FROM SCOTLAND YARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19584, 14 September 1925, Page 10

FROM SCOTLAND YARD.

CHIEF INSPECTOR RETIRES. THIETY-FIYE YEARS’ SBVIOE. EXCITING ADVENTURES. Chief Detective. inspector Albert Heldea, of Scotland Yard, retired last month from the London Metropolitan Force with -V. voars of 'meritorious service to his credit ft was in May, IS9O, that he first wore a policeman’s uniform, and he war, attached lo the Waterloo Pier Station of the Thames Division. In those days it was no uncommon thing for as many as 50 bodies of drowned persons to be recovered within 12 months from the river and dealt with at Waterloo Pier alone. Five years later Mr Helden headed a list of candidates for promotion to the Criminal Investigation Department, and he was transferred for duty at Wapping. Hero, working in conjunction with a number of others of proved efficiency, he did much useful work. Not only (fid they suppress gangs who plundered barges unloading goods from ships, but, given a roving commission to proceed a reasonable distance ashore, they carried out systematic raids, under the Merchant Shipping Act and Iho Meta! Dealers Act, on receiving dens run by marine store dealers. A great deal was also accomplished in the detection of men engaged in smuggling contraband goods, and Inspector Helden, as he eventually became, mot with many exciting adventures. In 1910 Inspector Helden ceased “being a water-rat and became a land crab,” as a colleague expressed it, and as a detectiveinspector was stationed at Twickenham. There, perhaps, he had the strangest experience in the whole of his career. For some timo a number of mysterious burglaries had puzzled the police in the district of Isleworth. One night a criminal raided a residence which seemed to promise a big reward in the way of booty. The watchful burglar, having climbed to a point of vantage, observed in one of the rooms an aged nan, who, all alone in the apartment, road at intervals from the Bible and, falling on his knees, repeatedly offered up prayers. SHILLINGS FOR SOVEREIGNS. Presently the burglar made his presence known, and, holding a piece of iron barrel as if it were a revolver, he quietly disclosed the reason of his visit. ‘‘l want your money,’ 1 was his demand. The old man quaked with fear, and promised to give him some, so long as ho was not subjected to physical violence. The intruder agreed, On the condition that no alarm was raisoii. His ’‘host” gave his assurance. Then he summoned his wife and relatives _ and tfio servants int» the room, and, slipping three coins into the man’s band, bade him depart without hindrance. The burglar stipulated that no one should leave the residence for some time and until he had a chance to make good his escape the police were not to be informed. One can imagine the intruder's chagrin when, on reaching a safe distance, ha examined the coins. Instead of being sovereigns, as he imagined, they were shillings. 'Elis so rankled in his mind that he determined to revisit the house a few nights later. This he did, and on this occasion an alarm waa given. As the police approached the man nimbly climbed a tree, and, unseen, he watched the movements of Hhe officers below and heard the orders given as to guarding various roads in the vicinity. One constable remained on guard near the residence. Meanwhile, Inspector Helden had been awakened, and had cycled to the spot. By the light of a “bull's-eye” they traversed the path followed by the intruder in the first instance, and, raising the lantern aloft, Inspector Helden saw the figure of a man spreadeaglod in a precarious position on a coping. The man had armed himself with an old-fashioned muzzle-loading pistol, and two clicks were hoard as he was approached. But nothing happened, as during bis move, ments th.e burglar had dislodged the firing cap. He was eventually secured and sentenced to a long term of penal servitude. SENSATIONAL MURDERS. Promoted to the rank of chief inspector in 1919, Mr Holden dealt with a number of extradition cases, while on many occasions his services have been lefit to provincial police forces to assist in the elucidation of sensational murder mysteries. The most notable of these was that in which the Abertillery bpy, Harold Jones, after being acquitted on a charge of murdering a young girl, was shortly afterwards convicted of a crime of preciselv ,similar character. Owing to his youth he is being detained during the King’s pleasure. Another case was that concerning the murder of her aunt by a 16-year-old Abergavenny girl, Kate Wistance. She, too, is being detained, as also is Jack Hewart, who killed an elderly, short-sighted woman beerhouse-keeper at Gallows Tree Common (near Reading). More recently Mr Helden investigated the murder of little Vera Hoad, at Chichester, her body being discovered by a deaf mute who could neither read nor write. In the course of the police inquiries no fewer than between 1500 and 1600 statements were taken from people, but no light was thrown on the identity of the murderer, and up to now it is included in the list of unsolved crimes. THE “MR A.” CASE. Chief-inspector Helden arrested the insane man. Walter Frank Tatarn, who sent the poisoned chocolates tnrough the post to General Horwood, the Commissioner of Police. “You have tried to murder me! Defend yourself!” shouted Tatam just before his capture, but before ho could completely unsheatb a sword he had snatched up he was seized and overpowered by several officers. Mr Holden also had charge of the inquiries which led to the conviction of Hobbs in the notorious “Mr A.’’ case. Hobbs, it will be remembered, endeavoured to flee the country, but ho was outmanoeuvred and captured at Gravesend through the precautions taken by Mr Helden.