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What a Cheek!

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  • What a Cheek!

    Breaking into the house of the Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police while he was abed.

    '448. FREDERICK DRISCOLL (21) and CHARLES SMITH (21) , Breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Melville Leslie Macnaghten, with intent to steal, Driscoll having been convicted at Clerkenwell, on June 19th, 1893, to which

    DRISCOLL PLEADED GUILTY .

    MR. ROOTH Prosecuted.

    MELVILLE LESLIE MACNAGHTEN . I am chief constable of the Metropolitan Police, and live at 32, Warwick Square, Pimlico—on May 3rd I was awoke at 2.30 a.m. by the ringing of a bell outside my door, and I went down and saw the door across the hall open, and the prisoner Driscoll about six feet inside the door—he said, "It is only me, sir. I have broken in. I am hard up"—I arrested him and handed him over to a constable who had another man in custody outside—entrance had been made by a window which was shut when I went to bed,

    EMILY GREENFIELD . I am parlour-maid to Mr. McNaghten—when I went to bed on 2nd May at a little past eleven I shut the library window, but did not fasten it.

    WALTER SOMERS (111 B). On 3rd May, at 2.30 a.m. I was on duty by St. Gabriel's Church, and saw Smith outside No. 32—he turned towards Aldeney Street, walking very sharply—I examined the house, and while I was in front of it Smith returned—I asked him what he was doing there—he said he was just going home—I asked him if he knew if there was anyone else about there—he said he did not—I took him in custody, and shortly afterwards I saw Driscoll strike a match and walk round the library—I handed Smith over to a constable and blew my whistle—a lady opened the door, and I went in and found Driscoll—Smith was charged at the station—he said he had just come over Ebury Bridge and left two pals there—I asked him if he had been talking to a woman—he said "No"—I asked him if he had been there before—he said "No"—I saw a woman a long way off—I did not know Smith before.

    Cross-examined by Smith. I was near enough to you to see that it was

    See original
    you—you were not going to walk straight past me, you stopped in front of the house while I was in the doorway—you did not come to me before I called you, and ask me if there was anything wrong.

    JAMES THOMPSON (103 D). Somers handed Smith into my custody—he said, "What are you holding me for; I was only coming along the street: I am not going to get away and make a fool of myself; let me button my coat, I feel rather cold."

    JOHN WATTS (Detective A). I know the two prisoners; I have seen them together eighteen months or two years ago—they do not live in the same house, but I have seen them standing outside the Star and Garter, Great Peter Street.

    Cross-examined by Smith. I know you were in Wales, but that was previous; it is between eighteen months and two years since I saw you together—Driscoll has donetwelve months' imprisonment.

    Smith, in his statement before the Magistrate and in his defence, denied ever having seen Driscoll before, and said that as he was passing the house the officer arrested him. SMITH— GUILTY . He then

    PLEADED GUILTY to a conviction at Clerkenwell on July 23rd, 1894, and two other convictions were proved against him.— Fifteen Month' Hard Labour. Four other convictions were proved against DRISCOLL.— Eighteen Months' Hard Labour. '

  • #2
    Actually, on reading this a couple of times, I got the feeling that there was more to the story than first inspection reveals.
    'It is only me, sir.' appears to confirm some sort of personal contact between the individuals.
    I did check this through the Old Bailey, snd I'd say that eight times out of ten it does confirm a relationship between suspect and victim prior to the crime.
    Prior to this incident, one of the burglers - whose age group, early 20's is a bit out of whack for such house burgleries, they are usually 20 years older - Charles Smith got away with quite a daring robbery, where he stole eight valuable paintings, but got a good character reference in court and only served four days in prison.
    From whence I don't know.
    You don't think that Macnaghten might have been smoking the wrong end of the pipe, and that is why his house was beset with young men?

    Comment


    • #3
      I had a good laugh reading that quip Ap. But yes I suppose its quite possible.What is certainly unusual is for a "burglar" to be expressing this sort of intimacy with the victim of a "burglary" to his house .Its like he is saying---Oh come on Sir Mel,you"ve seen me and I've seen you in far more compromising situations than this!
      He wouldnt have been doing a "Harry Thaw" charade would he?

      Comment


      • #4
        Psst! Cheeks the word AP

        Comment


        • #5
          Dear A.P.

          You may be right about some previous contact between the two....but it could also mean that while the fellow Smith was standing outside, Driscoll dejectedly told MM the truth...that he was alone in the house and he had effed up in his B&E manuever. He could have said that to "calm" MM down,since MM may have been packing a gun at the time.

          Driscoll could have known of MM and used the word,"sir" out of respect or appearance...or the "age" thing.

          MM a swish? What next? MM as JTR?

          Comment


          • #6
            Tee hee...worth a chuckle, isn't it...they might have just been piling back in there to grab a nice bottle of cognac after (sup)plying Sir Mel with some recreational pharmaceuticals. Chances are they'd reckon on him being out for the count, hence an unmissable opportunity to nab some premium booze and a couple of sovs.

            Poor buggers.
            best,

            claire

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Howard Brown View Post
              You may be right about some previous contact between the two....but it could also mean that while the fellow Smith was standing outside, Driscoll dejectedly told MM the truth...that he was alone in the house and he had effed up in his B&E manuever. He could have said that to "calm" MM down,since MM may have been packing a gun at the time.
              I see your point, How, but usually in England, when people say, "It's only me" (I suspect it's the same for the rest of the UK) it's to announce familiarity when said person's presence is noticed inside someone's house. Granted, this Old Bailey case that A.P. posted is a little different from the typically finding a friend or neighbour inside one's house, and during my only experience with a burglary attempt while still living in England the fellow said nothing, not even an expletive, before he scarpered; therefore, I can't help wondering why Driscoll should say not only what he said, but that he said anything at all.

              I'm intrigued to learn more.

              Comment


              • #8
                Yes, it gathers interest.
                One also has to consider that the police constable outside of Macnaghten's home was most likely on point duty, assigned to watch the Comm's house and make sure that there was no threat to his safety or property.
                Any half-decent robber would have known that and steered well clear.
                These two young men appear to be up to something quite different than burglary.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Of course it gathers interest. First of all, why should Macnaghten be awoken by the ringing of a bell outside his door at such an unearthly hour? Presuming that bell to be his front doorbell, why would anyone do that unless it were someone familiar with an urgent message, or a random drunk who just happened to stop by that doorstep.. but a couple of burglars ringing the bell, even accidentally?

                  Secondly, I suppose I can picture a burglar caught in the act calling the intended victim "Sir", thanks to television and film, and maybe a book or two, but likely? Meh. After a householder during an attempted burglary has been woken by the ringing of a bell in the wee hours by a burglar? Nah. Not really likely. Unless the perpetrator happened to be a real plonker.
                  Last edited by Lyn; 12-14-2008, 12:35 PM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Only me!

                    Yep that's great as a someone creeping/coming in with or without a knock and there is a familiarity there I suppose- not that we encourage that sort of behaviour here in Wickham-!!!

                    BUT to be followed by "I have broken in- I am hard up (!!!!)" would concern me a tad I reckon!!! !

                    Suz xx

                    Don't worry AP-- It's only me and Lyn- honest!!!!
                    'Would you like to see my African curiosities?'

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Old Bailey site

                      Superb stuff and totally addictive!!!
                      Check out Mary Ann Welch 1835 -amazing story
                      xx
                      'Would you like to see my African curiosities?'

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Both men had criminal records. It's possible that Driscoll thought Mac might have been familiar with him. Hence, "It's only me, sir..." Possibly he was saying "It's only me, sir, I've effed up this break-in, but I'm not menacing you, so don't scream bloody murder or shoot me."
                        "What our ancestors would really be thinking, if they were alive today, is: "Why is it so dark in here?"" From Pyramids by Sir Terry Pratchett, a British National Treasure.

                        __________________________________

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Cellie:

                          Thats what I think too. However,as Lyn pointed out the nuances between American( what we are) and British vernacular....she has a point too.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Hi How- Two Possibles- slightly tongue in cheek-

                            JTR: Only me
                            M: Who??
                            JTR: Me!!!
                            M Ooooh 'ello...................
                            ..............time passes......................................!!!!!


                            M: Aaaaaagh Ooooooooh Murder!!! (heard somewhere around the court-noises off maybe)

                            Diddles (in a room above) :MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM wake up or I'll sit on your face!!!!!!!!!!! there's trouble in the tent downstairs!

                            POSSIBLE SCENARIO 1
                            ----------------------------------------------------------------

                            JTR; Only me

                            M:Come in mi dear you'll be comfortable- aint made the bed yet but soddit!-fancy a sing

                            JTR: Yep Ive got a can of ale and a big old false gingery moustache too- get that daft chemise off dearie !!

                            M: You knows 'ow to 'ave a laugh moi babes..now where were we...'"Only a Viooooooooooooooooooolet aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhh!'......................Bugger!

                            PROBABLE SCENARIO 2 (WITH A )
                            -------------------------------------------------------
                            Last edited by Suzi; 12-14-2008, 09:17 PM.
                            'Would you like to see my African curiosities?'

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Of further interest in this quirky little court case.
                              It appears that the residence in Warwick Square was under permanent occupation by a number of the most senior officers of Scotland Yard, for some years earlier a blagger arrived on the doorstep with a charity scam and was promptly arrested by the Assistant Commissioner of the time.
                              This would seem to indicate that there would have a been a number of constables on point duty at this exact location over a long number of years... which does make an attempted burglary highly unlikely.
                              In police testimony it is stated that the young men were frequently seen at the 'Star & Garter' public house in Great Peter Street.
                              Now this is where it gets very interesting, for this pub was the haunt of young men who specialised in robbing or blackmailing older men whom they had blagged into buying them drinks etc, with perhaps the promise of something else afterwards?
                              Guardsmen and the like frequented the pub as they knew there to be easy touches to be made amongst many of the older men who spent their service pensions there. Many of these older men were time served soldiers or ex-officials from the Colonies like India.
                              The situation became so outrageous and dangerous that questions were actually raised in Parliament mentioning the 'Star & Garter' in Great Peter Street in those years and the damaging effect it was having on the pensions of these older men.
                              I do wonder?

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