Summary of Report from Inspector Bradstreet to Inspector MacGreggor regarding Kennington Road burglaries, March, 1871
Night of Wednesday, 16 March, or early morning of 17 March, person or persons unknown break into Furniture repair shop owned by Mr Bernard Stone. Entry attained by breaking window in back room of shop to unlock door. Some damage to latch and door frame. Stolen: approx £14 cash, one locket, papers and books(descriptions in full report), including Mrs Stone's diary. Mr & Mrs Stone asleep in apartment above shop, were not awakened in the night.
Night of Friday, 17 March or morning of 18 March, peron or persons break into Upholsterer shop owned by Mr Soloman Wakefield. Entry by breaking latch and lock on alley door. Stolen: approx £17 cash, one bolt of upholstery fabric, several books, including Mrs Wakefield's mother's book. Mr & Mrs Wakefield asleep in apartment above shop. Mrs Wakefield awakened in the night, mistook sound for something outside.
Night of Sunday, 19 March or morning of 20 March, person or persons break into Furniture shop owned by Mr Paul Eccles. Entry by breaking latch and lock on rear delivery door. Stolen: approx £15 cash, papers, books, including diary once belonging to Mr Eccles' mother, and eight pieces of jewelry (see full report for descriptions and one sketch). Mr Eccles says jewelry belonged to his mother, who worked as a lady's maid before marryig a furniture maker, claimed jewelry had been left to his mother in the will of the lady who had employed her as a maid. Cannot name lady, only knows that she lived near Ramsbottom, Lancashire, where both his parents were from. Mr and Mrs Eccles asleep in apartment above shop, were not awakened in the night.
Excerpts from the notes of Mr Benton Frazer, Senior Evidence Clerk, London Metropolitan Detective Department
22 March, 1871
Bradstreet severely ill, cases re-assigned. MacGreggor taking Kennington Road burglaries. Asked me to assist. Re-interviewed victims of three burglaries. Description of distinctive jewelry stolen from two locations. Why old diaries stolen from each location? Why did mother of Mrs Eccles (third victim) insist diary be kept in safe? Suggests main motive for break-ins connected with diaries--possible the Eccles diary. Cash and jewels taken as crimes of opportunity. Cross-checked properties inventory against other reports.
23 March, 1871
MacGreggor interviewed pawn shop owners and other suspected receivers. A great deal of information to correlate.
24 March, 1871
Interviews continue, moving on to establishments on Albert's list.
25 March, 1871
Had very productive interviews with milkmaid and two mudlarks in the morning. Sent notes to MacGreggor suggesting furthing investigation of Radford Brassworks. Spent afternoon with Ruth, the Salmalins and Whitnells.
27 March, 1871
MacGreggor arrested Radford. Separately had come to same conclusion. Radford facing daunting number of counts of receiving stolen goods. MacGreggor persuaded him to talk. Named Algibert "Algie" Timson as person who brought in Kennington jewelry. I assembled files of Mr Timson (indicate Mr Timson's specialty was conversion of stolen jewelry to new settings, usually employed by the receiver or as a middle man, almost never involved in actual thefts or burglaries) and past criminal associations. Usual inquiries indicate Mr Timson is out of London. Family, acquaintances all claim has been gone for months, but none known for being cooperative with police.
28 March 1871
Weekly dispatch went out to County Chief Constables, including MacGreggor's bulletin for Mr Timson. MacGreggor continued checking pawnshops for other stolen items. MacGreggor stopped by to report that Sgt Quigg and Sgt Strawberry rounded up other theives named by Radford.
29 March 1871
At Superindent Oliphant's request, completed reports and briefed Newson on changes to filing system.
30 March 1871
Completed report filings. While assisting Ruth in packing for Edenfield trip, received urgent note from MacGreggor. Manchester police holding Algie Timson on unrelated charges. MacGreggor taking early morning train to interview Mr Timson, wants me to come along. Ruth and Miss Bertilde willing to take earlier train with us.
31 March 1871
Met MacGreggor at train station. David and Stuart, from Cowperthwaite's townhouse, accompanying us to assist with luggage. Ruth, Miss Bertilde, Turgenov, MacGreggor, and I exited train at Manchester, proceeded to police headquarters. Mr Timson serving 15th day of 30-day sentence for public drunkeness and disorderly behaviour. Obviously could not have committed burglary in London while in jail in Manchester. MacGreggor still wished to interview.
Mr Timson was congenial and cooperative. Has been working as an itinerate tinker in the parishes north of Manchester for some months. Two or three days before his arrest, he says, completed complicated pipe repair job for a widow, a Mrs Nitterdale, near the village of Edenfield. Not wishing to return for a fourth day, he remained quite late to finish the job. Caught late train to Manchester. On train claims to have seen ghost of Sean "the Shark" Malloy. Malloy warned him to leave Bury parish and never come back. Timson indicates that Malloy died over twenty years ago, in jail either in Liverpool or Manchester.
Mr Timson deduced which receiver had named him, and pointed out that Radford's wife is Bridget Malloy, younger sister of Seamus Malloy, who received ten years hard labour due, in part, to testamony from Mr Timson. The fact that Mr Timson served three years in prison for the same crime notwithstanding, possible Malloys still hold grudge.
After concluding interview, went to records, where we met Mr Knolbull. Knolbull very helpful. Found report on Sean Malloy's death. In jail on charges of burglary and theft. Accused of stealing a necklace which included a 60 carat diamond from the home of Mr Nathan Shorrock (possibly the noted naturalist? Must check), of Edenfield, night of September 14, 1844 . Attached description of diamonds says it is called "the Harry diamond." Possibly a misspelling? According to report, Malloy admitted to break in, though was evasive about why. Disavowed taking the jewels, suggested Mr Horace Shorrock, younger brother of the victim, as possible culprit. Was held pending arrival of Circuit Judge when contracted diptheria. Died before coming to trial. Report also mentions a number of arrests on petty offense, mostly in Liverpool where he was employed as a longshoreman. Had been charged with trespass once before on the Shorrock property.
Two cases separated by 27 years, both involving stolen jewels, both having a connection to the country north of Manchester. Possibly coincidence, but can not rule out connection. MacGreggor wired report to London. We boarded next train to Edenfield.
Were met at station by both the Marquis de Montmerial de Dragagulan and Edward; the former driving steam gig, the latter with a traditional carriage. Ruth, Miss Bertilde, Turgenov, and self took carriage. MacGreggor braved gig. Steering and brake systems not quite perfected on steam gig, though neither MacGreggor nor the Marquis appeared to be hurt.
Arrived in time to change for dinner. After dinner, shared news of the cases with the League. Lady Cowperthwaite is acquainted with Miss Hellen Shorrock, daughter of Nathan Shorrock, and her two aunts. Ruth already in corresponded with the Shorrocks. Lady Cowperthwaite agreed to attempt to secure an interview with the Shorrocks.
The Marquis was kind enough to share his new Magic Lantern pictures after dinner.
1 April 1871
Turgenov greatly enjoyed the morning run. Met several interesting people, had particularly interesting conversation with young boy who herds sheep near the Moor. After breakfast and classes, most of party went to village of Ramsbottom for Miss Wilhelmina's Easter Dress fitting; or so we were led to believe. Lady Cowperthwaite had also ordered new dresses for the ladies of the League, so all had fittings. Had quite refreshing conversations with three shopkeepers and the man at the chipstand.
Returned to Edenfield,occupied self with report writing while ladies accompanied Lady Cowperthwaite to Dearden House, the home of Miss Shorrock. Secured permission for MacGreggor to interview aunts tomorrow afternoon. Ruth reported several observations of interest: portrait of Mr Nathan Shorrock's grandmother contains likeness of missing necklace. The Misses Shorrock all refered to the diamond as the Harrae Diamond. Lady Cowperthwaite immediately recognized an anglicized pronunciation of harÅ, a hindi word meaning "green." Elder Misses Shorrock confirm that diamond was tinted pale green, and that it had been brought back from Bengal by an ancestor. Aunts anxious about something related to the topic of the necklace--one made a reference to an innocent man suffering before the other interrupted. Specimens in conservatory include many imported carp and various botanical specimens; Miss Hellen takes care of the specimens while her father is out of the country. Is expected by sometime in May.
After dinner, retired to library at Sir Cosmo's suggestion to study History of South Lancashire. One of the volumes contained a sketch of the harÅ diamond, and included a somewhat improbable tale of how Maj Daniel Shorrock, ancestor of the Shorrocks, received jewel as reward for saving the Nawab of Bengal. Continued studying history and dicussing facts as we had them when noticed the Mr O'Flaherty was missing; apparently gone for a walk. Turgenov, Ruth, MacGreggor, and quickly picked up trail and followed it down road. Encountered O'Flaherty on road, somewhat muddied, having gotten on foot into a bog. Told story of some sort of haunting in a field, and some odd business in an ice house near the road--including some sort of container full of moss kept inside the ice house.
Sir Spencer, Mrs Salmalin, Lady Cowperthwaite, the Marquis, and Mrs Cuthbert soon joined us. Everyone anxious to at least see ice house and try to dedeuce if something criminal was occuring. Approached icehouse and observed several unusual phenomenon, including both aural and visual delusions of a disturbing nature. Investigated ice house and determined that moss is part of a very unorthodox experiment by Mr Nathan Shorrock. May be having deliterious effect on neighbors. Must discuss situation with Miss Hellen Shorrock.
On return to Edenfield Court was met by carriage driven by Edward, Sir Cosmo, and Mr Salmalin. Returned before midnight. Retrieved more cold chicken for Ruth. Appears to be finished. Should put this away for the night.
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