Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-09
CRIMES in
LONDON ARE
NUMEROUS
Scotland Yard Experts New
er Before Had as Many
Cases to Investigate.

London, March L. (Correspou-
dence Of the Associated Press.)-
Spectacular holdups, mysterious MUIR
ders, and thrilling jewelry robberies
are claiming the best skill of Scot
of the London police. 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. year. 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
that London bankers have taken
measures to meet possible raids on
tneir cash counters, a proceeding
hitherto unknown in the city. All
cashiers have been instructed to keep
cash out of sight instead of display
ing it on bank counters. The police
in the neighborhood Of important
banking houses have been ordered to
be especially vigilant, particularly at
the lunch hour.
The prevalence of crime was first
called to the attention Of the author
tiles when the newspapers made a
sensation out of the sudden death of
Billie" Canton, "a favorite actress,
who was found dead in her apartment
the morning after the famous lib
erty ball" several months ago. It de-
veloped that she had died from an
overdose of a drug. An investigation
showed that the practice of drug
taking was increasing in the city, and
that opium parties were not un-
!, common.
Next the city was startled by the
arrest Of Lieutenant Colonel Norman
G. Rutherford, Of the army medical
Major c. Seton, also of the medical
corps, at the house Of the majors
cousin, Sir Malcolm Seton, in Holland
Park. The hearing of this case in
court has not been concluded.
M. Murders of less importance fol-
Flowed. each having some Unusual fea-
Sature. The city was again aroused a
few weeks ago by the published state
ment that Major H. p. CLANCY, of the
royal air force, had tried to kill his
aged mother at Talgarth Mansions,
and had then killed himself. Mrs
CLANCY was severely wounded, but
hopes are entertaine dior her recov-
cry. Police investigation threw no
light on the tragedy, SO far as the
public was concerned. Major CLANCY
+. was one of the best known officers
WI SAAO oil lOICC, 1ldV1IlS Ucc1l
the inventor of the camera gun with
which cadets were trained in aeria!
gunnery.
OF robberies there have been many
Holdups have taken place in the
< West End and in the suburbs at night
while scores of houses and apart
ments have been robbed in the most
clever manne
Jewelry robberies have perhaps
been the. most frequent crimes since
,the epidemic set in: A number OF
high-class shops have been entered
in daylight by thieves who, on pre-
tense of buying diamonds, have stolen
jewels to the value of many thousands
of dollars.
Many causes are assigned for the
number and character Of the crimes
the majority of them placing the re.
sponsibility at the doors Of discharged
soldiers. Police officers from some
of the most important American cities
are in London seeking international
criminals who may have been dis.
charged from some Of the armies
French and italian officers also are
said to be here, each looking for ar
opportunityirto assist in the general
Cleanup.
Meantime, the crimes continue.