SUPPLEMENT A FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1925. Vol. XII. n-. _ RIGHT FOREFINGER PRINT UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. Klew Thumo. Supplement A the police GAZETTE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1925. Vol. XII. EXPERT AND TRAVELLING CRIMINALS. 63. William Henry Priestley, aliases William Priestly, Alfred Davis, George Collins, George Harris, William Davis, and ( as he is known among criminals) Billy Boy Davis, C. R. O. No. 1582- 1912. Description : B. ( London) 1890, 5ft. 6fin., c. fresh, h. dk. brown, e. brown, scar rt. cheek, Britannia, flower, Buffalo Bill, bust of woman, etc., rt., two pugilists, clasped hands, bust of woman, bracelet, etc., 1. forearm. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Usually well dressed and of smart appearance ; fond of the company of loose women ; of a violent disposition. Sentenced at C. C. C., 8- 1- 1924, to 15 mos. impt. for larceny. Liberated, 22- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny, receiving and minor offences at SOUTHAMPTON and on A, J, L, M, P, R, V, Wand Y. Method— ( i) On several occasions he has been engaged with accomplices, who induced shopkeepers to leave their shops respecting an enquiry as to some article displayed in the window or other bogus errand, and then held them in conversation outside whilst Priestley entered and stole cash boxes, tills, etc, ( ii) Has entered public houses, during a busy period, ostensibly for refreshment, and whilst the managers were engaged elsewhere, he visited the private apartments and stole jewellery, etc. ( iii) Picked up an attache- case, which had been temporarily placed on the pavement, and walked away with it. Associates : Harry Slater, Case No. 97 ( Vol. VI.), ( now in prison) ; Alfred Charles Callan, Case No. 64 ( Vol. XII.) ; William Fox, C. R. O. No. 1499- 1906 ; Edward Brady, C. R. O. No. 203- 1908, George Mead, C. R. O. No. 2031- 1909; Henry Crutchlow, C. R. O. No. 12229- 1916, and Richard Wade, C. R. O. No. 261- 1923 ( with each of whom he has been convicted). The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Lwrthht^ C^ J/ J V- oi W. " CifJU I C) 4. Alfred Charles Callan, aliases Alfred Callan, George Coleman, Alfred Callam and ( as he is among criminals) Brummy, C. R. O. No. 1419- 1900. Description : B. ( London) 1876, 5ft. 7in., c. fresh, h. brown ( going bald), e. grey, mole cheek, scar bridge of nose, ring third 1. finger. Sentenced at C. C. C., 8- 1- 1924, to 15 mos. impt. for larceny. Liberated, 24- 1- 1925, iIltc the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny, burglary, wounding, warehousebreaking and minor offefl^ on B, E, G and Y. Method— ( i) Induced a shopkeeper to leave her shop, then engaged her in conversation outside W a confederate entered and stole cash box and contents. ( ii) Gained access to a warehouse by removing padlock from outer door of premises, and then, tfifl a brace and bit, cutting panel from warehouse door. A number of furs was stolen and removed in a motor van. ( iii) Has stolen from the person by snatching, also from a drunken person ; has also been convicted" with a confederate, of loitering in the vicinity of banks and post offices. Associates : Herbert Edward Scott, Case No. 246 ( Vol. XI.), ( now in pen.) ; William Henry Priestley, Case No. 63 ( Vol. XII.) ; James Bernard Williams, C. R. O. No. S/ 105141 ( now in pen.) ( with whom he has been convicted) ; Henry Thompson, Case No. 112 ( Vol. VIII.) ; William Thompson, Case No. 134 ( Vol. VIII.), and Frederick Morgan, C. R. O. No. 137- 1902. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history 7F. H......[ P. l^..^. 1. 65. Joseph Hornsey, aliases Charles Hornsey, William Richards, Arthur Medley, A. Clark ailf| . Hunter, C. R. O. No. 691- 1910. Description : B. ( Sheffield) 1885, 5ft. lOjin., c. fresh, h. dk. brown ( thin top), e. grey} ^ side of 1. eye and 1. side'of chin. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Stoops and of slovenly gait. Sentenced at Shrewsbury Sess., 10- 10- 1922, to 3 yrs. pen. ( conc.) for false pretences ( 4 cases... Liberated on licence, 9- 1- 1925, to Sheffield. Pre. con. of cyclestealing, false pretences and minor offences at SHEFFIELD, WESTON- SUPER- MARE, WOLVERHAMPTON and EPWORTH. Cases of fraud and attempted fraud at Poole, Ilkeston, Andover, Newton Abbot, Berwick- on- Tweed, Honiton, Rhyl, Leyburn, Haverfordwest, Bournemouth, Bodmin, Southport, Pontypridd, Hartford, West Mailing, Ledbury, Leeds, Chesterfield and on W were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. Method— A very clever swindler who has defrauded members of the public in many parts of the country. He visited provincial towns where he engaged lodgings— which he usually paid for in advance— on some occasions at boarding houses, in other instances at lodging houses. The rooms were not always occupied but the address used simply as one of accommodation to assist him in his career of fraud. Advertised in the periodicals dealing with the motor trade, the Exchange and Mart, and in some cases the daily press, offering for sale motor cycles, guns, cameras, fishing rods, etc., the description of which was given in glowing terms and the price quoted for the articles being exceedingly low and attractive. The address shown for the replies was the one where he had previously obtained lodgings or occasionally a box number was quoted. Persons enquiring respecting the goods were always requested to forward the money in advance and informed that after its receipt the articles would immediately be despatched by rail or otherwise ; this he failed to do. He usually remained in a town sufficiently long enough to collect the larger portion of the postal delivery and then cash the money and postal orders, cheques, etc., and abscond before suspicion arose. For some time he was accompanied and assisted by Mary Hornsey, C. R. O. No. 11010- 1914, who is said to be his wife, and with whom he has been convicted. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. UIV MXZ Subsequent History i. Thomas Clelland Lowrie, C. R. O. No. 257- 1923. Description : B. ( says Liverpool and Dumfrieshire) 1882, 6ft. ( Hin., c. fresh, h. dk. brown, e. brown, scar rt. cheek and third rt. finger. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Walks with a slight limp left lee. Sentenced at Maidstone Ass., 28- 6- 1021, to 3 yrs. pen. for robbery with violence. Sub- sequently sentenced at Boston P. Sess., 19- 3- 1924, to 4 mos. impt. for aggravated assault. Liberated on second licence, 26- 1- 1925, to Glasgow. A dangerous criminal who does not hesitate to use violence to enable him to accomplish his object. Has been confined in mental institutions. He frequently travels the country as pedlar, selling cheap jewellery, etc. Method— Met a young woman passing through a field of growing corn by way of a footpath, threw her to the ground, threatened her with a jack knife, stole her handbag and contents, then ravished her and left her in a state of collapse. On another occasion, whilst proceeding along a road he met a female cycling, with a large stick in his possession he challenged her to stop, and subsequently pulled her off the machine, then by using threats endeavoured to force her to enter an adjoining field. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent History. I- MILLK, ^•' fojU fe) . i ML.-. tii^ Hfb. 67. George Milne Porter, aliases George Porter, Cyril Winter, J. D. Winter, Cyril George Gunst and Cyril Porter, C. R. O. No. 14690- 1917. Description : B. ( Edinburgh) 1899, 5ft. 3in., c. fresh, h. dk. brown, e. grey, Rose Goss an( scar 1. forearm. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Smart appearance ; addicted to drink; fond J the company of loose women ; walks upright. Sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Ct. ( Sec. 31), 4- 3- 1924, to 12 mos. impt. for fraud ( 10 ca^ attempted fraud and theft of a ring. Liberated, 3- 1- 1925, from Edinburgh Prison. Pre. co^ < larceny and fraud at EDINBURGH, GRIMSBY, SOUTH SHIELDS and on F and N. Method— ( i) Called at dwelling- houses and intimated to the occupiers that he was a representative of a of provision merchants in a well known city and was authorised to sell provisions at a cheap ^ Obtained money in advance for orders given, but failed to deliver the goods. During his c^ jj . one house he obtained possession of a lady's diamond ring by stating that he had given an order to a local jeweller to make an engagement ring and the design of the one he had then seen was what he desired. The ring was loaned to him for the purpose of showing to the jeweller, but he failed to return it. In other instances he has called at houses and represented that he had been deputed to dispose of a consignment of contraband goods, consisting principally of brandy, whisky, etc., at a cheap rate ; . obtained deposits on orders and absconded with the money. ( ii) By representing to a firm that he had received an order from a friend he obtained a large consign- ment of tins of boot polish. ( iii) Engaged lodgings and stole a pocket book, etc., from the overcoat of a fellow lodger. Gained the confidence of the landlady and subsequently induced her to entrust him with her jewellery, which he later disposed of, and then decamped. ( iv) Whilst staying at a seaman's home he obtained possession of a discharge book from a fellow seaman and subsequently obtained a sum of money by sending a telegram, purported to have been sent by the son, to the parents of the latter and requesting the money to be forwarded as he was in difficulties. ( v) Made the acquaintance of a seaman and obtained particulars respecting luggage which had been deposited by him at the cloak room of a railway station, later he called there and represented that he was the owner of the property, but had lost the identity voucher ; after being questioned arid filling in the usual form of indemnity, he was allowed to take the luggage away. ( vi) Stole an overcoat and wallet from a ship. Has disposed of some of the goods obtained to pawnbrokers. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. 68. William Frederick Hector Pinkham, aliases Hector Pinkham, Charles Henry Jeffreys, M. A., Samuel Jeffreys, S. Jeffreys Rosenthal, Charles W. Weymouth, has traded under The United Financial Association, Ltd., The London and Provincial Benefit Society and The British Loan and Investment Company, C. R. O. No. 1155- 1913. Subsequent History Description : B. ( Shaldon) 1887, 5ft. 4£ in.; c. fresh, h. black ( thin on crown), e. hazel. Sentenced at Shrewsbury Ass., 1- 7- 1922, to 3 yrs. pen. for false pretences ( 2 cases). Liberate on licence, 16- 12- 1924, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of false pretences and forgery at RE1GA> and THORPE. Method— ( i) Engaged a room at a good class hotel, where he had previously stayed during the time he a director of a well known firm, and subsequently induced the manageress to cash a worthlc^ cheque. Later called- upon a local jeweller, to whom he was known, and requested to be sho^ some rings, at the same time stating he was desirous of purchasing one as a present for his \ vife' after selecting one, he tendered in payment a cheque which was afterwards found to be worthless- ( ii) Arrived in a town and made the acquaintance of a tradesman, with whom he subsequently stay^ for a few days, and during which time he ascertained that the tradesman was a customer at a certa111 firm of outfitters. Later called upon the firm and obtained a quantity of clothing by representing that the articles were required for the tradesman's son. ( iii) Rented a small shop and styled himself as a wholesale sundriesman. Through the medium the press he obtained partners who paid a premium into a ioint account with a stipulated aggroemei1* that all cheques should be signed by both parties. Subsequently Pinkham forged the signatufe of his partner and cashed a cheque for a sum of money which he eventually used for his own private purpose. ( iv) Registered himself as a moneylender and traded under the name of The British Loan and Invest' ment Company By means of advertisement and correspondence written in plausible language he induced persons in many parts of the provinces to invest various sums of money m the company under the pretext of receiving an appointment, in the first instance as a trial, as agent for that district at a mentioned weekly salary and commission on all business transacted through their recommenda- tion, in addition they would participate, in the profits of the company, on their investment, to the extent of 15 per cent. Should the agreement terminate at the end of the period assigned for trial the shares would be re- purchased at par. ( v) Floated a company called the LTnited Financial Association, Ltd., persuaded a person to invest £ 200 in the concern and thereby become a director. The business was carried on by borrowing money from the investing public at a high rate of interest and lending it to members of the public, who were desirous of borrowing, at a greater rate. The concern came to an abrupt ending when Pinkham was arrested for the offences shown in con. quoted. He appears to have always taken the precaution to register these bogus moneylending concerns as required, thereby minimising the chance of a prosecution. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history. exx lM. MIL i 63 igjULL %. The following persons who have already appeared in Supplement A have been re- convicted as follows— / Frederick William Wiles, Case No. 105 ( Vol. II.), was sentenced at Brighton Sess., 5- 1- 1925, to 6 mos. impt. for shopbreaking. Effected entrance by forcing window at rear of premises. Walter Stanley Walters, Case No. 333 ( Vol. II.), was sentenced as Walter Stanley, at C. O. C., 14- 1- 1925, to 14 mos. impt. for housebreaking— forcing front door. ^ William Watson, Case No. 98 ( Vol. III.), was sentenced as Frank Russell, at Gosport Pol. Ct., 23- 1- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for stealing an overcoat. Method as in ( i) original case. Henry James, Case No. 200 ( Vol. IV.), was sentenced at Marlborough Street Pol. Ct. ( L.), 17- 1- 1925, to 6 mos. impt. for stealing two gold brooches. Method as in ( i) original case. 69, Thomas Foster, Case No. 340 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced at Walsall Pol. Ct., 28- 1- 1925, to 3 and 3 mos. impt. ( cons.) for larceny and failing to report. Called on a firm and was interviewed by the works manager, after his departure a coat, etc., was missed. 70. Francis Parker, Case No. 6 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced as Gibson Robinson, at Grimsby P. Sess., ^ 21- 1- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for larceny. Called at a British Legion Club to ask for relief, and whilst left waiting hi a passage he stole an overcoat, etc., from a storeroom. ^ Frank Aldred, Case No. 198 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced at Manchester P. Sess., 15- 1- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for frequenting. Liberated from previous sentence 8- 1- 1925, to Manchester. 71. James McVittie, Case No. 317 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced as James McVeety, at Salford Pol. Ct., / 20- 1- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for false pretences. Called at a lodging house and persuaded the keeper to give him accommodation for the night. The following morning he obtained the sum of £ 2, as a loan, by representing that he had in his possession a cheque for £ 20 which he intended to cash later. Two cases of false pretences and one of attempted false pretences at Hull and a case of false pretences and larceny at Selby were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. 72. George Fletcher, Case No. 377 ( Vol. VIII.), was sentenced as Alfred Freeman, at Taunton Pol. Ct., ^ 26- 1- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for being found on enclosed premises. Charles Heavey, C. R. O. No. 347- 1904, was convicted with him. 1% James Davis, Case No. 21 ( Vol. X.), was sentenced as James Duke, at Salisbury Sess., 9- 1- 1925, to ' 18 mos. impt. for housebreaking and larceny, ( i) Gained access to a dwellinghouse, during the after- noon and temporary absence of occupier, by means of an insecurely fastened window, ( ii) Called at a dwellinghouse, asked to see the landlord and whilst left alone for a few moments stole an over- coat andAdecamped. 74. Percy Hamilton, Case No. 294 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced as Stanley Wood, at Bow Street Pol. Ct, ( L.), 3- 1- 1925, to 6 and 6 mos. impt. ( cons.) for stealing overcoats from the smoke room of hotels ( 2 cases). 75. David Kirkcaldy, Case No. 413 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced at Liverpool Sess., 8- 1- 1925, to 12 and • 12 mos. impt. ( conc.) for shopbreaking and larceny, ( i) During the afternoon, on an early closing day, he effected entrance to a furrier's lock- up shop by forcing the front door, ( ii) Stole a suit- case from a taxicab. James Gilmorc Crawford, C. B. O. No. 18440- 1914, and Nellie Pickering, C. R. O. No. 19153- 1921, were convicted with him LATEST INFORMATION ^ Thomas Pearce, Case No. 64 ( Vol. I.), was liberated, 7- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. ^ John Strong, Case No. 65 ( Vol. I.), was liberated, 31- 1- 1925, to Aberdeen. - Harry Henderson, Case No. 290 ( Vol. I.), was liberated, 24- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 18, Laundry Road, Fulham Cross. V - . t * J Ellen Barrington, Case No. 25 ( Vol. II.), was liberated, 24- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. ^ Richard McDonald, Case No. 190 ( Vol. II.), was liberated, 7- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 3, Francis Court, Clerkenwell. Harry Hannah, Case No. 260 ( Vol. II.), died in Camp Hill Prison, 26- 12- 1924. George Purchase, Case No. 370 ( Vol. II.), was liberated on licence, 27- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. ^ Edward Charles Wilson, Case No. 100 ( Vol. III.), was liberated on licence, 9- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. y Henry Thompson, Case No. 396 ( Vol. III.), was liberated, 29- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 29, Ada Street, Hackney. • Thomas Moody, Case No. 416 ( Vol. IV.). was liberated on licence, 30- 1- 1925, to Grimsby. / James Ludford, Case No. 171 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 6- 2- 1925, to Gateshead. / James Edward Green, Case No. 202 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 24- 1- 1925, to Hinckley. Alfred Williams, Case No. 206 ( Vol. V.), was liberated on licence, 27- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. ^ Harry Arthur Clarke, Case No. 250 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 5- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. ^ Sidney Russell, Case No. 371 ( Vol. V.), was liberated on licence, 29- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. / Frederick Wood, Case No. 39 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 17- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 50, Downsfield Road, Walthamstow. J George Butler, Case No. 435 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 4- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 169, Portland Road, Notting Hill. / Albert Palmer, Case No. 502 ( Vol. VI.), died in Birmingham Prison, 28- 1- 1925. / ) Arthur Mathias, Case No. 193 ( Vol. VII.), was liberated on licence, 23- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D* J Frederick Wheaton, Case No. 339 ( Vol. VII.), was liberated on licence, 6- 2- 1925, to Leeds. / Frank William Bailey, Case No. 60 ( Vol. VIII.), was liberated, 30- 1- 1925, to Birmingham. -^ Enock Poster, Case No. 135 ( Vol. VIII.), was liberated, 17- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. ^ Alfred Henry Douglas, Case No. 361 ( Vol. VIII.), was liberated on licence, 27- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. Thomas Balshaw, Case No. 498 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated, 4- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address: 60, Vauxhall Bridge Road, S. W. ^ David Hamilton, Case No. 4 ( Vol. X.), was liberated, 6- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. Thomas Murray, Case No. 118 ( Vol. X.), was liberated, 2- 2- 1925, to Nottingham. ^ Fred Stirk, Case No. 188 ( Vol. X.), was liberated, 31- 1- 1925, to Bradford. 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 linger 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. 1.