"KING OF CATS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 155, 4 July 1939, Page 20

"KING OF CATS."

BURGLAR CAUGHT. EXPERT JEWEL THIEF. KNOWN AS "HUMAN FLY." (By Air Mail.) LONDON'. Juno 10. 'Hie Human Fly—Scotland Yard's name for George William Knright. cleverest oat burglar in the country— went back to penal .servitude the other day, this time for four years. Knright. now in his 4."ith year, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of receiving two suitcases and £377. a crime unusual for such a "specialist." In 20 years as an expert jewel thief, engineering; some of the cleverest robberies both in this country and America. Knright netted £200.000 worth of gems. Hi.s income was about £10,000 a year. He earned the title of ''The King of Cat Burglars'' for his daring exploits. Knright is renowned for being a man to whom no wall, whatever its height. is an obstacle, as long as there are "spoils" on the other side. Injured in Daring Leap. For some time now ho has laid low. His "cat burglar'' days are over, owing to an injury he received when attempting to make a getaway in 192.').

On that occasion he was challenged when found on the first floor of a mansion in Kensington. Without hesitation. Knright leapt over the balcony and fell 30ft into all area. He fractured his left leg in two places, broke four toes of his right foot, and received internal injuries. Jn the United States he was regarded as a notorious hotel thief. lie was arrested by the American police, and when about to be tried at San Francisco lie escaped from under the nose of the police from the Hall of Justice.

Perhaps his most amazing attempt was when he was being escorted by two officers in a train from London to face some charges ill Newcastle.

Knright, handcuffed, suddenly dashed from the compartment. He managed to get on the step of the carriage and jumped from the train, which was going at nearly ti" miles an hour.

To minimise the shock of his fall, he huddled himself up into a ball and lolled over and over.

But lie was .stunnod and received internal injuries. The train was stopped and he was again arretted. Born in Tasmania. Enright. a man who has known luxury an<F poverty, was born in Tasmania. He began his working day* as a jockey, but tired of the job and drifted to the United States in search of adventure. # fie came back to England in 1921 with about £10,000. Here he plunged into a life of crime. One of Enright's proud boasts is that there is not a building in London he could not climb. In 1925, for a wager, lie climbed the facade of the Home Office. This man, who has cheated death four times in his escapes from the police, was described by Detective-Inspector Slyrield as the cleverest housebreaker in this country. "He will resort to any violence to evade arrest, and is a very dangerous man,"' added the officer. Knright is a sinjrle man. and has previously been sentenced to terms of penal servitude for burglaries.