DIED IN POORHOUSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 650, 30 April 1929, Page 15

DIED IN POORHOUSE

“GENTLEMAN CRACKSMAN” SECRET TUNNEL BURGLARY By the death at Barnhill Poorhouse Hospital, Glasgow, of William Goodfellow, or, as he was better known, the “Gentleman Cracksman," the only survivor of a notorious Scottish criminal trio has passed away. • In liis heyday Goodfellow associated with men like “Scotch Jimmie” , (James Muirhead) and Rice Reid, but although in his early days he had “money to burn," the declining years j of his life were spent in the poorhouse. At one stage Goodfellow had such a remarkable run t>f good luck in his nefarious exploits that he had a large j house in Kelvinside, one of the best residential quarters of Glasgow, and another at Dunoon. Owned a Yacht He was also credited with being j the owner of a carriage and pair and i a handsome yacht. In many ways Goodfellow’s career was even more j amazing than that of his intimate ; friend, “Scotch Jimmie." He first got into trouble at the age of 15, and the greater portion of his life was spent behind the prison walls. Even when he was getting on in years, and was less able to stand the rigours of penal confinement, he did not alter his mode of living. He continued to fill the role of gentleman burglar. Later, when he was stricken with blindness, Goodfellow presented a pitiable figure, but he never thought of giving up his criminal ways and living honestly. As a matter of fact, his last theft was committed when he was totally 'blind, j and he had to work without an ac- j complice. Goodfellow’s usual method of oper- j ation was to seek out a big house, j where he knew there was likely to j be either jewellery or valuable plate, j and enter at the first available opportunity—generally when the accupants were on holiday. One remarkable raid on a Fifeshire county mansion, he carried out through a secret tunnel, the existence of which was only suspected by a few people. It was while sipping a glass of beer in a country inn that Goodfellow overheard a group of servants from a nearby house discussing whether there existed an underground tunnel. The general belief seemed to be that there was such a tunnel, but nobody knew where it started or where it ended, beyond the fact that an adjoining wood appeared to be the most suitable place for an entrance. Curiosity Aroused His curiosity aroused, and with visions of an easy “haul,” Goodfellow confided in a fellow crook. As a result the pair spent many weary hours exploring the wood. Finally, they came across what appeared to be an old wooden doorway covered with earth and moss, and, convinced that this would lead to the secret passage, they agreed to come back again on the following evening—the night of the servants’ ball. Suitably equipped for breaking open the door, the two burglars crept through the wood when the dance was in full swing. The door, which had stood for years, was absolutely rotten, and the men had little difficulty in pushing it off its hinges, the npise being smothered by the strains Qf music from the house. Quickly they ran along the stone passage, which was perfectly dry, until they came to a wooden door. A keen search resulted in the discovery of the secret knob, and whgn the panel swung open, the burglars found themselves in a corridor of the house remote from the scene of the dancing. They imagined they had plenty of time at their disposal, but when they were ransacking one of the rooms they heard footsteps approaching. Their only hope of escape was to rush for the passage, which they had left open, and this they did. They succeeded in making a clean getaway, and with the proceeds of their night’s work, about £1,400, the rascals spent six months together in the South of France. On another occasion the “Gentleman Cracksman" and a confederate were going through a large Glasgowhouse at their leisure when they were startled by a'vigorous ringing of the door-bell. They had had a comfortable feeling of security, as they had left a “watch” in the street outside, and the sound of the hell at midnight gave them a distinct shock. Surrounded By Police Gently pulling aside the curtains of the window, they were amazed to see that their “mate” had been captured, and that the house was surrounded by police. Their only avenue of escape was tbe roof, and on to this they quickly climbed. To divide the policemen’s attention, they separated and went in opposite directions. Goodfellow’s companion was not so lucky as his leader. Thinking that the coast was clear, he lowered himself from the roof by means of a rain-pipe, and was rounding the corner when he was caught. Creeping softly along the roof until he had reached another house, Goodfellow got over the ledge and found himself standing on a narrow sill. Hanging grimly on to the roof with one hand, the daring burglar opened the window with the other and climbed into safety. Voices frightened him, and he curled himself up in a cupboard for two hours before he ventured out. To his dismay he found that the door of the room w-as locked. He had no tools, but on the table was a kitchen knife with a broken blade, and with this the housebreaker managed to turn the lock. He then walked downstairs until he reached the street door. His companions, he learned later, both effected daring escapes. The one who was caught while on guard broke away in the street. The other, by means of a piece torn off the firescreen in the room in which he w-as temporarily detained, forced back the lock of the door. He saw- that the door led out to the police office, and that a long bar or counter ran the full length of the room. Hiding himself behind the bar. the prisoner w-aited until the officer in charge w-as reading a paper and then crept along the floor to the doorway. He succeeded in getting away, and it 'was seme time before the alarm was raised. Goodfellow- was admitted to the Glasgow poor-house before his licence bad fully expired. He had ! elected to remain in the institution.