Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-09-19
BRITISH PUNISHMENT
OFFICERS or THE LAW SENTENCED
ron TAKING BRIDES.

| Pot Detective Fnrce.
In December, 1875, a remarkable tria
took place before Baron Pollock az Tue
Old Bailey, London. Great brltaiil
awoke one morning to find that the most
trusted officials of Scotland Yard hhoi
been Receiving large brides from gang
of noted criminals. Curr and Bensoh,
the latter Of whom committed suicide IN
this country few years ago--were I'M
dergoing II long term of penal servituoe
for what were known as the great turl
frauds" While in prison they rendered
certain evidence to the British govern.
nent which led to the arrest OF Chiet
Detective Inspector Clark, Detective In
spectors Druscovitch, Meiklejohn and
| Palmer, with their legal adviser and al
torney, Edward Froggat, attorney al
law.
The news sent 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
dence of the public. Dismissal, with
consequent loss of large pensions, was,
it was urged, sufficient punishment, but
the home secretary was inexorable, and
the trial went on
IL was present during several days of
its DURATION said the Englishman. 1.-The
detectives were confident of acquittal,
being ignorant of the overwhelming evil
dence in the hands of the prosecution.
Their look of confidence changed into
one of CONSERVATION when, close cropped
and haggard, clad in the hideous striped
dress of the felon, upon which from head
to foot was stamped the government
broad arrow, Harry Benson, the notori-
Gus swindler, entered the witness box,
"He was man of education and
marked ability, n first class linguist and
capable of mixing in the best society.
The defense was ably conducted, but no
cross examination could shake the con-
vict, who now had his natural enemies
in his tolls and fer once was telling the
truth. Curr followed and in every point
corroborated his fellow prisoner He be-
longed to a lower grade than Benson,
but possessed considerable force of intel
lect. So much for the evidence of brib-
cry, which, it may be said, came from a
tainted source.
But kilograms were produced show
ing that when III pursuit the detec-
tives wired the convicts of their move
ments, warning them to fly. Time after
time, when close on their track, these
messages were sent and subsequent meet
ings were held in London, where hun
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
supposed that he had acquired secret
knowledge of his actions which the
crown officials would not like divulged
That knowledge is power was proved
IN this instance, for it certainly enabled
Clark to elude the meshes of the law.
The judge charged the jury dead
against the inspectors and Froggat, but
was very light on the chief. In fact the
crown produced very little testimony
against him. After an absence Of abont
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
dock.
Have you anything to say, Drasco-
witch asked the Judge, why sentence
should not be pronounced upon you?
The prisoner made a fine speech-he
could speak six languages-in which he
referred to long services rendered the
rum which his conviction involved. the
nature of the temptation
and hnally his helpless wife and family.
Inc other officers followed in a similar
strain and with fearful eloquence begged
Tor mercy. These men, who had mer- /
cllessly fastened the steel handcnffs IN |
lnnumerable made piteous
spectacle when in the strong CRASH of
'he law. Their pleadings were of little
avail, and after reminding them of the
they had brought upon their
procession, the baron sentenced them to
Two years Imprisonment with hard la
oor.thls was the severest punishment
'Valiaole under the act of parliament
ana before they fully realized their doom
'hey were hustled out of sight into tba
cells of the Old Bailey. '
"Froggats turn now came and !, r,o,
thought his sentence would h.
lighter. "-' 10
nave special sympathy for Won
onward troggat,' concluded the indaa
fou belong to the same honorable npo.
esslon as do myself. Much is intrnatod
0 us ana much is expected of us IN
eneenclng you do so with pain and "a. j.,
ucCance' but cannot see any reason for {
educing the term of imprisonment-tuo
ears with hard labor '"' {
inns came on the wretched man Ill.
t!hunderbolt, and, bursting into bvs ,
sricai tears, he raised his hands abcv. {
rs mead For Gods sake, my lord , be l
reclaimed, lessen the sentencer rh;o
,aS all he had time to say, for the ia;lars ,
NOT encourage sentiment and he u,aa q
hurried out of sight Iman a
ientloh that he was rearrested nj tho
= iniiatlon OF his sentence for dafrarJ p
- 'ady OF $4,000, for which at th,, a
''ne bar of justice, he received sar 'ao :, y
ears penal seryitude. '' seven : :
rata nus ended one of the most cele. i,
a a;nea "a TRIALS of this century, which I