PLATES IN SOCK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1940, Page 8

PLATES IN SOCK

PHOTOGRAPHER’S RUSE PICTURES OF MURDERERS , SECURED. AN INCIDENT IN COURT. In the course of his duties as a Press photographer in Britain and abroad, Mr P. H. F. Tovey has come into contact with many of the most notorious murderers of recent years. To get nis pictures he has several times broken the rule about taking cameras into Court. . . During the preliminary hearing ol the Armstrong murder case he tells us in “Action With a Click" (Jenkins) he had just taken a’ snapshot from the back of the Police Court when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find a police officer ahis side, and was told: “The magistrate wants to see you.” He stooped to conceal the tiny plates in his socks, and, with visions of "contempt of Court,’ followed the officer to the magistrate's bench.

“BUTCHER OF THE BEACH.” Timidly I approached the magistrate's chair with all eyes in the Court following my every movement. _ The magistrate leaned toward me. “Did you take a photograph of the Court?” he asked in a low voice. “Yes, your Worship,” I stammered “but —er —" “Will you be able to let me have one?” he asked. “With the greatest of pleasure, your Worship,” I gasped. He nodded, and I was dismissed. The picture turned out to be a good one —and the magistrate received his copy as soon as possible! Before the trial, of Patrick Mahon. Mr Tovey went down to the bungalow at The Crumbles, Eastbourne, where the crime had been committed. When he was looking for something to photograph he came upon a 7ft wall enclosing the inner courtyard of the bungalow. He could hear voices on the ether side, so, placing a dustbin on top of another one, he climbed up: “In the excitement of the moment I left my camera on the ground below, but what I saw was no camera study. It was one of the most gruesome sights I had ever cast eyes on, consisting of all the exhibits left behind in ’The Butcher of the Beach Case.’ The. Home Office experts and others below were too engrossed in their work to notice a pair of horrified eyes watching their secret proceedings.” He carefully came down, picked up his camera, and mounted his dustbins again. Without raising his head above the level of the wall he manoeuvred his camera into position: — “Click! The picture was taken; but I had been heard from below, and as I hurriedly scrambled down I could hear raised voices coming from the courtyard. “I did not wait! I was off and never stopped until a disengaged taxi, fortunately cruising along the street down which I was sprinting, picked me up and dropped me at Eastbourne.” Mr Tovey believes that this picture is the only one ever taken of Sir Bernard Spilsbury actually at work on a post-mortem examination.

MIND OF A KILLER. When he was covering the Thompson and Bywaters case, Mr Tovey had great difficulty in getting any pictures. Finally he learnt that Bywaters was at Ilford Police Station. Thanks to a friendly warder he was able to meet him. for a few minutes in the canteen. They had a drink together and, later, at Ilford Railway Station. Bywaters was allowed to pose for a photograph. Mr Tovey asked for a close-up: “Go ahead,” he said, “I expect it will be the last one I shall ever pose for.” He looked at me sadly as he passed this remark, and for the first time a sneaking feeling of pity swept over me for this boy who must have known he was doomed. Mr Tovey got a picture of Jacoby, the murderer of Lady White, by a cunning ruse. He knew that Jacoby was in the waiting room at the Westminster Coroner's Court, so he walked in and explained to the senior gaoler that he wished to take a photograph there since cameras were banned in the Court. Instead of calling Mr Tovey's bluff, the gaoler “said he would offer no objection, providing the prisoner also agreed .... I looked at Jacoby with imploring persuasive eyes, but he was in no way enthusiastic. Then I had

an idea. Producing a pound note from my pocket. I thrust it into Jacoby's hand. He took it, and I took the picture.” Mr Tovey interviewed Norman Thorne before he was arrested for the Crowborough murder. At first Thorne was unfriendly, but Mr Tovey put his wireless set right and all was well! He allowed himself to be photographed weeding his chickens, and took Mr Tovey to one of the enclosures. Later he was arrested for the murder of his girl friend who had been missing, and it transpired “that the girl's mutilated body had been found in Thorne's third enclosure —exactly under the spot where he had insisted I should take his photograph. What strange, unbalanced sense of bravado must have inspired him to lead me through the mud to the place where his crime was concealed!"