EXPLOITS OF GANG CHIEF

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 21 (Supplement)

EXPLOITS OF GANG CHIEF

“TOO CLEVER FOR POLICE.” At the age of 79, John Brown, an engineer, was stated at London Sessions recently to have been the brains behind big cases of mail-bag and safe robberies and warehouse breaking, and to have been “too clever for the police for 30 years.” He was sentenced to 15 months hard labour. Evidence was given that his sister, a Mrs. Robertson, the wife of a New York millionaire, until recently allowed him £lO a month. Sentences on two other men charged with him were: Henry Myers, aged 56, traveller, to five years’ penal servitude, and Frank Jeyes, aged 64, warehouseman, 15 months’ hard labour. All were charged with breaking and entering the premises of Messrs. A. Lewis and Company, Limited, tobacconists, in Rochester Row, Westminster, and stealing 40,750 cigarettes and other property. Jeyes was stated to be an ex-prison warder and a trusted employee of Lewis and Company, whose duty it was to lock up the premises at night. Detective-Inspector Dance, of Scotland' Yard, said Brown went to America in’ his early days, but returned to England about 30 years ago. He was convicted three times in America. Witness added: “Although he has never been convicted previously in this country for many years he has been regarded by the police as the organiser and brains behind big cases of mailbag thefts, safe robberies, and warehouse-breaking, so much so that he has been under observation by the police for months on end. “As far back as 10 years ago I followed him daily for many weeks, and during that time I saw him associated with some of' the cleverest criminals operating in England. He was then suspected of being concerned with others in the theft of mail-bags while in transit. He has been associated with Myers for over 20 years. In 1922 he was suspected of being concerned with others in the theft of jewellery valued at £14,000.” Replying to Mr. E. H. Butcher (for Brown), Inspector Dance said Brown had been too clever for the police for 30 years, and had kept out of harm’s way. The inspector said cigarettes stolen from Messrs. Lewis’ premises previously had found their way to cut-price shops.