Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-01
Inspector John Walsh.
WZ

score of times. And now he has retired
from official service to establish an inter-
national detective bureau, for, with all his
gorgeous opportunities, he has never
"feathered his own nest'-a fact which
would assuredly give him another claim
to distinction had his career lain in
America.
Mr.. Walsh is big man. He stands six
feet two inches and tips the scales at 70
pounds. He is an Irishman by BIRTH with
the typical Irishmans love of fighting, for
as he told Of his scraps" with criminals
one could not help perceiving that he rather
and have the quick. all-embracing glance
of the highly trained stalker of criminals.
His shoulders, slightly stopped, suggest
great physical strength: Hands that are
square bear out this impression. Alto
gether he is formidable figure.
By way of drawing Mr.. Walsh out !
mentioned the well-known fact that sher-
lock Holmes had very little respect for
Scotland Yard and its methods. Mr.. Walsh
smiled broadly as he said:
Il have very great admiration for Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle. He has a wonder
his creation, Sherlock Holmes. with the de-
tective Of today. Everybody must know
that Holmes keys are made to fit his own
locks. Put Mr., Holmes and his methods
in real life, pitted against Scotland Yard
man, and he would not be one, two, three"
Mr.. Walsh is probably the most IA
nous protector of royalty in the world.
He is the favorite of kings, of queens
and princes. Immediately upon their
landing in England for many years past
1t has been the practice of the British
authorities to deliver royal visitors into
the care of Inspector Walsh. 1t speaks
volumes for the thoroughness of his
work that harm has never befallen
royal person upon whom he was in at
tendance.
So highly is he esteemed by royalties
that the decorations he has received from
them would cover his own unusually
broad chest. He is a member of the
the king of that country; a Chevalier of
the Isabel de Catholic, one of the high
est honors at the disposal of the King
of Spain; member Of the Order of
Merit of Greece, present from the King
of Greece. Among his gifts from royalty
are a valuable pin from the German en-
peror, pin and studs from the Gar Of
Russia, gold watch and chain from
the King of Italy, sleeve links carrying
the royal monogram and a check for
$3.50 from the King of Portugal; a gold
watch from the Prince of Bulgaria a
diamond and emerald pin carrying the
royal initials and crown from the King
of Spain. a pin from the Queen of Spain
sleeve links from the latter's mother,
Princess Henry of Battenberg; numerous
presents from the late Queen. Victoria,
and a gold watch and chain from the
Dowager Empress Of Russia. Upon all
these royal personages he has been in
attendance during their visits to Eng
land.
Il have been in many tight places, but /
think the adventure that brought my life
into most peril was the arrest of a gang
of safebreakers in the old Seven Dials, in
the early days of my career. l was at
tached to the Bow street station. The
Seven Dals in those days was one of the
worst, If not the very worst place for
criminals in the world. Every type Of
crook sought refuge there.
''One of the worst gangs of this district
included among others probably the most
desperate special safe man in the history
of crime, 'Blinkey Tim Davey, and his
partner, Morrison. The gang had COM
mitted series of bold and successful
come to the Seven Dials to enjoy the pro-
ceeds. l noticed Davey at a race meet
very fiashily dressed and with plenty of
money. / was known to him. so / put an
other man on to him. and he was followed
to a house at Kings Cross. Subsequent
watching showed that the men entered the
house only from the rear, the front being
perfectly dark
I'VE finally decided upon a raid, and three
OF us repaired to the house one night after
Davey had been followed there. One man
remained on the outside while another man
we entered we ran plump into Davey and
four other men. Davey seemed to be the
only one armed. and his gun stared me right
in the face.
"'Put your handouts on the noor,' he
said or you're dead men,
Il saw there was no good delaying mat
ters SO, making a bluff TO obey, l jumped
at Davey and before he could pull the trig-
ger knocked the revolver from his hand,
and in q moment was rolling on the floor