The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-04-28
SERIOUS CRIME
 WAVE SWEEPING
 GREAT CAPITAL

LONDON. April S.-A P. Mail Correspondence hold. ups. mysterious murders and thrilling jewelry robberies are claiming the best skill of Scotland Yard and hold ing the attention of the London pub lie. Not for many years, if indeed ever, have the authorities been call ed upon to cope with such wave of crime as that which has swept the metropolis since the beginning of the war. While some arrests have been made and some men punished, the police are hard put to keep pace with the criminals.
 So frequent have robberies become that London bankers have taken measures to meet possible raids on their cash counters, proceeding hitherto unknown in the city. All cashiers have been instructed to keep cash out of sight instead of displaying it on the bank counters. The police in the neighborhood of important banking houses have been ordered to be especially vigilant. particu- larly at the lunch hour.
 The prevalence of crime was first called to the attention of the au- thorities when the newspapers made a sensation out of the sudden death of Billie" Carlton, favorite ac- tress, who was found dead in her apartment the morning after the famous Liberty ball several months ago. It developed that she had died from an overdose of drug. An in, vestigation showed that the practice of drugtaking was increasing ill the city and that "opium parties" were not uncommon.
 Next the city was startled by the arrest of Lieutenant Colonel Norman c. Rutherford, of the army medical corps, charged with shooting to death Major Miles c. Seton also of the medical corps, at the house of the majors cousin, Sir Malcom Seton in Holland Park. The hearing of this case has not been concluded.
 Murders of less importance follow ed, each having some unusual fea- ture. The city was again aroused a few weeks ago by the published statement that Major H. B. Chaney. of the Royal Air Force, had tried to kill his aged mother at Talgarth Mansions. and had then killed him. self. Mrs. Clancy was severely wounded, but hopes are entertained for her recovery. Police investigation threw no light on the tragedy so far a sthe public was concerned. Major Chaney was one of the best known officers of the British air force. hay. ing 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 the West End and in the suburbs at night, while scores of houses and apartments have been robbed in the most clever manner.
 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 responsibility at the doors of dis. charged soldiers. Police officers from some of the most important American cities are in London seeking inter national criminals who may have been discharged from some of the armies. French and Italian officers . also are said to be here, each look : ing for an opportunity to assist in the general roundup.