JIMMY VALENTINE

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 June 1933, Page 9

JIMMY VALENTINE

FAMOUS “CROOK” IN LONDON. I have talked with the original of the famous Jimmy Valentine, the cracksman and safebreaker made famous in 0. Henry’s fiction and “Alias Jimmy Valentine,” the play by Paul Aimstrong (writes a special correspondent of the “Sunday Chronicle,” Manchester). He has just arrived in England to spend the autumn of his life, after 40 amazing years of safe-breaking, safeblowing, and bank-note counterfeitin g. lie has also been tutor to many of the gangster kings of an America of; which 0. Henry never dreamed. jimmy Valentine is really Johnnie McAllan, sometimes known as “English Johnnie.” He was born in Bradfcid 63 years ago. The man who is now a famous character told me how he first met his “creator,” 0. Henry. It was in 1903 at the Holland House Hotel in New York City. 0. Henry had heard of McAllan’s exploits as a safe-breaker, and he had arranged a special meeting. The two had dinner at the Player’s Club in New York, and over drinks, and smokes O. Henry listened spellbound to the stories of one of the greatest safe-crackers in the world. A few months later the short story, which later developed into a worldfamous play, appeared. “How did you learn your trade?” I asked Mr McAllan, as he paused to light a cigar. “My master was Jimmy Hope, the greatest criminal New York has ever known,” replied McAllan, stroking his chin. “Maybe you remember him. Jimmy gave most of his money away to the poor, two million dollars in all. “He taught me how to manipulate safe combinations; but after I’d served my apprenticeship I improved on riiany of his methods. “The most valuable discovery I made was the use of a doctor’s 1 stethoscope in the art of safe-breaking. “‘The idea first came to m e when I was being examined by a. physician one day. Later I tested the stethoscope on a safe and discovered that, the clicks of the tumblers as they reached the indicated letter were audible.” Mr McAllan paused and looked sadly at the carpet. Then he went, to his trunk, and as he fumbled in the box he went on with his story.

“My father was a parson, and my mother an angel out of paradise. I was sent to a sister in the States as a kid. I failed to take a degree tor Divinity at Yale University. “In fact, I failed completely as a respectable citizen. So I either had to take to crime or starve to death. “Ah, here it is.” He brought some manuscript to the settee where I was sitting. The first manuscript I read contained the following poem, written by Mr McAllan on board ship as he had his first glimpse of England after an absence of ten years. It is called “Summer.” “When the lights and shadows Dance beneath the trees, And the waving meadows Welcome bumble-bees; Then we know ’tis summer, Winter time has passed Crowned with a diploma Of old joys surpassed.” 1

Another poem entitled “Prison,” reflects Mi- McAllan’s poetic nature. It was written while he was serving a sentence of live years in Sing-Sing. “One saw men there wiki with despair, Wrecks on a lurid shore. Their brotherhood degraded stood; The poorest of the poor.” “What do you think of them?” asked Mr McAllan. As I shook his hand in farewell “Jimmy Valentine” said: “My days of crime are past, and Scotland Yard need not be anxious, for the only safe I intend to break in dear old England is the safe of respectability.” I moved to the door., “Just a moniett,” he called out. 1 was surprised to sec that he held my wallet. “In a moment of absentmindedness,” he apologised. ” “I relieved you of this.” He smiled, and handed me. back fny wallet complete with contents.