LONDON AFTER DARK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 204, 31 August 1935, Page 8

LONDON AFTER DARK

j A POLICEMAN'S LIFE ADDRESS BY REV. E. NICHOLLS Al embers ci* the Wanganui Division of St. John Ambulance and the local Fire Brigade assembled at the Fire Brigade Hall on- Tuesday night to listen to an interesting address by the Rev. E. Nicholls entitled “Dark Bides of London. ” The speaker, who was a member of the London Metropolitan Police for some years, described some of the dangers and perils of a London policeman. Mr. Nicholls was attached to the H Division of thu L.M.P. in that, part of London known ps Wbitcchapci. Here are the very dregs of humanity, desperadoes and gangs of criminals, jt was in this locality that the notorious .lack-bac-Rippcr exploited his series of ' rimes. It is estimated that 22 muruers were perpetrated in a fortnight. Jack-the-Rippet was only once scon by the police. * . -t youi.g policeman who was on his ' beat late at night saw a dark figure dressed in a velvet jacket emerge from an alley-way. Shortly afterwards the policeman heard a moan and rushing to the spot was horrified to find that another victim had been claimed. He raised the alarm, but it was too late, the notorious Jack-the-Ripper had ohec more escaped capture. Some years after this the murderer was traced and found in a hospital, where he died. It .was proved that he was once a German surgeon. Charles Peace was next described byMr. Nicholls. Peace was known as the greatest burglar London ever saw. Peace once entered a police inspector's 'house, stole his eight day clock, returned a few nights after and replaced the clock. The speaker related the methods used when raiding large gaming and other institutions. In these raids the London policeman received severe injuries. Passing kicks and hat pins are used frequently on the police. Air. Nicholls spoke of the white slave traffic and described the methods of the agents of this traffic in luring young girls away from their homes and employment, bift since the formation of the “London Investigation Department” this curse was fast disappearing. At the conclusion of the address a 'WL hearty- vote of 1 hanks to the speaker was moved by Superintendent N. M. Ross, seconded by Superintendent W. Bourne, St. John Ambulance.