A KING OF CRIME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 299, 10 May 1913, Page 10

A KING OF CRIME

DEVIL'S ISLAND ESCAPEE. FREE PTOMT IX KENSIXCTOX. London, April 27. Eddie (luerin, a criminal with a remarkable career, appeared before the Westminster Police Court yesterday, charged with assault He threw corrosive sublimate in the face of one man and beat another with lire-irons. tiuerin was found wandering in the streets early yesterday morning wit]) bloodstains on his clothes. He said there had been a free fight in a house in Kensington, and he had got the blood on his clothes in defending himself, lie was remanded for trial. (luerin acquired fame a few years ago bv escaping from Devil's Island, the terrible French prison where Drevfus was imprisoned, lie had been found guilty in France of robbing an American express Company, and transported to Devil's Island, sentenced to imprisonment for life. lie escaped from the island, helped by friends in Xcw York, who supplied money to bribe the warders, and hired a lramp steamer to take him away. Guerin reached London, where he was arrested, but the authorities would not extradite him. as it was held that he was a .British subject. Since then he has lived in London, but: his life has been threatened at dilVerenf times. He was twice shot at bv a woman. fluerin opened a tobacconist's shop in London and announced that he had been '•converted," and was going to lead a straight life. Shortly afterwards several big robberies took place, (luerin was arrested, but nothing was proved I against him.