Imperial Valley press., 1919-05-01
WAVE OF CRIME
S E n DIS SHIVERS
THROUGH LONDON

London, April l (By mail Spec
tacular holdups, mysterious murders
and thrilling jewelry robberies are
claiming the best skill of Scotland
Yard and holding the attention of
the London public. Not for many
years, if, indeed, ever, have the au-
thorities been called upon TO cope
with such a wave of crime as that
which has swept the metropolis since
the beginning Of the wear. While
some arrests have been made and
some men punished, the police are
hard put to keep pace with the GRIM
inals.
So frequent have robberies become
J that London bankers have taken
measures to meet possible raids on
their cash counters-a proceedino
hitherto unknown in the CITY, All
cashiers have been instructed to keep
playing it on bank counters. The po-
lice in the neighborhood of import
ant banking houses have been ordered
to be especially vigilant, particular
ly at the lunch hour.
The prevalence of crime was first
called to the attention of the authori-
ties when the newspapers made sen.
sation out of the sudden death OF
"Billie" Carlton, a favorite actress
who was found dead in her apartment
the morning after the famous Liberty
Ball several months ago. 1t devel.
cped that she had died from an over.
dose of drug. An investigation
showed that the practice of drug-tak
ing was increasing in the city anc
that "opium" parties were not un.
/ Next the city was startled by the
arrest of Lieutenant Colonel Norman
c. Rutherford, of the army medical
corps, at the house of the majors
cousin, Sir Balcom Seaton, in Holland
Park. The hearing of this case ir
court has not been concluded.
II Murders of less Importance fol
lowed, each having some unusual fea.
ture. The city was again aroused 6
few weeks ago by the published state
ment that Major H. E; CLANCY, Of
the Royal Air Force, had tried tt
kill his aged mother, at Talgartf
Mansions, and had then killed him
self. Mrs. Clancy was severely
wounded, but hopes are entertained
for her recovery. Police 'investiga
tion threw no light on the tragedy
~ ldI DIS Cic puDllc Was concerned
Major CLANCY was one of the best
known officers of the British all
force, having been the inventor of the
camera gun, with which cadets were
TRAINED in aerial gunnery.
Of robberies there have been many
Holdups have, taken place in thu
West End and in the suburbs at night
while scores of houses and apart
ments have been robbed in the mos
clever manner.
Jewelry robberies have perhaps
been the most frequent crimes sine,
the epidemic set in. A number O.
high class shops have been entered
in daylight bv thieves who, on pre-
!; tense of buying diamonds, have stol
. en- jewels to the value of many thou
!, sands of dollars.
Many causes are assigned for tn
number and character of the crimes
the majority of them placing the re
sponsibility at the doors of discharge,
. soldiers. Police officers from som
) of the most important American cit
les are in London seekeing interna
, tional criminals who may have beel
, discharged from some of the armies
French and Italian officers also ar
said to be here, each looking for al
opportunity to assist in the genera
roundup.
| Meantime the crimes continue.