ACROBATIC BURGLAR.
“WIZARD OF WEST END.”
GAOL FOR AUSTRALIAN
, LONDON, Oct. 28. George William McCraig, alias William Craig, aged 30, an ex-jockey and son of a Tasmanian cattle dealer, and described as the most dangerous criminal—“the Wizard of the West End”—was sentenced to-day to three years’ imprisonment for being found on the premises of the Grosvenor Hotel with intent to commit a felony. He had a long list of convictions. The newspapers declare that McCraig made burglary a scientific profession and became a master craftsman, operating behind a powerful gang of Australian crooks, including Robert Delaney, the “cat burglar,” who is now in gaol. McCraig, who is an expert judge of precious stones, had handled £20,000 worth of jewellery and valuables. He was not only a criminal genius, but performed acrobatic marvels in climbing porticos and staokpipes. Once, in New York, he broke in on the sixth floor of a nine-storey building.
His reappearance in England coincided with “cat burglaries” in Park Lane and Mayfair. He twice broke his leg, first when assisting a confederate to escape, and again when a housemaid discovered him in a .house in which he had fallen asleep, and he jumped out of a window.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 289, 10 November 1925, Page 5
Word Count
200ACROBATIC BURGLAR. Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 289, 10 November 1925, Page 5
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