Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-27
BRITISH PUNISHMENT.
OFFICERS or THE Lazy SENTENCED
FOR TAKING BRIHEs.

Histery Of One of the Most Celebrated
Criminal Cases Of the Century-A Crime
That Tzrnished the Fame Of England's
Pet Detective Force.
tn December, 1875, remarkable trial
took place before Baron Pollock at the
Old Bailey, London. Great Britain
awoke one morning to find that the most
trusted officials Of Scotland Yard had
been receiving large brides from gang
Of noted criminals Curr and Benson
the latter Of whom committed suicide in
this country a few years ago--were un-
defgoing long term of penal servitude
for what were known as the ssgreat turf
frauds. While in prison they rendered
certain evidence to- the British govern
'ment which led to the arrest of Chief
Detective Inspector Clark, Detective In
spectors Druscovitch, Meiklejohn and
Palmer, with their legal adviser and at
tUrney, Edward -Froggat, attorney at
law, s.e.ss4.s ~5H-s - e
The news sent q shock throughout the
British islands. The police force in gen.
\ eral was not by any means considered
immaculate, but the great bureau of de-
lection at Scotland Yard was entirely
exempt from shadow. of suspicion.
Every effort had been made to hush up,
the case, So as not to shake the conf
dehce Of the public, Dismissal, with
consequent loss of large pensions, was,
: 1t was urged, sufficient punishment, but
the home secretary was inexorable, and
! the trial went op. .s.@.s...
81 was present during several days of
its duration, said the Englishman. tsThe
detectives were confident of sacquittal,
4 being ignorant of the overwhelming evi-
dence in the hands of the prosecution.
! Their look. Of confidence changed into
/ one of fconsternation when, close cropped
( and haggard, clad IN the hideous striped
4 dress of the felon, upon which from head
/ to foot was stamped the: government
broad afrew, Harry Benson, the notori-
I. pus swindler, entered the witness box.
70 file was q man of education and
i marked ability, first class linguist and
4 capable of mixing in the best society.
4 !. The defense was ably conducted, but no
CROSS examination could shake the con-
! & yict, whp now had his natural enemies
{. In his tolls and fer once was telling the
I truth. Cnrr followed and in every point
{ corroborated his fellow prisoner. He be-
1onged to a lower grade than Benson,
! but possessed considerable force of intel
lect. So much for the evidence of brib-
ery, which, it may be said, came from a
tainted source.
81 'But kilograms were produced show
ing that when in pursuit the detec-
tives wired the convicts of their move
lments, warning them to fly. Time after
time, when close on their track, these
messages were sentand subsequent meet
ings were held in London, where hum
dreds of pounds were paid over to these
sleuth hounds Of the Law. Froggat, the
lawyer, was also in the conspiracy and
rendered services of technical nature.
He and Clark were out on bonds and
quite confident of acquittal.
- 1.-THE first relied ON lack of evidence;
the chief inspector had stronger grounds
!. For. years he had been body detective to
the Prince OF Wales, and during his at
tendance on his royal highness it may be
81 supposed that he had acquired secret
knowledge of his actions which the
crown officials would not like divulged.
e That knowledge is power was proved
i in this instance, for it certainly enabled
y Clark to elude the meshes of the law.
q 1.-THE judge charged the jury dead
= against the inspectors and Froggat, but
+ I was very light on the chief In fact the
! crown produced very little testimony
ss.against him. After an absence of about
i. AN hour. the jury returned. The verdict
was Guilty as against the four minor
detectives and the lawyers, Not guilty
- as against Clark, who at once left the
j dock.
~ Have you anything to say, Drasco-
~ vitch,s asked the judge, why sentence
should not be pronounced upon your
- The prisoner made fine speech-he
could speak six languages-in which he
referred to long services rendered, the
rhin which his conviction involved, the
8 overwhelming nature of the temptation
7 sapd finally his helpless wife and family
The other officers followed in similar
8. salh and with fearful eloquence begged
for mercy. These men, who had mer-
,.sacilessly fastened the steel handouts on
az victims innumerable made a piteous
~1bkCCSo<&O WuCn III buo cbIouS grasp tl
~ the law. Their pleadings were of little
avail, and after reminding them of the
SCANDAL they had brought upon their
profession, the baron sentenced them to
two years imprisonment with hard la
bor---this was the severest punishment
3 lsxailable under the act of parliament
land before they fully realized their doom
they were hustled out of sight into the
f cells Of the Old Bailey.
ile sFroggats turn now came, and it was
q genbrally thought his sentence would be
lighter.
IL 'I have special sympathy for you,
Edward Froggat,' concluded the judge.
You belong to the same honorable pro-
fession asI do myself. Much is intrusted
n, to us and much is expected of us. In
sentencing you do so with pain and re-
luctance, but cannot see any reason for
" reducing the term of imprisonment two
years with hard labor
s'This came on the wretched man like
thunderbolt, and, bursting into hys-
|. terical tears, he raised his hands above
I his head. For Gods sake, my lord,' he
4 exclaimed. lessen the seutnnceP This