1939-03-27 — Page 3

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 27, 1939

Library, Supreme Court

Page

SECRET KNOCK TRAPPED

"JOHN THE

THE JACKDAW!'

Master Fence Was A Miser, Too

1

John the Jackdaw, one of the best-known fences in London's underworld, notorious among thieves because they knew that they could sell him any piece of jewellery provided it gleamed or glit- tered, ended his career at the London Sessions with a sentence of three years' penal servitude.

John the Jackdaw is 75 years old. To his res- pectable neighbours he was known (by his real name) as "Old Mr. John Curran." He lived in a beautifully furnished house in Oakley-road, Islington.

It was there, at、a side door, that sentence he received when he was Scotland Yard trapped him-by the convicted in 1897 I would have secret knock that he thought was done, the same that is, taken re- known only to the thieves with venge on society."

whom he dealt, writes a reporter. None of the neighbours in Oakley- John was first sentenced for re-road suspected Curran.. To them ceiving in 1897, and in the last 42 he was just an amiable old man, years he has received five senten- who smiled and nodded. ces totalling 22 years-all for receiving. Yesterday six charges were brought against him and he asked that 14 others should be taken into consideration.

Mr. G. G. Raphael, who prosecut- ed, said that a. detective called at a side door of Curran's house carry- ing a suitcase.

Curran called out. "What do you want?" and the officer repli- ed, "I want to see Ted."

Curran invited the detective in- side and asked, "What have you got? Anything good?” and the oficer replied, "I have got the right stuff."

The lower part of Curran's house was crammed with stolen property he had been collecting for years.

SPECIAL DRAWER

GERMAN TRADE

UNDERSTANDING WITH SLOVAKIA

Berlin, To-day.

Germany has signified her readi- ness to assist the Slovak Govern- ment in the task of 'economic and financial reconstruction,

diate exchange of goods between the In order to facilitate the imme-

two countries, a clearing agreement More was discovered in a speci- was signed on Saturday and, in

connection therewith, the ally constructed 'drawer in

German, Government has expressed bedroom dressing-table.

This drawer could be pulled out willingness to facilitate, as so that John could gloat on its glittering contents.

his

As his counsel said în court he was "not an ordinary receiver, but an eccentric, avaricious, old miser"

NO MORE "FORM FOURS" IN THE BRITISH ARMY.-Soon now the voice of the sergeant-major booming *form Fours" will be silenced for ever, when the British Army both regulars and Ter- ritorials, are performing ceremonial drill or are in battle order. In. stead the new system of carrying out every operation in "threes" will be in regular use. Photo shows the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards on parade in Wellington Barracks, London, when for the first time they adopted the "form threes" system. (Air Mail).

MR. HUDSON ON WAY HOME

London, To-day.

MADRID PEACE DISAPPOINTMENT

Paris, To-day.

It is believed that peace negotia-

The Secretary of the Department tions between Republican Spain and of Overseas Trade, Mr. Robert Hud-

son, and other members of the General Franco have been delay- British Mission, left Moscow ated by the discussion of certain es- midnight for Leningrad on the sential points in the Republican first stage of their homeward jour-proposals, according to a Madrid ney.-British Wireless.

.

message-Reuter.

GRAND DOUBLE ATTRACTION

AT USUAL PRICES!

ON THE STAGE

its

much of

the importation as possible, Slovak goods into Germany to the extent desired by the Slovák Gov- ernment.

Arrangements were also made for promoting trade between the The total value of John's hoard Protectorate of Bohemia and Mor- was about £2,000, of which £1,000 avia on the one hand and Slovakia has been identified. The balance is on the other. Goods exchanged at Somers Town police station.

between those countries, as well as Much of it was stolen from Lon-between the Sudeten German area don suburbs, including Harrow, and Slovakia will, Sidcup, Kensington, Abbey Wood, notice, be exempt from Stanmore, Wanstead, Wimbledon duty.-Trans-Ocean. and Edgware.

The hoard includes watches, rings, silverware, a'£150 fur coat, cutlery, bracelets and necklaces, DECEIVED NEIGHBOURS Curran's son, who was stated to "I think that if I had been in be well-to-do, said of his father: his position and had been given the

Asthma Cause

until

further Customs

INAUGURAL

The

TRANSATLANTIC MAIL FLIGHT

THE LEFT

LONDON, TO-DAY.. YANKEE CLIPPER BALTIMORE AT 7.34 YESTERDAY G.MT, CARRYING 21 MEN, THE Sunanka to the discovery of an American | LARGEST NUMBER EVER TO physician zit opossible to get rid of EMBARK ON - A - TRANS- thoses terrible wash ANNA DECIDE ATLANTIC - HEAVIER THAN-

Killed In 24 Hours R

coughing and

of choking,

the true cause which is Germs in the blood.

ing the Ge

that

burning of powders no mors

Basthma come!

ora li jmington, kill. It is expected to arrive at the

Kale nowe divas AIR MACHINE.

back-on-raturna

karaites protects you.

Asthma Ciro puri.

Azores early to-day.

service.

This is the inaugural flight of the Transatlantic air The Clipper will return via Ire- land and Botwood, Newfoundland.

Reuter.

ARGUS

World's Greatest

Telepathist,

Direct from a successful

tour of 3 years in

England.

ON THE SCREEN

SPRING

DRESS

O'SULLIVAN AYRES

TO-MORROW QUEEN'S

A The