LONDON'S FORMER POLICE CHIEF

Evening Star, Issue 19142, 8 January 1926, Page 10

LONDON'S FORMER POLICE CHIEF

ARREST IN HYDE PARK. LONDON, December 10. Sir Basil Thomson, formerly Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and afterwards Director of Intelligence, has been arrested in Hyde Park for an alleged offence in winch a woman is also said to have been concerned. Tho woman was arrested as well.

Neither Sir Basil Thomson nor the woman, Thelma Delava, answered (o their bail at tho Marlborough Street Police Court.

The magistrate issued summonses, rr turnablo on January J.

Tho newspapers describe Sir Basil as the anti-spy chiol, and say he foiled many German secret service men in war time. They recall that he presided at many stern cross-examinations which resulted in the execution of spies. The most dramatic was his interview with Sir Roger Casement, who finally said: “ 1 suppose yon are going to shoot me.” Sir Basil replied : “1 can’t promise that.”

Sir Basil Borne Thomson, K.C.8.. is sixty-four years of age. His father was' tho la I o Dr William Thomson, Archbishop ol York. Alter being educated at .Eton and Oxford, he was called to tho Bar. Later, he entered the Colonial Service, and acted as Prime Minister of Tonga. Transferring to the Homo Office Service, ho became successively Governor of Dartmoor Prison aiid of Wormwood Scrubs Prison, and Secretary to _ tho Prison Commission. Ho was Assistant Commissioner of Metropolitan Police Irom 1913 to 19.19, and Director of Intelligence from 1919 to 1921. Ho is married, and lias two sons and a daughter. Recently lie published a series of articles in the ‘Saturday Evening Post,’ in which he described tho workings of the London police. Other publications wore: ‘Diversions of a Prime Minister,’ ‘ South Sea Yarns,’ ‘ A Court Intrigue,’ ‘The Indiscretions ol La civ Asenath.’ ‘Discovery of the Solomon Islands.’ ‘Savage Island,’ ‘The Fijians,’ ‘The Skene Papers,’ and ‘Queer People.’