1940-10-21 — Page 25

THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 21, 1940.

RELEASE OF LEO HARRIS

Leopold Harris, ringleader of the great fire-rais- ing gang, has been released from Maidstone Gaol. He has served only half the sentence of 14 years' penal servitude passed on him in August, 1933.

Five years' remission has been earned for the part he played in helping the police trace the rest of the gang. Further remission has been granted for good conduct.

Harris, described by the judge

at his trials as "that arch-villain, CZECH

went to gabi broken in health and spirit; he came out fitter than he has ever been.

At the prison gates he was met by his wife, his 24-year-old daughter Lottie, and his two sons. He went with them to the house in Donnington Road. Harlesden. N.W., where the family has lived since he was sentenced.

Harris served the first part of his imprisonment in Wormwood, Scrubs, where he wrote his "con-

LEGION

'REVOLT'

HOPES

Brian Dontovy enacts the titic

role In Paramount's. "Down Went McGinty" open- Ing Tuesday at the Queen's Theatre. Mürial Angélus and - Akim Tamiroff are also cast.

Steps are being taken by BAYONET improve the material con- TO SCARE

fession" and exposed the whole the Czech Government to

fire raising conspiracy.

"Confession".

It was largely on his evidence that Capt. Brynmer Eric Miles, then chief officer of the London

ditions and morale of the Czech Legion.

Dr. Gustav Winter, who, for 20 years has represented the Czech

A LOVER

Salvage Corps, was convicted and Social-Democratic Party abroad, The story was told at Brighton, sentenced to four years' penal ser-made this statement when dis-when Harold John Healey, a 29- vitude for conspiracy to pervert cussing the internment of a num-year-old private, was charged with the course of justice and for ac- ber of officers and men of the causing grievous bodily harm to cepting bribes.

Legion..

his wife, Sarah, the previous day. It was revealed that this step had been taken by the British Deputy-Superintendent Pelling Government, because the 700 men stated that Healey went to the flat concerned refused to continue in where h's wife was living with the Legion until allegations against another mán and demanded ad- the Czech organisation were in-mission. He was swinging a bay- vestigated.

Two other men were also con- victed on information supplied by Harris.

While he was writing the "con- fession" he was visited at Worm- wood Scrubs almost daily by Mr. William Charles Crocker, the so- licitor whose inquiries Arst put Scotland Yard on the track of the gang.

At Maidstone Harris was in the prison hospital for months. He ill that he was visited several times daily by the prison doctor.

was so

"No Money Worry”

"Harris has no need to worry about money," a friend of the family said.

**While he has been in prison his wife has been well provided for.

"It will be some time, I think, before he makes any plans."

Lottie, his daughter, has been waiting for her father's release before going ahead with her wed ding plans.

I SAW HIS FACE

A Cameo from a South London suburb: -

The Heinkel was heading straight for the house where I had taken cover.

The householder, his wife, three children, and I stood helpless, fatally fascinated, as the Nazi bomber loomed larger and larger, until its shape filled the view from the french windows behind which we stood..

It was at this moment we caught sight of the pilot's face.

The glimpse was a moment- ary one, but none of us in that room will forget the horror of the Nazi's expression.

Helmeted and goggled as he was, there could be no mistak ing the frenzied fear which

"There have been some troubles in the Czech Army," said Dr. Winter, "but only a small m'nority of the men were affected. These troubles can be expected after the physical and psychological ordeal to which our men have been sub- jected,

"We hope that most of the men who refused to remain in the Legion will think it over and change "their minds.

We

"It is true that the Czech Army and the Government represent different shades of political opinion like your own in Britain. are, however, all united in our de- termination to assist in the defeat of Hitler."

More Interned··

Meantime, Dr. Synek,-former- editor of President Benes's paper in Prague and leader of the Legion revolt, has been removed from Pentonville to Liverpool Prison; and more members of the Legion are arriving for intérpment at a Northern camp,;

Dr Synek was never a Social- Democrat, but was a member of Dr. Benes's National Socialist Party.

onet, and told his wife that he would stick the bayonet in the man if he saw him.

Mrs. Healey attempted to snatch the bayonet away. She received cuts on one hand which needed six stitches.

**

Healey, seen by a police officer," said, "I came back from the hell of Dunkirk to find my wife living with another man. I did not mean the bayonet for my. wife but for the man."

Healey told the bench that he was one of 26 men who came out of France of 1,100 mep in his bal- talion.

He had no intention of using the bayonet.

He would have put it away and given the man a good thrashing with his fists.

Healey was bound over for 12 months.

GIANT POTATO PLANT

Garden

Mr. Frank Moore, of Side, Suffolk, has a potato plant which stands 7 feet 4 inches high

and it's still growing.

BALLOON BARRAGE FOR

EVERY VILLAGE GREEN?

It is possible at negligible cost to have a bar- rage balloon on every village green. This claim was made by an inventor in London.

The key to the scheme is that thin wire-thin- ner than the wire the average handyman keeps in