PHOTOGRAPHER’S RUSE

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 9

PHOTOGRAPHER’S RUSE

PLATES IN HIS SOCK SECURED PICTURES OF MURDERERS In the course of hjs duties as a Press photographer in Britain and abroad, Mr P. H. F. Tovey has come into contact with many of the most notorious murderers of recent years. To get his pictures he has several times broken the rule about taking cameras into court. During the preliminary hearing of the Armstrong murder case he tells us in ‘ Action With a Click ’ (Jenkins) he had just taken a snapshot from the bade of the Police Court when he felt a l 'tap on his shoulder. He turned to find a police officer at his side and was told: “ The magistrate wants to see you.” He stooped to conceal the tiny plates in his socks, and, with visions of “ contempt of court,” followed the officer to the magistrate’s bench:— •' BUTCHER OF THE BEACH.” Timidly I approached the magistrate’s chair with all eyes in the court following my every movement. The magistrate leaned toward me. “ Did you take a photograph of the court?” he asked in a low voice. “ Yes, your Worship,” I stammered, “ but—er—” “ Will you be able to let me have one? ” he asked. . “ With the greatest of pleasure, your Worship,” I gasped. He nodded, and 1 was dismissed. The picture turned out to be a good one—and the magistrate received his cooy as soon as possible! Before the trial of Patrick Mahon, Mr Tovey went down to the bungalow at the Crumbles, Eastbourne, whore the crime had been committed. When he was looking for something to photograph he came upon a 7ft wall enclosing the inner courtyard of the bungalow. He could hear voices on the other side, so, placing a dustbin on top of another one, he climbed up: “ In the excitement of the moment 1 left my camera on the ground below, but what 1 saw was no camera study. It was one of the most gruesome sights I had ever cast eyes on, consisting of all the exhibits left behind in ‘The Butcher of the Beach Case.’ The Home Office experts and others below were too engrossed in their work to notice a pair of horrified eyes watching their secret proceedings.” He carefully came down, picked up his camera, and mounted his dustbins again. Without raising his head above the level of the wall he manoeuvred his camera into position : “Click! The picture was taken; but 1 had been heard from below, and as I hurriedly scrambled down I could hear raised voices coming from the courtyard. “ I did not wait! I was off and never stopped until a disengaged taxi, fortunately cruising along' the street down which I was sprinting, picked me up and dropped me at Eastbourne.” Mr Tovey believes that this picture is the only one ever taken of Sir Bernard Spilsbury actually at work on a post-mortem examination. MIND OF A KILLER. When he was covering the Thompson and Bywaters ease, Mr Tovey had great difficulty in getting any pictures. Finally he learnt that Bywaters was at Ilford Police Station. Thanks to a friendly warder he was able to meet him for a few' minutes in the canteen. They had a drink together and, later, at Ilford Railway Station, Bywaters' was allowed to pose for a photograph. Mr Tovey asked for a dosa-up:— “ Go ahead.” he said. “ 1 expect it will be the last one I shall ever pose for.” He looked at me sadly as he passed

this remark, and! for the first time a sneaking feeling of pity swept over me for this' bay who must have known he was deemed.

Mr Tovey got a picture of Jacoby, the murderer of Lady Y/hite, by a cunning ruse. He knew that Jacoby was in toe waiting room at the Westminster Coroner’s Court, so ho walked in and explained to the senior gcalor that ho wished to take a photograph there since cameras were banned in the court. Instead of calling Mr Towey’s bluff, the gaoler “ said hex would offer no objection, providing tho prisoner also agreed . . I looked at Jacoby with imploring, persuasive eyes, but ho was in no way enthusiastic. Then 1 had an idea. Producing a pound note from my pocket, I thrust it into Jacoby’s hand. He took it, and I took the picture.” Mr Tovey interviewed Norman Thcrno befere he was arrested for the Crowborough murder. At first Thorno was unfriendly, but Mr Tovey put bis wireless set right and all was well! He allowed himself to be photographed feeding his chickens, and took ‘Mr Tovey to one of tho enclosures. Later he was arrested for the murder of his girl friend who had been missing, and it transpired “ that the girl’s mutilated body had been found in Thorne’s third enclosure—exactly under the spot whore he had insisted I should take his photograph. What strange, unbalanced sense of bravado must have inspired him to lead' me through the mud to the place where his crime was concealed! ”