The daily sentinel., 1914-03-21
AMERICAN CROOKS
NOW GIVE ENGLAND
VERY WIDE BERTH
Associated Press.


London. March 21.-American
crooks now give London wide berth
Supt. William Mccarthy. of the Grim
inal investigation department OF
Scotland Yard. states that only on
rare occasions does his department
have to handle n case in which an
American crook plays a part. When
Frank Froest. McCarthy's predeces-
sor at the head of the criminal inyes-
tigation department, was serving his
apprenticeship as n detective inspec-
tor. American crooks were so numer-
Gus that he was sent several times
to America to study their habits on
their native heath.
Al present, however, London is
suffering from an invasion of crooks
from the colonies. Most of these
come from Australia and South, AZ
rica and they are of the type which
resort to violence without hesitation.
Many of them thrive by blackmailing
wealthy colonials, who have taken
up their residence in London. Some
of these residents have pasts. the rev.
elation of which would spell disaster
and social oblivion, and the black
mailers who follow them from the
colonies fatten on his knowledge.
In accounting for the disappear
ance from London of the American
crook, Scotland Yard officials ex-
pressed the opinion that the skillful
confidence man finds better openings
on the continent while his less artful
colleague finds Il safer outlet for his
energies ut home.
The tide of westward emigration
has slackened decidedly. -Four
steamships scheduled to sail within
the next month have had their adver-
tised departures cancelled. At this
time last year II was impossible to
get even third class berth on an
English liner going to Canada with
out an order several weeks in ad-
vance.
The migration toward Australia
continues but diminished in compar-
ison with last year. 1t is expected to
Increase soon. however. with the first
trial of the government plan to assist
1 English lads to places of apprentice
ship among South Australian farm
ers. Under legislation passed last
session, the commissioner OF crown
lands and immigration is empowered
to act as guardian Of boys taking ad-
vantage of the plan. and ample safe
guards have been placed about the
interests of the boys as well as the
rights OF their employers.
The first party of boys for Aus
tralia will leave Liverpool late this
month. This party will serve as an
experiment. and If successful the
plan will be carried out on large
scale. In the past Australia has
complained that the adult Briton does
not readily adjust himself to rural
life in the Antipodes, and. becoming
discontented, joins the already over
! filled ranks of labor in the cities,
/ leaving the problem Of rural depopu-
lation as acute as ever. II Is believed
that by the time their apprentice
ship ends the boys will be quite will
/ ing TO stay on the farms.
] Notwithstanding that London has
spent sos. 900, 900 during the past
ten years in building new hotels or
i improving old ones, largely for the
accommodation of American visitors,
the hotels are still overcrowded dur
Il ing the tourist season.
\ II is estimated that 100000 Am
orleans now pay visits OF some length
To London during each summer.
/ whereas a few years ago the metrop-
oils was declared to be only a stop
| ping place for day or so for tourists
bound to the continent.
/