Whitechapel's Sherlock Holmes (Hardback)
The Casebook of Fred Wensley OBE, KPM – Victorian Crime Buster
Imprint: Pen & Sword True Crime
Pages: 254
Illustrations: 1x24pp of mono plates
ISBN: 9781783831791
Published: 10th November 2014
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The story of Fred Wensley, a Somerset gardener who joined the Metropolitan Police in 1888 and retired, forty-one years later as Chief Constable of the CID, is an extraordinary one.
After an abortive attempt to catch 'Jack the Ripper' by nailing strips of bicycle tyres to the soles of his boots, Wensley got stuck into arresting the ne'er-do-wells of Whitechapel, where he would spend twenty-five years of his service.
Within months of joining the CID, Wensley, while off duty, arrested a double murderer. He smashed the murderous Bessarabian and Odessa gangs, brought the Vendetta gang to book when, brandishing revolvers they tried to storm a police court, played a decisive part in the Siege of Sidney Street and created the Flying Squad.
Wensley's career was dogged with controversy; when Stinie Morrison was convicted of murder, was he, as he claimed, framed by Wensley? And was Edith Thompson, hanged for the murder of her husband, as Wensley stated, 'a cold-blooded murderess' or, as her defence counsel claimed, 'a fanciful dreamer'?
The first King's Police Medal was awarded to Wensley; he was appointed OBE and commended on many of occasions.
Retired Flying Squad officer, turned author, Dick Kirby has dug deep to paint a fascinating portrait of the man dubbed, 'The Greatest Detective of all Time'.
Dick Kirby is a very talented author and researcher, who doesn't talk down to the reader but engages them like a good storyteller should. This book deserves the widest possible readership.
Destructive Music
The author has brought to life this exceptional policeman in a very readable book.
Firetrench
The book about the Victorian crimebuster paints a fascinating portrait of a man who started working life as a Somerset gardener and also contains thrilling stories of gang-busting, murder and insurrection.
Somerset County Gazette
As always, Dick Kirby tells a good story... A very enjoyable biography of one of the legendary Scotland Yard detectives.
Police History Society newsletter
As featured in.
East Anglian Daily Times
A fascinating account of life and policing in London over 100 years ago. Whether you're looking for an interesting book about policing in the real world or a reference book about crime and capturing villains in times gone by, this is the book to buy. As usual, Dick has done it again.
www.metpolicehistory.co.uk
A fascinating account of life and policing in London over 100 years ago. Whether you're looking for an interesting book about policing in the real world or a reference book about crime and capturing villains in times gone by, this is the book to buy. As usual, Dick has done it again.
Barry Walsh, www.metpolicehistory.com
This story of Fred Wensley's 41 year career in the Metropolitan Police force makes interesting reading. The life of a policeman in London a century ago was certainly a very harsh and dangerous one. The story is predominantly told by going through his casebook of numerous diverse and colourful cases, ranging from modest thefts to more infamous events such as the Sidney Street Siege. The book paints a fascinating picture of a man dubbed 'The Greatest Detective of all Time'.
Iceni Magazine
Dick Kirby has done an excellent job and I hope he keeps on writing biographies of the policemen who kept order during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their stories deserve to be told.
Ripperologist.
As seen in the South Wales Guardian.
South Wales Guardian
About Dick Kirby
Dick Kirby was born in the East End of London and joined the Metropolitan Police in 1967. Half of his twenty-six years’ service was spent with Scotland Yard’s Serious Crime Squad and the Flying Squad.
Kirby contributes to newspapers and magazines on a regular basis, as well as appearing on television and radio. The Guv’nors, The Sweeney, Scotland Yard’s Ghost Squad, Brave Blue Line, Death on the Beat, Scourge of Soho, Scotland Yard’s Flying Squad, London’s Gangs at War, Scotland Yard’s Gangbuster, The Mayfair Mafia, Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad, Racetrack Gangs, IRA Terror on Britain’s Streets, Scotland Yard’s Casebook of Serious Crime, The Brighton Police Scandal and Missing Presumed Murdered are all published under the Wharncliffe True Crime imprint and he has further other published works to his credit. On retirement he lives near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Kirby can be visited at his website: www.dickkirby.com.
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