arrested, it was discovered he was living with a young woman, not his wife, but who posed as such. Method ( i) Called on a tradesman, said he was living in the district and ordered goods to be sent to a local address. He then filled in a printed form to represent a cheque for considerably more than the cost of the goods, obtained the change and absconded. The cheque was afterwards found to be worthless. ( ii) With a confederate rented an office in the West End and styled himself as a theatrical and advertising agent. Advertised in the press for young men of refinement and means to take up posts as managers and partners in an advertising business. Numbers of persons applied and sums of money were obtained from applicants. The whole affair was found to be a swindle and he absconded taking with him a number of miniatures the property of the landlord of the premises. ( iii) Telephoned to a hotel and engaged rooms, posed as a captain in the Army and said he was just home from India and would require the rooms for several days. On another occasion took rooms at an expensive hotel, said his luggage was in his car which had broken down outside the town and which he had left in charge of a friend. He then called on tradesmen and ordered goods to be sent to the hotel, for which he tendered worthless cheques, and after receiving the goods absconded. ( iv) Whilst staying at a hotel he asked the cashier to cash a cheque for a large amount. When refused he produced two National War Savings certificates as extra security. The cashier accepted these and gave him the money. It was afterwards found that the cheque was worthless and was one of a number that he had stolen. It was also found that he had obtained the certificates from a provincial post office by means of a worthless cheque. Associate : John Alfred Price, C. R. O. No. 2783- 1925. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. istor Subsequent histor; 415. Frederick Bloxham, aliases Harry Fletcher and Fraser Bloxham, C. R. O. No. 1300- 1917. Description : B. ( London) 1896, 5ft. 5Jin., c. fresh, h. dk. brown, e. brown, scar 1. cheek, cross, ship, Josy, hands rt., woman, flag, I love my Mother, etc., 1. forearm. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Smart appearance, walks erectly. Sentenced at Middlesex Sess., 20- 7- 1926, to 18 mos. impt. for larceny. Liberated, 8- 12- 1927, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of receiving, cyclestealing and minor offences at MIDDLESBROUGH, ROCHESTER, HARTLEPOOL, PONTEFRACT, BRIGHTON, in CITY OF LONDON and on L and Y A troublesome criminal, who, besides being a welsher and racecourse thief, has employed the time between race meetings by associating with other men, who loitered in the vicinity of public offices, banks, etc., for the purpose of stealing letters containing cheques from letter- boxes, and altering and attempting to cash the cheques. He has also been convicted of indecency. Method- ' ( i) Whilst acting as a bookmaker on a racecourse he tore up the tickets when presented for payment alter the horse had won, and then told the applicants they had backed another horse. Upon his register being examined the bets were found properly recorded. ( ii) In company with other racecourse frequenters entered a hotel on the evening of a race da}*, and on the pretence of going to the lavatory gained access to bedrooms by going through the kitchen and upstairs, broke drawers open with a chisel and stole a large sum of money in Treasury notes. ( iii) Employed as a painter he was engaged to paint a house and when left alone during the dinner hour stole jewellery and absconded. ( iv) Stole a bicycle left unattended in the street. ( v) Stole a lamp and quantity of sugar and tea from a ship lying in dock. Associates : Frederick Gower, C. R. O. No. 5497- 1921 ( now in prison), with whom he has been convicted, William Handley, C. R. O. No. 16814- 1924, and Ernest Birbeck, C. R. O. No. 6496- 1925. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history. 416. William Joseph Fry, alias William Fry, C. R. O. No. 10562- 1918. Description : B. ( Egham) 1901, 5ft. 6Jin., c. fresh, h. and e. brown, snake and heart rt., snake, horseshoe and tombstone 1. forearm. Sentenced at C. C. C., 7- 9- 1926, to 17 mos. impt. for officebreaking. Liberated, 21- 11- 1927, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of cyclestealing, housebreaking, larceny and schoolhousebreaking at CHERTSEY, SLOUGH and on T. A clever cycle thief and all round criminal. He has. been said to be weak- minded. On the last occasion when arrested he was in possession of a pistol, which he pointed at a person who tried to arrest him. Method— ( i) Effected entry to dwelling houses and shops by forcing windows with a blunt instrument. ( ii) Whilst on tramp, with a confederate, in a country district, he broke into an office during the night by forcing window with a chisel, and stole money, postage stamps, cheque book, etc. ( iii) Entered yards adjoining factories, etc., and stole bicycles from sheds ; also stole bicycles left unattended in the street. ( iv) Scaled a fence at rear of stores, entered a yard and stole motor coils and an overcoat from a motor van. ( v) Effected entry to a school by forcing window catch at rear of premises. On another occasion entered school and stole property from the headmaster's room. ( vi) Entered a dwelling house by door which had been left open at the rear of premises, forced open the gas meter and stole money. Disposed of property to dealers. * Associates : William Kitchner Rawlings, C. R. O. No. 5566- 1919, with whom he has been convicted ; William Joseph Loch, C. R. O. No. 1273- 1923 : and Samuel Lutmann, C. R. O. No. 10498- 1918. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. 417. Charles Reginald Percy Patten, alias Charles Patten, C. R. O. No. 13755- 1916. • * r' Description : B. ( London) 1900, 5ft. 1 { in. c. fresh, h. fair, e. blue, scar rt. of forehead, pierced heart, snake and highlander rt., anchor, flower, heart, Buffalo Bill and tombstone 1. forearm, rose back rt., butterfly back 1. hand. Personal Weaknesses. Peculiarities, etc. : Has shuffling gait. Sentenced at West Kent Sess., 7- 4- 1927, to 9 mos. impt. for being found by night in posses- sion of housebreaking implements. Liberated, 23- 11- 1927, to Northfleet. Pre. con. of larceny, shopbreaking and being in possession of housebreaking implements by night at NORTHFLEET and on J and N. A persistent shopbreaker, who on one occasion, whilst residing with his wife and her parents in a provincial town, travelled by train to London, where he committed numerous cases of shop and officebreaking during the night, returning to his home next morning. On the last occasion when arrested he was found in possession of a jemmy, mask, dummy revolver, ammunition and electric torch. / Method ( i) Effected entry, during the night, to a lock- up shop by cutting out wood panel of door at rear of premises. ( ii) Effected entry, during the night, to offices by forcing catch of window. Also broke into a goods office, at railway station, by forcing catch of window and stole a number of postage stamps. ( iii) Gained access to a picture palace during the night, by lifting bolt of door at the rear of premises, forced wire grid of cashier's office and stole money, cigarettes, chocolate, etc. ( iv) Stole a coster's barrow left unattended in the street, sold it and divided the proceeds with a con- federate. Whilst residing with his stepfather stole a cash box containing a number of Treasury notes. On another occasion stole a quantity of metal from a yard where he was employed. Subsequent history Associates : John Cornwall, C. R. O. No. 12567- 1918, and Horace Turner, C. R. O. No. 13753- 1916, with each of whom he has been convicted. Specimen of handwriting as C. R. O. Subsequent history!. ^ Jff/ tJj*^ 418. Alexander Arthur Plantz, aliases Alexander Plants, Arthur Marsh, John Thomas Brown and Harry Wood, C. R. O. No. 7658- 1918. Description : B. ( London) 1901, 5ft. 2fin., c. fresh, h. It. brown, e. blue, scar, snake and anchor rt., M. O. S. and A. P. 1. forearm. Sentenced at C. C. C., 7- 9- 1926, to 17 mos. impt. for shopbreaking ( 2 cases). Liberated, 28- 11- 1927, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny, shopbreaking, possessing housebreaking imple- ments by night and housebreaking at ST. HELENS, in the CITY OF LONDON, and on G, J and N. A criminal who first came under notice at the age of 12 years, when he was sent to an Industrial School for larceny. He has now developed into an expert house and shopbreaker, and has often been found at night in possession of housebreaking instruments. On one occasion, when arrested, he became very violent. Method— ( i) Effected entry to a lock- up shop, in the early morning, at the time of change of duty, by scaling a wall at rear of premises and climbing to a low roof. He then forced a window on the top floor, cut a hole through the floor and a wall with the aid of a hack saw and jemmy. Stole a quantity of clothing, some of which he was wearing when arrested. On another occasion he broke into a jeweller's shop and stole a number of watches. ( ii) With confederates gained access to a dwelling house by forcing the front door, entered various rooms and stole clothing and jewellery. ( iii) Stole articles from inside a shop. Associates : Henry Aldridge, C. R. O. 12024- 1925 ; Samuel Wootton, C. R. O. No. 6959- 1923 : Charles Arthur Eade, C. R . O. No. 13711- 1923 ; Thomas Jarvis, C. R. O. No. 10133- 1919, with each of whom he has been convicted; Alfred Jarvis, C. R. O. No. 10518- 1924 : Arthur Walter Varvell, C. R. O. No. 23685- 1920, and George Flicker, C. R. O. 13336- 1918. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history .* 419. Gertrude Scully, aliases Gertrude Skelton and Lilian Skelton, C. R. O. No. 9434- 1921. Description : B. ( London) 1902, oft. 5in., c. pale, h. fair ( dyed), e. blue. Sentenced at Gt. Yarmouth Pol. Ct., 10- 9- 1927, to 3 mos. impt. for loitering with intent. Liberated, 25- 11- 1927, into the M. P. D. Pre. eon. of larceny and wounding to do grievous bodily harm on B, D, F, L, T and W. Method— ( i) A member of a gang of clever and expert shoplifters who has systematically visited large shops and stores in London and the Provinces. The establishments have been entered generally during the mealtimes. Articles which were easily accessible were refused and others asked for, which necessitated the assistant going into another room, or to the window for goods displayed. During the absence of the assistant, various articles were purloined and handed to confederates, or by the confederates themselves who immediately left the shop after advancing a reasonable excuse. Shortly afterwards a teashop in the locality was visited, where the goods stolen were done up into parcels and a return to the Metropolis made as soon as convenient. ( ii) With others armed with knives and razors entered a dwelling house during the night by forcing the door and breaking the window, caused other malicious damage inside the house and wounded the occupier by cutting him with a sharp instrument. Associates : Diana Black, Case No. 252 ( Vol. VIII.), Bertha Tappenden, Case No. 200 ( Vol. XIV.), George Hughes, C. R. O. No. 4468- 1916 ( now in pen.), Samuel Ashley, C. R. O. No. 3716- 1919, Maggie Hughes, Case No. 25 ( Vol. VIII.) ( now in prison), Rachael Strong, C. R. O. No. 18483- 1920, Marie Butler, C. R. O. No. 10110- 1921, Maud Seymour, C. R. O. No. 22848- 1921 ( now in prison), Jane Brimble, C. R. O. No. 15141- 1916, Laura Partridge, Case No. 366 ( Vol. VIII.), Margaret Smith, Case No. 5 ( Vol. XII.), and Margaret Kerr, C. R. O. No. 9435- 1921, with each of whom she has been convicted. The portrait is a fairly good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. / Subsequent history The following persons who have already appeared in Supplement A have been re- convicted as follows— 420. George Gidley, Case No. 36 ( Vol. I.), was sentenced as Mark Weston at Edmonton ( Alberta), 8- 11- 1927, to 2, 5, 5, 5 and 5 yrs. impt. ( conc.) for false pretences ( 36 charges), theft by conversion, receiving and conspiracy. 421. Harry Paxton, Case No. 51 ( Vol. I.), was sentenced at George Wilson at Margate ( Co.) Pol. Ct., 24- 11- 1927, to 3 and 6 mos. impt. ( conc.) for obtaining money and food by false pretences. Accom- panied by a woman who posed as his wife ( as in original case), he obtained lodgings and money by stating he had purchased a farm in the district and that he was short of ready cash. Fifteen other cases of false pretences and four of larceny were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. Used the names of F. Grundy, Harry Collins and Harry Walton. 422. Frederick Hirst Stewart, Cases Nos. 171 ( Vol. I.), and 443 ( Vol. XIII.), was sentenced as James Stewart at Lincoln ( City) Pol. Ct., 18- 11- 1927, to 6, 3 and 3 mos. impt ( cons.) for obtaining money by false pretences. Method as in ( i) original case and Case No. 8 ( Vol. IX.). Samuel Andrews, Case No. 200 ( Vol. I.), was sentenced at Taunton Pol. Ct., 25- 11- 1927, to 3 mos. impt. for stealing razors from hotel bathroom. 423. Joseph Clifford, Case No. 200 ( Vol. III.), was sentenced as William Griffiths at C. C. C., 11- 11- 1927, to 4 yrs. pen. for warehousebreaking and possessing housebreaking implements by night. Method as in original case. Frederick James, C. R. O. No. 182- 1899, was convicted with him. William Cook, Cases Nos. 336 ( Vol. IV.) and 352 ( Vol. XIV.), was sentenced as William Cooke at Marlborough Street Pol. Ct. ( L.), 1- 12- 1927, to 3 mos. impt. for stealing a fur rug from motor car left unattended in the street. James William Bennett, Case No. 13 ( Vol. IV.), was sentenced as William Brown at C. C. C., 17- 11- 1927, to 3 yrs. pen. and 5 yrs. p. d. for forgery ( 2 cases), false pretences and being ah. c. Forged and uttered banker's cheques and obtained goods and cash, also obtained goods and cash by means of a worthless cheque. Seven other cases of a similar nature and one of failing to report on B, E, G, N and X were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. 424. Frederick Ashton, Case No. 128 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced at C. L. S., 9- 11- 1927, to 18 mos. impt. for shopbreaking and larceny. Forced shop door with jemmy and stole meat from a refrigerator. John William Empson, C. R. O. No. 7339- 1925 was convicted with him. 425. John Henry Webster, Case No. 124 ( Vol. IX.), was sentenced as George Kirby at Sheffield ( City) P. Sess., 31- 10- 1927, to 6 mos. impt. for obtaining money by false pretences. Method as in original case. Cases of false pretences at Liverpool, Wallasey and Derby were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. 426. William Pearce, Case No. 281 ( Vol. IX.), was sentenced at Bristol Sess., 10- 10- 1927, to 5 yrs. pen. for breaking and entering. Broke into a vicarage situated in a suburban district by breaking kitchen window. 427. James Johnson, Case No. 350 ( Vol. IX.), was as Thomas Brown at Middlesex Sess., 26- 11- 1927, bound over in own recognizance £ 20 on probation for housebreaking and larceny. Effected entry to a dwelling house by forcing front door. 428. Arthur Bull, Case No. 364 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced at Leeds Ass., 25- 11- 1927, to 3 and 3 VTS. pen. ( conc.) for housebreaking and burglary. Effected entry through insecurely fastened scullery window at rear of premises. Five other cases of housebreaking, one of burglary and one of attempted burglary were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. 429. William Scott, Case No. 445 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced at Manchester Ass., 14- 11- 1927, to 9 and 9 mos. impt. ( conc.) for conspiring to defraud and unlawful possession of medals bearing the impression of a forged die. Was in possession of gilded silver medals which had been stamped 9ct. gold and passed to pawnbrokers. Arthur William Taylor, Case No. 217 ( Vol. XII.), was sentenced as Arthur William Poole at North London Pol. Ct., 25- 11- 1927, to 3 mos. impt. under the Prevention of Crimes Act for being a suspected person, loitering for the purpose of housebreaking. LATEST INFORMATION. George Thompson, Cases Nos. 1 ( Vol. I.) and 362 ( Vol. XII.), was liberated, 26- 11- 1927, into the M. P. D. Sidney Lawson, Cases Nos. 144 ( Vol. I.) and 28 ( Vol. XIII.), was liberated, 5- 8- 1927, to Birmingham. Walter Frederick Hearn, Case No. 231 ( Vol. II.), was liberated, 8- 12- 1927, to Cardiff. Joseph Clement Hughes, Cases Nos. 312 ( Vol. II.) and 111 ( Vol. XIV.), was liberated on expiration of sentence, 23- 11- 1927, to Middlesbrough. Teddy Moseley, Case No. 218 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated on licence, 9- 12- 1927, to Bradford. Lewis Harold Bell, Case No. 251 ( Vol. IV.) was liberated, 28- 11- 1927, to Boston. William Herbert Carter, Case No. 415 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 12- 12- 1927, to Deansgate, Manchester. Charles Carpenter, Case No. 137 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated on expiration of sentence, 2- 12- 1927, into the M. P. D. Mary Westcott, Case No. 492 ( Vol. VIII.), was liberated, 7- 12- 1927, into the M. P. D. William Downs, Case No. 44 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated, 29- 11- 1927, to Swansea. Joseph Wilson, Case No. 105 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated, 10- 12- 1927, to Leeds. John Farrall, Case No. 279 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated on licence, 5- 12- 1927, into the M. P. D. George Brown, Case No. 351 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated, 28- 11- 1927, into the M. P. D. William Hurley, Case No. 373 ( Vol. X.), was liberated, 24- 11- 1927, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 15, Ossulston Street, Euston Road. Arthur Frederick Collison Flatman, Case No. 442 ( Vol. XI.), was liberated, 26- 11- 1927, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 138, Gloster Terrace, Regents Park. Hubert Maurice Powell, Case No. 36 ( Vol. XII.), was liberated, 6- 12- 1927, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 202, Brixton Road. Henry Williams, Case No. 220 ( Vol. XIII.), was liberated, 22- 11- 1927, to Leeds. 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 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 by the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District, New Scotland Yard. London, S. W. I.