A NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5203, 14 November 1927, Page 3

A NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL.

“SQUIZZY” TAYLOR. MURDERED IN MELBOURNE. The death of Leslie (“Squizzy”) Taylor, who was shot in Melbourne rer centlyj removes one of the most noted personalities in the world of crime. His namef, or years was a household word, and during 1925-26 practically every unsolved crime in Melbourne was laid at ihis door. Taylor was born in Melbourne in 1882, and was thus 45 years of age at \the time of his death. He was only sft 2in in height, and the police say he was a jockey in his early years. Taylor first came under the notice of the police In 1906, when he received a sentence "of nine months’ imprisonment for larceny. Hei pleaded vainly for a chance on that occasion, but the .police informed the Court that he was a cunning, clever criminal, whom they had had under observation. for some years. K Taylor took up crime in earnest on his release, and in the twenty years that followed he was convicted on practically every charge in the criminal calendar outside of capital offences. In 1920, the police state, he was the leading spirit in the famous Fitzroy vendetta, when two gangs shot at. each other up the stairs of a. house ’n Fitzroy. On that occasion the notorious Gil Slater was shot. Taylor became the leader of the foremost gang of criminals Australia has seen for many years. Included in the gang were Angus Murray and Richard Buckley. But Taylor did the organising work, according to the police. They state that he would plan the “jobs,” and then leave the factual work to his comrades. In 1923 he caused a sensation by walking into the Melbourne Detective Office and surrendering to Detective Bruce. He w'as tried on a charge of breaking and entering, and was acquitted. As he was leaving the Co'urt a gangster fired at him, but missed. Taylor was tried successively many times on various charges, but was always found not. guilty. BERRIMAN MURDER RECALLED. In 1923 the Berriman murder shocked Melbourne, and police at once arrested Taylor, who was committed for trial, but at the hearing in March, 1924, was discharged. Later Angus Murray was arrested and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Richard Buckley. Murray was .hanged, but not before Taylor made an attempt to rescue him from gaol. His car was found waiting outside the gaol walls. Taylor was tried on a charge of endeavouring to help a prisoner to escape, but was acquitted. He was hated and feared by members of the underworld, who openly expressed their conviction that he was a “go-between” for thq police, and many men threatened his life. “Taylor was a very vain man,” said a Sydney detective,. “He was a dapper in appearance, showy in dregs, and inordinately proud of his looks.

SELF FIRST. was not a good criminal —he was a director. First and foremost he looked after himself. He was purely and simply a notorietyseeker, who was afraid of gaol and would dp anything to dodge it.”

Taylor once acted for the motion pictures with his wifje, Ida. Pender, who figured in many sensational cases with Mm. On one occasion, many years ago, Taylor wept to Sydney. Detective (now inspector) Tom Lynch met hjm at the station, and promptly arrested Mm. Taylor was returned to the southern capital and did not venture jback again. »