KING OF BURGLARS CAUGHT AT LAST.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 14 April 1908, Page 2

KING OF BURGLARS CAUGHT AT LAST.

CRACKSMAN WHO EMPLOYED EIGHI ASSISTANTS.

AUTOCRAT OF CRIME.

"BUSINESS" MAXIMS WHICH HE TAUGHT HIS PUPILS. Not since the day of Charles Peace have London detectives encountered a crasksman of such consummate cunning and skill as Emmanuel Hill, the Wandsworth "Master Burglar" and employer of eight journeymen robbers, who has been sentenced to three and a half years' penal servitude at New- ' ington Sessions, in the name of Joseph i Hebburn. I "Manny," as his staff of thieves called him, invoked a terrible fate upon his judge as he descended to the cells. "Among his evil associates in the Wandsworth warren or thievish dens, where "Manny" moved like a veritable king of crime, his absence is bitterly lamented. They are already counting the months till he will resume business and enrich the criminal community with his gains. There used to be great nights of revelry when "Manny" turned his booty into cash. FOLLOWER OF CHARLES PEACE. Charles Peace was "Manny's'* model. He advised all his young hopefuls to study that arch-criminal's methods, bidding them keep in friendly touch with the police, so as to avert suspicion. "That's the way to mesmerise them," he used to say. Peace pursued this policy for years, manifesting ' the greatest interest in the discovery of burglaries committed by himself, even volunteering to assist the boys. But there was this difference between Charles Peace and Emmanuel Hill: The officers never suspected Peace. His crimes were committed in districts widely apart. He prowled over half the country. "Manny" Hill never travelled far. His hunting ground was the neighborhood of Wandsworth and Putney, where as a boy he had run wild, acquainting himself with every hidingplace and practically every backyard and every villa or shop. For ten years he has known every policeman and detective, and they have all known him. During the recent epidemic of burglaries in Putney and Wandsworth the police knew that "Manny" and his men were "working," as the phrase goes. "Manny" knew that they suspected [ him; but, as an officer remarked, "his impudence was lovely." FRIENDLY WITH THE POLICE. He would stop police officers in the street at all hours of the day and night and say, "I see the boys have been at •it again. Too smart for you, eh!"' The "boys" were "Manny's" men. His brain directed the enterprise, prepared the plans, and arranged for the quick disposal of the loot. As an employer of labor — burglary being his line of business — "Manny" was generous and just in dividing the profits. "Share and share alike" was his motto. He believed in honor among thieves, as a safeguard against jealousy or discontent, which might have led to "splitting" — the slang term for giving information to the police. Hence his men were as loyal as the French Army to Napoleon. They were hero-worshippers, and "Manny" was their generalissimo. His word was law. At any moment they were ready to trust him with their liberty. They called him their "Boss," as men in worthier pursuits speak of their "chief." He had filled their loafing, good-for-nothing lives with the spice of adventure. The stratagem, ingenuit and daring involved in "Manny's" plots fascinated them, till burglary was in their blood. CUNNING AS A FOX. An officer who could not withhold admiration from "Manny," described him as a born thief, cunning as a fox, agile as a monkey, and bold as a lion. As generals keep aloof from the fighting line, directing the battle out of range of the guns, so Emmanuel Hill often despatched his men to ransack a villa or shop while he remained concealed near, to aid them with his counsel or his courage as required. From enquiries here and there among "Manny's" associates, the following may be given as the master burglar's standing orders to his staff of thieves — the rules of the firm : — Failing ready money, jewellery is the most conveniently portable spoil. Never take anything that bulges out your pockets, because in that way the suspicion of the police is aroused. Always clear out at the first sign or sound of danger. Take no risks. There is no need to hurry. What cannot be done one night can be all the easier done the next. Boots must always be taken off before bedrooms are entered. It is best to crawl on hands and knees. If beer or whisky or wine is found in the house, it must not on any account be consumed' on the premises. Never drink with strangers; only with me'mfeers of the firm. Beer brags and blabs. j On leaving a house never forget to close the street door. An open door attracts the police. ' Never carry a jemmy after 9 o'clock - at night. Take your jemmy to the marked shop or house in the day time, and hide it somewhere near, carefully marking the spot. When the job is done, hide the jemmy again. It will come in handy some other time. HIDDEN JEMMIES. The rules relating to the hiding of the jemmy was "Manny's" masterpiece of cunning. He knew all about the law which made a person liable to arrest who was found with a housebreaking tool in his possession after nine at night. It would have been dangerous in the extreme for him to have neglected this precaution, in view of his habit of talking freely with the police. In all parts of the district jemmies were found, in some cases at a house that had been broken into months before. Not even when arrested and sent to penal servitude was a jemmy found in "Manny's" possession. The only weapon he carried was an ordinary, workmanlike white pocket-lrnife, with some suspicion of green paint on the (Continued on page 3.)

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blade. It had apparently been used for inserting between window-frames for the purpose of turning back' the catches, and so admitting "Manny" himself. Though master of bis men in every * sense of the word, "Manny" was the smallest' and slimmest of the gang. When -windows had to be entered the delicate work was undertaken by himself. Where a eat could climb he could follow. His small and wiry frame enabled him to wriggle noiselessly through a hole that would have made a cat bend its back. This done, he would silently open the door and admit one, or perhaps two, of his men. While the "job" was on hand the others would be scouting.