TERROR TO CRIMINALS

Evening Star, Issue 23376, 20 September 1939, Page 7

TERROR TO CRIMINALS

TRAPPED 2,ODD LAW-BREAKERS Manchester City Police Force will shortly lose one of its most popular officers. Detective-inspector Ralph Forster is retiring after 25 years’ service—the longest record for any detective in Manchester.

Over 2,000 convicted prisoners have passed through his hands. They include terrorists, murderers, forgers, and blackmailers. His last official duty was to give evidence in the I.R.A. trial at Manchester.

He has acted as right-hand man to Superintendent William Page, Chief of Manchester C.1.D., in the campaign against I.R.A. terrorism, and his latest activities recall the part he, played during the Sinn Fein trouble. He was one of an armed party who raided the Erskine Street Club, Manchester, in 1921, when one of the Sinn Foiners was killed in trying to shoot his way out. One of Inspector Forster’s cases resulted in a strange adventure in the Welsh mountains when he had to use a packhorse to recover stolon property from the retreat of a woman thief.

When he reached a Welsh hamlet, Inspector Forster was greeted by the village constable, who announced that he would detain the narrow-gauge railway train on its return journey until the inspector had secured his prisoner, and was ready to take her to Manchester under arrest.

Inspector Forster, however, decided that the matter required more than a few minutes’ investigation, and the train was allowed to depart. At the police cottage, where he found two women knittingly industriously, he was provided with a cup of tea by one, who was the constable’s wife. Then ho announced his intention of seeking the prisoner, but ho was informed that the other woman present, still busily employed with her knitting needles, was the person he required.

From statements sht; made it was obvious that a visit to her home was

necessary, but Inspector Forster had never bargained for a ride on a horse along narrow mountain paths, which wound dizzily along ledges, with a sheer drop of hundreds of feet.

Inspector Forster played a prominent part in bringing to justice the man sentenced to death, but reprieved, for the murder of a woman on the East Lancashire road in 1936. He also once traced a bandit by the single clue of a chalk mark in a hat. Many men who have threatened the life of Inspector Forster for “ putting them behind prison bars,” have come out to seek his help to lead an honest life.

Except in cases of violence against children,” Inspector Forster said in an interview, “ I deiTved no satisfaction from arresting anyone, because I have always felt that a criminal is a victim of circumstances.

“ Now that 1 am going I hope that all those who have passed through my hands will have the best of luck in future, and will not have the misfortune to fail foul of the law again. I honestly mean that.”