A criminal story

Today it is the prized possession of James Naismith. He is an amateur criminologist who wrote the popular chronicle of capital punishment, Tales From The York Scaffold.

"I've always loved York's history especially, for some strange reason, the history of crime," said Mr Naismith. "I'm perhaps a bit morbid, I don't know."

The book does hold a fascination, morbid or not, for anyone who reads it. Mr Naismith bought it from a dealer at York Antique Centre in Lendal. He describes it as "Detective Sergeant Alp's mugshot book" and that sums it up nicely.

In gold letters on the black leather cover are the words: "G Alp Detective York City Police York". On the first page is glued a newspaper cutting, quite possibly from the Evening Press, headed The Children of the Vicious, which begins: "Crime is contagious and infectious."

Inside are photographs, which date from 1892 to 1896. Some of them show prisoners restrained by the long arm of the law. Next to the mugshots, in what we must presume is DS Alp's spindly handwriting, are listed the following: their name, aliases, age, height, trade, birthplace, last residence, hair and eye colour, complexion, facial features, build, identifying marks and remarks.

On the opposite page appear in red ink their convictions: date, offence, place and sentence. It is an historical treasure trove.

A whole book could be devoted to the contents, and Mr Naismith hopes to eventually write it. At present, his work in the building trade and family commitments take up all his time.

The men and women listed in George Alp's book were from Leeds, Sheffield, Hull - even Liverpool, as well as York. One entry concerns a Richard Taylor, born in Birmingham, whom DS Alp notes was "known as the Dick Turpin of Nottingham".

Many of the crimes listed are those we would recognise today: assault, prostitution, shop-breaking. Mr Naismith said he was surprised at the apparent lenience of some of the sentences. Among those recorded here are four months for theft, one month for assault and three months for wounding. Prison was undeniably tougher then than today, however. Other offences have long since vanished. Many of the convictions are for "welshing", "frequenting" and "gaming".

DS Alp's remarks on the criminals make for intriguing reading. Henry Harvey, 59, "is a good all round thief". Twenty-year-old James Cook "often associates with Italian organ grinders". Soldier Charles Day, aka "Flash Charlie", "is noted for stealing from entrance halls, principally overcoats". George Pinder, 22, is listed as a labourer but apparently "never does any honest work".

Mr Naismith has researched the Evening Press archives at the reference library to learn more about the court cases listed.

Mary Donovan, born in London but resident in Leeds, was described in DS Alp's notes as a "continental thief". A newspaper report from November 29, 1895, recounted how she stole "a purse containing 3s 8d in money, two penny and a halfpenny postage stamp from the person of Sarah Jane Hepstonstall at the bazaar in aid of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children held in the Exhibition Building at York". She was sentenced to "five years' penal servitude" - no lenience there.

A longer court report from 1896 details the case against "a respectably-dressed young woman named Gertrude Ramsden, aged 23". She lived in New Walk Terrace, York, and was convicted of stealing "by means of a trick" a gold ring worth five guineas, and belonging to a Colliergate man, plus theft of gloves and a boa from a Lord Mayor's Walk shop. She was imprisoned for three months.

Under the heading "an ungrateful woman", the paper recounts the tale of Constance Lee. She was charged with stealing clothes and two shillings from Frank Berroby.

"It seems that the accused, who had had a questionable character previously, was befriended by the prosecutor, who took her into his service. She suddenly left him, however, and several articles were missed.

"She was apprehended by Inspector Denham, at Leeds, with the things in her possession. Mr Thomlinson-Walker said they were very sorry to find that all the pains which had been taken to help her become a respectable member of society, that she was found in her present position." Sentence: one month in prison.

Another domestic servant turned thief was Eleanor Pounder, a 19-year-old from Wakefield, who had also worked as a barmaid. She was convicted of 12 counts of theft in York, receiving 14 days for each.

Bookmaker Joseph Coyle, 34, from London, was convicted of fleecing York racegoers. Just doing his job, you might argue, but he actually picked their pockets at the Knavesmire racecourse, according to an 1895 report. DS Alp's only comment in his little black book was: "Joseph Coyle has been to America".

The next entry concerns Edward Quirk, alias Thomas White, alias James Hickley, of Leeds. He was observed by a policeman following a young woman near the station. The woman complained to the officer and, according to the court report, the "prisoner became violent and witness had to put the snaps on him". Sentence: one month's hard labour.

Daniel Feeley's conviction for burglary of the St Leonard's Club was recorded under the heading An Amusing Prisoner. When the club steward said he left the place secure, Seeley, again of Leeds, replied: "You left the window wide open. You ought to have put a bill outside to invite people to come in." This was met with laughter in court, as was much of his testimony. His comic turn failed to save him from nine months' hard labour.

We know little of DS Alp, who compiled this book of criminal activity. Mr Naismith has discovered that the officer was once fined for being drunk on duty. And he was asked to leave the force in the 1890s by the Watch Committee, which oversaw the police, for a reason never explained. He would love to know more: anyone who has information, is asked to contact Chris Titley at the usual address.