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'< í; [NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.] LIFE IN londom BY JOHN MEIKLEJOHN, ,'7 LitE INSPECTOR OF DETECTIVE POLICE, SCOTLAND YARD. UT AUTHOR OF u^Ket a Detective's Nate Bool. e&tefohn's Detective Experiences," §c.,$c. 4-l"r. • I ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.1 >—- 1 DOWN SflEKP AND CATTLE t': STEALERS, k ATURALLY in the course of my career I have worked with a good many secret informants, from whom that "in- formation" which so often figures in newspaper reports is usually II re- ceived." As I have already instanced my old acquain- tance" Tom," 1 may as well relate one or two experiences we had togetner. It is now rather more than twelity years since i first enlisted the services or top stumpy individual already intro- duced to the reader. Tom had some time before been unsuccessfully engaged in cerlain pursuit in which, in spite of ultimate failure, he had shown so much goodwill in the hunt for certain friends of his that I was induced to give him a trial, aithougn just at that particular time poor Tom was desperately hard up. Some enter- prising gentry, among whom was an intimate wiena of Tom's, one Jim, the Butcher," had just before Barnet Fair managed to lay un- hands on half a dozen horses. For after considerable haggling with an dealer, who used to attend the great mar ecluinity for the purpose of i? Up <<bargains>" tlley could only t ^ve, and twenty pounds, for, the JIrish trader han-ing quiokeiied the tran- j^on a threat to at once communicate Sim f polic? if fcis hberal oiIer (tho s n°t being worth much more than vrr- £ 150 to £ 200, should be refused. iQ i, ,rQeful countenances, and almost tears gt. 611 e-ves; the partners under tho circnm- anfl PS a?retd to the alarming sacrifice," V(> ^trick walked off with his bargain in a SflSf?py framc.°f n:in<3- t act that just aa if it was to be, in Seal self-samo night, although the iucl-Cr P^ac^c1*over ten miles between his Purcba3e an^ the place where he had ag -e 1^the unfortunate animals were stolen time it was Jim, the Butcher, to SP e?^s' Trbo indignantly threatened fcolic^ interference and protection of the e, in +,e 11 their spotless characters were assailed Univ*16 t"a^ei'> for the bereaved man was t^emaso:\a'^e enough to loudly accuse lerin, ? beinS the cause of the rays- ranee. However, the Irish- d0^n3 ve!TlPer having been allowed to cool pfod T-!ser C0lin3els prevailed, and upon the ,n of £ 75^ in addition to thehonora- eff°\ before, the grateful associates aided the son of Erin in his recov that the missing property was rftcei^re^' "3 I have said, neither the Oasg f6r tbe thieves were taken in that tow: felt to be hopeless to endeavour r^^ing legally against Jim, the °Qrt>o»-erV on^' 0116 °* whose r, Presence could be ensured to answer ^er ^oflt Gracious Majesty might f 1 aoain-St him, Nevertheless, teflect^ reaaona lji:»g deep down in my own ti0Tjf 1(^' ^id I greatly desire an introduc- SoV0tbeaforcsaid IldI)je5a^e °f the lloyal CATTLE-STRALING IN LONDON. Cattle nUtnber of most mysterious cases of 8o*nd sbeeP lifting had created quite a a.mong the force. Night after night °ns' wb'cb oomplaints duly H0Tr Scotland Yard, were perpetrated— lVj[e^ In the Northern suburbs of the ^pojis, again at Norwood, then in the v^' anon in the VVrest. Sheep "Uool k twenties and thirties, and 8 the dozen. The worst of it was comparatively poor men ooo\,j Vlctims. Struggling butchers, who 4hove Just Manage to keep their heads v«rge ^*ter, were being brought to the Ottu^i °" ruin by these heartless and ill the r°bberies from small fields theif of re8pective neighbourhoods, where HatU rpan^ 3t°ck were turned out to graze pjlr.e<^ in the ordftiary course of busi- °?Q>tabl clothes-men and the regular 011 their beats were all on the qui and yet no sign was given. of the artful **litt]e rs> who usually carried on their a5jnie' between the hours of twelve at lo k °'c^oc^ 'n t^e morning. The •tockaf?; •out for unlicensed drovers' moving took be it after dark failed to be of any avail, for f01' the protection of the •Si I" properly-qualified drovers who the P .c^ear °' the investigations Police must wear on their easily to be distinguished of number, &o., the obtain- by unauthorised persons • peen a matter of the extreraest difficulty. Yet I felt sure that the robberies were being committed by a gang which must have surreptitiously obtained one of these armlets, but how to tell which one of the innumerable men engaged in supplying the enormous demands of London was the rub. The vastness of the area of the Metropolis is one of the greatest impediments which a detective force has ever had placed in the path of the fulfilment of its duty. People are apt to forget that factor when judging the London police by comparison with that of any other great assemblage of human beings in the world. Also the hurry and drive with which it is the habit of the English people to carry on its business is a troublesome factor. In Paris say, or even in New York, the thieves would probably have been run to earth in a night or two, but here weeks and weeks elapsed, and still the pursuers could not overtake the criminals sought for, who were evidently as bold as they were astute; for to steal a whole drove of sheep or half a dozen bullocks, and get rid of them without detection, must be a very different sort of undertaking from that of picking a pocket or even breaking into an insufficiently-protected mansion. In this difficulty, feeling sure that what was wanted was the power to well H tip some persons likely to be able to afford information for a consideration," I sought the aid of my superintendent, Mr. B-, as thoroughly practical a policeman as ever belonged to the force. That officer, failing in with my views, at once afforded me the necessary authority, armed with which I set to work by making the acquaintance of Old Tom," by whose means, as I shall relate, I succeeded in get- ting on the track of Master Jim, the Butcher," of the before-mentioned exploit at Barnet Fair. II THE BLTJS PIIBBON." As I have hinted before the blue ribbon is not very largely patronised by the detective force; to tell the truth, it is, as a rule, more expensive to draw out a teetotal informant than it is to deal with a man who likes his glass," the appetites of the former being usually voracious. It is also not so satis- factory to close a man's mouth by filling it with food as it is to open it with a drink or two. In accordance with my invariable practice, in which I believe I follow, at a respectful distance, the custom of Pritice Bismarck (who would have made a splendid deuecave if he had not thrown himself away on diplomacy), 1 commenced with Tom in a perfectly straightforward M question went straight to tbe point, tor I said, after we had entered a public-house j together:— Wilat will you take, Tom Well, sir," said he, I'm 'most teetotal lately; but if I do have anything it will be just twopenncrth o' namesake." Twopennorth of' Old Tom and a glass of bitter, Miss." "Now, Tom/' said I, "this sheep and cattle lifting has got to be stopped. I am ready to pay you well for any information (which I know you can supply), and you may take your choice of having me for a friend or an enemy. But look here, my man, don't attempt to come any hanky panky with me, or you will regret it to the last day of your life." All right, Mr. Meiklejohn you may trust me, sir." I will, Tom, just as far as I can see yon, not an inch further, remember; so let all I can see of you be straight, and we shall be able to pull well together. When did you see Jim, the Butcher,' last P" Jim, the Butcher' P most innocently inquired my new acquaintance. ) "A}e, Jim, the Butcher.' You heard what I said, Tom, didn't you r'' Ob, ah, yes! 1 know now who you mean. Oh, I ain't seen him for many a long day. School got a little too hot for me, sir, although J don't mean to say but what I've been a bit of a warm member in my time.; myself." I know all about that. Torn, but if I meet you in a couple of days' time will you put me on Jim's track, and let me know all he has, been doing lately r" Well, sir, I daresay I can, but it will be a matter of expense, you know; so if you can let me have a few pounds to go on with, sir, I've no doubt but what I shall let you know a lot when we meet again," Don't talk nonsense, ma.n. It will be time enough to talk about pounds when you have earned them. Then you wiU not find me remiss. Here are five shillings. Now toddle. Six sharp, day after to-moirew, this bar. Off with you." And Tom walked cheerfully off, leaving me in conversation with another acquaintance who had just dropped in, promiscuous like.' What Tom, with all his cunning, did not notice, however, was that as he bhambled alongrthe street outside, a "labouring chap," who had been carelessly inspecting the stock in a shop window opposite, strolled leisurely after him on the other side of the way. ON THE TRACK. From the report of my ii labouring chap," I was enabled when I met Old Tom again to trust that worthy a little more than I was dis- posed to do at our preliminary meeting. So far frolii Jin-i's whereabouts being any secret to the old man, I found that he had made straight for that gentleman on leaving me. Wo had also information of another robbery, this time of no fewer than twenty- two sheep and two bullocks, and I made no doubt that the artful Jim had not been alto- gether unconnected with it. What is, how- ever, more important in such a case as I had then in band than catching the thieves is to lay hands upon and obtain- sufficient evidence to bring conviction home to the receiver, for as long as that most dangerous character is at large there will not be wanting fresh thieves to take the places of any number cap- tured. This is only a natural operation of what economists call the law of supply and demand. Here I was greatly hampered by the fact that some of my brother oHicers, who were like me engaged in the chase, had, jump- ing to the conclusion that a certain butcher at Poplar was that receiver, twice locked him up on suspicion, without having fortified them- selves with sufficient evidence to justify hia retention in custody. This premature action of theirs had made aM.concerned in the com- mission of the felonies exceedingly wary. On my second interview with Tom we commenced our palaver as before with a drink offering. Well, you've managed to find Jim, Tom? Well, yes, sir, I have at last; but, lor Inv me, Mr. Meiklejohn, what a job I had to be sure. Lookin' for a bloomin' needle in a bottle of hay wouldn't a been in it with Had- ing that there knowin' oustomer, but I have found him, and, what's more, we've got the pig by the ear. Lor a mercy me, I'm that done up with running all over this blessed little town arter that chap that, if you don't mind, I'll just take another two pennorth o' namesake. I feel that fagged like after my two days' trot that I don't feel no heart for talkin' yet." Without mentioning the trivial fact that I happened to know that Old Tom and his friend Jim were partaking of liquid refresh- ment together exaotly forty-five minutes after the former bad left me, I acceded to his small request, and we resumed our conversation. So you think Jim has a hand in these daring robberies ?" I knows as he has," Well, did he tell you how many were col- lared oh Thursday morning ?" Yes, he did. There was two-and-twenty barlams and two bullocks." Yes, that's right. Then Jim evidently is in the swim." I know that, because the particulars had only reached the police a few houra before my meeting with truthful Tom. He doesn't drive them himself ? No, there's another cove as has got a drover's badge for his arm as does that." Who is he ? Well, I can't exactly say, as I've never seen him, but they call him I Little Tom.' He drives 'em, but there's a whole gang of 'em in it, but Jim, 'cording to his own account, 's 'bout the foreman o' the lot." Well, now, where will I iiiii the Butcher be to-night ? He's going to stay alor.ger me." What's he going to stay with you for ? Well, you see, Jim he's a bit scared like, as your friends is making it rather warm for him, and he don't reckon as he cire3 'bout having another five years, same as we had for borrowin' a few barlams afore. So says he to me, he says, I'm agoin' off into the country, Tom, just for the benefit o'my health. I been working' too 'ard,' he says, I ail my famerley fizzihin rccommends change of air." 'No,' says 1, 1 Jiin, old pal,' I says, 'don't go for to run away, man. While I get a comfortable doss,' I says, your welcome to half of it,'says I. Don't you see, I was afraid as how you'd lose him if he onest got on the road, for he's a artful beggar is Jim." There are more about, Tom," I exclaimed, laughing, for Tom's cool admission of such double-dyed treachery greatly tickled me. The fun of it was that I knew that my Ii nose was not deceiving me, for I had had word that very morning that Jim (whom I was having closely watched since; thanks to Tom, I had got on his track) had gone to his friend's lodgings late the night before, carry- ing a big bundle, which was presumably his movable effects. Now here is some money, Tom," I said (tipping my man rather handsomely that time), H and you must meet me hero at ten to-night, and tell me where loan obtain an interview with Little Tom, the gentleman with the drover's badge." fi Will if lean," was Tom's rejoinder. Ii There must be no I can: in the case, Tom. Mind ten o'clock and sharp. Good morn- ing." Morning, sir," and Tom was off; this time to be followed at a respectful distance by a decent looking woman carrying a baby. PumcixG THE EVIDENCE. T- 1 1 T J. o Tom at intervals, and, needless to say, parting with coins of the realm every time. The chief part of a detective's work not being so much the laying hands on one's man, but on the evidence necessary to bring guilt home to him at the hands of a by no means too easily satisfied jury, we had plenty to occupy us. In the class of theft I was then engaged upon putting a stop to there is this difficulty, namely, that the stolen property is very rapidly made away with, leaving no trace behind. One carcase of a slaughtered animal is so like another that it is no easy work to trace a particular score of sheep among the thirty odd thousand which it is said London requires for its weekly supply. We very soon had Little Tom and a certain "Old Ned" under superveillance, but not until after several artful pumpings on my agent's part dil the worthy drover let out the important fact that while driving the last lot of sheep from the field out by Kilburn, from whence they were lifted," one of the poor things was run over by a passing vehicle and had one of his legs broken. RUN OVIm IN THE STUEET. Thereupon, with remarkable coolness, Master James had fetched a butcher close by out of his bed, and sold it to him cheap, duly giving a receipt on account of his master," needless to say some non-existent butcher of a nowhere-to-be found address. To find the purchaser of the disabled sheep (a respectable tradesman, who gave me every assistance in his power) was the first thing to do. From him I obtained the skin, or rather from the man to whom he had already sold it, whose name and address he furnished. Then the butcher from whom the stock had been stolen was shown the skin, and duly identified the marks upon it. Next, little and bv little, we got together a chain of evidence against the Poplar butcher, for whom Tom, after being introduced by his friend Jim, managed to do a few odd jobs in the butcht-ring That" respectable" person had by that time begun to recover a little from the shock of having been twice locked up on suspicion, and became a little more confiding to my crony, even to the extent of sending him with a parcel of bul- lock's skins one day to a man who bought them to sell again to a tanner in Bermondsey. With that clue every tanner in that neigh- bourhood was interviewed, and the ques- jtion put, Did Mr. So-and-So sell him any I IJUllodn; skins between such and such a date? The firms in Bermondsey. being in a large way of business and of the highest respecta- bifity, gave every aid they could, and after tremendous trouble I managed to trace the I two lots of 21 sheep's skins and two bullocks' skins, bearing the searched-for marks, as having been bought from the man with whom the suspected receiver at Poplar did business. Next, when the question was suddenly sprung upon him, point-blank, the intermediate skin- buyer owned to having bought them from nobody else but our long-marked-down friend of Poplar. There was still an important link in the ohain of evidence to be supplied. On the morning after the robbery our Poplar slaughterman had disposed of 27 carcases of sheep at the New Meat Market, which was just half-a-dozen too many. The man who sold him that number in the course of legitimate business had, therefore, next to be found, which, after much and careful inquiry, so as not to excite suspicion, was accom- plished, and I felt that at length the time had arrived to make arrests. It is always an anxious time for an officer when, having after much patient alld often fruitless investigation at length completed, as he believes, a case against the men he has been watching, he has made up his mind to put forth his hand, and bring the result §f his labours to the test. The stake he is about to hazard is always a big one, On the one hand, if successful, he will obtain the commendation of his superiors, and, in the hackneyed phrase, obtain one more oertifioate to the fact of his activity and in- telligence, or he will break down and mark himself for a long time to come, both in the eyes of envious equals and those above him as a stupid blunderer. Especially risky does the business become when there is an astute and well-to-do receiver among the men to be laid by the heels. Such criminals are certain to be defended by able advocates, learned in the law of quibbling and olever at loophole finding and woe to the detective who, in his zeal for the public service, may have jumped to ever such a self-evident conclusion, which he may find himself unable to baok up with proof positive as Holy Writ, when his witnesses stand badgered and brow-beaten in the box, TRICKS IN THE ITNESS Box. And oh the lies that a clever barrister can make a witness tell By a few questions, which make the unfortunate, trembling wretch in the box (frightened to death, perhaps, at the sound of his own voice in that crowded court, with what appears to him a sea of eyes all glaring at him) believe that some hitherto hidden chapter in his not too immaculate history is going to be brought to light, he can so fix his attention on himself, and make him forget everything else but the necessity for saving the character of that same self at every cost of the truth, or of the man he has come to testify for. Again, the witness is a vain man, puffed up with self-conceit, and perhaps excessively proud of his attainments and information in some particular line. In that case a little judicioufl flattery will be sure to upset his equilibrium completely. An amusing in- stance of this latter ruse on the part of counsel ocours to me, and at the risk of being thought digressive I must relate it here. A clever but egotistical doctor was once giving evidence in a celebrated poisoning case-iic, matter which one, and it was thought by those in charge of the case for tht, prose- cution that his evidence would go far towards conviction. It was the cue of the counsel for the defence to induce the jury to distrust the specialist, and come to the conclusion that he was a mere qnaok, who in the desire to puff himself and his vast knowledge of the parti- cular poison in question would say any mortal thing, and this was How THE DOCTOR WAS SOLD. You have told the jury about the books you have written upon the subject of this class of poisoning, but you do not say a word about any other men's books, either in I English or any other language, on the same subject. Have you ever taken the trouble to inform yourself of other men's opinions on the point ?'' I have read very largely on the subject ?'' But have you read any German works, or can you not read German P Now, it was a well-known weak point of the doctor to shine in languages, so he replied in a tone of amused contempt," I have read many German authors on the subject." "And you know that some of them take a very different view from yours as to the results of this poison on the human system ? I do, but that does not prove that I am wrong." Herman, say, lni^ViT;?Suce^you "to1 skip of misunderstand some of their most weighty arguments, eh ?'' Witness, warmly You have no right to insinuate that my knowledge of the German language is imperfect." Turning to the judge: [f I was for three years, my lord, at the University of Heidelberg." Flattering smile and gracious nod from the Bench, which com- pleted the demoralisation which the oounsel had began. Oh, then we will take it that you can read German, but that you have not troubled yourself to read all the arguments of your learned opponents ?" You have no right to say that." Judge interfering on behalf of the witness, a He has already told us that he has read a great many German authors on the subjeot." Counsel, after polite bow to the Bench, returns to the charge. Now, are you aware that Blumenthal, in his Aconite and its Varying Effects," takes a diametrically opposite view to that which you have just propounded to the jury ? I am." "And you say that you have read and understood Dr. Blumenthal's work and that still you differ from him ?" I do, most decidedly." "You feel sure that yon are right and that Dr. Blumenthal is wrong 2" I II I do." Then you may stand down, sir. and think yourself lucky if you are not prosecuted for perjury in your base attempts to swear my poor client's life away. The jury, sir, will know what to think of you and your worthless theories when I inform them that there is no such author as Blumenthal, and no such work as I Blu-nieiithil on Aconite' outside my own fancy, sir. A mere fiction, my lord, invented on the spur of the moment to test the credi- bility of the witness." The accused got off, but many people thought that he did so more by the skill of his advocate than owing to his innocence, (To be continued.) NEXT WEEK: PART IV. or "LIFE IN LONDON:" Running in the men. Telegraphing Danger. A Satisfactory Result, After the Runaway. Jimmy's Inamorata. Trial at the Old Bailey. A Crouoliing Old Villain. Sentencing Prisoners.