LAW ENFORCEMENT: (x12)

LAW ENFORCEMENT: A rare set of four black fountain pen ink signatures on a slim 12mo autograph album page by each of the original 'Big Four' police officers, each of them Superintendents in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Scotland Yard from 1919 onwards, comprising Frederick Wensley (1865-1949, Chief Constable of the Criminal Investigation Department 1922-29 who had earlier been involved in street patrols during the investigation of the Jack the Ripper murders), Albert Hawkins (d.1929), Francis Carlin (d.1930) and Arthur Neil (1867-1939). Together with George Cornish (Police Superintendent who worked under Arthur Neil at Scotland Yard and was assigned to the Whitechapel division) black fountain pen ink signature ('G W Cornish') on a small oblong 12mo closely clipped piece, Frederick R. Cherrill (1892-1964, Chief Superintendent of the Fingerprint Bureau at New Scotland Yard), Ranulph Bacon (1906-1988, Assistant Commissioner 'A', Metropolitan Police 1961-63, Assistant Commissioner 'C', Metropolitan Police 1963-66 and Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 1966), Robert Fabian (1901-1978, English police officer, a Detective Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police known as 'Fabian of the Yard'; 2), Richard Jackson (1902-1975, British police officer who served as Assistant Commissioner 'C', Metropolitan Police 1953-63 and as President of Interpol 1960-63; 2) and Edgar Lustgarten (1907-1978, British broadcaster and noted crime writer who hosted Scotland Yard from 1953-61). Also including Edward Bradford (1836-1911) English Colonel who served as head of the London Metropolitan Police 1890-1903. A.L.S., E R C Bradford, four pages, 8vo, New Scotland Yard, London, 3rd November 1897, to Buckland. Bradford thanks his correspondent for their congratulations 'on my honour which was far greater than I deserved' [Bradford had been appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath] and continues to write 'I am afraid that there is no chance of a vacancy for that extremely nice fellow Paget. The appts are so few that vacancies occur at very long intervals only & I don't suppose any man is likely to leave during my time', further referring to his son who has just returned from Crete and adding that his regiment leave for Egypt almost immediately. Further including an unusual vintage signed 9.5 x 7.5 photograph by John Du Rose, Detective Chief Superintendent of Scotland Yard, and five of his investigating officers individually, being members of the team who investigated the Hammersmith nude murders of 1964-65, the image depicting the officers, alongside several other colleagues, standing together in full-length poses in a car park, most taking down notes. Signed in bold blue or black fountain pen inks. Some light age wear, G to generally VG, 12

The Hammersmith nude murders was the name given to a series of six murders in West London in 1964 and 1965. The victims, all prostitutes, were found undressed in or near the River Thames, leading the press to nickname the killer 'Jack the Stripper'. Despite 'intense media interest and one of the biggest manhunts in Scotland Yard's history' the case remains unsolved. Two of the murdered prostitutes were believed to have been peripherally connected to the Profumo Affair of 1963 and the suspects included British light heavyweight boxing champion Freddie Mills.