ENTIAL SUPPLEMENT A FRIDAY, FKBRl AHV .' 7. Vol. Xll VfGMT rOfttri « OfRlP* l* T UMLCM OTMfPWISf tTATfD. CONFIDENTIAL Supplement A . THE POLICE GAZETTE No. 5. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1925. Vol. XII. EXPERT AND TRAVELLING CRIMINALS. 76. John Ward, aliases George Ward, John Dunford and John Dennis Dunford ( correct name), . C. R. O No. 9383- 1916. Description : B. ( London) 1900, 5ft. 6fin., c. fresh, h. It. brown, e. blue, scar back 1. hand. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Smart appearance and well dressed ; soft slow speech and inclined to lisp. Sentenced at West London Pol. Ct., 19- 11- 1924, to 3 mos. impt., for being a suspected person. Liberated, 4- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny, housebreaking and minor offences on C, L, R and X. A member of a gang of clever and notorious criminals who have not confined their activities to any particular place or class of offence and are believed to have been responsible for many cases of crime in the Provinces and M. P. D., but, when prosecuted in several instances, have been successful in securing their discharge or acquittal. At one ] eriod certain members of the gang were in possession of a fast travelling motor car which was used as a means of conveyance and, no doubt, to carry the stolen goods. Houses situated in an isolated position have been entered, in some instances during church time on a Sunday morning, by smashing a window at the rear of premises and releasing the catch. To ascertain whether the premises selected were occupied or otherwise, it is presumed that they were first approached under the pretext of enquiring for water for the car. Ward has not been known to follow any honest employment and has been suspected of taking part in offences where threats of violence and firearms have been used. Method— ( i) With confederates effected entrance to a dwelling house by forcing front door with a jemmy. ( ii) Wrenched the padlock from the iron gate leading to a clothier's shop and was in the act of forcing the door with a jemmy when he was discovered and arrested. N Entered a gunmaker's shop, presumably to seek employment, and during the temporary absence ° f the shopkeeper stole a revolver. Associates : Michael Secunda, Case No. 481 ( Vol. XI.), John Wood, C. R. O. No. 2850- 1901 Samuel Hoare, C. R. O. No. 13946- 1916, Frank Pulley, C. R. O. No. 3339- 1917, Barnett MattennaD C. R. O. No. 205- 1918, George Williams. C. R. O. No. S/ 115055 ( with each of whom he has been con- victed), Frederick Harding, Case No. 92 ( Vol. VI.), William Smith, C. R. O. No. 13884- 1918, ThoB* 8 Turner, C. R. O. No. 19734- 1919, Edward Richard Nias, C. R. O. No. 4162- 1921, and Leonard Thomas C. R. O. No. 2551- 1922. The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history////.:... . Hi'lfLj^ ^. tVtr. 7^ 7 ' Y^ AT ( ii ( iv Subse 77. Thomas Robinson, aliases James Noel, James Noble, John Kennedy and Guy Crofts, C. R. O. No. I339. 1913. Description : B. ( Edinburgh) 1890, 5ft. 7in., c. fresh, h. dk. brown ( bald fore part), e. hazel three scars 1. side of throat, long scar first 1. finger. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Smart active gait ; fond of the society of l0o^ women ; addicted to drink. Sentenced at Ely Sess., 11- 10- 1922, to 3 and 3 yrs. pen. ( conc.), for larceny ( 2 caSl Liberated on licence, 9- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of larceny, burglary and a minor oflferi at DUBLIN and on A, E and V. Method— ( i) Stayed in a hut, on a farm, with other working men and during the absence of the latter heent^ the hut and stole their clothing. ( ii) On occasions he has secured lodgings and afterwards absconded with clothing, etc., which he ^ from various bedrooms. 78. I R Methoi ( i)< ar )' H i) di ( iii) Gained access to a dwelling house by climbing stack pipe to the flat roof of a tower, where he lifted a trap door, cut the telephone wires, stole a quantity of goods and left by the front door. ( iv) Engaged a room at a hotel, awaited his opportunity, then stole jewellery and wearing apparei from the rooms of other visitors. Has disposed of some of the stolen goods to pawnbrokers. Associates : John Stratton, Case No. 393 ( Vol. IV.), William Henry Spicer, C. R. O. No. 1027- 1914, and Henry Kennedy, C. R. O. No. 19779- 1918 ( with each of whom he has been convicted). The portrait is a good likeness. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history TXYL TMWI L JT-^ IFC 6. IIFJ/^ F^ JFI^.^ II. i. 1 78. Norah Evans, aliases Hannah Norah Gwendoline Evans, Constance Muriel Randall, Constance Randall, Norah Hill, Constance Wiapara, Norah Fegan and Jessie Davis, C. R. O. No. 703- 1906. Description : B. ( Richmond, Yorks), 1885, 5ft. 4in., c. pale, h. auburn ( dyed), e. blue. Sentenced at Colchester Sess., 5- 10- 1923, to 18 mos. impt. for larceny. Liberated, 3- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. Pre. con. of cyclestealing, false pretences and larceny at DARTFORD, CANTER- BURY, DOVER, BRIGHTON and on D, R, T, W and X. Method— ( i) On several occasions this woman has obtained situations by means of false characters and subsequently absconded with articles of jewellery, wearing apparel, etc. ( ii) Visited a railway station and stole parcels containing clothing from outside the parcels office. Has also been convicted of stealing from the person— picking pockets. ii) Secured lodgings by falsely stating she was agent for a firm in the City, and subsequently decamped, during the temporary absence of the occupier, with a quantity of clothing. ( iv) Entered into correspondence with a person who had advertised a coney seal coat for sale, and by means of fictitious references obtained possession of the coat, on approval, and failed to forward the money in accordance with the agreement. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history. 79. George Bardsley, C. R. O. No. 1651- 1908. Description : B. ( says Manchester and Cheadle) 1867, 5ft. 9Mn., c. fresh, h. brown, e. grey, mole rt. side of forehead and rt. cheek, second rt. finger deformed. c> , v Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Smart appearance ; welN^& ken ; fond of relating his experiences whilst in South Africa ; an inveterate liar ; slow leisurely gait. Sentenced at Knutsford Sess., 16- 10- 1922, to 9 mos. impt. for larceny. Liberated, 1- 6- 1923, to Manchester. Pre. con. of larceny and burglary at NOTTINGHAM, BURTON, GRAVESEND, STOCKPORT, PERSHORE, TEWKESBURY, SOLIHULL, HULL and on R. Method— ( i) Booked a bed for the night at a temperance hotel, and during the early morning stole Treasury notes from the kitchen and absconded. ( ii) Entered a shop and stole a pair of shoes from the counter. ( iii) During a Sunday morning called at a house where a clergyman resided and was discovered in the hall by one of the maids, he immediately enquired for the vicar and after receiving a reply that he was engaged in church, he requested to be provided with a glass of water. After his departure it was discovered that certain silver articles were missing from the dining room. ( iv) Gained access to a dwelling house, during the night, by opening a door which had been left unlocked. ( v) Stole a coat from the hall of a dwelling house. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. Subsequent history cJ 80. John Bailey, C. R. O. No. 250- 1919. Description : B. ( London) 1872, 5ft. 4£ in., c. fresh, h. It. brown, e. blue, mole each cheek. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Very plausible ; addicted to drink. Sentenced at King's Lynn Sess., 25- 10- 1922, to 3 yrs. pen. for false pretences. Liberated on licence, 28- 1- 1925, to Portsmouth. Pre. con. of embezzlement and false pretences at FAREHAM, BARNSTAPLE and on P. A persistent swindler who travelled to various parts of the provinces, usually accompanied by a woman said to be his wife. Having engaged lodgings, he called on hotel keepers and residents of good class houses in the surrounding districts, stated he was the representative of a firm of fuel merchants with an address in a well known town, secured orders for the supply of a number of peat blocks for which he received cash on order, the firm quoted did not exist and consequently the goods were never delivered. The address given by him was one he frequently used as an accommodation for receiving letters. Specimen of handwriting at C. R. O. SI. Robert Brannan, aliases Henry Biddle, Henry Smith, Thomas Devaney, Henry Biddulph, Charles King, Thomas Biddle, Robert Smith, John Smith, Robert Brannon, Robert Davies and George Smith, C. R. O. No. 2263- 1902. Description : B. ( Birmingham) 1857, 5ft. 5} in., c. fresh, h. grey, e. hazel, scar base 1. thumb and first 1. finger, horseshoe, shamrock and Good Luck rt., shield and A. H. 1. forearm, bracelet 1. wrist. Personal Weaknesses, Peculiarities, etc. : Slouching gait ; quiet disposition ; addicted to drink. Method— Sentenced at Shifnal Pol. Ct., 10- 12- 1924, to 3 mos. impt. for being found on enclosed premises. Liberated, 23- 2- 1925, to Shrewsbury. Pre. con. of larcenv: housebreaking, burglary, receiving, shopbreaking, habitual criminal and minor offences at BIRMINGHAM, KIDSGROVE, NEW- CASTLE, BISHOPWEARMOUTH, GLASGOW, CARDIFF, HANDSWORTH, PLYMOUTH, HULL, SMETHWICK, MERTHYR TYDFIL, NEWPORT, SWANSEA, NEWTOWN, LIVER- POOL, BIRKENHEAD, CHELTENHAM and GREAT MALVERN. ( i) Effected entry to dwelling houses, usually during temporary absence of occupiers, by means of insecurely fastened windows or breaking windows and releasing the catches; he operated principally at the rear of the premises. ( ii) With a confederate gained access to a clothier's lock- up shop by climbing over a wall at the rear, then on to the roof of an outhouse, breaking glass window and releasing the catch. Has also effected entrance to other shops and hotels by forcing the catches of windows. ( iii) Sneaked into the office of a boarding house, the door of which had been left open during the temporary absence of landlord, whilst engaged in a room at the rear, forced office drawer with a jemmy and stole a number of foreign coins. In several instances before leaving the premises he has partaken of a quantity of wine. Method— Associate : Walter Burke, C. R. O. No. 697- 1913 ( with whom he has been convicted). 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— ^ George Williams, Case No. 163 ( Vol. I.), was sentenced at Walsall Pol. Ct., 6- 2- 1925, to 12 mos. impt. under the Prevention of Crimes Act— found on enclosed premises. George Avey, Case No. 339 ( Vol. I.), was sentenced at C. L. S., 3- 2- 1925, to 18 mos. impt. for stealing parcels from a van whilst in transit. 82. John Catesby, Case No. 296 ( Vol. II.), was sentenced as Edwin David Emsley, at C. L. S., 5- 2- 1925, ^ to 18 mos. impt. for attempted false pretences. Represented himself to be an Australian and endeavoured to induce a person to cash a stolen cheque. 83. Lewis Harold Bell, Case No. 251 ( Vol. IV.), was sentenced at Lincoln Ass., 3- 2- 1925, to 18 mos. ' impt. for stealing a motor cycle and cyclestealing. William Jones, Case No. 339 ( Vol. TV.), was sentenced as William Lines, at Croydon Pol. / Ct. ( L.), 2- 2- 1925, to 12 mos. impt. under the Prevention of Crimes Act— found at the rear of shops. 84,. Judah Treeves, Case No. 32 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced as John Treeves, at C. C. C., 26- 1 1925, to 9 mos. impt. for conspiracy and false pretences. Whilst trading as - J. Reeves & Co. he supplied manu- facturers with fictitious references, which enabled persons trading as Richard Drake & Co. to obtain a large quantity of goods— mats, mackintoshes, etc.— and thus carry on a long firm swindle. 85. William Vincent French, Case No. 172 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced as William French, at Uckfield ^ P. Sess., 9- 2- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for stealing a lady's watch. Engaged lodgings, stated he was a farm bailiff, and subsequently borrowed the watch to have in his room during the night. 86. Bertie Francis Entwistle, Case No. 323 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Summary / Ct., 3- 2- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for false pretences. Posed as Dr. Moore from Buenos Ayres, and fraudulently obtained lodgings by answering an advertisement which had been inserted, by a boarding- house keeper, in a local newspaper. j Arthur Smith, Case No. 448 ( Vol. V.), was sentenced at C. L. S., 4- 2- 1925, to 18 mos. impt, for housebreaking— forcing front door. ^ John Flynn, Case No. 286 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced at the Mansion House Pol. Ct. ( L.), 23- 1- 1925, to 6 mos. impt. for stealing wallet, etc., from the person. j Jessie Taylor, Oase No. 354 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced as Alice Pearce, at Wolverhampton Pol. Ct., 11- 2- 1925, to 6 and 1 mo's. impt. ( conc.) for shoplifting and assault on police. 87. Dennis Harris, Case No. 466 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced at C. C. C., 30- 1- 1925, to 3 yrs. pen. for ware- J housebreaking and possessing housebreaking implements by night. Gained admittance through an accomplice who had concealed himself on the premises ; an attempt was made to drill and blow open a large safe. John James, Case No. 470 ( Vol. VI.), Edward Flood, C. R. O. No. 839- 1897, and John Russell, C. R. O. No. 13931- 1922. were convicted with him. 88J John James, Case No. 470 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced at C. C. C., 30- 1- 1925, to 3 yrs. pen. for ware- ' housebreaking and possessing housebreaking implements by night. Gained admittance through an accomplice who had concealed himself on the premises ; an attempt was made to drill and blow open a large safe. Dennis Harris, Case No. 466 ( Vol. VI.), Edward Flood, C. R. O. No. 839- 1897, and John Russell, C. R. O. No. 13931- 1922, were convicted with him. • ^ James Cope, Case No. 484 ( Vol. VI.), was sentenced at Birmingham Sess., 7- 2- 1925, to 12 mos.- impt. as an incorrigible rogue— attempting to pick pockets. George A. Baker, C. R. O. No. 5032- 1924, and George Rushton, C. R. O. No. S/ 151576, were concerned with him. ^ Alfred James Collinson, Case No. 4 ( Vol. VII.), was sentenced at Oxford Pol. Ct., 13- 2- 1925, to 3 and 3 mos. impt. ( cons.), for obtaining food and lodgings by false pretences ( 2 cases). Method as in original case. 89. George West, Case No. 73 ( Vol. VII.), was sentenced at Birmingham Sess., 3- 2- 1925, to 9 mos. — impt. for shopbreaking. Entered a costumier's shop through back kitchen window which had beer> left insecurely fastened. s Frederick James Akers, Case No. 349 ( Vol. VII.), was sentenced as Henry Ford, at Middlesex Sess., 7- 2- 1925, to 3 yrs. pen. for shopbreaking— forced the window of a lock- up shop by bodily pressure. 90. Robert Lester, Case No. 57 ( Vol. VIII.), was sentenced at Bow St. Pol. Ct. ( L.), 9- 2- 1925, to 3 mos. / impt. for stealing a 10s. note by trick— ringing the changes. John Brennan, C. R. O. No. 11642- 1921, was convicted with him. 91. George Hartley, Case No. 249 ( Vol. VIII.), was sentenced as George Dewhurst, at Wakefield P. Sess., ^ 9- 2- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for obtaining money by false pretences. Method as in Case No. 463 ( Vol. X.). Liberated from previous sentence 12- 2- 1924. / ' Elijah Grant, Case No. 300 ( Vol. VIII.), was sentenced at Sheffield P. Sess., 30- 1- 1925, to 12 mos. impt. under the Prevention of Crimes Act. j Abraham Leveson, Case No. 329 ( Vol. VIII.), was sentenced as Davis Herris, at Southend- on- Sea P. Sess., 6- 1- 1925, to 12 mos. impt. under the Prevention of Crimes Act. The conviction as shown in Case No. 477 ( Vol. XI.) was quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal, 8- 12- 1924. 92. Laura Partridge, Case No. 366 ( Vol. VIII.), was sentenced as Laura MacFarlane, at Lambeth Pol, Ct., ( L.) 12- 2- 1925, to 2 mos. impt. for shoplifting. Gertrude McLean, C. R. O. No. 4635- 1921, was convicted with her. 93. Edward Filibin, Case No. 446 ( Vol. IX.), was sentenced at Sheffield Sess., 19- 1- 1925, to 3 yrs. pe^ ^ and 5 yrs. p. d. for receiving and being a h. c. Frank Donald Duncan, Case No. 152 ( Vol. X.), was sentenced at West London Pol. Ct. 20- 1- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for attempting to steal two bottles of whiskey. Sent a messenger to ^ wine shop with a note purported to have been written by a credit customer. 94. Percival Rogers, Case No. 187 ( Vol. X.), was sentenced as Thomas Ashton, at Westminster Pol. Ot S ( L.), 27- 1- 1925, to 12 mos. impt. under the Prevention of Crimes Act— endeavoured to abstr^ Q? letters from underneath the doors of lock- up shops with a bent umbrella rib. Thomas Johnscw C. R. O. No. 2368- 1901, was concerned with him. James Frederick Oliphant Smith, Case No. 163 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced at C. C. C., 3- 2- ld^ v to 4 yrs. pen. for burglary and larceny ( 2 cases). Method as in ( iii) original case. Three cases M burglary were taken into consideration when sentence was passed. * 95. Ernest Wyndham Rainford, Case No. 231 ( Vol. XI.), was sentenced as Ernest Rainford, at Taunt^ P. Sess., 11- 2- 1925, to 3 mos. impt. for cyclestealing. A case of false pretences at Folkestone^ ** taken into consideration when sentence was passed. ^ Lilian Dalley, Case No. 6 ( Vol. XII.), was sentenced as Lilian Dally, at Oxford P. S^ 6- 2- 1925, to 6 mos. impt. for shoplifting. Rose Moore, C. R. O. No. 14358- 1914, and May ft \ Martin, C. R. O. No. 10203- 1917, were convicted with her. % LATEST INFORMATION S William Hickman, Case No. 142 ( Vol. I.), died at Hope Hospital, Pendleton, 26- 1- 1925. ^ Horatio Llewellyn Griffiths, Case No. 181 ( Vol. I.), was liberated, 17- 2- 1925, to Manchester. J Harold Hardcastle, Case No. 272 ( Vol. I.), was liberated on licence, 29- 1- 1925, to Halifax. / Percy Seymour Kelly, Case No. 349 ( Vol. II.), was liberated, 20- 2- 1925, to Leeds - Frederick Ellery, Case No. 46 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated, 31- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. / James Allan Fairlie, Case No. 110 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated, 31- 1- 1925, to Newcastle Poor Law Institution. ^ Jack Brunning, Case No. 145 ( Vol. IV.), was removed on expiration of sentence, 4- 2- 1925, to Essex County Mental Hospital, Brentwood. / George James Facey, Case No. 268 ( Vol. IV.), was liberated on licence, 13- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. 7 James Cooksley, Case No. 47 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 21- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address: 35, Pullen's Flats, Peacock Street, Newington Butts. Stephen House Bovey, Case No. 144 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 12- 2- 1925, to Stockton. / Albert King, Case No. 423 ( Vol. V.), was liberated, 21- 2- 1925, to Bedford. x John Mitchell, Case No. 179 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 17- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address: 8, Hobbs Place, Hoxton. / Thomas Hargreaves, Case No. 202 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 14- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 42, Baker Street, W. C. I. / Henry Willis, Case No. 271 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 21- 2- 1925, to Newcastle. / John Donovan, Case No. 303 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 14- 2- 1925, into the M. P. D. Intended address : 29, Wilmer Street, Hoxton. George William Golden, Case No. 355 ( Vol. VI.). was liberated on licence, 11- 2- 1925, to Southampton. Ann Baxter, Case No. 408 ( Vol. VI.), was liberated, 10- 2- 1925, to Blackburn. i/ Grace Briggs, Case No. 142 ( Vol. VII.), was liberated, 26- 1- 1925, into the M. P. D. y Frederick Wheaton, Case No. 339 ( Vol. VII.), was liberated on licence, 6- 2- 1925, to Leeds. ^ Ernest William Hobbs, Case No. 43 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated, 21- 2- 1925, to Abersychan. ^ George Brooks, Case No. 129 ( Vol. IX.), was liberated, 10- 2- 1925, to Lincoln. George Drew, Case No. 290 ( Vol. X.), was liberated on licence, 20- 2- 1925, to Benfleet. - John Samuel Brown, Case No. 63 ( Vol. XI.), was liberated on licence, 12- 2- 1925, into M. P. D. ^" Rose Nolan, Case No. 188 ( Vol. XI.), was liberated, 13- 2- 1925, to Liverpool. Thomas Grey, Case No. 204 ( Vol. XI.), was liberated, 17- 2- 1925, to Oxford. NOTE.— In the event of information being received of the DEATH of any criminal whose particular have appeared in POLTCE GAZETTE SUPPLEMENT A, the fact should be notified to C. R. O. As the latest information or subsequent conviction of criminals, whose particulars have bcen 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 agaic 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. 1.