Review: The Girls Who Fought Crime by Maj. Gen Mari K Eder

Synopsis: Mary "Mae" Foley was a force to be reckoned with. On one hip she held her makeup compact, on the other, her NYPD badge. When women were fighting for the vote, Mae was fighting crime in the heart of New York City - taking down rapists, boot-leggers, Nazis, and serial killers. One of the first women to be sworn into the police force, Mae not only fought crime in the city that never sleeps, but also did something much bigger - challenged the patriarchal systems that continually tried to shut her and other women down. The result of her efforts? A long career that helped over 2,000 women join her auxiliary police force, the 'Masher Squad.' Mae Foley is proof that women can do anything men can do, all while wearing corsets and the perfect shade of rouge.

~ ~ ~

Unfortunately, this failed to hit the mark for me.

Whilst to narrative had more of a conversational flow, which was easy enough to follow, it lacked specific details, which were probably not readily available. In fact, author Eder alerts the reader to this from the very start. Based upon that fact alone, Eder might have done better to focus on the "girls" of the title and include more on those she has mentioned the text, using Foley and key points in Foley's life with which to anchor the narrative.

Further reading: 

Annual Report. New York Police Department. 1918. p. 85.

More publication can be found at the same website by New York (N.Y.). Police Department.

Review: Scotland Yard's Murder Squad by Dick Kirby

Synopsis: In 1906 the Metropolitan Police Commissioner was asked by the Home Office to make available skilled investigators for murder inquiries nationwide as few constabularies had sufficiently skilled - or indeed, any - detectives.

Thus was born the Reserve Squad, or Murder Squad, as it later became known. Despite a reluctance by some forces to call upon The Met, the Murder Squad has proved its effectiveness on countless occasions with its remit extended to British territories overseas. A particularly sensitive case was the murder of a local superintendent on St Kitts and Nevis.

A former Scotland Yard detective, the author uses his contacts and experiences to get the inside track on a gruesome collection of infamous cases. Child murderers, a Peer's butler, a King's housekeeper, gangsters, jealous spouses and the notorious mass murderer Dr Bodkin Adams compete for space in this spine-chilling and gripping book which is testament to the Murder Squad's skills and ingenuity - and the evil of the perpetrators.

Brimming with gruesome killings, this highly readable book proves that there is no substitute for old fashioned footwork and instinct. 

Scene from the TV series The Sweeney

Kirby - through his vast experience and network of contacts from his Flying Squad days - is able to present an eclectic range of cases from the annals of Scotland Yard. After presenting us with a brief history, representing a nostalgic view of bygone times, we are launched into our first case, taking place at the turn of the 20th century. 

As with many of the earlier cases, forensics was in its infancy, and detectives were still expected to put in the hard slog and discover or reveal the evidence for themselves. Fingerprinting was in use as was the traditional "line up", but it was the sharp-eye witness and the sifting through the circumstantial evidence that aided in a conviction. Only one case presented featured the "court room confession" and a number of cases are still unsolved; and not all our suspects paid the ultimate price. We meet along the way a mixed bag of detectives - a "suspicion" of detectives if you like - and I enjoyed the "what happened to ..." at the end.

For those interested in true crime and / or police methods, this will prove an enjoyable read.

read also:

> Scotland Yard's Flying Squad by Dick Kirby

> The Sweeney by Dick Kirby

Review: Scotland Yard's Murder Squad by Dick Kirby

Synopsis: In 1906 the Metropolitan Police Commissioner was asked by the Home Office to make available skilled investigators for murder enquiries nationwide as few constabularies had sufficiently skilled - or indeed, any - detectives.

Thus was born the Reserve Squad, or Murder Squad, as it later became known. Despite a reluctance by some forces to call upon The Met, the Murder Squad has proved its effectiveness on countless occasions with its remit extended to British territories overseas. A particularly sensitive case was the murder of a local superintendent on St Kitts and Nevis.

A former Scotland Yard detective, the Author uses his contacts and experiences to get the inside track on a gruesome collection of infamous cases. Child murderers, a Peer's butler, a King's housekeeper, gangsters, jealous spouses and the notorious mass murderer Dr Bodkin Adams compete for space in this spine-chilling and gripping book which is testament to the Murder Squad's skills and ingenuity - and the evil of the perpetrators.

Brimming with gruesome killings, this highly readable book proves that there is no substitute for old fashioned footwork and instinct.

Kirby - through his vast experience and network of contacts from his Flying Squad days - is able to present an eclectic range of cases from the annals of Scotland Yard. After presenting us with a brief history, representing a nostalgic view of bygone times, we are launched into our first case, taking place at the turn of the 20th century. 

As with many of the earlier cases, forensics was in its infancy, and detectives were still expected to put in the hard slog and discover or reveal the evidence for themselves. Fingerprinting was in use as was the traditional "line up", but it was the sharp-eye witness and the sifting through the circumstantial evidence that aided in a conviction. Only one case presented featured the "court room confession" and a number of cases are still unsolved; and not all our suspects paid the ultimate price. We meet along the way a mixed bag of detectives - a "suspicion" of detectives if you like - and I enjoyed the "what happened to ..." at the end.

For those interested in true crime and / or police methods, this will prove an enjoyable read.

Review: Scotland Yard's First Cases by Joan Lock

Synopsis: When Scotland Yard’s first detective branch was set up in 1842 crime was very different from today.

The favoured murder weapon was the cut-throat razor; carrying a pocket watch was dangerous; the most significant clue at a murder scene could be the whereabouts of a candlestick or hat; large households (family, servants and lodgers) complicated many a case and servants sometimes murdered their masters.

Detectives had few aids and suffered many disadvantages (having none of the scientific and forensic tools of today); the detectives had no transport and were expected to walk; all reports had to be handwritten, and the only means of keeping contact with colleagues and disseminating information was by post, horseback or foot. In spite of these handicaps and severe press criticism, the detectives achieved some significant successes.

Joan Lock includes such classic cases as the First Railway Murder, as well as many fascinating, fresh reports, weaving in new developments like the electric telegraph against a background of authentic Victorian police procedure.

History:

In June 1829, the British Parliament established Greater London's Metropolitan Police, popularly known as "peelers" or "bobbies." 

Prior to this, London had an unsophisticated system of policing that attempted to secure civil order through appointed representatives called “tythings,” which was essentially a citizen-based system of self-policing through individuals and groups of people referred to as parish constables. They worked in cooperation with local Justices to maintain order and ensure laws were upheld. The system was widely established until economic changes came as a result of the industrial revolution, as well as social disorder that led to a considerable increase in crime and violence, and it failed entirely.

Scotland Yard, the site of their first headquarters, opened on September 29, 1829, and eventually became the official name of the force.  In 1842 the Detective Department set up by the Met; in 1869 the National Criminal Record set up to make use of the new telegraph communications between forces; and in 1877 CID (Criminal Investigations Department) formed with 200 detectives, and later 600 more in 1883.

Scotland Yard became infamous over the years for several high-profile landmark cases involving mystery, violence and murder. During construction of New Scotland Yard, workers discovered a female’s dismembered torso and the unsolved case became known as the “Whitehall Mystery,” which was related to the particular building in which the body was found. An anonymous letter was sent on May 30, 1884, threatening to bomb government-owned buildings in London, in addition to Scotland Yard. That night, explosive devices were detonated. On November 13, 1887, Britain’s “Bloody Sunday” took place during which 2,000 police officers disrupted a Social Democratic Federation meeting in Trafalgar Square that led to more than 100 casualties.

In what nearly paralyzed the citizens of London’s East End in fear, Jack the Ripper began his murderous rampage between 1888 and 1891. During investigations by Scotland Yard’s police officers and Inspector Frederick Abberline’s attempt at performing anthropometry, which uses specific facial features to identify criminals, more than 160 people were accused of the murders. However, by 1892, leads ended and the murders stopped, so the case was officially closed.

The stories Lock has included in her book make for interesting reading. It was well researched and I liked the use of original documents - police reports, newspaper articles and contemporary accounts - to add weight and authenticity to the narrative. These also illustrate the political attitudes of the era; highlights the struggles between the different policing forces, whilst also painting a less than untarnished picture of a press corp intent on doing more harm than good. 

The only downside for me was the structure - maybe discernible paragraphing and additional pagination would have made for a more flowing style and methodology.

Definitely one for those with an interest in earlier policing or Victorian London.

read more online:

Stories From The Yard

Old Bailey Online - Policing In London

History of Scotland Yard

British History - Scotland Yard & the Metropolitan Police

The Victorian Web - Maintenance of Law & Order Before 1829

History Extra - Real Life Sherlocks

Detective Policing & the State in 19th Century England

further reading:

Great cases of Scotland Yard by Eric Ambler
Strictly murder : famous cases of Scotland Yard's Murder Squad by Tom Tullett
Forty years of Scotland Yard; the record of a lifetime's service in the Criminal Investigation Department by George Dilnot

Scotland Yard Casebook by Joan Lock

In 1878 the Criminal Investigation Department replaced Scotland Yard's corrupt and discredited Detective Branch.

In this classic story of the early days of detection, Joan Lock tells the fascinating story of the creation of the CID, the scandal which preceded it, and the successes and failures of the new organization, including early cases such as the four murders by Ernest Southey, the ferocious outbreak of dockland killings in 1869 and the more familiar Bravo, Neill Cream and Jack the Ripper crimes.

She describes Scotland Yard's gradual, if sometimes tardy, acceptance of identification and communication aids such as photography, the telegraph, telephone, Bertillon's anthropometric measurements and the fingerprint system.

First World War spy and Dear John jealousy murders were followed by Roaring Twenties' swindles and the arrival of motor car bandits — which in turn led to the formation of the Flying Squad and the adoption of mobile wireless telegraphy. 

The introduction of women detectives is also discussed and the difficulties they experienced in establishing their place in a male dominated force.

Joan Lock closes the gap between the academic police historian and the writer of popular true crime, making this book a fascinating read for crime experts and the general reader alike.