SCOTLAND YARD

Evening Star, Issue 19045, 14 September 1925, Page 12

SCOTLAND YARD

CHIEF INSPECTOR RETIRES Chief Inspector Holden, of Scotland Yard, retired last month from the London Metropolitan h’orco with thirtyfive years of meritorious service to his credit. It was in May, 1890, that lie first wore a policeman’s uniform, and he was attached to the Waterloo Tier Station of tho Thames Division. .In those days it was no uncommon thing for as many as fifty bodies. of drowned persons to be recovered within twelve months from tho river and dealt with at Waterloo Pier alone. Five years later Mr Holden headed the list "of candidates for promotion to tho Criminal Investigation Department, and ho was transferred for duty at Wapping. Here, working in conjunction with a number of others of proved efficiency, he did much useful work. Not only did they suppress gangs who plundered barges unloading goods from ships, but, given a roving commission to proceed a reasonable distance ashore, they carried out systematic raids, under the Merchants Shipping Act and the Molal Dealers Act, on receiving dens run by marine store dealers. A great deal was also accomplished in the detection of men engaged in smuggling contraband goods, and Inspector Helden, as bo eventually became, met with many exciting adventures. In 1910 Inspector Heldon ceased “ being a water-rat ami became a land crab,” as a colleague expressed it, and as a detective-inspector was stationed at Twickenham. There, perhaps, he had the strangest experience in the whole of his career. For some time a number of mysterious burglaries had puzzled the police in the district of Islcworth, One night a criminal raided a residence which seemed to promise a. big reward in the way of booty. The watchful burglar, having climbed to a point of vantage, observed in one of the rooms an aged man, w r ho, all alone in tho apartment, road at intervals from tho Bible, and, falling on his knees, repeatedly offered up prayers. Presently tho burglar made his presence known, and, holding a piece of iron barrel as if it were a revolver, he quietly disclosed the reason of his visit. “ 1 want your money,” was his demand. Tho old raan_ quaked with fear, and promised to give him some; so long as he was not subjected to physical violence. Tho intruder agreed, on the condition that no alarm was raised. His “ host ” gave his assurance. Then ho summoned his wife and relatives and the servants into the room, and, slipping three coins into the man’s hand, bade him depart without hindrance. The burglar stipulated that no one should leave the residence for sumo time, and until ho hud a chance to make good his escape tho police were not to bo informed. One can imagine the intruder’s chagrin when, on reaching a safe distance, ho examined the coins. Instead of being sovereigns, as he imagined ; they were shillings. This so rankled in his mind that he determined to revisit the house a few nights later. This ho did, and on this occasion an alarm was given.

As tho police approached, the man, 1 nimbly climbed a tree, and unseen he watched the movements of the officers below and heard ttho orders given as to guarding various roads in tho 1 vicinity, Ono constable remained on j guard near the residence. Meanwhile, j Inspector Heldon had been awakened, and had cycled to tho spot. By the light of a “ bull’s-eye ” they traversed the path followed by the intruder in the first instance, and, raising tho lantern aloft, Inspector Heldon saw the | figure of a man spreadcagled in a pre- , carious position on a coping. j The man had armed himself witli an old-fashioned muzzle-loading pistol, and two clicks were heard as ho was approached. But nothing happened, as during his movements the burglar had dislodged the firing cap. Ho was eventually secured and sentenced to a long term of penal servitude. Promoted to the rank of chief inspector in 1919, Mr Heldon dealt with a number of extradition eases, while on many occasions his services have been lent "to provincial police forces to assist in the clncidaiiion of sensational murder mysteries. Tfio most notable of these was that in which the Aher/illerv hoy, Harold Jones, after being acquitted on a. charge of murdering a young girl, was shortly afterwards convicted of a crime of precisely similar character. Owing to his youth ho is being detained during tho King’s pleasure. Another case was that concerning the murder of her aunt by a sixteen-year-old Abergavenny girl, Kate Wistance. She, too, is being detained, as is also Jack Hewart, who killed an elderly, short-sighted woman beerhouse keeper at Gallows Tree Common, nea Reading. Afore recently Mr Holden investigated the murder of little Vera Hoad, at Chichester, her body being discovered by a deaf mute who

j could neither read nor. wnle. In j the course of tho police jnqniries ino fewer than between 1,-)0O and I I.GOO statements were taken from people, hut no light was thrown iin the identity of the murderer 1 ami up to now it is included jin the list of unsolved crimes. I Chief-Inspector Helden arrested the ; insane man, V, alter Frank 'latain, who ’sent the poisoned chocolates through the post to General llorwood, the Commissioner of Police. “Aon have ! tried to murder me! Defend yonr- : self! ” shouted Tatam just before his | capture, hut before ho could comi ploteiy unsheath a sword ho had i snatched up ho was seized and overpowered by several officers. Air Helden also had charge of the inquiries which led to the conviction of Hobbs in tho notorious “Air A” case. Hnhhs, it will ho remembered, endeavored to flee the, country, but he was outmanconvercd and captured at i Gravesend through Hie precautions ‘taken by Mr Heldon.