WORK IN SECRET SERVICE.

Shannon News, 28 September 1926, Page 3

WORK IN SECRET SERVICE.

PURSUIT OF NOTORIOUS MEN. To few men has adventure col ue in such abundance as to Mr A. H. McGilvray, secret service officer, soldier, and former inspector or police of Monmouthshire, who is now in Auckland. Although now retired, Mr. Gilvray is an active man possessing remarkable physique. As an officer at Scotland Yard Mr McGilvray has had an association with criminal detection which has led him on many incursions through Europe in connection with both felony and political crime. He is the holder of seven war medals and ten fighting bars. As a soldier _lie served in the South African Wai, the Soudan Campaign and in the European War. On secret service work he has followed notorious criminals ■ across the Atlantic, through Mediterranean countries, Asia and Australia. The Capture of Cr.'ppen. After the, Boer War Mr McGilvray - had many years’ service at Scotland Yard. He rose from the ranks to the position of inspector of the Monmouthshire Constabulary. At the outbreak of the European War he was enlisted, as a sergeant-major in the ( Coldstream Guards. He saw service in France and was seriously wounded in the retreat from Mons. Owing to ill-health he was sent' to Australia to recuperate. Mr McGilvray is the proud . possessor df a letter from King George wishing him a quick recovery to health. Mr McGilvray had rendered considerable service at Buckingham Palace. His most noted criminal work was the capture of the murderer, Dr. Crippen, when wireless telegraphy was used for the first time to intercept an absconder from justice. Intrigue in Russia. With a number of special commissioned officials Mr McGilvray visited Russia during the height of the revolution and was arrested by the Bolsheviks at Riga. He made a special investigation into the maze of political intrigue which was exercising the police of Europe when Bolshevik influences became international. A fluent speaker of German, he was frequently i engaged, on v (lie Continent.

While in Australia in 1922 Mr MeGilvrav was sworn in by the Consul-General of Fdance to assist in the escort of Istwan Sziber and Georges Fulop, the notorious sediti’onists. Both were cultured meil whose inI fluences were prominent in Europe ■ n 19 19. Sziber had served as an officer in {lie Hungarian Army, and I was later editor of the- “Journal Rouge,” published in Mako, .Hungary, He directed liis criticism at . (he French occupation of Hungary, ami was tried by court-martial and sentenced to death for inciting French soldiers to mutiny. The sentence was subsequently commuted to penal servitude for life. Attacked by Criminals.

Fulop was a French artist and a contributor to “La Vie Parisicnne.” He was convicted for causing disruption in Slovakia and for attempting to induce the gendarmerie to disarm. Both plotters were condemned to banishment for life to Noumea, and they arrived in Sydney in May, 1922, on, the E! Kantara in charge of six French detectives. They escaped during coaling operations. Mr McGilvray was then in touch with the Australian Secret Service. His previous knowledge of both the fugitives stood him in good steaa<, and he had them arrested within 24 hours. Air McGilvray and another detective were commissioned to escort the prisoners to New Caledonia, and the men were safely lodged at Nou Island, near Noumea. The detectives -were interested to find that 60,000 francs was in safe-keeping at Noumea for Fulop. While waiting for a vessel to return, Mr McGilvray' excited the interest of a criminal faction in Noumea, and was attacked one night. It was a single-handed fight in a dark street against many hands. He was shot through the forearm and lightly stabbed, but he had the satisfaction of bringing two of his- assailants, to trial for attempted murder.