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The Brussels Post, 1960-07-21, Page 4gliffEEZEZ,17 BMIWS Ballistic Missile Early Wareing System) Missile detection rqdor Aircraft detection glider /./VeeVereer -see. eel '4 THEIR HOME ONCE STOOD HERE -- A mother a paean to be comforting her daughter as they stand forlornly amid the debris of their horn. in Concepcion, Chile, which was demolished by one of the earthquakes that rocked the city. Tried To Keep His Wife hi The Dark $x-Mental Pat Wa4 'The. Killer The: taXieab engine was Stilt revving at top speed when the police arrived, That was lees cause; the driver still had Ws foot en the accelerator, But the driver himself sat slumped over the Wheel. He was dead, with five bullet holes in his back. Tenants of nearby flats, in London's Ladbroke Grove, spoke of hearing shots in the night. Someone said he had seen a man running away from the cab, The police immediately began a reconstruction of the crime. There was a skid mark twenty- five yards long to where the eab had stopped. Inside the cab was a stubbed-out cigarette end. The glass dividing window was open. The driver's left arm was raised as if he had tried to ward off the attack, Detectives believed that the murderer had suddenly slid back the glass partition and shouted to the driver to stop, Then he had perhaps stubbed out the cigarette he was smoking and while pretending to fumble for his fare, he produced a gun and shot the taxi driver dead. There was 4s. 3d. on the meter What was the motive for the crime? About £40 in notes was found on the dead driver; his packet- book, however, was missing. So perhaps robbery might be ruled out, Why, then, was his pocket- book taken? Did it contain any secrets, and, if so, were they vital enough to induce a person to commit murder, that night in. October, 1947? The taxi-driver, Joseph Thomas Desmond, lived in Chel- sea with his mother. He was married and had a daughter of twenty. but for a long time he had been separated from his wife. Desmond had two nicknames, Usually he was know as -the "Laughing Cabby," sometimes he was called "Lucky Joe." A jovial six-footer, he had been a will', dow-cleaner before the war; then he went into the Forces. Joe Desmond was a night driver. His speciality was picking up fares outside the undercover gambling clubs in London's West End, The police had a theory that the crime was committed by someone who knew the district well. And they cordoned off the murder area. All the search yielded was a man's hat, but later the police theory proved correct. The man guilty of the murder of the Laughing Cabby did know the :Notting Hill district. And that hat fitted the head of the killer. Day a n d night detectives combed London's underworld looking for clues. There was a suggestion that the missing pocketbook might have contain- ed secrets of the underworld or gambling I.0.11's signed by the murderer who wished to retrieve them from Joe Desmond, even if it meant killing him, But late the same night a mart walked into Watford police sta., ton and declared: "I have com- mitted a serious crime.' The man gave his name as John Mackrell and said he was batman to a R.A.F. officer. Mac- krell said he had a gun in his possession and thought he was responsible for "that crime in London." He was searched, but no weapon was found in his possession. Two days later the gun with which the police believed the Laughing Cabby was murdered was found in an underground lavatory in Kentish Town. Mackrell added to his state- ment: "I have done something, X don't know what." He was also alleged to have said: "I get brainstorms sometimes. I had been drinking too much for a long time." Taken to Notting Hill police station, Mackrell was questioned for "twenty hours. Finally he -was charged with the murder of Joseph, Thomas Desmond, At the West London magi- etratees court hearing, a wit- ness said that at 1,20 am, on the murder night he hailed an ap- proaching taxi in Ladbroke rove The taxi was in dark- ness and did not stop. A mo- ment or two, aft..r ,it hadpaeSeel, him, he heard a shot, then a iseretent, He then heard four more shots and, turning round, saw that the cab had stopped, The engine revving at a terrific speed. He saw no one leave the cab. The driver was slouched over his seat and the witness lifted him up and felt his pulse, which was still beating Detective - Inspector Reginald Spooner said Mackrell had made a written statement in which he said: "I had a feeling that I had done something wrong. I had a gun in my pocket, some- thing happened and I started running away. I sat clown scnie,, where and after that I walked and then put the gun in a lava- tory somewhere. "I thought I should end up doing a murder. I took a cab to Ladbroke Grove until I found myself running away. I had a feeling that I had done some- thing terrible. "I was going to see my sister in Ladbroke Grove, A week or two ago she turned me out and I was going to settle things once and for all. I was going to walk them into the station with a gun in their backs and settle it in front of the police. "When I came to after a long time I found things in my poc- ket which did not belong to me. There was a pipe and a tobacco pouch. I threw them away and also I threw away my coat and hat, " I get brainstorms when I have been drinking. I stole the gun and ammunition and some other stuff !from Lasham i(n Hampshire) where I was work- ing as a batman. I'm sure I loaded the gun between Lasham and Alton," The statement went an to say that he had hailed a passing cab near a West End restaurant and told the driver to go to Ladbroke Grove. "Then something happened—I can't say what for sure," the statement continued, "I was sleeping and then something woke me. I was running down the street, I seem to recollect firing a shot at something or somebody, but after I finished running a long time, I went and sat down somewhere in a gar- den." A gunsmith gave evidence which proved that Desmond had been shot with the revolver that was found in the Kentish Town lavatory, and it was prov- ed that the same gun and the bullets had been stolen from the R.A.F.. officer whose batman John Mackrell had been. The Old Bailey jury returned their verdict without leaving their box. The verdict was: "Guilty, but insane." The judge directed that John Mackrell should be detained during the King's pleasure. That was November 13th, 1947. Re- member the year while you now hear MackrelPs history. In April, 1946, he was certified insane and was detained in a mental hospital in Scotland. In November of the same year Mackrell escaped, and was dis- charged as sane by operation of the law. In May, 1947, he was once again certified as insane and was sent to Stirling Mental Hos- pital, but he stayed there only for four months, because in September he was discharged as cured. The following month, within three weeks of being discharged as "cured," he murdered the Laughing Cabby. To-day, John Mackrell is still in Broadmoor. These se-called "cures" of criminal mental case are a menace to law-abiding citizens on both sides of the At- lantic. Q. I sent a birthday gift to a friend almost a month ago, and have had no acknowledgment, Do you think it would be all right if I were to ask this friend if she received my gift? A, This would be in perfect order, since it may have gone astray. If it should so develop that your friend did receive your gift, Maybe your question will remind her of her extreme rude- ness, A Complete Story by Leone Stewart I've been in the Force twenty- five years and it's always amazed me how some crooks manage to keep their career from their wives .. , at least the lucky ones who don't get caught. We had Martin Sellers in for questioning one day, He was a smart boy, but though we had a shrewd suspicion he was the brains gehind a lot of hold-ups and smash and grab raids in the district, we couldn't prove it. Sellers used only the best men to help him, the professionals, skilled in their craft . . "What is it this time, Hayter?" he asked, lighting a cigarette and perching himself on the end of my desk. "I'm investigating the Archer Street job, Sellers, Looks like your handiwork." He shrugged, "In that case, Inspector, someone's copying me. Plagiarizing my methods. I hope you catch 'em." I studied Martin Sellers. He didn't look like the usual run of crooks. He was around forty, smooth, smartly dressed with a red carnation in his buttonhole. Ten years ago he had done a stretch inside and since then, though we were quite certain he was still operating, he had managed to evade detection. Recently he had married a girl of seventeen. She came from a good family and was as inno- cent as the cradle. If she'd had a clue about Martin Sellers' career, it was my guess she'd have shied away from him like a frightened gazelle. "Heard you recently married," I said, watching him through his own smoke screen, "That's right, Wendy's a sweet kid. We hit it off fine," "And she knows nothing about your activities?" He broke through the smoke and peered into my face. "I'm in legitimate business these days. If you don't believe me, drop in some time, I've got a furniture shop in the 13yileet Road and I pay my income tax like any other law-abiding citizen." "I didn't know furniture was such a good pay-off," I said, "You run a couple of cars, have a luxury fiat, go abroad for your holidays and play the horses." "You certainly interest your- self In my affairs, Inspector," He stubbed out his cigarette in my ash tray. "Didn't know I was so famous, If I'm a good busi- nessinan then that's my affair, not yours. Matter of fact I buy liquidation stock and I make a reasonable profit, Quick sale, quick return." I knew that the furniture shop Was a blind, intended to fOol us and his new wife. He walked to the door, I couldn't hold him — though X was pretty certain he'd been res- ponsible for the hold-up in Ar- cher Street. The old jeweller had been found bound and gagged and some five thousand pounds' worth of stuff Was gone. The jeweller was still in hospital suf- fering from shock, and so far we hadn't been allowed to question him, But I Was going along that afternoon in the hope that he might be well enough to an- swer Ei few questions, At the door Sellers paused and looked back at me. "My wife doesn't know` I was once inside, Hay ter — and she isn't going to know. The past's behind me and I'd like a chance to forget it, even if you'd rather I didn't, So no snooping around arid dishing the dirt, "She stays in the clerk, see, and you've no right tie tell her anything If you do I'll prOsecute you, YOU chaps are suppOsed tO help us go Straight. If I made, a complaint td the Commissionek that you . Were interfering in my private life, you would be for it." He went out and slammed the door. I had rid intention of tail- tin Sellers lived with his young wife. I asked the driver to stop and my assistant raised an eyebrow. "Why the pause, Chief?'' "Just an idea. I'd like to meet the new Mrs. Sellers," "You're not putting her in the picture, are you?" "I shook my head. This le a social call — and a hunch," I entered the block alone, in- quired from the hall porter which was the Sellers' apartment and took the elevator to the fifth floor. I wondered if Wendy Sellers was really in the dark about her husband, I rang the bell twice before the maid answered. She was rubbing her eyes and looked up• set. "Mrs. Sellers is out," she said, "May I wait?" I didn't show my badge. This was a strictly private call, "Are you a friend of hers?" the maid asked, still very dis- tressed. "I know her husband." "Come in then, I don't think madam will be long." Ten minutes later Wendy Sell- ers came in. She was a blonde with china-blue eyes and a baby face, though it was obvious she was trying to turn on the so- phistication to match up to her husband. She slipped off her cuddle coat and threw a small parcel on to the slag "You're a friend of . Martin's?" she said, her Cheeks dimpling with pleasure. "How nice of you to call, I'll get Mavis to make tea, though just: now she's M. a had mend," She $ighq4, looking younger than ever, 'I'm thinking .of sack- ing her but first I want to ask Martin's advice, I always ask his. advice,, Ws eo. wonderful having a husband who knows all the ensweres" To make conversation I saidt .noticed ..the maid did. look .4 little upset when she answered the doer to me." Wendy pouted, "So she ought to be. I'm sure Martin will insist. that she leaves when I tell him what she's done." Wendy Sellers curled herself up on the settee, tucking her stiletto heels under her. "She's a thief," "Really?" Wendy stretched out a hand and pulled the small parcel she had brought in with her, from the table. I knew she used my perfume and she even wore one of my hats when I was away for the week-end, but 'at least she put it back afterwards. This time it was stockings — and she pretended she hadn't even touched them." As she spoke she Opened the parcel and I watched as she drew out two pairs of sheer ny- lons and held them up. "I have a special kind — they're called 'Heaven Sent' and you can only buy them at one shop," She smiled at me. "The finest denier in the world," "You say your maid stole some from you?" "Yes, two pairs. They were in my dressing-table drawer and she just helped herself when I was out visiting my mother one evening." "Would that have been — last Thursday evening?" I asked. "Why yes, I always visit Mum- my on Thursday evening be- cause Martin is usually busy. And still that silly maid of mine denies - taking them," Wendy added, "I mean to say, who else would touch my nylon stock- ings?" Who, indeed? I thought, stand- ing up to go. That Thursday was the night of the robbery in Archer Street, And the nylon stocking George Atkins had torn from his assail- ant's face had the words "Heav- en Sent" imprinted on the top. It was all we needed. And Martin Sellers' trial and convic- tion were a lesson to other crooks. Whatever happens don't keep your wife in 'the dark, Like crime, it seldom pays, — From "Tit-Bits". • MOs. To Good Carpet Buying. Cttre of ore . most impportetete. and expensive purchases in fur, illehing your home is the car, pot, Whetter a new bride or fir seasoned homemaitor mesa worsen are apt to feel a heavy sense of responsibility when •Pt comes to buying A rug, • The vast choice and v.ariety of today's carpets often presA4t er baffling picture, The language of carpet salesmen is often our. fusing, Terms, such as tutted, wiltons, velvets and. twists aro understood by few shoppers. in All, at first glance, the whole. business of buying a new car-. pet seems to be a major under- taking, While it certainly is a major purchase, there is really nothing too complicated .about the whole thing. HaVing a few simple facts, straight before yeti venture in- to the store is often the key to, malting this booth. a pleasant and exciting experience, "Ilese words: axminster, wilton, and velvet ail apply to woven carpets. and are terms of . con- struction. They are the three principal weaves used in woven. carpeting, Tufted carpets are, made by needling pile yarns. in- to a previously . woven hacking of jute, Tufting is, therefore, al- so a construction term. Twist, on the Other hank mains exactly that — the yarn has been given a hard twist to produce a particular effect, ft is a term of texture rather than. construction, Other texture terms are: cut pile and loop pile, plain,: embossed and carved, and these also mean exactly what they say. The latter three indicate a via- eel surface effect,. It is important to remember that the actual type Of construe- eion is unimextrtant, It ie the quality which counts. An axanin- ster and a veilten are equally good carpets if the quality is. equally high. Quality is an important Weed, in 'carpet buying. The old saying "you get what you pay for" hold: true when you buy a carpet. You can select carpeting in a, wide range of prices, But it is important to remember that of- ten when you see carpet adver- tised al an exceptionally low' price, the quality has been sac- rificed. Don't ohoose your carpeting' by the method of construgtion but on the basis of fibre, color,. texture, pile density and reputa tion of the manufacturer. DRIVE CAREFULLY — The life you save may be your own. ing Wendy Sellers about her husband, I' guessed that before long she'd find out, one way or another. At the hospital they let me in to see George Atkins. He was going to be all right, but he was still dazed and not inclined to talk. ".1 don't know anything," he kept repeating. "I was asleep over the shop when they broke in. They did it all in the dark." He turned restlessly over on his side, putting his back to- wards me, "Find the crooks that did it; don't keep pestering me." "There were three men," I -said. "Yes, three. They never spoke a word. It all happened so fast." "Their faces, Mr. Atkins . . .?" "How can you see faces in the dark? Besides, they had nylon stockings over them," "But you tore off one of the stockings," I prompted. "When you were discovered you were still clutching it." "Yes — but I still didn't see the man's face, Someone hit me and I passed out," The nurse came in then and told me my time was up. George Atkins hadn't been much help and I left knowing nothing fresh. Driving back to the station I passed Coburn Court, a luxury block of flats where I knew Mar- The MAIL AND FEMAIS Farmer boti Neuenschwtirider, of Mon, roe, Vv'is., has his ideas °bent togetherness; as evidenced by these Mailboxes *MO tierki hy the road outside his fartn.- Hotting` en Of the 'Cold Wee Tieft new eniplitiele on' the question of how good the free world's redo defenses ere against either aerial attack or espiort, lege, bombers have not yet been Outmoded by nitstiles, the ideithesettebilelied DEW !hie (tee News- snap)' is still an triipiritkint part ,Of' the syiteitt, Due fa be connected with if the ACE ,HIGH line running' through Western E04piti. which li about half pletetio, A separate ou*Os4 Is the radar' station nt est's Electronic Shield Wcikkalitii ih harthern Japan:. Daily airplane recoil- ilaittatice flights fill the gap between it and the Aleutians and also down to southern China. Working toward toitibleflOti, 6f a tight balli"s"tic Missile warning eyetehtes three stations are' .Uridet. canstrt.iction in Alaska, 6teehlorki kind When ready, and tied In with SMEWS, the northern approaches fa Atnerida will ,6-0 Welded by an even more effective radar icreeri.-